The latest RTS Futures Careers Fair took an absorbing behind-the-scenes look at the Disney+ adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s riotous bonkbuster Rivals. Writer and executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins opened the lid on the hit series for a packed room of young talent among the 1,800-plus people who registered for the fair. Making TV can rarely have felt such fun.
The four-part series follows Daniel Brennan (Matthew Gurney, Name Me Lawand), a man arrested over a decade ago for a crime that ostracised him from the other deaf people in his community. Now, he’s determined to atone.
ITV police drama DI Ray, which returns for a second series next month, boasts both a showrunner and a star of south Asian heritage. Surely that’s a first for a British primetime drama?
In the programme, Rose Ayling-Ellis (EastEnders) will be introducing British Sign Language to the residents of Hughenden Gardens Retirement Village. Made with help from experts, the show will feature students as old as 95. They will learn alongside small children, which whom they’ll exchange notes on what scares and inspires them. The pensioners will also experience a Deaf Rave, all the while Rose works to expose the lack of provision for deaf people beyond a certain age.
The comedy gameshow is fronted, as ever, by the indomitable Greg Davies (Never Mind the Buzzcocks) and the… domitable Alex Horne (8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown).
Joining the duo will be comedians Rosie Jones (Live at the Apollo), Jack Dee (Lead Balloon) and Babatunde Aléshé (Celebrity Gogglebox). Andy Zaltzman (Celebrity Mastermind) and Emma Sidi (A Whole Lifetime with Jamie Demetriou) will also appear in the new series.
In the continuity of the soap, the singer and actor has been rehearsing near Walford, and will stop in at The Queen Victoria. There, he’ll meet Johnny Carter (Charlie Suff), an old friend.
The same night, one of the denizens of Walford will get down on one knee and propose.
Although known for his stand-up, Bill Bailey has had his fair share of acting roles, from Black Books to Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang. As host of Bring the Drama he will guide the eight contestants through an acting bootcamp like no other.
Kelly Valentine Hendry, casting director of shows such as Ghosts, Broadchurch, and Bridgerton, will be acting as mentor throughout the series, taking the wannabe actors to the sets from popular dramas Peaky Blinders, EastEnders and Silent Witness.
‘I look at them both standing under the lamp. Ingrid… and this plain Jane, with a muddy complexion, a big nose, and a mouth like a crack in a pie.’*
‘… but there’s a lovely view of the gasworks, we share a bathroom with the community, and this wallpaper’s contemporary. What more do you want?’**
Anyone thinking these lines were spoken by one of the sharp-tongued, backstreet battleaxes from an early episode of Coronation Street wouldn’t be far wrong. Here’s why.
Ross Kemp will once again present the show, this time tasking teams of celebrities with crossing the bridge by stepping on truths and avoiding lies. Their winnings will be donated to a charity of their choosing.
Each team will consist of stars from a particular area of showbiz. The first episode will see soap favourites John Partridge from Eastenders, Faye Brookes from Coronation Street, Natalie Anderson from Emmerdale and Richard Blackwood from Hollyoaks.
