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.
More than 40 broadcasters, production companies and industry bodies set up home for the day in the Business Design Centre, London, to dispense advice to 1,300 young people hoping to break into TV. A series of sessions – featuring expert panels from across the industry – cast light on television genres, skills and opportunities.
BBC continuing drama head of production Nikki Saunders revealed there was a huge number of entry-level jobs across her department, including runners, camera assistants and make-up artists.
The two showrunners talked about their work, from writing episodes of UK soap staples EastEnders and Casualty to the development of hit dramas This Life and Life on Mars, to their contribution to established shows Doctor Who and Shameless.
They described television as being a writer’s medium and how their writing credits for US multinationals opened the door to their current roles as producers.
Presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman return this September as they announce the new dance pairings.
