News

The BBC and Netflix have garnered the most nods at the upcoming Royal Television Society (Rts) Craft & Design Awards with 31 and 16 nominations respectively.

BBC series “Lost Boys & Fairies” led the way with four nominations while Netflix’s “Baby Reindeer” garnered three.

Other Netflix shows to be nominated including the recently-canceled mythological series “Kaos” and the adaptation of David Nicholls’ “One Day.”

The ceremony will take place on Dec. 2 at the London Hilton.

“On joining this year as chair of the awards I was extremely confident that the calibre of entries would be high,” said Emma Gormley, chair of the Rts Craft & Design Awards. “However, the submissions we subsequently received have exceeded all expectations, further demonstrating how U.K. creatives are global leaders in the television and streaming space. The nominations we have announced today highlight the incredible range of diverse, genre-defining content that is being created by U.K.

It’s too bad landlords don’t accept face cards are payment for rent — if they did, Keke Palmer and Sza wouldn’t have caught themselves in such a tight spot in the first trailer for their upcoming comedy film One of Them Days.

In theaters Jan. 24, the Lawrence Lamont-directed film stars Palmer and Sza as best friends and roommates Dreux and Alyssa. The pair find their friendship and the roof over their head put at risk when Alyssa’s boyfriend makes off with their rent. When their landlord...

Nascent UK sales company Rapt Films International has picked up international rights to Ivan Leung and Harrison Xu’s debut feature Extremely Unique Dynamic ahead of the American Film Market (AFM).

The film, described as a “stoner bromantic comedy”, follows two Asian-American best friends who decide to make a movie, and explores the dynamic of their friendship. Leung and Xu also star in the film, alongside Hudson Yang, star of US sitcom Fresh Off The Boat.

Strand Releasing will release theatrically in the US.

Leung and Xu wrote and directed alongside Katherine Dudas, and produced under their Heroic Impact production company with Noel Do-Murakami.

The creators of Derry Girls and Big Boys have hit out at ITV over the UK network’s plan to hire an exec who would use AI to create program ideas.

Lisa Mcgee and Jack Rooke’s criticism came after it emerged over the weekend that ITV had been advertising for a ‘Head of Generative AI Innovation’ role on LinkedIn, with Mcgee calling it “incredibly depressing.”

The role, which would pay up to £95,000 a year, called for a “visionary” candidate who would lead “AI-driven transformation of ITV Studios and streamer Itvx. This would include “character development” and “AI-generated ideation.”

Writers have long feared the creep of AI use in creative endeavors and the issue was among the most divisive during last year’s U.S. labor strikes. ITV’s plan has also provoked many writers over on this side of the pond.

Mcgee, who created Channel 4 comedy Derry Girls,...

U.K. public service broadcaster ITV has come under fire after a job advert for a “head of generative AI innovation” went viral.

The advert, which was posted on LinkedIn as well as other job sites, says the role will include spearheading “AI-driven innovations in content creation for TV shows, films, and digital-first content across ITV Studios and Itvx” and implementing tools like “AI-generated ideation, character development, and enhanced production graphics.”

The chosen candidate, who will be based in London, will be paid up to £95,000 per year with the potential for an annual bonus and “generous” vacation allowance to boot.

Television writers have reacted with outrage to the job posting, however. In a statement, Ellie Peers, general secretary for the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (Wggb), said: “We were shocked to hear that ITV are intending to bring in an AI expert to replace writers and other creators. There’s...

Channel 4 posted its biggest deficit of all time last year in what was a chastening financial year, with content boss Ian Katz deciding to reject his bonus.

The Gogglebox network, which at the start of 2023 avoided being sold off by the government, revealed a deficit of £50M ($65M) for full-year 2023, with bosses stressing today at an annual report briefing that it had prioritized content spend over keeping the deficit down.

No Channel 4 deficits in recent years have come close to the £50M, with the previous highest being £27M in 2012. A smaller deficit is expected this year, CEO Alex Mahon and Katz said today, but the second half of 2024 in particular has still been challenging financially due in part to the government’s upcoming fall budget and its impact on consumer confidence. “We chose to prioritize content investment and record a significant content deficit in 2023 as a result,” Mahon said as she introduced the briefing.

Starz just dropped a killer new trailer and key art for its upcoming dark comedy “Sweetpea,” premiering Thursday, October 10 (8pm Et/Pt). The six-part series stars Ella Purnell as Rhiannon Lewis, a quiet wallflower who develops a vengeful and intoxicatingly liberating taste for murder. At its core, the series is about a woman finally finding her voice, told through a uniquely dark and comedic lens.

Here’s the official description from Starz: Rhiannon Lewis doesn’t make much of an impression – people walk past her in the street without a second glance. She’s continually overlooked for a promotion at work, the guy she likes won’t commit, and her dad is really, really sick. Then everything in her life turns upside down. Rhiannon is pushed over the edge and loses control. Suddenly the wallflower is gone, and in its place is a young woman capable of anything… Rhiannon’s...

Scaring Up A Big Win

Jon Bell’s “The Moogai” was Saturday named winner of the Film Prize at Western Australia’s CinefestOZ festival. With a cash award of A$100,000, it is one of the richest film festival prizes in the world.

Sarah and Fergus, a hopeful young Aboriginal couple, give birth to their second baby. But what should be a joyous time of their lives becomes sinister when Sarah starts seeing a malevolent spirit that she is convinced is trying to take her baby. Fergus, can’t see it but desperately wants to believe her. He does not know if the child-stealing spirit real or is Sarah is in fact the biggest threat to the safety of their family. The film stars Shari Sebbens and Meyne Wyatt.

It is produced by Kristina Ceyton, Mitchell Stanely and Samantha Jennings and coproduced by Alex White. International sales are handled by the U.

BBC Two introduces the upcoming comedy-drama series ‘We Might Regret This,’ inspired by the lives and experiences of its creators, Kyla Harris and Lee Getty. The series is produced by Roughcut TV, known for their work on ‘Big Boys,’ ‘People Just Do Nothing,’ and ‘Stath Lets Flats.’ ‘We Might Regret This’ will premiere on Monday, […]

BBC Two Comedy Drama ‘We Might Regret This’ Premieres 19 August...

Skynet is making its return: the trailer for the Netflix animated series “Terminator Zero” has been revealed.

The series follows the aftermath of Skynet, an AI being, gaining consciousness and waging its war against humanity in “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.” It becomes self-aware on Aug. 29, 1997, after which a war rages on for decades.

“Terminator Zero” is set in 2022 and follows a soldier, Eiko (Rosario Dawson), who is sent back in time to change the fate of humanity. She journeys back to 1997 to protect a scientist named Malcolm Lee (André Holland), who is working on another AI system, Kokono (Sonoya Mizuno) to compete with Skynet. Although it exists in the Terminator universe, it centers entirely around new characters.

The trailer sees Lee attempting to save the Earth from Skynet, while being hunted down by an assassin from the future.

Timothy Olyphant and Ann Dowd round out the voice cast. David Ellison,...

“Stath Lets Flats” producer Roughcut TV have signed a first look development deal with Fremantle as they lean into their drama slate.

The deal will see Fremantle become the primary home for Roughcut’s drama projects, working closely with the global drama and international distribution divisions.

Roughcut, who recently announced upcoming Diane Kruger-fronted series “Little Disasters” for Paramount , was founded by Ash Atalla and Tim Sealey and quickly built a reputation for comedy shows, including “Stath Lets Flats” and “Big Boys.”

They have since bolstered their drama offering under CEO Ash Atalla, creative director Alex Smith and head of drama Marianna Abbotts, including with recent drama hit “Coma,” starring Jason Watkins as a family man who hits breaking point after his neighborhood is terrorized by a group of teens.

The prod-co also have comedy drama “We Might Regret This” set to air on BBC Two later this summer.

Fremantle...

Fremantle, part of media giant Bertelsmann’s Rtl Group, has struck a first-look drama development deal with Roughcut Television, the production firm co-founded by CEO Ash Atalla, the producer of the original British version of The Office and The It Crowd.

The agreement follows the companies’ recent team-up on Paramount U.K. & Ireland psychological thriller series Little Disasters, starring Diane Kruger (Troy, Inglourious Basterds) and Jo Joyner (The Wives, For Her Sins).

Roughcut, founded by Atalla and chief operating officer Tim Sealey, is mostly known for comedy shows, such as Big Boys, Stath Lets Flats, and Cuckoo but it has also had success with recent Channel 5 drama Coma, starring Jason Watkins.

“The first-look and drama development deal will see Fremantle become the primary home for Roughcut TV’s scripted drama projects, with the producer working closely with Fremantle’s acclaimed global drama and international distribution divisions,” the companies said.

The Channel 4 comedy series Big Boys is back for a third round, continuing the story of an unlikely friendship between two university students, Jack and Danny. Created by Jack Rooke, the semi-autobiographical show is inspired by Rooke’s personal experiences with grief, sexuality, and university life. The concept began life as Rooke’s trio of live […]

Channel 4 Comedy “Big Boys” Renewed for Series 3...

Jack Rooke’s sweet, award-winning sitcom Big Boys is returning for a third series, with Jack Rooke also making a fresh appearance.

Big Boys, Jack Rooke’s autobiographical sitcom about his experience at university, has been one of the comedic treats of the last few years.

Derry Girls star Dylan Llewellyn and Jon Pointing play two disparate young men, Jack and Danny, who find themselves as roommates in their first year of University. The former is closeted and sensitive, the latter is full of boorish bonhomie, but despite their differences they form a touching, tender bond, and Rooke’s writing covers everything from Jack exploring his sexuality to Danny’s mental health. The show recieved critical acclaim for Rooke’s refusal to adhere to the usual madculine stereotypes seen on TV and for highlighting mental health struggles.

It proved to be a hit for Channel 4, who quickly ordered a second series,...

If P.E. was your favourite subject at school, then oh boy, are you in for a treat. We’ve reached the time of year when British television suddenly gets very P.E. There’s running and jumping, football and tennis, the Olympic Games… Competitions and tournaments abound, and all televised as an interruption to your usual programming.

For non-sports fans, of course, that means a TV drought approaches. Or, to see it as more glass-half-full, it’s an opportunity to catch up on stuff you missed from earlier in the year. Below is a list of picks of the best British TV series from the first half of 2024. The US TV list is coming, and the movies one is here. Feel free to add your own recommendations below!

Baby Reindeer

Stream on: Netflix

If you haven’t watched Baby Reindeer, then you’ve almost certainly heard its name. In publicity Netflix couldn’t buy,...

Diane Kruger and Jo Joyner will lead Paramount UK & Ireland’s latest drama series, Little Disasters.

The pair will play friends Jess and Liz in the “tense and compelling” six-part psychological thriller, which also stars Shelley Conn and Emily Taaffe. It is adapted from Anatomy of a Scandal writer Sarah Vaughan’s novel of the same name and billed as an exploration of female friendships and motherhood.

The four actresses play four friends who were thrown together while expectant mothers with little in common apart from their due dates. When Jess takes her baby daughter to hospital with a head injury she can’t explain, close friend and on-duty A&e doctor Liz is forced to make the excruciating decision as to whether to call social services on her friend. The decision sets...

Exclusive: Since being launched in 2017 by a quartet including Jesse Armstrong, Various Artists Limited (Val) has made shows ranging from Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You to Julia Davis’ Sally 4Ever, but bosses now see the comedy landscape heading in a somewhat different direction.

Fresh off the back of Sunday’s BAFTA win for Kat Sadler’s BBC comedy Such Brave Girls, head honcho Phil Clarke and comedy boss Jack Bayles are talking up the return of the sitcom in a landscape beset by budget woes and risk aversion that is nonetheless continuing to birth breakouts.

“The word we are getting from broadcasters is they want more traditional sitcoms with ‘A, B, C’ storylines and bigger characters,” Bayles tells Deadline. “We’ve been through this amazing era of drama and people have got so used to seeing that scale and ambition but trying to compete with that in half-hour,...

Writer/director/producer Corey Sherman helmed an ode to his own coming-of-age and coming out story, while honoring both his “big” feelings and physicality.

Sherman’s indie comedy “Big Boys” centers on teenage boy Jamie’s (Isaac Krasner) unexpected crush during a camping trip. While Jamie is elated to spend time with his cousin (Dora Madison), he really only has eyes for her boyfriend and fellow “big boy” Dan (David Johnson III).

Emily Deschanel, Taj Cross, Marion Van Cuyck, Emma Broz, and Jack De Sanz co-star.

Sherman writes, directs, and edits, as well as serves as a producer alongside Allison Tate.

“We made a film about a young man’s unrequited crush to shed light on this extremely common, yet under-examined aspect of queer life,” Sherman said in a press statement. “In most romantic stories, the object of the protagonist’s love eventually returns their affection. However, for many queer people like myself,...

The 2024 BAFTA TV Awards very much celebrated the best of British TV tonight as the majority of big-name stars and more recognizable shows fell away to British shows and stars. The likes of “Succession” and “The Last of Us” went home empty-handed at the Royal Festival Hall. “Top Boy,” “The Sixth Commandment,” and “Such Brave Girls” claimed the three big prizes at the ceremony hosted by comedians Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett.

“Top Boy,” Netflix’s hit show about two London drug dealers dealing with gang violence in East London, won Best Drama Series over “The Gold,” “Happy Valley,” and Emmy hopeful “Slow Horses.” Producers Charles Steel and Alasdair Flind came backstage to discuss their victory, which came for the fifth and final season of the fan favorite.

“The talent in front of the camera and behind the camera feels like a family. A lot of them started on ‘Top Boy...

Awards season may well be over for another year in the world of film, with the Oscars, BAFTAs, and Golden Globes just a distant memory now. But on Sunday evening, one of the biggest nights in British TV, the BAFTA TV Awards — this year hosted by comedians Rob Beckett and Ramesh Ranganathan — took place at London’s Royal Festival Hall. And on a night where the two most nominated shows, Black Mirror and The Crown, failed to snag a single win, Happy Valley, Top Boy, and The Sixth Commandment enjoyed great success in key categories, each taking home two awards apiece.

On the night, Sarah Lancashire won Leading Actress for her all-timer of a turn as police sergeant Catherine Cawood in Happy Valley, her second BAFTA for the same role. The show also snagged the public-voted Memorable Moment award for Catherine and Tommy Lee Royce’s (James Norton) remarkable final kitchen showdown.

The BAFTA TV Awards took place this sunny Sunday afternoon as the British equivalent of the Emmys awarded the best of the year’s TV on the other side of the Atlantic. The ceremony was hosted by Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett, who both hosted last year, while the event takes place at the Royal Festival Hall on London’s South Bank. Scroll down for the full list of winners.

Netflix’s “The Crown” leads the way with eight nominations. Another Netflix show, “Demon 79 (Black Mirror),” came in second with seven nominations while BBC’s “Happy Valley,” Apple TV’s “Slow Horses,” and BBC’s “The Sixth Commandment” all snagged six bids apiece.

Several US shows did well, too, with HBO’s “The Last of Us” and “Succession” each receiving five nominations — the same as ITV’s drama “The Long Shadow.” The BBC documentary “Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland...

Happy Valley and Top Boy shared the BAFTA love on Sunday night at the British Academy’s prestigious Television Awards in London’s Royal Festival Hall.

Sarah Lancashire took home the top prize for her performance in Sally Wainwright’s Yorkshire-based police thriller, and fellow Briton Timothy Spall beat Succession‘s Brian Cox to win the equivalent award, best leading actor, for The Sixth Commandment – which also won two BAFTAs.

Jasmine Jobson claimed the best supporting actress prize for her role in drug-gang drama Top Boy, which also went on to win best drama. Matthew Macfadyen was the only winner for Jesse Armstrong’s hugely popular black satirical comedy, winning the award for best supporting actor in Succession. Sitcom Such Brave Girls claimed best scripted comedy.

Notably, The Crown and Black Mirror missed out despite leading the nominations ahead of the awards show with eight and seven, respectively, and in...

Exclusive: London-based sales outfit Rapt Films International has acquired worldwide sales rights to Benjamin Howard’s debut US film Riley and will launch sales at the upcoming Cannes Market.

The pic charts the life of a talented teenage athlete who begins to unravel when his burgeoning queer identity competes against his idea of what it means to be a man. The film stars Jake Holley (Wake) as the titular Dakota Riley. Supporting roles are filled by Colin McCalla), Riley Quinn Scott, Connor Storrie, and Rib Hillis.

Based on writer-director Howard’s real-life experiences as a high-school American football player struggling to come out, Riley is a feature expansion of Howard’s UCLA graduate short film Rendezvous. Howard’s other short film Deviant won a Student Emmy Award in 2019.

Riley originally world premiered at September’s Calgary International Film Festival. Additional festival selections have seen...

The BAFTA TV Craft Awards took place on Sunday, April 28, with British TV host and documentarian Stacey Dooley hosting the event at East London’s The Brewery. The ceremony was the first half of the two BAFTA nights honoring the year’s best TV, with the Craft Awards dedicated to below-the-line categories just like the Creative Arts Emmys.

We attended Sunday’s ceremony and managed to speak to a number of nominated artists, including Adiescar Chase, who serves as the composer for Netflix’s hit feel-good LGBTQ series “Heartstopper.” Chase explained to us how she created the iconic sound of “Heartstopper,” noting that her conversation with director Euros Lyn exemplified how she works on the show.

“The great thing about ‘Heartstopper’ is that, in season two, Euros asked that I make the music feel new, feel like it’s developing as we are with the characters. So, a lot of...

The BAFTA TV Craft Awards were handed out at the Brewery in East London on Sunday, April 28. The Craft Awards, like the Creative Arts Emmy, are dedicated to below-the-line categories with a dozen devoted to fictional programming, another six to factual, and four are in a combined field to make 22 categories overall. The main TV awards ceremony will commence on May 12 but, for now, scroll down for the full list of Craft Awards winners.

Fiction

Costume Design

“The Crown” – Netflix

“Silo” – Apple TV

“Demon 79 (Black Mirror)” – Netflix

“The Great” – Lionsgate — Winner

Director (Fiction)

Joseph Bullman, “Partygate” – Channel 4

Lewis Arnold, “The Long Shadows” – ITV1

Peter Hoar, “The Last of Us” – HBO/Sky Atlantic — Winner

William Stefan Smith, “Top Boy” – Netflix

Editing (Fiction)

“Time” – BBC

“Happy Valley” – BBC

“Slow Horses” (episode 1) – Apple TV — Winner

“Slow Horses” (episode 6) – Apple TV

Emerging Talent (Fiction)

Andrew Bogle (writer), “Kirkmoore Fudge Park” – BBC

Haolu Wang...

BAFTA has announced the winners of the BAFTA Television Craft Awards, presented at a ceremony held on Sunday night in London. The awards celebrate the creativity, skill, and craft of behind-the-scenes television talent and the best programs of 2023.

The following won two BAFTAs each:

Charlie Brooker and Bisha K Ali won the Writer Drama category and Stephan Pehrsson won for Photography & Lighting Fiction for Demon 79 (Black Mirror). Nikki Parsons, Ollie Bartlett and Richard Valentine won the Director: Multi-camera category, and Julio Himede, Tim Routledge, Kojo Samuel, Michael Sharp and Dan Shipton won Entertainment Craft Team for Eurovision Song Contest 2023. The Editing Team behind Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland won Editing: Factual and the documentary’s composer Simon Russell won Original Music: Factual. Atli Örvarsson won Original Music: Fiction and Gavin Bocquet and Amanda Bernstein won Production Design for their work on Silo. The Sound Team behind Slow Horses won Sound: Fiction,...

An epic trifecta has formed around an upcoming TriFecta Pictures comedy. With Hollywood force Issa Rae at the helm as producer, the currently untitled film will star the triple-threat actress Keke Palmer and Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Sza, according to Deadline.

The film will reunite creators from the Max original series Rap Sh!t, which was produced by Rae and scrapped at the network after two seasons. Director Lawrence Lamont will direct the film with a screenplay from showrunner Syreeta Singleton. It will mark Singleton’s studio feature debut.

Sza...

Sza’s acting debut has been set for a currently untitled buddy comedy produced by Issa Rae and co-starring Keke Palmer, reports Deadline.

Lawrence Lamont (Rap Sh!t) will direct the film from a screenplay penned by Rap Sh!t showrunner Syreeta Singleton, the latter of whom will also produce. Palmer will also do double duty by executive producing the project through her Big Boss banner with Sharon Palmer.

Get Sza Tickets Here

The movie will serve as a reunion of sorts for Sza and Palmer. In December 2022, Palmer hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live with Sza as the musical guest. See the duo co-star in a skit paying tribute to “Big Boys” below.

Be sure to read our 2022 cover story coinciding with Sza’s most recent album, Sos. She’s currently touring behind the project, and will play headlining sets at Primavera Sound, Governors Ball, Lollapalooza, and the inaugural Sudden Little Thrills.

Dark Star Pictures has acquired North American distribution rights to “Big Boys,” an LGBTQ coming-of-age comedy. The company is planning a theatrical release in May, followed by a digital launch in June, which will coincide with Pride Month.

Written and directed by Corey Sherman, “Big Boys” follows a group of teenage boys whose unexpected romantic attachment transforms a simple camping trip into a weekend of self-discovery. “The first crush of a young queer person is a profound experience, filled with awkward, humorous moments. We aimed to delve into this pivotal phase, resonating with those who’ve had similar experiences,” says Sherman. “We’re thrilled to partner with Dark Star Pictures and share this film across North America.”

The film’s ensemble cast includes Emily Deschanel (FX’s “Bones”), Dora Madison (“Alone With You”), Taj Cross (Hulu’s “PEN15”), Marion Van Cuyck (Hulu’s “PEN15”) and newcomer Isaac Krasner. It was...

Hannah Waddingham, Bella Ramsey, drama series Happy Valley and Squid Game: The Challenge were among the winners at the 2024 Royal Television Society program awards. The Rts unveiled the honorees in London on Tuesday evening.

The Sixth Commandment won the most awards with three, including for best limited series and best supporting actor Éanna Hardwicke. Comedy Extraordinary and drama Top Boy were among the other winners.

Waddingham was honored for her work as one of the hosts of the Eurovision Song Contest, while Ramsey won for their role in the prison anthology drama series Time.

The BBC led the winners across the more than two dozen award categories, being able to celebrate a total of 21 honors.

Last year, Kate Winslet and Kit Connor were among the Rts honorees. The organization last year also introduced several new awards categories.

The complete list of Royal Television Society program awards winners for 2024 follows.

Arts...

BAFTA announced its TV award nominations today with Netflix’s “The Crown” leading the way with eight nominations. Another Netflix show, “Demon 79 (Black Mirror),” came in second with seven nominations while BBC’s “Happy Valley,” Apple TV’s “Slow Horses,” and BBC’s “The Sixth Commandment” all snagged six bids apiece.

Several US shows did well, too, with HBO’s “The Last of Us” and “Succession” each receiving five nominations — the same as ITV’s drama “The Long Shadow.” The BBC documentary “Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland” and “The Eurovision Song Contest 2023” each received four bids.

“The Crown” was nominated in all the big categories, including Best Drama Series, Actor for Dominic West, and Supporting Actor for Salim Daw. It also received two Supporting Actress nominations — Lesley Manville and SAG winner Elizabeth Debicki.

The other Best Drama Series nominees are “The Gold,” “Top Boy,” and “Slow Horses.” The...

The final series of The Crown leads the nominations for this year’s Bafta Television and Craft Awards, with a total of eight nods.

Productions by Netflix and Sky received a record number of nominations, with a total of 35 and 31 nods apiece. However, the BBC is ahead of the pack with a cumulative 65 nominations across the board.

Channel 4 landed 16 nominations this year, with Jack Rooke-penned comedy Big Boys securing multiple nods.

Other programmes recognised by Bafta include Charlie Brooker’s ’Demon 79’ (Black Mirror), with seven nominations, while the final series of BBC1’s Happy Valley secured six nods,...

The Primetime Emmys dedicate an entire weekend to a collection of below-the-line categories with the Creative Arts Emmys. Similarly, the BAFTA TV Awards have the BAFTA TV Craft Awards to recognize these artists. A dozen categories are devoted to fictional programming, another six to factual, and four are in a combined field to make 22 categories overall. These awards will take place on April 28, two weeks before the main ceremony on May 12. Scroll down for the full list of Craft Awards nominees.

Fiction

Costume Design

“The Crown” – Netflix

“Silo” – Apple TV

“Demon 79 (Black Mirror)” – Netflix

“The Great” – Lionsgate

Director (Fiction)

Joseph Bullman, “Partygate” – Channel 4

Lewis Arnold, “The Long Shadows” – ITV1

Peter Hoar, “The Last of Us” – HBO/Sky Atlantic

William Stefan Smith, “Top Boy” – Netflix

Editing (Fiction)

“Time” – BBC

“Happy Valley” – BBC

“Slow Horses” (episode 1) – Apple TV

“Slow Horses” (episode 6) – Apple TV

Emerging Talent (Fiction)

Andrew Bogle (writer), “Kirkmoore Fudge...

The BAFTA TV Awards are the British equivalent of the Emmys, honoring the very best of television in a wide range of genres and categories. Many of these contenders will also hope to compete at the Emmys but they’ll first have their BAFTA fates revealed on May 12, when the 2024 BAFTA TV Awards will take place. The BAFTA TV Craft Awards winners will be announced on April 28. (Read the full report on the BAFTA TV Awards nominations here.)

Best Drama Series

“The Gold” – BBC One

“Happy Valley” – BBC One

“Slow Horses” – Apple TV

“Top Boy” – Netflix

Best Limited Drama

“Best Interests” – BBC One

“Demon 79 (Black Mirror)” – Netflix

“The Long Shadow” – ITV1

“The Sixth Commandment” – BBC One

Best Comedy Series

“Big Boys” – Channel 4

“Dreaming Whilst Black” – BBC One

“Extraordinary” – Disney

“Such Brave Girls” – BBC Three

Best International Show

“The Bear” – Disney

“Beef” – Netflix

“Class Act” – Netflix

“The Last of Us...

This year’s nominees for the Royal Television Society Programme Awards have been revealed, with Gary Oldman, Hannah Waddingham and Bella Ramsey making the cut.

The BBC leads the list with 51 nods across 30 categories, while Disney has earned its first nominations for “Extraordinary.” Channel 4 received 17 nominations, including for comedy series “Big Boys.” The leading actor — male category recognized Oldman (“Slow Horses”), Kane Robinson (“Top Boy”) and Timothy Spall (“The Sixth Commandment”), while Jodie Whittaker (“Time”), Tamara Lawrence (“Time”) and Sarah Lancashire (“Happy Valley”) are competing in leading actor — female.

“2023 was an outstanding year for U.K. creativity, and the nominations we have announced today highlight the breadth of genre-defining, exceptional programming that British audiences have enjoyed over the last 12 months,” Rts Programme Awards chair Kenton Allen said in a statement. “Despite the unpredictable times our industry currently faces, we at the Rts welcome the opportunity to come together as...

It’s official! A new season of comedy-horror series “Wreck” is on the way, and Bloody Disgusting has exclusive first look images that tease new slaying grounds and a killer new look for season one’s cruise ship mascot-turned-killer, Quacky the Duck.

Created and written by Ryan J. Brown, “Wreck” leaves treacherous international waters behind for a wellness festival in series two as the mysteries behind the corrupt Velorum deepens.

“Wreck” season two will launch this Spring on BBC Three and later this year on Hulu. You can catch up on the first season now on Hulu.

The new season “is set in the months after the events of series one’s shocking blood-soaked conclusion. We re-join Jamie, Vivian and their found family of survivors back on land, as they strike back against Velorum, the corporate murder machine that claimed Jamie’s sister. In a daring and desperate attempt to bring the Company down,...

This week saw a “Black Monday” for the TV industry due to the proposed layoffs at Channel 4 and Paramount, according to storied The Office and It Crowd producer Ash Atalla.

Atalla predicted there will be “less” shows made this year, “not more,” and that freelancers are “hurting” due to the industry slowdown, compounded by the redundancy plans.

On Monday, Channel 4, for which Atalla’s Roughcut TV has made a wealth of shows down the years including current hit Big Boys, announced it will be laying off around 240 staff as part of a ‘Fast Forward’ strategy, which will see Film4 and TV drama commissioning merged. Channel 5-owner Paramount, meanwhile, is prepping to make hundreds of layoffs in the States and UK-based international studios boss Maria Kyriacou is leaving.

“Yesterday felt like a ‘Black Monday’ in the world of TV,” Atalla said last night on a Royal Television Society panel.

With production on season 3 of Prime Video’s Reacher currently underway, Amazon has officially announced which of Lee Child’s novels this season will be adapting. In a press release, it was revealed that season 3 will tell the story of the seventh Reacher novel Persuader – which sees the titular hero go undercover to take down a drug smuggler, seek revenge for the death of a fallen friend, and fight against someone even bigger than he is. Yes, you read that correctly. There’s a very good chance that TV’s biggest boy, Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson), will have to fight a baddie even bigger than he is this season.

In the novel, Persuader, Reacher stumbles into a job with the DEA after spotting an old enemy, Francis Xavier Quinn, outside of Boston’s symphony hall. Quinn killed two of Reacher’s colleagues years ago, and was presumed dead after the fact.

Newly-created UK sales outfit Rapt Films International has acquired Corey Sherman’s US drama Big Boys, for all rights outside North America.

Big Boys is US filmmaker Sherman’s feature debut, which premiered at BFI Flare: London Lgbtqia Film Festival in March 2023, going on to win the audience award for best narrative feature at Outfest. The coming-of-age comedy sees a teenage boy’s unexpected crush turn a camping trip into a weekend of self-discovery.

The film stars Isaac Krasner, who will soon appear in Amazon’s Holland, Michigan starring Nicole Kidman; with supporting cast including Dora Madison, Taj Cross, Emily Deschanel and David Johnson III.

We're back! After scandalously taking Christmas off, (Boyd is still furious about it) Pilot makes a triumphant return to your ears this week, accompanied by legendary star of The Wire Clarke Peters, here talking about his new Channel 4 show Truelove. Plus Kay, Boyd and James run through their televisual resolutions but also catch you all up on all the shows that aired over the first week of January.

Beyond that, Jack Rooke's Big Boys returns to Channel 4, Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo arrive on Apple TV with Criminal Record, and Sophie Rundle gets swept away in ITV drama After The Flood.

Listen to the episode on :a[your podcast app of choice]{href='https://podfollow.com/pilot-tv-podcast' } or the player above. And if you want to subscribe to Pilot TV , :a[find all the details here]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/pilottv/' }.

This Sunday on Channel 4, “Big Boys” Season 2 continues with Episode 2, offering viewers another hilarious installment of the gang’s adventures. Airing at 10:30 Pm, the episode unfolds with Jack and Danny’s comical attempts to woo a fresher, showcasing their humorous antics in the realm of university life.

Meanwhile, Corinne and Yemi find success in their own pursuits, adding a touch of romantic and mischievous escapades to the mix. The episode takes an intriguing turn when Peggy convinces Shannon to take the plunge and reach out to her mystery one-night stand, promising a blend of laughter, drama, and unexpected connections.

Tune in on Sunday, January 14, 2024, at 10:30 Pm for a night of laughs and lighthearted chaos with “Big Boys” Season 2 Episode 2 on Channel 4. With its relatable yet amusing portrayal of university experiences, the show continues to entertain audiences with its quirky characters and humorous take on the ups and downs of student life.

This Sunday on Channel 4, the second season of “Big Boys” kicks off with Episode 1, titled “Big Boys.” Airing at 10:00 Pm, the episode centers around Jack’s dilemma as the gang faces the challenges of finding accommodation for their second year while simultaneously navigating the emotional intricacies of his late father’s 60th birthday party.

As Jack grapples with the complexities of this milestone event, the gang’s struggle for a place to call home adds an extra layer of tension to the narrative. The episode takes an unexpected turn when Jack finds himself in an eye-opening gay encounter in the toilets, adding a humorous twist to the storyline.

Tune in on Sunday, January 14, 2024, at 10:00 Pm for a night of laughs and relatable chaos with “Big Boys” Season 2 Episode 1 on Channel 4. With its blend of humor, heartfelt moments, and the quirky dynamics of the gang, the show promises an...

UTA has signed British television creator, writer and executive producer Jack Rooke.

Rooke is the creator, executive producer and narrator of U.K.’s Channel 4 series, “Big Boys,” which is based on his award-winning Edinburgh Fringe comedy shows. Set in 2013 comedy-drama produced by Roughcut TV follows shy, closeted Jack (Dylan Llewellyn) who has spent the past year at home with his mother. He’s been grieving for his father but the time has come for him to take his place at university where he meets his roommate, mature student Danny (Jon Pointing) and an unlikely friendship develops.

The series premiered to much critical acclaim, receiving a Wggb (Writers’ Guild of Great Britain) award for best comedy and BAFTA nominations including two for best comedy writer and best comedy series. It also scored Rts (Royal Television Society) award nominations for. Season 2, set in the 2014-15 academic year is set to premiere this winter.

Jack Rooke’s sitcom Big Boys returns to Channel 4 in January, and the details of the new run have landed.

Big Boys, Jack Rooke’s autobiographical sitcom about his experience at university, was one of the comedic treats of last year.

Derry Girls’ Dylan Llewellyn and Jon Pointing play two disparate young men, Jack and Danny, who find themselves as roommates in their first year of University. The former is closeted and sensitive, the latter is full of boorish bonhomie, but despite their differences they form a touching, tender bond, and Rooke’s writing covers everything from Jack exploring his sexuality to Danny’s mental health.

It proved a hit for Channel 4, which didn’t waste an awful lot of time in ordering up more episodes. Those episodes are nearly with us, too.

What’s more, we now have a synopsis for series two, which reads as follows:

Series...

There’s an everyday magical quality to the brief summer camping trip in which quiet yet formative changes take hold in Big Boys, Corey Sherman’s slender but lovely study of a chubby gay teen’s first steps toward self-acceptance. The stigma of body-shaming on queer kids in the early stages of their evolution is under-explored territory, refreshingly examined here less in its isolation than its incipient liberation — via time spent with a plus-size dude who exudes sexy, confident masculinity and a barrel-load of empathy.

The writer-director’s personal experience is threaded through every scene of a well-acted movie that’s sure to be a modest crowd-pleaser at LGBTQ festivals and could also land streamer exposure. The kind of young queer audiences who made Netflix’s Heartstoppers a hit should gravitate to this highly specific but relatable story, which will speak most directly to awkward-age boys struggling to see how...

To celebrate the release of Medusa Deluxe, which arrives in UK cinemas this weekend, we sat down with one of the star’s of the trippy new film to find out more.

Shining a light on the obsessive world of hairdressing, this extravagant whodunnit features an array of electric performances from its dynamic cast which includes Clare Perkins, Kae Alexander, Harriet Webb , Darrell D’Silva (Informer), and Luke Pasqualino. After a stylist is found dead, the remaining competitors try to uncover the killer over the course of an evening, Rivalry and mistrust build as the remaining group of determined contestants suspect that someone may be trying to rig the competition, by gruesomely picking off its entrants.

Chatting to Luke Pasqualino, who plays the mysterious Angel in the film, we talk about the immediate lure to the film, it’s uniqueness and why its originality is to celebrated, the challenges of shooting in one continuous take,...

The BAFTA TV Awards concluded on Sunday, May 14 at the Royal Festival Hall in Southbank, London, with “Bad Sisters,” “This is Going to Hurt,” and “Derry Girls” the big winners with two awards each. You can take a look at the full list of winners here but read down further below for a number of interviews that happened backstage at the BAFTAs in the winners’ press conference room.

Ben Whishaw — Best Actor for “This is Going to Hurt” and BAFTA Must See Moment award for Paddington Bear meeting The Queen in “Platinum Jubilee: Party at the Palace”

Whishaw won his third BAFTA award for “This is Going to Hurt” by beating fellow nominees Gary Oldman (“Slow Horses”), Taron Egerton (“Black Bird”), Martin Freeman (“The Responder”), Cillian Murphy (“Peaky Blinders”), and Chaske Spencer (“The English”). He previously won two other TV awards — Best Actor in 2013 for “The Hollow Crown” and Best...

One of British TV's biggest nights happened on Sunday, with the BAFTA TV Awards. And it was a good time to be anyone associated with Derry Girls, Bad Sisters or a particular reality TV show that revolves around betrayal.

Among the winners, Bad Sisters' Anne-Marie Duff scored the first performance trophy for someone from an Apple TV series, while the show itself took home drama series. Ben Whishaw won Leading Actor, Drama for This Is Going To Hurt., while The Traitors nabbed two awards, both in its category and for host Claudia Winkleman in Entertainment Performance.

The public, meanwhile, voted Paddington's meeting with the Queen as part of last year's Jubilee celebrations as Memorable Moment.

See the full list of winners below.

Drama Series

Bad Sisters (Winner)

The Responder

Sherwood

Somewhere Boy

Scripted Comedy

Derry Girls (Winner)

Am I Being Unreasonable?

Big Boys

Ghosts

Leading Actor

Ben Whishaw – This Is Going To Hurt...

It was a big night for Irish talent at this year’s British version of the Emmys, the BAFTA TV Awards, which were doled out at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Hosted by Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett, two Irish series — – “Bad Sisters” and “Derry Girls” — won a pair of prizes as did the telefilm “I Am Ruth.”

“Derry Girls” won Best Scripted Comedy for its fourth and final season, which was a lovely parting gift for writer and creator Lisa McGee. The show beat out “Ghosts,” “Big Boys,” and “Am I Being Unreasonable?” although the latter did pick up the prize for Best Comedy Actor for 14-year-old Lenny Rush. He edged out Matt Berry (“What We Do In The Shadows”), Joseph Gilgun (“Brassic”), Stephen Merchant (“The Outlaws”), Jon Pointing (“Big Boys”), and Daniel Radcliffe (“Weird: The Al Yankovic Story”).

“Derry Girls” also won Best Comedy Actress for Siobhán McSweeney,...

The 2023 BAFTA TV Awards took place at Royal Festival Hall in London on Sunday evening, honoring the best performances in British television in 2022. The ceremony, which was hosted by comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan, paid tribute to an eclectic mix of popular British shows and international hits.

The third and final season of “Derry Girls” was a big winner, with Lisa McGee’s Netflix-distributed series winning Best Scripted Comedy and Best Female Performance In a Comedy Program for Siobhán Mcsweeney.

Kate Winslet also had a big night, winning Best Leading Actress for her role in the Channel 4 series “I Am Ruth.” The series was also honored with a win in the Single Drama category. Best Leading Actor went to Ben Whishaw for his work on “This Is Going to Hurt.” Netflix’s “Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” won Best International Series.

On the unscripted side,...