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Tag: Doctor Who

  • BBC’s ‘Doctor Who’ writer Steven Moffat replaced by Chris Chibnall

    BBC’s ‘Doctor Who’ writer Steven Moffat replaced by Chris Chibnall

    MUMBAI: After six series at the helm, the multi-award-winning Steven Moffat has decided to step down as the lead writer and executive producer of Doctor Who.

     

    Moffat took over the reins on Series 5 in 2010 and during his tenure the show has become a truly global success. He has been responsible for introducing the eleventh and the twelfth doctors in Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi; as well as two companions Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) and iconic characters and monsters including River Song (Alex Kingston), Missy (Michelle Gomez), Rory Pond (Arthur Darvill) and the terrifying Weeping Angels.

     

    Additionally, the hit 50th Anniversary special in 2013, which saw fans around the world celebrate the world’s longest-running sci-fi series with the Doctors Matt Smith, David Tennant and John Hurt battling the deadly Daleks in a feature-length episode. Steven’s final series will air on BBC One in spring 2017 and there will be a Christmas Special in 2016.

     

    Moffat says, “Feels odd to be talking about leaving when I’m just starting work on the scripts for season 10, but the fact is my timey-wimey is running out. While Chris is doing his last run of Broadchurch, I’ll be finishing up on the best job in the universe and keeping the TARDIS warm for him. It took a lot of gin and tonic to talk him into this, but I am beyond delighted that one of the true stars of British Television drama will be taking the Time Lord even further into the future. At the start of season 11, Chris Chibnall will become the new showrunner of Doctor Who. And I will be thrown in a skip.”

     

    Like Moffat, Chibnall is also a lifelong Doctor Who fan and a multi-award-winning writer and executive producer. He has most recently achieved success with the triple-BAFTA-winning hit ITV seriesBroadchurch. His other credits include The Great Train Robbery, United, Law & Order: UK, Life On Mars and Torchwood. Chibnall’s debut series will launch in 2018.

     

    Chibnall says, “Doctor Who is the ultimate BBC programme: bold, unique, vastly entertaining, and adored all around the world. So it’s a privilege and a joy to be the next curator of this funny, scary and emotional family drama. I’ve loved Doctor Who since I was four years old, and I’m relishing the thought of working with the exceptional team at BBC Wales to create new characters, creatures and worlds for the Doctor to explore. Steven’s achieved the impossible by continually expanding Doctor Who’s creative ambition, while growing its global popularity. He’s been a dazzling and daring showrunner, and hearing his plans and stories for 2017, it’s clear he’ll be going out with a bang. Just to make my life difficult.”

     

    BBC One controller Charlotte Moore adds, “I want to thank Steven Moffat for everything he has givenDoctor Who – I’ve loved working with him, he is an absolute genius and has brought fans all over the world such joy. I will be very sad to see him leave the show, but I can’t wait to see what he will deliver in his last ever series next year with a brand new companion. I have decided to schedule Steven’s big finale series in spring 2017 to bring the nation together for what will be a huge event on the channel. 2016 is spoilt with national moments including the Euros and Olympics and I want to hold something big back for 2017 – I promise it will be worth the wait! I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome Chris Chibnall, a wonderfully talented writer who I know will bring something very special to the hit series.”

     

    BBC Drama Commissioning controller Polly Hill says, “Like Charlotte, I would like to thank Steven for his brilliance, which has made Doctor Who a global hit under his tenure. Chris Chibnall is the perfect successor to take over the reins of this incredible show, so I am delighted that his love for Doctor Who has made it impossible for him to resist! Chris is an incredible writer and his vision and passion for Doctor Who gives it an exciting future and promises to be a real treat for Doctor Who fans across the world.”

  • BBC’s ‘Doctor Who’ writer Steven Moffat replaced by Chris Chibnall

    BBC’s ‘Doctor Who’ writer Steven Moffat replaced by Chris Chibnall

    MUMBAI: After six series at the helm, the multi-award-winning Steven Moffat has decided to step down as the lead writer and executive producer of Doctor Who.

     

    Moffat took over the reins on Series 5 in 2010 and during his tenure the show has become a truly global success. He has been responsible for introducing the eleventh and the twelfth doctors in Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi; as well as two companions Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) and iconic characters and monsters including River Song (Alex Kingston), Missy (Michelle Gomez), Rory Pond (Arthur Darvill) and the terrifying Weeping Angels.

     

    Additionally, the hit 50th Anniversary special in 2013, which saw fans around the world celebrate the world’s longest-running sci-fi series with the Doctors Matt Smith, David Tennant and John Hurt battling the deadly Daleks in a feature-length episode. Steven’s final series will air on BBC One in spring 2017 and there will be a Christmas Special in 2016.

     

    Moffat says, “Feels odd to be talking about leaving when I’m just starting work on the scripts for season 10, but the fact is my timey-wimey is running out. While Chris is doing his last run of Broadchurch, I’ll be finishing up on the best job in the universe and keeping the TARDIS warm for him. It took a lot of gin and tonic to talk him into this, but I am beyond delighted that one of the true stars of British Television drama will be taking the Time Lord even further into the future. At the start of season 11, Chris Chibnall will become the new showrunner of Doctor Who. And I will be thrown in a skip.”

     

    Like Moffat, Chibnall is also a lifelong Doctor Who fan and a multi-award-winning writer and executive producer. He has most recently achieved success with the triple-BAFTA-winning hit ITV seriesBroadchurch. His other credits include The Great Train Robbery, United, Law & Order: UK, Life On Mars and Torchwood. Chibnall’s debut series will launch in 2018.

     

    Chibnall says, “Doctor Who is the ultimate BBC programme: bold, unique, vastly entertaining, and adored all around the world. So it’s a privilege and a joy to be the next curator of this funny, scary and emotional family drama. I’ve loved Doctor Who since I was four years old, and I’m relishing the thought of working with the exceptional team at BBC Wales to create new characters, creatures and worlds for the Doctor to explore. Steven’s achieved the impossible by continually expanding Doctor Who’s creative ambition, while growing its global popularity. He’s been a dazzling and daring showrunner, and hearing his plans and stories for 2017, it’s clear he’ll be going out with a bang. Just to make my life difficult.”

     

    BBC One controller Charlotte Moore adds, “I want to thank Steven Moffat for everything he has givenDoctor Who – I’ve loved working with him, he is an absolute genius and has brought fans all over the world such joy. I will be very sad to see him leave the show, but I can’t wait to see what he will deliver in his last ever series next year with a brand new companion. I have decided to schedule Steven’s big finale series in spring 2017 to bring the nation together for what will be a huge event on the channel. 2016 is spoilt with national moments including the Euros and Olympics and I want to hold something big back for 2017 – I promise it will be worth the wait! I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome Chris Chibnall, a wonderfully talented writer who I know will bring something very special to the hit series.”

     

    BBC Drama Commissioning controller Polly Hill says, “Like Charlotte, I would like to thank Steven for his brilliance, which has made Doctor Who a global hit under his tenure. Chris Chibnall is the perfect successor to take over the reins of this incredible show, so I am delighted that his love for Doctor Who has made it impossible for him to resist! Chris is an incredible writer and his vision and passion for Doctor Who gives it an exciting future and promises to be a real treat for Doctor Who fans across the world.”

  • FX to premiere special episodes of ‘Doctor Who’

    FX to premiere special episodes of ‘Doctor Who’

    MUMBAI: With Christmas right around the corner, many show creators are all set to play Santa – giving viewers a truly X-Mas’y feeling. But nothing tops the Christmas offering that FX has in its Santa bag! A double treat for viewers this Christmas, FX will extend the festive feeling right from Christmas, 25 December 2015 up to 27 December 2015 for a merry-making X-Mas weekend.

     

    On 25 December 2015, the edgy entertainment channel as part of its Christmas will air Christmas special episodes of Doctor Who from its previous seasons namely Last Christmas – part 1 and part 2 , The Time of the Doctor – part 1 and 2, The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe – part 1 and 2 and A Christmas Carol – part 1 and 2. The Christmas special marathon will be on-air all day on Christmas, starting 12 pm right till 8 pm. But the merriment does not end here.

     

    As part of an extended Christmas offering, FX and FX HD will be showcasing the all-new Christmas special episode The Husbands of River Song simulcast on 27 December at 11 pm.

     

    The all-new and exciting episode The Husbands of River Song boasts the return of River Song (played by guest star) Alex Kingston. One of the most loved characters on the show since 2008, Professor River Song was introduced to the series as an experienced future companion of series protagonist the Doctor, an alien Time Lord who travels through time in his Tardis. A time-traveller herself, River was initially a companion, then a romantic interest and eventually became the wife of the Doctor in his eleventh incarnation, portrayed by Matt Smith. Other actresses have subsequently portrayed younger versions of the character since her first appearance in 2008.

     

    It’s Christmas Day in the future and the Tardis is parked on a snowy village street, covered in icicles, awaiting its next adventure. Time traveller River Song meets her husband’s new incarnation, in the form of Peter Capaldi, for the first time this Christmas. But wait, will she even know that the Doctor is the Doctor? And is she married to someone else too?

     

    The episode follows the Doctor’s latest adventure when on Christmas Day 5343, in the remote human colony of Mendorax Dellora, the Doctor is hiding from Christmas carollers and comedy reindeer antlers. But when a crashed spaceship calls upon him for help, the doctor quickly finds himself recruited into River Song’s squad, and hurled into a fast, frantic chase across the galaxy pursued by River’s new husband, his Infinite Majesty King Hydroflax of the Final Cluster. Will any of them make it out alive? And when will River Song work out who the Doctor is? All will be revealed on a star-liner full of galactic super-villains, and a destination the Doctor has been avoiding for a very long time

     

    The 2015 Doctor Who Christmas special is written by the series’ lead writer and executive producer, Steven Moffat. It is executive produced by Brian Minchin, produced by Nikki Wilson and directed by Douglas Mackinnon of both, Doctor Who and Sherlock fame.

     

    “To be honest, I did not know whether River would ever return to the show,” said Kingston of the special. “But here she is, back with the Doctor for the Christmas special. Steven Moffat is on glittering form, giving us an episode filled with humor and surprise guest castings. I met Peter for the first time at Monday’s read through. We had a laugh, and I am now excited and ready to start filming with him and the Doctor Who team.”

     

    “Another Christmas, another special for Doctor Who,” says Moffat, “and what could be more special than the return of Alex Kingston as Professor River Song? The last time the Doctor saw her, she was a ghost. The first time he met her, she died. So how can he be seeing her again? As ever, with the most complicated relationship in the universe, it’s a matter of time…”

  • After ‘Breaking Bad’, 5 TV shows that can turn into Bollywood movies

    After ‘Breaking Bad’, 5 TV shows that can turn into Bollywood movies

    MUMBAI: After news broke that Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is keen to acquire the rights for the popular American crime drama series Breaking Bad and wants to make it into a Hindi movie, there’s been a somewhat mixed reaction from the audience at large.

     

    While some are looking forward to the Bollywood spin, some others are reluctant towards the quality of the new conversion.

     

    We at Indiantelevision.com decided to sift out five widely loved English television series that successfully penetrated in the Indian market, which have the potential to be made into Bollywood movies.

     

    Read on…

     

    1. Doctor Who

     

    Doctor Who is a British science-fiction television, which successfully ran for a period of 26 seasons with nine series and approximately 825 episodes. This series shows the adventures of the Doctor, a Time Lord—a space and time-travelling humanoid alien exploring the universe. The series has become a cult television favourite and seeing its popularity amongst the audience globally would definitely earn a million bucks if converted into a Bollywood film.

     

    2. Quantico

     

    This Priyanka Chopra starrer is a much talked about series in the society with a crazy following. Quantico, recently launched, is an American television thriller series revolving around a group of young FBI recruits; each having a specific reason for joining. Flashbacks detail their previous lives, while the recruits battle their way through training at the academy in Quantico. With the buzz and the following the series has created, it will definitely touch new heights of fame if converted into a movie. And on the top, this series would not even face actress issues.

     

    3. Game of Thrones

     

    This series has to be in the list seeing the crazy following the show has achieved. Game of Thrones is an American fantasy drama television series and has attracted record numbers of viewers on HBO and attained an exceptionally broad and active international fan base. Seeing the already high level of curiosity amongst the audience for the show, it will, without doubt, be a movie to die for.

     

    4. How I Met Your Mother

     

    Sure, it will be quite a stunt if Bollywood can pull off a mammoth of a series such as How I Met Your Mother into a film even by our standards of a long movie; but the result could be more relatable to the Indian audience than we think. If looked at in a nutshell How I Met Your Mother works on that perfect romantic comedy formula – a formula we have seen plenty of filmmakers use and reap in millions at the box office. It has friendship, comedy, romance, some drama and a multi star cast — a combination that directors like Rohit Shetty would kill for!

     

    5. Dexter

    Like Breaking Bad, the concept of anti-hero has off-late appealed to the Indian audience. A different side of it could be seen in films like Drishyam and Kickk where the hero takes on the ‘bad guy’ role, to cleanse the society off its evil doers. In short, a vigilante. Add a badass lead, some serial killers, unsolved murder mysteries, and blood and gore to the formula and you have a Bollywood equivalent of the popular thriller series Dexter. Though we can’t predict if India is ready to cheer for a serial killer yet, Bollywood’s attempt at Dexter is certainly something to look forward to.

  • 10 British shows that tasted success in India

    10 British shows that tasted success in India

    MUMBAI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to improve Indo-Britain relationship is a great development. As Modi said, “UK and India were ‘two strong economies and two innovative societies’ and that both the societies need to aim at better and higher ambitions.”

    It is a widely acknowledged fact that streaming services on television make for easier and zestier lives. But at the same time it is practically impossible to catch up with all the new shows that are aired or launched on all the diverse platforms that are available in the eco-system.

    While Modi tries his best to build a more productive relationship with the UK, we at indiantelevision.com have made our own attempts to sate the binge viewers. These are people who might want to take a break from the oft discussed developments between the two nations, by discovering or going back to the massive bouquet of home-grown television shows from UK which were also visible on Indian television screens.

    Here’s a list of a few TV shows from the UK which were successful in India.

    1. Black Mirror

    Black Mirror, Charlie Brooker’s ground breaking anthology series, is something well and truly out of this world, with the originality and potential to continue      for many years to come. Each episode has a different cast, a different setting, a different reality. But they’re all about the way we live now – and the way we  might be living in 10 minutes’ time if we were clumsy. The anthology shows the darker side of life and technology with each featuring a different social  commentary on society’s increased obsession with modern technology and social media. Black Mirror is just two series old with its inception in 2011. In  September 2015 Netflix decided to commission the third series with 12 episodes on its platform. 

    2. The Jewel in the Crown

     The Jewel in the Crown is a television serial about the final days of the British Raj in India during World War II, based upon the Raj Quartet novels by British  author Paul Scott. The story begins with an unjust arrest for rape, and the consequences of this echo through the series. Questions of identity and personal  responsibility are explored against a background of war and personal intrigue. The series was first aired in 9 January 1984 and was on board till 3 April 1984.

    3. Doctor Who

     Doctor Who is a British science-fiction television programme produced by the BBC from 1963 to 2015. From the sound of the theme tune to the Dalek cries of  ‘Exterminate!’ the show has seen fifty years of rich history, mass appeal and a huge global fan base. The programme depicts the adventures of a Doctor, over  2,000 years old, travelling through time and space in a blue police box and is rarely seen without his companions. The revived series of Doctor Who began  airing in March of 2005, 42 years after the original series debuted, in 1963. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the show, a special 3D episode, The Day of  the Doctor, was broadcasted in 2013. It is rumoured that the series will continue to air till 2020.

    4. Downton Abbey

     The series depicts the lives of the Crawley family and their staff in the post-Edwardian era. The show has, over three series, incorporated historical events into  its stories such as the sinking of the Titanic, the Irish revolution and most notably, the Great War and its aftermath, all of which are shown to affect the family  in different ways. The series has won a plethora of awards and by the third series it claimed to be one of the widely watched TV series in the world. On 26  March 2015, Carnival Films and ITV announced that the sixth series would be the last and was expected to air in late 2015, with a final episode, serving as the  annual Christmas special, expected to air on 25 December 2015.

    5. Mind your language

     The show was first aired in 1977 and it prevailed till 1986 on ITV. The comedy is set in an adult education college in London and focuses on English as a  foreign language class taught by Mr Jeremy Brown, portrayed by Barry Evans, who had to deal with a motley crew of foreign students. Three series were made  between the year 1977 to 1979 and the show was briefly revived in 1986 with six of the original cast. The plot shows Barry Evans playing a language teacher  who tries to make a living by teaching English to immigrants. With pupils from India, France, China, and many other countries, his lessons do not always go as  planned.

    6. Mr Bean

     his 15 episodic starring Rowan Atkinson was launched in 1990 and ruled the comedy genre till 1995. Mr. Bean, a much loved and widely popular sitcom, is a  grown man who seems to have been literally born yesterday. He gets up to ingenious oddball nonsense every episode while all the time remaining silent. When  he does speak, it’s with a croaky voice. Bean was revived in 2002 as an animated cartoon series. The series, which consists of 63 episodes, expanded the  number of additional characters, featuring Bean’s unpleasant landlady, Mrs. Wicket, and her evil one-eyed cat, Scrapper. Mr Bean has won many awards in the  comedy and light entertainment genre.

    7. Peep Show

     Peep Show is a sitcom starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb. The longest running show on Channel 4 started in 2003 with 9 successful series. The plot lies  between the lives of two young-to-middle-aged men and a flat. Peep Show sounds unoriginal at first, but it is an enduring and eternally humorous show that  brings out the best in two of Britain’s finest comedic talents. The last series of the show was premiered on 11 November 2015.

    8. Pride and Prejudice

     This show is adapted from Jane Austen’s 1813 novel with the same name. It is about the prejudice that occurred between the 19th century classes and the  pride which would keep lovers apart. The 6 episodic was flagged from 24 September to 29 October 1995 starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth  as Elizabeth  Bennet and Mr Darcy and was produced by Sue Birtwistle and directed by Simon Langton.

    9. Sherlock

     Sherlock is a crime drama television series and a contemporary adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle‘s Sherlock Holmes detective stories. Created by Steven  Moffat and Mark Gatiss, it stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Doctor John Watson. The first sires was aired in 2010  followed by the second series in 2012 and the widely viewed third series in 2014. Production of series 4 is expected to start in 2016 with a launch planned in  2017.

    10. Top Gear

     This British television series is all about motor vehicles, primarily cars, and is ranked as one of the most widely watched factual television programme in the  world. Top Gear began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine programme, but over time, and especially since a re-launch in 2002, it has developed a  quirky and humorous and sometimes controversial style. Top Gear started with Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James Dawe talking about everything  car-related with each finely crafted episode with good cinematography, music, commentary and choice of subject matter. The twenty third series of Top  Gear will be hosted by Chris Evans and will go on floors in 2016.

  • FX gets psychological crime drama ‘Luther’ to India

    FX gets psychological crime drama ‘Luther’ to India

    MUMBAI: Indian viewers are in for multi-dimensional miniseries experience this August. ‘Luther’- a critically acclaimed dark psychological crime series, will take Indian viewers through a twisted and thrilling journey the fascinating world of crime. Starting 17th August, the channel will showcase the series every Monday to Friday at 10pm.

     

    Crackling with spine-chilling suspense and a gripping storyline, Luther stars Idris Elba in the lead role as John Luther, a brilliantly genius yet emotionally impulsive detective who might be as dangerous as the depraved murderers he hunts. Just on the right side of ruthless, John Luther brilliantly tackles one outrageous, high-profile case after another, each compelling him to confront and rise above his own moral dualities. As he battles his own terrible demons and takes on the sociopathic criminals, Luther treads on the brink of becoming a predator or a prey.

     

    The star of the show is Idris Elba as John Luther, essaying a strong performance that won him a Golden Globe Best Actor award. Best known for his roles in The Wire, Thor and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Idris Elba is an award winning British television, theatre & film actor. In addition to his acting work, Elba is a DJ under the moniker DJ Big Driis (or Big Driis the Londoner) and a hip-hop soul musician. Another notable actor, a two-time Olivier Award and Golden Globe Award winner, Ruth Wilson plays the psychotically brilliant and close friend of Luther, Alice Morgan. Alice insinuates herself into Luther’s business and personal life both as an enemy and ally while providing the show with its most visceral kicks. The actress has earned global attention for her roles in Suburban Shootout and Jane Eyre.

     

    Bringing the entire series from season 1 to the premiere of season 3 to India, FX will add the international hit to its robust line-up of the edgiest shows across categories. FX has already built an array of shows across genres with recent launches like Doctor Who, Empire and many more in the future. Staying true to its tagline “Edge of Entertainment”, FX is treating its Indian viewers to the most evolved, the edgiest and risqué international content spanning genres including comedy, crime, reality and more.

  • ‘Doctor Who’ to air on FX from 15 May

    ‘Doctor Who’ to air on FX from 15 May

    MUMBAI: Come 15 May, and FX is all set to invade Indian television screens with one of the greatest science fiction series Doctor Who.

     

    It may be recalled that Indiantelevision.com has reported last month that the channel was all set to launch the cult show in India.

     

    Doctor Who will be aired every Monday to Friday at 9 pm on FX.

     

    Produced by the BBC Wales, Doctor Whois the longest running sci-fi TV show in the world. A significant part of British popular culture, the iconic series follows the adventures of the Doctor, a Time Lord – a time-travelling humanoid alien. He explores the universe in his Tardis, a sentient time-travelling space ship. Along with a succession of companions, the Doctor combats a variety of foes while working to save civilizations and help people in need.

     

    Doctor Who executive producer Brian Minchin says, “We are delighted that Doctor Who is going to hit the screens of FX. We’re hugely proud of the show and the Doctor’s adventures in time and space. Hold on tight – there are thrills and wonders ahead! 51 years ago, the very first episode of Doctor Who was directed by Waris Hussein, born in Lucknow. I like to think we’ve finally come full circle with the new modern series launching in India on FX.”

     

    Doctor Who has a phenomenal following millions fans across the globe winning 98 television awards. Until 2015, the series even holds the Guinness World Record for the largest simulcast of a TV drama – 98 countries across six continents. Over the recent years, Doctor Who has won over five million fans on Facebook, 1.2 million followers on Twitter, and in November 2014, the YouTube channel bagged a new subscriber every 41 seconds.

     

    To give the show an apt promotional platform, FX has created an integrated marketing campaign reiterating the channel’s tagline- The Edge of Entertainment. Reaching out to all the ‘edge seekers’, FX India has also made a music video complete with original composition, zany graphics and footage that has been specially created to announce the show’s launch and the impending arrival of the Doctor.

     

    Commenting on the cult fan-following and Doctor Who’s travel to India, an official spokesperson from Star India said, “We are very excited to be associating with BBC and bringing a cult show such as Doctor Who to Indian audiences. The show has garnered tremendous popularity internationally, and we believe that the unique concept along with a strong integrated marketing campaign at FX will make it big in India too. We are already receiving a great response from fans post the announcement, and anticipate much more.”

  • ‘BBC First’ block to launch on AXN Mystery in Japan

    ‘BBC First’ block to launch on AXN Mystery in Japan

    MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide and Sony Pictures Television Networks in Japan have launched BBC First on AXN Mystery, marking the global debut of the BBC First-branded programme block.

     

    AXN Mystery is Japan’s only dedicated mystery channel, bringing together premium mystery drama from around the world.

     

    The BBC First block, which will launch in Japan on 7 May at 10 pm, will provide a home for award-winning and premium crime, mystery, and thriller programmes from the UK. The block will air for two hours every Thursday. Viewers will also be able to catch-up on some of their favourite programmes on the block via AXN Mystery Plus, a free on-demand service for AXN Mystery subscribers on their TVs, PCs, tablets and smartphones.

     

    AXN Mystery viewers will have access to top rated and awarding winning British dramas including Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman; Doctor Who, the longest running science fiction series in the world;  as well as The Game, the stylish edgy spy thriller set in the Cold War, which will make its Asia premiere on the channel. 

     

    “AXN Mystery has had great success with British dramas, which have attracted a strong Japanese following with their high production value and unique style of storytelling, so it made perfect sense to create a destination for them on our schedule. We are confident that the carefully curated programme lineup for BBC First will bring even more audiences to the channel,” said Sony Pictures Television Networks, Japan general manager – AXN Mystery Hiroko Ozawa.

     

    “The BBC has a world-class reputation for drama. With this at its core, the BBC First programme block will offer Japan’s audiences an unrivalled opportunity to view a wealth of original and unforgettable British content. Over the months ahead, we will be offering viewers more opportunities to catch the best and latest crime, suspense and mystery dramas from the UK,” added BBC Worldwide, North East Asia VP and GM Soojin Chung.

     

    The BBC First programming block in Japan is the second launch of the genre brand worldwide. In August 2014, BBC First channel launched in Australia on Foxtel’s pay TV platform.

  • FX India to launch ‘Doctor Who’ series in May

    FX India to launch ‘Doctor Who’ series in May

    MUMBAI: Even as the leaked emails from Sony Pictures Entertainment have revealed the studio is planning a Hollywood movie on the cult sci-fi series Doctor Who, FX India is all set to air the series this May. 

     

    FX India will launch the series on 15 May and will air it from Monday to Friday at 9 pm.

     

    Doctor Who series first aired in 1963 and has become a cult favorite among many. Over the years, 13 actors have featured in the series as the Doctor.