:-(
A former member
So its a comedy playhouse? I wish there would bring that back instead with new stuff.
http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/bbc1-in-talks-to-revive-five-classic-sitcoms/5096913.article
http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/bbc1-in-talks-to-revive-five-classic-sitcoms/5096913.article
Quote:
BBC1 is in talks to revive at least five classic sitcoms, including The Good Life, Are You Being Served? and Porridge, as part of a celebration of the genre next year.
Broadcast understands re-makes of Up Pompeii! and Keeping Up Appearances are also being eyed as the channel aims to commission a season of 30-minute specials, marking 60 years since Hancock’s Half Hour became the first sitcom on British television.
The projects are at a variety of stages and are being overseen by BBC Productions comedy executive producer Ben Farrell, who is in discussions with writers and talent. Comedy controller Shane Allen will be responsible for the commissions for BBC1.
This weekend, Porridge creator Ian La Frenais confirmed to the Sunday Times that he was working on a modern version of the much-loved Ronnie Barker sitcom.
“We were asked by the BBC to do a revival and decided to set it right up to date,” he told the paper. “It will be set in a modern prison while Slade was of course Victorian.”
Broadcast understands that James Corden was approached to take on Barker’s role as Norman Stanley Fletcher, but will not be able to appear due to his commitments in the US. Johnny Vegas has also been linked to the role.
In September, BBC1 announced plans to revisit classic comedy characters as part of a special season in 2016. Although the current ambition is to offer 30-minute specials, the BBC would not rule out taking some of the revivals to series if they are successful.
BBC1 has already shown there is an appetite for classic sitcoms, following the return of Open All Hours in 2013. The Boxing Day special, Still Open All Hours, drew 12.2m (43.9%) and has since been commissioned for two series.
Still Open All Hours writer Roy Clarke is understood to be involved in the special of Keeping Up Appearances, the sitcom he created in 1990.
The BBC will be on the hunt for new writers for The Good Life, Are You Being Served? and Up Pompeii! after the original creators of those shows have died.
Bob Larbey and John Esmonde wrote The Good Life, Are You Being Served? was created by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft, and Talbot Rothwell was responsible for Up Pompeii!.
Broadcast understands re-makes of Up Pompeii! and Keeping Up Appearances are also being eyed as the channel aims to commission a season of 30-minute specials, marking 60 years since Hancock’s Half Hour became the first sitcom on British television.
The projects are at a variety of stages and are being overseen by BBC Productions comedy executive producer Ben Farrell, who is in discussions with writers and talent. Comedy controller Shane Allen will be responsible for the commissions for BBC1.
This weekend, Porridge creator Ian La Frenais confirmed to the Sunday Times that he was working on a modern version of the much-loved Ronnie Barker sitcom.
“We were asked by the BBC to do a revival and decided to set it right up to date,” he told the paper. “It will be set in a modern prison while Slade was of course Victorian.”
Broadcast understands that James Corden was approached to take on Barker’s role as Norman Stanley Fletcher, but will not be able to appear due to his commitments in the US. Johnny Vegas has also been linked to the role.
In September, BBC1 announced plans to revisit classic comedy characters as part of a special season in 2016. Although the current ambition is to offer 30-minute specials, the BBC would not rule out taking some of the revivals to series if they are successful.
BBC1 has already shown there is an appetite for classic sitcoms, following the return of Open All Hours in 2013. The Boxing Day special, Still Open All Hours, drew 12.2m (43.9%) and has since been commissioned for two series.
Still Open All Hours writer Roy Clarke is understood to be involved in the special of Keeping Up Appearances, the sitcom he created in 1990.
The BBC will be on the hunt for new writers for The Good Life, Are You Being Served? and Up Pompeii! after the original creators of those shows have died.
Bob Larbey and John Esmonde wrote The Good Life, Are You Being Served? was created by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft, and Talbot Rothwell was responsible for Up Pompeii!.