Natural History Unit’s Africa
BBC Worldwide Showcase, an international TV market hosted by BBC, will be welcoming 700 TV buyers from around the world when it opens its doors on February 24 at Liverpool’s Convention Centre.
This year it will be hosting special events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who and to spotlight the BBC Natural History Unit’s highly acclaimed series Africa, which the distributor has already sold to 12 countries including Singapore (Mediacorp), Germany (WDR), Netherlands (NPO), Sweden (SVT), Australia (Channel Ten), New Zealand (TVNZ) and Ukraine (Mega TV).
BBC Worldwide Showcase enables the BBC’s commercial arm to generate programme sales on behalf of the BBC and independent producers. It provides a major boost to television exports and accounts for around 20% of BBC Worldwide’s annual programme sales.
Steve Macallister, President & Managing Director, Sales & Distribution, BBC Worldwide, said, “In another record-breaking year, we welcome our largest number of buyers to Liverpool – up by 10% on last year – and we have two brilliant programme-themed evenings planned. We have a great slate of new titles across every genre and are delighted to be hosting some superb on-screen talent over the four days of the event.”
Stars of BBC Worldwide’s key programmes who will be attending Showcase are award-winning Hollywood actor Gabriel Byrne, who plays the lead role in the highly anticipated BBC One drama Quirke, Elaine Cassidy and Emun Elliott from The Paradise, Mark Williams from Father Brown, Maria Doyle Kennedy who will be appearing in the new BBC America drama, Orphan Black, and Eve Myles, the lead in BBC’s forthcoming series Frankie. Also gracing the red carpet will be historian Simon Schama, MasterChef and Junior MasterChef presenters John Torode and Donal Skehan, and daredevil, Jonathan Goodwin.
BBC Worldwide’s drama slate at Showcase spotlights two highly celebrated titles – A Young Doctor’s Notebook starring Jon Hamm and Daniel Radcliffe, and the international hit Call the Midwife (series 2), which has sold to over 100 territories.
Joining Africa in the slate of natural history titles are Great Bear Stakeout and Penguins – Spy In The Huddle. The Story of the Jews, David Starkey: Music and Monarchy, Isaac Newton: The Last Magician and Last Heroes of D Day top the list of history programming while The Incredible Mr. Goodwin, featuring the astonishing stunts of Jonathan Goodwin, and L.A. Frock Stars are new factual entertainment titles.
