London – BBC Worldwide Showcase, the world’s largest international television market hosted by a single distributor, will be welcoming an amazing array of talent to Liverpool including Graham Norton, the cast from The Musketeers, Tom Hollander, Nick Frost, the professional dancers from India’s Dancing with the Stars, and many more, including a few special guest surprises, when it opens its doors on February 23.
In its 38th year, this is the biggest BBC Worldwide Showcase ever with a record number of 725 delegates attending the four day event (February 23 – 26) at Liverpool’s BT Convention Centre. Evening events include a celebration of BBC Worldwide’s global brands such as Top Gear, BBC Earth, Doctor Who, Sherlock and Dancing with the Stars presented by Graham Norton, and a launch for the BBC’s new drama The Musketeers featuring all the lead cast.
The Musketeers
The new-look daytime genre premieres will feature a wide range of award-winning writers, producers and on-screen talent including Hollywood writer and director, Robert B. Weide (Curb Your Enthusiasm, How to Lose Friends & Alienate People) talking about his new comedy Mr Sloane with actor Nick Frost, American popular science writer Steven Johnson, historian/presenter Dan Snow and actor/wildlife enthusiast Dominic Monaghan (Lost, Lord of the Rings) amongst many others. Special digital sessions will also take place including a panel discussion on TV versus Digital with Jason Ropell, Head of International Content Acquisition, Digital Video at Amazon and Theo Luke, Partner Developer EMEA at Twitter Amplify.
Paul Dempsey, President Global Markets, BBC Worldwide said: “We’ve had a phenomenal response to our 38th annual Showcase in Liverpool with many first time attendees including Google Play and DirecTV, making this flagship event for British TV exports the most global yet. We have a great slate of new titles across every genre and are delighted to be hosting some superb talent over the four days of the event.”
BBC Worldwide’s Showcase slate contains a raft of brand new programming. As well as The Musketeers, another new BBC drama The Game (6×50) will be launched along with Series 2 of Temple Street Production’s Orphan Black. Starring Critics’ Choice Award winner and Golden Globe® nominee Tatiana Maslany, Series 1 has been sold to 16 broadcasters including the UK (BBC Three), France (Numero 23), Australia (SBS), Korea (KBS and AXN Korea) and Germany (ZDFNeo) which has acquired both Series 1 and 2. Co-creators of Orphan Black, Graeme Manson and John Fawcett, will be flying in from filming season 2 in Toronto to talk about the critically acclaimed thriller at the Drama Premiere.
Orphan Black
Natural history titles launching this year include Life Story (6 x 50’), a series exploring the struggle every animal on the planet has to overcome to reach adulthood, with Mike Gunton, Rupert Barrington and Tom Hugh-Jones, the show’s production team speaking at the Natural History Premiere. Other natural history output on offer includes Dolphins – Spy in the Pod (2 x 50’) executive produced by John Downer (John Downer Productions), who will also present at the session.
As well as showcasing Mr Sloane from Emmy award-winning writer Robert B. Weide (Curb Your Enthusiasm) and starring Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz, The World’s End), the Comedy Premiere will also feature actor and Executive Producer Tom Hollander (Pirates of the Caribbean) and Executive Producer James Wood on stage to talk about Rev., series 3 (6 x 30’), a contemporary comedy about an inner city London vicar.
Dan Snow will present his new title Operation Grand Canyon with Dan Snow (2 x 50’) at the History Premiere while archaeologist/presenter Neil Oliver (Coast, 6 x 60’; Sacred Wonders of Britain, 3 x 50’; The Search for Alfred The Great, 1 x 50’) will be speaking with Natalie Humphreys (Controller, Factual & Daytime, Production, BBC Television) at the Documentary session.
Actor and wildlife enthusiast Dominic Monaghan (Wild Things With Dominic Monaghan, series 2, 10 x 48’) will be present at the Factual Entertainment Premiere to talk about his new season which takes viewers on a thrilling adventure to the most remote corners of the globe in search of the most incredible, elusive and exotic animals on the planet.
Science genre titles on offer will feature Human Universe (5 x 50’), the story of humanity told through the greatest questions we’ve ever asked; How We Got To Now (6 x 50’), presented by Steven Johnson, who will speak at the Science Premiere, which charts the twists and turns of history, science, business and technology; and Factomania (10 x 50’), a fast-paced blend of facts, fun, banter, animation and experiments with the presenters, Greg Foot, Fran Scott and Dominic Byrne, performing a stunt for the session audience.
Children’s Premiere session will feature a panel with Jonny Keeling, Executive Producer NHU of Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures (20 x 14’), the writer Alan Gilbey and producer Karl Woolley (Laughing Gravy Media) of Dinopaws (50 x 11’); Executive Producer of Horrible Histories, series 5 (13 x 30’ & 2 Specials) – Richard Bradley (Lion TV); as well as Executive Producer of Harriet’s Army (1 x 90’) – Foz Allan.
All of BBC Worldwide’s new TV content will be available for buyers to view throughout the four days in the 600 digibooths at Showcase. As the largest distributor of TV programming outside of the US, BBC Worldwide Showcase sees the BBC’s commercial arm generate programme sales on behalf of the BBC and independent producers, providing a major boost to British television exports.
