B.B.C.’s new $620M line-up

Press, 22 July 1980, Page 15

B.B.C.’s new $620M line-up

NZPA London John Cleese and Warren Mitchell in Shakespearean dramas and the return of such old favourites as “When the Boat Comes In” and “The Gnedin Line” are among forthcoming television programmes announced bv the 8.8. C.

Many will eventually be screened in New Zealand. Unveiling the new season's $6O million programme, the 8.8. C. drama chief, Mr Shaun Sutton, said that because of economic problems and difficulties caused by the drawn-out 8.8. C. musicians’ strike, the corporation’s drama programme might suffer in quantity, but it would not suffer in quality. Known widely for his role as the bumbling Basil Fawlty in the award-win-ning comedy series, “Fawlty Towers,” Cleese will appear in an unaccustomed “straight” role as Petrucchio in “The Taming of the Shrew.” Mitchell, the foulmouthed Alf Garnett from “Till Death Us Do Part,” will play Shylock in “The Merchant of Venice.” Also set in Italy is the spectacular new 10-part drama series. “The Borgias,” the pride of the new drama programme. Sir Alec Guiness will return in his award-win-ning role as George Smiley, this time in the dramatisation of John Le Carre’s new novel, “Smiley’s People.” Penelope Keith will star in a four-part adaptation of Frederick Lonsdale’s “On Approval,” and Wendy Craig will return to serious acting in “Nanny,” a 10-part series set in the 19305. There will be adaptations of H. E. Bats’ “Fair Stood the Wind for France,” and D. H. Lawrence’s “Sons and Lovers.”

Charles Dickens’s popular classic, “A Tale of Two Cities” and Sir Walter Scott’s “The Talisman” will both be produced in eight-part serials. New series include “Juliet Bravo,” about a policewoman in the north of England, and “Mackenzie,” a saga of three English families from 1950 to the 19705.

Old favourites returning include “Shoestring,” “Dr Who,” and “Angels.” The musicians’ strike — now in its seventh week

— has caused the cancellation of “Gracie,” a twopart musical play based on the life of the popular singer, Gracie Fields.

With all members of the Musicians’ Union refusing to work for the 8.8. C. at present, it would not have been possible to complete the production.

One of the most publicly-felt results of the musicians’ sstrike has oeen the cancellation of the first night of the 8.8. C. promenade concerts at the Royal Albert Hall.

Expressing regret at the cancellation — the first in the 86-year history of the “Proms” — the 8.8. C. said the fate of the other 56 concerts in this year’s series would be decided daily, depending on how long the strike continued.

Each Proms concert is attended by 6000 people, millions more throughout the world being able to hear it live on radio.