BBC Worldwide Showcase to Feature Jimmy McGovern’s Broken

LONDON: BBC Worldwide Showcase is gearing up for its flagship event in Liverpool later this month, which will feature BAFTA-winning writer Jimmy McGovern on hand to present his new drama series Broken.

The 6×50-minute drama Broken comes from LA Productions for the BBC. Sean Bean headlines the cast of the series, which is centered on Father Michael Kerrigan, a Catholic priest presiding over an urban parish in northern England. With a checkered past and a complicated relationship with his own family, the priest is determined to help his parishioners through their troubles.

The acclaimed writer Mike Bartlett will also attend BBC Worldwide Showcase, for the highly anticipated follow-up to Doctor Foster. Author Misha Glenny, co-creator Hossein Amini (Drive) and actress Juliet Rylance (Frances Ha) will help launch McMafia, a fast-paced thriller based on Glenny’s best-selling book. Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss will be highlighting Sherlock season four.

White Gold leads the comedy slate. The original six-part series stars Ed Westwick (Gossip Girl), who will be in Liverpool to launch the show alongside writer and director Damon Beesley (The Inbetweeners).

Take That frontman and songwriter Gary Barlow, singer and talent-show judge Dannii Minogue and presenter Mel Giedroyc (The Great British Bake-Off) will present two brand-new additions to BBC Worldwide’s format catalog: Let it Shine and Let’s Sing & Dance. Let it Shine is a prime-time entertainment show that aims to create the country’s best new band. Let’s Sing & Dance watches as stars put on their dancing shoes and grab the mic for a night of comedy and mayhem.

Now in its 24th season, Top Gear leads the factual-entertainment slate. Presenters Matt LeBlanc, Chris Harris and Rory Reid will feature on an exclusive Top Gear panel session. The factual-entertainment lineup will also include stand-up comedian Joel Dommett (Runner up, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here), who will talk about Tribal Bootcamp (previously known as Maasai Warrior), an original commission for BBC Worldwide.

Stacey Dooley (Blood, Sweat and T-Shirts) will present the new title Brainwashing Stacey at the documentary premiere, while the science debut will feature Michael Mosley (Trust Me I’m a Doctor) for Meet The Humans, a fixed-rig series using stunts, pranks and stooges to explore and analyze the science and psychology behind human behavior.

Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders will host the event as a nod to the international success of Absolutely Fabulous, which has sold to 240 markets around the world.

BBC Worldwide Showcase is set for February 19 to 22.

Paul Dempsey, the president of global markets at BBC Worldwide, said: “Showcase offers the best of British television to the world’s TV buyers. This year, we look forward to welcoming 700 international delegates, including more than ever from China and Africa. The range and quality of our programming make for an outstanding slate, and we’re thrilled to host some of the industry’s top producers, writers and on-screen talent.”