BBC Worldwide Gears Up for Showcase

LONDON: BBC Worldwide’s annual international market BBC Showcase kicks off on February 21, highlighting a range of new comedy and drama programming such as Married Single Other and Luther.

With more than 500 digibooths, buyers have access to 1,400 hours of programming over the four days. BBC Showcase also features exclusive screenings, premieres and events, and a roster of star talent that includes Louis Theroux, Matt Smith, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rupert Graves and Martin Freeman, as well as cast from drama hits such as Misfits, Survivors and Torchwood. Writers such as Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, and executives from BBC Vision and independent producers will work alongside BBC Worldwide’s global sales teams to launch the latest programming to the global market.

Launching for the first time at BBC Showcase are drama titles such as Married Single Other, about three very different couples; Strike Back; an action story; and season two of Wallander. The teen show Misfits will also have its British debut, as will Hartswood Films’ Sherlock, the contemporary tale of world-renowned detective Sherlock Holmes and his aide Dr. John Watson. The new BBC crime drama Luther will make its international debut, along with the fifth season of the sci-fi hit Doctor Who and second season of the action drama Survivors. Returning dramas on the roster include Spooks, Silent Witness, Waking the Dead and New Tricks.

In the comedy arena, there’s Alan Carr’s Chatty Man from Open Mike Productions, as well as We Are Mongrels. Other comedy highlights include Gavin & Stacey, The Thick of It and The Jonathan Ross Show.

Factual offerings include Human Planet, a co-production from the BBC, Discovery and France Télévisions; Atlantis, co-produced by the BBC, Discovery Channel, France Télévisions and ProSieben; and An African Journey with Jonathan Dimbleby. There’s also the new science spectacular Seven Wonders of the Solar System.

Topping the music titles will be the BBC Electric Proms with new performances added in 2009 from Smokey Robinson and The Rolling Stones. Musician Jools Holland will also be back with his show Later…with Jools Holland.

From the realm of children’s entertainment, Teletubbies, In the Night Garden and Charlie and Lola are in the mix, along with 3rd and Bird and Tronji.

New formats for the international market include Drop Zone and Kidnapped by the Kids, in which the children steal their parents away from the chaos of their jobs and demand more family time.

Steve Macallister, the managing director for sales and distribution at BBC Worldwide, said “BBC Showcase is one of Britain’s great export success stories and a big earner for our creative industries. Buyers flood in from every corner of the globe to immerse themselves in Britain’s best television and hunt for the next international hits. We’re also rolling out the red carpet for a host of big stars who join us for premieres and events as we launch 1,400 hours worth of screenings.”

Commenting on BBC Showcase 2010 Macallister added, “Registrations are strong from around the world, with Asian participation the highest for years and digital attendance on the up as buyers from iTunes and Nokia attend for the first time.”