BBC Worldwide Showcase Gearing Up for Largest-Ever Event

LONDON: BBC Worldwide Showcase is set to welcome 700 buyers from around the world when it opens its doors on February 24 at Liverpool’s Convention Center.

Special events will be held this year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who and to spotlight the Natural History Unit’s acclaimed series Africa. Stars from a number of BBC Worldwide’s key shows will be in attendance, including Gabriel Byrne, who stars in the BBC One drama Quirke; Elain Cassidy and Emun Elliott from The Paradise; Mark Williams from Father Brown; Maria Doyle Kennedy, appearing in the new BBC America drama Orphan Black; and Eve Myles, leading the series Frankie. Also set for the showcase are historian Simon Schama, MasterChef and Junior MasterChef presenters John Torode and Donal Skehan, and daredevil Jonathan Goodwin.

Steve Macallister, the president and managing director for sales and distribution at BBC Worldwide, said: "In another record-breaking year, we welcome our largest number of buyers to Liverpool—up by 10 percent on last year—and we have two brilliant program-themed evenings planned. Africa is certain to capture the imagination of our delegates as it has the British public over the past few weeks. What a perfect opportunity to also celebrate the world’s longest running sci-fi series with Doctor Who in its 50th year, at this biggest-ever Showcase. 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."