BBC Worldwide Gears Up for Showcase

LONDON: BBC Worldwide Showcase is expecting its largest event yet, with a record 725 delegates attending, and highlights such as the new drama The Musketeers.

Paul Dempsey, the president of global markets at 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.”

In addition to The Musketeers, BBC Worldwide Showcase will see the launch of the BBC drama The Game as well as season two of Temple Street Productions' Orphan Black. Natural history titles launching this year include Life Story, which is about the struggle of animals to reach adulthood, with Mike Gunton, Rupert Barrington and Tom Hugh-Jones, the show’s production team, speaking at the premiere. Other natural history output on offer includes Dolphins: Spy in the Pod, executive produced by John Downer (John Downer Productions), who will also present at the session.

In the way of comedy, Mr Sloane, from writer Robert B. Weide (Curb Your Enthusiasm) and starring Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz, The World’s End), will be a showcase highlight. 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 the third season of Rev.

Dan Snow will present Operation Grand Canyon with Dan Snow at the History Premiere, while archeologist/presenter Neil Oliver (Coast, Sacred Wonders of Britain) will be speaking with Natalie Humphreys (the controller of factual and daytime production for BBC Television) at the documentary session.

Actor and wildlife enthusiast Dominic Monaghan (Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan) will be present at the Factual Entertainment Premiere to talk about season two of the show. Science genre titles on offer will feature Human Universe; How We Got to Now, a series presented by Steven Johnson, who will speak at the Science Premiere; and Factomania, with the presenters Greg Foot, Fran Scott and Dominic Byrne performing a stunt for the session audience.

The Children’s Premiere session will feature a panel with Jonny Keeling, executive producer at NHU of Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures, the writer Alan Gilbey and producer Karl Woolley (Laughing Gravy Media) of Dinopaws; executive producer of Horrible Histories season five, Richard Bradley (Lion TV); as well as executive producer of Harriet’s Army, Foz Allan.