Exclusive: Sky, Comcast’s European pay-tv giant, has commissioned Avalon to produce another two seasons of topical comedy show The Russell Howard Hour.
The renewal will take Howard’s show into its sixth season on Sky One and Now TV. The show also streams in the U.S. on his YouTube channel, which has more than 1M subscribers.
Avalon, which makes HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, said Season 4 attracted some of The Russell Howard Hour’s best ratings since its launch. As well as Howard riffing on the horrors of 2020, it featured in-depth interviews with the likes of Matthew McConaughey and Jack Black.
Sky entertainment boss Philip Edgar-Jones said: “Russell Howard is the sharpest comic on TV and we are thrilled that he’ll be restlessly and hilariously nailing our messed-up world for at least another two seasons on Sky One.”
Executive producers are Richard Allen-Turner, James Taylor,...
The renewal will take Howard’s show into its sixth season on Sky One and Now TV. The show also streams in the U.S. on his YouTube channel, which has more than 1M subscribers.
Avalon, which makes HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, said Season 4 attracted some of The Russell Howard Hour’s best ratings since its launch. As well as Howard riffing on the horrors of 2020, it featured in-depth interviews with the likes of Matthew McConaughey and Jack Black.
Sky entertainment boss Philip Edgar-Jones said: “Russell Howard is the sharpest comic on TV and we are thrilled that he’ll be restlessly and hilariously nailing our messed-up world for at least another two seasons on Sky One.”
Executive producers are Richard Allen-Turner, James Taylor,...
- 12/17/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
British television exec and Power Television founder Justin Bodle has died at age 58. He passed away at his home in the south of France earlier Tuesday.
Bodle started his career at Thames Television selling air time to advertisers before joining Peter Orton’s Hit Entertainment, where Bodle learned the world of international television sales, licensing the Muppets and the Jim Henson catalog around the world. Bodle structured the first ever program barter deal on British television, placing The Muppet Show on Super Channel in 1987.
He subsequently formed Power Television, where he moved into producing high-end drama including the Emmy-winning Henry VIII with Ray Winstone, Archangel with Daniel Craig, Crusoe for NBC and a strand of TV movies for Lifetime.
After selling Power and then buying it back for a short time, Bodle moved his focus full time to producing, most recently shooting a feature film in China.
He is survived by his three children.
Bodle started his career at Thames Television selling air time to advertisers before joining Peter Orton’s Hit Entertainment, where Bodle learned the world of international television sales, licensing the Muppets and the Jim Henson catalog around the world. Bodle structured the first ever program barter deal on British television, placing The Muppet Show on Super Channel in 1987.
He subsequently formed Power Television, where he moved into producing high-end drama including the Emmy-winning Henry VIII with Ray Winstone, Archangel with Daniel Craig, Crusoe for NBC and a strand of TV movies for Lifetime.
After selling Power and then buying it back for a short time, Bodle moved his focus full time to producing, most recently shooting a feature film in China.
He is survived by his three children.
- 7/2/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
International TV industry veteran Justin Bodle has died at his home in the South of France. The British executive was a well-known figure on the international TV circuit having been in the business for over three decades. Bodle suffered a brain hemorrhage Tuesday.
Having served in the British army, Bodle then worked in production, distribution and advertising in a varied career. During a stint in program sales at Hit Entertainment, he sold “The Muppet Show” and the Jim Henson catalog internationally. He is credited with structuring the first program barter deal on British television, placing “The Muppet Show” on Super Channel in 1987.
Bodle started out at ITV franchise company Thames Television, selling airtime to advertisers, before going on to join Peter Orton’s Hit. In the mid-1990s he formed his own production and distribution business, Power Television. He sold the business and then briefly bought it back, before shifting to full-time producing.
Having served in the British army, Bodle then worked in production, distribution and advertising in a varied career. During a stint in program sales at Hit Entertainment, he sold “The Muppet Show” and the Jim Henson catalog internationally. He is credited with structuring the first program barter deal on British television, placing “The Muppet Show” on Super Channel in 1987.
Bodle started out at ITV franchise company Thames Television, selling airtime to advertisers, before going on to join Peter Orton’s Hit. In the mid-1990s he formed his own production and distribution business, Power Television. He sold the business and then briefly bought it back, before shifting to full-time producing.
- 7/2/2019
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
When the intl. Academy hands Sophie Turner Laing its 2018 Directorate Award in November, it will recognize an executive who has worked her way up from the ground floor to become one of the most important figures in global TV.
She has been focused on the potential sale of Endemol Shine, but with 21st Century Fox and Apollo deciding to hold onto their asset, she will double down on the day-to-day business of running one of the world’s largest international content companies — one that counts “MasterChef” and “Black Mirror” among its hit shows.
As with many high-flying U.K.-based executives, Turner Laing served a stint at the BBC, but her first job in TV was in the late 1980s, working for Jim Henson. “When one has the opportunity to go and work for Kermit the Frog that sounds like more fun than going to work for anyone else,” she says.
She has been focused on the potential sale of Endemol Shine, but with 21st Century Fox and Apollo deciding to hold onto their asset, she will double down on the day-to-day business of running one of the world’s largest international content companies — one that counts “MasterChef” and “Black Mirror” among its hit shows.
As with many high-flying U.K.-based executives, Turner Laing served a stint at the BBC, but her first job in TV was in the late 1980s, working for Jim Henson. “When one has the opportunity to go and work for Kermit the Frog that sounds like more fun than going to work for anyone else,” she says.
- 11/16/2018
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Russell Kane is to host a third series of Live at the Electric.
The BBC Three comedy series will return in January 2014, with Kane introducing some of the UK's emerging acts in sketch, stand-up, film and music.
Among the acts to be featured in the new series are Edinburgh Fringe Best Comedy Show winner Marcel Lucont and Foster's Comedy Award nominee Gareth Richards.
Diane Morgan, sketch group WitTank and Joe Wilkinson are also among the longlist of comics to appear during the third series.
Sir Derek Jacobi will also provide narration to Kane's own self-penned project The Only Way Is Shakespeare.
Peter Orton and Stephen Pipe will direct the series, with Dan Atkinson and Anna Coane producing.
Full broadcast dates are to be announced in the coming weeks by BBC Three.
Catch up on all the latest TV and Movies releases in Digital Spy's Screen Time:...
The BBC Three comedy series will return in January 2014, with Kane introducing some of the UK's emerging acts in sketch, stand-up, film and music.
Among the acts to be featured in the new series are Edinburgh Fringe Best Comedy Show winner Marcel Lucont and Foster's Comedy Award nominee Gareth Richards.
Diane Morgan, sketch group WitTank and Joe Wilkinson are also among the longlist of comics to appear during the third series.
Sir Derek Jacobi will also provide narration to Kane's own self-penned project The Only Way Is Shakespeare.
Peter Orton and Stephen Pipe will direct the series, with Dan Atkinson and Anna Coane producing.
Full broadcast dates are to be announced in the coming weeks by BBC Three.
Catch up on all the latest TV and Movies releases in Digital Spy's Screen Time:...
- 12/13/2013
- Digital Spy
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts announced Tuesday (April 24) the nominations for its 2012 television awards. British miniseries "Appropriate Adult," which chronicles the real-life serial killer Fred West, leads the way with four nominations.
Other notable nominations include Dame Maggie Smith up for Supporting Actress for her work on "Downton Abbey" - it's the only nomination "Downton" received, after earning two nominations the previous year. "Modern Family" also earned a nomination in the International category.
The full list of nominations:
Leading Actor
Benedict Cumberbatch - Sherlock (BBC One)
Dominic West - Appropriate Adult (ITV)
John Simm - Exile (BBC One)
Joseph Gilgun - This is England '88 (Channel 4)
Leading Actress
Emily Watson - Appropriate Adult (ITV1)
Nadine Marshall - Random (Channel 4)
Romola Garai - The Crimson Petal and the White (BBC Two)
Vicky McClure - This is England '88 (Channel 4)
Supporting Actor
Andrew Scott - Sherlock...
Other notable nominations include Dame Maggie Smith up for Supporting Actress for her work on "Downton Abbey" - it's the only nomination "Downton" received, after earning two nominations the previous year. "Modern Family" also earned a nomination in the International category.
The full list of nominations:
Leading Actor
Benedict Cumberbatch - Sherlock (BBC One)
Dominic West - Appropriate Adult (ITV)
John Simm - Exile (BBC One)
Joseph Gilgun - This is England '88 (Channel 4)
Leading Actress
Emily Watson - Appropriate Adult (ITV1)
Nadine Marshall - Random (Channel 4)
Romola Garai - The Crimson Petal and the White (BBC Two)
Vicky McClure - This is England '88 (Channel 4)
Supporting Actor
Andrew Scott - Sherlock...
- 4/24/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
LONDON -- Kids entertainment veteran Peter Orton, founder and chairman of HIT Entertainment, has died after a long struggle with cancer, it was disclosed Thursday. He was 64.
HIT, the company that created "Bob the Builder" and became the U.K.'s leading preschool program producer, originally was the distribution arm of the Jim Henson Co.
Orton, one of the most colorful and enthusiastic media entrepreneurs in the U.K., was behind the launch of a range of global preschool TV franchises, including "Pingu", "Angelina Ballerina" and "Kipper".
"He managed to be one of those very rare executives who could be creative- and business-minded," said British Sky Broadcasting deputy managing director Sophie Turner Laing, one of HIT's original co-founders, who began her career working with Orton at Henson.
Originally launching HIT on the basis of distribution rights to 60 episodes of "Alvin and the Chipmunks", Orton built a programming stable of preschool TV brands as well as a hugely successful licensing and merchandising business that eventually became the growth engine for the business.
HIT, the company that created "Bob the Builder" and became the U.K.'s leading preschool program producer, originally was the distribution arm of the Jim Henson Co.
Orton, one of the most colorful and enthusiastic media entrepreneurs in the U.K., was behind the launch of a range of global preschool TV franchises, including "Pingu", "Angelina Ballerina" and "Kipper".
"He managed to be one of those very rare executives who could be creative- and business-minded," said British Sky Broadcasting deputy managing director Sophie Turner Laing, one of HIT's original co-founders, who began her career working with Orton at Henson.
Originally launching HIT on the basis of distribution rights to 60 episodes of "Alvin and the Chipmunks", Orton built a programming stable of preschool TV brands as well as a hugely successful licensing and merchandising business that eventually became the growth engine for the business.
- 12/7/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LONDON -- Kids entertainment group HIT Entertainment said Monday that it has agreed to a £489.4 million ($927.7 million) cash takeover offer from private equity firm Apax Partners. The deal will see founder and nonexecutive chairman Peter Orton and CEO Charles Burdick resign from the company and the firm de-list from the London stock exchange. HIT, the company behind such characters as "Barney the Purple Dinosaur" and "Bob the Builder", made the announcement as it revealed another set of disappointing financials for the six months ending Jan. 31.
- 3/21/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LONDON -- Kids entertainment group HIT Entertainment said Monday that it has agreed to a £489.4 million ($927.7 million) cash takeover offer from private equity firm Apax Partners. The deal will see founder and nonexecutive chairman Peter Orton and CEO Charles Burdick resign from the company and the firm de-list from the London stock exchange. HIT, the company behind such characters as Barney the Purple Dinosaur and Bob the Builder, made the announcement as it revealed another set of disappointing financials for the six months ending Jan. 31.
- 3/21/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LONDON -- Peter Orton, founder and chairman of HIT Entertainment, the U.K. kids programming company that gave the world Barney, Thomas the Tank Engine and Bob the Builder, will receive a lifetime achievement award at the upcoming MIPTV programming market, organizers Reed Midem said Thursday. Orton founded HIT in 1989 after a career that took him from Television International Enterprises to the Children's Television Workshop and Jim Henson's Henson Associates.
- 1/14/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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