Now in its 38th year, BBC Worldwide Showcase, the world’s largest international
television market hosted by a single distributor, held at Liverpool’s BT
Convention Centre from 23 to 26 February, will welcome an array of talent
including presenter Graham Norton; the cast from new historical action drama
The Musketeers; actor Tom Hollander; actor, comedian and scriptwriter Nick
Frost, among others.
BBC Worldwide’s Showcase slate contains a portfolio of new programming, which
features Series 2 of Orphan Black by Temple Street Productions. Series 1 has
already been sold to 16 broadcasters including the UK (BBC Three), France
(Numero 23), Australia (SBS), Korea (KBS and AXN Korea) and Germany
(ZDFNeo), which has bought Series 1 and 2.
Orphan Black stars Critics’ Choice Award winner and Golden Globe nominee
Tatiana Maslany. Co-creators of the show, Graeme Manson and John Fawcett will
talk about the critically acclaimed thriller at the Drama Premiere.
A record number of 725 delegates will attend the four-day market. BBC
Worldwide’s global brands such as Top Gear, BBC Earth, Doctor Who, Sherlock
and Dancing with the Stars (presented by Graham Norton) will be celebrated at
evening events.
Award-winning writers, producers and on-screen talent such as Robert B. Weide,
actor Nick Frost, American popular science writer Steven Johnson, historian /
presenter Dan Snow and actor / wildlife enthusiast Dominic Monaghan (Lost,
Lord of the Rings) will talk about new projects.
A panel discussion on TV versus Digital with Jason Ropell, Head of International
Content Acquisition, Digital Video at Amazon and Theo Luke, Partner Developer
EMEA at Twitter Amplify takes place as part of special digital sessions on offer.
Some of the titles launching this year are:
Natural History
Life Story, a series that explores the struggle every animal on earth has to
overcome to reach adulthood
Dolphins – Spy in the Pod
Comedy Premiere
Mr Sloane from Robert B. Weide (Curb Your Enthusiasm), starring Nick Frost (Hot
Fuzz, The World’s End)
Rev. Series 3, a modern-day comedy about an inner city London vicar, with
discussions by feature actor and executive producer Tom Hollander (Pirates of
the Caribbean) and executive producer James Wood
History Premiere
Operation Grand Canyon with Dan Snow
Archaeologist and presenter Neil Oliver (Coast, Sacred Wonders of Britain, The
Search for Alfred The Great) will speak with Natalie Humphreys: Controller,
Factual & Daytime, Production, BBC Television
Factual Entertainment Premiere
Actor and wildlife enthusiast Dominic Monaghan talks about Wild Things with
Dominic Monaghan, Series 2, which is a thrilling adventure in search of the most
elusive and exotic animals on the planet
Science
Human Universe tells the story of humanity through the greatest questions
we’ve asked
How We Got To Now, presented by Steven Johnson, which “charts the twists and
turns of history, science, business and technology’
Factomania with presenters Greg Foot, Fran Scott and Dominic Bynre, a show
featuring facts, fun, banter, animation and experiments
Children’s Premiere
A panel with Johnny Keeling, executive producer NHU of Andy’s Dinosaur
Adventures, writer Alan Gilbey and producer Karl Woolley of Dinopaws, Richard
Bradley of Lion TV and Foz Allan, executive producer of Harriet’s Army.
Says Paul Dempsey, President Global Markets, BBC Worldwide: “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.’
Throughout the four days, all of BBC Worldwide’s new TV content will be
available for buyers to view in the 600 digibooths at Showcase.
BBC Worldwide Showcase is the largest distributor of TV programming outside of
the US, and sees the BBC’s commercial arm generate programme sales on behalf
of the BBC and independent producers, which provides a significant boost to
British television exports.
