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24.10.03

TV DRAMA PRESS PACKS

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ ONE Drama in November

Press pack available

Passions run high on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ ONE this November with dramas exploring the Holy Cross dispute in Belfast and the reign of Charles II.

Returning series, Merseybeat and Judge John Deed, promise plenty of excitement as old and new characters alike tackle fresh challenges.

Holy Cross is a fictional drama set within real events. It tells the story of two fictional families caught up in the headline events of 2001 on the Ardoyne Road in Belfast. It was there that a dispute arose concerning the rights of schoolgirls from the Catholic Ardoyne area of north Belfast to walk a few hundred yards through the predominantly Protestant area of Glenbryn to the Holy Cross primary school.

Holy Cross attempts to go behind the anger and the headlines to discover why the people involved in this particular dispute felt they had to see it through, no matter what the consequences.

In Charles II – The Power & The Passion Rufus Sewell stars as the King in an ambitious and original take on the reign of Charles II.

The focus is the King's Court, his squabbling family and his glamorous mistresses – from the high-born and promiscuous Barbara Villiers (Helen McCrory), through folk heroine and sex symbol of the day Nell Gwynn (Emma Pierson), to the French spy Louise de Kéroualle (Mélanie Thierry).

Written by award-winning screenwriter Adrian Hodges, whose credits include David Copperfield and The Lost World, the four-part drama penetrates the heart of the charismatic Monarch who was deeply traumatised by the execution of his father by Oliver Cromwell in 1649.

The cast of the popular police drama Merseybeat is back on the beat with a new, fourth series.

For the first time, Merseybeat has been shot entirely in Liverpool. Like any other big city, Liverpool offers a wide range of subjects for Merseybeat to delve into.

This series sees how the team tackles internet abuse, when a child goes into an internet chat room and meets someone who's not who they say they are; looks after a young boy whose father has left him home alone while he has gone off on holiday; and reacts to a woman who steals a baby from a maternity unit.

Judge John Deed returns to Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ ONE.

"The law itself is a major character in Judge John Deed," says BAFTA award-winning writer and producer GF Newman.

And in this series there is more emphasis on the workings of the law than previously. But, Newman points out, the personalities and relationships that keep audiences rapt are not neglected.

"The storylines focus on the law in tandem with the developing – and in some cases deteriorating – relationships of the characters."

Transmission details

Holy Cross - Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ ONE, Monday 10 November at 9.00pm

Charles II - Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ ONE, starts Sunday 16 November at 9.00pm

Merseybeat - Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ ONE, starts Monday 17 November at 9.00pm

Judge John Deed - Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ ONE, starts Thursday 27 November at 8.30pm. See update below

Notes to Editors

The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ ONE Drama in November press pack is available below in , by programmes or as a complete pack.

You may require Adobe Acrobat Software to read PDF files which can be obtained .

Full Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ ONE Drama in November press pack (1.36 MB)

Upcoming dramas (57 KB)

Holy Cross (378 KB)

Charles II - The Power & The Passion (488 KB)

Merseybeat (507 KB)

Judge John Deed (163 KB)

Related information

Charles II - The Power & The Passion in-depth press pack (23.10.03)

Update

The last in the current series of Judge John Deed was scheduled for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ ONE, Thursday 18 December but was not broadcast. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ issued the following statement:

"Judge John Deed was replaced in the schedule by Crimewatch UK, which had itself been postponed from 17 December 2003 to make way for Soham: The Real Story.

"Although we did not want to upset viewers we felt it was important to show the Soham documentary on the day the judgement was passed.

"There was a huge public interest in the Soham case and as a public service broadcaster we felt it was important to screen the programme.

"The studio for Crimewatch UK had already been booked and guests arranged, so the programme was filmed 'as live' and shown the following day.

"We apologise to viewers who were disappointed that Judge John Deed was not shown. It will be shown in the New Year."

Update - 22 January 2004

The last in the current series of Judge John Deed will be broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ ONE, Monday 26 January at 8.30pm.

Freeview offers the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's eight television channels, interactive services from Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔi, as well as 11 national Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ radio networks.

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