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TV Remakes

Topical programme about the fast-changing media world. TV remakes from Poldark to Birds of a Feather. Is this risk averse television or a risky business?

The number of remakes seems to be increasing - Cold Feet and the X Files are both returning to our TV screens next year. So is this lazy commissioning, or is it actually more risky than commissioning new original work because of the weight of audience expectation? Writer Debbie Horsfield, talks about her approach to the new Poldark series, and why she avoided being influenced by the very successful 1970s series. Steve Hewlett also hears from Jane Tranter, who brought back Dr Who and Auf Wiedersehen Pet to the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, when she was controller of drama commissioning. Maurice Gran who co-wrote the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ classic series Birds of a Feather, which was remade sixteen years later for ITV and Lucy Lumsden, the former Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ controller of comedy commissioning, and latterly Head of Comedy at Sky, and Julia Raeside, TV critic at the Guardian.

Presenter: Steve Hewlett
Producer: Dianne McGregor
Editor: Karen Dalziel.

Available now

30 minutes

Broadcast

  • Wed 30 Dec 2015 16:30

Podcast