New Drama Series For Channel 4 Autumn Schedule
Following the demise of its funding formula payments to ITV (see C4 Funding Formula To End) and a resulting increase in the programming budget, the new Channel 4 autumn line-up includes an unprecedented number of new drama series.
The flagship drama of the autumn season is the £6 million adaptation of Dava Sobel’s Longitude. Featuring a cast including Jeremy Irons and Michael Gambon, it tells the story of an 18th century clockmaker who solves the problem of global navigation.
Other dramas to hit the screens this autumn include: Shockers, three one-hour contemporary dramas exploring the dark side of human nature; Massive Landmarks of the Twentieth Century, a satirical look at the defining moments of the past century and Kid in the Corner, the story of a father whose problem child is diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
On the entertainment front two former Big Breakfast hostesses receive their own Channel 4 shows. Zoe Ball and Tim Lovejoy present Right Here, Right Now offering a weekly round up of pop culture mixed with celebrity guests and Denise Van Outen recovers from the horror that is Babes in the Wood to host Something for the Weekend – a show about love, sex and relationships. The autumn sees return series for So Graham Norton, The Mark Thomas Product, Rory Bremner and The 11 O’clock Show (there is, however, no mention of cult icon Ali G’s solo show).
Possibly attempting to give Channel 5 a run for its money in the controversy stakes, Channel 4 has commissioned a six part series called Pornography. Also, Sedgefield Stories takes a look at the lives of ordinary people in the Prime Minister’s constituency; Boer War marks the 100th anniversary of the 20th century’s first war, while After The Wall looks at life ten years after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Finally the Big Breakfast gets a bit of a makeover with two new presenters. Lisa Tarbuck fills the shoes of Kelly Brook, while Sara Cox joins the show for celebrity interviews.