So the time has come when the major terrestrial channels announce their new programme schedules for the Autumn. First up is ITV which says its programmes will reflect the lives, interests and concerns of viewers.
Among the gems on offer this year is the drama series Grafters starring Robson Green and Stephen Tompkinson. This is about two Geordie brothers who go south to renovate a wealthy young couple’s home. Liverpool One, starring Samantha Janus, Mark Womack and Brookside‘s Paul Usher, sees Janus playing a detective constable who gets transferred to the city only to become involved with a big time gang leader. The Jump stars Jonathan Cake (last seen playing Oswald Mosley, the nice fascist, if that isn’t an oxymoron) as a man whose wife arranges for him to be sprung from jail.
There are adaptations of popular classics Hornblower and Cider With Rosie, as well as the true life story of Stefan Kiszko who was wrongly jailed for the murder of 11-year-old Lesley Molseed. There is also the last ever case for Inspector Morse (although we’ve heard that before).
Old favourites return in the form of London’s Burning and Heartbeat, while long-running cop drama series, The Bill, gets a bit of a makeover with the return of DI Burnside and the show returning to its original hour-long format.
New entertainment programmes include Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, which gives Chris Tarrant another chance to resurrect his television career after the dreadful Man O Man; Cilla Black fronts a new family show called The Moment Of Truth; a new Saturday morning children’s show called SMTV://Live is presented by Ant and Dec; a revamped You’ve Been Framed is presented by Emmerdale‘s Lisa Riley and Red Handed features members of the public being tested on their virtues.
Sport on the channel includes coverage of the Champion’s League matches for Arsenal and hopefully Man United and Celtic. There is also a new Saturday lunchtime sports show called On The Ball presented by Gabby Yorath just poached from Sky. The qualifying matches for the 1999 Rugby World Cup, as well as the closing stage of the 1998 Formula 1 motor racing, will also be shown on ITV.
There are a some new comedy series scheduled for Autumn, including the awarding winning Cold Feet and the hit American series Veronica’s Closet. Film premieres include Die Hard With A Vengeance, Maverick and Philadelphia.
The three main buzz words used by ITV director of programmes, David Liddiment, to describe the new schedule launch were refreshment, renewal and reality (the three ‘R’s as ITV would have it). Factual programming was particularly being showcased with the announcement of thirteen hours’ worth of peak-time programming planned.
With this new schedule launch ITV is showing that it is at least attempting to change its image and is looking to fulfil its stated aim of a 38% share of the peak-time viewing audience in 1998.
ITV also announced that it will unveil a new look logo in the Autumn.
Reviewer: Simon Wright
ITV Network Centre: 0171 843 8000
