The UK Wrap: 13th July 2012
Armando Iannucci’s award-winning political comedy series The Thick Of It will return for a new series this spring on BBC Two. Comprising of seven 30-minute episodes this new series sees a change of government with Liberal Democrats in power and Peter Mannion MP (Roger Allam) the new Secretary of State for The Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship. Joining is his new Coalition partner, DOSAC’s Junior Minister Fergus Williams MP (Geoffrey Streatfeild). Audience favourites Malcolm Tucker, Nicola Murray and Ollie Reader also return. Armando Iannucci said on the BBC site, “This series takes The Thick Of It into exciting and uncharted territory: a new Coalition Government, and Malcolm and Nicola fretting in the wings. For the first time too a storyline takes us all the way through the series right to the bitter, bitter end, with Government and Opposition convulsed in an incident that questions every political convention imaginable, but in a funny way.”
In the aftermath of the London riots in 2011, the Guardian Newspaper in partnership with the London School of Economics launched the Reading the Riots, a research study into the causes and effects of the summer of disorder. A team of researchers interviewed 270 people who identified themselves as participating in the riots and recorded their responded to a series of questions which explored how they came to take part in the events. This data was then transcribed, analysed and coded for themes. A similar process was followed with both the victims of crimes perpetrated during the riots and the police who attended the unrest. Airing on Monday the July 16 and Wednesday July 18, The Riots: In Their Own Words is documentary featuring some of the data the Reading the Riots study collected. Broken into two parts, it brings to life these first-hand accounts, and examines the riots from both sides. Episode one focuses on the rioters, with their real words and stories collected by the project being portrayed by actors. With views that range from pride in mayhem they raised to regret, it should provide a unique insight. Episode two looks at the events from the perspective of the law enforcement officers.
Returning for its 42nd series, University Challenge starts on Monday July 6 on BBC 2. As with other series, 28 teams from Universities/colleges’ across the UK participate in a knockout fixtures over 30 weeks until one team reigns supreme. Featuring some endearing production protocols including a live voice over to identify the team and person answering, the format has remained unchanged for 50 years. Fingers on buzzers!
Also starting on Monday and running for 6 consecutive nights on ITV is Britain’s Secret Treasures. Over the past 15 years, one million “treasures” have been unearthed by members of the UK public This show counts down the top 50, identifying those of national importance, beauty, and cultural and historical significance.
KindleAbout the Author
Jen Knight Jen is currently single, hence she has a lot of time for TV. If you’re currently unattached and happen to posses the brains of Charlie Brooker and look like Richard Armitage, please DM her on Twitter @PangoJen and then return Charlie's brain to its rightful owner you hot, psychotic bastard.
