2. Channel 4
Remit
This states that "the public service remit for Channel 4 is the provision of a broad range of high quality and diverse programming
which, in particular:
•
(a) demonstrates innovation, experiment and creativity in the form and content of programmes;
•
(b) appeals to the tastes and interests of a culturally diverse society;
•
(c) makes a significant contribution to meeting the need for the licensed public service channels to include programmes of an
educational nature and other programmes of educative value; and
•
(d) exhibits a distinctive character.“
•
Launched in 1982 as an ad funded public service broadcaster for audiences not served by the BBC or ITV, Channel 4 is and always has
been different. It takes creative risks that others avoid. It offers fresh perspectives for a diverse society. And it does it on a big enough
scale to make a difference, not just to British media, but to Britain itself.
•To nurture new talent and original ideas
•To champion alternative voices and fresh perspectives
•To challenge people to see the world differently
•To inspire change in people's lives
Audience
•
16-34s, appealing to creative people and encouraging them to make a change to society.
•
Channel 4 is the most talked about commercial TV channel for 16-34s.
4. Fresh Meat
Press Release
Meet today's best talent in a brand-new comedy drama series about the hilarious and painful truths of being a student.
The latest creation from Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong, Fresh Meat follows a group of six students about to embark
on the most exciting period of their lives so far: university!
Shipping up as freshers at their shared house are: JP (Jack Whitehall, in his first dramatic role), public school boy with
good teeth and an inflated sense of entitlement; Kingsley (Joe Thomas. Inbetweeners), charming and crushingly
insecure; Josie (Kimberley Nixon, Cranford), determined to experience ‗new things'; socially-awkward know-it-all
Howard (Greg McHugh, Gary: Tank Commander); hard-living Vod (Zawe Ashton, Case Histories); and Oregon
(Charlotte Ritchie), desperate to be cool and terrified of being boring.
Away from home for the first time, on the brink of adult life, they are about to discover who they really are. From the
moment they first meet, their lives are destined to collide, overlap and run the whole gamut of appalling behaviour and
terrible errors of judgment familiar to anyone who's ever experienced one of life's great rites of passage. Fresh Meat
guest stars Robert Webb as Geology lecturer Dan and Tony Gardner as Professor Shales.
One by one, the six new students destined to be housemates congregate before term begins - although second year
Howard has of course already been in solitary residence for some unspecified time. There are already some surprises
in store: to his considerable bemusement, Kingsley manages to pull at the pub, but to his dismay finds the object of his
attention is in fact recruiting for her Christian group. Oregon wastes no time locking horns with her lecturer, Professor
Shales, at her first English tutorial - although is startled to find she has also allowed Vod to claim ownership of her first
essay. And Josie ends up in bed with JP - a random encounter after which, to her horror, she realises he is in fact there
to stay. Still, at least Howard is able to relinquish his outcast status - an accolade now awarded to the mysterious Paul
Lamb - "the invisible man".
5. Black Mirror
Press Release
‗Over the last ten years, technology has transformed almost every aspect of our lives before we've had time to stop and
question it. In every home; on every desk; in every palm - a plasma screen; a monitor; a smartphone - a black mirror of
our 21st Century existence. Our grip on reality is shifting. We worship at the altars of Google and Apple. Facebook
algorithims know us more intimately than our own parents. We have access to all the information in the world, but no
brainspace left to absorb anything longer than a 140-character tweet.
Black Mirror is a hybrid of The Twilight Zone and Tales of the Unexpected which taps into our contemporary unease
about our modern world. The three stand alone dramas will be sharp, suspenseful, satirical tales with a techno-paranoia
bent - all audacious 'What if' stories: some comic, some shocking - but all entirely unlike anything else you've ever seen
on television.
Charlie Brooker says: 'Growing up, I always loved The Twilight Zone and shows of that ilk. Black Mirror won't be
anything like those, but on the other hand, it's closer to them than, say, Downton Abbey. It combines satire, technology,
absurdity, and a pinch of surprise, and it all takes place in a world you almost - almost - totally recognise. It changes
each week - like the weather, but hopefully about 2000 times more entertaining. If you don't like it, you will be beaten
about the face and neck by Channel 4 executives.'
Head of Comedy, Shane Allen says: 'This is satirical drama for the social media generation all rooted in the world
around us now. A thought-provoking and gripping reflection and extrapolation of current social, cultural and technology
inspired trends and fears. Charlie's writing is imbued with a beautiful blend of emotion and intelligence that pulls you in
to a thrilling projection of themes which surround our everyday. In a world where bloggers can communicate from
beyond the grave and a world leader can watch an assassination in real time on the other side of the planet there is
much to say about how we live and what values we share. Now, if I can just convince Charlie to introduce it all from a
fireside chair we're quids in.'
Black Mirror will be Executive Produced by Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones and series produced by Barney Reisz
for Zeppotron. The series will be filmed over the summer and is expected to air later this year.‘
6. Utopia
Press Release
Dennis Kelly's enigmatic thriller Utopia centres around The Utopia Experiments, a legendary graphic novel
shrouded in mystery. When a small group of previously unconnected people who have met on a forum, find
themselves in possession of an original manuscript of the fabled book, their lives suddenly and brutally
implode, relentlessly pursued by a shadowy unit called The Network who will stop at nothing, to keep its origin
and meaning secret. Whilst three of the forum members - Ian, an I.T. dropout, Becky, a student, and Wilson, a
conspiracy theorist - meet in the pub, another is confronted and killed by two Network henchmen.
The only witness to the murder is the 11-year-old Grant - the fifth forum member - and when he flees with the
manuscript, the henchmen give chase. Unable to return home, Grant finds himself alone. Elsewhere, Ian and
Becky find themselves set-up for crimes they have not committed, and Wilson's hacking skills attract the
attention of Network henchmen Arby and Lee. Will he be able to escape their grip before it is too late?
As the trio's lives begin to fracture, the world of civil servant Michael Dugdale is also torn apart as he is
blackmailed by The Network over his affair with a prostitute. Just as things are looking increasingly desperate
for Ian, Becky and Wilson, they come face to face with an enigmatic stranger who claims to offer them a way
out.
Paul Higgins (In the Loop, The Thick of It), Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (Misfits), Alexandra Roach (The Iron Lady)
and Neil Maskell (Kill List) head up a stunning ensemble cast of UK talent including James Fox (Sherlock
Holmes, A Passage to India, Performance), Geraldine James (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) Simon
McBurney (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Fiona O' Shaughnessy (Outcast, Malice, Aforethought), Adeel Akhtar
(The Dictator, Four Lions), Oliver Woollford (Blackout) and Michael Smiley (Kill List) who find themselves
embroiled in a cult conspiracy theory turned terrifyingly real in this brand-new six-part drama series.
7. E4
•
•
•
•
•
E4 is the entertainment destination for a cutting edge young audience.
Its eccentric and witty persona and strong branding make it a massive talking point.
E4 is on Freeview, DSAT and cable, and E4 HD on Sky increasing its audience
potential big time.
It also won channel of the year at The Broadcast Awards in Feb 2011.
E4 is one of the most original digital channels, successfully launching mega dramas
like Skins and Misfits.
Audience
• 16-34s
•
E4 viewers are predominantly young and upmarket, but they’re also fashion
conscious, sociable, connected, heavy internet users.
• E4 is the favourite digital channel of 16-34’s.
9. Misfits
Misfits is a British science fiction comedy-drama television show, on the network Channel 4, about a group of young
offenders sentenced to work in a community service programme, where they obtain supernatural powers after a strange
electrical storm. The series started in 2009 and is currently ongoing.
Nathan, Kelly, Simon, Alisha and Curtis were expecting their community service to be boring. However after a freak
thunderstorm they discover that it is anything but dull. Bestowed with strange powers, the five very different teens
realize they have a lot more to worry about than just picking up litter, especially as they discover that they are not the
only ones who have been given strange powers. Secrets will be revealed, feelings brought to the surface and
relationships formed and broken. But hey, its only 12 weeks of community service; what's the worst that could happen?
Audience
It is targeted at a youth audience.
10. Skins
Skins is a British teen drama that follows a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England, through their two years
of Sixth form (equivalent to junior and senior year of high school in the US) at Roundview College.
The show has been considered controversial due to it's exploration of issues such as dysfunctional families, mental
illness (including eating disorders), sexual orientation identity, substance abuse and death revolving around teenagers.
It was created by father and son television writers Bryan Elsley and Jamie Brittain for Company Pictures.[3]
It is also known for its casting of amateur young actors and young writers and for entirely replacing the cast every two
series, when the characters graduate from sixth form.
Audience
The target audience for Skins was originally teenagers, however it also found an audience in 20 and 30 somethings,
who wanted to ‗relive their teen years‘.
The first episode was watched by 1.6 million, then a record audience for Channel 4's fledgling offshoot E4.
11. My Mad Fat Diary
•
•
My Mad Fat Diary was a brand new drama series commissioned for E4, based on the real life diaries of author
Rae Earl. Set in the 1990s it tells the story of a girl's struggle with mental health issues on top of the normal
teenage problems of friendships, romance and embarrassing parents.
Set in Stamford, Lincolnshire in 1996, My Mad Fat Diary follows the story of 16-year-old, 16.5-stone Rae, who has
just left a psychiatric hospital, where she has spent four months. She begins to reconnect with her best
friend, Chloe, who is unaware of Rae's mental health and body image problems, believing she was in France for
the past four months. Rae attempts to keep this information from her while also trying to impress Chloe's friends
Izzy, Archie, Chop and Finn.
Audience
The target audience for My Mad Fat Diary, is teenagers/young adults.
12. BBC Three
•
The remit of BBC Three is to bring younger audiences to high-quality public service broadcasting through a mixedgenre schedule of innovative UK content featuring new UK talent. The channel should use the full range of digital
platforms to deliver its content and to build an interactive relationship with its audience.
Audience
•
BBC Three aims to connect with 16-34 year olds so tone is really important on the channel. As such, humour is an
entertainment essential for this audience. But younger audiences also want opportunities to connect with others: they are
looking for things worth talking about, whether ground-breaking formats or moments sharable online and great television
they'll want to watch and discuss with their friends.
As well as TV that is light-hearted and fun BBC also wants to give this audience entertainment content that is opinionated and
thought-provoking, providing powerful examples of life and human nature laid bare.
16-34 year olds are inquisitive and ambitious, independent and adventurous and will be attracted to shows on BBC Three that feel
like they're absolutely relevant to them and their lives as well as their aspirations.
13. Dramas on BBC Three
• In The Flesh
• The Fades
• Being Human
14. In The Flesh
Press Release
In The Flesh is an exciting new three-part drama for BBC Three that tells the story of zombie teenager Kieren
Walker (Luke Newberry) and his reintegration back into both the local community and the heart of his family.
After his death four years ago, his friends and family thought they‘d never see Kieren again. But then, shortly
after his funeral, thousands of the dead were re-animated; and now, after months of re-habilitation and
medication, the zombies are gradually being returned to their homes.
Now known as PDS sufferers (Partially Deceased Syndrome) - and since the passing of the PDS Protection
act - the government have set an agenda of acceptance and tolerance, one that is at odds with the
communities abandoned at the time of the rising, and the bloody battle between zombies and humans that
ensued.
A cauldron of brutal anti-zombie sentiment and the source of the ‗rotter‘ hating Human Volunteer Force (HVF),
Kieren returns to his home in the rural village of Roarton. Here he is forced to confront his family, the
community that rejected him and the flashbacks that continue to haunt him of what he did in his untreated
state.
Kieren‘s parents, Steve (Steve Cooper) and Sue (Marie Critchley), are undoubtedly pleased to see him, but
his sister, Jem (Harriet Cains), isn't so ready to pick up where they left off.
Meanwhile, the HVF, led by violent Bill Macy (Steve Evets) and backed by local churchman Vicar Oddie
(Kenneth Cranham), are ready to take action against any PDS Sufferer reintegrated on their patch.
15. The Fades
Press Release
Daniel Kaluuya (Skins, Psychoville, Sucker Punch] and Iain De Caestecker (River City, Coronation
Street, James Herriot) play best friends Mac and Paul in The Fades.
Seventeen-year-old Paul has never quite worked how to fit in. Other than to Mac, he talks only when he
needs to, out of certain knowledge that anything he might say would probably be under-appreciated. He's
always known he's different and always not wanted the job. In some ways his journey through the series is
the journey of someone who learns different can be great: Paul is special, it's as simple and as complicated
as that.
Unlike Paul, 17-year-old Mac talks – well – most of the time. A hive of knowledge and theories, he is almost a
walking encyclopedia of geeky film quotes – yes, Mac has a lot to communicate and seemingly not a lot of
time. The son of a police detective under pressure, Mac would always say he's cool with his place in the
world, but the truth is – Mac doesn't want to be this invisible person that people walk through. As Paul
develops his angelic powers, so Mac will feel increasingly left out. Mac and Paul have always been a double
act – and if Paul outgrows him, he's scared he will be left nothing. He may not have any special powers, but
Mac is also our hero – he's Paul's wingman and right at the heart of everything.
What is The Fades about?
The Fades are spirits of the dead walking the Earth. It happened years ago, as more and more people have
died and the population grown, more and more fades started to exist. Usually dead people would ascend to
another place but the Fades are people who have been left on Earth. They have no sense of touch and they
can't interact with other human beings which is a bit of a problem.
16. Being Human
Being Human is a British supernatural drama television series. It was created and written
by Toby Whithouse for broadcast on BBC Three.[1] The show blends elements of
flatshare comedy and horror drama. It originally starred Lenora Crichlow as Annie
Sawyer (a ghost), Russell Tovey as George Sands (a werewolf) and Aidan Turner as
John Mitchell (a vampire) — all of whom were sharing accommodation and attempting as
best as they can to live a "normal" life and blend in with the ordinary humans around
them.
17. ITV
Remit
ITV1 is a mainstream public service channel funded by advertising revenue. It aims to attract the widest possible
audience by offering a range of high quality programmes that are inclusive in their appeal, particularly at peak
viewing times. Whilst principally targeted at mass audiences, ITV1 also shows programmes for particular sections
of the audience: for example children, adults under 35, men, and people watching at home during the day. ITV1
has no specific remit to cater for specific minorities or to be innovative in form or content, though these qualities
will be present in the schedule from time to time. The Communications Bill published in November 2002 proposes
that ITV1‘s statutory remit shall, from enactment during the course of 2003, become ―the provision of a range of
high quality and diverse programming‖. That is what ITV has sought to offer throughout its nearly fifty years of
broadcasting. Investment in original UK production distinguishes ITV1 from other commercial channels; it aims to
remain the largest investor in original production of any European broadcaster outside the BBC. This commitment
to original programming is part of ITV‘s extensive range of public service obligations that are expected to continue
beyond 2003 into the new regulatory regime overseen by the Office of Communications (OFCOM). In 2003 and
for the foreseeable future, ITV1 will offer viewers a diverse network schedule that includes news, current
affairs, children‘s and religious programmes, as well as a range of other programme genres.
Regionality is also key to ITV1‘s public service remit. Each ITV area will show a minimum number of hours of
regional programmes – including news, current affairs and a range of other programmes – each week designed
specifically for
viewers in that area.
ITV is the home of mainstream drama. They make series, serials and single films for a broad, heartland audience
which regularly achieve ratings above 6m
18. Dramas on ITV
• Broadchurch
• The Vampire Diaries
• Downton Abbey
19. Broadchurch
Press Release
Broadchurch is a new drama series by Kudos Film and Television for ITV. The star-studded cast includes David
Tennant, Olivia Colman, Andrew Buchan, Jodie Whittaker, Vicky McClure, Pauline Quirke and Arthur Darvill.
Broadchurch explores what happens to a small community in Dorset when it suddenly becomes the focus of a police
investigation, following the tragic and mysterious death of an eleven year old boy under the glare of the media spotlight.
Bloodied and dirty, Danny Latimer (Oskar McNamara) has been found dead on an idyllic beach surrounded by rocks
and a jutting cliff-face from where he may have fallen. While his death remains unresolved, the picturesque seaside
town of Broadchurch is at the heart of a major police investigation and a national media frenzy.
The sadness of losing a child consumes the family, Beth and Mark Latimer (Jodie Whittaker and Andrew Buchan), their
daughter 15 year old Chloe (Charlotte Beaumont) and Beth‘s mum Liz (Susan Brown) as they attempt to cope with their
grief, everyday normal life and the abruptness of the unwarranted attention heaped upon them. Devastated by their
loss, it‘s the most stressful and emotional time in their lives as they struggle to relate to their friends, neighbours, the
church, the press, and the police.
David Tennant takes the role of DI Alec Hardy; an out-of-town, newly promoted police detective who takes the job local
girl DS Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) believes should have been hers.
Ellie has to find reserves of patience and toughness to negotiate a professional relationship with the difficult and
unyielding Hardy. Yet as the drama progresses, Hardy‘s own secrets are laid bare.
Ellie is also emotionally involved with this case. Ellie‘s son Tom (Adam Wilson) was the dead boy‘s best friend and
she‘s known Danny all his young life. How could she not be drawn in? But Hardy‘s clinical methods force Ellie to see
the community she grew up in through a different prism.
One by one the community of Broadchurch are drawn into the police enquiry. The village vicar Paul Coates (Arthur
Darvill) tries to offer his support, but with press snooping, Broadchurch Echo junior reporter Olly Stevens (Jonathan
Bailey) and editor Maggie Radcliffe (Carolyn Pickles), and particularly national newspaper journalist Karen White (Vicky
McClure) who has come to Broadchurch with a special interest in DI Hardy, everyone is ill at ease. Hotelier Becca
Fisher (Simone McAullay) and local business people are implicated as the effects of a death in the community begins to
impact on their hard-earned livelihoods. Telephone engineer Steve Connelly (Will Mellor) finds himself in deep when he
admits he has a special connection to the case.
Pauline Quirke takes the role of Susan Wright, a suspicious and scruffy character who appears to observe the goings
on in Broadchurch from afar. Susan lives in the local caravan park and has a lonely existence. There‘s a sense she‘s
hiding something, but what could she possibly know about Danny‘s demise?
20. The Vampire Diaries
The Vampire Diaries is a supernatural drama television series developed by Kevin Williamson and Julie
Plec, based on the book series of the same name written by L. J. Smith.
The series takes place in Mystic Falls, Virginia, a fictional small town haunted by supernatural beings. The series
narrative follows the protagonist Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) as she falls in love with vampire Stefan Salvatore
(Paul Wesley) and is drawn into the supernatural world as a result. As the series progresses, Elena finds herself
drawn to Stefan's brother Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder) resulting in a love triangle. As the narrative
develops in the course of the series, the focal point shifts on the mysterious past of the town involving Elena's
malevolent doppelgänger Katerina Petrova and the family of Original Vampires, all of which have an evil agenda
of their own.
21. Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey is a British period drama television series created by Julian Fellowes and co-produced
by Carnival Films and Masterpiece. It first aired on ITV in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 26
September 2010. Four series have been made so far.
The series, set in the Yorkshire country estate of Downton Abbey, depicts the lives of the aristocratic
Crawley family and their servants in the post-Edwardian era—with the great events in history having
an effect on their lives and on the British social hierarchy. Such events depicted throughout the series
include news of the sinking of the RMS Titanic in the first series; the outbreak of the First World War,
the Spanish influenza pandemic, and the Marconi scandal in the second series; the Interwar period
and the formation of the Irish Free State in the third series; and the Teapot Dome scandal in the fourth
series.
