The BBC has commissioned a slate of four dramas from first-time TV writers, including a police series starring The Hobbit and Sherlock actor Martin Freeman as a night shift officer in the British city of Liverpool. The Responder is written by Tony Schumacher, a former police officer who is fulfilling a lifelong…

The BBC’s drama chief Piers Wenger has defended Doctor Who following a drop in ratings and a mixed reception from fans for Season 12 of the sci-fi drama. At a BBC drama even in London on Monday, Wenger was asked if he would consider resting Doctor Who given some of the malaise around the show, which is produced by BBC…

The BBC’s drama chief Piers Wenger has bristled at the idea of the British broadcaster becoming a subscription service amid growing talk of the government abandoning the licence fee. During an event in London on Monday, Wenger made a passionate case for the BBC’s place in a TV ecology that is becoming increasingly…

The BBC has moved quickly to cement its relationship with Irish author Sally Rooney. Youth channel BBC Three is preparing to drop Normal People in the spring, and is now committed to a 12-part adaption of Rooney’s debut book Conversations With Friends. Hulu is attached to Normal People, but has not yet signed up for Co…

EXCLUSIVE: Darien Sills-Evans (Superior Donuts) and Mike Lane (American Princess) are set as series regulars opposite Jim Jefferies in his NBC comedy pilot Jefferies, from writer-producer Suzanne Martin, Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner's Hazy Mills and Universal TV. Written by Jefferies and Martin, Jefferies stars the…

EXCLUSIVE: Jazz Raycole (Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas) is set as a series regular opposite Kiele Sanchez and Angus Sampson in CBS' drama The Lincoln Lawyer, from The Practice creator David E. Kelley based on Michael Connelly's series of bestselling novels. It hails from A+E Studios, which will co-produce with CBS…

Almost two weeks after being newly indicted on felony charges arising from the alleged fake hate crime attack of January 2019, Jussie Smollett was back in court today, in more ways than one. Appearing in a Cook County criminal courthouse to plead not guilty this morning, the former Empire star was also pleading with…

Seann William Scott has been tapped to star in Fox’s single-camera comedy pilot This Country, based on the BBC series, from Jenny Bicks, Paul Feig’s Feigco Entertainment, Lionsgate, Fox Entertainment and BBC Studios. Scott was one of the most sought after comedy actors this pilot season, fielding multiple offers. He…

EXCLUSIVE: The newly launched genre-centric distribution company Global View Entertainment has acquired the domestic rights to the Antoine Le-directed inventive found footage horror pic Followed starring Matthew Solomon. The pic is set for a theatrical release in major markets on April 10. Written by Todd Klick, Follow…

EXCLUSIVE: Life in Pieces alum Betsy Brandt is set as the female lead opposite Jim Jefferies in his NBC comedy pilot Jefferies, from writer-producer Suzanne Martin, Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner's Hazy Mills and Universal TV. Written by Jefferies and Martin, Jefferies stars the veteran comedian as a fictionalized…