Global Showbiz Briefs: ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ To UK’s Channel 4; Henry Winkler-Penned Kids Books In TV Deal; ‘Voice UK’: More

Britain’s Channel 4 has taken UK premiere broadcast rights to fall comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine. The series from Dan Goor and Michael Schur is being handled internationally by NBCUniversal International Television Distribution. Andy Samberg and Andre Braugher star. It debuts on Channel 4’s E4 in January in the UK. The show kicked off on Fox in the U.S. on Wednesday night.

The Voice UK has lined up Ricky Wilson as the fourth coach to sit in a red chair for the upcoming third seaon. Lead singer of Britsh band Kaiser Chiefs, Wilson has worked with the BBC before, hosting Never Mind The Buzzcocks and T In The Park. As previously announced, Kylie Minogue is joining the competition series and Tom Jones and will.i.am are returning.

BBC children’s channel CBBC has commissioned a new comedy/drama series to feature Henry Winkler. Hank Zipzer, from DHX Media and Walker Productions, will be produced by Kindle Entertainment. The 13-episode show will air on CBBC in 2014. It’s inspired by the book series Hank Zipzer: The World’s Greatest Underachiever, which Winkler wrote with Lin Oliver. The TV project will follow 12-year-old Hank, a smart and resourceful dyslexic boy with a unique perspective on the world. When problems arise, he deals with them in a way no one else would – putting him on a direct collision course with his teachers and parents. (more…)