Apparently, a new sci-fi drama is in production for ITV, and is being worked on by the people who did Walking With Dinosaurs et al for the BBC.
It stars Douglas Henshall (C4's Psychos) as an eccentric professor at the centre of a time travelling adventure that sees him travelling back to the age of dinosaurs, accompanied by a spunky blonde sidekick, played by Hannah Spearrit, formerly of S Club 7.
Anybody else detecting parallels?
It looks to me like ITV are getting on board with the primetime family sci-fi resurgence. And you know what? I say "Good"! As I pointed out on the Torchwood thread, it seems the UK is finally getting some homegrown genre TV after years of draught! Let them bitch fight, and let us, the viewers, reap the benfits!
I have to say that I remain resolutely unconvinced. Every new bit of news that I hear about this makes it sound more derivative.
Latest news generally turns up here. Currently it's sounding like a total Stargate rip-off, as well as a Who rip-off. And it's ITV1, so it's probably already doomed to be crap.
And if Primeval is only just now gone into production, then it is NOT likely to be going up against the Doctor. Which means it`s not an either/or competition between the two shows.
And if the original Star Wars film that ITV threw up against the Doctor last series failed to beat him, then an unproven new show has no chance.
Three weeks to go to the new series of Doctor Who (if it starts on 15th April as predicted).
******************************** John Smith: So what am I then? Nothing. I`m just a story.
Doctor: You`re an echo. That`s all. A TimeLord is so much more. A sum of knowledge; a code. A shared history. A shared suffering. Only it`s gone now, all of it. Gone forever.
So..... Does the S Club 7 connection means it`s aimed at a young audience?
Which would mean then that it also would not be put into direct conflict with Torchwood, as Capt Jack is aimed at an adult audience.
******************************** John Smith: So what am I then? Nothing. I`m just a story.
Doctor: You`re an echo. That`s all. A TimeLord is so much more. A sum of knowledge; a code. A shared history. A shared suffering. Only it`s gone now, all of it. Gone forever.
They're hoping for that 16+ audience that so much of ITV1's ouput is directed at. The cast is mostly older and more experienced that SClubWhosit. It doesn't seem to be aimed at the same family demographic as Doctor Who (I'm not sure that ITV really does family viewing per se), but it doesn't really scream Torchwoody adultness, either.
yes Scot actor Henshall...his companion...I mean assistant...I mean colleague will be pop star...I mean actress Hannah Spearit. Who was at least 7th best singer in S Club 7!
