HOT NEWS for MASTERPIECE FANS!
March 15th, 2010
Hint: Once The Forsythe Saga Was Remade, You Knew What Had To Follow…
MASTERPIECE on PBS and BBC Worldwide Sales and Distribution, Americas have announced a major co-production deal! And guess what it includes?
A new production of Upstairs Downstairs—one of the most-loved and honored television series of all time! Upstairs Downstairs will air in the U.S. in 2011 as part of MASTERPIECE’s 40th anniversary season on PBS.
An enormous success worldwide, the original Upstairs Downstairs was shown in over 70 countries to an audience of over one billion people, won seven Emmys® during its run on MASTERPIECE THEATRE in the mid-1970s—including Best Actress for Jean Marsh, who will reprise her role in the new three-part series as Rose, the parlor maid. Dame Eileen Atkins, the co-creator of the original program, will also star. Screenwriter Heidi Thomas (Cranford) is setting the new Upstairs Downstairs in the same house at 165 Eaton Place in 1936, during the period leading up to World War II.
The co-production deal also includes Sherlock, a 21st-century spin on Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic Sherlock Holmes novels. Yes! A modern day Holmes! This thrilling new Sherlock series is a fast-paced, witty take on the legendary crime drama, now set in present day London and starring Benedict Cumberbatch (Atonement, The Last Enemy) as the eponymous detective. Martin Freeman (The Office UK, Hot Fuzz) plays his loyal friend, Doctor John Watson, and Rupert Graves (God on Trial, The Forsyte Saga) is Inspector Lestrade. Co-created by Steven Moffat (Doctor Who, Coupling, Jekyll) and Mark Gatiss (The League of Gentlemen, Crooked House), the iconic details from Arthur Conan Doyle’s original books remain: same address, same names—and somewhere out there, Moriarty is waiting.
ALSO coming to MASTERPIECE - Three Aurelio Zen mysteries, adapted from the best-selling novels by Michael Dibden set in Italy, and will star Rufus Sewell (The Eleventh Hour, Middlemarch, John Adams) as the Italian detective, in three episodes based on the popular mysteries by Michael Dibden. The series is being shot on location.
“I’m so proud of this particular group of programs,” says MASTERPIECE executive producer Rebecca Eaton. “These three series say everything about what MASTERPIECE aims to be: iconic, rich with wonderful actors, witty, literate, and timeless. I can’t wait to see them all.”
“These three co-productions offer a new spin on well-known, treasured stories and we’re thrilled to be working with MASTERPIECE to bring them to life,” says Matt Forde, EVP Sales & Co-Productions, BBC Worldwide, Americas. “A valued, long-standing production partner, our past collaborations with MASTERPIECE produced a number of critically acclaimed, award-winning-series—a testament to the success of our partnership.”
– MASTERPIECE airs on KNME, every Sunday at 9:00 pm. –
Evy Todd
KNME Publicist / Station Relations
