CIRCUS CIRCUS

[16.50 - French Time] BBC One has axed its circus sitcom Big Top, starring Amanda Holden. A BBC spokeswoman confirmed to Chortle that the show, which also stars Ruth Madoc (Little Britain) John Thomson (Cold Feet) and Tony Robinson (Blackadder), will not return.

BBC One Controller Jay Hunt said about Big Top ahead of its launch: « Big Top is a heart-warming family comedy with real potential to capture the imagination of the BBC One audience. I am delighted it will be part of the new raft of comedies on the channel » (http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2009/11_november/13/bigtop.shtml). But neither the critics nor the public agreed and the most intriguing with Big Top is why the BBC commissioned it in the first place.

After the cold reception of new shows like Paradox or Material Girl and this cancellation, the Beeb will find solace in the recent Showcase organized in Brighton by BBC Worldwide. On Monday, the Corporation's commercial arm and US Public service PBS announced a co-production deal for three incoming series: the revival of Upstairs, Downstairs (1971-1975), Aurelio Zen and Sherlock. The 3 X 90-minute "reimagining" of Sherlock Holmes by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat has just secured its first international sale with Australia’s Nine Network.

The show stars Benedict Cumberbatch (The Last Enemy) as Sherlock Holmes. Martin Freeman (The Office UK) as Doctor John Watson, and Rupert Graves (V for Vendetta) is Inspector Lestrade. Set in modern day London, Sherlock presents the detective as an analytical deduction fanatic who helps the police for fun and thrill.

The British answer to Monk and The Mentalist with a zest of Doctor Who? The TV series is produced by Hartswood Films (Jekyll), founded by Beryl Vertue. Steven Moffat is one of the execs of the company (http://www.hartswoodfilms.co.uk/index.html) and the name of the new Doctor Who showrunner is the main excitement factor since the announcement of the project in 2008.

http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2010/02/24/10576/big_top_comes_down
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2010/02_february/upstairs_downstairs.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2010/02_february/sherlock_nine.shtml