BEYOND PARADISE - SERIES 1, EPISODE 1 (BBC ONE)

[Favourite of the Month] Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman, formerly posted in the Carribean and in London, settle on the Devon coast with his fiancee Martha Lloyd in the enjoyable premiere of the spin-off from Death in Paradise.

Death in Paradise, the much loved BBC One detective drama filmed in Guadeloupe, was launched in 2011. Created by Robert Thorogood and produced by Red Planet Pictures, the series was sold in more than 230 territories. Since its start, five lead detectives of the Honoré police station have investigated all sorts of murders on the beautiful (but fictional) island of Saint Marie: DI Richard Poole (played by Ben Miller in the first couple of series), DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall, series 3 to 6), DI Jake Mooney (Ardal O'Hanlon, series 6 to 9)  and DI Neville Parker (Ralf Little, from series 9).

The bumbling (and fan favourite) Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman left the island in 2017 with his love interest Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton, Not Going Out). Now both return in Beyond Paradise, a 6 x one-hour spin-off series of Death in Paradise created by Robert Thorogood and Tony Jordan. Freshly arrived with Martha in her hometown of Shipton Abbott in Devon, Humphrey gets stuck in a tree before introducing himself to his new colleagues. After conducting the interview of a shoplifter in his unorthodox style, DI Goodman goes to the hospital with DS Esther Williams (Zahra Ahmadi). They interrogate a woman who claims she was attacked in her house by a 17th century witch named Old Mother Wheaten.

Humphrey Goodman is back and it's nice to watch Kris Marshall and Sally Bretton in their roles again. In this episode, the likeable detective arrives in a picturesque environment similar to the small coastal town of Doc Martin to bring some lightness in a 60-minute Midsomer Murders. Beyond Paradise takes the Martha/Humphrey couple in an interesting new direction and we meet Martha's mother Anne Lloyd (Barbara Flynn). The rest of the Shipton Abbott police station is composed of Office support Margo Martins (Felicity Montagu, Alan Partridge) and Police Constable Kelby Hartford (Dylan Llewellyn, Derry Girls). 

 

The guest cast of the first episode includes Yasmine Akram (Carol Meadows), Peter de Jersey (Patrick Wiley), Davood Gadami (Ben Tyler), Chris Jenks (Josh Woods), Montserrat Lombard (Gwen Tyler), Dan Mersh (Peter Meadows), Samantha Spiro (Yvonne Wiley), etc. Produced by Red Planet Pictures (an Asacha Company) for Britbox and the BBC.  Belinda Campbell, Alex Jones and Kris Marshall exec produce with Tony Jordan and Tim Key. Tommy Bulfin exec produce for the BBC. Stephen Nye and Diederick Santer exec produce for Britbox. Cat Fox is the Head of Production. Mike O'Regan is the line producer. Music by Magnus Fiennes. Closing title music by Bellowhead. Cinematography by Simon Walton. Editing by John Blackwell.

Shipton Abbott is as fictional as Saint Marie. Beyond Paradise was actually mostly filmed in Looe, Cornwall. Death in Paradise was recently renewed for two further series. It remains the most watched foreign drama in France. Episode 1 written by Tony Jordan and directed by Sandy Johnson. Beyond Paradise is distributed by BBC Studios.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001jg5h

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/beyond-paradise-filming-locations-bbc/

SISTER BONIFACE MYSTERIES - SERIES 1, EPISODES 1 & 2: UNNATURAL CAUSES & LIGHT, CAMERA, MURDER! (BRITBOX/DRAMA)

[Favourite of the Month] Set in the Cotswolds during the 1960s, Sister Boniface Mysteries is a 10 x 45-minute lighthearted British detective series available since last month in the U.S. on streaming service Britbox.

 

It will air in the U.K. on UKTV's free-to-air channel Drama from March 11th.

Sister Boniface Mysteries stars comedian and actress Lorna Watson as the myopic, Vespa riding and crime-solving Sister Boniface. This Catholic nun of the St Vincent convent, a winemaking community, has an IQ of 156, a PhD in chemistry and a laboratory. She's a vintner but her knowledge in science and a passion for crime fiction led her to become a scientific advisor for the police of a little town called Great Slaughter. MI5 even tried to hire her before she decided to take veil. The charming Lorna Watson is a true joy to watch as the wonderfully intelligent and energetic sleuthing nun. She first played the character in The Bride of Christ, the sixth episode of the first series of Father Brown. This popular BBC afternoon mystery drama based on the short stories by G.K. Chesterton was launched in 2013.

Starring Mark Williams (Doctor Who) in the title role (1), Father Brown celebrated its 100th episode in January. French pubcaster France 3, an important buyer of the genre, overlooked it and preferred the younger priest of Grantchester. Sister Boniface Mysteries was created by Jude Tindall (Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private investigators), who wrote the Father Brown episode and penned the flamboyant return of Sister Boniface in Unnatural Causes. The body of a young woman is discovered within the Aunt Sally dummy at the Mangold Wurzel Festival. Detective Sergeant Felix Livingstone, from the Bermuda Islands and seconded to Scotland Yard, arrives in Great Slaughter because of an administrative error. Sister Boniface and him join Detective Inspector Sam Gillespie at the crime scene.

 

The victim was a housemaid for the wealthy Bellamy family. Felix — far from the Yard's modern policing methods — has a bit of a culture shock in the countryside. Sam doesn't read the ancient Greek and the trio is confronted with a strange hostage situation. Sister Boniface Mysteries is an affectionate take on the classic whodunnit with a healthy dose of humour. Lorna Watson is surrounded by an excellent cast: Max Brown (Downton Abbey, The Royals) as DI Gillespie, Jerry Iwu (DS Livingstone), Miranda Raison (Spooks) as journalist Ruth Penny, Ami Metcalf (WPC Penny Button), Sarah Crowden (Miss Thimble), David Sterne (Tom Thomas), Virginia Fiol (Sister Reginald), Belinda Lang (Mrs Clam), Carolyn Pickles (Mother Superior Adrian), Robert Daws (Chief Constable Lowsley), etc.

 

Silvia Presente, Michael Marcus and Fred Fergus are amongst the guest stars of this episode directed by Paul Gilbson (Father Brown). In Light, Camera, Murder!, a TV crew uses the St Vincent convent as a location for a spy-fi series called Operation QT (think The Avengers). Sister Boniface and Sister Peter, who's a huge fan, observe the filming when a real bullet is fired. A tremendously fun episode written by Dominique Moloney and enriched by the presence of Tina Chiang as Sister Peter. Felicity Montagu plays Canoness Basil. With Stephanie Booth, Andrew Scarborough, Ingrid Lakou, etc. Directed by Merlyn Rice. Produced by BBC Studios Drama Productions for Britbox. Exec produced by Will Trotter. Exec produced for Britbox by Emily Powers and Stephen Nye. Peter Bullock is the producer. 

 

Jude Tindall is the associate producer. Music by Michael Price. Cinematography by Jaz Castleton (Episode 1) and Chris Preston (Episode 2). Editing by Tristan Leon (Episode 1) and  Simon Prentice (Episode 2). There will be a second series of Sister Boniface Mysteries. Distributed by BBC Studios.

 

(1) Mark Williams appears as Father Brown in the fourth episode of the first series of Sister Boniface Mysteries.

 

https://www.iheartbritishtv.com/interview-with-lorna-watson-and-will-trotter-of-sister-boniface-mysteries/

https://www.whattowatch.com/watching-guides/sister-boniface-mysteries-release-date-cast-and-everything-we-know-about-the-father-brown-spin-off-series

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/bbcstudios/2022/britbox-north-america-recommission-bbc-studios-drama-productions-sister-boniface-mysteries 

THE MALLORCA FILES - SERIES 1, EPISODE 1: HONOUR AMONGST THIEVES (BBC ONE)

[Favourite of the Month] A British police officer teams up with a German cop under the sun of Mallorca in this stylish and fun new drama.

Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic islands, a Spanish archipelago in the Mediteranean sea. It's one of the favourite destinations of tourists from the U.K. and, most of all, Germany. Mallorca is even nicknamed "the 17th German federal state". The Mallorca Files is a detective drama set on the island and commissioned for BBC One's daytime, home of Father Brown and Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators.

Created by British scriptwriter Dan Sefton (The Good Karma Hospital, Trust Me), who's the showrunner and main writer, the 10 x 45-minute series is produced by Cosmopolitan Pictures and Clerkenwell Films with BBC Studios, BritBox, France.tv (France Télévisions) and Germany's ZDF Neo. This international partnership allowed a prime time budget. Honour Amongst Thieves, the fast-paced premiere episode, was penned by Dan Sefton and directed by Bryn Higgins.

Miranda Blake, an uptight Detective Constable from the London Metropolitan Police, is in Mallorca to escort gang lord Niall Taylor back to England. They are ambushed at the airport and Taylor is shot dead. DC Blake takes some days off to find out who set them up. Police Chief Ines Villegas obliges her to collaborate with Max Winter, a laid-back detective from Munich working for the German division of the Mallorca police. He drives an old BMW and procedure isn't his forte.

Niall Taylor and his gang were behind a spectacular robbery but Taylor was about to testify against his accomplices. From a golf field to a funeral, Miranda and Max try to work together. The Mallorca Files stars Welsh actress Elen Rhys (The Bastard Executioner) as Miranda Blake and Vienna-born actor Julian Looman (Pagan Peak/Der Pass) as Max Winter. Their perfect on-screen chemistry is the key element of a thoroughly devised sunny take on the unlikely sleuth duo.

Effective and funny, The Mallorca Files is a brilliant encounter between Death in Paradise (or Dempsey and Makepeace) and German crime dramas. It also reminds of Moonlighting and Hustle. Other regular cast members are María Fernández Ache (Ines), Nacho Aldeguer (Isabel) as pathologist Federico Ramis, Tábata Cerezo (Carmen Lorenzo), Denis Schmidt (Max's best friend Christian) and Carlos Olalla (The Time in Between) as Joan Lorenzo.

The talented Aidan McArdle (Maigret, Mr Selfridge) guest stars as Niall Taylor. Tanya Moodie (A Discovery of Witches, Sherlock) is fabulous as Superintendent Abbey Palmer. Denise McCormack (Stella), Tanya Reynolds (Claire), Robbie Gee (Freddie Case) and Robert Cavanah (Tony Rogan) are the other guest stars of Episode 1. Exec produced by Ben Donald, Dan Sefton and Murray Ferguson. Produced by Dominic Barlow. Michael Robins is the line producer.  

Charlie Mole (Mr Selfridge) is the composer of the excellent soundtrack. Surrender, the catchy main title song, and Time on our side, the end title, are performed by Anna Ross. Both were written by Charlie Mole. Cinematography by Jan Jonaeus. Edited by Mark Davis. Titles by Huge Designs. Filmed entirely on location in Mallorca with the help and support of the Illes Ballears Film Commission and the Mallorca Film Commission. Production services by Finca Producciones SPA and Palma Pictures.

The other writers of The Mallorca Files are Dan Muirden, Alex McBride, Rachael New and Sarah-Louise Hawkins. The other directors are Charlie Palmer, Gordon Anderson and Rob Evans. A second series has been commissioned before the start of the first on Monday 25 November. All the episodes of Series 1 are available on BBC iPlayer for U.K. viewers. The Mallorca Files will be aired in prime time in Germany and France (on France 2).

Special thanks to Chris Charlton.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/the-mallorca-files
https://www.annarossofficial.com/ (Anna Ross)

See also:

https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/drama/the-mallorca-files-bbc1/5145104.article?fbclid=IwAR0FdSF84ozdKRs4mq3Kv3FnZgVb5CFXkXDS2D-JSWUu9wcM2x9NUd5hBPM

POLDARK - SERIES ONE (FRENCH REGION 2 DVD)

Cornwall in 1783. Captain Ross Poldark returns from the American War of Independence to discover that his father has died, his estate is in ruins and his childhood sweetheart Elizabeth is now engaged to his cousin, Francis. His uncle Charles wants him away and is ready to pay him to make a fresh start elsewhere.

Ross stubbornly refuses, determined to rebuild his family estate. With only the help of his father’s useless servants, Jud and Prudie, he takes on a new kitchen maid, Demelza, after rescuing her from a beating. The first series of Poldark (2015) is now available on French Region 2 DVD from Koba Films.

Written by English novelist Winston Graham, the 12 books of the Poldark saga were published between 1945 and 2002. A hugely popular adaptation from BBC Television and London Films Productions, starring Robin Ellis as Ross Poldark and Angharad Rees as Demelza, ran for 29 episodes from 1975 to 1977. The eighth Poldark novel, The Stranger from the Sea was adapted by HTV for ITV in 1996 without the original Ross and Demelza. This latest version, launched in March 2015 on BBC One, was adapted by Debbie Horsfield (All the Small Things) from the first two novels: Ross Poldark (1945) and Demelza (1946). Ed Bazalgette directed episodes 1 to 4 of this first series, William McGregor helmed the remaining four.

The aptly cast Aidan Turner (The Hobbit, Being Human) leads a talented regular cast as Ross Poldark, a rebellious and dashing gentleman with a social conscience. Ross rebuilds Nampara, his estate, then reopens his father's mine in a depressed local economy with his hesitant cousin Francis (Kyle Soller). Francis Poldark is a good man who regrettably has many weaknesses, starting with his jealousy about Ross and Elizabeth (Heida Reed). Ross takes risks on all fronts when he challenges class prejudices by taking sides for the underprivileged against the elite and marrying his maid Demelza Carne. Eleanor Tomlinson (Death comes to Pemberley) plays the smart and adaptive young woman. Demelza helps Verity (Ruby Bentall), the cousin of Ross, to reunite with her lover, Captain Andrew Blamey (Richard Harrington).

Beatie Edney and Phil Davis (Whitechapel) are fabulous as Poldark's couple of servants Prudie and Jud Paynter. The actions of Ross Poldark are under scrutiny of the Warleggans, a wealthy familly who rised from poverty to become powerful bankers and industrialists. Frustrated by Ross' rejection of his friendship, the cynical and scheming George Warleggan (Jack Farthing, excellent) becomes his enemy. Warren Clarke (Dalziel and Pascoe, In the Red, A Clockwork Orange), who portrays Charles Poldark, died in November 2014. The first episode was dedicated to this great actor at the time of its transmission. Pip Torrens (Cary Warleggan), Caroline Blakiston (Aunt Agatha) and Luke Norris (Dr. Dwight Enys) are amongst the other regulars.

The 2015 Poldark is ideal for period drama lovers and those who enjoy quality dramas in general. The production values are top-notch, the scenery is magnificent, the required romance, intrigue and action are there. Everybody in the crew and cast did a superb job to deliver an instant classic. This first series of Poldark is an invitation to read the books, watch the 1975 series, and visit Cornwall of course. Bonus material of the three-disc DVD set from Koba Films is comprised of three featurettes: Poldark, un personnage iconique (Poldark - The Man), Poldark et les femmes (Poldark's Women) and Les coulisses (Poldark - Behind the Scenes). The episodes are in French or English (with optional subtitles).

Poldark (Series 1) is a Mammoth Screen and Masterpiece co-production for the BBC and PBS. Poldark is produced by Eliza Mellor (Death comes to Pemberley). The executive producers are Debbie Horsfield, Karen Thrussell and Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen, Polly Hill for the BBC and Rebecca Eaton for Masterpiece. Anne Dudley composed the beautiful music. ITV Studios distributes Poldark globally. Robin Ellis, the 1975 Ross Poldark, appears as Reverend Halse.

http://www.kobafilms.fr/series-tv/605-poldark-saison-1-3344428068288.html

See also:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/poldark

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/nbVFGmB7lFVmJJKpjrCQV/poldarks-cornwall-locations

https://www.visitcornwall.com/  

DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES 6, EPISODES 5 & 6 (BBC ONE)

DI Humphrey Goodman and the team find a man murdered on his boat five miles out at sea. The only clue leads to four suspects from London who quickly return to the British capital.  

Commissioner Patterson sends Humphrey, Florence and Dwayne to work on the case in London with DI Jack Mooney of the Metropolitan Police.

 

The bottom line: Here's the computer, said Florence.

It took five episodes of Death in Paradise (including last year's finale) to prepare the departure of Kris Marshall/DI Goodman and his replacement in this London two-parter. This is certainly an improvement over the inelegant ice pick exit of Ben Miller's DI Richard Poole, his predecessor. Too bad all this is at the expense of most of the current series, stucked until now into the annoying romance of Humphrey and Martha (Sally Bretton). The only purpose of this storyline (and consequently of the two-part episode) became obvious right from the second episode.

Then, ahead of the official confirmation that Kris Marshall was leaving, the trick was to spot the presence of Irish comedian/actor Ardal O'Hanlon (Father Ted) as DI Jack Mooney in the guest cast of the fifth episode. The laboured first half of the London story is saved by his introduction and the excellent Danny John-Jules (Dwayne). Except  for him and the the always enthusiastic J.P. (Tobi Bakare), the rest of the regular characters look like they seriously need a permanent new posting off screen. 

The second part of this double episode is better, particularly for a scene between Humphrey Goodman and Jack Mooney (« Be my guest. ») and an appropriate nod to Love Actually. Ardal O'Hanlon does a very good job for his arrival. Anyway, the feel-good detective drama has a worldwide audience so there's no doubt that the new Detective Inspector has been choosen very carefully.  Although the character reminds of his predecessors, Jack is a recent widower and has a daughter in her 20s named Siobhan (Grace Stone). Next time, we'll see how he manages in Saint Marie.

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/02/no-sht-humphrey.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/01/midsomer-murders-series-19-episode-4.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/01/death-in-paradise-series-6-episodes-2-3.html

NO SH*T, HUMPHREY!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2017/new-detective-death-in-paradise

Well, it's certainly not a surprise for the readers and visitors of this little blog...

See:

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/01/midsomer-murders-series-19-episode-4.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/01/death-in-paradise-series-6-episodes-2-3.html 

[Update]  Danny John-Jules and Ardal O'Hanlon (as the Columboesque new DI) save the laboured first half of the London two-parter.

MIDSOMER MURDERS - SERIES 19, EPISODE 4: RED IN TOOTH AND CLAW + DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES 6, EPISODE 4

A few words about the latest episodes of those crime/detective dramas.
 

- Midsomer Murders - Series 19, Episode 4: Red In Tooth And Claw (ITV). In recent years two scriptwriters amazingly succeeded in bringing fresh air into the venerable detective drama: Jeff Povey and Lisa Holdsworth. Povey is behind Last Man Out, the absolutely brilliant previous episode, and now here comes the eagerly awaited (by your humble servant at least) Holdsworth's annual Midsomer.

Lisa Holdworth caught our attention seven years ago with an episode of New Tricks. For her first gig on Midsomer Murders in 2013, a character died thanks to a giant round of cheese. Two years later she penned what was then the best episode since series 15 (A Vintage Murder). In Red In Tooth And Claw, death strikes in and around a pet show. DCI John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon) and DS Winter (Nick Hendrix) investigate amongst an impressive number of rabbits.

There's Steve Pemberton as a champion rabbit breeder, a locum pathologist (played by Michael Obiora), and someone who plays with scissors. English acting deity Susan Hampshire graces Midsomer County with her presence. A most enjoyable episode with great lines (« It's been a bad week for small animals. First a rabbit-napping and now a dog-on-badger hate crime. ») 

For some reasons which only belong to scheduling geniuses, ITV keeps the two remaining episodes of this 19th series for "later in the year". Directed by Steve Hughes.

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/01/midsomer-murders-last-man-out-itv.html (Episode 3)

- Death in Paradise - Series 6, Episode 4 (BBC One). In which we learn what Commissioner Patterson did during his days off, and Catherine doesn't care about her election campaign. 

« No solace in a kiss. No comfort in a sigh. No good about goodbye. » (Dame Shirley Bassey)

It's all boredom under the sun since the second episode of this current series. The romance between DI Goodman (Kris Marshall) and Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton) balances between annoying and painful. Its only possible excuse (with extreme indulgence) would be to pave the way for a potential departure of Humphrey during the London two-parter or in Episode 8. 

In that case, Ardal O'Hanlon, who plays "DI Jack Mooney" in Episode 5, would be my chief suspect for the replacement. Anyway, let's hope things will go back to normal (well,  the Saint Marie "normal"...) ASAP.

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/01/death-in-paradise-series-6-episodes-2-3.html (Episodes 2 & 3) 

DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES 6, EPISODES 2 & 3 (BBC ONE)

The one with the dead friend, followed by the one in the hotel.

The bottom line: "Fun, fun, fun, In the sun, sun, sun."

After a slow but nice start, the sixth series of BBC One's tropical cluedo goes on with a couple of episodes regrettably deprived of vitality and group dynamic. This year it's DS Florence Cassell (Joséphine Jobert) who loses a friend. And the romantic weekend between DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) and Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton) in an island hotel turns into business as usual for Humphrey when a guest is stabbed to death.

The unnecessary romance between Humphrey and Martha (who's not even in the second episode) gives the impression that its only purpose is to trigger a departure of the beloved DI. Or this storyline would be even more unnecessary, which is probably preferable as Kris Marshall leaving would be a big loss for the feel-good detective drama. This said, the bumbling but brilliant Columbo of the Caribbean has become a more conventional type of sleuth.

Talking about unnecessary, they seem to have found something to do for poor Catherine (Élizabeth Bourgine) beyond the cocktails: she wants to run for the Honoré Mayor's office. That's certainly why she's too busy to appear in episode 3. In Death in Paradise there is worse than "not necessary", apart from dead we mean, it's "invisible". Like the wife of Officer J.P. Hooper (the excellent Tobi Bakare). Why J.P. keeps asking advices about Rosey and him to Dwayne (Danny John-Jules, thankfully still on board) is the most interesting mystery of this sixth series. 

After Natasha Little in the first episode, we can now add Ramon Tikaram to the list of the current series guest stars who have both Midsomer Murders and Death in Paradise (or vice versa) in their resume. But also Jason Hughes, Midsomer's DS Ben Jones himself. Thanks to the "Next Time" trailer at the end of the third episode, we learn that Commissioner Patterson (the great Don Warrington) hasn't been discretely kidnapped or murdered. Soon London will replace momentarily the gorgeous Guadeloupe scenery.

Written by Kelly Jones (Episode 2) and Alex Walker (Episode 3). Directed by Jermain Julien (Episode 2) and Claire Winyard (Episode 3). Death in Paradise is produced by Red Planet Pictures for the BBC, with the support of Region of Guadeloupe and Film Commission of Guadeloupe. Music composed by Magnus Fiennes. Created by Robert Thorogood.

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2017/01/death-in-paradise-series-six-episode.html (Episode 1)

[Update - January 26] It crossed my mind when I noticed the name of the actor and his character in the cast list of the fifth episode... Could Ardal O'Hanlon, who plays DI Jack Mooney, be DI Goodman's replacement in case of a possible Kris Marshall departure while Humphrey is in London? 

DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES SIX, EPISODE ONE (BBC ONE)

[Spoiler-Free] Stephen Langham, chief volcanologist at the Saint Marie Volcano Observatory, is found dead halfway up the Mont Esmee live volcano. 

The apparent cause of death is an heart attack but DI Humphrey Goodman notices something is missing in the equipment of the scientist.

The new series of Death in Paradise, the globally popular feel-good detective drama, premiered this week on BBC One. Kris Marshall returns as DI Humphrey Goodman, alongside Danny John-Jules (Officer Dwayne Myers), Joséphine Jobert (DS Florence Cassell), Tobi Bakare (Officer J.P. Hooper), Élizabeth Bourgine (Catherine Bordey) and Don Warrington as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson. Set in the fictional island of Saint Marie, Death in Paradise is actually filmed in the French overseas region of Guadeloupe

The plot of this episode feels like a pretext to showcase the magnificent scenery. The romance between Humphrey and Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton) (1) and a masterclass in comedy from Don Warrington and Danny John-Jules fill the rest of the hour. A slow start for this sixth series but a nice treat for a cold January evening. Murielle Hilaire (Justine Tremblay), Douglas Hodge (Daniel Langham), Natasha Little (Victoria Baker), Cyril Nri (Mayor Joseph Richards), Adrian Rawlins (Stephen Langham) and Emily Taaffe (Megan Colley) are the guest stars.

Written by Dana Fainaru and directed by Claire Winyard. Death in Paradise is produced by Red Planet Pictures for the BBC, with the support of Region of Guadeloupe and Film Commission of Guadeloupe. Music composed by Magnus Fiennes. Created by Robert Thorogood.

(1) See http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2016/02/death-in-paradise-series-five-episode_25.html

DEATH COMES TO PEMBERLEY (FRENCH REGION 2 DVD)

In Death comes to Pemberley (2013), based on the book by P.D. James, the characters of Jane Austen's classic novel Pride and Prejudice (1813) are caught in a murder case investigation.

This sumptuous BBC period whodunnit is available since October 12 on French Region 2 DVD from Koba Films.

English crime writer P.D. James (Phyllis Dorothy James, 1920-2014) is best known for the Adam Dalgliesh Mysteries (1), 14 novels published between 1962 and 2008. Her other works include The Children of Men (1992), adapted as a 2006 film directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Death comes to Pemberley (2011), her sequel to Pride and Prejudice, is born from her love of both crime fiction and Jane Austen. Of course, Austen is a television favourite and the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice (2), starring Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet and Colin Firth as Fitzwilliam Darcy, is a reference.

« It is a fine Pemberley tradition for the master of the house to be irritable on the eve of the ball. »

Aired in three parts on BBC One during Christmas 2013 and later in 2 x 90 minutes on American network PBS, Death comes to Pemberley is directed by Daniel Percival (Strike Back, The State Within) and written by Juliette Towhidi (Calendar Girls). Elizabeth and Darcy have been happily married for 6 years and they have a young son, Fitzwilliam. Elizabeth prepares the annual Lady Anne Ball at their magnificent Pemberley estate (« Ah yes, the chaperones' chairs. Yes, we ran short last year, Mrs Reynolds. ») Darcy’s younger sister Georgiana has two suitors, her cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam and Henry Alveston, a young lawyer. Elizabeth finds time to visit the Bidwell family as Will, the son of of Darcy's head coachman Mr Bidwell, is dying.

Later the Darcys welcome Mr and Mrs Bennet, Elizabeth's parents. Married to the ne'er do well George Wickham (« Am I never to get that man out of my life? »), Lydia, their youngest child, is not invited. But on the eve of the great day she tumbles out of a carriage screaming murder and leads Darcy's search party into the Pemberley woods. There, her husband is found near a dead man, covered with his blood. Darcy has to inform Sir Selwyn Hardcastle, the local magistrate. Thanks to its source material and a convincing cast, Death comes to Pemberley successfully combines two of the most popular TV genres: period drama and crime/detective drama.

« You've brought such laughter to Pemberley, Elizabeth. »

Starring Welsh actor Matthew Rhys (The Americans, Brothers and Sisters) as Darcy, Anna Maxwell Martin (The Bletchley Circle) as Elizabeth, Matthew Goode (Wickham), Trevor Eve (Sir Selwyn), Jenna Coleman (Doctor Who) as Lydia, Rebecca Front (Lewis) as Mrs Bennet, James Fleet (Mr Bennet), Eleanor Tomlinson (Georgiana), etc. James Norton, who plays Alveston, stars in ITV's detective series Grantchester. Colonel Fitzwilliam is performed by Tom Ward (Silent Witness), who played Lieutenant Chamberlayne in Pride and Prejudice. Is there a ghost in the woods of Pemberley? Why is poachers a "delicate ground" between the Darcy and Hardcastle families? Who is the mysterious Mrs Younge?

Produced by Origin Pictures with Masterpiece in association with Far Moor Media and Lipsync Productions. Supported by the Yorkshire Content Fund, Screen Yorkshire and the European Regional Development Fund. Exec produced by Ed Rubin, Joanna Blackie and P.D. James. David M. Thompson and Eliza Mellor are the producers. Steve Lawes is the cinematographer. Music composed by The Insects (Tim Norfolk and Bob Locke). Filmed in Yorkshire and Derbyshire (Chatsworth House was used as the exterior of Pemberley). The one-disc DVD set of Death comes to Pemberley from Koba Films contains the 2 x 90-minute version with the original dialogue track, subtitled or not.

(1) Roy Marsden portrayed Adam Dalgliesh on television from 1983 to 1998 for ITV. Martin Shaw played the character for the BBC in 2003-2004.
(2) Available on French Region 2 DVD from Koba Films.

http://www.kobafilms.fr/series-tv/428-pemberley-5051889586968.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/pemberley
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10513639/Death-Comes-to-Pemberley-behind-the-scenes.html

WIVES AND DAUGHTERS (FRENCH REGION 2 DVD)

Wives and Daughters (1999) is a superb BBC costume drama available in France on DVD from Koba Films since the end of last year.

 

This four-part serial is adapted from Wives and Daughters, an Every-Day Story (1865), the final book of Victorian author Elizabeth Gaskell (1810-1865), who wrote North and South and Cranford. Wives and Daughters comes from producer Sue Birtwistle and scriptwriter Andrew Davies (the House of Cards trilogy), the duo behind the popular 1995 BBC version of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and an ITV adaptation of Austen's Emma the following year.

Elizabeth Gaskell died before finishing Wives and Daughters, so Andrew Davies had to write an ending. 17-year old Molly Gibson (Justine Waddell) lives a quiet life in the English countryside with her widower father, the kind Dr. Gibson (Bill Paterson). When he marries Hyacinth Kirpatrick, a former governess to the children of Lord and Lady Cumnor, Molly must accept the presence of her self-absorbed stepmother. Soon, Hyacinth's daughter Cynthia (Keeley Hawes) joins the household and Molly befriends her stepsister. Cynthia attracts the attention of Roger Hamley (Anthony Howell), the youngest son of Squire Hamley (Michael Gambon) and Mrs Hamley (Penelope Wilton), friends of the Gibson family.

Directed by Nicholas Renton, this classy co-production of the BBC and WGBH Boston is a pure wonder. The whole cast is absolutely perfect, starting with the great Francesca Annis. Before Molly Gibson, the excellent Justine Waddell played Estella in Great Expectations (1999) and Tess in Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1998). In 2000, Michael Gambon deservedly won a BAFTA TV Award and a RTS TV Award for his portrayal of the gruff but good-hearted Squire Hamley. Tom Hollander, who's now one of the major British television actors, plays Osborne Hamley. Iain Glen brings his subtlety to the character of Mr Preston, a man who knows that Cynthia has a secret.

Ian Carmichael (Lord Cumnor), Rosamund Pike (Lady Harriet) and Richard Coyle are amongst the other cast members. Wives and Daughters was filmed at Elstree Studios and at some historic properties like Levens Hall, in Cumbria, or Wentworth Woodhouse (in South Yorkshire). The DVD two-disc set from Koba Films contains the original dialogue track (subtitled or not). It includes a documentary called Who the Dickens is Mrs Gaskell?, about Elizabeth Gaskell and the filming of Wives and Daughters. BBC One aired the four 75-minute episodes between November and December 1999. BBC America and PBS aired them later in the United States.

http://www.kobafilms.fr/films/381-femmes-filles-5051889542599.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/wives/index.html

I WANT MY WIFE BACK - EPISODE 1 (BBC ONE)

Back to Brighton from another work trip, Murray learns that his beloved wife Bex left him on the day of her 40th birthday. Too bad for the surprise birthday party he has arranged...

The bottom line: What Richard Poole did next.

Writers Mark Bussell and Justin Sbresni and comedian/actor Ben Miller, who gave us The Worst Week Of My Life (2004-2006), team up again for I Want My Wife Back. This six-part BBC One sitcom is produced by Mainstreet Pictures, the indie prodco of former ITV drama execs Laura Mackie and Sally Haynes, with Bussell and Sbresni's Busby Productions.

Ben Miller is Murray, the hapless husband of Bex, played by Caroline Catz (DCI Banks, Doc Martin). I Want My Wife Back is supposed to be a "romantic comedy" though this first episode is neither funny nor humourous. Murray looks like a thinly disguised version of Miller's DI Richard Poole in Death in Paradise. Unfortunately, there's no trace of the extraordinary sense of social satire and comedic pace usually displayed by the actor in things like The Armstrong and Miller Show.

Also starring Priyanga Burford (Nereesha), Kenneth Collard (Grant), Susannah Fielding (Emma), Jan Francis (Paula), Cariad Lloyd, Abigail Thaw, etc. Music by Grant Olding. Co-produced by Guy de Glanville. Sally Haynes and Laura Mackie exec produce. Created, written and produced by Mark Bussell and Justin Sbresni. Directed by Paul Norton Walker.

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-04-18/ben-miller-wants-to-resurrect-the-romcom-and-armstrong-and-miller
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2016/04/18/i-want-my-wife-back-episode-one-review/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3546517/A-funny-rom-com-divorce-Nope-pure-cringe-com-writes-CHRISTOPHER-STEVENS-night-s-TV.html
http://dvd-fever.co.uk/i-want-my-wife-back-episode-1-the-dvdfever-review/

UNDERCOVER - EPISODE 1 (BBC ONE)

Undercover is a six-part political thriller drama. It is centered on a female black barrister who's the favourite for an important position in the British judicial system when the hidden past of her husband threatens to destroy her world.

Passionate barrister Maya Cobbina is happily married to Nick Johnson, a man dedicated to his wife and three children. She's in Louisiana as her client Rudy Jones must be executed. The execution is botched and she gets an appeal. Back in London, Maya learns that she's headhunted to become the new Director of Public Prosecutions.

The position might allow her to finally bring to justice the death of her friend Michael Antwi, an anti-racism campaigner. Soon, a figure from her husband's past asks Nick to do something he did 20 years ago when he met his wife: then she was a civil rights activist and he was an undercover police officer whose mission was to spy on her.

Created and written by Peter Moffat (The Village, Silk), Undercover is inspired by the real-life cases of women tricked into long-term relationships by undercover police officers. It stars Sophie Okonedo (Maya), Adrian Lester (Hustle) as Nick, American actor Dennis Haysbert (24) as Rudy Jones, Derek Ridell (Paul Brightman), Tamara Lawrance, Daniel Ezra, Shannon Hayes, Phil Davis, Vincent Regan, etc.

The new BBC One drama is not without assets. You need some when you take a time slot left by The Night Manager. The subject is interesting, the cast is great, the performances from Sophie Okonedo and Adrian Lester are splendid. But sadly it takes an eternity to put the plot in place after what looks like a repeat of one of these US films/TV movies about Death Row.

Directed by James Hawes. Co-produced by BBC Drama Production London and BBC America. Produced by Richard Stokes. Hilary Salmon and Peter Moffat exec produce. The premiere of Undercover drew 5.2m viewers (24.1%).

http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/mar/27/undercover-police-tv-drama-probes-family-betrayals-sophie-okonedo-adrian-lester
http://www.theartsdesk.com/tv/undercover-bbc-one
http://dvd-fever.co.uk/undercover-episode-1-the-dvdfever-review/

DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES FIVE, EPISODE EIGHT (BBC ONE)

[Spoiler-Free] A student backpacker is found dead in the communal shower of a Saint Marie youth hostel, slumped against the door and with a gun in her hand. But DI Humphrey Goodman is not sure it's a suicide.

The fifth series of the feel-good detective drama created by Robert Thorogood ends on a nice note with this episode written by Matthew Barry and directed by Richard Signy. J.P. (Tobi Bakare) is about to marry Rosey Fabrice (Fola Evans-Akingbola) and Dwayne (Danny John-Jules) is his best man.

« He explained about what happened last night. About how you talked the groom down from the metaphorical cliff.
 - Dwayne used the word "metaphorical?"
 - No, I'm paraphrasing.
 - Ah. » 

Humphrey (Kris Marshall) tries a suit specially made for the wedding by a tailor recommended by Dwayne. It frightens Harry the lizard and Florence (Joséphine Jobert) suggests to her boss that he could borrow something from her brother, who's the same size. The inspector bumps into (well, sort of...) Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton), an acquaintaince from England.

« You know who did it?
- Not a sausage. » 

In the end no murder is "impossible" for Humphrey, who finds the solution during the wedding party. On Wednesday it was confirmed that there will be a sixth series of Death in Paradise in 2017, which is no surprise given the ratings. Now a (long overdue) Christmas special would be great. Owain Arthur, Ariyon Bakare, Aimee Ffion-Edwards, Maggie O'Neill and Tom York are the other guest stars of this episode. Élizabeth Bourgine plays Catherine Bordey. Don Warrington is Commissioner Patterson.

Death in Paradise is produced by Red Planet Pictures for the BBC. Yvonne Francas is the producer. Robert Thorogood is the co-executive producer. Tony Jordan and Tim Key exec produce. Music composed by Magnus Fiennes. Produced with the support of Region of Guadeloupe and Film Commission of Guadeloupe.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/death-paradise-series-6-confirmed-7430051 http://dramaquarterly.com/highlights/paradise-found/ (An interview with Robert Thorogood)

DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES FIVE, EPISODE SEVEN (BBC ONE)

[Spoiler-Free] A treasure hunter is murdered on his rival's boat. His body is thrown overboard and washes up on the beach the following morning.

The bottom line: The One before Episode 8.

We can really thank the region of Guadeloupe for the magnificent scenery because this penultimate episode of the current series, written by Will Fisher and directed by Richard Signy, is rather tedious. Soon after marine salvage hunter Tosh Walker and his team found £300,000 worth of ancient silver coins, Tosh has a run-in with his rival Newton Farrell. When he's stabbed to death on Newton's boat, Farrell becomes the chief suspect.

DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) and DS Florence Cassell (Joséphine Jobert) are surprised when they learn from Catherine (Élizabeth Bourgine) that Newton Farrell has a solid alibi. Meanwhile, Dwayne (Danny John-Jules) organises the stag party of a terrified J.P. (Tobi Bakare). Lorcan Cranitch, Jack Donnelly, Roger Griffiths, Jill Halfpenny and Ade Oyefeso guest star. Don Warrington plays Commissioner Patterson.

Death in Paradise is produced by Red Planet Pictures for the BBC. Yvonne Francas is the producer. Series creator Robert Thorogood is the co-executive producer. Tony Jordan and Tim Key exec produce. Music composed by Magnus Fiennes. Produced with the support of Region of Guadeloupe and Film Commission of Guadeloupe.

Next, please...

DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES FIVE, EPISODE SIX (BBC ONE)

[Spoiler-Free] Robert Holt, a famous chef from London, is found stabbed to death (with one of his personalised knives) after the opening of his new restaurant on the island. 

His body was stored in a freezer so the time of death cannot be correctly determined. His partner says money was taken from the safe and the victim's smartphone is gone but not his prized watch. DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) tells Florence (Joséphine Jobert), Dwayne (Danny John-Jules) and J.P. (Tobi Bakare) that he rules out a robbery. Each person in the chef's life had a motive to kill him, particularly his staff. Gary Holt, Robert's brother, arrives in Saint Marie.

Jackson, a troublesome schoolboy, gives Dwayne the chance to repay an old debt. J.P. attends the inspector "movie night" ("the full big screen experience") and proposes to Rosey (Fola Evans-Akingbola). According to Humphrey 10% of all people are left-handed,  20% of Mensa members are, and apparently most parrots are left-footed (or is that left-clawed?) A mimic octopus may be the key of this case in this excellent episode written by Dana Fainaru and directed by Roger Simonsz.

Alexander Arnold, Martin Compston, Louisa Connolly-Burnham, Tara Fitzgerald, Alun Raglan and Andrew Whipp guest star. Jackson is performed by Dante Langlais John-Jules, 10, who's Danny John-Jules's son. Élizabeth Bourgine plays Catherine. Death in Paradise is produced by Red Planet Pictures for the BBC. Yvonne Francas is the producer. Series creator Robert Thorogood is the co-executive producer. Tony Jordan and Tim Key exec produce. Music composed by Magnus Fiennes.

Produced with the support of Region of Guadeloupe and Film Commission of Guadeloupe. Amusingly, Rosey's present to J.P. for their "two month anniversary" is a weekend in Guadeloupe.

http://writerscompany.co.uk/clients/clients-3/dana-fainaru/
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/entertainment/14269115.Paradise_found_for_Danny_John_Jules/ 

LES MARIS DE RIVER SONG ON FRANCE 4

The Husbands of River Song, the 2015 Christmas special of Doctor Who, will be aired in France on France 4 on February 27.

You can find some words about it here:

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2015/12/watched-this-week.html

DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES FIVE, EPISODE FIVE (BBC ONE)

[Spoiler-Free] Humphrey's most favourite aunt comes to Saint Marie and soon becomes the only witness to a murder.

Series creator Robert Thorogood penned this excellent episode of Death in Paradise, directed by Roger Simonsz. Mary Goodman, played by the great Wendy Craig, is the most favourite aunt of DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) because she inspired him his love of puzzle-solving. As she comes to visit her nephew on the island, the inspector picks her up at the "Saint Marie International Airport" with Florence (Joséphine Jobert). 

At her hotel Aunt Mary witnesses the murder of a fellow tourist, thrown from his balcony in the middle of the night. Keith Allen plays a British career criminal named Neil Jenkins, who's coincidentally (or not) in the same hotel. Meanwhile, J.P. (Tobi Bakare) takes relationship advice from Dwayne (Danny John-Jules) after confessing his feelings for Rosey (Fola Evans-Akingbola). Humphrey is pushed down the stairs by a suspect and ends up in hospital, where his aunt tells him something important. 

Harry is a guard lizard. Commissioner Patterson (Don Warrington) has a very Selwyn moment. A "good egg" is a "bon oeuf" in French. Humphrey remembers his aunt taught him the Epimenides Paradox. The episode also shows a great subtlety to deal with a sensitive issue. Susie Amy, Robert Daws and Eddie Nestor are also in the guest cast. Élizabeth Bourgine plays Catherine. 

Death in Paradise is produced by Red Planet Pictures for the BBC. Yvonne Francas is the producer. Robert Thorogood is the co-executive producer. Tony Jordan and Tim Key exec produce. Music composed by Magnus Fiennes. The series is produced with the support of Region of Guadeloupe and Film Commission of Guadeloupe. 

http://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/639313/Wendy-Craig-Detective-Humphrey-Goodman-Death-In-Paradise 

http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/tv-news/news/wendy-craig-on-death-in-paradise-kris-leaps-about-like-a-young-puppy 

http://www.agencesartistiques.com/Fiche-Artiste/404625-roger-simonsz.html

DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES FIVE, EPISODE FOUR (BBC ONE)

[Spoiler-Free] A very special episode with a great Danny John-Jules.

 

Officer Dwayne Myers (Danny John-Jules) attends the funeral of his old mentor, the popular barber Cedrik Verga. Shortly after the cremation of the body, Dwayne receives a text from Cedrik claiming: "I was murdered." The thing is Cedrik apparently died of natural causes and his phone was in the coffin («  It's an island thing. »)

DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall), DS Florence Cassell (Joséphine Jobert) and Officer J.P. Hooper (Tobi Bakare) help their colleague and friend in his search for the truth amongst childhood pals of the defunct. A missing pillowcase, a death during a hurricane 45 years ago and the "Myth of Mont Clair" are the keys to solve the mystery of this message from beyond the grave.

« I'm scared. I've looked up to these men my whole life and I'm starting to wonder if I've got it all wrong. »

This episode is the first written by Emma Goodwin (Casualty) for Death in Paradise. Her bold departure from the format is a hit, highlighted by an emotional performance from Danny John-Jules, a splendid direction by Audrey Cooke and the score by Magnus Fiennes. Don Warrington shows a tactful side of Commissioner Patterson (« All I can ask is... if feathers are to be ruffled, that you'll ruffle them as delicately as possible. »)

Kris Marshall successfully adjusts his character to the gravity of the story though humour is not completely absent (« JP, you're the closest thing we have to a teenage boy. ») Tony Armatrading, Burt Caesar, Joan Hooley, Nimmy March, Gary McDonald and Trevor A. Toussaint are the very competent guest actors of this episode. Oh, Humphrey cooks.

Death in Paradise is produced by Red Planet Pictures for the BBC. Yvonne Francas is the producer. Series creator Robert Thorogood is the co-executive producer. Tony Jordan and Tim Key exec produce. Produced with the support of the Region of Guadeloupe and Film Commission of Guadeloupe.

Next week: Humphrey's most favourite aunt comes to Saint Marie. The pitch of the fifth episode says it all, looking forward to it.

DEATH IN PARADISE - SERIES FIVE, EPISODE THREE (BBC ONE)

[Spoiler-Free] A weak, forgettable episode. Maybe we needed some rest after two weeks of absolute brilliance.

Zoe Mackay, a young model, is strangled during a fashion show of designer Nelson Benedict at the Paradise Beach Hotel. Why was she holding a stocking?  

DI Goodman (Kris Marshall) asks Florence (Joséphine Jobert) for some advices on meeting women. Dwayne (Danny John-Jules) wears cologne and J.P. (Tobi Bakare) went to school with one of the models, Rosey Fabrice. Humphrey tries to tell a joke about a pterodactyl to Catherine (Élizabeth Bourgine).

This week's happy winners of a trip to Guadeloupe (aka "The guest cast") are Jason Barnett, Hannah Britland, Fola Evans-Akingbola, Elarica Johnson, Paul Nicholls and Heida Reed. Death in Paradise is produced by Red Planet Pictures for the BBC. Yvonne Francas is the producer.

Series creator Robert Thorogood is the co-executive producer. Tony Jordan and Tim Key exec produce. Musique composed by Magnus Fiennes. Produced with the support of the Region of Guadeloupe and Film Commission of Guadeloupe. Episode written by Tom Higgins and directed by Audrey Cooke.

http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2016/01/death-in-paradise-series-five-episode_14.html (Series Five, Episode Two)
http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2016/01/death-in-paradise-series-five-episode.html (Series Five, Episode One)