BBC Studios has announced details for its first digital Showcase which takes place from 22-24 February 2021. Now its 45th year, the exclusive, invitation-only event has been reimagined for 2021 as the world continues to battle against Covid-19.
Showcase 2020 was impacted a little by the start of Covid with some countries unable to attend, but this year the BBC has a workaround that will work for all.
Technology will provide each visitor with a personalised experience, with the aim of bringing them closer to BBC Studios content, talent and catalogue than ever before.
The 2021 agenda includes masterclasses with three-time BAFTA winner and renowned documentary maker Louis Theroux, and writer, historian and broadcaster, David Olusoga.
Bringing authentic stories to a younger generation will be examined in a panel comprising of BBC Three controller Fiona Campbell, new creative talent Nicole Lecky will discuss her first television project Superhoe alongside the series executive producer and CEO of Bonafide Films, Margery Bone, producer Lisa Walters, and director Dawn Shadforth, and Clerkenwell Films Executive producer Petra Fried will introduce two of the latest dramas on the BBC Studios slate, Cheaters and The Birth of Daniel F Harris.
Paul Dempsey, president global distribution for BBC Studios, commented: “In a time when we are unable to connect with others through physical events, BBC Studios has pulled out all the stops to deliver a digital Showcase for customers that will bring them closer to our content than ever before. This highly personalised and curated experience will allow for a deeper exploration of our premium catalogue and the chance to hear exclusively from the world’s leading British creatives about their latest projects.”
Shows making their debut at BBC Studios Showcase include:
Time: From BAFTA award-winning writer Jimmy McGovern this is a visceral and high-stakes portrayal of life in the modern British penal system. Starring Sean Bean (Broken, Game of Thrones) and Stephen Graham (Line Of Duty, The Irishman) it is a story of guilt and forgiveness, punishment and penitence and the impact that prison has on all those who pass through it. A BBC Studios production.
Superhoe: An original six-part musical drama based on Nicôle Lecky’s one-woman Royal Court show. An aspiring singer and rapper finds herself ensnared by the glamourous world of social media influencing and the opportunity to make money the easy way through cam and sex work. Superhoe is produced by Bonafide Films.
This is Going to Hurt: Adam Kay’s adaptation of the international best-selling memoir of the same name starring Ben Whishaw (A Very English Scandal, Skyfall, London Spy) about the truth of life as a junior doctor. This is Going to Hurt is produced by global content company Sister (Girl/Haji, Chernobyl, Gangs of London) in association with Terrible Productions for BBC One and AMC.
The Offenders: Created by multi-award-winning writer and director Stephen Merchant and Elgin James (co-creator of US series Mayans M.C.), The Offenders follows seven strangers from different walks of life forced together to complete a Community Payback sentence in Bristol. Academy Award winning actor Christopher Walken (Annie Hall, The Deer Hunter) stars in his first lead British television role, alongside writer and director Stephen Merchant, with Rhianne Barreto (Honour), Gamba Cole (Soon Gone: A Windrush Chronicle), Darren Boyd (Killing Eve), Clare Perkins (EastEnders) and Eleanor Tomlinson (Poldark). A Big Talk and Four Eyes production for BBC in the UK and Amazon Prime Video in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Earthshot: How to Save Our Planet: A major five-part television series from Silverback Films in conjunction with Prince William’s global environmental prize. With contributions from the world’s most eminent scientists, foremost wildlife experts and environmentalists, the series will focus on five ‘Earthshots’ – simple but ambitious goals to fix our climate, restore nature, build a waste free world, clean our air, and revive our oceans.
The Green Planet: The first immersive portrayal of an unseen, inter-connected world, full of remarkable new behaviour, emotional stories and surprising heroes, this new natural history landmark from BBC Studios Natural History Unit has been described as Planet Earth from the perspective of plants. A BBC Studios Natural History Unit production, co-produced by ZDF, bilibili and The Open University for BBC One and PBS.
Top Gear Series 30: In their fourth series at the wheel of Top Gear, Freddie Flintoff, Chris Harris and Paddy McGuinness, hit the road again in a series of challenges designed to push them and their cars to the limit. Series highlights see the trio tackling the thorny issue of ‘mid-life crisis’ cars, heading to the Scottish Highlands on a punishing off-road adventure, celebrating and driving some of the most iconic cars from the James Bond films, and a nostalgic trip down memory lane as they drive their Dads old cars. Plus reviews of the new ToyotaYarisGR, the Ferrari Roma and more. Top Gear is back and it’s utter carnage! A BBC Studios production.