BBC Wales commissions new drama

 

The BBC Wales department has commissioned several new dramas for its Welsh viewers.

 

BBC Wales today announces the commission of two new home-grown drama series for audiences in Wales. Crash! and The Fabulous Baker Boys will have creative input from Tony Jordan and Russell T Davies respectively and air in primetime slots in 2009 and 2010.

“It’s thrilling to be adding two such vibrant and contrasting drama commissions to the Wales slate. Both are extraordinary, authored pieces and will add new dimensions to the range of work on offer to writers, producers and directors in Wales.” Piers Wenger, Head of Drama, BBC Wales

Crash! will be produced by Red Planet Pictures Wales and will be written by a team of Welsh writers led by award-winning writer Tony Jordan (EastEnders, Life On Mars, Hustle). The series will follow a group of four young doctors as they embark on their first jobs at Cardiff Metropolitan Hospital and the steepest learning curves of their lives.  The series is due to go in to pre-production in April next year for broadcast in late 2009.

“As our first major commission from BBC Wales, we are incredibly excited about Crash! It will give us the opportunity of working with the most talented new and upcoming writers, actors and directors in Wales. This show has been developed in-house at Red Planet Pictures specifically for BBC Wales and we have created a format that is contemporary and fresh, with the emphasis on great characters and simple stories well told.” Tony Jordan

The second commission will be made by BBC Wales’s in-house drama department and is due for broadcast in 2010. The Fabulous Baker Boys is written by two of Wales’ leading writers – Helen Raynor, who has network credits including Torchwood and Doctor Who, and award-winning playwright Gary Owen who has worked with the Royal National Theatre and the National Theatre of Scotland, as well as community groups like Bridgend Youth Theatre and the Prince’s Trust. Russell T Davies will act as creative consultant for the project.

“Being able to build on all the successes of recent years by making a truly home-grown ‘grass roots’ drama is a real privilege.” Helen Raynor

The Fabulous Baker Boys is a contemporary drama firmly rooted in the reality of a small valleys town. When the local factory is threatened with closure it strikes at the heart of the community. The series will follow the challenges and triumphs of the workers and their families as they battle against all the odds to keep their factory going.

“We’re delighted to be working with the dedicated and brilliant Drama team at BBC Wales. The Fabulous Baker Boys puts contemporary Welsh life and characters centre-stage, and we’re thrilled to be writing something so close to our hearts.” Gary Owen

“This is a brilliant and shining idea, and Welsh right down to its bootstraps.I’m delighted to be a small part of it, and can’t wait to see what the wonderful minds of Helen and Gary have got in store.” Russell T Davies

Clare Hudson, BBC Wales Head of English Language Programmes, adds: “We are extremely pleased to be bringing more top class drama to our viewers, using the extraordinary pool of talented writers, producers and performers we have to hand in Wales. It is fantastic that, as a result of our network success, we can now draw on the immense talents of Tony Jordan and Russell T Davies to support new projects like these.”