Stabbed In The Back

There’s some more bad news for struggling ITV today as it seems likely the broadcaster will drop of the FTSE 100 index of the leading companies. According to media insiders the broadcaster will drop out of the 100 index unless it can turn around the price of its shares, which has been steadily falling for some considerable time now.

Blue Peter For The Chop? That is the question the press were posing last week after former editor of the show, Biddy Baxter, said in an interview the BBC were plotting to have the long running children’s series dropped from the schedules.

“It almost seems they are letting it go pear-shaped on purpose, so they can say it doesn’t work. It seems they want it to go out with a whimper, not a bang.” Baxter is reported as saying. It is believed producers intend on revamping the show, which will see many of its famous segments – such as cookery and the famous Blue Peter Garden – dropped entirely.

There seems to be a battle brewing over at GMTV Today with reports that Kate Garraway she has been stabbed in the back by soon-to-depart colleague Fiona Phillips. Phillips, who is reportedly less popular than Garraway with GMTV viewers, made snide remarks in the press last weekend.

The comments made by Phillips in the Daily Mail newspaper included that Garraway would turn up for an “opening of an envelope.” An ITV insider added: “Fiona seems to be insecure about Kate and how well she is doing, and the kind of coverage she gets.“

A new UK version of Law and Order will star some familiar soap faces. Filming starts this month on the new 13-part drama series for ITV based on the enormously successful US format created by two time Emmy award-winning producer Dick Wolf. It will be co-produced by Kudos Film and Television, Wolf Films and NBC Universal.

Former Coronation Street actor Bradley Walsh will play the part of is DS Ronnie Brooks, a real East End, copper’s copper, while the CPS team is lead by former Crossroads actress Freema Agyeman as hard working, strong-willed young prosecutor Alesha Phillips.

ITV Director of Drama, Laura Mackie says: “Kudos have put together the perfect cast to deliver a quintessentially modern British take on a highly successful crime format. The breadth of the acting talent involved will build on the strength of Chris Chibnall’s lively and complex scripts.”

The series is lined up as being one of ITV’s big highlights for 2009.