British Asian Comedy ‘Little English’ Sets U.K. Release With BFI Support (EXCLUSIVE)

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International Nearly a week after the Oscars, the hurt and disappointment of a missed opportunity still weighs heavily on the minds of some South Asian American dancers, who are setting out to ensure it never happens again. Many in the South Asian dance community were dismayed by the astonishing dearth of South Asian representation in the “Naatu Naatu” performance at Sunday’s Academy Awards. While singers Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava were on hand to perform their hit tune from Tollywood smash “RRR” — which made history for India that night by winning best original song — they were joined on stage by not a single dancer of South Asian heritage.

Naman Ramachandran A poster has been unveiled for “Barzakh,” starring top Pakistani actors Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed. The only South Asian selection at Series Mania this year, the series will debut in the showcase’s International Panorama, a 12-title competitive section where it will be eligible for the best series, director, actress, actor, student jury and audience awards. “Barzakh” (6 x 58′) is produced by Waqas Hassan and Shailja Kejriwal for Zindagi, the Indian subcontinent focused programming block on streamer ZEE5 Global. It is helmed by critically acclaimed director Asim Abbasi who also directed Zindagi’s first Pakistani original “Churails” and the feature film “Cake.”

The Great British Bake Off has officially announced Alison Hammond as Matt Lucas's replacement and fans are over the moon. Sharing the news on social media, the baking competition's official Instagram page quipped that they had "baking news".

Nancy Lenehan is set as a lead opposite Ellie Kemper in ABC’s Drop-Off (working title), a comedy pilot based on the British series Motherland, from writer Julieanne Smolinski, Sharon Horgan and Clelia Mountford’s Merman Television, Paul Feig’s Feigco Entertainment, Lionsgate and ABC Signature. Judy Greer, Karan Soni and Michaela Conlin also star.

This Morning presenter Alison Hammond is reportedly set to join The Great British Bake Off when the Channel 4 series begins filming later this year. Alison, 48, will reportedly be replacing Matt Lucas as co-host, after the comedian announced his departure at the end of last year, telling fans that it had become clear he couldn't balance both GBBO and other commitments. Matt's fellow co-host Noel Fielding will be remaining on the show, with Alison set to present alongside him.

star David Schwimmer on the set of 's Stand Up to Cancer celebrity special. The 56-year-old actor is set to appear on the fundraiser, which helps to raise money for charity and will air in the U.K. on Sunday, March 19.In an interview with the U.K.

EXCLUSIVE: Michaela Conlin has been cast as a series regular opposite Ellie Kemper in ABC’s Drop-Off (working title), a comedy pilot based on the British series Motherland, from writer Julieanne Smolinski, Sharon Horgan and Clelia Mountford’s Merman Television, Paul Feig’s Feigco Entertainment, Lionsgate and ABC Signature. Judy Greer and Karan Soni also star.

told IndieWire it would be “incorrect” to say that there were few, if any, without clarifying further.)The Academy did not comment further on the backlash. In an interview with AMPAS’ magazine A.frame, producer Raj Kapoor said he worked with the film’s creative team – including producers, public relations representatives, and composer M.M.

British film industry veteran Leslie Hardcastle, former controller of the British Film Institute (BFI), has died. He was 96.

Judy Greer is set as a lead opposite Ellie Kemper in ABC’s Drop-Off (working title), a comedy pilot based on the British series Motherland, from writer Julieanne Smolinski, Sharon Horgan and Clelia Mountford’s Merman Television, Paul Feig’s Feigco Entertainment, Lionsgate and ABC Signature. Karan Soni also stars.

EXCLUSIVE: Drafthouse Films has acquired North American rights to the documentary Chop & Steele, about the creators of the Found Footage Festival, announcing plans to release the film in April at Alamo Drafthouse theaters as part of a double bill with another newly-acquired doc, A Life on the Farm.

A UK supermarket that was found to be selling fake British beef has been named. An investigation into food fraud has now been started, but the supermarket itself is not under investigation.

ABC has confirmed a pilot order for Drop-Off (working title) a comedy based on the British series Motherland, with Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) to star and executive produce. As we previously reported, Karan Soni (Deadpool franchise) also is set as a lead in the project, from writer Julieanne Smolinski, Sharon Horgan and Clelia Mountford’s Merman Television, Paul Feig’s Feigco Entertainment, Lionsgate and ABC Signature. Michael Showalter (The Big Sick) will direct.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor British pubs and the famous Harrods food hall served as inspiration for Bravo’s new season of “Top Chef.” Award-winning production designer James Pearse Connelly, who has designed the show’s set for nearly a decade, wanted to capture to essence of British culture for his ninth kitchen. Says Connelly, “It was about how to bring London into the show with all-star chefs from around the world.” Connelly started by looking at how pubs were designed. He says, “I started with wood paneling and that mystery, intimacy, intrigue and sparkle of what a British pub is.” Additionally, he brought in diamond pane glass and paid homage to London’s famous Big Ben with a round, clock tower-inspired doors.

BBC Comedy Director Jon Petrie has said his team would be “happy to talk” with John Cleese about the upcoming revival, as he unveiled the next generation of “very British” shows.

Boygenius, Fred Again.. and Primal Scream are set to headline Connect Festival 2023 – see the line-up so far below.The three-day event is due to take place at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh, Scotland between August 25-27.

Joe Otterson TV Reporter Demi Singleton is the latest addition to the cast of the “Bass Reeves” series at Paramount+, Variety has learned exclusively. Singleton will appear in the period drama as a series regular opposite series lead David Oyelowo, who will star as the titular legendary lawman. Additional cast members include Barry Pepper, Dennis Quaid, Forrest Goodluck, Lauren E. Banks, and Grantham Coleman. Per the official logline, the show “will bring the legendary lawman of the wild west to life. Reeves, known as the greatest frontier hero in American history, worked in the post-Reconstruction era as a federal peace officer in the Indian Territory, capturing over 3,000 of the most dangerous criminals without ever being wounded.”

EXCLUSIVE: Black British culture is reaching a “sweet spot” and creatives no longer have to move to the U.S. to achieve stardom, according to the creators of BBC comedy-thriller Black Ops.

Indian streamer SonyLIV has announced an adaptation of Agatha Christie detective novel The Sittaford Mystery, which marks director Vishal Bhardwaj’s debut on a streaming series. 

Naman Ramachandran Agatha Christie’s “The Sittaford Mystery” will be adapted as “Charlie Chopra & The Mystery Of Solang Valley” for streamer SonyLIV by renowned Indian filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj. Set in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh, northern India, the series will follow the journey of Charlie Chopra and her quest to uncover a mystery. Bhardwaj will serve as director and co-producer and co-screenwriter alongside Anjum Rajabali and Jyotsna Hariharan. The cast includes Wamiqa Gabbi, Priyanshu Painyuli, Naseeruddin Shah, Neena Gupta, Ratna Pathak Shah, Gulshan Grover, Lara Dutta, Chandan Roy Sanyal and Paoli Dam. Vishal Bhardwaj Pictures will produce with Priti Shahani’s Tusk Tale Films in association with Agatha Christie Limited. Bhardwaj’s film franchise based on the works of Christie was announced in 2020.