News - Spring Summer 07

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Ronni Ancona & Co. - Mimic Ronni Ancona returns to BBC 1 with a new series which takes a sideswipe at the celebrity masses through impressions and character sketches.  Directed by Ed Bye (The Vicar Of Dibley), Ronni is joined by a different special impressionist guest for each show, including John Sessions and Jan Ravens.  The series DOP was Jeremy Hewson, with Ian Chisholm (focus puller) and Matt Wicks (assistant) making up the camera team. Alastair Widgery headed up the sound department.

Roman's Empire - BBC 2 commissioned Tiger Aspect to make this major new 6 x 30 minute comedy.  The primetime series features Sorted star Neil Dudgeon in the lead role as Roman Pretty, a self-made millionaire who owns a successful empire of businesses and also dominates his three daughters and the men who date them.  

Alongside Dudgeon, the cast includes The Catherine Tate Show's Mathew Horne, Chris O'Dowd from The IT Crowd and Nicholas Burns from Nathan Barley.  Roman's Empire is airing in April, it was executive produced by Sophie Clarke-Jervoise and

directed by Elliott Hegarty (Star Stories). 

Pete Rowe lensed & lit the series, with Alistair Upcraft & Ian Pearce as assistants.

Tight Spot: Lift - Forming part of BBC4's series of short films featuring people

stuck in confined spaces/ tight spots; Lift centers around four ill-fitting people who

want to be as far away as possible from one another, but instead they find themselves

stuck in a lift together.  This Hartswood Films' Production, is written by

the Edinburgh 2006 “if.comeddie Panel Award” winner Mark Watson.  

John Sorapure was DOP, with Will Jacob & Craig Loveridge on 2nd camera.  

Focus Puller, Geraint Owen and assistant, Ian Pearce were also on hand.

The Dame Edna Treatment - Dame Edna Everage, returns to the UK's small screens this spring in a brand new series for ITV1.  The Dame hosts the series from her exclusive 'health spa' where she entertains fellow stars as they rest and recuperate from the strains of everyday celebrity life.  Dame Edna's interviewing style has made her a household name across the globe and viewers will be treated to a unique glimpse into her luxurious life as she brings a touch of antipodean glamour to Saturday evenings.   The Dame Edna Treatment is a Tiger Aspect Production.   It is executive produced by Clive Tulloh and series produced by Victoria Ashbourne.   Pete Rowe was DOP on the celebrity inserts/ sketches, assisted by Matt Wicks.   Roy Estabrook & Craig Loveridge took up 2nd camera duties, while Alastair Widgery & Stuart Piggott recorded sound.

Alan Carr's Celebrity Ding-Dong - This Spring Pete Rowe started shooting a pilot quiz show fronted by popular comedian Alan Carr.  Produced by Channel 4 and Open Mike, the show pits five members of the public against five celebrities in a game where both can win prizes.  In between games Alan will be taking an irreverent look at the week's world of celebrity news with a selection of regular comedy items and VT's.  Also crewing on this shoot were Stuart Piggott & Keith Branch on sound, with Ian Pearce & Dan West as assistants.

Dead Ringers Series G - 2007 has brought us more topical comedy impressions from the Dead Ringers team starring, Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Kevin Connelly, Phil Cornwell and Mark Perry.   Once again, they aimed their wit at the usual targets of politicians, celebrities & sports stars, and this year included spoofs of popular programmes, Torchwood & Robin Hood. 

The Dead Ringers series was lensed & lit by John Sorapure, who was assisted by Geraint Owen. The mini & hidden camera days were overseen by Matt Wicks.  This year, John Sorapure also took on the role of Lighting Director for the weekly live studio recordings.

Comedy: Shuffle - Rob Rouse played host in a new talent showcase highlighting a whole generation of comic performers, writers, animators and mischief-makers

for BBC 3.   Each week a special guest from the world of comedy was showcased.  The series is comprised of live comedy in front of a studio audience, as well as filmed material including sketches, stand-up, animation and musical comedy from hot names on the circuit and brand-new discoveries from the web.   Sketches and inserts were filmed by John Sorapure, Roy Estabrook & Pete Rowe.   Camera Assistants included, Geraint Owen, Alistair Upcraft & Johan Bjorkland.   Sound was recorded by Alastair Widgery.

The Cowards - With this programme, BBC 3 has its first broadband-only comedy commission in which a new comedy act, The Cowards, take over the BBC 3 website. This is a hyper-real sketch show, on the edge of absurdity, which exposes the tiny mysteries of contemporary social etiquette.  John Sorapure shot the Promo's showing online, assistant by Matt Wicks.

Being Ten - Exploring the notion of, and experiences associated with ‘tenness', this lighthearted, one-off documentary features a witty cast of celebrities reminiscing about their youth, combined with the testimony of actual ten-year-olds who explain exactly what they think it means to be ten in 2007.   This Liberty Bell production forms part of the celebrations for channel Five's tenth anniversary.   It was shot & lit by Roy Estabrook, with Stuart Piggott as sound recordist.

Comic Relief 2007 - This year “The Big One” was as successful as always, raising tons of money for charities, as well as keeping the British public entertained with a variety of comedy sketches throughout the evening's  broadcast.   Once again Blue Planet was readily involved in shooting the sketches

and inserts aired on BBC1, as a part of our Comic Relief contribution.   These included:

The Catherine Tate Comic Relief sketches were showstoppers – with some of her favourite characters engaging with guest stars such as Noel Edmonds, David Tennant, Daniel Craig and Tony Blair!   DOP's for these sketches were John Sorapure and Pete Rowe, with Craig Loveridge taking up 2nd camera.   Geraint Owen and Matt Wicks provided support as assistants.

Craig Loveridge shot a Time Trumpet Comic Relief insert with Armando Iannucci remembering his worst Comic Relief moments over the years.   Stuart Piggott was sound recordist.   Also for Comic Relief, John Sorapure shot Impressionist sketches, which teamed the talents of the Dead Ringers & Ronnie Annona & Co. casts.   Matt Wicks assisted John, with Alastair Widgery on sound.

The 3rd XI (working title) - This Spring we shot a pilot edition of this sketch show for Avalon Television.   It stars Perrier Award-winner Laura Solon & The IT Crowd''s Katherine Parkinson.   The pilot will air on BBC 3, hopefully with a series commission to follow!   At the helm was DOP, Jeremy Hewson, with Ian Chisholm as his assistant and Alastair Widgery on sound.   The Pilot was directed by Paul King (The Mighty Boosh).

Challenge Anneka Special - Anneka Rice headed to Sri Lanka for her latest challenge.  She joined with World Vision to help rebuild parts of a Sri Lankan village devastated by 2004's Boxing Day tsunami.   This special aired on ITV1. The Challenge programme has raised thousands of pounds worth of supplies & services, and proved to be a moving experience for all the crew involved.   Pete Rowe was lead camera, with Ben Wheeler & Roger Laxon providing support.   Alistair Upraft, Geraint Owen and Ian Pearce all travelled out as assistants.

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