Period epic Parade’s End to air on Nine
The Downton Abbey effect is continuing to reverberate on Australian television, with Nine snapping up the rights to the British period drama Parade’s End.
Downton Abbey proved to be an unexpected ratings winner for the Seven Network.
Nine has now bought the rights to the 14-part Parade’s End which is a co-production of the BBC, HBO, Lookout Point and Mammoth Screen. The expensive production, adapted for TV by Sir Tom Stoppard, is unlikely to reach viewers’ screens until the year after next.
Based on four novels by Ford Madox Ford, the story of an aristocratic love triangle begins in 1911 and spans the folowing decade. It crosses between England and the First World War’s Western Front in France.
Nine’s director of TV Michael Healy said: “I am really delighted to partner with BBC Worldwide on this marquee drama.”
Australian actress Adelaide Clemens, who appeared in Love My Way, will appear in the series, along with Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch, Rupert Everett, Anne-Marie Duff and Rebecca Hall.
Kaye Warren, BBC Worldwide Australia’s head of TV sales, said: “Epic tales of love and war are the stuff that memorable television drama events are made of.”
The global TV market’s interest in period drama has been reinvigorated by the success of the British drama Downton Abbey which has aired on Seven in Australia.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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I don’t know if the show has been made yet and I am sure that anyone who is remotly interested in watching it will watch it online or import the boxed set on DVD.
In this global world of the media, its completely unreal to make potential viewers wait for over twelve months befor a series is aired when tthe viewers can read the comments and see the ratings from overseas.
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I don’t know if the show has been made yet and I am sure that anyone who is remotly interested in watching it will watch it online or import the boxed set on DVD.
In this global world of the media, its completely unreal to make potential viewers wait for over twelve months before a series is aired when the viewers can read the comments and see the ratings from overseas.
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Hi Richard,
It hasn’t been made yet. I suspect it’ll be one for fast-tracking.
Cheers,
Tim – Encore
It doesn’t really matter if channel 9 fast tracks it or not, the increasingly ridiculous amount of ads that the Australian networks put in their programming ensures many people will download or wait for the DVDs or iTunes. In big, glossy period productions like this will be, it’s particularly intrusive.
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a couple of years ago we complained that shows weren’t fast tracked. now that they are you complain about too many ads? Look, we all know the aus screen industry isn’t perfect, but at least give credit where credit is due.
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