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Three months ago, ITV announced that it was pulling the plug on Saturday night dino drama Primeval after three series. Fans were suitably outraged: the ratings were good, and the series had ended on an almighty cliffhanger. But in a surprise twist, ITV today confirmed that it is bringing the show back for not one, but two new series under a co-production deal with digital channel Watch. Excited, we called up co-creator Tim Haines to find out how the show's resurrection came about.
You must be feeling good about today's announcement... "Oh, very good. Obviously I knew about it before! But it was very good to finally crack it. The series was doing fine, we were prepared to continue the story and then everything that happened at ITV gave us a very, very high bar to get over." How did the new deal come about? "We started down the process way back, and we had got agreement with ITV in principle to look for other people to come in on the project, but come the summer we had to do absolutely everything. So there is the new deal with Watch and there is some more money from co-producers. Fortunately the series is very successful abroad and none of those producers wanted to see it finish either. Also we're moving the show to Dublin, where we'll be getting tax breaks, so that helps. Essentially, the budget stays as a £1 million show, which is important, because you don't want to come back with a cheap show. But we had to make the deal different for ITV." How will moving to Dublin affect the show? "It was shot in Surrey but apart from one show, which was in the British Museum, we never really identified it as being anywhere in particular. Actually going to Dublin is brilliant because it gives us a lot more locations nearby - there will be modern blocks, castles and shopping centres. But now we can do the coast as well if we want to!" Was there ever a point where you thought the show was finished? "I can't really answer that question. I don't give up easily and as I say, except for ITV's predicament, there was no reason it should finish. It was a very tricky time." How big a part does someone like Pro7 play? The show seems to be wildly popular in Germany! "They are very important. They certainly stayed with us and held the slot open, because they believed we would find a way of bringing it back. If, after ITV's announcement, they'd decided to abandon it, then we'd have faced the problem of reselling it to them in two or three months' time. So that was very good. BBC America has had a great success with it, and also, BBC Worldwide sold it to 45 countries worldwide. It's bigger than Lost in South Korea! These sort of things help." Have you got all of the cast back? "Yes, they're all coming back, which is fantastic. Obviously we've got to be careful about how we book them. This is the longest run that's been commissioned. We started off getting six episodes, then seven and then ten. Now it's 13. So it's a long stint for them, but they've all signed up." Technically this is going out as two series though. Is it going to be considered one in terms of storytelling? "No, it's always got very heavy serial elements. As far as Watch is concerned, there'll be a midseason climax, but it can be viewed as one long run." What's the timescale for getting up and running with production again? "We're starting to write scripts straight away and we're aiming to deliver in January 2011." And are you still progressing with a US version of the show? "Yes. Well, there's a feature film, contracts for which should be signed shortly. We are still talking to Canadian partners about a US version, as well as a children's animation and things like that. But you never know how those go. Sometimes they seem to stop, then accelerate forward, but they're still all there." Primeval airs on ITV1 and Watch from 2011. Tubetalk, Digital Spy |
Yes Clever of Watch Channel
as they do not have much Top stuff. And because the CGI in this is Good and works well with the actors a Feature Film in BluRay will be great. |
This has made my day, especially since S4 and S5 will just be one long season with a break :D
The other spin off stuff looks good too |
2011 seems so far away
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I know D:
but its like 13 episodes long :D |
Yay :hello:
Its great that the full cast is back too :D I wonder if they'll write Claudia back in? |
I hope so, I liked her.
Although I remember in an interview for the final episode, the producer said the whole Helen-Cutter-Claudia arc was over and that the next series would start a new one |
Ugh, that sucks :( Well with Cutter dead it probably should anyway LOL
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lol yeah, I was kinda :/ when he died, but ever since he did the show improved, a lot :dance:
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Production on the new series of Primeval is believed to be under way in Ireland.
IFTN reports that shooting began on March 22 and will continue until early November, when all scenes for series four and five are expected to have been completed. Primeval was recommissioned for a seven-episode fourth run and a six-episode fifth last September under a new co-production deal between ITV and UKTV. Hannah Spearritt (Abby Maitland), Andrew-Lee Potts (Connor Temple), Ben Miller (James Lester) and Ben Mansfield (Captain Becker) are among those returning as regular cast members. Meanwhile, Irish stars Ciarán McMenamin and Ruth Kearney have reportedly joined the show to play new characters Matt and Jess. It is thought that the new run will pick up "several months" after the series three cliffhanger, which saw Connor and Abby stuck in the distant past with no idea of how to return home. In an interview last year, Potts promised that there are "shocking" plots ahead for Primeval. Digital Spy |
Yes Clever doing it in Ireland
making massive savings. |
Fantastic. Primevals a great show. Looking forward to it being back on ITV.
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ITV is proud to announce the return of the critically acclaimed, smash hit adventure series Primeval. Returning to the action and facing an increasing menagerie of terrors from the past and future. Hannah Spearritt, Ben Miller, Andrew Lee-Potts, and Ben Mansfield will be stepping beyond the anomalies to keep the world safe from unimaginable dangers – aided by the surprise return of some notable guest stars from earlier series. In addition, the new series sees the arrival of new faces and a new ARC… Ciarán McMenamin (Silent Witness, Jericho), Alexander Siddig (Clash of the Titans, 24, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) and Ruth Kearney (Gracie) join the team at the ARC after the government loses faith in Lester’s (Ben Miller) ability to run such a dangerous and expensive operation on his own. The anomaly operation is now a public/private partnership, part-owned by the government, and partly by charismatic scientist Philip Burton (Alexander Siddig). With Connor, Abby and Danny trapped in the past at the end of series three, the ARC has found new recruits to take their place: Matt (Ciarán McMenamin), new field leader, is more than just an ex-soldier; he’s an zoologist, with an uncanny ability to understand animals. A private man, Matt carefully guards the secrets of his past - and the real reason he has joined the ARC team. Unconventional Jess (Ruth Kearney) now runs operations from the ARC Control Centre – highly efficient and organised, her work ethic is second to none, though she is human enough to nurse an unrequited crush on Captain Becker (Ben Mansfield). Primeval will return to UK television screens for two new series from 2011, thanks to a ground-breaking deal between ITV, multichannel broadcaster, UKTV, and producers Impossible Pictures. The premieres of Series 4 and series 5 of Primeval will be split between ITV1 and UKTV’s new entertainment pay TV channel, Watch. ITV1 will be the first to broadcast series 4 (in early 2011), while Watch will premiere series 5 later that year. ITV1 will then broadcast season 5. Impossible Pictures has worked closely with BBC Worldwide to implement a new funding strategy for the series, in which BBC America, which has acquired previous series for broadcast in the US, joins Germany’s Pro7 as a co-production partner for the new episodes. Tim Haines, Creative Director of Impossible Pictures Ltd, said: “I am thrilled that ITV has agreed to this new deal which will allow Impossible Pictures to produce another 13 episodes of Primeval. The confidence demonstrated in the programme's continued success here and abroad will help us bring more big screen action and a whole host of new creatures roaring back into people's living rooms.” Laura Mackie, Director of ITV Drama Commissioning, said: “We’re delighted to have agreed this new deal with Impossible to return Primeval to ITV1. The innovative nature of this partnership will allow the show to maintain its high production values and deliver the fantastic programme that our viewers know and love.” Paul Moreton, Channel Head of Watch, said: “We are really excited to be part of this truly innovative deal that guarantees the continuation of this fantastically entertaining series. I know Primeval is going to be a massive hit with Watch viewers and the perfect complement to other popular sci-fi dramas such as Doctor Who and Torchwood.” I'll miss Ben Miller in the show, but Alexander Siddig is a brilliant replacement! |
This is him
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...lianBashir.jpg Season 4 sounds like they're really changing things, I'm glad tbh, Helen Cutter...she wasnt the best villian, Cutter was cardboard, glad Stephen went in seires 2, he was **** xD |
ITV has announced that a series of new Primeval webisodes will be released exclusively online.
Consisting of five 5-minute episodes, the series will launch on the ITV Primeval website on December 22. Set in the period between the third and fourth series, the webisodes will introduce new characters Philip Burton (Alexander Siddig), Matt (Ciaran McMenamin) and Jess (Ruth Kearney), while giving fans their first glimpse at the new ARC facility. Ben Freeman, senior editor for soaps and drama at ITV.com, said: "We are delighted to be working with Impossible Pictures to offer fans of the show this new strand of thrilling content that builds on the excitement in the show.” The show's co-creator Tim Haines added: "We are delighted that ITV.com will be showing this unique content as it will not only help viewers connect the end of series three with the start of series four, but it will also give our loyal fans 15 minutes of thrilling new visual material that will whet their appetites in advance of the start of the new season of the series." Digital Spy Trailer here |
When is it On TV
sod the previews. |
When is it On TV
sod the previews. |
The new series starts New Years Day, then the following episode is the next day
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Quote:
for 7:30PM today ITV1HD |
On In 10mins
far better than soppy floppy Dr.Who, Enjoy the Action here |
On Now
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Much more of a grown up feel, and the higher budget really shows
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Just watched the webisodes, I'm wondering who that Gideon bloke is
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Yes Filmed last Summer in Ireland - Utter Bliss Great story line just like now days has to be Part Private Funded Army to take on the Animals. And Action that is good. Well worth watching |
On ITV1 now
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oh.
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I like how characters actions are starting to actually effect things now (like how Duncan has changed from S1 to his reappearance tonight)
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Episode 3
On ITV1 and ITV1HD in a min. |
On Now
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On ITV1 now
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On Tonight
ITV1 and ITV1HD Around 7:20PM or 10mins after if the Live Football goes on longer, before it. |
On ITV1
and ITV1HD now |
On Now
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| All times are GMT. The time now is 04:59 PM. |
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