There’s a new face in ‘Lewis’ tonight with Babou Ceesay collecting the sidekick baton from Laurence Fox, in Episode 3 of the seventh and final series of ITV’s crime drama (9pm).
“I’ll probably have to go behind the sofa a couple of times,” confides Ceesay, of watching himself in what is undoubtedly his biggest role to date.
“But Kevin Whately’s seen my first episode and sent me a lovely text, so I’m not worrying too much. A bit.”
Babou Ceesay with his 'Lewis' co-star Kevin Whately
According to Ceesay, his co-star, who knows all too well the perils of stepping into a pair of acting shoes made comfy by someone else (those of John Thaw’s Morse being particularly familiar and distinctive), could not have been more welcoming...
“He’s such a lovely man,” muses Ceesay. “Laurence Fox joked a lot about my being...
“I’ll probably have to go behind the sofa a couple of times,” confides Ceesay, of watching himself in what is undoubtedly his biggest role to date.
“But Kevin Whately’s seen my first episode and sent me a lovely text, so I’m not worrying too much. A bit.”
Babou Ceesay with his 'Lewis' co-star Kevin Whately
According to Ceesay, his co-star, who knows all too well the perils of stepping into a pair of acting shoes made comfy by someone else (those of John Thaw’s Morse being particularly familiar and distinctive), could not have been more welcoming...
“He’s such a lovely man,” muses Ceesay. “Laurence Fox joked a lot about my being...
- 1/21/2013
- by Caroline Frost
- Huffington Post
Midsomer Murders continued with almost 5.8 million viewers on Wednesday night, outperforming Waterloo Road and MasterChef, the latest audience data has revealed. The crime drama, which has been at the centre of a race storm over comments made by its co-creator Brian True-May, averaged 5.79m (24.9%) for ITV1 between 8pm and 10pm, along with 259k (1.2%) on +1. Midsomer helped ITV1 outperform BBC One in primetime, after Waterloo Road drew 4.42m (19.5%) in the 8pm hour and MasterChef pulled in 4.72m (19.9%) from 9pm, as Annie Assheton became the latest cook to be eliminated from the competition. Earlier, The Boat That Guy Built entertained 4.39m (22%) on BBC One from 7.30pm, beating The Unforgettable Diana Dors's 4.25m (21.1%) on ITV1. Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer's new series Vacation, Vacation, Vacation booked (more)...
- 3/31/2011
- by By Andrew Laughlin
- Digital Spy
'Midsomer Murders' creator Brian True-May has quit after claiming the show's success is due to its lack of multiculturalism. Although the producer of the ITV show apologised for his comments, he will step down at the end of the programme's current run after describing the drama as the "last bastion of Englishness" and admitting he felt there was "no place" for non-white characters. Although Brian was suspended by the show's production company All3Media following his controversial remarks, he was reinstated earlier this week before apologising and announcing his resignation. Following his resignation, a spokesperson for ITV said: "We welcome the apology from Brian...
- 3/24/2011
- Virgin Media - TV
Series 14 of Midsomer Murders opened with almost 6 million viewers on Wednesday night, outperforming Waterloo Road and MasterChef, the latest audience data has revealed. Midsomer Murders, which has been at the centre of a race storm over comments made by its co-creator Brian True-May, averaged 5.9m (25.2%) on ITV1 between 8pm and 10pm, along with 190k (0.9%) on ITV1+1. The crime drama helped ITV1 outperform BBC One in primetime, after Waterloo Road drew 4.62m (19.7%) in the 8pm hour and MasterChef pulled in 4.72m (20.3%) from 9pm, as Alice Taylor became the latest cook to be eliminated from the competition. Earlier, The Boat That Guy Built entertained 4.51m (21.6%) on BBC One from 7.30pm, beating the Unforgettable Sid James' 4.2m (20%) on ITV1 and 100k (0.4%) on +1. Channel 4's Coach Trip rumbled on with 1.58m (more)...
- 3/24/2011
- by By Andrew Laughlin
- Digital Spy
A TV producer who was suspended after suggesting hit British detective series Midsomer Murders "just wouldn't work" without an all-white cast has agreed to quit the show.
Brian True-May hit headlines earlier this month over his controversial comments and was axed pending a probe by bosses at the ITV network.
He has since apologised for any "unintended offence" and has been reinstated - but will leave the show "at the end of the current production run", according to a spokesman for the programme.
Brian True-May hit headlines earlier this month over his controversial comments and was axed pending a probe by bosses at the ITV network.
He has since apologised for any "unintended offence" and has been reinstated - but will leave the show "at the end of the current production run", according to a spokesman for the programme.
- 3/23/2011
- WENN
Brian True-May will step down as Midsomer Murders producer at the end of the current series, according to reports. True-May was suspended from the show last week pending an investigation into comments made over the show's lack of ethnic minorities. Production company All3Media, which makes the ITV1 crime drama, released a short statement yesterday confirming that the showrunner had been reinstated after its investigation concluded. The statement added: "Brian apologises if his remarks gave unintended offence to any viewers." The Mirror claims that the 61-year-old had already hinted (more)...
- 3/23/2011
- by By Kate Goodacre
- Digital Spy
Producer Of British TV Show “Midsomer Murders” Suspended For Saying Minorities Wouldn’t Work In Cast
“We just don’t have ethnic minorities involved. Because it wouldn’t be the English village with them. It wouldn’t work. Fans love the perceived English genreel eccentricity. It’s not British. It’s very English. We’re the last bastion of Englishness and I want to keep it that way.”
That’s what British producer Brian True-May said in an interview with Radio Times about his popular TV show Midsomer Murders–airing on the ITV1 Network in Britain–that ultimately resulted in his suspension. He also stated that multiculturalism “would just look out of place” in the show.
The show, a suspenseful whodunnit series, is based on books by Caroline Graham. It’s one of many shows on the network that, as The Hollywood Reporter states, “…hark to a bygone era of all-white Englishness despite their contemporary setting.”
True-May understood his comments were not politically correct and believes...
That’s what British producer Brian True-May said in an interview with Radio Times about his popular TV show Midsomer Murders–airing on the ITV1 Network in Britain–that ultimately resulted in his suspension. He also stated that multiculturalism “would just look out of place” in the show.
The show, a suspenseful whodunnit series, is based on books by Caroline Graham. It’s one of many shows on the network that, as The Hollywood Reporter states, “…hark to a bygone era of all-white Englishness despite their contemporary setting.”
True-May understood his comments were not politically correct and believes...
- 3/16/2011
- by Cynthia
- ShadowAndAct
The TV producer behind popular British detective show Midsomer Murders claims he has been treated like "a criminal" since he was suspended for making controversial racial comments about the programme.
Brian True-May hit headlines in his native Britain earlier this week (beg14Mar11) for claiming multicultural characters would "look out of place" and "just wouldn't work" in the longrunning series, which is set in a quaint English village.
His bosses at the ITV network branded his words "shocking and appalling" and suspended him from his job while an investigation gets underway.
True-May has now opened up about his suspension, telling Britain's Daily Mail, "According to press reports I am going to be investigated as if I was a criminal. There's not a lot to investigate."
And when he was told some viewers had branded the reaction to his comments "hysterical", he replied, "You said it, not me. But I agree."
Lead actor Neil Dudgeon, who has replaced former star John Nettles in the series, has also spoken out to defend True-May, telling Britain's Daily Express, "If people have been quite happy for it not to change in 14 years, there's no reason to suppose they're going to want it to change now."...
Brian True-May hit headlines in his native Britain earlier this week (beg14Mar11) for claiming multicultural characters would "look out of place" and "just wouldn't work" in the longrunning series, which is set in a quaint English village.
His bosses at the ITV network branded his words "shocking and appalling" and suspended him from his job while an investigation gets underway.
True-May has now opened up about his suspension, telling Britain's Daily Mail, "According to press reports I am going to be investigated as if I was a criminal. There's not a lot to investigate."
And when he was told some viewers had branded the reaction to his comments "hysterical", he replied, "You said it, not me. But I agree."
Lead actor Neil Dudgeon, who has replaced former star John Nettles in the series, has also spoken out to defend True-May, telling Britain's Daily Express, "If people have been quite happy for it not to change in 14 years, there's no reason to suppose they're going to want it to change now."...
- 3/16/2011
- WENN
Midsomer Murders producer Brian True-May has suggested that the response to his comments about ethnic minorities has been "hysterical". True-May was suspended yesterday after suggesting that he does not want ethnic minority characters to appear on the programme. "According to the press reports, I am going to be investigated like a criminal," he told the Daily Mail. "There's not a lot to investigate." When the newspaper claimed that some viewers think the response to his comments was "hysterical", he replied: "You said it, not me. But (more)...
- 3/16/2011
- by By Catriona Wightman
- Digital Spy
Midsomer Murders creator Anthony Horowitz has insisted that the show's producer Brian True-May is not racist. True-May was suspended yesterday after suggesting that he does not want ethnic minorities to appear in the programme. Horowitz, who wrote the first episodes of the show and came up with its title, has now told The Daily Telegraph that people are being "over-sensitive". "Brian True-May's comments were inappropriate and should not have been made, but in our over-sensitive society there is this silly reaction to anything we say that involves ethnicity or religion," he said. "There is no racist attitude at work here. Nobody involved in the making of this programme has a (more)...
- 3/16/2011
- by By Catriona Wightman
- Digital Spy
The TV boss behind popular British detective show Midsomer Murders has been suspended over comments he made in a candid interview suggesting the programme "just wouldn't work" without an all-white cast.
The show's executive producer, Brian True-May, has hit headlines in his native Britain for claiming multicultural characters would "look out of place" in the longrunning series, which is set in a quaint English village.
He told Radio Times, "We are a cosmopolitan society in this country, but if you watch Midsomer you wouldn't think so. I've never been picked up on that, but quite honestly I wouldn't want to change it... Maybe I'm not politically correct.... We just don't have ethnic minorities involved. Because it wouldn't be the English village with them. It wouldn't work.... They (fans) love the perceived English genteel eccentricity. It's not British, it's very English. We're the last bastion of Englishness and I want to keep it that way."
But his comments have angered bosses at ITV, the network behind the show, and he has now been suspended while an investigation is launched.
An ITV spokesman says, "We are shocked and appalled at these personal comments by Brian True-May which are absolutely not shared by anyone at ITV.
"We are in urgent discussions with All3Media, the producer, who have informed us that they have launched an immediate investigation into the matter and have suspended Mr True-May pending the outcome."
The show formerly starred John Nettles, who quit last year after 13 seasons. He has been replaced by Neil Dudgeon.
The show's executive producer, Brian True-May, has hit headlines in his native Britain for claiming multicultural characters would "look out of place" in the longrunning series, which is set in a quaint English village.
He told Radio Times, "We are a cosmopolitan society in this country, but if you watch Midsomer you wouldn't think so. I've never been picked up on that, but quite honestly I wouldn't want to change it... Maybe I'm not politically correct.... We just don't have ethnic minorities involved. Because it wouldn't be the English village with them. It wouldn't work.... They (fans) love the perceived English genteel eccentricity. It's not British, it's very English. We're the last bastion of Englishness and I want to keep it that way."
But his comments have angered bosses at ITV, the network behind the show, and he has now been suspended while an investigation is launched.
An ITV spokesman says, "We are shocked and appalled at these personal comments by Brian True-May which are absolutely not shared by anyone at ITV.
"We are in urgent discussions with All3Media, the producer, who have informed us that they have launched an immediate investigation into the matter and have suspended Mr True-May pending the outcome."
The show formerly starred John Nettles, who quit last year after 13 seasons. He has been replaced by Neil Dudgeon.
- 3/15/2011
- WENN
You wouldn't normally associate racism with Midsomer Murders, but the two have become linked recently over a series of comments made by the show's creator, Brian True-May. In an interview with the Radio Times, True-May commented on the show's noticeable lack of minorities in a way that has aroused a lot of ire, according to Digital Spy.
"We are a cosmopolitan society in this country, but if you watch Midsomer you wouldn't think so. I've never been picked up on that, but quite honestly I wouldn't want to change it."
"Well, we just don't have ethnic minorities involved. Because it wouldn't be the English village with them. It just wouldn't work. Suddenly we might be in Slough. Ironically, Causton (the town in the series) is supposed to be Slough. And if you went to Slough you wouldn't see a white face there.
"We're the last bastion of Englishness and I...
"We are a cosmopolitan society in this country, but if you watch Midsomer you wouldn't think so. I've never been picked up on that, but quite honestly I wouldn't want to change it."
"Well, we just don't have ethnic minorities involved. Because it wouldn't be the English village with them. It just wouldn't work. Suddenly we might be in Slough. Ironically, Causton (the town in the series) is supposed to be Slough. And if you went to Slough you wouldn't see a white face there.
"We're the last bastion of Englishness and I...
- 3/15/2011
- by Sam McPherson
- TVovermind.com
The creator of Midsomer Murders has been suspended over comments made about the show's lack of ethnic minorities. Brian True-May had described the long-running detective series as "the last bastion of Englishness" in an interview with Radio Times, adding that if black or Asian faces were introduced "it wouldn't be the English village" with which viewers are familiar. He explained: "We are a cosmopolitan society in this country, but if you watch Midsomer you wouldn't think so. I've never been picked up on that, but quite honestly I wouldn't want to change it." He continued: "Well, we just don't have ethnic minorities involved. Because it wouldn't be the English village with them. It just wouldn't (more)...
- 3/15/2011
- by By Tom Eames
- Digital Spy
John Nettles has reportedly been lined up to star in a new ITV drama. The actor announced last year that he had decided to quit his role in Midsomer Murders and will shortly film his final episode. However, The Guardian reports that Midsomer Murders producer Brian True-May is now developing a new project for Nettles. "I've got one of our Midsomer writers, Michael Aitkens, working on it, in collaboration with ITV who are very keen," True-May said. "We're hoping to start something next spring." He continued: "John will probably be a justice of the peace and he won't be Mr Ordinary living in an ordinary house. He'll probably be much more middle class, living in a country mansion in a farm area." True-May added that ITV has (more)...
- 6/3/2010
- by By Catriona Wightman
- Digital Spy
Bosses on beloved British TV series Midsomer Murders are desperate to sign up superstars Keira Knightley and Sharon Stone in a bid to add some Hollywood spice to the long-running show.
The show's producers are keen to entice Hollywood actresses and other big names in showbusiness to ignite new interest in the quaint ITV1 drama.
The programme, which stars U.K. veteran actor John Nettles, already has one superstar fan - Johnny Depp is reportedly hooked on the series after catching it on TV while filming in the U.K.
And the show's boss, Brian True-May, is eager to sign up some high profile actors - insisting he would love to "murder" Basic Instinct star Stone in an over-the-top scene.
He says, "I would just love to murder her. Sharon would be wonderful. She is beautiful and it would be edgy, over-the-top casting."
And the producer has his eyes cast in the direction of British beauty Knightley, saying, "Keira would be perfect. She is so delicate and lovely, she would make the perfect killer, it would be so unexpected and so against character and, let's face it, we wouldn't want to throw away such beauty as a murder victim."...
The show's producers are keen to entice Hollywood actresses and other big names in showbusiness to ignite new interest in the quaint ITV1 drama.
The programme, which stars U.K. veteran actor John Nettles, already has one superstar fan - Johnny Depp is reportedly hooked on the series after catching it on TV while filming in the U.K.
And the show's boss, Brian True-May, is eager to sign up some high profile actors - insisting he would love to "murder" Basic Instinct star Stone in an over-the-top scene.
He says, "I would just love to murder her. Sharon would be wonderful. She is beautiful and it would be edgy, over-the-top casting."
And the producer has his eyes cast in the direction of British beauty Knightley, saying, "Keira would be perfect. She is so delicate and lovely, she would make the perfect killer, it would be so unexpected and so against character and, let's face it, we wouldn't want to throw away such beauty as a murder victim."...
- 6/20/2008
- WENN
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