Recent articles
July 16, 2026
‘The Claudia Winkleman Show’ Canceled at BBC After One Season: ‘I Was Just Too Nervous To Enjoy It’
“The Claudia Winkleman Show” is officially being canceled after one season. Variety understands it was host Claudia Winkleman’s decision not to return. “I’m incredibly grateful to the BBC for givin...
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July 15, 2026
Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey’s ‘Sunday in the Park With George’ Revival Delays Ticket Sales Until Fall
Ticket sales for Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey’s revival of “Sunday in the Park With George” in London have been delayed until fall. However, the show is still going ahead as planned next summe...
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July 15, 2026
James Dreyfus, Adrian Lukis Join Tracy-Ann Oberman in Gender-Swapped Version of Noël Coward Play ‘Present Laughter’
James Dreyfus and Adrian Lukis are set to join “After Life” star Tracy-Ann Oberman in a gender-swapped version of Noël Coward play “Present Laughter” at Theatre Royal Bath. Oberman, who is reimagin...
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July 10, 2026
Greek Myth Summer Continues as Mediawan Rolls Out Kinetic Content Gameshow ‘Trojan Horse’ Across Europe
It’s the summer for Greek mythology. While Christopher Nolan’s screen adaptation of Homer’s epic “The Odyssey” is set to take the box office by storm, French producer Mediawan is rolling out a high...
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July 9, 2026
Banijay’s Marco Bassetti and Jeff Zucker on Officially Completing Their $8 Billion All3Media Merger
It’s a done deal. RedBird IMI and Banijay have completed their $8 billion merger, led by Jeff Zucker and Marco Bassetti, respectively. With the Euro regulatory process wrapped, together they will r...
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July 9, 2026
Who Is Count Binface? How the Masked Comedian Might Be Nigel Farage’s Only Challenger in the Clacton By-Election — and Could Actually Win
There’s an uncharitable saying that politics is show business for ugly people. No doubt Count Binface, the rising star of British statecraft, might have some strong words about that. The wannabe-po...
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July 9, 2026
Limited Podcast Series ‘Royal Swindle,’ About High Society Scam, Set From Blanchard House, USG Audio and Exactly Right Media (EXCLUSIVE)
Blanchard House, USG Audio and Exactly Right Media have set a new limited podcast about a high society scam. Titled “Royal Swindle,” it tells the story of two Australian women who infiltrated Londo...
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July 8, 2026
New BBC Boss Matt Brittin in the Hot Seat (Literally) as He Answers MP Questions on Everything From the Licence Fee Model to Fresh Scandals
The BBC’s vacant director-general job was described as a “poisoned chalice” with some of the U.K.’s top television contenders – including Apple’s creative director for Europe, Jay Hunt – reportedly...
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July 8, 2026
Vittorio Angelone and Hannah McClean Lead Care Work Comedy Series ‘Rewarding’ From BBC, Wonder Project (EXCLUSIVE)
Vittorio Angelone and Hannah McClean are set to star in new comedy series “Rewarding” following the “messy lives” of support workers looking after disabled and neurodivergent clients. The six-part ...
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July 8, 2026
PBS, BBC Set New ‘Nova’ Evolution Science Series Tracing ‘The Epic Journey of Life’ (EXCLUSIVE)
PBS science strand “Nova” is set to explore the “epic journey of life” in a new series about evolution. “Nova: Evolution” is a five-part series from the GBH documentary unit together with the BBC a...
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July 7, 2026
Prince Harry Loses Privacy Lawsuit Against Daily Mail Publisher
Prince Harry has lost his long-running lawsuit against the publishers of the Daily Mail. The British royal, who now lives in Montecito, California, was among a group of high-profile figures who fil...
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July 7, 2026
‘The Simpsons’ Star Harry Shearer on Protecting His Voice From AI After Death and Working With Tom Leopold on FBI Musical ‘Here Comes J. Edgar’
You’d be hard-pressed to call an hour spent in the company of Harry Shearer and Tom Leopold work. Not only is each a prolific comedian in their his right — Shearer best known for his roles in “The ...
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July 6, 2026
Sky’s ITV Deal Gives U.K. Producers Hope But U.S. TV Distribution Could See Adverse Ripple Effect
“ITV Studios is not for sale,” Carolyn McCall, boss of U.K. media conglomerate ITV, firmly told Variety three years ago. Despite persistent rumors the global production powerhouse was going to be s...
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July 6, 2026
ITV Boss ‘Hopeful’ Sky Acquisition Will Clear Regulators: ‘The Market Has Changed So Fundamentally’
Following news on Monday morning that NBCUniversal-owned Sky is acquiring 70-year-old British public service broadcaster ITV, ITV CEO Carolyn McCall joined a series of calls with investors and medi...
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July 6, 2026
Secret Cinema Boss on ‘Grease’ Returning and Record-Breaking ’Pirates of the Caribbean’ Pre-Sales: ‘When People Step Into This Room, They’re Going To Be Beside Themselves’
When TodayTix acquired Secret Cinema in 2022 for a reported $100 million, it marked a new era for the company, which started life as a ragtag bunch of film enthusiasts trying to bring movies to lif...
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July 5, 2026
Ed Gamble on His New Panel Show ‘Unacceptable’ and the State of U.K. Comedy: ‘There Are Hard Jobs Out There and Being a Comedian Is Absolutely Not One of Them’
Ed Gamble is the host of brand new comedy show “Unacceptable,” where he oversees a gaggle of comedians as they battle to sway the studio audience to side with their most outrageous opinions. The co...
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July 3, 2026
Peter Mullan, Rebecca Lucy Taylor, Iwan Rheon to Star in Celyn Jones’ Next Feature ‘Mountain’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Peter Mullan (“I Swear”), Rebecca Lucy Taylor (“Teeth nSmiles”) and Iwan Rheon (“Game Of Thrones”) will lead director Celyn Jones’ next film “Mountain.” Jones is known for co-directing Rebel Wilson...
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July 2, 2026
Award-Winning Independent Factual Producer Proper Content Shutters Citing Market Conditions: ‘There Simply Isn’t the Commissioning Risk’
Award-winning factual producer Proper Content is set to shutter amid tough market conditions. Founder David DeHaney, who set up the company in 2016, announced the decision to cease trading and appo...
variety.com
July 1, 2026
Eurovision Boss on Welcoming Canada, Israel’s Participation and ‘Bollocks’ Claims of Financial Difficulties: ‘We’ll Be Around for Many, Many Years to Come’ (EXCLUSIVE)
2026 is shaping up to be a big year for the Eurovision Song Contest. As well as celebrating its 70th anniversary in May, which saw singer Dara score a first-ever win for Bulgaria, and preparing for...
variety.com
July 1, 2026
Canada Officially Joins Eurovision Song Contest
C’est officiel: Canada is joining the Eurovision Song Contest. Last week, the North American country became a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which owns and runs the contest, ...
variety.com
June 30, 2026
Immersive ‘Peaky Blinders’ Underworld Experience Coming to London This Summer
Grab your baker boy caps; an immersive “Peaky Blinders” experience is coming to London, U.K.The experience, called “Peaky Blinders Underworld,” will transport guests into the shadowy criminal world...
variety.com
June 30, 2026
Teen Spy Series ‘The Lady Grace Mysteries’ Set to Return for Season 2 (EXCLUSIVE)
Elizabethan teen spy Lady Grace Cavendish is set to return for a second season. “The Lady Grace Mysteries,” which stars Evie Coles as the world’s first female teen detective working as a private sp...
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June 29, 2026
Penelope Keith, British Actor Known for ‘The Good Life,’ Dies at 86
Penelope Keith, the British actor best known for her roles in sitcoms such as “The Good Life,” has died. She was 86. The BBC reported her death from cancer, citing a statement from Keith’s family. ...
variety.com
June 29, 2026
The ‘Off Campus’ Effect: Streamers Smitten With Scripted Romance Over Dating Shows, Research Shows
Streaming platforms are smitten with romance – predominantly the scripted kind. New research from Ampere Analysis shows that 83% of first-run romance commissions in the first half of 2026 were scri...
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June 29, 2026
BBC Comes to Jesus: Broadcaster Sets ‘Landmark’ Historical Docuseries on Christ
The BBC is experiencing a “come to Jesus” moment. That’s not a reference to any self-reflection the corporation may have undergone in light of the many scandals it has faced over the past decade, b...
variety.com
June 29, 2026
Jeremy Clarkson Set for More Episodes of ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’ and ‘Millionaire Hot Seat’
Jeremy Clarkson is set to return for more episodes of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” and spin-off “Millionaire Hot Seat” following news he is in remission from cancer. U.K. network ITV has ordere...
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June 25, 2026
EBU Re-Elects President Delphine Ernotte Cunci, Vice-President Cilla Benkö for New Two-Year Mandate
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has re-elected current president Delphine Ernotte Cunci, who is CEO of France Télévisions, for another two-year term. Vice president Cilla Benkö, director gene...
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June 24, 2026
‘The Other Bennet Sister’ Sets Christmas Special at BritBox and BBC
“The Other Bennet Sister” is set to return to BritBox and the BBC this year for a three-episode Christmas special. Sarah Quintrell, who penned nine out of the 10 episodes of the acclaimed “Pride &a...
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June 24, 2026
Shari Redstone’s Sipur Appoints Amazon MGM Studios Exec Ludovic Attal as President
Shari Redstone’s production outfit Sipur has appointed former Amazon MGM Studios executive Ludovic Attal as president. Attal, who will work alongside Sipur co-founders Emilio Schenker and Gideon Ta...
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June 23, 2026
Richard Gadd, Joe Barton and Philip Barantini Join Inaugural Storytelling360 London Lineup
Richard Gadd, Joe Barton and Philip Barantini are among the lineup for Storytelling360’s inaugural London conference. Taking place on July 12 at the BFI Southbank Theater in the U.K.’s capital, the...
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