SUPERMARKET Sweep will make a return with a new host following Dale Winton's death. The 62-year-old presenter's death was confirmed by his agent on Wednesday night. Dale had hosted the food-based quiz show from 1993 until 2001 and then again in 2007, and in one of his final interviews, he revealed his hopes to return to the programme for a third time. But sadly following his death, a Supermarket Sweep revival will need a new presenter. Last year, FrementleMedia acquired the global format rights for the show, and following Dale's death, they released a statement to pay tribute. A spokesperson told the Mirror Online: "We are very sad to hear the news about Dale Winton, he was a huge star who always put his fans first. "He was very close friend of many at FremantleMedia and our thoughts are with his loved ones at this time." Regarding a new presenter, the spokesperson said that "discussions are ongoing". Last year, Vasha Wallace, EVP, Global Acquisitions and Development: "The … [Read more...] about Supermarket Sweep will make a return with new host following Dale Winton’s death
Mipcom
FX’s ‘The American’s’ Enlists ‘Hawthrone’ Alum (Exclusive)
FX's The Americans has enlisted a man from KGB spy Keri Russell's past. In the 1980s-set Soviet-era drama starring the Felicity alum and Matthew Rhys as KGB spies posing as Americans, Derek Luke will recur as Gregory, a civil rights activist-turned-KGB asset. His romantic past with Elizabeth Jennings (Russell) complicates his work as a trusted operative. STORY: MIPCOM: FX's 'The Americans' Wows Audiences Luke's credits include the feature Sparkle, opposite Jordin Sparks, as well as Friday Night Lights, Hawthorne and Captain America. He joins recent addition Margo Martindale (Justified) as having secured recurring gigs on the freshman drama. FX's buzzy drama premieres Jan. 30. Luke is repped by WME, Greenlight Management and attorney Matt Johnson. Email: [email protected]; Twitter: @Snoodit … [Read more...] about FX’s ‘The American’s’ Enlists ‘Hawthrone’ Alum (Exclusive)
European Commission to adapt MEDIA Programme following mid-term evaluation
The European Commission (EC) is planning to make changes to its MEDIA support programme for the European audiovisual sector in the light of the findings and recommendations of the mid-term evaluation of Creative Europe.A Commission document presented at yesterday’s (Feb 19) European Film Forum in Berlin reported that “over 90% of respondents” to the public consultation agreed that “the current MEDIA priorities with the existing schemes were still relevant to the challenges of the sector”.At the same time, the evaluation found that MEDIA’s annual budget of €105m was too low and spread too thinly amongst thousands of beneficiaries, while the programme is itself fragmented into 14 separate schemes, “which limits flexibility in the design of support actions”.Read more: Ken Loach, Isabel Coixet among directors to sign open letter for European filmThe proposed future changes include expanding the number of MEDIA Stands from the current … [Read more...] about European Commission to adapt MEDIA Programme following mid-term evaluation
Amazon Boards Deutsche Telekom’s ‘Germanized’
Amazon is joining Bavaria Fiction, German telecom giant Deutsche Telekom and France’s Newen on the original series Germanized.The series will premiere as its first Prime Original in France, with Amazon distributing the series in France and Belgium on its platform and taking exclusive rights for French-speaking Switzerland and Luxembourg.tTitled Deutsche-Les-Landes in French, the show is a culture clash comedy about a struggling small village welcoming a German corporation and all its employees. The 10-episode series was announced at MIPCOM in October as Deutsche Telekom's first original series.The series joins French actors Marie-Anne Chazel, Sylvie Testud and Roxanne Duran with German actor Christoph Maria Herbst as the company boss.It will be penned by Alexandre Charlot and Franck Maginer, the team behind France’s all-time comedic hit film Welcome to the Sticks, alongside German writers Peter Gude and Thomas Rogel. Tomorrow at Dawn director Denis Dercourt will helm. … [Read more...] about Amazon Boards Deutsche Telekom’s ‘Germanized’
Canada’s heritage minister moves to allay fears over Netflix Canada deal
Canadian heritage minister Mélanie Joly has moved to allay fears over the recently announced Netflix Canada deal and in particular its impact on French-Canadian culture.Speaking during a fireside chat with Canadian Media Producers Association president and CEO Reynolds Mastin on Thursday (February 1), Joly said she understood concerns but agreed with Mastin that the Netflix development had caused confusion “and a lot of surprises” in the industry.The minister’s comments came in a 30-minute session in which she emphasised the important of an export strategy, spoke warmly of her relations with her counterpart in China, and said she had instructed her department to implement up a zero tolerance policy over sexual harassment, with training programmes and a code of conduct in the hopes of allowing women to tell their stories. Netflix deal part of ‘a transition plan’On the thorny issue of Netflix, the minister began by expressing empathy for creators of … [Read more...] about Canada’s heritage minister moves to allay fears over Netflix Canada deal