The Life of Wylie

FANS of Harry Potter star Helena Bonham Carter waited patiently on the pavement outside BAFTA in London last night.
Inside a lucky few hundred of us were treated to the world premiere of the brilliant new BBC4 drama Enid.
Followed by an on-stage Q&A with Helena and the production team.
The one-off 90-minute drama about the life of Enid Blyton is superb.
As is Helena’s extraordinary portrayal of the author who brought us Noddy, The Famous Five and so much more.
Still selling eight million copies of her works every year – over 40 years after her death.
The BBC attracts plenty of critics.
But not many broadcasters in the world can bring us TV films like this of such astonishing quality.

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“LIFE changes, doesn’t it?”
I had another good chat with Coronation Street star Craig Kelly yesterday ahead of his Strictly competitive debut tonight.
We touched on his forthcoming departure from the cobbles, but mainly talked about his “incredible” Strictly experience.
I’ve posted today’s Pg 9 MEN feature online here.
So assuming you’ve read that main interview first, here are a few extras from our conversation which were edged off the main dancefloor.
That ballet class yesterday with Darcey Bussell:
“She’s so lovely. She taught us lots of stretches and help with nerves. It was just a really nice hour and a half. I enjoyed it very much.”
Nerves ahead of his first competitive dance tonight:

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YOU may have last seen him as Anna Friel’s on-off plumber boyfriend in The Street.
Now the always excellent Daniel Mays is to star in the third and final series of Ashes To Ashes.
With promotion at last for Det Sgt Ray Carling (Dean Andrews).
Filming began earlier this month.
(Thanks to eagle-eyed reader Gaelle in France for spotting the “DI” Ray Carling reference, which I’m told is not a typo)
With the in-production release below arriving a few minutes ago:
London, September 2009: It’s time to get your shoulder pads out of storage, start crimping your hair and get into the 80s mood for the very last time.
The award-winning BBC One drama, Ashes to Ashes, is back as filming begins on the eagerly awaited final series.
The highly-anticipated finale sees Philip Glenister and Keeley Hawes reprise their roles as that most un-PC of policeman, DCI Gene Hunt and his sassy partner DI Alex Drake, along with Dean Andrews as DI Ray Carling, Marshall Lancaster as DC Chris Skelton and Montserrat Lombard as WPC Sharon ‘Shaz’ Granger.

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JOHN Nettles appears inspired by the spirit of Gene Hunt in tomorrow night’s new Midsomer Murders film.
Without the aid of Tom Tom, Det Chief Insp Tom Barnaby navigates a speeding rally car en route to solving the latest murder mystery.
But not before ending up flat out after a highly entertaining cycling stunt on his front drive.
Written by Michael Russell, The Glitch will delight fans of Midsomer’s beautiful countryside.
It’s the 70th episode, with the next series – 13 – now in production ahead of John’s last filming day in 2010 after his decision to retire from the role.
His replacement is due to be announced next month.
But, as has been said many times before, John Nettles will be a very hard act to follow.
“Oh yes, what a genius,” exclaims Barnaby after fixing the chain on watching wife Joyce’s (Jane Wymark) bicycle.

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THERE was plenty of laughter at the recent Merlin round table interview.
Ahead of the start of the second BBC1 series tomorrow night.
Colin Morgan (Merlin), Bradley James (Arthur), Angel Coulby (Gwen), Katie McGrath (Morgana) and Richard Wilson (Gaius) were there.
With Anthony Head (King Uther) arriving just as it finished – but taking part in a later audience Q&A.
Merlin fans will no doubt already have read this week’s feature here.
And the blog here.
But they appear to have an insatiable appetite for news of the show.
So with that in mind, here are some extracts from the round table which didn’t make it into the feature.

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“DID anyone ask why..?”
Prepare to clear your diary for a special TV event.
Peter Moffat’s BAFTA award-winning Criminal Justice returns to BBC1 next month for five consecutive nights.
I saw episode one last night in a West End cinema.
Having interviewed leading lady Maxine Peake last week in a restaurant just around the corner.
She stars as Juliet Miller, the troubled wife of top QC Joe Miller, played by Matthew Macfadyen.
Both give gripping performances as the first hour slowly unfolds.

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A busy day in Soho yesterday with several interviews, including Martin Clunes for the new series of Doc Martin.
The rudest GP in TV returns this month for a fourth series after a two-year break.
Accompanied by a new co-star who won the hearts of the assembled hacks…
“There was a really good feeling about this series. It felt very strong,” Martin told me.
Fans both in the UK and around the world will love the highly entertaining first episode in a series that has, yet again, been refreshed.
The Doc will never trouble critics who prefer to while their time away with box sets of The Wire.
But he – and the rest of the cast – are a real joy to watch.
It appears ITV1 bosses are also very happy with what they’ve seen.
Martin dropped hints that a fifth series is close to being green lit, even before this fourth one has been screened.
It would be filmed in 2011 – Martin will be busy from next March returning to the role of BBC1’s Reggie Perrin.

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WHAT a flamin’ waste.
That’s the headline in one of today’s tabloid newspapers.
Followed by an “exclusive” story which will be all too familiar to those who have followed the saga of the BBC move to Salford Quays.
“The BBC is to land licence-payers with a £3m bill to send sport staff to cover the London Olympics from Manchester – just a year after it relocates from the capital,” it begins.
“The Beeb will move 1500 workers to its MediaCity base in Salford in 2011.
“But just 12 months later, many of them will be forced to make the 400-mile round trip to cover the games.”
You can read the rest of The Sun’s report here.
Just one more “exclusive” in a long line of stories re-hashing the same issue.

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BACK from holiday and plunged straight into cast interviews for the second series of Merlin.
Plus a preview screening of episode one followed by an audience Q&A.
Where Angel Coulby (Gwen) revealed that someone recently bowed to her in a kebab shop…
The fantasy adventure returns to BBC1 this month with some good news for fans.
Including viewers in America, where the first series has just been broadcast by NBC.
As promised, it’s bigger and bolder – having stepped up a gear since series one.
With improved, spellbinding special effects and a string of top guest stars.
Including Mackenzie Crook in the opening story: The Curse of Cornelius Sigan.

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