Line of Duty actress Vicky McClure’s moving My Dementia Choir doc is such a hit with BBC bosses there are talks of a spin-off before it has even aired
THE versatile Vicky McClure proves she’s also a dab hand at documentary-making with the incredible My Dementia Choir.
And I can reveal that the BBC1 two-parter is expected to be such a hit, a spin-off series is already on the cards.
Line Of Duty star Vicky brings together singers who all have some form of dementia, to see how music can help them.
It is a project close to her heart. Vicky saw her gran die of the condition.
An insider said: “There hasn’t been this kind of confidence surrounding a BBC documentary since the last David Attenborough nature show.
“Everyone who’s seen it, including those at the very top, have been blown away by how emotional it is and left feeling they want more.
“The Beeb is already talking about a spin-off fronted by Vicky, before this show has even aired.”
My Dementia Choir is expected to go out close to the Line Of Duty finale. The proposed follow-up would look further at how dementia sufferers can be helped by technology, research and better funding.
Beeb Director-General Lord Tony Hall said of My Dementia Choir: “It’s a really moving piece of television. It’s coming soon, please watch it.”
I’ve a feeling lots will.
It’s dog Martin
LOOKS like Martin Clunes had been joined by a four-legged co-star while filming for the ninth series of ITV’s Doc Martin in Cornwall yesterday.
The actor recorded scenes on the shore at Port Isaac with co-star Caroline Catz, who plays his wife Louisa – despite having claimed that the hit medical comedy drama would come to an end last year after its eighth series.
Speaking about reversing the decision to call it a day, Martin, who plays the village GP of the show’s title, said simply: “I’m un-ending it.”
He added: “We probably plan to do one every other year now.”
Or, in medical terms, by reducing the dosage.
bizbit
CALL The Midwife creator Heidi Thomas says BBC1 bosses compiled a “list of shame” of actors who had begged to star in the series but were completely wrong for the show.
She said: “It’s quite bizarre really – some of them would never fit in.”
Game of groans
IT’S the most anticipated TV finale in years, and 192,000 hardy British fans stayed up to see Monday’s 2am opening episode of the last Game Of Thrones series. But a more patient 3.4million caught up with it later, at a much more reasonable hour.
Actor Kit Harington, who plays Jon Snow, has told how he almost lost a testicle filming a dragon-riding scene, sitting on a mechanical “buck” which was later replaced by the mythical beast using CGI.
He said: “Buck work is not easy . . . there was a bit where Jon almost falls off.
“The dragon swings round really violently and my right ball got trapped, and I didn’t have time to say, ‘Stop!’ I thought, ‘This is how it ends, on this buck, swinging me around by my testicles, literally.’ Sorry, probably too much information.”
I’d tend to agree.
bizbit
FILMING on a second series of hit Netflix comedy Sex Education, starring Gillian Anderson, will start later this month.
The news was revealed by another star of the show, Ncuti Gatwa, who plays Eric.
soapbox
SHE’S no stranger to ruffling feathers on Loose Women, and Janet Street-Porter will soon be doing the same Down Under on Ramsay Street.
MOST READ IN BIZARRE
The opinionated TV panellist makes a guest appearance during tonight’s episode of Neighbours – and runs into Terese while Bea performs a cosy gig at The Waterhole.
And it’s not long before Janet, who has also appeared in Hollyoaks, causes an upset in Erinsborough.
On Emmerdale, it is Rishi’s birthday and – never a man to shy away from being the centre of attention – he’s revelling in his special day.
must watch
WHAT? Earth From Space, BBC1, 9pm
WHY? Satellite cameras show an elephant family struggling in a drought, previously unknown penguin colonies and ice rings that could put seal pups in danger.