Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think it'll be out until tomorrow.

Are all four presenters hosting Good Morning Britian? If this is the case it seems very silmilar to the first version of Rise

I think he, along with many others, saw fit a long time ago to cease contributing to what has long since become nothing more than an outlet for Samuel's ramblings.

And the rambling of others rambling about Samuel.

I was reading an article in today's Guardian about it and, if it is to be believed, I think that they're aiming to have all four presenters vying for attention - Susanna Reid won't be "dominating". Hence four of them sitting at the desk - I, too, was reminded of Ri:se.

There will also be an emphasis on on-screen graphics, including a news ticker - "to stop viewers switching to Sky News or the BBC News Channel" (huh? The latter carries the ticker-free Breakfast between 6-8:30). Pretty sure Ri:se also had things like tickers on screen.

Spot on. Takes an age wading through people constant put downs.

Itv has commissioned a very major landmark 13 episode Saturday night family drama for next year, Beowulf, based on the famous novel. This will be produced by Tim Haines [Walking with Dinosaurs, primeval, sinbad].

This will be the channel's first family drama project since Primeval. They hope this will become a huge ratings hit and international success.

What about Jason And The Argonauts? Is ITV still going ahead with that one?

Itv has just now commissioned another 13 episode family drama for next year called Jekyll and Hyde.

No word about this. Where is all this money coming from? Itv are supposed to be reducing their program budget for next year, very unsual to see them going into BBC territory doing these family dramas.

I suppose some savings made on losing the Champions league and FA Cup are being reinvested into these family dramas. They'll be hoping to attract a number of male viewers for these dramas.

Wasn't that just something you made up?

Sorry to be pedantic but Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon poem, not a novel.

Ha Ha. I'm also surprised they can afford it after paying Susanna Reid 10 million quid a day.

Two promising commissions but neither sound family friendly fare to me?

Well obviously ITV have seen the great success of Atlantis on a saturday night and are trying to replicate it.
Beowulf a family drama - really?
As far as that goes - is Jekyl and Hyde a family drama as well.
Still all this is based on scant info so we will have to wait and see I suppose although it could be said if ITV are trying drama on saturdays its about time.

It just sounds like itv have looked at an English Literature syllabus and picked two texts to adapt.

They should niche to me, PSB broadcasting only expected to get 1 million.

Should have just recomissioned lots of Midsomer Murders instead

We have heard nothing about this have we? It always sounded too much like Atlantis though didnt it?

ITV was planning fantasy drama long before the Champions League deal.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...add-new-597939

Whats it about? Is it niche?

It did. But it might have been better.

Good to see ITV doing something different. They were burned with Demons and later series of Primeval but it makes a change from quizzes. I think BBC1 have dropped the ball on them since Merlin and none of them have been able to match the success of Doctor Who.

To be fair they have only done one since and thats Atlantis.

I would say it is pretty niche myself. Its about Scandavian/Danish kings etc monsters and dragons. Actually while I dont know the entire poem getting a 13 part series out of it might be a stretch.

Beowulf is a canonical text of English Literature - an epic Anglo-Saxon verse narrative. It tells the story of the eponymous Beowulf, a Geatish warrior who, owing a favour on behalf of his (deceased) father, journeys to Denmark to help them defeat the monster Grendel and, following Beowulf slaying Grendel, he has to overcome Grendel's mother. Years pass, Beowulf becomes King of the Geats and then he faces another threat - a dragon.

I imagine itv will be padding the original narrative out to include love interests and many more CGI monsters. (Ray Winstone recently starred in a film adaptation, I think)

So yes, this sounds like Merlin / Atlantis fare. Very original.

Yes there was a film in 2007 apparently - I thought is was more recent.