Talkback
Thames’ incoming chief executive Lorraine Heggessey has hired Johnathan Young
as head of drama following Paul Marquess’ departure.From The Stage Online:
Talkback
Thames’ incoming chief executive Lorraine Heggessey has hired Johnathan Young
as head of drama following Paul Marquess’ departure.
Young, a former Channel 4 drama commissioner responsible for shows such as Hollyoaks, Brookside and Teachers, is already working at Talkback producing a second series of Murder Investigation Team and is due to begin filming hospital drama Golden Hour, both for ITV1.
Having directed and produced on EastEnders in the mid-nineties he has built up significant experience in long-running drama series. He later worked on the BBC’s Casualty and played a role in setting up its spin-off Holby City. He was executive producer on Jimmy McGovern’s controversial Channel 4 drama tackling the events of Bloody Sunday as well as Trust with Robson Green for BBC1 - both made by Cracker co-creator Gub Neal’s independent production company, Box TV.
Heggessey said: “Paul is a hard act to follow but in Johnathan we have absolutely the right person to build on our great track record for producing popular drama series.”
Young will take up his new post in June and will oversee output including Five soap Family Affairs and long-running police show The Bill, as well as one-off dramas such as Bafta award-winning The Lost Prince. It is expected Marquess will join Endemol UK at the same time to lead its move into drama and scripted programming.
The appointment is Heggessey’s first in her new role at the independent production company, where she officially starts on May 9. In an effective job swap, outgoing chief executive Peter Fincham will take on her former position as controller of BBC1, on the same day.
::: YOUR OPINION
What are your views on this news? What direction do you think the show should go in now? Are you happy with the current state of The Bill? Get in touch with us and share your views with fans all over the world...
I
like the Bill from years ago like the Burnside-Beech era. It had who you would
find in lots of Police Stations; the old Sergeants and older senior officers who
were wiser than others. After so many years of being a loyal viewer I no
longer watch the Bill. Occasionally I flick over to see who and what's there but
nothing grabs me, it's another cheap tacky soap!!
Darren, Sydney, Australia
Congratulations to the new
boss on The Bill, hope he can maintain the exceptionally high standards on the
show that The Bill has lived up to for most of the past twelve months and she
can give us plenty to look forward to in the future.
John Ledward, Stafford
I am glad Paul has gone. He
may have got ratings up, but that's all ITV are interested in. The Bill used to
be something different, but now it's just like any other drama - over the top. I
think the new bloke will be ok, just as long as he doesn't keep everything the
same. Bring in more staff for CID and VPU and more older officers. Bring back
Jim and some of the oldies like Burnside and Bob. Get rid off Gabriel, Sam,
Amber, Phil and Julian!
Scott
Turner
As long as keeps to The
Bill's core values, I'll be happy. Great site by the way!
Kyal,
Sydney
I'm only a recent viewer of
The Bill, but I must say the recent storylines have got me hooked. If Mr. Young
keeps them coming like this, he'll have a very happy audience.
Erika
Bright
As a police officer myself,
I really hope they go back to the good old days of catching villains. We used to
watch episodes of the show for practicing interview technique.
Mary-Anne,
Leeds
He sounds as though he's
the right man for the job. Good luck to him I say.
Tricia,
Essex
The Bill is becoming too
soapy now, as Geoff McQueen (who devised the show) clearly stated a rule never
to show the officers private life's on the show, and Paul Marquess has clearly
broken that rule.
Christopher Belsey
As long as he's still
respectful to The Bill's core audience, he should do fine. I'll be watching his
progress with great interest.
Andrew, Liverpool
bill has gone
downhill big time,not as good as the 80`s or the 1999 2000 series..bring back
richard handford at least...great site..cheers!!!
Kurt Roberts
I'm optimistic - this
guy seems to have good credentials, so lets give him the benefit of the doubt.
Lisa, Melbourne
If the direction
recent episodes are anything to go by, we should be alright. More on the
procedural side of policing and less on overblown sensationalist stories and The
Bill will reclaim the realism that originally made it such an innovative
programme.
Robert Miles
Well it can't get any
worse...can it?
Sarah, Hull
What the show needs
is more cast stability & less turnover. We're not even given half a chance
to get to know a character this days - it's barely 6 months before they're
murdered or blown up! I hope the new EP finds some more original exits for
characters.
Anything Goes
I think the idea of a
community dog should be implemented by the new EP.
Jay Evans
If he's in charge of so
many different shows, won't he have less influence on The Bill? Won't that
jurisdiction fall to Clare Phillips, Series Producer?
Jezza
I really hope the new EP
sticks to what the bill used to do so well - well-written, intriguing storylines
with good interplay between the characters, rather than the sex-crazed coppers
we have parading about today
Vicky
Marsden
We reserve the right to edit any comments that are published.