[brian s]

Thursday April 24, 2008
Being Human Has Been Commissioned



Great news for the hordes of posters on the SFX forum who were raving about BBC’s Being Human – the show has been commissioned for a further six episodes, the BBC confirmed today.

The original hour-long quirky drama about a ghost, a vampire and a werewolf sharing a flat was broadcast as part of BBC 3's drama pilot season in February, and proved hugely popular with both viewers and critics, and was a download smash on the Beeb’s new iPlayer service (which must say something about good word of mouth).

The series, like the pilot, will be written by Toby Whithouse of Doctor Who “School Reunion" fame. Filming will start later this year for a 2009 broadcast.

Congratulatory wibble from the BBC press release:

"The pilot of Being Human gave us the opportunity to try something really unusual, and we were quite overwhelmed by the positive public response. So we're delighted that the BBC has given us the go-ahead for a full series." - Executive producer for Touchpaper Television, Rob Pursey.

"BBC Drama is always looking for diverse and surprising pieces, and Being Human hit the spot with its irreverence and wit." - BBC Wales Head of Drama Julie Gardner.

"Of all our recent drama experiments on BBC Three, Being Human struck the most powerful chord with the audience. At its heart is a bold and adventurous concept and I'm looking forward to seeing how this is realised across a series." - Danny Cohen, Controller, BBC Three.

[SG-22]

Good stuff, enjoyed this. I hope they carry on where it left off!

[nwgarratt]

I didn't like it.

[krish]

Originally Posted by nwgarratt

I didn't like it.

neither did I, looked cheap and grubby and a bit too 'yoof' orientated, preferred that strange kung foo royal assassination one (can't remember its name, but Appollo Creed was in it)

[brian s]

Originally Posted by krish

neither did I, looked cheap and grubby and a bit too 'yoof' orientated, preferred that strange kung foo royal assassination one (can't remember its name, but Appollo Creed was in it)

Krish, did you mean this?

BBC3 to air full series of Phoo ActionLeigh Holmwood guardian.co.uk, Thursday February 14 2008 Article historyAbout this articleClose This article was first published on guardian.co.uk on Thursday February 14 2008. It was last updated at 10:15 on February 14 2008.
Phoo Action: a full six-part series will be shown on BBC3 next year, produced by BBC Scotland

BBC3's kitsch kung-fu drama pilot Phoo Action has been commissioned for a full series, despite launching with disappointing ratings on Tuesday night.

The drama, which stars actor Ray Winstone's daughter, Jaime, as a high-kicking futuristic crime fighter, will return for a full six-part series next year.

Phoo Action was one of six drama pilots commissioned by BBC3 controller Danny Cohen to air as part of the relaunched BBC3 schedule

Cohen commissioned a series before Tuesday night's pilot aired. It will be filmed by BBC Scotland in Glasgow later this year.

Other BBC3 pilots will include thriller The Things I Haven't Told You; Being Human, a tale of a vampire, a ghost and a werewolf who share a house; and Mrs In-Betweeny, created by Shameless writer Paul Abbott and Caleb Ranson.

Cohen said at the BBC3 winter 2008 season launch last month that he would commission full series from one or two of the pilots, but was so taken with Phoo Action that he signed it up for a full run quicker than expected.

It is also thought Cohen had to move fast to sign up artist options on the Phoo Action series.

Some of the other pilots will also be developed and could still be made into series, according to the BBC.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "We really believe in the originality and boldness of Phoo Action. It's fantastic news that the work of Jamie Hewlett and the rest of the crew will be back on the channel."

Phoo Action is based on a cartoon by Hewlett, the co-creator of the animated band Gorillaz and Tank Girl, which first appeared in now defunct magazine the Face.

Tuesday night's pilot pulled in 232,000 viewers and a multichannel share of 1.1% between 9pm and 10pm.

This was down on the BBC3 9pm Tuesday slot average for the past year of 337,000 viewers and a 1.74% multichannel share.

However, a BBC spokeswoman said that as BBC3 shows had also been simulcast on the channel's website for the first time, it was not known how many people watched them there.

Cohen said: "We're trying lots and lots of youthful new things on BBC3 - from new entertainment talent to bold and innovative British drama.

"I'm pleased that [on Tuesday] night more young people tuned into us than this time last year. I'm hugely encouraged by the quality and initial impact of all of our changes, and am looking forward to growing our young audiences further."

Cheers
Bri

[krish]

that's the one Bri, it was quality leftfield popcorn nonsense ... didn't realise the Gorillaz connection, makes me like it even more now

[brian s]

Friday September 26, 2008
Being Human’s Internet Boost
The massive groundswell of support on the internet for the pilot of Being Human – aired on BBC in February – helped get the show green-lighted for a series, reckons its producer Matthew Bouch.

SFX had a chat with Bouch for issue 176 (out on 22 October) about the comedy drama (we refuse to use the phrase dramedy – we’re not Variety) in which a ghost, a vampire and werewolf share a flat. He reveals some major changes for the series, describing the first episode as a reboot rather than a continuation, with some big casting news (we’ll keep you guessing for now) but he also had this to say about the positive Internet reaction to the pilot:

"I'd looked on a couple of sites to see a few of the responses just out of interest, but it was really Toby Whithouse, the writer, who'd really been following that – obviously he had much more time on his hands. He’d seen that there was a big petition that was getting more and more signatures. And, of course, this was all happening immediately after transmission. We had not had a commissioning decision at that point. So it all helped our campaign.

“I was aware of the groundswell of opinion on it. People that I have known – friends of mine, friends of friends – who said that they’d enjoyed it. The sheer volume of appreciation for it on the Internet didn’t really become apparent to me until I talked to Toby and I had a look for myself. It was a bit of a surprise.

“Ultimately it got very good figures on BBC3. In terms of the number of repeats, we were playing to a million viewers by the end of it. And obviously it did very well on iPlayer. To be honest, I think the BBC did acknowledge that it was a good piece of work. But they weren’t entirely sure that it matched what their aspirations were for BBC3. I think it was only after it went out and people responded to it in the way that they did that they felt reassured that it was connecting with the right kind of audience. Because it’s never an exact science and I think the Internet reaction definitely will have helped.”

[brian s]

Posted on Tuesday 04 November 2008
Being Human revamps cast for series

Being Human, BBC Three's unusual genre drama featuring a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost sharing a house together, is getting a major shake-up for its initial six episode run, according to Digital Spy.

The only actor to continue in his role is Doctor Who guest star Russell Tovey, as George the nerdy werewolf. Guy Flanagan has been replaced by Aidan Turner as the laidback vampire, Mitchell, while Sugar Rush's Lenora Crichlow takes over from Andrea Riseborough as the ghostly Annie. Jason Watkins has been cast as evil vampire Herrick, originally played by Adrian Lester

"Having a new cast is mainly to do with the slight tonal shift in the show," producer Matt Bouch told Digital Spy. "We wanted to go slightly younger, mainly because [the pilot] skewed perhaps slightly too old for BBC Three's target audience."

As with many BBC comedy shows, the pilot will not form part of the proper series.

[GaryB]

This starts soon. BBC website now up:

BBC - Being Human - Being Human Blog

[brian s]

It'd be great if they showed without a logo.

Cheers
Bri

[GaryB]

Originally Posted by brian s

It'd be great if they showed without a logo.

Cheers
Bri

Probably more chance of a real ghost appearing

[brian s]

Originally Posted by GaryB

Probably more chance of a real ghost appearing

Every now and again they do. Not as often as when they first started though.


Bri

[brian s]

First episode review. Possible spoilers.

SFX: the leading science fiction, fantasy and horror magazine

[brian s]

Interview with cast and crew.

SFX: the leading science fiction, fantasy and horror magazine

[raigraphixs]

Just noticed the first episode was shown on the 25th.


I will watch it via iplayer see below.

BBC iPlayer - Being Human: Episode 1


Next episode BBC Three 21:00 1 Feb 2009



Teaser

YouTube - Being Human Trail - BBC Three

[Kelltic]

I missed the pilot so came to this virginal (so to speak!). I quite enjoyed it, though I couldnt work out whether it was a comdey, a drama or horror. There were some very funny lines ("You smell like mint.........like a polo. Have you got a hole?" had me in stitches), some good drama underlying it and topped with some supernatural spooks. The special effects were ok, with the werewolf transformation an obvious homage to An American Werewolf in London.

I assume the main story arc will be about the Vampire group (led by the most unassuming vampire), though I dont really get the vampire lore yet, as it seems they can walk about in sunlight etc.

Promising enough to watch the rest of it though

[neroon]

I'm far from impressed and seriously hope subsequent episodes improve greatly!

[raigraphixs]

Just watched episode 1, lucky it was repeated on BBC3. It was great, drama fused with horror, a werewolf, vampire and a sexy ghost girl all living and looking after each other in one house. Two have jobs, they have their rules, they try not to kill anyone if possible. If this was a american production then people would be raving about it, very well written and acted, some good humor fused with some horror. The ghost girl too afraid to go out, because off 'the monsters' outside. Yeah the polo line was funny . A must see for me, episode 2 recorded to watch. 9/10

[raigraphixs]

Episode 2/6 carried on the quality, and was even darker in parts, as things came to a boil with George and his so called friend.9/10

[NicolasB]

Originally Posted by raigraphixs

Episode 2/6 carried on the quality, and was even darker in parts, as things came to a boil with George and his so called friend.9/10

Yeah, I'm a little surprised at all the negative comments in this thread. Okay, this series isn't a high budget US show, and it isn't by Joss Whedon, but it passes the time very pleasantly, and it does manage to pull off the difficult trick of being genuinely funny at times, and genuinely dramatic, even a little unsettling, at other times. An awful lot of series think they can do this, but they're nearly all wrong.

[benmango]

I've been pleasantly surprised with this show after 2 episodes. There's been a few things lately that I've circled in the TV Guide as a "should watch" and almost all of them, bar this, haven't been worth the time or effort.

Kudos to the crew and cast as this feels a breath of fresh air compared to other dramas (although I guess that's what they were going for by having a Vampire, Ghost and Werewolf sharing a flat )

[Marc]

i just watched the first 2 episodes and think it's brilliant so far, it's like a uk version of true blood in a way, very character driven where the supernatural aspect is second to the human aspect. I am looking forward to seeing more!

[brian s]

I haven't been watching this as I can't stand channels with a logo, the BBC 3 dog is paticularly bad. I see the DVD is due out on 20/4/08. I think I'll take a risk on it. I don't know if the pilot's on it.

Regards
Bri

[Marc]

none of the ones i downloaded have a logo, i don't know where they were sourced from

[raigraphixs]

Just watched sundays episode last night. Excellent episode 9/10

[davidm2]

I rather liked the trial episode... will probably look at a box set when it's finished its run

[RB211]

Another fan here. Good story as well as three good young British actors. Very impressed.

[brian s]

Originally Posted by RB211

Another fan here. Good story as well as three good young British actors. Very impressed.

As I've said before I hate logos but I think I'll go for the DVD. Many thanks to those of you responded well to it.


Bri

[Toasty]

Well, just caught up on the first 4 episodes and think this show is quality. After the mediocre ITV Demons, this is a breath of fresh air and gives some of the American counter parts a run for their money.

Looks like it all goes darker next episode

[brian s]

A second series of eight episodes has now been confirmed.

SFX: the leading science fiction, fantasy and horror magazine

Bri