BBC Drama & Comedy News Round-Up

Source: What's On TV

Find out the fates of The Crimson Field, Good News and other BBC projects here...
The Autumn and Winter TV seasons are fast approaching, and it appears that the BBC are readying themselves for the most hectic period of the year by beginning to confirm which of their programmes will be making a comeback and which shows will be left by the wayside come late 2014 and early 2015.

We'll keep you waiting in suspense no longer- read on to discover whether your favourite UK TV series has made the cut. If not, prepare to look elsewhere on the programming schedules for your weekly dosage of drama and/or humour:

• RUSSELL HOWARD'S GOOD NEWS NINTH SEASON COMMISSIONED- BBC Three is dead, long live BBC Three's output! In fairness, the axe won't fully fall on the broadcaster's now-doomed channel until Autumn 2015, but in preparation for the drastic change in their status quo, the Beeb are transferring many of the channel's most popular shows over to either BBC One or BBC Two. Russell Howard's Good News (a topical comedy series), for instance, will return for its ninth full season of satirical hi-jinks and celebrity cameos galore this Autumn on BBC Two.
• THE CRIMSON FIELD CANCELLED- Not so lucky is BBC One's recent Great War drama The Crimson Field. Created by Sarah Phelps (who apparently wanted it to run for at least four seasons), the series' première was timed to link in with the channel's World War One centenary programming, but evidently the Beeb want the story to end there, as they've elected not to commission it for a second season. Our thoughts are with the cast and crew of what was undoubtedly an innovative drama at this difficult time while they attempt to find gainful employment elsewhere. The first (and final) season of The Crimson Field is available to purchase on DVD and Blu-Ray now.
• FIRST THE CASUAL VACANCY CENTRAL CAST MEMBERS ANNOUNCED- Last up, here's a list of the first performers set to star in BBC One's adaptation of J.K. Rowling's town drama novel A Casual Vacancy and their respective roles: Michael Gambon (Howard Mollison); Julia McKenzie (Shirley Mollison); Rufus Jones (Miles Mollison); Keeley Hawes (Samantha Mollison); Rory Kinnear (Barry Fairbrother); Kelley Forsyth (Terri Weedon); Abigail Lawrie (Krystal Weedon); Monica Dolan (Tess Wall); Simon McBurney (Colin Wall); Richard Glover (Simon Price); Marie Critchley (Ruth Price) and Michelle Austin (Kay Bawden). The Casual Vacancy will air on BBC One and HBO in three 60-minute instalments this Winter.

For all the latest developments on upcoming BBC productions (including the new seasons of Doctor Who, Atlantis and Sherlock), keep it On-Screen in the weeks ahead!