Contact: Kristine Barr
703.998.2713
kbarr@weta.org
SAMPLE SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
All Creatures Great and Small
In a drama set in 1937, a young, newly qualified veterinary
surgeon — James Herriot — arrives in the picturesque village of
Darrowby to take up his first job in the established veterinary
practice of Sigfried and Tristan Farnon. In rural Yorkshire, with
few medicines available, the treatment of sick animals still seems
rooted in the Dark Ages. This, together with the country folk’s
inherent suspicion of strangers, poses problems for Herriot in the
early years of his career.
Antiques Roadshow
Antiques Roadshow, the original BBC series that inspired
its namesake ― and antiques mania in America ― sets
out to reveal the valuable and not-quite-so-valuable
antiques tucked away at the back of the cupboard.
Filmed in communities around the U.K., the programs
feature experts examining, commenting on, and
appraising personal treasures brought in by locals.
As Time Goes By
In the early 1950s, a young army officer and a student nurse fall
in love. Four decades later, they meet again by accident. Will
romance be rekindled? Dame Judi Dench stars in this drama
series as Jean, a hardworking widow who runs a secretarial
agency with her beautiful, twice-divorced daughter, Judith
(Moira Brooker). Geoffrey Palmer stars as Lionel, a divorced exarmy officer and coffee planter who has returned from Kenya to
write his autobiography.
Ballykissangel
In this drama series, when Father Peter Clifford arrives in the
rural Irish village of Ballykissangel from Manchester, he knows
he will be facing some opposition: what is a young,
inexperienced English priest doing in Ireland? Rural-village life
is very different from the big cities. For a start, Clifford needs to
be able to drive if he is to get around. Contending with the longestablished ways of the villagers and their eccentricities and
superstitions is a full-time job.
Black Books
Bernard is driven by his own alcohol-fueled logic, and
anyone attempting to buy a book from his shop is more
likely to meet with his foul temper than they are to
leave his shop with a purchase. Bernard loves his books
but hates his customers ― a combination unlikely to
earn him a businessman-of-the-year award but one that
leads to hilarious encounters in this comic series.
Born and Bred
Arthur Gilder is ready to hand over the reins of his medical
practice to his son, Tom. But this is the 1950s, and when Tom
moves his wife and children from city to country, he brings with
him dynamism and change, which Arthur does not embrace
with open arms. Arthur clings to his old-fashioned ways,
whereas Tom is determined that the hospital should adapt or
die in this dramatic series.
Chef!
In this comedy series, meet Britain’s finest ― and most
ill-tempered ― chef. Gareth dreams of being head chef
and proprietor of his own restaurant, but a few
obstacles stand in his way. With wife Janice’s patient
help, he overcomes the bank manager’s doubts and
qualifies for a loan. Suddenly, ownership brings
exposure to the harsh realities of restaurant
management.
Coupling
When a group of friends ― a mix of men and women,
some single, some in relationships ― really gets to
thinking about how to get what they want in love, the
results get wild. With dialogue that tells it just like it is,
Coupling is a witty and saucy 30-something comedy.
Doctor Who
In the science-fiction adventure series, a time-travelling
humanoid alien ― the Doctor ― explores the universe, battling
adversaries. The doctor is wise and funny, cheeky and brave; he
is also a loner whose detached logic gives him a vital edge when
the world is in danger. But when it comes to human
relationships, he can be found wanting. That’s why he needs his
assistant, Rose, a shop-girl from the present day. As they travel
together through time, encountering new adversaries, the
Doctor shows her things beyond imagination. Christopher
Eccleston, David Tennant (left) and Matt Smith portray the
Doctor in successive series.
Fawlty Towers
In this classic comedy series, John Cleese portrays Basil Fawlty, a
much put-upon, hard-working hotel manager whose life is
plagued by dead guests, hotel inspectors, and riff-raff. His
biggest headache is his nagging wife Sibyl. Together they run
their hotel, Fawlty Towers, with help from the unflappable Polly,
and from Manuel, a trainee waiter who is not a quick study.
Foyle’s War
While World War II rages across the Channel, police
detective Christopher Foyle (Michael Kitchen, center)
reluctantly remains on duty in his quiet English coastal
town, investigating crimes related to the conflict: murder,
espionage and treason. Originally airing in the U.S. on
Masterpiece Mystery!, this award-winning British drama is
rich in moral complexity and period atmosphere.
Good Neighbors
There must be more to life than commuting into the office
every day, year after year, thinks Tom Good. Determined to do
away with all the irritation and tedium of the rat race, he
decides to become self-sufficient in this amusing and poignant
comedy series. As idyllic as the good life sounds, Tom and
neighbor Barbara soon find it much harder work than they had
anticipated, but the hilarity still creeps in. Richard Briers (later
of Monarch of the Glen) stars.
Hustle
Mickey Stone is fresh out of jail. His marriage is on the rocks,
but he has a strong family to fall back on. That family ― Albert
and Ash, two old-timers who look like butter wouldn’t melt in
their mouths; and beautiful, street-sharp Stacie ― are his
partners in crime: the confidence game. Criminals with
consciences, playing tricks with trust ― the hustlers are
likeable, loveable rogues evoking the wit and warmth of
Ocean’s Eleven. The drama stars (l-r) Robert Vaughn, Adrian
Lester, Jaime Murray, Marc Warren and Robert Glenister.
Keeping Up Appearances
When it comes to snobbery, Hyacinth Bucket is in a class of her
own. She goes to incredible lengths in her quest for perfection
and delights in her “candlelit suppers,” but her guests live in
fear of receiving her invitations. No one wants to upset her with
their commonality; therefore, she is widely avoided. Her own
family is quite opposite from her; how will she overcome this
disgrace? Patricia Routledge stars in the comedy series.
Lark Rise to Candleford
Flora Thompson’s charming love letter to a vanished
corner of rural England is brought to life in this warmhearted adaptation. Set in the Oxfordshire countryside
in the 1880s, this rich, funny and emotional costume
drama follows the relationship of two contrasting
communities: Lark Rise, the small hamlet gently
holding on to the past, and Candleford, the small town
bustling into the future. Brendan Coyle, who portrays
Bates in Downton Abbey, co-stars.
Last of the Summer Wine
The picturesque Pennine village of Holmfirth in the Yorkshire
Dales is the setting for this vintage comedy, which first began life
in 1973 and was the world’s longest running sitcom. This is
Brontë country ― miles and miles of unspoiled moorland ― and
a breath-taking backdrop to the antics of aging delinquents and
their demented friends.
Life on Mars
In this police drama, Detective Sam Tyler has his
world turned upside-down when he is mysteriously
transported from 2006 back to a police station in
Manchester in 1973 and tries to return to the present.
Has he died? Is he in a coma? Or has he truly timetravelled? Alongside his struggle to return to the
present, the police force of long ago needs his help in
solving a parallel crime.
MI-5
The thrilling world of MI-5 ― known to insiders simply
as ‘Five’ ― follows the people who make up an elite
team of Britain’s clandestine domestic security service.
They tackle organized crime, terrorist activities, embassy
sieges, weapons proliferation, and anarchists, not to
mention the conflicts and power struggles back in the
office. The popular drama stars Keeley Hawes, Matthew
MacFadyen and David Oyelowo (left to right).
Monarch of the Glen
Archie is 28 and is just about to open his trendy new
restaurant in London with his beautiful girlfriend,
Justine, when he gets the news of his unexpected
inheritance: a huge, decaying family estate in the
Highlands of Scotland. To make matters worse, his
parents, the local schoolteacher, and the housekeeper
seem determined to make life as difficult as possible
for Archie in this fish-out-of-water comic drama.
My Hero
Thermoman is not very familiar with Earth customs, so he is
often embarrassingly honest and tends to take everything too
literally. When he falls in love with Janet Dawkins, his
behavior appears most peculiar to her family and colleagues,
and his mission to save the world from destruction often gets
in the way of his earthly romance. Day-to-day, the couple has
to overcome the conflicts that arise from Thermoman’s double
life. The comedy starts Emily Joyce and Ardal O’Hanlon.
New Tricks
A team of retired former detectives is recruited to re-examine
London’s unsolved crimes. Adapting to the new touchy-feely
21st-century police strategies ― not to mention working for a
tough woman with her future on the line ― isn’t easy, as the
three discover with plenty of comic results. These old dogs
won’t roll over so easily. The drama series stars Alun
Armstrong (far right), a Masterpiece veteran, Amanda Redman
(middle), who appeared in Little Dorritt on Masterpiece, Dennis
Waterman (middle) and James Bolam (far left).
Outnumbered
Britain’s number one comedy follows the battle of
wills between two parents and their three young
children, who are seemingly locked into a neverending contest to see just whose patience will run out
first. The family negotiates hangovers, chess, sex
education, colonoscopies, therapy, re-enactments of
World War II, and the sun-screening properties of
kangaroo saliva. This series stars Claire Skinner and
Hugh Dennis.
Prime Suspect
In her iconic role, Helen Mirren stars as Jane
Tennison, a top-notch detective of the London
Metropolitan Police who must battle to prove herself
in a male-dominated profession. The program,
featuring seven series produced between 1991 and
2006, earned multiple Emmy Awards, Golden Globe
Awards, BAFTA Awards and a Peabody Award.
Primeval
A team of scientist investigates temporal anomalies in
Britain. When evolutionary zoologist Nick Cutter —
portrayed by Douglas Henshall, who appeared in
Collision on Masterpiece — discovers prehistoric
creatures alive in the present day, the natural world is
turned on its head, and humanity faces a threat to its
very existence. Cutter and his team struggle to keep
the crisis secret while dealing with savage dinosaurs
and other deadly foes in this science fiction drama.
Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf spotlights an enormous spaceship, mining
around the moons of Saturn with a crew of 169
members. Now, 168 of them are dead, wiped out by a
massive radiation leak. Revived after three million
years, Dave Lister finds that among his few
companions are a life-form evolved from his cat ― and
Arnold J. Rimmer, a hologram simulation of his dead
bunk mate. Chris Barrie (right) and Craig Charles (left)
star in this odd-couple comedy.
Robin Hood
Robin of Locksley returns home from fighting for king and
country in the Holy Land to find a corrupt and changed
Nottingham. The ruthless Sheriff of Nottingham is now in
charge, crippling the poor with greedy taxes and severely
punishing them for stealing even a loaf of bread. The evergallant Robin and his faithful, if slightly unenthusiastic,
manservant Much are determined to fight for the good of the
common folk. The drama stars Jonas Armstrong.
Sherlock Holmes
Jeremy Brett (right) and Edward Hardwicke (left) are Sherlock
Holmes and Watson, who, in the search for truth and justice,
employ all their powers of detection to solve a variety of
bizarre crimes, in this classic series of adaptations of the stories
of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
To The Manor Born
As beneficiary of Grantleigh Manor, the snobbish Lady ForbesHamilton becomes a happy widower upon the death of her
husband. But facing her late husband’s creditors, the bank and
the government, she can no longer afford to maintain the
family’s hold on the estate. When the manor is auctioned to a
millionaire Czech-born grocer and his domineering mother, Lady
Forbes-Hamilton moves to the manor lodge and must learn to
coexist with the new owners. The comedy stars Penelope Keith
and Peter Bowles.
Vicar of Dibley
A young, enthusiastic vicar, who also happens to be a woman,
is appointed to the sleepy country parish of Dibley, in
Oxfordshire. The congregation, all six faithful souls, reacts to
her arrival with a mixture of wonder and horror. “You were
expecting a bloke with a beard, a Bible and bad breath. Instead,
you got a babe with a bob cut and a magnificent bosom,”
Geraldine explains to her new flock, in the popular, acclaimed
comedy series starring Dawn French.
Waiting for God
At Bayview Retirement Village, the food is appalling,
the staff treats residents like children and any show of
independence is strictly frowned upon. But two elderly
eccentrics are prepared neither to give in nor grow old
gracefully just yet. As they find themselves thrown
together by circumstances beyond their control, Tom
and Diana strike up an uneasy alliance that leads to
many adventures in the comedy series starring
Stephanie Cole (of Doc Martin) and Graham Crowden.
Waking the Dead
Case investigators in a gripping, contemporary drama are
faced with the challenge of reopening and reinvestigating
unsolved crimes that have lain dormant for years. Cases probe
the suspicious death of a war photographer, a skull buried for
20 years in a church crypt, and a double murder to which a
woman confessed and served 25 years in prison. Trevor Eve (of
Masterpiece: Heat of the Sun) stars as the team’s leader.