Matthew Macfadyen: Ripper Street to return for second series Gritty detective drama set in Victorian London starring Matthew Macfadyen has been a hit on BBC1 and BBC America (GUARDIAN)

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Maggie Brown
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 29 January 2013 08.57 EST


BBC1 has ordered a second series of Ripper Street, the gritty Sunday night drama starring Matthew Macfadyen.

The BBC confirmed that a second, eight-part series was due for broadcast in 2014.

Ripper Street's first series, set in London's East End after the hunt for Jack the Ripper was called off in 1889, has averaged 7.1 million viewers and a 22.9% audience share so far, according to consolidated ratings including seven-day catchup viewing.

Macfadyen features as a police inspector, with Jerome Flynn as his sergeant colleague and Adam Rothenberg an American surgeon and former Pinkerton detective.

The first episode resulted in more than 90 viewers complaining about insensitive scheduling, because of the combination of sex and violence so close to the 9pm watershed.

But critics have praised the production, by Tiger Aspect and Look Out Point, for its authentic depiction of Victorian London, and gritty contrast to traditional costume dramas.

Ripper Street is a BBC Worldwide co-production which airs on BBC America, where it has been the US cable channel's most successful drama apart from Doctor Who.

READ MORE: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013/jan/29/ripper-street-second-series

Lara Pulver on a Sherlock return: “It would be a pleasure – I had a lovely chemistry with Benedict” (RADIOTIMES)

The actress is ready to reprise her risque role as whip-smart dominatrix Irene Adler opposite "old friend" Benedict Cumberbatch

Paul Jones
10:34 AM, 22 January 2013

Actress Lara Pulver is ready to pick up her whip and step back into the thigh-high boots of dominatrix Irene Adler, should Sherlock co-creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss come calling once again.

Pulver said a return to the BBC1 series “would be an absolute pleasure” and described the “lovely chemistry” she shared with its star Benedict Cumberbatch during some challenging scenes.

Pulver's role in series two episode A Scandal in Belgravia saw her dress up in S&M gear, and strip down to nothing, as her character engaged in a sexually charged battle of wits with the detective. But she said Cumberbatch had made the revealing scenes run smoothly.

“When you’re having to be that intimate with someone, barriers just come down because you’re having to trust that person, you’re having to feel very safe in their presence,” Pulver told access hollywood.

READ MORE: http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-01-22/lara-pulver-on-a-sherlock-return-it-would-be-a-pleasure--i-had-a-lovely-chemistry-with-benedict

Doctor Who and Sherlock battle for National Television awards BBC1 shows among those nominated for best drama alongside Benedict Cumberbatch and Matt Smith for best actor John Plunkett The Guardian, Monday 7 January 2013 (THE GUARDIAN)

Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch will be competing for National Television awards best actor against rival Matt Smith of Doctor Who. Both shows are also up for best drama. Photograph: AP

Sherlock and Doctor Who will go head to head later this month for two of the big prizes at the National Television awards, which will feature a special award to celebrate the success of the Olympics and Paralympics.

The two BBC1 shows are both nominated for best drama, along with ITV1's Downton Abbey and Merlin, which has just been brought to an end by BBC1.

Doctor Who's Matt Smith and Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch are in the running for the best drama actor prize, along with Merlin's Colin Morgan and Daniel Mays, who starred in ITV1's Mrs Biggs.

The nominations bode well for Steven Moffat, the Doctor Who showrunner who is also, along with former League of Gentlemen star Mark Gatiss, co-creator of Sherlock.

There is another Doctor Who nomination for Karen Gillan, who played the doctor's former companion Amy Pond and bowed out of the series last year.

Gillan is nominated in the drama performance female category, along with Miranda Hart of BBC1's Call The Midwife, Suranne Jones of ITV1's Scott & Bailey and Sheridan Smith (Mrs Biggs).

READ MORE: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013/jan/08/doctor-who-sherlock-national-tv-awards

Ripper Street draws nearly 90 complaints 3 January, 2013 | By Jake Kanter (BROADCAST)

Nearly 90 viewers have complained about the violent and sexual scenes in BBC1’s new period crime thriller Ripper Street.

The Tiger Aspect drama, set in Jack the Ripper-era London and starring Matthew Macfadyen, has alarmed some viewers, despite the BBC broadcasting a warning about the potentially upsetting scenes at the start of Sunday’s launch episode.

The corporation has received 79 complaints about the programme, while Ofcom has heard from a further 9 disgruntled viewers. The media regulator has yet to decide whether it will follow up the complaints with a formal investigation.

Ripper Street pulled in 6.09m (23.6%) viewers in a 9pm post-watershed slot after being heavily trailed during the Olympics and over the festive period.

READ MORE: http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/ripper-street-draws-nearly-90-complaints/5050299.article?blocktitle=Most-commented&contentID=-1