According to the Radio Times, a company called Television International Enterprises Archives, the self-described ‘world’s foremost archive recovery company’, might have stumbled upon one of the biggest finds in the history of British television. Phil Morris, who is with TIEA, has allegedly been traveling the globe looking for missing gems of UK TV. A routine practice for the BBC and most, if not all, television broadcast outlets back in the 60′s when syndication didn’t exist, were apt to recycle expensive tape and erase many episodes of series rather than hold on to them and buy new tape. The same thing almost happened with Monty Python’s Flying Circus before they were rescued by the Pythons themselves and subsequently broadcast on KERA Channel 13 back in July 1974.
 

At this point, there are 27 incomplete Doctor Who serials, with 106 of 253 episodes from the first six years of the program missing so you can see why a find of 90, if true, would be more than significant. While some have been found in lofts and garages, some were sold to other countries and, according to the rumors, Morris has found many hours of material in, of all places, Sierra Leone. Allegedly, the BBC shipped the Doctor Who tapes there for broadcast and while they should have been bulk erased once the license ran out, they are still in good shape…accent on the ‘allegedly’.

Neither Morris nor the BBC are talking even though there are further rumors of a middle of the night confirmation of the discovery and shipment to the BBC for evaluation.

True or not, this makes for great pub conversation and, for a split second, no one mentioned or threw their hat in the ring to become the Twelfth Doctor. Admit it, though, this would make for great copy should it be true given the upcoming 50th celebration on 23 November. If you’re the one left that is new to Doctor Who you’re going to need to catch up pretty fast before November. Here’s a start with the beginning of the first episode ever – “An Unearthly Child”.
 

 

Curtis and Atkinson co-wrote series one, with Ben Elton joining Richard Curtis to write series two through four. Voted in 2004 as the second-best British comedy of all-time as part of the Britain’s Best Sitcom series (losing out to Only Fools and Horses), Blackadder was originally conceived while Curtis, Atkinson and producer John Lloyd were working together on Not the 9 O’Clock News. In honor of the occasion, intrepid Telegraph reporters pulled together their 30 best lines from Edmund Blackadder, himself, to celebrate the series’ 30th anniversary. Oh, to be a fly on the wall in that editor’s meeting.

Back in 2010 as part of PBS’ Behind the Britcom: From Script to Screen, we had the great good fortune to spend a few minutes with Richard Curtis, who talked about his and Ben Elton’s good fortune surrounding the filming of the final scene of Blackadder. Some 30 years later, it still is one of the most classic endings to a sitcom ever.
 

That said, this is so totally the moment you have been waiting for since the last moment you’ve been waiting for. The chance to hang with Roy, Moss, Jen and Douglas one last time in the corridors of Reynholm Industries for the IT Crowd finale. Ok, not really, but do you have a chance to be ‘in’ the finale when you submit a photo or video of yourself that might be actually used in the final episode. It just so happens that the producers NEED people to be in the IT Crowd Special. Submissions MUST be emailed to TheITCrowd@Retort.tv by 25th June 2013…that’s ONE WEEK FROM TODAY, just FYI.

Submissions should be photos or a video of you reacting to seeing an OUTRAGEOUS video on your phone or laptop. It would be really good if the photo can show a famous landmark in the background. Visiting the Eiffel Tower/North Pole/Great Wall of China? Take a snap of yourself pretending to look at something really gross on your device with the landmark in the background and BOOM! you’re in (with a very good chance of being in) the show.
 

Due to broadcasting regulations the producers need to be stringent about a few things, so here are the boring but necessary rules:

• Stills photos need to be taken on a 10MP camera or higher; or moving footage of no more than 15 seconds at resolution of 1920x1080pixels, higher resolution would be a bonus [size to range from 2MB-6MB depending on compression]

• Don’t include any logos or brands – cover them up or reframe the picture, this includes the makes/models of your laptop or phone

• Don’t have anyone in the frame that hasn’t given you personal consent to use their image or that you can’t identify and give the full details of to us

• Don’t include any artwork on walls, book covers etc as we won’t be able to seek permission to use the copyright

• Don’t include any music (again, we won’t be able to clear it)

Remember, the video is OUTRAGEOUS. Not gross, really, but shocking.

Oh, yeah, one more thing, as Linehan cautions. “We have no money left so EXPECT VERY LITTLE REMUNERATION, POSSIBLY (DEFINITELY) EVEN AS LITTLE AS NONE *“. FYI, in case you can’t read the small print that accompanies the asterisk (*) that further emphasizes the point, it says: “That’s definitely. You will not be paid. There is no money“.

And, now….the fine, fine, small print direct from Linehan’s website….

The IT Crowd Special Terms & Conditions for Submission of User Generated Content. Don’t worry, there are only 15 terms & conditions to adhere to as you submit your photo.

Robinson, the current host of Channel 4’s archaeology show, Time Team, said of his award: “I’m thrilled, flattered and a little gobsmacked to have received this ­recognition from my country. I’ll use my new title with abandon to highlight the causes I believe in, particularly the importance of culture, the arts and heritage and the plight of the infirm elderly and their carers. I also pledge that from this day on I’ll slaughter all unruly dragons, and rescue any damsels in distress who request my help.”

Rowan Atkinson, who has entertained audiences around the world for over 30 years with his brilliant performances in Blackadder and Mr. Bean, also received a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) at the Queen’s Birthday Honours. One has to wonder (or hope) that the meeting between Atkinson and the Queen went a bit better than this…
 

Unfortunately, today is the day we all knew was coming but it still doesn’t make it any easier. Tonight’s Masterpiece Mystery! premiere on PBS of Inspector Lewis will be the first of the final three cases, all set in the seemingly perfect academic haven of Oxford, for both Lewis (Kevin Whatley) and partner, Detective Sergeant Hathaway (Laurence Fox), the Cambridge-educated man who joined the police after giving up training for the priesthood.

In tonight’s episode, “Down Among the Fearful”, a psychic is found murdered and Inspector Lewis and D.S. Hathaway discover that the victim is really an Oxford psychology research fellow. As they probe further, the truth behind the psychic’s double-life unravels, revealing numerous possible suspects.
 

 
Following tonight’s premiere episode, “Down Among the Fearful”, will be “Ramblin’ Boy” on June 23 and “Intelligent Design” on June 30. ***FYI, viewers on KERA-TV in North Texas can see tonights episode at 7:00pm on June 23 followed by episode two at 8:30pm. The final episode will air on Sunday, June 30 at 8:00pm.***

***Mr. Selfridge 2 plot spoiler alert below!***

Following the departure of his wife Rose (Frances O’Connor) for America at the end of series one, Harry has become accustomed to the life of a single man in London as the couple become increasingly estranged. But when she returns to British shores to celebrate Selfridges’ fifth anniversary of trading, Harry is determined to win back her affection. Getting in the way of Harry’s plan is Rose’s new friendship with bohemian novelist and businesswoman, Delphine Day, played by Polly Walker (Rome, Waking the Dead, State of Play), whom she meets on the boat back from New York.

Adding to Harry’s woes is his increasingly troubled relationship with business partner, Lady Mae Loxley (Katherine Kelly) as Aidan McArdle (Garrow’s Law joins the cast as Lord Loxley, returning from ‘the countryside’. Another cast addition sees Cal Macaninch (Downton Abbey) cast is newly appointed head of fashion, Mr Thackeray.

While Harry is proud of the store’s success, there is no time to rest on his laurels. With rumors rife and talk of war in Europe, he prepares staff for challenges times ahead. With World War One imminent and set to be the greatest and most devastating in history, it will inevitably affect the lives of everyone in the store. Throughout these troubled times, Harry will turn to his family and friends and try and heal the rifts of the past.

According to ITV, series 2 will transmit in early 2014 to mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War. U.S. broadcast is tentatively set to begin not long after in early Spring 2014.

The World’s End with Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Martin Freeman – July 19
 

 
From the genius mind palaces of the creators of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg, comes their next bit of greatness, The World’s End.

20 years after attempting an epic pub crawl, five childhood friends reunite when one of them becomes hellbent on trying the drinking marathon again. They are convinced to stage an encore by mate Gary King (Simon Pegg), a 40-year-old man trapped at the cigarette end of his teens, who drags his reluctant pals to their hometown and once again attempts to reach the fabled pub, The World’s End. As they attempt to reconcile the past and present, they realize the real struggle is for the future, not just theirs but humankind’s. Reaching The World’s End is the least of their worries.

The World’s End also stars Pegg’s companion in crime, Nick Frost (Paul, Adventures of Tintin, Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Rosamund Pike (Pride and Prejudice) David Bradley (Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Broadchurch and Martin Freeman (The Hobbit, Sherlock, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy). In theaters July 19.

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa – August 7
 

 
Alan Partridge’s long awaited big-screen adventure, Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, a Die Hard-like hostage thriller has North Norfolk Digital’s finest facing off against a fellow DJ gone postal. Need we say more?

In a recent appearance on the Jonathan Ross show, creator Steve Coogan explained the film’s intricate plot: “Alan is in Norwich and he’s DJing on North Norfolk Digital, but a big horrible company called Gordale Media comes along to take over the radio station, rob it of all its personality and change it from North Norfolk Digital to ‘Shape’.”

Coogan said he was pleased to be writing new Partridge material but admitted that “..you do get sick of him because it’s like being in the room with an idiot. But then what you do is you leave him alone for a while and then after a while you start to miss him.” Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa will also star I’m Alan Partridge regulars Lynn (Felicity Montagu), Geordie BP garage worker Michael (Simon Greenall) and DJ Dave Clifton (Phil Cornwell).

Don’t know about you, but is there a better way to close out the summer than with true big screen brilliance? Don’t think so.

Each year in the UK, the Shed of the Year contest trumpets the UK’s love of garden hideaways. The shed holds a very special place in the hearts of the British people everywhere. So much so, research shows that the average Brit spends 72 hours a year, or five months of their lives, in their sheds. Loved by writers, musicians, inventors and, in some cases actually, gardeners, it has long been a place with a charge to stimulate the creative juices.

Novelist Philip Pullman, poet Dylan Thomas, and Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters are among those indebted to these humble, cobwebbed sanctuaries for producing some of their works. Arthur Miller specifically constructed one in his Connecticut garden just to write Death of a Salesman, his most famous play.

The 2013 winner has a lot to live up to given the 2012 winner. Turned into a fully-functioning pub, ‘Woodhenge’, the 2012 winner, is the creation of John Plumridge, and contains 500 ales and 150 ciders. It beat 2,000 other entries to win the contest.
 

So you don’t peak too early with anticipation, know that the overall winner will be announced during Shed Week on July 1. Judges include television presenter Sarah Beeny and designer Kevin McCloud, with the overall winner of the title and £1,000 being announced during…where else – ‘national shed week’. You can see all the finalists here. Any thoughts as to who you think should be the 2013 winner?

Let’s the rumor mill begin. First up, With the news of the sequel, is the rumor that Helen Mirren and Colin Firth have signed on for the sequel although no word as of yet as to their roles. Purely speculative but it’s fun to think about for a bit anyway.

In addition to Spall and Saunders, who starred as the amiable, yet befuddled, Lord Emsworth, and his indomitable sister Connie, there are both big names and relative newcomers that have been added. Mark Williams (Father Brown, Harry Potter) will return as Beach, the long-suffering loyal butler to Lord Emsworth while Jack Farthing returns as Lord Emsworth’s financially irresponsible son Freddie. Whether or not David Walliams (Little Britain) or Jessica Hynes (Up the Women, Twenty Twelve, Spaced) will return in their guest roles is unclear at this point but, as with series one, the second series should continue the trend with more one-off characters popping up.
 

 
As with the first series, the second will also be filmed on location in Northern Ireland, at Crom Castle in County Fermanagh. Series 2 of Blandings will be shown on BBC One in early 2014. There is every reason to believe that American audiences will be able to see Blandings on a public television station near you in 2014 also.