As one of the twisted minds behind The League of Gentlemen, Psychoville, and now Inside No.9, Reece Shearsmith knows a thing or two about TV commissioning.
Digital Spy and some other journalists sat down with Reece to talk about his acting role in three-part factual drama The Widower, which starts tonight on ITV.
"It's a delicate thing to get right, but I think it's done really well," said Shearsmith of the true story of murderer Malcolm Webster.
"There's very little music on it, it's not done like 'an ITV drama' in the way that it's telling you, 'This is the dramatic bit'. I think they just showed the facts."
While we were chatting, Shearsmith got onto the topic of why audiences and TV commissioners don't always see eye to eye...
On Inside No. 9 getting another series from BBC Two, Shearsmith said: "We found out before the first one had gone out,...
Digital Spy and some other journalists sat down with Reece to talk about his acting role in three-part factual drama The Widower, which starts tonight on ITV.
"It's a delicate thing to get right, but I think it's done really well," said Shearsmith of the true story of murderer Malcolm Webster.
"There's very little music on it, it's not done like 'an ITV drama' in the way that it's telling you, 'This is the dramatic bit'. I think they just showed the facts."
While we were chatting, Shearsmith got onto the topic of why audiences and TV commissioners don't always see eye to eye...
On Inside No. 9 getting another series from BBC Two, Shearsmith said: "We found out before the first one had gone out,...
- 3/17/2014
- Digital Spy
The Widower: ITV, 9pm
This three-part drama is an adaptation of the Malcolm Webster murders. In The Widower, Reece Shearsmith plays Malcolm who - over a 13-year period - set about poisoning and killing his wives.
In this opening episode, we meet first wife Claire (Sheridan Smith) and as Malcolm comes under pressure regarding his debts, he goes to great lengths to keep her under control. After hearing about her upcoming doctor's appointment, Malcolm concocts a dark plan to get rid of her once and for all.
As second wife Felicity Drumm enters Malcolm's life, he is soon back to his usual tricks and attempts to gain access to her savings to hide the fact that he is in so much debt.
Revenge: E4, 9pm
After Daniel's actions at the wedding in last week's episode, Emily is left in a very precarious position.
Struggling to reach safety with her injuries,...
This three-part drama is an adaptation of the Malcolm Webster murders. In The Widower, Reece Shearsmith plays Malcolm who - over a 13-year period - set about poisoning and killing his wives.
In this opening episode, we meet first wife Claire (Sheridan Smith) and as Malcolm comes under pressure regarding his debts, he goes to great lengths to keep her under control. After hearing about her upcoming doctor's appointment, Malcolm concocts a dark plan to get rid of her once and for all.
As second wife Felicity Drumm enters Malcolm's life, he is soon back to his usual tricks and attempts to gain access to her savings to hide the fact that he is in so much debt.
Revenge: E4, 9pm
After Daniel's actions at the wedding in last week's episode, Emily is left in a very precarious position.
Struggling to reach safety with her injuries,...
- 3/17/2014
- Digital Spy
Reece Shearsmith has said that The League of Gentlemen could return one day, but has seemingly ruled out an imminent comeback.
The actor and writer told Digital Spy and other journalists that he, Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton and Jeremy Dyson were wary of not ruining the legacy of the show.
The team previously confirmed that they had turned down approaches from the BBC for a comeback, and quizzed on the possibility of going with Netflix or doing a Kickstarter, Shearsmith said: "I don't know really, they [the BBC] make our things, so I can't really moan about it...
"But as far as a new League thing goes, we did some sketches last year for charity. Me, Mark and Steve did for the first time in eight years. We did some sketches on stage.
"It was great and there was a good response and we were surprised. I thought no-one would remember it,...
The actor and writer told Digital Spy and other journalists that he, Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton and Jeremy Dyson were wary of not ruining the legacy of the show.
The team previously confirmed that they had turned down approaches from the BBC for a comeback, and quizzed on the possibility of going with Netflix or doing a Kickstarter, Shearsmith said: "I don't know really, they [the BBC] make our things, so I can't really moan about it...
"But as far as a new League thing goes, we did some sketches last year for charity. Me, Mark and Steve did for the first time in eight years. We did some sketches on stage.
"It was great and there was a good response and we were surprised. I thought no-one would remember it,...
- 3/6/2014
- Digital Spy
Reece Shearsmith has said that he would like a part in Doctor Who, but wouldn't want people to think he got the role because of his friend's involvement in the programme.
Shearsmith was part of The League of Gentlemen alongside Mark Gatiss, who has written and starred in the show.
Gatiss also co-created the BBC's Sherlock alongside current Who showrunner Steven Moffat.
Speaking to Digital Spy and other journalists about his role as Malcolm Webster in ITV's factual drama The Widower ("My job as the actor playing him was not to make it a cold serial killer man. To make it a real person in the world"), Shearsmith was asked when he would pop up in the BBC's hit sci-fi.
"I don't know. It's a good question, isn't it? You might have to put it out there!" Shearsmith replied.
"Oh god, I don't know. To be honest, it might not...
Shearsmith was part of The League of Gentlemen alongside Mark Gatiss, who has written and starred in the show.
Gatiss also co-created the BBC's Sherlock alongside current Who showrunner Steven Moffat.
Speaking to Digital Spy and other journalists about his role as Malcolm Webster in ITV's factual drama The Widower ("My job as the actor playing him was not to make it a cold serial killer man. To make it a real person in the world"), Shearsmith was asked when he would pop up in the BBC's hit sci-fi.
"I don't know. It's a good question, isn't it? You might have to put it out there!" Shearsmith replied.
"Oh god, I don't know. To be honest, it might not...
- 3/6/2014
- Digital Spy
ITV has announced details of a new three-part factual drama based on the crimes of convicted murderer Malcolm Webster.
Reece Shearsmith and Sheridan Smith will star in The Widower, which has been co-written by award-winning factual drama screenwriter and filmmaker Jeff Pope (Mrs Biggs).
Pope also serves as executive producer of the series, with Paul Whittington (Mrs Biggs, Vera) as director.
The Widower takes place over a 13-year period, and follows Webster, who sets about poisoning and murdering his first wife, attempting to do the same to his second wife and moving on to a further scheme to deceive his third fiancée.
Sheridan Smith stars as first wife Claire Morris, who wed Webster in September 1993.
Jeff Pope, Head of Factual Drama, ITV Studios, said: "This is a quite extraordinary story, far more chilling than any fiction. Webster was a banal, almost benign face of evil.
"He was so clever at...
Reece Shearsmith and Sheridan Smith will star in The Widower, which has been co-written by award-winning factual drama screenwriter and filmmaker Jeff Pope (Mrs Biggs).
Pope also serves as executive producer of the series, with Paul Whittington (Mrs Biggs, Vera) as director.
The Widower takes place over a 13-year period, and follows Webster, who sets about poisoning and murdering his first wife, attempting to do the same to his second wife and moving on to a further scheme to deceive his third fiancée.
Sheridan Smith stars as first wife Claire Morris, who wed Webster in September 1993.
Jeff Pope, Head of Factual Drama, ITV Studios, said: "This is a quite extraordinary story, far more chilling than any fiction. Webster was a banal, almost benign face of evil.
"He was so clever at...
- 1/9/2014
- Digital Spy
ITV is developing a new real-life crime drama titled The Widower.
The project will be based on the life of Malcolm Webster - a nurse who was convicted of killing his first wife and attempting to murder his second, Broadcast reports.
It is currently unclear if The Widower will be made as a one-off or a multi-episode drama.
The dramatisation is being co-produced by Jeff Pope for ITV Studios - Pope previously worked on Fred West drama Appropriate Adult.
Starring Dominic West and Emily Watson, the two-part Appropriate Adult was a critical success for ITV, winning three BAFTAs in 2012. Watson's performance also received Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations.
Octagon Films and Nz Films are developing The Widower with ITV Studios.
The project will be based on the life of Malcolm Webster - a nurse who was convicted of killing his first wife and attempting to murder his second, Broadcast reports.
It is currently unclear if The Widower will be made as a one-off or a multi-episode drama.
The dramatisation is being co-produced by Jeff Pope for ITV Studios - Pope previously worked on Fred West drama Appropriate Adult.
Starring Dominic West and Emily Watson, the two-part Appropriate Adult was a critical success for ITV, winning three BAFTAs in 2012. Watson's performance also received Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations.
Octagon Films and Nz Films are developing The Widower with ITV Studios.
- 4/17/2013
- Digital Spy
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