Future of Noel Fielding’s Dick Turpin comedy revealed after Bake Off star quit mid-series
THE cancellation of Noel Fielding's Dick Turpin comedy is one of those rare events in the world of TV, so it’s no surprise it has left the industry reeling.
But despite his show about the 18th-century highwayman being sensationally canned by Apple TV+ last week, owing to the lead star’s ill health, it seems all is not lost.
Producers are now trying to use the footage they do have from what would have been a full second series to potentially create an hour-long special.
The finished product could air later this year, with a date around Halloween being suggested to tie in with some of the comedy’s mystic elements.
A TV insider said: “It’s now considered to be something of a salvage operation, although it’s not clear whether they have enough [material] to do anything with.”
But the source added: “The creators sank millions into making the show and it was around 70 to 80 per cent filmed by the time the axe fell.
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“So it would now be pretty galling to see what they have go entirely to waste. It’s not clear whether any of the sections they’d filmed included the guest stars, who are said to have included Jason Isaacs, Dawn French and Miranda Richardson.”
The Sun exclusively revealed how Noel had failed to return to work after the Christmas break, with his representatives later confirming that this was down to “a health issue.”
The cast and crew said they were considering a class action against the show’s bosses, as they suddenly found themselves out of work in the middle of the production.
But they had already been filming the show from October to December, and many of the scenes were in the bag.
The last few months were all about applying the finishing touches to the irreverent retelling of Dick Turpin’s life.
A spokesman for the show declined to comment.
WHO’S TASKING
THE celebrity faces taking part in the new series of Taskmaster have finally been revealed.
Channel 4 has confirmed the five new names to be put through their paces by hosts Greg Davies and Alex Horne, for series 19.
Its return coincides with the tenth anniversary of the comedy game show, which was first screened in 2015, has gone on to air in 120 countries and also launched a junior version last year.
The celebrity line-up includes Ghosts actor Mathew Baynton, TV presenter Rosie Ramsey and comedians Jason Mantzoukas, Fatiha El-Ghorri and Stevie Martin.
No date has been set but the new series is expected later this year.
MOGGIES ’TOON UP FOR RICK
RICKY GERVAIS’ latest Netflix show, an animated series about cats, is taking shape.
The funnyman has spent 18 months working on the production, which I revealed in July is in the works.
Of his first TV project since black-comedy drama After Life, he said: “It’s a group of alley cats, they’re bottom of the pile and life’s a struggle but they get through.
"It’s a cross between The Sopranos, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Derek And Clive, Only Fools And Horses, but animation and cats.”
Stars of his previous shows, including David Earl, Joe Wilkinson, Kerry Godliman, Diane Morgan and Tony Way lend their voices, as does EastEnders’ Natalie Cassidy.
WATTS ON AT THE MUSEUM
ANITA DOBSON has revealed she still has loads of her costumes and jewellery from her EastEnders days – and wants them to go on display.
The actress played feisty Queen Vic landlady Angie Watts for three years in the Eighties. Her character’s fiery relationship with husband “Dirty” Den (Leslie Grantham) was often in the spotlight.
Anita now plans to find Angie’s outfits a fitting new home in Surrey.
She said: “I did keep a lot of Angie’s costumes, which are hopefully going to be in a museum in Epsom.”
The museum centres on the East End “which is rightly where she belongs,” she said.
Anita added: “I was going through my stuff, sorting my cupboards out. I’ve got a lot of stuff.
“I found this lovely box and most of the jewellery that I wore on set as Angie was in there, and I thought, ‘That would be nice to be displayed as well’.”
ITV has pulled the plug on one of its newest dramas.
It will not strike a deal with production firm Noho Film and Television to make a third series of Tell Me Everything, which followed 16-year-old Jonny, played by Eden H Davies, as he navigated teenage life with his friends.
OLLY’S X FACTOR PLEA
OLLY MURS has kickstarted a campaign to bring back The X Factor.
The singer made his name on the ITV talent contest, finishing runner-up to Joe McElderry in 2009.
But the show was axed following its 15th series in 2018, after average viewing figures fell to 4.3million.
It featured performances on a Saturday, then eliminations the next night. And Olly believes nothing has quite replaced it.
He said: “I hope it comes back because there was something special about it.
“Those big Saturday nights, you don’t get them any more, and the Sunday nights were even bigger.”
Olly, who also co-hosted both the main programme and spin-off The Xtra Show with the late Caroline Flack, has sympathy for acts who recently revealed they had negative experiences.
But he told Mo Gilligan’s podcast: “I had an amazing time on X Factor.
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“I was on this self-discovery of, ‘Can I actually do it? Am I a superstar?’. . . but when someone believes in you, like Simon Cowell did with me, it was all I needed.”
I’m sure Simon would love to bring it back, too.