INSIDE THE BOX: Sky plotting to take on Corrie

Sixteen years since the last prime-time soap opera debuted on British TV, Sky is considering launching its own nightly serial.
If bosses go ahead with their secret plan, the soap would aim to steal viewers from the BBC’s EastEnders and ITV’s Emmerdale and Coronation Street. The three long-running soaps are consistently among the top ten programmes.
But it would be a bold move  for Sky, which is increasing its annual British programme budget to a massive £600 million in  order to compete with the terrestrial broadcasters.

Potential rival: Sky is considering launching its own nightly serial, that would aim to steal viewers from the BBC¿s EastEnders and ITV¿s Emmerdale and Coronation Street (pictured) 

My TV source says: ‘This is a massive risk. Launching a soap is a huge commitment, financially. You have to be in it for the long-term. But it shows you how serious Sky is about taking on the BBC and ITV.’
Sky channel controller Stuart Murphy is believed to have spoken to producers about the plan, but a location and plot for the soap have not been decided. It could screen on Sky1 or Sky Living.

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The last new nightly soap was Channel 5’s Family Affairs in 1997. It was axed a decade later following low ratings.
‘That should be a warning,’ a rival soap insider says. ‘I don’t know if there’ll ever be a soap that can match Corrie, Enders or the Dales — there is so much heritage on those shows.’

 

His dramatic death at the end of the second season of Homeland has caused unexpected headaches for David Harewood.
The British actor, who played CIA director David Estes, hoped to continue for another year on the hit Channel 4 drama.
While his co-star Damian Lewis was the toast of the BAFTA dinner on Sunday, David has had to attend auditions in Hollywood.
My source there says: ‘David was understandably disappointed. He doesn’t have a big role to move on to yet so is auditioning during pilot season.’

 

The BBC faces criticism  for broadcasting an interview with actor Mark Wahlberg, where he seemed drunk. Actress Sarah Silverman, a fellow guest on Graham Norton’s show last Friday, said Mark was ‘far gone’.

A BBC insider says: ‘If it was live it would have been a  different story, but there was every opportunity to edit it.’ A BBC spokesman declined to comment.

 

The Brits last year were overshadowed by winner Adele’s one-fingered salute on live TV when host James Corden interrupted her acceptance speech so the awards show did not over-run and cut into the nightly ITV News.

ITV bosses have decided the Brits will be able to delay the start of the 10pm news broadcast, which will prevent a repeat of last year's scenario when host James Corden cut off Adele's acceptance speech, prompting a one-fingered salute 

But the subsequent fallout — the internationally renowned singer and comedian were both furious with the executives responsible — has resulted in a ‘significant shake-up’ behind-the-scenes.
Corden, who has won a Tony Award and become the toast of Broadway (following his starring role in One Man, Two Guvnors) since last year’s Brits, has been ‘categorically assured’ he will not find himself in a similarly awkward position this year.
If necessary, ITV bosses have decided the Brits will be able to delay the start of the 10pm news broadcast, which will not please those at ITN.
My Brits source reveals: ‘There are new guidelines in place to ensure there won’t  be another embarrassing incident at next Wednesday’s ceremony. Everyone was mortified with what happened last year.
‘It had been one of the best ever Brits and James was at the top of his game on the night. But Adele’s gesture tarnished a family-friendly show.’
ITV bosses admit that what happened was not the fault of the presenter or singer. ‘Adele was rightly annoyed — she had had the biggest-selling album of the year and it was her moment,’ the source adds.
Music chiefs are desperate to escape any problems this year to avoid the show having to be screened on a delay.
Between 1990 and 2006, the show was broadcast 24 hours later after a series of on-air controversies.
The problem last year was caused by a painfully long acceptance speech by Damon Albarn of Blur. Adele was then cut after just a few seconds to allow enough time for Blur to close the show with a live performance. Brit bosses made a public apology.