Here Comes Reacher!

 

With the Reacher films still a polarising topic the anticipation for the Amazon Prime Video eight episode adaptation of Reacher has been high on many a fans list since the adaptation was first announced. The will it won't it erase the image of Tom Cruise question has been vying with speculation as to who would play the iconic character. Suggested names have been rife online. 

The one very important point everyone has been making is that whoever it is has to be taller than Tom Cruise's 5'7 and in Alan Ritchson they have certainly found in my opinion Reacher. Not only in height (he is slightly shorter) to Reacher's 6”5 but he fits the bill in build as well. Fans of the books will no doubt be relieved. One hopes that this will also stop the constant complaints about Tom Cruise as well. Enough! It has been over 10 years ago (actually 2012) since the first Reacher film based on One Shot was released. 

Based on Lee Child's debut novel Killing Floor (1997) the adaptation has clearly been done to allow for the story to be told in a much more expansive way. November last year I had the privileged of being one of the few who got to watch the first two episodes at a private preview. Needless to say having had a sneak peek it certainly whetted my appetite and I have been on tenterhooks waiting for Reacher to be formally released. I certainly have not been disappointed. Watching the first two episodes again did not take anything away from binge watching the complete series. I have to admit that the only other series that I have sat down and binge watched at one go is Witcher. 

Personally I think Ritchson will win over fans, not solely because of how he physically looks but also because of his acting as well. He has this quietness about him that epitomises the way in which Reacher is in the books along with his confidence and at times weary patience. I'm not going to go into the storyline but suffice to say that if you have read Killing Floor then it will all come back and you know what happens. If you haven't read Killing Floor then don't worry as this can easily be watched as an action film that will draw you in. The tone and pacing has this cinematic presence that has certainly done it justice. There are moments that made me smile wryly and moments that had me thinking that Reacher is hopefully here to stay. Now we have everything and of course look out for the Lee Child cameo. 

This is a rollicking adaptation and Amazon Prime will be foolish if they do not adapt anymore of the books. I hope that they do. Netflix are doing great things but this will surely give them a run for their money. Amazon please don't let us down. Fans of the books have waited a long time to see Reacher come to life and so far with this first series I can wholeheartedly say that there is no disappointment to be found. 

I'm going to let in all sink in before I settle down to watch it all over again. 

Lynda La Plante - Listening to the Dead and The Judas Horse

 

Queen of Crime Drama Lynda La Plante launching series 2 of true crime podcast on 24th February; LISTENING TO THE DEAD

The forensics podcast Listening to the Dead is available via all good audio platforms. Season 2 will feature episodes on; blunt force homicide, poisoning, gun shot wounds, terrorism & mass disaster, strangulation & cause unknown.

LISTENING TO THE DEAD SEASON 2 PODCAST

Lynda La Plante’s true-crime podcast series, Listening to the Dead, co-hosted by CSI Cass Sutherland, will feature interviews with specialists in the field of criminal science.

The first series, which focussed on forensic science was an Apple Podcast bestseller. The new series, launching on 24th February 2021, will look at how investigators approach different causes of death – from blunt force to poisoning – with a focus on the methods used in the Prime Suspect and Tennison series. The podcast is a contributing factor to the incredible success Lynda La Plante enjoys in audiobook format, with sales of Buried in 2020 55% higher than her previous audio bestseller, Widows, in 2018.

NEW NOVEL JUDAS HORSE OUT 1ST APRIL 2021

La Plante will also be continuing her Detective Jack Warr series with a new book, Judas Horse, publishing on 1st April 2021. The first in the series, Buried, was published at the very start of the Covid-19 pandemic in April 2020, but despite this became a bestselling sensation, reaching #2 in the Sunday Times bestseller charts in both hardback and paperback, and going on to sell over 100,000 units in the UK and 130,000 units worldwide, making it La Plante’s biggest seller since Bloodline in 2011.

Lynda La Plante said “I am thrilled with all the activity taking place this year, re-packaging, online festivals, my podcast and the new Tennison,Unholy Murder, and Jack Warr novel, Judas Horse. I am also so grateful to the publishers, retailers and especially the readers, who have encouraged and supported me over the years. I’m looking forward to being able to meet and thank them all in person, hopefully in the not too distant future.”

About Lynda La Plante

#1 Sunday Times Bestselling author

Over 30 internationally bestselling novels

Over 170 hours of international television scripted

One of the best-loved authors in the world and 6th most popular in the UK

Recipient of four BAFTA awards

CBE since 2008 for services to Literature, Drama and Charity

1 of only 3 screenwriters to have been made an honorary fellow at the British Film Institute

The first lay person to be awarded with an honorary fellowship by The Forensic Science Society

Biography

Lynda La Plante was born in Liverpool. She trained for the stage at RADA and worked with the National theatre and RDC before becoming a television actress. She then turned to writing– and made her breakthrough with the phenomenally successful TV series Widows. Her novels have all been international bestsellers.

Her original script for the much-acclaimed Prime Suspect won awards from BAFTA, Emmy, British Broadcasting and Royal Television Society, as well as the 1993 Edgar Allan Poe Award. Lynda has written and produced over 170 hours of international television.

Lynda is one of only three screenwriters to have been made an honorary fellow of the British Film Institute and was awarded the BAFTA Dennis Potter Best Writer Award in 2000. In 2008, she was awarded a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to Literature, Drama and Charity.

If you would like to hear from Lynda, please sign up at here or you can visit Lynda’s website for further information. You can also follow Lynda on Facebook and Twitter

DETECting European Audiences

Participants wanted for online survey about European crime TV!

Do you like watching crime series on TV or on streaming services? If so, the DETECt project needs you! Our DETECt colleagues in Rome and Aarhus want to find out which crime shows you like, which are your favourite detectives and which elements of crime series keep you glued to the screen.   The survey can be found here.

The survey is completely anonymous.

An evening with Lynda La Plante - Ambassador for London Book & Screen Week

Lynda La Plante announced as Ambassador for London Book & Screen Week as festival unveils blockbuster 2020 line-up 

The sixth London Book & Screen Week (9- 15 March 2020) will celebrate 40 years of the iconic Yes Minister, the incredible career of Lynda La Plante, and national favourite Doctor Who, explore coming of age classics, poetry beyond the page, and serve up delicious meat free meals with ‘One Pound Chef’ Miguel Barclay. 

Produced by The London Book Fair, London Book & Screen Week is the capital’s biggest celebration of books and the films, TV programmes and virtual worlds they inspire, bringing together readers, writers, game, film and TV fans for events across the creative capital of the world. 

Heading up the 2020 programme as festival Ambassador, queen of crime drama Lynda La Plante will discuss her illustrious career across page, stage and screen. From early performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company, in The Sweeney and Bergerac, to writing scripts for BAFTA- winning shows including Prime Suspect and Widows, recently adapted for a second time by Steve McQueen. Lynda has also achieved international success as author of over 30 novels and, in this special event, will offer a preview of her forthcoming book Buried (Zaffre, April 2020), the first in an exciting new series. 

TUESDAY 10 MARCH 

AN EVENING WITH LYNDA LA PLANTE 

Venue: Groucho Club 

London Book & Screen Week are delighted to welcome you to an evening to celebrate one of the UK’s best-loved writers, queen of crime drama Lynda La Plante. 

Join Lynda for a gin cocktail at this special event as the writer discusses her illustrious career across page, stage and screen and offers a preview of her forthcoming book Buried (Zaffre, April 2020), the first in an exciting new series from the author. 

Born and raised in Liverpool, La Plante trained for the stage at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and worked with the National Theatre and RSC before becoming a television actress starring in notable productions including Z-Cars, The Sweeney, The Professionals and Bergerac. 

She then turned to writing and made her breakthrough with the phenomenally successful Widows, recently adapted for a second time by Steve McQueen. Her original script for the much-acclaimed Prime Suspect (starring Helen Mirren) won awards from BAFTA, Emmy, British Broadcasting and Royal Television society, as well as the 1993 Edgar Allan Poe Award. 

Lynda has produced over 170 hours of international television and is one of only three screenwriters to have been made an honorary fellow of the British Film Institute. She was awarded the BAFTA Dennis Potter Best Writer Award in 2000. 

In addition to work as an actress and screenwriter, Lynda is the author of over 30 novels, all of which have been international bestsellers. In 2008 she was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to Literature, Drama and Charity. 

Ticket includes a complimentary drink. Attendees will also receive an exclusive first extract from Lynda’s new novel and first in a brand new series, Buried, before it publishes in hardback, eBook & Audio on 2nd April 2020. 

Ticket: £20 | 6:30pm | bit.ly/LBSW20-lyndalaplante 

News about Brian Clemens and David Shelley

Brian Clemens 1931 to 2015

Copyright - bedfordshire-news.co.uk

Scriptwriter and producer Brian Clemens who was responsible for a large number of TV crime dramas such as The Avengers,  and The Persuaders. His scripts have enlivened almost every action-drama series seen on television over the last 50 years.

A thriller screenplay that he wrote Valid for Single Journey Only was accepted and shot by the BBC in 1955.  From the middle of the 1950s he was involved in a number of movies and TV drama series including Danger Man (which featured Patrick McGoohan), The Man from Interpol and the original The Invisible Man.

Brian Clemens wrote the original pilot episode for The Avengers back in 1961 and went on to be the script editor, associate producer and main scriptwriter for the series. He was also involved in writing episodes for the US TV series Darkroom which was hosted by James Coburn, Remington Steele (which featured Pierce Brosnan) and Max Monroe: Loose Cannon.  Brian Clemens was also involved in Bergerac, ITV’s Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense.  He also adapted Gavin Lyall’s espionage thriller The Secret Servant into a three part drama for the BBC in 1984. He was also involved in C15: The New Professionals. He also wrote three episodes for Quiller the TV series and a number of episodes for The Persuaders along with The Champions TV series.

In the US he was again involved in and worked on a number of notable TV crime dramas including The Father Dowling Mysteries, Raymond Burr’s Perry Mason (the feature length series) and Diagnosis: Murder featuring Dick Van Dyke and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.  

He was also involved in films and either wrote and produced a number of films for Hammer Films.  He also wrote the screenplays for the films Operation Murder (1957), Station –Six Sahara (1963) and Highlander II: The Quickening (1991).

Clemens was also the author of a number of novels including The Devil at Midnight (2001) and Murder Weapon (2012) both which were adapted into plays.

Using the name Tony O'Grady he also wrote episodes for the TV series Dial 999.

The Telegraph obituary can be found here.

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Congratulations go to David Shelley who is to take over as CEO of Little, Brown in July, with current CEO Ursula Mackenzie working on “special projects” for the publisher and its parent company Hachette UK until her retirement at the end of 2016.

Shelley, hitherto Little, Brown publisher, has now been appointed deputy CEO of Little, Brown, reporting to Mackenzie, and he will take over the CEO role on 1st July. The 38-year-old joined the Hachette UK main board on 1st January.

An interview with David Shelley can be found here.