Comedy Legend Billy Connolly To Be Given BAFTA Fellowship; Anne Robinson Leaves ‘Countdown’; Simon Lythgoe ‘Smashed Hits’; BBC Platinum Jubilee Plans – Global Briefs

Max Goldbart, Jesse Whittock and Nancy Tartaglione
·3 min read

British Comedy Legend Billy Connolly To Be Given BAFTA Fellowship

Pioneering Scottish comedian Billy Connolly is to be given the BAFTA Fellowship at this year’s Virgin Media BAFTA TV Awards. Connolly, who has been active on the British TV and standup circuit for almost 50 years, will be handed the highest achievement bestowed by BAFTA at Sunday’s ceremony, an award that has previously been given to the likes of Judi Dench, David Attenborough and Joanna Lumley. The award comes almost 30 years after Connolly won his first BAFTA in the BAFTA Scotland Entertainment category. Having left school at 15 to become a Welder, he was catapulted to fame in 1975 after a particularly outrageous appearance on BBC chatshow Parkinson and went on to make a variety of comedy shows, films and docs including the likes of the legendary An Audience with Billy Connolly standup, and he is still active today. Connolly said: “I am deeply honoured. Fifty films and… I can’t remember how many TV shows – as well as my stage comedy – added up to something that’s a joy to look back on. A lovely thing. It’s lovely to be recognised and to become a jolly good fellow.” Connolly currently lives in the U.S. and will accept his award via video link.

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Anne Robinson To Leave Channel 4’s ‘Countdown’

Anne Robinson, who has presented cult Channel 4 studio format Countdown for just one year, is to step down. Robinson said she had had a “blast” hosting the show but it is now time for “an older woman to take the reins”. The 77-year-old became the first female Countdown presenter in 2021 and the sixth overall and has presided over the quiz show for one year. The show is the only one to have been on Channel 4 since its 1982 inception and has kept virtually the same format for 40 years, involving rearranged letters being made into words and numbers rearranged to equal certain sums, along with the famous Dictionary Corner.

Simon Lythgoe Producing Pilot Of Korean Format ‘Smashed Hits’

American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance producer Simon Lythgoe has joined the upcoming pilot of South Korean music competition format Smashed Hits as showrunner. The format, from Eunseol Mo, is one of three that Korean producers are preparing for the U.S. market following a deal between Seoul-based Something Special and Breaking Borders producer MY Entertainment. Additionally, Something Special, a format agency set up by Jin Woo Hwang and InSoo Kim, has become the recipient of two funding initiatives from Korean content body KOCCA: the Format Lab Fund — which last year led to the creation of Smashed Hits, Quizzy Horror Show and Inseparables — and the International Co-Production Fund, which will be used to create a pilot of Quizzy Horror Show with MY.

BBC Unveils Programming Plans For Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

The UK’s Queen Elizabeth II earlier this year became the first British Monarch to reach a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of service. To celebrate the anniversary, the UK will enjoy a four-day bank holiday weekend from June 2-5 with the BBC the home of programming for the surrounding events, across television, radio, BBC News, iPlayer and Sounds. Notably, hosts Kirsty Young and Roman Kemp will lead live coverage of the Platinum Party at the Palace on BBC One, iPlayer and across the entire BBC network on June 4. Leading up to that, special programming has been set throughout May and the early days of June including documentary The Crown Jewels, along with The Queens Jubilee Pudding: 70 Years in the Baking with Mary Berry, Platinum Jubilee: Trooping the Colour and Platinum Beacons: Lighting Up The Jubilee, Bargain Hunt and The Repair Shop specials and a Songs of Praise Jubilee special. For kids, CBBC will mark the weekend with a Blue Peter Jubilee takeover special at 5pm on June 3 as well as two Saturday Mash-Up Jubilee specials on June 4 and 5.

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