[SHAFT]

I love Brookers writing so this looks interesting!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008...el4.television


"E4 has commissioned Guardian columnist Charlie Brooker to write the channel's first scripted horror series.

The six-part thriller, with the working title Dead Set, will be produced by Zeppotron, the independent owned by Endemol UK. Dead Set will be both E4's and Zeppotron's first move into the horror genre.

Casting details had not been finalised but Brooker told MediaGuardian.co.uk he expected it to comprise a "mixture of known and less well known faces".

Brooker said of his new series: "Dead Set is very different to anything I've done before, and I hope the end result will surprise, entertain and appal people in equal measure."

He added that he has long been a fan of horror films and that his new series "could not be described as a comedy".

"I couldn't really describe what it is but it will probably surprise people," Brooker said, adding that he plans to "continue as normal" with his print journalism.

Due to broadcast on the digital channel in late 2008, the series has been commissioned by the head of E4, Angela Jain, and the commissioning editor, Shane Allen.

Jain said of Dead Set: "It's enormously exciting that Charlie Brooker has penned this thriller for E4. He is an exceptional writer and this promises to be something special and unusual for E4."

Brooker will executive produce the series alongside Zeppotron's managing director, Annabel Jones.

The series is being produced by Chrissy Skinns and directed by Yann Demange, whose recent credits include ITV2's Diary of a Call Girl starring Billie Piper.

Brooker writes a weekly TV preview piece, Screen Burn, for the Guardian's Saturday supplement The Guide and a Monday column for the paper's G2 features section.

He also fronts BBC4 show Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe, in which he takes a coruscating look at the television industry and onscreen content.

Brooker also co-wrote the Channel 4 comedy series Nathan Barley with Chris Morris, which satirised the pretensions of the Hoxton-dwelling eponymous antihero.

Nathan Barley first appeared on the cult website TV Go Home, which Brooker created as a weekly spoof version of the Radio Times.

Zeppotron is the producer of both Nathan Barley and Screenwipe and also a shortlived attempt to make a television version of TV Go Home for E4 in 2001.

Brooker said that neither he nor Morris had given up on the idea of bringing back Nathan Barley. But he added that a return was on hold because of their current commitments.

Morris is currently working on a film satirising terrorism and suicide bombers for Channel 4. "

[Netizen]

I can't imagine something written by Brooker without there being any comedic elements, there just has to be some zombie jokes in there somewhere! Still, not sure what to make of this since Nathan Barley wasn't that great but I'll certainly give it a watch. Can't be much worse than that other horror pilot on BBC3 the other month, even if everyone else seemed to love it.

[itviss]

Could do with a nice horror series. Hopefully it'll be continuing, not just one off stories.

I think the Walking Dead comics would make a brilliant series. Oh yeah, and Charlie Brooker is our leader.

[Ads]

Be interesting to see this, as tv horror is fairly rare, and normally pretty poor as well.

[Methuselah Now]

Hi,

How many TV writers are out there that used to write for computing/gaming magazines?

It is surprising that no one's bothered making a proper regular horror series for so long.


Kind regards,

MN

[Netizen]

The only other notable games journalist/screenwriter I know of is Paul Rose aka Mr Biffo, who wrote Digitiser on Teletext back in the day

[Methuselah Now]

Originally Posted by Netizen

The only other notable games journalist/screenwriter I know of is Paul Rose aka Mr Biffo, who wrote Digitiser on Teletext back in the day

Hi,


Ditto -what the heck could he be doing that he's stopped blogging


Mind, isn't most of tv nowadays created/produced/featuring nerds, just look at E4's/V1's schedule.


On the Horror front, it's the risk that it's from a reality-tv producer, and our UK budgets are abysmal (with less creativity).



Kind regards,


MN

[Netizen]

It might be Endemol owned, but I don't think it's fair to call Zeppotron a reality producer. AFAIK they're only known for comedy, it was the ex-Bazal arm that got them known for reality and gameshows.

[Methuselah Now]

Hi,

Yeah, I did 'respect' zeppotron' when they were a real indi, then started seeing the [now] dreaded endemol logo


Kind regards,


MN

[SinSeer]

I thought most of E4s output was pure horror already. It is usually horrifically bad.

[AdamDowds]

Originally Posted by Netizen

I can't imagine something written by Brooker without there being any comedic elements, there just has to be some zombie jokes in there somewhere!

I'm just like that when I'm writing my stories. Granted, I'm not a published author, but I have written a lot. We were asked to do a horror story for English Coursework. Most of it was jokes, like the fact the maniac (who was wielding an axe) burst down the door before ringing the door bell (as seen in the Simpsons episode, Canine Mutiny) and there were other gags throughout the short story (it was about 2 pages).

[sonny2001]

Originally Posted by Methuselah Now

Hi,

Yeah, I did 'respect' zeppotron' when they were a real indi, then started seeing the [now] dreaded endemol logo


Kind regards,


MN

Well they've always been owned by Endemol, since day one.

So the only things that have changed are the logo and your perception.

It's the same people running it and, by all accounts, very lovely they are too.

[TYCO]

I love Brooker and I will watch this but something tells me it's not going to be good.

Mainly the fact that it's on E4.

[Eraserhead]

Interesting. I'm a big fan of CB (ever since the days of TV Go Home) but I can't imagine him doing horror without some comedic or satirical elements.

[UKMikey]

I'll giive it a go. He's had more hits than misses in my experience.

[SHAFT]

*bump

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a1250...her-house.html

[Moloko]

Oooh, this sounds cool!

But I'm missing Screenwipe!

[TheEEfan01]

This sounds quite good! Have we got a date yet?

[jtanunleashed]

After all his moaning about how poor TV is nowadays, this better be good

I'd like to see another Screenwipe series.

As for the E4 jibes, I think some good dramas (as opposed to fact/'reality' shows) are on E4; Skins was a notable show (although you may object to some of its content). Just because the show normally just re-broadcasts American sitcoms, doesn't mean its all bad. Given the cast/production crew, and other British drama shown on E4, Dead Set should be good. If you're going to criticise E4's content, blame the US.

[Jimmy Big Legs]

Originally Posted by SHAFT

*bump

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a1250...her-house.html

Am I the only one who read that and thought "what is Janine from Eastenders doing writing a TV show about zombies?".

[Netizen]

It's no secret that CB is a BB geek, so I guess he couldn't miss the opportunity to use the resources of Zeppotron's parent company.

[molybecks]

I Am really looking forward to this!

I love BB, very big BB fan indeed. And i have always thought it would be good to act out.

The site opens tomorow.
www.e4.com/deadset
(thinks thats the link)

[Eraserhead]

So...there's a zombie invasion going on and the housemates in the BB house are unaware. Sounds interesting - and a good opportunity for Charlie Brooker to have a dig at typical BB contestants. They'll probably turn out to be less sympathetic than the zombies

[vidalia]

Originally Posted by Eraserhead

So...there's a zombie invasion going on and the housemates in the BB house are unaware. Sounds interesting - and a good opportunity for Charlie Brooker to have a dig at typical BB contestants. They'll probably turn out to be less sympathetic than the zombies

I bet Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace will feature in there somewhere. She's his friend.

[molybecks]

Originally Posted by vidalia

I bet Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace will feature in there somewhere. She's his friend.

Well apparently, theres going to be appearences from atleast 3 past HM's of BB history and davina!