The full press release with further details can be read below:
This autumn, ITV1 launches a season of high quality drama, written by and starring, some of the UK’s biggest talents. Led by Downton Abbey, from Oscar-winning writer, Julian Fellowes, a spectacular autumn season of new drama series and one-off films includes Bouquet of Barbed Wire, DCI Banks, The Little House, and the return of Whitechapel
As ITV continues to overhaul and refresh its schedule, the autumn also marks the launch of the channel’s new breakfast programme, Daybreak, presented by new signings Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley.
The biggest entertainment show on television returned to ITV1 in August with a record breaking 12.6 million viewers tuning in for the first audition show from The X Factor 2010; which joins new shows such as Paul O’Grady Live and 71 Degrees North and returning entertainment hits including I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, The Cube and Harry Hill’s TV Burp.
In Factual, Monte Carlo and Bust sits alongside a journey of a very different kind in David Suchet on the Orient Express. There is a stunning insight into the natural world in Ray Mears Field Guide to Britain; and ITV gains unique access to The Savoy. In sport, Adrian Chiles presents live coverage of England’s qualification campaign for Euro 2012 as well as live UEFA Champions League and The FA Cup.
ITV Director of Television, Peter Fincham said: “ITV1 has always been home to high quality drama, but as we work to refresh and update the mix of commissions in this incredibly important genre, I’m particularly delighted to be working with writers of the calibre of Julian Fellowes, Guy Andrews, Ben Court and Caroline Ip on such an exciting season of new series and event dramas.
"Downton Abbey and A Bouquet of Barbed Wire are just two particular highlights of a terrific autumn season, alongside some of the nation’s biggest entertainment shows, stunning factual series and, at the other end of the schedule, the exciting launch of our new breakfast programme, Daybreak – with Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley."
Drama
Downton Abbey, set in an Edwardian country house, portrays the lives of the Crawley family, who have been the earls of Grantham since 1772, and the servants who work for them.. Written and created by Oscar-winning writer, Julian Fellowes, the costume drama boasts an all-star cast including Dame Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern.
Bouquet of Barbed Wire is a modern reworking of Andrea Newman’s taboo-busting 1970s psychological drama which explores the consequences of a father’s obsessive love for his daughter and how secrets once buried in the past return to haunt their lives. Written by Guy Andrews, the drama stars Trevor Eve, Hermione Norris, Tom Riley, Imogen Poots and Mark Lewis Jones.
DCI Banks: Aftermath stars Stephen Tompkinson as Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks, in a two part drama, adapted from the novel by award winning international crime writer, Peter Robinson, which tells the story of an ordinary house in an ordinary street which is about to become infamous.
The Little House is a compelling two-part thriller exploring the psychological power struggles within one family and the lengths an obsessive mother will go to to keep control of her son. Adapted for television by Ed Whitmore, the drama stars BAFTA-winning actress Francesca Annis, alongside Tim Pigott-Smith, Rupert Evans and Lucy Griffiths.
Whitechapel, which debuted to audiences of over nine million in 2009, returns – starring Rupert Penry-Jones, Phil Davis, and Steve Pemberton – this time focusing on a killer who is copying the crimes of the infamous Kray twins..
Joe Maddison’s War is the last television film by the late, award winning, playwright and screenwriter, Alan Plater. Starring Kevin Whately, Robson Green and Derek Jacobi – the drama follows Newcastle shipyard worker, Joe (Whately) as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery following his decision to join the Home Guard in 1939.
Sir David Jason stars in two new films for ITV1: Come Rain Come Shine – as Eastend ex-docker, Don, in an emotional and contemporary family drama by Jeff Pope; and Albert’s Memorial, a one off drama following the story of three World War II veterans who set off on a trip that will change their lives forever. And, in U Be Dead, David Morrissey and Tara Fitzgerald star in a one-off drama based on the extraordinary true story of a dangerous stalker.
There is also the return of Law & Order: UK for a third series, Midsomer Murders, and Agatha Christie’s Poirot.
Emmerdale continues with a series of gripping storylines over the autumn season; and as the year draws to a close, the nation’s favourite soap, Coronation Street celebrates its 50th anniversary in dramatic style, forever changing life in Weatherfield.
Entertainment
The Autumn has already kicked off with the return of the multi-award winning talent show, The X Factor, which returned to ITV1 with its biggest ever audience 12.6 million and a series of guest judges including Geri Halliwell, Katy Perry, Natalie Imbruglia, Nicole Scherzinger and Pixie Lott – alongside regular judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole.
In September, Paul O’Grady returns to ITV1 with a lavish new entertainment show kicking off the weekends.
Ten celebrities embark on the journey of a lifetime, to the icy glaciers and snow of Scandinavia, in 71 Degrees North. Hosted by Kate Thornton and Gethin Jones, each episode of the eight-part adventure show sees the adventuring celebrities undertake specific challenges from mountain trekking through to underwater ice-swimming and reindeer herding – as they battle it out to reach the North Cape.
After a successful debut last autumn, The Cube returns to ITV1 for a second series hosted by Phillip Schofield. This time there will be new games to test the nerve of the contestants, which will include two celebrity specials during the series.
Following on from the most successful series of the show in five years, Ant and Dec return with the tenth series of I’m A Celebrity….Get Me Out Of Here! with a new selection of celebrities giving up their luxury lifestyles for a stay of up to three weeks in the Australian jungle, and some terrifying bushtucker trials.
In comedy, the multi BAFTA award-winning Harry Hill’s TV Burp returns, and a special one-off Benidorm sees the nation’s favourite holidaymakers make the trip back to Spain at Christmas, ahead of a new series in 2011.
And, one of the world’s biggest music stars makes an appearance on ITV1, in Phil Collins: One Night Only, with the singer and songwriter performing hits new and old in front of a live audience and accompanied by an extraordinary ensemble of musicians and vocalists.
Daytime
In the latest stage of the transformation of the ITV1 schedule, Breakfast time on the channel gets a completely new look from September, as Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley present Daybreak. Live from brand-news, state-of-the-art studios in London, Adrian and Christine will be joined by an unrivalled team of special correspondents and editors tasked with setting the day’s agenda – delivering reputation building news, engaging entertainment content, major interviews, as well as eye-catching consumer items, health, sport, human interest and lifestyle features.
Following on from Daybreak each day, Lorraine also has a new studio and a new look from September, as Lorraine Kelly continues to interview a range of guests from high profile celebrities to ordinary people with extraordinary stories.
Holly and Phil return from their summer break as This Morning continues to entertain millions across the mid-morning followed by a hugely popular daytime line up that includes Loose Women and The Jeremy Kyle Show.
Factual
Three couples hit the road on a jaunt from London to Monte Carlo in a new travel adventure series, Monte Carlo or Bust. Jack Dee and Ade Edmondson drive a VW Camper; Jodie Kidd and Julian Clary travel in a Bentley convertible; and Penny Smith and Rory McGrath get behind the wheel of a Mini Cooper – taking in the beautiful French countryside as they compete to collect items that best represent the nation.
There’s a journey of a very different kind in David Suchet on the Orient Express, as David Suchet unravels the mystery of the world’s most iconic train and immerses himself in the glamour, romance, history and escapism of a train immortalised in the Agatha Christie novel, Murder on the Orient Express.
In Ray Mears’ Wild Britain, the wildlife expert uncovers some of the finest wildlife and habitats from around the country – with each episode having a different theme.
There is a rare and fascinating look behind the scenes in one of the nation’s most iconic institutions in The Savoy – following the £200 million overhaul of one of the world’s most famous hotels and its journey towards reopening.
And ITV1 viewers are treated to wildlife of three very different kinds in three new series for the channel. In Horsepower with Martin Clunes, the actor and presenter travels the world to unlock the secrets of man’s partnership with horses. The world’s oldest zoo opens its doors to television in London Zoo. And, filmed in Namibia, Cheetah Kingdom focuses on the rescue, conservation and release of one of the world’s fastest mammals at the Okonjima Game Reserve.
Also returning to ITV1 this autumn: Stephen Tomkinson’s Balloon Adventure, Real Crime with Mark Austin, Lion Country, and the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards.
Sport
The pinnacle of club football returns in September with the start of the UEFA Champions League. ITV1 will have the pick of the action on Wednesday night matchdays, with Chelsea and Manchester United amongst the teams in contention.
After the disappointment of the 2010 World Cup, England start their qualification campaign for the Euro 2012 finals, with their first match against Bulgaria live on ITV1 on September 3rd.
The world’s oldest football competition, The FA Cup, also kicks off in the autumn with the pick of the matches from round one onwards shown live on ITV1 as well as comprehensive highlights from every round.
Adrian Chiles presents ITV1’s live football coverage alongside a range of special guest analysts and expert commentary from Clive Tyldesley and Peter Drury.
ITV2
ITV2 welcomes a new genre of programming to the channel this autumn with the start of The Only Way Is Essex. An eclectic mix of soap opera, observational documentary, and reality show, the brand new 10-part living soap follows a cast of colourful characters as they go about their ‘totally Essex’ lives.
The channel goes behind the scenes with one of the biggest pop phenomenons of the last year, in Jedward: Let Loose. Following their huge success on The X Factor, the series follows the Irish twins as they set up home away from their parents for the very first time.
In The Saturdays: 24/7, ITV2 has exclusive access to one of the hottest UK bands in a new four part series following the five-piece girl group. And, in two special hour-long programmes, Denise and Fearne’s Charity Trek for Breast Cancer, sees Denise Van Outen and Fearne Cotton lead a host of female celebrities, including Holly Willoughby and Alexandra Burke, on a gruelling seven-day trek along the Inca Trail to raise money for Breast Cancer Care.
Katy Brand also returns with a brand new series, Katy Brand Versus… in which the award winning comedian meets and parodies a music star in each episode, featuring among others, Shakira and Mr Hudson. There is also the return of Fearne And... in which Fearne Cotton has exclusive access to the lives of Mischa Barton, Perez Hilton, Craig David and Beth Ditto.
One of ITV2's iconic programmes, the anarchic panel show Celebrity Juice returns to the channel bigger and better than ever; once again presented by Keith Lemon alongside Holly and Fearne. Hit US dramas, Vampire Diaries and Gossip Girl are back for new series, broadcast alongside their US premiere dates. There is the return of the hugely successful Peter Andre: The Next Chapter.
ITV2 also welcomes the hugely popular brand extension shows, The Xtra Factor, with new host Konnie Huq, and I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here Now!
ITV3
Alongside a host of classic and contemporary drama, the acclaimed ITV3 original comedy drama series Ladies of Letters, starring Maureen Lipman and Anne Reid, returns to ITV3.
Now in its third year, the Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards return to ITV3 in October, celebrating the very best of the most popular genre of fiction.
ITV4
ITV4 launches three brand new shows this autumn. A new entertainment series, Richard Bacon’s Beer and Pizza Club, will see the presenter invites guests from the world of showbusiness and comedy into his living room for beer, pizza and chat about the kind of subjects that men only discuss in private.
Mark Watson Kick's Off is a new sports panel show brought to ITV4 by the makers of Radio Five Live's successful Fighting Talk; and in Sports Mash - Taking the Mic, archive sport footage is given a comic twist by being re-voiced by Alistair McGowan and David Lamb.
Top quality sport on ITV4 in the autumn includes UEFA Europa League football, Grand Slam of Darts, and brand new snooker tournament, Power Snooker.
