Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped heads
new CBBC drama commissions for 2005
CBBC brings an all-star cast to the screen next year with an adaptation
of Kidnapped, Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale.
Iain Glenn stars as Alan Breck and James Pearson
as Davie Balfour in Stevenson's tale of treachery, romance and rebellion,
along with Paul McGann as Colonel McNabb, Adrian
Dunbar as Uncle Ebenezer, Gregor Fisher as
James of the Glens and Kirsten Smith as Catriona.
Kidnapped chronicles the adventures of Breck and Balfour as they escape
murder and shipwreck on a quest for justice, all set against the fierce
social and political backdrop of 1760s Scotland.
The BBC is working with South Pacific Productions (makers of the Oscar
nominated film Whale Rider) on location in New Zealand.
Kidnapped has been adapted for the screen by Richard Kurti and Bev
Doyle, directed by multi award-winning Brendan Maher and produced by
Diana Kyle.
The executive producers are Elaine Sperber and Jess Cleverly.
Kidnapped will transmit on BBC ONE in 2005.
Elaine Sperber, Head of CBBC Drama, says: "Robert Louis Stevenson's
classic tale combined with its fantastic all star cast are the perfect
ingredients for another outstanding CBBC drama for the entire family".
Also new for 2005 is Patrick's Planet, a comedy-drama
full of magical realism.
Patrick Walsh is an ordinary 12-year-old from a council estate in down-at-heel
Dragglesham, unappreciated by those around him and surviving in a dog-eat-dog
world.
When he enters a school competition to design a rocket, little does
he know that he is setting out on the adventure of a lifetime.
Patrick's Planet is a 13-part series made for CBBC by Tigerlily Films,
produced by Mickey McGowan and Natasha Dack and directed by Dominic
Santana and Paul Wroblewski.
The Playground is a place to hang out, to meet new
friends, have fun and learn about life.
In a brand new drama series for CBBC, each self-contained episode will
centre on individual characters in a group of suburban kids.
Told from their own points of view, each story will centre on the everyday
dramas of pre-teen life; from bad hair days to divorcing parents, from
sibling rivalry to first kisses.
The Playground is made by CBBC Drama and produced by May Gibson.
Executive producer is Josephine Ward and the series is devised and
written by Gavin Strawhan and Holly Phillips.
Notes to Editors
Kidnapped cast credits
Iain Glen - Wives and Daughters, Mountains of the Moon, The Blue Room
Paul McGann - WithNail And I, Our Mutual Friend, Hornblower
Gregor Fisher - Rab C Nesbitt, Love Actually, The Life and Adventures
of Nicholas Nickleby
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