“Doctor Who” and who’s next?

Salim Mukaddam, senior Vice President, BBC Studios for a joint production and content distribution in EMEA (Europe, middle East and Africa) in the video interview “RG” told about new projects of the Studio, which will show in Russia; that, in his opinion, will look after the pandemic; waiting to see whether our audience events such as the live broadcast of the Royal wedding Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, as the BBC Studios cooperates with Russian filmmakers and much more.

Salim, we had planned to meet you in March – at the presentation of “Kinopoisk”. But to prevent a pandemic. If not for her, why would you come to Russia?

Salim Mukaddam: it is a Pity that we had not met. If not pandemic, I would have been there. Me had to come and Tim Davey, who has recently been appointed as the new Director General of the BBC. I hope we will be able to come in the near future. One of the reasons of the trip was our business in Russia over the last couple of years has grown and has become a key for us in EMEA. We also recently restructured our team. I am responsible for content sales and co-production in the region, where we have included Russia, along with France, Germany, Spain, Italy, which are traditionally large consumers of our content. In the March trip we had planned to personally announce this important transaction, which concluded with “Yandex” in the end of last year. “Kinopoisk” became the exclusive platform for displaying the subscription of series “Doctor Who” in Russia. And we were very happy that the leading lady jodie Whittaker addressed a video greeting to the participants and fans of the series. We have many plans for new content on the Russian market and the many projects that we are doing with partners in your country, including TV shows, which are going to announce in the coming months. So stay tuned.

And recently, we announced an agreement with Viasat to show the series for cable TV. It includes premieres of some new projects, such as “We hunt together”, “Good signs” and “Unforgotten” as well as such content from our library as “Brakcet”, “War and peace” and several others. We have also agreed with the TV channel “Friday!” – there will be demonstrations of our new series of nature, such as the “Seven Worlds, One planet” and “Perfect planet”. It is with great joy and hope begin to display these programs in Russia.

Your content is very popular in Russia. Our viewers know that the air force is a quality brand. Why do you think?

Salim Mukaddam: I Think that between the Russian and British audience, there is cultural affinity, to a greater extent than, say, between Russia and the United States. The Russian audience loves challenging content and thought-provoking. Your audience does not expect that all of them chewed. Thus, the British content can offer a more sophisticated plot and characters that are really popular with the Russian audience. And this is confirmed by the success: in 2017, “Sherlock” has become the most popular foreign TV series in Russia from the point of view of the number of views on the Federal channels. In 2019 the same place in the ranking took the show “Les Miserables.”

Our readers would never forgive me if I don’t ask who came up with the idea to make next Doctor Who a woman?

Salim Mukaddam: Chris Chibnall, showrunner of the series, always wanted to make the 13th doctor a woman, and actress jodie Whittaker was an excellent choice. Chris has worked with Jody in the TV series “Murder at the beach”. There they worked and David Tennant, who, as you know, was a brilliant Doctor Who. I think David was the first, apart from Chris, who knew who the new doctor. He also helped Jody to get into character and immerse yourself in the series. And she was great in this role. The release of a new episode with its participation in the 2018 watched in the UK, almost 11 million people. The series continues to be successful and at the international level. In the US it was recently launched on the new streaming service HBO Max, the show continues on BBC America. And, as I said earlier, in Russia it is available exclusively by subscription at “IMDb” and continues to go on the Sony SciFi channel on cable TV.

How the pandemic has affected the shooting?

Salim Mukaddam: Pandemic became a kind of impetus to this work. Last week we published a few videos with sir David Attenborough (one of the world’s most famous broadcasters and naturalists, – approx. “RG”), where he answers questions about the show “Perfect planet” from our landmark educational project on wildlife. Without the slightest hesitation, he turned his house into a makeshift Studio. Film crew Springwatch instead of having to go on a trip to the UK, now covering the local history of their home regions. And it’s just wonderful, and most importantly – safely. And now we know they can work and provide a live stream from home. We also took the opportunity to use some unusual places. Our traditional office space in the television center in London, which is now mostly empty, we turned into a Studio space to record documentaries devoted to coronavirus. We are considering options on how to safely return to producing our shows. This will be phased to resume shooting a new drama series and other major BBC show as soon as possible.

because of its library of documentary films you would like to submit to the RoSMAI?

Salim Mukaddam: We are seeing increased interest in our series about wildlife at the international level. They bring together different audiences, and more and more people are becoming interested in and involved in this way in the natural world. We will present in the next few years in Russia on the channel “Friday!” series of documentary nature films taken under the franchise of the BBC Planet. The fact that they will be available to all viewers on free television, is very important. The series “Seven Worlds, One planet” is the international hit last year, and he continues to go on the air. In the UK it was number one in 2019 and averaged more than eight million viewers, which is phenomenal for such a format. Within this franchise we have the movies “the Perfect planet”, “Green planet”, “Frozen planet III” and “Earth III.” “Perfect planet” will show the animal world through the prism of the forces of nature: the sun, volcanoes, weather, and oceans. “The green planet” is the first exciting image previously unseen world of plants. “Frozen planet” – the story-quarters of our planet full of permafrost, locked in ice and covered with snow. The show will shock the audience with new, unexpected landscapes, will talk about rare animals and their constant struggle for survival. We recently entered into an agreement in Russia “Tricolor TV” to stream movies in 4K: “the Blue planet”, “Sherlock”, “the Spy in the wild” and others. So if viewers have a 4K TV, I just want to encourage you to find those movies.

You are already started to answer this question, but still, what new movies and TV shows preparing your Studio and is there any chance that they will see in Russia?

Salim Mukaddam: Today, television is the new cinema. The quality of the products of the BBC means that more and more big stars come and work with us. For example, Richard Gere in the TV series “Metatarsal”, John Boyega from “Star wars” – in the series “Little ax,” Michael sheen in “Good omens,” Colin Farrell in “Northern waters” and other artists. We have no limits for the talented actors who come to us. This helps us to attract a new audience.

I care about the future of our new series “Watch” (The Watch), which is removed based on the novels by Terry Pratchett. After seeing his first scene, I realized that it is indeed a thrilling spectacle and will appeal to fans of science fiction. So those of you who do not have enough of “Game of thrones”, or those who really loved “Mandalore”, “Guards” should come to mind.

He really looking forward to the release of the series “Small axe” (Small Axe). He removed sir Steve McQueen. This is one of the biggest names in the movie, and it brings to us the series with the best actors, such as John Boyega and Leticia Wright. The hero of this��Rial – immigrant African-American in the UK. This is one of those stories that are never told in mainstream media. Steve McQueen spent a couple years researching and combining some truly incredible stories. Exciting he tells the audience the story of the first colored police in the UK. Two films from this series was selected for the Cannes film festival this year. This shows the quality of the project.

We are releasing a series about relationships, based on the bestseller by David Nicholls, “We” (US), which is known in Russia. Tom Hollander, who is also the producer, in the title role. Many people know him from the TV series “the Night Manager”. The new series is not only a brilliant story about relationships, they end and how they re-start. It is also visually very beautiful project, as the action takes place in the most picturesque cities of Europe. So I’m sure that those who loves to travel, will watch this story with pleasure.

we also have the series “Life” from the creators of “Dr. foster”. This is the story of different, but interrelated people. Think he will be a very exciting spectacle involving heart and emotions of the viewer.

Will there be a sequel of “Sherlock”, and what new formats are expected? By the way, the stream of the Royal wedding Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, which you organized in Russia was very successful. You prepare surprises for the Russian audience?

Salim Mukaddam: I’m not sure that control surprises from the Royal family and what’s going on (laughs). But believe me, whatever happens, the BBC will be one of the first to cover the events. And we will do our best to present them in innovative ways. On “Sherlock” currently no plans. But all fans of Benedict Cumberbatch suggest to watch it in the movie “Brakcet” which will be broadcast on Viazat under our new agreement. And, as I said, will be a number of new series that will appear on the screens within this deal. One of them – “We hunt together” is a crime drama in the genre of “cat and mouse”, which was created for UKTV – our cable channel. It is a very stylish production, though quite difficult. But it should appeal to a young audience. We also have the series “Unforgotten” is already the fourth season. Think it’s an underrated fantasy series with elements of mystery.

We always strive to go beyond traditional television and trying new formats. Now, for example, produced first a series of short films premium called “Cheaters” – from the creators of the TV series “Misfits” (Misfits) and “total Recall communication” (Lovesick). I think that they will have the same success. It will be 18 episodes, 10 minutes each��yy. To all intents and purposes focused on the effects of random encounters, explores morality and monogamy. We are seeing growth in audience demand for super premium content and in such format. Let’s see how will react to our new product.

are You satisfied with how you look in Russia, you made a TV show? I now have in mind primarily the “Weak link” and Top Gear?

Salim Mukaddam: of the Show “the Weakest link” successfully wherever we have a license, it is very good in the UK every time is restarted. And running the latest version on Russian TV was a huge success. I think Maria Kiseleva – a great host. We hope to be able to bring to the Russian market more show. New series of Top Gear program resumes shooting in the socio-remote format. The creators are the current limitations and emerging opportunities to visit a number of places that they previously couldn’t access. I believe that one of the episodes will be dedicated to racing around a very famous theme Park in the UK which is usually crowded with people. But now it’s empty. So sports racing electric sports cars can be a real pleasure for the audience.