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Sir Terry Pratchett was a veritable British national treasure. For decades, he charmed readers with his blisteringly smart and funny books, especially his satirical Discworld fantasy series. All 41 of its novels brim with wit and unforgettable characters, placing it among the best fantasy sagas of all time. While not as iconic, Pratchett's non-Discworld novels, like Nation and Johnny and the Dead, are also unique and intriguing, showing off his wide-ranging abilities.

An important detail of this 22-year-old book in the Discworld series by Sir Terry Pratchett makes it a great story to use for a potential adaptation. Many of the books within the series showcase a wonderful combination of love for the fantasy genre and a strong ability to satirize it, allowing the best Discworld books to be enjoyable to a wide audience and memorable due to its unique worldbuilding. However, those qualities and the structure of the series make choosing a story to adapt within Discworld difficult, as the several attempts at doing so over the years have shown.

While a Discworld TV show or movie would introduce new audiences to Practhett's work, finding the proper place to begin is a trying task. Discworld's books all have plots focusing on different groups, but some of those plots end up intersecting with others, making an adaptation of just one section...

Orcs have long been seen as one-note villains in a lot of fantasy media, but Dungeons & Dragons’ latest revision is attempting to change this long-standing trope. As any fantasy fan knows, the genre can suffer from a (somewhat ironic) lack of creativity at times. Even today, many fantasy creators cling tightly to genre conventions established by the likes of J.R.R. Tolkien, which makes any changes, like DnD’s new orcs, feel threatening or unprecedented to some.

That said, DnD is far from the first fantasy property to challenge genre conventions surrounding a traditionally villainous race. Terry Pratchett's Discworld novel, Snuff, for instance, challenges readers to reconsider the mistreatment of goblins. With the growing popularity of Dungeons & Dragons in the last decade, it’s understandable that Wizards of the Coast would want to modernize some of the game’s elements, like the way orcs are depicted.

How D&d...

Terry Pratchett's Discworld is one of the best fantasy book series around, and there is one detail, in particular, that sets it apart. Beginning in 1983 with The Colour of Magic, Discworld introduced Pratchett's unique world. Discworld is flat and balanced on the backs of four elephants, who stand on a giant turtle. Pratchett's creativity in the series is matched only by his sense of humor, which ridicules everything from organized religion to consumerism across its 41 astute outings. But it is not social commentary that makes Discworld the most refreshing fantasy series of this size.

Pratchett's distinctive brand of satire probably appeals to older audiences more than most, and is a major selling point of Discworld. All the best Discworld books share one thing in common - they are just as funny as they are moving, with a heart of gold. But of all the many unique things about Discworld,...

There may not be a better time for a proper adaptation of Discworld. After all, fantasy television just keeps getting more popular, and with increasingly massive budgets going into these shows, we've reached a point of spectacle that would have been unthinkable just 30 years ago when Xena: Warrior Princess was as good as genre TV could ever hope to be. Yet with that increase in budget and quality of special effects, there has come a commensurate change in the tone of these shows as they become more and more grim.

Despite Discworld's complicated reading order, it could be the ideal choice for a shift in direction when it comes to the fantasy genre. The books' focus on themes of truth, justice, freedom, and love, have the potential to help make Disworld into a welcome entry into yet another fun, fantasy world.

Discworld Deserves A Faithful TV Show - How It Can Get It Right?...

Across 41 novels, British writer Terry Pratchett released the critically acclaimed Discworld books, but they weren't all created equal. Beginning in 1983, the genre-spanning set of books started with the Rincewind series, launched by The Colour of Magic. If reading the Discworld books in chronological or publication order, readers should begin with this magical high fantasy satire. Although The Colour of Magic may be the first Discworld book, it isn't necessarily the best. Pratchett's Discworld just got better and better, eventually containing many individual subseries, each with a slightly different approach.

The sheer scope of the Discworld releases is a huge part of what makes them some of the best fantasy books around. While The Colour of Magic and the following Rincewind books erred on the side of high fantasy, many other subseries exploited other literary genres. However, through it all, Pratchett maintained one of the most original fantasy worlds ever to be created.

There have been all kinds of Discworld adaptations over the years, from the animated movies by Cosgrove Hall in the 1990s to the various live-action TV movies and series, yet none of them have been amazing successes. The most recent attempt, the BBC's controversial adaptation of the Night Watch novels, was critically panned for taking too many arbitrary liberties with the setting. Other adaptations have had their own high points and flaws.

There is one thread that explains why none of these adaptations have achieved any lasting success: none of them have quite landed on the tone that makes the original novels so timelessly endearing, even if the Discworld reading order is a little complicated. Emulating Terry Pratchett's unique mix of satire, slapstick, and parable requires an emotional intelligence that even the best adaptations have lacked.

Most Discworld Adaptations Almost Get It Right (But They're Missing Something) Various...

Andrzej Sapkowski's iconic book series, The Witcher, has always been a classic for fantasy readers but has recently become a crossover hit thanks to the Netflix series of the same name. The story follows Geralt of Rivia, a Witcher or monster hunter who has incredible strength and skill that makes it possible for him to defeat the evil creatures that plague the land. Sapkowski's stories are in conversation with the larger themes and trends of fantasy. However, he also imbues much of his Polish heritage and Eastern European influence into the books, which sets them apart.

The Witcher is a long fantasy book saga worth reading and has much in common with some of the best speculative fiction works of all time. There are obvious choices that easily compare to The Witcher, like The Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones, that incorporate the violence and magic systems...

Titan Books has delivered another book of recipes that is just right for those fans interested in cocktails, milkshakes, soups, and broths, and they're taken straight from years of pop culture with science fiction the first section of the book.

Before you get to the recipes, the book provides you with defined images of the equipment you'll need to be successful in the kitchen or at the bar. Also included are a collage of helpful accessories that will help you blend all of the recipes.

Presented with eye-catching images and graphics that are detailed for each, the recipes share every ingredient you'll need as well as the equipment that works best. In hardcover, The Book of Potions is for fans of science fiction like Star Trek and Back to the Future, fantasy like Hook and The Lord of the Rings , manga like Dragon Ball and Candy Candy, the fantastic like The Goonies and Highlander,...

Good Omens will return for season 3, but it'll be quite a bit different than what was originally planned. TV Line reports that they've learned from inside sources that the third season of Prime Video's hit fantasy show is going through a bit of a restructure. Instead of being multiple episodes long like the previous two seasons, Good Omens' third and final outing will only consist of one 90-minute episode. In other words, the show is going out with a TV movie.

This almost certainly comes about as a result of the ongoing sexual assault allegations against author Neil Gaiman, who co-authored the original Good Omens novel with beloved Discworld creator Terry Pratchett and was set to serve as the sole showrunner for the television show's final season. Back in early September, Prime Video paused work on Good Omens season 3 over these allegations, with Gaiman offering to step away from the...

To this day, I haven't seen a definitive adaptation of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, as the long and complex work has proven difficult to translate into movies and TV. However, one of Pratchett's other works received a faithful screen iteration just a few years ago, and this is reason enough to revisit the Discworld universe. Good Omens is based on the original novel by Pratchett, and I immediately knew that it was going to be a crossover hit with fans of genre work and newcomers to speculative fiction. Its continued success shows that Discworld can get the same treatment.

Reading the Discworld book series in order can be difficult, as Pratchett's long-running universe has 41 novels. Though this is an intimidating number for new readers, it also means that there are a plethora of stories that a screen adaptation of the beloved books could bring to life. Seeing Discworld get...

Writing Discworld made the author Terry Pratchett one of the most prolific speculative fiction writers of his generation, and his contributions to fantasy can't be overstated. The long and hilarious Discworld series can be daunting to take on, but once readers have committed to the novels, it's essential reading for any fantasy lover. A notable aspect of the Discworld books is how Pratchett wasn't afraid to poke fun at other famous fantasy and sci-fi series and how he lovingly incorporated commentary on the tropes and pitfalls common within the genre.

Reading Terry Pratchett's Discworld series in order takes a long time, but after the first few books, it gets easy to keep going with the series. This is because Pratchett retained his comedic edge throughout the works but wasn't afraid to commit more fully to writing an intricate fantasy saga. By taking Discworld and his work more seriously, Pratchett opened...

Terry Pratchett's Discworld series opens with The Color of Magic, and the 1983 book starts out more baffling than anything I've read but it quickly proves itself worthwhile. The beginning of the novel describes Terry Pratchett's fantasy world, and its setting is one of the most unique ones readers will experience. Of course, reading about a world that sits atop four elephants balanced on a turtle is perplexing, and I'm no stranger to the fantasy genre. Even beyond A Color of Magic's prologue, it takes a while to fully immerse oneself in Pratchett's story.

There are numerous characters to remember in The Color of Magic, though the central narrative comes to center just two of them. The way the world and magic system work is also somewhat baffling, and Pratchett lets readers piece it together as they go. This, combined with the author's comedic writing style, the whole experience of beginning Discworld is bewildering.

Bite-sized fantasy reads under 300 pages offer intuitive storytelling with original elements. Standalone works by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett deliver impact in short lengths by using established tropes. Anthologies like Vampires Never Get Old provide fresh takes on classic fantasy themes, also within a reasonable number of pages.

There are plenty of lengthy fantasy book series worth committing to, but readers are sometimes in the mood for a bite-sized fantasy experience of 300 pages or less. Books like this face the challenge of cramming world-building into a much smaller read, so sometimes, they don't bother with world-building or exposition at all. The experience of reading them is much more intuitive; readers must give themselves over to the feeling of the story rather than demanding strict logic.

Fantasy legends Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett are the authors of some amazing standalone fantasy books, but only a select few titles from their careers...

With 41 novels in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, exploring the diverse subseries offers a rewarding journey into this comic fantasy world. Novels can be read thematically or in publication order, both methods providing a rich experience spanning wizards, witches, and more fantastical beings. Readers have the flexibility to choose their own reading order within Discworld's series, with different subseries offering unique perspectives on Pratchett's intricate universe.

It can be a challenge breaking into Terry Pratchett's sprawling Discworld universe, but there are ways through it that make more sense than others. There are 41 novels in Terry Pratchett's comic fantasy book series, along with various standalones and guides, and it is a world well worth exploring. Among some of the best fantasy books in the English language, Discworld was Pratchett's life's work, published between 1983 and 2015 over 32 years. Pratchett's commitment to world-building was laudable, setting many novels in the same universe despite...

Welcome to the island of St Jory, population: one less than there used to be.

A year ago, St Jory teenager Cai Prideaux went missing and the police did very little about it. Now there’s a new sheriff in town in Sgt Grace Narayan (Anjli Mohindra), an outsider with an unbending belief in the letter of the law that’s ruffling feathers among the locals. The islanders, you see, are used to running things their own way. The True Way.

That’s the Hot Fuzz-meets-The Wicker Man premise for The Red King, an original six-part series written by Being Human creator Toby Whithouse and directed by Daniel O’Hara and Lisa Clarke. It’s a crime drama/folk horror mash-up that uses murder mystery trappings to tell a story about religion, insularity and national identity.

St Jory is your typical folk horror island in that there’s nothing typical about it.

When we think of fully realized fictional worlds, we tend to think of fantastical genre places like Middle-earth or the "Star Wars" universe. These are settings with intricate history and mythology; places not of our world.

One location we don't normally consider to be as intricate is Springfield. Plenty of sitcoms have fleshed-out worlds with characters the audience gets to know and care for over time, but few shows have as intricate a world with as much detail as "The Simpsons."

Sure, Springfield doesn't have fantasy elements or mythological creatures (most of the time), and it doesn't need them. This is as thoroughly constructed and fleshed out a world as "Dune," or Discworld, with its own unique history of deception, an abundance of colorful side characters like the enigmatic Dr. Marvin Monroe, a corrupt system of power, unique institutions, and more.

Before you light up your torches, think about how much we know about Springfield.

Good Omens' Kickstarter has broken all records for comics on the platform and shows that Terry Pratchett's Discworld is due a rebirth. Discworld is beloved by millions, and despite a spotty history with adaptations, Good Omens shows that it can and should be given the opportunity to flourish.

Beginning life as a send-up of high fantasy tropes, Discworld evolved over its 41 novels written between 1983 and 2015, with its always-hilarious stories ranging from police procedurals to war epics to explorations of Discworld’s own industrial revolution. Discworld's varied world is only matched by its endless charm and dialog that demands to be read out loud to whoever’s nearest, and all these facets would make it perfect for a series of comics. Discworld itself is no stranger to adaptations, including radio dramas, animated specials and multiple TV show adaptations, and prior comics.

Good Omens Shows a Huge Appetite for Pratchett...

Good Omens season 2 continues to honor Terry Pratchett's voice and legacy, with his former assistant directly involved in its development. Neil Gaiman ensures that Pratchett's voice is heard through the scripts, and there is a definite story arc for Aziraphale and Crowley. The show is filled with hidden references and Easter eggs paying tribute to Pratchett, including his likeness and nods to his Discworld novels.

Terry Pratchett’s former personal assistant and official “representative on Earth” has explained how Good Omens season 2 continues to honor the late author. Best known for his series of Discworld novels, in 1990 Pratchett collaborated with Neil Gaiman on the original book, Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, which eventually served as the basis for 2019’s Good Omens season 1. While Gaiman would go on to write the television series adaptation himself, sadly Pratchett passed away in 2015 before he had a...

Warning: contains Some spoilers for Good Omens season two

There are over 200 Easter eggs scattered throughout Good Omens season two, buried in everything from oil paintings to posters to bookshelves. On August 4th, Prime Video will be releasing an X-Ray feature for the season, where viewers can catch them all, but here are a few of our favourites.

They show us that the characters who don’t appear in season two have not been forgotten, that Terry Pratchett is still very much a voice in this show, that David Tennant always carries a little bit of The Doctor with him.

Good Omens Season 1 and the Book

Adam and the Them, Anathema, Newt and co. may not be appearing in Good Omens season two, but that does not mean they’re not still present in some form. Here are just a few of the references to beloved season one characters that...

Narrativia, the independent production company launched by Terry Pratchett in 2012, has signed a development deal with Motive Pictures and Endeavor Content to adapt the author’s literary saga. Narrativia, the production company launched by Sir Terry Pratchett, is looking to move the Discworld universe onto television after striking a development deal with the USA’s Endeavor Content and UK-based producer Motive Pictures. Endeavor and Motive Pictures will have an “exclusive” relationship going forward to create “truly authentic and absolutely faithful” Discworld screen adaptations. Pratchett’s Discworld books have sold more than 100 million copies worldwide. Discworld is a flat planet balanced on the back of four elephants, which are themselves atop a giant turtle. The first book, The Colour of Magic, appeared in 1983, and the final book in the series, The Shepherd’s Crown, was published in 2015, following Pratchett’s death. Launched in 2012, Pratchett’s Narrativia, headed by managing director Rob Wilkins.

As BBC Studios finishes up work on its new TV series The Watch, inspired by Terry Pratchett’s tales of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch from his Discworld books, the production company the author founded a few years before he sadly passed away in 2015 has struck a brand-new deal with Motive Pictures and Endeavor Content for a proposed slate of Discworld TV adaptations.

The mammoth undertaking seems set to adapt the Discworld series of over 40 novels. Not much is known about the logistics of bringing them to the small screen, but the team behind the new project says they will remain “absolutely faithful” to Pratchett’s books.

“Discworld teems with unique characters, witty narrative and incredible literary tropes, and we feel these should be realised on screen in a form that my father would be proud of,” said Rhianna Pratchett, co-Director of Narrativia, in a statement. “It’s wonderful to embark...

The series will be produced by Narrativia, the company originally launched by Terry Prachett.

Narrativia, the independent production company launched by Terry Pratchett in 2012, has signed a development deal with Motive Pictures and Endeavor Content to adapt the author’s Discworld novels for TV.

It is not yet confirmed exactly which of the Discworld novels by Pratchett will be adapted. Prachett died in 2015.

Motive Pictures’ Simon Maxwell and Sam Lavender will executive produce the series; Endeavor Content is handling worldwide sales.

The Discworld novels sold more than 100 million copies during Pratchett’s lifetime.

UK-based production company Motive Pictures was launched in 2019 by CEO Maxwell,...

Terry Pratchett’s comic fantasy series “Discworld” is coming to screen.

Narrativia, the production company launched by Pratchett in 2012, has struck an exclusive development deal with Motive Pictures and Endeavor Content for a series of TV adaptations. It is not yet known which of the “Discworld” books will be adapted initially.

The “Discworld” series of novels has sold more than 100 million copies globally, and the adaptations are to remain “absolutely faithful” to Pratchett’s original works.

The deal was struck by Rob Wilkins of Narrativia and Simon Maxwell of Motive Pictures, with Endeavor Content. Executive producers for Motive Pictures will be Maxwell and Sam Lavender, while Endeavor Content is handling worldwide sales.

Pratchett died in 2015, having completed more than 40 “Discworld” novels. The series’ final book was completed in the summer of 2014. Pratchett once said of the series, “The nature of ‘Discworld’ gave me the opportunity to do all kinds of things,...

Narrativia, the production company launched by Sir Terry Pratchett, is looking to expand the Discworld universe after striking a development deal with Endeavor Content and UK-based producer Motive Pictures.

This comes after BBC America ordered The Watch, an eight-part series based on Pratchett’s Discworld novels. This series is produced by BBC Studios, although it sounds like the production arm of the British public broadcaster may not be involved in the Pratchett universe for long.

More from Deadline'The Watch': BBC America Series Adaptation Of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld Casts Adam Hugill As CarrotCoping With Covid-19 Crisis: Bioethicist & New Podcast Host Dr. Zeke Emanuel On The 18-Month Reality & Trump's Malaria DrugEndeavor Content Launches Podcast Covering Covid-19 Pandemic 'Making The Call' With Dr. Zeke Emanuel & Dr. Jonathan Moreno

Narrativia, Endeavor Content and Motive Pictures, which is backed by the Wme-content division and run by Channel 4’s head of international drama Simon Maxwell,...

Sci-fi fans and quirky comedy fans unite! Former “Doctor Who” star David Tennant has been announced for a role opposite former “Alias” star Jennifer Garner in “Camping,” a new eight-episode HBO comedy from “Girls” masterminds Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner. The series is based on a British program of the same name about a man’s camping trip with his wife and friends that goes awry. Tennant and Garner will play the central husband and wife.

Tennant previously played the 10th Doctor on “Doctor Who” from 2005-2010, but since then he has played detective Alec Hardy in the British mystery series “Broadchurch,” the sociopathic Kilgrave in “Jessica Jones” and even Scrooge McDuck in the 2017 reboot of the animated series “DuckTales.” In addition, he will be featured as the demon Crowley in the upcoming “Good Omens” miniseries on Amazon, based on the novel by Neil Gaiman (“American Gods”) and Terry Pratchett...

Juliette Harrisson Aug 1, 2017

Looking to revisit the Discworld novels or try them for the first time? Here are some suggested routes through...

There’s a well-known question among fans of the late, great Sir Terry Pratchett’s forty-one Discworld novels – which one do you recommend to friends you’re encouraging to try the series? You’ll hear a number of different answers – and if your friend enjoys that first book, there’ll be a few different options for how to proceed with the rest of the series as well. Today, we’d like to be that Discworld-reading friend, and offer a few different recommendations for ways to get into this huge but incredibly rewarding series, or routes for a re-read for longtime fans.

See related American Horror Story renewed for seasons 8 and 9 American Horror Story: Roanoke might be its best season yet American Horror Story season 6: Roanoke Chapter 10 Ryan Murphy...

A few words on the life, books and humanity of Sir Terry Pratchett - a man who was a cast iron example of how to be a human being.

The first Terry Pratchett book I read was Truckers. The first Terry Pratchett book I heard was Only You Can Save Mankind, which we'd got out from the library a few months earlier to listen to in the car. The reason I got these books was simply because I had seen my Dad sitting reading Soul Music on holiday, laughing his head off, and I wanted in.

So, first of all, thank you very much Terry Pratchett for saving me having to think of a Christmas gift every year. That sounds glib, and lazy, but every year you could be assured of buying something that he was guaranteed to enjoy. It's easy to take that for granted, but it's a gift in itself,...

Sir Terry Pratchett, the British fantasy author, has died after eight years battling Alzheimer’s Disease. He was 66.

The news of his passing was announced by Transworld Publishers, whose managing director Larry Finlay described the prolific author as “one of [the world’s] brightest, sharpest minds.” He went on to say:

“In over 70 books, Terry enriched the planet like few before him. As all who read him know, Discworld was his vehicle to satirize this world: He did so brilliantly, with great skill, enormous humour and constant invention. Terry faced his Alzheimer’s disease (an ‘embuggerance’, as he called it) publicly and bravely. Over the last few years, it was his writing that sustained him. His legacy will endure for decades to come. My sympathies go out to Terry’s wife Lyn, their daughter Rhianna, to his close friend Rob Wilkins, and to all closest to him.”

Pratchett penned some 70 novels during his career,...

Terry Pratchett: “It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it's called Life.”

The much-loved author Terry Prachett, whose books The Hogfather, The Colour Of Magic and Going Postal became popular TV movies, has passed away at the age of 66 after a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease.

"Terry took Death’s arm and followed him through the doors and on to the black desert under the endless night," his official Twitter account declared.

Pratchett's publisher, Larry Finlay, said in a statement "I was deeply saddened to learn that Sir Terry Pratchett has died. The world has lost one of its brightest, sharpest minds.

"In over 70 books, Terry enriched the planet like few before him. As all who read him know, Discworld was his vehicle to satirize this world: he did so brilliantly, with great skill, enormous humour and constant invention.

Exclusive: Vadim Jean directing British comedy with the Fraiser star.

Principal photography has begun in London on independent British comedy Breaking the Bank, starring Kelsey Grammer (Frasier, X-Men).

The film, which plays out against the backdrop of the financial crisis, is directed by Vadim Jean, best known for 1992 comedy Leon the Pig Farmer and fantasy TV movies Hogfather and The Colour of Magic. The script has been written by ex-banker Roger Devlin, who has also provided “substantial finance” to the project.

The story centres on Charles Bunbury (Grammer), the bumbling, affable chairman of 200- year-old bank, Tuftons. Discovering that a rogue trader has left the bank in serious financial trouble - with rival Us and Japanese banks circling - Charles needs to attempt to secure Tuftons future. The only problem is Charles knows nothing about banking.

The cast also includes Episodes star Tamsin Greig as Charles’ frustrated wife; Gavin & Stacey’s Mathew Horne as Charles’ right hand man...

Harry Potter actor David Bradley will be among those to get an honorary degree from Warwick University in the summer of 2012.

Yorkshire-born Bradley, who lives in Stratford-upon-Avon and received the Laurence Olivier Award in 1991 for his role in King Lear at the Royal National Theatre, has been in numerous stage, TV and film productions.

He is particularly well-known for playing Hogwarts caretaker Argus Filch in the Harry Potter films.

David appeared as Cohen the Barbarian in a Sky One television adaptation of The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett, who is also an honorary graduate from Warwick University.

And it's been revealed that David is set to appear as Solomon in the second episode of the next Doctor Who series.

He previously voiced Shansheeth Blue in the story Death of the Doctor in spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Diana Rigg (TV's The Avengers, On Her Majesty's Secret Service) and her...

The Colour of Magic is the first Discworld novel. It is a send up of fantasy, a genre ripe for mocking. The heroes are a wizard who failed out of magic school and a tourist from the other side of the world, which is a disc that rests on the back of four elephants who are riding on a celestial turtle.

Rincewind, the wizard, is tasked with showing Twoflower, the tourist, around the continent. Twoflower is the first tourist from his side of the world to visit the main continent. He is extremely naive as to the culture on the continent he is visiting. Most of the hijinks that ensue do so because of his ignorance and Pollyannaish nature.

Absurdism abounds and is quite diverting. Eventually it became distracting. The satire is forced and relies heavily on puns. The tourist, Twoflower, brings modern day concepts into the story, but they...

I recently had a chat with actress and singer Karen David to hear about her role as Waterloo Road's Francesca Montoya, who's currently having a secret relationship with pupil Jonah Kirby. If you haven't seen it already, click here to read the first part of our interview with Karen, which focuses on all things Cesca and Jonah. Away from Waterloo Road, however, Karen has already appeared in films The Colour of Magic, Scorpion King 2 and Flight of Fury, while she currently has more acting roles and an intriguing new music project in the pipeline. Here, in part two of the interview, Karen chats more about Waterloo Road and what she has in store for the future. Along with Lucien, who plays Jonah, is there anyone else who you particularly enjoyed working with at Waterloo Road?

"Oh, I'm so spoiled for choice (more)...

Get ready for a whole host of TV shows and movies to get you through the festive period - it's our look at UK telly...!

We've taken a scythe to the Christmas telly schedule to help you sort the geek from the chav. We hope the listing of shows and films will help brighten your holiday via the warm rays of the living room telly.

If we missed any of your favourites, please have a ho-ho-ho in the comments section, with our thanks and best wishes for a happy holiday.

Thursday December 23rd

Terry Pratchett's Hogfather Part 1 4:00pm Sky1 (repeats through 1st Jan)

24 series 8 6:00am Sky 2 (marathon consecutive run of the series' episodes)

8 Out Of 10 Cats Christmas Special 10:00pm Channel 4 (repeats 00:05am 27th Dec)

The Royle Family Christmas Special (2009) 00:45am Gold (repeats through 30th Dec)

Christmas Eve Friday December 24th

Terry Pratchett's Hogfather Part...

Nigel Planer is to join the Doctor Who Live stage show at The Nia, Birmingham, from October 18 to 20, BBC Worldwide has announced.

Planer played Neil in BBC comedy The Young Ones, appeared in the TV adaptations of Terry Pratchett's Hogfather and The Colour of Magic and has been in several West End musicals including Evita, Chicago and We Will Rock You.

In Doctor Who Live, the actor will play Vorgenson, an intergalactic showman who is the Time Lord's biggest fan. The character has been exclusively created for the tour by the show's executive producer and lead writer Steven Moffat. 

Nigel said: "I'm incredibly excited to be joining Doctor Who Live and this role is something of a boyhood dream come true.

"My character Vorgenson, who has been developed specially for the show by Steven Moffat, is the Greatest Showman in the Galaxy and using his incredible invention, The Minimiser, he...

A two-part telemovie heading to our screens in May, here's the trailer for the upcoming adaptation of Terry Pratchett's Going Postal...

Following on from the excellent TV adaptations of Terry Pratchett's Hogfather and The Colour Of Magic, another hugely popular Discworld novel is soon to be aired on Sky 1. Screening at the end of May, the next adaptation will be based upon Sir Pratchett's 33rd book in the Discworld series, Going Postal.

Starring Richard Coyle, (whom we're especially pleased to see return to telly in a big way in this production, as he was this writer's personal favourite nominee for Doctor Who back when we were all guessing and fancying actors' chances) the story revolves around Moist Von Lipwig (Coyle), a con artist set to hang for his crimes in the Discworld city-state of Ankh-Morpork. Saved from his grizzly fate, he's recruited to manage the now decrepit Ankh-Morpork postal service.

Slumdog Millionaire is the year's most rented DVD, a survey has claimed. The Mirror reports that the poll, carried out by rental company Lovefilm, discovered that Burn After Reading and Taken completed the top three. Audiences were most likely to rent drama, but comedy was the next most popular genre. Film fans also preferred movies made locally, with residents of Edinburgh most likely to watch Trainspotting, and The Full Monty most popular with people living in Sheffield. Terry Pratchett's The Colour Of Magic was the most popular television DVD, followed by (more)...

It would be really easy to bash The Color of Magic (or The Colour of Magic, in its original spelling) for trying to be a cheaper version of Stardust or even Lord of the Rings – but that would be unfair. Those films (books, etc.) may form the foundation of the genre and the standard against which others are measured, but they’re really only relevant when a film is actually trying to mimic them. The Color of Magic isn’t in their tradition. Instead, The Color of Magic is best compared to the made-for-television mini-series The 10th Kingdom, a fairytale romp as humorous as it was flawed. Celebrated fantasy author Terry Pratchett’s novels received a decent made-for-television film adaptation in The Color of Magic, but even when measured against a lower standard like The 10th Kingdom, it falters and eventually fails.

Brian Cox’s less than iconic voice narrates...

LONDON -- Sky One will launch the U.K. version of smash hit format "Are You Smarter Than a Ten Year Old?" to head up its fall season lineup, which director of programs Richard Woolfe hailed as "unashamedly about entertainment" and the broadcaster's most expensive season to date.

The satcaster's flagship entertainment net will offer a cash prize of £250,000 ($495,500) in the competition, which pits a team of adults against grade-schoolers. The show is expected to launch in an afternoon slot later this year.

The British show will be hosted by Noel Edmonds, who also presents Deal or No Deal for Channel 4.

Other gameshow highlights include controversial format Nothing but the Truth, hosted by Jerry Springer, which uses a lie detector to gauge whether contestants are telling the truth when asked even the most risque questions.

Drama highlights are set to include The Colour of Magic, a multimillion pound adaptation of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novel, which is currently filming at Pinewood Studios. The drama will be broadcast in the spring.