Across TV

Published: 21 January 2016

I have tried very hard to think myself into Shakespeare’s creative world, writing only with a small chicken feather and not changing my underpants for a year.
— Ben Elton

Written by Ben Elton and starring David Mitchell as Shakespeare, Upstart Crow is a comedy set at the start of William Shakespeare’s extraordinary career. The series will focus on both Will’s family and professional life and includes the surprising stories of where many of his ideas came from. Also featured are his wife Anne (Liza Tarbuck), his father (played by Harry Enfield) and extended family, his servant Bottom (Rob Rouse) his friends Kate (Gemma Whelan) and Marlowe (Tim Downie), his theatrical troupe, and his rival Robert Greene (Mark Heap).

In the series, Will finds inspiration for Romeo from an unlikely source; mislays a nearly treasonous masterpiece; gets tricked into a very embarrassing pair of tights; has a spot of bother with the wife over some sonnets; meets three witches who predict great things for him; and borrows some money on some rather unusual conditions.

Ben Elton says: “I have tried very hard to think myself into Shakespeare’s creative world, writing only with a small chicken feather and not changing my underpants for a year.”

David Mitchell says: “I’m delighted to be playing England’s greatest bard at this difficult time for bards everywhere. You just try getting work as a bard these days. It’s virtually impossible.”

Cunk on Shakespeare - A Moments of Wonder special - BBC Two

Unrivalled wordsmith. Unequalled genius. Scholar of the Human Condition. Philomena Cunk is the ideal candidate to give the BBC Two audience a comprehensive guide to William Shakespeare. A regular contributor to Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe, Philomena has proven herself a shrewd interviewer, an insightful critic, and a voice of wisdom for our troubled times. She’ll bring all of these considerable talents to bear as she authors a documentary about the Bard, across 30 factually accurate minutes. So without Much further Ado About Nothing, we present Cunk on Shakespeare. No doubt wherever he is, Shakespeare can’t wait to watch it.

Cunk on Shakespeare is produced by House of Tomorrow, and stars Diane Morgan as Philomena Cunk. The executive producers are Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones, and the producer is Sam Ward.

Arena: All The World's A Screen - Shakespeare On Film – BBC Four

A documentary film for the BBC’s critically acclaimed, award-winning Arena, looking at the heritage, complex history, artistic contradictions and cultural achievements of Shakespeare, translated into the moving image. Exploring Shakespeare’s interrelationship with film and presenting a rich, diverse and globally inclusive portrait of his influence, this documentary is thought to be the only one of its type in the world – a fitting achievement for the world’s longest-running arts strand which is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary.

With contributions from the great masters of translating Shakespeare to film - Laurence Olivier, Orson Welles, Akira Kurosawa, Roman Polanski and Baz Luhrmann, this will be an exploration of Shakespeare’s creative resonance and endurance. It will explore why creative talent is still drawn to the challenges and opportunities of translating Shakespeare for film and television, and how and why audiences respond.

The film is directed by David Thompson and produced by David Thompson and Adrian Wootton. The series editor is Anthony Wall.

The One Show – BBC One

To mark the 400th year of William Shakespeare’s death, Gyles Brandreth interviews living William Shakespeares to find out what it’s like to share the name of the most famous playwright in history, and the seven men from around the UK who all share the name William Shakespeare will recite Sonnet 18.

Gyles also is at the Bodelian library in Oxford, where he meets Emma Smith, a Shakespearean scholar. Here they look at one of only13 original editions of Shakespeare’s Sonnets, as Emma discusses the contributions Shakespeare has made to the English language.

Countryfile – BBC One

A Countryfile Shakespeare special will look at the journey that led a boy, growing up in rural Warwickshire to become a man whose works would span the globe. The episode will celebrate the landscapes that inspired Shakespeare in his greatest works - from the Forest of Arden to Birnam Wood and from A Winter's Tale to A Midsummer Night's Dream. Following in his footsteps and those of his players, the programme will re-tread the ancient rural pathways they took to tour his plays and will look at the way in which Shakespeare’s words still frame the way we look at our landscape today.