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ALSO READ: Why 2012 will be a truly Titanic year for television in both drama and documentaries.
While the highly acclaimed and brilliant Downton Abbey is a jewel in the crown of any TV channel and got scooped by BBC Entertainment, BBC Entertainment now also grabbed the most provocative and highly anticipated drama for this year, Titanic, which will start with double episodes on BBC Entertainment on 15 and 22 April at 19:30 (South African time).
Titanic, co-incidentally also done by the Oscar winner and Downton Abbey creator, Julian Fellowes, is a mini-series in four hour long episodes created to mark the 100th anniversary of the launch and sinking tragedy of the iconic ocean liner.
Titanic was filmed in Hungary and retells the story of the doomed voyage, weaving action, mystery and romantic plots together and featuring fictional and historical characters, before coming together in an explosive and unforgettable finale.
Following the different characters travelling on the ill-fated ship - from steerage passengers to upper class guests - each point of view will culminate in a cliffhanger as the ship begins to founder, building to an explosive conclusion which draws together each of the stories. Viewers will be taken on a heart wrenching journey through the Titanic’s last hours, as the drama reveals which of the characters they have come to know so well will survive … and who does not.
''We're delighted to be showing this prestigious drama exclusively on BBC Entertainment so soon after the hugely successful debut of Downton Abbey,'' says Jon Farrar, the vice president for programming for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region for BBC Worldwide channels. ''As the first channel to bring the hotly-anticipated Downton Abbey to South Africa, it's a thrill to be the only channel to show Julian Fellowes' latest project too.''
Titanic was created by BAFTA winning producer Nigel Stafford-Clark, written by Julian Fellowes directed by Jon Jones and produced by Nigel Stafford-Clark and Chris Thompson.
''There is a lasting fascination with the Titanic's one and only voyage, and never more so than in the year of its hundredth anniversary.'' says Nigel Stafford-Clark. ''We have retold the story in a way that is bold, fresh and gripping, with all the human detail that television does so well. We hope it's a fitting tribute to the events of that night''.
Titanic is produced in association with ITV Studios and Shaw Media who are partnered with Deep Indigo Productions and Lookout Point in the UK, Sienna Films Inc in Canada and Hungary based Mid Atlantic Films. It is a UK-Hungary-Canada co-production.
