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John Sessions, a Scottish actor and comedian best known for his role on the U.K. version of “Whose Line Is It Anyway,” died on Monday at his home in South London, his agency Markham, Froggatt & Irwin confirmed to Variety. He was 67.

Sessions appeared on several other British comedy shows, including “Have I Got News for You,” “Qi,” “Stella Street” and “Spitting Image.” A noted character actor, he appeared in a wide variety of TV shows and films from the 1980s through the 2010s.

Born on Jan. 11, 1953, in Ayrshire, Scotland, Sessions trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, studying alongside director Kenneth Branagh. The two would go on to work together on “Henry V” in 1989 and “Five Children and It” in 2004.

In the late 1980s, Sessions was part of the cast of the original radio broadcast of the improv comedy series “Whose Line Is It Anyway.” He...

As the coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc on film release schedules around the globe, displacing many titles from their natural theatrical environment, a few have instead found their spiritual home on the small screen. “Four Kids and It,” a lightweight British kids’ fantasy, falls firmly in the latter column. Always intended as a multiplatform release in the U.K. through the Sky Cinema network, it has instead taken the VOD-only route on the eve of what would have been the Easter school vacation — making it a welcome diversion for families going stir-crazy under national lockdown. But it also flatters the limitations of Andy De Emmony’s blandly chipper film, which feels, both tonally and aesthetically, more suited to afternoon children’s TV schedules than any venue larger than a living room.

That’s a somewhat disappointing outcome for a family film with a sparky literary pedigree. “Four Kids and It” is...

After their parents fall in love, two pairs of siblings learn to get along – with the help of a magical beach creature

There’s some gentle and good-natured fun in this family fantasy adventure, based on Jacqueline Wilson’s 2012 novel, which was itself an updating of E Nesbit’s classic Five Children and It, bringing that Edwardian tale into a new reality of divorce, step-families and step-siblings.

Matthew Goode and Paula Patton play David and Alice, two people who have split from their partners and are now dating. They have brought their respective pairs of kids on holiday to the seaside, with the tricky task of breaking it to them that they are now together and should accept this new reality.

This Easter, Sky customers and cinema goers will be treated to the latest reincarnation of E. Nesbit’s 1902 novel Five Children and It. While most people will remember the 1990s BBC version, the story was also made into a film back in 2004 with Eddie Izzard voicing the Psammead. However here, the story is again adapted from kids author Jacqueline Wilson’s 2012 best-selling book “Four Children and It”.

This family adventure centres around a newly blended family. An American mother Alice with her two daughters, angry-at-life Smash and sweet Maudie, and a father, David with his son and daughter, gaming-mad Robbie and reserved Ros.

The parents set out on a rather disastrous plan to bring the children together for the first time by taking them all away to Cornwall on holiday. Needless to say, the children are not best-pleased by this ambush and immediately take a dislike to each other, especially the two older girls,...

Starring Clive Owen and Tim Roth, Canadian François Girard’s historical drama “The Song of Names” will close the 67th San Sebastian Festival on Sept. 28.

World premiering at the Toronto Intl. Film Festival as a Gala Presentation, “The Song of Names” will play out of competition at what will be its international premiere.

Hanway Films is selling worldwide the film, which was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics for the U.S.. Elevation Pictures will distribute in Canada; Filmax in Spain.

“The Song of Names” is based on a novel by British award-winning novelist and cultural commentator Norman Lebrecht, which Jeffrey Caine (“The Constant Gardener”) adapted.

Described as an “emotional detective story,” the film unfolds at the start of World War II, focusing on Dovidl, a 9-year-old violin prodigy who is a Polish-Jewish refugee in London. His brother Martin, of the same age, is devoted to him.

Hours before Dovidl’s...

Andy De Emmony (West Is West) directs the adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson’s novel.

Russell Brand family film Four Kids And It is attracting buyer interest at this year’s Afm for 13 Films.

Screen can reveal the first look image from the film, above.

Andy De Emmony (West Is West) directs the adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson’s novel, while Julie Baines and Anne Brogan produce. The shoot wrapped in Dublin recently.

Brand’s co-stars incluce Paula Patton, Michael Caine and Matthew Goode.

Simon Lewis has adapted Wilson’s novel for screen, with additional writing by Mark Oswin.

The story follows...

Russell Brand and Paula Patton have signed on for “Four Kids and It,” and will star alongside the previously cast Matthew Goode (“The Crown”) in the family adventure movie. Michael Caine is already on board to voice the It of the title.

The movie is an adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson’s children’s book, which in turn was inspired by E. Nesbit’s 1902 novel “Five Children and It.” It follows four kids who are horrified to learn that their beach vacation is in fact a bonding trip with their potential future step-siblings. The kids then accidentally stumble upon a Psammead, a magical, grumpy and sandy creature, in this case called It, who can grant them one wish a day.

Brand will play the oddball villain Tristan, who is bent on capturing It. Bill Nighy was previously cast in the role, but has been replaced by comedian and actor Brand, whose...

Principal photography on the film began on July 16 in Ireland.

Russell Brand (Get Him To The Greek) and Paula Patton (Precious) have joined the cast of Four Kids And It, the adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson’s novel directed by Andy De Emmony (West Is West).

Brand and Patton join a cast that already includes Michael Caine (Youth) and Matthew Goode (The Crown). Principal photography on the film began on July 16 on location in Ireland.

Simon Lewis has adapted Wilson’s novel for screen, with additional writing by Mark Oswin.

The story follows four children who are horrified to learn that...

Two-time Academy Award winner Michael Caine (The Cider House Rules, The Dark Knight, Youth), BAFTA Award Winner and Golden Globe Winner Bill Nighy (Love Actually, Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Pirates Of The Caribbean) and Matthew Goode (The Imitation Game, The Good Wife, Downton Abbey) will star in the family action adventure film Four Kids And It directed by BAFTA Award nominee Andy De Emmony (Father Ted, West Is West), it was announced today.

Produced by Dan Films’ Julie Baines and Anne Brogan of Kindle Entertainment, the screenplay is written by Simon Lewis and adapted from the novel “Four Children and It” by best-selling author Jacqueline Wilson. Additional writing is provided by Mark Oswin.

The film is slated to begin principal photography in August on location in the UK.

13 Films is handling worldwide rights to the project outside of the UK and is actively selling the film to buyers at the Cannes Market.

Michael Caine, Bill Nighy and Matthew Goode are set to star in family action adventure pic Four Kids And It. Andy De Emmony is directing the project that's based on Jacqueline Wilson's novel Four Children And It (itself based on the 1902 E. Nesbit book Five Children And It). Simon Lewis adapted for the screen. World sales outside the UK are being handled by 13 Films. The story follows four children who are horrified to learn that their beach holiday is in fact a bonding…...

Way back in April we got word that BBC America is expanding its "Supernatural Saturday" lineup in 2014 to include a seven-part "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell" miniseries, based on the novel by Susanna Clarke. Today we know who the cast members are.

From the Press Release:

Eddie Marsan (pictured; "Ray Donovan," The Worlds End) and Olivier award-winning Bertie Carvel (Restless, "Primeval") have been cast in BBC America’s co-production "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell," based on the bestselling novel by Susanna Clarke and adapted by Peter Harness ("Wallander," Is Anybody There?). The new seven-part drama series is to premiere as part of the channel’s Supernatural Saturday.

Further casting includes Alice Englert (Ginger & Rosa, Beautiful Creatures), Marc Warren ("The Good Wife," "Hustle"), Samuel West ("Mr Selfridge," "Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond"), Charlotte Riley (Wuthering Heights, Easy Virtue), Enzo Cilenti ("Prisoners Wives," "Rome"), and Paul Kaye ("Game of Thrones,...

Press Release:

Syfy Greenlights Jim Henson’S Creature Shop Challenge (working title) From The Jim Henson Company, Showcasing The Creation Of Elaborate And Awe-inspiring Life-like Characters Brian Henson To Judge New Reality-competition Series Coming To Syfy In 2014

New York – October 8, 2013 – Syfy greenlights an eight episode order for Jim Henson’s Creature Shop Challenge (working title), a competition series featuring ten aspiring creature creators competing to out-imagine one another in a series of challenges where they will build everything from mechanical characters to whimsical beasts, bringing high-end inanimate creature designs to life. The contestants compete for $100,000 and the opportunity for the job of a lifetime – a contract working at the world-renowned Jim Henson’s Creature Shop™. The announcement was made today by Mark Stern, President of Original Content, Syfy.

Brian Henson serves as lead judge on the series. Henson is the Chairman of The Jim Henson Company and the Creature Shop.

This weekend sees the debut of a brand new Saturday night entertainment show with a twist - it has puppets!

To mark the launch of BBC One's That Puppet Game Show on Saturday night (August 10), Digital Spy compiles a list of just some of TV's greatest ever puppets.

Andy Pandy

One of the leading children's characters of the early 1950s, Andy Pandy's 26 episodes were shown continuously until 1970, when a new series was made. The sweet marionette and his friends Teddy and Looby Loo lived in a picnic basket, and chilled out to the dulcet tones of Maria Bird. A new stop-motion series returned in 2002.

Animal

One of the best-loved Muppets, Animal is a drummer for the band Dr Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. He's surely up there with Dave Grohl, John Bonham and Ringo Starr as also one of the best-loved drummers of all time. Despite having a limited vocabulary,...

BBC America has announced that it is coproducing a seven-part adaptation of the giant book that has been sitting on my shelf for years, that I will now avoid until after the series airs in 2014, entitled Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, as an upcoming segment of its Supernatural Saturdays programming block.

BBC America To Co-produce Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell Seven part series for Supernatural Saturday is based on the bestselling novel by Susanna Clarke

New York – Monday, April 8 – Announced today, BBC America is co-producing for Supernatural Saturday a new drama series, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. Based on the bestselling novel by Susanna Clarke and adapted by Peter Harness (Wallander, Is Anybody There?), Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (7 x 60) is set during the Napoleonic Wars in an England where magic once existed and is about to return. The series will premiere in 2014 as part of BBC America’s Supernatural Saturday programming block.

BBC America is expanding its "Supernatural Saturday" lineup in 2014, and we have all the early details for its upcoming seven-part "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell" miniseries, based on the novel by Susanna Clarke.

From the Press Release:

BBC America is co-producing a new drama series, "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell." Based on the bestselling novel by Susanna Clarke and adapted by Peter Harness ("Wallander," Is Anybody There?), "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell" (7 x 60) is set during the Napoleonic Wars in an England where magic once existed and is about to return. The series will premiere in 2014 as part of BBC America’s Supernatural Saturday programming block.

The series is produced by Cuba Pictures (Boy A, Broken) for the BBC and co-produced by BBC America, in association with Feel Film, Bell Media’s Space, Far Moor, and Screen Yorkshire. It is distributed by Endemol Worldwide Distribution.

Toby Haynes ("Doctor Who," "Sherlock," "Wallander") directs, Nick Hirschkorn...

God forbid the lovely Karen Gillan should join the ranks of Resting Thesps too long when Jenna Louise-Coleman takes her place as the new assistant in Doctor Who. Therefore consider contributing to the next film Gillan's committed to, funded by the IndieGoGo initiative. Having recently become aware of IndieGoGo through this site's former connection with the Minister Of Chance project, the idea of crowd-funding really taking off is the realisation of a dream I have had, along with many others, I'm sure, for a long time.

This particular project, a film with a crowd-funding target of a pretty measly $50,000 (£31,500 approx) is entitled Not Another Happy Ending, and also features fellow Scot actor Emun Elliot from Ridley Scott's forthcoming Alien prequel Prometheus.

The movie, "a smart, funny, sexy, intelligent indie romantic comedy" set in Glasgow , is written by David Solomons (Five Children and It), and directed by John McKay (We...

Norman Wisdom, one of the Britain's best-loved comedy stars, has died aged 95. We look back over his career in clips

Rex Harrison urged him to take up a career in showbiz; Charlie Chaplin named him his favourite clown. Yet Norman Wisdom remained that most modest of British superstars, unpretentious, full of humility, despite a dizzying rise to international fame. Or, rather, extreme popularity in the UK, and extraordinary adulation in other slightly unlikely other countries, most notably Albania, where he was, notoriously, the only Western actor whose films were allowed in the country during the dictatorship of Enver Hoxha.

Wisdom had a tough upbringing - sleeping in the same room as his whole family; a spell in a children's home, then employment by the Merchant Navy at a young age - which left little time for him to be a child. It seems striking then that his stage and screen...

The new runs of Stargate Universe, The Vampire Diaries, Modern Family and Fringe arrive in the UK, and Nikita hits too. Plus lots of films in our look ahead at UK TV highlights...

We may be a week or two behind the Us convoy of new series and shows, but the next seven days see UK telly pressing hard on the pedal and catching up with new episodes fresh off the showroom floors.

Those who've been left adrift with the Destiny and its crew can find out what happens next on Stargate Universe, Tuesday October 5th at 9:00pm on Sky1 in the second season opener, Intervention. It's the first of twenty episodes starring Robert Carlyle and a cast of interesting characters in space. If their fate's grown a bit blurry since you last watched, you can catch up with the maiden season cliffhanger episodes of Incursion, parts one and two,...

You've got your scary ghosts and your friendly ghosts, but it's fairly rare in cinema that we see evicted ghosts. Now, however, with The Great Ghost Rescue shooting in London and Hungary and the first pictures hitting the net, we're finally going to see what happens when ghosts become dispossessed (sorry).Based on the bestselling kids book by Eva Ibbotson, this is the story of a young ghost (or at least the ghost of a young boy) called Humphrey (Toby Hall). When he and his family lose their usual haunt, they set off with other ghosts of London to find a new home - but when they reveal their existence to the world, they find themselves threatened with exorcism. Egad!Kevin McKidd, Emma Fielding, Georgia Groome and Steven Mackintosh are also starring in what looks like a fun caper. C'mon, anytime there's a big Scotsman with a huge axe in a film,...

TORONTO -- Looking to become a bastion of heavyweight, star-filled indie cinema, the Toronto International Film Festival unveiled Tuesday a 328-film lineup that includes 100 world premieres and 81 North American premieres. Among the 20 high-profile films to receive red-carpet treatment at Roy Thomson Hall are Mike Barker's A Good Woman, a Beyond Films comedy about Americans in Italy that stars Helen Hunt and Scarlett Johansson, and Kevin Spacey's second film, Lions Gate Films' Beyond the Sea, in which Spacey stars as Bobby Darin. Elsewhere, the festival is hosting the world premiere of Oliver Hirschbiegel's Downfall, a German thriller about Adolf Hitler's final hours that stars Bruno Ganz, and a matinee gala for John Stephenson's Five Children and It, a kids' tale that stars Kenneth Branagh and Tara Fitzgerald.

TORONTO -- Looking to become a bastion of heavyweight, star-filled indie cinema, the Toronto International Film Festival unveiled Tuesday a 328-film lineup that includes 100 world premieres and 81 North American premieres. Among the 20 high-profile films to receive red-carpet treatment at Roy Thomson Hall are Mike Barker's A Good Woman, a Beyond Films comedy about Americans in Italy that stars Helen Hunt and Scarlett Johansson, and Kevin Spacey's second film, Lions Gate Films' Beyond the Sea, in which Spacey stars as Bobby Darin. Elsewhere, the festival is hosting the world premiere of Oliver Hirschbiegel's Downfall, a German thriller about Adolf Hitler's final hours that stars Bruno Ganz, and a matinee gala for John Stephenson's Five Children and It, a kids' tale that stars Kenneth Branagh and Tara Fitzgerald.

TORONTO -- Looking to become a bastion of heavyweight, star-filled indie cinema, the Toronto International Film Festival unveiled Tuesday a 328-film lineup that includes 100 world premieres and 81 North American premieres. Among the 20 high-profile films to receive red-carpet treatment at Roy Thomson Hall are Mike Barker's A Good Woman, a Beyond Films comedy about Americans in Italy that stars Helen Hunt and Scarlett Johansson, and Kevin Spacey's second film, Lions Gate Films' Beyond the Sea, in which Spacey stars as Bobby Darin. Elsewhere, the festival is hosting the world premiere of Oliver Hirschbiegel's Downfall, a German thriller about Adolf Hitler's final hours that stars Bruno Ganz, and a matinee gala for John Stephenson's Five Children and It, a kids' tale that stars Kenneth Branagh and Tara Fitzgerald.

TORONTO -- Looking to become a bastion of heavyweight, star-filled indie cinema, the Toronto International Film Festival unveiled Tuesday a 328-film lineup that includes 100 world premieres and 81 North American premieres. Among the 20 high-profile films to receive red-carpet treatment at Roy Thomson Hall are Mike Barker's A Good Woman, a Beyond Films comedy about Americans in Italy that stars Helen Hunt and Scarlett Johansson, and Kevin Spacey's second film, Lions Gate Films' Beyond the Sea, in which Spacey stars as Bobby Darin. Elsewhere, the festival is hosting the world premiere of Oliver Hirschbiegel's Downfall, a German thriller about Adolf Hitler's final hours that stars Bruno Ganz, and a matinee gala for John Stephenson's Five Children and It, a kids' tale that stars Kenneth Branagh and Tara Fitzgerald.

Kenneth Branagh is joining Tom Cruise and Carrie-Anne Moss in Mission: Impossible 3 for C/W Prods. and Paramount Pictures. Branagh, who recently appeared in a London production of David Mamet's play Edmund and the feature film Five Children and It, has signed on for the spy action-adventure. Although there is an expectation that he will be unmasked as one of the villains, few details were available on the character Branagh will play. Further casting is under way on the sequel, which is due to go into production in late summer.

Kenneth Branagh is joining Tom Cruise and Carrie-Anne Moss in Mission: Impossible 3 for C/W Prods. and Paramount Pictures. Branagh, who recently appeared in a London production of David Mamet's play Edmund and the feature film Five Children and It, has signed on for the spy action-adventure. Although there is an expectation that he will be unmasked as one of the villains, few details were available on the character Branagh will play. Further casting is under way on the sequel, which is due to go into production in late summer.