ITV made a boo-boo in rejecting the offer of a ‘Victoria’ Christmas special for this year, according to the show’s creator and writer.
Daisy Goodwin revealed at a talk at London’s Science Museum earlier this week that she had presented the network with an idea for a Christmas special to air later this year.
However, she said ITV had turned down her offer, something she adds it now regrets, following the impressive ratings of the first series, which has aired in ITV’s primetime Sunday evening slot, previously the home of ‘Downton Abbey’.
Daisy revealed: “We did offer them one for this year but they went, ‘Umm…’ I don’t think they knew how big the show was going to become.
“I wish we had one this year. I bet they are wishing they had one now but we will have one for next year.”
Sure enough, a Christmas special for 2017 has already been confirmed by ITV, along with a second series following on from the first.
The first series finale aired last weekend, pulling in a bigger audience for ITV than its BBC rival ‘Poldark’ - 5.5million and 4.9m viewers respectively.
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Viewers have voiced their appreciation for 'Victoria' starring Jenna Coleman and Rufus Sewell (above)
Helpfully for them, Queen Victoria had a long reign as monarch, lasting 63 years, second only to our reigning HM, and bearing nine children in total. However, her life changed dramatically following the death of husband Albert in 1861, after which she resorted to widow’s garb and adopted the serious expression, for which later generations best remember her.
Accordingly, it seems bosses are pondering the idea of keeping title star Jenna Coleman in for three series, then swapping her for an older actress. The Radio Times quotes an ITV source saying, “The channel would want the drama to go to the end of her 63 year reign in 1901, but around six series and a new Queen half way through is what is being talked about at the moment.”
Top Drama Picks For Autumn 2016
The Fall (BBC Two)(01 of12)
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The third and final series finds Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson pitted against serial killer Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan). With Spector captured and injured in the final scene of the second series, it’ll be interesting to see what writer Allan Cubitt does in this final run to round things off in a satisfying conclusion to a memorable trilogy.
Our Loved Boy (BBC One)(02 of12)
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The story of Damilola Taylor and the aftermath of his senseless death, as told through the eyes of his grieving family in this feature-length drama. Their quest for justice sits alongside their personal battles with a cast led by Babou Ceesay and Wunmi Mosaku, in a story told with the support of Damilola’s tireless father Richard Taylor OBE.
The Missing Series 2 (BBC One)(03 of12)
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Writing brothers Harry and Jack Williams (who also wrote ‘One of Us’) are back on more familiar ground of the trauma surrounding a missing child. No James Nesbitt in this one, instead we have David Morrissey and Keeley Hawes as a couple whose lives are overturned when their missing daughter returns after 11 years. The thing we’re most looking forward to? The return of Tcheky Karyo reprising his role of the compassionate detective Julien Baptiste.
Close To The Enemy (BBC Two)(04 of12)
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‘One Day’s Jim Sturgess leads the cast in this six-part series set in a bomb-damaged London hotel in the aftermath of World War II. Sturgess’s Captain Callum Ferguson is an intelligence officer whose job is to persuade a captured German scientist to lend his skills to the RAF’s task of developing the jet engine. All is not as it seems.
Tutankhamum (ITV)(05 of12)
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Max Irons and Sam Neill star in this four-part mini-series, re-telling the story of Howard after and his discovery of the tomb of the most fascinating of Egyptian pharaohs. With Irons as Carter, Sam Neill plays his supportive patron Lord Carnarvon, who defies all doubt to keep Carter’s dreams of discovery alive.
Broadchurch (ITV)(06 of12)
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David Tennant and Olivia Colman return for the final series of this haunting series, joined once again by Jodie Whittaker and Andrew Buchan as grieving parents Beth and Mark Latimer. Following the mistakes of the second series, writer Chris Chibnall instead focuses on a brand new case, with detectives Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller investigating a sexual assault, while the close Dorset community must once again deal with the unwelcome attention foisted on them.
The Halcyon (ITV)(07 of12)
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The title refers to a five-star hotel in the centre of 1940 London society at a time of falling bombs and heightened emotions and fears. Steven Mackintosh and Olivia Williams lead a cast that also includes Kara Tointon and Alex Jennings.
Paranoid (ITV)(08 of12)
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Arguably the jewel in ITV’s winter schedule, this is an eight-part series exploring what happens when the murder of a mother in a school playground proves to be far less clear-cut than at first appeared. Neil Stuke, Indira Varma and Robert Glenister star.
Tina and Bobby (ITV)(09 of12)
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The lady who can currently do no wrong, Michelle Keegan, stars as the wife of the revered England football captain, as they became the most recognisable couple of their generation. As the country got swept up in World Cup euphoria and by the Moores in particular, this most normal of couples must face some huge challenges. Alongside Michelle is Lorne MacFadyen as Bobby - Patsy Kensit and David Bamber also appear.
National Treasure (Channel 4)(10 of12)
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Robbie Coltrane gives an ironically compelling turn as a huge entertainment star caught up in an historic sex allegation. As the police work their way through his complex life, those closest to the ‘national treasure’ must deal with the effects of secrets uncovered and loyalties tested. Julie Walters, Andrea Riseborough co-star.
Humans (Channel 4)(11 of12)
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After the surprise phenomenon of Series 1, Gemma Chan and co return for a second series of compassionate sci-fi, exploring what happens when robots become loveable.
The Young Pope (Sky Atlantic)(12 of12)
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Following a rapturous reception to its debut episode at the Venice Film Festival, Jude Law brings his troubled Pope Pius XIII to screen. The first American pope in contemporary times, the pontiff is a man of a great power who nevertheless fears losing those closest to him, and even being abandoned by his God. Alongside Jude, Diane Keaton, Ludivine Sagnier and James Cromwell star.