Hit BBC K Pop show Made In Korea set for second series to rival Simon Cowell’s show – but there’s a twist
THE BBC is planning to give its hit reality series Made In Korea: The K-Pop Experience a second go — in a bid to create the next major girl band.
The format launched this year on BBC One and saw five British lads jet to South Korea capital Seoul to be put through their paces by some of the world’s best.
The K-Pop execs that oversaw the 100-day training programme made ITV talent show mogul Simon Cowell “look like Mary Poppins” according to show runners.
The boy group dearAlice are now back in the UK and working on their first single.
But the show’s makers are already looking at a second series — this time with five talented female singers and dancers, while their boyband try to break into the industry.
It follows the widespread success of female-led K-Pop bands across the UK.
In July Blackpink became the first ever such outfit to headline a UK festival, with their set at British Summer Time in Hyde Park, London.
An insider told me: “The first series of Made In Korea proved a success, with dearAlice nailing the K-Pop training and coming out a fully formed band, ready to take on the industry. The production and management teams are in discussions about the second series, this time focusing on forming a girl band to try out the K-Pop method.
“Of course, that won’t take away from the large focus on dearAlice and helping them in the next stages of their career, with music set to be released soon.
“But there’s a definite scope to have two bands working at the same time.
“It could prove to be some healthy competition.”
It’s not just the bands that will be in contest, as Cowell’s own hunt for the next big pop group The Midas Touch is set to air on Netflix next year.
Nothing like a bit of rivalry to keep everyone on their toes.
Middle sister’s moment
THE BBC is bringing another period drama to the telly.
This follows its success dramatising Jane Austen classics such as the award-winning Regency romance Pride And Prejudice, and the all-star adaptation Emma, featuring Romola Garai.
This time, the focus is on the middle sister of Pride And Prejudice, Mary Bennet – who was explored in a book by Janice Hadlow.
The Other Bennet Sister, a ten-part drama, shows how Mary is not a typical heroine, unlike her siblings.
Viewers will see the awkward, anxious, preachy sister, who looks destined to an empty dance card for life, take matters into her own hands in her epic love story.
Screenwriter Sarah Quintrell said of the series: “I’m thrilled to be telling the story of Mary, exploring what it is to come of age when you’re the odd one out.”
RICHARD OSMAN and Sir Trevor McDonald are among the guests who will delve into books they love on BBC Two series Between The Covers.
The stars joining host Sara Cox also include Graham Norton, Gemma Whelan and Stephen Mangan.
The six-parter will air soon.
Jackal Ed’s a big gun
EDDIE REDMAYNE looks ready to fire a fatal shot in a first look at the new remake of The Day Of The Jackal.
The ten-part Sky drama, which launches on November 7, sees the actor as an elusive assassin who sparks an international game of cat and mouse as British intelligence agents attempt to snare him.
Lashana Lynch plays the officer in charge of tracking him down.
And – if the latest trailer, released yesterday, is anything to go by – there’s bound to be a showdown.
Lashana’s character, Bianca, is heard telling intelligence bosses as the Jackal goes on killing: “Are you saying we should just walk away? That’s not the job I signed up for.
“I will find him and I will kill him myself.”
Why QI is set to be V funny
THE line-up for the new series of quiz show QI looks more like a Who’s Who of comedy.
The show, which follows the letters of the alphabet, will focus on things starting with the letter “V”.
And while Sandi Toksvig and Alan Davies will be back in the hot seat, their weekly panellists will include Rob Beckett, Rhod GIlbert, Rosie Jones, Sara Pascoe, Jimmy Carr, Jo Brand and Josh Widdicombe.
Strictly’s Chris McCausland also filmed an episode, as well as singer songwriter Lulu.
The 45-minute XL versions of the episodes will air from October 22 at 9pm on BBC Two, with a festive special expected over Christmas.