ITV cancel hit drama after three gripping series despite millions of viewers and huge star cast
ITV’s drama The Tower has been demolished after three series, I can reveal.
A starry cast, including Gemma Whelan, Emmett J Scanlan and Tamzin Outhwaite, helped the crime drama make a decent dent on ratings.
And the team behind it were so confident of landing a fourth outing, its writer had begun work on scripts.
But ITV has now pulled the plug.
A channel spokesperson said: “The Tower was much loved by the audience who watched the drama but the viewing figures for the last series did not reach expectations so sadly we won’t be recommissioning.”
Game Of Thrones star Gemma played maverick cop DS Sarah Collins, part of a group of detectives investigating serious crimes in central London, while Peaky Blinders star Emmett was rule-bending inspector Kieran Shaw.
Jimmy Akingbola also starred as DC Steve Bradshaw in the show, based on Kate London’s Met Police book series. The series began with an audience of more than five and a half million in November 2021.
But the third series, shown in early September, lost more than a million viewers over the course of the four episodes, ending with ratings of just over 2.5million.
Patrick Harbinson, who adapted the books for TV, had remained hopeful of a fourth run.
‘Different fears’
He told The Sun’s TV Mag in August: “I’m already writing the first episode of The Tower four just to show to ITV that we’re ready to go, because Kate [London] has already written a brilliant fourth novel, The Misper, on which the new series would be based.
“There are more brilliant stories to tell, involving Gemma Whelan’s character DS Sarah Collins and PC Lizzie Adama, played by Tahirah Sharif.
“Both those characters still have a long way to go. The world of crime in England is fast changing. Different crimes, different fears, different heroes. I’d love to do more about them.”
Gemma previously said: “I’m trying to send all the thoughts to TV and all the people to tune in, it’s going to be numbers, the numbers.
“This has grown so beautifully as a series. We would definitely like to do more.”
Unseen Madge material
MADONNA’S rise to fame is to be examined in a new feature-length documentary.
The film draws on a stash of recently found audio tapes in which the young Queen of Pop reflects on her life.
Showing on Sky Documentaries and called Becoming Madonna, it also includes rare footage and intimate interviews with family, friends and collaborators, some of whom have never been heard before.
The doc promises to re-examine the tragedies that fired her ambition, such as the early death of her mother, and that of her dance teacher Christopher Flynn and close friend Martin Burgoyne.
Sky’s Hayley Reynolds said: “This is a fresh perspective on an enduring icon.”
Spencer laps up round 2
MADE in Chelsea star-turned-marathon runner Spencer Matthews is about to feature in a documentary chronicling his latest challenge.
Seven In Seven, made by UK indie production company Whisper, will see him complete ironman challenges in seven continents.
If he achieves the feat, it will see him break another Guinness World Record, off the back of him running 30 desert marathons in 30 days in August.
Though the show has yet to have a channel commit to the project, the company is confident it will find a buyer, given Spencer’s incredible record attempt.
According to online mag Deadline, Spencer will complete a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and 42.2km marathon in each continent, ending in Antarctica.
Almost as challenging as the two-mile bar crawl down London’s King’s Road.
Callum’s made for new role
IT’S A Sin star Callum Scott Howells shows his flamboyant side for upcoming drama Madfabulous.
Most viewers will remember him as anorak-wearing geek Colin in the heartbreaking Channel 4 drama.
But now he willl take on the role of the infamous 19th- century aristocrat Henry Paget, 5th Marquess of Anglesey, who shattered all conventions of the day.
As well as having a natty line in formal wear, he was also partial to cross-dressing and blew his entire inheritance on a lavish lifestyle.
He will be opposite Bridgerton’s Ruby Stokes in the drama, which is yet to receive a release date.
Callum said: “It is a real honour to portray Henry in this great story about the man.
“He is such a fascinating character – a rebel ahead of his time and the inspiration to many artists over the years.”
Charlie Busted by The Rock
THE MASKED Singer 2023 champ Charlie Simson might need to dig out his Rhino costume after revealing he has a “beef” with Hollywood man mountain The Rock.
On tonight’s Never Mind The Buzzcocks, playing on Sky Max at 9pm, the Busted singer admits that he once tweeted a critique of Dwayne Johnson‘s movie franchise Jumanji.
Charlie said: “I wrote about Jumanji 2: ‘I wonder if it’ll be the second worst movie ever made.’
“The Rock then tweeted me back saying, ‘Why don’t we get in a room, just you and me, sort it out like men.’
“And I was like, ‘Absolutely f*cking not, you will squash me like a bug.’”
Show panellist Noel Fielding quipped: “You’ll be calling him The Pebble!”
THE Salisbury Poisonings will be investigated in a new “premium” factual series for Channel 4.
The three-parter promises to tell the story of how in 2018 Segei and Yulia Skripal were poisoned with Novicho with “unprecedented access” to those on the frontline .