Sharon horgan & michael sheen to lead jack thorne’s ‘best interests’; ‘the witchfinder’ cast; sky super league trailer; ‘downton abbey’ podcast; bbc studios creator residencies – global briefs

SHARON HORGAN & MICHAEL SHEEN TO LEAD JACK THORNE’S ‘BEST INTERESTS’ Sharon Horgan and Michael Sheen are to lead the Jack Thorne-scripted BBC One drama _Best Interests_. The duo will

play married couple Nicci and Andrew who have two daughters: Katie (Alison Oliver) and Marnie (Niamh Moriarty). Marnie has a life-threatening condition and doctors believe it is in her best

interests to be allowed to die, but her loving family disagree. Thus begins a fight that will take them through every stage of a legal process, as they struggle to contemplate this huge

decision. Additional cast include Noma Dumezweni, Chizzy Akudolu, Des McAleer, Mat Fraser, Gary Beadle, Jack Morris, Pippa Haywood, Shane Zaza, Lucian Msamati and Lisa McGrillis. Thorne

said: “_Best Interests_ cases are both compelling and revealing. Our country has a very troubled relationship with disability and these cases put a spotlight on that. But our drama is first

and foremost a love story and it needs incredible actors to bring it to life. Sharon Horgan and Michael Sheen lead a company of ridiculous talents that pull you into the most interesting of

places.” Executive Producers for Chapter One Pictures are Sophie Gardiner, and Toby Bentley with Thorne for One Shoe Films, and Lucy Richer for BBC One. The series will be directed by

Michael Keillor and produced by Jenny Frayn. Filming is currently underway in London for air next year. Endeavor Content has worldwide sales. ‘THE WITCHFINDER’ SETS FINAL CAST WATCH ON

DEADLINE Upcoming BBC Two comedy _The Witchfinder_ has added a host of cast alongside Tim Key and Daisy May Cooper, as well as dropping a first-look photo. From Baby Cow and written and

directed by Neil and Rob Gibbons (_Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, Mid Morning Matters, Veep_), the story follows a failing witchfinder (Key) as he transports a suspected witch (Cooper) across

1640s East Anglia to a trial that could change his fortunes forever. But his captive is the worst possible travel companion: an inquisitive, uncouth woman whose ability to prick his

pomposity and ask uncomfortable questions turns a straightforward journey into a life-changing ordeal. Newly set cast includes Jessica Hynes, Daniel Rigby, Tuwaine Barrett, Reece Shearsmith,

Julian Barratt, Ricky Tomlinson, Rosie Cavaliero, Cariad Lloyd, Ellie White, Vincent Franklin, Joplin Sibtain, Allan Mustafa, Seb Cardinal and Dan Skinner. SKY UNVEILS SUPER LEAGUE DOC

TRAILER Sky has released the trailer for _Super Greed: The Fight for Football, _a documentary airing later this month about the failed European Super League. Fulwell 73’s doc will tell the

story of the most dramatic 48 hours in the history of football, documenting the fiasco that made front page news all over the world, was discussed in UK Parliament and was angrily protested

by fans at club stadia. The film will air on March 21 on the Sky Documentaries channel. ‘DOWNTON ABBEY‘ LAUNCHES PODCAST Ahead of the spring release of Universal and Focus’ big screen sequel

_Downton Abbey: A New Era_, the Crawley family is getting a dedicated re-watch podcast. The weekly _Downton Abbey: The Official Podcast_ will be hosted by Jacqueline Coley and Anita Rani

and feature interviews with cast and creatives. Going back to the very first episode from 2010, the podcast promises a dive into the secrets of the franchise. Guests will include Hugh

Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Michelle Dockery, Kevin Doyle, Allen Leech, Elizabeth McGovern, Lesley Nicol, Penelope Wilton, Michael Fox, Dominic West and writer Julian Fellowes. Producers

Gareth Neame and Liz Trubridge will also participate as will historical consultant Alastair Bruce, costume designer Anna Mary Scott Robbins, production designer Donal Woods, casting director

Jill Trevellick, and _Downton Abbey: A New Era_ director Simon Curtis. Produced by Limina House, Gobsmack Studios and Somethin’ Else in association with Carnival Films, Focus and Universal,

the podcast is available beginning today on all major platforms. BBC STUDIOS SETS LATEST CREATOR RESIDENTS BBC Studios has set two up-and-coming factual content-makers as the latest intake

to its Creator Residency project. Max Tobin and Layla Wright will join the BBC Studios Factual Science and Factual Podcast team respectively for the scheme that nurtures emerging talent.

Tobin’s latest film _I Will Despise You _won him the RTS Young Filmmaker of the Year 2021 and Wright has hosted shows for BBC Three and BBC Radio Four. The pair join existing Creator

Residents including Liv Little, Danielle Vitalis, Basma Khalifa, Ajay Tegala, Charlie George and Mary O’Connell, who have worked with the likes of Louis Theroux. “Max and Layla are hugely

talented and have already achieved an enormous amount of success: growing their own audiences and getting noticed by awards schemes,” said Sarah Farrow, Head of Talent, Unscripted for BBC

Studios.