Latest news and gossip from your favourite TV programmes and series

Liz White: 'We need more real-life drama' (VIDEO)

Liz White: 'We need more real-life drama' (VIDEO)

Actress Liz White has urged broadcasters to make room for more real-life drama on TV.

The Life on Mars star, who appears in the upcoming BBC drama A Short Stay in Switzerland with Julie Walters, says that channels are favouring crime dramas, soaps and reality TV over "dramas that people can relate to."

And she hailed Jimmy McGovern's The Street as a shining example of a 'quality' British drama.

Talking to whatsontv.co.uk, Liz said: "Take a series like The Street, which is about real people living ordinary lives and extraordinary things happen to them, and that's successful.

"But the schedules are filled with dramas that people can't relate to and that formula keeps being reused and doesn't work."

She went on: "[Broadcasters] need to make more room for quality drama that's not just about filling the crime bracket or soap bracket. I think those genres are met already - we need to make room for more real-life drama."

In A Short Stay in Switzerland, Liz plays the daughter of a woman suffering from an incurable neurological illness, who wants to go to a Swiss clinic to die.

The drama can be seen on BBC1 on Sunday January 25 at 9pm.

CLICK below to watch Liz White talking about British drama



Get exclusive access to your favourite stars. Subscribe to TV Times magazine

Archive: Read all the previous stories


Subscribe to the What's On TV newsletter

TV Quiz

TV Quiz

Test your knowledge and win great prizes

Play now

Games

Win Prizes

Play fantastic online games like Strike It Lucky and win instant cash prizes!

Play more

Shop

Go Shopping Online

Get the latest fashions, dieting tips, new exercise techniques - and maybe even a new partner!

Find out more

Also in What's On TV

Soaps

Is Corrie The Musical on the cards?

Coronation Street star Katherine Kelly is being tipped to take the lead in a new musical based on the soap, according to the papers.

UK Drama

Channel 4 "shelves" Jonathan Ross deal

Channel 4 has shelved plans to give Jonathan Ross a £10m deal to host his own chat show, according to the papers.

Reality TV

Conflicting reports over Cheryl Cole's marriage

Confusion is growing over the future of Cheryl Cole's marriage to footballer Ashley after conflicting reports appeared in the Sunday papers.

US Series

Glee's Jane to get Madonna makeover in new episode

Jane Lynch can't wait for Glee fans to see her strike a pose in a special Madonna-themed episode.

Star Interviews

Mikey Graham remembers his mate Stephen

TV Times talks to Dancing on Ice star Mikey Graham about this Saturday’s special tribute to late Boyzone bandmate Stephen Gately...

Good To Know