TV News: More on BBC Four

There's no risk of my hard disk recorder ever being empty following today's news from the BBC...:

Cementing BBC Four as the home of international drama, the channel today announces three new foreign language drama series: Crimes Of Passion, a Swedish crime series set in the 1950s; Hostages, an Israeli thriller series; and 1864, a Danish historical drama series.

Sue Deeks, BBC Head of Programme Acquisition []: “I am delighted that we are adding to our range of international drama on BBC Four with three superb new series. Hostages is a taut, spare and authentic Israeli thriller; Crimes Of Passion is a stylish and engaging 50s-set detective drama; and 1864 is an epic historical Danish series with tremendous sweep and scale.”

1864 (8x60)

Brothers Laust and Peter live in an innocent world full of hope, under poor, but happy, circumstances, in the Danish countryside in the middle of the 19th century.

Following the victories over the Prussians in the war of 1848-51, Denmark is now scheming to annex Schleswig into the Danish Kingdom. Inflamed with nationalism, the leader of the Danish parliament, Monrad, neglects all European treaties and throws the country into war with Prussia. At the same time, Laust and Peter grow up and fall in love with the well-read and beautiful Inge, but when the war erupts Peter and Laust volunteer for the army...

1864 is an epic, highly cinematic historical drama, in which we become eyewitnesses to momentous events and the extraordinary love story of Peter, Laust and Inge, and how the brothers - along with thousands of Danish soldiers - fought some of the bloodiest battles in European history.

Starring: Jakob Oftebro, Pilou Asbæk, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Søren Malling.

Crimes Of Passion (6x90)

With love, sex, intrigue, betrayal, secrets, lies - and murder - Crimes Of Passion is based on the popular crime novels of author Maria Lang. Set in the magically beautiful region of Bergslagen, Sweden, these entertaining ‘whodunnits’ follow amateur sleuth Puck Ekstedt and fiancé Einar Bure, along with police superintendent Christer Wijk, in their quest to cast a light on the murderous intent beneath the seemingly idyllic surroundings – where the killer is always one of the community.

(Three of Maria Lang's many books are available in English, if you can find them. Can we hope for a reprint?)

Hostages (10x60)

Hostages is an intense psychological crime-thriller that follows a renowned surgeon about to perform a routine operation on the president of Israel. But there is nothing routine about it when the night before the procedure, her family is taken hostage and she is ordered to sabotage the operation and kill the president – or her family will die. Her battle to save both her family and the president takes us on a journey where everyone is fighting for survival.

BBC Four viewers can also look forward to season two of The Bridge, new Belgian conspiracy thriller Salamander, season three of Wallander, and home-grown dramas Hinterland from Wales and Amber from Ireland.