English-language series based on Danish TV show will start on 16 December, starring Tim Pigott-Smith as Hans Gammelgaard
An English-language spin-off of acclaimed Danish drama Borgen is to air on BBC Radio 4 starring Tim Pigott-Smith as Hans Gammelgaard.
The radio show, Borgen: Outside the Castle will feature several characters from the acclaimed BBC4 series, led by Gammelgaard, the private secretary in the ministry of the environment.
The five-part series is an English adaptation of a Danish radio show; unlike the TV series, which recently returned for its third and final run, it will be in English (subtitles not so effective on the radio).
Pigott-Smith, who starred in The Jewel in the Crown, recently appeared in BBC2's The Hour and Julian Fellowes's Downton Abbey on ITV. He will next be seen in Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall's retelling of The Great Train Robbery on BBC1.
Borgen: Outside the Castle will focus on the world of the civil service, rather than politicians, and is set against the backdrop of Borgen series one, which told the story of Birgitte Nyborg's unlikely rise to power.
Starting on Monday 16 December, and made in collaboration with the production team from the Danish broadcaster, DR, behind the hit TV series, it will follow Gammelgaard's attempts to win approval for the controlled use of genetically modified crops by Danish famers. He comes up against unseen enemies who will go to "any lengths" to stop him.
Both series have at their centre the Danish parliament, nicknamed Borgen ("the castle").
Listeners will also be immediately familiar with the soundtrack, composed by Grammy-winning Danish composer Halfdan E, which it shares with the TV show.
Made by the BBC's in-house radio drama department, Pigott-Smith will star alongside Will Howard, Katherine Dow Blyton, Tom Goodman-Hill, Danny Sapani, Tony Gardner and Pippa Haywood.
The Bafta-winning Borgen is one of a number of influential Scandinavian dramas that have proved Saturday night hits for BBC4, including The Killing and The Bridge, recently adapted by Sky Atlantic as The Tunnel.
It is unusual but not unique for a TV series to spawn a spin-off radio show – both Doctor Who and Blake's 7 filled their absence from the small screen with a number of radio shows.
But more typically they move in the other direction, with shows that are breakout hits on radio, such as Little Britain, switching from radio to TV.
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An English-language spin-off of acclaimed Danish drama Borgen is to air on BBC Radio 4 starring Tim Pigott-Smith as Hans Gammelgaard.
The radio show, Borgen: Outside the Castle will feature several characters from the acclaimed BBC4 series, led by Gammelgaard, the private secretary in the ministry of the environment.
The five-part series is an English adaptation of a Danish radio show; unlike the TV series, which recently returned for its third and final run, it will be in English (subtitles not so effective on the radio).
Pigott-Smith, who starred in The Jewel in the Crown, recently appeared in BBC2's The Hour and Julian Fellowes's Downton Abbey on ITV. He will next be seen in Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall's retelling of The Great Train Robbery on BBC1.
Borgen: Outside the Castle will focus on the world of the civil service, rather than politicians, and is set against the backdrop of Borgen series one, which told the story of Birgitte Nyborg's unlikely rise to power.
Starting on Monday 16 December, and made in collaboration with the production team from the Danish broadcaster, DR, behind the hit TV series, it will follow Gammelgaard's attempts to win approval for the controlled use of genetically modified crops by Danish famers. He comes up against unseen enemies who will go to "any lengths" to stop him.
Both series have at their centre the Danish parliament, nicknamed Borgen ("the castle").
Listeners will also be immediately familiar with the soundtrack, composed by Grammy-winning Danish composer Halfdan E, which it shares with the TV show.
Made by the BBC's in-house radio drama department, Pigott-Smith will star alongside Will Howard, Katherine Dow Blyton, Tom Goodman-Hill, Danny Sapani, Tony Gardner and Pippa Haywood.
The Bafta-winning Borgen is one of a number of influential Scandinavian dramas that have proved Saturday night hits for BBC4, including The Killing and The Bridge, recently adapted by Sky Atlantic as The Tunnel.
It is unusual but not unique for a TV series to spawn a spin-off radio show – both Doctor Who and Blake's 7 filled their absence from the small screen with a number of radio shows.
But more typically they move in the other direction, with shows that are breakout hits on radio, such as Little Britain, switching from radio to TV.
• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email media@theguardian.com or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".
• To get the latest media news to your desktop or mobile, follow MediaGuardian on Twitter and Facebook. Reported by guardian.co.uk 8 hours ago.
