‘Zombies’ to descend on MediaCityUK for TV preview

Organisers from the BBC’s new writing department Writersroom and the University of Salford are hoping the public will enter into the spirit of the occasion and come dressed as the undead for the screening of episode one of In the Flesh, a new BBC Three series starring new acting talent alongside famous names including The Royle Family’s Ricky Tomlinson and Kenneth Cranham (Shine on Harvey Moon and Hot Fuzz).

At the preview, being held at the University’s MediaCity Building on Thursday 7 March, the audience will also get the opportunity to quiz the show’s writer, Dominic Mitchell, and director Jonny Campbell, whose credits include Doctor Who, Ashes to Ashes and television film Eric & Ernie, along with Kate Rowland, Creative Director of New Writing at the BBC.

The event is the first in a series of MediaCity Masterclasses offering aspiring writers the chance to learn from BBC professionals working in genres including soap, sitcom, children’s TV, and television and audio drama.

Set in the fictional village of Roarton soon after thousands of the dead were reanimated in one night, In The Flesh is the story of teenage zombie Kieren Walker and his reintegration into the local community and the heart of his family. With its central themes of redemption, forgiveness, acceptance, denial and what it means to be alive or dead, In The Flesh is a complex look at what happens when families get a second chance at mending their past and working together towards an unpredictable future.

Jennifer Tuckett, University of Salford lecturer in Creative Writing and co-organiser of the Masterclass series, said: “It’s fantastic to build on our partnership with BBC Writersroom and we look forward to working closely with them to bring in some of the most exciting writers working for the BBC over the next few months.”

The MediaCity Masterclass In The Flesh screening and Q&A will take place at the Digital Performance Lab, University of Salford, MediaCityUK, Salford, M50 2HE on Thursday 7 March from 6.30-8.30pm. The masterclass is open to the public and admission is free – for further information and to book a place, visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunities/in-the-flesh-screening.