More documentaries on early films

Paul Merton is working on two new documentaries inspired by his love of silent comedies.

The Birth Of Hollywood will be his first factual series for BBC Two, telling the story of how early US cinema still influences today’s films.

The three hour-long shows will be broadcast in 2011, to coincide with the centenary of Hollywood’s film industry.

Producer Kate Broome told industry magazine Broadcast: ‘It is about how the DNA of silent cinema originated in Hollywood.’

Merton’s other programme, provisionally titled Paul Merton’s Lost Silence, will revolve around early European cinema.

BBC Four – which previously broadcast Paul Merton’s Silent Clowns – is expected to air this one-off later this year, or early next.

Merton will direct both shows while his new wife Suki Webster will write the scripts.

Published: 1 Oct 2009