We’re excited to announce a range of new tours that are launching in 2012. Here is a summary of them as follows:

Harry Potter Studio Tour with London Locations Bus Tour – The ultimate day out for fans of Harry Potter. You will be able to take a behind the scenes tour of the Warner Bros Studios where the films were made and also go on location to where the films were shot in London. Launching in June 2012.

Beatrix Potter Tour of the Lake District - Take a scenic and magical journey around the picturesque National Park. See the dramatic panoramas that inspired Beatrix Potter as well as the locations from the 2006 movie Miss Potter, much of which was filmed in the North West of England. Launching in April 2012.

Inspector Morse Tour of Oxford – Take a closer investigation into the world of author Colin Dexter’s famous detective creation Inspector Morse. The only bus tour that takes in many of the key locations from the classic series with John Thaw. Launching in April 2012.

Midsomer Murders Tour – Be transported into the charming yet sinister world familiar to DCI John and Tom Barnaby and uncover the real locations that have given the show its distinct character since it was first broadcast in 1997. Launching in April 2012.

Jane Austen Tour – See real inspirations and locations from the life of Jane Austen as well as film locations from small and big screen adaptations of her novels. Available from January 2012.

Beatles London Bus Tour – further details coming soon

SECRET files which name four new Jack the Ripper suspects will not be released to the public.

Retired murder detective Trevor Marriott has fought to have a 900-page dossier on the 1888 Whitechapel ­murders released.

But a tribunal last week ruled they must be kept ­hidden. Scotland Yard said living ­relatives of the ­suspects could be ­attacked.

It added that releasing the papers which name “grasses” would jeopardise the ­recruitment of ­modern-day informants.

Yesterday Mr Marriott, who is writing a book about the Ripper, who was never caught, said: “To censor the documents is absurd.

“They could help solve the mystery after all this time.”

It has already demonstrated its power to keep millions of devoted viewers glued to their sofas.

But it appears the influence of Downton Abbey extends well beyond the nation’s front rooms – to the senior ranks of the Royal Air Force.

The £1 million-an-episode ITV drama prides itself on the authenticity of its historical setting, at the start of the First World War in 1914.

So filming for the new series faced costly delays when it was interrupted by the thoroughly modern racket of a squadron of twin-engine Chinook helicopters on manoeuvres.

Until, that is, senior executives were able to persuade the RAF to redirect its aircraft – training for deployment in Afghanistan – away from the show’s set at Highclere Castle in Berkshire.

The Sunday night drama, starring Hugh Bonneville and charting the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family, became ITV’s surprise hit of last year and returns for a second series in the autumn.

It is understood the aircraft noise problem first arose while shooting last year’s series.
So when it forced filming to a halt again earlier this month, the show’s historical adviser Alastair Bruce took matters into his own hands.

Mr Bruce, a lieutenant-colonel in the Territorial Army, called a senior RAF contact to ask them to practise their formations elsewhere. And such is the sway of the Bafta-
nominated series, the RAF agreed.

A source on the set said: ‘Alastair put in an informal call to politely ask the RAF to move elsewhere.

‘It did the trick and that one phone call saved the production tens of thousands of pounds in potentially lost filming time.

‘Word spread pretty quickly and Alastair was very much the hero of the hour. Everyone on set was extremely grateful.’

A Downton Abbey spokesman refused to comment.

But another show source added: ‘Alastair making this call to the RAF became the talk of the set. He was very modest and insisted that it was something that anyone could have done.’

The helicopters were on manoeuvres from RAF Odiham in Hampshire – 25 miles from Highclere Castle, which doubles as the fictional Abbey – and just ten minutes’ flying time from the set.

The Ministry of Defence said last night: ‘Low-flying training is essential to develop and practise the tactics and techniques that are necessary for operations in Afghanistan. We do all we can to minimise disturbance.’

Since its debut, Downton Abbey – written by Oscar-winning scriptwriter Julian Fellowes – has been sold to more than 100 countries, including Australia and the US.

Related Link: Downton Abbey Tour of Locations

Brit Movie Tours, a unique sightseeing bus tour company that visits film and TV locations in London and throughout Britain, is launching the first ever Downton Abbey Tour of Locations.

Following the huge success of ITV’s period drama starring Maggie Smith and Hugh Bonneville which reached an audience of over 11 million people each week, fans can now visit the setting of the show.

The tour will take in key locations including both Downton village and Highclere Castle which was used for many of the scenes used in the series.

Brit Movie Tours director, Lewis Swan explains, “one of the aims of the Downton Abbey Tour is to get fans of the show to see the places used in the show and to get a closer experience of how life ‘above and below stairs’ was. The commissioning of a second series in 2011 will also help to increase interest in the show.”

For tour info and how to book visit Downton Abbey Tour of Locations

Doctor Who – The Rebel Flesh Saturday 21 May BBC One Time to be confirmed A solar tsunami sends the TARDIS hurtling towards a futuristic factory on Earth, where human doppelgangers are used to mine dangerous acid, as the time-travelling adventures continue.

Go here to see the original:
Doctor Who – The Rebel Flesh