Event, which has now become a regular at the waterfront ACC Liverpool arena and convention complex, is the world’s largest international television market hosted by a single distributor. Tony McDonough reports

Stellar names including new Doctor Who Jodie Whittaker and Luther star Idris Elba are coming to Liverpool this month for the annual BBC Worldwide Showcase.

The event, which has now become a regular at the waterfront ACC Liverpool arena and convention complex, is the world’s largest international television market hosted by a single distributor.

It looks to sell BBC shows to broadcasters and content providers from across the world. This year the showcase will play host to its largest ever delegation of digital clients including tech giants Google, Apple, Netflix, Microsoft, Facebook-Oculus and Amazon.

Joining Jodie Whittaker Idris Elba at the event, which runs from February 18 to 21, will be Steve Coogan (Alan Partridge), Nicola Walker (The Split) and Karl Pilkington (Sick of It).

Producers from the next wave of landmark Natural History series, such as Dynasty and Serengeti, will also be on hand to give buyers a first look at these stunning productions.

Now in its 42nd year, the showcase will be attended by more than 700 buyers and with thousands of hours of TV content to view in 600 specially constructed digi booths.

More than a sales market, BBC Worldwide Showcase brings together producers, financiers and the BBC’s top executives as well as Britain’s most successful creatives giving them the opportunity to develop TV shows of the future.

The itinerary includes a co-production forum where potential partners will hear about titles that are in their infancy and, from industry experts, insight sessions on cultural and consumer trends in factual and scripted.  

Paul Dempsey, president global markets, BBC Worldwide, said: “We continually evolve Showcase to make sure it fits the needs of our customers and this year we’ll be hosting a wider range of companies than ever before.

“We’ll also be joined by many of the key names from Britain’s biggest independent production companies, including BBC Studios, as well as producers, broadcasters and financiers from all around the world who’ll be discussing their latest content strategies, new projects and global trends.”