MAM
Russell T Davies and Nicola Shindler to lead Series Mania masterclass
MUMBAI: Television’s sharpest minds are set to step into the spotlight at Lille. Russell T Davies and Nicola Shindler will lead a high-profile Talent Masterclass at the Series Mania Forum, bringing decades of headline-making television and a first look at their next big collaboration.
Announced by Series Mania founder and general director Laurence Herszberg, the masterclass will take place on March 25 at 15:45 at the Lille Grand Palais, during the Forum running from March 24–26, alongside the wider Series Mania Festival (March 20–27).
Davies and Shindler, whose long creative partnership has produced modern television landmarks including Years & Years, It’s a Sin, Nolly and Queer as Folk, will turn the spotlight on their upcoming five-part Channel 4 drama Tip Toe already tipped as one of the most anticipated series of 2026. The session will feature exclusive first-look clips and a deep dive into the show’s creative ambition, from its origins to the realities of delivering bold, socially charged drama at scale.
Starring Alan Cumming and David Morrissey, Tip Toe explores the resurgence of prejudice and the pressures facing the LGBTQ+ community today, examining how intolerance quietly seeps back into everyday life. It marks another return to provocative, emotionally resonant storytelling for Davies, whose credits also include Doctor Who, Torchwood and A Very English Scandal, and for Shindler, the BAFTA-winning producer behind Happy Valley, Unforgotten, Fool Me Once and After The Flood. Shindler was also honoured with the Woman in Series Award at the Forum in 2023.
Herszberg said the duo’s return underlined the Forum’s role as a meeting point for television’s most influential voices, calling Tip Toe the latest chapter in a creative partnership that has consistently connected with audiences worldwide. Davies, meanwhile, summed up his mood more succinctly: delighted to be part of Series Mania once again and ready to say, with characteristic flair, “Allons-y!”
Digital
Anthropic eyes $900bn valuation in new funding round ahead of IPO: Reports
Claude maker may surpass OpenAI as investor interest heats up sharply
SAN FRANCISCO: Anthropic is exploring a fresh funding round that could value the company at more than $900 billion, potentially making it the world’s most valuable artificial intelligence startup, according to Bloomberg reports.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, Bloomberg News reported that the Claude maker is in early-stage discussions with investors and is entertaining offers at more than double its current valuation. No deal has been finalised yet.
The interest marks a sharp jump from February this year, when Anthropic raised $30 billion at a valuation of $380 billion. Since then, investor appetite appears to have intensified, with multiple pre-emptive offers on the table.
According to TechCrunch, the company has received proposals to raise around $50 billion at valuations ranging between $850 billion and $900 billion. A decision is expected to be taken at a board meeting in May.
If the deal goes through at the upper end of that range, Anthropic would overtake OpenAI, which was valued at $852 billion in March, to become the most valuable AI startup globally.
The potential fundraise also comes against the backdrop of a possible initial public offering, which could be launched as early as October, the Bloomberg report noted.
The company counts tech heavyweights such as Amazon and Google, part of Alphabet, among its key backers. Both firms have continued to deepen their ties with Anthropic through multi-billion-dollar, performance-linked investments.
Interestingly, earlier reports had suggested that Anthropic was cautious about raising funds at valuations of $800 billion or more. The latest developments, however, indicate that market enthusiasm for advanced AI models and infrastructure may be shifting those thresholds quickly.
As the race for AI dominance accelerates, Anthropic’s next move could set a new benchmark for startup valuations, and signal just how high investors are willing to bet on the future of artificial intelligence.
