HOTEL BABYLON RETURNS FOR MORE DECADENT, FIVE-STAR DRAMA

- U.S. premiere features special guest star Paula Abdul -

Hotel Babylon returns, including a guest star appearance by Paula Abdul, with an all-new U.S. premiere season filled with the glitz, glamour and drama at one of London's most exclusive hotels where guests can have whatever they want�for a price. Whether it's throwing a Grand Prix victory celebration or helping to launch a new fashion line, the staff at Hotel Babylon work tirelessly for their glamorous, image-obsessed customers. This season, other guest stars include John Barrowman (Torchwood), Nathaniel Parker (Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Bleak House) and Michael Landes (Ghost Whisperer, CSI). Hotel Babylon premieres Friday, May 15, 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

At the start of the new season, Charlie Edwards (Max Beesley, Bodies), has been promoted to manager. His first task is to cope with a new public relations expert, Emily (Alexandra Moen). She is beautiful, ambitious and scrambling to put Hotel Babylon back on top following a bad review. But she gets off on the wrong foot with the entire staff when she poses as a journalist, interviewing her future colleagues who divulge a little too much information. She needs to earn their trust back if she wants to last longer than a week.

In the third season the staff�including Tony the Concierge, Receptionists Ben and Anna, Barman Gino and Jackie, Head of Housekeeping�have to cope with a wide array of demanding guests, including faux aristocrats, a child star, a Michelin-starred chef, and a master illusionist. They host everything from a diamond auction to auditions for a musical�and somehow make it all look effortless.

BBC AMERICA brings audiences a new generation of award-winning television featuring news with a uniquely global perspective, provocative dramas, razor-sharp comedies and life-changing makeovers. BBC AMERICA pushes the boundaries to deliver high quality, highly addictive and eminently watchable programming to viewers who demand more. BBC AMERICA is distributed by Discovery Networks. It is available on digital cable and satellite TV in more than 60 million homes.

WHAT THE BRITISH PRESS SAID

"It's an eye-opener-and-a-half...lifting the veil on a cynical world behind a luxurious facade and having enormous fun in the process...swanky, fast-moving... I loved it." Daily Express

"Glossy, glamorous, light entertainment is back in town. Enjoy." Observer

"It's flashy, it's trashy, and it can't fail to be a hit." Sunday Express

"Hilarious ... cheeky, frothy, high-gloss drama." Daily Mail

"Max Beesley is brilliant." The Times

EPISODE SYNOPSES

Season premiere�guest star Paula Abdul

Anna is in heaven when highly successful clothing company, De Rigeur, holds a fashion show at the hotel to launch their new collection. Anna's a big fan of the label and quickly ingratiates herself with Duncan, the creative director, in order to get her hands on the collection's star piece, the Astrix dress. However, things at De Rigeur aren't as glossy as they seem to be. Duncan accuses his boss, Price, of using sweatshops in order to keep clothing costs down. When Price refuses to listen to Duncan, he finds himself an unlikely ally�Anna. Charlie sees Anna in a new light when she shuns her usual materialistic instincts.

Hotel Babylon premieres Friday, May 15, 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Episode two

Love is in the air as Valentine's night approaches, but the restaurant has received a damning review from London's most influential restaurant critic, Alexander Crawfield. Chef Adam Price's head is on the block, but the new Head of Public Relations for the hotel, Emily, sees this as an opportunity to prove her worth. At break-neck speed, she convinces Charlie to hire celebrity chef, Otto Clark, organizes a big Valentine's Night restaurant re-launch with Otto at the helm and audaciously invites Crawfield back for more! Despite his loyalty to Adam, who's clearly hit rock bottom, Charlie is in a corner�with only 24 hours to turn things around and ensure a good review to put the restaurant back on the map.

Episode two premieres Friday, May 22, 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Episode three

Hotel tycoon, Donald Stern's little girl, Naomi is getting married to wealthy American Earl Archer and he wants her to have the best wedding possible. Normally, this would be no problem at all for Babylon, it's just that the Sterns have moved the wedding from the Burlington to Babylon and expect everything to be arranged within a day. Will Emily and Charlie be able to guarantee Stern a wedding to remember? Meanwhile, a weight loss guru is staying at the hotel to promote his new book. But staff snooping reveals the guru's penchant for macaroni cheese and a past he would rather keep hidden.

Episode three premieres Friday, May 29, 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Episode four

The final rounds of auditions for a new musical based on the hit children's book, Princess Scrunchie, are taking place in the hotel and it's alive with precocious kids, crazy showbiz parents as well as a swarm of pestering journalists. Tony is stunned when his 13 year-old daughter, Liz, arrives out of the blue and announces that she's in the final ten. Meanwhile, Gino's brother pays a visit to the hotel and a new management candidate is asked to prove his worth by looking after and appeasing the hotel's most notorious guest.

Episode four premieres Friday, June 5, 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Episode five

Charlie is starting to realize the pressure of managing a five star hotel. He quickly brings in a new sommelier to better the profits of the wine cellar, but then finds out the chambermaids haven't been paid. His finances get even sketchier when an old friend, an established diamond dealer, wants to have the hotel host his exclusive jewelry auction. Charlie has trouble refusing, even though he has no idea where to secure money for the extra security that the auction house demands. With Head Office on his back, the chambermaids at their wits end and his friend, Hutch, needing help, Charlie is forced to make a difficult decision to secure the extra finance he needs.

Episode five premieres Friday, June 12, 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Episode six

Jack has just been made the new GM and this year's big romantic comedy is being filmed in Babylon. Having a film crew in the hotel quickly vexes the regulars. When someone leaks to a popular gossip website that the lead male has indulged in a little botox, he furiously threatens to leave the hotel, jeopardizing both the film and the hotel's profits. The acting bug bites Ben and Gino�they're both desperate for parts in the film, and will do anything to get even the smallest role. Meanwhile, Anna is having a dilemma. Ned has just invited her for a weekend away in New York, but she can't get Charlie out of her head. Episode six stars John Barrowman (Torchwood).

Episode six premieres Friday, June 19, 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Episode seven

A chat show host has asked Tony to find him some company. But Tony is loath to help, as he's on warning from Jack to keep prostitute action to a discreet minimum. Worse, the guest insists on using one of his regular contacts. There's nothing for Tony to do apart from escort the woman to the guest's room. When she attacks her client and escapes, Tony faces getting fired. But he's most concerned about the girl, who, he now realizes, is underage and probably in danger. Meanwhile, a famous illusionist is in town to do his next big stunt�disappear from Trafalgar Square. Anna's interest is piqued, but she gets irked when the magic man is more interested in Ben.

Episode seven premieres Friday, June 26, 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Episode eight

When a faith healer arrives at Babylon, Jack is skeptical but Emily is taken with him, believing he has something. Meanwhile, Ned realizes the only way he's going to see Anna is by hiring a room in the hotel and luring her in. But his plans are utterly foiled once again. Shortly after she arrives, celebrations are cut short when Anna hears what she believes to be a gun shot in an adjoining room.

Episode eight premieres Friday, July 3, 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.