Human tells the remarkable tale of how homo sapiens became the dominant species on Earth.

Presented by paleoanthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi, the five-part series explores how we evolved over hundreds of thousands of years and managed to survive against the odds, while several other human species who were living alongside us died out.

Here’s everything you need to know about Human, including an interview with Ella Al-Shamahi…

Human – release date

Human begins in the UK on Monday, July 14 at 9pm on BBC2 and will air weekly, but the whole series will also be available as a box-set from the same day on BBC iPlayer.

It is set to air from Wednesday, September 17 on PBS in the US.

Human – who is Ella Al-Shamahi?

The paleoanthropologist and explorer has previously hosted BBC2’s Neanderthals - Meet Your Ancestors in 2018, in 2020 she hosted Channel 4’s Jungle Mystery: Lost Kingdoms of the Amazon and teamed up with Chris Packham for BBC2’s Waterhole, which looked at wildlife at a reserve in Tanzania. In 2022 she presented Channel 4’s Tutankhamun: Secrets of the Tomb and she has also featured on BBC2’s Our Changing Planet.

Human – what is it about?

The documentary sees Ella Al-Shamahi travel across the globe to a range of archaeological sites where she unveils cutting-edge DNA and fossil discoveries that shed fresh light on our evolution. She also looks at other human species – some of whom lived at the same time as us – and examines why they became extinct but we managed to survive. Meanwhile 3D models, partly created using CGI, reveal what our early ancestors may have looked like and dramatic reconstruction portrays how they may have lived.

Human – episode guide

Episode One: The First Of Us

Ella Al-Shamahi travels to Morocco to look at a fossilised skull from 300,000 years that reveals how homo sapiens is 100,000 years older than previously thought. She also looks at how our adaptability, passing on of knowledge and talent for abstract thinking allowed us to make weapons and withstand crises such as climate change. And in a cave in Botswana, she examines a stone carving that hints at how early humans carried out rituals.

Episode Two: Into the Unknown

This episode reveals how homo sapiens migrated from their original home in Africa around 60,000 years ago to settle in the Middle East and beyond. Ella travels to the Sri Lanka rainforest to see how we lived in the harsh jungle and even hunted monkeys. On the island of Flores in Indonesia, she uncovers more about a tiny human species, homo floresiensis, dubbed the ‘Hobbit’. And she also looks at how we became the first humans to travel across the ocean to Australia 45,000 years ago.

Episode Three: Last Humans Standing

Ella looks at how Neanderthals, our closest relatives, had lived in Europe for nearly 400,000 years, when homo sapiens arrived there almost 55,000 years ago and she unveils how Neanderthals had developed to withstand the cold and how we interbred with them. But by 30,000 years ago, we were the only human species left – did we play a role in Neanderthals’ decline? She also travels to a cave in Spain to see a chilling site where a Neanderthal family was murdered.

Episode Four: Discovering the Americas

Humans first migrated to the Americas during the Ice Age, when it was the last habitable continent. Ella looks at how we hunted giant bears, mammoths and sloths but as the climate shifted, these animals faced extinction so we turned to farming. She also examines fossilised footprints, possibly of a mother and her child, who could have been some of the first settlers in North America.

Episode Five: A Great Gamble

In the final instalment, Ella examines how, around 12,000 years ago, as the Ice Age drew to a close, humans started to make permanent settlements. In Turkey she visits the world’s oldest temple Gobekli Tepe, and an early town, Çatalhöyük, but cramped urban living brought disease and unrest. But in Egypt Ella finds out how cities thrived. And in a turquoise mine in the Sinai desert, she examines how migrant workers created the first alphabet.

Human trailer

The new trailer gives an extraordinary insight into what we can expect from this fascinating documentary...

Human – interview with Ella Al-Shamahi

Mix Tape is a BBC2 drama starring The Last Anniversary star Teresa Palmer and The Stolen Girl’s Jim Sturgess which switches between their teenage romance in Sheffield in 1989 and their adult lives on opposite sides of the world.

Based on the novel Mix Tape by Jane Sanderson, it also stars Bridgerton’s Florence Hunt and newcomer Rory Walton-Smith as their younger selves. And you can expect a banging 1980s soundtrack too.

Here’s everything we know about Irish-Australian series Mix Tape on Binge, BBC2 and BBCiPlayer…

Mix Tape release date

Mix Tape is a four-part series that arrives on BBC2 on Tuesday July 15 2025 at 9pm with the following episode on Wednesday July 16 again at 9pm. The final two episodes are on BBC2 on July 22 and 23 2025. All four episodes are on BBCiPlayer from July 15 2025.

Mix Tape was shown in Australia via the streaming service Binge from June 12 2025.

Is there a trailer?

Yes, there's a Mix Tape trailer. We hear Alison say, “You never forget the boy who made you your first mix tape” and it seems to be true as the pair connect years later and struggle to put one another in the past.

Take a look below...

Mix Tape plot 

Set along two timelines, Mix Tape, follows Alison and Daniel who shared a teenage romance in the 1980s in Sheffield, England, and never quite managed to put it behind them. Daniel eventually married Katja (Sara Soulié) and had a son with her, while Alison married prominent surgeon Michael (Ben Lawson) and became a mum to two kids. By 2015 Daniel’s still in Sheffield working as a freelance music critic and Alison is forging a career as an author in Sydney. 

Decades later they reconnect thanks to a song that provided the soundtrack to their first love. Although the pair now live on opposite sides of the globe, in Australia and the UK, they feel compelled to explore whether this was the life, and love, they were meant to have.

Mix Tape cast — Teresa Palmer on playing Alison 

Teresa Palmer, who plays Alison, says: "It was nostalgic reading through [the script]. It took me back to those initial feelings of falling in love for the first time and the butterflies. The characters were rich and nuanced.

"They have that head-over-heels obsessive love, which is the most potent. My own experience with first love was just as intoxicating and all-consuming. And these two have that soulmate connection.

Alison has a lot of trauma in her past she wants to leave behind, so she's written a book to branch out of herself. Alison keeps a lid on her feelings, but she opens up Pandora's box and we see her navigate a lot of challenging things."

* Teresa Palmer recently starred in The Last Anniversary and played Diana Bishop in A Discovery of Witches. She’s also been in The Fall Guy, The Clearing, Point Break and Addition.

Jim Sturgess on playing Daniel

Jim Sturgess, who plays Daniel in Mix Tape, says: "I liked that it was messy and complicated, and the relationships felt real; I was moved. That’s one of the strengths of the show. It’s romantic but, at the same time, painful to watch. And I was drawn to Daniel. When I was 17 and 18, it was the music of the late 1980s and early 1990s with bands like Joy Division and New Order, so my young self was not a million miles away from him.

"Through their shared passion for music they connect and have this visceral, powerful love that gets cut short when Alison has to leave Sheffield without any answers as to why. That leaves Daniel with a huge, unresolved hole in his heart.

‘The music reignites a lot of feelings from their youth. They're left with this unresolved love that's more powerful than they both anticipated."

* Jim Sturgess previously played Fred in the recent Disney Plus drama The Stolen Girl and was Alan Marchand in last year’s Apartment 7A. He’s also had roles in Alone Together, The Other Me, Hard Sun, The Other Boleyn Girl and the film version of One Day.

Who else is starring in Mix Tape? 

Mix Tape's other stars include Bridgerton’s Florence Hunt is the young Alison and newcomer Rory Walton-Smith is the young Daniel. Julia Savage, Jonathan Harden, Jacqueline McKenzie, Ben Lawson and Chika Ikogwe also star.

Behind the scenes, filming news and more on Mix Tape

Mix Tape was filmed on location in Dublin and Sydney, and was acquired by the BBC from Boat Rocker Studios.

Patrick Roberts, Senior Vice President, Global Sales, Boat Rocker Studios says: “We’re delighted by the strong response to Mix Tape we’ve received from the BBC and our other partners around the world and can’t wait for audiences to discover this unique take on a modern love story.”

Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition, says: “Accompanied by an absolutely cracking 80s soundtrack, Mix Tape is an enjoyable blend of nostalgia, romance and heartbreak – it really is the perfect summer treat!”

The project was originated by Irish production company Subotica, commissioned by Foxtel Group and co-produced by Subotica and Australia’s Aquarius Films in association with Boat Rocker, who also handle international distribution. It was written by Jo Spain, directed by Lucy Gaffy, and produced by Aoife O’Sullivan and Tristan Orpen Lynch for Subotica and Angie Fielder and Polly Staniford for Aquarius Films. Alison Hurbert-Burns, Lana Greenhalgh and Clare Mirabello serve as executive producers alongside David Fortier, Ivan Schneeberg, Nick Nantell, and Erik Pack for Boat Rocker and Marc Lorber.

Mix Tape was supported by investment from the Foxtel Group in association with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and Screen Australia, with further support from the Finnish Impact Film Fund, Screen NSW’s Made in NSW Fund and The Post Lounge.

When Bruce Springsteen Came to Britain sees the legendary rock star tell a number of new stories about his memories of performing in the UK over the years.

He’s also touchingly candid about the pressure of his first-ever British gig at London’s Hammersmith Odeon in 1975. Apparently, he hated his performance so much that he couldn’t watch back the footage for more than 30 years!

"After the show I went to a party that was supposed to celebrate my triumph, but I felt I’d been terrible and so I was embarrassed to even go in to the party," says Bruce, now 75, in the BBC Two film. "I went in for a few minutes, couldn’t stand myself being there, went out, ran back to the hotel, sat in my lonely room under a big black cloud, ate whatever I had and went to bed.

"I had PTSD from the first Hammersmith show. I said, I ain’t going back to Britain until I have a war chest of songs and I’m fully confident I can blow the roof off!"

So here's everything we know about When Bruce Springsteen Came to Britain on BBC Two...

When Bruce Springsteen Came to Britain release date

When Bruce Springsteen Came To Britain is a one-hour film that airs on Saturday, May 31 at 9.30 pm on BBC Two. It will also be available on BBC iPlayer from that date. If the documentary is released internationally or in the US, we'll update here so that Springsteen the fans the world over might get to see it.

What is shown in When Bruce Springsteen Came to Britain?

When Bruce Springsteen Came to Britain chronicles the star's unique relationship with the UK with a look back at his British concerts over the years. It features a world exclusive new interview with Bruce himself, plus archive from the 1970s to the 2020s, including the Born in the USA tour of 1985 and his recent Wembley Stadium performance. There are also tales from Monty Python legend Sir Michael Palin, who wrote about the first Hammersmith gig in his famous diary, and Springsteen superfan Rob Brydon, who even kept a Springsteen scrapbook.

Meanwhile, we hear from ordinary fans like Juliana Heron, the wife of a striking miner, who in 1985 received a 20,000-dollar cheque from Springsteen towards their community funds. Also featured are Bruce’s legendary manager and producer Jon Landau, E Street Band member Stevie Van Zandt.

Executive producer Mark Robinson says: "This documentary chronicles a truly special relationship between an iconic American artist and the UK – and one who seems to inspire an unrivalled loyalty and passion from his fans. Not only has Bruce been influenced by British songwriters and musicians, in turn he has influenced new generations of them too."

Exclusive interview with executive producer Mark Robinson

Executive producer Mark Robinson gave an exclusive interview to our sister magazine TV & Satellite Week about the big highlights to expect in When Bruce Springsteen Came to Britain...

Why does Bruce Springsteen have such a connection with British music?
Mark Robinson says: "He fell in love with our music as a teenager in the 1960s. The Beatles, the Stones and the Animals were such big influences on him. He told us a story about how he felt when he first heard I Want to Hold Your Hand on the radio when his mum was driving the car. For a while in his teens, he tried to speak with an English accent and even had a Beatles haircut.

When he first played in Britain in 1975, how did he go down?
"His first concert at London’s Hammersmith Odeon was a tricky introduction. It was his first gig outside the US and he felt a lot of pressure because he was playing in the land of his musical fathers. Also, his record company was hyping him as the next Bob Dylan which added to the pressure. He was disappointed with his performance – he even says he had PTSD from Hammersmith. But we hear in the documentary from Michael Palin and Peter Gabriel, who were both in the audience that night and loved it."

What is so special about Bruce’s epic live concerts?
"His concerts bring people together. The gigs are intimate despite there being thousands of people in the audience. They are like spiritual gatherings, and he holds the crowd in the palm of his hand. I only saw him play for the first time at Wembley Stadium last year but I was blown away."

How does he have such a special bond with his fans?
"He inspires an unrivalled loyalty and passion from his fans, but it’s a two-way connection. In the documentary, we hear from Juliana Heron, the wife of a striking Northumberland miner, who talks about Bruce donating to their community support group when he played in Newcastle in the 1980s. She and her husband have followed him ever since. Having grown up in a blue-collar family, Bruce has always had that connection with working-class issues."

What was it like to meet Bruce during filming?
"He is so busy that it took us three years to arrange a meeting! We travelled to his home in New Jersey to record the interview. We’d sent him our questions beforehand and he had clearly thought about them carefully. He was so welcoming, friendly and helpful. He even played some Beatles riffs on his guitar. We were over the moon."

When Bruce Springsteen Came to Britain – what else do we know?

The documentary is the centrepiece of a special night on BBC Two celebrating all things Springsteen. Also shown is Hammersmith Odeon ’75, which sees the European concert debut of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. The night will also host a new episode of Bruce Springsteen at the BBC, featuring a compilation of performances from across TV shows, including Old Grey Whistle Test, Top of the Pops, and BBC Four sessions: Bruce Springsteen with the Seeger Sessions Band spanning the past six decades.

Rachel Davies, Commissioning Editor, BBC Music says: "Bruce Springsteen is not only a global music icon, but he’s an honorary Brit here in the UK — he’s become one of our own! We’re looking forward to celebrating Bruce all night on BBC Two with a new compilation of his most loved hits and one of his all-time classic live performances."

Is there a trailer?

Not yet but we’ll post it here as soon as it’s released by the BBC.

Following the success of BBC1 drama Miss Austen starring Keeley Hawes, BBC2 begins a new chapter celebrating Britain’s beloved author, Jane Austen, with a three-part documentary marking the 250th year of her birth.

Jane Austen: Rise of a Genius offers a rare glimpse into the novelist’s innermost thoughts, family dynamics, flirtations and heartbreak through the private letters she wrote to her loyal sister and confidante, Cassandra.

Though much of Austen’s correspondence was destroyed after her death in 1817, the surviving intimate notes are rich with witty observations and sisterly gossip, painting a more nuanced portrait of the mastermind behind timeless classics such as Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park and Emma.

The series is also part of a special line-up of BBC content to honour Austen’s legacy in this 250th anniversary year.

Here’s what we know about the three-part documentary…

Jane Austen: Rise of a Genius release date

The three-part documentary will air on Monday, May 26 on BBC2 at 9pm. It will also be available as a box set on BBC iPlayer.

Jane Austen: Rise of a Genius — What to expect

With dramatic re-enactments and contributions from writers, historians, actors and enthusiasts, the series traces Austen’s evolution from a self-taught Hampshire country girl to a revolutionary storyteller who defied the conventions of her day.

Contemporary authors including Kate Atkinson, Candice Carty-Williams, Colm Tóibín and Bee Rowlatt MBE share their insights on why Austen’s novels are still treasured and adapted more than two centuries later. Plus, film-maker Ken Loach and Cherie Blair discuss her legacy.

“Jane Austen’s voice is so strong, funny and perceptive, and her work is still being copied and stolen by people like me. I shall be eternally grateful to her because I stole her plot for Bridget Jones’ Diary,’ says author Helen Fielding. ‘I learned most of what I know about writing by trying to imitate her.

“She’s the first novelist to write realistic portrayals of real women, with wit, intelligence, irony and understanding,” says Helen. “Elizabeth Bennet was the first woman I came across in a literary novel who seemed like an actual real person. She’s brave, decent, hilarious, kind and timeless. My heroine.”

Jane Austen: Rise of a Genius — Actor insights

The series also features contributions actors who have starred in Jane Austen adaptations over the years, including Samuel West, Greta Scacchi and Tamsin Greig, who discuss playing her characters.

“Jane Austen is the reason I am with my wife of 30 years now,” says The Crown star Greg Wise, who met Emma Thompson while filming the 1995 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility.

“Austen completely understands the human condition and what it is to be alive. It doesn’t make any difference to us, the reader, that we are being shown a world in the early 19th Century,” says Greg. "All the issues, woes, joys, frustrations and agonies of her characters resonate to us across the centuries, as we are still feeling the self-same things today. That is her genius.”

Is there are trailer for Jane Austen: Rise of a Genius?

There's not an official trailer but the BBC has released a first look teaser video. You can watch it here...

It’s 20 years since Springwatch first brought the wonders of British wildlife into our living rooms and now Springwatch 2025 is here.

In the latest run of the BBC2 series, Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan are at the Longshaw Estate in the Peak District, where they will follow the fortunes of local animals and birds, while Iolo Williams is showcasing nature in Northern Ireland where he embarks upon a three-week nature trek through some of the country’s most diverse wildlife hotspots.

An array of live nest-cameras rigged across the springtime locations will tell the story of the season alongside a range of pre-recorded films, which have been capturing the magical moments of spring 2025.

Here is everything we know about Springwatch 2025...

Springwatch 2025 release date

The new series of Springwatch will air live from the Peak District over three weeks on BBC2 and BBC iPlayer, starting on Monday, May 26 and airing every evening at 8 pm until Thursday, May 29.

It will continue on Monday, June 2 – Thursday, June 5 at 8 pm and Monday, June 9 – Thursday, June 12, also at 8 pm.

All episodes will be available to catch up on BBC iPlayer.

Springwatch 2025 highlights

In a Springwatch first, the programme will lift the lid on the secret lives of our natural neighbours as we have bugged the gardens of a street in Sheffield to reveal what’s going on in the world just outside our windows. With foxes, badgers, hedgehogs, a nest of swifts and so much more, there are far more residents to Springwatch Street than the ones you might expect.

Springwatch 2025 hosts

Once again we will see Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan back in their presenting duties, with Iolo Williams who will be celebrating Springwatch’s 20th year, with a three-week nature trek through some of the most diverse wildlife hotspots in Northern Ireland, exploring the bountiful wildlife it has to offer as he embarks upon a travelogue. He’ll broadcast live daily from three different locations.

Also part of the team are:

Lira Valencia
London-based influencer and naturalist Lira will be taking time out to visit the Springwatch team, and she’s on a mission to find a population of parakeets. In her mini film, Lira discusses how the species might have first appeared in her neck of the woods in the South East but has since spread much further north. She’ll be chatting live to Chris and Michaela about how and why that might be.

Jack Baddams
Resident Springwatch researcher and expert ornithologist Jack has been despatched this year to the urban surroundings of nearby Sheffield, where a nature-loving city street has been bugged with cameras to show the local homeowners how their gardens are an oasis for the local urban wildlife. Jack reveals some of the surprising comings and goings on Springwatch Street.

Hannah Stitfall
As well as sharing all the behind-the-scenes extra wildlife moments on our social platforms, Hannah will be dropping into the BBC Two show to share her own wildlife moments at Longshaw with Chris and Michaela.

Megan McCubbin
Megan is back to celebrate the anniversary with the team. Her passion for wildlife welfare has led her to look at some of the UK’s topical conservation stories. This series, she uncovers the unsavoury world of egg stealing/collecting by joining the team fighting to protect our precious birds of prey. Megan will also be broadcasting live from Haddon Hall, a historic haven for wildlife just 20 minutes from our main Longshaw site. Over two consecutive nights, Megan will reveal how ‘leaving nature to it’ can reap some remarkable results.

Sean Ronayne
Ornithologist Sean Ronayne is on a mission to record the sound of every bird species in Ireland. He has already collected over 10,000 recordings, and his passion has led him to become an ardent advocate for biodiversity. We head out with him to immerse ourselves in his passion for all things ornithological as he reveals some of the incredible avian attributes he’s witnessed out in the field.

Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan on celebrating 20 years of Springwatch...

How does it feel to be marking Springwatch’s 20th anniversary?
Michaela: "It’s incredible! Presenting a programme we love is joyous. We’re continually learning."
Chris: "Yes, it’s exciting. The energy of everyone who makes it has never waned. There’s an entertaining edge to the show and it’s warm.

Do you have any favourite memories?
Chris: "The stars of our show are everyday species – foxes, badgers, blue tits. And the biggest reward is when audiences connect with a character. We turned Spineless Si the stickleback [in Suffolk in 2015] into a national hero! And it was romantic watching an elusive water rail [in Wales in 2013] dreaming in a reed bed."
Michaela: "My favourite was the common sandpiper living by a train track [in Wales in 2012]. We thought it’d get hit, but by the end of the series, it had chicks. And following golden eagle Freya [in Scotland in 2016] from when she hatched to when she fledged was amazing.

How will you reflect on the past 20 years in the new series?
Chris: "We’ll see how the programme has matured and how the technology we use has changed. We’ll also look at the changes in species. Many have diminished, but 20 years ago, some species like white storks weren't breeding in the UK and now they’ve been reintroduced. And we’re making a film about sea eagles, who were in earlier ‘Watches’."

And you’ll be presenting live from the Longshaw Estate in the Peak District, while your co-host Iolo Williams is in Northern Ireland. What are you hoping to see?
Chris: "There could be redstarts, curlews, short-eared owls, and a falcon called a merlin, which would be amazing, as it’s in decline. But one of the joys is the unpredictability."

You’re also filming a new segment in people’s back gardens!
Michaela: "Yes, with ‘Springwatch Street’, we're putting cameras in gardens in Sheffield. People will be surprised by what’s in a garden, particularly things that come out at night."

What do you still love about working together?
Michaela: "We know each other's strengths and allow each other to shine. Chris’ll know the measurements of a common sandpiper and I'll know its emotions!"
Chris: "Yes, and Michaela’s consummately professional. She turns up on time, she's read all the notes, while I’m more cavalier. But we approach things with the same determination and support one another."

Could the show run for another 20 years?
Michaela: "I hope if Springwatch isn't around, there's something similar that will inspire people to get out and enjoy British wildlife."
Chris: "There will still be an audience for this type of programme, because people love the wildlife they share their communities with."

Is there a trailer for Springwatch 2025?

Not yet, but if one is released by the BBC we will add it to this page.

Behind the scenes and more on Springwatch 2025

Springwatch 2025 is produced by BBC Studios Natural History Unit and in partnership with The Open University.

Filming location, Longshaw, comes alive at this time of year with its upland habitats showcasing a range of species never before featured on the Springwatch live cameras.

New species could include Red Listed ring ouzels and whinchats, which nest on the moorland slopes. The moorland curlew, one of Britain’s most threatened birds, inhabits these landscapes and the wildlife team will be listening for their distinctive calls hoping to capture rare footage on camera.

Scandinavia with Simon Reeve sees the presenter keen to show how Scandinavia isn’t just all about flat-pack furniture, lakeside cabins, Lego and hygge! Across three episodes he travels from Finland, through Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland, meeting fish farmers, army reservists, indigenous reindeer herders and even a happiness professor.

"I visit Denmark quite a lot because my wife is half Danish but I’ve always wanted to explore the other Scandinavian countries," says Simon, 52. "I think viewers will be surprised by how much wealthier and happier the Scandis are compared to us Brits. What I also love about them is they’re so breezy and relaxed. In terms of filming, we never had to do a risk assessment or anything. We’d be filming on boats or ferries and they were like, just don’t fall off!"

So here's everything you need to know about Scandinavia with Simon Reeve on BBC Two…

Scandinavia with Simon Reeve release date

Scandinavia with Simon Reeve is a three-part series that starts on Sunday, May 18, on BBC Two, with all three episodes available on BBC iPlayer from then.

Is there a trailer?

Yes the BBC has now released a trailer yet for Scandinavia with Simon Reeve, which gives us a nice flavour of the countries Simon visits. Take a look below

What happens in Scandinavia with Simon Reeve?

Scandinavia with Simon Reeve follows Simon as he reveals the hidden side of Scandinavia, from visiting the Finnish-Russian border in Lapland and spending time with a bomb squad in Sweden, to visiting the biggest offshore fish farm in the world in Norway and the mighty Katla volcano in Iceland.

The BBC’s synopsis reads: "The new travelogue is a smorgasbord of Scandi adventures that will see Simon embark on an adventure across Scandinavia, travelling from the Arctic to the Baltic to uncover the secrets of this beautiful and extreme region.‘Nordic societies are known for their wealth and happiness, but the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the impact of mass immigration have put them under new pressure.

"As well as showcasing some of the most spectacular scenery on earth, Scandinavia with Simon Reeve will reveal a hidden side to what has become one of the most important frontiers of Europe. Simon’s Scandinavian journey will take him from the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and the frozen wilderness of Lapland to NATO’s longest border with Russia, as well as the stunning fjords of Norway to Iceland – the original land of ice and fire. He’ll also travel through Sweden and Denmark, to discover the secrets of these countries’ success, as well as the big challenges they face."

Scandinavia with Simon Reeve episode guide

Check out our guide to all three episodes of Scandinavia with Simon Reeve below…

Episode 1
Simon starts his adventure in Svalbard, the northernmost outpost in Norway. It’s then on to Finland, dubbed the happiest place to live, but which is facing the threat of Russia’s military might since the war in Ukraine. Simon is even shown a nuclear bunker, bizarrely built beneath a Santa-themed shopping park in Lapland, and joins an elite Arctic warfare unit to take part in their training, which unfortunately for Simon means a Wim Hof-style plunge into icy water.

"Our director gave me the eye as if to say, go on, so I had no choice but to plunge in, too," says Simon. "But I did have a bit of a panic about climbing out again and making an idiot of myself in front of all these burly blokes!"

Episode 2
The second leg of his Scandinavia adventure takes Simon from the spectacular Norwegian fjords to the volcanic island of Iceland, as he continues to get to the bottom of how the Scandis have managed to build some of the happiest (and richest) societies on the planet.

In Norway, Simon discovers that it’s down to two controversial industries – fossil fuels and fish farming – when he visits a vast oil and gas refinery, as well as the biggest offshore fish farm in the world. Meanwhile, in Iceland, he travels to the mighty Katla volcano, which scientists reckon could be the next to erupt. But even though he’s travelled to more than 130 countries in his career, he’s blown away by Norway.

"It’s got a claim to be the most beautiful country in the world," Simon says. "We visited the Lofoten Islands in the north and they’re stunning, with misty mountains surrounded by blue sky and sea. I’m at home in most ecosystems but it’s always mountains that make my heart beat a little faster!"

Episode 3
Simon discovers a dark side to Sweden, away from the joys of ABBA and lakeside saunas, when he joins a bomb squad in Malmö. Over the last 10 years, gang warfare in Sweden has exploded, so much so that the gun murder rate in Stockholm is now 30 times that of London, and hand grenades and IEDs aren’t uncommon!

"Sweden has got real issues regarding crime, integration and division that it hasn’t addressed. They have teenage hitmen – it’s completely insane!" says Simon. "A couple of months ago they had eight bombings in just one day. In terms of gang activity the country is in a very tricky state."

To counter all the doom and gloom, Simon also meets Micael Dahlen, a Professor of Happiness at Sweden’s School of Economics, before touring Denmark, the smallest of the five Scandi nations, but also Simon’s favourite!

"Full disclosure, my wife is half Danish, so I have to say that otherwise I’d get in trouble and not be allowed back in the country!" says Simon. "There’s a lot of rivalry between the Scandis. They can get quite antsy about it – plus her relatives are big and burly!"

Hidden Treasures of the National Trust season 3, narrated by Toby Jones, once again delves behind the scenes of some of Britain’s best-loved historical homes and gardens to reveal the hard work that curators, volunteers, conservators and gardeners put in to maintaining them.

This time some of the stories involve the mystery of whether a famous painting really is of Lawrence of Arabia, the restoration of a peacock dress once worn by the Viceroy of India and the miniature contents of Beatrix Potter’s doll’s house.

So here’s everything you need to know about Hidden Treasures of the National Trust season 3 on BBC2…

Hidden Treasures of the National Trust season 3 release date

Hidden Treasures of the National Trust season 3 starts on Friday, May 16, 2025 on BBC2 at 9pm, with episodes running weekly at the same time.

The six-part series will also land as a box set on BBC iPlayer.

Is there a trailer?

No trailer has yet been released but if one appears it'll get posted here.

What happens in Hidden Treasures of the National Trust season 3?

Hidden Treasures of the National Trust season 3 introduces us to the team of people who work hard preserving the National Trust’s many homes and gardens across the country.

The series showcases experts and volunteers who care for the 500 places the National Trust looks after – and this third series meets June, who gets down on her hands and knees in the marble hall at Kedleston Hall to count the cracks in its design masterpiece, Pete Tasker, head gardener at Hill Top, Beatrix Potter’s Lake District farmhouse, who admits he is frequently mistaken for Peter Rabbit’s Mr McGregor, and archaeologist Martin who’s trying to unearth one last mystery from under the ruins of Corfe Castle before he retires.

From grand 17th century stately homes that became the front line of the English Civil War, to the country retreats that inspired some of nation’s favourite authors and a 20th Century modernist masterpiece that helped shape post-war Britain, each episode explores a different central theme, linking the houses, their histories and collections as they undergo conservation.

Fascinating stories are uncovered, including the extraordinary miniature contents of Beatrix Potter’s dolls’ house at her Lake District retreat, Hill Top, which appear in The Tale of Two Bad Mice, but now require a team of full-size conservators to preserve them for the future. And the mystery surrounding a beautiful and enigmatic portrait hanging in the modest Dorset cottage where T.E. Lawrence spent the last years of his life is solved.

Hidden Treasures of the National Trust season 3 episode guide

Here's a guide to the six episodes of Hidden Treasures of the National Trust season 3.

Episode 1
Episode one opens the doors to three houses that became retreats and places of inspiration for three literary legends. In the heart of the Lake District lies Hill Top, the countryside escape of Beatrix Potter. Purchased by the celebrated children’s author in 1905, senior gardener Pete Tasker is often mistaken for Mr McGregor from The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Meanwhile, inside Hill Top, Beatrix Potter’s cherished doll’s house featured in The Tale of Two Bad Mice is lovingly brought back to its former glory.
"Just the other day, 13 visitors asked me if I was Mr McGregor," says Pete, 63. "I often say, “Yes I am, and if you see any rabbits, let me know! We do get the occasional real-life Peter Rabbit and I’ve been known to chase them with a rake!"
Also featured in the opening episode are Victorian novelist Henry James’s house in Rye, East Sussex, and a rustic Dorset cottage that belonged to T E Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia. 

Episodes 2 to 6
Please check back for more as we'll be updating this guide.

Great British Railway Journeys season 16 will follow Michael Portillo as he takes to the rails again to explore some of Britain’s most scenic and intriguing settings.

From Epping Forest in Essex to the Black Country, the Lake District to the Weald in Kent, the BBC2 show, now on its 16th series, takes viewers on a journey through history as Michael discovers the beauty of Britain, all accessible by train.

Here we tell you everything you need to know about the new series including an exclusive interview with Michael talking through some of his highlights from this new series...

Great British Railway Journeys season 16 release date

Great British Railway Journeys season 16 starts on Monday, April 7, 2025 and airs on weekdays at 6.30pm on BBC2. It will also be available on BBCiPlayer.

What happens and destinations in series 16 of Great British Railway Journeys?

Episode 1 - Paddock Wood to Frant

The 20-part series begins with Michael exploring The Weald of Kent in the South East of England. "It’s an area around 120 miles long, bordered by the North and South Downs and characterised by lots of ancient woodland", explains Michael. 'It was a very prosperous area for agriculture and for thousands of years farmers would move their animals through the woods to graze on fertile pastures. As a result, these very deep lanes have been created. The Weald was also rich in iron so became very prosperous because of that."

He also visits the pretty 12th century church of St Peter and St Paul in Wadhurst, where more than 30 iron memorial slabs bear witness to The Weald as once the country’s leading producer of iron.

The opening episode also sees Michael visiting nearby Bedgebury Arboretum which has the largest collection of conifers in the world and is home to a ‘dinosaur tree, the Wollemi Pine, which fossil records show existed 200 million years ago.

He also takes a trip to a very special Georgian mansion house called Finchcocks. "It has a long association with music", explains Michael. "Amateur and professional pianists of all different abilities can come to play some of the finest pianos in the world. It was amazing for me to descend into the basement of the house where there were about seven or eight vaults, each one containing a piano. I watched one pianist having a masterclass with a very skilled musician who goes through their techniques."

Great British Railway Journeys season 16 interview

Are you musical yourself? Do you play any instruments?

Michael Portillo: "I can't play any musical instruments, but I very much enjoy listening to music, especially opera."

What were some of your highlights from this new series of Great British Railway Journeys?

"I really enjoyed visiting an historic button factory in Birmingham, Firmin & Sons, established in 1655. They’re still creating buttons for military uniforms and the Royal household’, explains Michael. "During the American Civil War they made buttons for the armies on both sides. They gave me a special set that I’ve had sewn onto a new jacket. It was a wonderful place to visit and like stepping back in time."

This is your sixteenth series of Great British Railway Journeys. Could you ever have predicted it would be so successful?

"No! The very first one we made got a diabolical review in Radio Times which I like to remind them of if they ever interview me!"

"I think the reason the series has continued for so long is that people love facts. I mean, people may like railways, but they love facts more so in every episode we are always delving into history, culture, dates and information."

What do you love most about making these series?

"I love everything about them from top to bottom, side to side. I really enjoy talking to the people we meet who are passionate about the places we go to. That's what makes the show work. If the series was just about trains, it wouldn't still be going!"

What other TV shows are in the pipeline for you this year?

"We are working on a celebration of 200 years of railways, which started in Britain. We'll be heading back to the Stockton to Darlington railway of 1825 looking at the rise of steam, the building of the lines, the archeology from the railways that still survive and the people who made it all happen.

"We'll also focus on the first inter-city passenger railway in 1830 between Liverpool and Manchester and how the railway affected society. Almost everything was changed when people could travel considerable distances in a reasonable time, learn about things, spread ideas and spread revolution."

You’ve been all over the world by train for your many series, is there anywhere else you would love to explore by rail?

"Yes, lots! We haven't yet been to parts of Asia Pacific. We’ve not been to China, Japan, or Korea. We haven't explored much of Africa or South America, so there are masses of places I'd still love to explore."

Great British Railway Journeys season 16 starts on Monday 7 April, 2025 and airs on weekdays at 6.30pm on BBC2.

Pilgrimage: The Road Through the Alps sees a group of intrepid celebrities undertake an epic trek across Europe as they explore their spiritual beliefs.

The latest run of the documentary, airing on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer this Spring, will be part of the BBC’s upcoming Faith and Hope season and follows the new, seven-strong team of famous faces, all with different faiths, as they travel in Austria and Switzerland.

Here’s everything we know about Pilgrimage: The Road Through the Alps…

Pilgrimage: The Road Through the Alps release date

Pilgrimage: The Road Through the Alps is a three-part series and will air from Sunday, April 20 at 9pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

Pilgrimage: The Road Through the Alps – where are the celebrities trekking?

While previous series have seen famous faces journey to Santiago, Rome, and Istanbul as well as through the Scottish Isles, Portugal, and North Wales, the new batch of celebrities will be travelling 300km over 12 days across the Austrian and Swiss Alps on a revived Medieval Catholic route.

Their journey, which will include tough climbs into the Alps up to the snow line, will begin just outside Innsbruck on the Austrian Camino, or pilgrim trail, in the village of Inzing. As they travel west across the Arlberg Pass, the highest point on the Camino, the pilgrims will end up in the foothills of the Swiss Alps at Einsiedeln Abbey, near Lake Zurich.

The abbey, which is home to Benedictine monks, is over 1000 years old and was established by followers of hermit St Meinrad. Almost a million pilgrims and visitors go there every year and one of its key draws is a Black Madonna.

Along the way, the pilgrims will board in guest houses, pilgrim hostels and a convent.

“Pilgrimage always delivers something new and unexpected!” says Caroline Matthews, executive Producer and CEO of production company CTVC.

“Against the epic backdrop of the Alps, our incredible celebrity pilgrims take a deep dive into faith, whilst pondering life’s big questions. Cue tears, laughter, struggles and an outdoor bathtub with an Austrian hostel owner…”

“The cast of this year’s Pilgrimage embraced the challenge of the journey - and then some,” adds Daisy Scalchi, BBC's Head of Commissioning, Religion and Ethics.

"They each laid their souls bare as they got to know one another, trekking together through stunning, and often challenging, landscapes. I hope viewers will connect with their honesty and genuine curiosity about what guides us all through life.”

Pilgrimage: The Road Through the Alps – who are the famous pilgrims?

The series will see The Wanted’s Jay McGuiness, actor Helen Lederer, The Traitors’ Harry Clark, comic and Britain's Got Talent star Daliso Chaponda, presenter and Celebrity Race Across the World's Jeff Brazier, retired Paralympian and Dancing On Ice's Stef Reid and journalist Nelufar Hedayat take to the road and here, they reveal why they wanted to take part…

Jay McGuiness

The singer, 34, and champion of Strictly Come Dancing in 2015, is agnostic.

“I agreed to go on this pilgrimage because it just sounded the perfect thing to do. I was born and raised in Nottinghamshire to an Irish Catholic family and we'd go to our Catholic school and sing church songs and on Sunday, we'd all go and sit next to each other on the pew. But as time's gone on, I think that the rule book that comes with being a Catholic is too judgmental for where I am.

“I think the closest I can get to what I am, would be considered agnostic. I don't believe there is a God, and I don't believe there isn't. I think it's impossible for us to know, and maybe that's what being a human is; we are stuck here in this mortal realm, and you only find out once you go beyond the curtain. But I would love to know a little bit more about what I am. So, I'm looking forward to that. Who knows what I'll find on this pilgrimage.”

Helen Lederer

The actor and comedian, 70, whose credits include Absolutely Fabulous, has a mixed heritage in terms of her faith, with a culturally Jewish father and a Protestant mother.

“The concept of a pilgrimage is probably one of endurance, challenge, pain, anxiety, difficulties. So obviously I was drawn to it! I think it's an opportunity that probably won't present itself to me again.

“My faith is that I believe in God but I'm not sure what the God is. My father was born into a Jewish family. Although my Czechoslovakian grandparents were cultural Jews, they never talked about faith. My mother came from the Isle of Wight, and I’m told I was christened.

“Being a mix means that you have respect for both things and there is a particular quality I'm learning and feeling more as I get even older, that you can't shed your background. So, with my mixed background, with all the pain of my family that isn't mine, but theirs, I want to be able to turn it into something that will give me a bit of peace.”

Harry Clark

The former soldier in the British army, 24, who won The Traitors UK season two, is a practising Catholic.

“I've always had faith. I was baptised and all my family are Catholic. I was an altar server in church and played the violin in church with my sister, so I was always around faith.

“I'm so excited to go on this pilgrimage, to meet the other pilgrims and find out about their religions, what they believe in and why, and if they don't believe, why? Because I've questioned who God is my whole life, not in a bad way, but as in no one knows who God is.”

Daliso Chaponda

The stand-up comedian, 45, grew up in a Christian family but is now looking into the Baha’i faith.

“I think I will struggle a lot with the physical part of the pilgrimage. I mostly live a very sedentary life. Typing is the most physical I get. I am expecting to be in a lot of pain, very tired, and possibly the slowest person in the group.

“I believe in God, and I believe there are many paths to worship God, so I am hoping this pilgrimage will help me find some definition. I grew up in 14 different countries, and my family was religious, but I don't know yet which is the perfect path for me. I feel weird labeling myself with a particular faith because I feel like I'm no faith and all faiths. I know that I'm close to Baha’i, I know I'm close to Quaker, I know I'm close to Unitarian, but I'm not anything yet. Maybe by the end of the pilgrimage I'll be able to say, ‘This is what I am'.”

Jeff Brazier

The presenter, 45, attended Catholic schools, but now embraces meditation.

“The best way to describe my faith is spiritual. I would say the universe is what guides me, the universe just chucks whatever I need at me, whenever I need it. To answer the question – ‘What is God?’ - is a really tough one, but for me right now, I would say God is love; so God can be within all of us.

“I also love learning from people and on our pilgrimage, there is every chance that there might be some sort of transformation in terms of my beliefs, my views. So, I see it as a wonderful opportunity to just explore some themes and some conversations that I probably don't have very often.”

Stef Reid

The retired Paralympian, 40, is a practising Christian.

“I would describe myself as a Christian and for me, the fundamental thing is to ask if we believe that Jesus was the son of God, and are we trying to live like him and make the world a better place? And if so, awesome.

“I have a strong faith, but it doesn't mean that life doesn't get really hard, and I've had a lot of questions to answer recently. I need time to think but I've just not given myself the time, even though I know it's so important. I have never done a pilgrimage and it's scary because thoughts are going to come up, but they have to come up, otherwise we're never going to move on and think about newer or better things.”

Nelufar Hedayat

The journalist, 37, refers to herself as a modern Muslim.

“I was born in Kabul, in Afghanistan. When I was a young refugee in Britain, my faith took a firm back seat as that was part of my past and why I was here, so I didn't want anything to do with it. Those feelings lasted for quite a while, until I was at secondary school when I was with other young Muslims, and I realised I could be both British and Muslim.

“As a modern Muslim, I'm trying to find a way through the faith that I was born into, and even now, it's strained at the very best. I get really annoyed when people think that faith is a box-ticking exercise. Faith is an experience and it's one you can be drawn to and drawn away from. So, I want to bring a sense of openness to this pilgrimage. I want to bring myself, but I'm angry with God and I want to find a connection to God that isn't me feeling anger or disillusionment and that's what I'm most looking forward to.”

Comic Relief launched in 1985 with its founders - Sirs Lenny Henry and Richard Curtis - vowing to put the fun into fundraising.

The charity’s annual Red Nose Day TV appeal on BBC1 has helped raise over £1.5 billion both here and abroad and this year Red Nose Day celebrates 40 years of Comic Relief with a star-studded birthday bash!

Here's everything we know about Comic Relief 2025...

Comic Relief 2025 release date

Red Nose Day 2025 airs on Friday, March 21 from 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Comic Relief 2025 hosts

Helming the unmissable evening of hilarious sketches, special performances and showstopping music acts live from BBC Media City in Salford will be the all-star lineup of Davina McCall, Alison Hammond, Joel Dommett, Alesha Dixon, Rylan, Tom Allen, AJ Odudu and Jonathan Ross, who co-hosted the very first Red Nose Day telethon in 1988.

"I presented alongside Sir Lenny Henry and Griff Rhys Jones and it was incredibly exciting," recalls Jonathan.

"I still remember Richard and Lenny taking me to lunch to tell me about their plans. I’m thrilled I got to be involved and that it became a huge success. I feel lucky to be part of this year’s Red Nose Day - it’s a great way to commemorate!"

Comic Relief 2025 sketches and special spin-offs

A much-loved part of every Red Nose Day TV appeal, there will be parodies of all your favourite BBC shows, including:

Strictly Come Dancing

Comedians Russell Kane and Rachel Parris are taking part in Strictly... well, sort of. They'll be appearing as two surprising new dancers in a hilarious sketch for Comic Relief.

The funny pair will portray Johnny and Melissa, two unlikely newcomers who take on the challenge of joining the Strictly professional line-up in the wake of new inclusivity rules, which require a certain percentage of professionals to be... amateurs!

Filmed in observational documentary style, the skit follows Johnny and Melissa through the audition process as they land their dream jobs as Strictly’s first-ever amateur professional dancers. In a sad twist of fate, though, both their celebrity partners pull out of the show at the last minute, citing identical 'injuries'. Can Strictly hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman hatch a plan so that everyone 'keeeeps dancing'?

Russell Kane says: “After physio, red light therapy, sports massage, heat rub, and an acupuncture mat session - I’m really looking forward to my spine taking part in Strictly for Red Nose Day. [Typed while lying down.]"

Not Going Out meets Beyond Paradise

Sally Bretton, who plays both Lee's wife Lucy in Not Going Out and DI Humphrey Goodman’s wife Martha in Beyond Paradise, takes on both roles in a hilarious mix-up of mistaken identities.

As Sally is joined by her onscreen husbands, Lee Mack and Kris Marshall, the sketch sees the characters’ worlds unexpectedly collide, setting the stage for a comedy of errors that’s not to be missed.

"It was great fun to have the two worlds collide, play my own doppelganger and get swept up in the madness that comes with that," says Sally.

"It was particularly special to be doing it all for such a brilliant cause as Comic Relief. The sketch was filmed at such high speed, we didn’t know if we were coming or going. I don’t know how Lee Mack holds all the moving parts in his head. We all had a great day filled with fun, confusion and belly laughs."

EastEnders

While Red Nose Day's Night of TV is about having fun, EastEnders wants to add a serious note to proceedings with an exclusive five-minute episode, made especially for Comic Relief, to focus on Phil Mitchell's mental health difficulties and the importance of being able to access treatment.

For the past few months, EastEnders’ Phil (Steve McFadden) has been at the centre of a gripping mental health storyline which saw his character reach a crisis point as he tried to take his own life in EastEnders 40th anniversary week when his depression with symptoms of psychosis took hold.

Whilst at the mental health unit, Phil makes friends with a patient called Andy (Jake Rory) who reveals details of his time at a homeless youth hostel, and the pair soon realise they have more in common than they first thought.

EastEnders and Comic Relief have consulted with Brandon Centre, a Comic Relief-funded charity in North London, which offers youth mental help support, to ensure the storyline has been handled as sensitively and as accurately as possible.

The special episode will debut exclusively in Comic Relief: Funny For Money on Friday 21 March. It will follow a special EastEnders episode, airing on Thursday 20 March at 7:30pm on BBC1 and 6am on BBC iPlayer, focusing on Phil’s journey over four weeks in the mental health unit and guest-starring Keith Allen as patient Gaz.

Gladiators

Putting the 'G' into Gladiators, Kurrupt FM’s self-appointed manager Chabuddy G is getting up close and personal with your favourite TV warriors for an exclusive Red Nose Day 2025 showdown.

Full of confidence, Chabuddy G (Asim Chaudhry) - the star of cult BBC3 mockumentary People Just do Nothing - arrives at Sheffield Arena convinced he’s about to join the ranks of the mighty Gladiators. But his dream of arena domination is short-lived when he discovers he’s not a Gladiator at all – he’s a contender whose first challenge is a head-to-head duel with none other than human powerhouse Bionic.

"It was amazing filming this sketch with the Gladiators gang for Comic Relief," says Chabuddy G. "A lot of people don't know this but the G in Chabuddy G actually stands for Gladiator!"

Can Chabuddy G hold his own, or will Bionic’s pugil stick bring his dreams crashing down?

Don’t miss a minute of the action – tune into Red Nose Day 2025 on Friday 21 March from 7pm on BBC1 and BBC iPlayer.

Oasis: The Reunion: The Movie?

What if Hollywood turned the story of rock band Oasis into a blockbuster film? Well, Comic Relief has done just that in an exclusive sketch for Red Nose Day 2025 featuring none other than Inbetweeners stars James Buckley and Joe Thomas as infamous Gallagher brothers, Liam and Noel.

Expect high drama, sibling showdowns, and unexpected celebrity cameos, all wrapped up in a heavy dose of Britpop nostalgia, iconic 1990s music moments, and cheeky humour in this hilarious parody charting the brothers' journey from Manchester lads to global rock Gods.

Adding to the fun will be a host of familiar faces including Hugh Dennis, Martin Lewis, Micky Flanagan, Vernon Kay, Mark Silcox, Tasha Ghouri, Melvin Odoom, Roisin Conaty, and Piers Morgan, all stepping into memorable roles from the band's legendary rise to stardom.

"I had such a fun time with Joe, making this sketch for Comic Relief, and was honoured to be asked to be a part of it. Being a huge Oasis fan, getting to be Liam for the day was a dream come true," says James, with Joe adding: "I grew up watching Comic Relief and the big sketch was always a highlight of the night. So it’s both thrilling and nerve wracking to be a part of it."

Tune in to catch the 'reunion' on Red Nose Day's Night of TV on March 21 from 7pm. You Definitely (Maybe) don't want to miss it!

We'll update this page as more sketches and special performances are announced.

In the meantime, here's a dose of Comic Relief nostalgia with the iconic 1997 performance which saw French & Saunders and friends team up with The Spice Girls on their hit Who Do You Think You Are?

Which celebrities be taking part in Comic Relief 2025 challenges?

A host of famous faces will be putting themselves under pressure to raise money for this worthy cause.

They are:

Radio 1's Ultra Marathon Man: Jamie Laing for Red Nose Day, Monday-Friday, BBC Radio 1

Jamie Laing attempts to run an ultra marathon every day for five days to raise cash for the charity. Kicking off at 7am on Monday in London, the Made in Chelsea star hopes to reach the finish line in Salford on Friday night, just in time to celebrate the 40th birthday bash.

BBC Morning Live: Gethin and Helen’s Wheely Big Challenge, Thursday, 9.30am, BBC1 & iPlayer

Gethin Jones and Helen Skelton are lacing up their retro roller boots to undertake a 24-hour roller-skating endurance test in aid of Comic Relief!

Accompanied by soundtracks from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, the presenting duo will begin their epic feat on Morning Live on Thursday, skating around the clock into Red Nose Day on Friday.

What else can we expect on the night for Comic Relief 2025?

Comic Relief: 40 Years of Funny, Friday, 10.40pm, BBC1

As the appeal continues on BBC2, Emma Willis and Asim Chaudhry present Red Nose Day’s best bits from the archives with classic moments from comedy greats such as French and Saunders, Alan Partridge, Mr Bean, Peter Kay and Catherine Tate. Plus, there’s a fun look back at the charity’s singles.

Appeal films

Amongst the laughs on the night, viewers will of course be reminded of how their donations continue to help a whole range of Comic Relief-funded projects, supporting those dealing with issues like homelessness, food poverty and domestic abuse.

"At its core, Comic Relief taps into something wonderful about human nature – the desire to help others," says Jonathan. "The variety of people the charity supports and the impact it has, both in the UK and abroad, means you know your donation is helping in multiple ways."

How can I donate to Comic Relief 2025?

Donate to Comic Relief by visiting the official Red Nose Day website.

Behind the scenes and more on Comic Relief 2025

Comic Relief is a UK charity that uses the power of entertainment and popular culture to work towards a vision of a just world free from poverty.

It raises money to support organisations that are closest to the communities who can make change happen. It supports work that will tackle the impact of poverty, injustice, conflict, and climate change in the UK and around the world. 

Since launching in 1985, the charity has raised over £1.6 billion thanks to the huge generosity and kindness of the public and our partners. For more information on the charity's work, visit www.comicrelief.com or follow @comicrelief on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok for the latest content and news.  

There are stunning cities to explore and rich histories to delve into when Michael Portillo embarks on Great Continental Train Journeys season 8.

Over the course of four weeks and twenty episodes, Michael's itinerary takes him through Bosnia, Norway, Denmark and Switzerland. But his travels begin in Croatia in the region of Istria and the historic port of Pula.

Great Continental Railway Journeys Season 8 release date

Great Continental Railway Journeys airs from Monday, March 10 at 6.30 pm on BBC2 and will be shown Monday to Friday.

There are twenty episodes in total airing across four weeks.

What is Michael's first destination in Great Continental Railway Journeys Season 8?

His travels begin in Croatia in the region of Istria and the historic port of Pula. "Pula is magnificent and its location on the Adriatic peninsula once made it a prized possession for different empires including, Roman, Venetian and Habsburgs. You see evidence of that history everywhere in the town", says Michael.

"The first place I visit is the beautifully preserved Roman amphitheater of Pula where gladiatorial contests would have taken place 2000 years ago. I met a group of men who do gladiatorial reenactments who were covered in cuts, bruises and scars. They gave me a suit of armour to put on before one of them started bashing me over the head with a sword!"

Great Continental Railway Journeys Season 8 —which other destinations does Michael explore?

Later Michael travels north by train to the town of Vodnjan where he alights at the historic station built in 1876. "The stationmaster there showed me the ropes", said Michael. "He gave me a beautiful stationmaster's peaked hat which I brought back as a souvenir."

He also explores the olive groves that characterise the region and learns why the olive oil produced there is rated among the best in the world. "The olives used today are varieties that have been grown in Istria for centuries, nurtured by the cool climate and red chalky soil, they have a really intense flavour", Michael told us.

Is there a trailer for Great Continental Railway Journeys Season 8?

No, sadly not, but if one is released then we will add it to this guide.

Great Continental Railway Journeys Season 8 airs from Monday 10 March at 6.30pm on BBC2 and will be shown Monday to Friday.

Chess Masters: The Endgame is a BBC2 series that rides the wave of following the hit 2020 Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit, starring Anya Taylor-Joy, which sparked renewed interest in the game of chess, with sales of chess boards and books about the game soaring worldwide. 

Now Sue Perkins is hosting the new BBC2 series Chess Masters: The Endgame which sees twelve talented amateurs from across the UK pitted against one another in a number of heats and knock-out rounds.

Former Bake Off presenter Sue will help us understand the game, while The Traitors UK star and chess coach Anthony Mathrin and three-time British chess champion and grandmaster David Howell will keep an eye on proceedings and provide expert commentary. 

“I’m so excited to be hosting Chess Masters: The Endgame, where twelve talented amateurs from across Britain are pitted against one another in the world’s oldest game,” says Sue Perkins.

“It’s all about psychology, strategy, smart thinking, and nerves of steel. Chess that is, not my job (which usually involves the opposite). I’m there to help us understand what’s going on in the players’ heads and make sense of what’s happening on the board. We’ve been waiting over 30 years to see chess back on our TV screens. Chess Masters: The Endgame will make that wait worthwhile.” 

Here’s everything you need to know about the BBC2 series Chess Masters: The Endgame…

Chess Masters: The Endgame release date

Chess Masters: The Endgame is an eight-part reality series will start on BBC2 from Monday March 10 2025 at 8pm, with episodes running weekly at the same time and also becoming available on BBC Player.

Chess Masters: The Endgame trailer

The trailer is only a brief 30 seconds, but it introduces us to the contestants for this series and gives us a glimpse into just how gripping watching others playing chess can be! You can watch below...

Chess Masters: The Endgame — how it works and the experts

Across eight episodes of Chess Masters: The Endgame, 12 passionate and highly skilled amateur players of all ages and from all walks of life will go head-to-head in a series of rapid chess games, puzzles and knock-out rounds. Eventually, one will be crowned the ultimate chess master. 

Keeping viewers up to date with tactics and strategies are The Traitors UK star and chess coach Anthony Mathrin plus three-time British chess champion and grandmaster David Howell.

Sue Perkins interview on Chess Masters: The End Game

How does the series Chess Masters: The Endgame work?
Sue Perkins says: "The show is a competition format and we’ve taken 12 of the best amateurs, and we know they are the best because we use official rankings, and we have pitted them not only against each other but against our grandmaster David in a series of puzzles and challenges. Some of the games are long-form, about 10-15 minutes, which I think people might be able to watch online afterward if they want to watch the whole game. That’s for people who are either very serious about it and want to get into the nitty gritty or for those who are learning and just want some commentary and to see how things play out. There are also some very quick puzzles and brain teasers and positional things that people can easily engage with and the solutions come pretty quickly. Later in the show, there are a couple of really extraordinary games where all the remaining contestants play one person simultaneously, which is pretty cool. It’s an eliminator and there will be one winner."

Do you think the show will break down the stereotypes about the kind of people who play chess? 
"I think post The Queen’s Gambit, we know for a fact that it is sexier. I think it’s very hard to know whether that trope of the classic chess player is true or whether it’s a lazy thing my brain has conjured up. The point is, now with the internet and chess.com it’s the fastest-growing sport, game, pastime or whatever you want to call it. It’s played by billions of people so you can no longer hurl around those stereotypes. A lot of the matches I’ve played are against kids in Brazil or India. All around the world, I’m engaging with people who play online and I have no idea about where they come from or who they are. I think the show absolutely does challenge that stereotype. There’s a broad range of people who have come to the show. Some people are playing because they want to leave a legacy for their kids, some people are playing because it’s a passion they picked up in prison and chess was the thing that saved them. There are members of the neuro-diverse community, of which I am a paid-up member, who find great solace and elegance in the game. There are all sorts of people coming to it. They are all at the top of their game. We know for a fact they are the best players"

Did you play chess as a youngster?
Sue says: "No, we didn’t have a chess club at school. It felt perhaps like a male-dominated thing, quite high-class, high-status men languishing in public schools and playing chess. Weirdly the only person I knew who played chess was my dad who was none of those things. He’d gone to a south London comprehensive but was extremely good at chess. He got really into it. He was so good in fact I think he thought it was a waste of time with the likes of me. I was terrible at it and had no aptitude for it. In fact, right up to his death, he was beating me. He wasn’t very well, and he was still absolutely slaughtering me when we played. It felt very much like his thing and at the time I was super into music so I was doing that instead. I’ve come to chess from doing this show. I’ve played a lot since I started doing this. There are a raft of people behind the scenes who are from various chess federations and make sure that everything is done properly. They’ve been extremely gracious with their time. So, I’ve learned a few tricks but my rating is still not great, but it’s a lifetime’s hobby. Who knows where it could lead? It’s a fantastic game. The fact that you can make a few textbook starting moves and a billion options then lay themselves in front of you. It’s quite extraordinary for a game that is just a black-and-white checkers board and some horses. I’m into it now. I’m fully invested."

If you could play anybody at chess, who would you play and why? 
Sue says: "Well, I’d like to be good enough to play Magnus Carlsen the grandmaster. He’s got a sort of power and psychological potency that I think probably extends beyond the board. He’s amazing, he’s a great poker player and has that incredible command of not only patterns and systems but also the academic grounding of the game. He’s also quite maverick. I think if you’re going to wish for anything, why not wish for the best? I wish to be good enough to play the best. I have got a long way to go before I could even open the door of the building Magnus is in but one can but dream."

How does it work as a spectator sport? 
Sue says: "I think what’s great is you’ve got Anthony and David analyzing key moves and I think that allows people who are entering the world of chess to have a basic understanding of what is going on. And because David is a grandmaster it can also function on a higher level for people who are more experienced. With this show, and perhaps on other shows I’ve hosted where people are making things to high standards, you can watch and enjoy it without necessarily fully understanding it. The great thing is people can just go online and they can learn the game in a very calm and restful way and I hope that not only will it be something that people who already play chess can enjoy but it will also be a gateway to those who haven’t started yet. What I like about the game is you don’t need money to play. You can make your own board, you can carve your own pieces, you can use bits and bobs around the house to be bishops and rooks and it’s about challenging your own mental capabilities and evaluating the psychology of the person opposite you. Those are timeless things. I’m not a chess master and I enjoy being part of it. I find it incredibly stimulating and enjoyable to watch. My hope is that the audience do too."

What was it like to work with chess experts David Howell and Anthony Mathrin and see their enthusiasm?
Sue reveals: "They are just gorgeous humans. I got so much from being around them and it’s very infectious. I have very fond memories of my dad and I associate him with chess hugely so it was a show I wanted to do. But when I got on the floor, David and Anthony are so passionate and so articulate and so god-damn clever at what they do that it’s intoxicating and you get swept up in it. The filming days were long and I didn’t leave the floor for 14/15 hours and when I wasn’t working, I was playing. There were boards everywhere, there were pieces everywhere and you had crew sitting down and playing. I’d say 50 per cent of the crew signed up to chess.com whilst doing the show so from that small circle I’m encouraged that other people’s energy and enthusiasm will be infectious. They are really good people." 

What mistakes do people make when they play chess? 
Sue explains: "The people we use are extremely high-ranking. I would say that when you are playing chess on the computer it’s about pattern recognition, double checking where you are moving to and always protecting pieces. At the early stages, which is where I’m at, if you are online, then do all the puzzles because they help with pattern recognition, do all the lessons so you learn how to move pieces in companion. It’s so easy at our level to go ‘I’m going to move this there’ but actually what is so important is you need to build a suite of attacking players and pressurize certain areas of the board. But it’s a lifetime study. Some people will want to approach chess from a very academic point of view, some people will want to learn all the special moves. Sometimes I do and that is right up my alley but sometimes people just want to throw themselves in and play, which I’m not adverse to either. If I don’t think about what I’m doing, I’ll get whooped every time. Just because it’s online you think it’s got to be quick but just taking the time to go, ‘Am I covered?’ is vital. Also, be flexible. Everyone is trying to think two or three moves ahead but what they are not doing is remembering someone is countering that so you can stick with your plan but that will be the worst thing you can possibly do. Your plan will be thwarted in real-time and you haven’t got any other options. Being flexible is really important and not getting stuck on one idea. There are billions of potential moves and if you just plump for one and keep going, you are screwed."

The time clock can be off-putting, can’t it? 
Sue says: "The thing is for me, I can only play with a timer. I have sensory issues so I couldn’t play a longer game. It would become stressful, the idea that time would feel never-ending and unmanageable. I like very quick games and I like working in an incredibly focused way for a short period of time. The game has developed so it’s no longer these two-day battles. You can play for 10 minutes. I play a lot on the bus or the tube. I’m obsessed. It’s pretty addictive when you get going. It’s got me in trouble. My partner is like ‘what are you doing, oh it’s chess again.'"

Did things get emotional? 
"Yes. Very, very emotional. It’s a strange thing to say but you make yourself very vulnerable in chess. Your thought processes, your evaluations, the way you structure your brain, the way you anticipate. It’s a battle and when you lose, it’s painful and difficult. There were a couple of times when people were almost overwhelmed by it. But that’s my job. My job is to go ‘This is important, but it’s also a game. It’s your life, it’s your passion, it’s the thing you love most in the world but at the same time you’ve always got to go back to the fact that there’s another day, another game and it’s supposed to be fun.’ There was some mopping up to be done but they were exceptionally good folk. They are all amateurs but they are the best amateurs so they are operating at a level that is very, very high. Unreachably high for most of us. You have this image of two very sober people silently moving pieces but actually what you’ll find is there’s a lot of chat, there’s a lot of gamesmanship, and people will jump up in the middle of a game in an attempt to throw the other person. There are all kinds of tricks and things. It’s a much livelier enterprise than the stereotype would have you believe."

How often are there unexpected twists in a game? 
Sue reveals: "A lot actually. If you’ve lost a queen or something it becomes very hard, but certainly in a lot of the games you’d see somebody go into the ascendance and the pressure would suddenly build and the other person would use a diversionary tactic because there’s a lot of that going on. There’s a lot of trash talk, it gets quite spicy as it goes on. And things changed. To the untrained eye, which is why we need David and Anthony, it will look like a player is smashing it but they are falling for something. There’s a trap that has been set and it springs and the game turns completely the other way. There are a lot of those moments. There’s screaming at one point. Anthony is screaming with excitement. It’s like they are commentating on the football and for people who love chess it’s every bit as exciting as Arsenal smashing it to Liverpool on a wet Sunday." 

Did you watch The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix and do you think that’s what has made chess cool again? 
Sue enthuses: "Yes, I think in part. It’s an exceptional series and I rewatched it recently and it’s a great piece of television. A lot of very good chess players would be seen perhaps in earlier times as outsiders, outliers and people who don’t quite fit into the mainstream and so it’s just a great narrative of the odd one out wins the show. I do think that plays into this show as well. In terms of making it sexy it just puts a spotlight on how much graft goes into it. The hotness of watching someone do something sincerely and well. And that is very much in evidence. They take it seriously and it really means something. One of the guys says it was the thing that saved his life. It’s a beautiful thing to watch, how he has changed his world by being able to focus on this game and being able to be mindful and calm and stay out of trouble, it’s amazing." 

Can you tell us about the contestants and any you were rooting for? 
Sue says: "I try not to have favorites and I think some people were more emotionally available than others but I found them all to be truly delightful and truly committed to the game. They weren’t there because they wanted to be on television. A lot of them found the television bit quite stressful and they only really relaxed when the chessboards came out. It’s my job to put them at ease. Nick’s story, the prison story is very affecting. And Cai is very easy on the eye. So, I hope in the first episode we are cutting through people’s stereotypical feelings about the classic chess player. I was delighted there were so many women playing and I think it shows that perceptions have changed. The cast list is not there as a ‘look how we can present chess as we want it to be,’ this is chess as it is. This is chess and this is who plays it. Some of them are kids. We’ve got 20-year-olds and then we’ve got someone in his 60s who is retired. It spans the whole range and I hope the whole range of audiences come to it."

All about host Sue Perkins 

Sue and her comedy partner Mel Giedroyc co-hosted the shows Light Lunch and Late Lunch. They had their own daytime chat show Mel and Sue and hosted The Generation Game. The pair presented seven seasons of The Great British Bake Off. Sue has been on Celebrity Big Brother, Maestro, The Masked Singer, Last Christmas and Perfectly Legal. She also presented travelogues including Japan with Sue Perkins, Sue Perkins: Lost in Alaska, The Ganges with Sue Perkins and Lost In Thailand with Sue Perkins. She and Mel starred in the comedy series Hitmen. 

Can you get the full Florida experience without breaking the bank? Well, Alison Hammond and her son Aidan are on a quest to find out as they embark on a budget-friendly adventure across America's Sunshine State for new BBC2 travelogue Alison Hammond's Florida Unpacked.

Over 10 episodes Alison and Aidan head off the beaten track to discover must-visit gems as well as sharing practical tips on how to get the best deals for food and drink, accommodation, travel and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

"In today’s cost-of-living climate, this show will be really helpful as we bring you all the little secrets on how to save money," says Alison.

Here's everything we know about Alison Hammond's Florida Unpacked...

Alison Hammond's Florida Unpacked release date

Alison Hammond's Florida Unpacked airs Monday to Friday from January 27 at 6.30pm on BBC2 for two weeks.

All 10 episodes will also be available to stream as a box set on BBC iPlayer from the same date.

Alison Hammond's Florida Unpacked episodes

Episode 1
Alison and Aidan take in lots of different sights and activities during their trip and the first episode sees them indulge in a spot of kayaking in Florida’s oldest tourist hotspot, Silver Springs State Park…

"When I was younger, Florida was all about the big theme parks for me but there’s so much more to explore beyond that," explains Alison. "This trip was eye-opening - we visited some stunning, historical places that I never knew existed and the natural beauty is unbelievable. As we were canoeing through the natural springs, we saw monkeys and all sorts of wildlife, it was just stunning. I didn’t see any alligators, but they were definitely in there!"

"I really loved the Everglades on this trip," adds Aidan. "As much as I do enjoy the theme parks, I actually preferred being out on the water, exploring the Everglades and the springs. Even though it was a bit scary at times - because you’re always thinking an alligator might sneak up on you - they're actually really chilled and don’t bother you."

Episode 2
Alison and Aidan are on a quest for budget-friendly family adventures in true American style, devouring affordable chicken and biscuits at an iconic Orlando diner. The pair also hitch a ride in a fire truck for a behind-the-scenes look at Orlando's fire department. They also dig into budget bites at a family-run eatery, before ending the day with a sleepover in a supposedly haunted hotel.

Episode 3
Alison and Aidan visit a theme park with an 80s feel and dive headfirst into the affordable fun, with a roller coaster ride for half the price of the big parks. Then, the pair stop off at a family-run popcorn shop, where they taste-test buffalo hot, bacon and cheese, and wasabi flavours. Alison and Aidan also take part in a dining experience straight out of the Middle Ages, where they get hands-on with horse grooming and learn some knightly stunts.

Episode 4
Alison and Aidan head to Fort Lauderdale on a high-speed affordable train, hit the thrift shops with a local professional, and then hop on an airboat for a wild Everglades tour.

Episode 5
Alison and Aidan join locals on a free trolley bus, dance up a storm with a salsa lesson in Little Havana, and get swept up in the soul-stirring vibes of a gospel church service.

We will update this guide when information about the remaining five episodes is released.

Alison Hammond's Florida Unpacked interview

Is it really possible to explore the theme park paradise on a shoestring budget? According to host Alison, apparently, you can!

"If you’re organised and do a bit of research, there are so many free or low-cost activities - like getting a tour of a fire station, or visiting parks that are a fraction of the price of the big ones," she says. 'Aidan and I have done the research, so you don’t have to.'

Having enjoyed lots of family holidays in the Sunshine State, Florida has always been a place close to Alison's heart.

"My mum, who worked as a travel agent, originally inspired me to go to Florida and she was always a big part of those trips," she says. "Mum wasn’t there this time [Maria died of cancer in 2020], so that was sad, but it was still lovely as Aidan and I have so many memories of visiting Florida with mum and we’d reminisce about the things we used to do together. So it was bittersweet - but a beautiful time spent with my son."

What are Alison and Aidan like as travel buddies?

It's obvious from the series that these two have a lovely relationship - but surely a teenager wouldn't be thrilled about holidaying with mum?

"Not at all! He absolutely loves it. He’s always asking, ‘Can I come'?", says Alison. "The other day, he was saying how much fun we have together - I bring the laughs, I am the life and soul, and he realises that. He’s been on plenty of trips with his friends, but he always says he has the best time with me.

"It was Aidan’s first time filming, so it felt like I had a work experience apprentice with me," she admits. "It was eye-opening to see how he approached it, and I realised he has the same work ethic as me - early mornings, late nights - and he handled it really well! I was quite surprised, to be honest. You know how teenagers can be, but he was great!"

And, of course, the trip meant Aidan got to see his mum in action.

"I learned a lot about mum filming this series," he says. "I learned that she’s actually a professional at her job. I used to think presenting was easy, like, ‘Oh yeah, she just stands there and talks.’ But then I actually had to do it myself, and I realised, ‘Wow, she’s really good at this!’"

OK. But who's the better tour guide?

"Oh, that’s easy. Me!" teases Aidan. "I feel bad saying it, but she’s just not as good as me. She’s had 22 years of experience, and I only needed two and a half weeks to figure it all out. The apprentice has become the master!"

Alison Hammond's Florida Unpacked airs Monday-Friday from January 27 at 6.30pm on BBC2.

For more on the biggest new films and binge-able shows this week our TV experts have got you covered with the Bingewatch Podcast!

Winterwatch 2025 is all rigged up and ready for action in Dorset with more of RSPB Arne’s stunning wildlife to spot as presenters Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Iolo Williams wrap up warm for four consecutive nights of live nature spotting on BBC2. This time long lens cameras are poised to capture white-tailed sea eagles, the team catches up with the reserve’s resident deer and foxes and a series of special pre-recorded films focus on the surprising antics of creatures like bitterns, moths, otters and ducks.

So here's all you need to know about Winterwatch 2025 on BBC2...

Winterwatch 2025 release date

Winterwatch 2025 is a four-part live series will begin live on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 8pm on BBC2 and will air at the same time on Wednesday 22, Thursday 23 and Friday 24 January.

The episodes will also become available on BBC iPlayer after they have aired.

Winterwatch 2025 presenters and interviews

The three presenters of Winterwatch 2025 are long-time favourites Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Iolo Williams, who are also regular Springwatch hosts.

"I’m looking forward to having a proper look around RSPB Arne, because last Winterwatch I was roving and spent quite a bit of time on nearby Brownsea Island," says Iolo, 62. "Arne is a great location for winter wildlife because there are so many different habitats in a relatively small area. 

"There’s wonderful woodland, which should be fantastic now that the leaves have gone, making it much easier to see some of the birds. There are also some thick hedgerows, which are a great place to spot firecrests – quite a scarce bird in the UK – in the winter. Then, you’ve got lagoons full of waders and wildfowl."

‘I’d also love to get some really nice views of the local white-tailed eagles. We saw them on Springwatch last year, but it was a fairly distant view. So it would be lovely to watch them hunting out over the shallow bay.’

Michael Strachan adds: "It’ll be great to return to Arne, although it’s difficult to know exactly what we’ll see and, obviously, the weather is a big factor. It’s a tough time for wildlife – creatures are either desperately trying to find enough food to survive or have completely slowed down to conserve as much energy as possible. 

"I always enjoy our macro studio, where we can indulge in the detail and behaviour of the fascinating wee beasties that many people don’t even notice. I also love the pre-recorded films with nature lovers and experts and, this series, we celebrate ducks, as well as moths, bitterns and otters.

"The beauty about Winterwatch is that it brings the natural world into living rooms at a time when most people are cosying up indoors. Hopefully it inspires people to layer up and get out into nature."

Chris Packham reveals: "You may think that everything hibernates, but winter is very much alive. We reach the peak of our numbers of visiting birds, including wildfowl, like swans, geese and ducks, and wading birds. Poole Harbour is a perfect place for those, so we’re really excited about that! My favourite animal to see at this time of year are foxes. During winter, they’re very vocal as it’s their mating season. The other sound to listen out for is the hoot of the tawny owl, because during winter they begin courting. With foxes and tawny owls you can even hear them in cities all over the UK, so they’re really accessible.

"This series, we also hope to have an even higher-grade infrared camera. We celebrate 20 years of Springwatch later this year and we never imagined we’d have a camera that could function in total darkness. Technology has moved on an enormous amount."

Where is Winterwatch 2025 filmed?

Like the last series, Winterwatch 2025 will be broadcast live from RSPB Arne in Dorset, which is packed with a variety of habitats from heathland to wetlands and woodland.

What wildlife should we expect in Winterwatch 2025?

Long lens cameras are already in position to catch footage of the local white-tailed eagles as they hunt in the skies over Arne.

The programme will also catch up with the resident foxes and explore their winter behaviours, as well as follow all the comings and goings at the bird feeders. High-grade infrared cameras will also capture the mysterious nocturnal movements of RSPB Arne’s deer.

Meanwhile, the macro studio is back in action to observe Arne’s insects and moths, and there are also tips on how to get involved with the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch taking place between Friday 24 and Sunday 26 January.

What else do we know?

Winterwatch 2025 will also feature pre-filmed seasonal stories shared by nature lovers and wildlife experts across the country. The list of pre-filmed stories include Buff-tailed bumblebees, Winter invaders, Otter man, Bittern hunt and Marvellous Moths.

Is there a trailer?

Winterwatch 2025 is a live series so sadly no trailer is available.

Monty Don’s British Gardens will see Gardeners' World host Monty travel the length and breadth of the UK to explore why we Brits are such a passionate nation of garden lovers.

From Royal gardens to gardens in the most unexpected locations, gardens with quirky histories and gardens that defy the odds, green-fingered Monty Don's new series has it all.

"We’ve got a garden on a barge on the Thames, gardens on rooftops and gardens by the sea," teases Monty. We've got gardens just all over in every possible situation, and that's the point of this series. It covers every kind of garden, and it tells us about the British people and who we are."

Here is everything we know about Monty Don’s British Gardens ...

Monty Don’s British Gardens release date

Monty Don’s British Gardens starts on Friday, January 10, 2025 on BBC Two at 8 pm.

There are five episodes in this series and they will all air in the same Friday night slot each week.

Episodes will also be available for catch-up on BBC iPlayer after they have aired.

Monty Don’s British Gardens episode guide

Monty's journey begins on the north-west coast of Scotland and across five episodes sees him crisscross the UK via Northern Ireland and Wales, ending his journey in Cornwall.

Here is what you can expect from each episode...

Episode 1 - Scotland to Northumberland: Friday, January 10
Monty travels from the northwest coast of Scotland to the northeast coast of England, exploring gardens of all shapes and sizes from historic reconstructions to modern reinventions.

Episode 2 - The North & Northern Ireland: Friday, January 17
Next, Monty travels across some of the country’s most stunning landscapes, heading across the north of England to Northern Ireland. Here, Monty sees the ingenuity, passion and determination of British people to garden and create gardens, no matter what the canvas.

Episode 3 - North Wales to Norfolk: Friday, January 24
The third epsiode sees Monty travel across the middle of the country, from Wales to Norfolk. He comes across gardens for gnomes, much-loved, well-tended allotments and extravagant gardens that bankrupted their owners.

Episode 4 - Southeast and London: Friday, January 31
Monty travels through the home counties and London, visiting amazing gardens, from one restored by a famous pop star to one lovingly tended on a barge.

Episode 5 - Southwest: Friday, February 7
Monty travels across the southwest to visit some of Britain’s most exotic gardens, thanks to the warm and wet climate. On this journey, Monty also goes to some of the country's most historic gardens, as well as some challenging contemporary ones.

Monty Don’s British Gardens host

Monty Don is an English horticulturist and writer, best known as the lead presenter of Gardeners' World. Here, in an exclusive chat, he tells us all about his new show...

You have visited glorious gardens all over the world Monty. Why are you returning to home soil and what is the idea behind the show?
"We wanted to make a series that tells us about who we are as a nation. It’s all about people. It's not a tour around the “best” of British gardens. We visit roof gardens, allotments, vast estates, we visit gardens that are an expression of anger of people creating something good out of something bad that’s happened. We filmed 62 in total and every single one is saying something interesting about its creators."

Which are some of the most eccentric gardens you visit in the series?
"One that stands out is Lamport Hall (in episode three) because of the story behind it. It was owned by Sir Charles Isham and was home to the very first garden gnome in the UK. Sir Charles became completely obsessed with his ever expanding collection of gnomes, he created special rockeries to accommodate them, tended them daily and even wrote books about them to the neglect of his family. After he died his daughters arranged a big party, gave everyone air rifles and they shot all the gnomes except for one which was hidden away. It has since been valued at over £1million."

Tell us about some of the community gardens you visit?
"All gardens in the series are about human stories. Some are quirky and odd, some are beautiful and noble. In Belfast I visit gardens which have been created in the city alleyways that were once used for drug-dealing and prostitution. A group of Belfast women, Catholics, Protestants, Hindus, Muslims and Jews, got together and said, ‘Enough. We’re not having this anymore.’ They put up gates and transformed those alleyways into gardens. That's the power of people to say, ‘No’ and to create something beautiful and peaceful."

You also get a sneak peek inside some very private gardens don’t you?
"Yes, one of them is the Royal garden at Birkhall, the Scottish home of the King and Queen which has never been filmed before. I know for a fact King Charles is a very hands-on gardener. He weeds, prunes, plants and he loves his garden as does Queen Camilla. Birkhall is a very personal garden. It has a thatched wendy house that was built for a young Elizabeth and her sister Margaret and a fantastic organic vegetable garden. My favourite element there is the arboretum that was planted to celebrate the birth of Prince George in 2013. It’s been so beautifully done."

What do you think the main takeaway of the series is?
"We see gardens on rooftops, gardens on boats, gardens by the edge of the sea. The key thing that comes through is our absolute passion for growing in Britain. It unifies us as a nation. There are very grand people doing it, there are people who have nothing doing it, but the beautiful thing is a duchess and a dustbinman can sit down side by side and swap stories about their gardens, what they grow and talk the same language. I think that’s a really important element of British society and I hope that’s what comes through."

Is there a trailer for Monty Don’s British Gardens?

Not yet, but as soon as one is released by the BBC we will add it to this guide.

Joanna Page’s Wild Life follows the actor as she pursues her lifelong dream of working with animals in a new BBC2 series.

Filmed last Summer, this 15-parter follows the Gavin and Stacey star as she joins Surrey’s bustling Wildlife Aid hospital in a bid to become a fully fledged wildlife rescue volunteer. 

“I’ve always loved animals, so this opportunity to work with them and be myself on telly was an utter joy,” smiles Joanna when she joins What To Watch for an exclusive interview. “Hopefully my journey can inspire others.”

Here, mum-of-four Joanna tells us more about training alongside vets and experienced handlers to master the ‘three Rs’ - rescue, rehab and release…

Joanna Page’s Wild Life — release date

Joanna Page’s Wild Life will air weekday evenings from Monday, January 6 on BBC2 at 6.30 pm.

There are 15 episodes in total which will also be available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Joanna Page’s Wild Life — exclusive Q&A 

Joanna reveals she isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty when she joins What To Watch from her home to talk about being plunged into unknown territory in her new BBC2 show. Here the star guides us to the new series…

Joanna Page’s Wild Life — season 1 episode guide

Episode 1 (Monday 6 January 2025)

The Gavin and Stacey star has a passion for animals, but doesn't know how to look after the wildlife around her, so she is volunteering at her local wildlife rescue centre as she trains as an animal care assistant. She starts with a test in the fox cub pen, before feeding a badger cub and helping with a soft release of some fox cubs.

Episode 2 (Tuesday 7 January 2025)

Joanna experiences her first rescue when a fox cub gets its head stuck in netting at a local school and the challenge is to release it without it running away so they can check it over. She also discovers that catching robins in an aviary is harder than it looks and checks in on the badgers, which proves to be more relaxing.

Episode 3 (Wednesday 8 January 2025)

Joanna meets a fledgling magpie with a broken leg, who she can't help naming Speedy. A frightened fox cub comes in with a bottle stuck to its head and Joanna gets to do her first urban release. Plus, she learns about the feeding challenges that lie ahead of her in her training and has another go at catching birds in an aviary.

Episode 4 (Thursday 9 January 2025)

The Gavin and Stacey star can't help naming the birds that are brought into the wildlife rescue centre. This time, it's a jackdaw that she calls Charles. In this episode, Joanna practises her feeding technique when she feeds him as part of his rehab with the aim of being able to release him back into the wild when he's strong enough. The actor also gets up close and friendly with two tiny rodents - a mouse and vole.

Episode 5 (Friday 10 January 2025)

A bird comes into the rescue centre that is so young the experts can't tell its breed. Joanna helps with its rehab and learns how to weigh such a tiny creature. Cleaning out a fox's enclosure sounds easy, but she needs to move him first. Her confidence grows as she helps catch 11 small birds to release back into the wild, and there's a cuteness overload as some hoglets are brought in.

Episode 6 (Monday 13 January 2025) 

A hedgehog is brought into the wildlife rescue centre with a nasty wound on its head and vet Judith treats it with Joanna as her able assistant as she continues her training. Joanna enjoys feeding an owl, but is less keen on the food prep that has to happen first, while two tiny swift chicks are in need of specialist care.

Episode 7 (Tuesday 14 January 2025)

A fledgling owl has been found on the ground and is brought in to the rescue centre, so Joanna gets the chance to help triage and rehabilitate the bird. The budding wildlife volunteer is also sent to rescue a hedgehog in the garden of a local resident, who worries that the animal is behaving strangely.

Episode 8 (Wednesday 15 January 2025)

Joanna has her first experience of rehabilitating a bird of prey when a peregrine falcon with a very noisy screech is brought into the rescue centre. At the other end of the scale, she learns how to scruff a tiny wood mouse and proudly shows her four young children the video evidence.

Episode 9 (Thursday 16 January 2025)

The actor helps triage two baby pigeons who have been brought in before they have even grown their feathers. She checks over a hedgehog mum and her two hoglets, who had been brought in by a local resident. And Joanna revisits the fox cubs that she weighed as she started her training at the wildlife centre.

Episode 10 (17 January 2025)

Joanna's confidence as a trainee volunteer at her local wildlife rescue centre grows as she helps x-ray the smallest bat she's ever seen, which has a suspected wing fracture. She also helps look after and finally release some noisy garden birds and later has a special moment as she releases the fox cubs who came in at the beginning of her own journey back out into the wild.

More episode info to come. Check back for updates.

Joanna Page’s Wild Life — is there a trailer?

Not at the moment, but we will update this page if one becomes available. 

Behind the scenes and more on Joanna Page's Wild Life season 1

Joanna Page’s Wild Life is commissioned for BBC Two by Head of BBC Daytime and Early Peak, Rob Unsworth, the Commissioning Editor for BBC Daytime is Helen Munson. The series is filmed in Surrey and made by North East based production company Twenty Six 03 with Duncan Gray and Antonia Hurford-Jones Executive Producing.

Famous Edwardian uthor E. Nesbit is best known for her beloved children’s books, most notably The Railway Children, but the prolific writer also penned ghost stories and Sherlock’s Mark Gatiss has adapted one of these chilling tales for this year’s A Ghost Story for Christmas. 

Set in the 1880s, Woman of Stone centres on troubled newlyweds Jack, played by The Sixth Commandment’s Éanna Hardwicke, and Laura (Phoebe Horn) who have moved to a cottage in the country for a fresh start. 

But Laura’s peace of mind is shattered after their housekeeper Mrs Dorman (Sherwood’s Monica Dolan) tells them of a disturbing local legend. On Christmas Eve, a pair of marble knights rise from their tombs in the medieval village church and come back to their old home – the couple’s cottage – seeking deadly retribution. 

"I love Christmas ghost stories," says Éanna Hardwicke, 28, who has also appeared in A Very Royal Scandal. "At this time of year we're closer to the mystic or the supernatural."

‘In the period we are dealing with, Jack has the power to behave as obnoxiously and controllingly as he wants, and whenever he wants,’ says Éanna. "This warning from Mrs Dorman is a real stark fear for Laura but, for Jack, it’s just a yarn around the fire.’"

Writer and director Mark Gatiss places E. Nesbit at the heart of the 30-minute drama, as the widowed author (Celia Imrie) recounts the scary story to her doctor (Maawan Rizwan) in her final days, while also revealing to him how her late husband deceived her. 

"Having Celia Imrie’s character talk about her husband blurs the line between Nesbit’s life and her storytelling," explains Éanna Hardwicke, who will next be seen playing former footballer Roy Keane in the film Saipan.

"This is what Mark Gatiss does so well. He plays with people's expectations of what a festive ghost story will be. There’s a really compelling atmosphere, but there are also darker layers to it."

A Ghost Story For Christmas: Woman of Stone will premiere on BBC2 on Christmas Eve (December 24) 2024 at 10.15pm. It will then become available to watch on BBCiPlayer. 

Gordon Buchanan: My Epic Camel Adventure on BBC2 sees Scots adventurer Gordon Buchanan ride on camelback for miles across the vast arid wilderness of the Gobi Desert in the style of the three wise men from the nativity story!

Starting in the west of Mongolia he spends two weeks crossing epic sand dunes, rocky plains and the treacherous Bumbat Mountain with only his camels for company. The solo mission is fraught with danger as Gordon has to earn the camels’ respect and trust, survive icy conditions and navigate vertical rock faces. But he also brings us an extraordinary insight into the lives of camels and how they’ve adapted to survive – and even thrive – in on of the most inhospitable places on the planet. 

So here’s everything you need to know about Gordon Buchanan: My Epic Camel Adventure on BBC2…  

Gordon Buchanan: My Epic Camel Adventure release date

Gordon Buchanan: My Epic Camel Adventure will be shown in the UK on BBC2 from Sunday, December 22 2024 at 7.30pm. This one-off documentary will also become available on BBC iPlayer from that date.

Is there a trailer?

The BBC has now released a trailer for Gordon Buchanan: My Epic Camel Adventure teasing all the drama of Gordon's journey, with plenty of footage of this camels! Take a look below.

What happens in Gordon Buchanan: My Epic Camel Adventure?

Having crossed the Canada’s frozen north with a team of huskies and tracked cheetahs in Africa’s Kalahari Desert, Gordon’s latest adventure sees him journey across the Gobi Desert in Mongolia with two camels and everything he needs to survive for two weeks! The adventures starts with him struggling to befriend the pair of grumpy camels, but soon sees them all bond as they cross miles of arid landscape. He also spends time with nomadic herders to experience their traditional way of life, and ends up catching sight of saiga antelopes, yaks and wolves. But will he be lucky enough to spot the rare Gobi bear, the most endangered bear on the planet?

Exclusive interview: Gordon Buchanan on his epic journey in My Epic Camel Adventure

Why did you want to take on this adventure? 
Gordon Buchanan says: "Camels have to be one of the most recognisable animals on the whole planet and they obviously feature in the nativity story, so this was an opportunity to look at how extraordinary they are while also exploring one of the most amazing places in the world that I've ever been. It was such a biblical landscape. Despite the challenges, every day I was excited about seeing more of that extraordinary part of the world."

There aren’t many wildlife shows about camels. What makes them special?
Gordon Buchanan says: "We always think of polar bears and penguins in Antarctica being really hardcore species. But the truth is that camels kind of blow them out of the water because the extremes of temperature they can cope with is extraordinary. In Mongolia, just two months before we got there, the temperature was minus 50. And then in the summer it goes up to plus 45, so you've got this extraordinary animal that can cope with almost 100 degrees of temperature range!

Can you talk a bit about your journey?
Gordon Buchanan says: "I spent a month in the Gobi Desert in March and April, just at the end of the winter. The plan was to put my camel riding skills to the test and travel through a really extreme and inhospitable part of the world. But I actually resorted to walking after about 10 days just to give my backside a bit of a rest, because they're not the most comfortable of creatures!"

What were they like as companions?
Gordon Buchanan says: "I had two camels, one that I rode and one that was carrying all my equipment and camping gear – and they were really huge! When I first met them, they gave off such ‘back off’ vibes that I thought there was no way I was going to be able to make friends with them. But they're thought to be as intelligent as elephants and, as I found, you can actually build up this bond with them. So went from being barked at, spat at and snapped at to cuddling them and tickling their ears. By the end of the two weeks, I was so attached to them and I had so much admiration for how they can navigate their way through that landscape."

And did they have different personalities?
Gordon Buchanan says: "Yeah, they definitely did. I named one Squeaks because when he ground his teeth it made this squeaking sound. He was more experienced, older and a bit bigger and stronger. He was very calm, very stable and more aloof to begin with. Chewy – because of his Chewbacca-type noises – was younger and less experienced and seemed to have anger management issues, but I ground him down over time! The nomadic herders don’t give their camels names because they’re not pets. But Chewy and Squeaks seemed very fitting for both of them!"

What was the biggest challenge of your journey?
Gordon Buchanan says: "Just trying to navigate that landscape. I had maps and GPS coordinates, and a rough plan to cover about 20 miles a day. But the route I’d naturally take wasn’t necessarily the best one. So the camels were the ones that could actually find the best route and know the best way to navigate, whether it was a rocky escarpment, sand dune systems or frozen lakes. I found myself having to trust in these two bizarre animals for the most fundamental thing of all, which was to get through that landscape safely!"

What’s your favourite camel fact?
Gordon Buchanan says: "So a camel can do pretty much do the splits. You have to be aware of the fact that they can move their legs in any direction, so you can get kicked in the face even if you're standing a meter and a half away from them. Another interesting fact is that the best dung for burning in a desert like the Gobi, which doesn’t have trees, is camel dung. It gives this remarkable, intense, long-lasting heat that's really, really fragrant. So when I was on my journey I gathered up the dung, got out my matches and made myself a little campfire!"

Can you separate the truth from the myth about what their humps are for?
Gordon Buchanan says: "You know, when I was a kid, I thought that camels’ humps stored water, and that's how they were able to survive in deserts. But the humps are really fat stores. You can get upwards of 40 kilos of fat in each of those humps, and that’s their energy store. It’s a bizarre design, but it's just a way of storing energy in a way that doesn’t affect their stability."

Did you end up spotting the rare Gobi bear?
Gordon Buchanan says: "They’re one of the rarest mammals on the planet and there are fewer than 50 left in the world, so I had to measure my expectations of actually seeing one. But without spoiling it for the viewers we did have some success! I also spotted a lone wolf up in the mountains, which was a remarkable sight!

What was the highlight of your trip?
Gordon Buchanan says: "Spending time with the nomads and really understanding their way of life. It was one of the most liberating experiences of my entire life – the nomadic lifestyle gives you this opportunity to go to the horizon and beyond in any direction. There are no boundaries, no fences, no rules and nobody telling you where you can and can’t go. So what seems like a really adverse or austere way of life is actually really uplifting and freeing. I fell in love with the Gobi Desert. It’s one of my favorite places in the world now!"

When Si King and Dave Myers roared onto our screens with The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook in 2004, the culinary duo gained legions of fans and permanently parked themselves in viewers’ hearts.

This year, after the tragic death of Dave, 66, from cancer on February 28, their enduring popularity was on display on a sunny Saturday in June when 2,500 motorcyclists joined King in London on a memorial journey to Cumbria.

By the time they reached Myers’ hometown in Barrow-in-Furness, they’d traveled nearly 300 miles, numbered over 45,000 and converged into a 37-mile-long convoy.

Now, this hour-long documentary follows the emotional event dubbed ‘Dave Day’, while celebrating the fun-loving TV chef through archive footage, unseen clips, heartfelt interviews, and childhood home videos.

Here, Si tells us more about this touching tribute to his best friend…

The Hairy Bikers: You’ll Never Ride Alone release date

The Hairy Bikers: You’ll Never Ride Alone airs on Monday, December 23, 2024 at 9 pm on BBC2. It will also be available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

The Hairy Bikers: You’ll Never Ride Alone - interview with Si King

Behind the scenes and more on The Hairy Bikers: You'll Never Ride Alone

The Hairy Bikers: You’ll Never Ride Alone was produced for BBC Two by South Shore. It was commissioned by Catherine Catton, Head of Commissioning, Factual Entertainment and Events. The Commissioning Editor is Jasmyn McGuile. Executive Producers are Andrew Mackenzie and Melanie Leach.

In addition to The Hairy Bikers: You’ll Never Ride Alone airing on BBC2 on Monday 23 December 2024, Si King will also make his BBC Radio 2 presenting debut that evening with Si King’s Christmas Rock from 10pm - 12am. During the radio show, which will also be available on BBC Sounds, Si will pick out a few of his favourite tracks to celebrate his love of rock music with a sprinkling of Christmas tunes.

It's hard to believe Mariah Carey's iconic festive hit All I Want for Christmas Is You is 30 years old. 

To celebrate, Rylan travels to LA to interview the Grammy award-winning artist - his idol - about the snow-covered song that led to her being affectionately called the ‘Queen of Christmas’ in BBC2's one-off festive special, Mariah Meets Rylan.

Here's everything we know...

Mariah Meets Rylan release date

The one-off Yuletide special can be seen in all its festive glory on Saturday, December 7, at 8.15pm on BBC2. It will also be available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Does Mariah talk about the origins of THAT Christmas classic?

You bet! Hearing those opening chimes of Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You always reminds us the festive season is just around the corner. And the now iconic Yuletide hit and the album it came from, Merry Christmas, is 30 years old.

Mariah reminisces with Rylan about how the song came to be the Christmas hit we still know and love today.

"It was the first Christmas song I ever wrote," Mariah tells Rylan. "I was thinking about all the things I did want for Christmas and turned it into, if there’s someone you love, it means more than all that stuff. Although, when I sing 'I won’t even wish for snow' that’s a lie. Of course I do!"

Is it true that, when Mariah recorded the Merry Christmas album, she didn't feel the Recording Studio was Christmassy enough? 

Yes, Mariah tells Rylan all about making the Merry Christmas album, and adding much-needed sparkle to the recording studio. "I put lights everywhere on the walls and two trees up because I wanted it to be festive," she says. "I don’t feel the same way when things aren’t decorated."

What else does Mariah talk to Rylan about?

Mariah also discusses her life, jobs she had before becoming famous, her musical influences - including Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and George Michael - and how she came up with the melody for her hit Hero… on the toilet! 

"Back then, that was the only time I was by myself but that’s where it came from. It’s super glam," teases Mariah, who has enjoyed 19 US No.1s and is thrilled her festive hit is still going strong 30 years on. "It feels surreal but I’m thankful."

What hits do we hear?

Well, as well as All I Want for Christmas Is You and Oh Santa, Mariah's collaboration with Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson, hits including Vision of Love and Hero are also featured. And more music follows the documentary with Mariah Carey at the BBC. More on that later...

It's a Christmas special hosted by Rylan - there must be some fun and games along the way...

There certainly are! Even talking about her favourite subject, Mariah still seems fairly guarded, but Rylan warms her up with his infectious natural charm and lots of laughs.

In a playful moment, Rylan tests Mariah’s English accent and pretends to audition her for BBC1 soap EastEnders. Yes, really!

It's Christmas, surely there are some presents, too?

Of course! Rylan kicks off the interview by gifting Mariah with a bar of Toblerone chocolate with her name on. And that's not all. Later, he surprises Mariah with a home-made Christmas box, full of treats he thinks she will like. 

First up is a Rylan angel - which frankly we think every Christmas tree should have - then some heeled marabou Christmas slippers (etched with her initials, natch!), and the theme continues with a personalised (and very British!) tea cup and saucer, which Mariah loves. 

And no Rylan 'Christmas box' would be complete without... a photo of the man himself! Mariah loves it. And so do we.

Is there a trailer?

We can actually go one better than that as Rylan himself has made a behind-the-scenes video to tease the making of the documentary. Take a look:

Tell us more about Mariah Carey at the BBC...

Straight after Mariah Meets Rylan comes Mariah Carey at the BBC (9.10pm), a selection of archive appearances on the BBC by the singer, including performances of Vision of Love, Without You, All I Want for Christmas Is You and Against All Odds featuring Westlife. So sit back and enjoy a night of entertainment from a music legend.

Throughout the Nineties and Noughties, boyband mania gripped the nation. Now, a new three-part documentary for BBC Two tells the inside story of the most successful acts of the time, exploring the culture that shaped this pop music phenomenon.

Produced by Louis Theroux and Nancy Strang, Boybands Forever boasts archive footage, and candid testimony from record bosses like Simon Cowell, plus Take That star Robbie Williams, ex-Westlife favorite Bryan McFadden alongside members of East 17, 911, Damage, Blue and Five.

Formed in 1997 by the team behind The Spice Girls, Five comprised of Scott Robinson, Ritchie Neville, Sean Conlon, Abz Love and Jason "J" Brown, teens plucked from obscurity to become pop’s new "bad boys". After a whirlwind four years, the "Slam Dunk (Da Funk)" and "Keep On Movin’" hitmakers disbanded in 2001 — with Scott, Sean and Ritchie reuniting in 2012 to perform as a trio.

In an exclusive interview with What To Watch, Ritchie, 45, reveals why boyband stardom is better the second time around…

Boybands Forever features archive footage of the open auditions for Five. What made you queue up alongside 3,000 other hopefuls at London's Pineapple Studios that morning?

"I’d never thought to myself: 'I want to be in a boyband', I really wanted to be an actor. I saw this advert and thought it could be a good opportunity. So, at 16, I turned up to this audition — my first ever audition for anything! — sang 'Freedom' by George Michael and got in the band!"

In 1997, Five signed a six-album record deal with Simon's Cowell’s label RCA. What did you think being in a boy band would be like?

"A dream. You know, travelling around the world singing songs to thousands of people. We were just kids, full of hope, anticipation and excitement about this life-changing thing we were going to do. For us, Five was just about fun and innocence."

What was boyband life really like?

"We didn’t realize that, as well as performing, we'd be doing 18-hour days of interviews, photo shoots, public appearances and dealing with the tabloid press! For a boyband, fans are so important; they put you where you are, but when there's girls camped out on your driveway, it can be stressful. You’d often think: ‘I wish this fame thing had an off switch'."

Five split in 2001. Looking back, could this have been avoided?

"Absolutely. If our management had given us a little more time to go home, chill and see our families, they would’ve got longer out of us. We'd gone platinum in the UK, selling 1.6 million albums, so we had a good foundation to crack America. But there’s no point having regrets."

You appear alongside Scott and Sean in the documentary. Was filming emotional?

"Very. It's a headspace you don't go to very often so, when you do, you kind of go back to how you felt at the time, and realise how close to the edge you were, mentally and emotionally, and what a big thing it was to deal with at such a young age. The three of us still annoy each other and love each other in equal measure. We’re not just friends, we’re family."

As well as Take That star Robbie Williams, members of 911, Damage, Westlife and Blue also appear in Boybands Forever. Did you cross paths back in the day?

"We know 911 and Damage very well from back then — Blue actually launched the day after Five broke up! We did a joint concert with Westlife in Israel in 2001. There was a bit of bravado among us, which culminated in all of us getting very, VERY drunk. I’m so relieved social media wasn’t around then — we’d definitely have got ourselves into trouble!"

What advice would you give young Ritchie stood in that audition queue all those years ago?

"Buckle up! I’d tell him to go out there, be yourself and try and enjoy it; none of this matters as much as record company execs will make you think it does. These days, being in a ‘boyband’ is how I imagined it'd be the first time around without all the trappings of fame. Lots has changed —  but there's still nothing like performing to a big crowd. It’s amazing."

Catch the first two episodes of Boybands Forever on Saturday, November 16 at 9.15 pm and 10.15 pm on BBC Two.

Calling all WHAM! fans! A brand-new BBC documentary promises to take us on a merry musical trip down memory lane to mark the 40th anniversary of the release of the hit single Last Christmas.

WHAM!: Last Christmas Unwrapped is a tribute to the much-treasured song, which has become a cultural phenomenon since its release on 3 December 1984, achieving six times platinum in the UK and US, with over one billion streams worldwide.

Packed with interviews from those involved in the making of the track and iconic video – including George Michael’s bandmate Andrew Ridgeley and backing singers Pepsi DeMacque-Crockett and Shirlie Kemp – the film also features a magical reunion in the Swiss resort of Saas-Fee, where the video’s snowy scenes were shot.

Here’s everything we know about the upcoming BBC documentary WHAM!: Last Christmas Unwrapped…

WHAM!: Last Christmas Unwrapped release date

The documentary will air on BBC Two on Saturday, December 14 at 8.35 pm. It will be on BBC iPlayer.

WHAM!: Last Christmas Unwrapped interviews

The documentary will feature new interviews from those involved in the making of the hit single and video, including WHAM! members Andrew Ridgeley, Pepsi DeMacque-Crockett and Shirlie Kemp, plus there’ll be archive radio and video footage from George Michael, who died on Christmas Day in 2016.

Fans and friends of WHAM! will appear too, including Mary J. Blige, Sir Bob Geldof, Neil Tennant and Sam Smith, to discuss themes of unrequited love and loss in the song that first reached Number One in the UK on New Year's Day 2021, more than 36 years after its initial release.

“It’s a privilege, 40 years on, to be able to have this opportunity to celebrate WHAM!’s wonderful and enduring musical homage to Christmas,” says Andrew Ridgeley, 61, who left the band in 1986. “Christmas was a special time of year for George, and Christmas songs were a special type of song for him too and that’s why he considered writing a Christmas classic, one of the great achievements of his career.

“Only he will ever know quite what inspired him to such dizzying heights, but his song-writing genius led him to distill the quintessential essence of Christmas into a song that has a breadth of appeal that spans the generations.”

WHAM!: Last Christmas Unwrapped footage

Directed by BAFTA and Golden Globe-nominated Nigel Cole (Calendar Girls, Made in Dagenham), the film includes an exclusive broadcast of George performing Last Christmas at Wembley Arena in December 2006, along with never-before-seen outtakes from the original 35mm music video footage, as well as George and Andrew’s personal photographs.

The documentary will also reunite the group of friends from the music video, which was filmed in the snow-capped Swiss resort of Saas-Fee, and revisits locations including the ski lift and alpine chalet. Never-before-heard stories from the video shoot will be revealed, plus the Mayor of Saas-Fee shares his memories of being the band’s driver 40 years ago.

“Revisiting Saas-Fee four decades on, with some of the closest friends of my youth, was a very special experience,” says Andrew. “I know ‘Yog’ would have loved to have shared that, too.”

Is there a trailer for WHAM!: Last Christmas Unwrapped?

Not yet, but we’ll be sure to add it here if one becomes available. In the meantime, enjoy this link to the music video shot in stunning Saas-Fee in Switzerland.

I've seen all sorts of movies about Artificial Intelligence since it became a hot topic a few years ago, from rabidly pro-AI ones to vehemently anti-AI stories, but Eternal You is probably the most balanced of them that I've seen so far.

Eternal You is a look at various companies and groups that are using AI as a way to digitally revive dead loved ones. After playing at prestigious film festivals like Sundance, Hot Docs and the UK's Sheffield Doc Fest (where I first saw it), the BBC will be showing at as part of Storyville on Tuesday, October 29. It currently stands at 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.

You might be wondering what I mean, "AI as a way to digitally revive dead loved ones" and don't worry, it's not literal. It's about using tech to digitally recreate someone.

One example of a method used by a company to 'bring back the dead' shown early on in Eternal You is by a text-based chat bot, which scans social media posts from a dead person in order to replicate their style of texting. Another later on uses virtual reality to create computer generated children that run around you. The methods run the gamut from low-key texting to full-on experiences like this.

After reading that synopsis, you probably had a strong reaction, whether it be in wonderment at just how far technology has come, or in repulsion at what modern technology is being used to do.

But that's what's great about Eternal You: its balance. The movie doesn't put a firm foot down in favor or opposition of Artificial Intelligence (although it seems to come close at times), instead simply showing you what it's being used to do, and letting you make up your own mind.

Part of that is that the doc doesn't just look at the technologies, but the people pioneering and creating them. One tech creator seems intent in ignoring the ethical ramifications of his chat bot, despite issues raised by his friend, and just wants to fly drones instead. Another man is seemingly trying to cope with a messy break-up, and he elicited a laugh in my screening when people noticed that his computer monitor was propped up by a stack of raunchy magazines.

By showing the technologies alongside the troubled people who created them, Eternal You solidifies itself as an honest and nuanced look at AI. Sure, tools like ChatGPT, Gemini or Grammarly may seem like magical intelligence machines, but they were all created by humans and therefore have a little piece of that creator in everything they put out. That would make AI seem negative, but it's not all so.

One moment that stays with me is a woman sobbing uncontrollably at the digital recreation of her deceased daughter; to the outsider, this image looks like an incredibly creepy artificial creation, but from the mother's reaction we can see that it still has meaning to her.

Is it morbid that this woman is having such a strong emotional reaction to a digital character, or heartwarming? That's for you to decide.

You can watch Eternal You on TV on BBC Four, where it'll play at 10 pm on Tuesday, October 29. If you can't watch it then, it'll be shown on iPlayer shortly afterwards and you can find its landing page here.

Showtrial season 2 follows the story of a high-profile climate activist named Marcus Calderwood, who names a serving police officer as his killer just moments before he dies. Soon a quest for the truth gets underway as the trial of the decade begins, but not everyone is being entirely honest about what really happened the night of Marcus's hit and run. 

The final episode of the series opens with the defense going into court and changing Justin's plea to guilty to manslaughter. The prosecution isn't happy, stating there isn't enough time to get their hands on the psychiatric reports they need so Grainne asks for the judge to send the jury home for a two-week pause. 

We then flash forward two weeks and Mani goes to Sam's office to see Claudia. Sam isn't there and Mani and Claudia talk about his research into suicide and Mani is still hurting that his dad was considering taking his own life after what happened with his mum. 

Meanwhile, Sam is talking through what has happened with his therapist and he gets upset talking about how much Mani means to him. His therapist tells him this episode might be caused by his medication and suggests he change to a different anti-anxiety medication. While she is writing his new prescription, the therapist makes small talk about the trial, and Sam explains the prosecution hasn't accepted their manslaughter plea and so it is now a matter of whether or not Justin going to prison for life or not. 

Meanwhile, Felix goes into a bike shop to find out whether they sold a set of bike pedals around the time of the hit and run that matched the model of Marcus's bike. They did - however, it was a cash purchase and the CCTV is wiped every week, so while he doesn't have concrete evidence, the man in the shop told him it was a woman and she had an accent. Felix tells Helen that the woman the shop owner described matched the description of Patrick's wife, Elena, meaning that Justin didn't act alone and could have had an accomplice. He wants to put this information on his blog, but Helen begs him not to - not only is it contempt of court, but also could ruin both their careers. 

Sam sees Justin in prison and they talk about his interview with the prosecution psychiatrist. Sam then asks about Patrick Norris and the bike pedals. Justin says he didn't notice the pedals and won't go any further, refusing to tell Sam more. 

As the trial restarts the protestors outside are shouting for 'Justice for Mascus' while holding signs about Felix's blog, Indifference Kills. As he tells Sam about the evidence he got from the bike shop, Sam tells him he should present it to the police and to write it online is contempt of court... and it isn't long before Felix is arrested. 

Grainne and Sam prep Justin for his day in court and tell him he needs to behave if he wants to get the jury on his side. Sam relays the bike pedal purchase evidence from Felix and tells Justin if the prosecution uses this, it will make the murder look premedicated and blow their case out of the water. Justin says they will never get Patrick because only one person can bring him down, and that person won't because they would be implicating themselves. Justin says there is more, but before he can say anything else, Grainne comes in and tells them it is time to go to court. 

With the trial back underway, Sandra goes back into the witness box and is asked about Justin's mental health. Grainne asks what his mental health was like when she told him she was pregnant and she describes how he took her in the car and drove at over 100 miles per hour to the spot where Daniella had died in her accident. 

Next Justin is in the witness box and Grainne asks what happened the day Marcus died. He tells her he didn't go out to kill him, but went to his house after seeing another protest that stopped an ambulance from getting to a hospital. We then see Justin remember them arguing before Marcus rode off and Justin followed in his car. We then see Marcus cycling in front of Justin's car, sticking his middle finger up at him. Justin recounts how he kept hearing Daniella's voice in his head and something snapped, so he closed his eyes, put his put down and drove into him. He denies moving Marcus from the side of the road but admits to picking up the bike and helmet and putting them in his car before driving off. 

Next, the prosecution questions Justin and asks if he didn't move Marcus, then who did. Justin can't answer but admits to disposing of the bike and helmet in the lake. He says he doesn't know where the helmet camera is, as it should also be in the lake.  He tells the court he is truly sorry for what happened and manages to keep his cool when the prosecution outlines what they believe happened the day Marcus was killed. 

In the back room, Justin tells Sam he knows he is looking at a lot of years piled on if he is found guilty of murder... Sam agrees that 25 would be his best hope. Justin says he would still be younger than Sam when he gets out if he was found guilty of manslaughter... but if he went down for murder, 25 years in segregation would mean he would have to carefully explore all his options. 

Southgate and Leila agree that they need to speak to Patrick and Elena Norris again as if they helped him tamper with evidence then it would mean they could prove that it was premeditated and therefore murder. When they get to Patrick's house no one is in, but Southgate and Packham know they are being watched through a security camera, and sure enough moments later Southgate's phone pings with a photo from Patrick showing him and his wife on a plane. 

The next morning we discover Patrick has escaped to Ecuador on a privately chartered plane, paid for in cash by a known cocaine smuggler. 

In court, Grainne questions Dr. Towler and he confirms he spoke to Justin about his childhood and his abusive father before writing his report. He says Justin has a performative tendency and a habit of speaking about himself in the third person but is at the top end of intelligence. Towler also confirms that he believes Justin uses humour to hide his true feelings and is suffering from PTSD. He also confirms that he interviewed Sandra. 

Next, Dr. Potts is in the witness stand and tries to counter Dr. Towler for the prosecution. He claims things Justin said were inconsistent with a sudden loss of control after the hit and run and that he thought he had the right to take the law into his own hands. 

That evening, Felix comes out of the police station and tells the other protestors that he has been charged with contempt of court and is willing to go to jail if it means justice for Marcus. Meanwhile, Helen tells Leila that the police now have Felix's phone and will be reading his messages, and she reveals that she is his source. Leila asks why, and she says Whitley is the reason because she is fed up with him covering up so many police shortcomings. 

In court, the defense and prosecution make their closing statements before the jury goes off to make their decision. The jury comes back and announces they have found Justin guilty of murder and that 10 of them agreed with the decision and 2 disagreed. The judge tells the court that considering everything the minimum sentence Justin will serve is 35 years before he can be considered for parole. Justin looks stunned as the court absorbs this turn of events. 

Later, Sam tells Justin that they will appeal the sentence, that it was politically motivated and that they can get it reduced. But Justin shouts that Sam still doesn't know everything, and he wants to tell him now. He says the prosecution was right, he gambled and he lost - it all came down to a bet with Patrick. If Justin won, his debt to Patrick would be written off. If he lost, he would have to hit Marcus on his bike.

Justin goes on to explain how he hit Marcus with his car and then put his bike and helmet into the boot. He realised the pedal was missing and told Patrick he would have to deal with that, so he got Elena to get a set of new ones and change them in case the bike was ever found in the lake. Justin explains Patrick kept the camera off the helmet as a souvenir, and that he is friends with some very dangerous people on both sides of the law. He adds that he did what Patrick told him because he was worried about keeping Sandra safe. That's the reason he hasn't brought Patrick into the whole thing because it is the least he can do for her. Sam asks if he feels remorse for killing Marcus but Justin avoids the question by saying he will always believe Marcus killed Daniella and her unborn baby. Justin asks him to make sure Sandra is looked after before saving he will set his own tariff. 

At the end of the episode, we see Justin led to his cell, while Leila and Sam chat on the steps of the court. Leila offers Sam her condolences for losing the trial, and they say Southgate is trying to get Patrick. Leila also reveals she knows about the pills that Sam tried to buy online and that she got Southgate to drop it. He thanks her and at the end of the episode he reunites with his son Mani and the pair go for a beer. 

All five episodes of Showtrial season 2 are now available on BBC iPlayer. The series will also air on Sundays at 9pm on BBC One. 

Solar System sees Professor Brian Cox take viewers on five epic journeys through our solar system to explore some of the discoveries made by recent space missions. 

The five part series for BBC2 will explore a volcano the size of Everest erupting on Venus, ice crystals falling on Mars and red frost on the mountains of Pluto. 

Brian will also be finding out about NASA's attempt to bring back a pristine sample from an ancient asteroid that could tell us about the solar system's origin.

Here we tell you everything you need to know about the new series and speak to Brian to find out more.

Solar System release date 

Solar System begins on Monday, October 7, 2024 on BBC One and will be available as a box set on BBC iPlayer. 

Solar System — how many episodes is the series and what content is covered? 

Solar System is five episodes. 

The first episode is called Volcano Worlds. Professor Brian Cox travels to Iceland where he uses the Icelandic geology to explain the volcanic planets of the solar system like Venus, which has more than 85,000 volcanoes. 

"Filming in Iceland was challenging because of the weather conditions", says Brian. "The only way we could get into one of the big volcano chains was by helicopter. We had to wait for four days before it was clear enough."

Later episodes see him in Spain, Utah and Alaska where he explains and demonstrates some of the fascinating phenomena happening in space and the underlying physics and geology. 

What new discoveries can we expect? 

Brian says, "We are living through a golden age of space exploration. Right now there are spacecraft in orbit around or on the surface of five of the eight planets in our solar system. As new data cascades in we are building an ever more accurate and detailed picture."

How does this series compare to previous ones about the Solar System?  

Brian says, "Previous series about the solar system have tended to only focus on the planets and their moons but we wanted to tell the story of the smaller and important things that are out there too: the asteroids, the Kuiper Belt objects, the Oort Cloud. In episode two for example we explore the asteroid that hit someone’s driveway in Winchcombe in the Cotswolds during lockdown 2021."

Is the series Solar System accessible to younger viewers? 

"Yes. You’ll see me doing experiments where we keep the language simple and make things very visual", says Brian. "I often get teachers I meet telling me that they’ve used clips from my past series to help explain things to their pupils which is lovely to hear. Science is so important because everything we do in modern life rests on some scientific discovery of the past."

Solar System episodes

Subsequent episodes see him in Spain, Utah and Alaska. Brian says "The episode we shot in Alaska was explaining how ice works in the solar system. You might think ice sounds dull but actually ice is tremendously complicated. For example, on Pluto you’ve got these glaciers flowing down valleys but it’s not water ice, it’s nitrogen ice. We think there is also ice in the clouds of Uranus which conducts electricity and appears to be linked to its aurora."

Which was your favourite episode to make in this series of Solar System? 

"I loved the one we shot in Alaska. I got the opportunity to go to the mountain peak Denali, which is one of the world's great locations, but it's very difficult to get to. We were flying in this aircraft which is built to land on a glacier and that was fun. I love flying and we went in an Otter aircraft from the 1950s that has been hugely modified to fly in that environment." 

You say in the show that we are making new discoveries about space each day. What can you tell us? 

"Yes, absolutely. Mars is a good example. I remember the Viking probe landed on Mars in the 70s and there was tremendous disappointment because they were looking for life and it felt like it was arid and not interesting. As a result, exploration stopped for a while and the idea that there could be life on Mars went away but then it came back again because we're getting more and more evidence that there might be subsurface water and so it's becoming extremely exciting and interesting again."

Which planet fascinates you most? 

"Venus. It’s always been problematic for us in terms of television because it’s covered in clouds so there are very few images. But Venus is like a twin planet to Earth because it’s in roughly the same place in the solar system and yet it’s gone down a very different path because it lost all its water about a billion years ago."

What do you hope viewers take away from this new series? 

"The Solar System is basically like a giant chemistry set and this series is almost like a love letter to chemistry, you're seeing how everything interacts with everything else.  The question I often get asked is 'Why do we do space exploration?' And there are lots of answers for that, but one of them is that, if we want to understand why Earth is the way it is and how it works at a very basic level you can't answer that without looking at the other planets and the other little places in our solar system." 

Is there a trailer for Solar System?

Yes, you can get a taste of what to expect from the clip below... 

Solar System airs from Monday, October 7, at 9pm on BBC2 and is available as a box set on BBC iPlayer.

Alma’s Not Normal season 1 began with a single episode in April 2020, which went on to win star and creator Sophie Willan a BAFTA in 2021, beating Ghosts, This Country and Charlie Brooker’s Antiviral Wipe. 

In September 2021, with the pilot acting as the first episode, BBC2 released a six-part series following the irrepressible Boltonian and her inner circle - recovering heroin addict mum Lin (Siobhan Finneran), no nonsense gran Joan (Lorraine Ashbourne), and life-loving pal Leanne (Jayde Adams).

Now with Alma’s Not Normal returning for a second six-parter on October 7, 2024 on BBC2 and BBC iPlayer, we take a quick look back at the first series…

Alma’s Not Normal season 1 - release date

The pilot for Alma’s Not Normal first aired on BBC1 on 7 April 2020. It was developed into a six-part series which kicked off on 13 September 2021. It’s currently available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Sophie Willan on the first series of Alma’s Not Normal

In the opening episode Alma is dumped by her dodgy boyfriend Anthony (James Baxter), who moves in with his new, younger squeeze, forcing Alma to think on her feet to pay the rent. At the local job centre Alma’s dreams of becoming an actress don’t impress. So she contemplates two very different money-making options - working at a fast food sandwich chain or becoming an escort. Meanwhile, she’s on a mission to reunite her mum Lin and grandma Joan...

“Alma’s at a crossroads. She’s just got out of a long-term, toxic relationship, is left with no money, no job and no family, really, apart from the unruly women in her life, so she needs to start again,” explains Sophie Willan. “She was quite dependent on Anthony and his mum Viv (Sue Vincent) to provide a substitute family for her, so now she needs to reconnect with her family, move on from her ex, and find money – there’s a lot going on for her!”

Semi-autobiographical and based on Willan’s stand-up material about life in and out of care, working as an escort and pursuing her dreams, the BBC2 series successfully embeds dark topics in a colourful, warm, razorsharp sitcom.

“This is inspired by true events, but is its own world. It feels nicely separate from my experiences and the stand up shows,” says Sophie. “As difficult as things have been in the past, humour’s been a saving grace. Comedy is incredibly cathartic.”

As the series progresses it explores Alma’s career decisions, family relationships and the ups and downs of her frank friendship with Leanne.

“There's lots of other issues like Alma getting her records back from social services and the housing crisis - quite heavy within a comedy!” reveals Sophie. “But optimism is at the root of Alma, me, and the show in general. Ultimately it’s funny and quite light on its feet. Alma’s optimistic, foolish and wild.”

Trailer for Alma’s Not Normal season 1

Check out the hilarious trailer for Alma’s Not Normal season 1 here.

Alma’s Not Normal season 2 will be released on 7 October 2024 on BBC2 and BBC iPlayer. 

In the new series Alma returns to Bolton where Grandma Joan is still serving up spam sandwiches, whether her aspiring actor granddaughter Alma wants them or not. Her mum Lin has developed an interest in witchcraft. And her best pal Leanne (Jayde Adams) has started a whole new chapter of her life.

Our full guide for the new series is coming soon.

Nadiya's Cook Once, Eat Twice sees cook and former Bake Off champ, Nadiya Hussain spinning one delicious meal to create a second and transforming everyday leftovers into mouth-watering creations. 

The new six-part series will see her showing us how to make our weekly shop stretch further and reminding us that in these testing financial times where household budgets are being stretched to the maximum, we don’t need to spend lots of money on extravagant ingredients when humble staples can be elevated into tasty plates of food.

Nadiya's Cook Once, Eat Twice release date 

The six-part series will air from Tuesday, November 17 at 7.30pm on BBC2 and BBCiPlayer. The series will then air weekly in the same slot. 

Nadiya's Cook Once, Eat Twice — what's the format of the show? 

Each week will see Nadiya cook two inventive ‘Cook Once, Eat Twice’ recipes. The first being a classic Nadiya recipe and the second being a quickfire recipe that is imaginatively created using the leftovers.

Across the rest of the programme there will be three more smart but delicious recipes offering solutions of how to cook more efficiently and economically. 

As always, Nadiya will be sharing her trademark tips and tricks throughout, demonstrating how we can make the most out of every ingredient, without compromising on flavour or quality. 

What To Watch spoke to Nadiya to hear more. Here is our interview for Nadiya's Cook Once, Eat Twice...

How timely do you think this series is? 

Nadiya says, "Right now a show like this is really needed. The cost of food has gone up so much and we’re more aware than ever how much we are spending and how little we are getting for it. I’ve always been on a personal mission not to waste food and so doing this series is something that comes very naturally to me. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had making a show!" 

What are some of your top tips? 

"At home I have one freezer drawer empty because that encourages me to fill it. So if I’m making something like a bolognese, I’ll make a double batch, or for example carrot soup, I'll make more than I need and then turn half of it into a delicious cod curry. It feels like you’ve cooked two very separate dishes and also means you can get ahead. I’m a firm believer that if you’re going to be in the kitchen cooking then use that time wisely. I’m military: get in, get stuff done, use stuff up!" 

What food that we all tend to throw away can we make good use of? 

"Potato peelings: I always save these. I pop them in the freezer and then use them to thicken up soups. I’ve also got a recipe in the show where I make a delicious dauphinoise using potato peelings.

"Stale bread: Leftover bread that’s gone stale can be used in granola. You would never think to do that but it’s really basic and I’m telling you it’s really addictive. I made so much of it for the show all the crew went home with massive jars. At home, we sometimes eat it as a snack when we’re watching telly. 

"Banana peel: I guarantee everyone throws these away but they are full of fibre and potassium and they make the most amazing curry. You chop up the peel and add it with the spices and onion. It keeps its shape and texture and is so tasty. I also have a banana doughnut recipe to use up bananas past their best.

"Orange and clementine peel: My window sill is always covered in orange peel that’s drying out. It’s great in fish curries and I use dried clementine peel to make a delicious sugar that you add to hot chocolate. So good! Once you start drying orange peel you won’t ever throw them away! 

"The liquid from canned beans and pulses: We don’t think about the liquid that we drain off when we open a can but actually you don’t have to throw it away. I show viewers how to add spices and mayonnaise to leftover bean juice to make dips.  And with chickpeas, you can use the leftover water, ‘aquafaba’ to make meringues.

Do you have fun getting creative?

"Definitely and I always like that shock element. I think lots of people look at my recipes and say ‘No! She didn’t just use that! Surely she can’t make that taste good’ but I do."

Which recipes from Nadiya's Cook Once, Eat Twice are your family’s favourites? 

"My kids love the cheesy chowder corn pies. It’s essentially cooled-down chowder, in puff pastry. Other family favourites are the Mongolian beef where I take leftovers and turn it into beef sushi wraps with sticky rice and also sloppy joes where I use mince, with pickled egg and red onions."

Are there any sweet treats can we look forward to? 

"Lots! One of my favourites is banana doughnuts using leftover bananas and a really simple raspberry pudding using mashed-up raspberries which is similar to a posset. There’s also a delicious trifle where I do no cooking at all but am using up leftover cake, strawberries, custard out of a can and lemonade for the jelly so it’s really fruity and zingy."  

What are store cupboard staples that people need to have in order to make some of the recipes? 

"Basic things like garlic and onion are always good to have at home. Other staples are dried spices and sauces; mustard, tomato ketchup, brown sauce and Worcestershire sauce. I use a lot of those within the recipes because they all add tonnes of flavour without you having to go out and buy other ingredients."

As well as saving money, of course there are environmental benefits to not throwing away food...

"Yes, absolutely. We all throw away too much which is not good for the planet.  I think as a chef on the telly, people think I shouldn’t talk about saving money or reusing ingredients, but that’s not who I am. I’m naturally frugal and want to educate my children and people who follow me. Some people can be quite pretentious and think, ‘I don’t want to look like I’m trying to save money. It makes us look like we’re poor,’ but that’s not it. We are being smart and being smart is better than anything else!"

Is there a trailer for Nadiya's Cook Once, Eat Twice?

No, unfortunately there isn't a trailer yet, but if one is released we will add it to this guide. 

Nadiya's Cook Once, Eat Twice starts on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 7.30pm on BBC2 and BBC iPlayer. 

Best pals Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse are packing their bait - and Bob’s quirky lunches - and heading out on the road once more to visit some of the UK’s best fishing lakes and rivers for Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing season 7.

Along with trusty Ted the dog, the comedians will journey to Ireland, Northern Ireland, Driffield in Yorkshire, Trent, Bedfordshire and Blakeney Point in Norfolk where they will spend time angling for fish including salmon, tench, barbel and carp while ruminating on life’s big questions, such as ‘what would you wear in your casket?’ and ‘why is wearing fresh white underpants such a joy?’. 

"I think it's by far the best series we've done," says Bob. "I think Paul and I are just getting better and better at it, which sounds a bit boastful. I think we just know what the show is now and what people like. We fish, we stay somewhere nice, and I cook Paul some food. Plus, there's a slightly bigger role for Ted. Some of the fish we catch are quite fantastic, like an extraordinary orange carp in the first episode. For people who like the fishing, we’ve got some real specimen fishing in the series, as well as our normal failures."

Here’s everything you need to know about Mortimer and Whitehouse Gone Fishing season 7…

Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing season 7 release date 

Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing season 7 airs weekly from Sunday, September 22 at 9 pm on BBC2. You will also be able to catch up on all episodes on BBC iPlayer. You can find more details on how to watch Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing right here. 

Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing season 7 premise 

As always, comedians and friends Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse will travel around the UK looking for some new fishing experiences. They will spend time together, reminisce about their friendship and hope to land a catch or two in some of the most scenic fishing spots Britain has to offer. 

Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing season 7 – all about Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse

Bob Mortimer 

From 1993 to 2011 Bob and fellow comedian Vic Reeves presented the eccentric celebrity quiz Shooting Stars. In 2011 the pair hosted Vic & Bob’s Afternoon Delights and went on to make Vic and Bob’s Big Night Out. Bob has appeared on countless panel shows including Taskmaster, Duck Quacks Don’t Echo, Pointless Celebrities, Would I Lie to You and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and he’s had acting roles in Train Guy, Toast of London, Drifters, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), Monkey Trousers and House of Fools. 

Paul Whitehouse

Paul is best known for the comedy show The Fast Show which ran from 1994 to 2014. He appeared in comedy sketch shows such as Harry Enfield’s Television Programme, The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer and Harry Enfield and Chums. He’s had acting roles in David Copperfield, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Change and Why Didn’t they Ask Evans? and last year he made the documentary Paul Whitehouse: Our Troubled Rivers looking at pollution in Britain’s waterways. 

Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing season 7 – is there a trailer? 

No and it’s unlikely the BBC are going to release one. But it’s not too long to wait to catch the series. 

Designing The Hebrides season 2 sees the return of Banjo Beale — winner of season three of Interior Design Masters — as he sets out once again to bring his sense of interior style to more unexpected places across Scotland's Hebridean islands.

As ever, he'll face challenges along the way, not limited to small budgets and the unaccommodating weather, but with the help of his trusted team of tradespeople and a can-do attitude, Banjo is determined to give his clients' properties a makeover that will breathe new life into the buildings.

Here's everything you need to know about Designing The Hebrides season 2...

Designing The Hebrides season 2 release date

All six episodes of Designing The Hebrides season 2 will be available on BBC iPlayer from Monday, September 16. The series will also be transmitted weekly on BBC Scotland from Monday, September 16 at 10pm, and on BBC2 from Tuesday September 17 at 7pm.

Designing The Hebrides season 2 locations

Banjo will be visiting different islands across the Hebrides in season 2, including Easdale, Harris, Iona, South Uist and his adopted home of the Isle of Mull.

Who is the narrator of Designing The Hebrides?

Each of the episodes is narrated by actor Ashley Jensen, star of Shetland, Agatha Raisin, Extras and Ugly Betty, to name just a few!

Designing The Hebrides season 2 episode guide

Episode 1 — The Puffer Pub: Banjo heads to the tiny island of Easdale — the smallest inhabitant island in the inner Hebrides, with a population of just 60 — to give the Puffer Pub a much-needed makeover. The pub's remote location means the team will have to transport materials using wheelbarrows, but logistics aren't the only factor; the locals have a strong sentimental connection to the pub which has been the beating heart of this tight-knit community for decades.

Episode 2 — Apothecary: Banjo is tasked with making over an apothecary on the Isle of Harris — but while the space is big, the budget is small! Banjo enlists friend Chris and his husband Ro to pick flowers for him to dry and use to dress the space, while herbalist Amanda lets Banjo raid her loft to find objects he can use in his design...

Episode 3 — Honesty Boxes: Banjo helps two small island businesses who survive by selling their produce through honesty boxes. On the Isle of Mull, in the village of Dervaig, Banjo meets lobster fisherman Jamie and his wife Mary, who runs a small sandwich shop. Too busy to open the shop full time, they sell their produce in a local honesty box, and they want Banjo's help to make it stand out. Meanwhile, in the Outer Hebrides, Banjo helps carer Donna with her side hustle selling homemade ice cream, which she currently sells from an honesty box run out of an old livestock trailer, but she's looking for something more imaginative and fun.

Episode 4 — Iona Wool: Banjo and the team make over a wool and craft shop on the island of Iona. Because of the beautiful colours of their stock, they don't want too much colour added to the shop itself, which is a challenge for Banjo — but he comes up with a Hebridean modern concept that he hopes will warm up the shop without overshadowing the gorgeous woollen goods.

Episode 5 — Western Isles Hotel, Mull: Banjo's on home turf again, where his brief is to transform a hotel salon into a spa by day and a bar by night. The Western Isles Hotel overlooking Tobermory harbour has been welcoming guests for over 140 years, but it's lost some of its spark lately, so General Manager Brian wants Banjo's help to revitalise the iconic building.

Episode 6 — The Croft: For the final episode of the series, Banjo returns to South Uist, where crofters DJ and Lindsay want him to transform their breezeblock garage in Loch Skipport into a shop they can sell produce from. It's currently a complete blank canvas with no character or charm, so can Banjo navigate their limited budget to create a space that meets his clients' needs?

Interview with Banjo Beale

Australian comedy Colin From Accounts season 2 is finally available in the UK on BBC iPlayer, and fans have been delighted to catch up with Gordon (Patrick Brammall), Ashley (Harriet Dyer) and their beloved border terrier Colin.

However, the on-off couple and their plucky pooch were almost upstaged in the opening episode of the season by the unexpected appearance of an A-list guest star!

Brett (Michael Logo), Gordon's employee at Echo Park Brewery, found out that his parents wanted him to move out of the family home, but they chose a rather unusual way to break the news: they hired Kevin Bacon to tell him via the celebrity message service Cameo.

But how did the Kevin Bacon Cameo cameo come about? According to creators and stars Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer, it was because Kevin's a huge fan of the show.

"I did a job with his wife, Kyra Sedgwick [US sitcom Call Your Mother], and we became friendly with them, as crazy as that is," says Patrick. "They're just lovely people, and they were such fans of the first season."

"They asked for loops of the show before it came out in the US and they watched it," adds Harriet. "I think they're watching season two now; they've just been really supportive."

"In fact, Kevin sent us a message saying he loved his own performance — he said, 'I smell an Emmy!'" says Patrick. "When we had the idea to have Brett's parents try to kick him out of the house and to use Cameo for that, we thought, let's shoot for the stars!"

Patrick and Harriet did have a plan B in case Kevin turned them down, but they were thrilled when he accepted the offer to appear in the show.

"If we couldn't have gotten Kevin, we would have done a different vibe — like someone nobody had heard of outside of the country," concludes Harriet. "That would have been its own type of funny - but this definitely has commercial appeal!"

Seasons 1 and 2 of Colin from Accounts are available to stream now on BBC iPlayer in the UK.

Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer are back with the hotly-anticipated second season of Australian romantic sitcom Colin From Accounts, which they co-write and star in as Gordon Crapp and Ashley Mulden, two strangers who are brought together after their awkward first encounter leads to Gordon accidentally hitting a stray dog with his car — and the two of them subsequently adopt the dog together, naming him Colin From Accounts.

Although Gordon and Ashley's relationship seemed like a perfect example of opposites attracting, the differences between them came to a head at Ashley's birthday party in the penultimate episode of the first season, and the couple broke up after a huge argument. Realising they needed to find a new home for Colin, they gave him away to a new family — but within moments of handing Colin over, they realised that both the breakup and the loss of their dog were huge mistakes.

We caught up with real-life married couple Patrick and Harriet to find out what to expect from Colin From Accounts season 2...

Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer interview for Colin From Accounts

• Colin From Accounts season 2 starts on Tuesday September 3 at 10pm on BBC2 and continues on Wednesday September 4 at 10pm. The full season will be available on BBC iPlayer from Tuesday September 3.

Vienna Blood actors Matthew Beard and Juergen Maurer are thrilled to be decked out in period costume and reprising their respective roles as self-confident psychoanalyst Max Liebermann and gruff Inspector Oskar Rheinhardt when What to Watch joins them for a virtual interview from the set of their popular 1900s-set procedural drama. 

“I always have this slightly nervous flutter before we start filming where I wonder, ‘How do I get back into this?’” smiles London-born Matthew, 35. “But then I put on Max’s stiff collar, get strapped into his waistcoat and braces, and we snap into it pretty much straight away, don’t we?”

“Yes, I just love it when we put on our costumes, stand next to each other and click-clack, there we are,” agrees Austrian star Juergen, 57. “The relationship between Oskar and Max has evolved over time, and so has our relationship as actors. I hope I’m not exaggerating when I say we like each other very much and are good friends!”

Inspired by the best-selling Max Liebermann Mystery novel franchise by Frank Tallis, the fourth season begins on BBC2 on Sunday, August 4 and will see a format change with a single story playing out across two feature-length episodes, rather than three standalone cases. 

When we catch up with Max and Oskar it’s 1909, they haven’t seen each other for a while, but it doesn’t take them long to pick up where they left off… which is just as well because complete trust in each other is paramount, as they face their most dangerous case yet - hunting down an enemy of the state codenamed ‘Mephisto’. 

Here, Matthew and Juergen share their case notes… 

Vienna Blood — season 4 interview with Matthew Beard and Juergen Maurer

Vienna Blood's Mephisto Waltz: Part 1 airs on BBC Two on Sunday, August 4, 2024 at 9pm. The second feature-length installment concludes on Sunday 11 August at the same time. Both episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer. 

Casualty is known to skip around the BBC1 schedules to make way for other programmes and events, and fans have been worried that with live coverage of UEFA Men’s Euro 2024, Glastonbury 2024, Wimbledon 2024 and the Paris Olympics 2024, their favourite drama may be kicked down the road until a later date.

We can reveal that the series isn’t going on an extended sabbatical for the Summer schedules, but there are some changes. Some Saturdays the show is switching from BBC1 to BBC2 and on others it won't be airing at all.  

But you need never miss an episode of Casualty with this handy guide to all the medical drama episodes airing over the coming months. 

Please note: This document is now closed. Check out our Casualty page for all the latest spoilers, news and interviews.

When and where can I watch Casualty over the Summer months?

With the opening episode of Storm Damage kicking off on Saturday,  June 15, 2024, at 8.20pm on BBC2, just as the Euros got underway, Casualty made the move to  BBC2. Yet, it didn't stay there for long. 

Check out our special Summer guide below for every episode of Casualty and where you can watch it.

What to expect in Storm Damage — warning spoilers

* In Casualty’s new 12-part box set, nurse Cam Mickelwaith (Barney Walsh) is floored by the most traumatic shift in his career to date. This is quickly followed by a blast from the past which leaves him reeling… Who is Jamie Cleveland (played by Emmerdale star Ryan Hawley) and what does he want?

* Perennial bachelor, paramedic Iain Dean (Michael Stevenson) starts enjoying a cosy home life with nurse Faith Cadogan and her clan, until their happiness is threatened!

* Consultant Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless) catches the eye of firefighter Rich (Michael Keogh, Peaky Blinders, Emmerdale). Is he the one - or one to avoid?

* Consultant Dylan Keogh (William Beck) gets hot under the collar, when Psych Liaison Nurse, Sophia, (Kellie Shirley, In the Long Run, EastEnders) becomes a regular face on the wards. 

* Paramedic Jacob Masters (Charles Venn) ups the ante to find his missing son, Blake. 

* Junior doctor Tariq Hussein (Manpreet Bachu) struggles to support his cousin, doctor Rash Masum (Neet Mohan).

Casualty — Storm Damage — episode guide

Sinking Ships - Day 1 —  Saturday, 15 June, 2024 at 8.20pm on BBC2

Storm Damage episode 1 of 12.

As a storm threatens Holby City, a tragedy forces recently promoted Band 5 nurse, Cam Mickelwaithe (Barney Walsh) to make a tough decision. Elsewhere, Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless) makes an unexpected connection, while junior doctor Tariq Hussein (Manpreet Bachu) is determined to help his vulnerable cousin Rash Masum (Neet Mohan).

Elin Lloyd Harries, Kellie Shirley, Michael Keogh, Ryan Hawley, Paddy Navin, Steve Garti, Sarah Mhlanga, Finley Glasgow and Amy Chung guest star.

Sinking Ships - Day 1 full spoilers

Sinking Ships - Day 2 —  Saturday, 22 June, 2024 at 8.35pm on BBC1

Storm Damage episode 2 of 12

Casualty is back at its traditional home on BBC1 for this episode, where the red weather warning continues unabated, leaving Holby is at the mercy of disastrous flooding and ruthless looters. Paramedic Iain Dean decides to pull a double shift - against the advice of his concerned partner, nurse Faith Cadogan- in order to support a nervous Teddy Gowan on his first day back at work. But when an exhausted Iain risks life and limb to rescue a man trapped in a submerged car, will he get out alive?  Elsewhere, Siobhan struggles to keep the understaffed ED afloat, while Dylan Keogh’s flustered by feisty psych nurse Sophia Peters!

Full spoilers for Sinking Ships - Day 2

Mersey Moore, Paddy Wallace, Gwion Glyn, Riad Richie, James Reynolds, Laura Hanna and Ben Walton-Jones guest star. Tom Mulheron also reprises his recurring role as Faith's son, Luka Malinovksy.

There is no episode of Casualty on Saturday 29 June 2024, due to live coverage of the Men's Euros 2024 on BBC1 and Glastonbury 2024 on BBC2.

Casualty is not airing on Saturday 06 July 2024 due to live Wimbledon 2024 coverage on both BBC1 and BBC2 from 11am until 10pm. See our TV Guide for more details. 

After the Flood —  Saturday, 13 July, 2024 at 8.20pm on BBC1

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Cam Mickelthwaite (Barney Walsh) is haunted by his past, as it catches up with him while he is at his most vulnerable. Junior doctor Nicole Piper (Sammy Dobson) is faced with an impossible decision. Paramedic Jacob Masters’ fears for his son Blake and grandson Carter intensify after shock news. And the Stevie-Rich-Siobhan affair triangle heats up significantly! 

Karlina Grace-Paseda, Marlo Rye, Eileen Nicholas, Ryan J Mackay, Niamh Denyer, Joshua McCord, Nikki Levitt and Nigel Fyfe guest star.

Full spoilers for After the Flood

Ghosts —  Saturday, 20 July, 2024 at 8.25pm on BBC1

Storm Damage episode 4 of 12

The fourth episode in Storm Damage sees a devastating twist in paramedic Jacob Masters' search for his son when he receives distressing news from the police - is Blake dead?

Plus, following shocking accusations against hospital board member Jamie last week, this Saturday vulnerable nurse Cam (Barney Walsh) decides to quit Holby ED when he’s confronted by his childhood friend Bobby once more. 

With troubled Bobby insisting they were both groomed and assaulted by Jamie, Cam breaks down and resigns - causing his boss, Siobhan to question why… 

Meanwhile, consultant Dylan Keogh struggles with devastating news. Will anyone support him through his pain?

Full spoilers for Ghosts

Carrie Crowley, Carla Langley, Ryan J Mackay, Nicholas Woodeson, Jeanie Hackman, Hannah Fritsch, Jay Saighal, Hemi Yeroham and James Ifan guest star.

Duped —  Saturday, 27 July, 2024 at 8.10pm on BBC2

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It's back to BBC Two for Casualty as the Paris Olympics 2024 get underway. In the aptly names Duped, doctor Stevie Nash plays a dangerous game. 

After another night of passion with married fireman Rich Walker, loved up Stevie is blown away when he promises to tell his wife about their affair and ask for a divorce. She heads to work on cloud nine — until clinical lead Siobhan shows her a photo and Stevie realises Rich is married to her boss! 

Elsewhere, heavily pregnant junior doctor Nicole makes a life-changing decision about her surrogacy and paramedic Iain’s hair-trigger temper causes problems at home!

Full spoilers for Duped

Jamie-Rose Duke, Harvey Quinn, Luka Cvitkovic, Lowri Izzard, Libby Hall and Jeanie Hackman guest star.

Man's Best Friend — Saturday, 03 August 2024 at 8.10pm on BBC2

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Casualty stays on BBC2 for the time being, and it has zero affect on the drama - which, as ever is ramped up to 11!

Here, Dylan Keogh faces the day from hell – Dervla’s cancer has spread and it's time to say his final goodbyes to his beloved pet and companion. In shock, he goes to work, where psych nurse Sophia Peters mistakes his distraction for negligence and considers reporting him to Siobhan McKenzie! In a moment of deep grief, will he reach for the bottle to down his sorrows? Elsewhere, Stevie Nash’s tempted to reconnect with her affair partner Rich Walker, Siobhan makes a powerful enemy, and Faith Cadogan considers a career change… Is she quitting Holby?

Full spoilers for Casualty episode Man's Best Friend

Melanie Gutteridge, Elliott Spilling, Anna Griffith, Dexter Wendes, James Copestake, Nadia Shash and Jo Hartland guest star.

All for Love — Saturday, 10 August 2024 at 8.10pm on BBC2 

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Casualty stays on BBC2, as there's live Olympic coverage on BBC1 this weekend. But the high-octane drama with our favourite medics remains as good as ever.

In this episode a desperate Jacob Masters faces another dead end in his search for Blake Gardner. He comes within a hair's whisper of finding him and, excitingly, Supacell actor David Ajayi makes his debut as the paramedic's troubled son. 

Elsewhere, clinical lead Siobhan McKenzie makes TWO shocking revelations, and junior doctor Tariq Hussein's rogue behaviour causes shocking problems for all concerned.

Full spoilers for Casualty episode All for Love

Jessica Johnson, Xavien Russell, Avita Jay, Mark Arends, Nia Gandhi, Simon Bubb, Jeanie Hackman and Connor Porter guest star.

Downfall — Saturday, 17 August 2024 at 9.10pm on BBC1 

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Casualty is back on BBC1, where Tariq Hussein’s future hangs in the balance, Stevie Nash’s guilt grows as Siobhan McKenzie falls to pieces at work, and Jacob Masters is determined to break the cycle for his son, Blake...

David Nellist and Simon Sherlock guest star.

Full spoilers for Downfall

Absolution — Saturday, 24 August 2024 at 9.10pm on BBC1 

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Cam Mickelthwaite is blindsided when a familiar face is rushed to the ED with their life hanging in the balance. How did evil abuser Jamie Cleveland (Emmerdale’s Ryan Hawley) end up at the bottom of a ravine fighting for his life? Elsewhere, Nicole and Ngozi’s relationship changes dramatically, while Jodie is terrified when news comes in that the refugee camp her dad Max (Nigel Harman) was working at in South Sudan has been attacked… Will he make it out alive?

Full spoilers for Absolution

Nick Harris, Natalia Kostrzewa, Evija Stepanenko and Elin Lloyd Harries guest star.

The Right Amount — Saturday, 31 August 2024 at 9.10pm on BBC1 

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Paramedic Iain Dean crosses the line in order to protect his family, but has he made a grave mistake? Meanwhile, Dylan Keogh’s indecision has an undesirable outcome and Siobhan McKenzie's hopes are raised, only to be dashed. Check out our interview with Melanie Hill, who plays Siobhan, for more on this!

Full spoilers for The Right Amount

Guest stars: Ben Walton-Jones, Yanexi Enriquez, Catherine Hamilton, Jake Mavis, Callum Knowelden and Jasna Anderson.

The Truth Will Set You Free — Saturday, 07 September 2024 at 8.25pm on BBC1 — Storm Damage 11 of 12

Freedom — Saturday, 07 September at 9.15pm on BBC1 — Storm Damage 12 of 12

The 12-part Storm Damage chapter draws to a close with an explosive double-bill set during a single, extremely difficult, shift.

In the first episode, The Truth Will Set You Free, protesters turn to violence, putting the Holby medics under unprecedented pressure and, amidst the chaos, Siobhan discovers Stevie’s fling with her husband and Nicole’s water break! 

In the second outing, Freedom, Holby ED goes into lockdown, Jacob takes a dangerous risk which could destroy his family, and Sophia prepares to wave goodbye - but will Dylan stop her leaving? 

Guest stars for episode 11 of Storm Damage: Jonathan Watson, Leila Mimmack, Isabella Verrico, Anthony Lewis, Oliver Ford Davies, Amanda Walker and Carys Daniels.

Guest stars for episode 12 of Storm Damage: Mansi Harvey, Samila Kul, Jonathan Nyati, Luke Matthews and Akshay Shah

Full spoilers for The Truth Will Set You Free and Freedom

After the Casualty double-bill and conclusion of Storm Damage airs on Saturday 07 September 2024, BBC1's medical drama will be off the air until December 2024, when it will return with a Christmas special. Check out our interview with Elinor Lawless for more on this. 

Casualty's summer trailer reveals shocking drama heading for Holby ED

Casualty Storm Damage: guide to everything we know

Storm Damage exclusive with Barney Walsh

Exclusive interview: Jamie Glover on playing the most hated man in Holby

Callum Highway wonders if he's taken things too far with Johnny Carter in Thursday's episode of EastEnders, airing on BBC Two due to the Paris Olympics  (7:30 pm. See our TV Guide for full listings)

Callum Highway has been in the doldrums since husband Ben Mitchell was unexpectedly whisked off to the US and banged up for fraud! Although in typical Ben fashion, he tried to convince Callum to leave him, Callum insisted he was the love of his life and he'd wait.

Life without Ben has been tricky for Callum to navigate but he's had stepdaughter Lexi Pearce to keep him on his toes. With Lexi abroad with Ben's mum Kathy Beale and brother Ian Beale visiting Ben in prison, Callum has been feeling very glum and resisted attempts by Johnny Carter to live a ilttle.

After Honey Mitchell advised Callum to go out and have some fun, he accepted Johnny's offer of a fun night out. Soon Callum is enjoying Johnny's company and forgetting some of his cares - until a snide comment by Billy Mitchell.

Not happy to see Callum with Johnny, he assumes they're on a date and comments that it's not taking long for Callum to move on from Ben.

Callum is horrified by Billy's words but could there be a grain of truth in them?

Chelsea Fox has managed to create a new life for herself after escaping her controlling and abusive husband Gray Atkins, who went to prison for murder. 

She's been living in the family home ever since and finding money to pay for it by taking in lodger Felix Baker. 

After her other housemate Whitney Dean left the Square, Bernie Taylor moved in and things have been going smoothly.

Chelsea and Bernie a massive shock when she discovers that a 'For Sale' sign has gone up outside the house and learns that legal owner Gray is selling up...

Nish Panesar is up to his scheming yet again and involving gullible granddaughter Avani Nandra-Hart. 

He knows that by laying the emotional blackmail on thick, he can get her to do his bidding as he's previously managed to control her before.

Telling Avani that he wants to track down an old friend of his ex-wife Suki Panesar, he asks Avani to search for her online.

What is Nish really up to and could it spell trouble for Suki?

EastEnders continues on BBC Two due to the Olympics on Monday at 7:30 pm.

Priya Nandra-Hart is determined to take down Nish Panesar in Wednesday's episode of EastEnders, airing on BBC Two due to the Paris Olympics (7:30 pm. See our TV Guide for full listings).

Priya Nandra-Hart is in a real fix after being chucked out of the Panesar family home by Vinny Panesar.

When she crashed Nish and Vinny's business meeting and launched into a vicious verbal attack, Vinny decided it was time for her to go in a shrewd move to impress his father.

With her son Nugget Gulati due to have a dialysis session following after his kidneys were damaged taking steroids, Priya is desperate to go with him.

Furious when her ex Ravi Gulati refuses to let her go, she vows to be there for her son and sneaks into the hospital with the help of Nugget's best mate, teenager Denzel Danes.  

When Ravi and Nish walk in to find Priya by Nugget's bedside, they are angry. Priya's kicks off and the three are soon involved in a massive row.

Knowing that Priya needs to reveal to the family  the extent of Nish's ies and manipulations she takes drastic action...

Luring Nish to the Minute Mart, she handcuffs him and insists that he film a video taking back his lie that they slept together. 

Will Nish agree?

Alfie Moon is determined to get things back on track with his kids after he recently had to discipline son Tommy Moon over his bad behaviour.

With the Paris Olympics underway, Alfie comes up with a fun day for Albert Square by hosting a mini Olympics for the kids.

Although most of the local children are well up for Alfie's scheme, he has more trouble convincing Tommy. 

Realising that he'll have to bribe him in some way, Alfie announces there's going to be a cash prize for the winner!

Callum Highway is still down about not being able to visit hubby Ben Mitchell, who is banged up in a US prison for fraud. 

Matters are made even worse when he misses a call from Ben and he is heartbroken.

Feeling sorry for the copper, Honey Mitchell encourages Callum to meet her for a drink later as she wants to cheer him up.

When he confesses that Johnny Carter invited him on a night out to take his mind off missing Ben, Honey gently encourages him to go, reminding him that he can't give up on life just because Ben isn't around for him.

EastEnders continues on BBC Two due to the Olympics on Thursday at 7:30 pm.

Kat Slater fears her son Tommy Moon is taking a dark path in Monday's episode of EastEnders, airing on BBC Two due to the Paris Olympics (7:30 pm. See our TV Guide for full listings).

Kat Slater is struggling to keep herself together over the latest dramas with her son Tommy Moon. Normally able to deal with whatever life throws at her. tough cookie Kat's one soft spot is her kids.

Shortly after Tommy was born, Kat thought she'd lost her son after Tommy was stolen in a baby swap by grieving mother Ronnie Mitchell. He was eventually returned but his life was later turned upside down when he was just ten when Kat was forced to admit his biological father was not Alfie Moon, but Alfie's cousin psychopath Michael Moon who was murdered by Janine Butcher.

Already prone to outbursts, Tommy's behaviour has escalated and he's recently stolen from the Minute Mart as well as lashing out at a shocked Yolande Trueman, earning him a ticking off from publican George Knight.

Alfie suggests to a frazzled Kat that she take a holiday while he looks after the kids but concerned about Tommy kicking off again, Kat insists she needs to be there to keep an eye on him. 

Her instincts are sadly proved right when he's unnecessarily rough with twins Bert and Ernie and she's forced to intervene.

Unable to deal with her fears about what Tommy might be turning into, Kat confesses to Alfie that she's seriously worried about their son.

Can Alfie help her?

Nish Panesar is smug that his plan has come together as sons Ravi Gulati and Vinny Panesar fuss around him. When Nish does his usual and tries to cut Vinny out of a business deal, however, a fuming Vinny is forced to bite his tongue.

Spilling his frustrations to mum Suki Panesar, Vinny admits he's finding it hard to keep up the pretence of being a good son to get his hands on a dying Nish's money and businesses.

Calming her son's fears, Suki tells him he needs to be bold to gain Nish's respect. Taking Suki's words to heart, Vinny crashes Nish's business meeting and puts on the charm to impress the potential client. 

Things are turned upside when when Priya Nandra-Hart bursts in and launches into a tirade against Nish. 

Can Vinny save the situation?

Callum Highway receives a big blow over his marriage to a jailed Ben Mitchell. The couple were forced apart when Ben was convicted for fraud in the States and shipped out there to face a prison term. 

Despite Ben telling Callum that it was best if they split to give Calum a chance of a life without waiting around for him, Callum refused to be binned off and pledged his love to his husband.

Plans are afoot for Ben's mum Kathy Beale,  brother Ian Beale and daughter Lexi Pearce to visit Ben in prison. As they excitedly set off for the airport, a sad Callum is left behind.

Despite trying his best, Callum hasn't been able to get time off from his job as a copper and it breaks his heart not to be able to see Ben in person.

Johnny Carter spots that Callum is feeling down and he vows to cheer him up.

EastEnders continues on BBC Two due to the Olympics on Tuesday at 7:30 pm.

Cam Mickelthwaite's career is under threat following a harrowing shift in Casualty episode Sinking Ships - Day 1, the first installment in new 12-part chapter Storm Damage airing on BBC2.

Picking up eight weeks after the Breaking Point finale, a ferocious storm rages through Holby City, causing untold damage. 

Away from the ED, Stevie Nash’s head is turned by a handsome fireman during a high-pressure rescue. 

Meanwhile, on the wards, Dylan Keogh comes to the attention of new psych liaison nurse Sophia Peters, played by EastEnders star Kellie Shirley! 

Full Casualty spoilers for Sinking Ships - Day 1 below…

Cam Mickelthwaite in a storm

Cam Mickelthwaite (Barney Walsh) struggles to get to work during a prophetic red weather warning this week in Casualty. 

The newly qualified Band 5 nurse is on the phone to his father —  offering a rare glimpse into his parental relationships — when he misses the bus to Holby ED by seconds. 

Now, running late, Cam’s anger turns to relief when his boss, clinical nurse manager Siobhan McKenzie (Melanie Hill) spots him and stops to give him a lift.

They don’t get very far, however, as they’re stopped by an unsettling accident — new mum Abigail Donaldson (Elin Lloyd Harries, Pobol y Cwm) is in shock as a shop sign has fallen on her daughter’s pram.

It’s pretty clear to Siobhan and Cam that baby Chloe has a nasty head injury, so they move mum and child inside the store in order to shelter from the storm and start treatment…

Race against time

Paramedics Jan Jenning (Di Botcher) and Iain Dean (Michael Stevenson) arrive on the scene and transport Chloe and Abigail to Holby ED for urgent treatment. 

Yet, despite the team’s best efforts, the infant girl dies.

As consultant Dylan Keogh (William Beck) breaks the sad news, distraught Abigail is supported by psych liaison nurse Sophia Peters (Kellie Shirley, In the Long Run, EastEnders).

Meanwhile, everyone on the team is left reeling - especially Cam, who is then approached by Sophia about speaking to Abigail, as he was instrumental in Chloe’s treatment.

Career chopping block

Deeply affected by the baby girl’s death, Cam hesitates at first, but later has a change of heart.

Despite Siobhan’s blatant order not to, Cam opens up to grieving Abigail and reveals why he believes he contributed to Chloe’s death!

Abigail is inconsolable and the fall out is instant, as the new clinical lead is forced to take immediate action. 

Will Cam be fired?

Revealed — Holby ED’s new clinical lead 

With the departure of Patrick Onley (Jamie Glover), there’s been a new clinical lead appointed to the department.

*Drumroll please*

Siobhan is the new boss at Holby ED!

Check out Jamie Glover’s reaction when we revealed the news to him.

Dylan in the dog house

With the red weather warning in place and Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless) working a HEMS shift, Dylan Keogh does his best to brace the ED team for the fallout from power disruptions, travel incidents and significant risk to life in Holby City.

Yet, he can’t help but be distracted about the plight of his best friend, Dervla the Dog!

As the shift becomes increasingly tougher, Dylan is left utterly perplexed when the new face on the wards, Sophia, becomes exasperated with him…

Does Sophia have good reason to be cross with Dylan, or is she lashing out for reasons of her own?

Stevie’s steamy shift

As the storm worsens, Stevie Nash is at the scene of a car crash with HEMS colleague Suze Chen (Amy Chung) attempting to rescue impaled driver Louise Smithson (Sarah Mhlanga, The Pentaverate). 

The rescue of the badly injured woman is made all the more difficult by Louise’s angry passenger and mother-in-law, Bev (Paddy Navin, London’s Burning, Doctors). 

Fortunately, twinkly-eyed firefighter Rich Walker (Michael Keogh, Four Lives, Secret Invasion) is available to support Stevie as she struggles to safely extract Louise while battling some inner demons. There’s electricity in the air, and it’s not just because of the thunderstorm, as tension sizzles between them!

It’s rare that Stevie opens up to anyone about a deeply personal matter, but there’s just something about Rich that she trusts — until they swap phone numbers and she notices a ring on his wedding finger.

Will the spark fizzle out as quickly as it flared up?

Also in Casualty this week

Rash Masum (Neet Mohan) is back at work on light duties after his attempt to end his life, and not everyone is able to act naturally around the newly returned medic. 

Well meaning Tariq Hussein (Manpreet Bachu) is particularly suffering from an extreme case of foot-in-mouth and keeps getting Rash’s back up.

Anxious and worried, Tariq opens up to Rida Amaan (Sarah Seggari). Will she be able to help the conflicted cousins?

Speaking of Rida, she lightens the mood in this week’s intense episode with a rather novel version of bingo!

Heavily pregnant doctor Nicole Piper (Sammy Dobson) confides in Ngozi Okoye (Adesuwa Oni) that she still hasn’t heard from Rosie Cornwall (Nicola Chegwin) following her amniocentesis test results.

And Cam is surprised to learn that his former youth mentor Jamie Cleveland (Ryan Hawley, Emmerdale, Silent Witness) is a recently appointed board member at Holby Hospital…

Speaking to What To Watch, Barney Walsh who plays Cam, teases: “Jamie is someone who was a kind of mentor to him growing up, and it’s very interesting for Cam to see him again. We will allude to Cam’s past and explore the reasons why he’s such a shy, timid character…” 

Barney's Storm Damage interview in full

Casualty episode Sinking Ships - Day 1 airs on BBC2 on Saturday 15 June 2024 at 8.20pm. The episode is available on BBC iPlayer from 6am.

If you’re affected by any of this week’s Casualty storylines support and information is available from BBC Action Line https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline/

Maya Houssain looks into Harvey Monroe's past in Thursday's episode of EastEnders (7:30 pm. See our TV Guide for full listings)

Maya Houssain has spent quite a bit of time around Albert Square after literally bumping into Harvey Monroe. When she arrived to do some shopping in the market, she walked into Harvey with her bags. 

Turns out Maya needed to take a taxi back home and she was delighted when Harvey revealed he was a cabbie. What a coincidence! And in another suspicious coincidence, Harvey found out that Maya was a massive Spurs fan, just like him.

A lonely Harvey was pleased when Maya agreed to meet up with him for more football chats. Rather than be jealous, his partner Jean Slater encouraged him to make a new friend, knowing he's been at a loose end ever since his mates Rocky Cotton and Mitch Baker left the Square.

After meeting for lunch, Maya encouraged Harvey to talk about his family, and he confessed that his son Aaron Monroe was in prison. Aaron was banged up after getting involved in a racist right-wing gang when their plot to bomb a mosque was uncovered.

Maya was visibly rattled after Harvey's confession and he worries that he's lost her as a friend when she won't respond to his text. Meanwhile, Maya researches Aaron online and looks up his criminal history...

Could she somehow have some connection to Aaron's crimes?

Phil Mitchell was stunned when he discovered at Christmas that his ex-wife Sharon Watts' boy Albie was his biological son! 

Sharon got pregnant while she was having an affair with Keanu Taylor and insisted that Keanu was Albie's dad. After Albie was diagnosed with an inherited condition, it turns out that Keanu didn't carry the gene, so couldn't be related. 

That only left one candidate for Sharon's babyfather - the one and only Phil Mitchell!
Although she tried to keep the news to herself, the truth came out on her destroyed wedding day to Keanu, which ended in his murder, and Phil discovered that Albie was his son.

Now that Keanu's body has been laid to rest, Sharon has broken the news to Albie and Phil finally finds the right moment to confirm to him that he's his dad.

Stevie Mitchell feels bad that he's let down grandson Will Mitchell after his attempt to give him some cash to pay off a blackmailer went sour. 

Mo Harris encourages Stevie to cheer up and she ropes him into doing a magic act with her at Jay Brown's charity fundraiser in his late wife Lola Pearce Brown's name.

The pair wow the crowd and Stevie is chuffed as Mo's successfully managed to lift his spirits. But things are about to go south for Stevie when the fundraiser money is stolen...

Who is to blame?

EastEnders continues on BBC Two on Tuesday at 7:30 pm due to football.

Callum Highway is in the firing line when he gets too close to the truth about Keanu Taylor's killer in Wednesday's episode of EastEnders showing on BBC Two (7:30 pm. See our TV Guide for full listings).

Callum Highway has been uneasy about the investigation into Keanu Taylor's murder and senses that Dean Wicks' arrest for the killing is off somehow.

Rapist Dean was fitted up for the murder by real killer Linda Carter and her co-conspirators after Stacey Slater planted the murder weapon in Dean's flat.

When Sharon Watts bumps into the copper in the cafe she's alarmed as Callum shares that he's been doing his own digging into the case and is talking to the detectives who were assigned to it.

A freaked-out Sharon meets up with Linda Carter, Johnny Carter and Jack Branning and spills that Callum could be about to destroy everything they've done to protect themselves unless he's stopped...

Fellow cop Jack insists that he'll speak to Callum, suggesting that he needs to avoid interfering in the investigation as it goes against protocol. 

Although Callum seems to take Jack's words on board, lawyer Johnny is worried that it's not enough to stop Callum.

With his mum's freedom on the line, how far will Johnny go to shut Callum up?

Yolande Trueman is determined to put on a brave face to help Chelsea Fox celebrate her son Jordan's baptism. The ceremony was originally Yolande's idea, thinking it would bring the family closer together with a big celebration, but she was horrified when Pastor Clayton got involved.

During the charity auction to raise money for the food truck, Yolande was sexually assaulted by the pastor, who trapped her alone in the community centre kitchen.

Not wanting to go to the police, Yolande instead told church leader Levi in the hope that the pastor would be removed but nothing came of it.

At the church, an angst-ridden Yolande prays for strength. When Yolande sees Bernie Taylor, who is struggling in the wake of her brother's murder, they chat about being brave and Yolande feels inspired by Bernie's attitude.

Steeling herself, Yolande decides to go ahead with the baptism but will the pastor's sinister presence prove too much for her to bear?

Stevie Mitchell is determined to help his grandson Will Mitchell, who has confessed that he's being blackmailed and needs some cash fast.

Agreeing to keep the news from Will's dad Billy, Stevie asks Mo Harris to help him out with some of her dodgy contacts. 

The pair set up a stall at the market selling stolen goods but when Phil Mitchell spots them he gives market inspector Honey Mitchell a tip-off.

Honey and husband Billy are fuming with Stevie and Mo for running an unlicensed stall. Will Stevie be forced to tell Billy about Will's problems?

Also, Harvey Monroe is chuffed to meet up with new mate Maya Hussain for lunch but when Maya finds out about Harvey's criminal son Aaron Monroe, things take a turn...

EastEnders continues on BBC Two due to football on Thursday at 7:30 pm.

Stevie Mitchell plots to find a way to help a troubled Will Mitchell in Tuesday's episode of EastEnders on BBC Two (7:30 pm. See our TV Guide for full listings).

Stevie Mitchell has been doing his best to bring the family together ever since his surprise arrival in Walford. 

It's been a long road trying to convince son Billy Mitchell not to send him packing, as Billy suffered badly at the hands of a neglectful Stevie when he was bringing him up.

Billy's children Will Mitchell and Janet Mitchell are keen to have a relationship with granddad Stevie, who's been on his best behaviour in a bid to win over Billy, as well as his nephew Phil Mitchell.

Billy is left concerned after the dads-and-sons Father's Day fishing trip the previous day when Stevie seemed to be having memory problems, as he called Billy by the wrong name...

When Billy is forced to confiscate Will's phone, much to his son's distress, Stevie tries to calm things down. 

Later, he finds Will rifling through mum Honey Mitchell's bag and demands to know what he's up to. 

Spotting a text on Will's phone, Stevie asks him straight if he owes money to anyone. Will is forced to admit that he's being blackmailed and Stevie turns to Mo Harris for help.

Yolande Trueman vows that she's not going to let her attacker Pastor Clayton get the better of her, even though it seems the pastor won't be brought to justice for his horrific assault.

When her husband Patrick Trueman suggests that maybe she should back out of going to Chelsea Fox's son Jordan's baptism, she insists she won't be put off despite the pastor's involvement.

When Yolande finds out that Patrick has tried to do some meddling to help her out, she's fuming and tells him not to interfere. 

A few wise words from friend Elaine Peacock harden Yolande's resolve but when she bumps into Pastor Clayton and his wife outside the community centre, she's left rattled...

EastEnders continues on BBC Two due to football on Wednesday at 7:30 pm.

The Turkish Detective is a BBC2 detective thriller starring former EastEnders star Haluk Bilginer as heavy-drinking, chain-smoking Inspector Çetin Ikmen, who investigates intriguing crimes in modern-day Istanbul. 

Based on the award-winning novel series The Inspector Ikmen Mysteries by author Barbara Nadel, the series also stars Killing Eve’s Ethan Kai as Ikmen’s partner, Detective Mehmet Süleyman while The Usual Suspect’s Yasemin Kay Allen is Detective Ayşe Farsakoğlu.

Here’s everything we know about BBC drama The Turkish Detective…

The Turkish Detective release date

The Turkish Detective is an eight-part English/Turkish series that starts in the UK on Sunday 7 July 2024 on BBC2 from 9pm then the second episode is Monday 8 July at 9pm, with episode going out on Sunday and Mondays at the same time. The Turkish Detective is also on BBCiPlayer as a box set.

The Turkish Detective streamed on Paramount Plus in the US and other countries around the world in 2023.

Is there a trailer for The Turkish Detective? 

Yes, you can watch The Turkish Detective trailer below. It shows the hard-nosed Inspector Ikmen investigating a murder in bustling Istanbul. “All I care about is justice for a life taken too soon,” he says. And we’re sure he’ll get it!

The Turkish Detective plot 

The Turkish Detective follows Inspector Ikmen as he investigates crimes in Istanbul, all of which are heavily rooted in the culture and history of the city but are set against the frenzied backdrop of modern Turkey. He is helped by his colleagues Detective Mehmet Süleyman (Emmerdale star Ethan Kai) and Detective Ayşe Farsakoğlu (Strike Back star Yasemin Kay Allen).

The drama opens with the murder of 19-year-old student Godze Seren (Günes Sensoy), who has links to Istanbul’s wealthy elite. But as Ikmen and his sidekicks investigate, they soon unearth some of the city’s most dangerous secrets. 

The Turkish Detective cast — Haluk Bilginer as Inspector Çetin Ikmen

Haluk Bilginer plays the rough and ready Inspector Çetin Ikmen who works in Istanbul. Fans of EastEnders back in the 1980s may remember Haluk as Mehmet Osman, the taxi firm owner who was the older brother of Walford regular Ali Osman. He's also starred in Buffalo Soldiers, W.E, Ben-Hur, Baba, Halloween and Alex Rider. 

Ethan Kai as Detective Mehmet Süleyman

Ethan Kai plays Inpector Ikmen’s partner Mehmet Süleyman. Ethan previously played Tony in Killing Eve and Kasim Sabet in Emmerdale. He’s also had roles in Carnival Row, London Kills, Doctors and Mount Pleasant. 

Yasemin Kay Allen on playing Detective Ayşe Farsakoğlu

Yasemin Kay Allen plays Inspector Ikmen’s colleague Ayşe Farsakoğlu. She previously played Zuhal in the TV series The Usual Suspects and has also been in Strike Back and the Turkish series Water and Fire, Merhamet and Hayat Devam Ediyor. 

Yasemin, 34, who was born in London and raised in Istanbul, gave us her case notes in an interview… 

What do you think sets this show apart from other detective dramas?
Yasemin Kay Allen says: "Aside from the fact that it’s set in Istanbul, there’s a real warmth at the heart of it. It’s a procedural story, so there are fun mysteries, but its underlying message is about hope, family and those we hold dear. It’s also refreshing for audiences to see an older law enforcement figure like Ikmen who isn't jaded by the things that he’s seen. He’s gruff and grizzled, but also a cheeky and playful family man, who still has a faith in humanity."

How would you describe the dynamic between Ayşe and Ikmen?
Yasemin Kay Allen says: "She’s his No.1 sidekick. They have a very wholesome relationship in that he’s like a father figure to her. She comes from a difficult background and he’s really opened his arms to her, both personally and professionally. Ayşe’s a little go-getter. She loves being given a job to do and to feel useful.

The drama revolves around the murder of a young student. What can you reveal about the investigation?
Yasemin Kay Allen says: "It marks the starting point for Ayşe and Mehmet’s complicated working relationship. He arrives in Istanbul from the Metropolitan Police in London and she reacts territorially at first. There’s a sort of sibling rivalry and a bit of bickering between them during the investigation. I think she has a chip on her shoulder because of the masculine environment that she works in. But, over the course of the series, she has to learn to be more flexible.

Episode one features a thrilling motorbike chase through a souk. Do you have any action sequences later in the series?
Yasemin Kay Allen says: "Yes, a couple! I have a fight scene at the end that we spent ages choreographing. But it started raining halfway through filming, so we had to do it all over again! I love action roles, though, and I’m more than happy to be rolling around and working with a stunt double. The hardest part of filming was actually the episodes we shot in August [2022]. It was so hot! I coped with mini handheld fans and a lot of complaining!

Emmy-winning actor Haluk Bilginer, who plays Ikmen, is one of the most famous film and TV stars in Turkey. How did you find working with him?
Yasemin Kay Allen says: "He’s actually a family friend, but I’d never worked with him before. Aside from how good he is at his craft, he’s also a prime example of how to be on set. He’s such a gentleman and so funny, and he just keeps the mood up. Whenever he steps on set, there’s a sort of a glow about him!"

What was it like filming a drama like this in your home city of Istanbul?
Yasemin Kay Allen says: "I’m not going to preach about the power of manifestation or anything like that, but I remember openly saying to my mother how much I’d love to shoot a detective series here in Turkey. So it’s nothing less than a dream come true. It’s an incredible city to have as a backdrop, and for it to be represented so beautifully is a matter of immense pride for me."

Who else is starring? 

Other cast inThe Turkish Detective as Erol Afsin, Uygar Tamer, Fatih Al, Murat Seven and Dilan Gwyn. 

Behind the scenes and more on The Turkish Detective

The Turkish Detective was acquired by the BBC from Paramount Global Content Distribution and is produced by Turkish production company Ay Yapim. The Turkish Detective is written and executive produced by Ben Schiffer (Skins) and directed by Niels Arden Oplev (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) who also executive produces. Executive Producers for the series also include Kerem  Çatay and Claire Sowerby-Sheppard. The Turkish Detective will launch later this year on BBC iPlayer and TV channels.

Ben Schiffer, writer & executive producer, says: "From the moment I opened Barbara Nadel's novel, I fell in love with the unique, iconic character of Inspector Ikmen. A beacon of hope and humour in a dark, difficult world, I'm so delighted that he and our show, a blend of emotionally-charged mystery and family drama, has found a home at the BBC." 

 Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition, says: “Not only does The Turkish Detective provide a compelling, multi-layered crime thriller, but is set in stunning Istanbul, a vibrant contemporary city that also reflects the cultural influences of a rich and varied historical past – it’s a truly fascinating combination.”

Romesh Ranganathan has visited everywhere from Colombia to the Canadian Arctic in three series of his BBC2 The Misadventures Of… travelogue. Now the comedian heads to Africa for the fourth and final series. 

Here's everything we know about The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan season 4...

The Misadventures Of Romesh Ranganathan release date

The comedian's popular travelogue returns for its fourth and final series on Wednesday, May 29 at 9pm on BBC2. The show will air weekly in the same slot. 

Where will Romesh be visiting this series?

This time Avoidance season 2 star Romesh is heading to Africa, to tick off the final three places on his bucket list - Uganda, Rwanda and Madagascar - before putting away his passport for good. 

"We wanted this fourth series to be an adventure," says Romesh. "People in the UK sometimes see Africa as homogeneous, so exploring three different African countries close to each other, yet with completely different cultures and experiences, was a wonderful opportunity."

Where is the first stop on Romesh's misadventures?

Romesh's African adventure begins on the mainland in Uganda, where he goes white water rafting on the Nile, wildlife spotting in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and enjoys a banana gin tasting session… a little too much!

Unfortunately, though, Romesh struggles to reconcile this 'perfect' wildlife idyll with the fear and oppression described during a phone call with a local LGBTQ+ activist.

"I'd only ever really known about Uganda’s 1970s dictator Idi Amin and its history but, just before we arrived, its Parliament had passed some harsh anti-homosexuality laws and this conversation was heartbreaking," says Romesh. "Although wanting to be respectful of the country I was in, I felt incredibly conflicted. It took me a while to think about anything else."

What does Romesh uncover in Rwanda and Madagascar?

As he moves on from Uganda, it seems Romesh's next stop, Rwanda, offered a similarly sobering experience.

"With Rwanda, I obviously knew about the horrible genocide that took place there, as well as the fact that Rwanda has been in the news a lot recently," admits Romesh, who also enjoyed some uplifting moments there.

"The time spent with the mountain gorillas in Rwanda felt incredibly bizarre, because to be so in and amongst nature like that is a real sensory overload. It was probably one of the most incredible experiences I have ever had."

Romesh also learned that Madagascar wasn't just a Disney film!

"Madagascar was the country that, beyond a film that wasn’t a documentary about some escaped zoo animals, I knew very little about. I knew it would have lemurs, and on that front it did not disappoint."

Didn't The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan win a BAFTA?

That's right. Romesh - who hosted this year’s BAFTAs alongside comedy pal Rob Beckett - is proud of the show's BAFTA win for Best Feature in 2020.

"It's one of my biggest achievements," he says. "I love the show and think we have made some great films, so to have that recognised is brilliant. It also made my mum very happy."

Is Romesh really giving up travelling for good?

With TV work including Avoidance, Rob & Romesh Vs... and A League of Their Own on his roster, his BBC Radio 2 show AND now a London Marathon under his belt, Romesh is arguably one of the busiest men in showbiz.

So while far-flung places might be off the cards, our Rom will still be in search of some much-needed R&R...

"My next holiday will be two weeks in Greece," he says. "The next Misadventure will be getting sand off my sun-creamed torso."

Is there a trailer for The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan?

Yes. Here's a snippet to whet your appetite:

Spring has officially sprung with the arrival Springwatch 2024, another packed three-week live show full of puffins, peregrines and one or two unexpected surprises. As usual there will be a mixture of live broadcasts and fascinating pre-recorded nature films, while presenters Michaela Strachan and Chris Packham are ready to catch all the action from the nature cams at the show’s base at RSPB Arne in Dorset.

Elsewhere, Iolo Williams is exploring nature further afield, including little terns on Chesil Beach and the surprising urban life of Bournemouth’s nightjars, while cameras are also honed in on peregrine falcon nest in Corfe Castle, and Michaela gets to film puffins on the nearby coast. There’s also the return of Mindfulness Moments and the inaugural Springwatch Wildlife Hero Awards.

So here’s everything you need to know about Springwatch 2024 on BBC2…

Springwatch 2024 release date

Springwatch 2024 kicks off on Monday, May 27 at 8pm on BBC2. Subsequent episodes that week will be shown on Tuesday and Wednesday at 8pm and on Friday at 7.30pm. 

Over the following two weeks the show will be broadcast Monday to Thursday at 8pm. Episodes will also be available on demand via BBC iPlayer for those unable to watch live. 

Springwatch 2024 locations

The Springwatch 2024 team are back at the stunning RSPB Arne in Dorset, which is home to sika deer, barn owls, smooth snakes, Dartford warblers and spoonbills among other incredible wildlife. Iolo is out and about in Dorset at Portland Bird Observatory and RSPB Garston Wood, while there’s also filming on the Isle of Bute in Scotland, meaning a possible glimpse of osprey and seals.

Springwatch 2024 — what other wildlife can we expect?

With a live camera mounted on the 1000-year-old Corfe Castle we could get to follow a family of peregrine falcons. Meanwhile, among the pre-recorded stories are a fascinating look at badgers, natterjack toads, red-throated divers, Atlantic puffins, sandhoppers and capercaillies.

What's new in Springwatch 2024?

The Springwatch 2024 team will be revealing the winners of the inaugural Springwatch Wildlife Hero Awards. During Winterwatch 2024 they asked for nominations for individuals and groups who go above and beyond for our wildlife, and the winners will be presented with their awards in the second week of the shows. 

Springwatch 2024 interview — Michaela Strachan guides us through the series

What can you tell us about Springwatch 2024?
Michaela Strachan says: "The whole thing with Springwatch is to expect the unexpected, which is what happens every year! The best stories that we get, from the live cameras anyway, are the stories that nature writes itself, and usually it’s the stuff you’d never predict that ends up being what everybody remembers. I mean, last year we had the nightjar eating its own chick alive, which nobody had ever seen before!"

You’re back at RSPB Arne in Dorset. What makes that such a perfect location for the show?
"Because it’s an RSPB reserve it’s already managed for wildlife. That makes it so much easier for us because there are people already working there who know the area so well, which means they can easily help us find nests and birds and predict where the wildlife will be. And of course it’s a stunning site!"

Is there a favourite animal you’re particularly excited to see this time?
"Well, this year we’ve got cameras rigged on a peregrine falcon nest at Corfe Castle, but apparently there’s also a raven nest nearby, so to see what happens between the raven chicks and the peregrine adults could be interesting! Obviously peregrine falcons are fierce predators, but ravens will fight to protect their young! I also love puffins and there’s actually a colony on the Dorset coast believe it or not, so I’m off to film them for the show, which I’m really excited about. Puffins are just so characterful and cute, and I love the way they come back with those sand eels in their mouths. It’s also a positive story because the UK government has recently banned industrial sand eel fishing, which is good news for the puffin and it will be really interesting to see what difference that makes for them."

It’s been a wet start to spring. Do you think that will have affected the wildlife?
"I’m sure it has! It’s been a very slow start to the season. But it seems something strange happens to the weather every year and often we don’t know what affect it’s had until we get out there and until the data is collected. Actually last year was the first year ever that I’ve been able to wear just a t-shirt on the show! It was glorious!"

What do fans of the Watches tend to ask you most?
"With Winterwatch the most common question I get on social media is, where do you get your hats from? And with Springwatch it’s my t-shirts, because I always like to wear an animal or bird-themed t-shirt for filming. Every time I see a t-shirt with a British wildlife animal on it I’m drawn to it and I’ve been collecting them for at least 10 years. Although there have been times when I’ve made a rash buy. Last year I bought one online and it turned out to be made out of the most hideous material. I remember asking the team, what do you reckon, is it a keeper or a loser? And they were immediately like, ugh, send it back!"

Why do you think viewers love the show so much?
"It’s a bit of escapism and we also show people the secret lives of wildlife that they don’t necessarily know about, as well as give them some fascinating wildlife facts. I also think there’s a sense of inclusiveness about the show. When I first joined, our executive producer at the time said he wanted it to be like a Springwatch family and I hope that comes across on screen. Because it’s live people feel like they can join in and that’s fantastic. It’s all about educating people, getting people more involved in doing their bit to protect our British wildlife."

You obviously still very much enjoy being part of Springwatch, but what’s your favourite thing about filming?
"I love the surprises that we get and the fact we can’t control that. We never know what’s going to happen and there’s something new all the time! But I also love working with Chris and the banter we share. We’ve obviously been working together for long now and I love the fact that we’re trusted enough as live presenters to take it completely off-piste. Sometimes that can be hilariously funny and at other times it’s like, yeah well that was a bit lame! If it’s not funny I hope our audience are with us enough to just raise their eyebrows!"

And finally, what item can’t you live without during Springwatch?
"Without a doubt my cue cards! As I’m getting older I need those cards more and more – my brain needs prompting! We don’t have an autocue, so my biggest nightmare in dropping those cards in a river or the wind blowing them away just before we start filming because I write everything on those cards – my thoughts, what I’m going to say, people’s names – and I highlight them and underline them, too. I just couldn’t remember a whole show without writing it down – although I reckon Chris Packham probably could!"

Is there a trailer?

There's a mini trailer for Springwatch 2024 posted on the show's Instagram account. So do take a look below....

Clive Myrie will be making a triumphant return to our screens with his new travel series Clive Myrie’s Caribbean Adventure, a celebration of island life and Clive’s own ancestry.

After Clive Myrie's Italian Road Trip, this time he will be travelling to the heart of the Caribbean islands. In Clive Myrie’s Caribbean Adventure, the journalist will be exploring his personal connection with this beautiful part of the world. 

In this series, Clive will take viewers on a deep journey across four islands, unearthing his family roots and forging personal connections with each unique location. From the vibrant streets of Cuba to the nightlife of Jamaica, the lush landscapes of the Dominican Republic and the beach paradise of Barbados, Clive will explore it all. 

Both of Clive’s parents came to the UK from Jamaica in the early 1960s but he’s only visited on a handful of occasions. He’ll travel in his mum and dad’s footsteps, track down family members he’s never met and spend time with his sister Judith, who recently moved back to Jamaica from the UK.

Here's everything we know about Clive Myrie’s Caribbean Adventure...

Clive Myrie’s Caribbean Adventure release date

Clive Myrie’s Caribbean Adventure started on Monday, May 27 on BBC Two at 6.30pm. The next episode will air on Friday, May 31 at the same time. The show will continue to air on weekday evenings in the same slot for three weeks. 

All 15 episodes are now available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Clive Myrie’s Caribbean Adventure locations

Clive will explore his connection to Cuba. He knows one of his granddads spent time there, but beyond that is a bit of family mystery. While Clive’s there he’ll also learn about the indigenous Taino people — some of the first inhabitants of much of the Caribbean. 

Meanwhile, in the Dominican Republic, where the Afro-Caribbean story begins, Clive will get a birds eye view of the oldest city in the Americas, dive into Dominican Santeria — a heady blend of African and European religious belief — and get hands on in a banana farm. 

Finally, in Barbados, Clive will delve into the paradox of this popular tourist destination — the vivid signs of British culture all around, and Barbados’s recent drift away from British influence and the Commonwealth. He’ll join a cliff top retreat with second generation Brits who’ve reversed their parents’ journey and returned to live in the Caribbean, and he’ll be swimming with racehorses.

Here's what happens in each episode...

Episode One - Monday, May 27: The newsreader went on a trip to reconnect with family, explore his heritage and experience the rich mix of cultures that made island life so special. Clive began by meeting up with his sister and exploring the wild beauty of eastern Jamaica, encountering descendants of rebel mountain communities, visiting a high-altitude coffee farm, learning the secrets of jerk pork and bedding down 100ft above the Caribbean Sea.

Episode Two - Tuesday, May 28: In Jamaica's capital city, Clive discovered a new hidden talent when he tried some Dancehall moves. He explored a 19th-century mansion, which told the story of Jamaica's first black millionaire. Clive headed to the school that has produced most of the country's Olympic sprinting talent and sampled a Jamaican-Irish stout punch.

Episode Three - Wednesday, May 29: In Downtown Kingston, Clive brushed up on his Jamaican patois and tried out some popular street food. He caught up with a mural art collective, who have been transforming this district. Clive also checked out a boutique where he got kitted out with some brand-new Downtown threads to look the part for a night out at a reggae club.

Episode Four - Friday, May 31: Clive travels north to the Goldeneye estate, which was once the home of James Bond writer Ian Fleming. This is the creative birthplace of 007, and all 14 of the Bond books were written here. Clive props up the bar at Fleming’s favourite watering hole and enjoys a martini, dives into the water with a group of former fishermen who are saving the island’s coral reef, samples some mouth-watering Rastafarian ‘Ital’ cuisine, and visits a legalised cannabis farm. 

Episode Five - Monday, June 3: On the Western tip of Jamaica, Clive meets up with cousins he hasn't seen in decades. In the kitchen, he serves up a classic island dish of curry goat for all the guests. Clive also learns what it takes to harvest Jamaican honey, tries his hand at some unique pottery and makes an emotional return to the primary school his mother taught in before she emigrated to Britain in 1962.

Episode Six - Tuesday, June 4: In Cuba's capital, Clive takes on a potential Olympic champion at one of Havana's legendary boxing gyms. He visits a car mechanic to get under the hood of a classic Chevy and discovers why most cars in Cuba are pre-1959 models. Clive also follows in the footsteps of the Buena Vista Social Club to find out how Cuban rhythms conquered the world.

Episode Seven - Wednesday, June 5: Clive visits the district of Vedado, the most modern and affluent part of Havana. He takes a motorcycle tour with Ernesto Guevara, Che Guevara's son and finds out how to cook a feast under rationing. Plus, Clive stretches himself with a lesson in ballet at Carlos Acosta's school and learns how to make a Cuban cocktail.

Episode Eight - Thursday, June 6: The newsreader heads west of Havana to the stunning Vinales Valley, where he helps Cuban cowboys set up a unique race. Clive also finds out how farmers are fighting back against ever stronger hurricanes, and learns how to roll the perfect cigar.

Episode Nine - Friday, June 7: The newsreader travels 200 miles east of Havana to the historic town of Trinidad. Clive meets the octogenarian carpenter whose skills have contributed to keeping this 16th-century city standing, and learns how to salsa dance with the locals. He also explores the dark history of sugar.

Episode Ten - Saturday, June 8: Clive explores Cuba's oldest city Baracoa, building a traditional bamboo raft to experience how people got around in a place that had no proper road access until the 1960s. He helps prepare a meal at what's thought to be Cuba's only fully vegan restaurant and discovers how the island's indigenous Taíno people survived here against all the odds.

Episode Eleven - Monday, June 10: Clive heads to the west coast of Barbados to find out why the country produces so many great cricketers, before hitting the water to land a Caribbean catch for an island cookout.

Episode Twelve - Tuesday, June 11: Clive heads for the east coast of Barbados to check out the world's oldest rum distillery, he explores the sugar cane fields and the factory floor, before getting the chance to have a sip of the golden produce. He puts a shift in with the hens on an organic family farm and tests out his flexibility alongside British expats with some cliff-top yoga.

Episode Thirteen - Wednesday, June 12: Clive travels to the Dominican Republic's capital city, Santo Domingo, where he meets one of the country's top baseball scouts, who gives him much-needed advice on his swing. In the historic old town, he meets artisans who are reviving intricate, traditional craftwork. Clive visits the market with one of the country's top chefs to pick up the ingredients for a seven-meat Dominican dish.

Episode Fourteen - Thursday, June 13: The newsreader explores La Vega in the Dominican Republic, which bursts into life with loud and colourful street carnivals every February. Clive stocks up on local sweet treats, meets talented mask-makers and prepares outrageous costumes before joining the parade in full costume.

Clive Myrie’s Caribbean Adventure host

Clive Myrie is a BBC newsreader who has been the host of Mastermind since 2021. 

He revealed why he enjoys travelogues so much outside of the newsroom: "I’ve always been fascinated by cultures and ideas, what it means to be a human being. Whether you’re in Japan or Germany or South Africa or Australia, I've always been interested in that side of the human condition. Part of my personality is quite serious and that's the sort of day job, being a correspondent and a reporter satiates that part of my personality. 

"But there is another part of my personality, and anyone who knows me knows I like a laugh and to have fun, enjoy good food, wine, music, art, literature and culture, so to be able to satisfy that other half of my life is brilliant and I get that opportunity when I'm doing these travel series, which is great. As a foreign correspondent, you get to know different countries very well and you have to understand the culture in order to report on that. In a travel series, you get to see another side or another layer to these places and that's brilliant."

 Clive Myrie’s Caribbean Adventure trailer

You can watch the trailer below where Clive explores his personal connection to the stunning islands...

Rob Rinder and Rylan Clark jetted off to Italy for Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour as they travelled from Venice to Florence and then on to Rome.

The TV presenters and friends embarked on a new adventure as they discovered the greatest art treasures in Italy while laying bare their own insecurities and vulnerabilities.

On the 200th anniversary of the death of Romantic poet Lord Byron, Rob and Rylan followed in the footsteps of Byron and the original Grand Tourists, taking in the art, culture and lively nightlife.

The Grand Tour saw endless English aristocrats between the 17th and 19th century leave behind the confines of British society for freedom and discovery abroad. 

Both Rob and Rylan were left heartbroken by painful divorces, so did this Grand Tour give them the new chapter they needed?

They started their adventure in Venice and cast their eyes over one of the largest paintings on canvas in the world, Tintoretto‘s Il Paradiso.

The duo also discovered the artistic legacy of Canaletto and headed off to Murano to try glass-blowing. They also spent time at Venice's famous Carnival and dressed up as drag queens along the city's Grand Canal.

Here's everything we know about Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour...

Where to watch Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour 

Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour consisted of three episodes and started on Sunday, May 12 at 9pm on BBC Two.

The second episode aired on Sunday, May 19 at 9pm on BBC Two and the final episode aired on Sunday, May 26 at 9pm on BBC Two.

All three episodes are now available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour locations

Episode One - Venice: Rob Rinder and Rylan Clark set off on the original package holiday, the Grand Tour, which was a cultural odyssey designed to turn young upper-class Brits into civilised, educated gentlemen. Their first stop was Venice, where Rob conducted Vivaldi's Four Seasons in the church where it was first performed, while Rylan discovered the hidden side of Venice's famous carnival.

Episode Two - Florence: Rob and Rylan headed to Florence, setting out to discover how grand tourists tried to uncover the secrets of the Renaissance in the Italian city. Their journey began with a climb up to the spectacular dome of the city's cathedral, before they viewed statues of the biblical figure of David by Michelangelo and Donatello, and visited the Uffizi gallery, home of the Venus de Milo sculpture.

Episode Three - Rome: Rob took Rylan to see a painting by one of his favourite Baroque artists, Caravaggio and to learn more about Caravaggio’s technique, known as chiaroscuro (‘light and shadow’), the men recreated Caravaggio’s painting of David and Goliath. They also visited the Coliseum and later threw themselves into 18th-century fashion.

Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour hosts

Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour was hosted by TV stars and close friends Rob Rinder and Rylan Clark.

Rob Rinder is a criminal barrister who rose to prominence as a TV judge and hosted his reality courtroom series Judge Rinder.

Rylan Clark shot to fame after appearing on The X Factor and has since become a hugely popular TV and radio presenter, having gone on to host the likes of Eurovision and This Morning.

The pair have since become close friends after meeting through the TV business.

Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour interview

In an interview with What To Watch, Rob and Rylan revealed all about what was on their itinerary for their travelogue...

Did the two of you know each other before embarking on this adventure?

Rylan: "Yes we met through the world of telly. The first time I messaged Rob was when I was filming a show in Manchester and I broke into the Judge Rinder set because I was desperate to see it. I sat in the Judge Rinder chair, posted a picture on Instagram and Rob replied saying something like, ‘You look great darling’. We have become good friends but are the Unlikely Lads, yes we are both gay, both work in telly but we are polar opposites when It comes to pretty much everything."

Rob: "Everything!"

Go on, tell us more! 

Rylan: "Rob is the sort of person who will read a book to learn something. He will find out every fine detail, probably too much detail. My job on this trip was to take the book out of his hand and go, ‘Let’s not read about it, let’s go and do it. Let's touch it. Let’s feel it.’"

Rob: "Yes, the aim of an original Grand Tour was to sap the marrow out of life. We're here for a limited blink of an eye, so you want to return home better informed, more complete and to have had this full cultural experience which means immersing yourself fully into it."

What were some of your stand out moments?

Rylan: "In Florence we were incredibly lucky to see an Artemisia Gentileschi painting and learn how the original was painted. There is a really sad story behind Artemisia, she was abused and raped. We learnt how the original nude self-portrait we saw was actually later changed and parts of her body covered up because it was thought to be distasteful."

Rob: "A bucket list moment for me was having the chance to conduct Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in the church where it was originally performed in Venice. I would never in a million years have had the courage to do it if it hadn’t been for Rylan. It was one of the best nights of my life."

We see you both go on dates with Italians in Florence. Were either of you hoping to find romance?

Rylan: "I mean it was my sole purpose of this trip! (Laughing) No, I don’t think we ever thought that, but I did get a romance from it, I got him! (He nudges Rob beside him on the sofa) Genuinely, the whole experience made me realise I don’t need to be with anyone. I've got Nonna. I nicknamed Rob ‘Nonna’ (Italian for grandma) because he was so slow walking around. You had some romance didn’t you Rob…."

Rob: "That's true. Rylan made me feel empowered to go out one night in Florence. I’m normally in bed by 9. I met a very sweet man who was a professor."

Rylan: "And I met a rugby player!"

Did you bring back any souvenirs from your travels?

Rylan: "One of our little sayings was ‘Veni, Vidi, Vici’ which means ‘I came, I saw, I conquered’ and Rob bought me a little teddy bear wearing a T-shirt that says ‘Veni, Vidi, Vici.’ It lives on my bed."

Rob: "I brought back the mask that I wore in Venice as part of our Carnevale experience."

Rylan: "Yes, I brought back my mask too. I wear it around Brentwood with a cloak (laughing)."

Would the two of you like to do more TV shows together?

Rylan: "The Grand Tour was fun and we've shown viewers what the grand tourists were all about, so now it might be time for me and Rob to see what we're like as tourists ourselves."

Rob: "Whatever enables people, whoever you are, whatever background you come from, to go ‘Yes! I’ll have a go at that.’ I think that’s the thing that matters."

What do you think viewers will take away from this?

Rylan: "Firstly, I think people will watch it and will 100 per cent want to go to all three cities. Secondly, I think they'll be really surprised at how candid it is because it’s not a glossy entertainment show, it’s actually quite raw. And I think they'll also look at me and go, ‘Oh, he's not as stupid as I thought’ and at Rob and go, ‘Oooh… he’s let his hair down.'"

Rob: "What’s left of it!"

Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour trailer

You can watch the full trailer below where Rob and Rylan proved that opposites definitely do attract...

Marcus Wareing Simply Provence is another fabulous gastronimical journey to enjoy on BBC2. The show will see the celebrity chef leave his Michelin-star restaurant in favour of the French countryside.

French cuisine has a reputation of being among the best in the world, and in this new six-part series Michelin-starred chef Marcus Wareing discovers the joys of seasonal French food and produce. Marcus heads to the region of Provence in the south of the country, famed for its delicious, simple food, but where the climate and approach to eating is very different to the UK. 

Here's everything you need to know about Marcus Wareing Simply Provence on BBC2...

Marcus Wareing Simply Provence release date

Marcus Wareing Simply Provence is a six-part series that starts on BBC2 from Monday May 6 at 6.30pm, with episodes running across the week and also playing out as a box set on BBCiPlayer. We will update with any US or international channels and air dates.

Is there a trailer?

There's no trailer for Marcus Wareing Simply Provence just yet, but we'll udpate as soon as one arrives. So do check back.

Marcus Wareing Simply Provence — recipes, destinations and more

Marcus Wareing Simply Provence is based in a classic French townhouse in the heart of St Remy. From there Marcus sets out to meet the locals as they share their secrets, from age-old traditions to taste sensations, immersing himself in all things French, including taking part in an ancient olive cracking competition and enjoying a Pastis and game of pétanque.

"‘I’m a self-proclaimed lover of French food and have dedicated my life’s work to perfecting the art of elite, French cuisine," he says. "But, until now, I’ve never stepped back to fully immerse myself in the culture, the people and the simple, delicious food that’s at the heart of this beautiful region."

And in an area where the tomato is more popular than the potato, there’s no shortage of quality ingredients for Marcus to work with, from local cheeses and rotisserie chickens to fresh seafood and the catch of the day from the local harbour.

"I can’t wait to take audiences on a deep-dive into Provence and create some simple dishes and flavour combinations that everyone will be able to try at home,"Marcus says. "It will really be a feast for the senses."

Behind the scenes and more on Marcus Wareing Simply Provence

Marcus Wareing Simply Provence was commissioned for BBC Two and iPlayer by Head of BBC Daytime, Rob Unsworth. The Commissioning Editor is Lindsay Bradbury. Karen Plumb is the Executive Producer for Plimsoll Productions. The series is being distributed by ITVS.

Karen Plumb, Executive Producer, Plimsoll Productions says: “Once again, Marcus Wareing’s genuine passion to learn about food and the people whose lives revolve around it jumps joyfully off the screen.”

Commissioning Editor for BBC Daytime, Lindsay Bradbury, adds: "This series will unlock the simple secrets and traditions passed down from generations and bring it to the masses. From the simple dishes to the sensational, Marcus has explored and delved deep into the French traditions to bring audiences a sunny delight, all from the comfort of their own living rooms.”

LIZA: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story is a must for all fans of legendary singer and movie star Liza Minnelli. The project has had plenty of Liza input and has been given her blessing as she's been working over the past year or two with the famous documentary filmmaker and director Bruce David Klein and Atlas Media.

This movie will of course go back to her childhood as the daughter on iconic Hollywood star Judy Garland and legendary film director Vincent Minnelli, then move on to her successful stage and movie career which saw her pick up the Best Actress Oscar for her role as Sally Bowles in Cabaret in 1972.

Liza told Facebook: "I've been working quietly with a brilliant director, Bruce David Klein and Atlas Media to bring the real story of how my career in films and more began. And I'm not talking about my baby debut at MGM with Mama.... that was pure nepotism.. You're gonna see me telling it all in LIZA: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story — a fabulous documentary featuring footage of me today and from my archives."

Here's everything you need to know about the movie LIZA: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story...

LIZA: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story release date

LIZA: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story will be shown in the UK on Saturday May 24 2025 at 9pm on BBC2, and will also be available on BBCiPlayer from then.

In the US this documentary film was shown in the US on PBS at 8/9c on Tuesday April 1 2025. It first premiered, however, at the Tribeca film festival in New York in June 2024. The movie then opened in cinemas in New York from January 24 2025 and Los Angeles from January 31 2025.

We will update if the movie arrives on any streaming services such as Prime Video, Apple TV+, Netflix or Disney Plus. This documentary movie is 104 minutes long.

Is there a trailer?

Yes a wonderful trailer for LIZA: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story has been release with Liza herself singing at the start. Take a look below...

What will be shown in LIZA: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story

LIZA: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story is a long title, but as big Liza fans will know 'Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story' are the words Liza Minnelli used in her iconic 1972 New York concert Liza with a Z to introduce her famous song and dance routine for Ring Them Bells by Fred Ebb and John Kander (you can hear this great song by clicking on the clip below). 

So as the documentary promises to show everything about Liza's career, we can expect plenty about her showbiz upbringing and what she learnt from her mega-famous parents Hollywood director Vincente Minnelli and the Wizard Of Oz legend Judy Garland. 

"I remember saying, is that Mama? My mother?’ says Liza, now 79, about the day her mum died. "I started to cry and I didn’t stop for about eight days. It was just devastating to me."

We'll hear about how she broke into off Broadway stage shows first then took Broadway itself by storm. Her first films in the 1960s were Charlie Bubbles and The Sterile Cuckoo, but it was her role in Cabaret in 1972 playing Sally Bowles, the eccentric nightclub singer and dancer in pre-Nazi Germany, that won her the Oscar! More film success followed with New York New York and Arthur, plus her sell out concerts worldwide have become the stuff of showbiz history. 

In this documentary there are home videos, backstage footage and through interviews with Liza herself there's plenty of inside gossip. It's full of archive material, plus memories and gems from Liza, explaining her relationships with mentors and big influences.

Appearing in the film are Liza's younger sister, the singer Lorna Luft, her Cabaret co-star Joel Grey, songwriter John Kaner plus George Hamilton, Mia Farrow, Ben Vereen and the late Chita Rivera. This film also touches on her four high-profile marriages, including her last to the late David Gest, as well as her miscarriages, her addictions and stints in rehab and the constant strain of being in the public eye. 

"I never wanted anyone to know I was less than perfect, that I was under stress. I always wanted to be the hero," says Liza. "But honestly, how lucky I was to have gone through all the bad stuff because it prepared me for the rest of my life. It made me understand a little bit more about myself."

Behind the scenes and more on LIZA: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story

LIZA: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story is directed by Bruce David Klein, who has also co-produced the film with Alexander J. Goldstein, Robert Rich and Dana Craig, with Dori Berinstein acting as executive co-producer. Cinematographers are Axel Baumann and Wolfgang Held.

Few know more about the great outdoors than Michaela Strachan, best known for hosting Springwatch, where she travels the UK bringing us stories on the natural world and its many different species. On Good Friday, the intrepid explorer joins six other celebrities from all faiths and walks of life in BBC Two's Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales.

The three-part series follows presenter Michaela and her fellow "pilgrims": reality TV star Spencer Matthews, actor Tom Rosenthal, comedian Eshaan Akbar, TV personality Christine McGuinness, The Traitors’ Amanda Lovett and broadcaster Sonali Shah as they journey along a 220km route that "embraces early Christian Celtic saints", finishing up at the fabled"‘Island of 20,000 saints", Bardsey Island, North Wales.

"We were all on a different journey, my journey was coping with loss," says Michaela, 57. "I'd had a really heartbreaking year last year with lots of people very close to me passing away including my best friend. Pilgrimage was my journey of being able to process that grief."

Here, Michaela tells us more about her walk on the wild side and why she’ll always have faith in Mother Nature…

How did you prepare for the pilgrimage?

"I live by Table Mountain in South Africa, so our social life is hiking. To prepare for Wales, I bought "The Pilgrim’s Way Walking" Guide Book, I watched YouTube videos and, the week before, friends invited me on a three-day hike. I felt emotionally fragile but it put me in the right frame of mind for taking on the pilgrimage."

How would you describe your faith?

"I don't belong to an organised religion but if some people believe it helps them get through this often complex, complicated and confusing life, good for them. I find huge comfort and life’s 'answers' in Mother Nature; through acknowledging the fact we're one of many species within the natural world. That’s my main faith."

How did you find teaming up with other celebrities from all faiths and walks of life?

"I was intrigued about walking with people from different backgrounds and having deep conversations. I think all religions should be taught in schools, so we can respect and understand people better. None of us knew much about Sonali’s religion of Jainism and one person — no names mentioned — didn't really know much about Jesus!"

What was your role within the group?

"I’d say I was the hiking leader, alongside Spencer. I'm certainly not comparing myself fitness-wise to Spencer; he’s about to do a 30-day marathon, so he’s super-fit. But I’m not someone that’s good with ‘faffing’; I just like to get on with things and keep moving forward."

Did the pilgrimage allow you to process your loss, particularly of your best friend?

"Definitely. I found taking two weeks out of your life to process grief through walking and talking to be extremely cathartic. I’d literally come straight from my best friend’s funeral to doing the pilgrimage, so it was still so raw. She had breast cancer, the same diagnosis that I’d been given, two years prior. I miss her greatly."

There’s a moment in the series where you become very tearful — what prompted that?

"We each had to take a pebble from a beach and write on it; either something you're trying to let go of or about somebody you were saying goodbye to. As I was writing, I could feel my eyes prickle then I really started to sob. I wasn’t comfortable breaking down on camera but it was very emotional."

Sounds tough…

"We all had different challenges on this trip. Amanda’s was the physical side of it, mine was the emotional side, Eshaan’s was the drop toilet! Recently diagnosed with autism, Christine had challenges every day just from being with us. But there were funny moments, too, mainly involving Tom, Eshaan and Spencer — they’re just hilarious."

What did you learn about yourself on the journey? 

"I discovered more about others than myself. While on the hike, I watched Christine's documentary Unmasking My Autism and Spencer's film Finding Michael, both incredible stories. I also watched The Traitors for the first time and became obsessed -—though I realised Amanda's not nearly as sweet as she pretends to be! Would I be a Traitor or a Faithful? Oh, I’m terrible at keeping secrets, so I’d be a useless traitor."

In the series, the pilgrims learn about the 'thin place', a physical place where heaven touches earth. Where was your thin place?

"My thin place was at the top of Mount Snowdon. Mountains are my place to go for peace; it’s my meditation. Following this route reminded me of how stunning that part of the country is and it’s made me want to explore more of the coastline."

Do you think your knowledge of the natural world helped on this show?

"People expect me to know everything about everything and I don't; I’ve fallen into wildlife telly really, so I'm very happy to put my hands up and say I'm not an expert. I’m the enthusiast, Chris Packham [Michaela’s Springwatch co-host] is the expert - he’ll remember the inside leg measurement of a pigeon. I just about remember what the bird’s called!"

Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales starts on Good Friday at 9pm on BBC Two.

Seven adventurous celebrities take on the hills and mountains of North Wales in search of spiritual enlightenment in BBC2’s Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales. 

Here's everything we know about the series...

Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales release date

Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales starts on Good Friday, March 29 at 9 pm on BBC2, with all three episodes available as a box set on BBC iPlayer. 

The three-part series follows seven famous ‘pilgrims’ - of all different faiths and beliefs - as they embark on a soul-searching journey along the Pilgrim’s Way.

What is Pilgrimage The Road Through North Wales about?

The three-part series follows seven famous ‘pilgrims’ - of all different faiths and beliefs - as they embark on a soul-searching journey along the Pilgrim’s Way.

The seven pilgrims begin their adventure at Flint Castle on the bank of the Dee Estuary and follow the coastal path to Greenfield Valley, the official start of Pilgrim’s Way. 

Traveling on foot and by bus, they’ll journey along a 220km route that ‘embraces early Christian Celtic saints’, finishing up at the fabled ‘Island of 20,000 saints’, Bardsey Island.

So, who are our famous pilgrims?

Teaming up to go on the pilgrimage are seven famous faces from all corners of the TV world...

They are ex-Made in Chelsea star Spencer Matthews, broadcaster Sonali Shah, comedian Eshaan Akbar, Traitors favorite Amanda Lovett, Friday Night Dinner actor Tom Rosenthal, former model Christine McGuinness and Springwatch star Michaela Strachan. 

Let's meet them... 

Michaela Strachan

The Springwatch presenter, 57, puts her faith in the natural world:

"I don't belong to an organized religion. I find huge comfort and life's 'answers' in Mother Nature; through acknowledging the fact that we're one of many species within the natural world. That's my main faith."

Tom Rosenthal

The Friday Night Dinner star, 36, describes himself as areligious: 

"I had two or three religious experiences - moments in which I felt the divine revealed itself to me - on this pilgrimage. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life!"

Christine McGuinness

The TV personality, 36, is spiritual but doesn't practise one particular faith:

"I’m not religious at all and it surprised me how a priest we met was so welcoming to all of us regardless of our beliefs. He didn’t ask what my religion was - he just gave me a blessing."

Eshaan Akbar

The comedian, 39, describes himself as a lapsed Muslim:

"Some of the Muslim community think I’m a ‘sell-out’ as I no longer associate with the faith. But I’m steadfast in what I believe - hope I don’t get as much trolling as I usually get!"

Sonali Shah

The Escape to the Country presenter, 43, was raised in a Jain household:

"I had nerves going in because I didn’t feel I represented Jainism. But then I was reminded it’s important to be seen on national television in a bindi and for other people to feel seen."

Spencer Matthews

The Made in Chelsea star, 35, was christened Church of England:

"As a group, we spoke a lot about forgiveness. I was able to let go of the resentment I was holding against the people I felt could have done better helping my brother who passed."

Amanda Lovett

The Traitors season 1 star, 56, is a practicing Catholic:

"I wanted to know if I still fit into Catholicism. I’m part of the LGBTQ+ community and I questioned why God doesn’t bless same-sex relationships. But The Pope has since, so God must’ve heard me!"

Is there a trailer?

Not yet. But we'll be sure to update when a trailer is released by the BBC.

Andi Oliver’s Fantastic Feasts is a joyful celebration of our wonderful communities, packed with delicious recipes and event-planning tips. 

The eight-part BBC2 series follows the Great British Menu host as she takes her infectious enthusiasm around the country, organising glorious get-togethers to celebrate eight very different communities.  

Along the way, the permanently positive host travels to Cornwall, Bristol, Bridlington, Burnley, Stoke-on-Trent, Folkestone, the Welsh Valleys and West London, where she meets incredible people doing incredible things for their local areas, and celebrates their hard work with some unforgettable parties!

"I feel so passionately about this show," says Andi. "I just kept getting really overwhelmed with emotion because making it reminded me that there’s a humanity, a connection and a community. It’s a celebration of us!"

So here’s everything you need to know about Andi Oliver’s Fantastic Feasts on BBC2…

Andi Oliver’s Fantastic Feasts release date

Andi Oliver’s Fantastic Feasts is an eight-part series that starts on BBC2 on Wednesday, March 27 2024 at 8pm with episodes running weekly at the same time, and also on BBCiPlayer. 

What happens in Andi Oliver’s Fantastic Feasts?

Each episode of Andi Oliver’s Fantastic Feasts sees Andi in a different part of the country as she tracks down talented local chefs, dreams up incredible menus, finds unique venues and even recruits some top local musicians to make sure her parties go off with a bang!

In episode one, she’s in Cornwall helping restaurant owner Ben Quinn throw a party for the NHS staff at Royal Cornwall Hospital, who saved his daughter’s life. Later in the series, she travels to Bristol to organise a launch event for a homeless charity’s community café, and also heads to Burnley for a cricket match between the town’s imams and vicars.

According the synopsis: ‘Each episode will see Andi’s creative sparks fly, devising unique themed dishes to serve up on the big day. For inspiration, she’ll meet local chefs and suppliers, getting to grips with the regional produce and recipes that make the area special. 

"But it’s not just food on Andi’s agenda. She’ll also be digging into local culture, discovering the brilliant performers and artists who’ll bring each event to life. As her mission unfolds, Andi will unearth the personal stories and the rich social history that makes Britain’s towns, cities, and communities unique, feeding all she learns into her recipes and party plans.’

Exclusive Interview: Andi Oliver talks us through her Fantastic Feasts series

What’s the idea behind the BBC2 series Andi Oliver’s Fantastic Feasts?
Andi Oliver says: "I feel like it's television for the moment. The narrative that’s currently at play is that we've all forgotten each other, we’re a fractured nation and that nobody cares about each other anymore. But up and down the country there are the most extraordinary people doing beautiful, simple, powerful, passionate, engaged, committed work for each other every single day. To know that those things are still happening is incredible." 

Can you tell us about some of the communities you meet?
Andi says: "In the first episode I’m in Cornwall where I meet a chef called Ben, whose daughter was critically ill with a dairy allergy and the NHS not only saved her life, but helped the family stay united, too. Ben really wanted to throw a party to say thank you, so we had this beautiful barbecue on the beach and it was amazing!"

How much does food play a part in your party planning?
Andi reveals: "I believe food brings people together. Over the course of the series I meet all these incredible cooks up and down the country. And that was amazing because I got to bang on about my favourite subject, which is cooking, with other like-minded food obsessives!"

The parties are a real celebration, but were there any challenges?
Andi says: "Oh yes, but that’s a metaphor for life, isn't it? There will always be problems. In Burnley, we organised a cricket match with the imams from a local mosque and the vicars from the church, and the weather was malicious – it rained in every possible direction! A twister even picked up the marquee and it landed on the cricket club inside out and upside down! But what I love about this country is we’ll party anyway, no matter what the weather!"

What makes a great party for you?
Andi says: "To throw someone a party and show them how much you love them is a beautiful thing, and that’s what a party means to me. It can be four people or 40 people, it’s not about the size of it, it’s about the intent. So for me a good party is a true celebration of the spirit of the person or the people that you're celebrating."

You turned 60 last year. Did you throw a party?
Andi says: "Actually my boyfriend surpassed himself. He rented a manor house in Surrey and it was a total surprise! Basically, it was a three-day Andi Oliver festival, and the lovely Tom Kerridge even designed a beautiful menu for me. It was absolutely brilliant!"

You’re something of a style icon. Do enjoy picking out your outfits for your series? 
Andi says: "I have the most incredible stylist in the world, she’s an absolute genius. I never feel I’m wearing clothes where I’m being forced into a look. She makes me feel like it’s my voice that I’m speaking with. And I love all the colour. I believe everyone feels much better if they’re wearing colour!"

With Easter round the corner, do you have food tips?
Andi says: "I’ve actually got some time off so I’ll be slow-roasting a lamb. That’s generally what I do on a long weekend. What you can do is think, oh I’ll make all these complicated things, but then you spend the whole bank holiday weekend running up and down, trying to get like all these fiddly little dishes finished. Don’t do it to yourself! Once the lamb’s in the pot you can just leave it to cook long and slow, and then watch a few episodes of Real Housewives with no faff!"

Is there a trailer for Andi Oliver’s Fantastic Feasts?

Not yet, but watch this space because it’s bound to be full of fun, food and Andi’s famously frivolous frocks!