IF you chose to watch Mysterious Creatures on ITV1 last night, you’ll know it was no laughing matter.
But old friends Tim Spall and Brenda Blethyn, who played Bill and Wendy Ainscow, managed to find some things to smile about during filming.
As Tim told me at the press launch earlier this month: “There’s a very fine line between tragedy and comedy.”

THERE’S good news today for fans who enjoyed a golden era of Saturday morning TV.
Noel Edmonds is reuniting with Keith Chegwin, Maggie Philbin and John Craven for a one-off Swap Shop special on BBC2 called It Started With Swap Shop.
The two-hour documentary, to be screened one night over Christmas, will see them looking back at 30 years of Saturday morning kids’ TV on the BBC.
Guests are due to include other Saturday stars, the likes of Sarah Greene, Andi Peters, Emma Forbes and Mike Read – not forgetting Philip Schofield, Zoe Ball and Jamie Theakston.
I’ve interviewed all of them over the years, some several times, and they all loved working on Saturday mornings…once they’d got over the alarm call.

IT’S late at night after another very long day. But some people are worth the wait.
Former Cagney and Lacey star Sharon Gless walks into the room with a smile, her eyes shining through big black glasses.
If you’re too young to remember the pioneering 1980s American cop show, check out the link at the bottom of the page.
Female New York City cops Christine Cagney, played by Sharon, and Mary Beth Lacey (Tyne Daly) paved the way for later dramas like Prime Suspect.
“We were bigger here than we were in the United States. Good taste, I guess,” laughs Sharon, in town for the first preview screening of BBC1’s new thriller series The State Within.
It’s begins on Thursday November 2 – and is not to be missed.
Emmy-award winning Sharon plays US Secretary of Defense Lynne Warner, a patriotic American with a Force 10 personality.

THE preview DVD has been on my desk all week. Last night I finally got time to watch it. And then I had to watch it again.
Do not miss the second part of Prime Suspect: The Final Act on ITV1 at 9pm tomorrow night.
Having seen the first part at a preview screening over five weeks ago, this last ever case for Helen Mirren as Jane Tennison looked to be the TV event of the year.
Part two doesn’t disappoint – even knowing in advance that the final few minutes of the drama are missing from preview copies.

MY heart sank when I saw this image – published for the first time today.
Earlier this morning, I wrote a story about it for later editions of the MEN.
The Channel 4 image of Myra Hindley as a saint is due to appear from next Monday in TV trailers for their new drama about Lord Longford.
And the version shown here is set to be published in newspaper adverts a week today, the day the 90-minute drama – Longford – is screened.

HARRY Potter star Jason Isaacs has a very different role in a terrific new BBC1 drama series set in America.
Known to millions as evil wizard Lucius Malfoy, he plays the maverick British Ambassador to Washington in The State Within.
“The BBC archives were fantastic,” recalls Jason. “I said, ‘Do you have any material about embassies or diplomats?’ A truck pulled up.”

THERE’S a scene in the new Channel 4 drama about Lord Longford where he’s visiting Moors murderer Ian Brady.
The deranged and hostile child killer explains that he’s on hunger strike in protest at what he says are filthy prison conditions.
“Why don’t you allow me to make representations to the Home Secretary on your behalf?” asks the campaigning Labour peer.
Brady replies: “I’m not completely insane.”

HE actually said nothing we didn’t know already. But the clue is in the timing of his remarks.
BBC director general Mark Thompson made a speech earlier today warning that the corporation will be forced to abandon its £400m move to Salford if it does not get the licence fee settlement it needs.
That’s always been the case. But it does no harm to spell it out in public when a government announcement on the licence fee settlement is imminent – and the trailers are not looking good.

IT’S a very happy Monday morning for Cheadle Hulme stage star Nicola Dawn, who is celebrating after reaching The X Factor live finals.
She is a member of The Unconventionals – currently 8-1 to win the ITV1 series. They were put through to the final 12 by mentor Louis Walsh at his base for the groups’ semi-final – Dromoland Castle in Ireland.
But Nicola, 33, pictured top left in this group photo, is no stranger to showbusiness.

SHAUN Rogerson’s X Factor journey ended in tears last night as he just failed to make the live finals.
The trembling teenager from Abram, Wigan, admitted he had doubts about whether he could conquer his nerves if picked for the ITV1 Saturday night shows.
And in the end, his sweaty palms told their own story as mentor Simon Cowell decided he just could not take the risk.
But at 17, young Shaun has time on his side. He’s vowed to keep on singing – and could try again next year.