BACK from the London press launch for Britain’s Got Talent 2011.
Where the media saw most of the first audition show to be broadcast on ITV1 at 8:20pm this Saturday.
Followed by a Q&A with judges Michael McIntyre, Amanda Holden and David Hasselhoff.
Michael and David are new to the show this year, thanks to the absence of both Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan.
And on the evidence of programme one, neither Simon nor Piers will be missed.
“YOU saw the good, the bad and the damned ugly.”
Theo Paphitis is talking about his new BBC2 series which starts tonight.
The first episode of Britain’s Next Big Thing includes a Professor of Architecture who discovered how to turn minerals and stones into luxury silk scarves.
And some other fascinating product ideas.
My feature on Theo and the show is in today’s Manchester Evening News – and below, with added extras.
AUTHOR Michel Faber described the sex in his book as “hardcore”.
Reviewers said it was “filthy” and debauched.
So how would you go about filming it for a BBC2 drama?
MATT Smith summed it up at tonight’s press launch for the new series of Doctor Who:
“I think that’s great television – it’s certainly not a part I want to give up anytime soon.”
Episodes one and two of season six provide the darkest – and scariest – opening ever to a Doctor Who series.
Ninety minutes of sometimes quite astonishing television containing secrets that cannot yet be told.
Gathered at London’s Kensington Olympia, current home of the Doctor Who Experience, we were shown the two-part opener – The Impossible Astronaut and Day Of The Moon.
Followed by a 30-minute on stage Q&A with writer and showrunner Steven Moffat, Matt Smith, Karen Gillan (Amy Pond), Alex Kingston (River Song) and Arthur Darvill (Rory), chaired by the Daily Telegraph’s Neil Midgley.
You will find some spoilers below but, I hope, nothing major to detract from your enjoyment of watching these two episodes for yourself.
FILMING began last month on series 10 of Spooks, due on screen this autumn.
It’s now been confirmed that Sophia Myles has left the BBC1 drama after just one series as Beth Bailey.
While an old secret comes back to haunt Harry Pearce, played by Peter Firth.
Will this be the last series of Spooks?
I asked BBC Drama boss Ben Stephenson that very question a few weeks ago.
NEIL Dudgeon’s debut tonight as the new leading man in Midsomer Murders has been overshadowed by the race row involving producer Brian True-May.
Today it was announced that Brian will step down from the show at the end of the new – 14th – series.
Four episodes have already been filmed and the remaining four went into production this week.
Production company All3Media said: “Brian apologises if his remarks gave unintended offence to any viewers.”
With ITV adding: “We welcome his apology and understand he will step down from his role on Midsomer Murders at the end of the current production run.”
The online version of my feature on Neil – published in today’s Manchester Evening News – is further down this page, together with extra material from our recent encounters.
But first let’s deal with less happy events.
I’M off to see Matt Smith again early next month at the launch of the new Doctor Who series.
Which will include a screening of the opening two-parter The Impossible Astronaut and Day Of The Moon.
But first comes the long awaited broadcast this Saturday night of Matt’s drama Christopher And His Kind.
(Don’t scroll down if you have yet to see the conclusion)
THE third and final episode of South Riding has just finished on BBC1.
I first saw it a few weeks ago and have watched it again several times since.
A beautiful, haunting last hour of television drama, adapted by screenwriter Andrew Davies from Winifred Holtby’s novel.
Both heartbreaking and uplifting.
With a spellbinding – and hopefully award-winning – performance from Anna Maxwell Martin as Sarah Burton.
THERE’S a plate full of biscuits on the table.
James Nesbitt reaches for one as he describes what he saw while attending four brain operations.
Just another day in the world of television.
I met up with James in London before Christmas for a small round table interview ahead of his flight to New Zealand to star in The Hobbit.
He’d finished filming new ITV1 drama Monroe just a few days before.
IT begins with Anna Maxwell Martin on a steam train and David Morrissey riding a horse.
Both heading for the same destination.
If you’re in the UK and able to watch, do yourself a favour tomorrow (Sunday).
Record anything else you might want to catch and settle down to watch BBC1 at 9pm.
Life of Wylie 