THE start of a New Year and the first murder mystery of 2008.
If you’re feeling a little jaded today, then John Nettles may be just the tonic you need this evening.
Midsomer Murders: Shot At Dawn is another gloriously daft adventure with yet more inventive methods of murder.
Former Coronation Street star Brian Capron – Weatherfield killer Richard Hillman – plays Mayor of Causton Dave Hicks.
Check out his Footballers’ Wives style mansion while you’re trying to guess who the murderer is (ITV1, 9pm).
Brian is joined by fellow guest stars George Cole, Donald Sinden and Samantha Bond, along with Barnaby’s deliciously dry sense of humour.
THE main TV channels hit the ground running in the first few weeks of 2008.
There’s always a flurry of new series as the New Year begins, but this time around the schedulers have gone into overdrive.
One of the first TV treats to look out for is a new Andrew Davies’ adaptation of Sense and Sensibility.
It starts on BBC1 at 9.10pm tomorrow night – New Year’s Day – with parts two and three screened over the next two Sunday nights.
I interviewed the cast back in November and wasn’t alone in being impressed with this latest version of Jane Austen’s novel.
David Morrissey leaves the underwhelming Cape Wrath behind to play Captain Brandon.
Charity Wakefield and Hattie Morahan shine as sisters Marianne and Elinor Dashwood.
TIME for a brief reflection on my TV highlights from the last 12 months.
I’ve spent part of this weekend looking back over my 2007 interviews and picking out some of the very best shows.
So, with clickable links:
Life On Mars: A TV classic and my programme of the year. Now comes the nervous wait for that first episode of Ashes To Ashes.
Cranford: A love letter to community with a brilliant screenplay and magnificent performances. Exquisite.
Heroes: Yatta! Innovative, surprising and huge fun. Save the cheerleader, save the world. Simple, when you think about it.
Strictly Come Dancing / It Takes Two: A TV phenomenon which managed to put The X Factor in the shade. Claudia Winkleman shone yet again on It Takes Two and is my presenter of the year.
THE day before Christmas and a return home for Green Wing star Darren Boyd.
He came back to Britain for good earlier this year after five years working in America and Canada.
And the former Kiss Me Kate and Smack The Pony actor arrived at UK customs with something extra special.
While out in the USA he married New Orleans-born TV producer wife Amanda.
“She’s here now. I imported her. We’re spending Christmas with my mum and dad,” he told me.
You can see Darren at 9pm tonight in ITV1’s big festive comedy Christmas At The Riviera, set in a seaside hotel.
He plays Tim, with Sam Kelly as father Dennis, on a poignant mission to scatter the ashes of Tim’s mum in Eastbourne.
LET’S face it, not many men are going to buy a novel called Ballet Shoes.
And, yes, I’ve taken into account the success of Billy Elliot – both the film and stage musical.
So I sat down to watch Ballet Shoes (BBC1, Boxing Day, 8.30pm) not really knowing what to expect.
Some 90 minutes later I couldn’t wait to rush off and praise it in print.
From the programmes I’ve already seen, there’s a lot to look forward to in among this year’s Christmas telly.
There are also, sadly, a few real TV turkeys.
Ballet Shoes is one of my very favourite things – and a drama I’ll watch again when it is screened.
It’s got one of the best casts assembled in 2007 and a screenplay by Cranford’s Heidi Thomas.
SHE’S one of my favourite characters in Coronation Street, and the actress who plays her is always fun to interview.
Factory girl Fiz, played by Jennie McAlpine, is at the centre of Christmas Day drama on the cobbles next week.
And by New Year’s Eve, too much fizz leads to Fiz snogging someone entirely unexpected.
There’s an interview with Jennie in today’s MEN Christmas TV Special, which has kept me extra busy over the last few weeks.
It also features interviews linked to Ballet Shoes, Christmas At The Riviera, The Old Curiosity Shop, Extras and lots more.
The online version of the Corrie feature is here.
Here are a few extracts from the chat with Jennie which we couldn’t squeeze into the TV special.
On the departure this year of screen mum Cilla (Wendi Peters):
QUITE an end of series cliffhanger for Spooks last night.
Well, the good news is that there will be a seventh series of the BBC1 spy drama.
I’m told filming is due to begin in the spring.
Did Adam (Rupert Penry-Jones) kill Jo (Miranda Raison) just as they were about to be rescued?
The bad news is – we’ve got no idea at this stage whether Adam or Jo (pictured) will feature next year.
Nothing has yet been finalised in terms of actors’ contracts for Spooks 2008.
Rupert has been quoted as saying he might not be back, but could possibly return for a few episodes to play out Adam’s exit storyline.
And I assume last night’s final scene at least leaves open the option of a return for Miranda, should she want to continue in the role.
VISIT a film set and you soon learn just how many people it takes to bring a TV drama to the screen.
The stars of the show get the headlines.
But most of them are keen to give credit to the unsung heroes behind the camera.
Actor Toby Jones gave a small taste of the teamwork involved at the launch of a new ITV1 adaptation of The Old Curiosity Shop.
He plays evil loan shark Daniel Quilp, alongside Sir Derek Jacobi, in the Boxing Day drama based on the classic Charles Dickens’ novel.
At one stage Quilp is trapped in icy water, a scene which Toby filmed himself.
“One of the great privileges of working on a film or a piece of telly is that you’re surrounded by remarkably practical people who, between a crew, could solve most problems you’d ever come across,” he said.
“Resourceful people who’ve been in a lot of situations.
WILL Robbie Coltrane ever star again in Cracker?
Manchester criminal psychologist Fitz returned to mixed reviews in a one-off ITV1 film screened in October 2006.
Some, including me, loved it.
Others questioned whether writer Jimmy McGovern’s script was one of his best.
Actress Barbara Flynn, seen last night in the final episode of Cranford, plays Robbie’s screen wife Judith.
I met up with her recently at the launch of festive film Christmas At The Riviera.
She plays another long-suffering wife in the ITV1 comedy, this time called Rita, married to retired policeman Maurice (Warren Clarke).
Does she think there will be any more Cracker?
THE Thin Blue Line and Gimme Gimme Gimme star James Dreyfus is a fan of Manchester drama Cold Blood.
He also wants to play serious roles – like a certain former Stars In Their Eyes host.
“It’s very shocking to see Matthew Kelly play that Hannibal Lecter type of character,” James told me when we met recently.
“And he was brilliant. I think it’s so interesting to see people that we’re used to seeing in one vein play completely against type.
“Actors are actors for a reason. You don’t just do one part for the rest of your life.
“Well, some do, and some do it very well. But that’s not me.
“They should take risks in casting people because it sometimes pays off.”
James is back on screen on New Year’s Eve in ITV1 comedy drama Double Time.
He plays two roles – a struggling actor and lookalike jailed Scottish gangster.
Life of Wylie 