The Politician’s Husband

AN invite to the premiere press screening of The Politician’s Husband last Friday night.

Followed by a Q&A with acclaimed writer Paula Milne, whose many credits include White Heat, The Night Watch and The Politician’s Wife.

We were shown the first two episodes, of three in total.

Including terrific performances from David Tennant and Emily Watson.

The series begins on BBC2 at 9pm tonight (Thursday April 25) and comes recommended.

Below is the story I wrote the next morning, which subsequently appeared here this week.

Followed by my transcript of that Q&A with Paula, hosted by BBC Drama boss Ben Stephenson.

World Without End: Peter Firth

Kingsbridge, England, 1327.

All is well. But not for long.

World Without End arrives on Channel 4 at 9pm tomorrow (Saturday Jan 12).

An epic six-part TV adaptation of author Ken Follett’s equally epic novel.

The sequel to The Pillars of the Earth.

Already broadcast in America, I attended a London preview screening for the opening feature-length episode in early December.

“I cannot be weak,” protests Frank Gallagher as Shameless returns tonight.

The new – ninth – series begins with two extended episodes screened at 10pm over consecutive nights.

With many Chatsworth estate residents evicted from their homes in an official crackdown.

A politically-motivated move which aims to eventually clear the entire area.

I returned to the Manchester Shameless HQ late last year to spend another day on set.

WE met in the canteen of the Shameless HQ in Manchester.

But it wasn’t until Manny Ighodaro stood up that I realised just how tall he was.

Of which more below.

Episode six of the new series is on Channel 4 at 10pm this evening, after last week’s burst of episodes one to five.

With a first screening of next week’s episode seven following tonight on E4.

Including a scene involving guest star Pookey Quesnel which is definitely not for the squeamish.

ANOTHER day on the Chatsworth to interview the cast of Shameless.

Including an afternoon in The Jockey, where the regulars still pay no heed to the smoking ban.

A month or so later, having cleared my lungs of herbal cigarette smoke, I also caught up with series creator Paul Abbott.