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TV Choice – Issue 17

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Meet the cast of Midsomer Murders!

The MY TV YEARS podcast from TVChoice is HERE!

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The MY TV YEARS podcast from TVChoice is HERE! 📺

Closing date for issue 17 is midnight 6th May 2024. Only one entry per person.


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The biggest talent show on TV is back for the 17th time, as judges Amanda Holden, Simon Cowell, Bruno Tonioli and Alesha Dixon return to their hot seats. We’ve been promised the contestants and audience are wilder than ever, and it’s down to hosts Ant and Dec to bring some order to the backstage chaos. Even the judges have thrown the rulebook out the window, with the Golden Buzzer being pressed a record number of times!

If you’re a nervous flier, then be thankful you’re not Dr Matthew Nolan (Richard Armitage) who finds himself mixed up in an international conspiracy while on a flight to China. After attending a conference in Beijing, Nolan’s arrested on his return to Heathrow, accused of murder. Despite protesting his innocence, he’s extradited back to China, along with reluctant DC Hana Li (Jing Lusi). But when a passenger dies, she suspects foul play.

**Martin Clunes: Islands Of The Pacific**

In the second leg of his latest Pacific tour, Martin hits the Philippines where he explores a few of its 7000 islands. From the hustle and bustle of chaotic capital Manila, to the eerie and locally feared Siquijor Island, known as belonging to ‘the witches’, Martin gets under the skin of the people in this unique place, where a fusion of Catholic and occult beliefs thrive side-by-side. Plus, he also plants rice and rides a bamboo bicycle.

Vet Rohin Aojula is used to all sorts of patients, but tonight he meets nobility in the ‘shapely’ form of Lord Pablo Porcini. This pot-bellied pig lives in a back garden ‘chateau’ and his owner, Libby, makes sure the vet and assistant Iris knows he’s her entire world! Meanwhile, Peter faces a difficult lambing at a friend’s farm, Julian hopes to give an anxious owner more precious time with her elderly dog, and Matt soothes a hawk with sore legs.

One of the most important events in a Jewish person’s life is their Bar or Bat Mitzvah, marking the moment they move into adulthood, according to their faith. It happens when a boy turns 13 and a girl turns 12, and they learn Hebrew texts to be recited before their loved ones, often followed by a party. This one-off follows four youngsters with varying beliefs, including Eve, and their families as they prepare for this milestone.

Following Draper’s Tours ill-fated outings that ended in murder during three specials, Gemma (Siân Gibson) and Terry (Johnny Vegas) have now left the leisure business and turned private investigators in this spin-off series. With business slow, they’ve moved in with Gemma’s sister Monica, and they’re soon embroiled in the sinister case of a killer figurine collector who will stop at nothing to acquire a piece in the duo’s possession.

It’s Humphrey and Martha’s (Kris Marshall and Sally Bretton) big day, and they aren’t too thrilled by the lavish celebration that Anne’s organised. Meanwhile, the team probe the theft of a valuable statuette at the local museum, and there’s extra pressure for Kelby when he investigates two cyber criminals and their elderly victim – who’s CS Woods’ nan. There’s also a decision about Shipton Abbott station house’s fate following the review…

What to watch (April 20 – April 26, 2024)

A treat for fans of the Swedish foursome – an evening of ABBA-mania! It serves as a welcome celebration of the 50th anniversary of the group first hitting the UK singles chart with their number one smash hit _Waterloo_. The highlight of the evening is the new documentary _When ABBA Came To Britain_, which focuses on the magical period that Benny, Frida, Agnetha and Björn spent in the UK from 1974 to 1982.

Park Lane’s Hilton is one of the capital’s most exclusive hotels, and the show must always go on – even in the middle of a multi-million-pound renovation. And staff really have their hands full as they prepare for an influx of guests, including three Heads Of State, in the run-up to the Coronation. Here’s a peek behind the scenes at the logistics, and how best laid plans can go awry – just ask Head Chef Mark and his team.

**Meet The Roman Emperor With Mary Beard**

Historian Mary Beard presents this cheerful whistlestop guide to the rulers of ancient Rome, and concludes that absolute power went hand-in-hand with absolute paranoia. As it wasn’t uncommon for the emperor to meet a sticky end (often at the hands of those closest to him), perhaps that’s not surprising! We also get a glimpse of what his daily life was like, as Mary ponders what really went on inside the palace’s walls…

Reigning Euro champions England face a tricky qualifier against the Republic Of Ireland in Dublin. The two sides have only played one another competitively four times, with the Lionesses scoring a total of 17 goals to Ireland’s zero. However, since the most recent meeting was way back in 1986, these stats mean very little. There’s no doubt that Lauren Hemp and England start out as favourites, but can the Irish cause an upset?

Cobbler Dean works his magic on a tiny pair of cowboy boots bought as a gift for his nephew by noted drummer Roger Pope, who before his death in 2013 worked with the likes of Elton John. Kirsten faces her biggest challenge yet when a smashed Murano glass lamp arrives. And specialist restorer Julyan Wallis pulls some strings to get a treasured Saz, a traditional Turkish musical instrument with a poignant history, back into shape.

We admit we’ve drifted away from Lord Sugar’s HR quest in the last year or so… but tonight’s episode remains a must. And that’s because, of course, it’s the dreaded interviews round. Expect to see CVs shredded, hyperbole pole-axed and ambitions exploded. The fearsome Cerberuses guarding Alan’s investment are the familiar foursome of Claude Littner, Linda Plant, Claudine Collins and Mike Soutar. Lie at your peril…

The comic returns to Birmingham for more mayhem, celebrating the city and all its diversity. Once again, he’ll be joined by local heroes, LGBTQ+ icons and celebrity guests. ‘The first series was the most fun I’ve ever had making TV,’ says Joe. ‘I can’t wait to go bigger and wilder in series two.’ Quite how much bigger remains to be seen – especially as Joe gave away his own car as a prize in the first series! How will he top that?

What to watch (April 6 – April 12, 2024)

**Kurt Cobain: Moments That Shook Music**

Featuring powerful and unseen archive footage, this documentary covers the impact of Nirvana’s lead singer, Kurt Cobain, taking his own life in 1994. His untimely death is placed in context of global events in the Nineties, and it features an old interview with Kurt himself where he seems reasonably optimistic. It also includes moving moments of his wife, Courtney Love, reading extracts from his final letter at a vigil.

Barnaby and Winter return to investigate more quirky fatalities against a bucolic backdrop. When Warren Kaine dies after receiving death threats, his cheating widow Clodagh tells her lover Guy – Warren’s best friend – that she’s happy he’s gone. However, Guy then also meets a sticky end, prompting fingers to point. And the killing spree’s not over yet… With Neil Dudgeon, Annette Badland and Nick Hendrix.

The breakout hit of last year was, arguably, this drama about probationary police constables trying to maintain order on the streets of Belfast. If you enjoyed series one (and if you’ve not seen it, blitz it on iPlayer now!), you can finally learn how the delicately poised relationship between patrol partners Stevie and Grace (Martin McCann and Siân Brooke, above) has progressed. Elsewhere, Annie is paired with an enigmatic new recruit.

**For The Love Of Dogs With Alison Hammond**

Stepping into Paul O’Grady’s legendary shoes was always going to be a difficult task, but Alison Hammond manages it with aplomb, making it easy for viewers to accept her as the new face of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. Her first episode will – as ever – have us holding back the tears, as she meets a three-week-old puppy who’d been thrown in a bin, before she falls hopelessly in love with injured spaniel Nelly.

Tony Mammoth (Mike Bubbins) is a man frozen in time. Literally. Presumed dead after an avalanche on a school skiing trip to France in 1979, his body is found decades later and miraculously brought back to life – and while his old-school macho, blunt ways are at odds with the modern day, he’s too thick-skinned to notice. So, when he finds a job as a Cardiff PE teacher, he’s soon rubbing people up the wrong way… With Siân Gibson.

We know the drill, but like Lord Sugar and his limited number of feints in a firing situation (‘And for that reason, I’m struggling…’) let’s trot it out again. As we reach the final, the last two remaining candidates launch their business ideas, helped/hindered by those they’ve previously cast out of the competition. A digital billboard, a TV ad and a Q&A are all that separate the winner from £250K of the boss’ money.

The former politician takes a break from playing with trains to guide us around three of his favourite European cities, starting in Madrid, with Prague and Milan to follow. He’s going behind the scenes of all the major sights, and hits the best restaurants, bars, food markets and hotels. The city is home to 10,000 restaurants and our man heads for the world’s oldest, founded in 1725, where suckling pig is the only dish on offer.

What to watch (April 13 – April 19, 2024)

Of course, it’s a religious holiday, but Easter is also the next-biggest fixture in the TV calendar after Christmas. So, with a few extra days to yourself to enjoy the telly, we’ve put together a list of the dozen best things to watch between Good Friday and next Friday. ‘Eggs’-pect (sorry!) to get busy with that series-link!

It’s 1705 and Nell Jackson’s just returned to her family’s tavern in Tottenham after fighting in the war in Europe. But when she’s framed for a crime she didn’t commit, she turns to highway robbery to survive, while a little flying sprite called Billy Blind gives her supernatural fighting abilities…

‘She has been wrongly accused of murder and now lives life on the run while trying her best to protect her sisters,’ explains Louisa Harland, who plays her.

Created by Sally Wainwright, in the opening episode of the eight-part series Nell stands up to local landlord Lord Blancheford after his wayward son Thomas attacks her dad. However, Thomas has fallen under the spell of the Earl of Poynton, a member of the Queen’s privy council that practices dark magic and is desperate to inherit his father’s wealth. And when he shoots his dad, Nell’s blamed, as his widowed sister Sofia backs up his account…

**DOCUMENTARY – Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales, BBC2, 9pm**

It’s the sixth series of Pilgrimage, which sees celebrities from different faiths and beliefs take the journey of a lifetime.

This time around, presenter Somali Shah, wildlife broadcaster Michaela Strachan, former reality star Spencer Matthews, Friday Night Dinner’s Tom Rosenthal, comedian Eshaan Akbar, Amanda Lovett from The Traitors and TV personality Christine McGuinness tackle the North Wales Pilgrim’s Way.

For Christine, 35, who describes herself as spiritual but doesn’t follow a particular religion, the two-week trek was particularly challenging. She was diagnosed with autism in 2021 – which her three children with her ex, Paddy McGuinness, also have – so things like walking through a forest could overwhelm her senses. But she gained so much from her experience.

‘I'm not the best around people, I don't have a lot of friends. It was the first time I'd ever eaten with people I didn't know! And they never made me feel any different to them…’

## **SATURDAY, 30 MARCH** {#h-saturday-30-march}

**ENTERTAINMENT – Gladiators, BBC1, 5.50pm**

After weeks of intense competition, it’s time for the final four contenders to get ready as they battle it out in the Gladiators final.

‘During the heats, the quarters and the semis, there were a lot of bruises, bangs and knocks,’ says referee Mark Clattenburg, 49. ‘The final is compelling and there will be lots of drama. There are some shocks, you’ll see some amazing things that we just don't expect. There's not that much between them and they give the gladiators a good run for their money.’

Lining up – firefighter Bronte Jones, 23, faces fitness coach Marie-Louise Nicholson, 28, while army officer Finlay Anderson, 34 takes on Leeds’ Wesley Male.

**RELIGION – Easter Sunday Service From Canterbury Cathedral, BBC1, 10am**

There’s something reassuring about the permanence of this service on our TVs every Easter. Airing live, the Most Revd Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury (above), shares his message of celebration, while the service is led by the Very Revd Dr David Monteith. It’s followed by Urbi Et Orbi

**MUSIC – Gareth Malone’s Easter Passion: The Concert, BBC2, 6pm**

Baby’s got Bach! This one-off features the special performance of the composer’s St John Passion by a choir of plucky amateurs collated by the preternaturally patient Mr Malone. We’ve seen in the regular show his bid to whip them into shape, and now here’s the final, unexpurgated gig recorded at Cardiff’s Hoddinott Hall. Hopefully they now know their arias from their elbows.

It’s been 20 years since David Attenborough’s series The Life Of Mammals, which saw him travel all over the world, often filming in challenging locations, to reveal the magic and mystery of these animals.

Sir David is 97 now, so can be forgiven for simply narrating this new series – but he’s still very much invested in it, says series producer Scott Alexander.

‘At a very basic level, you could listen to him read the telephone directory! He puts on the most amazing performance. But on another level, it is also nice for him, 20 years later, to be able to narrate the next mammals, see how they have evolved, and hear their new stories.’

Like his most famous work, Peaky Blinders, Steven Knight’s latest series, This Town, is set in his native West Midlands but this project is far more personal to him because it takes place during the turbulent year of 1981, a time he lived through as a young man. Riots are sweeping the country and IRA bombings are a frequent occurrence.

It centres on a group of working-class teenagers who, disillusioned with their lack of life choices, decide to form a band.

‘It’s about young people who, through no fault of their own, find themselves in very difficult circumstances. They realise that they can only escape if they become famous,’ says Steven.

To mark 20 years of presenting MasterChef, John Torode and Gregg Wallace are cooking up a treat – starting with new challenge ‘Basic to Brilliant’ when six new hopefuls enter the hallowed kitchen.

‘It’s all about taking an everyday item you find in your shopping basket, and elevating it from what would normally be served at home into something special,’ says John.

As ever, all 58 cooks dream of being a finalist and this year the show has pushed the boat out – all the way to Singapore. But there’s another treat in the semi-finals, which officially marks the anniversary by inviting 80 winners and finalists from the past two decades to be cooked a meal by the contestants, inspired by dishes that have been served by finalists over the years.

## **THURSDAY 4 APRIL** {#h-thursday-4-april}

It’s 1960, and musician Tom Ripley is playing piano at a party wearing a borrowed varsity jacket. A wealthy industrialist mistakes him for a Princeton alumnus and thinks he’d be the perfect person to go to Italy, all expenses paid, and bring home his wayward playboy of a son, Dickie Greenleaf. And so begins a journey of lies, deceit – and murder…

‘Ripley’s put into this world where people are very entitled and confident and maybe not even as gifted as him. But he's not seen in that way,’ explains Andrew Scott, who plays him.

‘And if you are repeatedly ignored by society, it starts to have a dark effect on people. Tom is very charming and not in a manipulative way. I think he's somebody who loves life.’

## **FRIDAY, 5 APRIL** {#h-friday-5-april}

Well-known for his stand-up and fronting big shows like The Weakest Link, Romesh Ranganathan is back with a second series of his rom-com.

Picking up with Jonathan (Romesh) and his ex, Claire (Jessica Knappett), it’s one year on from when we last saw them. And while she’s moved on with her life, he’s still very much trying to win her back for the sake of their son Spencer (Kieran Logendra).

‘When we see them again it is almost exactly a year after Claire asked Jonathan back and he’s spent the interim regretting he said no,’ says Romesh, 45, who plays Jonathan.

‘He’s trying to sort himself out to impress her by cycling and wearing a lot of Lycra! His sister Dan (Mandeep Dhillon) and Courtney (Lisa McGrillis) are about to have a baby and Spencer is stable – in fact he’s the happiest person in the show!’

**DRAMA – Alex Rider, Amazon Freevee**  
Over the past two series, Alex Rider, played by Otto Farrant, has already encountered some very dangerous foes. But in series three – based on the novel Scorpia – the young spy comes face-to-face with the formidable Julia Rothman, who has a personal axe to grind…

‘She has a past that connects her with Alex,’ explains Swedish star Sofia Helin, 51, who previously starred in The Bridge. ‘It’s been lovely to work with Otto. He’s a very talented young man, and I love playing with him… like he’s a mouse!’

‘It’s been fascinating to see Sofia bring her character to life,’ adds Otto. ‘Our director described Julia as being like a snake! She’s very subtle, and very manipulative.’

Movie-loving PI John Sugar finds missing people, but when he’s hired by a legendary Hollywood producer, family secrets are soon exposed in this contemporary noir thriller set in Los Angeles.

‘He's somewhat mercurial, incredibly fastidious, and incredibly intuitive. And he has a wound of his own from his past that compels him forward in the work that he does,’ reveals Colin Farrell, who plays the smart-suited detective who drives a vintage Corvette.

‘His only true allegiance is to finding people, locating those lost souls who have usually been the victims of kidnap or abduction, and returning them home to their families.’

The eight best shows of Easter 2024

There’s high drama at the High Court as season two opens with Daniel (Martin Compston) set to give evidence against his dad. The parental theme is mirrored with lab assistant Emma Hedges (Molly Windsor), now training to be a forensic chemist, who’s on the cusp of seeing her mum’s murder case finally resolved legally. Meanwhile, a series of homemade bombs have been going off in and around Dundee – and the city’s on edge.

It’s 1981 and Birmingham is an inferno of riots and IRA bomb scares. Steven Knight’s new drama follows a group of teens who believe that music might save them from the chaos that threatens to swallow them. Aspiring poet Dante (Levi Brown) bumps into wannabe ska musician Jeannie (Eve Austin) during the Handsworth riots, and the pair realise they could join forces, make music and maybe just change their lives for the better.

John and Gregg kick off the iconic show’s 20-year anniversary as they welcome six new amateur hopefuls into the kitchen – but only three will get to put on the coveted _MasterChef_ apron and move on to the quarter-finals. You could say the ‘steaks’ are high! Later on, in the semi-final round, the hosting duo will celebrate this landmark when past finalists over the two decades return to be fed by this year’s cohort.

It’s _Dragons’ Den_ with a difference as 36 artisan food and drink producers pitch their products to Britain’s fourth largest supermarket. Hosted by Chris Bavin and Anita Rani, first up it’s the dinnertime category with six hopefuls – including Stormzy’s personal chef and sibling butchers – plying their wares before Aldi’s MD of Buying. But who’ll win a life-changing contract to supply over 1000 stores?

It wasn’t all cans of Quatro and Findus Crispy Pancakes, the 1980s saw us all become diet and fitness fanatics with an explosion in Lycra, legwarmers, Diet Coke and the Lean Cuisine range making us at least think we were being healthy. And while the air fryer might be the gadget of the moment, it was all about the microwave back then – as TV chef Rustie Lee demonstrates. Plus, how an interest in interiors gave rise to Homebase.

Alex Polizzi’s latest mercy mission takes her to East Sussex where she’s hoping to help a floundering Shepherds Huts business from going bust. It might be Alex’s first-time glamping, but it’s not her first holiday accommodation rescue, and so she wastes no time in getting stuck in, finding out what makes Nick and Anna’s family-run venture tick – or not. Can she turn their fortunes around before it’s too late?

It’s all change for our gang as the new series begins. One year on from where we saw them last, and Jonathan (Romesh Ranganathan) is on a mission to be his best self by reciting daily affirmations and wearing a lot of Lycra! He’s trying to win back Claire (Jessica Knappett) after realising he made a mistake by not getting back together with her when he had the chance. Will he woo her with his dancing at the PTA fundraiser?

What to watch (March 30 – April 5, 2024)

An unending source of tabloid stories, the Royal Family is once more mined for tittle-tattle as the series returns. We begin in Marivent, Mallorca, a getaway for Spain’s own monarchy, where a visiting Princess Diana is about to make an extraordinary pool-side confession to Royal Protection officer Ken Wharfe about her marriage. There’s also a look at tales from George III and Queen Victoria’s time.

**Atlantis: The Discovery With Dan Snow**

An ancient city lost beneath the waves thousands of years ago… but could this mythical, age-old metropolis have actually existed? Dan Snow heads to Greece to find out, investigating real cities which were destroyed by earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis to determine if their legacy could have inspired the story of Atlantis. He begins his journey diving beneath the waves to the underwater city of Pavlopetri.

Henry Cole and Simon O’Brien are back rummaging through sheds, garages and barns, hoping to turn what they find into a tasty profit. Today, in Shropshire, Simon hopes to transform a 1970s TV into a fish tank, and Henry finds an old Ford truck.

This is third time the _Good Morning Britain_ presenter has invited cameras into her home, and sadly, this instalment charts the lead-up to the death of her husband, Derek Draper, in January this year, following severe complications from Covid. It shows how Kate, their two teenage children and loved ones have coped in the aftermath, pays tribute to Derek, and also champions the work of the NHS, unpaid carers and medical staff.

Criminology professor Jasper Tempest (Ben Miller) is back, and behind bars as series three begins. Having fired a gun into the police station ceiling in a bid to help his ex, DCI Brand as she fought with bent cop Simon Lanesborough at the end of series two, the prof’s OCD flares up in his dirty new prison surroundings. But soon the chance to prove an inmate’s innocence in a murder case provides him with a vital distraction.

That’s Greg Davies and Little Alex Horne seated in the middle, but from left to right, the (first) class of 2024 are: Nick Mohammed, Joanne McNally, Steve Pemberton, John Robins and Sophie Willan. A _Coronation Street_ fave in peg-form makes an early showing, before the gang are challenged to something as dangerous as possible with an egg. Instantly hilarious, as always. Welcome back, TM!

**Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales**

It’s the sixth series of the show in which celebrities from different faiths and beliefs embark on the journey of a lifetime. This time around, Amanda Lovett from _The Traitors_, former reality star Spencer Matthews, _Friday Night Dinner_’s Tom Rosenthal, wildlife presenter Michaela Strachan, TV personality Christine McGuinness, presenter Sonali Shah and comedian Eshaan Akbar tackle the North Wales Pilgrim’s Way.

What to watch (March 23 – March 29, 2024)

He may have taken a few breaks over the years, but tonight _Casualty_ favourite Charlie Fairhead, played for almost 40 years by Derek Thompson, finally bows out. In his time in the ED, the Charge Nurse has been shot, stabbed, held hostage and had more than his fair share of doomed romantic liaisons. So, what finally pushes him out the door? Whatever it is, we’re not ready… Luckily, Derek has several new TV projects coming up soon!

**The Great Celebrity Bake Off For Stand Up To Cancer**

‘I love having celebrities in the tent,’ says Paul Hollywood. ‘It’s a more laidback-than-the-normal tent.’ Cut to Jodie Whittaker bouncing off Paloma Faith in excitement. ‘I think I went too aggressive at the top, with my energy,’ she later reflects. Also competing, Spencer Matthews and Munya Chawawa. The first task is cake pops, which Paul cites as, ‘the easiest challenge we’ve ever set.’  Wait till you see what Paloma does…

This new psychological thriller is about a married couple whose lives are thrown into turmoil after unassuming dad Simon (Jason Watkins) makes a split-second decision – with disastrous consequences. The drama starts with a local gang, led by menacing youth Jordan (Joe Barber), terrorising the neighbourhood where Simon and wife Beth (Claire Skinner) live, and forcing a violent confrontation…

Celebrating four decades of screen sharing, first as _Brookside_’s Bobby and Sheila Grant, later as  
_The Royle Family_’s Jim and Barbara, Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston visit their favourite UK hotspots, starting with their beloved home city of Liverpool.

Over the past five weeks we’ve seen the eight aspiring actors re-enact scenes from _EastEnders, Silent Witness, Peaky Blinders, Casualty_ and _Downton Abbey_. Now it’s time for casting director Kelly Valentine Hendry to whittle them down to a final three, who each have to devise their own screen monologue which they’ll perform at an industry showcase event. This week’s guest mentor is _Line Of Duty_’s Rochenda Sandall.

Her mum, Debbie Reynolds, starred in _Singin’ In The Rain_, while her dad, Eddie Fisher, was one of the biggest chart-toppers of the 1950s, so it’s fair to say that Carrie Fisher was born into Hollywood royalty. And yet, she carved her own successful screen career and was a prolific writer. But she was also troubled and struggled with drug and alcohol addiction. Here, her extraordinary life is revealed through iconic photoshoot images and private snaps.

Fans of the _Death In Paradise_ spin-off will be glad to see DI Humphrey Goodman back sleuthing in Shipton Abbott. Despite a diverse mix of crimes in series one, none involved murder – until now. The action takes place aboard a steam train as Humphrey and DS Esther Williams (Kris Marshall and Zahra Ahmadi) join the local am-dram group’s murder-mystery rehearsals. But then the play’s murder victim is killed for real…

The Great Celebrity Bake Off For Stand Up To Cancer

What to watch (March 16 – March 23, 2024)

**St James’s Palace: The Secret Royal Residence**

This regal red-brick edifice, a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace, is the most senior royal palace in London yet remains strangely overlooked. But it’s been witness to unprecedented royal events, including the imprisonment of Charles I in the days before he was beheaded in 1649, and a focal point for thousands of mourners as Diana, Princess of Wales, lay in state in the Chapel Royal ahead of her funeral in 1997.

Expect plenty of glitz and glamour as Hollywood’s finest sashay up the red carpet for Tinseltown’s biggest night of the year. The 96th Oscars, which is hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, marks the first time in almost 20 years that UK viewers can watch for free. While Ross King will be there for the arrivals on ITVX from 9.30pm, Jonathan Ross presents the main coverage. He’ll be joined by celebrity guests as the action unfolds.

Poor Sally Lindsay falls prey to a sexy scammer in this psychological thriller. Divorcée Emma has a passionate fling with hotel owner Niko while holidaying on Cyprus – only to be rewarded with a broken heart and an empty bank account. Local police aren’t interested so, in a bid to recover her cash, Emma joins forces with ex-hubby Pete, played by Neil Morrissey.

**Interior Design Masters With Alan Carr**

The fifth series of the interior design contest begins in Norfolk, where host Alan introduces 10 novices to their first task – converting a former convent into a B&B. The designers must demonstrate their signature style by transforming the former nuns’ cells into single occupancy rooms that are good enough to get people parting with their hard-earned cash to stay there. As always, there’s a life-changing contract up for grabs.

We’re loving this show, which sees a likeable bunch of aspiring actors strive to win the chance of a professional acting career. Tonight, under the kindly gaze of firm-but-fair casting director Kelly Valentine Hendry and Bill Bailey – fast becoming our favourite ‘telly uncle’ – the hopefuls, including Luca, step into period drama for one of _Downton Abbey_’s most famous romantic scenes, with guidance from Ed Speleers (footman Jimmy).

It’s not quite the candlelit meal that new farmer Kelvin Fletcher might have been expecting when he visits Robert Tomlinson’s rhubarb farm – they use the soft glow from a candle to grow their crop. But why? JB Gill travels to Norfolk where seafarer Ashley Mullenger is on a shellfish mission to keep whelks on our plates, while Rob and Dave Nicholson learn to plough 1930s-style with Shire horses.

When it comes to the charity he co-founded with Richard Curtis, Sir Lenny Henry has certainly put in a shift. But, after 39 years as the face of Comic Relief, tonight marks the final time he’ll host the annual Red Nose Day live fundraiser. And it promises to be a send-off to remember, with plenty of familiar faces popping up. Watch out for _The Traitors: The Movie_, Alan Partridge, and the chance to win an Aston Martin!

What to watch (March 9 – March 15, 2024)

If you’re more of a 6 Music listener than a Radio 1 fan, you’re unlikely to be familiar with most of the nominees but you could treat tonight as a crash-course in 2020s pop and then amaze your younger workmates with your new-found knowledge on Monday! But proving the more the world changes, the more it stays the same, Kylie Minogue will receive the Global Icon Award and Blur are up for British Group and British Album gongs.

When officer Marlon Pryce (Tahj Miles) gets a phone call from his old boss, Ray, it sparks another puzzling case for DI Neville Parker and the team – one in which a parrot is the only witness! After arriving at Ray’s house, Marlon’s stunned to find him dead – before he’s then knocked unconscious himself. And that’s not his only headache, as he also has a big decision to make after his sister’s offered a scholarship at a prestigious Jamaican school.

Expect fever pitch excitement from the loyal fans huddled against the cold outside the iconic BB house as this year’s celebs are introduced on stage by hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best, before entering their new home. Depending on generation, there’ll be some blank looks on viewers’ faces as well as appreciative ones at the array of diverse names from the likes of TV, music and social media. But will they recognise each other?

Previously on Gold, this three-part comedy set in the Midlands market town, follows feisty but exhausted chip shop manager Maxine (Morgana Robinson) as she tries to ride out her divorce to Terry (Mathew Horne) and find a man who can make her sizzle like a deep-fried chip. But it’s hard to find ‘me time’ with dull Terry trying to win her back and her son dramatically coming out as gay on her 40th birthday… to the surprise of no-one.

Death In Paradise creator Robert Thorogood is behind this new whodunnit, with the killings set closer to home. When retired Judith Potts (Samantha Bond) hears a gunshot, the police don’t believe her. So she goes searching for the truth helped by two friends…

Time to put the rest of your life on ‘paws’ (sorry!) as the canine contest gets underway. More than 20,000 pups are assembling at the NEC in Birmingham for this four-day doggy celebration, with over 200 diverse breeds and pooches from all walks of life competing in various competitions, such as agility, heelwork to music, obedience and flyball. Orca the Lagotto Romagnolo won Best In Show last year, but who’ll win in 2024?

**Great British Cities With Susan Calman**

In this new six-part series, Susan takes us on a tour of UK cities to show how they were built. First up, she’s off to Liverpool and, while our minds are blown that it’s her first trip here, hers is blown when she learns that her literary hero, Charles Dickens, visited the city to research his iconic characters. Susan also discovers what great Liverpool FC manager Bill Shankly was really like, and learns how a rival team got close to his heart.

What to watch (March 2 – March 8, 2024)

## It’s run for more than a quarter of a century – but who are all of the show’s main characters, both past and present? {#h-it-s-run-for-more-than-a-quarter-of-a-century-but-who-are-all-of-the-show-s-main-characters-both-past-and-present}

Midsomer Murders has been one of television’s best-loved police dramas for almost 30 years. Having begun in 1997, it’s become one of ITV’s most successful shows, having produced almost 150 episodes. That amounts to an awful lot of murders being committed in one English county! Over the years, there have been two detectives who have lead the series – Tom Barnaby, followed by his cousin John Barnaby – who have been ably supported by a host of supporting cast.

We’ve put together a guide to all of Midsomer Murders’ main characters, including those who have since left the show, complete with information about where else you might have seen the actors…

## Neil Dudgeon plays Detective Chief Inspector John Barnaby {#h-neil-dudgeon-plays-detective-chief-inspector-john-barnaby}

**Duration**: Series 13 (guest role), 14 to present

John Barnaby transferred to Midsomer’s Causton CID to replace his cousin, Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) who was retiring. John didn’t get on particularly well with DS Ben Jones (Jason Hughes) when he first arrived, but the pair later formed a great partnership. John lives locally with his wife Sarah (Fiona Dolman) and daughter Betty.

Long-time Midsomer Murders viewers may remember that Neil first appeared in the show as an entirely different character. Back in the fourth series’ opening episode Garden Of Death, he played the gardener Daniel Bolt. Neil is also known for playing the lead role of Jim Riley opposite Caroline Quentin in the BBC comedy Life Of Riley between 2009 and 2011. During an acting career which has spanned 40 years, Neil has made appearances in some of the UK’s best known TV shows, including Lovejoy (1991), Casualty (1991), The Bill (1991), A Touch Of Frost (1994), Inspector Morse (1995) and Silent Witness (2008).

## Fiona Dolman plays Sarah Barnaby {#h-fiona-dolman-plays-sarah-barnaby}

Sarah is the wife of John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon), and is the headmistress of a local secondary school, and the couple live together in a country cottage – with their dog Sykes, until their beloved bet sadly died. The couple later adopted a terrier pup named Paddy, after his previous owner was murdered. Sarah fell pregnant during the course of the 16th series, and gave birth to their first child, Betty.

In 2008, Fiona played Miss Pamela Andrews in 48 episodes of The Royal Today – the daytime spin-off series to The Royal. She was also well known for playing Jackie Bradley, the wife of PC Mike Bradley, in the long-running ITV series Heartbeat between 1998 and 2001. She has also appeared in Ultraviolet (1998), The Bill (1997, 2001, 2003 and 2009), Holby City (2003, 2007 and 2009), Coronation Street (2009), Waterloo Road (2010), The Syndicate (2013) and Casualty (2016).

## Nick Hendrix plays Detective Sergeant Jamie Winter {#h-nick-hendrix-plays-detective-sergeant-jamie-winter}

Jamie is the latest sergeant to be paired with DCI John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon), replacing DS Charlie Nelson (Gwilym Lee). Before moving to Midsomer, Jamie had worked in London, and had gone on a crime management course with Dr Kam Marimore (Manjinder Virk).

Before joining the cast of Midsomer Murders in 2016, Nick had made guest appearances in quite a few British dramas, including Inspector George Gently (2012), Call The Midwife (2013), Lightfields (2013), The White Queen (2013), Foyle’s War (2015) and The Crown (2016). He also appeared in the very first episode of Charlie Brooker’s anthology series Black Mirror back in 2011.

## Annette Badland plays Dr Fleur Perkins {#h-annette-badland-plays-dr-fleur-perkins}

Fleur is the chief forensic pathologist for the county of Midsomer. She has been married several times, and when she first joined the CID she was dating a vet. However, that relationship didn’t last and she is currently single. Fleur owns two motorcycles, which she calls Gladys and Brenda, and she drives a convertible.

**What else has Annette Badland been in?**

Annette’s major breakthrough came in the first three series of Bergerac, where she played Charlotte, the secretary at the Bureau des Étrangers, alongside John Nettles as DS Jim Bergerac, between 1981 and 1984. In more recent years, she achieved notoriety as wicked Aunt Babe Smith, matriarch of the Carter family in EastEnders – a role she played between 2014 and 2017. She also played Brawdie Henshall in all four series of hairdressing drama Cutting It (2002-2005). Annette has clocked up a huge number of guest appearances in many of the best-known shows on British television, including Crossroads (1978), All Creatures Great And Small (1989), Casualty (various roles between 1990 and 2012), Poirot (2003), Coronation Street (2005), Doctor Who (2005), Not Going Out (2018), The Crown (2020), Silent Witness (2021) and Beyond Paradise (2023).

So, that’s all of Midsomer Murders’ current main cast of characters, but what about the many familiar faces who are no longer appearing in the show? And might we see any of them again in the future? Let’s meet all of the previous cast members…

## John Nettles played Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby {#h-john-nettles-played-detective-chief-inspector-tom-barnaby-nbsp}

The character of Tom Barnaby was originally created by English writer Caroline Graham for her Chief Inspector Barnaby series of novels, published between 1987 and 2004. Having previously worked for MI6, Tom became a DCI based in the town of Causton in south-east England, who travelled into the countryside to solve murders in a number of nearby villages in the county of Midsomer. Barnaby married Joyce (Jane Wymark) back in 1973, and the couple are parents to their adult daughter Cully (Laura Howard), who was born in 1978. Tom had three Detective Sergeants during his time investigating murders in Midsomer – DS Gavin Troy (Daniel Casey), DS Daniel Scott (John Hopkins) and DS Ben Jones (Jason Hughes). When Tom retired, he was succeeded by his cousin John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon).

John Nettles is in the unusual position of having played not one, but two of British television’s most famous detectives! Before he played Tom Barnaby in Midsomer Murders, he became a household name in BBC1’s Jersey-set thriller Bergerac, in which he played Detective Sergeant Jim Bergerac between 1981 and 1991. John starred in all 87 episodes of the hugely popular show, and even made an encore appearance as Bergerac in a 1993 episode of Jasper Carrott’s sitcom The Detectives! Earlier in his career, John played Ian McKenzie in A Family At War (1971-1972) and Paul in The Liver Birds (1972-1976). He also made guest appearances in Robin Of Sherwood (1984), Boon (1992) and Heartbeat (2001). In more recent times, he has appeared in several episodes of Poldark (2016-2017) as well as being the narrator of Devon And Cornwall (2020-2021).

## Jane Wymark played Joyce Barnaby {#h-jane-wymark-played-joyce-barnaby}

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