OF THE AUTUMN TV
f are as he f This time it’s the turn of a former Doctor Who, rather than his assistant, to portray a royal. Matt Smith plays Prince Philip in this look at the early reign of the Queen, played here by Claire Foy.
Costing £100million, this 10-part series is a no-holds-barred drama, which Netflix hopes will give the traditional broadcasters a run for their money. We’re not sure if Her Majesty will be tuning in, however.
THE nights will soon be drawing in but there is one good thing as autumn nears: amazing TV. The season is packed with top-quality offerings.
As well as the return of favourites such as The Great British Bake Off, The X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing, there’s an array of great new shows as channels ramp up the battle for viewers.
You’ll find sexy dramas, superb comedies and sinister thrillers. So check out our fantastic guide, grab the remote and prepare for the autumn season’s must-see shows... The fab five from the 90s/Noughties classic are reunited for the long-awaited revival of one of ITV’s best-ever sitcoms. James Nesbitt, John Thomson, Fay Ripley, Robert Bathurst and Hermione Norris pick up the story 13 years after the last series ended. Nesbitt’s character, Adam Williams, is coping with having a grown-up son, one he had to raise alone following the death of his wife Rachel, who had been portrayed by Helen Baxendale. The Great British Bake Off, Wednesday, BBC1 The hit series is under way, with one contestant already booted off. The X Factor, Saturday, Aug 27, ITV Sharon, Louis and Nicole are back with Simon for an old-style revamp. Go For It, Saturday, Aug 27, ITV Stephen Mulhern hosts as contestants compete in gruelling challenges. EastEnders star Lacey Turner appeared as Army medic Molly Dawes in the first series. But after she returned to Albert Square, it fell to another soap actress, Coronation Street’s Michelle Keegan, to take over. She’s the new leading lady, Corporal Georgie Lane, right, who has to juggle her love life back home with saving lives on a humanitarian mission to Kenya, surrounded by her mainly male comrades. Shocking accusations of historical sex offences levelled against a wellknown figure are the focal point of this dark four-parter. Robbie Coltrane plays a well-liked comedian, Paul Finchley, in a drama inspired by recent reallife events. Finchley’s life unravels as allegations from the 1990s are made against him. And his wife of 40 years, Marie (played by Julie Walters), begins to question whether she knows who her husband really is. Comprehensive coverage from Rio begins with the Paralympics opening ceremony and continues up to September 18. Clare Balding leads a team of presenters, almost two-thirds of whom are disabled, in providing 700 hours of action from the games. Britain’s paralympians will be aiming to improve on London 2012, when they came third in the table, behind China and Russia, with 120 medals, 34 of them gold.
Strictly Come Dancing, Sept 3, BBC1 Daisy Lowe, Louise Redknapp and, um, Ed Balls bring us a touch of glamour. Roald Dahl’s 100th Birthday, Sept 4, C4 A celebration of the children’s author. The One Show, Monday, Sept 5, BBC1 A celebratory edition marking 10 years of the show. Red Dwarf XI, September, Dave Series 11 of the sci-fi comedy. Joanna Lumley’s Japan, September, ITV The Ab Fab and Avengers Heart-throb and star of Fifty Shades of Grey, Jamie Dornan, returns as serial killer Paul Spector, who is playing cat and mouse with detective Stella Gibson, former The X Files star Gillian Anderson. Producers are rumoured to be building up to a spectacular conclusion to the Belfast-set thriller but will it mean that this, the third series, will also be the last? sweetie visits the Land of the Rising Sun. The Apprentice, October, BBC1 Lord Sugar’s on another quest. Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards in partnership with TSB, Nov 1, ITV Our 18th annual awards to honour unsung heroes. Carol Vorderman, left, will be among the stars at the glittering ceremony in London. I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, November, ITV Ant and Dec head Down Under for more jungle antics.