Gemma Arterton reveals new look as blonde bombshell ‘Barbara Parker’ and Rupert Everett, David Threlfall and Tom Bateman join the cast of Funny Girl

Production swings into action on an adaption of Nick Hornby's novel Funny Girl. This Sky Original sees Gemma Arterton step into the shoes of charismatic Barbara Parker. Joining Arterton on set in Liverpool are Rupert Everett (My Best Friend's Wedding, Adult Material), as Barbara's agent Brian Debehnam, David Threlfall (Shameless) as Barbara's father, George, and Tom Bateman (Behind Her Eyes, Murder on the Orient Express) to star as dangerously charming actor Clive. The Sky Original comedy drama will be available on Sky Max and streaming service NOW in 2022.

Also joining the cast will be, Emily Bevans (Temple, Grantchester, Soulmates), Leo Bill (Becoming Elizabeth, Rare Beasts) and Matthew Beard (Vienna Blood, Avenue 5), alongside previously announced Clare-Hope Ashitey (Riviera, Top Boy), Arsher Ali (Informer, The Fear Index) and Alexa Davies (White House Farm, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!).

The new Sky comedy drama series is about a young woman from Blackpool finding her comic voice in the male dominated world of the 1960s sitcom. Bold, stylish, and courageous, Gemma Arterton stars as Barbara Parker - the force of nature who takes London by storm. Her journey from Blackpool beauty queen to comedy superstar and nation's sweetheart is set during the cultural explosion of the 1960s.

It's the height of the swinging 60s and Barbara Parker has just been crowned Miss Blackpool – but there's got to be more to life than being a beauty queen in a seaside town, right? She wants to be… someone. The bright lights of London are calling, and our determined hero sets off to find out who that someone is.

The London she encounters is not as quite as swinging as the one she'd read about and seen on TV. However, after a series of setbacks Barbara finds herself in unfamiliar territory - an audition for a TV comedy show. Barbara's uncompromising northern wit proves to be the X factor that the show has been missing. She gets the part and becomes part of a ground-breaking new sitcom which will have an impact on British comedy for decades to come.

Being a woman in a largely male environment has its own challenges, but as Barbara 'finds her funny' she re-defines the prevailing attitude to funny women and in the process, reinvents herself.

First look trailer of Robert Carlyle and Victoria Hamilton in series two of Sky Original drama COBRA: CYBERWAR revealed

The official trailer has been revealed for COBRA: CYBERWAR, an action-packed and suspenseful Sky Original drama coming to Sky Max and streaming service NOW, with all six episodes available on 15th October.

The show's second series stars Robert Carlyle as Prime Minster Robert Sutherland and Victoria Hamilton as his Chief of Staff Anna Marshall, and an ensemble cast featuring Richard Dormer as Fraser Walker, Head of Civil Contingencies, David Haig as Archie Glover-Morgan, Marsha Thomason as Francine Bridge, Director of Policy and Richard Pepple as Joseph Obasi, Home Secretary.

In the aftermath of both solar and political storms, Prime Minister Robert Sutherland attempts to steer the country on a more even course. He is assisted, as ever, by his loyal Chief of Staff Anna Marshall alongside a team of dedicated advisers.

An assassination on British soil, however, unleashes a chain of events that threatens to develop into a crisis even more serious than the one from which the country has recently emerged. An invisible global enemy, not playing by the rules and operating outside national boundaries, appears to be bent on our destruction, leaving an entire country unsure as to who is friend and who is foe.

The series, which is created and written by Ben Richards, looks at what happens when cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure and fake news are used to subvert democracy.

COBRA: CYBERWAR is commissioned by Zai Bennett, Managing Director of Content at Sky and will be executive produced by Gabriel Silver for Sky Studios.The series is created and written by Ben Richards with additional episodes written by Toby Finlay and will be produced by New Pictures in association with Sky Studios. The executive producers include Charlie Pattinson and Ben Richards. Joe Donaldson is the producer with Al Mackay directing block one, Mo Ali block two and Sallie Aprahamian block three. NBCUniversal Global Distribution will handle international sales of the series on behalf of Sky Studios.

All six episodes of the second series of COBRA: CYBERWAR will be available on 15th October on Sky Max and streaming service NOW

Sean Bean and Nicola Walker to star in new Stefan Golaszewski drama, Marriage, for BBC One

Produced by The Forge (Help, Roadkill, National Treasure) and The Money Men, Marriage is a four-part drama for BBC One and BBC iPlayer and is an up-close portrait of a marriage - sometimes funny, sometimes moving, always revealing.

Marriage sees married couple Ian (Bean) and Emma (Walker) negotiate the ups and downs of their 30-year marriage. We see them dealing with the insecurities, the ambiguities, the hopes and the fears that are part of all marriages, as the drama explores the risks and the gifts of a long-term intimate relationship.

Sean Bean says: "I'm thrilled to be playing opposite the talented Nicola Walker and I'm looking forward to bringing Stefan's intimate scripts to the screen."

Nicola Walker says: "This is a unique project. Stefan has created such a beautiful, funny and complicated world and I'm excited to be stepping into Ian and Emma's marriage with Sean."

Stefan Golaszewski says: "It's amazing to get to work with Sean and Nicola. They're actors of such depth, truth and warmth and I can't wait to go on this journey with them."

Russell T Davies to return as Doctor Who showrunner

Russell T Davies will make an explosive return to screens to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Doctor Who in 2023, and series beyond. BBC Studios is partnering with Bad Wolf to produce.

Responsible for Doctor Who's revival in 2005, Davies is credited with propelling the show into a global phenomenon and making it one of TV's biggest hits.

His tenure on the show oversaw a surge in popularity, enjoying huge acclaim and success. The Doctor won the nation's hearts through his masterful relaunch, which led him to create two spin-off series, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, during that time.

Davies left the show in 2009. A lifelong Doctor Who fan, he has most recently achieved huge success with Years And Years, A Very English Scandal and It's A Sin, which won Best New Drama at the National TV Awards this month.

Russell T Davies says: "I'm beyond excited to be back on my favourite show. But we're time-travelling too fast, there's a whole series of Jodie Whittaker's brilliant Doctor for me to enjoy, with my friend and hero Chris Chibnall at the helm - I'm still a viewer for now."

Cupid’s arrow flies transcontinental in new Channel 4 dating series The Language of Love

Channel 4 has commissioned a new international dating series from 2LE Media, Motion Content Group and Zeppelin, a Banijay Iberia company. The Language of Love (w/t) will see a group of Brits and a group of Spaniards pairing up at a dreamy Spanish country estate to see if they can find romance… despite not speaking each other's language.

Set in a stunning finca in Andalusia, the eight-part series for Channel 4 will be hosted by Davina McCall alongside Spanish TV host, actor and singer Ricky Merino, who will be on hand to interpret how the couples' relationships are developing.

A group of Brits seeking romance will travel to Spain where they'll meet their potential partners – a group of Spanish speakers also looking for their own historia de amor – to test whether love is deeper than just words. Can sparks fly even with a language barrier to overcome? The newly-formed couples will take part in challenges and tasks to help them test their connection as well as learning more about each other's countries, their culture and their languages. At the end of the series, will they choose amor or adiós? The international lovers will face a big dilemma: to call it quits, stay together long distance, or perhaps move country to be with their new found love.

CELEB GHOST TRIP TO SPOOK UP E4 THIS AUTUMN

Everyone's favourite tour guide Brendan Sheerin is back, but this time he's leaving behind the sunny sites of Europe and taking the coach on its most ghoulish adventure yet – on a Celeb Ghost Trip.

Coming to E4 this Autumn, Brendan and six celebrity pairings will travel around the UK to some of the spookiest locations imaginable. Instead of topping up their tans, our celebs will be wrapping up warm as they experience some truly scary activities from ghost hunting through to spine tingling overnight stays as well as the odd creepy forfeit.

In true Coach Trip tradition, one thing remains the same – Brendan is armed with his yellow and red cards. Each night, the celebrities will vote for who they least enjoy traveling with. Get two yellows and they're kicked off to be replaced by new famous faces.

 Speaking about the new show, Brendan Sheerin said: "I am over the moon that Coach Trip is back and I cannot wait to dust off my clipboard once again! It's a whole new take on the format of the show and I am really looking forward to exploring the UK and seeing a few celebrities step outside of their comfort zone. Do you believe in the supernatural….?"

Davina McCall, Alan Carr, Adam Hills & Maya Jama to host a glittering night of live TV as Stand Up To Cancer returns

On Friday 15th October, Davina McCall, Alan Carr, Adam Hills and Maya Jama will host a glittering night of live TV as famous faces from the world of sport, film, music and comedy come together to Stand Up To Cancer.

Joe Lycett will be putting his Maths GCSE to good use, totting up the totaliser throughout the night and explaining how the money raised will be spent on life-saving cancer research.

Leading a rallying cry in the fight against cancer will be Usain Bolt, Olivia Colman, Liam Payne, James Blunt, The Jonas Brothers, Rosie Jones, The Derry Girls, Liam Gallagher, Jack Black, Stephen Mangan, Sigrid, David Oyelowo, Martin Freeman, Peter Crouch, Jamie Oliver, Tom Parker, Roman Kemp and Dermot Kennedy, who will all be making appearances on the show across the evening.

The ever-popular and multi-award winning Gogglebox will also return for a special celebrity episode as some very famous faces join Britain's favourite opinionated viewers to pass judgement on a vast array of TV goodness.

Tributes will also be paid to those we have lost recently, and those still fighting. 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime. All of us can support the research that will beat it.

Stand Up To Cancer is a joint national fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4 that brings the UK together to speed up progress in life-saving cancer research.