Here We Go Returns for Fourth Series as Filming Begins on BBC Comedy

Image: BBC

By Jon Donnis

Filming is underway on the fourth series of BBC comedy Here We Go, with the Jessop family set to return for another collection of chaotic family adventures.

Produced by BBC Studios Comedy for BBC iPlayer and BBC One, the new six-part series will once again be created by and star Tom Basden, with the acclaimed ensemble cast reprising their roles.

Returning for the new series are Jim Howick as Paul, Katherine Parkinson as Rachel, Alison Steadman as Sue, Freya Parks as Amy, Jude Morgan-Collie as Sam, Tori Allen-Martin as Cherry, Mica Ricketts as Mica, Ed Kear as Ed and Jon Furlong as Jon.

The fourth series will continue to follow the ups and downs of the Jessop family as they navigate a new set of challenges involving love, loss, jealousy, a graduation, a birthday celebration, a surprise snail allergy and an eventful fun run.

Rachel is preparing to graduate while taking her first uncertain steps into political protest, while Paul continues trying to cope with feeling undervalued as a policeman. He also finds himself taking on some messy painting and decorating projects.

Robin continues his entrepreneurial ambitions, including a campaign designed to impress Dragons' Den, while also purchasing a property he knows little about. Cherry is attempting to balance raising baby Atlas with developing her new skills as a make-up artist.

Amy is searching for a fresh start, a job and a way to gain some distance from her family, while Sue struggles with sleep but still finds time to create a potentially dangerous home-brew. Meanwhile, Sam continues documenting the family's various disasters and moments of chaos up close.

All previous episodes of Here We Go are available to watch now on BBC iPlayer, with further details about the fourth series to be announced in due course.

Creator Tom Basden, says: “Working with such an incredible comedy cast is a pleasure and a privilege so I’m thrilled to be bringing Here We Go back to the BBC for a fourth time. We’ve only just started shooting but it’s already shaping up to be the best series yet!”

Channel 4 Pilots Alex Horne's New Play-at-Home Gameshow Your Time Starts Now

Image: Ch4

By Jon Donnis

Channel 4 is piloting a new play-at-home gameshow, Your Time Starts Now (working title), created and developed by Alex Horne and Andy Devonshire. Set within the Taskmaster universe, the new format will see households across the UK competing against one another by completing a series of inventive tasks without ever leaving their homes.

Horne, the creator and host of the BAFTA and Rose d'Or-winning Taskmaster, reunites with Devonshire, the founding Series Director on shows including The Apprentice, The Great British Bake Off and Taskmaster, to bring the new concept to life.

Your Time Starts Now builds on ideas first explored in Horne's earlier projects, including The Button, which aired on the BBC in 2018, and HomeTasking, the online series created to entertain audiences during the 2020 lockdown. The new gameshow challenges five teams of friends and families from around the UK to put their creativity, teamwork, speed, lateral thinking and general knowledge to the test as they take on Horne's typically devious tasks from their own homes.

The format follows the critical success of The Button, which received praise for its original approach to the gameshow genre. Reviewers described it as a genuinely interesting new concept, with others highlighting its addictive nature and the way it found originality by transforming ordinary living rooms into the setting for the competition.

HomeTasking also attracted a global audience, receiving more than six million views on YouTube. The series was watched in 125 countries, reaching viewers from the UK and the US to Moldova and Mongolia.

Your Time Starts Now continues Alex Horne's exploration of home-based entertainment, with five teams of friends and families competing through a series of creative challenges that test their speed, teamwork, knowledge and lateral thinking without ever leaving their homes.

Alex Horne, creator and host, said: "I've had the pleasure of being in the room while countless comedians have tried and usually failed on Taskmaster and I've learnt that for the most part, that lot are sneaky loveable idiots. With Your Time Starts Now, I'm now excited and intrigued to see how the rest of the country can cope doing simple things under the pressure of time-constraints, dogged rivals and my own snarky gaze. Good luck people of the UK. I shall be watching."

BBC Announces New Comedy Drama Ann Droid Starring Sue Johnston And Diane Morgan

Image: BBC

By Jon Donnis

BBC One is set to air Ann Droid, a new comedy series exploring friendship, grief and the growing role of artificial intelligence in everyday life.

The series follows Sue, a grieving widow, and Linda, her outdated care robot who regularly gets things wrong and creates chaos, but ultimately helps Sue rediscover how to enjoy life again.

Set in a world where AI is becoming an increasingly present part of daily life, Ann Droid explores the question of what can truly be replaced and what cannot. The series combines comedy with a more emotional story about an unlikely friendship between a human and a machine.

Sue Johnston stars as Sue, while Diane Morgan plays Linda, a social humanoid robot designed to provide companionship for elderly people while also monitoring their health.

Through their unexpected relationship, Ann Droid examines the connections people form, the challenges of change, and the ways technology can affect human lives.

Ann Droid will air weekly on BBC One from Friday 17 July at 9.30pm, subject to confirmation, and will launch on BBC iPlayer at 6am on the same day.

BBC Announces Evolution, A Journey Through Four Billion Years Of Life On Earth

Image: BBC Studios/Freddie Claire

By Jon Donnis

BBC Studios is set to explore the incredible history of life on Earth with Evolution, a new five-part science series presented by Chris Packham.

The series will reveal how life has transformed over more than four billion years, using the latest scientific discoveries and immersive visual effects to uncover the evolutionary breakthroughs that shaped every living thing found on the planet today.

Rather than following a straightforward timeline, Evolution will take a different approach by focusing each episode on the deep evolutionary story of one iconic modern animal. Through these journeys, the series will explore how survival, chance, innovation and partnerships between species have helped create the extraordinary variety of life we see around us.

The ambitious production has been supported by the work of more than 600 scientists from around the world, who contributed their knowledge and expertise to the storytelling, scripts and visual effects. The series also received guidance from Series Academic Consultant Professor Peter Holland FRS, alongside a long-standing collaboration with The Open University.

At the centre of Evolution are its immersive visual effects sequences, created to take viewers billions of years into the past and introduce the creatures and moments that helped shape the evolution of life on Earth. The production team worked with award-winning VFX producer Moonraker to bring these ancient worlds and their inhabitants to life.

The series features 79 minutes of photoreal visual effects, made up of 242 individual shots. More than 20 different creatures have been recreated through CGI, with a total of 118,629 individual CGI frames used throughout the production.

Evolution is a BBC Studios Science Unit production made in partnership with The Open University.

Channel 4 Heads Below Deck With New E4 Cruise Series

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By Jon Donnis

Channel 4 is setting sail with a new E4 series exploring life both above and below deck, as Cruising Paradise: Above and Below Deck takes viewers behind the scenes of modern cruise holidays.

The ten-part series comes from Brighton-based production company Crackit TV and will follow a mix of first-time passengers, experienced cruisers, and the young crew members working hard to deliver unforgettable journeys at sea.

Narrated by actor Callum Scott Howells, known for It’s a Sin, the series will provide exclusive access to life aboard contemporary cruise liners, capturing the excitement, challenges and unexpected moments that come with spending a season at sea.

Filmed aboard ships from Princess Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Cruising Paradise: Above and Below Deck will explore the realities of working life for the crew. Alongside the glamorous side of the job, the cameras will also capture demanding shifts, time away from loved ones, and the close friendships formed between colleagues.

Away from their responsibilities, crew members will also share the adventures, relationships and downtime that shape life onboard, including the late-night moments and personal connections that develop while travelling between some of the world’s most spectacular destinations.

The series will also introduce viewers to a selection of passengers discovering the appeal of cruising, from newcomers experiencing their first voyage to seasoned travellers returning to enjoy the unique atmosphere of life at sea.

Cruising Paradise: Above and Below Deck is the latest cruise-focused production from Crackit TV, following Cruising to the Ends of the Earth and Supercruising: Life at Sea for Channel 4.

The series reflects the growing popularity of cruise holidays among younger travellers, offering a look at why life onboard is becoming an increasingly popular choice for those looking for a different kind of getaway.

Cruising Paradise: Above and Below Deck will air soon on E4 and will also be available to stream on Channel 4.

Channel 4 Recommissions Yorkshire by the Sea and Devon & Cornwall

Image: Ch4 Press

By Jon Donnis

Channel 4 has renewed two of its popular regional documentary series, commissioning a second run of Yorkshire by the Sea alongside a sixth series of Devon & Cornwall.

Yorkshire by the Sea will return with five new episodes, continuing its focus on the people and communities who call the Yorkshire coastline home. The series explores life along the dramatic 100-mile stretch of coast that runs through North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire, from Saltburn and Scarborough in the north to Spurn Point in the south.

The programme shines a light on the everyday people who live and work along the coast, highlighting their experiences, challenges and achievements. Through their own stories, viewers will once again meet the workers, business owners and community figures whose efforts help shape life in the region.

The new series will also continue to examine the impact of a rapidly changing coastline. As erosion and climate-related challenges affect local communities, the programme will follow those adapting through new ideas, changing industries and fresh opportunities, while others work to preserve traditional livelihoods and protect the area's wildlife.

Meanwhile, Devon & Cornwall has also been recommissioned for a further five episodes. The long-running series follows daily life across the South West, offering a glimpse into the experiences of local residents including farmers, fishermen, shopkeepers, villagers and those working within the tourism sector.

Known for its relaxed and authentic approach, the programme continues to showcase the people and businesses that help define Devon and Cornwall. Set against some of the UK's most recognisable scenery, the series provides a portrait of the communities that live and work throughout the region.

Both recommissions come from Yorkshire-based production company Air TV, with the two series continuing Channel 4's commitment to telling stories from communities across different parts of the country.

Tea with Judi Dench Returns with Sir Ian McKellen as Special Guest

Image: Sky TV

By Jon Donnis

Sky has confirmed that Tea with Judi Dench will return this summer with a brand-new special featuring one of Britain's most celebrated actors, Sir Ian McKellen.

Produced by Mindhouse, the latest instalment continues the series' focus on conversation, storytelling and friendship, with Dame Judi Dench welcoming her long-time friend to her home for an intimate and revealing discussion. The pair reflect on their remarkable careers both on and off the stage, sharing memories and insights gathered across decades in the entertainment industry.

Their conversation covers a wide range of subjects, from Shakespeare and stage fright to the insecurities that can accompany a life in acting. They also look back on the huge success that came with globally recognised productions such as The Lord of the Rings and James Bond films, discussing both triumphs and setbacks while considering the importance of keeping success and failure in perspective.

Sir Ian also speaks openly about his personal life, including his experience of coming out and his involvement in the campaign against Section 28. During the discussion, he reflects on what he considers one of his greatest regrets, never having shared the truth about himself with his parents.

The return follows the success of the programme's first special, which saw Sir Kenneth Branagh join Dame Judi at her Surrey home. Their conversation, filled with stories from their careers and personal reflections, proved popular with viewers thanks to its warmth, humour and honesty.

With another candid exchange between two much-loved performers, the new special promises more thoughtful conversation, memorable stories and a celebration of friendship between two of Britain's most respected acting talents.