The One Show at 20: Familiar, Predictable and Still Here

(L-R) JB Gill, Lauren Laverne, Alex Jones, Roman Kemp, Clara Amfo, Angellica Bell and Vernon Kay (Image: BBC/Elisabeth Hoff)

By Jon Donnis

The One Show turns 20 this month, which feels slightly strange. Not because it seems old, but because it has become such an ordinary part of the television landscape that it is easy to forget just how long it has been there.

Since launching in August 2006, the BBC One programme has occupied the same basic territory: celebrities on the sofa, live music, consumer stories, features from around the UK and the occasional big national event. It is familiar television, and that familiarity is probably its greatest strength.

It is also its biggest weakness.

The One Show can be predictable. There is a formula, and after 20 years it is hardly a secret. But there is something to be said for a programme that knows exactly what it is. It does not need to reinvent itself every week, and it has survived the enormous changes in television since 2006 without losing its identity.

The celebrity sofa has certainly attracted some impressive names. Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Taylor Swift, Denzel Washington and Anne Hathaway have all appeared, while Sam Fender, Olivia Dean and Benson Boone were given television exposure before becoming global stars.

Yet the celebrity interviews are not necessarily what makes The One Show endure. Some of its more memorable moments have involved people most viewers had never heard of before.

That has included young fundraiser Jacob receiving a One Big Thank You from Dwayne Johnson, Emily completing a three-day walk at Windsor with the support of the Duchess of Edinburgh, and Ethan performing with the cast of Come Alive! for BBC Children in Need.

The programme has also been there for some of the country's biggest occasions, from the Coronation and Jubilee celebrations to Eurovision, VE Day and D-Day commemorations. It stayed on air throughout the pandemic too, providing information and entertainment when normal television routines had been disrupted.

Then there are the moments that are simply ridiculous enough to remember. Alex Jones and Matt Baker dancing through Buckingham Palace. Christine Lampard water-skiing across the Channel. Alex Jones climbing Utah's Moonlight Buttress for Sport Relief. BTS's Jung Kook performing from a London helipad.

Not all of it is essential viewing. Much of it is deliberately undemanding. But perhaps that is the point.

Television has changed dramatically since The One Show began. Streaming has transformed viewing habits, traditional schedules have become less important and audiences have more choice than ever. Yet at 7pm on weekdays, The One Show is still there.

That longevity is probably more impressive than any individual interview or performance.

The programme will mark its 20th anniversary with a week of special editions, culminating in an extended One Big Night to Remember on Friday 14 August.

After two decades, The One Show has earned the right to celebrate. Whether it has earned the right to be called great television is another question entirely.

Perhaps it does not need to be. It has simply become part of the furniture, and there is something remarkable about that.

Ricky Gervais On The One Show 18/12/13

He Had It Coming Looks Set to Deliver a Sharp, Funny and Twisty Ride on BBC Three

L-R: Lydia West, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Liv Hewson (image: Jungle Entertainment/Stan Entertainment)

By Jon Donnis

BBC Three has picked up what looks to be a refreshingly different comedy-drama for August, with Australian series He Had It Coming arriving on BBC iPlayer before making its television debut a week later. Combining dark comedy, mystery and campus drama, the eight-part series has all the ingredients to make for an entertaining watch.

Lydia West leads the cast as Elise, a socially awkward British scholarship student whose life takes an unexpected turn after she strikes up an unlikely friendship with fashion influencer Barbara, played by Natasha Liu Bordizzo. Frustrated after a string of bad experiences with men, the pair decide to make a statement by vandalising a statue of the university's male founder as part of an activist art project.

What begins as an impulsive act soon spirals into something far more serious. The following morning, the university's star athlete is discovered murdered beneath their political statement, leaving Elise and Barbara desperate to remove any connection between themselves and the crime. As Detective Shepherd, played by Liv Hewson, closes in on the truth, the pair are forced to investigate the growing mystery themselves while tensions on campus continue to rise and the body count climbs.

It is an eye-catching premise that blends humour with genuine suspense, placing two unlikely amateur sleuths at the centre of a murder investigation that they cannot simply walk away from. The mix of comedy and mystery should give the series plenty of opportunities to balance lighter moments with the escalating danger surrounding its central characters.

Alongside its intriguing story, He Had It Coming also brings together an impressive cast. Lydia West continues to build on an already strong body of work, while Natasha Liu Bordizzo and Liv Hewson look equally well suited to the series' blend of comedy and drama. Cody Simpson also makes a special appearance as the university athlete whose murder sets the story in motion.

With an unusual premise and a talented cast, He Had It Coming has certainly caught my attention ahead of its UK debut. If it can deliver on the promise of its central mystery while maintaining its sense of humour, this could prove to be a very enjoyable addition to BBC Three's growing catalogue of international drama.

He Had It Coming arrives on BBC iPlayer on Saturday 8 August, before premiering on BBC Three at 11.15pm on Friday 15 August.

Netflix Expands the Parasyte Universe with New Live Action Series Parasyte: TAMIYA

Image: Netflix

By Jon Donnis

Netflix is expanding its Parasyte universe once again with Parasyte: TAMIYA, a new live action series arriving worldwide in 2027. Following the success of Parasyte: The Grey, the latest instalment moves away from introducing a new conflict and instead explores the perspective of Ryoko Tamiya, a parasite whose understanding of humanity changes over time.

Shioli Kutsuna will star as Tamiya, portraying the character across three different stages of her existence. The series will explore her journey from the original human whose body is taken over, through her early identity as a violent parasite, to a figure who begins questioning whether humans and parasites can exist together.

That shift in perspective places one of Parasyte’s central ideas at the heart of the new series. Rather than focusing only on the battle between two opposing species, Parasyte: TAMIYA examines the possibility that survival may depend on understanding the enemy. Through Tamiya’s eyes, the story explores questions around identity, adaptation and what separates humans from the creatures that imitate them.

The character has a significant history in the original manga by Hitoshi Iwaaki, which was published by Kodansha from 1988 to 1995. After taking over the body of a high school teacher, Tamiya initially behaves like the other parasites, viewing humans as little more than targets. However, her experiences, including observing Shinichi Izumi and Migi, lead her to reconsider the future of her species and whether coexistence could be possible.

The original Parasyte manga has remained popular for more than three decades, selling around 25 million copies across more than 20 countries and regions. Its combination of horror, science fiction and philosophical themes has helped it remain influential, leading to anime adaptations and live action films that have introduced the story to new generations.

Netflix’s previous expansion of the franchise, Parasyte: The Grey, created a new story set in modern day Korea while drawing inspiration from the original manga. The series became a global success after its 2024 release, spending four weeks in Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English Shows list and reaching number one in 34 countries.

Parasyte: TAMIYA reunites many of the creative figures behind Parasyte: The Grey and Human Vapor. Yeon Sang-ho developed the series and wrote the script alongside Ryu Yong-jae, while WOWPOINT returns for development and production. Kensaku Kakimoto and Kazuhiro Nakagawa will direct the series.

Yeon Sang-ho has praised Shioli Kutsuna’s performance in the role, highlighting her ability to portray the gradual transformation of a character who begins as something non-human but slowly develops an understanding of humanity and her own existence.

With Ryoko Tamiya taking centre stage, Parasyte: TAMIYA offers a different viewpoint on the conflict that has defined the franchise for decades. The series will stream worldwide exclusively on Netflix in 2027.

Possession: Sky Unveils Trailer for Supernatural Thriller Exploring Buried Secrets and Family Legacies

Image: Sky TV

By Jon Donnis

Sky has unveiled the official trailer for Possession, the five-part limited event series formerly titled Inheritance, offering a first look at a supernatural thriller that combines mystery, history and questions of identity across two very different worlds.

Created and written by Karla Crome, known for Something Very Bad is Going to Happen, and directed by Storm Saulter, whose previous work includes Better Mus’ Come and Sprinter, Possession takes audiences between Bristol and Jamaica for a story where a legal battle uncovers secrets that refuse to stay buried.

The series stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Claudia, an ambitious young mixed-race lawyer whose latest case takes her far from home. Travelling to Jamaica, Claudia is tasked with challenging an inheritance claim brought by local man Cudjoe East, played by Sheldon Shepherd, against wealthy white aristocrat Oliver Connaught, portrayed by Jonny Lee Miller.

What initially appears to be a straightforward dispute quickly becomes something far more disturbing when Claudia discovers that the estate at the centre of the case is Hope Hill, the former Connaught family plantation, a place that has appeared repeatedly in her own unsettling nightmares.

As Claudia and Oliver investigate the truth behind the claim, they begin to uncover a connection between the plantation’s violent history and the inequalities that continue to shape the present. The deeper they dig, the more the boundaries between the past and present begin to blur.

Alongside Mbatha-Raw, Miller and Shepherd, the cast also features Bel Powley, adding further depth to a story that looks set to explore themes of inheritance, identity, memory and the lasting impact of historical wrongdoing.

Possession promises to be a tense and atmospheric supernatural thriller, combining a gripping mystery with the culture, landscapes and energy of Jamaica. With its focus on hidden histories and the consequences of secrets passed down through generations, the series aims to deliver a haunting story where the past is never truly forgotten.

All episodes available Thursday 6 August on Sky and streaming service NOW

BBC Acquires Kabul, Powerful Six Part Drama Set During the Fall of Afghanistan

L-R: Amina (Hannah Abdoh) and Nooria (Sara Taheri).

(Image: Domniki Mitropoulou / Cinétévé / 24 25 Films / France Télévisions)

By Jon Donnis

The BBC has acquired Kabul, a six part fictional drama set against the backdrop of the real events of August 2021 in Afghanistan. The series, acquired from Mediawan Rights, will be available on BBC iPlayer from Sunday 2 August and will begin on BBC Four at 9pm on Saturday 15 August.

Produced by 24 25 Films, a Mediawan Company, and Cinétévé in collaboration with the European Alliance, Kabul follows the events surrounding Kabul on 15 August 2021 as American troops withdraw and the Taliban enter the city.

The Nazany family, like many civilians, is forced to flee, fearing retaliation. As the situation becomes increasingly difficult, French police officers, Italian diplomats, German military personnel and American intelligence services must coordinate their efforts to manage the influx of civilians. Alongside the evacuation efforts, the looming threat of an ISIS attack adds further danger to those trying to survive.

The international cast includes Darina Al Joundi (The New Look), Shervin Alenabi (Tehran), Vassilis Koukalani (Kandahar), Hannah Abdoh, Jonathan Zaccaï (Le bureau des legends), Gianmarco Saurino (L’estate piu Calda), Jeanne Goursaud (Pax Massilia) and Eric Dane (Euphoria).

The series is directed by Kasia Adamik (No Escape) and Olga Chajdas (Imago), with the scripts written by Olivier Demangel (Class Act), Thomas Finkielkraut (Baron Noir) and Joey Lavy (The Shift).

Kabul is produced by Fabienne Servan-Schreiber and Charlotte Ortiz at Cinétévé, Matthias Weber and Thibault Gast at 24 25 Films, and executive produced by Sandrine Paquot. Global sales for the series are handled by Mediawan Rights.

Tom Holland to Bring Superworm to Life in CBeebies Bedtime Story

Image: BBC

By Jon Donnis

Spider-Man star Tom Holland is swapping superhero action for a bedtime tale as he joins the line-up of famous faces appearing on CBeebies Bedtime Stories.

The British actor will read Superworm by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, bringing the much-loved story of the heroic and super-stretchy worm to a new audience. The adventure follows Superworm as he uses his abilities to help others, before finding himself in need of rescue when he falls under the control of the villainous Wizard Lizard.

Holland’s appearance comes as he prepares for his latest outing as Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but his CBeebies role will see him take on a very different kind of hero. Rather than battling villains, he will be helping younger viewers settle down with one of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s popular family stories.

The actor joins a growing list of superhero and supervillain performers who have taken part in the BBC children’s series. Previous readers have included Chris Evans, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston and Jason Momoa.

Tom Holland’s CBeebies Bedtime Story will air on CBeebies on Friday 24 July at 6.50pm. The episode will also be available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Kirstie's Handmade Christmas Returns with Two More Festive Series on Channel 4

Image: Kirstie's Handmade Christmas (credit - Raise The Roof Productions Ltd)

By Jon Donnis

Channel 4 has confirmed that Kirstie's Handmade Christmas will return for not one, but two more festive seasons, with new series commissioned for both 2026 and 2027.

Hosted by property expert and festive crafting enthusiast Kirstie Allsopp, the daytime competition sees talented makers put their creative skills to the test across a variety of seasonal challenges. Each episode focuses on a different craft, with contestants competing for the chance to be crowned the best in their chosen creative discipline.

Produced by Glasgow-based Raise the Roof Productions, this year's five-part series celebrates the joy of handmade Christmas traditions. Competitors will tackle a wide range of festive projects, including Christmas wreaths, homemade Christmas cakes and handcrafted toys, with their finished creations helping to transform Christmas HQ ahead of the series finale.

Filmed in Devon, the series also welcomes expert judges from across the crafting world, who will assess each challenge before selecting a winner in every one-hour episode. Alongside the competition, specialist guests will share practical craft tips and demonstrate some of their favourite homemade techniques, offering viewers plenty of ideas to try for themselves.

Away from the judging table, Kirstie Allsopp will once again inspire audiences with a selection of affordable festive projects that can easily be recreated at home. From simple paper decorations to elegant ornaments and eye-catching mantelpiece displays, the series aims to encourage viewers to add a personal, handcrafted touch to their Christmas celebrations.

With two further series now confirmed, Kirstie's Handmade Christmas looks set to remain a staple of Channel 4's festive daytime schedule, continuing to celebrate creativity, craftsmanship and the enduring appeal of making something special by hand.

Kirstie Allsopp said: “Keep Calm & Think of Christmas. This might sound bonkers but what I’m doing in this boiling hot weather is thinking about hot toddies & cosy knits, because Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas is coming back. We’re already making plans for how we are going to make my favourite show (don’t tell Phil I said that) better than ever.”