Fightland Teaser Introduces a Gritty London Boxing Crime Drama

Image: Sky TV

By Jon Donnis

Sky has released the first teaser for Fightland, a new family crime drama set within London’s boxing world, executive produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. The series is due to premiere this summer on Sky and streaming service NOW, marking Jackson’s first internationally produced project through G-Unit Film & Television.

The story centres on themes of redemption, betrayal and ambition, unfolding in a world shaped by money, influence and violence. Positioned both inside and outside the ring, Fightland builds a picture of a criminal underworld where power is constantly shifting and trust is in short supply.

At the heart of the drama is British boxer Duke Kilroy, played by Howard Charles, who reaches the peak of his career by becoming world heavyweight champion on the same night a brutal attack leads to the death of his brother, Calvin. The aftermath of the tragedy results in Duke serving eight years in a US prison. When he is released, he returns home after uncovering what he believes to be evidence of a setup, setting his sights on revenge against former promoter and criminal figure Kingsley Marshall, played by Nicholas Pinnock.

However, Marshall has disappeared, leaving behind his family, including Joy, played by Deborah Ayorinde, who also happens to be connected to Duke’s past. As Duke begins to work his way into Marshall’s former criminal network, he becomes entangled with a cartel aiming to control London’s drug trade, forcing him into a dangerous effort to dismantle the empire from within while searching for those responsible.

The cast also includes Anita-Joy Uwajeh as Cebella “Cece” Marshall, Charles Babalola as Ezekiel “Zeek” Marshall, Tahirah Sharif as Kim Harper, Tyler Conti as Justin “Jay” Hall and Richard Pepple as Gary “Gazzer” Kilroy.

Fightland is executive produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson alongside Francis Hopkinson and Kate Leadbetter of Expanded Media. The series is created by Daniel Fajemisin-Duncan and Marlon Smith, who also serve as executive producers and writers, with Damione Macedon and Raphael Jackson Jr working as showrunners, executive producers and writers. Otto Bathurst directs and executive produces the first two episodes.

Taskmaster Returns with a New Line-Up of Comedians Facing Greg Davies’ Demands

Image: Ch4 Press

By Jon Donnis

As another Taskmaster series reaches its conclusion, Greg Davies and Alex Horne return to set the stage for a fresh group of comedians ready to be put through a series of tests designed to stretch logic, patience and creativity in equal measure, all in pursuit of the familiar prize of Greg’s gleaming trophy.

The new line-up brings together five performers from across comedy, television and film, each arriving with their own experience and expectations. Chloe Petts, known for appearances on Have I Got News For You, joins the challenge alongside Isy Suttie, recognised for her work on Peep Show and her background as a writer, songwriter and performer.

They are joined by Matt Lucas, an award-winning comedian, writer and actor whose screen credits include Gladiator II, while Nina Conti brings her distinctive blend of ventriloquism, acting and directing, including her work on the comedy feature Sunlight. Rounding out the group is Richard Ayoade, an actor, writer and director known for his varied work across comedy and film.

Together, the five contestants step into a familiar but unpredictable environment where every task carries its own logic, or lack of it, and where success often depends on thinking in ways that make sense only within the world of the Taskmaster house. With Greg Davies overseeing proceedings and Alex Horne managing the detail behind each challenge, the stage is set for another contest where confidence rarely guarantees victory, and where only one comedian will ultimately be crowned Taskmaster Champion.

Summer Unboxed with Maisie and Joel Promises Laughs, Challenges and a Very British Adventure

Image: Ch4 Press

By Jon Donnis

Channel 4 is teaming up with Boots for a new five-part entertainment series that drops comedians Joel Dommett and Maisie Adam into a series of unpredictable summer scenarios built around games, travel and light competition.

Summer Unboxed with Maisie and Joel follows the pair as they move through a selection of very British seasonal settings, each one framed by mystery boxes containing postcard-style challenges, familiar summer items and Boots-curated essentials that shape the tasks they face.

Across the series, the duo take on a mix of outdoor experiences that reflect different sides of the UK summer calendar. One episode places them in the middle of a festival crowd, another centres on a traditional seaside day out, while a further stop shifts into a countryside wellness retreat. Each location becomes the backdrop for a new set of challenges, designed to keep the pair competing while reacting to whatever they uncover next.

The format leans on simple, physical and often playful tasks. These include trying to capture an eye-catching beachfront photograph and taking on a tandem bike route through rural terrain, with the mystery boxes continuing to dictate both direction and difficulty as the series progresses.

Produced by Electric Robin, part of Banijay UK, the series combines travel, comedy and competition in short, fast-paced episodes.

Summer Unboxed with Maisie and Joel runs for five 15-minute episodes and premieres on Channel 4’s YouTube channel from 19 June. The full boxset will be available on Channel 4 later in the summer, with highlights also appearing across the broadcaster’s social platforms including TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.

Doctor Who Opened Up to New Production Bids as BBC Plans Next Phase

Image: BBC Press

By Jon Donnis

The BBC has confirmed that Doctor Who will be opened up to outside production companies, with different studios invited to submit proposals to continue the series. The idea is straightforward. Different creative teams will pitch how they would handle the show, and the BBC will decide who takes it forward, with the intention of securing its long term future.

A planned Christmas episode has also thankfully been dropped. The BBC, Russell T Davies and Bad Wolf have agreed not to proceed with the special, instead focusing on building the next full series so that the return of the programme comes as part of a more complete relaunch rather than a one-off episode.

The BBC retains full ownership of Doctor Who, while BBC Studios continues to manage international distribution, licensing and commercial activity. Further details of the new production arrangements are expected to follow.

Alongside these structural changes, audience figures across recent eras have become part of a wider debate about the show’s woke direction. Under Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor between 2018 and 2021, Series 11 is stated at 7.96 million viewers, Series 12 at 5.40 million, and Series 13, Flux, at 5.16 million. Under Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor in 2024, Series 14 is stated at 3.95 million viewers.

It is pretty clear that those numbers are taken as evidence of a significant decline over time, particularly when compared across eras. That view is often tied to arguments about the creative direction of the franchise, including claims that the show has moved towards woke identity politics, and that this shift has alienated a huge part of its traditional audience, that just wanted good, fun sci fi, and not to have political agendas forced down their throats.

What is clear from the numbers provided is that the show has moved through a noticeable drop in reported audience figures across the periods cited, while now entering a structural reset in how it is produced and commissioned going forward, we can only hope that a competent company takes over, and delivers what the people want.

Katie Price: Nothing to Hide Set to Revisit Three Decades in the Spotlight

Image: Sky TV

By Jon Donnis

For three decades, Katie Price has remained one of Britain’s most talked-about celebrity figures, with every triumph, controversy and personal struggle unfolding under intense public scrutiny. This summer, a new documentary series aims to revisit that extraordinary journey, offering viewers a deeper look at the woman behind the headlines.

Katie Price: Nothing to Hide arrives on Sky and NOW on 8 July, with all four episodes available from launch. Produced by Louis Theroux’s acclaimed production company Mindhouse, the series takes an archive-led approach to examining Price’s life and career, blending rarely seen footage with fresh testimony from those who have known her throughout the years.

The documentary traces Price’s rise from her early days as glamour model Jordan, first appearing on Page 3 of The Sun in 1996, to becoming one of the most recognisable faces in British popular culture. Over the years, her life has generated constant media attention, from high-profile relationships and family life to lucrative business ventures, reality television appearances and personal setbacks.

Alongside extensive archive material, the series features candid contributions from family members, friends and figures who have been part of Price’s world across the past 30 years. Their reflections aim to provide additional context to moments that were often reduced to tabloid headlines at the time.

Rather than simply revisiting familiar stories, Katie Price: Nothing to Hide promises to explore the experiences behind the public image. By bringing together new perspectives and previously unseen material, the series seeks to paint a fuller portrait of a woman whose life has long been lived in front of cameras.

The four-part Sky Original is directed by BAFTA and International Emmy-winning filmmaker Paddy Wivell, with Phelan Glen serving as series producer. Executive producers for Mindhouse are Arron Fellows and Emma Whitehead, while Maria Sharman acts as production executive. The series was commissioned for Sky by Hayley Reynolds, Head of Documentary Commissioning, and Commissioning Editor Kathryn Taylor.

Katie Price: Nothing to Hide will be available on Sky and the streaming service NOW from 8 July.

COMPETITION: Win Under the Vines: Series 2 on DVD

Under the Vines as Series 2 is set to arrive on DVD and digital 15 June, courtesy of Acorn Media International.

And to celebrate we have a copy to give away!

Synopsis:

The new series picks up with our favourite city slickers, turned vintners, Daisy (Gibney) and Louis (Edwards), as they continue to operate their struggling winery and complicated feelings for one another. But the course of true love, and good wine, never did run smooth, and the arrival of Louis’ estranged wife, Simone (Sara Wiseman), sees the once blossoming romance quickly fizzle out when Louis makes a last-ditch effort to save his marriage.  

 

Love is in the air elsewhere on the farm as Griffin (Dean O’Gorman) rescues his romance with Gus (Simon Mead), Daisy meets handsome local doctor, David (Kirk Torrance), and Vic (Cohen Holloway) and Nic (Carrie Green) prepare for the arrival of their baby. 

 

Meanwhile, the feud between Oakley Wines and Shimmering Lake continues to escalate when nemesis, Marissa (Sarah Peirse), hires a flashy French vintner, who happens to be Tippy’s (Trae Te Wiki) cousin. With their rivalry brewing, financial pressures mounting and disastrous weather conditions threatening to destroy the grapes, Daisy and Louis must work as one to save the vineyard. 

 

Drink up the delightful Under the Vines once again for a ‘charming sun-kissed’ (The Sun) escape, filled with laughter, love and life-affirming adventures. 

Pre-Order from https://amzn.to/4e8uQBL

Enter now for a chance to win.

What are the names of the two actors who appear on the cover of the Under the Vines Series 2 DVD?

Send your name, address and of course the answer to competition365@outlook.com

Quick Terms and conditions

1. Closing date 22-06-26

2. No alternative prize is available

3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.

4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

Stacey Dooley Returns with Three New BBC Documentaries Exploring Pressing UK Issues

Image: Stacey outside the Acorn Recovery unit in Stockport (BBC/Nine Lives Media/Ryan McNamara)

By Jon Donnis

BBC Documentaries has announced three new films from Stacey Dooley for BBC Three and iPlayer, each focusing on different urgent issues affecting people in the UK today.

Death in the Barracks follows Stacey as she examines the circumstances surrounding the death of Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck, who died at her barracks at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire, with the film looking closely at the events leading up to the tragedy.

Fallen Women investigates a series of cases involving British women who died after falling from height, exploring whether signs of domestic abuse may have been missed or not properly considered in some of these deaths.

Down the K-Hole sees Stacey spend five months inside a Stockport rehabilitation unit, where she explores ketamine addiction and follows the experiences of people attempting to rebuild their lives after dependency.

Stacey Dooley describes the projects as some of her most challenging work to date, saying the films deal with difficult and often overlooked subjects, including military life, addiction, and cases where unanswered questions remain around women’s deaths. She reflects on the responsibility of working with people who have shared deeply personal experiences and hopes the documentaries encourage meaningful public discussion.

Emma Loach, Interim Head of Commissioning for Documentaries, says the films highlight Stacey’s ability to connect with people and handle complex subjects with clarity and humanity. She adds that the documentaries shine a light on urgent issues in the UK and create space for voices that are not always heard, while thanking contributors for their openness and trust.

The three documentaries form part of a new run of Stacey Dooley films for BBC Three and iPlayer, continuing her focus on immersive, issue-led storytelling.