Central Intelligence Series Three Brings CIA Story to BBC Radio 4

Image: BBC PR

By Jon Donnis

Kim Cattrall, Kelsey Grammer, Johnny Flynn, Jason Watkins and David Duchovny return to tell the story of the CIA from the inside out in the third series of BBC Radio 4’s award winning audio drama Central Intelligence. Part of the BBC Limelight strand, the production continues its exploration of intelligence, power and secrecy through a large-scale fictionalised retelling of American history.

Kelsey Grammer joins the cast as President Lyndon B Johnson, while David Duchovny plays Bill Colby, the CIA’s Far East Chief during the period covered. Johnny Flynn appears as Richard Helms, and Jason Watkins plays David Ormsby Gore, expanding the political and intelligence landscape that drives the series forward.

At the centre of the drama is CIA operative Eloise Page, played by Kim Cattrall, who began her career on the agency’s first day in 1947 and rises through its ranks to become one of its most influential figures. Through her perspective, the series traces the shifting identity of the CIA as it moves through decades of global tension and internal transformation.

Series three begins in 1964, following the aftermath of President Kennedy’s assassination and moving into the Johnson years. The narrative spans the agency’s deepening involvement in Vietnam, the political turbulence surrounding figures such as Che Guevara, and the growing wave of protest and paranoia that defines the decade.

The story travels across Chile, British Guiana, Vietnam, the Dominican Republic, the Middle East and the Bolivian jungle, as the United States intensifies its fight against communism on multiple fronts. At home, shifting public opinion on the war creates new pressures, while within the agency satellites, surveillance and covert operations become central tools. Even Operation Kitty, involving the use of a cat, becomes part of its extraordinary methods.

Central Intelligence series three is a ten part drama beginning on Friday 10 July at 2.15pm on BBC Radio 4, with the full series available as a boxset on BBC Sounds. It is a Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4, with series one and two also available on BBC Sounds.

The series is written by Greg Haddrick, with Jeremy Fox as executive producer. John Scott Dryden and Emma Hearn produced the series for Goldhawk Productions Ltd, commissioned by Alison Hindell, Radio 4 Commissioning Editor for Drama and Fiction, and Rhian Roberts, Commissioning Editor for Radio 4 Podcasts, Formats and Digital.

Jasmine Harman Returns for More Spanish Renovation Adventures on Channel 4

Image: Ch4 Press

By Jon Donnis

Channel 4 has commissioned a second series of Jasmine Harman’s Renovation in the Sun, following the success of the show's first run.

The new series will once again follow popular A Place in the Sun presenter Jasmine Harman as she continues the ongoing renovation of her family home on Spain’s Costa del Sol. Alongside the challenges and rewards of transforming the property, viewers will also see Harman embracing everyday life in Spain while exploring the culture, landscapes and communities that make the region such a popular destination.

Produced by Double FTV, the second series is set to broaden its scope beyond Harman’s own renovation project. This time around, the programme will also follow three additional renovation journeys, each led by British expatriates determined to build a new life in Spain. The projects will showcase the realities of taking on ambitious property transformations abroad, from overcoming obstacles to pursuing long-held dreams of a different lifestyle under the Spanish sun.

Throughout the series, Harman will remain closely involved with the featured renovations, regularly visiting the projects to offer practical support, advice and encouragement. Her experience of navigating her own renovation challenges is expected to provide valuable insight as the various builds progress.

By combining personal stories, renovation setbacks and successes, and a closer look at life on the Costa del Sol, the new series aims to offer viewers an even broader perspective on what it takes to turn a dream move to Spain into a reality.

Renovation in the Sun is expected to continue blending property transformation with lifestyle programming, giving audiences the opportunity to follow multiple renovation journeys while discovering more of the region through Harman’s eyes.

Jasmine Harman said, “We’re so thrilled that Jasmine Harman’s Renovation in the Sun has been commissioned for a second series. Filming the first series was such an experience and we were truly humbled by the support from viewers. It was wonderful to share both the reality and excitement of starting a new life in Spain.  We’ve still got plenty more renovation challenges ahead of us, so I can’t wait to continue the journey and start filming again.”

COMPETITION: Win Half Man on Blu-ray

Critically acclaimed new series, Half Man, is out now on Digital platforms and arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD from 22nd June!

And to celebrate we have a copy on Blu-ray to give away!

Synopsis:

Niall and Ruben are brothers. Not related in blood but the closest you can get. One, fierce and loyal. The other, meek and mild-mannered. Inseparable youth. Brought into each other’s lives through death and circumstance, all they have is each other…

But when Ruben turns up at Niall’s wedding three decades later, everything seems different. He is on edge. Shifty. Not acting like himself. And soon, an explosion of violence takes place which catapults us back through their lives, from the eighties to the present day.

Capturing 30 years in the lives of these broken men, Half Man explores brotherhood, violence, and the intense fragility of male relationships. After all, when things fall apart, it is sometimes the closest relationships which break the hardest…

Half Man is the latest, critically acclaimed and deeply impactful drama from the creator of Baby Reindeer, starring Emmy award winner Richard Gadd and BAFTA award winner Jamie Bell.

Dazzler Media presents Half Man out now on Digital platforms and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD from 22nd June 

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

Enter now for a chance to win.

What are the names of the two actors who play Niall and Ruben in Half Man?

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

Quick Terms and conditions

1. Closing date 29-06-26

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.

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.