Big Brother is BACK!
This week's best telly includes the return of a number of favourites, including the original (and best) reality TV series, Big Brother, Sophie Willan's superb comedy Alma's Not Normal and Ben Richard's excellent anthology drama Showtrial.
Elsewhere, Cate Blanchett leads Apple TV+'s new psychological thriller Disclaimer, Ella Purnell leads Sky Atlantic's twisted coming-of-‘rage’ story Sweetpea and Sarah Parish leads Paramount+'s new thriller Curfew.
And best mates Will Mellor and Ralf Little learn more about themselves and each other in a few weeks than they ever have in two decades of friendship in a new series for U&Dave.
Here are 7 TV shows you can't miss this week...
1
RETURNING DRAMA
SHOWTRIAL
Sunday 6th October at 9pm on BBC One
This week sees the return of BBC One's anthology series Showtrial, created and written by Ben Richards, which tells the brand new story in which climate activist Marcus Calderwood, played by Barney Fishwick, is left for dead in a violent hit and run. And he uses his dying moments to apparently identify his killer, a serving policeman.
From Calderwood’s last breath to the jury’s final verdict, Showtrial introduces us to the charismatic and cocky police officer Justin Mitchell, played by Michael Soch and an anxious defence solicitor with a reputation for winning lost causes, Sam Malik, played by Adeel Akhtar.
DI Miles Southgate, played by Joe Dempsie, is brought in from a neighbouring force to investigate, and Nathalie Armin plays Leila Hassoun-Kenny, a driven CPS lawyer leading the case against the accused.
As public outrage reaches fever-pitch, the series asks what happens when a trial is dominated by cultural divisions and if the truth is ever clear cut. Is a fair trial even possible when tensions are riding so high?
5 EPISODES CONTINUES WEEKLY
STREAM ON BBC IPLAYER ALL EPISODES AVAILABLE
2
RETURNING REALITY TV
BIG BROTHER
Sunday 6th to Friday 11th October at 9pm on ITV2
The wait is almost over as the original social experiment, Big Brother, is back for a brand new series with AJ Odudu and Will Best hosting this year's live launch show on Sunday as a new batch of housemates take up residence in the nation’s most iconic house, which has been given a fresh lick of paint.
Expect gripping nominations, elaborate tasks, live evictions plus new twists and turns with all the must-see action playing out inside this famous abode. The public once again holds all the cards, voting throughout the series and ultimately deciding who will leave this experience with a life changing cash prize. Who wins? You decide.
Big Brother: Late & Live also returns and remains the only place to watch evictees first live interview. The iconic Big Brother: Live Stream will also return to screens, airing seven nights a week on ITVX, giving fans the opportunity to watch live footage from the house into the small hours.
36 EPISODES CONTINUES NIGHTLY
STREAM ON ITVX
3
RETURNING COMEDY
ALMA'S NOT NORMAL
Monday 7th October at 10pm on BBC Two
Alma, played by Sophie Willan, is back in town and desperate for things to be different. She bags herself a talent agent, who turns out to be a bit of a blagger.
She buys herself some new wheels, that she can’t afford. And lands herself an acting role that is completely demoralising. It’s safe to say, things are not panning out for Alma.
Meanwhile Lin, played by Siobhan Finneran, is back in hospital and has discovered a penchant for Witchcraft. Jim, played by Nick Asbury, is living at Joan’s as her pet, and her best mate Leanne, played by Jayde Adams, has transformed a truck into a bar that’s become Bolton’s biggest hot-spot.
And just as Alma starts to settle back into her Bolton life, Joan, played by Lorraine Ashbourne, has some shocking news that’s going to change everything.
6 EPISODES CONTINUES WEEKLY
STREAM ON BBC IPLAYER ALL EPISODES AVAILABLE
4
BRAND NEW FACTUAL ENTERTAINMENT
WILL & RALF
SHOULD KNOW BETTER
Monday 7th October at 10pm on U&Dave
Will Mellor and Ralf Little are pulling back the curtain on a bickering bromance that stretches over 20 years, for a new U&Dave show, as they find out how they can do life better as two middle aged men in their forties.
Travelling the length and breadth of the UK, behind the wheel of an electric car, Will and Ralf laugh, cry and learn more about themselves and each other in a few weeks than they ever have in two decades of friendship.
Along the way they meet a series of extraordinary characters, explore unexpected worlds and push themselves well out of their comfort zones.
As Will says, ‘everyday’s a school day’ and whether it’s trying to impress the World’s Strongest Woman with their ‘strength’, chatting up nettles (yes, nettles) in an eco-village, living like Stone Age cavemen, or stripping naked in front of one thousand women, Will and Ralf challenge themselves and each other to learn new things and to push themselves to do and be better.
EPISODES CONTINUES WEEKLY
STREAM ON U ALL EPISODES AVAILABLE
5
BRAND NEW DRAMA
CURFEW
Thursday 10th October on Paramount+
Paramount+'s new thriller Curfew, is set in a society where all men live under 'The Women's Safety Act', which means they are bound by a strict curfew.
Adapted from Jayne Cowie’s novel After Dark, Curfew introduces us to an alternative reality, where all men live under ‘The Women’s Safety Act’, bound by a strict curfew from 7PM to 7AM every night with their movements tracked by an ankle tag 24 hours a day.
Curfew kicks off with the discovery of a woman’s body brutally murdered during curfew hours, and left on the steps of the Women’s Safety Centre. Veteran Police Officer Pamela Green, played by Sarah Parish, believes that a man is responsible and leads the charge in the hunt for the killer.
However, in a world where men are bound by the curfew system, Pamela’s theory is rejected: that the introduction of The Women’s Safety Act almost three years ago is widely considered effective at protecting women – who have been able to go out at night without looking over their shoulders – and nobody wants to hear different.
Determined to prove a man committed this murder, Pamela’s investigation threatens to bring The Women’s Safety Act crashing down… people in high places are determined to make the curfew a success and will do all it takes to prevent Pamela from discovering the truth.
6 EPISODES
STREAM ON PARAMOUNT+ ALL EPISODES AVAILABLE
6
BRAND NEW COMEDY DRAMA
SWEETPEA
Thursday 10th October at 9pm on Sky Atlantic
Described as a deviously twisted coming-of-‘rage’ story, Sky Atlantic's new comedy drama Sweetpea stars Ella Purnell as Rhiannon. a quiet wallflower on a darkly comedic and intoxicating journey of self-discovery, with deadly consequences.
She doesn't make much of an impression. People walk past her in the street without a second glance. She’s continually overlooked for a promotion at work, the guy she likes won’t commit, and her dad is really, really sick.
Then everything in her life turns upside down. Rhiannon is pushed over the edge and loses control. Suddenly the wallflower is gone, and in its place is a young woman capable of anything… Rhiannon’s life transforms as she steps into a new, intoxicating power, but can she keep her killer secret?
6 EPISODES CONTINUES WEEKLY
STREAM ON SKY AND NOW ALL EPISODES AVAILABLE
7
BRAND NEW DRAMA
DISCLAIMER
Friday 11th October on Apple TV+
Cate Blanchett leads Alfonso Cuarón's new psychological thriller for Apple TV+, Disclaimer as acclaimed journalist Catherine Ravenscroft who has built her reputation by revealing the misdeeds and transgressions of others.
When she receives a novel from an unknown author, she is horrified to realise she is now the main character in a story that exposes her darkest secrets and threatens to destroy her family.
As Catherine races to uncover the writer's true identity, she is forced to confront her past before it destroys her life and her relationships with her husband Robert and son Nicholas.
Comments