Steph McGovern Steps Into the Art Market for BBC Two

Image: BBC Press

By Jon Donnis

BBC Arts has announced Steph McGovern as the presenter of a new six part arts series, co commissioned with BBC Northern Ireland for BBC Two, BBC Northern Ireland and iPlayer.

Titled The Big Deal with Steph McGovern, the programme was first revealed at the Belfast Media Festival in 2023 under its original working name, The Art Game. The series follows seven pairs of contestants as they enter the competitive world of contemporary art dealing, all with the aim of winning a substantial prize.

The global art market regularly grabs attention with record breaking auctions and sold out exhibitions, yet for many people it still feels difficult to access or understand. This series sets out to lift the curtain by placing complete newcomers at the centre of the action and letting them learn by doing.

Across the series, the aspiring dealers are encouraged to trust their instincts, think like entrepreneurs and see whether they can turn art into profit. While some have an interest in art, none have professional experience of buying or selling artworks. Each episode introduces challenges that push them to identify emerging talent, build connections with established artists, attract buyers and close a sale.

Their progress is overseen by series expert Cordelia De Freitas, alongside a rotating panel of guest specialists from across the art world. Among those judging the contestants are curator Matt Carey Williams, artist Margo McDaid and Ani Petrov, marketing vice president at a digital art marketplace. At the end of the competition, the winning pair will take home £50,000 worth of art.

Steph McGovern says the series aims to challenge the idea that art is only for a select few. While people may feel comfortable spending money on experiences like theatre, music festivals or travel, she believes art can feel more daunting. The show, she says, breaks down that barrier by following dealers from different backgrounds as they navigate the heart of the art market, with the clear goal of making money.

Bargain Holiday Secrets Heads to Channel 4

Image: Ch4 Press

By Jon Donnis

Channel 4 has commissioned Firecrest Films to produce a new peak time consumer series focused on helping viewers land genuinely good value holidays.

With millions of travel options now available, finding a great deal can feel confusing and time consuming. In this new five part series, Jasmine Harman guides viewers through practical tips and insider knowledge designed to help them recognise real bargains and stretch their holiday budgets further.

The programme opens up the travel industry from the inside, with contributors from some of the world's biggest travel companies revealing how pricing and marketing decisions are made. The series digs into familiar features such as all you can eat buffets, cruise drinks packages and airline pricing models, while also exposing the fear of missing out tactics that encourage rushed bookings. These behind the scenes insights aim to give holidaymakers the confidence to make smarter choices and avoid common traps.

Across the episodes, viewers also explore how Britain's most popular holiday destinations became so sought after and what fuels demand behind the scenes. The show looks at the rise of cheaper destination alternatives and breaks down how to save on flights, accommodation, food and added extras without sacrificing the experience.

Covering a broad range of travel styles, the series moves through cruises, long haul trips, all inclusive deals, city breaks and traditional beach holidays. Each episode is packed with practical advice designed to help viewers get more out of their money when planning their next escape.

Deborah Dunnett, Glasgow based commissioning editor for Channel 4, said the channel is excited to work with Firecrest Films on a programme that offers a rare look behind the scenes of the travel industry while helping viewers secure better value holidays.

Executive Producer Nicole Kleeman added that Firecrest Films is pleased to expand its consumer journalism into the holiday sector, giving insiders the chance to share how people can book a dream trip for less.

The Apprentice Returns for Milestone 20th Series in 2026

Image: BBC Press

By Jon Donnis

Lord Sugar is back in the boardroom as The Apprentice returns to the BBC for its 20th series in 2026, continuing the search for his next business partner. Joining him once again are Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell MBE, ensuring the high-stakes business challenges and boardroom drama fans have come to expect.

This year marks a special milestone, with the first-ever boardroom set in Hong Kong for episode one, giving the series an international twist from the very start. The full line-up of candidates will be announced in due course, but viewers can expect 20 ambitious contestants, celebrating the show's 20th series, all hoping to secure Lord Sugar's investment and a shot at launching their business dreams.

The Apprentice 2026 will be available on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in early 2026.

The 1% Club Returns to ITV with New Series Hosted by Lee Mack

By Jon Donnis

Multi award-winning quiz show The 1% Club, hosted by BAFTA-nominated Lee Mack and produced by Magnum Media, is back for a brand-new series, starting early in the new year on ITV and ITVX. The show continues to challenge contestants with its unique format, where logic and common sense matter more than memorised trivia.

Each episode begins with 100 contestants, but only those who correctly answer questions that just 1% of the country could solve will make it to the final rounds and compete for the top prize of up to £100,000. The format is designed to be accessible to participants of all ages and backgrounds, making it a refreshing alternative to traditional general knowledge quizzes.

Since its launch three years ago, The 1% Club has become a global phenomenon, regularly drawing more than six million viewers per episode. The show has been streamed over 40 million times and reached a total audience of 43 million, cementing its place as the biggest original quiz in more than a decade. Its success has earned it multiple accolades, including National Television Awards for Best Quiz Show, a Broadcast Award for Best Entertainment, and a Rose d'Or for Best Entertainment Show. Lee Mack himself received a BAFTA nomination for Best Entertainment Performance.

The series is commissioned for ITV by Head of Factual Entertainment Sue Murphy and was created by Dean Nabarro and Andy Auerbach. The 1% Club is a Magnum Media production for ITV. Fans can catch the new series on ITV1 and ITVX on Saturday 10th January at 8:30pm.

Lorraine Kelly Embarks on Norwegian Odyssey for Channel 4

Image: Ch4 Press

By Jon Donnis

Channel 4 has confirmed a new three-part documentary, Lorraine Kelly's Norwegian Odyssey, produced by Captive Minds in partnership with Hurtigruten, the celebrated Norwegian coastal cruise operator. The series is part of Channel 4's Partner Lab initiative, blending engaging storytelling with brand collaboration. Lorraine Kelly will guide viewers through Norway's fjords, exploring its landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, and culture.

The programme delves into Norway's Viking heritage and examines its enduring influence on the country's culture and geography, drawing parallels with Scotland, which shares a Norse-influenced past. Along her journey, Lorraine meets locals who preserve Norway's traditions through folk stories, crafts, and culinary practices. The voyage travels north along the coast, offering encounters with whales, eagles, and concluding with the mesmerising Northern Lights.

Hurtigruten supports the series not only through sponsorship but also with a wider marketing push across TV, streaming, and print, ensuring the documentary reaches a broad audience. Iain Powell, Chief Commercial Officer at Hurtigruten, said the partnership celebrates the company's 130-year history of connecting communities along Norway's coast, and praised Lorraine's warmth and curiosity as the perfect lens through which to showcase the country's hidden gems.

Emma Hopkins, Partner Lab Leader at Channel 4, highlighted the series as an example of effective linear branded entertainment, noting how the programme integrates the brand into compelling narratives that allow audiences to connect with real experiences and personal stories.

COMPETITION: Win Harry Wild: Series 3 on DVD

The charming, endlessly entertaining and refreshingly modern murder mystery series is set to arrive on DVD and digital on 12 January 2026, courtesy of Acorn Media International, following its hugely successful run on Acorn TV and transmission on U&Drama.

And to celebrate we have a copy on DVD to give away!

Synopsis:

Harry Wild Series 3 picks up where we left off with Harry (Seymour) and her protégé turned partner, Fergus (Rohan Nedd – Whitstable Pearl, Blue Story). Their detective agency is busier than ever and as the workload increases, the crime fighting duo must find a way to balance crime solving with their personal lives. With Harry’s help, Fergus plans to contest the custody claim of his long-absent mother (Samantha Mumba – The Time Machine) for his little sister. Meanwhile, Harry meets a charming fellow PI and despite finding him utterly infuriating, she can’t help but fall for him.

This series includes mysteries aplenty, from the apparent suicide of the lead singer of a boy band, and a decapitated head served on a platter at a busy restaurant to deathly drama on Ireland’s leading daytime soap, as the director is killed and a stranger than fiction murder of a crime writer locked in his panic room. Closer to home, Harry’s good friend calls for help when her estranged husband turns up dead and Harry and Fergus (Nedd), along with Charlie (Kevin Ryan – Copper, Guilt), Orla (Amy Huberman – The Stag, Finding Joy) and Lola (Rose O’Neil), find themselves in the middle of more action, when a grieving father forces them to find what caused his daughter’s death.

With an exceptional lead and a delightful mix of mysteries, witty dialogue and light-hearted humour, welcome in the new year with an old favourite as sleuthing sensation Harry Wild is back and better than ever and with a fifth series to look forward to, now is the perfect time to catch up with this much-loved crime caper.

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

Enter now for a chance to win.

Who plays Harry in Harry Wild?

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

Quick Terms and conditions

1. Closing date 19-01-26

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.

COMPETITION: Win Irish Blood: Series 1 on DVD

Acorn Media International has announced Irish Blood: Series 1 is set for its DVD release on 12 January 2026.

And to celebrate we have a copy on DVD to give away!

The series features a stellar cast including Alicia Silverstone, Jason O’Mara (The Man In The High Castle, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Wendy Crewson (Air Force One, We Were Liars), Dearbhla Molloy (Wild Mountain Thyme, No Reservations), Simone Kirby (His Dark Materials, Kneecap), Ruth Codd (The Traitors, The Fall of the House of Usher) and Leonardo Taiwo (Andor, Ant-Man & The Wasp). 

Synopsis:

Abandoned by her father as a child, ruthless divorce lawyer Fiona Sharpe (Silverstone) spends her life channelling her childhood trauma into her work. When she receives a mysterious package from her estranged father (O’Mara), she jumps at the opportunity to travel to Ireland and confront him face to face. 

 

However, all is not as it seems, when she arrives on the Irish coast, Fiona is met with a huge secret... A family who wasn’t aware of her existence. She soon discovers that the story of abandonment that has shaped her entire life, has been a lie made up for her own protection. 

 

As her father’s secretive past comes to light, Fiona is left with more questions than answers and when her stubborn curiosity gets the better of her, she gets swept up in a shocking mystery involving gangsters, dark secrets and unimaginable dangers. 

 

With a sensational lead, shocking twists and turns, stunning scenery and gut-wrenching family drama, unravel a thrilling new mystery this winter with Irish Blood. 

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

Enter now for a chance to win.

Who plays divorce lawyer Fiona Sharpe in Irish Blood?

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

Quick Terms and conditions

1. Closing date 19-01-26

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.