Buried with Michael Sheen: A Chilling Investigation into Wales' Toxic Past

Image: BBC

By Jon Donnis

Buried with Michael Sheen is a gripping two-part investigation that sees the Welsh actor turn his attention to a story that has stayed with him for almost a decade. At the centre of the series is the late farming consultant and whistleblower Douglas Gowan, who spent more than 50 years claiming that toxic industrial chemicals had been dumped across Wales and north west England.

For Sheen, this is more than another investigation. He first met Gowan almost ten years ago, when the whistleblower told him that communities across Wales had been exposed to dangerous chemicals for decades. Gowan claimed that thousands of tonnes of Polychlorinated Biphenyls, better known as PCBs, had been buried at sites across the region.

PCBs were once considered something of a wonder chemical because they were extremely resistant to breaking down. That same quality has since made them a serious environmental concern. They are now classified as a Group 1 carcinogen and have been banned globally.

Gowan believed that major corporations, government bodies and local councils had failed to properly address the dangers. He specifically accused Monsanto, once the world's leading PCB producer, of knowingly burying highly toxic waste in communities across Wales. These are serious allegations, and the series sets out to examine the evidence behind them.

After first hearing Gowan's story, Sheen eventually tracked him down and spent two days filming an interview with him. Just two months later, Gowan died, leaving Sheen with the testimony of a man who had spent decades trying to get people to listen.

Now, Sheen joins investigative journalists Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor to retrace Gowan's footsteps. Across two episodes, they visit former dump sites and speak to environmental experts, forensic scientists and residents living close to locations linked to the alleged contamination.

The result promises to be an investigation into claims of toxic pollution, alleged cover-ups and the long-term consequences of industrial waste, while also focusing on the ordinary people who believe they have been left to deal with the fallout.

Buried with Michael Sheen looks set to be a serious and personal piece of factual television, combining Sheen's connection to Wales with an investigation into claims that could have consequences far beyond the communities at the centre of the story.

COMPETITION: Win My Life is Murder: Series 5 on DVD

My Life is Murder Series 5 is set to arrive on DVD and digital on 17 August 2026, courtesy of Acorn Media International. 

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

Synopsis:

Series five introduces eight thrilling new cases featuring dangerous villains that only Alexa Crowe (Lawless) can catch, but as always, she brings her friends and family along for the ride.  

 

There’s tech whiz Madison (Ebony Vagulans – The Furies) who contributes her considerable IT know-how to the investigations and café owner Reuben (Joe Naufahu – Game of Thrones, Ghost in the Shell) is always there to lend a helping hand, plus Detective Harry (Rawiri Jobe – Shortland Street) remains a steady ally.  

 

When Alexa’s bad boy brother Will (Martin Henderson – Virgin River, Grey’s Anatomy) drops by with a dilemma things are about to get complicated, and her cantankerous cat Chowder continues to stir up trouble in his own mischievous way. 

 

The new series sees Alexa dive headfirst into a world of puzzling crime, from shady aquariums and elite cheerleading squads to creepy dolls and deadly island getaways. As buried secrets resurface, justice is never quite as simple as it seems, but one thing is certain – Alexa isn’t backing down.  

 

But catching killers isn’t her only unfinished business, as a reunion with former police partner Jesse (Craig Parker – Spartacus, Xena: Warrior Princess) leaves the headstrong sleuth questioning herself: could he be the one that got away? 

 

Embark on a new murder mystery adventure this Summer with more wit, warmth, drama and intrigue in the ‘charming, endlessly thrilling’ (Good Housekeeping) My Life is Murder Series 5. 

Pre-Order from https://link.amazon/B01TxzvpA

Enter now for a chance to win.

Who plays Alexa’s bad boy brother Will in My Life is Murder?

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

Quick Terms and conditions

1. Closing date 24-08-26

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.

PREVIEW: Call the Midwife: Sisters in Arms

Sister Alice (Julie Hesmondhalgh), Sister Julienne (Helena Wilson) (Image: Neal Street/BBC)

By Jon Donnis

The BBC has unveiled the first pictures from Call the Midwife: Sisters in Arms, as filming wraps on the three-part Christmas special from Neal Street.

The newly released images offer a first look at Julie Hesmondhalgh, Helena Wilson, Ellie McKay, Liv Andrusier and Lizzie Back on set, with the new special set to arrive on BBC iPlayer and BBC One this Christmas.

Set in September 1939, the story takes viewers back to the early days of Nonnatus House. Sister Monica Joan is in her prime, while Sister Julienne and Sister Evangelina are young and zealous. Alongside Sister Alice, local GP Dr Kit and three young secular midwives, Sybil, Olive and Marianne, they dedicate themselves to the mothers, babies and vulnerable people of Poplar.

However, this is a community facing extraordinary hardship. There is no gas and air, no penicillin, no cure for TB and no welfare state. Then Britain declares war, bringing the blackout and the Blitz to Poplar.

Olive Dobbs (Ellie Mckay), Marianne Siegler (Liv Andrusier), Sybil Maxted (Lizzie Back) (Image: Neal Street/BBC)

As bombs fall, women give birth underground, families are separated, children run wild and entire streets are destroyed. Against this backdrop, the Nonnatus House team must rely on courage, compassion and resilience as the community comes together to survive.

Writer and showrunner Heidi Thomas OBE has revealed that the production brought some particularly emotional moments, especially the story of Poplar's children being evacuated and the fear that they might not make it home for Christmas.

With filming now complete, Call the Midwife: Sisters in Arms looks set to deliver another emotionally charged Christmas chapter, combining the show's familiar compassion with the immense challenges faced by its characters during the outbreak of the Second World War.

Call the Midwife: Sisters in Arms is made by All3Media's Neal Street for the BBC. Heidi Thomas created, wrote and executive produced the special, with Pippa Harris and Ann Tricklebank executive producing for Neal Street. Tricklebank directed episodes one and two, while John Maidens directed episode three.

Previous series of Call the Midwife are currently available on BBC iPlayer.

Trigger Point Series 4: Lana Washington Faces Her Biggest Challenge Yet

Images: ITV

By Jon Donnis

ITV has offered the first glimpse of Trigger Point series four, releasing a selection of new images alongside an extended trailer teasing another high-stakes return for Vicky McClure’s bomb disposal officer Lana Washington.

The hugely popular drama will return for six new episodes, with McClure once again playing Lana, an experienced but troubled EXPO officer tasked with confronting explosive devices and terrorist threats across the capital.

The first-look images put Lana firmly at the centre of the action, while also highlighting her fellow bomb disposal officers Danny, played by Eric Shango, and Hass, played by Nabil Elouahabi. Other images offer a look inside police headquarters, where DS Helen Morgan, played by Natalie Simpson, and DCI Batra, played by Maanuv Thiara, are joined by guest star Julie Graham as Commander Nia Quentin.

The 60-second trailer promises another tense outing, offering a brief glimpse at the threats facing Lana and her team as they continue their efforts to keep London safe. While the footage does not give too much away, it suggests that the fourth series will once again put its characters under considerable pressure.

The return comes after the considerable success of the first three series. They have been streamed 91 million times and reached more than 20 million viewers across ITV and ITVX. Series three was ITV's fifth most-watched drama of 2025 and seventh most-watched programme across all channels and streaming services, averaging 7 million viewers, with its launch attracting 7.4 million.

Series four has been commissioned by ITV Director of Drama Polly Hill, who says audiences will once again be left "on the edge of their seat" as Lana and the team take on another dangerous mission.

McClure is equally enthusiastic about returning to the role, saying she loves working with the team and "cannot wait to continue Lana's journey on Trigger Point."

Chris Brandon, whose credits include Bloodlands, serves as writer for the new series, with Jennie Darnell and Nirpal Bhogal directing. Kristian Dench is series producer, with Kingsley Hoskins serving as block producer.

Trigger Point is produced by HTM Television in association with All3Media International, which handles international distribution. Executive producers include Jed Mercurio, Daniel Walker, Jessica Sharkey, Chris Brandon and Vicky McClure.

With another six episodes on the way and Lana once again at the heart of the action, Trigger Point series four looks set to put its bomb disposal team through another gruelling test when the drama returns to ITV.

Trigger Point series 1-3 are available to watch now on ITVX.

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.