Civilisations: Rise and Fall – A New Lens on Ancient Decline

Image: BBC Press

By Jon Donnis

What makes a great civilisation crumble? Is it war, ambition, climate, or the quiet erosion of power from within? Civilisations: Rise and Fall, a new four-part series from BBC Studios, sets out to explore those questions by looking at the stories behind some of the most powerful cultures the world has ever known. With exclusive access to the British Museum's vast collection and insight from historians, artists and academics, the series moves beyond textbook history to explore the moments when empires cracked and the artefacts that help explain why.

Each episode focuses on a different civilisation at its peak and on the brink: Ancient Rome, Cleopatra's Egypt, the samurai of feudal Japan, and the mighty Aztecs. The series doesn't just revisit what happened. It considers how the end unfolded from within, through the pressures of power, political missteps and seismic shifts in the world around them. In doing so, it draws a quiet but clear line to the present, asking what lessons we can draw from the past when our own systems feel increasingly under strain.

Objects rarely seen by the public offer a fresh way in. The Meroë Head of Augustus, a bronze Roman emperor pulled from beneath a Nubian temple; a near four-metre crocodile mummy, once worshipped as Sobek in Egypt; a newly acquired suit of samurai armour from Japan's Edo and Muromachi periods; and the Aztec double-headed serpent, both beautiful and unsettling. These are more than museum pieces. The series uses them to anchor its questions about power, decline and the role of culture in holding a society together.

With commentary from contributors including Dominic Sandbrook, Iszi Lawrence, Salima Ikram and Camilla Townsend, and dramatic reconstructions to bring key figures to life, the series is as vivid as it is reflective. Suzy Klein of BBC Arts calls it "particularly timely in our own uncertain age," and it's hard to disagree. The stories may be thousands of years old, but the themes of hubris, reform, resistance and collapse feel eerily familiar.

This is history told through objects and ideas. It doesn't claim to provide all the answers, but Civilisations: Rise and Fall offers a compelling window into what happens when great societies face their final tests, and how much of their fate was already written in the choices they made long before.

As this is the BBC, do expect some woke nonsense, and some obvious falsehoods.

Human Preview: A New Story of Us

Image: BBC Press

By Jon Donnis

For most of human history, there were no books, no archives, no written clues. Just bones, teeth, fire pits and questions. But the new BBC series Human, fronted by paleoanthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi, takes those fragments and turns them into a sweeping, vivid story of who we are and how we got here. Over five episodes, this documentary digs through 300,000 years of history, shifting how we understand what it means to be human.

The first episode, The First of Us, begins where we did. Morocco. Not the place most people associate with human origins, but the Jebel Irhoud site there rewrote the timeline, pushing the age of Homo sapiens back 100,000 years earlier than we thought. From there, the series jumps continents and species, piecing together new discoveries from ancient DNA, fossil records and even the microscopic rings in tooth enamel. It's a story not just of survival, but of imagination. Rituals in Botswana caves, extinct species like Homo erectus and Denisovans, the strange truth that for most of our past we weren't the only humans walking the Earth.

Ella Al-Shamahi brings humour, clarity and sharp insight to material that could easily become abstract. She doesn't just explain what we've found, but why it matters. Why our flat faces are so unusual, why we outlived other humans, and what it says about the choices we made. Whether it's ten-foot prehistoric bears or the slow realisation that Homo sapiens weren't made in one single place but formed through a long interwoven network across Africa, this series promises to make ancient history feel alive again.

Human looks set to be one of the most surprising and wide-reaching documentary series of the year. It doesn't just trace where we came from, it questions what kind of species we became, and what might have been lost along the way.

Criminal Code Returns for Third Season on Netflix

Image: Netflix Press

By Jon Donnis

Netflix has confirmed that Criminal Code will return for a third season, much to the delight of fans both in Brazil and internationally. The police drama, which follows the gripping lives of Suellen (Maeve Jinkings), Benício (Rômulo Braga), and Isaac (Alex Nader), has built a strong following thanks to its intense storytelling and complex characters. The announcement came on Tuesday, June 3, promising more action, conflicts, and the kind of revenge-fuelled showdowns that ended the second season with a bang.

Since the release of its second season on June 4, Criminal Code has cemented itself as a major hit on Netflix. The show has consistently featured in the Top 10 lists not only in Brazil, where it has stayed for nearly a month, but also in several other countries including Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Portugal, and Nigeria. Its international appeal highlights the growing global interest in Brazilian productions and crime dramas.

Haná Vaisman, Director of Scripted Series at Netflix Brazil, expressed pride in the series' success. She attributed it to the hard work of the talented teams involved in writing, directing, producing, and acting. Vaisman also emphasised Netflix's ongoing commitment to supporting Brazilian audiovisual projects with rich narratives that deeply affect their characters and engage their audiences over time.

Heitor Dhalia, the director and showrunner of Criminal Code, described returning to the show's universe as an emotional experience. He highlighted the importance of the tri-border region setting and the chance to reconnect with the characters and stories that have captivated viewers. Dhalia assured fans that the series will continue to offer surprises in its new season.

Produced by Paranoïd, the series features a strong creative team. The second season was created by Heitor Dhalia, Bernardo Barcellos, and Leonardo Levis, with direction shared by Heitor Dhalia, Pedro Morelli, and Vellas. Executive producers include Manoel Rangel and Egisto Betti. Alongside Jinkings, Braga, and Nader, the cast also features Thomás Aquino and other talented actors.

Criminal Code is available to stream on Netflix, and with the third season on the horizon, viewers can look forward to more thrilling and intense storytelling from this acclaimed Brazilian crime series.

Last Pundit Standing: BBC's Bold New Take on Football Punditry

Image: BBC Press

By Jon Donnis

There's a new kind of football competition coming to BBC iPlayer, but this one doesn't take place on the pitch. Last Pundit Standing, a fresh series from BBC Creator Lab and BBC Sport, is setting out to transform how we see punditry. The show kicks off Monday 7 July, with the first two episodes available from 6am. New episodes will drop weekly until the final airs on 11 August, and you can also catch them on BBC's YouTube and TikTok channels.

At the heart of it are twelve football-obsessed content creators. These aren't former pros or established broadcasters, but digital-first voices who live and breathe the game through social media. From YouTube rants to TikTok clips, they're already talking to thousands of fans. Now they're stepping onto a much bigger stage, competing for a shot at becoming BBC Sport's next go-to football creator.

Guiding them through the chaos are Troy Deeney and James Allcott. Deeney brings on-pitch grit and no-nonsense insight, while Allcott knows the rhythm and pace of modern sports content like few others. The duo makes for a sharp combination, bridging traditional football culture and the evolving digital world.

The contestants won't have it easy though. A rotating line-up of football icons and media veterans will be setting the tasks and raising the stakes. Names like Martin Keown, Rebecca Welch, Chris Sutton, Alex Scott, and Sean Dyche bring credibility, while others like Max Fosh and Robbie Savage ensure the energy stays unpredictable. These guests won't just appear for a chat. They'll challenge the contenders to create content that doesn't just entertain, but properly informs and connects with football fans.

Filmed across some of the UK's most iconic football locations, each episode sets out to test creativity, football knowledge, and the ability to cut through in a crowded content landscape. It's not enough to know the game. Contestants have to sell it, shape it, and stand out.

The line-up is deliberately diverse. Among the twelve names are blind content creator Toby Addison, freestyle talent Lia Lewis, and tactical analyst Raees Mahmood. Each brings a unique lens to the game, from fan culture to analytics to lived experience. Together, they represent a broader shift happening in football conversation, one that's younger, sharper, and far less predictable than the old matchday clichés.

Backed by BBC Creator Lab and TikTok, the series is more than just a talent show. It's a snapshot of where football media is heading. The loudest voices aren't necessarily on TV anymore. They're filming from bedrooms, editing clips on trains, and going viral by lunchtime.

Last Pundit Standing isn't trying to replace the old guard. It's just asking what comes next. And judging by the line-up, the answer looks bold, creative, and completely unafraid to shake things up.

Taskmaster Series 20: New Line-Up, Same Glorious Chaos

By Jon Donnis

It's hard to believe Taskmaster has been on our screens for ten years now, but here we are celebrating the twentieth series of the show that turns everyday objects into instruments of chaos. Greg Davies is still towering over the proceedings as the Taskmaster, and Alex Horne remains the calm force quietly orchestrating every absurd challenge. This year they've roped in five very different comedians to battle for the coveted title. Ania Magliano arrives fresh from rave reviews on Live at the Apollo, wielding razor-sharp observations. Maisie Adam brings a laid‑back confidence honed on A League Of Their Own, ready to improvise under pressure. Phil Ellis, whose comedy often feels like joyous sabotage, could upend every rule in play. Reece Shearsmith, best known for his twisted brilliance on Inside No.9, might either plot the perfect strategy or spectacularly overthink each task. And Sanjeev Bhaskar, ever affable and astute, could quietly outwit them all.

The format remains beautifully simple. Five comedians face a series of bizarre assignments, filmed in advance and then judged in front of a live audience. Part of the fun is watching them wrestle with instructions designed to make sense only once complete, an approach that often pulls contestants apart (not physically, although that has happened in past series) in terms of how they think, panic, cheat and improvise. From coffin‑sized containers to mountains of loose change, nothing is off limits. Behind the scenes, Alex Horne and a seasoned production team keep the pace brisk without letting things become formulaic, and Channel 4's commitment shows no sign of waning. You can catch the new series later this year on Channel 4 and stream past episodes on Channel4.com, ready yourself for more gloriously ridiculous creativity, and perhaps even learn a new way to weigh a melon.

The Guest: BBC Unveils First Glimpse of New Four-Part Thriller

Images: BBC Press and Quay Street Productions

By Jon Donnis

The BBC has revealed first-look images from The Guest, a propulsive four-part thriller set to arrive on BBC iPlayer and BBC One this Autumn. The series boasts a standout cast led by Eve Myles as Fran, a confident business owner, and Gabrielle Creevy as Ria, her impressionable cleaner. Alongside them are Sion Daniel Young and Emun Elliott, rounding out a line-up that promises tension, intrigue and a touch of darkness.

Eve Myles as Fran

At its heart, The Guest explores a toxic relationship that takes on an almost hypnotic quality. Ria arrives eager to prove herself, drawn in by Fran's self-assured flair and encouragement to take control of her life. As Ria blossoms under Fran's guidance, the bond between employer and employee shifts from mentorship to something far more twisted. When well-intentioned advice spirals into a shocking incident, secrets come tumbling out and a perilous game of cat and mouse ensues. The question the series poses is simple but chilling: who really holds the power, and who is the true threat?

Eve Myles as Fran and Gabrielle Creevy as Ria

The first-look pictures capture the contrast between Ria's modest world and Fran's sleek environment. One shot shows Ria tentatively stepping into a glass-walled office, eyes alight with hope. In another, Fran stands alone in a boardroom, her expression unreadable. These glimpses hint at a story layered with tension, where every glance and gesture could conceal a deeper motive.

Gabrielle Creevy as Ria

The Guest is the creation of Matthew Barry, the award‑winning writer behind Men Up, who also serves as executive producer. Quay Street Productions, part of ITV Studios, produces the series for a co‑commission from BBC Cymru Wales, with support from Creative Wales. Davina Earl and Nicola Shindler lend further executive producing weight, while Ashley Way directs all four episodes. BAFTA‑winning producer Karen Lewis oversees production, and international distribution is handled by ITV Studios.

Eve Myles as Fran 

This Autumn, viewers can immerse themselves in the unsettling world of The Guest, where loyalty and ambition collide, and trust can become the greatest weapon of all.

Eve Myles as Fran 

Batch from Scratch: Cooking for Less Returns with Fresh Families and Festive Flavours

Image: Ch4 Press

By Jon Donnis

Joe Swash and Suzanne Mulholland are back to help more families stretch their budgets and reclaim their evenings. In a new six-part series and a festive special of Batch from Scratch: Cooking for Less, the Channel 4 presenter and the batch‑cooking guru known as The Batch Lady will join forces with Lidl GB to showcase nutritious, time‑saving recipes and clever kitchen hacks. Their mission remains the same: to turn mealtimes from a daily chore into a money‑saving, stress‑busting routine.

The first series proved there is a real appetite for this kind of practical inspiration. It drew an average consolidated audience of 1.1 million viewers within the first 28 days of broadcast. Viewers sent messages of thanks after discovering how planning and cooking in batches can cut food waste and slash bills. Joe and Suzanne tapped into that enthusiasm by taking on households of all shapes and sizes, from young parents juggling work and toddlers to empty‑nesters keen to revive their cooking skills.

They're both keen to dive back in. "We're both excited to keep spreading the word about the power of batch cooking and look forward to teaming up again to transform the lives of families around the UK," Joe and Suzanne say in a joint statement. Casting is now open for anyone who wants to take part. Families can apply via the Channel 4 take‑part website and bring a fresh batch of challenges and triumphs to the screen.

Production is handled by South Shore Productions in Cardiff, with Melanie Leach, Andrew Mackenzie‑Betty and Sam Grace serving as executive producers. Claire Nosworthy is the series editor, while the show is commissioned by Clemency Green, Senior Commissioning Editor for Lifestyle, alongside Jo Street, Head of Lifestyle and Director of Commissioning for Nations & Regions. The festive special will ring in the season with seasonal batch‑cooking ideas and budget savvy for Christmas dinner and beyond.

With Lidl GB on board, each episode will highlight real‑world price comparisons and ingredient swaps, showing how quality produce need not come at a premium. Between Joe's down‑to‑earth enthusiasm and Suzanne's meticulous planning tips, the new run of Batch from Scratch: Cooking for Less promises to deliver both inspiration and practical know‑how. Families across the country can look forward to discovering how a little foresight and a few simple tricks can make every meal matter.