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.

Unforgivable Preview - Jimmy McGovern Returns With Another Hard-Hitting BBC Drama

Images: BBC Press

By Jon Donnis

The BBC has released a first glimpse at Unforgivable, a new original drama from Jimmy McGovern, one of the most consistently fearless writers in British television. Known for work that never shies away from difficult truths, McGovern turns his attention to the aftermath of sexual abuse within a family, setting the stage for what promises to be another emotionally charged and socially urgent story.

Anna Friel as Anna

Set in Liverpool, Unforgivable focuses on the Mitchell family as they attempt to come to terms with an act of abuse committed by one of their own. It's a premise that demands sensitivity and depth, and with McGovern's reputation for giving space to complexity rather than easy answers, it's likely to be a raw but necessary watch. The drama explores not just the act itself, but the reverberations that follow, how trauma spreads across generations, how trust is fractured, and how people try to rebuild in the shadow of something that can't be undone.

Anna Maxwell Martin as Katherine

Anna Friel leads the cast as Anna, joined by Bobby Schofield as Joe and Anna Maxwell Martin as Katherine. The cast also includes David Threlfall, Austin Haynes, and a strong supporting ensemble, with Mark Womack, Paddy Rowan, Phina Oruche and newcomer Fin McParland rounding out the roles. It's an impressive line-up, many of whom have worked with McGovern before, which should give the characters the weight and realism this story needs.

Austin Haynes as Tom

Directed by Julia Ford, who has helmed acclaimed series such as Showtrial and Safe, the drama is made by LA Productions, the team behind Broken and Anthony. Production is complete and Unforgivable is set to air later this year on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two. While full plot details are still under wraps, the first-look images already suggest a heavy, atmospheric tone, with tension etched into every expression.

Bobby Schofield as Joe

This isn't just a family drama. It's about silence, guilt, confrontation and survival. And if McGovern's past work is anything to go by, Unforgivable will not just tell a story. it will challenge viewers to sit with it, think about it, and ask what justice, healing, or redemption might really look like in such circumstances.

David Threlfall as Brian

DIY SOS and Morning Live Join Forces to Transform Children’s Cancer Charity

Image: BBC Press - L-R: Joshua, Lynda, Dai Hill, Pudsey, Nick Knowles, Richard Driffield and Danielle Percival

By Jon Donnis

This year's DIY SOS Children in Need Special is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious to date. For the first time, the long-running BBC show is teaming up with Morning Live to deliver a build that promises to change lives in every sense. The project will support The Joshua Tree, a Cheshire-based charity offering tailored support to children affected by cancer and their families.

Nick Knowles surprised the charity's founders, Dai and Lynda Hill, with the news that they'd been chosen for this year's build. The announcement, made live on Morning Live, also served as a rallying cry to tradespeople and businesses across the UK. As with every DIY SOS project, the transformation depends on volunteers donating time, materials and skill to get it over the line.

This time, the team has just ten days to expand the charity's existing space, which has struggled to keep up with demand as The Joshua Tree's reach has grown across the country. What started twenty years ago as a small, local initiative now helps more families than ever before, and the need for a larger, more accessible facility has never been greater.

The project kicks off in September, with the build itself taking place from 2 to 11 September in Northwich. A dedicated Trades Day is scheduled for Thursday 7 August, giving local professionals a chance to meet the team and offer their support. The final reveal will air during Children in Need week in November, giving viewers the chance to witness the full impact of the transformation.

Joining Nick Knowles and the core DIY SOS crew will be Morning Live presenters Gethin Jones and Helen Skelton, who'll swap the studio for hard hats and hi-vis vests as they pitch in on-site. Designer Gabrielle Blackman will once again lead on the build's creative direction, helping to create a welcoming, functional space that can offer real comfort and support to families at their most vulnerable.

BBC Children in Need already funds a dedicated Children's Support Worker at The Joshua Tree, but this build will expand the charity's reach and capacity. According to CEO Rich Driffield, the changes will allow them to support more families than ever before, offering a safe, therapeutic space for children to recover, play and just be themselves.

It's not just about bricks and mortar. As always, DIY SOS projects reflect something bigger, the power of people coming together for a cause that matters. With support from communities, tradespeople, and generous suppliers, this build won't just improve a building. It'll help rebuild hope.

BBC and Glastonbury Organisers Slammed Over Antisemitic Chants: MPs Demand Arrests, Public Fury Grows

By Jon Donnis

This year's Glastonbury Festival has become a national disgrace. What should have been a celebration of music and culture is now mired in controversy after several artists led antisemitic chants from the main stage, cheered on by parts of the crowd and broadcast live by the BBC. The fallout has been swift, but for many, not nearly swift enough. Anger is no longer directed solely at the performers. The BBC and the festival organisers are now being accused of giving a platform to hate, and failing to act when it mattered most.

The chants were not vague. They were loud, aggressive, and clearly targeted. They were shouted in front of tens of thousands of people and sent into homes across the UK without censorship, context, or criticism. The BBC aired the footage in full, without muting the audio or flagging any concerns. For many viewers, this wasn't a technical oversight or a one-off mistake. It felt like endorsement. The state-funded broadcaster handed a microphone to individuals inciting hatred, then stood back and did nothing.

Organisers of Glastonbury are facing questions they are struggling to answer. These performers were not unknown quantities. They were paid guests, invited to appear on a world stage. Festival bosses handed them that platform and failed to intervene when it was misused. For a festival that promotes itself as inclusive and progressive, the silence from "The Left" is deafening.

MPs from across the political spectrum are now calling for arrests. Some have gone further, demanding criminal investigations into both the performers and those who facilitated the broadcasts. One senior MP said, "There is no justification for what we witnessed. If this had been targeted at any other group, we would be looking at police vans outside artist trailers and emergency sessions in Parliament." The question many are asking is simple. Why are antisemitic incidents treated differently?

The case of Lucy Connolly has resurfaced as a stark point of comparison. She was prosecuted and publicly named for a tweet that breached hate speech laws. Her case was handled quickly. Police acted. Media covered it in full. She was locked up for years, for what was just a tweet which she soon deleted. At Glastonbury, hatred was shouted into a microphone in front of cameras, streamed live, and met with applause. Yet, no one has been arrested. No charges have been filed. No real accountability has followed. The contrast is staggering.

This scandal has once again exposed what many now see as a two-tier justice system in the UK. Speech is policed unevenly. Offence is pursued selectively. Institutions claim to stand against racism, but when it involves antisemitism, the urgency seems to disappear. There is growing frustration, especially among British Jews, that their safety and dignity are treated as optional.

The BBC now finds itself in an impossible position. The trust it once held is slipping fast. Public protests have already begun outside its offices. Viewers are demanding to know why their licence fee is being used to amplify hatred. Meanwhile, politicians are pressing for an inquiry. Questions are being raised about editorial standards, oversight, and the festival's relationship with the broadcaster.

What happened at Glastonbury was not a misunderstanding. It was a choice. Artists chose to chant what they did. The BBC chose to air it. The organisers chose to remain silent. Those choices have consequences, and this time, the public is watching closely.

Filming Begins on Series Two of BBC Comedy We Might Regret This

(Image: Roughcut TV / BBC)

By Jon Donnis

Filming is officially underway on the second series of We Might Regret This, the acclaimed BBC comedy co-created by Kyla Harris and Lee Getty. Produced by Roughcut TV for BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, the series made a strong debut and has since earned award recognition, including a BAFTA Emerging Talent nomination and inclusion in BAFTA's 2024 Breakthrough UK cohort.

Set in London, the new series follows Freya (Kyla Harris) and Abe (Darren Boyd) as they begin planning their wedding after a recent engagement. But what should be a moment of celebration quickly becomes more complicated. Their ideas about marriage and how to approach the big day do not always line up. The process becomes increasingly chaotic, especially with the involvement of Freya's agents, The Olivias, played by Emma Sidi and Hanako Footman. The two rope Freya and Abe into a campaign focused on disability inclusion, turning their personal milestone into a public-facing project.

Alongside the stress of wedding planning and the pressures of visibility, Abe is forced to reckon with his history with Jo (Elena Saurel), particularly after walking in on her and Freya reconnecting. Jo is someone who still matters deeply to Freya, which raises uncomfortable questions for Abe. As the connection between Jo and Freya deepens, Abe must decide how to live with the reality of someone who plays a key part in Freya's life and support system.

Joining the cast for this new chapter is Sophie Thompson, known for Detectorists, SisterS and Silo, playing Beanie McElroy, a designer from the alternative bridalwear world. Beanie is brought in to collaborate with Freya on her wedding outfit. Returning cast members include Edward Bluemel, Sally Phillips, Aasiya Shah and Lolly Adefope, all reprising their roles from the first series.

Kyla Harris and Lee Getty have said, "We're beyond excited to be back on set with series two of We Might Regret This. Expect more laughs, hard truths and nipples." Executive producer Rebecca Murrell added, "So delighted to be back in production. Series two reboots our knotty relationships with drama, hope and hilarity."

The series consists of four 30-minute episodes. It is a Roughcut TV production, commissioned by BBC Comedy Director Jon Petrie. Executive producers are Ash Atalla, Alex Smith and Rebecca Murrell, with Gregor Sharp as the commissioning editor.

Series two of We Might Regret This promises more of what made the first run resonate: sharp writing, complex relationships and a perspective rarely seen on screen. The return of Harris and Getty, both in front of and behind the camera, ensures that the show continues to blend humour with moments of real emotional weight.

First Look at ‘In Flight’: Katherine Kelly Leads New High-Stakes Crime Drama

Images Ch4 Press

By Jon Donnis

The first images have landed for In Flight, a six-part crime-thriller that centres on a flight attendant pulled into the dark world of drug smuggling after her son is arrested for a murder in Bulgaria. With his life hanging in the balance and time against her, she is forced to become something she never imagined.

The series is set to launch later this year and comes from Buccaneer Media, the production company behind Marcella, The Crow Girl and The Burning Girls. It is written and co-created by Mike Walden, known for his work on Marcella and Whitstable Pearl, and Adam Randall, whose credits include Slow Horses and iBoy. Brendan Mullin, who previously worked on Wreck and Dalgliesh, is producing. Direction comes from Chris Baugh, who also helmed Wreck and Tin Star.

Katherine Kelly takes the lead as Jo Conran, a single mum and flight attendant whose life is thrown into chaos when her son, Sonny, is imprisoned overseas. He insists he is innocent. Desperate to keep him alive, Jo is blackmailed by a criminal gang who use her airline access to move narcotics across borders. Stuart Martin appears as Cormac, a key figure in the gang, and Ashley Thomas plays Dom Delaney, Jo's ex and a customs officer she turns to when she runs out of options.

The story is grounded in international travel but also dives headfirst into a tense, emotional narrative about loyalty, fear and survival. The series leans into its jet-setting premise, taking viewers to cities like Bangkok, Istanbul, and London, while also including scenes in Bulgaria where much of the story's urgency unfolds. Filming wrapped earlier this year in Belfast, with support from Northern Ireland Screen.

Supporting roles come from Bronagh Waugh as Melanie, Corinna Brown as Kayla, Ambreen Razia as Zara, and Harry Cadby as Jo's son Sonny.

While Jo's old life starts slipping away, the danger closes in and the stakes rise fast. Every decision she makes is tied to the single goal of keeping her son alive, even if it means crossing every line in the process. Caught between the demands of the gang and the suspicion of law enforcement, Jo is thrust into a world of deadly choices with no clear exit.

Behind the scenes, the series has strong backing. Executive producers include Anna Burns, Richard Tulk-Hart and Tony Wood for Buccaneer, Rebecca Dundon and Simon Judd for Fremantle, as well as Walden, Randall, Kelly and Baugh.

International broadcasters are already on board, with Germany's ProSieben, SBS in Australia and TVNZ in New Zealand securing early rights. Fremantle is handling distribution globally.

In Flight looks set to deliver a gripping blend of personal drama and international crime, all viewed through the eyes of a woman whose life changes at 30,000 feet.