The Friend Ship: Joe Marler and Joe Wilkinson Take Their Friendship on the Water

Joe Marler and Joe Wilkinson (Image: Zeppotron [a Banijay UK company] / BBC)

By Jon Donnis

The Friend Ship sees Joe Marler and Joe Wilkinson take their unlikely friendship on the road, although this time their journey will be spent on Britain’s waterways.

The six-part series, produced by Zeppotron, a Banijay UK company, follows the pair as they set off on a canal boat adventure combining Wilkinson’s love of canals with Marler’s enthusiasm for having fun. The result promises a very confined test of their friendship, complete with cramped cabins, canal locks and plenty of opportunities for their childlike sense of humour to take over.

The pair became firm friends while appearing on Celebrity Traitors, and The Friend Ship gives them the chance to spend considerably more time together as Wilkinson takes his new friend on a journey that fulfils a lifelong dream of his, ending at the Falkirk Wheel, the engineering landmark connecting two separate stretches of canal.

Their route will take them through North Wales, the West Country, Birmingham, the Pennines, London and Edinburgh. Along the way, they will stop to meet groups of friends from different walks of life while experiencing the slower pace of life on the canals.

Away from the sightseeing and silliness, the journey will also explore friendship, community and male loneliness. As Marler and Wilkinson get to know each other better, they will also discover more about the habits that can become particularly noticeable when two friends are sharing a confined space.

Filming is now underway, with transmission details for The Friend Ship to be announced.

A Course Called Ireland: Bill Murray Takes Golfing Road Trip Across Ireland

Tom Coyne and Bill Murray (Image: BBC/Stellify Media - (a Sony Pictures Television company) / Christopher Barr)

By Jon Donnis

BBC Two, BBC Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer have unveiled first-look images from A Course Called Ireland, a new six-part documentary series following Bill Murray on an unpredictable road trip around the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Produced by Skydance Sports and Stellify Media, the series sees Murray joined by extended family members Joel and John Murray, alongside celebrity friends including Chris O’Dowd, Joanne McNally and Jason Kelce. Long-time golfing companion and author Tom Coyne also joins Murray for the journey.

Golf provides the starting point, with Murray and Coyne playing their way across some of the island’s legendary courses. However, the series is about more than what happens between the first tee and the final hole. Along the way, the pair meet the people who give the island its character, with the journey exploring the stories, personalities and experiences that have helped shape Murray’s connection to his Irish heritage.

Each episode visits a different golf course and features a different guest, giving the six-part series a new setting and personality throughout its journey.

The BBC describes A Course Called Ireland as a celebration of life going gloriously off course, with golf serving as the excuse for Murray and his friends to explore the island and meet the people along the way.

The first episode of A Course Called Ireland will air on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer from Friday 23 October, before the series arrives on BBC Two on Sunday 25 October at 9.30pm.

Chris O'Dowd and Bill Murray (Image: BBC/Stellify Media (a Sony Pictures Television company))

Wisdom of the Crowd brings a new twist to the Saturday night quiz show

Image: BBC

By Jon Donnis

There is something immediately appealing about Wisdom of the Crowd. Rather than simply asking contestants to answer questions, the new Saturday night quiz show is built around a fascinating scientific theory that dates back more than 100 years.

Hosted by John Bishop, the show takes its inspiration from scientist Francis Galton, who visited a farmers' fair where more than 800 people attempted to guess the weight of an ox. Galton discovered that the average of all those guesses was remarkably accurate, even beating the best individual guess.

That idea, which he called The Wisdom of the Crowd, went on to influence politics, economics and philosophy. Now it is being given a rather more entertaining test, with up to £30,000 at stake.

The basic concept is simple. A contestant takes on the entire studio audience, with everyone asked a question requiring a numerical answer. The contestant wins £10,000 if their guess is closer to the correct answer than the Crowd's average guess.

The questions sound deliberately unpredictable, covering everything from the average spend on an engagement ring to how many pairs of pants the average man owns and how many minutes per week the average person exercises.

Contestants get three attempts, but the interesting part comes when they start losing. If the Crowd beats them, they can try again. Fail on the third attempt and they are out with nothing, while the £10,000 goes into the Crowd Fund to be shared equally among the Crowd at the end of the show.

There is also a fascinating escape route. Contestants can choose to forfeit the £10,000 and join the Crowd instead, giving up the chance of winning big for the possibility of taking a smaller share of the eventual fund.

That dilemma is what makes Wisdom of the Crowd particularly intriguing. The science suggests that the Crowd should have the advantage, but the whole point of the show is seeing whether individual contestants can defy the odds.

I like the idea behind this one. It takes a scientific discovery that is genuinely interesting and turns it into a straightforward Saturday night game show, while giving contestants a difficult choice between trusting their own judgement and putting their faith in everyone else.

The big question is whether anyone can actually beat the Wisdom of the Crowd and walk away with the full £30,000.

Wisdom of the Crowd starts on Saturday 19 September at 9.15pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

The Walsh Sisters returning to the BBC for second series

Image: BBC

By Jon Donnis

The Walsh Sisters is returning to the BBC for a second six-part series, bringing the chaotic and dysfunctional Walsh family back to Dublin.

Inspired by the novels of international best-selling author Marian Keyes, the comedy drama will once again follow the five Walsh sisters, their mother and their bemused father as they navigate the latest challenges facing their family.

Series two sees each of the sisters facing a different personal struggle. Rachel steps outside the family bubble as she attempts to manage her recovery on her own terms, but her newfound independence is tested when she encounters a familiar face.

Claire finds herself challenging the traditional expectations placed on her as a mother, particularly when compared with the responsibilities of her ex as a father. Meanwhile, Maggie's attempt to create the perfect family takes an unexpected turn as she reaches a crossroads in her marriage.

Helen becomes increasingly protective of her sisters while also struggling with her own emotional wellbeing, while Anna turns to some unusual methods in an attempt to overcome heartbreak.

As the sisters face their individual challenges, all five are forced to confront who they really are as the roles they have previously played in life begin to feel as though they no longer fit.

Away from the sisters' troubles, Daddy Walsh remains blissfully unaware of much of the family drama. His attention is instead focused on his ambition to land a part in the local amateur dramatic musical, much to the frustration of Mammy Walsh.

Despite the changes and challenges facing the family, the second series will retain the fierce, funny and unbreakable bond between the Walsh sisters at the heart of the story.

The Voice UK unveils brand new line-up for Series 15

Image: ITV

By Jon Donnis

The Voice UK is getting a major new look when it returns for its 15th series in 2027, with Alesha Dixon and Stacey Solomon taking over as hosts and two new coaches joining the famous red chairs.

Alesha Dixon and Stacey Solomon will lead the new series, while platinum-selling rap artist Aitch and global pop icon Cheryl prepare to make their coaching debuts.

The pair will be joined by international superstar Kelly Rowland, who is returning for her second series as a coach, alongside long-standing The Voice UK coach will.i.am.

The new panel brings together a mix of musical experience and competitive spirit as the coaches begin their search for the nation's next vocal powerhouse. They will be looking to discover and celebrate some of the most exciting vocal talent emerging from across the country.

The changes also mark the end of Sir Tom Jones' time on The Voice UK. ITV has thanked the legendary singer for his years on the programme and the countless memorable moments he provided, both for audiences and for the singers who performed for him and alongside him.

Emma Willis, Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones have also been thanked for their contributions to the show. ITV praised their dedication, expertise and energy during their time on The Voice UK and wished them well as they move on to their next chapters.

The Voice UK is produced by Lifted Entertainment, part of ITV Studios, with The Voice being an ITV Studios-owned format. ITV Studios handles the format's international distribution.

Series 15 of The Voice UK will air in 2027.

The current series of The Voice UK airs Saturdays at 7pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.

FULL EPISODE: Beat The Internet - S01 E06

 

Beat the Internet with John Robins is a British comedy quiz show that aired on Dave in 2018 and 2019, hosted by comedian John Robins with Sunil Patel as the resident fact-master. The series challenged contestants to predict the things people were most likely to search for online, using real search data as the basis for questions and challenges. Blending general knowledge, internet trends and comedy, the show offered a quirky take on the traditional quiz format, with contestants having to think less like a quiz expert and more like the average person sitting at a search engine.

The Split Up: New Trailer Reveals BBC’s Latest Legal Drama

Image: BBC

By Jon Donnis

A new trailer has been released for The Split Up, a six-part legal drama from the makers of the hit series The Split.

The new series will debut on BBC iPlayer and BBC One from Sunday 20 September, with all six episodes available to stream on BBC iPlayer from launch. Episodes will also air on BBC One at 9pm on Sundays and Mondays.

Created by Ursula Rani Sarma, whose credits include Delicious, The Split Up is based on The Split, created by multiple award-winning writer Abi Morgan. The new drama is produced by SISTER Pictures in association with Morgan’s Little Chick.

Set in Manchester, the series introduces a new family and a new collection of relationships to the world of high-net-worth divorce law.

At the heart of the drama is Aria Kishan, played by Ritu Arya, a rising star in the legal world who is poised to take over Kishan Law, the powerful family firm founded by her father, Dhruv, played by Sanjeev Bhaskar.

Kishan Law is the firm of choice for Manchester’s elite, bringing Aria and her family into contact with a series of high-profile clients.

However, Aria's professional ambitions are matched by complications in her personal life. She is preparing to marry her long-term partner Neal, played by Danny Ashok, but their relationship is already under pressure due to the close connection between their personal and professional lives.

Things become even more complicated when Luke, played by respected Greek Cypriot actor Dimitri Leonidas, unexpectedly joins Kishan Law. Luke is a former secret flame of Aria, potentially putting further strain on her relationship as she prepares for marriage.

The family is also dealing with the recent death of Aria's mother. While Aria stands on the brink of inheriting the family firm, Dhruv begins to question whether his daughter is ready to take on the responsibility of running Kishan Law alone.

Aria's siblings Maya, played by Aysha Kala, and Kav, played by Arian Nik, have their own complicated relationships and loyalties, adding further tension within the family.

The new trailer offers a glimpse of the pressures facing Aria as she attempts to balance her career, family responsibilities and relationships, while the cases handled by Kishan Law bring the private lives of its wealthy clients into the spotlight.

Combining the family drama of The Split with a new setting, new characters and new storylines, The Split Up promises to explore the divisions that can emerge between families and the people they love.

The Split Up premieres on BBC iPlayer and BBC One on Sunday 20 September.