Deano Brings Mischief and Heart to the BBC

Image: BBC Press

By Jon Donnis

The BBC has announced the acquisition of Deano, a new adult animated series that follows the adventures of an eight-year-old boy with a heart of gold. The show will be available on BBC iPlayer and BBC One, bringing a mix of family chaos and sharp satire to audiences across the UK. Originally a web series, Deano quickly attracted a global following, amassing millions of views on social media.

The 8x30 minute series is the brainchild of Australian creators Dean Thomas and David Ferrier. It is co-produced by Hooligan Animation, BBC Studios and 20th Television Animation, with BBC Studios serving as the lead studio and Hulu set to distribute the show worldwide. Joe Brumm, the creator of Bluey, is involved as script editor and executive producer for Hooligan.

Deano himself is a cheeky, spirited boy whose tough exterior hides a golden heart. Growing up in a tough neighbourhood in a run-down house, he faces challenges that would daunt most, yet he treats everyone equally, from local teenage dropouts to the town police chief. Central to the story is Deano's friendship with Kit, his timid best mate from the wealthy side of town, which adds warmth and depth to the series.

With its blend of humour, satire and heartfelt storytelling, Deano promises to be a standout addition to BBC's lineup, offering a fresh perspective on childhood, community and unlikely friendships.

Crookhaven First Look Reveals a Twisty New BBC Family Drama

Image: BBC Press

By Jon Donnis

The first look at Crookhaven has arrived today, bringing early glimpses of the highly anticipated drama based on the global hit book series by JJ Arcanjo. The eight part series will air later this spring on BBC One, CBBC and BBC iPlayer, positioning itself as essential viewing for the whole family. Alongside the first look, brand new images have also been released.

Set inside a secret school for crooks, Crookhaven turns the traditional high school story inside out. The series places its characters in a world where deception and strategy are not only taught but refined. It promises a gripping and morally complex mystery, layered with twists and rooted in questions of identity, loyalty and the idea of found family.

The trailer offers a glimpse of students being inducted into the school and trained to perfect their skills. Their lessons are not about causing harm. Instead, they are taught to use what they learn to do good, to restore balance, and to bring justice and order to the outside world. It is a bold premise that challenges easy definitions of right and wrong.

Leading the cast is Dougray Scott, joined by Keith Allen, Julie Hesmondhalgh and Claire Forlani. The series also features breakout stars known from shows such as Adolescence and Heartstopper. Together, they bring to life a story that blends mystery with emotional depth, set within a world that feels both secretive and sharply relevant.

With its twisty narrative and focus on belonging, Crookhaven looks set to make a strong impression when it lands on BBC One, CBBC and BBC iPlayer later this spring.

Total Kombat 03 Set to Light Up ITVX

Image: ITV Press

By Jon Donnis

Total Kombat, the underground combat sports phenomenon co-created by British UFC star Michael Page, makes its return to ITVX on Saturday, February 28th with another high-octane fight card that promises fireworks from the opening bell.

The event forms part of a fresh broadcast agreement with ITV, securing four live shows on ITVX along with highlights on ITV4. When Total Kombat first hit screens in September it immediately caught attention. More than half of the contests ended before the final bell, three of them inside the first round, and viewers were struck by both the technical quality and the relentless pace.

Total Kombat 03 looks set to follow the same blueprint. The card features a strong line-up, including Dee Begley of SBG Dublin, a teammate of MMA superstar Conor McGregor. Also in action is Ben Fillingham, who sharpens his skills alongside UFC standouts Lone'er Kavanagh and Nathaniel Wood, as well as Commonwealth Games silver medallist Cameron Booth. It is a mix of proven champions and hungry contenders, exactly the blend that fuels explosive matchups.

The previous event proved just how quickly the promotion is gaining traction. Highlights shown on ITVX delivered 2025's biggest television audience for a UK martial arts promotion, while clips circulating online amassed tens of millions of views. For a new brand, that kind of reach signals serious momentum.

At the heart of the concept is a clear identity. Built as a fan-focused sports entertainment product, the rule set was crafted by Page himself. Wrestling and ground fighting are removed from the equation, placing the spotlight squarely on striking. Elite kickboxers stand opposite Olympic-level karate and Taekwondo specialists, free to showcase the kind of spectacular finishes that have defined Page's own career.

On February 28th, Total Kombat aims to capture that lightning again. Fast. Direct. Designed for highlight moments. If the debut was any indication, viewers tuning in to ITVX can expect another night where anything can happen and it often does.

Gaelic Drama An t-Eilean (The Island) to return for a second series

Image: BBC Press

By Jon Donnis

The BBC has announced that An t-Eilean, the award-winning Gaelic drama also known as The Island, will return for a second series after a successful debut last year. The show was the UK's first high-end Gaelic drama and became the biggest and most high-profile drama in BBC ALBA's history.

Created by Nicholas Osborne and co-written with Mairead Hamilton, the new series promises another gripping mystery. Sorcha Groundsell, who has appeared in The Innocents and His Dark Materials, will return in the lead role of Detective Sergeant Kat Crichton.

The four-part drama, with episodes of forty-seven minutes each, is produced by Black Camel Pictures for BBC ALBA, BBC FOUR and BBC iPlayer. Filming will take place largely on location in the Western Isles, with production set to begin in Spring 2026.

The new series opens with Kat feeling frustrated both at work and at home, as she cares for her ill father and handles minor local crimes. The situation escalates when the body of a young woman washes up on the shore, thrusting Kat into a hunt for a killer stalking the islands. As the investigation unfolds, hidden lives and devastating secrets among the community's young people are revealed, forcing Kat to confront both the case and her own complicated ties to her home.

Former nemesis Ruaraidh MacLean, now running a local youth group, brings suspicions of other missing young islanders, drawing him back into Kat's world as the case tightens around those closest to home. Together, they are pulled into a terrifying and twisted series of events that uncover unexpected corruption in the hunt for a serial killer.

Bill MacLeod, Commissioning Editor at BBC ALBA, said they were delighted to recommission the internationally acclaimed show, noting that An t-Eilean would once again take viewers to dramatic landscapes with a story that keeps them engaged until the final frame. Arabella Page Croft, Executive Producer at Black Camel Pictures, expressed excitement at returning to the series and praised its success both at home and internationally.

David Smith, Director of Screen Scotland, highlighted the cultural significance of An t-Eilean, noting that although second series funding is rare, the series' impact made continued support possible.

Series two is funded by MG ALBA, BBC, Screen Scotland, Black Camel Pictures, and Highlands & Islands Enterprise, with location support from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. The series is produced in association with All3Media International as the global partner. Tom O'Sullivan returns as Director, with Mairead Hamilton as co-Director. Additional cast members will be announced in due course.

Channel 4 has commissioned Close to Home

Image: Ch4 Press

By Jon Donnis

Channel 4 has commissioned Close to Home, a four part drama produced by Element Pictures, a multi Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA winning company and part of Fremantle. The company is known for Normal People and Bugonia, and this new series promises a story grounded in Belfast, looking at youth, trauma and the lingering effects of history.

The series is adapted by Michael Magee from his debut novel, which won the 2023 Rooney Prize for Irish Literature and the 2024 Nero Prize for Debut Fiction. Direction is by Diarmuid Goggins, known for Code of Silence, giving the story a tense and immersive feel.

Anthony Boyle stars as Sean, a young man returning to Belfast after university. He falls back into old habits, late nights, borrowed money, missed rent, unreliable jobs, and living with his brother and mother, all while unspoken family tensions simmer. Jessica Reynolds plays Mairéad, Seamus O'Hara is Anthony, and Oisín Thompson is Ryan, completing a close knit circle of friends whose lives are intertwined with the city around them.

The story takes a dark turn when Sean assaults a stranger at a party, setting off a chain of events that upends friendships and family life. Close to Home is a story of love, recklessness and the struggle to find your place in a city still marked by its past, where every street seems to hold a story and every choice has weight.

Derren Brown: Incognito - Coming Soon

Image: Ch4 Press

By Jon Donnis

Derren Brown: Incognito is a fresh six part series on Channel 4, created by Vaudeville Productions and thought up by Derren Brown.

In our daily lives we all make quick judgments about people. These ideas come from years of social conditioning and our own personal biases. But what happens when those assumptions are tested in situations no one expects?

In Incognito, ten strangers from very different walks of life are brought together to live in a mysterious institution for seven days. The one thing they share is an identity that others are likely to judge right away. There could be a Soldier, a Spy, a Priest or a Porn Star among them. Each person believes they have a simple goal. They must work out the identities of the other participants while keeping their own a secret.

But Derren Brown has another plan. This is not just a clever guessing game. It is a playful psychological experiment that looks at how identity affects behaviour and how prejudice can blind us.

Every game played, every conversation had and every time someone is eliminated is designed to make the players question their initial impressions. Alliances and strategies shift as unexpected twists unfold. As this happens, both the participants and the viewers at home may start to question their own long held views and see people they might normally overlook in a new light.

At a time when society often feels divided and polarised, the series raises a big question. Can these long standing ideas about others be changed, and can the players find a new empathy for one another, or will old prejudices remain once the experiment ends?

Derren Brown said, "This has been a fascinating new venture. With my previous shows I've normally had a clear idea of how things will conclude, this was very different. It's a show about how we form opinions, live by our labels, judge others by them. And what happens when all that's removed. It was a beautiful and extraordinary thing to make." 

Break Clause Brings Breakups and Flatshares Into Sharp Comic Focus

Images: Ch4 Press

By Jon Donnis

A breakup is messy at the best of times. Add a shared tenancy and nowhere else to go, and things get complicated fast. That awkward, painfully familiar setup sits at the heart of Break Clause, a new six-part comedy from BBC Studios Comedy, written and created by Jess Bray and directed by Alice Snedden.

The series follows Ben and Lil, played by Samuel Bottomley and Lara Ricote, whose relationship has come to an end but whose living situation has not. They are stuck under the same roof, trying to untangle their lives while still sharing the same space. Moving on from your first love is hard enough. Moving out, it turns out, is even harder.

Bottomley, known for How to Have Sex, steps into the role of Ben, with Ricote from Mitchell And Webb Are Not Helping playing Lil. Around them is a packed ensemble that promises plenty of comic friction. John Thomson appears as Alan, Lucy Black as Deb, Catherine Cohen as Jos and Charly Clive as Frances. They are joined by Hammed Animashaun as Paul, Michael Workéyè as Kas, Jessica Knappett as the Vicar, Nathan Foad as Owen, Assa Kanouté as Kira, Jack Shep as Liam, Tamika Bennett as Nic, Jack James Ryan as Jordan and Lucas Jones as Sean.

Behind the camera, the show is steered by Bray's writing and Alice Snedden's direction, with production handled by BBC Studios Comedy in a co-production with Germany's ZDFneo. The project was commissioned for Channel 4 by Charlie Perkins, Head of Comedy, and Laura Riseam, Commissioning Editor.

Executive producers Jess Bray, Mark Freeland, Molly Seymour and Josh Cole represent BBC Studios Comedy, with Laura Mae Harding for ZDFneo, while Olly Cambridge serves as producer. BBC Studios will also oversee global sales, taking the flat share fallout to audiences well beyond the UK.

At its core, Break Clause leans into the small, everyday chaos of modern relationships. Not grand drama, just two people trying to figure out what comes next while still passing each other in the kitchen. It is an idea that feels instantly relatable, and ripe for comedy.