Peaky Blinders Returns with a New Generation

 Jamie Bell as Duke Shelby (Image: Ben Blackall)

By Jon Donnis

Steven Knight, creator of Peaky Blinders, is taking audiences back to post-war Birmingham with two new series set in the 1950s, following the next generation of the Shelby family. Jamie Bell, known for All of Us Strangers and Rocket Man, will star as Duke Shelby, ten years after the events of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.

Set a decade after World War Two, the new era explores a Birmingham in fierce competition to rebuild itself. At the centre is Duke Shelby: older, sharper, more ambitious, and more dangerous than ever. The city itself becomes a battlefield of opportunity and risk, reflecting both the mythic scale and personal stakes of the Shelby legacy.

Joining Bell are Charlie Heaton, Jessica Brown Findlay, Lashana Lynch, and Lucy Karczewski in her television debut. Specific details of their roles are yet to be revealed.

Left to right: Charlie Heaton (Image: Julia Sariy), Jessica Brown Findlay (Image: Pip Boudillion), Lashana Lynch (Image: Richard Phibbs) and Lucy Karczewski (Image: Harry Livingstone)

The series is produced by Banijay UK’s Kudos and Garrison Drama for the BBC and Netflix, with filming taking place in and around Digbeth Loc. Studios in Birmingham. Steven Knight said he is thrilled to bring a new era of Peaky Blinders to life, praising Jamie Bell and Charlie Heaton while hinting at further cast announcements.

Both new series will run for six one-hour episodes and will premiere on BBC One, BBC iPlayer in the UK, and Netflix worldwide. The production has support from the West Midlands Combined Authority and represents the first commission under a new BBC partnership to expand investment in the region.

Since its BBC Two debut in 2013, Peaky Blinders has grown into a global phenomenon, winning numerous awards including the 2018 BAFTA for Best Drama Series. Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man also topped Netflix worldwide for two weeks after its release, cementing the series’ continuing appeal.

Taskmaster Returns to Channel 4 for Six New Series

Image: Ch4 Press

By Jon Donnis

Channel 4 has confirmed the return of Taskmaster, ensuring the award-winning comedy format remains on the British public service broadcaster. The recommission includes six new series, with Greg Davies and Alex Horne back in their roles as the Taskmaster and his very small sidekick.

Fans can also look forward to the return of Taskmaster’s New Year Treat and the popular Taskmaster Champion of Champions, once enough previous winners have been crowned. All episodes will remain available to stream for free on Channel 4, alongside the chance to watch international versions from New Zealand, Australia and Canada on both the channel and its YouTube platform for UK audiences. These are part of 13 global adaptations of the format currently airing worldwide.

Series 19, which aired in 2025, recorded the show’s strongest viewing share to date on the channel, particularly among 16-34s, with consolidated figures showing over four times the slot average. Clips shared across Channel 4’s social media, including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook and Snapchat, reached 165 million global views last year.

On the official worldwide YouTube channel, Taskmaster hit 1.4 billion views globally, marking a 69% increase in annual views and new subscribers in 2025. North American viewership has also grown, with views up 70% to 243 million and new subscribers up 82%. Since its 2019 launch, the channel has amassed over 1.4 billion lifetime views from more than 100 million unique viewers.

Alex Horne, the show’s creator and host commented: “I’m pleased and quite stressed that I’ve got to come up with a lot more tasks for a lot more comedians but the thought of three more years in Greg’s deep embrace is soothing my little head”.

The Taskmaster, Greg Davies said: “I am delighted the comedian meat grinder remains open for business. I look forward to gleefully keeping it fed with the help of a small, introverted man that I own.”

COMPETITION: Win Queens of Mystery: Series 2 on DVD

Murder mystery royalty is back in Queens of Mystery, as the second series of the witty and whimsical Emmy®-nominated crime caper receives its long-awaited DVD and digital release on 6 April 2026, courtesy of Acorn Media International, following its release on U&Drama.

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

Synopsis:

Created for television by writer Julian Unthank (Doc Martin, New Tricks), the bold and colourful series features a stellar female-led British cast with Julie Graham (This City Is Ours, Shetland), Sarah Woodward (Professor T, Supernova) and Siobhan Redmond (Frankenstein, Between the Lines) starring as crime solving sisters. 

They are joined by Florence Hall (This Is Not a Murder Mystery) as their detective niece and Juliet Stevenson (Bend It Like Beckham, Truly, Madly, Deeply) in her Emmy®-nominated role as narrator. 

Pre-Order from https://amzn.to/4dfmY2t

Enter now for a chance to win.

Which actresses play the crime solving sisters in Queens of Mystery?

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

Quick Terms and conditions

1. Closing date 13-04-26

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.

Train‑ing It with Joe Wilkinson Hits the Tracks

Image: Ch4 Press

By Jon Donnis

Channel 4 is rolling out a fresh digital entertainment series, Train‑ing It with Joe Wilkinson, created in partnership with the Rail Delivery Group, which represents Britain's train operators. Comedian, actor and screenwriter Joe Wilkinson takes the lead, bringing a mix of humour and curiosity to life on the rails.

The five-part series, produced by Electric Robin, part of Banijay UK, follows Joe as he journeys across the country by train with a variety of celebrity guests. The first episode sees Joe travelling with actor Michael Sheen from London to the Rose Theatre in Kingston, setting the tone for conversations that are both amusing and revealing.

Train travel gives the pair extra time to chat, leading to moments that are funny, curious and unexpectedly insightful. Joe's genuine affection for trains shines through, as he explores what goes on behind the scenes and captures the small, authentic moments that can inspire and connect. Each journey offers viewers a unique glimpse into the experiences and stories that unfold between destinations.

Joe Wilkinson: "I love train travel and I love chatting to folk that I admire, so I am thrilled to be doing this show."

Hacks Season Five Brings the Story to a Close

Image: Sky TV

By Jon Donnis

The critically acclaimed series Hacks is set to return for its fifth and final season, with all ten episodes arriving in the UK this April on Sky and streaming service NOW.

The new season follows the aftermath of mistaken and unflattering news reports that wrongly claimed Deborah Vance had died. In response, Deborah and Ava head back to Las Vegas with renewed focus, determined to secure Deborah's legacy as a comedian.

Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder reprise their leading roles, joined once again by Paul W. Downs, Megan Stalter, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Mark Indelicato, and Rose Abdoo. A wide range of guest stars also appear this season, including Robby Hoffman, Tony Goldwyn, Kaitlin Olson, Christopher McDonald, Jane Adams, Lauren Weedman, Poppy Liu, Johnny Sibilly, Luenell, Angela E. Gibbs, and Caitlin Reilly. Additional guest appearances come from Christopher Briney, Leslie Bibb, Cherry Jones, and Ann Dowd.

Hacks continues under the creative leadership of Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky, who serve as creators and showrunners. The series is executive produced by Downs and Aniello through their Paulilu banner, Statsky via First Thought Productions, along with Michael Schur for Fremulon, David Miner for 3 Arts Entertainment, Morgan Sackett, Joe Mande, Aisha Muharrar, Nate Young, and Ashley Glazier. The show is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.

The final season of Hacks will launch exclusively in the UK this April on Sky and NOW.

Landward Marks 50 Years of Rural Storytelling

Image: BBC Press

By Jon Donnis

BBC Scotland's long-running rural affairs programme Landward reaches a major milestone this spring, celebrating half a century on air with a special anniversary episode that looks back at its remarkable history.

First broadcast on 4 April 1976 from BBC Aberdeen, where it is still produced today by BBC Studios, Landward grew out of the earlier Farm Forum programmes on radio and television. Originally described as Scotland's farming programme, the debut episode ran for 25 minutes and featured reports from the National Farmers' Union conference alongside a focus on suckling cattle.

In those early years, the show aired every other Sunday at lunchtime, quickly finding its place with audiences across both rural and urban Scotland. Over time, it became a familiar and trusted presence, reflecting the changing face of the countryside while staying rooted in its original purpose.

The upcoming anniversary episode delves into the programme's extensive archive, with previously lost material now rediscovered and digitised from original film reels. Some of this footage has not been seen for more than four decades, offering a rare glimpse into Landward's past.

Presenter Dougie Vipond revisits the programme's history by meeting key figures from its early days, including first presenter Ross Muir. He also speaks with former series producer Arthur Anderson, who played a significant role in expanding the show's focus beyond farming to include wider aspects of rural life such as wildlife, nature and environmental issues.

The special will also feature a compilation of past presenters, bringing together familiar faces including Dan Buglass, Ben Coutts, Eric Robson, Linsday Cannon, Nancy Nicolson, Euan McIllwraith, Ken Rundle, Nick Nairn, Sarah Mack, Claire Powell and John Harle. Nick Nairn joins Vipond for a conversation reflecting on changes within the industry, including the move towards direct selling of farm produce, alongside their own memories of working on the programme.

Across five decades, Landward has steadily broadened its scope. What began as a specialist farming series has grown to cover major developments affecting rural Scotland, from land reform and historic buyouts to animal disease outbreaks, renewable energy and the impact of Covid.

The anniversary episode concludes with Vipond meeting the current presenting team as they share their own standout moments, linking past and present in a programme that continues to evolve.

The celebrations will extend across the spring series, with further revisits to archive material alongside updates that connect earlier stories to the present day.

Louise Thornton, Head of Commissioning at BBC Scotland, reflected on the achievement, highlighting the programme's long-standing focus on the people, landscapes and issues shaping the countryside, as well as its role as a consistent and trusted voice for audiences over the years.

The new series of Landward begins at 8.30 pm on Thursday 2 April on BBC Scotland and will also be available on iPlayer.

The Assembly Returns with a Fearless New Line-Up

Image: ITV Press

By Jon Donnis

ITV's The Assembly is set to return with a second, expanded run, and the newly confirmed line-up makes it clear the series is doubling down on its bold, unpredictable appeal. This time, the hot seat will be taken by a striking mix of public figures, from beloved broadcaster Stephen Fry to former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, alongside comedy icon Lenny Henry, actor Anna Maxwell Martin, and chart-topping rapper Aitch.

At its core, The Assembly thrives on a simple but daring premise. The interviewers, a group of autistic, neurodivergent and learning disabled individuals, ask questions without filters or pre-approved boundaries. The result is a kind of honesty that traditional chat shows rarely reach, where even seasoned public figures can find themselves caught off guard.

The first series built a reputation quickly, earning strong praise across the board. Episodes featuring familiar faces were described in glowing terms, with critics pointing to the warmth and humour of the exchanges as much as their originality. It was not just seen as entertaining television, but as something genuinely different, a format that felt both refreshing and quietly radical.

This new run stretches to seven episodes, including an unseen instalment, with Fry and Sturgeon leading the line-up when the series returns in April. One final celebrity is still under wraps, adding a sense of anticipation to an already varied roster. Behind the scenes, the show remains in the hands of Rockerdale Studios, with ITV continuing to back the project as part of its entertainment slate.

What makes the format endure is its refusal to soften its edges. No subject is ruled out, no question dismissed for being too direct. That spirit, combined with the distinct perspective of its interviewers, gives the show a tone that can shift from funny to revealing in a matter of moments.

Adapted from the French format Les Rencontres du Papotin, the show has already proven its reach internationally, airing across multiple territories. Yet its impact feels particularly sharp here, where the mix of high-profile guests and unfiltered curiosity continues to produce television that feels both unpredictable and quietly disarming.