TV, Issue 696

Is Lip Service anything like Glasgow’s real lesbian life?

Second series of BBC lesbian drama returns

Any fool who saw the first series of Lip Service will be aware that sex, talking about sex and being sexy are a large part of the show. It’s glamorous, glittery and oh so slightly ridiculous. First hitting UK small screens in 2010, the drama returned to…

Interview: Fiona Button of BBC series Lip Service

What to expect from series two of drama set in Glasgow lesbian culture

For anyone who hasn’t seen it before – what’s Lip Service? It is a drama with a little bit of comedy, looking at the lives and loves of a group of women living in Glasgow. There’s so much to entertain you in the show. Although on the face of it the…

US TV comedy reviews - 2 Broke Girls and Suburgatory

Two sitcoms let down by overt product placement

There could be a theme developing here. In the pilot episode for New Girl, scatty teacher Zooey Deschanel discovered her live-in man was cheating on her and left to wind up rooming with three guys. In the opening episode of 2 Broke Girls (E4, Thu, 9pm…

Stephen Fry to produce and star in adaptation of Ian Rankin's Doors Open

TV drama filmed in Edinburgh also stars Douglas Henshall

Stephen Fry will produce and star in a new TV adaptation of Ian Rankin's novel Doors Open due to be filmed in Edinburgh this month. Rankin's 2008 novel will provide the plot for a two-hour ITV drama starring Fry and Scottish actor Dougie Henshall.

Swiss writer, philosopher and documentarian Alain de Botton - interview

First record you ever bought Genesis by Genesis. Last extravagant purchase you made An Easter holiday to Istanbul. First film you saw that really moved you The Jungle Book. Last lie you told That I had read a book I hadn’t. First movie…

The Bridge continues the Scandinavian trend for top-quality television crime drama

The series follows in the footsteps of The Killing and Borgen

Those crazy Scandics are at it again with yet another astonishingly addictive TV drama. After the success of The Killing and Borgen, The Bridge (BBC Four, Sat, 9pm) keeps up the momentum albeit with a show that is a far more raw affair. There’s almost…