TV

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

Sir Bruce Forsyth confirmed for Hop Farm

The entertainment legend joins Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel and Primal Scream at the music festival

Following the recent announcement that the mighty Bob Dylan would be headlining the Hop Farm Music Festival in June, it now seems one of Britain’s own legendary stars will also be in attendance. Alongside gargantuan figures of the music industry…

Once Upon a Time is stylish but vapid TV

The contemporary American fairy tales from the makers of Lost lack substance

Given that Stephen King pretty much owned the franchise on writing twisted tales set in Maine, it’s an act of errant folly that he’s not involved in Once Upon a Time (Five, Sun 1 Apr, 8pm). You can only imagine what fun the horror master would have had…

CBeebies Live brings TV stars to stage

Mister Maker, Mr Tumble, Postman Pat and LazyTown's Robbie Rotten star in live show

If enthusiasm could be bottled and sold, then Phil Gallagher would be a very wealthy man. Better known as Cbeebies’ Mister Maker, Gallagher has been creating works of art from bits and bobs in his ‘Doodle Drawer’ for the past four years. Endlessly…

US drama Homeland treads familiar territory

The series, starring Clare Danes and Damian Lewis, bears some resemblance to 24

Damian Lewis seems to be the go-to guy for US dramas about tortured souls with a secret past. In Life, he played Charlie Crews, a detective released from prison after 12 years for a crime he didn’t commit, and in Homeland (Channel 4, Sun, 9.30pm), he’s…

Fist of Fun

Stewart Lee and Richard Herring's debut TV appearance given a DVD outing

‘It’s not as good as I remembered’. Thus sprach Stewart Lee about the first series of Fist of Fun, the BBC Two show which first introduced the bequiffed comic and Richard Herring, his cohort of many years, to a TV audience. While it might not be…

Revisiting: Twin Peaks - Fire Walk With Me

David Lynch and his troubled relationship with television

In May 1990, David Lynch controversially stormed the Cannes Film Festival with his adaptation of Barry Gifford’s Wild at Heart, picking up the prestigious Palme d’Or. Two years later, when he premiered Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me – the feature length…

Why Sex and the City prequel sounds death knell for Carrie and co

Self-confessed fan bears the bad news of a prequel to the series

List writer, and self-confessed Sex and the City fan, Lauren Mayberry bears the bad news of a prequel to the series The TV phenomenon that was Sex and the City was pronounced dead about halfway through film one, roughly at the part where Carrie’s…

Interview: Zach Braff, writer, director and star of All New People

The Scrubs and Garden State star discusses his new theatre production

‘I’m still Jenny from the block,’ says Zach Braff after a moment’s reflection. ‘Even now I feel a bit underground in the acting world.’ For those who enjoyed Braff (and 20 million viewers around the world did) as the lovable JD in US comedy drama…

Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy

The Boosh performer's latest TV effort abounds in surrealism but lacks coherence... and jokes

Ahead of his new gaudily-coloured clutter-fest, Noel Fielding admitted that making this solo series left him feeling a bit unhinged. After ingesting just a few minutes of Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy (E4, Thu, 10pm) only the most avid Boosh fan will…

Zach Braff: Ten things you might not know

The star of Scrubs, Garden State and All New People also voices the US Andrex puppy

1 He is the youngest of four children. He has two brothers, Adam and Joshua, and a sister, Shoshanna. His mother and father are divorced and have both remarried. He says he now spends Thanksgiving with his ‘four parents’. 2 He had an ‘American…

The Muppets' most memorable moments

A gallery of clips from our favourite frog and his friends

The Muppets have a string of movies to their names already, including The Muppet Movie, The Muppets Christmas Carol, The Muppets Take Manhattan, and The Great Muppet Caper. Never ones to shirk away from serious film, darling, they’ve also had cameos in…

Interview - David Hasselhoff

The knightriding, baywatching, car-jumping icon discusses hitting the water and ending the Cold War

First record you ever bought ‘She Wore Blue Velvet’ by Bobby Vincent. [sings] ‘She wore bluuuue velvet’ – either that, or ‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand’ by The Beatles. Last extravagant purchase you made Some earrings for my girlfriend. First film you…

Countdown contestant scores with rude word

TV Gossip

A 'Countdown' contestant sparked laughter when he used the word "wanker" to win a round. IT consultant Mark Murphy left new host Nick Hewer red-faced when he submitted the word after being presented with the letters R, A, E, P, K, W, A, E, N and gave…

Andrew Lloyd-Webber eyes Nicole Scherzinger for Superstar

TV Gossip

Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber has approached Nicole Scherzinger to be a judge on 'Superstar'. The musicals supremo - who will scour the UK for a new actor to play the role of Jesus in an upcoming arena tour of rock opera 'Jesus Christ Superstar' - is…

Lauren Pope to have PIP breast implants removed on TOWIE?

TV Gossip

Lauren Pope is to have her breast implants removed on the next series of 'The Only Way Is Essex'. The 28-year-old beauty - who recently discovered she was one of the 40,000 women in the UK to have been fitted with French PIP implants that doctors…

'Too little too late' for Corrie's Steve and Becky?

TV Gossip

Steve McDonald's last-minute attempts to win back ex-wife Becky could be "too little too late". The 'Coronation Street' barman - portrayed by Simon Gregson - will be shocked when the bolshie blonde turns up on his wedding day to conniving Tracy…

Lydia Bright eyes Strictly Come Dancing

TV Gossip

Lydia Bright thinks appearing in 'Strictly Come Dancing' would be "really fun". The 20-year-old star explained while she has no plans to leave 'The Only Way Is Essex' at the moment, she would love to take part in the BBC One celebrity dance…

Corrie's Ian Puleston-Davies defends smacking storyline

TV Gossip

Coronation Street's Ian Puleston-Davies has hit back at criticism of the show's child smacking storyline. The ITV1 soap receive a barrage of complaints after Ian's character - builder Owen Armstrong - slapped girlfriend Anna Windass' (Debbie Rush…

Aaron Livesy set for Emmerdale happiness

TV Gossip

Aaron Livesy is finally set for happiness before he leaves 'Emmerdale'. Danny Miller - who plays the troubled gay character in the ITV1 show - recently announced his intention to quit the soap but series producer Stuart Blackburn has promised some…