TV tonight: Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash invite you to Pickle Cottage
8pm, BBC One
Pickle Cottage opens its doors for the newest celebrity fly-on-the-wall series. Golden couple Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash let the cameras in to their home for six months, as they raise their five children, two dogs and four ducks. The duo are easy to like – especially when the besotted Joe recalls the day they met ('I haven't been able to shake him since,' says Stacey) – in what can be described only as soft TV. It starts with them celebrating their wedding anniversary. Hollie Richardson
8pm, Channel 4
A second series for The Great Pottery Throw Down's Keith Brymer Jones and his actor partner, Marj Hogarth, as they transform a 163-year-old Pwllheli chapel into their dream home. They want to convert the Sunday school, but they need to deal with the rot problem first. HR
9pm, Sky History
In the final episode of Bradley Walsh's ancient Egypt investigation, he meets Tutankhamun's dad, the 'alien pharaoh' Akhenaten (whose apparently elongated skull has given rise to out-there theories over the years), before discovering how huge rocks were ferried down the Nile for the construction of the pyramids. Ali Catterall
9pm, BBC Three
The pro footballer turned hench influencer channels his inner Ross Kemp for this six-parter, embedding himself in various global hotspots to see how crime culture negatively affects the lives of young men. He begins in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where drug gangs operate with impunity while callow foot soldiers risk their lives for a pittance. Graeme Virtue
9pm, U&Gold
Morrissey and Clunes continue their relaxed and amiable journey – some of it is simply them chatting over beers and food – by driving from Biarritz in south-western France (fish, sunshine) to the Pyrenees (cable cars, slipping over on ice). Morrissey's time as the voice of Bob the Builder provides some good anecdotes. Jack Seale
10pm, Channel 4
Bridget Christie's wonderfully strange menopause comedy continues. 'Linda's ledger' – a chore tracker that counts all the time women waste – is the hot topic still inspiring a revolution among local women. Could Linda's mardy sister Siobhain (Liza Tarbuck), who has come to stay, be persuaded to join them? HR
Premier League football: Nottingham Forest v Manchester United 7pm, TNT Sports 1. From the City Ground.
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Metro
2 hours ago
- Metro
'A police drama with a twist': Your favourite underrated TV thrillers
Conspiracy, crime, coverups. Just some of the hallmarks of TV thrillers that make them so bingeable. From cult classics like Twin Peaks to recent favourites such as Slow Horses, TV fans have been treated to a huge variety of gripping dramas over the years, and the genre is as popular as ever. But while well-worn series like Black Mirror and Mindhunter are worthy of praise, there's nothing quite like discovering a hidden gem that's been overlooked by the streamers or forgotten by modern audiences. We asked Metro readers to share their favourite underrated TV thrillers, to find out which lesser-known series should be added to your watch list. Justin Lawrence-Ball praised a political thriller from 1985, writing: 'Edge of Darkness. Not the Mel Gibson nonsense, the original 1985 TV series with Bob Peck.' A popular choice, Sharon Joyce echoed, 'Agree the TV series was brilliant.' Simon Silk also suggested a political thriller. 'House of Cards (the British version) from 1990.' The BBC series is set after the end of Margaret Thatcher's tenure as Prime Minister and, as Simon pointed out, 'came out the same week Thatcher was forced from office. By pure coincidence.' House of Cards aired on BBC One on November 18 1990, and Thatcher resigned on November 28. Elsewhere, a user calling themselves FizzbuzzAvabanana suggested the first series of BBC One's Messiah. They said: 'At the time it was way ahead of anything else, great cast, suspense etc,' but added, 'The rest were good but never quite lived up to the first series. Like Broadchurch, series one was a class above.' The series follows DCI Red Metcalfe (played by Ken Scott), who investigates a series of particularly grisly murders. Another user, Longirl, agreed: 'What an incredible show. Some scenes are still with me 20-odd years later.' Unfortunately, the first series of Messiah, which aired in 2001, is not available on any streaming platforms at the moment — though viewers can purchase series five on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video. DaveBacon suggested River, a TV mini series from 2015, praising it as 'really good.' They added: 'It's a police drama with a twist, which I can't describe without spoiling it, though it gets revealed in the first episode. It's a really interesting one. It's on ITVX at the moment.' Other readers mentioned Stag, a 'very funny' black comedy that follows eight men on a deer hunting trip from hell. Collateral, a four-part drama from 2018 starring Carey Mulligan, was also praised, as well as The Worricker Trilogy, which features Bill Nighy as an MI5 officer. We're sure you've heard of Netflix's House of Cards, which starred Kevin Spacey and marked the beginning of the streaming service producing its own original content. But few know that it was based on the lesser-known British series from 1990, produced by the BBC. The series follows Francis Urquhart (Ian Richardson), the fictional Chief Whip of the Conservative Party, and his manipulative rise to power as he plots against his colleagues to become leader of the party and, ultimately, Prime Minister. On Google reviews, several fans revealed they prefer it to the American version. Richard Saxe Coburg wrote: 'Excellent, thrilling, a web of exciting characters and plotted deep and multilayered,' adding, 'The US version is pale and forgettable. THIS is the one to watch!' Anne Suttor agreed, sharing they 'much preferred' it to the Netflix show, and praising the casting as 'perfect'. Where to watch: Series one is free to watch on UKTV, and all three series can be purchased on Apple TV from £1.89. Starring Bob Peck as policeman Ronald Craven, Edge of Darkness follows his efforts to unravel the brutal murder of his daughter, who is shot in front of him. The series plays on the fears that surrounded the Cold War in the 1980s, as Ronald's investigation leads him to uncover a government conspiracy at the Northmoor nuclear waste storage facility. Edge of Darkness was repeated on BBC One soon after it first aired, owing to the buzz around the series, and doubled its audience to eight million viewers. In 2010, the original director and producer, Martin Campbell and Michael Wearing, turned the series into a film starring Mel Gibson. Where to watch: On Apple TV from £2.49 or on Prime Video for £12.99. Six-part series River sees Stellan Skarsgård star as John River, a brilliant police officer who is haunted by his murdered colleague, Jackie 'Stevie' Stevenson (played by Nicola Walker). While attempting to hunt down Stevie's killer, he has to deal with her estranged family, his new partner (Adeel Akhtar) and a psychiatric evaluation as a result of his colleague's death. The series boasts an impressive 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling it 'engrossing', 'dazzling' and 'heartbreaking'. Where to watch: Free on ITVX. This black comedy may not take itself as seriously as other Metro readers' picks, but perhaps that's what makes it underrated. It stars Jim Howick as Ian, a last-minute addition to a stag weekend trip, alongside Reece Shearsmith, Stephen Campbell Moore, Tim Key and Amit Shah. The obnoxious group of friends head to the Scottish Highlands on a deer hunting weekend, but things soon turn sinister when they find themselves being picked off one by one by a mysterious killer. Recommending the series in subreddit r/horror, one Reddit user wrote: 'The comedy is played completely straight, and the horror and gore is balanced perfectly with the humor. There's a number of twists, a number of fake outs, and a number of wonderful deaths. And the acting is perfect'. Where to watch: On Apple TV from £2.49 or on Prime Video for £6.99. Collateral is a four-part thriller set in London, with an impressive cast featuring Carey Mulligan, John Simm, Billie Piper and Nicola Walker. Taking place over four days, it sees DI Kip Glaspie (Mulligan) investigate the murder of a pizza delivery driver, who was gunned down by a masked shooter while delivering to the ex-wife of a politician (Simm). Glaspie refuses to believe it was a random act of violence, and soon finds herself untangling a conspiracy involving drug dealers, smugglers and spies. With a very respectable 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the series has been labelled 'gripping' and 'exciting' by critics. Where to watch: Free with a Netflix subscription. Ok, this might be a film trilogy rather than a TV thriller, but they did all air on the BBC. The three films (Page Eight, Turks & Caicos, Salting the Battlefield) star Bill Nighy in the lead as long-serving MI5 officer Johnny Worricker. In Page Eight, his life is turned upside down when his boss and best friend (played by Michael Gambon) dies suddenly, leaving him to deal with a top-secret file. More Trending We cant' say much more without spoiling the entire trilogy, but expect appearances from A-listers including Christopher Walken, Helena Bonham Carter and Ralph Fiennes. Page Eight received a near-perfect 94% Rotten Tomatoes score and a 4.1 rating on Google reviews. Viewer Geoff Harris wrote of the trilogy: 'What a delight, the stories intertwined, and of course Bill Nighy was on top form. With a great supporting cast, I really enjoyed the films, no doubt I will watch them again. The filming was excellent, great scenery and good storylines. Just superb.' View More » Where to watch: On Apple TV from £6.99. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Beth: Channel 4's first ‘digital drama' is so snoozy that no young people will watch it
In 1964, Andy Warhol shot the Empire State Building then turned it into an art film called Empire, which is more than eight hours long. I was reminded of this last Christmas when I let my nine-year-old niece choose what to watch on TV. She went straight to the YouTube app and pressed play on a video comparing US and UK chocolate bars. It went into such a tremendous amount of detail that I was mesmerised, not by the content but by how brazenly boring it was. It went on for what felt like hours. It might still be going on now. I wonder if this is what television natives get wrong about YouTube. In all the discussions about disappearing attention spans and 'second screen' viewing – ie scrolling on your phone while leaving a single brain cell free to drool at whatever product placement Emily in Paris has just dropped into the 'plot' – there is an assumption that online content has to be short and snappy. That might be more true of TikTok or Reels, but YouTube is a place that chews up time then swallows it. Do I know this because I have watched lengthy self-produced documentaries about complete strangers' walking holidays? Look, in the 60s, it would have been art. This is what Beth, Channel 4's 'digital original drama', is trying to contend with. TV has long been worried about the internet coming for its audience, and it's true that you are about as likely to get a young person watching live terrestrial TV as you are to get them to pick up the phone and have a conversation with you. How can old-fashioned television begin to compete? Should it even bother trying? Channel 4 is giving it a go. It has already made Hollyoaks a 'streaming-first' soap, sticking episodes online a day before they appear on E4. Now it is trying a new approach with drama. Beth will appear on YouTube in three 15-minute chunks from Monday 9 June, and on the actual telly as a single 45-minute episode, making it the skorts of the screen: why be one thing when you can be two? Beth is about a glamorous couple called Joe and Molly, played by Nicholas Pinnock and Abbey Lee, who are going through IVF treatment. We see the buildup to a much desired pregnancy, skip forward to the birth, then jump to a few years later, for reasons that would definitely spoil it if they were to be revealed here. This is a family drama. There are brief fantasy sequences, of the children the couple might have, and discussions about what it means for Joe, a Black man, and Molly, a white woman, to have a child who resembles them both. It is also a low-key thriller. There are tensions between the couple, both obvious and implied. Their IVF doctor is overfamiliar and too tactile. Molly's mother is disproportionately rattled by a child's simple drawing. To add to the genre pile-on, Beth is being billed as science fiction, but knowing this doesn't do it any favours, because without that knowledge, it looks like a straightforward, if slightly stagey, drama for almost the entire duration. If you do know that it is science fiction, you're left to constantly anticipate exactly when the science fiction will kick in. For me, that undermines the more weighty emotional scenes, because as Joe and Molly endure both hope and devastation, a nagging voice in my head is wondering if they are going to turn out to be aliens. It's good that it doesn't patronise viewers by assuming they won't have more than five seconds of focus to spare. In fact, it's so far from giddy that it is almost sedate. Nor does it go for the endless stretch that can afflict online content, where the time restrictions of traditional TV mean nothing, and you watch a man chew a Curly Wurly for what seems like many days. But that does mean that, ultimately, Beth feels like a one-off television drama, albeit one with an eyebrow-raising pivot towards the end. I can't see what makes it so specifically digital. If one of the existential issues facing TV is how to get young people to pay attention to it, then a meditative drama about IVF, identity and parenthood isn't necessarily going to solve the problem. But if the idea is to win back some of the older eyeballs who have been distracted by, let's say (just plucking this out of thin air) an in-depth documentary about a niche ultramarathon, then it might be on to something.
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Must-see TV this week: Love Island returns, Lee Mack and Sally Bretton reunited
Another summer of love begins, with Maya Jama reprising the helm of Love Island on ITV2 this week. Over on the BBC, however, another fan-favourite show is set for its own comeback. From gripping dramas and explosive rows to enlightening and thought-provoking shows, this week of TV is sure to pander to everyone. Presenter Maya Jama is returning to screens this Monday, June 9, as she reprises hosting duties on ITV2 's Love Island. Expect bombshells and surprises pairings ahead. Meanwhile, the BBC is treating viewers to another round of The Gold, with Hugh Bonneville and Charlotte Spencer, and Not Going Out, starring Sally Bretton and Lee Mack. But on Channel 4, Jamie Oliver advocates for more inclusive schools to help neurodivergent children. Streaming platforms also have plenty of choices this week, including Sir David Attenborough 's love letter to the sea and Netflix 's deep dive in Astroworld - the festival that spiralled out of control in 2021, triggering backlash against rap star Travis Scott. The Gold Sunday 8th, BBC1 Hugh Bonneville and Charlotte Spencer team up as DCS Brian Boyce and DI Nicki Jennings for The Gold's second season as their characters deal with the aftermath of the Brink's-Mat robbery, in which £26 million worth of gold bullion, diamonds and cash were stolen from a warehouse. Though some of the thieves were convicted, Brian and Nicki realise the criminals only had half of the stolen goods. The discovery triggers a high-stakes journey into organised crime and international money laundering as the police embark on a string of desperate manhunts to finally close the longest and most expensive investigation in the history of the Metropolitan Police. Our Yorkshire Shop: A Victorian Restoration Sunday, C4 This series takes viewers to the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, in the picturesque village of Masham - where a determined group of locals take on the ambitious challenge of restoring their village shop to its former Victorian glory. With no previous experience in building restoration, villagers roll up their sleeves and learn on the job - from line plastering to fending off animal infestations. Motivated by 94-year-old Elsie, their emotional anchor, the group are guided both in spirit and style, delivering a heartwarming celebration of local heritage. Ocean with David Attenborough Sunday, Disney + At the age of 99, Sir David Attenborough presents Ocean, a powerful documentary highlighting the critical state of the world 's oceans. Through stunning visuals and groundbreaking underwater footage, this film exposes destructive practices like bottom trawling and emphasises the urgent need for marine conservation. Released ahead of the UN Ocean Conference, Ocean serves as a wake-up call and David's most personal message yet. And it's already become the highest-grossing film in the UK and Irish box-office, earning £570,000 on its opening weekend in cinemas. Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution Monday, C4 Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver shares his personal journey with dyslexia in this compelling documentary as he takes a stand for neurodivergent children. Highlighting the challenges faced by thousands of children with dyslexia in the UK, Jamie fiercely advocates for a more inclusive and supportive education system. Through interviews with experts, educators, families and even familiar celebrity faces, the film sheds light on systemic issues affecting dyslexic children and calls for meaningful change to help them thrive academically and beyond. Beth Monday, C4 Written and directed by photographer and budding filmmaker Uzo Oleh, this tense three-part science-fiction thriller is Channel 4 's first-ever digital original drama. Nicholas Pinnock and Abbey Lee star as Joe and Molly - a couple whose lives are upended when their newborn daughter, Imogen, bears no resemblance to her father. What begins as a domestic drama spirals into paranoia, identity crises and eerie revelations as Joe's world starts to unravel. Through their story, this hard-hitting show explores mistrust, modern parenthood and the fear that something has gone horribly wrong. Love Island Monday, ITV Maya Jama returns to host the twelfth season of the iconic ITV2 dating show, promising more drama, more bombshells, plenty of break-ups and even more make-ups in celebration of its tenth anniversary on screens. Set at the iconic sun-soaked Mallorca villa, a fresh batch of singletons embark on a quest for love and a jaw-dropping £50k cash prize. Expect twists, turns, unexpected pairings and shock dumpings, cryptic Love Island lingo and more Casa Amor turmoil. Which couple will tackle the journey hand-in-hand? And who will call it quits? Shardlake Monday, ITV C.J. Samsom's Tudor mystery novels come alive in this gripping four-part series. Arthur Hughes (The Innocents, The Archers) stars as brilliant barrister Matthew Shardlake, dispatched by Thomas Cromwell (Sean Bean) to investigate a murder at a remote monastery. As secrets unravel, Matthew and his companion Jack Barak (Anthony Boyle) navigate an intricate web of lies and political intrigue - but can Matthew really trust his companion? With atmospheric settings and compelling performances, this period drama offers a fresh take on historical crime storytelling. The Yorkshire Vet: At Home With the Greens Tuesday, Channel 5 Yorkshire Vet star Peter Wright offers a heartwarming new glimpse into the lives of fan favourites Steve and Jean Green, known as Britain's longest-standing farmers. This spin-off series invites viewers beyond the surgery and into the farm, where the couple balance rural life with their passion for animals. Expect tender moments, behind-the-scenes insights and the same down-to-earth charm that made the original series a staple for animal lovers across the UK. Trainwreck: The Astroworld tragedy Tuesday, Netflix This harrowing documentary revisits the 2021 Astroworld Festival disaster, where a crowd surge led to ten deaths and numerous injuries during a Texas-based festival launched by US rap star Travis Scott. Through exclusive interviews with survivors, paramedics and festival staff, the film examines the events leading up to the tragedy and its aftermath. It delves into questions of accountability, safety protocols and the impact on the victims' families, providing a sobering look at one of the most devastating concert incidents in recent history. Speed Cameras: Out to Get Us? Wednesday, C5 This investigative documentary explores the proliferation of speed cameras across the UK. Traveling from Nottinghamshire to Wales, it examines whether these devices are genuine safety tools or revenue-generating machines. Featuring insights from traffic officers, drivers and the pioneer who introduced speed cameras to Britain's roads in 1990, the programme questions their effectiveness and future. It's a wild ride through Britain - but with less potholes. Flight 149: Hostage of War Wednesday, Sky Documentaries & NOW This gripping documentary uncovers the shocking truth behind British Airways Flight 149, which landed in Kuwait mere hours before Iraq 's 1990 invasion. What really happened to the passengers and crew held hostage by Saddam Hussein 's forces? With first-hand testimonies, classified documents and a decades-long silence finally broken, this film lays bare a chilling and unflinching tale of government secrets, human endurance and political betrayal. It's a must-watch for fans of true stories where the stakes are life and death - and the answers still sting. DNA Journey with Ancestry Thursday, ITV The hit ITV series, DNA Journey returns for a gripping fifth season. This time round, new celebrity duos set off on an emotional journey across history, uncovering jaw-dropping family secrets and unexpected connections. Jo Brand and Julian Clary, Fay Ripley and Hermione Norris and Sam Thompson and Marvin Humes are taking on the challenge. With laughter, tears and twists in every episode, DNA Journey continues to prove that our past holds the key to who we really are. Olivia Attwood: The Price of Perfection Thursday, ITV2 In this immersive documentary series, Love Island alum Olivia Attwood investigates the lengths individuals go to achieve physical perfection in today's image-obsessed society. Drawing from her own experiences with cosmetic procedures, Olivia explores the booming beauty industry, meeting people who have undergone extreme transformations and embedding herself with patients and practitioners to try some of them out herself - including salmon sperm injections. The series delves into the true psychological and physical costs of chasing perfection, offering a candid look at the intense pressures stemming from modern beauty standards. Not Going Out Friday, BBC1 Lee Mack's long-running sitcom returns for its 14th series, continuing to deliver laughs with witty dialogue and relatable scenarios. The show follows the misadventures of Lee and his wife Lucy (Sally Bretton) as they navigate the challenges of family life. With a time jump moving the story six years ahead, the couple adjust to a new home in the countryside while their children are away at university. The series remains a staple of British comedy, combining sharp humour with heartwarming moments.
