TV tonight: inside the Thames Water £3bn emergency debt package crisis
9pm, BBC Two
Thames Water, the UK's biggest water company, recently won a controversial £3bn emergency debt package to prevent its collapse – for the next few months, at least. This two-parter goes inside the company during the six months leading up to this, as customer bills increase and sewage continues to flow into coasts and rivers. The new CEO, Chris Weston, speaks in this opener, as the team face a £15bn hole in the company finances. Hollie Richardson
8pm, BBC Two
Seeing your school doors chained up until further notice sounds like every kid's dream. But when lockdown was enforced in March 2020 it meant two years of fitful education for our nation's youth. The BBC's education editor, Branwen Jeffreys, hears from families and teachers about the long-term effects and how they are being tackled. Graeme Virtue
8pm, Channel 4
Joe Swash and Suzanne 'the Batch Lady' Mulholland meet single dad Darran to help stop him relying on jarred sauces and oven meals when it comes to feeding his two kids after a long day's work. Sausage traybake, slow-cooked beef massaman curry and pizza-flavoured stuffed chicken breasts are all on the menu. HR
8pm, BBC Two
Chess is war on a board and the queen is the most powerful piece on it. So how will the aspiring chess champions fare with a 'devilishly difficult' puzzle involving eight queens? It's hard not to root for every one of the adorable contestants as they do their best to work it out. Meanwhile, Sue Perkins looks on, totally bewildered. HR
9pm, BBC One
The Bradford-set thriller concludes its first series. Harry Virdee (Staz Nair) has already officially cracked the case – but with his wife in peril, he has to go through some very unofficial channels to really come out on top. It's Reservoir Dogs meets Line of Duty as the endgame escalates. Jack Seale
9pm, Sky Atlantic
As night falls in Thailand, the hedonism ramps up in Mike White's scathing satire of the self-regarding rich on their hols. Insecure TV star Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan) and her girl gang are out clubbing with attentive Russians, while prickly Rick (Walton Goggins) has ditched Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) for an unsettling rendezvous in Bangkok. Graeme Virtue
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The Independent
12 hours ago
- The Independent
‘Unsung' pioneering actress and director Esme Church honoured with blue plaque
An 'unsung' actress and director who founded a theatre school that taught future stars including three-time Bafta winner Billie Whitelaw has been honoured with a blue plaque. The recognition in Bradford, where she ran the Northern Theatre School, will allow Esme Church to take her 'rightful place in the cultural memory of this country', Historic England said. Born on 11 February 1893 in Marylebone, London, she trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Rada before making her stage debut in the 1920s, and later joining the Old Vic Company. She performed major Shakespearean roles such as Lady Macbeth and Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, and led the Old Vic's drama school from 1936. Her career as a director began in the 1930s when she became artistic director of the Greyhound Theatre in Croydon, before moving on to Bradford Civic Playhouse where she took up the same role during the 1940s and 1950s. There, she championed regional theatre, established the Northern Theatre School, and mentored The Omen actress Whitelaw, who won a film Bafta in 1969 for best supporting actress for her roles in thriller Twisted Nerve and comedy Charlie Bubbles, along with two Bafta TV gongs. Other actors such as Dorothy L Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey star Edward Petherbridge, Secret Army actor Bernard Hepton and theatre actor Sir Robert Stephens, Dame Maggie Smith's former husband, were also among those mentored by Church. Lord Neil Mendoza, chairman of Historic England, called Church a 'formidable force in British theatre' who was among the 'trailblazing women' who have 'not received the national recognition (they) deserve'. He added: 'It is time that Esme Church takes her rightful place in the cultural memory of this country.' The plaque, which will be unveiled on Friday at 26 Chapel Street, Little Germany, reads: 'Esme Church, 1893-1972, actress and director ran the Northern Theatre School here.' Bruce Durham, the great-nephew of Church, said it is 'giving her the recognition that she deserves for all her contributions to the arts'. He said: 'Growing up with Esme around, it was always wonderful to see and hear about her work – whether it was entertaining troops in France during the First World War, becoming the head of The Old Vic Theatre School, or travelling to and from New York. 'It's important that not only my great-aunt Esme is recognised but being able to use brilliant platforms such as Ancestry to uncover the many unsung women who made a significant impact during the early 20th century.' Church's contribution comes as Bradford celebrates its year as UK City of Culture in 2025. Si Cunningham, chairman of Bradford Civic Society, said: 'It's thrilling to see yet more national recognition for Bradford's pioneering, creative heritage. 'Esme Church is an incredibly deserving recipient of a national blue plaque, which perfectly complements the city's own growing blue plaque scheme. 'I hope this beautiful plaque, and Esme's fascinating story, inspires a new generation of creative Bradfordians to do great things for their city.' Historic England and genealogy site Ancestry are calling on the public to uncover further inspiring women or girls from the 20th century, who may have been forgotten and deserve their place in history. The eight-week public nomination period for the National Blue Plaque Scheme is open until July 10 2025.
The Courier
13 hours ago
- The Courier
Behind the scenes as Robson Green and Carol Smillie trial ancient paddle boats on Loch Earn for BBC series
Actor Robson Green and presenter Carol Smillie trialled ancient paddle boards on Loch Earn in Perthshire for Robson Green's Weekend Escapes. Piotr Gudan, who runs Blairgowrie-based Outdoor Explore, introduced the pair to coracles for the third season of the BBC Two show. The unusual round-shaped boats were historically used for fishing and ferrying people and goods in Speyside. Robson Green's Weekend Escapes sees the English actor, 60, 'find wellbeing and adventure in wonderful places' with 'famous friends'. Previous episodes have seen Robson take on an assault course in North Yorkshire with Olympic champion boxer Nicola Adams, explore the Lake District with TV presenter Helen Skelton and go kayaking with former Strictly Come Dancing star Janette Manrara. Last month, Green was joined by presenter and Invictus Games medallist JJ Chalmers at Perth restaurant Brown & Blacks. The Soldier Soldier actor also visited Broughty Ferry for the show alongside Dundee-based Gladiators star Sheli McCoy. Piotr said he was approached by the production company looking for something 'rare and exciting' to do in rural Perthshire. He told The Courier: 'My favourite part was being able to take two lovely people out on the water, in crafts they would normally not come across. 'Passing on my love of the great outdoors, Scottish heritage, and the Perthshire countryside. 'He (Robson Green) is such a lovely person. 'It was a very relaxed atmosphere created by the whole amazing crew. 'It was fantastic to hear that Robson was already quite well familiar with Perthshire from his previous projects and visits. 'This place is amazing.' The TV stars explored Loch Earn and St Fillans with Piotr, who says he hopes to have passed on some of his knowledge of the area and ancient coracles. The boats he uses are built in Perthshire using willow framework in a round or pear shape. He said: 'Heritage crafts have always been something I have had a passion for. 'My storage is packed with some amazing gems. 'Coracles, however, have taken a special place amongst all those. 'I am sure the first one I sat on brought a huge smile to my face, testing my balancing and canoe paddling techniques. 'Now, introducing these crafts to many more folk over the years, I am pretty sure the coracles brought smiles to all faces of those who tried them.' Piotr added: 'Over the years, Outdoor Explore has had the pleasure of working with various production companies, for daytime TV shows, regional and national promotional filming and documentaries. 'All were always focused on the amazing countryside of Perthshire, Tayside and the east of Scotland. 'It's a privilege to become an ambassador for this lovely part of the world, which we help to look after and inspire others to explore with us.' The Courier has rounded up TV shows recently shot in Tayside, Fife and Stirling set to be broadcast in the near future.
Edinburgh Live
14 hours ago
- Edinburgh Live
Vernon Kay urges BBC colleagues not to call HR after cheeky remark leaves them stunned
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Vernon Kay has pleaded with his BBC Radio 2 colleagues not to contact HR after making an "awkward" comment about the weather. The UK was basking in glorious sunshine last month, with the the Environment Agency even declaring drought status for the north-west of England following the driest start to spring in 69 years. However, the weather has turned for most of the country since the beginning of June, with the Met Office warning that a large area of the UK is set to be struck by fierce thunderstorms on Saturday, according to the Mirror. The recent wet weather has not gone unnoticed by Radio 2 host Vernon, who told his BBC colleague Scott Mills that he had an unfortunate moment while discussing the rain with the production team. (Image: Instagram) He said: "We were talking about the age gap between us on-air and the production team. Had a bit of an awkward moment this morning. You know the weather's turned, it's raining outside. I said to the Radio 2 team, a lot of desks on your left hand side, 'Hi team, morning news team, ooo the weather's changed. "And someone said 'Yeah it's horrible'. So I said 'Outside it's raining but inside it's wet', East 17. Didn't go down very well. I'm like 'Before you get onto HR, it's East 17." The lyrics in question come from the title song of East 17's second studio album 'Steam', which was released in the UK on October 17, 1994 by London Records. The album was certified 2× Platinum in the UK. However, with the song being released over 30 years ago, it seems that many of the BBC's production staff were unaware of the lyrics, before Scott came up with an idea. (Image: Getty Images for Great British Racing) Scott said: "Well, you should have checked it by me first and then gone to the office, do it the other way round next time. Come and check with me the phrase before you say it to the whole office." Last week, Vernon admitted to listeners that he was feeling a 'bit ropey' after enjoying BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend. During the show, the 51-year-old confessed that he suffers from a seafood allergy. It means Vernon is unable to eat prawns or cockles - a type of small edible shellfish. He says he discovered the allergy after undergoing a test. Vernon said: 'Radio 1, how are you feeling? A bit ropey, no, honestly, terrible, I'm sure I've eaten a prawn or a cockle. I'm allergic to cockles."
