The Trial review — could this parental nightmare revive the one-off drama?
What is this strange thing? A single, self-contained drama that is all neatly done and dusted in less than an hour? No flabbed-out eight-episode box set and then a blatant tee-up for a sequel? Let's hope it catches on, not least because the constant flood of multi-episode series makes heavy work for the poor, square-eyed TV critic. (I'm sure this was at the very top of your worry list.)
The Trial was the first of 5's new single-drama strand evoking, for those of us decrepit enough to remember, the BBC's Play for Today, a kitemark for quality writing. It's a great idea to revive a format that brought us such TV gold as Blue Remembered Hills, Scum and Abigail's Party, and this
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The Courier
18 minutes ago
- The Courier
Fife neighbours scoop cash jackpot on BBC quiz show Bridge of Lies
A team of neighbours from a Fife town has won the cash jackpot on the hit BBC quiz show Bridge of Lies. The team of four from Coaltown of Wemyss, scooped the £4,575 prize money in a nail-biting finale on Wednesday. The contestants included former Courier reporter Craig Smith and his wife, Lyndsey, along with neighbours, Nicola Forrest and Kenny Rodger. Contestants compete against the clock using their general knowledge, strategic skills, and often luck, to spot correct answers as well as lies in order to cross the bridge. The prize money mounts up depending on the number of players who successfully make it across. The contestants then team up to take on the 'final crossing' challenge. If they successfully make it across by answering a series of questions correctly, they win the prize money accumulated during the show. The quiz is hosted by actor Ross Kemp, famous for his role as Grant Mitchell in Eastenders. Tackling questions on subjects including holidays, theatre, names and the Stephen Spielberg films, all four made it across the bridge. This allowed them to go for the £4,575 prize pot working as a team to navigate across the bridge. With two of the team already out before completing the task, it was Lyndsey's turn to face the final question. And it was an agonising few seconds before host, Kemp, revealed that she was correct and they had scooped the prize money. The four hugged and cheered as they were congratulated by Kemp before revealing they would use the money on a group holiday ot Turkey. Speaking after the show was broadcast, Craig said he'd always wanted to be a contestant on a TV quiz show. He said: 'I applied initially one night, probably after a bottle of wine, thinking it wouldn't go anywhere but they gave us a call back and it went from there really. 'I've always liked the show as it's usually on around teatime in the background, and you end up just shouting at the screen. 'So I thought 'why not give it a go?' The 43-year-old former Courier reporter said he couldn't believe it when he found out his application had been successful. He added: 'It was filmed last September, so it's been around nine months to wait for it to come on. 'We had a brilliant time at the studios in Glasgow, and Ross Kemp is a really nice guy as well. 'We were last on the day to film, so it went on until about 8pm. 'None of us could watch it go out live, so we all gathered together to watch it on iPlayer with a wee glass of fizz to celebrate.' Craig said that the money had been put towards a holiday in Turkey in July for the team as well as several other Coaltown of Wemyss neighbours. The episode of Brdge of Lies is available to watch now on BBC iplayer.
Daily Mail
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Lorraine Kelly insists she is 'not done yet' as she appears to hit back at rumours her show will cut for good after ITV's brutal daytime TV cutbacks
Lorraine Kelly has revealed her determination to keep her long-running show going in the wake of ITV's brutal cutbacks, as she pointedly declared, she was 'not done yet'. The TV veteran, 65, saw her show Lorraine face the brunt of the cuts, with the series to only air 30 weeks a year, and Good Morning Britain taking her 9-10am slot for the other 22. While the show's previous one hour runtime has also been slashed in half, now running for just 30 minutes from 9:30am to 10am. In her first interview since the news, Lorraine appeared to hit back at ITV, as she emphasised her four decade-long career. Speaking to Tom Kerridge on the Proper Tasty podcast, she also poured water on reports that her show could be cut for good, by stating she wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Reflecting on how long she'd been on screens, Lorraine said: 'I've been doing telly for over 40 years. It's mad isn't it? It's absolutely crazy. I started in breakfast telly in 1984, and I'm still getting away with it. Extraordinarily.' Subtly alluding to her determination to keep her show going, she then added: '40 years in TV last year was incredible. I got a BAFTA. "Here's a BAFTA for being alive." I thought, "Hang on a minute, I'm not done yet".' While she also voiced her willingness to 'be unleashed' and hold less of herself back, saying: 'I think now I can be a lot cheekier. Because I've always been a bit naughty. 'Not so much in the morning, but if I do a wee show on Channel 4, or The Last Leg, or something like that. You can be unleashed. And I quite like that. 'You do have to have a self-edit button, and I'm finding mine is not operating as much as it should. 'So, when I'm sitting there and I look at something and I think, "Gosh, what an absolute k**b that person is," or how silly they are, I say it and I don't realise I've said it. So I have to watch.' But Lorraine admitted that even after all these years, she still feels some nerves when presenting her show, though not as bad as when she first started. She recalled: 'I remember being so scared about doing a piece to camera and just being unbelievably nervous. Speaking to Tom Kerridge on the Proper Tasty podcast, she also poured water on reports that her show could be cut for good, by stating she wasn't going anywhere anytime soon 'And that doesn't go away for a long time. It doesn't ever completely go away I don't think. I don't think it should.' It comes after MailOnline revealed Lorraine was given the chance by ITV bosses to merge her daytime show with GMB to present the last 30 minutes of their broadcast, but she declined. Last month, she was pulled into a meeting prior to the channel's budget cuts announcement where she was offered the new proposal, which was considered an 'easy fix' after the same format was adopted during the pandemic. Sources have revealed that Lorraine was 'insulted' by the suggestion and told bigwigs it wasn't a possibility, resulting in the reduced runtime of her show from an hour to 30 minutes. MailOnline understands that Lorraine, who has presented her show for the past 14 years, was prepared to 'walk away' but agreed to continue hosting the series until the end of 2026. The star is predicted to quit for good next year after a new role titled 'Head of Lorraine' was created to oversee the changes, but the contract is only for a 12-month period. Last month, ITV confirmed that ITN is taking over the output of Good Morning Britain while Lorraine and Loose Women will only air 30 weeks per year and are moving from Television Centre to a central London studio. A show insider revealed: 'Lorraine was pulled into a meeting with bosses where she was told about Good Morning Britain being taken over by ITN ahead of the public announcement. 'It was proposed that her show would merge with GMB so that she presented the last 30 minutes of the broadcast, which is what happened when a reduced team were working during lockdown. 'But she told them no and said it wasn't even a possibility... fast-forwarded two weeks and the channel announced her show would be cut from an hour to 30 minutes... 'The entire thing has been an insult and she's certain to leave when the year-long contract ends.' Staff now fear the presenter may decide to throw in the towel with a source telling The Mirror: 'There are genuine fears among staff that Lorraine may decide to walk if the quality of the show they are putting out declines. 'It's hard to see how standards won't fall….and there are questions over whether Lorraine will want to be associated with that. Lorraine and her team are perfectionists - it's why the show is loved by so many.' A second source said morale is now low among employees, adding: 'Staff are beside themselves, and have been in tears constantly. It doesn't make any sense given the trajectory the show is on.' MailOnline has contacted representatives for ITV and Lorraine Kelly for comment. Lorraine presented fewer than 60 per cent of the editions of her show broadcast in 2024, with Ranvir Singh and Christine Lampard often filling in for her. The presenter said her absences were initially due to caring for her sick mother but then also became about her desire to do other things. She told The Guardian: 'It's really hurtful actually. It really is. I've not spoken about it before. I'm a grafter and I work really hard and I've had to take Fridays off for the past year. I just thought it was weird to care so much. 'Initially, it was for my mum who has been ill. And it sort of brings you into line with everyone else because if you look at This Morning, everybody else does four days. 'And as I'm getting older, I want to do other things, more writing, all of that. Mate, I've been doing this for 40 years, working my a**e off.' ITV sources told MailOnline that they have decided to cut resources on their daytime schedule so that the network can invest in more drama programmes. One said: 'There is a need to cost save but also so that the right money can go to the right shows and with everything getting more expensive these things have to be looked at.' The source added: 'Christine and Ranvir remain part of the ITV daytime family.'
Daily Mail
39 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Charlotte Dawson puts on a VERY busty display in pink mini dress as she gets glammed up alongside a stylish Lauryn Goodman and racy Tallia Storm at Deep Cover London premiere
Charlotte Dawson enjoyed a child free evening as she posed up a storm at the Deep Cover premiere at the Barbican in London on Wednesday evening. The TV personality, 32, put on a very busty display in a baby pink mini dress which she paired with a simple pair of pewter heels. The star, who welcomed her third child in March, accessorised the Bardot ruffle dress with dramatic silver dangly earrings. She was joined by her fiancé Matt Sarsfield who looked stylish in a blazer jacket, white T-shirt and grey chinos. Lauryn Goodman and Tallia Storm also attended the star-studded premiere as they rubbed shoulders with the film's stars Orlando Bloom and Bryce Dallas Howard. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Lauryn, 34, looked stylish as she paired a black waistcoat with a pair of white tailored trousers. She completed her look with strappy black heels and a black leather handbag before adding a bold red lip. Meanwhile Tallia, 26, put on a very risqué display in a racy cut out blue dress. The singer appeared to forgo underwear for the evening and offered a glimpse of her washboard abs in the gown. She completed her look with a pair of silver star heels and accessorised with gold bangles. Deep Cover is about three hapless improvisational actors who have been hired by the police to assist in the staging of potentially dangerous low-level stings. But their habit of saying 'yes' to everything without breaking character finds all three submerged in London's criminal underworld. Orlando Bloom plays the lead in the Amazon Prime original, starring alongside Bryce Dallas Howard. The singer appeared to forgo underwear for the evening and offered a glimpse of her washboard abs in the gown And Orlando was joined at the premiere by his mother Sonia Copeland Bloom who looked in great spirits as she beamed from ear to ear. The forthcoming action comedy also features House Of The Dragon star Paddy Considine and Ted Lasso's Nick Mohammed, who was also present at the premiere. The film is based on an original script by Derek Connolly and Colin Trevorrow - who previously collaborated on Hollywood blockbuster Jurassic World. British improvisational pair Ben Ashenden and Alexander Owen have helped base the script in London, while filmmaker Tom Kingsley - whose previous work includes comedy series Stath Lets Flats - is the director. Back in February Orlando was seen filming in London for the upcoming action comedy. The Pirates Of The Caribbean star wore a casual black sweater and matching jacket while cameras filmed him peering through the window of a stationary car with Howard, who wore an identical outfit. The actress flashed a hint of abs in a cropped black waistcoat top and matching trousers She let her natural blonde curls flow down her back as she posed for snaps Bryce was seen beaming in snaps as she celebrated her new film American actress Morena Baccarin looked stylish in a black dress with cut out pattern The actor also revealed a large prosthetic scar on his left cheek, surrounded by an ugly red bruise, suggesting his yet to be named character has come to some harm. Cast and crew were seen mingling between takes, with Orlando, Bryce and Nick apparently sharing a joke before resuming work. 'We're delighted to be bringing this new action-comedy to our customers,' Tushar Jindal, head of content, U.K. for Prime Video said in a recent statement. 'With an incredible cast, a top-class creative team and a fantastic script we know it's going to be a hit.'
