Jenna Coleman could be the new Queen of Sunday night TV in Victoria
The former Doctor's companion has matured as an actress, says Mark Jefferies
As a nervous 18-year-old, Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837. She blossomed over the years and with determination and experience became a great monarch. In the role of her life, it is easy to draw comparisons with Victoria and actress Jenna Coleman who is now playing the part of the Queen on screen. View oEmbed on the source website When she first started in Doctor Who, there was potential, but Jenna Coleman was not a fully matured actress. She had just come from Emmerdale and starred on Waterloo Road but had limited experience in terms of dominating scenes as a leading lady. I remember fondly a smiling 25-year-old being unveiled in front of the media at BBC HQ in March 2012. She looked eager to start and was excited, but still with a bit to learn and I think she improved greatly working with Steven Moffat and Matt Smith. Any Whovians could see how much Jenna had progressed as sidekick Clare Oswald when she bowed out in heartbreaking emotional scenes on Doctor Who in her last episode Hell Bent in December 2015. Now, less than a year later, she threatens to become the Queen of Sunday night TV. Having watched her transform into Victoria in the lead of ITV's lavish new drama which starts later this month, it is wonderful to see the changes in her skills on screen over just a few years. She now has matured into an a wonderful performer, with more poise and the ability to captivate viewers in scenes where Victoria takes charge of the country. I am confident the show will have fans in the UK, but if it does well in international sales - like Downton before it - this will be a life changing role for Jenna. Yes she was a huge star in Doctor Who and is recognisable to millions. But the role of Victoria is one that sees her leading the action with charm, emotion and control. I first saw big progress in Jenna as an actress, in terms of being one of our great stars on TV, in the Doctor Who episode Last Christmas shown on December 25th in 2014 when she was initially due to leave. Funnily enough, as in Victoria, for some of the Who episodes she did not play her own age, and was an old woman. It was the first time I had seen her develop and use a real range of emotions on screen. Now having to act as a woman more than a decade younger than herself, Jenna's performance is again a joy to behold. She says: “It was impossible to turn down. To play Victoria she really grows and grows through the series into this formidable women with a vein of scorn but never loses her humour.” I hope viewers like Victoria as much as I did, in which case I predict Jenna Coleman will reign on Sunday nights for some years to come. Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Daily Mirror and co-edits the TV Column Square Eyes. Victoria Starts on ITV on Sunday August 28
Bringing back classic sitcoms will earn the BBC plenty of criticism - and plenty of viewers too
One-off returns for shows like Are You Being Served?, Porridge, Keeping Up Appearances and Goodnight Sweetheart could lead to big audiences and probably some full series, says Mark Jefferies
Ever since the BBC announced a landmark classic sitcom season there have been murmurings of negativity in the media and in online forums. The idea of bringing back one-offs of Are You Being Served?, Porridge, Keeping Up Appearances (as a prequel) and Goodnight Sweetheart among others was never going to go unnoticed. And I have no doubt when the season starts on 28th August, social media won’t be kind to many of the remakes. In many ways Shane Allen, the BBC’s controller of comedy commissioning, is taking his biggest risk yet after three years in the job – ironically, by remaking some safe and family friendly comedy and putting it on screen before the watershed. But having now watched several of the episodes and heard him discuss the season I think I understand why. The originals of these comedies are held dear in people’s memories, but that is not to say that many won’t enjoy the new versions. Shane said: “Sometimes there is a trend in comedy to do the new and the pioneering and to forget there are these great writers and voices that the audiences want. There is a nostalgia there. “My happiest memories growing up are watching sitcoms with my family. Our job in comedy more than ever is to cheer everyone up after all the miserable drama and the harrowing news – that is what we are here for, to create a bit of joy. “This is a season about comedy writing. People might think it is sacrilegious to go back to these old classics, and this is going to sound pretentious, but you can re-do Pinter seasons and Chekhov. It is about the power of the writing and these comedies stand the test of time.” At a London screening of Young Hyacinth – the Keeping Up Appearances prequel – it was clear that Kerry Howard as a teenage Hyacinth was perfectly cast. The comedy was not edgy or modern, but reminded me of the original show. And for the millions that found the series funny in the early 90s this could easily be a hit. Not all comedy needs to be cool. On that topic, Shane explained: “Mrs Browns Boys is an interesting example, because Brendan O’Carroll describes it as comedy for the audience comedy forgot. Post The Office there was this thing where studio comedy was dead and everything needed to be single camera and naturalistic but I think there is room for everything.” Another example that comes to mind is Still Open All Hours. A sequel to Open All Hours with original cast member David Jason, it aired at Christmas in 2013 to fairly harsh reviews on the whole. But along with those reviews came an audience of 9.4 million and now several series have been made off the back of that one-off. There are lots of remakes, prequels and sequels in the sitcom season, which runs from 28th August to 16th September, and clearly not all of them are going to work brilliantly. But the BBC is catering for the masses and once the moaning about ruining classics has died down I am pretty sure a couple of these shows will become series with big audiences like Still Open All Hours. And for Shane Allen and the BBC, that will make the criticism a lot easier to take. Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Daily Mirror and co-edits the TV Column Square Eyes The BBC Landmark Sitcom Season runs across all four BBC TV channels from 28th August until 16th September
James Corden's Carpool Karaoke owes much of its success to a chance meeting on the set of Teachers
Corden's Late Late Show skit is now a global phenomenon but its creators met when they were much lower down the entertainment totem pole, reveals Mark Jefferies...
Behind every great man is a great woman. And in the case of James Corden, his wife Julia is definitely a hugely important part of his life. But when it comes to his TV career, which is now blossoming so rapidly and at such a scale that he has become a global star in little more than 12 months, I think a lot of the credit should go to Ben Winston. Outside of the TV industry, he is not a household name, except in homes that feature One Direction fans who know him as the director of their videos. But in actual fact, behind the camera Ben plays a huge part in Corden’s The Late Late show success. And having now watched them working together in the flesh in America, I can say that Ben is very much James’s eyes and ears during the filming process, someone who is often by his side even during the ad breaks. The pair also work very closely and brainstorm ideas together, including sketches like Drop the Mic and of course the global phenomenon that is Carpool Karaoke. But the dynamic duo would never have got together had it not been for a chance meeting on the set of Channel 4 comedy-drama teachers two decades ago. Ben explained to me: “Myself and James met on the set of Teachers. I was 18, I was just a runner and James had a small part in the drama, he played a character called Jeremy with just a few scenes. We immediately got on very well. “We were filming up in Bristol and everyone stayed in Bristol so we spent a lot of time together. “Even though we both had small roles in that TV series we both recognised huge ambition in each other and we felt like we had got on straight away. “We were very good friends and we spoke all the time but we didn’t start working together until 2009 when we did the Smithy Sketch for Comic Relief, when he meets the England team, and that was the first thing I directed him in. We came up with it together. “We did another one in 2010 and again in 2011 when, during the sketch, we had George Michael singing in a car with Smithy and that was, I guess, where Carpool Karaoke was born.” At the time it was just two friends giving up some of their time for a charity sketch. But as everyone can see, things have developed from there. They worked together more and more, including a 2014 documentary called when Corden Met Barlow. It was a BBC1 doc with Ben Winston again behind the camera, and as in the years before, Corden belted out hits with an A-list singer. In the same year, when he was thinking of trying to take a sitcom to America, Corden flew out to Los Angeles with his friend Ben. But instead he was offered a job hosting a chat show by CBS. Fast forward to March 2015 and The Late Late Show with James Corden began, with one Ben Winston as executive producer. Before going on air, Ben and James discussed many points of the chat show. Ben had an unusual vision for the layout of the studio, where the audience are almost on the stage and there are areas to film everywhere, as part of a 360-degree design. The pair also decided they would create Carpool Karaoke. Once Mariah Carey agreed to take part – dozens of others had said no – a phenomenon was born. And Ben’s company Fulwell 73 will now make Carpool Karaoke as a spin off show, netting the friend even more money and success. So, it turns out that Channel 4 comedy-drama Teachers wasn’t just a stepping stone for Andrew Lincoln to move onto greater things… Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Mirror and co-edits their Square Eyes TV Column. He flew to Los Angeles with Virgin Atlantic
Could changes to the Strictly Come Dancing line-up be a good thing for X Factor?
As Len Goodman prepares for his last turn in the judge's chair, and Strictly bids farewell to some popular dancers, X Factor's 'greatest hits' panel could make the Saturday night battle interesting again, says Mark Jefferies
Strictly Come Dancing is the most popular Saturday night show going. But the news that Len Goodman will be saying “SE-VEN” for the last time this series is not heaven for bosses. At this stage there will only be whispers of concern but, just like in sport, you never really want to change a winning team, or a winning formula. And Strictly has a situation where some of its most popular dancers will not be on board this year either. Gone are Ola Jordan, Kristina Rihanoff and Aliona Vilani (although the latter may come back to help with some choreography). This trio of girls who have left were familiar faces to the audience, and Strictly is a show that does not need or like too much change. On the male side, Gleb Savchenko has quit, while Anton Du Beke is 50 next week and Brendan Cole is 40, so they cannot last too much longer. And whilst the new dancers who have signed up could be a hit, they will take some getting used to. So throw in the fact that this time next year there will be a new judge, and suddenly there are at the very least, a few bumps in the road to sidestep. And that's why Anton is favourite to replace Len and maintain some much needed continuity. Over on ITV, Simon Cowell also seems to have realised that too much change is a bad thing. The merry-go-round that is choosing his judging panel for The X Factor each year has stopped in 2016, with Cowell selecting what he called a “greatest hits” panel – but what in reality is a return to old judges who were in the show when it was more popular and successful (when Sharon Osbourne was last on the panel, for instance, X Factor used to easily beat Strictly in the ratings). Getting Dermot O’Leary back as host is also a good decision to provide some stability, someone you can rely on in the live stages and who is confident amidst the chaos. So while I can’t see X Factor overtaking Strictly this year, it may come a bit closer than in 2015. And then once Len goes, if some new dancers don’t waltz away with the viewers' hearts, 2017 could see the battle for Saturday night really get interesting again. Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Daily Mirror and co-edits their Square Eyes TV column
The Investigator is a new mixture of crime documentary and drama. Are ITV viewers ready for it?
If primetime audiences can cope with this new genre, it will change British TV, says Mark Jefferies
For TV viewers who have seen Making A Murderer or The Jinx, tonight’s new series on ITV will not be shocking or different. But for millions of regular ITV viewers, The Investigator: A British Crime Story will take some getting used to. In the past, crime documentaries have lasted an hour on TV, or perhaps 90 minutes on the big screen. Now things are changing: there is almost a new sub-genre. Netflix's Making A Murderer was a ten-part, ten-hour crime documentary. US series The Jinx (shown here on Sky Atlantic), which Simon Cowell watched and loved, was a six-part crime documentary series - with the added bonus that it uncovered new information about its subject Robert Durst. Crucially, both shows helped hook in viewers by dramatising key moments of crimes as if we were watching an episode of Broadchurch or a flashback scene from The Missing. And both series were talked about on forums, and discussed on other TV shows and in magazines and became even more popular by word of mouth. So surprise, surprise, Simon Cowell wants a piece of that publicity and success, with his own series combining documentary and drama on British TV. His Syco TV company has teamed up with a production company called Shiver, for a new type of documentary for ITV. Watching The Investigator, you have to let yourself go and immerse yourself in the story, aware that some scenes are a bit over the top or a bit too stylish, and there is a mixture of hard fact and other scenes with more than an element of drama. The Investigator is fronted by Mark Williams-Thomas, who re-examines the murder of Carole Packman. Her body has never been found after she disappeared 30 years ago. Mark is not shy as a presenter and although he doesn’t make huge breakthroughs in the first episode, having seen the second episode I can tell you this series is definitely worth sticking with for shocking revelations. Initially it may feel odd for some TV viewers to be watching what's essentially a slick version of a Crimewatch reconstruction, alongside real interviews with witnesses and new facts from the present day. But if the ITV audience goes with it and there is enough discussion after the episodes, this style of programme will be here to stay on British TV. The Investigator feels like a series that will crack many more cases in the future. The Investigator begins tonight, 9pm ITV Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Daily Mirror.
ITV have scored with Slaven Bilic at Euro 2016 – but it's no accident
Mark Jefferies says Bilic has been star of the tournament out of the Euro 2016 pundits – and ITV bosses are delighted
It was a masterstroke by ITV to employ Slaven Bilic. The West Ham manager has seemingly appeared from nowhere to become arguably the TV signing of the tournament for Euro 2016. But in this case there is more judgement than luck. I'm told bosses were quietly impressed when Slaven came in and was a pundit for a Europa League tie and a Croatia international match on ITV4 last season. "There were not millions and millions watching so this is his first big tournament for us; we liked what we saw," a senior ITV sport source told me. So whilst he was untried at such a high level, this was no gamble. ITV also knew that his knowledge of his own player Dimitri Payet would be good for the games involving France. The fact Payet was man of the match in the first two was a bonus. There is a lot to like about Bilic and the way he has taken charge of punditry during some games. ITV host Mark Pougatch said Bilic and Lothar Matthaus have been great signings in his eyes. "Slaven is very tactile. He is always grabbing people and bringing them into the conversation. It's great because football is like that; you don't play with you arms by your sides." When it comes to speaking his mind and getting his opinions over, he's certainly got the magic touch. Coverage of Euro 2016 continues on ITV and BBC until 10 July. Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Daily Mirror. Euro 2016 TV coverage guide and fixture list
X Factor ‘greatest hits’ panel means ITV’s The Voice will need a young, fresh line-up
The X Factor judges have an average age of 55 so The Voice will need to contrast that with a more youthful look, says Mark Jefferies
The X Factor judging line up, now official, comes as no great surprise but perhaps gives us some pointers for ITV plans further down the line. All four of the judges – Simon, Louis, Sharon and Nicole – have been linked for some time and after Dermot O’Leary was brought back there was a sense of Cowell going for a ‘greatest hits’ judging panel from years gone by. Less than two weeks ago on a call from Los Angeles, he told me: “I did listen to what I read from fans of the show and I could see a consensus building up and I think sometimes when you had things that work really well in the past people miss them. I kind of like the idea of reunions and I like the idea of what I call ‘The best of’ The X Factor.” But just looking at the pictures of Cowell and co today posted alongside each other really brings into sharp focus the age of the panel. The average age comes in at around 55, and that is with 37-year-old Nicole bringing it down a fair bit. There is nothing wrong with them being experienced, ITV hope some older viewers who have switched to Strictly on BBC1 will come back. But it also seems to leave an obvious gap in the market for ITV’s other recent acquisition, The Voice. It strikes me that with Cowell going for his ‘tried and tested’ judges, ITV will surely ask The Voice to be younger. They will want their first series of the show to look fresh and almost the opposite of Cowell’s. If they do keep will.i.am they will need to have at least one or two young panel members, and ideally young presenters, in order to have a marked difference from The X Factor. It is a difficult balance to get right – they can’t make the line up too inexperienced, and last year’s X Factor panel showed youth does not equal ratings. But they do not want two very similar shows on screen either. X Factor seems to have decided it can’t reinvent the reality wheel and is going for tried and tested, so when it comes to personnel it looks like The Voice will be ITV's place to experiment. Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Mirror and co-edits their TV column Square Eyes
Think twice before criticising Sheridan Smith and her BAFTAs disappointment
"Bear in mind why The C Word was important for her, how emotional it would have been to win and be able to talk about Lisa and her legacy on stage," says Mark Jefferies
It shouldn’t need defending, and I’m disappointed in many ways that I have to even write this. But Sheridan Smith did nothing wrong at the BAFTAs and has every right to look a bit disappointed if something she cares strongly about doesn’t win. I feel duty bound to defend one of our greatest actresses, arguably THE best young female TV star we have, after she was hit by abuse and people mocking her following Sunday’s ceremony. So strong is the criticism that Sheridan feels it is “bullying”, blaming the press for her decision to pull out of yesterday's performance of West End musical Funny Girl, and even saying she may be “driven away” to America. But before she goes anywhere, let me explain the story behind her reaction, as I see it. When her BBC adaptation The C Word failed to win the award for Best Single Drama, Sheridan was caught on camera without the fake smile actors normally put on . Some viewers even took to social media to mock the actress, and to suggest Sheridan looked "p***ed off" after BBC3 drama Don't Take My Baby won the prize instead. There was more mocking and suggestions she was a “diva” when she lost out on the leading actress prize to Doctor Foster's Suranne Jones. Both the award nominations Sheridan was involved in were for The C Word, a one-off drama based on Lisa Lynch who was diagnosed with breast cancer and who charted her defiant struggle against the disease in a blog and a book. This was a part that went way beyond your run-of-the-mill TV role. I think Sheridan would describe it as a life-changing role for her, or one that has had a huge impact on her life at the very least. Before she died of cancer, Lisa knew her blog was being turned into a TV film and asked Sheridan to play her on Twitter. She accepted and, through taking on the role, became close with some of Lisa’s family. She also shaved her head so scenes would look authentic and the result was a brilliant and hugely emotional film. At the press screening I attended in April 2015, Sheridan sat with some of the Lynch family and openly wept as the film played. Afterwards she said: “I thought, ‘what an honour I have to play her’. I might be sat here sobbing like a complete fanny but I am so pleased I did it and if it makes one girl check her boobs and carry on Lisa’s legacy, I will be happy.” She also spoke of how the film had reminded her of her brother's death from cancer (her oldest sibling Julian died when she was just eight) and added that the part was “therapeutic and cathartic”. One person who has defended Sheridan since Sunday night is Lisa’s brother Jamie. In a blog post on Alright Tit, where Lisa used to write online, he admitted he would have loved to see the film win even one BAFTA. He said of Sheridan: “That bird threw everything at that role, literally everything. It was so important to her to get it right, and boy did she get it right. “People may never be able to fully appreciate how much it meant to her and how emotional it was. We got to see it first hand in filming, and trust me that girl is special.” So before you think about posting any criticism of Sheridan, bear in mind why this role was important for her, how emotional it would have been to win and be able to talk about Lisa and her legacy on stage, and perhaps how she was feeling attending the BAFTAs with some of the Lynch family. Anyone who still thinks Sheridan did anything wrong is missing the point and I think the criticism is totally unfair. Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor of the Daily Mirror
Sky Sports have handed Leicester the edge in the title race
For several weeks in a row, TV scheduling will mean Spurs will always be playing catch-up says Mark Jefferies
We all know that TV companies have a lot of clout in football these days. For fans of big Premier League clubs, 3pm kick-offs on a Saturday have been a rarity for a long time and matches are brought forward to lunchtime, back to 5:30pm or moved to Sunday or Monday. Following my team Manchester City, I’ve seen games moved more than once in recent years. But I really think things have gone too far this season, and Sky have given Leicester City a helping hand to win the league. With just a few games to go, the title is a two horse race between Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur. Leicester are five points ahead and last weekend they arguably had an advantage in playing first on Sunday, before Spurs played on Monday. It meant they had the opportunity to go further in front with their rivals playing catch up. This weekend the same thing happens again. Leicester play Swansea on Sky Sports on Sunday and, if they win, go eight points clear. That then heaps pressure on Spurs who play on Monday against West Brom. Ridiculously, the same thing happens for a third week in a row in the first weekend of May, with Leicester playing Sunday and Spurs on Monday for TV purposes. The following week, Leicester play Saturday on TV but Spurs play a day later on Sunday, meaning the only time they will play at the same time will be on the last day of the season. If anything, Spurs would love to play their games first before Leicester, to cut the gap and pile the pressure on the Foxes. But instead, Leicester could have the title won before they actually go head-to-head on the last day of the season. Spurs striker Harry Kane hinted at some annoyance after Monday’s game at Stoke when he said: “We always seem to be last to play,” but he also thinks his team can still hunt Leicester down to win the title. I think it would be great for the Premier League if Leicester win it, but aren’t the fixtures being so much in their favour less of a level playing field? Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Daily Mirror
Line of Duty stars should be in the frame for Baftas
Keeley Hawes's Lindsay Denton and Martin Compston's DS Steven Arnott both deserve awards for their performances in the BBC2 police drama, says Mark Jefferies
Have you got your breath back yet? I had feelings of shock and awe after watching the fifth episode of Line of Duty series three. Shock at the turn of events and what happened to Lindsay Denton and Steve Arnott. And awe at just how brilliant the actors involved were, playing out Jed Mercurio's dark and detailed script. He's been an ever present character on the show but I really feel Martin Compston and his waistcoat-loving DS Steve has improved and added more depth and emotion in recent weeks. And if you have read anything I have written about the show in the last month you will know how much I adore Lindsay Denton as a character. I am not alone in this and Keeley Hawes has rightly been getting praise from dozens of reviewers. Positive comments about Martin's acting are also everywhere. But I would like to be the first person to put both of these stars up as potential Bafta winners in 2017. Because of the timing of the show, it is too late for next month's ceremony and they'll face tough competition from others in 12 months time, as Line of Duty won't be fresh in anyone's minds. But Keeley narrowly missed out on a Bafta for Best Actress in 2015 and I feel the perfect ending for her – and for Lindsay – would be a Supporting Actress nomination and win in a year's time. In fact, anything else would be criminal. Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Mirror
This year's BAFTA TV nominees show that the Academy is catching up with on-demand
BBC iPlayer shows Bitter Lake and Car Share, Netflix's Narcos and Making a Murderer and Amazon Prime's Transparent are all up for gongs in a more forward-thinking BAFTAS, says Mark Jefferies
The BAFTA TV awards used to be filled with nominations from BBC1, Channel 4, ITV... and that was pretty much it. But the times, they are a-changin’, and in the same way that you are reading this article online, much of TV is now being viewed via the internet. Some nominations this year, and well deserved they are too, can't even be viewed on a television in the traditional sense. Documentary Bitter Lake by acclaimed filmmaker Adam Curtis has never been screened by the BBC outside of iPlayer. Curtis said: “BBC iPlayer has given me the opportunity to do this – because it isn’t restrained by the rigid formats and schedules of network television.” US crime drama Narcos is on Netflix, and has been the talk of Twitter for months. It gets a nomination in the International category alongside Amazon Prime’s taboo-tackling transsexual comedy Transparent. Making A Murderer, meanwhile – a series responsible for thousands if not millions of Netflix subscriptions on its own – has a chance of winning the Radio Times Audience Award. And even Car Share, a massive hit for BBC1, was available first to watch on iPlayer and got most of its praise from word of mouth before it was ever "on TV". In 2015 Netflix had a couple of nominations, but this feels like the first year BAFTA has caught up with the TV audience and it's changing landscape. There is more choice than ever, but it also feels like competition is driving quality up, especially when it comes to drama. Expect even more nominations outside of the big channels in the coming years. Mark Jefferies is showbiz editor at the Daily Mirror
ITV's new drama The Durrells could bring a gentler feel to Sunday nights
The series based on Gerald Durrell's memoirs is reminiscent of 90s hit The Darling Buds of May, says Mark Jefferies
Big Sunday night dramas are now a TV tradition. Many feature shocks, sex or have viewers reaching for the tissues as they get teary over the plot. I’m thinking of recent hits like Call the Midwife, War and Peace and Deutschland 83. Another thing these all had in common was the potential to be tough or uncomfortable viewing at times. And even Downton Abbey regularly had death or disaster around the corner. Well that can’t be said for ITV’s new big hope The Durrells. Based on Gerald Durrell’s classic trilogy of Corfu memoirs, including the much loved story My Family and Other Animals, its cast is led by the wonderful Keeley Hawes as Louisa Durrell. Single mum Louisa does the unthinkable in 1935 and takes the whole family to Corfu to live. The results, judging from the first episode, are a gentle mix of family feuds and adventures filmed taking in lots of beautiful animals and glorious locations from the island. Watching it reminded me a little of The Darling Buds of May, which ran for three series in the early 90s and starred David Jason and a young Catherine Zeta-Jones. That was set in idyllic 1950s Kent whilst the Durrells is 1930s Corfu, but there are definitely similarities in tone. And what is certain is that ITV are going for a gentle approach with The Durrells and hoping the whole family will tune in to watch on a Sunday night. Keeley said at the press screening that there was “nothing” in the show that would stop her from allowing her kids to watch. And mild swear words aside it is good clean fun with jokes and stunning scenery. It is very early to say how it will fare, but there are more stories if this six-part series works, and I think there is definitely room in the schedules for a Sunday night drama that all the family can sit down together and enjoy. Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Daily Mirror The Durrells starts on ITV on Sunday 3rd April
Daniel Mays is "troubled and terrifying" in Line of Duty series 3
The new star of BBC2's corrupt cop thriller is bound to feel the 'Line of Duty effect' just like Keeley Hawes, says Mark Jefferies
He may not have the six-pack of Tom Hiddleston in The Night Manager, or be quite as easy on the eye as Poldark’s Aidan Turner. But on Thursday night Daniel Mays is set to boost his career with an incredible performance in the new BBC2 series of Line Of Duty. The opening episode was screened at Bafta in London a few weeks ago, and I have rarely heard such universal praise for a TV show and its leading man. Mays is rarely off screen in the entire hour, and his character, Sergeant Danny Waldron, is a troubled and terrifying presence. One interrogation scene in particular (a Line of Duty speciality of course) shows off his skills and reveals a lot about his character at the same time. Speaking to Mays about the role, he was excited about the part and enjoyed the work, but can’t wait for what he calls “the final hurdle” when it goes out on BBC2 and he finds out what viewers think. “The quality of the scripts was so great and it had such an impact when I first read it, your hope is for it to transfer onto the screen,” he told me. In 2014, the same series turned Keeley Hawes from a very good actress into a great one for many viewers and TV execs, capable of a variety of performances. Hawes herself has since admitted that job offers, and the variety of roles she is being put forward for, have changed since she appeared as DI Lindsay Denton and earned a Bafta nomination. I predict the same thing could happen for Mays, who is captivating as Danny Waldron. He is already held in high regard following performances in shows like ITV’s Mrs Biggs and Ashes To Ashes, but this feels like a big moment for him. There are not many times you like to try to predict what viewers will think about something. But if ‘Daniel Mays’ isn’t trending on Twitter and being lauded by TV critics after Thursday’s episode then it will be a real crime. Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Daily Mirror. Line Of Duty Series 3 starts on Thursday 24 March on BBC2 at 9pm.
Nowhere for football referees to hide over dodgy decisions if sports channels have their way
An increasing number of camera angles, plus former referees on call during TV coverage, should mean viewers have a much better idea of whether a decision was correct
TV scrutiny of football referees over controversial decisions is set to become even more intense, especially when it comes to penalties. A visit behind the scenes with broadcasters Sky Sports showed me that is one area where they are keen to totally eradicate doubt. Ahead of the Capital Cup final at Wembley, match director Jerry Logan told me: “I’ve got 21 cameras for the match and each one has a purpose. “The ones on the 18 yard line shows if someone was offside or for a penalty if a player was caught. “We can show if it was a handball or a trip. “One of the things we are doing is to try to take away the old thing, ‘was it a penalty? you cant prove that’. Well we can normally show whether it was a trip, was it deliberate and was it in the box.” Sky’s football operation is impressive. On the day I looked round there were a total of 25 cameras for the coverage, including those focused on the studio, a new drone camera dubbed ‘Batcam’ flown from a nearby car park for aerial views and a remote controlled ‘kartcam’ driving onto the pitch to try to get a new type of shot as the players walk out. Jerry says “any innovation is great to try” and improving views and angles for armchair fans seems to be key. And Sky are not alone in trying out new things in an attempt to rule out controversy. Over at BT Sport, ex-Premier League referee Howard Webb was recruited before the season started. And during matches he goes through replays and gives his verdict on penalty decisions and anything else controversial in and around the box. Any new cameras going onto or close to the pitch have to be discussed with football’s bosses and also the referee for the day. But everyone in the game seems happy to keep experimenting – even if there is a bigger risk for fers that any wrong decision will now stand out a mile. Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Daily Mirror Sky Sports will show 116 Barclays Premier League games this season
Channel 4 boss puts foot down to drive for Formula 1 success
“I had a whites of the eyes meeting with Jay Hunt," says new F1 frontman Steve Jones. "She made sure I understood the commitment"
Channel 4 boss Jay Hunt is a woman who knows what she wants and doesn’t waste much time. In fact if you ever hear her speak, she talks so quickly her speeches can sometimes be over in seconds and it's hard to keep up. But to her credit it is precisely this drive and speed of thought that makes her one of the most talented and fearless figures in TV. And quick decision-making is one of the reasons Channel 4 have been able to land a Formula 1 deal and get the coverage off the ground from scratch without, er, stalling, in just a few months. Chief creative officer Jay says it is a “young, cutting-edge sport that couldn’t be a better fit for Channel 4” and it has potential to attract big audiences and big advertisers. The BBC’s coverage of races last year averaged over three million and some grands prix managed over five million, numbers Channel 4 would love to get on a Sunday afternoon, when traditionally it can struggle against its rivals. To make the sport more watchable I expect more gossip from around the pits, more celebrities and a fun factor rather than it being too technical, in a bid to attract new fans. But on top of gambling on buying the coverage itself, Jay has also gone for a main presenting duo of Steve Jones and former racer David Coulthard. Steve hasn’t done live sports presenting before, but is tipped to follow in the footsteps of Jake Humphrey, who made a successful move from kids' TV to sport. And he definitely has Jay’s personal backing to succeed. At the F1 launch she called him “one of the most accomplished live broadcasters I have ever had the good fortune of working with”. And then Steve admitted Jay fronted him up last month to make doubly sure he was the right man for the job. Steve told me: “I had a whites of the eyes meeting with Jay, that’s what they call them. She made sure my heart was in it and I understood the commitment. But I sold my commitment to her. Then I met up with DC and it has gone from there. It’s been a whirlwind.” No doubt Steve’s meeting would have been a rapid one. But if Formula One on Channel 4 is a ratings success it might be the most important five minutes of his career. Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Daily Mirror Channel 4 coverage of Formula One begins on 18th March with build up and then highlights of the Australian Grand Prix
BBC Breakfast bosses see new host Dan Walker as more of a young Bill Turnbull than a Piers Morgan
Turnbull's are big shoes to fill but Dan Walker looks like the man for the job and the pair have a lot in common, says Mark Jefferies
It was a tough decision, and there will never be another Bill Turnbull on breakfast TV. But based on first impressions and public reaction, the BBC seem to have made an excellent decision in giving Bill’s job to Football Focus host Dan Walker. Bill’s last day is on 26th February and I suspect there will be tears shed on screen and behind-the-scenes, as he is easy to work with, occasionally cheeky, and always very dependable. Saying he is a safe pair of hands does not do his 15 years on the show justice, he is consistently brilliant and very popular too. For that reason, BBC Breakfast remains well on top in terms of ratings. Bosses could have looked at the recent arrival of Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain over at ITV and felt they needed a big personality to replace Bill, so they could make lots of noise. They could have picked someone who would get huge publicity, the tactic Top Gear bosses seem to be adopting at present. Thankfully this hasn’t happened. If anything, Dan Walker is the complete opposite of Piers Morgan. Quiet off screen, Dan doesn’t like swearing, won’t work on Sundays because of his strong religious beliefs and is a bit of a Star Wars geek. Whilst Piers is arrogant, unforgiving and loves a row on Twitter, Dan wrote on one church website in 2010 how he is still upset with himself for “doing things I regret” in his first year at university, even though it was a decade earlier! So the signs are good that Dan won’t upset many people on screen or rock the BBC Breakfast boat. And at 38, if he settles in, there is nothing to stop him notching up a decade on the sofa. Bill presented Songs of Praise whilst doing BBC Breakfast and is a big football fan himself, so there are some similarities between the pair. BBC colleagues speak highly of Bill and Dan. They are both family men with three children each, too, and appear to want to stay at the BBC for life. BBC execs will be hoping they have a young Bill Turnbull on Breakfast, not a new Piers Morgan. Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Daily Mirror
Serial podcast needs to go back to basics with controversy, uncertainty and room for debate
Season two of the real-life crime phenomenon is disappointing because there are fewer points of view and a less intriguing central figure who is definitely guilty of some wrongdoing, says Mark Jefferies
The last time I listened to a podcast was probably four or five years ago when Ricky Gervais and Karl Pilkington used to do a hilarious rambling series that made me laugh out loud on the Underground. As a format, podcasts had completed dropped off my radar until Serial came along – and the real-life crime series is being credited with making the podcast more mainstream, so it seems I’m not alone. I came to Serial late, so I was able to listen to the whole first season in less than a week, as it investigated the 1999 murder of Hae Min Lee for which her ex Adnan Masud Syed was charged. I loved the intrigue, the dozens of unanswered questions and the revelations of huge flaws in the court case, both in terms of the prosecution and the lacklustre defence of Adnan. The difference of opinion amongst everyone who listened to Serial was huge too, there were so many ideas and so many theories. Some people really felt sympathetic towards Adnan, others angry and convinced of his guilt. Guilty or not guilty, there were hardly any concrete facts in the case, and even some of those used in court were then cleverly picked apart by narrator and executive producer Sarah Koenig. But now we come to season two, and this time the subject is Sgt Bowe Bergdahl, an American soldier who was held for five years by the Taliban, and then arrested for desertion. Don’t get me wrong, it is an interesting topic and they have great exclusive access to Bergdahl. But it just doesn’t work in the way the first season does. To begin with, Bergdahl chose to leave his post in Afghanistan. That fact is not open for debate, like so many of the supposed facts in season one. So although there are lots of unanswered questions, many people have less or even no sympathy for the central subject. To make matters worse, no one else speaking really knows what happened. No one saw Bergdahl leave his post, no other members of the army were with him whilst he was prisoner, and so any supposed insight is entirely provided by Bergdahl. There are no contrasting views and opinions as there were when Serial retraced the day of Hae Min Lee's murder. And finally, this time around the Serial team are releasing the podcast once every fortnight, rather than weekly, making it much harder for fans to keep the story at the forefront of their mind. The opening episode of the first series is now estimated to have been downloaded over 68 million times and rising. But Serial 2 won’t keep even half those listeners happy in my opinion, and I expect some will now be turning off. It’s still a good podcast, but I don’t find myself wanting to binge on Bergdahl episodes or to pore over articles and interviews when the series finishes. If Serial 3 is to recapture listeners' imaginations, it needs to go back to the basics with a case featuring controversy, uncertainty and room for debate... Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Daily Mirror
Forget The Voice, War and Peace and Midwife - Countryfile is the weekend winter ratings warmer
BBC1's cosy rural affairs programme is now outstripping flagship dramas and glossy entertainment shows, points out Mark Jefferies
The biggest TV show last weekend wasn’t The Voice, hit dramas War and Peace, Call the Midwife or even Vera over on ITV. By far the most watched programme was a winter special of Countryfile on BBC1 – with 8.1million viewers. No, that is not a typo, more than eight million people watched the episode fronted by Matt Baker and co. When people champion the BBC saying they produce shows other channels wouldn’t make, like Bake Off and Strictly Come Dancing, which then go on to become hits, I think Countryfile should be added to that list. On the face of it, a show about rural news and environmental issues does not sound like a ratings juggernaut or something rivals like ITV would be keen to emulate. But it is done well, is enjoyable and entertaining to watch and has been running in some form for over 25 years. Added to that, the early evening Sunday slot seems the perfect place for its fans to enjoy it, perhaps with a mug of tea or a glass of wine as they wind down. It even seems to have an unlikely fan in the form of ex-footballer Joey Barton who tweeted at the weekend: “Sunday nights. Countryfile. Bliss.” In case you missed the winter special, Matt Baker visited Tom and Kay Hutchinson, currently in the grip of winter on their hill farm in Teesdale. They spoke about trying to breed the perfect sheep. Ellie Harrison was in Gloucestershire getting a bird's-eye view of winter migration. And Adam Henson was on North Ronaldsay in Orkney, where their rare seaweed-eating sheep are under threat. On the face of it, this does not sound like a recipe for a show that could get ratings on a par with The X Factor and Strictly. But whilst it might be a different audience and not court massive headlines in the press, it has a huge and very solid following. No question, the BBC have nurtured a much-loved creation in Countryfile. Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Mirror
No pressure Simon Cowell... but millions of pounds rest on the next few months
After a disappointing year for The X Factor, Cowell needs Britain's Got Talent to perform before he sits down with ITV to thrash out a new contract, says Mark Jefferies
Simon Cowell took his yearly break in the Caribbean this Christmas and looked like he was having fun in the sun with his partner Lauren and baby Eric. But knowing Simon, even if he managed to put his mobile phone down for a few days, his brain would have been working overtime on new ideas and plans for 2016. Simon has a vital few months ahead, which could make or break his next ITV deal. The three year contract for Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor ends this year. So by the time BGT finishes in a few months time, negotiations will be underway for the next deal. The current contract, which runs until December 2016, is worth around £150 million. But back when that deal was put together, both shows were attracting huge ratings every week and were among the most talked about programmes on TV. Now things have changed a little. Although Simon is quick to point out that X Factor’s consolidated figures make better reading than some would have us believe, the 2015 show was not a huge success. The opening night of the final managed just 5.9 million in the overnights and Sunday’s concluding episode got 8.4 million. Both figures were down on the previous year and several million down compared with the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. While I think resting the show is highly unlikely, these figures do effect advertising fees and mean ITV may aim for a cheaper deal this time around. But if Simon has big plans for The X Factor, and perhaps could sign some new big-name judges in the coming months, that will help him negotiate with ITV. And then there is BGT. It still brings in huge audiences and is family friendly. As long as auditions go well in the next few weeks, and the week-long run of semi finals in May produce millions of viewers, Simon will be able to meet with ITV, and by then its new boss Kevin Lygo, and negotiate hard. But if BGT was to follow X Factor and slide in the ratings by a few million, then he would be worried. ITV would perhaps look to get a cut-price contract, something Simon would not like. Speaking at Judges Houses in October when I raised the subject of the new contact, he insisted ITV “would never allow” the show to be rested. He also said he was not worried about the future of The X Factor, saying: “This would not be a difficult show to put anywhere now. It brings in a very passionate and loyal audience. The advertisers love it, the sponsors love it.” Since the two shows began, Simon has always been in a position to make them bigger and better, with more money for budgets and more money for his company Syco and himself. But he needs a big few months. BGT has to perform, and he needs some big X Factor signings, if ITV is to give him a “yes” vote and hand over another £150 million. Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Daily Mirror
Ant and Dec have nothing to prove - but a new sitcom would be interesting
After their NTAs victory, the boys mentioned the possibility of “a few things” in the pipeline - if they can find the right formula a sitcom could be great fun, says Mark Jefferies
They won again at the NTAs. Ant and Dec, for the 15th year in a row, are Britain’s favourite presenters. And why wouldn’t they be? Anyone who saw I’m A Celebrity or Britain’s Got Talent or Saturday Night Takeaway would know they are still at the top of their game. They are both 40 now and normally middle age is a time for taking fewer risks, perhaps in a normal job keeping your head down, and getting on with things without being adventurous. For these two that would mean another year of BGT, The Brit Awards, Takeaway and I’m A Celebrity. But even though they have nothing left to prove, I would really like to see them try something new. On Wednesday night, awards in hand, the boys mentioned the possibility of “a few things” in the pipeline without actually committing to any new project. It reminded me of an idea they had spoken about a while back. As long ago as July 2014, Ant mentioned plans for a sitcom, saying there was the “desire” to do it, but there was no rush and they were “not sure when”. Well boys, you are loved by the nation, you are still presenting perfection, but I think 2016 is the year to do it and stretch yourselves. If they could find a formula that works, ITV would love a new sitcom on their channel – they have very few successful ones and there is a new boss at the helm to impress. If it went well it could run for years and years, and perhaps long after the likes of BGT ends. And if it doesn’t work so well, it doesn’t really matter – knowing them it will be fun trying. I just really hope they give it a go. Fingers crossed the boys bite the bullet and, along with presenting, go for even more success this year with something new. Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Daily Mirror
Why I'm A Celebrity's 2015 line-up is strong and full of potential for good gossip
ITV has assembled a varied bunch for viewers from Bolton to Buckingham Palace, and they're rather talkative too, says Mark Jefferies
Having spoke to all the I’m A Celebrity contestants just hours before they began entering the jungle this weekend, I can definitely say they are a varied group. And the potential is there for lots of good gossip as they seem to be a talkative bunch. Yvette Fielding, ex-Blue Peter and now Most Haunted host, didn’t want to stop chatting before she went in. She wants other celebrities to rub her feet and is super excited about the adventure ahead. After the success of Jimmy Bullard ITV bosses have got Kieron Dyer, a more thoughtful footballer, but also one who was more talented on the pitch and has friends who are England international he may reveal secrets about. I expect him to start quietly but come out of his shell if he stays a long way into the competition. Duncan Bannatyne was calm and relaxed but we all know he has a bit of a temper which could go off, especially if the conversation is a bit trashy. Tony Hadley is someone bosses have wanted for years, and boxer Chris Eubank is, well, Chris Eubank. The man never utters a sentence where three can be used, so we won’t be short on words from him. For younger viewers Hollyoaks’ Jorgie Porter, Union J’s George Shelley and X Factor’s Brian Friedman seem to cover lots of angles across TV and music. None of them were shy in my time with them and bosses have chosen that trio hoping they will spill secrets from their industry and because frankly, they all look good on screen. The one name many won’t recognise when they turn on their TV is Lady Colin Campbell. But she is a royal author who broke secrets about Princess Diana. And as we have seen with the likes of Paul Burrell and Jennie Bond, a royal connection is normally a good thing for I’m A Celebrity. If you listen to Lady Colin, Buckingham Palace will be tuning in alongside the rest of us. It certainly feels a stronger camp than last year overall and my feelings are echoed by show boss Tom Gould. The exec producer says: “I’m really, really excited. In terms of the combination of characters, I simply have no idea what it’s going to be like this year – and I can’t wait to find out. I love the idea of Chris Eubank and Lady Colin meeting. There are so many interesting combinations.” Let's hope he is right and ITV have got the right mix for some joyful jungle viewing. Mark is showbiz editor at the Daily Mirror. He is flew out to cover I’m A Celebrity with British Airways, which offers flights and holidays to Australia. www.ba.com/australia
Why Ant and Dec make I'm a Celebrity a guaranteed success for ITV
The show has been running for 13 years, even longer than The X Factor, but thanks to the Geordie duo, viewers haven't lost their taste for Bushtucker trials says Mark Jefferies
By the time you read this I will be mid-air on my way to Australia, which means we are a week away from the start of one of the most unpredictable reality shows on TV. I can't wait for I'm A Celebrity, and to be honest, neither can bosses at ITV. Whilst X Factor is on the slide, and a common remark is viewers are a little bored of the format, you never hear that complaint about the jungle show. Being on for only around three weeks helps: people seem to look forward to it every year, and there isn't much time to get bored. Another factor is you see a new side to some celebrities – and, sometimes, find out why they are famous in the first place! It's the same trick Strictly Come Dancing has managed to pull off, with so much success. The new tasks and the new personalities keep it fresh, even if the location remains the same. And then there are the hosts. For me, this is the show where Ant and Dec excel the most - it's a presenting masterclass from the Geordie duo. They make me laugh out loud, and you can see they genuinely enjoy the show and their time in Oz. View oEmbed on the source website This year will be a special one, as Ant turns 40 during the first week of shows and has the night off to enjoy it. It's amazing to think I'm A Celebrity has been going 13 years. There will come a time when audiences, and those buying advertising slots, will get tired of it, but I don't feel that time is now. Rumoured contestants including Chris Eubank, Yvette Fielding, Vicky Pattison and Duncan Bannatyne. It sounds like a varied enough bunch. So bring on the Bushtucker trials on 15th November – and the bumper audiences for ITV. Mark is showbiz editor at the Daily Mirror. He flew out to cover I’m A Celebrity with British Airways, which offers flights and holidays to Australia. www.ba.com/australia
The way we watch TV has changed - so should "meaningless" ratings, says Simon Cowell
It's high time we had a more modern and accurate way to determine viewing figures, agrees Mark Jefferies
For years they have been a source of stories for me, not to mention a source of huge revenue for Simon Cowell as advertisers queued up to buy slots in the ad breaks. But now the X Factor boss thinks overnight ratings – a snapshot of how many viewers watched what the previous day – should be abolished or replaced. Cowell is not the first to realise that the way people watch has changed, with catch up TV, +1 channels and shows available on-demand and online. Applying it to X Factor, he says: “If you look at everything at the moment you are seeing a pattern here. Strictly is in the sevens, we are in the sevens, our peak was higher than theirs. There is no question of a doubt, this applies to all shows at the moment, people are definitely changing their viewing habits. “We are adding two or three million on the week’s figures which is taking us up to nine-and-a-half which in this day and age is a miracle.” Speaking at the Judges' Houses stage of X Factor, Cowell went on to brand overnight ratings as “meaningless” and said he felt the way they are calculated, using the results of 5,000 homes from company BARB, is now out of date. I think Cowell has a point. I mean, we are basing the viewing habits of millions and millions of people on a sample of just 5,000. There must be a better way we can get an instant snapshot in this day and age? Wouldn't it be great to have a better idea of who watched what? And if it is possible to get more detailed results it will help advertisers and also help shows sell ad slots in the future. Cowell says he has changed the way he looks at ratings, and now pays more attention to the results that come seven days later – the “consolidated” numbers, which include people watching on catch-up TV and from set-top box recordings after the day of broadcast. Cowell said: “I can make a very quick calculation now, when they come in on Sunday morning, in my mind we have done ten million, because I know what the catch up number is going to be. “Ten years on to be getting around ten million, it is a miracle.” So whilst it may not quite get the numbers it used to, the demise of X Factor may be getting exaggerated thanks to overnights. With all the brilliant ways to watch and catch up with TV shows and series these days on all manner of devices, lets hope the way we find out ratings can be brought up to date soon too. Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Daily Mirror. X Factor continues all weekend on ITV
Can Piers Morgan give more snap, crackle and pop to breakfast time on ITV?
The arrival of the former Daily Mirror editor and the departure of Bill Turnball from BBC Breakfast gives the commercial channel a chance to change the fortunes of their morning slot, says Mark Jefferies
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And for ITV, getting the right recipe for success during the breakfast slot has been a problem for the past five years. Now they have turned to Piers Morgan to try to attract some new viewers. Ever since GMTV was ditched, they have been searching for the right ingredients to challenge BBC Breakfast. The BBC currently pulls in about 1.5 million viewers on average each morning and Good Morning Britain is languishing at about 600,000. To put that in context, even after they decided it was being axed, GMTV still regularly got around a million viewers, and years ago, ITV had the most popular breakfast show with five million tuning in back in 2006. It is now five years since ITV launched Daybreak with Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley at great expense with millions of pounds spent on contracts and a new studio. That didn't work, so they tried Lorraine Kelly and Aled Jones, which didn't improve things either. Daybreak was eventually ditched and there was the dawn of another new era with Good Morning Britain, featuring FOUR presenters – Susanna Reid poached from BBC, Sky's Charlotte Hawkins and Sean Fletcher, and Ben Shepherd, who was loved by some of the GMTV viewers. Now ITV bosses appear to have sidelined some of this line-up too so from next month we are told Susanna Reid and Piers Morgan will front the show most of the time. This is the fourth presenting reshuffle in five years – you don't need to be wide awake to see they are still searching for the right mix. But changing the line up now, as they again search for more viewers, seems a good move by Daytime boss Helen Warner. In January BBC Breakfast anchor Bill Turnbull is leaving the show after 15 years. He is much-loved, and if there is a time to snatch some viewers it may be now. Piers hosted a couple of weeks of GMB as holiday cover earlier this year, and feedback from viewers was good, with some shows seeing a spike in audience numbers. ITV also say their numbers are up seven percent year-on-year and they think Piers will help grow their audience further. Viewers also don't mind a bit of tension or something lively to be woken up to. Eamonn Holmes and Anthea Turner¹s on-air 'chemistry' never did GMTV any harm and helped it get more headlines. So when Piers talks of 'annoying Susanna' in the coming weeks that is not necessarily a bad thing. GMB have a couple of months to bed in and then in January can really try to push on. If they don't, you can be pretty sure there will be another round of changes in 2016, as ITV seem determined to get their breakfast offering just right. Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Daily Mirror
ITV can convert huge TV audiences with the Rugby World Cup
The broadcaster has shown its commitment to international rugby, even pushing aside X Factor to give the World Cup a prime time audience. With the Six Nations coming soon too, ITV's sporting gamble could pay off says Mark Jefferies
When it comes to ratings, all the talk in recent weeks has been about ITV and The X Factor. But on Friday, arguably a bigger and more important show will start, representing a multi-million pound gamble by head of ITV Peter Fincham: the Rugby World Cup. I think his sporting gamble will be a winner. Fincham and his director of sport Niall Sloane have not only bought the rights to rugby’s showpiece event at huge cost; they have thrown tens of millions into Six Nations rugby too. From 2016 they will share the Six Nations rugby with the BBC for the first time, after the two channels split a contract worth around £50 million a year. ITV’s a savvy deal, cut when the BBC needed cash urgently and not due to run out until 2021, that means ITV hold the rights to all of England's home matches in the tournament. This Friday, the World Cup will kick off with another game at Twickenham, when England take on Fiji. The potential for both tournaments in terms of audience are huge, and with it comes the potential for massive money for ITV from selling advertising slots in the breaks. In March, the BBC boasted record figures of 9.63 million for England v France in the Six Nations. Audiences like that are perfect for ITV. With England's other two key pool games in the World Cup – against Australia and Wales – scheduled for Saturday night prime time, big audiences are guaranteed. ITV are confident they can ‘convert’ viewers to watching rugby on Saturday nights. They’ve even moved X Factor because of it, and it is the priority for the next two months. On Sunday 18th October, The X Factor will follow on from two World Cup quarter-finals, meaning it should even get a leg up to help it inherit a big audience. The following week, Cowell and co will be on both nights at the weekend after a semi-final. Then on 31st October, ITV will hope to dominate the schedule – and perhaps even get one over on Strictly – with the World Cup Final, followed by the first X Factor live show from their London studio. If England can get that far, things will look very rosy for ITV, and audiences of 10 to 15 million will be possible. This autumn could be the perfect revival for ITV's sporting fortunes after losing the Champions League to BT Sport, setting them up for huge figures during the Six Nations next spring, and huge revenue from the adverts. Despite its high cost, rugby definitely seems worth a ‘try’ by ITV. Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor of the Daily Mirror
X Factor's opening night audience was disappointing - but next weekend will tell the real story
Viewing figures in the 6 and 7 millions are not what ITV hoped for from its revamped show - but it's when Strictly enters the picture that Cowell and co will know if they're really in trouble, says Mark Jefferies
For many people, Sunday’s viewing figures were the final straw. The X Factor has, well, lost its X factor. The ratings were unquestionably low, both the 6.5 million on Sunday and the 7.6m the previous night. This was a new judging panel, with Rita Ora poached from BBC1’s The Voice, and Nick ‘Grimmy’ Grimshaw expected to bring over millions of his Radio 1 listeners. Strictly's rival judge Craig Revel Horwood might say it is “a disaster” – and isn’t it? As you'd expect, the X Factor Press Office tried to downplay the figures, talking of school holidays and possible improvements in coming weeks. But in truth ITV boss Peter Fincham will not be panicking just yet. Of course he will not be delighted with the numbers, but he is an experienced TV man who takes his time with things and will look at a bigger picture. Next week ITV will get the consolidated viewing figures, telling them how many people watched X Factor on catch up TV and how big an audience they have really got this year. Given the large amount of adverts to skim through, more people watch from Sky+ and other recorders these days, and X Factor could still reach a figure of around 10 million if it is lucky. The problem is though, X Factor is expensive to make and relies on selling advertising in those breaks that more and more people are fast forwarding through. The less people that watch the show live each series, the less advertisers will pay. Simon Cowell will be a little red-faced too, having again mentioned wanting to beat Strictly Come Dancing when X Factor launched to the press. “I’m going to put my money on us,” he said. Well I’ll have whatever stake you like on that bet if you’re reading this Simon! Strictly doesn't launch until the coming Saturday. But by the end of next weekend, ITV bosses will know whether their initially disappointing figures are a short term headache or a longer term pain they will struggle to fix. And whether Strictly will be dancing off with this year's Saturday night crown... Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Daily Mirror
New 4K TV makes televised sport like being at the game
Such is the clarity of 4K TV's big screens, that you can pick out individual players - even from long distance, says Mark Jefferies
On Sunday I was given a glimpse of what I think could be a TV of the future, especially when it comes to sport. In one way, it's odd to call an Ultra HD 4K TV something for the future, because you can currently buy one of these tellys for less than £1,000. But I don’t know anyone who has one or who has watched anything on them. Yet. At the weekend, BT sport screened the Arsenal v Chelsea Community Shield game on a special channel for Ultra HD using Ultra HD Sony cameras positioned around Wembley Stadium. The results, which I saw for myself, were incredible – a picture that can be beamed onto a huge screen, minimum 50 inch ideally, but is so sharp it allows you to pick out individual players even from long distance. There were only ten cameras used, but to be honest most of the time the coverage stuck with a long shot side-on, which covered about a third to half of the pitch, and was a brilliant way to see possession and all the runs around and off the ball. BT Sport TV director Rob Levi likened it to having a seat in the top tier of the stand at the halfway line, and it was much more like the view you would get at a game, with less of the needless close ups and replays which sometime can spoil your enjoyment. BT won’t say how many people watched the game, or how many have the BT infinity broadband and Ultra HD box you need to be able to watch the games at home. My educated guess is those users are in the low thousands, but then we would have been saying that about HD TV in the beginning and that is now the norm. People love the quality of the picture compared to grainy old TVs in standard definition. Ultra HD would work brilliantly for tennis and rugby or crowd shots, enabling you to pick out individual reactions amongst hundred of people. BT pundit Rio Ferdinand even thinks the new Ultra HD will be of use to managers and goalkeepers to analyse play. So while it may currently be just footballers and those with money to burn on the latest technology who have 4K TVs and this product right now, I think give it a year or two maximum and Ultra HD will become ultra affordable. Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Daily Mirror
Noel Edmonds' thoughts on the future of the BBC aren't as far-out as some of his ideas
“I would hate to see the UK lose the BBC but it has to be pared down," says Edmonds
A recent interview with Noel Edmonds that I picked up on got huge coverage because of his far-out claims that there is no such thing as death, humans are just “containers of energy” and that something called "electrosmog" is polluting our atmosphere... But what haven’t really been discussed are his opinions on the BBC, which far more people can relate to and will have a view on. Last year, Edmonds said he had put together a consortium to buy the BBC, but the comment was laughed off and not taken seriously. But he is serious when he discusses the future of the Corporation which – unlike humans, apparently – is something he believes will die if we let it. And as the man responsible for some of the BBC's biggest shows ever – Noel’s House Party, Telly Addicts and Top of the Pops – his thoughts on TV channels and radio stations may well be worth listening to. “I would hate to see the UK lose the BBC but it has to be pared down and fit for people," Edmonds told Celebrity Radio. "It is trying to be all things to all people in an age when Apple could crush it tomorrow. “You have to accept consumer is king. You have to accept people can get local news from other sources. Gone are the days when they lead the way on impartial news. “The whole news side has to be cut down. “You have to concentrate on a couple of good TV channels and focus on original programming. People want good content, they don’t want repeats or padding things out.” Noel also has strong opinions on radio – I don’t agree with much of it myself, but there are lots of people out there who will. “You probably need two very good radio channels," he says. "Radio 3? Well forget it. It is too elitist and too irrelevant. Classic FM do a good job and now I have launched Positively Happy radio, we play excellent classical music. [Radio 3] has got to go. “The BBC has to go back and focus on what it did best, which is encouraging new talent and producing original content on a small number of channels and an internet presence. “It is all going to fall apart if it just staggers on the way it is.” How Director General Tony Hall must wish he could ring up Noel’s Banker on Deal Or No Deal for a big money offer that would make ends meet for his television and radio budgets. I would hate to see the BBC reduced to two TV channels and two radio stations, but the current set up seems unlikely to last much longer. Perhaps some of Noel’s ideas aren't so far fetched after all... Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Daily Mirror
All eyes will be on "wild card" judge Nick Grimshaw as The X Factor returns
He says he’s not nervous - but this new job could have a huge impact on Grimmy's career, says Mark Jefferies
Even before the new series of The X Factor has started, it seems all eyes when it comes to the judging panel, will be on Nick ‘Grimmy’ Grimshaw. The Radio1 breakfast DJ and TV host has come a long way in the last decade. Earlier this week he told me how he began his career as an intern at MTV, before helping friends on video shoots and taking any work he could to pursue his dream of being on Radio and TV. Now, via T4 on Channel 4, BBC3 panel shows and stints in various slots on Radio 1, he has the chance to become a household name thanks to X Factor. Of the opening Manchester auditions, Grimmy says: “I am not nervous, I just want it to start. I have been talking about it for ages and nothing happened. I kinda just want it to start because I feel like it is not real until it starts.” Grimmy is the wild card pick from Simon Cowell this year, who was apparently charmed by him when they met for a Radio 1 interview at Cowell's Syco office in West London. Cowell and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini are familiar faces to viewers, and whilst Rita Ora hasn’t been a full time judge before, she was a guest in a previous series and has done a full year on The Voice where she boosted ratings. Cowell is banking on Grimmy bringing in youngsters and the line up does feel fresh and more exciting than in the last few years, with two new additions and Louis Walsh finally heading for the exit. Watching Grimmy give a Q&A for another new TV show this week, MTV’s Soundchain, he was at ease and won over the journalists by being down-to-earth and funny. That is exactly why he has support in high places and the likes of Kate Moss and Florence Welch would count him as friends. But when he was announced as a judge, it was hardly met with widespread delight on social media. Like his Radio 1 predecessor Chris Moyles, Grimmy is a Marmite character, probably loved and disliked in equal measures by different people. And while he has hosted a number of shows before, being a primetime TV judge is very different, especially when we get down to the live shows and there is no time to edit. Explaining why he took the job, Grimmy says: “Every Saturday my friends will come to my house or I will go to theirs and we will watch it together. I like that it feels inclusive and everyone can talk about it – your mum, a cabbie, I can talk about it on the radio. Everybody has a reference point.” So when it comes to The X Factor, let's hope the cabbies are happy for Grimmy to be the one in the driving seat. Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Daily Mirror
It was great to see TFI Friday back - but will it really work for a whole series?
The trip down memory lane was great, says Mark Jefferies, but there are lots of pitfalls Chris Evans will have to avoid to make a full series a success
So first the good news. TFI Friday’s one-off 20th anniversary show was a huge success for Chris Evans and Channel 4. Fans loved it, ratings of over four million were huge – bigger than when it first aired in the 90s – and a series seemed inevitable. Fast forward a couple of weeks and Chris Evans has duly announced a new eight-part run. And if you’re hungry for more, the good news is it will air later this year. So I don’t wish to be a party pooper – I was one of those down at the studios for the anniversary show – but I would sound a note of caution amidst the Second Coming of Chris Evans and TFI. There are plenty of pitfalls which can stop the series being as good, and as popular, as the one-off comeback. For a start, producers Will McDonald and Suzi Aplin, writer Danny Baker and Evans all spent months fine-tuning that comeback show. They won’t have that luxury for each episode of the new series. A-list guests like Ewan McGregor came on and Roger Daltrey and Liam Gallagher even did a duet. Can Evans get such big stars again when the show is less of a novelty? And if he can, can he get enough of them for eight weeks to make sure one or two episodes don’t look a bit weak? Many of us loved the trip down memory lane with the return of some of the “freak or unique” guests all grown up. But Evans can’t really do that segment again. Or if he does bring back more people from the 90s, it won’t have the same impact the second time around, in the same way that Shaun Ryder can’t come back again every week for easy laughs. By the last section of the anniversary show, I reckon most people watching had necked a beer or glass of wine, but it wasn’t half as good as the opening hour, featuring an overly long Lewis Hamilton interview which would have been better suited to his new gig Top Gear. So sticking to an hour per episode for the series is definitely a safer option to avoid it appearing bloated and too self indulgent. If the new series is to work, one thing's for sure, Evans and his team need to keep their foot on the throttle, otherwise TFI won’t stay in top gear for long. Mark Jefferies is Showbiz Editor at the Daily Mirror