I directed Channel 4's Dirty Business and this is why we need to end the 35-year train-wreck of water privatisation
Behind the scenes on the rage-inducing new factual thriller.
My eagle-eyed commissioners Alisa Pomeroy and Rita Daniels sent me their favourite tweet of the night after episode 2 of our new series Dirty Business went to air on Channel 4. A viewer, Josh Folks, had been checking Thames Water sewage dumps from a works in Islip. “If I’d been s**tting into a river non-stop for 966 hours I’d probably have been arrested by now.” Well, yeah. Fair point. You definitely wouldn’t be able to s**t into a river non-stop for 40 days without attracting the interest of the local constabulary. But water companies get away with it. Collectively they dump sewage into rivers and seas 1,600 times a day. The law says the water companies have to treat the sewage to make it safe, before they put it back into our waterways, except in very extreme, once in a blue moon, storm conditions. Every dump is an offence, punishable by five years in prison. But the water police force – the Environment Agency – has never prosecuted any water company executive or owner or board member, ever. Not once. In the show, Chanel Cresswell’s Environment Agency whistleblower calls the agency a ‘Potemkin regulator’. Potemkin was a Russian Field Marshall who had an affair with the Empress Katharine. He’s said to have built the facades of bogus villages to ride past and admire on her way to their booty calls. So Potemkin means something got up to look like something – in this case a regulator – which is in fact fake. Factual producer Laura McCutcheon and I worked on Dirty Business for more than two years. Laura did the heavy lifting on the incredible amount of research. She met a person who worked inside the agency, called Dave Henderson. Coincidence? It was the same name as the head of the water company lobbying body who’s always on Radio 4 trying to defend their dumping. Duh… it was obviously a fake name. ‘Dave’ supplied us with internal Environment Agency documents and the results of his investigations into the Agency. They showed the Agency handing down policies which prevented its own investigators from doing their job properly. ’Operator self monitoring’ meant that the water companies were invited to self-regulate, ie report on their own crimes; and a policy trumpeted as moving the needle on climate change meant the investigators had their cars taken away from them… making it close to impossible for them to get to the rivers, coastlines and Sewage Works to investigate alleged sewage crimes. Writing the script, it was vital to protect Dave’s identity. I made him a woman, and cast the incredible Chanel Cresswell to play him. But a year or more into our investigation, Dave’s circumstances at the agency had changed. They’d identified him as a whistleblower back in 2021 and after years of legal battles, he had eventually agreed to leave. He’d given up a 21-year career to tell the truth about the Environment Agency. His real name is Robert Forrester, we name him in a card at the end of episode 3, and he is a national hero. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/76845Dirty-Business-9-38ead9b.jpg" width="3840" height="2560" alt="A family relaxes on a sandy beach on a sunny day. A woman sits on a blanket smiling toward a young girl who is balancing upside down in a handstand beside her. Another child wearing a pink cap and striped shirt stands between the adults, while a man sitting opposite holds her leg and laughs. Beach bags, towels, and toys are scattered around them, with a seaside café, steps, and rocky cliffs visible in the background." title="Dirty Business" /> We met a lot of heroes. Heather Preen, who was 8, died after coming into contact with sewage marinated water in Dawlish, Devon in 1999. We met Heather’s mum, Julie, with the founder of Surfers Against Sewage, Chris Hines, in a garden centre tea shop outside Birmingham. She’d had bad experiences with the media, but trusted Chris, who’d helped the family at the time of the Inquest, and Chris vouched for us. She decided she wanted us to tell her story. Julie and Laura spent the next year talking through every aspect of the Preens’ story, and providing the texture and truthfulness for the astonishing, heartbreaking performances of Posy Sterling and Tom McKay as Mark Preen, Heather’s dad, who eventually took his own life. Laura spent months identifying and earning the trust of other victims and whistleblowers. Reuben Santer went surfing and got Meniere’s disease. Doctors don’t know the exact cause but he’s prone to vertigo attacks with severe vomiting; and could be battling this chronic disease for the rest of his life. For the shoot, scores of real people (and their families) who’d contracted life-wrecking illnesses after coming into contact with sewage marinated water let rip on poor unfortunate actors playing (mostly) fictional water companies. The lovely actors were so traumatised by the pain and anger we all had a verbal group hug at the end of the shoot. Then there were the proper national heroes. Ash Smith and Peter Hammond, the real-life investigators who’d uncovered the crimes of the water companies in an eight-year investigation. We met them early in our journey, and I decided to condense the whole massive story by making it their story. And so Dirty Business became a thriller. The story of two real-life detectives (played with brilliance and humour by David Thewlis and Jason Watkins) who uncover the evidence and take it to the cops… only to find that the cops aren’t interested. Dirty Business makes some serious allegations. Everything had to be underpinned by evidence. Laura pored over hundreds of pages of inquest documentation, trial transcripts, internal Environment Agency memos, log books from water company engineers, and Ash and Peter’s hundreds of emails with the water companies and the agency, and the granular details gleaned from these became the backbone of the storytelling. This evidential basis formed the legal scaffolding of the series: the evidence was rigorously mapped to the narrative, so that every line in the scripts was underpinned with a corresponding evidential source. On set, Laura was nicknamed the ‘guardian of the truth’, there to ensure that whilst filming we remained faithful to the truth of what happened. She was constantly cramping my directorial style – but the actors loved it and thank god she’s so good at her job. And then there was one last problem. Laura, Ash, Peter and many others had collected evidence of ecocide, horrific suffering, campaigners who couldn’t get a hearing in government, systematic law-breaking by the water companies and Environment Agency that was looking the other way – but the things the water companies were saying to justify themselves, and the policies the top brass at the agency were implementing… well, they were a farce. They were taking the Michael. It was funny. In 2023 Laura and I had made Partygate, the true story of Boris Johnson’s 14 parties during the Covid lockdowns. For that film, I’d worked with brilliant comedy actors who were also amazing at drama (Charlotte Ritchie, Alice Lowe, Jon Culshaw, Kim Nixon). And for Dirty Business I thought ‘There’s some much suffering and tragedy in this series. But I just can’t play the water companies and Environment Agency straight: the situation’s too ridiculous.’ So for scenes inside the agency and South West Water I once again approached England’s funniest comedic actors - Alice Lowe (Prevenge), Charlotte Ritchie (Fresh Meat), Vicki Pepperdine (Getting On), Juliet Cowan (Pulling), Chanel Cresswell (This Is England), Ellie White (The Windsors) and Asim Chaudhry (People Just Do Nothing.) And in the end, 80 or so brilliant actors have us crying one minute, laughing out loud the next. Is that bad? Or just the way life is? Make up your own minds. As to what the country needs now? Criminal prosecutions. Law-breaking water company execs, owners and board members banged up. Zack Polanski, leader of the Greens, now surging in the polls, is calling for a return to collective ownership of the water companies. Time to end the 35-year train-wreck of privatisation. Dirty Business is available to watch now on Channel 4. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Channel 4’s new social experiment sees pairs handcuffed 24/7 – here’s the reason why and the duty of care shown
Could you survive being handcuffed to a complete stranger? Well, that's the question Channel 4 asked 18 brave Brits who have embarked on an experiment to do just that. In an audacious new social experiment, Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing, will follow nine pairs as they compete to win a £100,000 prize. The catch? They have to cope being chained to each other 24/7, doing everything just inches apart. But the minute they choose to uncuff, they'll be out of the competition. It'd be fair to assume that maybe the contestants wouldn't sleep together with the handcuffs on, or they'd be able to uncuff when the other needs the toilet, but those assumptions would be wrong. "I think it was really important for us, when we started this, that it was a genuine experiment," executive producer Tom Clarke told Radio Times and other press. "And what that meant was people had to be handcuffed the whole time. So it couldn't be 12 hours on, 12 hours off. It had to be something they did while they were eating, whilst they were sleeping, whilst they were showering. It was something we stuck to rigidly." Read more: The Claudia Winkleman Show confirms first starry guest line-up – including Hollywood legend MAFS Australia 2026 finally gets UK release date confirmed as dramatic reality series returns Clarke explained that he and the show's creators wanted the contestants to be "in each other's orbits the entire time", with its entire notion being "they were there together through thick and thin". Throughout the series, the pairs set off for each other's houses, to walk a mile in their partner's shoes – and should the contestants want remove their handcuffs, there are keys placed in every location for them call it quits. "[At] anytime they were always free to leave, but obviously that was something that would put them and their partner out. So it was a big decision," Clarke explained. "We were sort of there 24 hours a day having teams of people looking after them the whole time. There were teams of people watching them sleep, as bizarre as that sounds. So we were sort of always there, but it was always up to the guys themselves, how long they wanted to stay in and something for them to navigate together as well." In the first episode, viewers will be introduced to Sir Benjamin Slade, the 7th Baronet of Maunsel, in Somerset and George, a former prison officer and no-nonsense Cockney. To be expected, the pair clash throughout their turbulent time together, particularly when George comes across a painting by Adolf Hitler in Sir Benjamin's home, something George questions, but Sir Benjamin shrugs off. During a Q&A ahead of the show's launch, Clarke was asked about the duty of care put in place for the contestants, when friction is likely to happen between all the pairs. "It's absolutely about entertaining moments of bringing different worlds together, [and] it was also really important for us, from the start, that people had something they could learn," Clarke explained. "And our goal overall, and without giving spoilers away, was always to have kind of lasting friendships come out of this. This was an experiment about taking different worlds, but actually seeing it by bringing them together, we could find something positive and uplifting about the fact that different people can get along. So it wasn't purely a conflict machine." However, Clarke noted that the scale of Handcuffed was a "huge production" in which people were living together across the country, and duty of care was paramount to each of them. "So we had a huge duty of care. We had welfare teams, we had people watching people overnight, we had psychologists on call. We had a sort of huge infrastructure around that and took that very, very seriously," Clarke told press including Radio Times. "And obviously we have appropriate after care in place for everybody as well." Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing will air on Monday 2 March at 9pm on Channel 4. Add Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
What to watch on streaming: today's picks from Netflix, Prime Video and more
Looking for something to watch today on Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV and more? Don't miss our experts' recommendations...
We can all feel a bit overwhelmed when looking for something to watch in the world of streaming, so if you're in need of some help, you've come to the right place. This week, it's time for a welcome throwback to one of the funniest sitcoms of the 2000s, with Scrubs season 10 having just landed on Disney+. The long-dormant series reunites viewers with Sacred Heart hospital doctors JD (Zach Braff), Turk (Donald Faison) and Elliot (Sarah Chalke) at a very different stage of their lives. No longer the inexperienced new recruits being put through their paces by demanding bosses, they are instead the wiser mentors to a new cohort of trainees in need of guidance. Meanwhile, Bridgerton fans need wait no longer – the second part of season 4 is here, revealing the outcome of Benedict's (Luke Thompson) wild mistress proposition to Sophie (Yerin Ha) at the end of part 1. The question left both Sophie and viewers at home at a loss for words but if the steamy part 2 trailer was anything to go by, we know that their tension will be short-lived... Over on Prime Video in Man on the Run, Paul McCartney sits down for a candid interview in an archive-rich film that shines a light on his 1970s, during which the former Fab raised a family, made music with his wife Linda and saw his career take flight once again with Wings. For the film fans among you, there are plenty of new releases to entertain you at home during this dark, wet winter. Jessie Buckley is hoovering up awards for her sensational leading turn in director Chloé Zhao’s 11-time Bafta-nominated drama Hamnet about the domestic life of William and Agnes Shakespeare, and the unimaginable loss that may have inspired the Bard’s greatest play. Elsewhere, a little-known Second World War story gets the dramatic treatment in wry film The Swedish Connection, available on Netflix. It charts the battle waged by Stockholm civil servants who, in 1942, realised they could grant asylum to thousands of Jewish people using creative paperwork and some clever politicking. In Eternity on Apple TV, spouses Miles Teller and Elizabeth Olsen reunite after their deaths in the afterlife…where her first beau (Callum Turner) is waiting, decades after his own demise. It's a worthy modern successor to Hollywood’s romantic screwball classics. There's no shortage of streaming options, and so to give you a bit of a hand, Radio Times has collated some of the best new offerings: from Netflix and Disney Plus to Prime Video, BBC iPlayer and Apple TV, here are the latest highlights across the services. Whether it's a tense thriller like Run Away, a reality show like Squid Game: the Challenge or a music documentary such as Taylor Swift: the End of an Era, there's something here to suit everyone's taste. Take a look at the list below, which includes all the details about where you can watch any title – and what we think.
Vera icon Brenda Blethyn's new Channel 4 remake of classic drama finally confirms release date
The show will mark Blethyn's first role since Vera ended.
Channel 4 has confirmed when fans can expect Vera star Brenda Blethyn’s brand new upcoming period drama A Woman of Substance to land. The eight-part series is a remake of another Channel 4 adaptation released 40 years ago, stars Vera's Brenda Blethyn and House of Guinness's Jessica Reynolds as two versions of the lead character, Emma Harte, in different time periods. A Woman of Substance will premiere with its first two episodes on Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 March at 9pm on Channel 4. Fans will also be able to watch the entire eight-part series as a boxset following the transmission of the first episode. A trailer for the series was previously released, showing Blethyn's version of Emma in New York, where she’s desperate to exact revenge. The footage then takes viewers back to the younger version of the character (played by Reynolds), who’s working in a grand house and warned to be careful of her “ambition”. The official synopsis for the series, which is based on Barbara Taylor Bradford's novel, read: “1911. Emma Harte, an impoverished ambitious maid in Yorkshire, England goes on a dizzying journey to become the world’s richest woman, gazing down from a sprawling luxury New York penthouse." It continues: "A rags-to-riches tale of women through the 20th century, Emma defies the expectations of her society, fearlessly challenging the roles she's given, smashing glass ceilings, and never, ever deviating from her masterplan: Get to the top. Whatever it takes." The cast is rounded out by the likes of Leanne Best (This City Is Ours), Ewan Horrocks (The Last Kingdom), Harry Cadby (In Flight), Niall Wright (Slow Horses) and Robert Wilfort (Gavin & Stacey). Toby Regbo (Belgravia), Hiftu Quasem (The Witcher), Sophie Bould (Call the Midwife), Georgina Sadler (Silo) and Jo Joyner (EastEnders) also star. The adaptation comes from a script written by The Buccaneers scribe Katherine Jakeways, along with co-writer Roanne Bardsley (Hollyoaks). View oEmbed on the source website A Woman of Substance will premiere on Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 March at 9pm on Channel 4. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
MAFS Australia 2026 finally gets UK release date confirmed as dramatic reality series returns
It's time to clear your schedules because the highly anticipated 13th season of Married at First Sight Australia returns to E4 - and there's not long to wait. Channel 4 has confirmed that the dramatic reality series will make its way to UK screens on Monday 9 March at 7:30pm on E4. The series is being released a little over a month since it began airing in Australia. As ever, audiences will watch on as a new group of singles, hopeful to find lasting love, marry a complete stranger, all accompanied by emotional commitment ceremonies and dramatic dinner parties. There are some surprises along the way, with new twists and turns featured in this year's experiment. MAFS Australia has introduced a new chapter coined 'revelations week' and last series's new addition, 'final test week', returns with a powerful twist that will challenge and spark make-or-break decisions for the couples. Guiding the 18 brides and grooms through the social experiment will be sexologist Alessandra Rampolla and relationship experts John Aiken and fellow MAFS UK expert, Mel Schilling. This series will mark Mel's final outing on MAFS Australia after 12 years as an expert. She shared on social media that she was stepping away from the Aussie series to spend more time with her family and focus on her health. "After 12 extraordinary seasons, I have made the heartfelt decision to step away from my role as an expert on Married at First Sight Australia," Mel wrote on Instagram. "This hasn’t been a choice I’ve made lightly. In recent years, my health challenges and living in the UK spending up to three months a year away from my family is no longer sustainable. It has become clear that I must make a change that puts my family, health and time at the very centre of my life." She concluded the post: "What began as a small social experiment has grown into a global phenomenon, and I have felt truly privileged to be part of that journey. I am incredibly grateful to the fans, the production team, and my fellow experts for their trust and passion over the years. "I am leaving not with sadness, but with a deep sense of gratitude for everything we’ve achieved together. Stepping away from the Australian series is the right move for my future, though I look forward to continuing my work with Married at First Sight UK. Thank you for being part of this chapter with me." Married at First Sight Australia returns to E4 on Monday 9 March at 7:30. Add Married at First Sight Australia to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Tempting Fortune to return on Channel 4 with Paddy McGuinness's replacement as presenter confirmed
Channel 4 has promised more extreme conditions and more enticing temptations than ever before.
Tempting Fortune will return for a third season on Channel 4, but there will be a slight shake-up for the high stakes reality series. It has been confirmed that Rob Beckett will host the series, taking over from Paddy McGuinness who hosted the first two seasons. Rob Beckett said: "Put people in the jungle, take away everything nice, then tempt them with hot showers and burgers. It’s hilarious. Everyone thinks they can resist temptation… until they’re hot and filthy, and suddenly morals go out the window. I’m very happy to be hosting this show, especially from the comfort of a lovely crew hotel." The popular reality series will once again challenge a new group of contestants to trek through the Malaysian jungle armed with nothing but basic supplies and their own willpower. The prize pot will start at £300,000 and the group must decide whether they want to save the pot so it can be won at the end of the trek, or spend it on the little luxuries that arise during their journey. As ever, each time a contestant caves to comfort, the group prize fund will take a hit. The new series promises more extreme conditions, more enticing temptations and dramatic new twists that will put even greater pressure on the shared prize fund. Beckett will travel with the group to tease them with temptations and guide viewers through all the dramatic twists directly from the stunning yet unforgiving tropical location. Genna Gibson, commissioning editor at Channel 4, said: "Tempting Fortune has struck a real chord with UK audiences, blending adventure and psychological tension in a fresh, compelling way. We’re excited to raise the stakes again for series three and viewers can expect more of the emotional highs and lows, fiery debates and fractured alliances that have made Tempting Fortune a breakout reality phenomenon." Tempting Fortune seasons 1 and 2 are available to watch on Channel4.com. Add Tempting Fortune to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Jonathan Ross’s new show Handcuffed proves the UK still knows no barrier like a class barrier
Involuntary handcuffing with an unlikely friend has long been a go-to on screen.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. I’ve had my share of enforced proximity. I once spent six long nights on the Trans-Siberian Railway, all of them sharing a carriage with a Russian fellow who spoke not a word of English. Every day we spent in our own corners; every evening we passed in quick games of silent, happy chess (I barely took a rook). At least we weren’t handcuffed, unlike the contestants of Channel 4’s latest "competition meets social experiment" Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing, in which nine pairs of strangers are thus shackled day and night for several weeks, to see if they can survive, and even – fetch the hanky – learn to love one another. Involuntary handcuffing with an unlikely friend has long been a go-to on screen. From the moment Richard Gere’s cop and Kim Basinger’s runaway were locked together in the thriller No Mercy, it was only a matter of time before the squabbling gave way to snuggling. More memorably, The Defiant Ones saw prison inmates Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier on the run, shackled together because “the warden had a sense of humour”, left unpursued because “they’ll probably kill each other before they go five miles”. Confounding any doubters, by the time the credits rolled both had learnt that, as Bill Clinton liked to say, “There is more to unite us than divide us.” It’s an optimistic worldview put to the test by the contestants in Handcuffed, a challenge nobly described by host Jonathan Ross as hopefully “going a small way to healing a fractured Britain” (and a tad less nobly, the bagging of a £100,000 jackpot by the last couple standing). Ross adds that he’s “rooting for couples to go the distance”. Is he, though? As every reality TV exec worth their salt knows, peace, love and kumbaya are all very well, but it’s not what keeps viewers watching, hence the decision by Ross (for which read lesser-paid researchers) to pin together what Love Island producers might call “opposites on paper”. Episode one finds Jo, an ardent feminist intent on promoting the person within, paired with Reuben, an alpha-male fitness freak who spends two hours a day in the gym and insists on calling her “baby”. When she objects, he decides “people are too sensitive”. Could these two be the new Gere and Basinger? Then there’s Tilly, a barmaid with a potty mouth, cuffed to Anthony, a millionaire car collector who believes “manners are all”. If Tilly is lost for words when she sees his Rolls-Royce, she’s moved to tears when she learns about his childhood. As she puts it, “It explains a lot,” which could be the mantra of the whole series. The most fascinating pair are baronet Sir Benjamin and his handcuffed, former prison officer George. We have a hint of what is to come when they arrive at Sir Ben’s 14th-century country pile, and George asks, “Do you have any animals not named after right-wing politicians?” Working-class George confounds expectations with both his historical knowledge and tolerance of Sir Ben, but after a few hours stuck together – spotting some art on the wall by a notorious German (“Adolf was slightly difficult,” admits the baron) and via a buffoons’ dinner party that could have taken place at Wannsee – even George’s patience is tested and, without spoiling it, there’s soon a shriek of “Cutters now!” What do we learn? That whatever politicians say, this country still knows no barrier like a class barrier. And that the prison warder in The Defiant Ones knew a thing or two about human behaviour. Whatever happens to them this time around, for the follow-up series, may I suggest sticking these two for six nights in a Siberian railway carriage. What’s the worst that could happen? The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing will air on Monday 2 March at 9pm on Channel 4. Add Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Made in Chelsea season 31 confirms returning cast and new additions - including Netflix reality star
It's been a while since we've been updated on the goings on of the socialites of SW3, but E4 are providing as Made in Chelsea returns for an exciting 31st season next month. This season, the clique swap Chelsea for the breathtaking backdrops of Scotland, as the series launches with a two-part special where romance, tension and shifting alliances play out in a stately manor in Perthshire. Along with a change in location, the 10-part new season will introduce two cast members - Elys Hutchinson and Philip Pollard - who are ready to find romance and shake up friendships. Plus, fans of the show will be delighted to hear Inga Valentiner makes her highly anticipated return to Chelsea. Inga said of her return: "Bali has been paradise, but I have been missing Chelsea! After some years away from West London, I’m ready to reunite with my pals, and meet who else has joined in on the chaos since I was in the city." View oEmbed on the source website If the newcomers names sound familiar, that's because they are! Elys Hutchinson previously won Too Hot to Handle in 2023, but now she'll be swapping the slopes for Sloane Square. A trained ski instructor and semi-pro football player, Elys isn't afraid to put herself out there when it comes to finding love and is good friends with many of the Chelsea cast, including Yas Zweegers and Chuggs Wallis. 26-year-old Philip Pollard's surname may ring a bell as he is the older brother of Jules. Newly-single after an eight year relationship, Philip is in his dating era and has no plans to settle down and has his sights set on Beks. Phil was a semi-pro football player before branching into tech sales which he is now an exec of his company. Fiercely protective of Jules and Tristan, Philip embraces the big brother role amongst the group. View oEmbed on the source website Made in Chelsea returns to E4 in March. Add Made in Chelsea to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Dirty Business true story: 'This is something that affects all of us... we should all be a lot angrier'
The Channel 4 factual drama, starring Jason Watkins and David Thewlis, delivers a damning indictment of the decline of Britain’s waterways – and its devastating impact on wildlife and public health.
Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few years, you'll be well aware of the scandal of water companies pumping raw, untreated sewage into British waterways on an industrial – and illegal– scale. When sewage works become overwhelmed during periods of exceptionally heavy rainfall, operators are legally permitted to release waste into our rivers and seas – but only then – and they must report that to the Environment Agency (EA). Yet, as Channel 4’s Dirty Business spotlights, not only are the water companies failing to tell the regulator – it's also happening year-round, even when there's been no rain at all. In fact, the series reveals there were nearly one million sewage dumps in 2024 alone. That's one every 30 seconds. It is a national disgrace which has entered the public consciousness in no small part thanks to campaigners Peter Hammond and Ashley Smith, played by Jason Watkins and David Thewlis respectively. After becoming neighbours, the academic and former police detective joined forces to investigate what was really going on when they noticed the River Windrush – which runs underneath Peter's home, a converted mill in the Cotswolds – had changed colour. What has emerged is "one of the biggest potential corporate scandals in British history", according to writer and director Joseph Bullman – and one that is having a devastating impact on our wildlife and our health. If Peter and Ash's crusade is the brain of Dirty Business, Heather Preen's story is the heart. She was eight years old when she died after being infected by e-coli 0157 in 1999. Two weeks prior, she had been on a beach in Devon with her family when she fell into a pool of water which they alleged had toilet paper floating in it. Heather soon became dangerously ill and her health deteriorated rapidly. "I don't think I realised that it got to the point of people losing their lives because you assume as a lay person that things could not be allowed to get that bad," Tom McKay, who plays Heather's dad Mark, told Radio Times. "I genuinely thought it can't possibly be that bad, and it clearly is." <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/76845Dirty-Business-2-2b8dcd2.jpg" width="3840" height="2560" alt="A man stands in shallow sea water, holding a young girl as they wade through the surf. The girl, wearing a pink cap and striped T-shirt, looks to the side while the man bends down to steady her. The water around them appears murky, with dark patches floating near the shore, and the horizon stretches out under a clear sky." title="Dirty Business" /> Bullman has woven Heather’s tragedy and the meticulous work of Peter and Ash into a compelling, deeply emotive three-part factual drama. "He’s managed to distil all this incredible information that Ash and Peter put together and make it not a documentary," said McKay. "If you’re making a TV drama, then you absolutely have to be invested in the individuals and follow their stories. You need to marry those mind-blowing facts alongside the human stories. And that’s what Joe’s done really, really well – because in the wrong hands, it could just be like a lecture, and you would switch off." For more about the true stories that inspired Channel 4's Dirty Business, read on. Dirty Business true story "I have played real people before, but not where the story was quite as traumatic as this, and where the subject matter is so inflammatory," said McKay. "I've never been so angry and upset reading a script. I read it on a plane and I honestly think the person next to me thought they needed to call for some help. "There was quite a long time after the show where I couldn't really talk about it without crying. "The roots go so deep... it sort of did something physical to me." Mark, his wife Julie (played by Posy Sterling) and their two daughters, 10-year-old Suzanne and their youngest, Heather, had travelled from Birmingham to Dawlish Warren, Devon – where they'd also stayed five years earlier – for a holiday, back in 1999. As Julie explains in Dirty Business, they had chosen that particular beach for its Blue Flag status – which is supposedly awarded to those with high water quality. But Heather slipped into a putrid pool of water next to a sewage outlet after trying to jump over it and in the days that followed, she suffered from explosive diarrhoea and bleeding from her rectum. She was eventually taken to a local hospital where she began fitting, before being transferred to a children's hospital and placed on a ventilator. At some point during that period, the tests came back positive for e-coli 0157 – for which there is no cure. And while a lot of people do recover, Heather didn’t Her brain lost its ability to control her vital organs and they began to fail. In the end, the only option left was to switch off Heather's life support. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/76845Dirty-Business-9-38ead9b.jpg" width="3840" height="2560" alt="A family relaxes on a sandy beach on a sunny day. A woman sits on a blanket smiling toward a young girl who is balancing upside down in a handstand beside her. Another child wearing a pink cap and striped shirt stands between the adults, while a man sitting opposite holds her leg and laughs. Beach bags, towels, and toys are scattered around them, with a seaside café, steps, and rocky cliffs visible in the background." title="Dirty Business" /> What happened to Heather and the pain her immediate family and those around them endured was obviously a "hideous tragedy", said McKay. "Then everything that happens afterwards, all this stuff that they were subjected to was just so unnecessary and just added a wild insult to injury. Tragedy almost doesn't feel like a big enough word." During the inquest scene in the drama, Chris Hines, co-founder of Surfers Against Sewage, says that in the days leading up to the Preens' visit, the EA had received "at least 14 complaints about sewage on the beach". A GP, a microbiologist, council workers and members of the public also give evidence, describing "big influxes of sewage debris". We’re told that at least six other children – including a seven-month-old baby – were infected with E. coli after visiting the beach. But in the drama, an EA representative says that of the 45 water samples taken around Dawlish, only two tested positive. Meanwhile, a Chief Scientist for South West Water blames dog fouling in one specific area — although the affected families had been on different parts of the beach. The families' microbiologist also points out that the agency's tests were carried out a full month after Heather's visit. Yet, in the end, the jury returns a verdict of death by misadventure. South West Water and the EA denied responsibility for Heather's death – or for any of the other cases. Ahead of the release of Dirty Business, a South West Water spokesperson told Radio Times: "We haven't yet been given access to review the programme, so can't comment on what will be aired in connection with Heather's death in 1999. However, the tragic death of a child is devastating and our thoughts remain with the family affected. "The bathing water at Dawlish Warren was tested as part of the investigations at the time by EA and samples were clear of E. coli." They added: "The loss of a child is devastating and we recognise the lasting impact this has had on those closest to her. At the time, there was an extensive and multi-agency investigation involving public health authorities, the Environment Agency and other relevant bodies. "The Outbreak Control Team (OCT) report concluded that, despite intensive investigations, no cause for the outbreak was identified. The inquest documentation confirms that no definitive source of infection was established. The inquest report also noted that E. coli O157 is a bacteria commonly carried by animals, particularly cattle and dogs. "More than 100 environmental and sewer samples were taken as part of the investigation. The specific strain of E. coli involved in the case was not identified in samples taken from the sewer network. "Despite the thorough and intensive nature of the investigation, no sufficient evidence was found linking the illness to storm overflow activity or bathing water quality. "The circumstances of wastewater infrastructure and regulation in the late 1990s were very different from today. Since then, significant investment, including through the Clean Sweep programme - which put waste treatment in fort the first time in Dawlish after decades without it. "We understand that the revisiting of historic events through dramatisation can raise difficult questions. It is important that any discussion reflects the findings of the formal investigations carried out at the time. Our focus remains on protecting public health, safeguarding bathing waters and continuing to improve environmental performance." "In that inquest, they kind of tried to put it on them, particularly Mark," said McKay. “One thing Julie said to me is when they put him on the stand, they really cross-examined him. They said all that stuff about fast food [contaminated food, such as raw leafy vegetables or undercooked meat, can put people at risk of E. coli] and dog poo and all this stuff, the implication always being trying to make it look like it was their fault, which, of course, is essentially making them feel like bad parents. "And one thing I can say with absolute authority, having never met Mark [he fell into depression and died by suicide in 2016], and I've only met Julie a couple of times, is they are incredible parents and very, very, very good people." McKay described Julie as having "lion-hearted courage and intelligence". “She's [now] a Hyrox champion and you're like, of course you are," he smiled. "She just has this tenacity, but also this gorgeous self-effacement. "And she was so incredible. In the midst of what had happened to her, she had the intelligence and the poise to be an activist, essentially, and to go, 'This needs to stop happening, that beach needs to be shut, and we need to get to the bottom of this,' because she didn't want there to be any more Heathers. And there may have been loads of other Heathers that we just don't know about. "There might be right now, and there could still be in the future." <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/76845Dirty-Business-7-3135ca9.jpg" width="3840" height="2560" alt="A woman with long brown hair stands on a sandy beach with her arms folded, looking thoughtful. She wears a sleeveless coral button-up blouse and a shoulder bag. Behind her are sea walls, steps, and rocky cliffs, with a few people walking along the beach under a blue sky." title="Dirty Business" /> In the wake of Heather's death, Julie has raised awareness and funds for Kidney Research UK and Surfers Against Sewage. She's part of a wider movement working to keep Britain's waterways clean and safe, at the forefront of which are Peter and Ash. Their story doesn't cross paths with Heather's in Dirty Business, but they are tied to her, as we all her, by what is happening to our rivers and seas. Peter is a retired professor of computational biology, who first moved to his Cotswolds home around 2002. "Right from the word go, we put camera traps in the garden to see what was there, and we'd get everything," Peter told Radio Times. "We had badgers, otters, foxes, deer, all the birdlife – you name it – because of the water. Lots of swans every year. We have a little island and the swans would build their nests. "We also started doing surveys of water voles for the Wildlife Trust – I think we've been doing it for 15 years. So we were looking at nearby rivers too, and we knew what state they were in. Our river was brilliant when we first moved here. It was clean, full of ranunculus – that green weed that sways in the current with white flowers on top. It was beautiful. "It was kind of idyllic, really. And then gradually, we lost the biodiversity." Peter first met Ash, a former detective who used to "investigate crime by the police" – the real-life AC-12, if you will – around 2007/8 when he moved "diagonally opposite, we're 50 yards apart". "And because he'd done fishing and scuba diving, he knew more about what a river should look like, and he thought there was something wrong." So, Ash began "pestering the Environment Agency and Thames Water", who would send him data, and lots of it. "He didn't know what to do with it," added Peter, which is where Peter came in. He'd spent 20 years at the Institute of Child Health specialising in artificial intelligence and image analysis to identify differences in brain and facial shape associated with prenatal alcohol exposure and genetic disorders. And central to that was a 3D camera that was "as big as a Dalek". "I had to hire a van with a tail lift to take it to places," he chuckled. "And then gradually they got smaller and smaller, and now it's an iPhone." The team developed software to analyse 3D facial scans, which they applied to profile images from prenatal ultrasound scans, which is all very impressive. But what's even more remarkable was how Peter repurposed that technology to uncover what the water companies were doing. "I realised a facial profile is just like the way sewage moves through treatment works – it's essentially a 2D curve," he explained. "So I transformed that flow into a 3D ribbon and ran the same software over it." Peter makes it all sound so simple, although he accepts the AI algorithms they use are "sophisticated". What wasn't sophisticated, however, was the data they were being supplied with from the water companies. "One thing that shocked me was just how shoddy it was. I've supervised PhD students and if they'd come to me with data like that, I'd have said go away because that's rubbish” While Peter had no idea just how desperate the situation was when he first noticed the colour of the River Windrush, that quickly changed when he had hard data in front of him. "These aren’t accidents, Ash. It's policy,” says Peter in a scene from Dirty Business, set in 2019. It had become impossible to deny: the water companies were repeatedly and deliberately breaching their permits – "which means they're breaking the law". In the nine years for which he had data at just two sewage works – there are around 9,000 wastewater treatment works in the UK – they had dumped raw sewage "a thousand times". "I said it’s 10 times worse than the Environment Agency thinks," Peter recalled while giving evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee in 2021. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/76845Dirty-Business-4-6f82b4b.jpg" width="3548" height="2365" alt="Three people wearing bright orange high-visibility vests stand inside an industrial facility surrounded by large machinery and pipes. A blonde woman stands in front with her hands clasped, wearing a lanyard and ID badge, while two men stand slightly behind her. All three look serious as they face something off-camera." title="Dirty Business" /> From wading in the river to submitting evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee – "a lot happened over lockdown. What else was there to do but to kind of hammer away the data?" he said while the rest of us were making sourdough starters and watching Tiger King – Peter and Ash are, in many ways, real-life superheroes. Of course Peter laughed that off. "There are lots of people doing what we do," he said, downplaying his role. “We just got in early and were the first to tackle the data." They even persuaded the former CEO of Ofwat to attend their charity cricket match. "A little village – and she came. Can you imagine? I've got pictures of me walking around the cricket pitch with great big charts, pointing at them." Peter said he doesn't like the word "journey", but concedes there's no better word for it. "We could never have imagined that from one small hamlet of 26 people, we'd find ourselves in the High Court." When Thames Water went to the High Court last year to secure emergency funding and avoid collapse, Peter and Ash intervened to represent customers. Whatever the challenge, they have risen to it – because as the website for their campaign group, Windrush Against Sewage Pollution (WASP), puts it simply: 'It doesn't have to be like this.' So, what can be done? "If you're looking for an overnight change, there isn't one," said Peter matter-of-factly. "But the one change that we all believe in, the groups that we mix with, is to remove the profit motive. "In the end, the danger is that they're no longer doing a service, giving us clean water, cleaning our sewage and returning it safely to the environment. They're just about making money. You've got these hedge funds [like the Australia-based Macquarie Group, which led the consortium that owned Thames Water from 2006 to 2017] and others loaning the water companies money and earning interest from it, so that the loaned money can go to the shareholders and not to invest in the infrastructure." Thames Water is currently owned by Kemble Water Holdings Limited, which is in turn owned by a group of institutional investors, including pension funds and sovereign wealth funds. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/76845Dirty-Business-8-5cfc921.jpg" width="3840" height="2560" alt="A man crouches on moss-covered concrete steps beside a beach, holding a camera up to his face as he takes a photograph. He wears a jacket, blue shirt, shorts, and flip-flops. In front of him, the sandy shore is scattered with rocks and small pieces of litter, with cliffs rising in the background." title="Dirty Business" /> "There's plenty enough coming into Thames Water to cover all the day-to-day costs," added Peter. "But they're not playing that game. They're playing another game – where they're trying to earn money for the shareholders. And analysis has been done that's shown shareholders have never put in more than they've taken out — what comes into the water companies is from the customers." A Thames Water spokesperson told Radio Times that they "have not seen the Dirty Business series but Thames Water is a company that takes its responsibilities to customers and the environment extremely seriously". The statement continued: "Thames Water believes in transparency. In January 2023 we were the first water company to publish a real-time map showing our discharges into rivers. We also work proactively and constructively with community groups across our area. This includes WASP, for whom we have hosted visits to and provided information about multiple sites, including Burford Sewage Treatment Works, where we installed a webcam in 2021 providing WASP with full access to allow them to monitor flows. "We understand that all untreated discharges, even when storm overflows are permitted under the conditions of an Environment Agency Permit, are unacceptable, however it’s important to remember the sewage system was historically designed this way to prevent sewage backing up into people's homes. "Taking action to improve the health of our rivers is a key focus for us and that is why, over the next five years, we are delivering the most significant upgrade to the wastewater network in 150 years. This includes increasing treatment capacity, reducing storm discharges, and introducing new nutrient‑reduction schemes." Elsewhere, Peter acknowledges, it's not quite as simple as removing the profit margins. "You need much stronger regulation," he reiterates. "The regulators are still playing catch-up, really, and the water companies will continue to make large profits unless the government intervenes" – something he alleges they are reluctant to do for fear of "frightening off investors". In a statement, a spokesperson for the Environment Agency told Radio Times that their sympathies were with the family of Heather Preen, adding: "Dirty Business raises important issues about water quality, the actions of water companies and regulation of the sector over recent decades." They continued: "Our priority is always to protect the environment for people and wildlife, and the organisation has undergone significant changes in recent years to better tackle water pollution. More people, better data and increased powers mean we will always act on intelligence of potential offences. "This year we are on track to do 10,000 inspections of water company assets, rooting out wrongdoing and driving better performance. Since 2015 we have concluded 69 prosecutions against water and sewerage companies securing fines of over £153 million." <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/76845Dirty-Business-5-f7db103.jpg" width="3218" height="2145" alt="Three men stand talking inside a large industrial building with peeling paint, exposed pipes, and electrical cables running along the walls. One man wears an orange high-visibility vest, while the other two wear casual jackets. They stand near a doorway marked “EXIT,” with heavy machinery on one side and a metal staircase on the other." title="Dirty Business" /> With all of that to contend with, does Peter ever get downbeat? "I occasionally express doubt about what's going on," he said calmly. It's hard to imagine Peter losing his temper, despite working at the coalface. "You get disillusioned now and then, definitely. One of the things that has upset us is seeing kids looking into the river and thinking that’s just what a river looks like: brown, murky, not many fish. They don’t know what it was like 15 or 20 years ago. And that’s a shocking shame – never mind the health issues.” Peter discussed testing samples from the Oxford sewage works and finding strong evidence of E coli "which is resistant to current drugs. That's going into the environment". Dirty Business makes for exceptionally grim, shocking viewing. But does Peter think it can have the same impact as Mr Bates vs The Post Office, which reinvigorated the fight for justice for those affected by the Post Office scandal – including securing compensation, overturning criminal convictions and stripping the former CEO of her CBE? "The Post Office thing was a terrible scandal. People went to prison, people took their own lives, people's health was damaged. But the amount of money was not on the scale of this," cautioned Peter. "80 billion pounds has been transferred to shareholders. They [the water companies] are 70 odd billion in debt." McKay said that while there are "lots of parallels" between the two scandals, there's one key difference. "We need water to survive – and it's been commodified. There is an element of profiteering that is putting us all at risk. And we should all be a lot angrier." But it did move Peter, who really has seen it all – "I definitely had tears in my eyes in that first episode" – and he has high hopes those watching will experience similar emotions, before their despair hopefully turns to anger. "And then they'll start shouting at their MPs: you got into our constituency by campaigning on clean rivers and sewage, and we thought, yeah, we'll vote for you — and now you’ve got to stand up." McKay also wants people to experience an "inferno of rage alongside the tears". "It's entirely appropriate to be upset, people should be because of what Heather and her family went through. But you also need the rage, a kind of useful rage. "One of Julie's fears was that Heather would just be forgotten. But I suppose that’s part of the potency of TV drama. It can be the fuel in the engine that you need to light things up and raise awareness. "It’s not glib and it's not trivial – it can be an incredibly useful tool, a sort of great weapon in their arsenal." Dirty Business debuts on Channel 4 on Monday 23 February. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Meet the Gogglebox cast – the families and their jobs in real life
From Jenny and Lee to the Malone family, here's everything you need to know about the cast of Gogglebox in 2026.
It's Friday, and that can only mean one thing in the world of TV: Gogglebox is back! The series is returning for another instalment of the most talked about and shocking moments on television in the past week, and the nation's favourite armchair critics will once more tune into the most-talked about TV programmes of the last week and there's a lot to get stuck into! However, fans have been quick to notice that one family looks slightly different this season. The Siddiquis have been part of the series since its inception and when they were first introduced, viewers at home tuned into Baasit, Umar and their dad Sid before being introduced to other members of the family, including sibling Raza, who has been missing in the 27th season. Those watching the beloved Channel 4 series began to notice Raza's absence, and the family have confirmed that he sadly had a fall prior to filming and cracked his ribs. In a post shared on social media, the Siddiquis wrote: "He’s recovering nicely and will be joining us on the sofa in a few weeks time. As we return to Channel 4 every Friday night at 9pm, here's everything you need to know about the Gogglebox participants, including new families who have joined the series. Jake and Calum Friends Jake (27) and Calum (31) joined the show last season, and are from Glasgow in Scotland. The Gordon family Instagram: @thegordons_gogglebox The Gordon family consists of Andre (49), Sarah (47) and their daughter Chee (25), and they are from Surrey. They joined the Gogglebox family last year for season 26. The family often share snippets of their lives and behind-the-scenes of filming the show on their Instagram page. Andrew and Alfie Instagram: @andrewdnicolls and @sam.alfie.mulhall Married couple Andrew (62) and Alfie (32) are from The Cotswolds and are one of the five new families who joined the show in season 26 last year. The pair often share snippets from their lives on Instagram, either in their home in the Cotswolds or abroad on holiday. They tied the knot in 2023! Sara and Lara Mother and daughter-in-law Sara (87) and Lara (58) are from Yorkshire. They joined in 2025 and were introduced alongside sisters Rosie and Susie. Rosie and Susie Sisters Rosie (68) and Susie (70) are from Edinburgh. They are one of the many families who joined the show in 2025. Michael, Sally, Jake and Harry Gogglebox watchers were introduced to a brand new family in 2024 and it was in the form of married couple Michael and Sally and their sons Jake and Harry. Daniella and Danielle Instagrams: @shockolatte_deluxe and @danielledaniella_gogglebox. Daniella and Danielle are best friends from Leeds who were introduced to the series in 2022. They replaced Sandra and Sandi on the series. What are their real jobs? Not much is known about what Daniella and Danielle do for work. Ronnie and Annie Instagram: N/A South-East London husband and wife Ronnie and Annie joined the show four years ago, making their Gogglebox debut in November 2021. So far on the show, Annie has revealed that Ronnie can make a cracking cup of tea, while fans have already fallen in love with the cockney couple. What are their real jobs? Much like some of the other pairs on Gogglebox, Ronnie and Annie are fairly private about their personal life. Sue and Steve Instagram: @sueandstevegogglebox Married couple Steve and Sue both joined Gogglebox during season 14 in 2019. The couple keep their personal life fairly private, but do share what they're up to every now and again on social media. The couple were recently in Dubai, where they got up to "lots of relaxing, eating fabulous food and handbag shopping". What are their real jobs? Sue is semi-retired and Steve is a black cab driver. Simon and Jane Instagram: @simonandjane_gogglebox Gogglebox introduced new cast members Simon and Jane in 2021, and the brother and sister duo have been regulars on the show ever since. The pair, who film Gogglebox from Simon's North London flat, are known among Gogglebox fans for their great sense of humour and healthy range of snacks. What are their real jobs? Simon is a disability consultant and presenter outside of Gogglebox, being the co-host of disability podcast BBC Ouch!. Jane posted a photo of her working in a kitchen making cakes. Giles and Mary Instagram: @giles__wood The creative couple have become firm favourites with viewers for their quirky style and furniture – one of their armchairs matches their wallpaper. What are their real jobs? Giles is an artist and Mary is best known for being the Spectator's resident agony aunt as well as a self-styled queen of etiquette. Ellie and Izzi Instagram: @ellie__warner and @izziwarner Sisters Ellie and Lizzi from Leeds first joined the show back in 2015, and were originally worried about whether viewers would be interested in them. 11 years on, and the self-confessed "couch potatoes" are one of the most popular duos on the show, cracking us up with their hilarious banter and love of food. What are their real jobs? Izzi is a mum-of-two to her son Bobby and daughter Bessie Rose. Izzi is also a qualified mortgage advisor and has her own business called Izzi Warner Mortgages. Her elder sister, Ellie, is a hairdresser in Leeds. Jenny and Lee Instagram: @jennyandlee_gogglebox The hilarious pair film Gogglebox inside a caravan in Hull. And while many think they're mother and son or husband and wife, they're actually just friends. They landed their spot on the show when Jenny met two of the show's researchers at Beverley Races Ladies' Day and they reportedly signed her up on the spot. They share an Instagram account, with over 800,000 followers. What are their real jobs? It's not clear what caravan besties Jenny and Lee do for a living, however, they met when Jenny was the landlady of the Crown Inn pub in Paull and Lee was a regular customer. Amira and Amani Instagram: @amira_gogglebox and @amani_gogglebox. Amira and Amani are sisters who live in North London who are occasionally joined by family friend, Iqra. Amira first joined the show in season 10 with her friend Iqra, but her sister Amani was later added in. What are their real jobs? In 2019, Amira completed her studies and posted a picture of her graduation to her Instagram, saying she had made "life long friends" who she cherishes "deeply and massively respects". Pete and Sophie <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/73366S22Gogglebox-Generic-1-7527257.jpg" width="8510" height="5674" alt="Sophie from Gogglebox sat back in a large mustard yellow chair, laughing with her head thrown back as she points out her arm to turn on the TV. Pete is sat next to her, looking at her with a smile while holding a mug and resting it on his knee." title="2021 SHOOT" /> Instagram: @sandifordpete and @sophiesandiford1 Brother and sister duo Pete and Sophie first joined the cast in 2017 and everyone fell in love with their humour and eccentric mugs. What are their real jobs? Sophie works as a shop window dresser in Blackpool, while Pete reportedly has a job in insurance. In 2021, Pete became a dad for the first time. The Siddiquis Instagram: @thesiddiquis Baasit, Umar and their dad Sid are regulars on the show and much-loved by viewers. The family hail from Derby and others members of the family, such as sibling Raza and mum often make an appearance as well. What are their real jobs? Retired Sid qualified as a Power Engineer from the University of Derby and previously worked for the NHS for 37 years. Umar has worked in the NHS as a Biomedical Scientist in Microbiology at the Royal Derby Hospital for close to 17 years, while Baasit has been a teacher in a secondary school since 2007. The Plummers Twitter/X: @thegoggleboxbros Brothers Tremaine, Twaine and Tristan Plummer joined Gogglebox in series eight. They film from their home in Bristol, and are sports mad, with Tristan even playing semi-professionally from Bristol FC between 2007 and 2010. What are their real jobs? Tristan is a winger for Hereford FC and Twaine plays for Bradford Town, while Tremaine is a chef. David and Shirley Instagram: @dave_shirl_gogglebox David and Shirley have been married for 40 years and have two children together. They joined the show in 2015, and film from the comfort of their home in Wales. What are their real jobs? Dave, 65, is a cleaner in a factory, and Shirley, 66, works in retail. Dave is also a keen baker on the side, so we could well be seeing him on Great British Bake Off, if he has his way! Abbie and Georgia Instagrams: @abbiieelynn and @georgbell_ Another pair of Gogglebox members from Durham are Abbie and Georgia. The friends have been on the show since 2018. Their classic moments are numerous but they are best known for reacting to that John Lewis ad in 2018 when they questioned whether Your Song was first performed by Ellie Goulding or Elton John. What are their real jobs? Georgia is a hairdresser while Abbie has worked in credit control for three years. The Malones Instagram: @themalonesgb One of the longest-serving families on the show, having joined back in season 4, The Malone family is a firm fan-favourite. They're known for the straight-to-the-point remarks, huge food portions and adorable dogs who aren't camera shy. Since season 17, Tom Jnr no longer appears on the Channel 4 show. What are their real jobs? Tom Sr is a lorry driver, mum Julie is a receptionist. Tom Jnr is a freelance model and street dance choreographer - he has even performed with the Black Eyed Peas and appeared in Billy Elliott until he turned his hand to coaching football. The Worthingtons Instagrams: N/A Alison and her husband George joined the series in series 10 alongside their daughter, Helena. The family, who reside in Manchester, welcomed a new addition to the family a few years ago after Helena gave birth to baby boy, Edwin. What are their real jobs? Helena Worthington is a multidisciplinary artist, specialising in sculptures and painting. Previous Goggleboxers John and Beryl Instagram: N/A John and Berlyn joined Gogglebox in 2018 for season 12, but they haven't revealed much about their private lives on the show other than that they live in London. They appeared on the shows from seasons 12 to 14. What are their real jobs? At one point during the show, Beryl mentioned that John retired around 10 years ago, which at the time of filming, would've been around 2008. Anne and Ken Instagram: N/A Anne and Ken, like The Moffatts, hail from County Durham. The duo was introduced to millions of viewers at home in 2021 as "a couple who have been married for 50 years". And it's clear love is still in the air. On their very first appearance on the show, Ken presented Anne with a bouquet of roses – one for every year they’ve been together. What are their real jobs? Anne and Ken are fairly private about their personal lives, so not much is known about what they do for work. Elaine and Seb Hailing from the Forest of Dean, mother and son duo Elaine and Seb were introduced in 2023 and made their debut in the second episode of season 22. But the pair left after a few months to focus on Seb's career after he graduated from university. Roisin and Joe Instagram: @palsb4gals Glasgow-based couple Joe and Roisin joined Gogglebox three years ago but exited the series ahead of the 26th series. Joe lives with his girlfriend Roisin in their Glasgow family home, having moved in together at the start of lockdown. Joe is a big fan of video games and making pizza while Roisin loves shopping and socialising with friends. What are their real jobs? Roisin co-hosts her own podcast called 'Nags and Brags' with a friend and also works as a social media producer. Daniel and Stephen Instagrams: @stephengwebb1971 and @lustig75 Stephen first appeared on Gogglebox along with his then-boyfriend Chris. However, the pair split and was joined by husband Daniel who first started appearing in 2019. As of 2023, Daniel and Stephen have confirmed they won't be returning to Gogglebox. In a statement Channel 4 said: "After a brilliant and illustrious time on Gogglebox, Stephen and Daniel have decided that now is the right time to explore life beyond the sofa and leave the show. "As one of the original Goggleboxers, Stephen has entertained the nation with his hilarious quips since the show first started in 2013, sharing his opinions on the best and biggest TV events of the last ten years. We would like to thank him and Daniel for being utterly brilliant contributors to the show, and we wish them well with their future projects." In January 2024, Gogglebox confirmed that Stephen's mother, Pat Webb, had sadly passed away at the age of 75. "Pat was a much loved cast member on the show from series 10 - 12 alongside her son Stephen," the statement read. "Mummy Pat will be remembered and missed by her children Stephen, Denise, Sharon, Beverley and the extended family. Out thoughts are with the family, who have requested privacy at this sad time. Paige and Sally Twitter: @Paige_deville Mother and daughter duo Paige and Sally - who hail from Birmingham - joined the show in 2019 before quitting in 2021 following a falling out. What are their real jobs? While mum Sally, 53, cares for the disabled and elderly, Paige, 23, works as a business development manager. The Ven Family Instagram: @realmandyvee South Londoners Marcus, Mica, Sachelle and Shuggy joined Gogglebox in series 11. Their outgoing personalities and Marcus’ hilarious comments made them very popular on the show. However, Marcus and Mica left the show in December 2022. Mica recently starred on BBC One's Celebrity MasterChef 2023. What are their real jobs? Following their departure from the show, Mica returned to her role as a hair stylist at her salon in London. Marcus is a businessman, boxing coach and gym owner. He founded TM Boxing Gym in 2009 to work with 'disadvantaged youths from the local community', and even trained his son Shiloh. The Michaels Instagram: @alexmichael_x Twitter: @Louisxmichael and @MichaelFamilyMa The Michael family live in Brighton and had been regulars and favourites on the show since the beginning. Occasionally, Louis joined his parents Andrew and Carolyne on the sofa, and in previous years his sister Alex also appeared on the show. Sadly, it was announced that Gogglebox star Andy Michael had died aged 61 following a short illness. The family have since exited the show. View oEmbed on the source website Mary and Marina Mary and Marina joined the show in 2016, and quickly became faves on the show. Despite their age, the ladies were young at heart, and weren't afraid to have a laugh. They often got distracted talking about their love lives. In August 2021, Gogglebox favourite Mary Cook died aged 92. Marina decided to step away from the series, as she penned a heartfelt message to her friend. View oEmbed on the source website The Moffatts Instagram: @scarlettmoffatt Scarlett Moffatt was the stand-out star of Gogglebox, however, her time on the show came to an end when she signed up for I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2016. She went on to win the show and has since landed several jobs on Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway and Channel 4's rebooted dating show Streetmate. She originally joined Gogglebox with her parents Betty and Mark back in 2014, and was known for her hilarious one-liners. Following her exit from the Channel 4 show, her parents subsequently left. Sandi and Sandra Instagrams: @sandigogglebox and @official_queen_bee_brixton_ Iconic duo Sandi and Sandra won viewers over with their constantly-changing hairstyles, exciting wardrobes, unusual TV snacks and even bigger personalities. Sadly, they decided to split up (on telly that is) and Sandra's daughter Chanchez replaced Sandi. Sandra then quit the show in 2017. Sandi is a mother of two and grandmother of five, who previously owned some wine bars in South London and used to sing at the Tower in Blackpool with Larry Grayson. Sandra has four children and three grandchildren. Bill and Josef The pair haven't been seen on Gogglebox for a while. However, outside of the show, they have pretty impressive lives. Bill is a Cambridge maths graduate, journalist and former British Chess Champion, while Josef is an accountant who also happens to be a World Cluedo and Scottish Monopoly Champion. The Woerdenwebers The Woerdenweber Family are best known for Ralf's humour and Jay, the (now ex-)boyfriend of Eve who sat on the sofa and never spoke. Mum Viv has her own tattoo studio while daughter Eve runs a New Age shop nearby, selling incense, oils and Pagan jewellery. Rev. Kate and Graham From 2014 to 2016, the couple spent evenings sitting on the sofa watching telly with their greyhound Buster. Rev. Kate and Graham have been together 22 years and have two children. They left the show after two years and since then, Kate has become quite the TV star. She's a regular presenter on BBC One's Songs of Praise, and was a contestant on Celebrity MasterChef in 2017. She's also a radio host. Linda & Pete McGarry, and George Gilbey George was known for appearing on the show with his mum Linda and stepdad Pete. He left the show in 2014 to appear on Celebrity Big Brother, before returning to the show two years later. However he later quit once again. Linda and Pete returned to the show as a couple in 2016, however, in June 2021, it was revealed that Gogglebox star Pete McGarry had died aged 71 after a short illness. Tragically, George also died in March 2024 at the age of 40 after a workplace accident. The show's social media account shared a statement, saying: "George was part of the Gogglebox family for eight series alongside his mum Linda and step-dad Pete. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Linda, and George’s family and friends at this very sad time." The Tappers The super loud family-of -four from North London had their spot on Gogglebox taken away after Amy's stint on Celebs Go Dating, due to the producers "no celebs" rule. Parents Nikki and Jonathon recently celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary. Jonathon – a chauffer - also shed an incredible 3st 7lbs, and is almost unrecognisable from his Gogglebox days. Meanwhile son Josh is a budding politician. Steph and Dom The posh couple - who ran a luxury bed and breakfast - were the first breakout stars for the show. They went on to star in their own TV programmes, and announced that they were taking an indefinite break from the show in 2016. "You can have too much of a good thing," Steph said at the time. Gogglebox returns on Friday 6th February at 9pm on Channel 4. Add Gogglebox to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
When is the Married at First Sight UK 2026 reunion?
It's time to immerse yourself into the Married at First Sight UK experience once again as last year's coupled reunite for a special one-off episode. Since the series came to an end last year, there have been break-ups, social media digs and plenty of new relationships, and it won't be long before fans get the lowdown on everything that has happened since the experiment came to an end. A release date has just been confirmed for the special episode and thankfully, there isn't long to go. So, when is the Married at First Sight UK 2026 reunion special on TV? Scroll on to find out more! When is the Married at First Sight UK 2026 reunion on? Channel 4 has confirmed that the highly-anticipated reunion special will air on Sunday 1 March at 9pm on E4 and Channel4.com. Promising to reveal what the cast members of the latest series have been up to and how some relationships came to end, be sure to grab your popcorn and sit back because we're in for quite the explosive episode. View oEmbed on the source website Who will feature in the Married at First Sight UK 2026 reunion? Based on who can be seen in the trailer, it has been confirmed that Bailey, Maeve, Keye, Sarah, Julia-Ruth, Rebecca, Davide, Ashley, April, Leigh, Nelly and Dean all return for the reunion. We'll be sure to keep this page updated with the latest once more has been revealed! Married at First Sight UK 2026 reunion trailer It's juicy! Alongside announcing the reunion episode, Channel 4 also released a first look at what's to come, and fans won't want to miss out. You can watch the full trailer below. Married at First Sight UK: Reunion Special airs on Sunday 1 March at 9pm on E4. Add Married at First Sight UK: Reunion Special to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Channel 4's "daring" and "intense" new social experiment fronted by TV icon gets release date confirmed
Jonathan Ross is back on screens in another gripping social experiment, but it's a far cry from The Celebrity Traitors castle. Last year Channel 4 commissioned a bold series which follows eight pairs of strangers with completely opposing opinions, beliefs, lifestyles and bad habits, who are handcuffed them together in the ultimate test of survival. The experiment will be overseen by Ross, who will pair the couples and guide them on their path to reconciliation. Jonathan Ross said of the series: "I believe this experiment will go a small way to healing a fractured Britain; after all, to know is to love. I’m rooting for our couples to go the distance and not let our differences overpower us." Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing launches on Monday 2 March at 9pm on Channel 4, followed by a second episode on Tuesday 3 March. During the six-part series, the couples will be handcuffed together through thick and thin as they adjust to eating, dressing and sleeping just inches apart from a complete stranger, who they very well may not get along with. The synopsis reads: "Shackled around the clock, the pairs will be sent on a road trip across our beautiful nation, in the hope they find common ground along the way. If a pair can last longest chained together, they’ll be in the running for a £100,000 jackpot – but if it proves too much and they demand to be unchained, their shot at the jackpot is gone. Drawn from across the UK, the couples will represent the wide range of views and opinions found in modern Britain. "Will the chance to win a huge cash prize drive them to stay together whatever, or will their massive differences lead them to quit?" Tim Hancock, commissioning editor, commented: "Funny, intense, and featuring a cast reflecting a truly diverse range of British characters, this is the kind of social experiment you’d only see on Channel 4. The series aims capture modern Britain by examining its divisions and hopefully helping mend some of them too." Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing will air on Monday 2 March at 9pm on Channel 4. Add Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Beloved Gogglebox family confirms reason behind key cast member's absence in latest episodes
Fans have noticed that one family member has been missing.
The Siddiquis have been a part of Gogglebox since its inception in 2013 and have become firm fan favourites, so it's no surprise when viewers quickly notice when they're not all on screen. When they were first introduced, viewers at home tuned into Baasit, Umar and their dad Sid before being introduced to other members of the family, including sibling Raza, who has been missing in the new season. Those watching the beloved Channel 4 series began to notice Raza's absence, and the family have since confirmed that he sadly had a fall prior to filming and cracked his ribs. In a post shared on social media, the Siddiquis wrote: "He’s recovering nicely and will be joining us on the sofa in a few weeks time. "He’s absolutely smashing his recovery, staying positive and keeping himself entertained with walks, telly, reading and nephew cuddles with Theodore. I know you guys reaching out and sending your well wishes will put a bigger smile on his face than morphine ever could. "Can’t wait for all four Siddiquis to be back on team @c4gogglebox with the rest of the fab families." Fans and fellow Goggleboxers have sent the family well wishes, with Izzi Warner commenting: "Get well soon Raza!" Gogglebox returned for a whopping 27th season earlier this year, with familiar faces and some newbies amongst the armchair critics. Last season introduced audiences to friends Jake and Calum, the Gordon family, married couple Andrew and Alfie, mother and daughter-in-law Sara and Lara and sisters Rosie and Susie. Gogglebox continues on Friday 20 February at 9pm on Channel 4. Add Gogglebox to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and Bad Sisters favourites confirmed for adaptation of beloved novel
Caroline O’Donoghue's popular novel The Rachel Incident is getting the TV treatment.
A new adaptation of Caroline O’Donoghue’s The Rachel Incident is on its way to Channel 4, with Sarah Greene and Daniel Ings among the confirmed cast members. The eight-part series – which is set in Cork in 2010 and is "about friends, lovers, Ireland in chaos, and a young woman desperately trying to manage all three" – stars Máiréad Tyers (Extraordinary) and Ellis Howard (What It Feels Like for a Girl) in the lead roles of university students Rachel and James. "Rachel is a student working at a bookstore when she meets James – and it is love at first sight. Effervescent and insistently heterosexual, James soon invites Rachel to be his roommate, and the two begin a friendship that changes the course of both their lives forever," the official plot synopsis teases. "Together, they run riot through the streets of Cork City, trying to cultivate a bohemian existence while the reality of the recent financial crash looms over them. "When Rachel admits to a huge crush on her married professor, Dr. Fred Byrne, James helps her devise a launch for his new book at the store, with the hope that she might seduce him afterwards… But Fred, as it turns out, has other desires. So begins a series of secrets and compromises that intertwine the fates of James, Rachel, Fred, and Fred's wife Deenie, an incredibly cool and well-connected literary editor." Greene (Bad Sisters) stars as Deenie, while Ings (A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms) appears as Fred. Also starring are Cúán Hosty-Blaney (House of Guinness) as Carey, Ciarán Dowd (Bad Sisters) as Ben, Helen Behan (Malpractice) as Bridget, Ardal O’Hanlon (The Woman in the Wall) as Paul, Jeanne Ní Áinle (Hidden Assets) as Sabrina, Molly McFadden as Sinead, Maria Doyle Kennedy (KIN) as Vivian, and more. The series is created, written and executive produced by O’Donoghue. Also executive producing are Emma Fleischer, who is also producing, and Giulia Gandini, while Megan K Fox is serving as director. Tyers said in a statement that she is "so excited and grateful to be part of this project." O’Donogue added: "Máiréad Tyers is a star and has always been my first choice to play Rachel. She and the phenomenally charming Ellis Howard create what feels like an instantly iconic double act, fizzing with all the love and panic that makes being in your early twenties both nightmarish and amazing." She continued: "To have the brilliant Sarah Greene and Daniel Ings as Deenie and Fred is a dream, and I'm gushing with enthusiasm for the rest of the cast who make the world of The Rachel Incident feel so alive and full of energy." Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Nigella Lawson says Bake Off shuns TV "bullying" - as Paul Hollywood delivers verdict on his new judge
"There's a breakdown of a sense of community and connection between people and I think that Bake Off really celebrates that."
Earlier this year Channel 4 confirmed that Nigella Lawson would be heading into The Great British Bake Off tent as she takes the reins from Prue Leith, who left her role as judge. The celebrity chef has been forthcoming in her excitement about taking over as judge though admits it's "daunting to be following in the footsteps of Prue Leith and Mary Berry", but despite this she will be facing the challenge head on. At a recent Channel 4 event, Lawson said of her new role: "I'm looking forward to being part of the gang. I'm so excited, [but] I'm daunted – I bake a lot and I've written a lot about baking, but I'm a ramshackle kind of a baker... I'm going to be thinking, 'My God, why am I judging them?'" The Great British Bake Off has been on air for over 15 years and remains a staple of annual British television. Indeed, with a brand new judge in the mix as well as a new format introduced, the cosy TV show is full steam ahead and Lawson reckons she has cracked just why people keep returning to the Channel 4 favourite. She said: "I think why Bake Off really appeals to people in another deep emotional way – it's not just watching for entertainment, although of course there is that – is for many people, especially more recently, there's a breakdown of a sense of community and connection between people and I think that Bake Off really celebrates that." Lawson noted that while it is a competition, at its core Bake Off is more about "creative collaboration" as well as the support between the bakers. "There isn't that terrible bullying that goes in certain competitive programmes – the thing is, I'm not meaning any in particular, because it's all of them," she added. "To me, that is incredibly important – it's important for making viewers feel cosy and safe and part of something. It's good to have an example of that, because it becomes increasingly rare." But as she gears up to head to Welford Park to film the upcoming series, Lawson has teased the kind of judging audiences can expect from her, sharing that she looks "for pleasure and not for fault". In conversation with fellow judge Paul Hollywood, Lawson said: "You should always find what's good about something, that you can genuinely be enthusiastic about, and then you can talk about things which maybe you think need to be worked on. "It's a very unproductive way of being a critic, to make people feel diminished – that never helps in life. It is really about encouragement – and looking for delight, because that's what we need in our lives. I will have a problem standing back, because I have a terrible habit of nudging and interfering." Hollywood sang Lawson's praises, telling press including Radio Times that "she knows what she's talking about". He elaborated: "It comes down to knowledge – both Mary and Prue have amazing taste-buds and a huge depth of knowledge of what they're talking about, and Nigella exactly the same, comes from the same mould. "It comes down to bringing your knowledge and also your warmth – both Mary and Prue brought their warmth and I'm sure Nigella's going to do exactly the same, to make the bakers feel at ease." The Great British Bake Off returns to Channel 4 later this year. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
House of Guinness stars confirmed to unite for "dynamic, loud, and uncompromising" Belfast-set drama based on award-winning novel
Close to Home is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Michael Magee.
Channel 4 has announced a brand new four-part drama based on the bestselling debut novel by author Michael Magee, Close to Home. Sharing the same name as the 2023 hit novel, the new drama will be headed up by a cast of stellar talent including House of Guinness stars Anthony Boyle and Seamus O’Hara, as well as Jessica Reynolds (A Woman of Substance) and Oisín Thompson (Trespasses). Boyle is set to lead the cast as Sean, a young man who returns to his home of Belfast after university and is sucked back into old habits. As per the synopsis: "Back on the mad all-nighters, the borrowed tenners and missing rent, the casual jobs that always fall through. "Back with his brother, his ma and all the things they never talk about. Back where the promised prosperity of peacetime has yet to arrive and every street has a story to tell. One night, Sean assaults a stranger at a party and everything is tipped into chaos." The series has been described as revelling "in the reckless decadence of youth and celebrates a generation growing up in the wake of the troubles", adding that it's "a striking tale of love, trauma and finding your place in the scarred city you call home." On the announcement of the Channel 4 adaptation of his novel, writer Magee said: "Developing Close to Home for television has been an intensely fulfilling creative experience, a dream come true, really, and I'm incredibly grateful to Michael Dawson and Clare Dwyer Hogg for all the work they've done with me on the scripts, and to Diarmuid Goggins and Gemma Boswell and the whole team at Element and Channel 4 for the passion and creative energy they've put into bringing this story to life." Code of Silence's Diarmuid Goggins will be taking over directing duties for the series, which is also being produced by the multi award-winning company Element Pictures, who have helped bring us the likes of Pillion, Bugonia and Normal People. While a release date for Close to Home is yet to be announced, we do know that filming is set to kick off in Belfast later this month and further casting will also be announced in due course. As for the cast, Boyle has recently starred in Steven Knight's Netflix drama, House of Guinness, but is also known for his roles in Say Nothing, Apple TV's Masters of the Air and Manhunt, as well as Disney+'s Shardlake. O'Hara will be starring in Close to Home as Anthony, Sean's brother, but has appeared in some of the same shows as Boyle like Say Nothing and House of Guinness. O'Hara is also known for his roles in Blue Lights. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/09/AAAAQRcEeliZjKBGUZzVCh8K71Nv2lLj5xwol7rJtCfrDRrP1aA9EwzDhgkblxl9Qj4GHs832fEf0kniH-1dMJgY0JjPZBOht226d6CRaXwhYgG-ffgvL3iV0YxmohbTjkuuhsmV0SzC3PTyCrw35adh-2d0cf85.jpg" width="1012" height="675" alt="Jessica Reynolds as Lady Christine O’Madden in House of Guinness, wearing black and sat in a church pew." title="House of Guinness" /> As for Reynolds, Outlander fans may recognise her as Malva Christie but she too has starred in House of Guinness, Kneecap and is also set to head up the cast of Channel 4's A Woman of Substance. She is set to star in Close to Home as Mairéad, who is one of Sean's long-time friends. Rounding out the main cast is Thompson, who has most recently been seen on screens in Northern Irish drama Trespasses. He's set to star as Ryan in Close to Home, another one of Sean's friends. Commenting on the announcement of the series, Gemma Boswell, commissioner editor for Channel 4, says: "It is a privilege to bring Mick’s award-winning novel to Channel 4. Close To Home explores the emotionally rich landscape of West Belfast through the eyes of Sean, played by the fantastic Anthony Boyle. We’re delighted to showcase Mick’s beautiful writing with this timely and evocative story of a young generation finding their place in the world." Similarly, executive producer Michael Dawson says: "In his debut novel, Mick has captured a compelling vision of Belfast life, brimming with anarchic energy, humanity and mischief. Diarmuid Goggins is the perfect filmmaker to bring this to the screen; his ability to fuse bold, kinetic visuals with a raw, grounded realism is exactly what this story demands. "Together with the indomitable Anthony Boyle and our incredible partners at Channel 4, Fremantle, NI Screen, and Screen Ireland, we are set to deliver a piece of television that is as dynamic, loud, and uncompromising as the city itself." Close to Home will be coming to Channel 4. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Danny Dyer confirmed to lead "heart-in-mouth" historical siege drama from former Slow Horses showrunner
Will Smith will be adapting Ben Macintyre’s The Siege for Channel 4.
Ever since Will Smith, the showrunner of Slow Horses, left that acclaimed spy series at the end of season 5, fans have been wondering what he would do next. Now, it has been confirmed that he is adapting Ben Macintyre’s best-selling book, The Siege, which will air as a six-part limited series on Channel 4. The cast of the series will be led by Rivals star Danny Dyer, along with Sherwood's David Morrissey and The Voice of Hind Rajab's Motaz Malhees. Helmed by Time director Lewis Arnold, the series has been described as "a heart-in-mouth story involving an extraordinary cast of characters from different walks of life, thrown together by a seemingly insolvable conflict". The synopsis for the series reads: "30th April 1980. Six armed Arab Iranian separatists burst into the Iranian embassy in London, taking hostage the 26 people inside, demanding autonomy for their people. "Over the next six days, the gunmen, the hostages and the police struggled with each other for control of the situation while the soldiers of the SAS mounted plans for a daring mission to break the siege that would be witnessed by the watching world. "Coupling thriller tension with poignancy, insight and humour, this six-part limited series brings audiences the definitive account of a pivotal moment in history, when Britain and the world held its breath." Starring alongside Dyer, Morrissey and Malhees will be Leo Bill (Funny Woman), Kevin Doyle (Downton Abbey) Alex Jennings (MobLand), Alexej Manvelov (Dept. Q), Sara Shirpey (Top Dog), Omid Djalili (Betrayal), Nicola Stephenson (The Long Shadow), Stephen Campbell Moore (Industry), Sean Pertwee (NCIS: Tony & Ziva) and Enzo Cilenti (Black Mirror). Also in the cast are Sam Troughton (Black Doves), Iddo Goldberg (Peaky Blinders), Armin Karima (Prisoner 951), Asim Chaudhry (Tinsel Town), Moe Bar-El (Alien: Earth) Kavé Niku (Tehran), Nina Mahdavi (Ambivalence), Catayoune Ahmadi (Reading Lolita in Tehran) Lorne MacFadyen (Vigil), Aneurin Barnard (Doctor Who), Mark Bonnar (The Celebrity Traitors) and Gwilym Lee (SAS: Rogue Heroes). On the announcement of the series, Ian Katz, chief content officer for Channel 4 said: "The Iranian embassy siege and the daring raid which ended it was an iconic moment that forged the ferocious reputation of the modern SAS. "The show is a heart-stopping, emotional thriller that reveals the little-known motivations of the hapless hostage-takers and the very human reality of what went on inside the embassy as the world looked on and Britain's most lethal soldiers practiced their high stakes assault. "It will change the way people understand the siege and reveal how close the famous SAS operation came to disaster. We're thrilled to be working with Will Smith, Ben Macintyre, Lewis Arnold, Patrick Spence and the remarkable cast. This major commission underlines Channel 4's commitment to dialling up exceptional drama in its slate of original British programming." This is not the first time one of Macintyre's historical books has been adapted for the big or small screen. 2021 film Operation Mincemeat was based on his 2010 book of the same name, while the series SAS Rogue Heroes and A Spy Among Friends were both also based on books of his. The Siege will air on Channel 4. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Married at First Sight spin-off confirmed as UK and Australia series set to crossover
Married at First Sight All Stars, anyone?
Married at First Sight is getting the all stars treatment! You read that right, the popular reality series which sees people meet for the first time on their wedding day, after having been paired together by relationship experts, is getting a spin-off with stars from the UK and Australia returning for a second chance at love. Titled Second Marriage at First Sight, the new show will see former stars who didn't find love the first time be given a second chance. The series will be comprised of four singles from the UK and and four from Australia, bringing together two of the most successful versions of the reality show. As teased by Channel 4, the singles will return to the experiment with "open hearts to finding love again and open minds to consider uprooting their entire lives to the other side of the world". The synopsis continues: "The experiment begins again in the UK; each couple will navigate cultural clashes and old wounds before they head to Australia to meet friends and family on the other side of the world and face the ultimate decision: who will consider uprooting their life for love? "Will the Brits tempt their partners to trade beach life for Blighty, or will love pull them towards a fresh start under sunnier skies? For these second-timers, there's more at stake than ever before. "These brides and grooms aren't just risking their hearts again, they're risking everything, their friendships, careers, and their homes, as one half of each couple takes a gamble on the possibility of a new life and new love on the other side of the world." Steve Handley, Channel 4's head of reality entertainment, said of the commission: "These eight well-loved MAFS singles didn’t find lasting love the first time, but they haven’t given up – and neither have we. "Everyone deserves a second chance at love and this time they’re saying ‘I do’ to a stranger on the other side of the world, risking absolutely everything for another shot at getting it right. I think it will be our greatest love story yet." Murray Boland, CEO of production company CPL, added: "We’re so looking forward to this. Research shows people in Australia have more successful and enduring relationships with Britons than any other nationality, so we are genuinely hopeful that our brave singles can finally find the love they have been looking for." Second Marriage at First Sight is coming to E4 soon. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Vera icon Brenda Blethyn stars in dramatic first-look trailer for much-anticipated remake of classic Channel 4 drama
A first-look trailer has been revealed for A Woman of Substance, the highly anticipated period drama and remake of another Channel 4 adaptation, which was released 40 years ago. The new version, which is also for Channel 4, stars Vera's Brenda Blethyn and House of Guinness's Jessica Reynolds as two versions of the central character Emma Harte, in different time period. The trailer sees Blethyn's version of Emma in New York, revealing that she has dedicated her life to revenge. The trailer then flashes back to show Reynolds's version working in a grand house but being warned to be careful of her "ambition". The trailer also reveals the likes of Lenny Rush, Lydia Leonard, Emmett J Scanlan and Will Mellor in supporting roles. You can watch it right here now. View oEmbed on the source website Also starring in the eight-part series are Leanne Best (This City Is Ours), Ewan Horrocks (The Last Kingdom), Harry Cadby (In Flight), Niall Wright (Slow Horses), Robert Wilfort (Gavin & Stacey), Toby Regbo (Belgravia), Hiftu Quasem (The Witcher), Sophie Bould (Call The Midwife), Georgina Sadler (Silo) and Jo Joyner (EastEnders). The synopsis for the series, which is based on Barbara Taylor Bradford's novel, says: "1911. Emma Harte, an impoverished ambitious maid in Yorkshire, England goes on a dizzying journey to become the world’s richest woman, gazing down from a sprawling luxury New York penthouse. "A rags-to-riches tale of women through the 20th century, Emma defies the expectations of her society, fearlessly challenging the roles she's given, smashing glass ceilings, and never, ever deviating from her masterplan: Get to the top. Whatever it takes." The adaptation, which was filmed in Yorkshire, has been written by The Buccaneers scribe Katherine Jakeways, along with co-writer Roanne Bardsley (Hollyoaks). When Blethyn's role in the series was first confirmed, Blethyn said in a statement: “I’m overjoyed to be taking on this iconic role, in the footsteps of the great Deborah Kerr. As a fan of Barbara Taylor Bradford, it is an unmissable opportunity to play the fierce Emma Harte.” A Woman of Substance will air on Channel 4 in 2026. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Cold Feet and Gentleman Jack stars cast in new Channel 4 break-up comedy as first look unveiled
Break Clause stars Samuel Bottomley and Lara Ricote.
A set of first-look images have been released for new Channel 4 comedy series Break Clause, which stars Samuel Bottomley (How to Have Sex) and Lara Ricote (Mitchell And Webb Are Not Helping), while new cast members have also been confirmed. Bottomley's character Ben and Ricote's character Lil are both seen embracing as a couple in the images, but the series is set to chart a less romantic part of their lives - the end of their relationship. The synopsis for the six-part series reads: "Their relationship's over. Their tenancy isn't. Break Clause follows Ben and Lil as they navigate their breakup whilst stuck in the same flat. Moving on from your first love is hard enough. Moving out is even harder..." Also starring in the series and seen in the images are John Thomson (Cold Feet) as Alan, Lucy Black (Gentleman Jack) as Deb, Catherine Cohen (Sentimental Value) as Jos, Charly Clive (Rooster) as Frances, Nathan Foad (Our Flag Means Death) as Owen and Assa Kanouté (Boarders) as Kira and Jack Shep (Saturday Night Live UK) as Liam. Tamika Bennett and Jack James Ryan (I Fought the Law) are also featured in the images as their characters Nic and Jordan, while Hammed Animashaun (Black Ops), Michael Workéyè (Lynley), Jessica Knappett (Ghosts) and Lucas Jones (Get Millie Black) also star as Paul, Kas, the Vicar and Sean, respectively, but their characters have yet to be shown. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/71384S1Break-Clause-First-Look-a155e07.jpg" width="5244" height="3496" alt="Charly Clive as Frances, Lara Ricote as Lil, John Thomson as Alan, Nathan Foad as Owen, Samuel Bottomley as Ben, Lucy Black as Deb, Jack Shep as Liam and Tamika Bennett as Nic in Break Clause. They are stood and sat around on sofas in a living room, smiling at something off screen. Two of them have post-it notes on their foreheads, one of which says Princess Diana and the other says Rum Tum Tugger." title="Break Clause - First Look" /> The series has been written and created by Jess Bray (The Outlaws), while Alice Snedden (Starstruck) has directed the episodes. When Break Clause was first announced, Bray said in a statement: "As a hopeless romantic who’s been daydreaming about this show for years, I’m so thrilled and grateful Channel 4 and [co-producer with BBC Studios Comedy] ZDFneo are trusting me to tell more of Ben and Lil’s story. "We’ve somehow assembled The Avengers of a creative team (never seen it) so here’s hoping we can make something lovely and have a nice time doing it!" <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/71384S1Break-Clause-First-Look-2-f5a05ef.jpg" width="4236" height="2824" alt="Assa Kanouté as Kira, Jack James Ryan as Jordan, Tamika Bennett as Nic, Jack Shep as Liam, Lara Ricote as Lil and Samuel Bottomley as Ben in Break Clause, walking across a rooftop carpark in pairs, holding luggage." title="71384_S1_Break Clause - First Look-2" /> Meanwhile, Charlie Perkins, head of comedy at Channel 4 said: "There was a real alchemy to the creative components of this Comedy Blap, with huge rising stars both on and off screen. Nothing works better than a rom com in the era of people inhaling a series on streaming and this show sits brilliantly distinctively on our Channel 4 Comedy slate. We’re thrilled." Break Clause will air on Channel 4. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Channel 4 reveals impressive streaming start to 2026 – "outgrowing" rivals with youth audiences and showing YouTube success
Patience and The Great Pottery Throw Down have helped the broadcaster's streaming viewer minutes increase by 25 per cent year-on-year.
Channel 4 has announced that it is the fastest growing streaming platform of 2026 so far, while also achieving significant growth on YouTube. Across January, the broadcaster’s streaming viewer minutes increased by 25 per cent year-on-year – the biggest jump among leading streamers. The broadcaster’s linear commercial reach also grew 14 per cent year-on-year in January – ahead of every other major streamer. Linear growth was secured across every demographic including an 18 per cent rise among people aged 16-34 – again ahead of its competitors. Meanwhile, views of full episodes of Channel 4 shows on YouTube grew 15 per cent year-on-year. The broadcaster's streaming and linear growth in January was boosted by a line-up that includes popular series such as Patience, which was the number one drama on streaming platforms in January, as well as The Great Pottery Throw Down, What Not to Eat, Secret Genius and Catching a Killer. Ian Katz, chief content officer at Channel 4, said: “Last year Channel 4 led the way among commercial broadcasters in converting youth audiences to streaming while underlining the enduring power of linear TV. “We’re continuing this and more into 2026 – outgrowing the market on both streaming and linear audiences. “With old favourites like Taskmaster and The Great Pottery Throw Down flying and new hits like Patience, What Not to Eat and Secret Genius cutting through, today's results show that our bold, singular slate of very British programming is resonating with audiences.” Read more: Claudia Winkleman confirmed for a surprise new hosting job after quitting Strictly Come Dancing First ever British Sign Language dating show announced – and you won't have to wait long for it Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Claudia Winkleman confirmed for a surprise new hosting job after quitting Strictly Come Dancing
"There is literally nowhere else on earth I’d rather be."
Claudia Winkleman is set to take on a surprise new hosting job after stepping down from Strictly Come Dancing. The Traitors host and TV sidekick Tess Daly announced last year that they would be stepping down as hosts of the hit BBC One show following the end of the 2025 series. Now, it has been announced that Winkleman will be joining host Clare Balding on the Crufts dog show when the series returns to Channel 4 in March. Also returning will be regular Crufts reporters Radzi Chinyanganya and Paralympian swimmer Ellie Simmonds. Winkleman said: "I absolutely love dogs and there is literally nowhere else on earth I’d rather be. I can’t wait to join this incredible team and I’m so grateful to Channel 4 for allowing me to be part of it. I have a pocket rammed with treats." Clare Balding added: "I’m really looking forward to working with Claudia, who is a fantastic addition to the team. She really loves dogs and will bring an additional element of fun, as well an intelligent curiosity and, of course, style." Pete Andrews, Head of Sport at Channel 4, added: "Crufts holds a special place in the hearts of Channel 4 viewers. There is no other event like it, and it is such a thrill to be welcoming Claudia to our brilliant gang of presenters and adding to our celebration of all-things dog." It was confirmed at the end of 2025 that Winkleman will be fronting a new BBC chat show from spring 2026, titled The Claudia Winkleman Show. Winkleman said at the time: "I can't quite believe it and I'm incredibly grateful to the BBC for this amazing opportunity. I'm obviously going to be awful, that goes without saying, but I’m over the moon they're letting me try." Meanwhile, Mel Giedroyc has become the latest name to be thrown into the mix to replace Winkleman on Strictly Come Dancing, as rumours continue to swirl about who could be taking over the presenting role. According to the latest reports, Giedroyc is being "eyed" by Strictly bosses to replace Winkleman on the BBC One show. Crufts will air on Channel 4 and More4 from Thursday 5th March to Sunday 8th March. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
"Landmark" Tony Blair documentary with interview with former PM gets release date confirmed
The series will feature an in-depth interview with the former prime minister.
Channel 4's landmark documentary series about Tony Blair will air in a couple of weeks, offering audiences a look into the former prime minister's meteoric rise, his years in Downing Street and his career post politics. The Tony Blair Story will begin on Tuesday 17th February at 9pm on Channel 4, with the latter two episodes to follow on the 18th and 19th. After the first episode airs, the full series will be available to stream on Channel4.com. The documentary series was announced in May last year, with Channel 4 confirming it would feature and in-depth interview with Blair himself, as well as have his story told by those who knew him best – friends, allies and opponents. The synopsis reads: "Peeling back the layers of political spin and tabloid sensationalism, the programme offers a fresh perspective on the man who transformed the Labour Party and reshaped Britain. "The series goes beyond the headlines to explore the key moments that shaped Blair’s leadership, providing a gripping insight into one of the most influential Prime Ministers of the modern era." The series has been made by 72 films, the makers behind The Rise and Fall of Boris Johnson and more recently, The Zelensky Story which aired on BBC Two. Their other productions include Vietnam: The War That Changed America and Oklahoma City Bombing: One Day in America. This also won't be the first documentary made about the former prime minister, with the BBC producing one in 2021, Blair & Brown: The New Labour Revolution. The Tony Blair Story begins on Tuesday 17th February at 9pm on Channel 4. Check out more of our Documentaries coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Long-rumoured This is England ’00 follow-up gets update from writer Jack Thorne
It's been 10 years since This Is England '90 - so will we get a new season?
It's been 20 years since we were first introduced to This Is England, Shane Meadows's groundbreaking coming-of-age film which subsequently spawned three sequel series – This Is England '86, '88 and '90. Back in 2020, Meadows spoke with Milky star Andrew Shim for his YouTube series Shimmy's Corona Diaries, and revealed he was thinking about a follow-up, This Is England '00 - which would be both filmed and set 10 years on from when we last caught up with Shaun and the rest of the characters. He said at the time: "I don't know when but I've got This Is England '00 in my head, the millennium one, because I sort of thought it would be nice, because when did we shoot the last one? Was it 2015, 2016? "So, you're obviously five years away and I don't massively want to copy the film ideas, but if I went back I'd love to do a millennium one." Now, we're in 2026, the proposed release date for that series – and nothing has yet materialised. Thankfully, it seems the chances of a return to This Is England haven't disappeared as Meadows's co-writer on the three series, Jack Thorne, has revealed the potential for more. View Green Video on the source website Speaking with us exclusively for our video interview series The Radio Times Writers' Room, in which we get to know what makes screenwriters tick, Thorne said on the potential for This Is England '00: "Listen, if Shane says 'Jump', we all jump, but Shane's got to say jump. "And yeah, there's been a few times when he's gone, 'Maybe,' but I think it's about when he's ready to tell another story. And that could be 2000, that could be 2004, that could be 2020. "It's when he goes, 'I'm ready to go back to Shaun'. I mean, Shaun Fields, the lead character in This Is England, is Shane Meadows. You know Shaun Fields, Shane Meadows, you know, this is a personal thing - and so, it's when he's ready to tell more stories." View oEmbed on the source website This Is England '86 was one of Thorne's earliest on-screen projects, but he has gone on to write a whole host of acclaimed series and films, including last year's mega-hit Adolescence. He also has a four-part adaptation of William Golding's Lord of the Flies coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this week. Jack Thorne's interview for The Radio Times Writers' Room is available to watch in full now on RadioTimes.com and on YouTube. This Is England '86, '88 and '90 are available to watch now on Channel 4. Lord of the Flies will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from Sunday 8th February 2026. Add Lord of the Flies to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" class="x_OWAAutoLink" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer 2026 line-up confirmed - including Love Island and EastEnders legends
A cohort of new faces will be heading into The Great Celebrity Bake Off 2026 tent this spring, including a brand new guest judge ready to dish out the verdicts. As ever, the famous faces will take on a Signature, Technical and Showstopper to present to the judges and hope to be crowned Star Baker. The celebrity bakers stepping into the tent include media personalities JoJo Siwa, Molly-Mae Hague, Vicky Pattison, Scott Mills and Sam Thompson. Also joining the line-up is singers Rag 'N' Bone Man and Aston Merrygold, broadcaster Edith Bowman, actors Emmett J Scanlan and Ralf Little and comedians Richard Herring, Joe Wilkinson, Babatunde Aléshé, Rose Matafeo, Judi Love and Tom Davis. Rounding off the celebrity bakers are TV and radio host Mark Wright, YouTuber Nella Rose, singer-songwriter Mutya Buena, actors Rose Ayling-Ellis and Ambika Mod and comedians Roisin Conaty, Jon Richardson and Alex Brooker. At the end of each show, only one celebrity baker will rise above the rest and be crowned Star Baker, and there will also be a new but familiar face joining them. Joining Paul Hollywood at the judging table will be Bake Off: The Professionals judge, Cherish Finden, an internationally renowned pastry chef, celebrated for her exceptional technical skill and meticulous approach to patisserie. Together, Paul and Cherish will taste, test and judge the celebrities' baking efforts in each of these special Stand Up To Cancer episodes. Cherish Finden said: "I am delighted to be joining Paul in judging Celebrity Bake Off for SU2C. Stepping from the professional kitchen into the famous Bake Off tent felt like my first day of school – my heart was racing and I had butterflies in my tummy! "Whilst I definitely haven’t left my ruler at home, judging these wonderful celebrities is about more than just precision, it’s about spreading joy and supporting a meaningful cause. To be part of SU2C and see the contestants push themselves out of their comfort zone for such a good cause was simply brilliant." Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding will also return to the Bake Off tent to offer encouragement, laughter and a comforting shoulder as the celebrity bakers go head-to-head. The Great Celebrity Bake Off 2026 for Stand Up To Cancer is returning to Channel 4 soon. To find out more about Stand Up To Cancer and how you can donate, visit su2c.org.uk. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Married at First Sight Australia 2026 cast: Meet the season 13 line-up
Get ready for explosive dinner parties, emotional commitment ceremonies and plenty of chaos, as Married at First Sight Australia 2026 has returned for audiences Down Under. The 13th season returned in Australia today (2nd February), introducing fans to the singles joining the experiment and looking for love, and it won't be long before UK audiences get to cast their eyes over them either. RadioTimes.com exclusively revealed that the reality series will return to E4 in a matter of weeks, with a spokesperson for Channel 4 confirming: "Get ready UK fans, MAFS Australia’s long-awaited return is imminent. In a matter of weeks, E4 viewers will be swept up in all the romance and drama from Down Under." Eager to find out who has joined the experiment? Read on to learn more about the cast of Married at First Sight Australia 2026. Married at First Sight Australia 2026 cast Alissa Bec Julia Rebecca Mel Stella Gia Brook Rachel Chris Danny David Filip Grayson Luke Scott Steve Steven Scroll on to learn more about this year's participants. Alissa Age: 33 Job: Nurse / Social media manager Location: South Australia Alissa is wears her heart on her sleeve and never expected to be on MAFS Australia after re-entering the dating world. But while in the experiment, she is hoping to have her fairytale wedding, the right partner and the happily ever after she has always dreamed of. Bec Age: 35 Job: Account manager Location: South Australia Bec is an account manager who describes herself as a loud, outspoken, social butterfly who is "never shy of being the centre of attention". The 35-year-old has been voted Adelaide's most eligible bachelorette twice, but is yet to find the one to settle down with. Julia Age: 35 Job: Confidence and charisma consultant Location: Victoria Julia is a confidence and charisma consultant who previously worked in London as an entertainment correspondent. She has been described as a spiritual dreamer who stands out from the crowd, often spotted by her bright and colourful outfits. Rebecca Age: 51 Job: Leasing manager Location: Victoria Rebecca's top priority has always been her son, who has recently moved out of home, making her an empty-nester. Now, Rebecca feels it is her time to find love and is heading into the experiment to find just that. Mel Age: 28 Job: Communications specialist Location: New South Wales Mel has been single for the past six years and after her fair share of fun, she is ready to settle down, but has found that guys in her age bracket don't want to settle down. Stella Age: 32 Job: Beauty technician Location: New South Wales Stella moved from from Lithuania to Australia nine years ago, following her dreams of creating a perfect life. While it wasn't easy, with English being her second language, she was determined to make it work and she did. Gia Age: 35 Job: Disability support worker Location: Victoria Gia is entering the experiment to find a husband and is hoping to find the love and commitment she deserves. The 35-year-old was previously married to the father of her child and since their divorce she has barely dated, often feeling as though she keeps attracting the wrong kind of men. Brook Age: 27 Job: Model Location: Queensland Brook is fiercely loyal and loves a good laugh but she has been unlucky in love and has been cheated on by almost every guy she has dated. She is now putting all her faith in the MAFS experiment to find her perfect match and is hoping to find a man who is mature, trustworthy, loyal, but most importantly can make her laugh, Rachel Age: 35 Job: Team leader Location: Victoria Rachel is a "warm, vibrant and bubbly woman with maternal energy and a heart of gold" who hasn't been in a serious relationship for 14 years. She is hoping that the experiment can guide her to a good man who she can be completely herself with. Chris Age: 31 Job: Construction supervisor Location: Victoria Having recently given up his old partying and player ways, Chris is heading into the experiment hoping that the experts match him up with the right person, though is sceptical they'll be able to deliver. Chris describes himself as honest, upfront and sometimes controversial for the sake of it. Danny Age: 34 Job: Real estate and businessman Location: Victoria Danny moved to Australia in his 20s after growing up in the UK, and instantly fell in love with the country he now calls home. Unafraid to speak his mind and fight for his woman, Danny is a firm believer that a man should always put himself in front of a woman to protect her. David Age: 31 Job: E-commerce product manager Location: Queensland David is a self-described hustler who works full time as an e-commerce product manager, along with various other side hustles. Despite his efforts, he has never been in a relationship that has lasted longer than a year and is hoping, with the help of the experts, he'll finally be able to find a loving relationship. Filip Age: 37 Job: Carpenter Location: Victoria Filip's family moved to Australia from Croatia when he was two years old. He is incredibly close to them and wants to be the best version of himself for his parents. In the experiment, Filip is hoping to find a traditional relationship where men take on the role as providers and women are the carers and mothers. Grayson Age: 34 Job: Company director Location: Queensland Grayson has spent many years in self-reflection and always strives to make the most of himself. After seeing his best friend Johnny marry the love of his life Kerry, who both met on MAFS Australia, he is putting his faith in the experts to find the same. Luke Age: 30 Job: Farmer Location: Victoria In the last couple of years, Luke has taken over his later father's cattle property and splits his life between the city and the farm. Luke has only had one serious relationship and since then, he has struggled to commit, knowing his fear of loss has been holding him back. Scott Age: 33 Job: Business owner Location: Queensland Adrenaline junkie Scott runs multiple businesses and is determined to build an empire and live a luxury lifestyle in his future. But his life has left little time for a partner, which is why he is hoping the experiment can help him find the one. Steve Age: 50 Job: Creative director Location: Victoria Steve has been married before and wants to feel that love again as he steps into the next chapter of his life. With four daughters, Steve understands women and how to relate to them and is hoping the MAFS experiment can help him find his forever person. Steven Age: 34 Job: Marine technician Location: New South Wales A self-described goofball, Steven finds the dating world uncompromising, often feeling that women have a never-ending checklist. Heading into the experiment, Steven is hoping to find a woman who accepts him for who he is. Married at First Sight Australia 2026 is coming to E4 soon. Add Married at First Sight Australia to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Mary Berry delivers her verdict on Nigella Lawson joining GBBO in judging role
Former judge Prue Leith has stepped down from the role after nearly a decade on the show.
Former Great British Bake Off judge Dame Mary Berry has shared her verdict on Nigella Lawson joining the cast of the Channel 4 show. Berry served as a judge on the beloved baking competition, alongside baker Paul Hollywood, from the show's inception on the BBC in 2010 until 2016. When it made the switch to Channel 4 in 2017, Berry announced her departure alongside the show's presenters, comedy duo Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins. Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig were then brought in as new co-hosts, while South African-British restaurateur Dame Prue Leith stepped up as the second judge to fill Berry's position. Toksvig later departed and was replaced by Matt Lucas, who Alison Hammond subsequently replaced. Now it has been announced that iconic TV chef Nigella Lawson will be taking over from Leith as she departs the show after nearly a decade. Speaking at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026, Berry shared her verdict on Lawson becoming a judge on the cosy cooking show, declaring that she was "delighted" by the news. "I’ve also recently heard Nigella Lawson is the new Bake Off judge, and I’m absolutely delighted," she said. "It will give Bake Off a wonderful new flavour, and Paul and her will get on like a house on fire." When asked what a great Bake Off judge needs, Berry answered: "The skill to be the judge and to be fair, be kind and encourage everyone to enjoy baking." Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. Leith announced earlier this month that she would be leaving The Great British Bake Off after nine years, saying of the role: "There cannot be a better job in the world." Of Lawson taking up her former position, Leith herself told The Spectator: "[Nigella is] also really nice, mighty glam and seriously bright, sexy and sassy. I’m just glad she wasn’t in the running nine years ago." The Great British Bake Off returns later this year. Add The Great British Bake Off to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Prue Leith reveals why she decided to quit The Great British Bake Off
She said of the role: “There cannot be a better job in the world."
It was announced earlier this month that Prue Leith would be leaving The Great British Bake Off, much to fans' dismay. Prue had been a part of the baking show for nine years, joining the lineup as a judge alongside baker Paul Hollywood in 2017 when it made its move to Channel 4. Now the 86-year-old has revealed why exactly she decided to step down from the role despite declaring "there cannot be a better job in the world". Speaking to The Spectator, Dame Prue said: "I have been dithering for years about when to stop judging The Great British Bake Off. "When I joined nine years ago, I thought, since I was in my mid-seventies, that I’d be lucky to manage two years. "At that age, my mother was deaf as a post and away with the fairies, believing her son was her father and that her cat was the one she’d had 40 years before. But my marbles stayed more or less in place and there seemed no good reason to give up a job I loved." Continuing, the restaurateur, writer and former judge added: "Finally, though, the desire to work less and play more got to me. Bake Off and its offshoots such as The Great American Baking Show and even the Christmas specials are all filmed in the summer, which has meant I could never have a summer holiday." It has now been confirmed that iconic British chef Nigella Lawson will be filling the spot, a replacement that Leith is more than happy by. "(Lawson is) also really nice, mighty glam and seriously bright, sexy and sassy.I’m just glad she wasn’t in the running nine years ago," she said. The news comes after it was revealed by Channel 4 that the upcoming 17th series of The Great British Bake Off will see an exciting format change, introducing an 'Audience Choice week' where viewers can submit their own ideas for what the bakers should take on. The Great British Bake Off returns later this year. Add The Great British Bake Off to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Channel 4 confirms Beckham family feud documentary following Brooklyn Beckham social media posts
Rumours of strained relationships between the mogul family first began four years ago.
A new one-off documentary is coming to Channel 4 tonight (28th January) following the ongoing reports of a feud within the Beckham family. Rumours of tensions between Victoria and David Beckham and their son Brooklyn and his wife, Nicola Peltz, have been circling since their wedding in 2022 – but in the past month, things came to a head when Brooklyn addressed them publicly on his social media. Now Channel 4 will be examining the highly publicised claims in Beckham: Family at War – UNTOLD, produced by MultiStoryMedia. In 2022, Peltz denied that there was friction in the family following claims that she didn't wear the dress Victoria had designed for her at her wedding. She told Cosmopolitan at the time: "I’ve said this so many times: There’s no feud. "I think it all started, and I’ve said this before, because I didn’t end up wearing Victoria’s wedding dress. "But the real truth is, I really, really wanted to wear it and I thought it was so beautiful that Brooklyn’s mom got to make that for me!" The speculation subsided for a few years until May 2025, when neither Brooklyn nor Nicola attended David's 50th birthday party, and in turn the Beckhams were absent when the younger couple renewed their vows in August. Later in the year, the entire Beckham unit attended the premiere for Victoria's new Netflix documentary, but again Brooklyn and Nicola were not in attendance. Things ramped up in December when Cruz, the Beckham's youngest son, shared an article on his Instagram Story which reported the family had unfollowed Brooklyn, with the caption: "NOT TRUE... My mum and dad would never unfollow their son.. Let’s get the facts right. They woke up blocked… as did I." This month (January 2025), Brooklyn broke his silence on the long-rumoured family dispute with a six-page Instagram Story statement which garnered widespread attention and thrust the strained relations with his parents into the spotlight once again, with his famous parents yet to respond. The new Channel 4 documentary will hear from experts in PR, showbiz personalities and psychologists, to get to the heart of how and why this family feud has hooked the attention of both the UK and wider world. Beckham: Family at War – UNTOLD will be available to watch and stream on Channel 4 at 10pm on Wednesday 28th January. Check out more of our Documentaries coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Nigella Lawson confirmed as new Great British Bake Off judge, as Prue Leith shares verdict on her replacement
Lawson said in a statement that she is “bubbling with excitement” to be joining the series.
Nigella Lawson has officially been unveiled as a new judge on The Great British Bake Off. The world-renowned chef and TV icon said in a statement that she is “bubbling with excitement” to be joining the series. She will be stepping into the shoes of Dame Prue Leith, who announced her departure from the series last week after almost a decade as a judge on the show, and will be joining hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding. In a statement, Lawson said she was “uncharacteristically rather lost for words right now!” She continued: “Of course it’s daunting to be following in the footsteps of Prue Leith and Mary Berry before her, great dames both, but I’m also bubbling with excitement. The Great British Bake Off is more than a television programme, it’s a National Treasure – and it’s a huge honour to be entrusted with it. I’m just thrilled to be joining the team and all the new bakers to come, I wish the marvellous Prue all the best, and am giddily grateful for the opportunity!” Revealing her verdict on her replacement, Leith said she was "thrilled that Nigella is to experience brilliant Bake Off. She’s sassy, fun and she knows her onions — and her croissants, cake and crumble.” Leith first joined the show in 2017 when the series moved from the BBC to Channel 4, and has been a mainstay on it as a judge ever since. The cookery writer and restaurateur stepped down from the role for the programme’s Stand Up to Cancer celebrity spin-off back in 2024, with Lady Caroline Waldegrave taking her place. Announcing that she has decided to exit the programme for good, she said in a statement last week: "Bake Off has been a fabulous part of my life for the last nine years, I have genuinely loved it and I’m sure I’ll miss working with my fellow judge Paul, Alison [Hammond] and Noel [Fielding] and the teams at Love Productions and Channel 4." She added: "But now feels like the right time to step back (I’m 86 for goodness sake!), there’s so much I’d like to do, not least spend summers enjoying my garden. Whoever joins the team, I’m sure they’ll love it as much as I have. I feel very lucky to have been part of it." The Great British Bake Off is available to watch on Channel 4 on catch-up. Add The Great British Bake Off to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.