Channel 4

Lisa McGee discusses the success of Derry Girls and female-led comedies

Derry Girls Mural (Credit: Channel 4)

Peek around the corner of Badgers Bar in Derry and you’ll see the larger-than-life faces of Erin, Clare, Michelle, Orla and James plastered over the wall. As far as signs of a show’s success go, they don’t get much bigger than a five-metre-high mural.

From the moment the profane and brilliant Derry Girls burst on to our screens last year in a haze of teenage escapades, nostalgic music and 1990s artefacts – such as pastel printed wallpaper, Baby-G watches and armed soldiers on the streets – it captivated its audience.

Our Friend in the North West: Cat Lewis talks production centres in the UK

Cat Lewis

As TV producers, we’re facing more global competition than ever before. Whenever they wish, viewers can watch one of many programmes from around the world on Netflix or Amazon, rather than one of our shows. Or they can stream or download dozens of feature films available via their TV sets.

I genuinely believe that the best response to this difficult situation is to embrace the creativity of the whole country, and not just rely on London­based programme-makers.

Ian Katz’s TV Diary

Channel 4 (Credit: Channel 4)

Surprise hit of the week is 100 Vaginas, in which the artist Laura Dods­worth photographs the genitalia of 100 women and then talks to them about the images and how they feel about their bodies. It’s a great film – bold and political and warm – but firmly at the art-house end of the channel’s output. Everyone is delighted when it attracts an audience of more than 1 million.

Johnny Vegas sets up camp in Channel 4's Llas Vegas

Johnny Vegas on The Great Celebrity Bake Off for SU2C (Credit: Channel/SUTC)

Llas Vegas (w/t) will see the duo source five single-story vintage buses and renovate them for a glamping site in North Wales.

With no previous business experience, Vegas and Dixon will be pushed to their limits to get the glamping site ready for the summer season, especially as neither have conducted renovations of this scale before.

“I bought a bus online. Not because it’s what showbiz folk do, but because my camping van got nicked and it had been my wee bit of creative space heaven,” commented Vegas.

TV picks of the week: 11 March to 17 March

Cheat

Monday: ITV, 9.00pm

ITV’s new four-part thriller, Cheat, features Katherine Kelly as sociology lecturer Leah, and Molly Windsor as Rose, her scheming student.

Set in Cambridge, Leah (Katherine Kelly) is close to securing a permanent position as a professor when negligent student Rose (Molly Windsor), submits an unbelievably good dissertation. Leah accuses Rose of deception, only to be left vulnerable to a series of sinister attacks from the student and her father, a wealthy benefactor of the college.

 

8 Out of 10 Cats returns to E4

8 Out of 10 Cats (Credit: Channel 4)

The panel show will see Rob Beckett resuming his role as team captain, along with rotating guest captains including Aisling Bea, Katherine Ryan, Sara Pascoe and Kerry Godliman.

Panellists will compete against each other in guessing the results of numerous public polls and surveys on popular topics.

“I’m really excited that 8 Out of 10 Cats is returning to E4,” said Jimmy Carr.

“What Britain needs now more than ever, is a panel show about surveys and statistics. Well, that and six months’ supply of food and medicine.”

Students wow industry pros at Channel 4 for the London Student Awards

Julia Hardy, Muki Kulhan and the crew of Chopsticks!! (Credit: Paul Hampartsoumian)

“The standard of entries for 2019 was very high – several jurors said that you could ‘broadcast that tomorrow’ about many of the films we watched,”  said Aradhna Tayal, the Chair of the awards.

“Many seized the opportunity to use their work as a means of challenging and addressing real-life, taboo topics,” she added. “The jurors were in agreement that the entries this year demonstrated the ways in which art can be both important and meaningful.”  

Channel 4 reveals new format for The Island with Bear Grylls

Bear Grylls (Credit: Channel 4)

Treasure Island with Bear Grylls will be a six-part series that will see 12 strangers stranded on a remote island with hidden riches up for grabs.

Under the watchful eye of Bear Grylls, the islanders will battle for survival against mother nature and each other for a treasure of £100,000.

Pushed to their limits, the contestants won’t just need to find the loot but will also need last to the end of the show, or risk leaving empty-handed.

The revamped reality show will allow the islanders to cooperate, but with money involved can anyone be trusted?

TV picks of the week: 4 - 10 February

Teachers Training to Kill

Monday: Channel 4, 9.00pm

Teachers Training to Kill is a one-off documentary that explores gun control in America and the disturbing amount of mass shootings taking place in US schools.

The documentary follows a group of teachers from Faster, a controversial summer school where teachers are trained to operate guns and potentially shoot to kill.