Doctor Foster

Jodie Comer: The woman behind TV's most ruthless villain

With a wardrobe to die for and a closet of weapons that would impress an international arms dealer, Comer’s refreshing portrayal of the free-spirited assassin threw all of television’s gendered troupes out the window. Cold, ruthless and carefree, Villanelle is not your typical female character in a spy drama.

“This role should be stereotypically one-dimensional and probably played by a man, but Phoebe [Waller-Bridge] has completely turned all those stereotypes on their head,” says Comer.

Mike Bartlett on how new BBC drama Life is an antidote to social divisions

When Mike Bartlett sent actress Victoria Hamilton the script for his latest television series, Life, she felt a bit confused at first. “I was reading this wonderful character Belle, and I suddenly thought, I know this woman! I emailed Mike and told him she really reminded me of Anna, my character in Doctor Foster. Mike sent me back a very short email, ‘Yes, it is Anna. Anna Belle.’”

BBC One releases new images for upcoming Doctor Foster spin-off

(credit: BBC)

The mini-series will see Victoria Hamilton return to her role from Doctor Foster, with her character Anna now going by the name ‘Belle’ as she seeks to rebuild her life as a Pilates teacher.

Adam James will also appear in the series, reprising his role as Belle’s now-ex-husband Neil.

Set in Manchester, the six-part series will tell the intertwining stories of the residents of a large house divided into four flats.

BBC One commissions new drama from the writer of Doctor Foster

Dr. Gemma Foster (Suranne Jones) and Simon (Bertie Carvel) in Doctor Foster (Credit: BBC)

Life follows four separate stories from each of the flats highlighting what happens when people connect with others and the human capacity to change, love and care.

The saga will be produced by award winning production company Drama Republic whose credits include Black Earth Rising, Wanderlust and Doctor Foster.

“It’s hugely exciting to be working with Drama Republic and the BBC again,” said Bartlett.

“To tell a brand new, epic story about seemingly 'ordinary' people who turn out to be anything but.”

Stop the Press: BBC drama gets rewritten for being too accurate

The six-part series, which kicks off on BBC One later this week, explores the lives of journalists at two rival papers – left-leaning broadsheet The Herald and tabloid The Post.

Charlotte Riley leads the cast as the Herald’s Deputy News Editor Holly Evans, with Ben Chaplin plays the Post’s charmingly amoral Editor Duncan Allen, and Priyanga Burford as the Herald’s Editor Amina Chaudury.

Mike Bartlett discusses new drama Press

Charlotte Riley stars in Press (Credit: BBC)

Theatre playwrights and TV screenwriters tend to be different animals who spend most of their time in one cage. Sir David Hare occasionally takes a break between National Theatre commissions to write a TV series, such as BBC Two’s recent Collateral, and Dennis Potter did a single theatre play, Sufficient Carbohydrate, but these were recognisably excursions from their main creative space.

This week's top TV: 2 - 8 October

Comedy: Curb Your Enthusiasm

Monday

Sky Atlantic, 10pm

Curb Your Enthusiasm is back after a six year absence. We last saw Larry David in Paris after being driven out of New York by his neighbour (Michael J. Fox) and the mayor. 

Now Larry is back in LA, where he manages to offend Jeff's (Oliver Hardy) barber and land himself in trouble over a new project. 

Bake Off rises to the top of 2015's most watched shows

Nadiya Hussain, Mary Berry, Bake Off, Paul Hollywood, Sue Perkins, Mel Giedroyc

Over half of the top 40 TV shows of 2015 aired on BBC One, according to research compiled by the Press Association from the Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board (Barb).

Despite an increase in viewers over the year, Channel 4 does not make the list, as BBC One fills 27 spots, and ITV takes the remaining 13 places. 

Strictly Come Dancing appeared 13 times in the list, making it the most consistently viewed show so far this year.