Ayling-Ellis won the dancing competition during her stint as Frankie Lewis in EastEnders, the first ever deaf character in the soap. She also helped launch a deaf Barbie doll late last year.
She is now getting back to work on the small screen. Code of Silence follows Alison (Ayling-Ellis), who is struggling to get by working in a police canteen and a local bar whilst caring for her mother, who is also hearing-impaired.
After the murder of George Floyd in 2020, many companies worldwide issued statements of solidarity and support, and posted black squares on their websites and social media feeds. In the UK, the movement galvanised the TV industry. Broadcasters took stock of the sometimes paltry proportion of their output they were commissioning from black people. ITV announced a Diversity Acceleration Plan while Sky pledged £30m to support anti-racism and improve diversity and inclusion. As a result, there was an uplift in demand for diverse talent, on-screen and behind the camera.
At the heart of G’wed is the superficially disobeying Reece, who, despite appearing as a loud mouthed anti-hero, has a surprising knowledge of John Steinbeck, can quote Mother Teresa, and has a very mature take on grief. Alongside him is Aimee, emotionally mature and fiercely determined, and Mia-Louise, a manipulator of men who don't deserve any better.
Together the pair will preside over the weekly evictions and quiz housemates on all the events and antics. They will also host the nightly companion live show, debating the hot topics inside the house.
Each series so far has followed one investigation into unearthed human remains. Series five saw the introduction of DCI Jess James, played by the 2018 RTS Programme award winner Sinéad Keenan (Little Boy Blue). Keenan will reprise her role in series six alongside Sanjeev Bhaskar (Sandylands), who plays DI Sunil ‘Sunny’ Khan.
The popular game show Deal or No Deal is set to make a return to TV. Acquired by ITV, the reboot has had a spruce up, introducing a new host in the shape of Stephen Mulhern, who takes over from Noel Edmonds.
Talking to ITV, Mulhern said: “It’s one of the greatest shows of all time and to be the new host is an honour! I can’t wait to get started.” Mulhern has plenty of experience in the presenting world, with previous game show gigs including Catchphrase and In for a Penny.
British television marks the end of an era on 12 March. The Inspector Morse franchise finally comes to an end after close to four decades on screen. The last Endeavour on ITV is the finale after 102 films concerning the Oxford detective.
Inspector Morse, starring John Thaw as the eponymous policeman, has been a staple of ITV’s drama offering since the late 1980s. At its peak, up to 18 million people tuned in to watch the sullen sleuth on Sunday nights. In 2018, Radio Times readers voted it “the greatest crime drama of all time”.
The new factual series will take a deep dive into UK Parole Boards, focusing on individual prisoners and the unique circumstances which led them to this point.
When a man is found dead in an underground car park after a horrific flood, police suspect he simply drowned. PC Joanna Marshall, played by Sophie Rundle (Peaky Blinders), leads an investigation seeking to determine if more sinister foul play was at hand.
The show examines the effects of the flood on the town’s community, uncovering secrets, damaging reputations, and threatening some resident’s fortunes.
Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker ring in the new year with a Last Leg special looking at the good, the bad and the ugly of 2022.
