Each series of the Regency era drama sees a different sibling of the Bridgerton family enter the marriage market, with the events of ‘the season’ being heavily documented by their own version of Gossip Girl, Lady Whistledown. Series two saw serial-bachelor Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey, Crashing) finally attempt to settle down, and finding love in an unlikely place, with enemy Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley, Sex Education).

Two decades on from the launch of its big brother Freeview, can Freely enjoy the same success in a different TV landscape? Freely is a new service from the UK PSBs, due to launch in the second quarter of 2024. It will deliver free live and on-demand TV to the growing number of homes that receive their content via the internet to a smart TV.

Freely has already revealed its arc-and-two-dots brand identity, dubbed Freemoji, together with its electronic programme guide interface and information on how channels will be organised.

Each series of the historical drama, likened to a regency era Gossip Girl, focuses on one member of the titular family. Series two saw Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey, Fellow Travelers) take centre stage as he struggled to choose between his intended wife and ‘diamond of the season’, and her older sister Kate. The events of ‘the societal season’ are reported in a gossip style newsletter by the elusive Lady Whistledown, often to the dismay of the upper classes.

Squid Game: The Challenge

Wednesday

Netflix

If the original 2021 dystopian drama wasn’t enough for you, good news: now it’s real. Well, sort of.

Rhod Gilbert: A Pain in The Neck

Monday

Channel 4, 9.00pm

In 2022, comedian Rhod Gilbert was diagnosed with stage four head and neck cancer. Now, in a one-off documentary for Stand Up to Cancer, Gilbert will be revealing his journey from diagnosis to recovery through a series of personal video diaries.

Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean) stars as Helen Webb – devoted mother, wife, and spy. For years Webb has been leaking her politician husband’s government secrets to her spy organisation, The Black Doves. When Webb’s lover Jason is suspiciously murdered, she turns to an old friend, Sam Young (Whishaw) – an assassin whose dark past is swiftly catching up with him. 

Set against a backdrop of London in full Christmas swing, the two begin solving the murder, uncovering a web of conspiracies in the process that all lead towards an impending geopolitical crisis. 

Another week, another BBC media storm. As allegations of rape and other forms of sexual abuse emerged against Russell Brand, a former Radio 2 and Radio 6 Music presenter who resigned in 2008 following a prank phone call to actor Andrew Sachs, the BBC’s Director-­General, Tim Davie, once again found himself having to defend the corporation’s culture.

Jamie’s 5 Ingredient Meals

Monday

Channel 4, 8.00pm

Mike Flanagan’s first two loose adaptions also took inspiration from classic horror stories, with The Haunting of Hill House echoing Shirley Jackson’s 1959 novel of the same name, and The Haunting of Bly Manor drawing from Henry James’ novella The Turn of the Screw.

Flanagan also created supernatural horror Midnight Mass and mystery thriller The Midnight Club for Netflix.