TV

When I was a kid growing up with a fascination for the storytelling and magic of the Cinema and also in particular television, I remember the impact, the entertainment and education some TV programmes had on me. Sesame Street, Star Trek, The Waltons, Sunday Night at the London Palladium, Top of the Popsand many more. Then one night our family sat down as we had many times before and watched a programme called 'Roots'. Our whole family sat in silence,...

Having just watched the last two episodes of Taboo back to back as part of my Sunday evening wind down, I can only conclude that it is a tour de force by Tom Hardy, his writer Steven Knight ( who wrote the unusual, excellent and wonderfully named film 'Locke') his Father Ed 'Chips' Hardy, the superlative cast and the BBC. This is what TV is supposed to be, a visceral experience that leaves you desperate for the next episode. Taboo...

Indulging in a season or two of your favourite TV series over a long weekend is a popular way to unwind while keeping yourself entertained for a few hours. Television gives us the opportunity to turn off our brain for an extended period, and show creators understand what keeps viewers coming back for more. In recent years, studies have shown the far-reaching impact television shows have on the lives of those who love them, including how they affect career paths....

Alan Partridge meeting a super-fan has been voted the best ever British comedy scene by over 100 professional comedians and actors including David Baddiel, Jenny Eclair, Reece Shearsmith and Alexei Sayle. In addition to containing the best comedy scene, I’m Alan Partridge was named the second most popular sitcom among comedians - with Blackadder in third, The Office in fourth and Father Ted in fifth. Alan Partridge also overcame competition from Basil Fawlty, David Brent, Del Boy and The Young...

What is Christmas time for if not spending it off eating copious amounts of food and binge watching some of your favourite festive movies? The team at Childrens Bed Shop have put their creative heads together, argued long into the night, and drawn up a list of their ten favourite Christmas films that both you and the kids can enjoy together! The Muppets Christmas Carol (1992) As good as any adaptation as you’re ever likely to get, The Muppets retelling...

The Vikings star talks to TLE all about female warriors, her role as Helga, and boarding school vibes on set… What attracted you to the role of Helga, are there any similarities between you? She came into the script as this kind of carefree, Viking hippie, who was a fundamental pagan. She was kind of a wild character, and that’s always a fun thing for an actor to play. She’s become a strong, independent woman who’s had to deal with...

Dr Nigel Mellor is a bit confused about the revolving door for actors in cop dramas We’ve got a severe case of CSI : Crime Series Interference. Unfortunately our recorder can only handle one show at a time, which means we watch one, save one, get one on catch up and watch the news in the middle. So sometimes we’re watching three or four at once. Now, Annie’s dead, which is awful ‘cos she’s gorgeous and she’s been in everything...

Four members of the Made in Chelsea production crew crash landed in the Pacific Ocean as the cast headed to film a special in Costa Rica. The production plane crashed over the Pacific en route to Central america while the rest of the cast and crew were flying to a luxury resort separately. However, they will be flying back to the UK "as soon as possible" after the shoot was abandoned. The small Cessna 210 Centurion plane was carrying two senior producers and...

I was stood waiting for a train on platform 14 at Manchester Piccadilly station about 10 years ago. I was going to see my Mum who was in hospital in Chester, she was not very well at all, I was very worried about her. Whilst on the platform, I noticed a lady standing quietly by the entry to the waiting room wearing a raincoat, and clutching a handbag. She had perfectly set hair, like ladies of a certain age and...