Tianna Corbin

Former Coronation Street actress Amanda Barrie has criticized the soap's increasingly dark storylines, saying it has become more like a northern Midsomer Murders because of the number of deaths. Barrie, who played Alma Baldwin, said she still enjoys the programme and praised the performances of its younger cast. The article also highlights audience approval of Sydney Martin's portrayal of Betsy Swain recovering from a stroke after a choking incident during consensual sex.

ITV’s four-part drama Little Boy Blue dramatizes the 2007 murder of 11-year-old Rhys Jones in Croxteth and the police investigation that followed. Stephen Graham plays Detective Superintendent Dave Kelly, while Sinéad Keenan and Brían F. O’Byrne portray Rhys’s parents, Melanie and Steve Jones, who helped shape the production to preserve their son’s memory and show the lasting impact of the crime on their family. Viewers have praised the series as gripping, heartbreaking and exceptionally well acted, and it is available on ITVX.

A new first-look trailer for Channel 4’s upcoming two-part drama I Am Helen, starring Nicola Coughlan and Joe Cole, has generated enthusiastic reactions from viewers. The clip hints at a turbulent relationship explored through an emotionally charged narrative, continuing the BAFTA‑winning I Am anthology’s tradition of examining women’s personal experiences. Fans praised Coughlan’s performance and expressed excitement for the series, set to air later this year.

Helen Skelton’s BBC series Lost and Found in the Lakes has been renewed for a third season with an expanded 20‑episode run. Banijay Entertainment confirmed the news on social media, prompting enthusiastic reactions from fans who praised both the programme and Skelton’s presenting. The new season will once again follow Skelton and a team of divers, detectorists and magnet fishers as they recover lost items across the Lake District, with a social media specialist helping reunite finds with their owners. A premiere date has not yet been announced, and previous episodes remain available on BBC iPlayer.

Charlotte Hawkins temporarily hosted Jeremy Vine’s Channel 5 programme, drawing strong positive reactions from viewers praising her performance. She confirmed she would return for another day of hosting. During the episode, Mike Parry updated viewers on his recovery from recent skin cancer treatment and urged caution regarding sun exposure. The show continues to air weekday mornings on Channel 5.