Sometimes you can spend your weekends going out and having fun, but other times, you realise it's cold, it's January, and all you want to do is snuggle up on the sofa watching telly. This is something for the UK folks, because this weekend we've been treated to so many new TV talent shows. Every time we're promised something original and different, but haven't we seen it all already? That said, these shows are more than a guilty pleasure of mine so I've rounded them up to help you decide which show you'll be watching next weekend.
The judges from BBC's Let it Shine

The Voice UK

With regards to singing competitions, I've now decided that if you can sing well and don't mind the stigma of gaining fast fame through TV shows, you can basically pick and choose your show. Will it be The X Factor (the one with the best track record), Britain's Got Talent (you only need to sing three times to potentially win), or returning The Voice UK or brand new Let it Shine?

The Voice UK returns to on the new channel of ITV, with familiar faces will.i.am and Sir Tom Jones who's back in his rightful chair after being axed by the BBC last year. Newcomers Jennifer Hudson and Gavin Rossdale complete the group of coaches, and Emma Willis is back as a solo host. It hasn't really changed much at all in other ways, bar a slightly bigger stage and the fact that contestants with no prospective coaches have to walk off stage tearfully straightaway. It makes it all a bit harsher, but eliminates the repetitive "I would definitely have turned for you" speeches, which don't really make a difference anyway. In a way, it's good because we won't have the X Factor desperate pleas, audience persuasion and judges changing their minds 10 times. That's how we ended up with Honey G, so 10 minutes in and I'm already Team Voice. Whilst I'm less convinced by Will's chat these days, I am impressed by Jennifer Hudson. There's no doubt her voice is one of the industry's finest right now, and it's nice to see her vibrant personality and meme-worthy facial expressions on British TV. The chemistry between the four is off to a promising start. Talent-wise, there were some very talented auditionees such as Mo Adeniran and Jason Jones, but the fact that The Voice has never actually produced a star with more than 5 minutes of fame always has me questioning the impactfulness of the show. I guess we'll just have to wait and see for Series 6!

Let it Shine

Dance Dance Dance

Too much singing on TV? Fear not, there's that other popular form of talent....dance. It's supposedly ITV's answer to Strictly Come Dancing, with 5 celebs and their BFFs/partners/mate who can dance really well, and they take on famous routines. (Famous people doing famous routines? Hmm sounds a bit like BBC's Let's Dance to me!) The entertaining bit is that they all seem to have been picked because they already *conveniently* have a pretty good level at dance. I may not know who most of them are, but we're not watching novices here. Instead of watching the personal journeys of improvement like Strictly contestants, they all have a common love for dance and I was pretty surprised at the slick moves from Week 1 already. Stars like former Eastenders actor (according to Google) Jonny Labey were outstanding so even if you're not watching for the 'star power', watch it for the Michael Jackson / Justin Timberlake moves. They've also picked out a range of routines, from Backstreet Boys to Madonna to Beyonce, plus there's no public vote and it looks to have all been pre-recorded.

It's never short of entertaining, but the whole concept feels a tiny bit like a trial-and-error thing, with a cringey theme song and 'backstage' area and presenter Will Best telling everyone to go for a group hug every five minutes. The judges, however, have respectable credibility, with ITV opting for lesser known but accomplished experts: Tina Landon (a choreographer who's worked with JLo and Michael Jackson), Timor Steffens (a dancer who's worked with Beyonce and Usher), and Britain's Got Talent star of Diversity Ashley Banjo (who has also been a judge on the axed Sky One Got to Dance). At least Alesha Dixon's presenting, not judging, this time.

Sherlock

Ahead of the big return of BBC's The Apprentice (BBC One, this THURSDAY 6th October at 9pm), I've got an exclusive sneak preview!

Can you believe we're into our 12th series of The Apprentice!? That's right, Lord Alan Sugar's pointed the finger at over 100 candidates, we've exhausted every cheesy team name word possible (do you remember Team Phoenix and Team Decadence?),  and we've been faced with numerous stomach-churning boasts. I'll always remember the seller so good they could sell ice to an eskimo, or sell a piece of paper for fifty quid. Dream on...

But dreams are reaching an all-time high as 18 new candidates walk into the boardroom in the hopes of securing a £250,000 investment and form a business partnership with Lord Sugar. I've watched the first episode and it's on fine form once again. Big personalities this year include a guy who wants to take over the world - he also has a dedicated name for his army of fans, as well as someone who likens themselves to Jim Carrey. Trust me, you will be dizzy with exhaustion because this Jim Carrey thing is an understatement. You can meet all the candidates from Matt Edmondson's hilarious point of view here.

This week, the business partner wannabes have been tasked with a selling challenge...but with a Bargain Hunt twist and having to spot treasures within trash. Get ready for lots of "lovely antique things", seemingly obvious pitfalls and the usual shouting at the telly. From this one episode I've already got my eye on a few potential actually-good-and-not-annoying candidates, but time will tell if they can stand the test of time...and the boardroom pressure cooker! There are some hilarious moments in the episode so even if you do discount the business acumen and can't take it all that seriously (after all, we have someone who sums himself up as Leonardo DiCaprio, and we have someone likening themselves to some sort of nuclear explosion...). The guaranteed laughter is itself a good enough reason to tune into The Apprentice when it returns this Thursday. Until then, all I can say is watch out for the monobrow!!!

On Sunday night, Top Gear returned with a bang - and then a splutter of engines. Since Clarkson, Hammond and May departed from the most widely watched factual TV show in the world, the rather large boots to fill were filled by Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc. Overall, many have been incredibly quick to judge and swear to never watch again - even though it is still early days, the very first impression was an impressive visual production but less than impressive start. 

I'm a Top Gear fan. Always have been and - touch wood - always will be.  It taught me so much about cars (or so I like to believe) and it pained me to see Jeremy Clarkson's behaviour last year get him booted off the show because things would never be the same again and a perfectly good show would be changed for good. But is the new stuff any good?

First things first...Top Gear should not be The Chris Evans Show. The guy has received non-stop media attention so without even realising it we're constantly drawn to whatever he's doing or saying, and it can feel like a show all about him. And it shouldn't be - the more attention placed on him, the more negative audience reactions, so it seems. Whereas Jeremy Clarkson's mahoosive ego was so mahoosive it worked but without crossing the line into The Jeremy Clarkson Show, Evans seems to be trying hard to assume that role and quite frankly I don't think his ego is big enough for that. It seems forced, and that's probably why all the first reviews have complained about him trying too hard to be Clarkson. And his voice! At times the announcements also sound a bit like a report from Economics News Editor Robert Peston (you'll know what I mean if you know him). Or the voiceover guy from The X Factor.

When he's not talking in a Clarkson-esque movie-trailer-man voice, Evans likes to run around like an excited puppy, waving his arms. That's cool because he's got the greatest job in the world and all...but watching it repeatedly throughout the hour does not make for fun viewing. It's also better suited to a Friday night entertainment show. I mean, the segment about "getting custody" over The Stig was a bit too loco and awkward. I kind of want future rival show The Grand Tour to have a tame racing driver called The Stag, with an exact replica with antlers on his helmet or something.



Evans and Stig are not alone in this re-launch: enter Matt LeBlanc. He may have been trying to shake off the 'Joey from Friends' stigma for the past decade and this may just be it. This, and Episodes, of course. His laidback nature translates wonderfully on-screen when he's more of a Driver On Camera rather than TV Presenter. The pre-recorded segments offer witty lines, American confusion at our British ways, and sarcasm that is able to rival Clarkson et al.'s finest moments. I don't think his studio participation is too bad either, and it's a nice contrast from Evans's excitable-ness.

However, for some reason, both make the scripts sound scripted. I know, I know, it's because it is a script. But there are probably ways to make it less scripty, ya'know? Also Chris Evans, unlike his Captain America namesake, is not a very good actor.

With Clarkson, Hammond and May it felt like three middle-aged best mates having the time of their lives, with unforced chemistry, hilarious natural banter and competitiveness. If we make those same comparisons here, it's not even worth comparing. That said (and I will keep saying it), it's only the first episode. Can someone maybe dig up Clarkson and Hammond's first ep from 2002?

Let's have a look at the bigger picture of the show; it is comprised of many little segments and challenges, with an overall similar format. We have lots of cars, lots of car testing, a revamped studio featuring a new walkway (perfect for Evans to run up and down it) but still with the audience participation, exotic locations such as Morocco, Stig laps, and fun segments such as having German driver Sabine Schmitz re-enacting Top Gun. Differences include having a rallycross car instead of the 'reasonably priced' one, and this also being a head-to-head featuring two guests with this week's being Gordon Ramsay and Jesse Eisenberg. These are good guests! It's not awful, and this is actually a clever change without changing too much. And it also means our leaderboard could get very interesting. (Clever BBC, you'll fill up that new board in half the time this way!)

I'm not quite sure what I was expecting, and I've purposely tried to avoid the pre-show hype and news stories. I don't think I was expecting something so similar, but even with that tried-and-tested formula I have to say it's missing *something*: that secret ingredient or chemistry or sparkle. It's not the same as it used to be and I need to get over it. Perhaps if the show had been completely revamped and brought back with a different name, critics would stop dubbing it 'Flop Gear'. In its defense, I do think we just need to get used to this new era, because we love Top Gear and we don't want it to die. It's also important to note that the old era was not without criticism. Peaks and troughs, people. Surely the only way is up!?

In the closing credits, their "next week" name-drops almost made it feel like a talk show, which is dangerous territory. And then there was an advert for "Extra Gear", an accompanying show on BBC Three. I know Three has gone online now, but does Top Gear really need a spin-off and do I want to watch it? Hmmm not really.

A few good things though, as it is so easy to focus on the negative. Some of the close-up slow-mo shots of dirt being flung towards camera are pretty cool. We could watch this in 3D on a wide-screen TV. I learnt new things about cars. Matt LeBlanc was a surprisingly well-cast addition and could even 'save' many initial perceptions; keep the sarcasm flowing. Chris Evans will be less excitable as the weeks go on. It was still an entertaining show; all the reports of 'extreme boredom' may be slightly exaggerated for effect. After all, it's still a show I'd sit and watch with the family on a Sunday night. It didn't quite crash and burn, and I'm sure lots of people tuned in to see what all the fuss was about, but I'm not sure how many formerly-loyal viewers will be digging into their wallets to shell out for Amazon Prime after that. I've got mixed feelings at the end of that first hour; we are a critical audience eager to pounce on any shortcomings, but what people are saying should definitely be listened to (eg. less pointing at the camera please!). It does the job, it doesn't wow. It's a really tough ask for Evans and LeBlanc to bring back a show that had Clarkson-May-Hammond embedded in its DNA. I'll keep on watching, just as I hope they keep on learning.

I wish I could say I binge-watched the second season of  Netflix's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt for the purpose of "research for my blog", but I did it all too willingly. I was hooked. It's taken me just over a week (which is hardly binge-watching) but in a week that has been insanely busy. Season 1 and its hilarious fresh bizarre sheer quirkiness caught me off guard last year, and Season 2 is as bonkers and outrageous as ever.

"What the fudge!?"

Ellie Kemper returns as one of the most likeable protagonists on TV, still coming to terms with her ordeal as a 'Mole Woman', being trapped in a bunker for 15 years. Basically all the supporting cast return, including sassy sidekick/flatmate Titus, and landlord Lilian, who is a much cooler character this time round. Then there's a newly divorced Jacqueline White, and a brand new character in the form of series creator and all-round funnywoman Tina Fey...plus a whole host of brilliant unmissable cameos.

Firstly, if you haven't seen the first season, it's not really a show that revolves around spoilers/potential spoilers, but you should probably go and watch it anyway. Let me give you a bit of context...it's a show that incorporates showstopping musical numbers but isn't a musical show, and manages to make a story about entrapment and captivity extremely funny and entertaining without being insensitive. Ie. see it to believe it.

"Nobody's gone to space since 2011."
"So, like American Apparel?" 

Season 2's script is funnier and wittier, full of jokes both obvious and subtle (warning: there's a lot of hipster mockery), and little responses to Season 1 criticisms. Although the plot is actually pretty different to the previous, it's still based on life post-bunker with appropriate flashbacks, and revolves around Kimmy. We see less of Jacqueline's life (which I do miss) and family which shaped Kimmy's newfound life in S1, and love triangled character Dong, and instead, more of Tina Fey's drunk shrink Andrea. She's funny, but not quite Jane Krakowski funny. Plus, there's a new subplot with Kimmy's relationship with her mother; enter Lisa Kudrow as one of the many star-powered guest stars. What does return, however, is the show's feel-good mentality. You don't need a man to be happy, be proud of who you are, don't let your past define you, you can be as wacky and brilliant as you like. Also, the show unashamedly screams unbreakable girl power!

On surface level it's a TV show of 'funny-with-heart', and weiiiird cartoon singsongs when you delve inside Kimmy's head - but it also introduces more realism, and the death of innocence when 'niceness' as a coping mechanism is what keeps you from fully living. Kimmy may be this super cheerful nice crazy lady who loves to smile and skip, but deep down she's got real issues. And don't we all? There's character development (Jacqueline giving a pair of Louboutins to a stranger? That's so nice!) and the blossoming romance of Titus and Mikey the construction worker from S1, but at the expense of a less consistent plot umbrella. That's ok though, because like Kimmy, this show is still trying to find itself.


Season 2 does not disappoint with its laugh-out-loud moments, parodies, life lessons through metaphors, and unbreakable acting. The show tells us not to be afraid of failure, so it takes the crazy and runs with it, equally unafraid. And it has no reason to be. Although it may not top the first season, it took the difficult challenge of a sequel - even with longer running time - and produced a more than solid, risk-taking return. So, when's Season 3?



Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Seasons 1 & 2 are available on Netflix now. 

I'll admit I first heard about Jessica Jones, the new Netflix Original and Marvel TV show, through David Tennant. He was cast as some sort of Purple Man in a show that's almost anti-superhero in a world full of superheroes...I mean, seriously, they're all over the place nowadays. Anyway, besides that I hadn't really heard much more about the series. After the first trailer was released, people started talking. And after the pilot aired to critics to much acclaim, buzz started building and the show was hailed as a huge one-to-watch (in both senses). I'm now 2 episodes in, so how does it fare?

It's not your usual superhero story.

When you hear the name 'Jessica Jones' it doesn't exactly scream out superhuman strength and all that, and the protagonist wants to be as normal as her name. Having ditched the cape and goggles (maybe) to become a Private Investigator, she just wants to get by and pay the month's rent, and she's still haunted by the past. There's complications like hallucinations and a seriously creepy villain (Tennant) who can get inside your head - literally. A whisky-loving, troubled and vulnerable person is not your typical superhero postergirl, and this is a good thing because it's something we haven't really seen before. Krysten Ritter is really brilliant; considering I've only seen her in sitcoms and rom-coms, she really pulls the dark and gritty side off. And she can lift a car and make it look as effortless as carrying a shopping bag.

Without giving too much away - which I couldn't anyway being only 2 episodes in - the story centres on Jessica and the life-changing tragic events that will inevitably lead to a showdown between her and her nemesis Kilgrave. More serious themes like PTSD are also explored. It has the bearings of neo-noir and a psychological thriller, a huge step away from the Marvel portfolio. And by the looks of things, this Marvel and Netflix collaboration is here to stay, with the existing Daredevil series, new character stories and upcoming Defenders miniseries.

To answer the question, yes of course. Jessica Jones tells its story in a slow 'time will tell' format so of course it would be worth an all-day binge watch just to find out what on earth is going to happen. But it is heavy viewing, hence my only being able to watch 2 episodes (under a heavy workload). And I couldn't even watch it alone, either. So, it's a show where you can take your time, like you would a non-Netflix TV show. In a world where Marvel's doing half the films and TV shows out there, this sets the bar very high.