Doctor Foster star signs big money deal to be face of Channel 5 series
DOCTOR Foster star Bertie Carvel is giving Peppa Pig some serious competition as the biggest star on Channel 5.
The British actor has signed a two-series deal to make more episodes of smash crime drama Dalgliesh.
The detective show was a ratings winner when it aired last year and now channel bosses have decided to commission series two and three.
It’s a move signalling how focussed Channel 5 is about boosting drama and competing with the BBC and ITV.
A TV insider said: “Dalgiesh was a hit with audiences so it made total sense to build on that success.
“Channel 5 knows cop dramas are the in thing right now and hope Dalgiesh can be its version of Inspector Morse or a A Touch Of Frost.
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“Bertie knows he’s onto a good thing playing the character and was delighted to sign the deal.”
The actor is best known for playing cheating Simon Foster opposite Suranne Jones in BBC1 drama, Doctor Foster.
But last year he also wowed audiences as the poetry-loving Detective Chief Inspector Adam Dalgliesh, a creation of English novelist PD James.
The second series will adapt three novels from the writer’s murder mysteries — Death Of An Expert Witness, A Certain Justice and The Murder Room.
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It is all part of Channel 5’s drive to beef up its drama offering recently — and it has been getting great viewing figures as a result.
When The Teacher aired earlier this year with Sheridan Smith in the lead role, it took on The Responder, starring Martin Freeman, over on BBC1, which aired in the same time slot.
C5 also gave us The Deceived in 2020, which starred Paul Mescal fresh from taking the country by storm on BBC Three’s Normal People.
And last year it aired Lie With Me starring EastEnders actress Charlie Brooks and had another hit with Jill Halfpenny in thriller, The Drowning.
In a sign of the station’s growing confidence in its drama offerings, this is the first time Channel 5 has chosen to commission two consecutive series of a drama
That’s quite a vote of confidence in Dalgleish’s leading man too — so no pressure, Bertie.
Industry is on the money
IF, like me, you’re a huge fan of saucy finance drama Industry, then keep your eyes peeled for series two’s new trailer.
Anyone fearing the go-getting gang at Pierpont & Co had decided to calm down can breath a sigh of relief.
It features scenes of serious partying, all sorts of bedroom antics and the obligatory image of leading man Robert, played by Harry Lawtey, standing half-naked in a bathroom.
The return of the show, which is shifting from BBC2 to BBC1 this summer, won’t see the characters taking fewer risks as they all compete for big bucks in the banking world.
The trailer also features leading lady Harper, played by Myha’la Herrold, saying: “You know what they say about flying close to the sun…it gives off a lovely light.”
Literally counting down the days until this returns.
COMEDIAN Joe Lycett has bagged a new art show.
He will present a programme on BBC2 looking at the stories behind the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition.
The special, called Joe Lycett: Summer Exhibitionist, will be broadcast on July 23 at 8pm.
Posh PJs for Paul
JUST when you thought Paul O’Grady couldn’t get any more extravagant, he’s just revealed he wears tailor-made pyjamas – specially created in Vienna and Paris.
The star says the one thing he couldn’t resist once he started earning serious cash from his TV career was being measured for his own bespoke bedwear from two top tailors on the continent.
Speaking on podcast Personal Threads, the For The Love Of Dogs host said: “Once I started making money, I had suits made – it’s all about the cutting.
“And I’m ashamed to admit this, I’ve had pyjamas made in Paris and the same made in Knize in Vienna. It’s because you go in there and it’s where they’d make DJs and tails.”
Bet his alter ego Lily Savage wouldn’t splash her cash on flashy nighties.
Pack your school Baga
DRAG queen Baga Chipz is fianlly becoming a drama queen.
Here’s an exclusive first look of the RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star appearing in Channel 4 series Ackley Bridge.
Looking typically glam, Baga Chipz’s arrival on the school-based show was as loud as you might expect.
And the drag queen didn’t hold back on bragging about her cameo on social media.
She said: “Hi Babis, It’s your TV Queen here, Baga Chipz. I’m very excited to announce that I am going to be appearing in the next series of Ackley Bridge. Keep your eyes peeled.”
Catch Ackley Bridge from July 11 to 15 – with two episodes per night on C4.
It will also be screened as a box set on All 4.
Cazza to boldly grow
MEN Behaving Badly’s Caroline Quentin could become the new Jeremy Clarkson by making her own show about living on a farm.
I can reveal the actress – who played Dorothy in the telly sitcom – has been approached by several TV companies about turning her life into a small-screen series.
They spotted her Instagram page, which documents her passion for growing her own food on her Devon farm alongside husband, Sam Farmer, a cosmetic scientist, and their children Emily and William.
Caroline said: “I grow all my own vegetables.
“I teach people how to grow and plant, harvest and prune. Mostly they use it as a meditative experience.
“A lot of people who can’t get out or suffer from anxiety find it restful, and we do live in the most beautiful part of the world in Devon. People seem to love to join me there – and they love our animals.
“It’s a very big part of my life and I’m even getting quite a lot of interest from TV companies. It’s my passion, this The Good Life 2!”
Caroline and Sam used to share their farm with pigs and sheep but had to downsize their animal collection because they are both so busy with their careers.
But I’m sure if a big TV network came calling with lots of cash, they would restock in no time.
A change for Paul
THE FAST SHOW star Paul Whitehouse has joined the cast of new Channel 4 comedy The Change.
The series, written and created by lead actress Bridget Christie has been described as “Shirley Valentine meets Deliverance. With pigs”
Bridget’s character Linda, a single working-class mum, tries to rediscover her youth by heading to the Forest of Dean where she meets a community of eccentrics, including Paul’s character Tony.
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A pub regular, Tony has some out-dated views, sparking comparisons with Paul’s comedy creations in the Harry Enfield & Chums series’ The Self-Righteous Brothers.
Lisa Tarbuck and Motherland’s Tanya Moodie, plus Game of Thrones’ Jerome Flynn also star.