No-one can escape this week's big story: Sky One have only gone and nabbed themselves Lost right from under Channel 4's big hairy nose. And while it's left a good deal of you decidedly pissed, an awful lot of you richer people are unsurprisingly happy because it means the third season will premiere much earlier than originally planned (in HD, too).

Full details later on but the other bonus - as I hinted a few months ago - is that new episodes should be airing within days of their US broadcast from the Spring.

Meanwhile, as I watched the latest Prison Break the other day I happened upon something even more shocking. William Fichtner (of Invasion) - he's now in pursuit of the escapees in season two - appears to have lost his earlobes. Did Sky One snatch them too? Answers on a postcard please.

Anyway, on with this week's column, and as well as some super fresh Torchwood gossip there's also some great news for UK fans of Angel.


Alex: "Hi Neil, I'm just back from the usa and loved watching "House of Carters" on E! Can you tell me if a uk network has picked it up?"
Neil: They're mental, no? It airs on the UK version of E!, Mondays at 8.

Sinéad: "Hi Neil, CSI: Miami repeats are airing on Living TV and Channel 5 (I think!) at the minute. Could you please, please tell me when season 5 will be aired in the UK? It premiered in the US in Sept, and I'm going mad waiting for it to reappear here since the season 4 finale!"
Neil: Expect the New Year.

Anna: "Do you know if there will be a 2nd series for blade? Also what channel in the USA will it be on?"
Neil: Blade won't be back. But it would have been on Spike (the channel, not the vampire).

Lauren: "hey - two questions really firstly will the new five channel only b available on freeview because i only have sky and that sucks and secondly when the ellen degeneres show starts airing do you know what season it is going to be because obviously nothing is going to correlate."
Neil: As you'll have hopefully seen by now, Five Life and Five US are both on the Sky EPG (channels 207 and 209). Ellen is darting around the place, dependent mostly on who appears in which episode.

Graeme: "Hi Neil, just found out that season 1 of entourage only had 8 episodes and the last one will be this sunday. do you know if ITV will screen season 2 straight after or wait a while."
Neil: Straight on.

Kev Gallacher: "Hey Neil, any news when we might be seeing the new series of The Dead Zone on SCI-FI. Also what ever happened to the xmas special?"
Neil: The fifth season airs Tuesdays at 9pm on Sci Fi. The Christmas special will air - somewhat inappropriately - this Christmas.

Sean M: "Hello old bean, I see The UNIT is getting plugges mercilessly over here at the moment - But it aint on the Previews section at the mo... so in short, is it any good? Loving your work."
Neil: I didn't stick with it beyond the pilot. You either like these kinds of military drama or you don't. You'll probably enjoy it if you enjoy NCIS.

Beverley: "Hi Neil, enjoy the column but am still waiting for an answer to my question! When will season 3 Desperate Housewives be on air in the UK? Thanks!"
Neil: From the New Year, although which network airs it is still up in the air. We could end up with another Lost scenario here if Channel 4 doesn't bid enough.

Jonny: "My 10 year old is a big fan of Dr Who and is very excited about Torchwood, but having read a bit more about it, I'm starting to doubt whether it will be suitable for him to watch. Is it true that it's full of what my gran used to call "effin' & jeffin'"?? If so, any chance they might run a pre-watershed version too? Seems very cruel to let down Dr Who's millions of young fans."
Neil: It's not full of it; the premiere contains one bit of strong language and a few gruesome parts. The second episode is a different matter, however... more on that in the spoiler spot.

This week's Swag Spot gives you the chance to win one of five copies of House season two on DVD.

If you give a damn - really, would House care if you didn't? - click here and answer a super simple question. Good luck!

Alex: "Any spoilers about the Prison Break finale (Episode 13) for the mid-season break in Season 2??"
Neil: It's not working like that this year. But head to the spoiler spot for some gossip on what's to come in upcoming episodes (US pace).

Luke: "Hi Neil - A while ago you reported that Battlestar Galactica Season 3 would air on Sky One in October. Unfortunately I have been reading that it has been delayed until January - AGAIN!! Please tell me this is not true! It is a bit silly of Sky, really, because so many people will download it they will lose at least a third of their audience... Anyway, here's hoping you can dispel my fears! Thanks!"
Neil: Sorry, no can do. It was supposed to air in October but has now been put back until the New Year.

Dave: "When will the new series of 24 and Lost be airing (please don't say the new year) I hear we will be only 1 week behind Fox with 24, and will Sky One do the decent thing and show Lost before the Summer?"
Neil: 24 is the New Year, but it doesn't premiere in the US until then either. Here's what's happening with Lost: season three will premiere on Sky One in around three week's time, just as the first batch of six episodes is finishing up in the States. Sky One will be up-to-date with the US by Christmas, after which it will keep in sync once Lost returns for its final seventeen episodes next February.

Ryan: "Have you changed the day that your column comes out again? Are the CW pleased with the rating for 7th heaven and One Tree Hill, and will they get full season orders?"
Neil: OTH is already commissioned for the full 22, while 7th Heaven got its pickup this week.

Aaron: "Nooooo! How can Lost have been, well, lost, to Sky?! How are us lowly Freeview viewers going to see it anymore?! Does Channel 4 have 2nd run rights or anything like that? Why didn't they fight harder to keep it? And I know you're probably just going to say buy the box sets but a) I resent buying seasons in two halves, and b) that means I'm going to be stupidly far behind.. Pleeeeeease say there is some solution to all of this..? I am not happy >:("
Neil: You and many others. Technically Sky could sell off the terrestrial rights, but it ain't gonna happen.

Matt Hay: "hi Neil, great column thanks for the info. I've heard rumours that Studio 60 is going to be cancelled, which would be a great shame as I heard great feedback, another come to U.K. and disappear from U.S."
Neil: And it would be yet another screening blow for Channel 4. It's not looking great.

Kirsty Lovatt: "Hello. Would be very grateful if you could tell me when sky will be showing season 4 of nip/tuck."
Neil: November 26 at 10pm.

Dave Barker: "hi neil, love the column - just read the great news that there is going to be a second series of 'a town called eureka' would you happen to know if sky one are going to show the second series or is it too early to find out?"
Neil: As it actually co-produces the show, Sky will be airing the second season.

Roger: "Hello,could you tell me when the Sci-Fi Channel are going to show Seasons 4 and 5 of Angel."
Neil: Finally, some good news for all those who have been asking about this. Season 4 premieres on Sci Fi on New Year's Day and the final season follows in Feburary. As a warm-up to such goodness, the channel is repeating seasons one to three in their entireties between December 23 and New Year's Eve.

Rob H: "Sorry to be a pedant but Friday Night Lights ws reported quite a while ago as being picked up by ITV for ITV4....was this wrong or have we scooped you?"
Neil: Oh Whatever. I've had enough, I'm off on holiday.

As always, select the area to the right of each programme to read the text - but be warned that you may well be spoiled.

Prison Break season two (US PACE): Lincoln successfully reunites with LJ but of course, they're being followed. Don't expect them to meet back up with Michael for a good few episodes. Not that he probably minds, because he's meeting up with Sara soon enough. Prison Break season 2 airs on Five from January

Torchwood: The 'adult' tag really comes to the forefront in episode 2 - airing straight after the premiere on Sunday - as the gang deal with a young woman possessed by an alien (accidentally set loose by Gwen) who kills young blokes by shagging them and absorbing their climactic energy. Look out for more development of the other characters, including their lack of knowledge about Captain Jack's back story, a full-on lesbian snog and Owen starkers. And a bouncer masturbating. Torchwood airs on BBC Three from October 22

Bonus scoop conundrum: One of the following is true, the other bogus.
1) Captain Jack gets shot in the head, leading to his downfall
2) One of Robin Hood's merry men is felled by a bow

Send your requests for shows to be featured in the Spoiler Spot to the usual place.

I really am off on holiday, folks, but Tube Talk rocks on. Taking care of business for next week only will be our esteemed US editor James Welsh. I'll be back in a fortnight!


Additional reporting by Kris Green