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Naturally the big story of the week is the much welcome return of Doctor Who, tonight (Saturday) at 7.15pm on BBC One. But that is so this week - in this edition we'll be looking ahead to next week's episode, Tooth and Claw, where the Doc and Rose travel back in time to 1879 to help a kick-ass Queen Victoria fend off a werewolf.
Tony Dee: "With the second season of Lost starting on May 2nd are there any plans to recap season one prior to airing?"
Neil: The first season is currently re-airing weekdays at 6pm on E4 - or you can see quick recaps in some of the lovely block ads running in the right-hand side of this site.
Becky: "Great news about lost being back next month, do you think this means season 3 might follow soon after so we're not far behind US? I read somewhere that channel 4 were keen to stop people downloading the episodes, and surely that would be the best solution!!"
Neil: Airing it the same night it airs in the US would be the only solution to that, but that ain't happening. The earliest season three could reasonably begin is next January.
Janey Nicholls: "I was gutted to find that Planet Earth had been replaced by a special programme on the Queen last night. Does that mean the series has finished, is on a break till summer or just absent this week because of this programme on the queen? If it is the latter, will sunday's episode be repeated this wk?"
Neil: They're spreading the love over a longer period. The remaining six episodes - 'Polar', 'Plains', 'Forests', 'Jungles', 'The Shallows' and 'Ocean Deep, Ocean Wide' - will air later this year.
Dazza: "Hey Neil, I read your column every week! It's great! i was just wondering could u please tell me if/when we will be getting american sitcom "How I Met Your Mother" on our screens? also where and when will it be aired?"
Neil: This show finally begins on May Day (1st) at 7.30pm on BBC Three.
Andrew Campbell: "HOW IS THE NEW DR WHO SERIES DOING OUTSIDE THE UK, ITS BEING SHOWN IN US ON SCIFI CHANNEL (I THINK), IS IT SHOWN ANYWHERE ELSE WORLDWIDE."
Neil: Ugggh. Well it also airs on CBC in Canada, its co-pro partner, public broadcaster the ABC in Oz, Prime in NZ, as well as in France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Japan and numerous other foreign markets.
Forida: "Hi, do you know when the next series of Eve will be back on Trouble?"
Neil: The third season begins with a double-bill on May 1st at 5pm on Trouble, airing each weekday at 5 thereafter.
Steven Saunderson, Northern Ireland: "Hey Neil, just wondered if you know what date the Desperate Housewives season finale will be shown on channel 4?"
Neil: If it carries on at the current rate it will wrap - with a two-hour finale - on Wednesday, June 21.
Stuart Burns: "Do you know when or if Season Five of the excellent Curb Your Enthusiasm is likely to be shown in the UK, and which channel is likely to show it? Much appreciated..."
Neil: Season five - probably the last, alas - will be shown on More4 later this year.
Ian Wilkinson: "Do you know if Five are just going to stop in the middle of series 3 of Voyager? I had only just court up on all the episodes I've recorded when it vanishes from the schedule. Was there any logic behind their crazy choice to move it to a weekday?"
Neil: Unfortunately ratings weren't that brilliant, and it looks like there are no plans to pick up more for now.
Nish: "I want Doctor Who gossip!"
Neil: No messing there, straight to the point. As I mentioned at the top of the column, next week our heroes mistakenly travel to 1879 (they intended to travel to 1979) where they happen across Queen Victoria, who's staying at Torchwood House (sound familiar?). The Doctor adopts a Scottish accent for the occasion while Rose spends most of the time trying to get the Queen to express how unamused she is. Unfortunately their residence is overtaken by a band of people from the BBC One idents, one of whom becomes a werewolf when the moon is full. Guess what? It's a full moon...
Denise: "So is Suburban Shootout as good as Desperate Housewives?"
Neil: No. But then, as a comedy and not a drama, it's not really fair to compare it ("Desperate Housewives meets Kill Bill" was one description I heard this week). It's more like a perverse cross between Birds of a Feather and Absolutely Fabulous and, although it shows moments of promise and is definitely worth a look-in, you won't be ROFL.
Sam: "The advert for lost states that we will get all the answers in series 2 of lost I'm up with America on series 2 and there's more unanswered questions than ever is there a series 3 being made to answer the questions or is series 2 the last. If there is a series 3 is it being recoreded yet"
Neil: Yes, there will be a season three and yes, there are more questions being asked all the time. It begins filming around June time.
Dave: "My Name Is Earl has only just come back on in the US - given the rate they show this, are we likely to catch up pretty soon? We're only a few weeks behind at the moment. And has it been signed up for a second season yet?"
Neil: It has been recommissioned through next season. As we're approaching the end of this season it's unlikely we'll catch up (although we'll come pretty close with Invasion) - this, people, is why new seasons don't normally start until January here.
StephenD: "I'm looking forward to the new series of Doctor Who on BBC1, but I was curious aas to how it is doing in the ratings on the Sci-Fi Channel in the United States?"
Neil: So-so, but nothing to write home about, so to speak. It's reaching just over 2 million viewers each week, with around 1.6 million for the first showing.
Neil Mandam: "Hi Neil, love the column it's very informative. I wonder if you could tell me if there's going to be a second series of the police drama Wanted that ITV4 have been showing.I've just finished watching the first series and thought it was excellent."
Neil: Oh dear - it's been cancelled, I'm afraid.
Melissa: "Any news on The Street? I loved the first episode and cant wait to see more!!"
Neil: Well, after a slightly morbid start, things pick up this week and get even more morbid but much more comedic in an episode focusing on Jim Broadbent's character. He's on a relentless mission to commit suicide after being forced into retirement by Dennis from Coronation Street. Keep your eyes peeled for a fleeting and profanity-laden appearance from Goldie.
Andrew: "According to schedules most shows seem to be ending around 19th - 25th May. Do you think this means Big Brother will return on the 26th May? Also, digitalspy reported that the new Hollyoaks spin-off is due to air on E4 from the 14th August. Assuming this is when E4 is starting it's new line-up of programming - do you think this mean Big Brother will finish, on the 10th August? This would suggest 11 weeks rather than 13. Do you think the 13 weeks was just to get ITV worried? (They seem to have extended Love Island's run to 12 weeks)"
Neil: May 26 is about 90% certain by this point. As for the duration, there is one school of thought that says your argument would be right, but the other way of looking at it is that they introduce the new (primetime) programming a couple weeks before the show ends to capitalise on that BB audience while it's still there.
Katy: "I have emailed Channel Four to no avail, do you have any idea when Season Four of Without A Trace will premier in the UK?"
Neil: Season four will actually premiere on More4 first, Thursdays at 9pm from April 27.
Jane: "Do you know if the Pole to Pole and Mountains episodes of Planet Earth shown on BBC One will be aired again soon?"
Neil: The whole season is bound to be repeated at some point, as well as coming out on DVD. Plus you'll be able to catch it in HD on the BBC's new HD channel from the end of next month.
Richard Sutton: "Hi neil i was wondering if you could tell me if Heist which has just began on the NBC network in the US is going to be on over here and any news on ONE TREE HILL season 4 its on one of their promo leafets but do we take that as its good for a fourth season?"
Neil: Heist is dead in the US so don't expect to see it here now. As for OTH, don't take anything as a given yet.
Ciara L: "Are they filming a fourth series of QI and if so when should we expect Mr. Fry to grace our screens again? Thanks."
Neil: Indeed they are and glad you asked, as they're specifically recruiting members of the DS army to be in the audience. Click here for more details.
Dan Leadfoot: "Doctor Who! I can't wait - PLEASE tell me more"
Neil: With manners expressed in capital letters, how can I say no? In next week's episode, the werewolf wreaks utter havoc - as you'd expect - but it appears a certain piece of jewellery the Queen is holding may be the key. And her dead husband plays a part too. Next week I'll be teasing you with snippets about episode three, School Reunion, so do get any questions about that episode in over the coming week.
Anon: From one of the comments in last weeks column, I take it Torchwood has shown in the UK and I've missed it?"
Neil: No, expect it to air later this year. Speaking of Torchwood though, by the end of next week's episode you'll understand exactly how "The Torchwood Institute" was established.
Anon: "Hi,love your column, but at the end you always say 'more next saturday' but when i check it's never there until late sunday or even monday. can you tell me why this is?"
Neil: Sometimes things of this quality take a little while longer to produce, but I'm sure you'll agree it's worth the wait. More next Saturday!
Tony Dee: "With the second season of Lost starting on May 2nd are there any plans to recap season one prior to airing?"
Neil: The first season is currently re-airing weekdays at 6pm on E4 - or you can see quick recaps in some of the lovely block ads running in the right-hand side of this site.
Becky: "Great news about lost being back next month, do you think this means season 3 might follow soon after so we're not far behind US? I read somewhere that channel 4 were keen to stop people downloading the episodes, and surely that would be the best solution!!"
Neil: Airing it the same night it airs in the US would be the only solution to that, but that ain't happening. The earliest season three could reasonably begin is next January.
Janey Nicholls: "I was gutted to find that Planet Earth had been replaced by a special programme on the Queen last night. Does that mean the series has finished, is on a break till summer or just absent this week because of this programme on the queen? If it is the latter, will sunday's episode be repeated this wk?"
Neil: They're spreading the love over a longer period. The remaining six episodes - 'Polar', 'Plains', 'Forests', 'Jungles', 'The Shallows' and 'Ocean Deep, Ocean Wide' - will air later this year.
Dazza: "Hey Neil, I read your column every week! It's great! i was just wondering could u please tell me if/when we will be getting american sitcom "How I Met Your Mother" on our screens? also where and when will it be aired?"
Neil: This show finally begins on May Day (1st) at 7.30pm on BBC Three.
Andrew Campbell: "HOW IS THE NEW DR WHO SERIES DOING OUTSIDE THE UK, ITS BEING SHOWN IN US ON SCIFI CHANNEL (I THINK), IS IT SHOWN ANYWHERE ELSE WORLDWIDE."
Neil: Ugggh. Well it also airs on CBC in Canada, its co-pro partner, public broadcaster the ABC in Oz, Prime in NZ, as well as in France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Japan and numerous other foreign markets.
Forida: "Hi, do you know when the next series of Eve will be back on Trouble?"
Neil: The third season begins with a double-bill on May 1st at 5pm on Trouble, airing each weekday at 5 thereafter.
Steven Saunderson, Northern Ireland: "Hey Neil, just wondered if you know what date the Desperate Housewives season finale will be shown on channel 4?"
Neil: If it carries on at the current rate it will wrap - with a two-hour finale - on Wednesday, June 21.
Stuart Burns: "Do you know when or if Season Five of the excellent Curb Your Enthusiasm is likely to be shown in the UK, and which channel is likely to show it? Much appreciated..."
Neil: Season five - probably the last, alas - will be shown on More4 later this year.
Ian Wilkinson: "Do you know if Five are just going to stop in the middle of series 3 of Voyager? I had only just court up on all the episodes I've recorded when it vanishes from the schedule. Was there any logic behind their crazy choice to move it to a weekday?"
Neil: Unfortunately ratings weren't that brilliant, and it looks like there are no plans to pick up more for now.
Nish: "I want Doctor Who gossip!"
Neil: No messing there, straight to the point. As I mentioned at the top of the column, next week our heroes mistakenly travel to 1879 (they intended to travel to 1979) where they happen across Queen Victoria, who's staying at Torchwood House (sound familiar?). The Doctor adopts a Scottish accent for the occasion while Rose spends most of the time trying to get the Queen to express how unamused she is. Unfortunately their residence is overtaken by a band of people from the BBC One idents, one of whom becomes a werewolf when the moon is full. Guess what? It's a full moon...
Denise: "So is Suburban Shootout as good as Desperate Housewives?"
Neil: No. But then, as a comedy and not a drama, it's not really fair to compare it ("Desperate Housewives meets Kill Bill" was one description I heard this week). It's more like a perverse cross between Birds of a Feather and Absolutely Fabulous and, although it shows moments of promise and is definitely worth a look-in, you won't be ROFL.
Sam: "The advert for lost states that we will get all the answers in series 2 of lost I'm up with America on series 2 and there's more unanswered questions than ever is there a series 3 being made to answer the questions or is series 2 the last. If there is a series 3 is it being recoreded yet"
Neil: Yes, there will be a season three and yes, there are more questions being asked all the time. It begins filming around June time.
Dave: "My Name Is Earl has only just come back on in the US - given the rate they show this, are we likely to catch up pretty soon? We're only a few weeks behind at the moment. And has it been signed up for a second season yet?"
Neil: It has been recommissioned through next season. As we're approaching the end of this season it's unlikely we'll catch up (although we'll come pretty close with Invasion) - this, people, is why new seasons don't normally start until January here.
StephenD: "I'm looking forward to the new series of Doctor Who on BBC1, but I was curious aas to how it is doing in the ratings on the Sci-Fi Channel in the United States?"
Neil: So-so, but nothing to write home about, so to speak. It's reaching just over 2 million viewers each week, with around 1.6 million for the first showing.
Neil Mandam: "Hi Neil, love the column it's very informative. I wonder if you could tell me if there's going to be a second series of the police drama Wanted that ITV4 have been showing.I've just finished watching the first series and thought it was excellent."
Neil: Oh dear - it's been cancelled, I'm afraid.
Melissa: "Any news on The Street? I loved the first episode and cant wait to see more!!"
Neil: Well, after a slightly morbid start, things pick up this week and get even more morbid but much more comedic in an episode focusing on Jim Broadbent's character. He's on a relentless mission to commit suicide after being forced into retirement by Dennis from Coronation Street. Keep your eyes peeled for a fleeting and profanity-laden appearance from Goldie.
Andrew: "According to schedules most shows seem to be ending around 19th - 25th May. Do you think this means Big Brother will return on the 26th May? Also, digitalspy reported that the new Hollyoaks spin-off is due to air on E4 from the 14th August. Assuming this is when E4 is starting it's new line-up of programming - do you think this mean Big Brother will finish, on the 10th August? This would suggest 11 weeks rather than 13. Do you think the 13 weeks was just to get ITV worried? (They seem to have extended Love Island's run to 12 weeks)"
Neil: May 26 is about 90% certain by this point. As for the duration, there is one school of thought that says your argument would be right, but the other way of looking at it is that they introduce the new (primetime) programming a couple weeks before the show ends to capitalise on that BB audience while it's still there.
Katy: "I have emailed Channel Four to no avail, do you have any idea when Season Four of Without A Trace will premier in the UK?"
Neil: Season four will actually premiere on More4 first, Thursdays at 9pm from April 27.
Jane: "Do you know if the Pole to Pole and Mountains episodes of Planet Earth shown on BBC One will be aired again soon?"
Neil: The whole season is bound to be repeated at some point, as well as coming out on DVD. Plus you'll be able to catch it in HD on the BBC's new HD channel from the end of next month.
Richard Sutton: "Hi neil i was wondering if you could tell me if Heist which has just began on the NBC network in the US is going to be on over here and any news on ONE TREE HILL season 4 its on one of their promo leafets but do we take that as its good for a fourth season?"
Neil: Heist is dead in the US so don't expect to see it here now. As for OTH, don't take anything as a given yet.
Ciara L: "Are they filming a fourth series of QI and if so when should we expect Mr. Fry to grace our screens again? Thanks."
Neil: Indeed they are and glad you asked, as they're specifically recruiting members of the DS army to be in the audience. Click here for more details.
Dan Leadfoot: "Doctor Who! I can't wait - PLEASE tell me more"
Neil: With manners expressed in capital letters, how can I say no? In next week's episode, the werewolf wreaks utter havoc - as you'd expect - but it appears a certain piece of jewellery the Queen is holding may be the key. And her dead husband plays a part too. Next week I'll be teasing you with snippets about episode three, School Reunion, so do get any questions about that episode in over the coming week.
Anon: From one of the comments in last weeks column, I take it Torchwood has shown in the UK and I've missed it?"
Neil: No, expect it to air later this year. Speaking of Torchwood though, by the end of next week's episode you'll understand exactly how "The Torchwood Institute" was established.
Anon: "Hi,love your column, but at the end you always say 'more next saturday' but when i check it's never there until late sunday or even monday. can you tell me why this is?"
Neil: Sometimes things of this quality take a little while longer to produce, but I'm sure you'll agree it's worth the wait. More next Saturday!
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