I'll start this edition as I always do, with an apology for the lateness - although this week it was (kind of) intentional. Today, June 19, is the first anniversary of Tube Talk! To celebrate, there's going to be a very funky makeover next weekend with some thrilling new segments. And I have cake.


Michael: "When I ask you a question, don't f****** lace it with your own sly opinion. You ****-short little ****"

Neil: Care for some cake with that venom, Michael?


Rob Hinchcliffe: "I noticed a while ago you mentioned ITV had bought the rights to HBO's Entourage and then more recently you mentioned that you thought they had subsequently dropped it again but now I notice that they are advertising it so I assume they hung onto it, any idea when it'll be starting and on which ITV channel?"

Neil: Or then decided to buy it after a Tube Talk-backed request came through. ITV2 has the first two seasons, I'm told, and will beginning airing the first from mid-September.


Ryan: "How did Veronica do in a decent timeslot?"

Neil: Not spectacularly. The premiere pulled in 100,000 a fortnight ago, but the ratings fell to 59,000 (plus 14,000 via timeshift) by the second episode.


Nikki: "As you are master of show scheduling, can you tell me when (if) season 4 of alias will be on either Channel 5, living or bravo?"

Neil: Season four has already aired on the latter two. There are no plans for more Bristow at Five. Look out for some corking season five episodes coming up on Bravo soon though.


Dan: "Hello! Just discovered your column and it's excellent! I was wondering, do you happen to know when five will start screening the new series of 'The Shield'? Many thanks and keep up the good work!"

Neil: Thanks Dan. The Shield is back, Thursdays at 11, from July 6.


Debbie: "Firstly, this is the best column ever! Pretty pretty please can you tell me more about Commander in Chief i.e. has it been cancelled, will it be aired on terrestrial tv? I absolutely love the show - my almost West Wing replacement - but getting paranoid that half through it will get cancelled like they did with Threshold.... Thank you."

Neil: Sometimes paranoia has basis: it's been canned. However, there is talk about it being revived next season as a feature-length TV "movie", which could open the door to another season in future.


Julia Watt: "Hi Neil, there's a lot of fans eagerly awaiting Vanished this year too. Gale Harold (Queer As Folk) has a lot of fans, both sides of the Atlantic and those of us in the UK are champing at the bit to know who is going to pick the show up for airing over here. We can't wait! Cheers. Julia"

Neil: Looks like it's gone to Channel 4.


Amy: "I have a friend in Australia who is a mad Who fan and she's desperate to know if/when it's going to be on over there. Can you help me make her happy?"

Neil: I'll make her happy the only way I know how. July 8. 7.30pm. The ABC. How was that?


Dawn: "I missed the first two episodes of Big Love tonight because of a bastard power outage! (!) Do you know if it will be repeated and has it been commissioned for a second series in the US? Thank you, thank you! --An avid reader"

Neil: There's nothing scheduled at present, sorry, although it's a thumbs up for season two.


Karin: "Hello, Was out of the country for the first 2 months of 24 series 5 so havent bothered watching it , do you know if Sky are planning to repeat it or if it is going to another channel?"

Neil: This, on the other hand, I can help with. In the build-up to the season finale on July 9, season five is being replayed in its entirety on Sky Two. You'll need some stamina, though: it airs in double-bills every night except Sunday from 11pm. And it begins tonight!


Andrew Cunningham: "Is there any chance of UKTV rerunning Noels House Party?"

Neil: I wouldn't have thought so, although every broadcaster is missing a trick with this one.


Dean: "Hi Neil. Tube Talk rocks! When it arrives... ;o) Has there been any news on Weeds or Battlestar Galactica being picked up for new series? I expect that Weeds will have been cancelled for being a little too "off the wall" for US audiences and BSG may have run it's course, but I live in hope! Cheers!"

Neil: Yes to both!


Ruth Palmer: "Do you know where Medium has disappeared to? I'm pretty sure it was near the end of the series, but can't find it in the TV schedules anymore. Is it that pesky football's fault?"

Neil: It is. But it will be back once the summer of sport is over.


Carla: "I heard that Hope and Faith has been dropped in America - is this confirmed? I would also like to ask if 8 Simple Rules has been cancelled?"

Neil: The former is ending this summer; the latter ended last year.


Joe: "Forgive me if I'm being naive here, but were your references to enjoying Joey sarcastic last week? And please don't answer with a sarcastic comment."

Neil: Yes.


Jacqui: "I was wondering if you know if there is going to be another fantastc series in the future of Supernatural, the last episode is sunday and we are all getting miserable not knowing, please find out there will be."

Neil: Yes, there will be. For those ITV1 followers, you can catch the final two episodes at 11pm this and next Wednesday.


Toby: "I heard that it was unlikely that Liz Hurley would present a 2nd Series of Project Catwalk. Are they intending to make another one? I actually thought Liz was a darn sight better than Heidi Klum in the US version. And don't get me started on Lisa Butcher on Britain's Next Top Model, is that getting a 2nd series too?"

Neil: Both shows have new presenters for their next seres. Lisa Snowdon is in for Lisa Butcher while Kelly Osbourne (!) is replacing Wooden Liz.


Leona: "Just watch this weeks Book of Daniel on ITV4. Was it the last one? What a fantastic series, i believe that the US have cancelled it, is this true?"

Neil: Collectively, as a nation, they've pulled the plug. The final episode actually airs June 27.


Jeremy: "Do you know if the programme "My wife and kids" will be shown in the uk?"

Neil: Umm...


Justine: "Anything more specific on The L Word yet?"

Neil: Drum roll... Wednesday, July 19. It looks like August 31 for Grey's season 2, while we're at it.


Wesley Mead: "How has the late (8pm) DOND done in the ratings up against the World Cup this week?"

Neil: Not bad - an average of 2.68 million across Sunday to Thursday, although tellingly, the Sunday episode rated the highest and Thursday's the lowest.


Annette: "Apparently Sky have signed a deal to show robbies leeds concert on the 9th september live on sky one hd, will the show be available on sky one for those of us who dont have HD tv?? please say we can see it as well."

Neil: OK, I'll let you see it just this once. But make sure you have a HD box for next time.


Kamraan Moghul: "Hi, any news on when The Contender season 2 will be coming to the UK, I've heard ITV4 have the rights but when will it air and how far behind will it be from the US version this time round?"

Neil: The premiere has now been booked for July 24, a delay of around a week on the US.


This week on Doctor Who: An episode not too dissimilar from The Idiot Lantern a few weeks back. This time round people are being taken by a possessed child who draws their pictures as another big event - the 2012 Olympics - approaches. The Doctor quietly admits that he was a father once, while the stage is set for the two-part finale. "We'll always be okay, you and me. Don't you reckon?" Rose asks after the world is set right again. "Something like that," the Doctor replies, staring at the sky. "A storm's approaching."


That's your lot for this week - join me again next week for the new-look Tube Talk!