'Merlin', 'Once Upon a Time', 'Fresh Meat': Tube Talk Q&A

Holy tellyproblems! Someone's lit up the Tube Talk signal and we've once again come to the aid of helpless citizens crying out for TV knowledge. This week we've answered your inquiries about Fresh Meat (again), Merlin, Once Upon a Time and more...

I'm eagerly waiting for the return of Fresh Meat - any news on the air date?


If a week ever passes in which we don't receive a Fresh Meat related query in our virtual inboxes, then we'll start to worry - the E4 comedy has to be the most talked-about show on the Tube Talk Q&A - period!

October is the current target date for the university comedy's return - so not long to wait until you're reunited with JP, Vod and the gang. Oh, and as a little bonus, Peep Show - also written by Fresh Meat's Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain - returns to our screens shortly afterwards in November. The El Dude brothers are back in town!

What's happened to The River? I was watching on iTunes and heard Netflix might pick it up after it was cancelled?


In case you're unaware, US drama The River was the spooky brainchild of Paranormal Activity director Oren Peli and charted the perilous journey of a camera crew through the Amazon basin as they hunted for missing explorer Dr. Emmet Cole (Bruce Greenwood).

Unfortunately the show was axed by ABC over in the States and though there were some rumblings about a Netflix revival, it's now looking like that ain't going to happen. A shame - we rather liked the show.

But all is not entirely lost - Syfy will be airing The River in its entirety for the first time on UK television from Tuesday, October 9 at 10pm. If you missed it first time round, we recommend tuning in for a proper scare-fest!

Does anyone know when the new series of Merlin on BBC will air? And does anyone know if Emilia Fox will be returning as Morgause or is it just a rumour?


The scheduling bods at the BBC are notoriously funny about naming air dates too far ahead of time, but if they follow last year's pattern, then Merlin will likely begin just as Doctor Who's current run draws to a close.

We're hearing that October 6 is the likely premiere date. If series five of the fantasy drama begins on that Saturday - the week after Who's mid-series finale 'The Angels Take Manhattan' is due to air - then the latest 13-part run of Merlin will draw to a close before the year is out.

As for Morgause... well, Emilia Fox did take a break from Silent Witness to film a cameo as the deceased sorceress for series four, but her brief appearance was ultimately cut for time. So another guest stint in series five certainly isn't out of the question. It's Merlin - no-one's ever really dead!

Is there any chance Channel 5 will repeat season one of Once Upon a Time?


It seems as if all that wishing on a star has paid off, Mr or Mrs commenter, because season one of epic fantasy drama Once Upon a Time will indeed be aired again in full for all those who missed it or just fancy a repeat visit to Storybrooke.

We've been told that Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin), Charming (Josh Dallas), Rumpelstiltskin (Robert Carlyle) and all the rest will back on 5* over Christmas, before Channel 5 repeats season one next year.

Don't forget as well that season two will premiere in the US on September 30 and Digital Spy will be staring across the Atlantic via our crystal ball to bring you recaps of each and every episode. We're like your very own fairy godmother.

What's the latest on series two of The Hour?

Poor Ben Whishaw and co have been shunted around in the BBC schedules quite a bit - first The Hour was moved forward to June, then kicked back to sometime in the late Autumn. But we have some news for you - Digital Spy has been invited to feast our eyes on the suave newsroom drama's series two opener at a screening on October 4, which means next month is probably a good bet for the show's return to air.

Lead actress Romola Garai has been fanning the flames of anticipation recently by saying that The Hour series two - which shifts focus from the Suez Crisis to the Cold War - features "a lot of change" from the first, teasing that Dominic West's cool-as-heck news anchor Hector "falls apart at the seams". Look out for some similarly tantalising titbits from Mr Whishaw himself on Digital Spy in the near future.

Gutted that I won't get to see Glee till January 2013. Any word on when Glee Project will be back at least?


To make up for the Glee delay - which will at least give UK viewers an unbroken run of the musical drama - Sky1 will be bringing you season two of reality spinoff The Glee Project from Wednesday, October 3 at 8pm.

Oh, and in Glee Project related news, keep an eye on Digital Spy for an upcoming interview with Damian McGinty, who won the show's first run and now plays Rory Flanagan on the parent series! We're sure he'll have some advice for the season two champs...

Do you have any questions for the Tube Talk Q&A? Post them in the box below!