There’s good news for fans of Syfy’s fantasy series, ‘The Magicians’, as the channel has announced a premiere date for the show’s hotly anticipated third season.

Based on the best-selling novels by author Lev Grossman, ‘The Magicians’ follows a group of twenty-something friends as they learn to master the art of magic in order to save the ancient practice, and the beautiful world of Fillory.

Season three kicks off at 9pm on 10th January on Syfy, although fans won’t have to wait that long to get a sneak peek of the action, as the trailer is online now.

A new Hallmark Christmas film starring Candace Cameron Bure hits UK screens this week, with double the Candace.

‘Switched for Christmas’ sees the ‘Full House’ star taking on two roles as she plays twins who switch lives for Christmas.

“Not only am I playing two characters, Chris and Kate,” explained Cameron Bure, “but I also have to play each character as the other character because we switch within the movie. So it gets a little complicated keeping track of who I’m playing.”

The doubled effect of having the twins on-screen together was achieved using a combination of a body double and a technodolly camera.

“This is my first time playing twins in a film and the technology is pretty incredible when you see both of us on screen together,” said Cameron Bure.

‘Switched for Christmas’ premieres on Christmas24 on Saturday 16 December at 3pm. The romantic comedy also stars Eion Bailey and Mark Deklin as the twins’ love interests.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr’s compelling and deeply personal documentary ‘Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise’ will be airing in full on 3rd December on PBS.

The documentary, told in four parts, takes an intimate journey through the last fifty years of African American history. Joined by scholars, celebrities and critics, Gates travels through the victory of the civil rights movement to present day, asking questions like how far has America come towards racial inequality since the civil rights era, and what did it mean to have a black president in a country where events like Ferguson still occur?

Part one, ‘Out of the Shadows’, explores the progress and setbacks of the civil rights movement in the 1960s.

Part two, ‘Move On Up’, looks at the cultural and political changes that occurred in America through the 1970s and early ‘80s as black citizens found upwards mobility.

Part three, ‘Keep Your Head Up’, reveals the profound fissures within the country and black communities that deepened through the 1980s and ‘90s as African Americans became more visible than ever.

Part four, ‘Touch the Sky’, moves through the shock of Hurricane Katrina, through Barack Obama’s presidency and to the Black Lives Matter movement, before finally returning to where the series began: with the key questions of why racial inequality still eludes America.

The series airs on PBS on Sunday 3rd December, with part 1 showing at 1:50pm, part two at 3:05pm, part three at 4:15pm and part four at 5:30pm.

Lifetime has given the green light to new psychological thriller ‘Nellie Bly’, inspired by the life of groundbreaking 19th century journalist, Elizabeth Cochran Seaman.

Golden Globe® and Emmy® nominated actress Christina Ricci (‘Monster’) plays Seaman, an investigative reporter who feigned mental illness in order to be institutionalised at the notorious Women’s Lunatic Asylum in New York, allowing her to expose the deplorable conditions and mistreatment of patients from the inside. Publishing under the name Nellie Bly, Seaman was a real-life hero whose exposure inspired a global reformation of mental health care.

Eyed for a 2018 debut, the movie will deliver a fictionalised account of actual events surrounding Nellie’s stay. Ricci is joined by Judith Light (‘Transparent’) who will play Matron Grady, the head nurse who tortured her patients into submission. Josh Bowman (‘Revenge’) will play the sympathetic Dr Josiah.

Months of speculation came to an end last Sunday as it was revealed which one of AMC’s ‘The Walking Dead’’s many beloved, beleaguered characters would be transplanted to spinoff/prequel series ‘Fear the Walking Dead’. ‘Yeah, it’s me’, confessed Lennie James, who plays Morgan on the show, to ‘Talking Dead’ host Chris Hardwick. Despite Morgan’s on-again, off-again presence over the ‘TWD’’s eight seasons, he’s a staple character, having first been introduced to audiences all the way back in the zombie hit’s 2010 pilot.

Rumours of a potential crossover began swirling in October, when Robert Kirkman – the creator of ‘The Walking Dead’ comic book on which the series is based – told the New York Comic-Con crowd, ‘There are two ‘Walking Dead’ shows. One character is going to go from one show that I will not name and appear on another show I will not name’. Fans, in addition to the cast members themselves, took the bait.

James admitted even he was caught off guard by the decision to have Morgan be the one to make the jump, but said he’s ‘really looking forward to exploring Morgan in a whole different world, with different characters, in a different place’. Soon after the news was announced, some of James’ fellow ‘TWD’ cast members took to Twitter to express how much they would miss him on set, including Khary Payton (Ezekiel) and Seth Gilliam (Father Gabriel).

Those saddened by the prospect of Morgan’s exit from ‘TWD’ can take comfort in the knowledge that his arc is not over yet. Showrunner Scott M. Gimple said in a statement that ‘Even though Morgan is going to be featured on ‘Fear’, he has a lot of story left on ‘The Walking Dead’.

Hosting any party can be tough, let alone the one that’s called the ‘Party of the Year’ and attended by the biggest names in both television and film. For this reason, it takes a special kind of person to emcee the star-studded Golden Globe Awards; past hosts include ‘Saturday Night Live’ alumni Amy Poehler and Tina Fey and British comedy legend Ricky Gervais. This round, finding the right host was especially important, as the expectation that whoever is at the helm will be able to provide biting political commentary, as per Hollywood tradition, without alienating mainstream viewers.

Cue Seth Meyers, the veteran television comic best known for his work as former head writer of ‘Saturday Night Live’ and as current host of the ‘Late Night’. Meyers is no stranger to the award show stage either, having hosted the 2014 Emmys.

But in a recent statement from Meher Tatna, the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, it was Meyers’ ‘natural comedic wit and innate ability to charm audiences’ that landed him the gig. Tatna added, ‘Seth will help us carry on the celebratory tradition of recognizing the best in television and film at the Party of the Year’.

The 75th annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony will broadcast live on NBC on Sunday 7 January 2018 at 5 pm PT / 8 pm ET. Nominations will be announced on Monday 11 December 2017.

Christmas24, Movies24’s all Christmas counterpart, is ramping up the holiday fun for the 25th and 26th November with four special premieres each day from 11am.

Highlights of the big holiday weekend include the premieres ‘Christmas in the Air’, starring Catherine Bell (‘The Good Witch’) as a professional organiser on a mission to help a frazzled widower get his life in order in time to pitch a new Christmas toy line to a superstore, and ‘A Rose for Christmas’, in which Rachel Boston takes over the family business designing and building floats for the local Christmas Rose Parade.

Also showing is the 2002 film ‘A Christmas Visitor’ in which a family still grieving the loss of their son in the Persian Gulf War are helped to overcome their tragedy by the arrival of a mysterious stranger (Dean McDermott).

The full weekend line up can be found below.

Saturday, 25th November
11:00am – Becoming Santa
1:00pm – Christmas in the Air
3:00pm – A Rose for Christmas
5:00pm – Holidaze

Sunday, 26th November
11:00am – Lucky Christmas
1:00pm – Married by Christmas
3:00pm – The Sweetest Christmas
5:00pm – A Christmas Visitor

The unique social experiment sees six brave singles who have been unlucky in love agree to a provocative proposal: getting legally married to a complete stranger. The couples will not meet until they walk down the aisle and see each other face-to-face, for the first time, at the altar.

Following the wedding, the series will capture each Boston-area couple’s journey from honeymoon, to moving in together, to the daily challenges they face as they get to know each other.

This season, Boston-based psychologist and professor Dr. Jessica Griffin will join regulars Dr. Pepper Schwartz and Pastor Calvin Robertson. Using scientific matchmaking, the panel of experts will join forces to create what they believe are three compatible couples, and will continue to counsel and mentor them throughout the season.

After several weeks together, each couple must make a decision: do they remain together or decide to divorce?

Lifetime will be championing strong women in 2018 as it kicks off the New Year with a trio of original movies based on real stories.

The highly anticipated ‘Cocaine Godmother: The Griselda Blanco Story’ will air in the States on 20th January at 8pm ET/PT, and will feature Catherine Zeta-Jones in the titular role of Griselda Blanco, the woman who once single-handedly dominated the cocaine trade in America.

On 27th January at 8pm ET/PT, Grammy award-winning singer and actor Toni Braxton will star in ‘Faith Under Fire: The Antoinette Tuff Story’, the true tale of the woman who saved countless innocent lives by preventing a school shooting.

Finally, ‘The Simone Biles Story’ on 3rd February at 8pm ET/PT, chronicles the life of the world’s most decorated gymnast, Simone Biles. It will feature newcomer Jeanté Godlock as Biles in the lead role.

A quarter of a century ago, some of Marvel’s most popular artists – including ‘Deadpool’ co-creator Rob Liefeld – made a bold decision to go it alone and start a new comics company where they could own the characters they created. Now, new SYFY project ‘The History of Image Comics’ brings the story of that momentous decision to the screen. Featuring interviews with founders including Jim Lee and Spawn creator Todd McFarlane, the documentary follows the new company’s early success and subsequent trials, before moving on to its current imperial phase in which current series such as ‘The Walking Dead’ and ‘Outcast’ have grown into multimedia behemoths. And of course, the story is far from over – many more adaptations are already in the works, including SYFY’s own forthcoming ‘Deadly Class’.

THALIA DROUSSIOTI WINS STEVIE® AWARD FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Times Square, New York, 18th November 2017:

Thalia Droussioti, the founder and CEO of Global Listings, has been named the winner of the hotly contested Stevie® Award in the CEO category for Women in Business for Female Entrepreneur of the Year in Europe, the Middle East & Africa

Following thousands of submissions from more than 60 countries, the Stevie Award winners were unveiled in a glittering ceremony in Manhattan on Friday night and the event was also broadcast via Livestream.

Thalia Droussioti said: “I am genuinely delighted and truly honoured to be a recipient of the world’s premier business award! It has been a hugely exciting journey to reach this moment – and for my achievements as both a female CEO and entrepreneur to be recognised by such a distinguished panel of international experts is incredibly flattering. I’ve also loved meeting the other nominated top female executives from around the world, each of whom has their own success story to tell.”

Michael Gallagher, President of the Stevie Awards, said: “The judges were so impressed with the accomplishments of all of the Stevie Award-winning women and organizations. The 2017 Stevie Awards for Women in Business received a record number of nominations and had a record number of ceremony attendees. We congratulate all of this year’s Award winners for their achievements.”

The Stevie Award recognises and celebrates the achievements of female executives, entrepreneurs and the organisations they run – worldwide – and is one of the world’s most coveted business prizes. Now celebrating their 14th year, the Stevie Awards have firmly established themselves as the world’s premier business awards for Women in Business.

This year’s winners of the Stevies were determined by an independent panel of 170 judges, serving on five specialised committees. The judges included many of the world’s most respected executives, entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders. There are seven Stevie Awards programs, each with its own focus, list of categories and schedule.

Lifetime recently announced Married at First Sight alumni and first-time parents Jamie Otis and Doug Hehner will star in a new spin-off series, Married at First Sight: Jamie and Doug Plus One.

Debuting this December, the show documents Jamie and Doug’s experiences surrounding the birth of their first child, and will allow long-time fans of the popular pair to continue to watch them evolve.

In the three years since Jamie and Doug’s first meeting – and television debut –on Married at First Sight season one, they’ve tied the knot, starred in another spinoff, Married at First Sight: The First Year, suffered a painful, public miscarriage, and welcomed their first child, Henley Grace. According to a statement issued by Lifetime, this latest edition of the franchise finds the Hehners struggling to ‘navigate their “new normal,” experiencing all the ups and downs of parenthood, and falling in love with their baby girl — at first sight.’

Married at First Sight: Jamie and Doug Plus One premieres Tuesday, 19 December at 8 pm ET, with a 2.5-hour special.

The Moomins delighted children the world over during the 1970s and 1980s, and now the classic animated kids TV series is set to bring joy to a whole new audience, as Sky has announced it is bringing the show back in 2018.

The rebooted Moomins will be a Sky Original Production, and is promised to bring a modern twist to a much-loved classic. Still set in the idyllic Moomin Valley, the new series features an all star cast with Kate Winslet, Rosamund Pike and Taron Egerton among just a few A-listers who have signed up to voice beloved characters such as Moominmamma, Moominpappa, Moomintroll and Snufkin.

The series has the full support of Moomin Characters, the company set up by the loveable characters’ original creator, Tove Jansson, and is set to air exclusively on Sky One, Sky’s online streaming service, NOW TV, and the Sky Kids app in late 2018.

Late 80s counter culture graphic novel ‘Deadly Class’, by Rick Remender and Wes Craig, is getting new life on Syfy, with the full cast for the coming-of-age story recently announced.

Set in San Francisco during the heart of 1980s counter culture, ‘Deadly Class’ follows disillusioned teen Marcus (Benjamin Wadsworth) as he enters a legendary high school for assassins. Led by Master Lin (Benedict Wong), the School for the Deadly Arts has the usual vicious social cliques with a ruthless – and deadly – curriculum.

‘Deadly Class’ will also star Lana Condor as the mysterious Saya, Maria Gabriele de Faria as the unstable but charming Maria, Liam James as the skater punk Billy, and Michel Duval as Chico, the frightening son of a cartel drug lord.

Universal Cable Productions and Sony Pictures Television will produce the live-action series pilot, which is co-created by Remender and Miles Feldsott, with ‘The Avengers’ directors Joe and Anthony Russo executive producing.

Willa Fitzgerald has been tapped as the lead of E!’s new pilot ‘#Fashionvictim’, a dark comedy written by Daniel Waters and set to be directed by his brother, Mark Waters.

Fitzgerald will star as Anya St Clair, a fashion aficionado, Instagram trendsetter and associate editor of a popular magazine. Beneath her angelic charm and composure, Anya has a dark side that she finally taps into, granting her a spooky strength that might just change the course of her life – and her career.

Fitzgerald, who was nominated for a 2015 Teen Choice Award for her leading role in MTV’s ‘Scream’, recently completed production for a starring role in BBC America’s series ‘Little Women’, and will also star alongside John Cusack in feature film ‘Blood Money’, set for release in 2018.

‘#Fashionvictim’ hails from Universal Cable Productions and ThinkFactory Media, and will be executive produced by the Waters brothers, alongside Jessica Tuchinsky. Principal photography is set to begin in New York this December.

Alluring legends, Egyptian secrets and mythical lore abound in the newest season of Travel Channel’s popular adventure series.

Host Josh Gates travels to destinations around the world, tackling 12 all-new expeditions, including the mystery of Stonehenge, the identity of Nefertiti and the search for buried treasure in America. The series will also explore some of history’s most infamous characters, from Butch Cassidy to Cleopatra.

Gates’ insatiable curiosity and appetite for adventure takes viewers on the series’ biggest adventures yet, uncovering revelations that have the power to rewrite history.

Stevie Award Winners to be Announced in New York on November 17

Thalia Droussioti, the CEO of international media company Global Listings, has been named a Finalist in the prestigious Female Entrepreneur of the Year in Europe, the Middle East & Africa category in the 14th annual Stevie® Awards for Women in Business

The Stevie Awards are the world’s premier business awards for Women in Business and recognize the achievements of female executives, entrepreneurs and the organisations they run – worldwide.

Stevie Award winners will be announced during a gala event in New York on Friday, November 17. Nominated women executives and entrepreneurs from the USA and up to 60 countries worldwide are expected to attend. The event will be broadcast simultaneously on Livestream.

The Stevie Award trophy is one of the world’s most coveted prizes. Since 2002 the Stevie Award has been conferred for achievement in business to organisations and individuals in more than 60 nations. The finalists for this year were chosen by more than 170 professionals worldwide serving on five specialised judging committees.

Michael Gallagher, President of the Stevie Awards, said: “Every year we say that the current crop of Stevies for Women nominations couldn’t be better, and the next year we’re proven wrong! The judges’ scores and comments bear witness to the fact that this year we will honour a truly remarkable class of women and women-led organisations in New York on November 17.”

Thalia Droussioti, founder and CEO of Global Listings said: “It’s an absolute honour to be a finalist in the world’s premier business awards! I’m extremely proud that my achievements have been recognised both as a female CEO and as an entrepreneur who built up an international company from scratch in a very competitive climate. And, it’s super exciting to be considered among a group of top female executives from around the world who each also have their own success stories to tell.”

Details about the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the list of Finalists in all categories are available at www.StevieAwards.com/Women.

About Global Listings
Global Listings is the worldwide leader in providing a one-stop solution to broadcasters’ content requirements. The company works strategically with broadcasters, delivering their programme information, enhanced editorial metadata, images and EPGs to the multi-screen world: cable, satellite, terrestrial, IPTV, VOD, OTT in local language and time zone. Global Listings operates in 145 countries including the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Russian Federation and Asia Pacific and in 36 languages on a daily basis, with a global reach of more than 6.6 billion TV viewers. The company was launched in 2002, with its headquarters based in central London.

About the Stevie Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in seven programmes: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 entries each year from organisations in more than 60 nations. Honouring organisations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognise outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide.

Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com

Fox is developing a drama series with the working title ‘8 Count’, based on the life of respected choreographer and creative director Laurieann Gibson. Singer Mary J. Blige will serve as executive producer and music advisor, with a script by Erika L. Johnson (‘Ugly Betty’, ‘Without a Trace’).

The series follows a young choreographer who gets a chance to redeem her damaged reputation when she meets an up-and-coming singer who also has one last shot at stardom. It is inspired by Gibson’s career, having worked with the likes of Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, as well as on-screen credits including ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ and ‘Dance Moms’.

Blige has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide, won nine Grammy Awards and co-stars in upcoming Netflix movie ‘Mudbound’.

The Walking Dead is holding steady as the top rated Sunday night cable show, as season 8’s third episode attracted 8.5 million viewers.

The latest Nielson ratings prove it’s still the most popular Sunday night show by some margin. Series execs will be bolstered by the news that the series after show, ‘Talking Dead”, was the night’s second highest rated show, with 3.1 million viewers hanging on after the new episode.

With The Walking Dead outrunning its nearest rivals for the 18-49 demographic, including mega-hits like The Big Bang Theory and Grey’s Anatomy, it looks set to hold onto its crown for a long time to come.

As a multi-time WWE world champion, lead singer of rock band Fozzy and former contestant on Dancing With the Stars, Chris Jericho’s done it all. Now the self-proclaimed ‘Ayatollah of Rock-n-Rolla’ is embarking on arguably his most exciting challenge to date as he teams up with Travel Channel in a quest to unearth the world’s greatest mysteries.

‘The Legend Of…With Chris Jericho’ premieres in November 2017 and follows the superstar as he digs into the past in an effort to separate fact from fiction to find the true story behind some of America’s greatest urban legends.

Jericho heads out to the desert in Utah to investigate the legend of Butch Cassidy and his legendary lost loot, collaborating with treasure hunters and historical experts along the way.

“I’ve had a lot of amazing experiences over the course of my career and my life, but searching for the truth behind some of the greatest mysteries in history is by far the most incredible! I’m on a mission for truth, treasure and adventure,” said Jericho.

INSIGHT TV has announced a key distribution deal with one of the US’ largest independent media companies, Olympusat, who cater to a multicultural audience.

Olympusat will distribute INSIGHT TV in HD via its Spanish language VEMOX OTT Everywhere platform to its own subscribers and to third-party operators in the US and Latin America. VEMOX is a white label OTT TV Everywhere B2B solution, currently available in the US through Consolidated Communications on Samsung Smart TV and LG Smart TV, iOS and Android mobile devices. It’s accessible also on Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick platforms.

Graeme Stanley, Commercial Director of INSIGHT TV said, “This year we have signed a number of key distribution deals with major operators across the world. Our high-quality content appeals to all demographics in all territories and we want to give TV viewers globally the chance to experience INSIGHT TV.”

Those who love HBO’s Veep and the 2005 cult-hit Waiting can rejoice, as NBC has initiated development on a new, restaurant-based ensemble comedy written by five-season Veep veteran writer and co-executive producer Sean Gray. Derived from Daniel Riley’s 2016 GQ article ‘Inside the Church of Chili’s’, which presented an in-depth profile of a band of ultra-devoted and enthusiastic Chili’s ‘super trainers’, the nascent untitled comedy will follow a team of trainers as they travel America – from ‘burb to shining ‘burb – opening new branches of a fictitious, Chili’s-inspired fast-casual restaurant chain.

Gray came to Veep as a writer under the auspices of show creator Armando Inannucci, having previously worked with Iannucci on another of his creations, the UK series The Thick Of It. Gray ascended to co-executive producer for his last two years working on Veep, enabling him to share in its back-to-back Emmy wins for Best Comedy Series in 2015 and 2016.

In addition to writing the script, Gray is executive producing along with Condé Nast Entertainment, Sony Pictures TV Studios and Olive Bridge Entertainment. For Condé Nast Entertainment, the untitled sitcom is its third sale to a network this season.

Syfy have released the first official teasers for the upcoming third instalment on their horror anthology series, ‘Channel Zero’, revealing it will be titled ‘Butcher’s Block’ and slated to air in early 2018.

‘Butcher’s Block’ will follow the story of a young woman, played by Olivia Luccardi, who discovers that a string of unexplained disappearances may be linked to a grisly rumour about some mysterious staircases.

The cast is also confirmed to include Holland Roden, Rutger Hauer and Brandon Scott, and will be produced by Universal Cable Productions and Max Landis.

Fans of the series will also be pleased to learn that Syfy have already confirmed a fourth season.

A new five-part series from HISTORY, ‘Zodiac Killer: Case Closed?’ is on a mission to crack one of the most perplexing codes ever created.

The Zodiac killer, who terrorised Northern California in the 1960s and 1970s, remains one of the most famous unidentified serial killers in history. The unknown suspect left behind a series of taunting letters and codes filled with symbols no one has been able to break – until now.

‘Zodiac Killer: Case Closed?’ assembles a team of experts, including retired LAPD homicide detective Sal LaBarbera, former FBI task force member Ken Mains, and professor and code-breaker Kevin Knight, to work alongside the powerful super-computer known as CARMEL to attempt to break the killer’s code.

‘Zodiac Killer: Case Closed?’ will launch on HISTORY UK on Wednesday 22 November at 9pm GMT.

Like peanut butter and chocolate, the Kardashians and the E! Network are a match made in heaven, and it’s a combination that will be sticking around for at least another three years. The network extended its contract with the world-famous family in a deal around $100 million to ensure that series like ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ and ‘Revenge Body’ remain with exactly where they are.

E! are yet to confirm the exact figure they agreed the Kardashian-Jenners, but are very pleased to have the deal completed, stating that “we are incredibly proud of our partnership with the Kardashians and they remain an important part of the E! family. We look forward to continuing our collaboration for years to come.

With Season 14 already off to a strong start, we’ve still got plenty of years left to spend with America’s favourite family.

Genius Kitchen, Scripps Lifestyle Studios’ new food-focused digital platform aimed at younger audiences, is being expanded to Android devices and Android TV.

With this launch, the 150+ hours of Genius Kitchen on-demand content – including original shows like ‘GK Now’, ‘Feast with Friends’ and ‘Simply Nigella’ – will now be available to Android users.

In conjunction with the Android announcement, Genius Kitchen is debuting a new special, ‘Famous Food Truck’, which is hosted by YouTube celebrity and Canadian actor Harley Morenstein and features social media influencer and ‘Dancing with the Stars’ contestant Hayes Grier as the celebrity guest. Together in their tricked-out food truck, Harley and Hayes show viewers how to create Korean-inspired egg sandwiches and hand them out to fans.

Halfway through its freshman season, The Orville, Fox’s ambitious space adventure dramedy created by and starring Seth MacFarlane, is on a hot streak. The show’s seventh episode, which aired Thursday, 26 October, drew 4.2 million viewers and scored a 1.2 rating on the key 18-49 demographic. Its performance also marked a significant increase for both measures – north of 20 percent – compared to its most recent original episode. An uptick in ratings like this is a good indicator that a new series has staying power – an especially important factor when it comes to high-concept, effects-heavy productions like The Orville. Sure enough, the following week, Fox decided to renew the Star Trek-inspired series for a second season.

The Orville is the brainchild of Seth MacFarlane, the man responsible for several popular animated series, including Fox’s Family Guy and The Cleveland Show, in addition to the hit stoner-comedy film Ted.

Named for the 25th-century exploratory spacecraft in which much of the show is set, The Orville follows the personal and professional journeys of Captain Ed Mercer (MacFarlane), his first officer and ex-wife Kelly Grayson (Friday Night Lights’ Adrianne Palicki), and the vessel’s interstellar crew.

“Once again Seth has struck a powerful chord with viewers,” said Fox Entertainment president Michael Thorn, crediting MacFarlane’s patented blend of optimism and humour, as well as the work of the cast and crew, for what’s so far been a strong first season. “We can’t wait to see where The Orville travels in the second.”

E! News will launch its latest eight-episode Snapchat series, ‘Face Forward’ on Saturday, 21 October 2017.

The series is a new take on the standard makeover tutorial, with beauty guru Patrick Starrr, online hair sensation Tiarra Monet, and celebrity stylist Johnny Wujek making up the glam team who provide some lucky participants in a complete style overhaul, complete with a celebrity-inspired photo shoot.

“’Face Forward’ is the ideal next step in expanding our original content created specifically for our mobile audience on Snapchat,” said John Najarian, executive vice president and general manager, E! News & Digital. “Lifestyle is a huge passion point for our audience and this new series is the perfect format to tap into that demand.”

‘Face Forward’ joins ‘The Rundown’ and ‘Ask Kylie’ as the latest series launched in partnership between E! and Snapchat.

Actor Larry Lamb and his presenter son George will feature in the new documentary series ‘Larry and George Lamb Turkey A To B’, airing on Travel Channel in November.

The pair will set off on the Silk Road and travel across Turkey, exploring the country’s rich history, culture and architecture.

Larry, best known for his roles in ‘EastEnders’ and ‘Gavin and Stacey’, will focus on history. George, who has presented such shows as ‘Celebrity Scissorhands’ and ‘Young Butcher of the Year,’ will seek out Turkish food, drink and activities.

The six-episode series was produced as part of an agreement between the Turkish Tourism Ministry and Travel Channel.

Christmas has officially arrived on Movies 24 with a non-stop selection of festive films running from the end of October through to January.

The Christmas line-up is part of Movies 24’s annual transformation into Christmas 24, with special Christmas premieres every Saturday and Sunday at 3pm and 5pm.

Viewers can get in the festive spirit this November weekend with films like A COOKIE CUTTER CHRISTMAS, premiering 4^th November at 3pm, and FINDING FATHER CHRISTMAS, premiering 5^th November at 5pm.

In A COOKIE CUTTER CHRISTMAS, Christie (Erin Krakow) and Penny (Miranda Frigon) have been archrivals since they were children – and as adults, nothing has changed. Now teachers, the two women work at the same school where they compete over everything. As the holiday season approaches, a new school event, the Christmas Cookie Bake-Off, has them scrambling to one-up each other – and when a handsome single father (David Hadyn-Jones) volunteers to help, the competition heats up.

FINDING FATHER CHRISTMAS tells the story of Miranda (Erin Krakow), who’s found Christmas difficult since she was young, when her mother died. When new clues to her father’s whereabouts turn up just before Christmas, Miranda follows them to a small New England town where she meets Ian (Niall Matter), a handsome young man who offers to help her with her search for her father. As Miranda learns more about her past, she begins to realise what family and love really mean at Christmastime.

The Menendez Murders: Erik Tells All

Everything you thought you knew about the Menendez murders, one of the most infamous murders of the 20th Century, is about to be turned on its head, as A&E has announced a new tell-all documentary series featuring convicted killer, Erik Menendez.

Featuring never-before-seen photos, archive footage and extensive phone interviews with Menendez, conducted from his prison cell, ‘The Menendez Murders: Erik Tells All’, is the self-confessed killer’s first, exclusive attempt to explain his and his older brother Lyle’s action on the night of August 20^th 1989.

Due to air in the United States on 30^th November, the series also features exclusive interviews with law enforcement, journalists and friends who all had a close connection to the case, to give a broader understanding of the crime, investigation and subsequent trials that resulted in the Menendez brothers being sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

HGTV has announced a new renovation series, ‘Hidden Potential’, where generic suburban homes will get a shot of personality.

Builder and designer Jasmine Roth will turn builder-basic houses in suburban Southern California into gorgeous dream homes that have personalised layouts and standout amenities. The 13 half-hour episodes are scheduled to premiere in the US in July 2018.

HGTV’s interactive Santa HQ experience will return to 15 Macerich malls across the US this holiday season.

Santa HQ offers shoppers the chance to take a custom photo with Santa Claus, find out how they rank on the Naughty or Nice O’Meter and enjoy a light show featuring more than 10,000 individual lights.

Guests can also download the Elf-Ray Vision app or use the tablets provided to discover Santa HQ’s 2D and 3D digital scenes, including Santa’s Workshop and Observatory.

Combining the traditional Santa Claus visit with immersive, state-of-the-art digital technology, Santa HQ has proved a hit with visitors of all ages since 2014.

Macerich vice president of business development Petra Maruca said: “This one-of-a-kind interactive attraction, created in partnership with HGTV, has become a well-loved tradition at top Macerich centres across the country.”

Scripps Networks Interactive US brand marketing general manager Shannon Driver added: “The network is thrilled to partner once again with Macerich to offer this interactive event full of wonder and fun that makes the season even more special for families.”

Santa HQ returns on 2 November at Macerich malls in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Washington, D.C.

Visit santa-hq.com for details.

Food Network is getting into the holiday spirit with fresh, festive batches of Holiday Baking Championship and Christmas Cookie Challenge, starting 6 November.

Kicking off with Holiday Baking Championship, nine new culinary artisans face off over seven weeks of mouth-watering challenges inspired by the treats and traditions of Thanksgiving, Chanukah and Christmas. Host Jesse Palmer and judges Duff Goldman, Nancy Fuller and Lorraine Pascale are back, as well as the $50,000 grand prize for the last baker standing. The gang then reconvenes for a Christmas Day special: Holiday Baking Championship: Runners-Up Redemption. In this one-shot showdown edition of the show past runners-up return in hopes of turning tasks like building an edible Christmas tree out of cupcakes into $10,000 in consolation cash.

Also dropping 6 November, Christmas Cookie Challenge, hosted by Eddie Jackson, features a cadre of creative cookie-making maestros competing in two rounds each episode to impress the panel of judges, led by Ree Drummond. With a $10,000 prize in store for the winner, baking cookies doesn’t get much sweeter.

“Food Network’s holiday programming captures the sugar and spice and everything nice about the season,” said Courtney White, Senior Vice President of Programming at Scripps Networks Interactive.

NBCUniversal’s popular series Running Wild with Bear Grylls is coming to National Geographic this month, the channel revealed. The series will air weekly on Nat Geo from 26^th October.

“No one makes adventure and survival more surprising, entertaining and informative than Bear Grylls,” said Christian Drobnyk of National Geographic Channels. “Running Wild with Bear Grylls is incredibly complimentary to our pursuit of programming and talent that support the very best of what audiences expect from National Geographic.”

The series, currently three seasons in, sees famed survivalist Grylls taking celebrities into remote locations to test their hand at extreme outdoor adventuring in the wild. Experiences include rappelling in Utah, skydiving in the Catskills and more.

Running Wild with Bear Grylls premieres on 26 October.

A+E Networks has launched its History and Lifetime channels in South Korea, having secured linear television coverage in 20 million homes across the country. The channels will feature diverse programming include documentaries, original dramas and talk shows.

Lifetime will use the slogan ‘Find Yourself in Lifetime’, and its first two shows will be ‘Idol Moms’, a competition show inspired by Dance Moms, and ‘The Best Moment to Quit My Job’, adapted from a Korean webcomic, or webtoon. Meanwhile, using the slogan ‘Knowledge is Fun’, History will feature a brand new original series called ‘History in a Bottle’, a programme about Korean alcoholic drinks.

A+E has also signed an agreement for content format development with the leading South Korean talent management agency iHQ, also known as the ‘Asian Entertainment Industry Powerhouse’.

Universal Orlando has unveiled its newest attraction: ‘Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon’. Based on NBC’s Tonight Show, the 3D simulator ride takes visitors on a race through the Big Apple against host Jimmy Fallon.

The grand opening included a ticker tape parade with a Tonight Show float, featuring Jimmy Fallon, house band The Roots and announcer Steve Higgins.

Fallon said: “I’m happy. I’m grateful. I’m excited. This whole experience has been a real emotional rollercoaster simulator.”

The attraction also marks the introduction of a ‘Virtual Line’ experience, whereby guests are given an electronic device that will alert them when it’s their turn on the ride. Instead of standing in line, visitors will be able to enjoy the theme park while queuing virtually.

The hit series follows cocktail connoisseur Jack Maxwell as he explores the world, one sip at a time. Maxwell got his start as a bartender in South Boston, where he learned one thing: sit down with a stranger and a couple of drinks, and the whole world opens up. ‘Booze Traveler’ (sic) is Maxwell’s search for the world’s most interesting drinks – and the people, places, customs and cultures that surround them.

“‘Booze Traveler’ gives everyone a seat at the bar right next to the most fascinating storytellers around the world,” says Courtney White, Senior Vice President of Programming at Travel Channel.

The network has begun shooting 16 new hour-long episodes in locations such as Colorado, Norway, Costa Rica and the Caribbean. White ensures that the new season will showcase “intriguing destinations brimming with rich history, exotic cocktails and amazing folklore”.

The new season of ‘Booze Traveler’ will premiere on Travel Channel in late 2017.

The critically-acclaimed Netflix original series Orange is the New Black makes its UK debut on Sony Channel this month.

The Emmy Award-winning comedic drama series follows protagonist Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling) as she enters Litchfield Penitentiary and confronts issues of sexuality, race and the American criminal justice system.

Sony Pictures Television Networks has acquired the British broadcast rights to the show, with Executive VP, Kate Marsh, calling the series a ‘must-see’.

“We recognise the demand for premium content that appeals to a broad audience, which is exactly what Orange is the New Black offers,” she says.

“We’re pleased to make it part of our offering on Sony Channel.”

Series 1 premieres on Wednesday 19 April with a double bill every week at 9pm. Viewers can find Sony Channel on Virgin Media channel 193, Sky channel 157 and TalkTalk channel 331.

Trace made history this week by launching the world’s first hybrid digital service, featuring live TV and radio, as well as streaming on-demand, dedicated completely to urban music and entertainment.

The app, known as TracePlay, has initially been made available in the United States, some parts of Europe, Africa and the Caribbean, with a further 200 countries set to follow by the end of the month.

Available in English and French across a range of platforms, it offers instant and unlimited access to 10 live music and sports TV channels, 31 radio stations and over 2,000 pieces of content on-demand.

Commenting on the launch of the app, CEO Olivier Laouchez said: “TracePlay has been our most ambitious project since our inception, and represents a unique opportunity to continue and accelerate Trace’s global growth.”

National Geographic is teaming up with Sigourney Weaver and award-winning producer James Marsh on a brand new mini-series commemorating the life and work of gorilla researcher Dian Fossey.

Weaver, who famously won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Fossey’s groundbreaking work in Rwanda in 1988 film ‘Gorillas in the Mist’, will narrate the series, which is set to air in 171 countries and 45 languages this autumn.

Through previously unseen footage of Fossey and the gorillas she worked with, as well as photos and personal letters, the series will give new insights into her life and career from childhood until her death at the hands of her assistant, Wayne McGuire.

The documentary will also feature new footage of the Pablo troop of gorillas, including adult silverback gorilla Cantsbee, who was named and nurtured by Fossey. Cantsbee is suspected to only be alive today thanks to Fossey’s pioneering work protecting mountain gorillas and their habitat.

This spring, the hit docu-series Married at First Sight comes to Lifetime on the A+E Network, as lonely hearts in the Chicago area take the sacred vow to a stranger the moment they meet. That’s not all, as the new spin-off series Married at First Sight: Second Chances also arrives at the end of April, giving viewer favourites from the past the opportunity to find love again.

For those unfamiliar with the format of the show, singles yearning for a life-long partnership undergo a series of tests from a team of experts in sociology and relationships, and compatible couples are created based on scientific match-making. The first place the pair will see each other is at the altar, and the series captures each couple’s journey from the wedding, to the honeymoon, to settling down, to the daily struggle of making the marriage work. This culminates in a decision made after several weeks together: do they remain married or decide to seek a divorce?

Season five of Married at First Sight will include 17 episodes, while Married at First Sight: Second Chances will feature 12 episodes of must-see drama, entertainment and excitement, completely exclusive to Lifetime!

Horse & Country TV (H&C), the international equestrian and lifestyle channel based in the UK, has signed a deal to join Canal Digital in Sweden.

H&C TV CEO Heather Killen expressed her delight of the launch, noting that this allows H&C to “extend our reach in such an important market.”

With the channel already available on Boxer, Com Hem, Magine, Seppa, Sydantenn and IP Sweden, the launch recognises the continued success of the network since arriving in 2013, while also highlighting the growing popularity of equestrianism.

Parks and Recreation stars Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman are set to be reunited, with both signed up to NBC’s crafty new series, The Handmade Project.

An initial six episode run will see the comedy duo hosting the competition show that promises to celebrate artisanship and the art of making things by hand. Poehler and Offerman will join a panel of judges presiding over events as eight of America’s best crafters put their skills, including woodwork, quilting, scrapbooking and cake decorating, to the test in a bid to impress the judges and be named as the country’s best artisan.

The show will be executive produced in part by Poehler and Offerman, and is Poehler’s first venture into non-scripted television, following a new deal with Universal Television.

A+E Networks has launched Blaze, an HD factual entertainment channel, on Sky Italia. The launch follows the channel’s UK launch in the UK in 2016.

“We are proud to continue the growth of Blaze with the launch in Italy with Sky,” said Dean Possenniskie, GM, EMEA, A+E Networks. “By offering uniquely innovative, original, and quality content, Blaze will be the place for those viewers looking for remarkable, extraordinary characters and stories. The new channel strengthens the position of A+E Networks Italy, where the Company is already present with History and Crime+Investigation channels, both broadcast on Sky.”

“The launch of Blaze enriches and implements A+E Networks Italy offer on Sky Italia,” says Sherin Salvetti, General Manager of A+E Networks Italy. “In a few years our Company has become a strong player in the Italian TV market, working closely with Sky Italia, taking advantage from the great A+E Networks content portfolio and developing local compelling stories for the Italian audience. History has reinforced the history genre with a wide range of historical shows, while Crime+Investigation is the home of the investigation on real crime stories. Now Blaze will be the house of factual entertainment in Italy.”

Telemundo has announced that it has partnered with Atención Atención, a children’s entertainment and education company founded by teachers and music therapists, to provide five seasons of Emmy Award-winning children’s content, available now on Telemundo on Demand. The deal marks the first time that children’s programming is available on Telemundo’s VOD service.

The Royal Windsor Horse Show is coming to H&C, with three, one-hour highlight shows of the Grand Prix Freestyle to Music, the Kingdom of Bahrain Stakes for the King’s Cup and the Rolex Grand Prix. This year’s Royal Windsor on 10-14 May promises to be bigger and better than ever, as its showjumping has been upgraded to five-star level, while dressage now has four-star status. In addition, Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix is offering a £258,000 prize fund, which is the biggest prize in British Showjumping. Show director Simon Brooks-Ward said the show’s five-star status and impressive prize money puts Windsor “alongside the best international horse shows in the world”.

Fans of INSIGHT TV’s unscripted adventure travel and extreme sports shows will be able to catch all the action in stunning Ultra-high-definition detail as the channel prepares to offer state-of-the-art 4K UHD Subscription Video-on-Demand. Available from the Insight.TV website to subscribers globally or via iOS and Android devices using the Insight TV App, the service will deliver razor-sharp footage to viewers right across the planet. Throughout MIPTV 2017, Insight TV will also be showcasing several new sports and high-tension adventure series shot in 4K UHD, plus additional commissions. “InsightTV has grown significantly in the last 12 months and we look forward to making further major announcements during and shortly after the show,” says Rian Bester, CEO, INSIGHT TV. See stand R8C19 at MIPTV 2017, Cannes, 3– 6 April.

NBC Universal’s flagship brand, Universal Channel, has gained exclusive rights to legendary producer Dick Wolf’s brand new legal drama, Chicago Justice, it has been revealed.

The hotly anticipated show is the newest instalment in mega-producer Wolf’s successful Chicago franchise, which already includes Chicago P.D., Chicago Fire and Chicago Med. So what next for the Windy City? All is set to be revealed, but what we do know already is that the series will follow ambitious Deputy Chief of the Special Prosecutions Bureau, Peter Stone (played by Phillip Winchester) in his relentless quest for truth and justice, a mission which often sees him locking horns with State’s Attorney Mark Jefferies (Carl Weathers), who sees the world through a very different, more pragmatic lens.

Viewers will have to tune into Universal Channel on 30th March at 9pm to find out more, but as the powerhouse behind Law and Order and Cold Justice, a Wolf-produced project is bound to be a ratings success.

Insight TV has launched its Ultra HD adventure series Access All Areas through Vodafone Portugal, Vodafone Spain, Swisscom and Russian provider Tricolor, as it continues to produce high-quality travel programming in UHD.

“We’re very happy to be announcing our second 4K series with our partners at Insight TV,” stated Danny Tipping, Director of Programming and Development at Sky Vision Productions, who helped produce the adventure show.

Access All Areas sees adventurer Francesca Chiorando travel all over the world – from Iceland to the Sahara – as she looks to discover the world’s most challenging and terrifying places. It is the latest series to be produced by Insight TV in Ultra High-Definition and adds to the 200 hours of content already available.