TV highlights: Vigil and Wham! 10 Days in China

Wham! 10 Days in China (Saturday 29/08/26, BBC2, 9pm)

Words by Rachael Popow

They were the group that gave us classic singles such as Club Tropicana, Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go and the festive favourite Last Christmas, but some people may not realise that Wham! were also cultural pioneers. In 1985, the duo consisting of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley became the first Western pop group to perform in communist China.

The documentary Wham! 10 Days in China reveals the inside story of the trip, which saw them play two concerts in Beijing and Guangzhou.

As the film discovers, the visit wasn’t just about winning over a Chinese audience. Andrew explains: “Simon Napier-Bell [Wham!’s manager] conceived the idea of going to China as a publicity exercise to raise our profile in the States to a household level, and he was right. I was really sceptical about the prospects of success and whether we would genuinely achieve the reach into people’s homes.”

To help publicise the trip, Wham! were accompanied by a film crew, and this documentary draws on their footage, which has been restored and digitised, as well as interviews with the people who experienced the tour firsthand.

As Andrew says: “This film finally reveals the unknown legacy of Wham!’s groundbreaking venture, and lays bare, in all their human contradictions, the individual perspectives behind what was a bold and risky, high stakes gamble.”

The documentary explores how this meeting of East and West (not to mention pop and politics) affected the two young stars who suddenly found themselves on a global stage, playing to audiences who were encountering Western chart music for the first time.

Looking back, Andrew says Wham! weren’t completely prepared for the experience of playing live in China. He says: “We knew that we weren’t going to be playing to a hometown audience. We knew that it would be a subdued affair. But I don’t think we understood the concern and the trepidation of the authorities.

“It was communist China. There’s police presence everywhere. So, it was inescapable, and of course the performance, George certainly, as is illustrated in the film, was affected by the response from the audience. For a frontman, you need a certain amount of audience response in order for the show to work well.”

As well as being a documentary about Wham!, the film is also a chance to capture a transitional moment in China’s history.

In fact, just to hammer home how important the BBC thinks this documentary is, it’s preceded by a special edition of Radio 2’s Sounds of the 80s, presented by Gary Davies at 6pm, and followed on BBC2 by Wham! At the BBC.

It’s a tribute to the group’s enduring legacy, which Andrew certainly isn’t taking for granted. He says: “I’m amazed when I’m introduced to people’s kids, youngsters, for whom Wham! is as fresh as new. It’s the first time they’re hearing it.

“But the character and the personality of the songs still have that same potency 40 years later, which is an amazing thing.”

Vigil (Sunday 30/08/26, BBC One, 9pm)

Words by Sarah Morgan

There was a time when female-led crime series were a rarity. Then along came Juliet Bravo in the summer of 1980, closely followed by The Gentle Touch a few months later, and things began to change.

The years since have brought us the likes of Prime Suspect, Happy Valley, Shetland and Scott & Bailey. Nevertheless, it’s still unusual for two big-hitters to debut new runs on the same night – but that’s exactly what happens when the BBC’s Vigil goes head-to-head with Trigger Point in the coveted Sunday night at 9pm slot.

Which will you choose? Vicky McClure as bomb disposal expert Lana Washington, who’s trying to save London from professional mercenaries, or Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie as DCI Amy Silva and DI Kirsten Longacre? Thankfully, in this age of streaming, you can easily take in both, but Vigil has what seems, on paper at least, the more expansive and intriguing storyline.

“I’m delighted that Suranne and Rose are returning for a new adventure,” states the show’s writer, Tom Edge. “In our third season we travel to the frozen north where the world’s great powers are competing to secure advantages as the ice melts. With a brilliant cast and crew assembling to make the show, we hope to deliver an epic investigation that shines a light on issues that will shape the world we all live in.”

The duo heads to the Arctic where a member of a covert British special forces mission has been murdered. Due to the conditions, they know the killer must still be among the small number of people in the area – but who can it be? They must employ considerable diplomatic skills during their investigation too, because accusing the wrong person could spark an international incident involving nations keen to exploit the region’s natural resources.

To make matters even worse, the pressure begins to tell on their personal relationship…

Jake Lushington, executive producer for World Productions, says: “(We) have been thrilled by the way such huge audiences have embraced Vigil’s unique combination of murder mystery, action adventure and political thriller. And of course the magnetic chemistry that Suranne and Rose bring to DCI Silva and DI Longacre. We can’t wait to bring you the next instalment set in the most extreme location yet visited.”

“After the barnstorming success of Vigil series one and two, it’s our pleasure to announce the return of Silva and Longacre for what promises to be their most adrenaline-fuelled mission yet,” adds Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama. “Tom Edge and the World Productions team have excelled themselves with a brand new mystery and setting which will give Vigil’s millions of fans even more of the brilliant, blockbuster drama they’ve come to expect and love from this very special show.”

Gary Lewis also returns to the cast as DSI Robertson, alongside Dominic Mafham as Sir Ian Downing, while Derek Riddell, Conor Berry and Jeppe Beck Laursen are among those making their debuts.

So yes, there are some blokes present, but don’t you worry – when it comes to taking the lead and unmasking the villain, the sisters are doing it for themselves. And long may that continue.

Fred’s Ultimate Hotels (Monday 31/08/2026, Channel 4, 8pm)

Words by Richard Jones

When it comes to the world of hospitality, Fred Sirieix knows his stuff.

Originally from Limoges, France, he cut his teeth in a number of top restaurants before becoming general manager of Michelin-starred Galvin at Windows in the London Hilton hotel on Park Lane.

He then shot to fame as the smooth maître d’ on the Channel 4 reality show First Dates in 2013, and has since appeared in various TV shows including Million Pound Menu, Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Road Trip, Remarkable Places to Eat and Tour de Fred, as well as authoring a number of best-selling books.

In this new series, the 54-year-old will travel the globe and check into the world’s best hotels.

From the spectacular Royal Madikwe safari lodge in South Africa, to the timeless grandeur of Raffles Hotel in Singapore and the alpine luxury of Les Barmes de l’Ours in the French Alps, he will visit a collection of iconic destinations.

But Fred’s Ultimate Hotels is far more than a luxury travel series, and in every episode, he experiences each hotel from both sides of the reception desk.

First checking in as a guest to enjoy everything the property and destination have to offer, he then swaps five-star luxury for staff uniform, working alongside the teams responsible for creating seamless guest experiences.

Throughout the series, Fred assesses each hotel using his Five Fs: First Impressions, Facilities, Flawless Service, Fine Details and Feeling.

As he goes behind the scenes, he discovers the innovation, teamwork and attention to detail that transform exceptional hotels into unforgettable destinations.

Each episode culminates in Fred presenting his Hospitality Hero Award to one outstanding member of staff, celebrating the often-unsung individuals whose warmth, professionalism and dedication define truly exceptional hospitality.

“People often think the secret to a great hotel is the building, the food or the luxury,” Fred says.

“Of course those things matter, but for me it’s always about the people.

“The welcome, the attention to detail and the passion of the staff are what turn a wonderful hotel into an unforgettable experience.

“It was an incredible privilege to work alongside some of the world’s best hospitality teams and to see first-hand the pride they take in what they do.

“I hope viewers will discover some extraordinary places, but more importantly meet the remarkable people who make them so special.”

Fred’s first destination is Marrakech, as he checks in for a stay at the Royal Mansour, an extraordinary hotel commissioned by the King of Morocco and celebrated for its exquisite craftsmanship, privacy and impeccable service.

The hotel offers lavish private riads, tranquil gardens, a dedicated butler service, world-class restaurants and one of the world’s most luxurious hammams.

Beyond its ornate walls, Fred explores the city’s bustling souks and iconic Bacha Palace, takes flight for an elevated breakfast in a hot air balloon, and experiences an exclusive off-the-radar luxury retreat in the Agfay Desert.

He then swaps life as a guest to take over as general manager for the day, taking charge of preparations for an exclusive VIP celebration and discovering the precision, planning and teamwork required to deliver seamless luxury.

Although Fred is an expert when it comes to hospitality, even he can learn a thing or two from the people who run this remarkable property.

The Game (Tuesday 01/09/26, 5, 9pm)

Words by Rachael Popow

Jason Watkins knew he had a hit on his hands when the first series of The Game aired on 5 last year.

If you didn’t see it, Jason played Huw Miller, a recently retired detective who became convinced that his new neighbour, Patrick (Robson Green), was the infamous Ripton Stalker, a serial killer who’d eluded him during his time on the force.

Plenty of people did watch it and were keen to let Jason know. He says: “People were hooked. I went to a couple of football matches at the time and all sorts of people were coming up to me. They were desperate to know what was going to happen next.”

So perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that The Game is now back for a second series, but there is one slight catch – the first run ended with Patrick stabbing Huw and then being caught by the police.

Luckily, the team behind the drama have found a way to bring it back and keep both stars, which will come as a relief to fans. Jason says: “There was always talk about the possibility of a second series. The reaction that we got after the first one was so strong. I think audiences enjoyed it in many ways but clearly the central relationship between myself and Robson was really working.

“Like any returning series, you want more of the same, but you want it to build as well. I think we are well on the way to doing that.”

The drama picks up a year after the events of the first series, and Huw has moved to a remote coastal home with his wife Alice (Sunetra Sarker), determined to leave the past behind. His daughter Margot (Indy Lewis) is also moving on with her boyfriend Sam (Sonny Ashbourne Serkis), a relationship Huw struggles to accept.

He has bigger problems though when he letters start arriving from imprisoned killer Patrick.

As Jason explains, this understandably leaves Huw shaken: “That’s Patrick’s modus operandi: to unnerve and punish and terrorise. Now even though he is incarcerated he is still finding new ways to torture Huw and find his weak spot.”

The actor, who won a Bafta for his performance in the drama The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies, points out that his character is vulnerable to the killer’s psychological tricks. “I was always very determined not to play Huw like a copper. Not brilliantly capable and steady, instead quite complex, and vulnerable, a normal person in a normal situation who happens to be a policeman. That interested me more.

“But what that does is leave Huw susceptible to people like Robson’s character.”

Huw isn’t the only one who is about to tangle with the killer. Detective Jenny Atkins (Amber James) is approached by Natalie Gower (Amanda Bright), whose husband Jonathan disappeared years earlier. Now the truth about Patrick has been revealed, Natalie is convinced that Jonathan was his first victim, and Jenny thinks it’s worth investigating.

Stolen Babies (Wednesday 02/09/2026, BBC Two, 9pm)

Words by Richard Jones

Between 1949 and 1976, more than a quarter of a million unmarried mothers across the UK had their babies forcibly taken for adoption by the state.

During the postwar decades, unmarried pregnant women faced intense social stigma and shame, and many were sent away to specialised mother-and-baby homes run by local authorities or religious organisations.

Staff in these facilities often isolated the mothers and withheld support so they felt forced to consent.

All this was part of a system driven by deep-rooted prejudice against women based on their class, race and marital status, and institutions – including social services, government agencies and the NHS – appeared to work together on the policy.

This sobering landmark documentary reveals the state-built and state-funded structures that enabled this shocking practice to take place, shining a light on one of the most significant human rights injustices of our time.

Often dismissed as an Irish Catholic issue, the practice of forced adoption was widespread, and it didn’t it end in 1976.

Despite the introduction of a new Adoption Act intended to strengthen safeguards for children, forced adoptions continued, and the number of mothers and children affected after that date remains unknown.

Told through powerful first-hand testimony from women in Scotland, England and Wales, Stolen Babies centres on the experiences of five mothers.

Their testimonies are woven together with those of adoptees, witnesses who worked within the system – including a social worker and a student nurse – and the investigators whose tireless work helped expose the truth decades later.

Together, their unfolding investigation reveals the British government’s role in the era of forced adoption, uncovering how some babies were considered more desirable than others and examining the devastating consequences for those who were not.

Pressurised, even coerced, by the State and the Church to give up their babies, these women had no way of fighting back against the system.

For the rest of their lives, they have been haunted by grief, guilt and shame, but years later, they began to reclaim control, find their voices and campaign for justice.

In 2026, following apologies in Scotland and Wales in 2023, the promise of a public inquiry in Northern Ireland, and the culmination of years of campaigning in England, the UK faced a reckoning with this legacy.

A long-overdue official apology from the British government was finally delivered in July 2026.

Outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Many mothers, often young, vulnerable and without support, were coerced, bullied or misled into believing they had no choice but to have their children taken away from them.

“What a thing to do. But I say this: the shame is not yours. The shame was never yours. The shame is ours. I say that on behalf of the whole country. We are deeply and profoundly sorry.”

Ann and Judy, two of the mothers featured in the film, were in Westminster on the day of the apology.

The film captures them as this historic moment unfolded in real time, witnessing the culmination of decades of pain, campaigning and determination.

Ann said she “finally feels free.”

Taskmaster (Thursday 03/09/26, Channel 4, 9pm)

Words by Rachael Popow

It used to be that when the Taskmaster line-up was revealed, some people would grumble that they hadn’t heard of any of the stars.

Speaking ahead of a previous series, Alex Horne the show’s creator (although he plays more of a sidekick role on screen) said: “You have a moment when you release the names, and there’s automatically a thing on Twitter where people go, ‘I’ve only heard of one person.’

“I like that, because that’s the whole point. By the end of the series, you will know all five of them. I have to take a deep breath, because you want to reply to everyone and say, ‘I know you don’t know them now, but you’ve got to trust us…we know what we’re doing.’”

However, now the show is on its 22nd series, instead of asking who the participants are, some fans may find themselves questioning whether the celebs have actually competed before. After all, so many big-name comedians have graced the Taskmaster studio, it feels like there can’t be any left for the producers to tap up.

But no, this really is the first time that Matt Lucas and Richard Ayoade have competed for a golden trophy that looks a bit like the Taskmaster himself, Greg Davies.

Admittedly, Ayoade, who found fame in the sitcom The IT Crowd, is no stranger to challenge-based comedy shows after competing in the first series on the Amazon Prime hit LOL: Last One Laughing UK. Meanwhile, former Little Britain star Lucas is arguably more used to presenting than competing – he did a stint as Noel Fielding’s co-host on The Great British Bake Off.

They both also have impressive movie CVs, but Taskmaster is the great comedy leveller, and they could face tough competition from the rest of his year’s line-up.

They’ll be taking on stand-up Chloe Petts, ventriloquist and comedian Nina Conti and Isy Suttie, who will forever be known to some viewers as Dobby from Peep Show.

In the first episode, Alex Horne will be keeping an eye on them as they hunt for golden apples, re-arrange furniture and perform duets… with themselves. Surely that last one should be right up Nina’s street? We’re about to find out…

Meanwhile, fans can enjoy a task of their own – thinking up more people who haven’t done Taskmaster yet but should. The show is going to be around for a while as in April, Channel 4 confirmed it was ordering six more series.

Alex Horne reacted to the news by saying: “I’m pleased and quite stressed that I’ve got to come up with a lot more tasks for a lot more comedians but the thought of three more years in Greg’s deep embrace is soothing my little head.”

Greg Davies added: “I am delighted the comedian meat grinder remains open for business. I look forward to gleefully keeping it fed with the help of a small, introverted man that I own.”

Live from the Lycett Arms (Friday 04/09/26, Channel 4, 10pm)

Words by Sarah Morgan

Take the bonhomie of TFI Friday, mix it with the setting of Time Gentlemen Please and swamp them both with a generous helping of Joe Lycett and what do you get?

The recipe for the delicious cocktail that is the Solihulll-born comedian’s new project.

During his career, he’s been keen to take on a number of different challenges, including that of TV presenter (he took over from Claudia Winkleman as The Great British Sewing Bee host, staying for three series), consumer affairs champion (via the show Joe Lycett’s Got Your Back) and artist (his solo show Every Thing Must Go runs at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery until next February), and now he’s adding pub landlord to his resume.

Yes, rather than being a fake hostelry, The Lycett Arms is very much a real establishment – Joe has even taken the mandatory training course all publicans must complete, and has been accredited with a Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders. Eat your heart out, Bafta.

And that’s not the only paperwork he’s had to tackle.

“I’ve always wanted to run a pub that only exists for an hour a week, for the purposes of a TV concept, and I was thrilled beyond words to embark on the extended process of applying for a licence to sell and serve alcohol,” he claims, tongue firmly in cheek. “Filling in government-mandated paperwork has always been a passion of mine, and I only hope that at some point it involves the presentation of at least one form of photographic ID.

“Pretty much the only disappointment is that in addition to this enthralling form-filling process, I will also have to make a television series, as this is apparently the only way to make the whole tax dodge work.

“Nevertheless, I will meet my obligations to sit in front of a camera welcoming celebrities into the pub for great conversations and top comedy, it says here, and generally creating an unmissable event that will brighten your Friday evenings for six weeks. Those are all the words that I have been requested to say. Now I can return my attention to figuring out how to get round being locked out of Gov.uk.”

It’s not his first Friday night programme – that was The Joe Lycett Live Show, which debuted in 2023 – but it’s probably his most anarchic and lively series to date. He once described its predecessor as “the most fun I’ve ever had making TV, ” but that may change once the Lycett Arms throws open its doors to its first punters.

Joe promises it will have a different celebrity manager every week, while regulars, old friends and strangers are all welcome. And there’s a chance to hear from those who frequent pubs across the nation – mein host is determined to champion the Great British pub at a time when many are struggling to keep afloat.

“It’s an absolute thrill to be working with Joe again on a show which promises to be an exhilarating slice of live entertainment joy,” say Emily Judd and Iain Wimbush from production company Bango Studios. “So long as all the paperwork comes through on time.”