Midweek winners and losers

Holliday Grainger

THERE is one good thing about the nights getting darker - after a dearth of good television over the summer, the autumn schedules look a whole lot more entertaining. First up is a new adaptation of Lady Chatterley’s Lover with Holiday Grainger cast in the title role with Richard Madden as the brooding Mellors.

Downton Abbey

And in more TV news, forget about the number of shopping days until Christmas, more importantly there are now 18 days until the first episode in the very last series of Downton Abbey airs. The show’s creator Julian Fellowes is remaining tight-lipped at what’s in store, but safe to say this is likely to be one very grand finale.

X-Factor

It’s probably a little premature to write the show’s obituary just yet, but it’s certainly feeling a little feverish. The new series started on Saturday, but despite having replaced Gary Barlow and Scary Spice with Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw, it couldn’t prevent the ratings sliding by a well over one million, compared to last year’s opener.

Kanye West

Ah, Kanye West, a man who has never-knowingly been prone to self-doubt. His finest hour to date came at last weekend’s MTV Awards when after a rambling speech, he paused for dramatic effect, before adding, “Yes, as you probably could have guessed, I have decided in 2020 to run for president.” Nobody had, but expect a reality TV show of his campaign to begin shooting soon.