Telly Addicts Beware! Autumn's TV preview
New shows & old favourites - our pick of what to tune into when it gets cold
ITVDownton Abbey
Stars: Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery and Joanne Froggatt
What’s Going On? Don’t be too quick to give Downton a miss now that resident hottie Matthew Crawley is dead. Series four sees plenty of 1920s eye candy to fill the void, courtesy of newbies Tom Cullen, Julian Overden and Gary Carr. Plus, the costumes are set to get even more gorgeous now that party-girl Lady Rose MacClare (Lily James) has become a regular.
Downton Abbey is currently on ITV.
Rex FeaturesFresh Meat
Stars: Jack Whitehall, Joe Thomas, Kimberley Nixon
What’s Going On? Hold the front page, there’s a new housemate in town! Following Josie’s abrupt exit at the end of the last series (don’t worry she’s at Southampton now), home-schooled fresher Candice moves in and Vod brings back a Mexican lover from her travels. But it’s not all change: JP is up to his usual antics, with Howard as his unwilling wingman.
Fresh Meat starts on Channel4 on 4 November
BBCPeaky Blinders
Stars: Cillian Murphy, Helen McCrory and Sam Neill
What’s Going On? The creator of Dirty Pretty Things is behind this new, gangster epic set in 1919’s Birmingham. Cillian Murphy plays an entrepreneurial (and sexy) gang leader, while Helen McCrory stars as his aunt who ran the gang while he was fighting in the war (and still calls the shots if we’re honest).
Peaky Blinders is currently on BBC2
Channel 4Made In Chelsea
Stars: Spencer Matthews, Louise Thompson, Francis Boulle
What’s Going On? Probably the usual: ridiculous shopping trips, love triangles, arguments and plenty of tears. We’ve lost Millie and Ollie this series but new girl Stephanie Pratt is bound to create some drama all of her own.
Made In Chelsea starts on e4 on 14 October
Rex FeaturesSherlock
Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman
What’s Going On? Well, as there’s a third series, we’re assuming that Sherlock has come back from the dead following his apparent demise in season two’s final episode. There’s been no clues as to how the detective faked his fall at St Barts Hospital but the show’s creators have announced that the new series will contain the words "rat, wedding, bow", so we’ll just have to wait and see!
Sherlock will be on BBC1 this Christmas
BBCDoctor Who
Stars: Jenna-Louise Coleman, Billie Piper and Matt Smith
What’s Going On? Yes, it’s true, Billie Piper is coming back for a one-off special to celebrate 50 years of the Time Lord! You’ll almost be able to touch her too as the BBC have confirmed the episode will be a 3D special. Plus, it’s Matt Smith’s Swan song before he leaves after the Christmas Special and Peter Capaldi takes over the reins.
Dr Who starts on BBC1 on 23 November
ITVThe X Factor
Stars: Nicole Scherzinger, Gary Barlow, Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne
What’s Going On? Love it or hate it, autumn wouldn’t be autumn without copious amounts of warbling/off-notes/tears, courtesy of The X Factor. This year, you can bet there’ll be added fireworks, thanks to the addition of Sharon Osbourne on the judging panel.
The X Factor is currently on ITV.
Sky LivingThe Face
Stars: Naomi Campbell, Caroline Winberg and Erin O’Connor
What’s Going On? Through a series of gruelling fashion shoots, catwalk shows and commercial ad campaigns, Naomi Campbell and her team attempt to find this year’s next big thing on the catwalk. Not without a little high fashion and high drama however.
The Face is currently on Sky Living.
Channel 4Homeland
Stars: Damian Lewis and Claire Danes
What’s Going On? What’s not going on! America is on the hunt FOR Sergeant Nicholas Brody but is he really a baddie? Even Carrie seems torn, so how are we to know?
Homeland starts on Channel 4 on 6 October
Sky LivingDracula
Stars: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Jessica De Gouw
What’s Going On? There’s a little more going on here than the usual blood-stained teeth and Billowing capes you find in classic vampire adaptations. On the surface, Dracula is an American entrepreneur bringing modern science to Victorian London. But he’s also bringing revenge to those who betrayed him centuries earlier.
Dracula starts on Sky Living this autumn
Channel 4Drifters
Stars: Jessica Knappett, Lauren O'Rourke, Lydia Rose Bewley, Bob Mortimer
What’s Going On? This is what would happen if you took The Inbetweeners, fast-forwarded their lives five years and made them female. Three 20-somethings navigate menial jobs, sex droughts and adulthood as they attempt to leave their university lives behind.
Drifters starts on e4 this autumn
Rex FeaturesBates Motel
Stars: Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore
What’s Going On? Not one for the squeamish, this prequel to Hitchcock’s Psycho follows the teenage years of Norman Bates and his mother Norma, as they renovate their motel in a coastal Oregon town.
Bates Motel is currently airing on Universal.
Rex FeaturesTrue Blood
Stars: Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer and Alex Skarsgaard
What’s Going On? Series six has already aired in America but (if you’ve managed to avoid the spoilers) you should be excited: there’s plenty of vampiric action and heartbreak in store.
True Blood is currently airing on Fox UK
Rex FeaturesDeath Comes To Pemberley
Stars: Matthew Rhys, Matthew Goode, Jenna-Louise Coleman and Anna Maxwell Martin
What’s Going On? We’re all getting a bit excited about the TV version of PD. James’ crime spin on Pride & Prejudice. There’s a murder at Pemberley and it’s left to Darcy and Elizabeth to find out who the culprit is (and calm down the hysterical Lydia).
Death Comes To Pemberley will be on BBC1 in December
Rex FeaturesThe Wrong Mans
Stars: James Corden, Mathew Baynton, Dawn French and Emilia Fox
What’s Going On? Gavin & Stacey’s James Corden and Mathew Baynton reunite as two lowly office workers caught in a conspiracy after one of them picks up a ringing phone at the scene of a car crash. All sound bit serious? Don’t worry, The Wrong Mans is very much a comedy.
The Wrong Mans is currently on BBC2.
