Edge of Darkness named 4th best BBC drama of all time

21 August 2026 19:50

Earlier in August, the Radio Times asked 1,000 TV fans to name the best BBC dramas ever broadcast – and now the results are in... I’m thrilled to report that Edge of Darkness, the landmark 1985 drama series about police detective Ronnie Craven’s quest to find his daughter’s killers, has come fourth. That’s a remarkable achievement, especially for a TV show that originally aired more than 40 years ago.

Perhaps you watched Edge of Darkness back in 1985 or during a subsequent showing (it was most recently repeated on BBC Four to celebrate its 40th anniversary last autumn). Either way, you’re likely to have vivid memories of the drama, which starred the late, great Bob Peck as Craven and featured Zoë at her brilliant best as Clemmy. The enigmatic intelligence agent offers Craven much-needed help in his final, desperate attempt to shed light on the events leading up to his daughter’s murder.

And if by any chance you’re not familiar with the drama, Zoë Wanamaker fans in the UK can currently watch all six episodes of Edge of Darkness on the BBC iPlayer – it’ll be available on there for a couple more months and is very much worth your time.

perma-linktweet this

Professor T’s Zelda: ‘an intricate and colourful character’

19 August 2026 12:35

With Professor T season four beginning in the UK, here are some of Zoë’s thoughts about her quirky character. Photographer Zelda Radclyffe promises to shake up the excessively well-ordered life of her brilliant but troubled criminologist nephew, Prof. Jasper Tempest (Ben Miller).

‘Zelda’s fiercely independent, loves to travel and is always ready for her next adventure,’ explains Zoe. ‘She only returns because Adelaide [Jasper’s mother, played by Frances de la Tour] asks that she look after Jasper’. (TV Choice, 15-21 August)

‘She thoroughly enjoys shocking him with the aim to make him uneasy,’ says Zoë. ‘Her first scene sees her fresh out of the shower when he enters, which he isn’t expecting. It’s very amusing and these moments are what make her laugh.’ (Daily Record, 15 August)

‘Zelda is an intricate and colourful character. Her personal life is somewhat ungrounded due to her professional life as a photographer.’ (Total TV Guide, 15-21 August)

Episode one of the new season, ‘Overboard’, is described as ‘a powerful and punchy opening’ by Digital Spy in a five-star review. Zelda arrives at a time when Jasper is reeling from the tragic death of a friend and colleague.

Digital Spy praises Zoë’s performance, emphasising that her character is a very welcome addition to the hit crime drama. ‘Zoë Wanamaker’s aunt Zelda adds a burst of energy and colour to Jasper’s life [...] but as a standalone character she also has substance’.

You can watch Professor T tonight, 19 August (ITV1, 9pm) and on subsequent Wednesdays. Alternatively, stream all six episodes from season four on ITVX whenever you like :)

perma-linktweet this

Professor T season four comes to the UK on 19 August

7 August 2026 19:28

UK Zoë Wanamaker fans, our wait is nearly over! The fourth season of Professor T - and the first to feature Zoë - will finally begin on ITV1 on 19 August, 9pm. The six new episodes of this hit crime drama, which centres on troubled criminologist Prof. Jasper Tempest (played by Ben Miller), will also be released on streaming service ITVX.

As Digital Spy emphasises, season four is ‘hotly anticipated’ over here. Indeed, Zoë’s US fans were treated to the season last summer (and I’ve heard great things about it!). Zoë makes her debut as Zelda Radclyffe, Jasper’s artistic, quirky aunt, who’s house-sitting for her sister Adelaide (Frances de la Tour) - and soon runs into an old flame...

And whether you’re in the US or UK, you’ll be pleased to hear we can look forward to fifth and sixth seasons of Professor T in due course too.

perma-linktweet this

Bergerac season 3 will deliver Charlie’s toughest storyline yet

4 August 2026 14:45

This really is the summer of Bergerac: hot on the heels of the news about season one being picked up by the BBC comes the announcement that filming for season three of U&DRAMA’s Jersey-set detective show is now underway, having begun on 31 July.

And the six new episodes will deliver the most dramatic storyline yet for Zoë’s smart, sophisticated Charlie Hungerford. ‘Charlie’s life falls apart when she confronts a home intruder with devastating consequences,’ explains TV Zone UK.

Meanwhile, Charlie’s son-in-law, Jim Bergerac (played by Damien Molony), discovers a link between a notorious unsolved murder case and a present-day crime.

According to broadcaster UKTV, Bergerac season three is ‘set to launch in 2027’.

perma-linktweet this

Bergerac comes to the BBC

25 July 2026 11:18

Season one of U&DRAMA’s reimagining of Bergerac, featuring Zoë as whip-smart Charlie Hungerford, is now available to stream on the BBC iPlayer. It’s also being broadcast on BBC Two (Fridays at 9pm, plus late-night repeats on some other days).

As I mentioned around the time the news about the hit detective drama coming to the BBC was announced, this is a wonderful full-circle moment, as the original Bergerac (1981-91) was also shown by the UK’s biggest broadcaster.

It’s a measure, too, of the reimagined show’s enormous success.

perma-linktweet this