Channel 4

Full boxset of The O.C. heads to All 4

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The award-winning series follows a group of friends and family whose comfortable lives are upended when an outsider arrives at their wealthy oceanside community of Newport Beach in Orange County.

Ryan Atwood (Ben McKenzie) is taken in from the streets of Chino by Sandy Cohen (Peter Gallagher), a public defender, and his wife Kirsten (Kelly Rowan). The Cohen’s lives are transformed by Ryan’s arrival and integration into their family.

Taskmaster announces the line-up for series 11

Credit: Channel 4

Series 11 will once again see comedic minds put together all their skills and wit to master the absurd and wacky tasks presented to them, in the hope that they will be crowned Taskmaster champion. 

Greg Davies will preside from his throne determining the scores given to the comedians, joined by his sidekick and show creator Alex Horne. 

In defence of PSB truth and impartiality

Royal Wedding (credit: BBC)

On the eve of the publication of Ofcom’s much-­anticipated review of public service broadcasting (PSB), big names from the BBC and Channel 4, past and present, discussed whether British broadcasting was in crisis. 

Ofcom warned that PSB is unlikely to survive in the online world without an overhaul of broadcasting regulation. It said that the public service broadcas­ters – the BBC, ITV, STV, Channel 4, S4C and Channel 5 – could also fulfil their obligations online, and that the public service remit could be extended to the big streamers. 

Government review of public service broadcasting begins

Google the words “public service broadcasting” and you’ll see that the first few links relate to a well-known band that has played at Glastonbury, the Royal Albert Hall and Brixton. Its first album was called Inform – Educate – Entertain. 

Only after that will you find links to Ofcom’s page on public service broadcasting and the Government’s new Public Service Broadcasting Advisory Panel. 

Find out who's taking part in the celebrity edition of The Circle

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The celebrities will be taking part in the week-long challenge to raise funds for Stand Up To Cancer.

In a game where anyone can be anyone, the celebrities taking part are drag queen Baga Chipz, reality star Charlotte Crosby, actress Denise Van Outen, singer Duncan James, rapper Lady Leshurr and YouTuber Saffron Barker.

There will also be celebrities playing the game as a double act, including Loose Women presenters Kaye Adams and Nadia Sawalha, radio DJs Rickie Haywood-Williams and Melvin Odoom and reality stars Sam Thompson and Pete Wicks. 

Channel 4 celebrates Christmas at Highclere and Warwick Castle

Credit: Channel 4

The two-part series will follow the castles as they get ready for their biggest time of year, Christmas.

Highclere is famous for featuring as the family house in Downton Abbey and is home to the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon. 

Viewers will discover what life is really like at the castle and go behind the scenes with the small team who keep everything running as they prepare for the festive period.

Warwick Castle dates all the way back to 1068 and was built on the order of William the Conqueror. 

Channel 4 announces the celebrity line-up for One Night In…Hamleys

Rob Beckett, Tom Allen and Romesh Ranganathan (Credit: Channel 4)

The three comedians will be locked in the world-famous toy shop on London’s Regent Street overnight, with no security guards to hinder their fun. 

The trio will have all night to do what they imagined and dreamed of doing in a toy shop when they were kids, with the only rules being no sleeping, that’s cheating, leave everything where you found it, and if they break something, they have to pay for it. 

Channel 4 commissions Jo Brand’s How to Stay Sane in a Mad World

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Jo Brand’s How to Stay Sane in a Mad World (w/t) will see the comedian take an alphabetical journey through all the best, Covid-safe ways to stay sane over the coming winter months.

While the banana bread and sourdoughs of last March may not be sparking the same levels of inspiration, Brand is on hand to offer creative ways to cure the impending boredom.

From horticulture to hibernation, QR Codes to UV rays, the programme will give you a host of ideas to pass the time.

Kathy Burke to tackle money in Kathy Burke: All Money

As a society we are obsessed with the pursuit of wealth but our relationship to it remains complex. People can demonise those who don’t have it and sneer at those who have recently acquired it.

Across the two episodes, Burke will meet people from all walks of life to investigate the reasons for this difference in treatment, and attempt to predict how attitudes may change after the current crisis.

Channel 4 announces new scripted comedy Big Boys

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Created and narrated by Jack Rooke, the series will follow Jack (Llewellyn), a shy but sweet closeted boy in his first year of university. Jack forms an unlikely friendship with the laddish and boisterous Danny, played by Jon Pointing (Plebs).

Having spent the past year at home, grieving the loss of his father with his mum, Jack is thrown headfirst into university life, starting with the ecstasy and agony of Freshers' week. While he seems the polar opposite of his friend Danny, the pair form a close bond over the chaos of first year.