aristocracy
Adam Sweeting
ITV has been cunningly trailing its Christmas bumper edition of Downton Abbey, which will feature guest stars Nigel Havers and Samantha Bond and the spectacle of Mr Bates being dragged before the beak for murdering his first wife. Now that details of the Yuletide schedules have emerged, it's clear that Downton is the one to beat on Christmas Day.Gazing down imperiously from its 9-11pm slot, Downton will be hoping to keep BBC One's EastEnders (9-10pm) in second place, along with Absolutely Fabulous - in its first new episode for six years - that follows it. Earlier in the evening, BBC One Read more ...
Adam Sweeting
Having blazed a trail through choral music, Simon Russell Beale now focuses his attentions on the symphony in this new four-part series. At last able to put aside the mind-games and chicanery of his role as Home Secretary William Towers in Spooks (RIP), Beale emerged as an engaging and enthusiastic host in this opening episode. He wore his erudition with an ironic twinkle as he toured the garrets and palaces of Europe on the trail of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. He seemed especially to relish being able to bob about in a yacht off Dover, in emulation of Haydn's queasy cross-Channel voyage to Read more ...