I’m a TV writer and these are the only two TV shows going on my watch list this bank holiday weekend
Both are returning series that are already beloved across the nation
The bank holiday weekend has arrived, and there's nothing better than knowing you have an extra day to kick back and watch some of the brilliant new television on offer.
Saying that, it can get a bit overwhelming when you're presented with listings for multiple channels and streamers and can't decide what to tune into.
To stop the channel doom scrolling and frustrating indecision that can come with that, I'm sharing the only two TV shows going on my watch list this weekend, and they should be going straight on yours.
They're both intense, gripping, and will leave you wanting more - what more do you need?
Vigil season 3
Suranne Jones and Rose Lesley are finally back as married detectives Amy Silva and Kirsten Longacre in Vigil - hurrah! I've been waiting nearly three years for this.
The highly anticipated third instalment of the entertaining crime thriller arrives on BBC iPlayer and BBC One from Sunday 30 August.
While previous seasons have seen the detective duo investigating wrongdoings on board a submarine, and then across Scotland and the Middle East, series 3 is taking a totally chilly turn and sees Amy and Kirsten sent to a remote Arctic research station.
A member of a covert British special forces mission has been murdered, and as well as catching the killer, there's potential international confrontation to defuse with different nations trying to control the Arctic and its resources.
Arctic scenes were filmed in Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. Suranne Jones has said filming there was an "amazing" experience, as was getting to spend more time shooting scenes with Rose than she did during seasons 1 and 2.
Suranne says, "Rose and I felt like we were just on top of the world because we went to places that tourists don’t normally visit since we were filming in such remote locations."
"There were reindeer outside the breakfast room every morning, we got to drive the snow buggies. The people and the crew in Svalbard were incredible."
The pair were also very adventurous with their food while in Svalbard, and even got to eat some of it in a pretty glorious location.
"We tried some moose and reindeer, which is part of the local cuisine – I had moose stew," Suranne shares, adding, "I went to a husky café where you get to have a coffee and meet retired husky dogs!"
Sweetly, she says that filming with Rose was a "standout" moment for her. "Rose is always my standout of filming Vigil," she says, concluding, "because it’s always gorgeous to see her and work with her. We didn’t stop talking the whole time."
Trigger Point season 4
The excellent Vicky McClure is back for Trigger Point's fourth outing, as the fearless but troubled Lana Washington.
Like Vigil, Trigger Point season 4 also airs from August 30, and will be available on ITV and STV, and later can be streamed on ITVX and STV Player.
Getting straight into the action, the series opens with Lana on the front line with Counter Terrorism Command as London finds itself under attack after a wave of devastating bombings.
Chasing down skilled and dangerous adversaries, it's not long before unsettling cracks start to appear in the investigation. Lana needs to work out who to trust as some of those she works closely with are hiding dark secrets and time is running out.
Speaking about filming the stunt scenes for the show, Vicky says she was absolutely "knackered" by it, but proud of herself for doing it.
"I was knackered! There's a lot of running on Trigger Point," she says, adding, "I've made it quite clear that I don’t go to the gym, but I do enjoy being active and I just knuckle down as much as I can to make the stunts look realistic."
The actress continues, "I still feel young-ish, but I never would have thought I'd be doing action stuff in my early 40s, and I’m quite proud that I am. I'll always have a go because you're never going to get those experiences again."
Elaborating on what audiences can expect from the new episodes, Vicky shares, "This series is the most ambitious yet – we had to up the ante because the audience deserves ambition, they deserve for us to stretch ourselves and go as far as we can."
She adds, "We’ve thrown everything at this series, to make it as entertaining and as real as possible. The priority is always character – plot is vital to keep the story moving, but I always want to make sure the audience gets as much as possible out of all the characters."
The actress concludes, "After that, my motto is just that I want to enjoy it. We get the best job in the world and we’re very lucky to make this show, so let’s make sure we enjoy it and that it's a happy, joyful place to be."
