JAMES MAY has put the lid on his cooking show – because he is now an accomplished chef.
The former Top Gear presenter was a food novice before embarking on his two Oh Cook! series for Prime Video, which documented his culinary journey.
But now he has reached a decent standard — and released a best- selling cookery book — he thinks the joke is over and is now focusing on making other shows.
A TV insider said: “The whole idea behind the show was James being a clueless cook and learning on the job.
“It was a totally fresh concept that viewers lapped up, as usually cooking series are presented by professional chefs.
“But after two seasons, James is now quite a good cook, so it’s not a gag he can continue to flog.”
The first Oh Cook! series aired in 2020 and the title is a play on his famous catchphrase Oh C**k! used on his motoring series.
Each episode involved him learning the basics of how to make a particular type of cuisine or meal, including a roast dinner and a curry.
The second series, which was screened last May, saw James up the ante, taking on French classics and vegan dishes, as well as knocking up the food for a Seventies dinner party.
The show did so well that the accompanying book featuring dishes created on the series became his most popular.
It even outsold his books on cars, wine and toys — subjects in which he would consider himself a genuine expert.
James will continue to have strong links with Prime Video, who also air his successful travelogue series.
Towards the end of next year, he will be returning with The Grand Tour with old muckers Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond for their final special in Zimbabwe.
I’m sure he will have a say in the catering.
HUGH HAS DOUG A BIG HOLE
HUGH BONNEVILLE is at the centre of his own nightmare story as he plays a news anchor in comedy drama Douglas Is Cancelled.
In the series, hitting screens on ITV1 and ITVX later this month, his character makes a career-changing mistake when he tells a sexist joke at a wedding.
Just when it looks like it can be swept under the rug, his co-presenter Madeline, who is played by Karen Gillan, takes to social media to get involved.
And if the trailer is anything to go by – showing him with red tape stuck over his mouth on the set of their news programme – it might not be something his career can survive after all.
The four-parter also stars Ted Lasso favourite Nick Mohammed, Chasing Shadows’ Alex Kingston and Coupling actor Ben Miles.
ITV’S hit game show In For A Penny is to head Stateside for the series finale.
Presenter Stephen Mulhern has flown to Walt Disney World in Florida for the special episode, where he will be joined by a series of Disney characters. It airs on Saturday at 6.15pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
BBC ’TEC CLASSICS RE-RUN
THE BBC will open up its case files of detective dramas for a summer of crime capers.
Archive episodes of hit shows including Law& Order, Line Of Duty, Happy Valley and Life On Mars will air on BBC Four and iPlayer weekly.
Many will be broadcast following new introductions from key cast members and creatives, giving insights into fan-favourite moments.
Among them will be Death In Paradise writer Tony Jordan and star Don Warrington.
Fans can also tune in to watch Idris Elba’s Luther, Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman in Sherlock and Kenneth Branagh in Wallander. Episodes of Jonathan Creek and Hinterland will be available.
Episodes air from June 12 at 10pm and continue weekly.
AGATHA ROLE FOR ANJELICA
ADDAMS Family film star Anjelica Huston leads the way in the BBC’s latest Agatha Christie adaptation Towards Zero.
The Morticia actress will play Lady Tressilian, aunt of British tennis ace Nevile Strange, who is portrayed by Wilderness actor Oliver Jackson-Cohen.
He and his new wife Kay – Sex Education’s Mimi Keene – arrive to spend the summer with his ex-wife Audrey and tensions run high.
With a mysterious gentleman’s valet, vulnerable lawyer and a French conman, a troubled detective has trouble unravelling the toxic web after a murder takes place.
The BBC One three-parter, which has started filming, also features Motherland’s Jackie Clune and Call The Midwife’s Grace Doherty.
Anjelica said: “I have long been a fan of Agatha Christie and the murder-mystery genre, and always love the opportunity to film in England.”
UKTV’s new game show Battle In The Box, hosted by Jimmy Carr, is to debut on its streaming service U, which will be available from next month.
The platform will launch 8,500 hours of content, alongside the UK premiere of Orlando Bloom’s adventure series To The Edge.
JAMES & MATT GO MISSING
BUSTED’S Matt Willis has signed up for Netflix suspense thriller Missing You alongside James Nesbitt.
They join previously announced cast members including Red Eye’s Richard Armitage, Top Boy actor Ashley Walters and The After actress Jessica Plummer.
The series from writer Harlan Coben tells the story of Detective Kat Donovan, whose fiancé Josh disappears. But she finds him alive and well a decade later through a dating app.
It is one of two dramas commissioned by Netflix that are based on Harlan’s novels. The second, Run Away, is yet to reveal its line-up.
Filming for Missing You has already begun in Manchester.
EMILY BACK IN FASHION
THE walking fashion show that is Emily Cooper is returning for the fourth series of Emily In Paris – with characteristic style and some key questions.
In the Netflix show starring Lily Collins, the action moves to Rome.
Will Emily’s true love Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) finally do the decent thing, can Alfie (Lucien Laviscount) forgive her – and just how does a junior PR girl afford to buy all those designer clothes and fit them in her tiny loft studio?
All will, hopefully, be revealed when the first five episodes of the new series drop on August 15.
The second five are available from September 12.
