ITV unveils drama and comedy line-up for winter schedule

ITV has finally drawn the curtains on Inspector Morse, but John Thaw is to reappear on the screens in one of ten new dramas created for the channel’s winter and Christmas schedule. The schedule was unveiled this week by the director of programmes David Liddiment.

John Thaw will be cast opposite Sarah Lancashire for the first time, in the steamy six-part series titled The Glass.

A number of popular stars will return to ITV this season, including ex-EastEnder star Ross Kemp, who will feature as Scrooge in a modern-day take on the classic Dickens novel, A Christmas Carol. The drama will be broadcast on Christmas Eve.

Another ITV Christmas highlight includes Aladdin, written by the creator of Men Behaving Badly, Simon Nye. Comedian Ed Byrne will be in the title role, alongside Patsy Kensit as the princess and Martin Clunes as Abanazor.

And Richard Wilson comes to ITV for his new sitcom, High Stakes. Wilson will also be seen in a BBC series called Other Animals.

The comedy and entertainment line-up this winter includes Lily Savage’s Blankety Blank, while The Grimleys, Bob Martin and Baddiel and Skinner Unplanned all return with new series.

Thrillers include Plain Jane, an Edwardian thriller, written and devised by Peak Practice creator Lucy Ganon and starring Kevin Whately.

There is also a line-up of documentaries – Time of Our Lives, a social history series and Some Liked it Hot, a portrait of the British on holiday.

Plus, there will also be Christmas specials from The Bill, Heartbeat and Lily Live, and a festive Stars in Their Eyes.