The second series of Life on Mars will be its last, says the Beeb:

The producers said two endings to the second series had been filmed “to keep everyone guessing until the very end”.
[…]
Executive producer Claire Parker said the story would reach a “natural and explosive climax”.

I wasn’t a big fan of the first series, but did enjoy it. Hopefully this decision will ensure that there is a decent resolution.

Excellent news from Hungary where the new BBC series Robin Hood is being Maid. Most of the missing master tapes have been recovered. They were stolen a few weeks ago, although it’s not clear whether it was a simple act of Robin or whether some Guy was Hoodwinked. No doubt the producers were not Merry Men and turned the air Scarlet when they found out, although they said it was only a Little problem; they Will be feeling Much better now. Some scenes have already been remounted; for contrivance’s sake, I hope at least one was in A Dale.

You will note the lack of Friar Tuck puns. That’s because the character isn’t in the new series, presumably due to lobbying from the Reverend Spooner.

Tapes of the BBC’s new Robin Hood series have been stolen.

Rumours has it that the culprits are trying to blackmail to BBC, but an email from the thieves leaked to this blog reveals the truth:

“We rob from the rich BBC to give to the poor. We will be distributing the tapes to TV stations in Africa and Eastern Europe that can’t afford quality drama. And to ITV1.”

Badoom tish.

I hope this is only the minor problem the BBC claims as I’m very Much looking forward to this series.

Pondering what to put on the box this evening? Tired of soaps? Fear not – there’s plenty of good stuff on tonight, mostly on BBC’s Two and Four.

19:10-20:00
BBC Four: The Avengers (episode “A Surfeit of H2O”)
I expect Alex will fill you in on the detail (et voilà), but look out for Talfryn Thomas (Mr Cheeseman from Dad’s Army) and Geoffrey “Slam in the lamb” Palmer.

20:00-21:00
BBC Two: Dragon’s Den
New series with a couple of new dragons.

21:00-22:00
I’ll probably put a DVD on for this hour, but there’s plenty to keep you entertained: Extras on BBC Two, The League of Gentlemen followed by the first half of Paul Merton’s Silent Clowns on BBC Four, The Two Ronnies on ITV3 or, if you like that sort of thing, Bad Girls on the ratings disaster that is ITV1.

22:00-22:30
BBC Two: Time Trumpet
Armando Iannucci‘s new comedy series, a kind of “I Love the 2000s” from the future. (Watch a preview.)

22:30-23:00
BBC Four: Charlie Brooker’s Screen Wipe
Ascerbic columnist and comedy writer Charlie Brooker says funny stuff about TV.

There you go. Who needs the Radio Times…?