Lip Service is back!!

Yes, the wait is finally over (well very nearly!). It seems like an age since the Lip Service girls were last on our screens, although I've definitely got my money's worth out of my series 1 DVD in the meantime! Tonight our favourite Lip Service girls return to our screens!!!!

Lip Service writer and creator Harriet Braun has described series two as being more edgy than the first:

'Although there will be as much comedy as ever, I think I would say Lip Service gets a lot darker this season.

'First time around, I looked at people at a pivotal age - late twenties or early thirties, trying to get what they want and avoiding making the same mistakes again. This time it’s about what happens when you get what you want and it isn’t quite what you expected…or you can’t have what you want.

'A lot of life is about how we deal with adversity, do you sink or do you swim? I guess I wanted to throw some emotional curve balls at the characters and see what they did with them.'

After a loved-up month on holiday in South America, Cat and Sam arrive back in Glasgow with a colossal bump as series two begins. Having run away from her relationship with first love Frankie, Cat knows she must now face the music.

Meanwhile, it looks like Tess finally has it all: her first proper acting role, a fabulous new flat and a gorgeous girlfriend. Landing one of the leading roles in a big theatre production should be a cause for celebration, but things don’t go quite to plan on her first day in the job.

Locking horns with self-obsessed co-star Nora, it’s clear Tess is going to have her work cut out, dealing with constant put-downs and snide comments. But new friendship and much needed support come in the shape of Hugo, a cynical but loveable actor.

Frankie and Tess are struggling with the rent for their new flat and go in search of a flatmate. Enter Lexy (pictured top, right) - a sexy, funny and straight-talking Australian doctor who instantly makes an impression on Tess. But she’s not the only one who reacts to Lexy’s arrival…

Also back for the new series is Frankie's former flame Sadie who Frankie decides to offload all of her troubles onto. Sadie, who is down on her luck, decides to deliver some home truths.

Lip Service series 2 begins tonight at 9pm on BBC3.

Image credit: BBC/Kudos/Tania Chalkin

TV Pick for Tonight: Mary's Bottom Line

Queen of the Shops, Mary Portas is on a crusade to bring clothes manufacturing back to the UK through the production of a key staple in any woman's wardrobe - knickers.

Yes, Mary wants us to embrace our behinds and invest in 100% British knickers. But first, she has to create a new brand that competes with the cheap underwear produced in the Far East. It's not going to be easy, but Mary believes consumers will pay more for clothes produced in the UK where they can be sure ethical that working conditions were met.

Mary beings her knickers crusade tonight in Middleton, near Manchester, where past generations saw a booming textual industry. These days however, the factories are closed and unemployment is rife. Mary sets out to change this by recruiting eight apprentices who she will train to run her own production line.

Can Mary succeed in producing 100% British knickers, find a retailer to stock them, and convince customers to buy them? Or is the whole idea a bit pants?

Mary's Bottom Line begins tonight at 9pm on Channel 4.

Heather Peace Joins the Cast of Waterloo Road!

Now in its seventh series, Waterloo Road has been one of my favourite dramas of all time since the show began in 2006. Popular with teens and adults alike, the contemporary drama follows the lives of staff and pupils at a challenging comprehensive school in Rochdale.

Over the years, the award-winning Waterloo Road has tackled hundreds of issues faced by teenagers today, from homophobic bullying, teenage pregnancy and knife crime, to death, divorce and under-age drinking.

The show is a brilliant mix of drama, compassion and humour, and it always leaves me excited for the next episode. What makes me even more excited for the next episode however, is that actress and musician Heather Peace will be joining the cast as English teacher Nicki Boston. Yes, she played a fire fighter in London's Burning (Sunday nights were never the same after that ended), currently plays a police officer in the drama series Lip Service, and now it's time for her to put on her angry face in an attempt to control some unruly teenagers!

In the upcoming episode, teacher Tom is tasked with overseeing the selection process for the new Head of English, as two candidates, Vanessa and Nicki, are quickly put to the test. Nicki's disciplinarian approach gets results, but Tom is unimpressed when she offers him some advice about his son Josh who has been taking drugs. Tom later decides that neither of the two candidates are suitable.

Don't worry though, this is not just a fleeting part for Heather Peace, as Tom later sees Nicki's excellence in action, apologises to her and offers her the role of Head of English. Hurrah!

Here's a little clip of the next episode of Waterloo Road which will be shown on Wednesday 7th March, BBC 1 at 8pm: