Comedian Russell Brand is to be a panellist on political debate show Question Time, sharing the stage with Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

Chandeliers hang over the vast space of Birmingham’s indoor arena, twinkling with fairy lights. The set design pretends to evoke a ballroom, but really represents a television studio, all lit up with Saturday night sequins.

Having divorced her sleazy husband, Helen Merrifield leaves London to start a new life in the sleepy village of Pendruggan. She wants a new man, but can't choose between historian Piran ("handsome but horrible") and vicar Simon ("not so handsome but sweet"). Thankfully, Penny, a television producer girlfriend, arrives to work in the area, and helps Helen make up her mind.

Sophie Dahl, Fern Britton and Anne Diamond have all gone skinny of late

Where are you now and what can you see?

Next week sees the debut of a multimillion-pound pairing of star television hosts. But does ITV have the formula right? Brian Viner on the science of on-screen partnerships

I've always fancied watching an election unravel from the "inside". When I got the call asking me whether I'd like to be on the BBC boat party, moored underneath the London Eye, I jumped at the chance. I suppose, in my mind, I expected it would be like being in JFK's hotel suite (not alone, not dressed as a lady). We would all be huddled around the telly swapping insider gossip about what was going on.

The audience was justifiably restive after an uncharacteristically defensive performance by Tony Blair

An unrepentant Tony Blair failed to apologise to the bereaved in the gallery – and even suggested Iran should be targeted next

The Evidence: The former prime minister took a robust approach to the questioning from the Iraq inquiry panel. But not all his answers added up to a completely convincing performance. Michael Savage reports

Sketch

Here are some of the key questions raised:

Tony Blair would like to be remembered for transforming Britain's schools and bringing peace to Northern Ireland, but for many his premiership was defined by the Iraq War.

The former PM will never escape the verdict of the court of public opinion