ITV’s Victoria will be up against Poldark on Sunday nights: which will you watch?

ITV has announced an air-date for its ambitious new series Victoria and we can expect a clash of the TV titans on Sunday nights. The epic period drama starring Doctor Who’s Jenna Coleman will debut on Sunday, August 28 at 10pm (CET). This places the show in direct opposition to BBC One’s returning Poldark, back the following week, Sunday, September 4 at 10pm (CET).

In total, the two shows are expected to clash for seven of Victoria’s eight weeks on air. Victoria stars Coleman as the teenage monarch as she struggles with a sudden rise to power with Tom Hughes cast as her (eventual) husband Prince Albert and Rufus Sewell playing the queen’s close advisor Lord Melbourne.

Chris Evans might not be coming back to Top Gear, but it looks very much like his co-host Matt LeBlanc WILL be back on our screens next series. Matt got everyone talking about his future on the BBC Two show when he claimed this week that he wasn’t sure what was happening.

“We have no immediate plans to replace Chris, and don’t expect any changes to the Top Gear presenting line-up going forward,” a BBC spokesman said. Which means that we can all expect to see Matt alongside Rory Reid, Sabine Schmitz, Eddie Jordan and Chris Harris, right? The BBC spokesperson didn’t comment on rumours today that Matt’s been offered a huge £1m pay deal to return to the show, though.

It seems the stars just haven’t been officially locked down, as Rory said a couple of weeks ago that he hasn’t signed a new contract yet. But there’s still time, because the BBC is planning to air the next series of Top Gear in early 2017.

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