Radio Times – 25 August 2026

Summary

Wham!'s 1985 China tour sent two pop stars barely into their 20s "into the heart of communism," and a new Radio Times-cover BBC documentary recounts the full story — Andrew Ridgeley confirms George Michael would be "very content" with the faithful result, in the 29 August–4 September 2026 issue of Radio Times.

Vicky McClure leads the issue revealing she spent half a day on a Thames speedboat and did "a lot of running" as bomb-disposal Expo Lana Washington in Trigger Point series four, one of ITV's top-rated dramas averaging seven million viewers in 2025. Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen returns with Daniel Ings, while Vigil brings Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie back with a chilly new twist. A fresh trio takes over The Grand Tour from Clarkson, Hammond and May. Simon Barnes profiles 21-year-old tennis prospect Alexandra Eala, and Classic FM salutes music teachers who create great musicians.

Regular columns deliver Jon Ronson's latest trip to the dark side in The Castle (Books), Joe Swift's advice on exotic garden colour, Sandi Toksvig's literary tour of Ireland, and Paul Lewis's money guidance. The 32-page What's Worth Watching section covers every channel and streaming platform. Matt Lucas closes from his sofa, recalling his journey from Shooting Stars to Les Miserables.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story

p.10 · Wham! in China
In 1985 the pop duo made the bold decision to tour China — now a new BBC documentary tells the full, fantastic story. Ridgeley calls the venture "a crackpot idea" conceived by manager Simon Napier-Bell. The film captures the pair on a journey into an unknown country at the height of Cold War tensions. Ridgeley's verdict: "It's faithful to the two of us." Watch the documentary on Saturday, BBC Two, and see two 1980s pop stars navigate Tiananmen Square before it became the image the world remembers.

▸ Features

p.4 · Trigger Point
Vicky McClure reveals how filming on the Thames brought new energy to series four of the ITV thriller. Her character Lana Washington — a Met Police bomb-disposal expert — now attends therapy after the PTSD struggles of the previous series. McClure compares the production to Planes, Trains and Automobiles: "We've got almost every mode of transport this time." She notes real Expos wear suits "as heavy as I am" for up to 10 hours a day in extreme temperatures. New episodes Sunday and Monday at 9pm on ITV1.

p.14 · The Gentlemen
Guy Ritchie's gangster drama returns and co-star Daniel Ings is having a ball. The series continues its mix of aristocracy and organised crime, with Ings expanding on the mayhem behind the velvet rope. Watch interviews with the star-studded cast of series two on the Radio Times YouTube channel.

p.16 · Vigil
Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie are back in a new series of the thriller — and things have taken a chilly twist. The submarine-based drama shifts setting for its second run, with the pair facing fresh threats beneath the surface. Jones and Leslie reprise their tense dynamic as the investigation deepens in unfamiliar waters.

p.18 · The Grand Tour
Meet the trio who are taking over the motoring show from Clarkson, Hammond and May. The new line-up promises a fresh direction for the Amazon series, with the identity and driving credentials of the replacements now confirmed. A full changing of the guard for one of streaming's biggest automotive franchises.

p.30 · Simon Barnes — Alexandra Eala
She's only 21, but Alexandra Eala has the tools to become one of the greats of tennis, argues Simon Barnes. The young Filipina player has already shown the shot-making range and composure that mark elite prospects. Barnes makes the case for why her development deserves attention beyond the usual Grand Slam headlines.

▸ Regulars

p.124 · Books — Jon Ronson's The Castle
Jon Ronson takes another trip to the dark side of life in his latest book, exploring the edges of modern paranoia and power. Ronson's signature blend of investigative journalism and dark humour runs through every chapter. Readers familiar with The Psychopath Test or So You've Been Publicly Shamed will recognise the territory — unsettling, funny and grounded in real people.

p.126 · Gardening — Joe Swift
Bring exotic colour to your garden, says Joe Swift, with late-summer planting tips that maximise impact before autumn arrives. Swift recommends specific heat-loving perennials and tropical-style foliage that thrive in UK conditions through early September. Practical advice for extending the flowering season past the usual summer cut-off.

p.128 · Travel — Sandi Toksvig
Sandi Toksvig loses herself on a literary tour of Ireland, tracing the country's great writers through the landscapes that shaped them. The route takes in everything from Dublin pubs to remote coastal hideaways, matching books to actual locations. A six-page section that doubles as a working itinerary for book-loving travellers.

p.130 · Money — Paul Lewis
Expert advice from Paul Lewis on pensions, savings and consumer rights, with specific numbers on inflation-linked bonds and the latest tax-threshold changes. Lewis answers reader questions with the clarity that has made him one of Britain's most trusted personal-finance journalists. Every figure cited is sourced from official government or ONS data.

p.138 · View from my sofa — Matt Lucas
Matt Lucas — from Shooting Stars to Les Miserables — on the television that shaped him, the shows he watches now, and why comfort viewing matters. Lucas picks his desert-island programmes with the same comic timing he brought to Little Britain. A warm, personal close to the issue.

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Editor's Take

This issue delivers its strongest punch with the Wham! China documentary package — Ridgeley's candid interview and the archival photos of George Michael in Tiananmen Square make it genuinely new, not another clip-show promotion. The Trigger Point and Vigil features also justify the cover spend, with McClure offering frank quotes about PTSD and the physical toll of bomb-disposal work that go deeper than standard press-tour copy. On the weak side, the Grand Tour replacement "Meet the trio" piece lacks the depth of a proper interview — it reads more like a press release than a feature. The gardening and travel columns are solid but short, offering more space to advertisers than to Swift and Toksvig. This issue suits the loyal weekly buyer who needs the full TV listings and enjoys one strong documentary feature; casual newsstand buyers may find the cover promises more than the interior delivers on Wham! content beyond the opening spread.

Strengths
• Ridgeley's exclusive, candid Wham! interview
• McClure's raw PTSD and physical-toll quotes
• 32-page TV and streaming guide with expert picks

Weaknesses
• Grand Tour new-host piece lacks original reporting
• Gardening and travel columns truncated by ads

Verdict: Recommended — One genuinely new documentary feature and strong drama interviews lift this above a standard listings issue, though the back half is thin.