News

Exclusive: Harry King TV is headed to Mip London with an antiques and collectibles-themed format after launching an unscripted division.

Harry King Unscripted will be the new wing of veteran scripted producer Nicholas Sercombe’s UK and U.S. production operation. It will focus on formats designed for digital and linear TV, using a “new talent- and format-first model” that seeks to combat the traditional commissioning slowdown.

Debuting through the unit later this month will be Curiosity, fronted by Antiques Roadshow expert Raj Bisram and comedian Henning Wehn. Set in an emporium that buys and sells outlandish collectibles and other items, Curiosity will see celebrity guests visiting to find trinkets, curios and gifts from owners Bisram and Wehn.

BAFTA- and Emmy-nominated David Meadows is attached as Dop, while Ian Bailey is the Production Designer.

Bisram is best known for TV...

British actor Kenneth Cope, a popular TV and film star in the 1960s and ’70s thanks to leading appearances in Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) and Coronation Street, has died. He was 93.

Cope’s former agent Sandra Chalmers, of The Artists Partnership, announced that he died at his home in the northern seaside town of Southport in Sefton, Liverpool, the area where he was born in 1931.

Renny Lister, Cope’s wife of 63 years, and family members, including actor daughter Martha Cope, were by his side. He is also survived by children Nick and Mark.

Chalmers said Cope was an “incredible icon of British TV & film.” Cope and Lister met in 1961 when they both joined the cast of long-running ITV soap Coronation Street. He played petty crook Jed Stone as a semi-regular through the early and mid-1960s. He later returned to the role after an absence of 42 years.

He honed his...

A Brush With Comedy, the debut feature documentary from filmmaker Louis Moir, explores the relationship he has with his father Jim Moir, Aka Vic Reeves, through the lens of the latter’s creative output. It’s a film which playfully interrogates the relationship art has with comedy historically, highlighting where they overlap whilst examining how they are often seen as diametrically opposed. In addition to his father, Moir also interviews comedians Spencer Jones, Bec Hill, Miriam Elia and Simon Munnery who each incorporate various forms of visual art into their comedy. With the film available to watch on Sky Arts, Now TV, and Apple TV, Dn caught up with Moir to discuss his four year journey making A Brush With Comedy, from its origins as his graduate short at Arts University Bournemouth through to the challenges of sifting through the footage to structure the edit.

I read that A Brush...

Coming up on March 1st from AppleTV+ is yet another joyful and whimsical British comedy ‘The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin.’ Led by Mr Great British Back-off host Noel Fielding in the titular role and propped up by some of the biggest and best names in British comedy.

The six-episode Apple Original centres on Dick Turpin (Fielding), who sets out on a journey of wildly absurd escapades when he’s made the reluctant leader of a band of outlaws — and tasked with outwitting corrupt lawman and self-appointed thief-taker Jonathan Wilde (Hugh Bonneville).

In this irreverent retelling set in the 18th century, Turpin is the most famous but least likely of highway robbers, whose success is defined mostly by his charm, showmanship and great hair. Together with his gang of lovable rogues, Turpin rides the highs and lows of his new endeavours, including a brush with celebrity, all whilst trying...

For more than 40 years, Aardman Animations has been producing classics like “Wallace & Gromit,” “Chicken Run” and “Shaun the Sheep.” Now, following in the footsteps of pioneers such as Peter Lord, David Sproxton and Nick Park, new recruits have come on board at the company’s headquarters on Spike Island in the port city of Bristol, in the West of England, replenishing its creative treasure chest.

Variety steps along the gangplank to meet some of the more recent additions to the crew: Dan Ojari and Mikey Please, the creators of Oscar-nominated “Robin Robin” (see here); kids’ comedy series “Lloyd of the Flies” creator and director Matthew Walker, and co-director and voice director Jane Davies (see here); and Lucy Izzard, the creator, writer and director of “The Very Small Creatures,” a BAFTA nominated preschool series (see below).

“The Very Small Creatures,” commissioned by U.K. pay-tv operator Sky, is a stop-motion series for one to three-year-olds.

British drama has produced some of the greatest pieces of television. The UK has become particularly known for its TV biopics, exploring the lives of both the best and worst of humanity. With the BBC soon due to broadcast its controversial Jimmy Saville drama, The Reckoning, audiences are disclosing some of their favorite British dramas based on true stories.

British broadcasters such as the BBC and ITV have brought to life some of history's most fascinating individuals. These TV dramas are truly engrossing, telling some of the most remarkable real stories. Their combination of stellar acting and magnificent writing has allowed these British programs to remain some of the TV industry's finest offerings.

Related: 15 Best British Crime Dramas

The Road To Coronation Street

Coronation Street has become one of the most famous soap operas, claiming the Guinness World Record for the longest-running soap in 2010. The BBC produced The Road To Coronation Street...

Jools Holland and his close friend Jim Moir Aka Vic Reeves are back with a new series of their podcast. Jools and Jim’s Joyride pays homage to all things travel, from luxury plane travel to beaten-up bangers, as guests drive back down memory lane. The sixth series will feature a whole host of special guests invited to discuss their most memorable adventures...

Margot Robbie has shared her initial reaction to reading the Barbie script, admitting that she was skeptical that the studio would even allow them to make the movie.

The film, co-written by Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, and directed by Gerwig, stars Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken.

The supporting cast includes Simu Liu, Ncuti Gatwa, Michael Cera, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman and Kate McKinnon, some of whom appear to be playing other iterations of Barbie and Ken.

Promotional posters for the film revealed that America Ferrera, Ariana Greenblatt, Helen Mirren, Will Ferrell, Connor Swindells, and Jamie Demetriou will be playing “humans”.

“The first time I read the Barbie script, my reaction was, ‘Ah! This is so good. What a shame it will never see the light of day,’” Robbie told Bafta. “Because they are never going to let us make this movie.”

What we do know of...

Jeremy Renner attended the premiere for his new series, Rennervations, on Tuesday (11 April), capping a remarkable recovery roughly four months after the Avengers star was nearly killed in a snowplough accident.

Renner was surrounded by family and supporters at the premiere in Los Angeles, where he posed for photos and did interviews, at times making use of a cane and a knee scooter.

Renner broke more than 30 bones after he was crushed by his seven-tonne snowplough on New Year's Day while trying to help free a relative's car at his Nevada home. The actor has said he also suffered a pierced lung in the accident.

Rennervations, which premieres on Disney+ on Wednesday (12 April), follows Renner as he transforms large vehicles into community spaces for young people in India, Mexico, Chicago and Nevada.

The purposes range from serving as a mobile music venue to a water filtration truck for a community in India.

Wicked fans have been left in awe of a first-look video teasing the set of the forthcoming screen adaptation of the popular Broadway musical.

Announced in 2022, director Jon M Chu’s forthcoming two-part movie will star Ariana Grande as Glinda the Good Witch, opposite Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West.

In a video reposted to Twitter on Tuesday (11 April) from Pop Base, an aerial shot of what appears to be an intricate recreation of Elphaba’s native home of Munchkinland can be seen.

While the iconic Yellow Brick Road, central to the plot of TheWizard of Oz, is shown passing through the heart of the fictional city.

“New look at the set for Wicked starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo,” the caption reads.

Impressed fans have responded in shock to the footage, with one saying: “Oh, this movie is going to break records.”

“Already movie of the decade,...

Netflix is getting a notable addition to its service next week.

Among the wide range of original titles on the streaming platform will soon be a licensed acquisition that users have been waiting more than a year for.

Typically on Netflix, the most recent season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine has been added between January and March.

However, the eighth and final season of the sitcom, which aired in the US in 2021, never arrived in 2022.

This was most likely due to the fact that the show’s network, NBC, had exclusive rights to feature the series on its specialised streaming service, Peacock.

Fortunately, enough time has passed for the 10-episode final season to be added to Netflix. It will arrive on 20 April.

The full list of every movie and TV series being added this month

“Hmpfh! Took you long enough,” one user wrote, with another adding: “About time!!!”

“Took long enough, the...

Brett Goldstein has recalled the early years of his career when casting directors would typecast him “terrorist” roles.

Before the 42-year-old British actor found his breakthrough success starring as team curmudgeon Roy Kent on Apple TV’s heartwarming sports comedy Ted Lasso, he spent years trying to pursue dramatic roles.

Speaking to Variety, Goldstein explained: “All I would ever get audition offers for was terrorists. I guess they see my headshot and go, ‘Well, he looks like a terrorist!’”

It wasn’t until later when he finally realised he wasn’t having a “good time” in dramatic acting, that he said he finally gave in to his secret passion for standup.

“I f***ing stormed it,” he remembered of his first standup performance. “The adrenaline was so powerful that I had a great gig, and I was like, ‘Wow! F***!’”

Goldstein’s role as a writer on Ted Lasso eventually...

Netflix is getting a notable addition to its service next week.

Among the wide range of original titles on the streaming platform will soon be a licensed acquisition that users have been waiting more than a year for.

Typically on Netflix, the most recent season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine has been added between January and March.

However, the eighth and final season of the sitcom, which aired in the US in 2021, never arrived in 2022.

This was most likely due to the fact that the show’s network, NBC, had exclusive rights to feature the series on its specialised streaming service, Peacock.

Fortunately, enough time has passed for the 10-episode final season to be added to Netflix. It will arrive on 20 April.

The full list of every movie and TV series being added this month

“Hmpfh! Took you long enough,” one user wrote, with another adding: “About time!!!”

“Took long enough, the...

Wicked fans have been left in awe of a first-look video teasing the set of the forthcoming screen adaptation of the popular Broadway musical.

Announced in 2022, director Jon M Chu’s forthcoming two-part movie will star Ariana Grande as Glinda the Good Witch, opposite Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West.

In a video reposted to Twitter on Tuesday (11 April) from Pop Base, an aerial shot of what appears to be an intricate recreation of Elphaba’s native home of Munchkinland can be seen.

While the iconic Yellow Brick Road, central to the plot of TheWizard of Oz, is shown passing through the heart of the fictional city.

“New look at the set for Wicked starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo,” the caption reads.

Impressed fans have responded in shock to the footage, with one saying: “Oh, this movie is going to break records.”

“Already movie of the decade,...

Millie Bobby Brown’s Stranger Things co-stars were among the first to congratulate the actor after the 19-year-old hinted at her engagement to Jake Bongiovi.

On Tuesday (11 April), Brown shared a black-and-white photograph with Bongiovi, 20, who is the son of rock singer Jon Bon Jovi, wearing what appears to be an engagement ring on her left hand.

She captioned the post with lyrics from Taylor Swift’s song “Lover”.

“I’ve loved you three summers now, honey, I want ‘em all,” she wrote, adding a love-heart emoji.

An excited Noah Schnapp, who plays Will Byers in Stranger Things opposite Brown’s Eleven, wrote: “Oh My God Congrats.”

The pair are close friends in real life, with Schnapp calling Brown his “partner in crime for life” on her 19th birthday.

Vecna star Jamie Campbell Bower, who joined the cast in the most recent fourth season of the Netflix show, also commented...

The creator of Maternal has addressed its untimely cancellation by ITV.

It was revealed earlier this month that the channel would not commission a second run of Maternal.

Maternal, starring Parminder Nagra, Lara Pulver and Lisa McGrillis, followed three doctors who return to work in a post-Covid landscape after their maternity leave ends.

The drama began in January 2023, but sadly, for fans of the show, not enough viewers tuned in to warrant a second run.

On Tuesday (11 April), creator Jacqui Honess-Martin posted a broken-heart emoji on Twitter, writing: “We had a lot more to say.”

Explaining the reasoning behind ITV’s decision, the writer continued: “The show needed a high number of viewers for @ITV to sell advertising to break even. Maternal didn’t get that number.

“It hurts that it ends here but I am incredibly proud of the show, grateful and a bit amazed that we got to do it at all.

Anya Taylor-Joy has credited her Super Mario Bros Movie co-star Jack Black with her bilingual abilities.

The actor was born in Florida while her parents were on holiday, but was raised in Argentina until the age of six when her family relocated to London.

Taylor-Joy went viral this week after conducting an interview in fluent Spanish; many of her fans assumed the actor was English.

While discussing her role as Princess Peach in the newly released Super Mario Bros Movie with Buzzfeed, the 26-year-old said she was “super starstruck” meeting Black (who plays Bowser in the film) due to her love of School of Rock.

“At the school I went to, when I first moved to London, they would play School of Rock every Friday,” she told the outlet.

“At that time, I didn’t really speak much English, if any, so that and Harry Potter and Jumanji are like how I learned English.

Pedro Pascal has become a household name in Hollywood, but in the early years of his career, he went by another moniker.

Years before the Chilean-American actor, whose latest roles in HBO’s hugely successful apocalyptic series The Last of Us and the Star Wars spin-off series The Mandalorian shot him to worldwide fame, he was booking small TV roles under his birth name, Pedro Balmaceda.

It was after the sudden death of his mother by suicide in 2000 – when he was 24 years old – that he decided to go by her maiden name Pascal professionally, to honour her, revealed the now 48-year-old actor in a new interview with Esquire.

“And also, because Americans had such a hard time pronouncing Balmaceda,” he said in an earlier interview with Variety. “It was exhausting.”

Elsewhere in the interview with Esquire, Pascal’s close friend, fellow actor Sarah Paulson, opened up about his difficulty in...

South Korean actor and model Jung Chae-yul has died, aged 26.

The news was announced by her agency Management S team, who shared a statement with Korean press on Tuesday (11 April).

“We have to deliver very heartbreaking and unfortunate news. Actress Chae-yul left us on April 11th,” it read, as reported by Mk News.

“According to the wishes of the bereaved family, who are in greater sorrow than anyone else, the funeral will be held quietly and privately.”

The agency “earnestly” requested people “refrain from spreading rumours and speculative reports” about her cause of death. A cause is yet to be announced.

Chae-Yul was best known as star of Netflix series Zombie Detective. Her other credits include K-drama series I Have Not Done My Best and the film Deep, which was released in 2018.

She was set to appear in the TV series Wedding Impossible, which has halted production in light of the news.

The first trailer for the forthcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film The Marvels has been released online.

A sequel to 2019’s Captain Marvel, the film also stars Samuel L Jackson, Iman Vellani and Teyonah Parris.

However, while Marvel fans have praised the trailer itself, the footage also confirmed what many had already suspected: there’s going to be a lot of homework to do.

In the trailer, Carol Danvers (Larson) and Nic Cage (Jackson) can be seen interacting with Kamala Khan (Vellani) and Monica Rambeau (Parris).

However, while Larson and Jackson both starred in the original Captain Marvel (and elsewhere in the MCU), Vellani and Parris have never appeared in any MCU films.

Rather, Parris’s character was introduced in the 2021 Disney+ series WandaVision, playing a supporting role opposite Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany. The series covered her character’s backstory, and explained the origins of her powers.

Vellani, meanwhile,...

The writers of Succession used an amusing secret code to keep the big twist in the latest episode under wraps.

Spoilers follow for Succession season four, episode three – you have been warned!

The episode, which debuted on HBO in the US on Sunday night (9 April) – and on Monday on Sky and Now in the UK – shocked viewers when its central character, the twisted media mogul Logan Roy (Brian Cox), was suddenly killed off.

On Twitter, writer Georgia Pritchett revealed that the writer’s room was tasked with keeping the death a secret after the plotline was first agreed upon in January 2022.

As a means of disguising the twist, they would substitute the phrase “Logan dies” with the words “Larry David”.

David, the co-creator of Seinfeld, is a figure often associated with HBO, thanks to his long-running sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm.

On all the whiteboards around the production offices, “Larry David...

Jeremy Renner has said that he was “kicked out” of the “creepy” first intensive care unit he stayed in following his snowplough accident.

On 1 January, the Marvel star was rushed to hospital after being crushed by a large Snowcat plough outside his home in Nevada. Renner had been attempting to save his nephew from being hit by the vehicle, which weighed 14,000 pounds (6350kg).

Renner sustained blunt chest trauma and broke more than 30 bones in the accident. Other serious injuries included a collapsed lung and his liver being pierced by a shattered rib.

The 52-year-old stayed in two hospitals during his treatment, including one initial week at the first ICU.

However, appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday (10 April), Renner explained that he’d been “kicked out” of the first ICU, which was in the process of being “under construction”.

“They put you on so many drugs… [and] when I got there,...

Paul Rudd sent Jeremy Renner a Cameo-style video message following his life-threatening snowplough accident.

On New Year’s Day, the Avengers star was rushed to hospital after being crushed by a large plough outside his home in Nevada. At the time, he was attempting to save his nephew from being hit by the vehicle.

Renner sustained blunt chest trauma and later revealed he broke more than 30 bones in the accident. He also suffered a collapsed lung and had his liver pierced by a shattered rib.

On Monday (10 April), Renner appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live, holding a walking stick. During the interview, he referred to Rudd as “one of the funniest guys around”, adding that his fellow Marvel star visited him in hospital “a couple of times, always just making my day”.

On one occasion, Rudd sent Renner a video message wishing him well, done in the style of the app Cameo.

Adil Ray has criticised Laurence Fox after the Lewis star compared insults aimed at him as an actor to Ray’s own experiences of racism.

On Sunday (10 April), the Good Morning Britain host – who has been vocal about past experiences in which he was the target of racism – responded to a news story about Essex police seizing racially offensive dolls from a pub.

The dolls, traditionally known as “golli***s”, feature a racist caricature of Black people.

Writing on Twitter, Ray commented: “I was called golliw*** at school. Just hearing the word frightens me. I can’t think of any good reason why someone on balance might think it’s ok to display them in a pub.”

In response, Fox tweeted: “Stay strong bro. I feel your pain. [Theatre critic] Quentin Letts described me as having a face that belonged in the winners enclosure at Aintree in a theatre review once, which,...

Bruno Tonioli has praised David Walliams for reaching out with a “class” response after he joined the panel of Britain’s Got Talent.

The former Strictly Come Dancing judge will appear alongside Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and Simon Cowell on the judging panel for the new series of the talent competition, which returns this week.

Tonioli replaces Little Britain star Walliams, whose departure was announced in January. Months earlier, Walliams had come under fire after a leaked set recording from 2020 heard the actor and author making sexually explicit comments about a Bgt contestant.

Speaking to the Radio Times, Tonioli said that Walliams had been the first person to congratulate him for joining the show.

“I haven’t seen David, but he was the first person to send me a message saying congratulations,” the Italian choreographer said.

“He also sent a fantastic bottle of Italian wine to my dressing room on my first day.

Veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby has turned down the chance to play a role in the BBC’s coverage of the King’s coronation, according to reports.

The BBC’s coverage of the 6 May event will be led by Kirsty Young, 54, in a studio outside Buckingham Palace, with Huw Edwards, 61, and Clare Balding, 52, providing commentary.

Dimbleby, 84, was offered a role in the coverage, according to a report in The Times, but opted against playing “second fiddle” in the presenting lineup.

The Independent has contacted Dimbleby’s representatives for comment.

It is not clear what exactly Dimbleby’s role would have entailed, but it signals a shift from tradition: his father Richard covered the funeral of George VI in 1952 and Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation the following year.

Dimbleby himself has been a prominent figure in the BBC’s royal coverage for many years and he came out of retirement last September...

Successioncreator Jesse Armstrong has said that the writers took inspiration from Ghislaine Maxwell in the show’s explosive latest episode.

*Major Succession spoilers ahead – you have been warned*

Episode three of the final season of HBO’s acclaimed drama saw Waystar Royco patriarch Logan Roy (Cox) skip his son Connor’s (Alan Ruck) wedding in an attempt to do a business deal with Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgård).

However, during the flight, Logan collapses in the plane bathroom. Despite air stewards attempting to do CPR, he dies on the plane. His children learn that their father is dying while at the wedding and attempt to say their last words to him over the phone.

Once the news threatens to leak, the family gather with Logan’s advisors and Shiv (Sarah Snook) gives an emotional speech to the press while still in a state of shock.

You can read The Independent’s review of episode three here.

Vic Reeves has admitted that he “never really speaks” to comedy partner Bob Mortimer.

The pair met in 1986, forming their comedy double act Vic and Bob, best known for their wacky panel show Shooting Stars.

However, in a new interview with the Radio Times, Reeves – whose real name is Jim Moir – admitted that he and Mortimer are rarely in contact.

“We never really speak much. Bob and I have never been ones for talking on the phone,” he said.

“[I’ll] see him now and then and have a chat about things.”

In recent years, Reeves has focused on painting, releasing his artwork under his real name.

However, he has often noted the link between art and comedy, saying that art, to him, is “just for laughs”.

“I’ve done straight drawings and paintings and things and I haven’t got as much pleasure out of them as if I’d done...

StudioPOW to shoot comedy in the UK in spring 2023.

Succession actor Brian Cox has joined the cast of UK comedy The Glove, starring Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, which is set to shoot in spring 2023.

The film, which marks the feature debut of longstanding UK comedy duo Reeves and Mortimer, has been in development since 2018 and will begin filming on location in the UK next year.

It will be directed by Tim Kirkby, who has a string of TV comedy credits such as Veep and Fleabag but also directed Johnny Knoxville feature Action Point in 2018.

London-based StudioPOW will produce the feature,...

Featuring: Natasia Demetriou, Vic Reeves, Kristen Griffith-Vanderyacht

I really support the wide range of reality competition television shows that showcases different areas of creativity such as glass blowing, baking and specifically for this review, flower arranging! Shows like The Big Flower Fight can only benefit these forgotten art forms and raises awareness of them which is great to see while at the same time making the shows themselves super unique.

The first thing I noticed about The Big Flower Fight was that it is clearly pitched to a very mature and sophisticated audience, as these incredible flower arrangements are synonymous with the high society. This is not a problem as people who are unfamiliar with this lifestyle can easily watch and enjoy the show… but there is a level of “poshness” to all of it! The most confusing part of this is that the show seems to try and balance...

Louisa Mellor Dec 13, 2017

We’ve taken a highlighter to this year’s Christmas and New Year TV schedules and circled what we’ll be watching this festive season…

Amid the cosy repeats and cranberry-stuffed cookery shows on TV over the next few weeks are a few gems. There’s no Sherlock or Charlie Brooker’s TV Wipe this year, but there are plenty of treats, not least the return of The League Of Gentlemen for a three-part anniversary series and Peter Capaldi’s last hurrah in the Tardis in the Doctor Who Christmas episode.

See related 26 new TV shows to watch in 2017

Over on Netflix, six new episodes of Black Mirror are coming to usher in the New Year, two days into which we welcome the return of Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton’s genius anthology Inside No. 9.

Not to gloss over a spooky M.R. James night on BBC Four,...

Ron Hogan Dec 4, 2017

Josh McDermitt brings some much-needed fun to The Walking Dead season 8 as Eugene Porter, the focus of Time For After. Spoilers...

This review contains spoilers.

See related  Vic and Bob: an appreciation House Of Fools episode 1 review: The Conan Affair House Of Fools: BBC cancels Reeves and Mortimer's sitcom

8.7 Time For After

The Walking Dead is a show with a lot of interesting characters who speak in interesting ways. Negan is probably the most obvious one; he spins long sentences and crams in strange, infantile profanity. Rick has lots of long speeches that allow writers to really dig into a specific topic. Jadis is... well, she's different, but not entirely complicated, you just cut out non-essential words and boil everything down to noun-verb or verb-adjective phrases. But the character that has to be the most fun to write for is Eugene Porter, and he's the...

Mike Cecchini Dec 4, 2017

Darkseid, the biggest cosmic villain in the DC Universe, was supposed to make an appearance in the Justice League movie.

Spoilers lie ahead for Justice League

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It's been clear for quite some time that the version of Justice League that made it into cinemas went through extensive changes. Fans have devoted considerable energy to wondering how things would have turned out if its production hadn't been so troubled, or if original director Zack Snyder had been able to complete the film, rather than have its reshoot and post production process overseen by Joss Whedon. 

While there's no shortage of moments in the trailers that didn't appear in the film, most of those seem relatively minor in the grand scheme of things,...

Kayti Burt Dec 4, 2017

The latest Outlander episode is diverting stuff, but without much going on underneath the surface. Spoilers ahead in our review...

This review contains spoilers.

See related Vic and Bob: an appreciation House Of Fools episode 1 review: The Conan Affair House Of Fools: BBC cancels Reeves and Mortimer's sitcom

3.12 The Bakra

Have you ever gone to a party and it seems like everyone you've ever met is there? That was more or less the plot of tonight's Outlander, which saw Claire and Jamie finally arriving in Kingston, Jamaica and getting serious about their search for Young Ian. This led our favourite couple to the house of the city's governor, and to an extravagant gala... because what good is a period drama without an opulent party awkwardly built on the back of a slave trade to which the show's protagonists half-heartedly object?

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Juliette Harrisson Dec 4, 2017

Here's how The Undiscovered Country feeds into Star Trek; Discovery. Spoilers for both ahead...

Contains spoilers for Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country and for Star Trek: Discovery.

See related Vic and Bob: an appreciation House Of Fools episode 1 review: The Conan Affair House Of Fools: BBC cancels Reeves and Mortimer's sitcom

It's well known that Jj Abrams, along with many other Trekkies, Trekkers, and people who sometimes watch Star Trek, is especially fond of Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan, and used that film as inspiration for his own take on Star Trek in the recent movies. The Wrath Of Khan is many people’s favourite Trek film, one of the best of the Star Trek movies, the source of the idea that the even-numbered ones are the good ones. Its themes, of death and rebirth, youth and ageing, fathers and sons, and...

Marc Buxton Dec 4, 2017

Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. reinvents itself once again for its action-packed season five premiere. Spoilers ahead...

This review contains spoilers.

See related Vic and Bob: an appreciation House Of Fools episode 1 review: The Conan Affair House Of Fools: BBC cancels Reeves and Mortimer's sitcom

5.1 & 5.2 Orientation

Last year on Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D., the show hopped genres from hi-tech super hero espionage to supernatural thrill-fest to Matrix-like action. And now, here in season of 5 of Marvel’s first modern TV series, we have hopped genres again into the realm of apocalyptic sci-fi survival as this new season of Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. starts off with a huge bang.

And boy, did we need it. After six weeks of watching Marvel’s Inhumans endlessly wander around Hawaii aggressively not using their powers, it sure feels good to have some proper Marvel action on ABC. So where to begin?...

Ryan Lambie Dec 4, 2017

Co-producer Stephanie Austin talks to us about the trials of bringing one of the biggest movies of all time, Terminator 2, to the screen...

In 1990, producer Stephanie Austin, previously known for her work in television, helped shepherd one of the biggest films of the decade to the big screen. Little did she know at the time, as she first looked through James Cameron's ambitious sequel script, that she would soon be producing the most expensive movie up to that point - a new high-watermark in special effects, and a proving ground for other CGI blockbusters.

See related  Vic and Bob: an appreciation House Of Fools episode 1 review: The Conan Affair House Of Fools: BBC cancels Reeves and Mortimer's sitcom

Over 25 years later, Terminator 2: Judgment Day still looks as shiny as ever - but the confidence and assured pace of its director's vision gives...

Simon Brew Dec 4, 2017

The summer of 1990 was supposed to be a showdown between Dick Tracy and Days Of Thunder. It was a bit of an odd rivalry...

It would be fair to say that the top five movies at the Us box office in 1990 didn’t follow the rule book. In fact, 1990 saw Hollywood’s blockbuster formula falter, to the point that conversations were rife about whether a sea change was coming. Dramtic changes in blockbuster mentality were certainly on the way, as it happened, but not for a decade or so. Yet the seed was planted in 1990 that sure-fire blockbuster hits weren’t always, well, sure-fire blockbuster hits.

See related Vic and Bob: an appreciation House Of Fools episode 1 review: The Conan Affair House Of Fools: BBC cancels Reeves and Mortimer's sitcom

Not that many people saw it coming, Off the back of 1989’s blockbuster business, Hollywood was bullish.

Bill Murray returned to Groundhog Day… again.

On Tuesday, the 66-year-old comedian went back in time — taking in a performance of Groundhog Day, the Broadway musical based on his hit 1993 movie about a cranky TV weatherman who gets stuck in a time warp while covering the Groundhog Day ceremonies in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania and is forced to relive the same day over and over again until he gets it right.

It was Murray’s first time seeing the musical, which was nominated for seven 2017 Tony awards and took home London’s Olivier Award for Best Musical. And according to reports from The New York Times,...

Scott Varnham Aug 3, 2017

If Doctor Who were to take on the challenge of broadcasting a future episode live, what might be involved?

It’s all change in the world of Doctor Who at the moment. The 13th Doctor has been revealed to be Jodie Whittaker (off Broadchurch) and Kris Marshall has gone from being the rumoured new Doctor to being the rumoured new companion. So we’re taking a look at a bold step that the production team could take, if they decided to: putting on Doctor Who’s first live television episode. (Watch this get leaked to the Sun as insider information.)

See related Poldark: a beginners’ guide Poldark series 3 episode 8 review Poldark series 3 episode 7 review

In a way, this would be going back to Who’s roots in ‘as-live’ television. While the episodes were never broadcast live, the difficulty of editing footage in those days meant that directors...

An epic comic mashup is coming just in time for the Halloween season from Dynamite Entertainment! From Tim Seeley, Shawn Aldridge, Stefano Caselli, and Rapha Lobosco, Hack/Slash vs. Vampirella sees Cassie Hack, Vlad, and Vampirella battling The Queen of Hearts on October 4th.

Press Release: Mt. Laurel, NJ: Writer Shawn Aldridge (The Dark and Bloody), and artist Rapha Lobosco (Doctor Who) have been selected as the creative team to helm what is sure to be the biggest hit of this year's Halloween season, Hack/Slash vs. Vampirella. With the blessing of Hack/Slash creator Tim Seeley, the two heroines of horror are set to hit shelves October 4th, 2017!

Created by writer/artist Tim Seeley and Stefano Caselli, Hack/Slash harkens back to the classic 80's slasher flick, as it follows the story of young Cassie Hack, the very epitome of horror movie clichés: the young woman and lone survivor...

Director Denis Côté and European Film Promotion boss speak to Screen about the student filmmaker scheme.

Future Frames, an initiative of European Film Promotion who are also behind European Shooting Stars in Berlin and Producers on the Move in Cannes, came to the end of its third edition yesterday (5 July) at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (June 30-July 8).

The event takes 10 young film students from across Europe and showcases their short films to festival audiences while also giving them industry mentoring.

Even though it’s still a relatively new initiative, European Film Promotion already feel that there are tangible results to show.

“There’s Karen Vazquez Guadarrama from Belgium, who received her first job offers following Future Frames in 2016,” said Efp’s Managing Director Sonja Heinen, speaking to Screen.

“She also reported, like her fellow participants, that there was a strong interest shown by other international film festivals in their work.

Many of the...

Disney's Newsies, My Neighbor Totoro and Deconstructing the Beatles make our July Events list!Disney's Newsies, My Neighbor Totoro and Deconstructing the Beatles make our July Events list!Scott Goodyer6/30/2017 10:01:00 Am

It's no secret that we at Cineplex adore movies. But there are plenty of other reasons to visit our theatres - every month we bring special features and old classics to the big screen as part of Cineplex Events programming. Check out some highlights from our July Events list below.

For full details and showtimes for each event, click on their titles! The Old Vic's The Crucible - July 2nd

From London's West End, Richard Armitage stars in Arthur Miller’s classic American drama, based on Salem’s infamous witch trials, brought vividly to life in this visceral new production by internationally acclaimed director Yaël Farber.

In a small tight-knit community in Salem, Massachusetts, personal grievances collide with lust and superstition,...

Louisa Mellor Dec 5, 2017

Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer are bringing back Big Night Out for a one-off special to air on BBC Two this December the 29th...

Get ready to shout "What's on the end of the stick, Vic?" because BBC Two is reviving Vic Reeves Big Night Out for one night only. Bob Mortimer and Vic Reeves will be performing characters old and new from the nineties variety show send-up in a one-off episode.

See related 31 scary TV episodes that truly terrified us Top 50 genuinely scary videogames 70 genuinely creepy horror movies

Celebrating three decades of the pair's brilliantly unparalleled absurdity, Vic & Bob's Big Night Out will air on Friday the 29th of December at 9pm on BBC Two.

Here's Bob Mortimer confirming the air date on Twitter:

%uD83D%uDCA5%uD83D%uDCA5%uD83D%uDCA5ALL New Vic And Bobs Big Night Out%uD83D%uDCA5%uD83D...

Louisa Mellor Apr 20, 2017

We chatted to actor Rory Kinnear about his roles in Sky Atlantic's Guerrilla, Bond, Penny Dreadful and more…

In Rory Kinnear’s first answer during our chat about his role in Sky Atlantic drama Guerrilla, he makes a wry joke at his own expense. He’s not a well-known actor, he says, and perhaps not one with “a particularly heroic face!” he laughs when we talk about the moral complexity of his roles. Give him an outright compliment and he deflects the praise elsewhere, onto writers and directors, John Logan for Penny Dreadful, John Ridley for Guerrilla. His role as Bill Tanner in the James Bond franchise is a “very, very small” part of an enormous machine, he stresses.

See related Line Of Duty series 4, and the clues hiding in series 1 Line Of Duty: creator Jed Mercurio interview Explaining the Line Of Duty series 2 finale...

Gem Wheeler Aug 15, 2017

2007s' Hot Rod arrives at its tenth birthday - and there's plenty here to celebrate...

Stuntman extraordinaire Rod Kimble is about to face the challenge of his life. If he can jump fifteen buses on his motorbike – that’s one more than Evel Knievel; you can check, online – and raise the $50,000 required for his stepdad Frank’s life-saving surgery, he’ll be acclaimed as a hero. Far more importantly, he’ll also be able to kick Frank’s ass. Rod’s been mocked and bullied by his stepdad for a long time. This is his chance to prove himself as a man, gain Frank’s respect, and win the heart of his next-door neighbour, Denise. There’s only one problem: Rod’s never actually managed to perform a stunt successfully. Ancestors, protect him…

Since its release in 2007, Hot Rod’s gradually attained the well-deserved cult classic status...

Rob Leane Jan 17, 2017

Jason Statham is out and Rupert Grint is in. Here's the trailer for the TV remake of Snatch...

Guy Ritchie's 2000 movie Snatch is the latest film to get a TV remake. The original film, of course, starred the legendary Jason Statham alongside a bloke named Brad Pitt.

See related Power Rangers, boob armour, and impractical costumes

The TV take on Snatch will star Harry Potter's Ron Weasley actor Rupert Grint. He'll play Charlie Cavendish, who's been described as “dynamic, frustratingly chaotic, and utterly posh.”

Here's the first trailer...

The show's cast also includes Dougray Scott (Mission: Impossible II, Taken 3, Fear The Walking Dead) as Vic Hill, and Ed Westwick of Gossip Girl as Sonny Castillo. Fans of the film will notice that these are brand new character names, not recastings of the old crew.

Here's the synopsis, which, again, isn't identical to the film...

A lot has happened while I've been away.

I was in NY for CBS press day (summer prime time shows) and then at the Atx festival (all TV all the time!), and then this week The Young and the Restless was preempted three times. Meanwhile, the showrunner was fired, word is characters are on their way out...sheesh!

So, forgive me for my absences and if I miss anything that went down this week, because in case you didn't know, the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup, and a parade with over 300k people filling the streets gets priority in my hometown!

Now. Let's get to the good stuff. Ashley isn't the only one being driven nuts by Hillary.

Yes, Hillary is relapsing. Or is she? 

Until Friday, I fully believed Hillary was about to succumb to a coma again like the other patients in the drug trial. She is...

Pop culture comes to life in St. Louis this weeekend! It’s the Wizard World Comic Con April 1st, 2nd, and 3rd at America’s Center downtown (701 Convention Plaza – St. Louis, Mo 63101), and boy oh boy, do they have an amazing line-up of guests!

Wizard World Comic Con events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, cosplay, comics, television, sci-fi, toys, video gaming, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. St. Louis show hours are Friday, April 1st, 3-8 p.m.; Saturday, April 2nd, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday, April 3rd, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Wizard World Comic Con St. Louis is also the place for cosplay, with fans young and old showing off their best costumes throughout the event. Fans dressed as every imaginable character – and some never before dreamed – will roam the convention floor...

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BBC Three put Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding’s wilfully shambolic live act and radio series, The Mighty Boosh, on TV…

Part of The Mighty Boosh’s delight comes from its unlikelihood as a TV sitcom. Its boundless Day-Glo imagination isn’t an immediate fit with the constraints of the form. A sunshine simpleton and his awkward, jazz-obsessed colleague meet mythic monsters and talking animals while performing expertly observed musical parody? It’s not exactly My Family.

As comedian, writer, and director of Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding’s 1999 Edinburgh show Arctic Boosh, Stewart Lee, put it, “No television exec would ever have gone ‘What we need is a kind of purple head with tentacles coming out of it which speaks like a member of the Small Faces’”.

And yet a television exec did. Granted, probably not in those exact words. After Danny Wallace opened the door...