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Fans of Prime Video’s The Wheel of Time need to check out this mythical fantasy series created by the BBC. Merlin takes on the Arthurian legend of the fellowship between the wizard Merlin and ‘the once and future’ King Arthur. An addictive and imaginative series led by a wonderful cast, Merlin is an epic medieval romp that only gets better and better. Rated one of the 10 best fantasy series of all time here at MovieWeb, Merlin is now available for viewers to stream for free.

Set in a time of mystery and magic, Merlin tells the story of the titular wizard in his early days in the kingdom of Camelot. At a time when magic and sorcery are forbidden, the young wizard is forced to hide his magical abilities as he works as a servant in the king’s castle. Assigned to assist an arrogant prince who will becomeKing Arthur,...

It’s the sort of twist no screenwriter would dare invent: “Free Leonard Peltier,” a persuasively well-researched and often infuriating documentary about the American Indian Movement activist convicted nearly a half-century ago of killing two FBI agents, had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 27, 2025 — precisely one week after Joe Biden, as one of his very last official acts as U.S. president, issued a commutation of Peltier’s life sentences.

The relatively brief final sequence in the film is obviously a last-minute addition to a completed feature, but never mind: Dramatically and emotionally satisfying, the scene is a welcome and fitting capper for a story that inarguably earns its happy ending.

It’s a story that has been brought to the screen twice before: Once as the factual inspiration for the fictions of “Thunderheart,” the 1992 drama directed by Michael Apted, starring Val Kilmer and Graham Greene; and again as “Incident at Oglala,...

“Free Leonard Peltier,” the new documentary about the imprisoned Indigenous activist, whose life sentence was just commuted to house imprisonment by President Joe Biden days before this film’s Sundance premiere, is a useful primer for viewers new to his case. But it’s not much of a film, and it’s even unclear what kind of film its directors Jesse Short Bull and David France wish it to be.

This is a documentary as a textbook — we’d say it’s like a Wikipedia summary, except checking actual Wikipedia is almost essential for making sense of certain events presented in “Free Leonard Peltier” — providing a broad overview without delving deeper into the humanity of Peltier or why his story matters. It opens in the near-present with Native American activists coming to Washington to plead Peltier’s case, one even saying that overturning Peltier’s conviction has not just been...

There's nothing worse than starting a TV show, getting invested in the rich plot and characters, and having it ruined by a bad final season. Ranging from rushing through the plot to destroying a beloved character's growth in the final seasons, many TV shows fall into the trap of being ruined because of unsatisfying and terrible endings. Sudden cancellations of TV shows and cutting down on the length of the final season are often the culprits behind messy final seasons.

Given more time to flesh out character motivations and intricate plotlines, a lot of shows that suffered a lackluster final season could have been improved with a few more episodes. While the addition of episodes can't fix mischaracterization issues and terrible plot twists, they can potentially make the final season feel more coherent, maintain the storyline's quantity, and provide a meaningful resolution.

Merlin (2008-2012) Season 5

The BBC's Merlin is...

Have I Got News for You, CNN’s American adaptation of the long-running BBC comedy panel series, has been renewed for a second season, the network said Thursday. The decision comes ahead of the show’s Season 1 finale this Saturday.

Season 2 will air early next year as part of CNN’s Saturday primetime lineup. Produced by Hat Trick Productions for CNN Originals, the show aims to serve up a smart and edgy take on the news of the week, as a comic trio led by host Roy Wood Jr. guides a rotating collection of guests through an array of comic games and quick-witted panel conversations that test their knowledge of current events.

Mainstays appearing alongside Wood are team captains Amber Ruffin and Michael Ian Black. Have I Got News for You‘s 10-episode freshman season premiered September 13 and joined CNN’s encore presentation of Real Time with Bill Maher as...

We’ve got news for you about “Have I Got News For You.”

The comedy roundtable program that asks comics and newsmakers to pick and probe the week’s most important and sometimes off-putting headlines will get a second season at CNN, part of a bid by the Warner Bros. Discovery-backed outlet to build a Saturday-night schedule that hinges on newsy analysis and comedic satire.

“For its inaugural season, ‘Have I Got News For You’ has been a welcome and lively extension of the CNN brand, and our viewers continue to show enthusiasm for comic relief on Saturday nights” said Amy Entelis, executive vice president of talent, CNN Originals and creative development, in a statement. The show is led by Roy Wood Jr. and features Amber Ruffin and Michael Ian Black.

The network has been quietly experimenting with a different genre of programming on Saturdays, pairing “Hignfy” with repeats...

While he's best known for his work in film noir, Robert Mitchum starred in over 30 movies in the Western genre as well. Called the "soul of film noir" by Roger Ebert, Mitchum is famous for his iconic villain roles in the '50s and the '60s. His work in noir as the classic anti-hero laid the foundation for many of the famous modern antagonistic characters of the genre. However, Mitchum's superior range as an actor helped him smoothly transition from the suave and stylized villainous roles in film noir to more rough-around-the-edges and dramatized roles.

As is seen in Western flicks like El Dorado, which is one of the actor's most famous films ever, and The Tombstones, where Mitchum serves as a narrator off-screen. Mitchum appears beside John Wayne in El Dorado, the latter having replaced the former in an older film after Mitchum was fired from Blood Alley.

Warner Bros. Discovery has announced the movies, TV shows, and live sports that will be available on the Max streaming service in October. The Max October 2024 lineup includes the debuts of the comedy series The Franchise, a Seth Meyers comedy special, the competition series Roller Jam, Max original films Caddo Lake and Salem’s Lot, and Warner Bros. Pictures’ Trap.

The October schedule also includes the Max documentary Louder: The Soundtrack of Change, HBO documentaries I Am Not a Monster: The Lois Riess Murders and Breath of Fire, a new season of HBO’s Somebody Somewhere, CNN original Have I Got News for You, and A24’s MaXXXine.

Salem’s Lot Featured Programming

Salem’S Lot (Max Original Film)

Debuts October 3

Author Ben Mears returns to his childhood home of Jerusalem’s Lot in search of inspiration for his next book only to discover his hometown is being preyed upon by a bloodthirsty vampire.

There are loads of fantasy TV shows that audiences love for their stellar visual effects and high-quality production value, but there are also many other titles with a low budget that are just as great. The best fantasy TV shows of 2024 demonstrate just how much the genre has grown and changed, but these projects also highlight just how expensive they are to make. Fantasy is such a wide-ranged genre, and when wild and wacky creatures or magic are involved, a lot of behind-the-scenes work is needed.

Even the best animated fantasy TV shows ever are familiar with these struggles. Creating a particular chunk of animation, with all kinds of imagery and detailing, is a lengthy and costly process. However, money isnt everything, and making a good TV show is possible without breaking the bank. Fantasy stories are up to interpretation and rely on the imagination of others, especially for book adaptations,...

Disneys Gnomeo & Juliet was such a strange movie that was the last thing that I expected from a film starring James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Jason Statham, and plenty of other famous actors and celebrities. Marking Touchstone Pictures first animated movie since The Nightmare Before Christmas, Gnomeo & Juliet was released in 2011 and was a box office success. The film made $193.9 million at the box office on a $36 million budget, having been distributed by Disney with a theatrical release.

Gnomeo & Juliet follows the plot of William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet play but with gnomes in neighboring gardens in Shakespeares English hometown, Stratford-upon-Avon. The film was a clever movie adaptation of Shakespeares play, making it more accessible for younger audiences to follow the famous playwrights work. I particularly enjoyed the movies distinctive house division marked via the color of the gnomes, and Gnomeo & Juliets soundtrack, which heavily featured Elton John's songs.

Exclusive: Amber Ruffin (The Amber Ruffin Show) and Michael Ian Black (Wet Hot American Summer) are set for the team captain roles on Have I Got News For You, CNN’s forthcoming American adaptation of the long-running BBC comedy panel series.

A British institution produced by Hat Trick Productions since 1990, Have I Got News for You will be hosted in the States by The Daily Show alum Roy Wood Jr., as we were first to report. The series will deliver comic observations, from the satirical to the surreal, through the lens of a news quiz show, serving up a smart and edgy take on the news of the week.

Together with Wood, Ruffin and Black will guide a rotating collection of guests including notable entertainers, political figures and comedians through an array of comic games and quick-witted panel conversations that test their knowledge of current events.

Produced by Hat Trick Productions for CNN Originals,...

(Courtesy image)

Warner Bros Discovery-owned cable news channel CNN has hired former “Daily Show” correspondent Roy Wood, Jr. to serve as the host of the American version of the BBC’s comedy news program “Have I Got News For You.”

The show will premier on Saturday, September 14 on CNN, with the on-demand version available across cable, satellite and some streaming platforms the following day. Have I Got News For You will air Saturdays at 9 p.m. Eastern and Pacific every week thereafter.

“For far too long immigrants have been coming to America and taking black jobs, kudos to CNN and the immigrants at Hat Trick Productions for bringing a Black job to the States,” Wood Jr. said in a statement “It is an honor to be a part of such a hallowed British institution to help make sense of the American institutions of chaos, name-calling, disinformation, reality television and the eight-hour news cycle.

CNN named Roy Wood Jr. as the host of “Have I Got News for You,” the U.S. version of the long-running BBC comedy series, the network announced on Thursday.

The comedian and former “Daily Show” correspondent will host the 10-episode run which is slated to debut on Saturday, September 14 at 9 p.m. Et on CNN. The program will air regularly on Saturdays and will also be available to stream on Max the following day.

The BBC version of the program has been on the air since 1990 and the format features two teams of panelists answering questions about the news of the week. CNN is developing the U.S. version of the show with Hat Trick Productions, which produces the BBC program.

“For far too long immigrants have been coming to America and taking Black jobs, kudos to CNN and the immigrants at Hat Trick Productions for bringing a Black job to the States,...

Roy Wood Jr. is getting back into the news-and-comedy game.

The comedian and Daily Show alum has been named the host of Have I Got News for You at CNN. The cable news outlet will debut its version of the long-running BBC panel show on Sept. 14.

Have I Got News for You is a BBC staple, having been on the air since 1990. The show features two teams of panelists answering questions about the week’s news, with a heavy dose of humor. CNN announced in May that it was developing its own version of the show with Hat Trick Productions, producer of the BBC show.

“For far too long immigrants have been coming to America and taking Black jobs, kudos to CNN and the immigrants at Hat Trick Productions for bringing a Black job to the States,” Wood said in a statement. “It is an honor to be a part...

CNN is tapping Roy Wood Jr. to help it make Saturday nights a place for comedy tied to the headlines.

The former “Daily Show” correspondent has been named to host “Have I Got News For You,” a U.S. version of the long-running BBC comedy series. A ten-episode run will debut Saturday, September 14 at 9 p.m. eastern on CNN, and will air regularly on Saturdays before being made available on Max, the streaming service that is owned by corporate parent Warner Bros. Discovery.

The series joins rebroadcasts of Bill Maher’s HBO roundtable program, “Real Time.” CNN has hopes of branching out into news-driven comedy, according to Amy Entelis, CNN’s executive vice president of talent and content, who told Variety of such plans in a May interview. Weekend viewers might like a break from the intensity of the news week with programs about lifestyle or “have a laugh about...

Exclusive: The Daily Show alum Roy Wood Jr. has been tapped to host Have I Got News For You, CNN’s adaptation of UK’s long-running comedy panel show. Produced by Hat Trick Productions, the company behind the BBC original, for CNN Originals, the ten-episode limited series will premiere Sept. 14 and will air Saturdays at 9 Pm. It will be available to stream on Max the following day.

The panel comedy series features comic observations from the satirical to the surreal through the lens of a news quiz show. And Wood, who spent eight years on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show and headlined the 2023 White House Correspondents dinner, did not miss the opportunity of his Have I Got News For You hosting announcement to comment on current events, taking a jab at Donald Trump’s “black jobs” remark during the June Presidential debate.

“For far too long immigrants have been...

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Doctor Who, season 14, episode 7, "The Legend of Ruby Sunday"!

Doctor Who season 14 episode 7 adds new twist, suggesting Susan Triad may not be the Doctor's granddaughter. Revelation in "The Legend of Ruby Sunday" hints at a possible future where the Doctor has children. Jenny, the Doctor's daughter, is the only surviving child, as Susan and other offspring are presumed dead.

Doctor Who season 14, episode 7, "The Legend of Ruby Sunday" has revealed information that further complicates what we know about the Doctor's children. The very first episode of Doctor Who, back in 1963, revealed that the First Doctor (William Hartnell) and his granddaughter Susan (Carole Ann Ford) were living on Earth after fleeing their home planet for reasons unknown. Over 60 years later, in "The Legend of Ruby Sunday", the audience is led to believe that the Doctor's granddaughter Susan could be Susan Triad, played by Susan Twist.

However, teasing...

Fantasy is the genre that we all love most as kids and then after growing up with it we kind of love immersing ourselves into a magical world filled with dragons and bands of heroes. While all fantasy shows are not as earnest and hopeful as they were during our childhood, they still provide us with an escape into a world filled with wonder. So, we thought of making a list of the best fantasy shows you can with your Prime Video subscription.

Merlin

Merlin is a British fantasy adventure series created by Julian Jones, Jake Michie, Johnny Capps, and Julian Murphy. Loosely based on the Arthurian Legends, the BBC One series follows the story of a young Merlin as he heads to Camelot to live with the court physician Gaius. Merlin has to hide the fact that he is a warlock because King Uther Pendragon outlawed magic in the Kingdom twenty years ago.

Renegade Nell is a British historical fantasy adventure series created by Sally Wainwright. The Disney+ series follows the adventures of a young woman named Nell Jackson, who finds herself framed for murder as she flees to save her life she becomes a highwayman and with the help of a spirit she becomes one of the most feared highwaymen. Renegade Nell stars Louisa Harland in the lead role with Joely Richardson, Adrian Lester, Nick Mohammed, and Bo Bragason starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the adventures of Nell Jackson, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin (Apple TV+) Credit – Apple TV+

The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin is an absurd comedy series loosely based on the real life of highwayman Dick Turpin. Created by Claire Downes, Ian Jarvis, and Stuart Lane, the Apple TV+ series follows the story...

After the disaster that was M. Night Shyamalan‘s adaptation of Nickelodeon’s brilliant animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. Netflix is here with another adaptation and the hopes for this one are kind of high because the last Netflix live-action adaptation of One Piece was loved by new and existing fans of the IP. Avatar: The Last Airbender follows the adventures of a young boy named Aang, who is the world’s only hope to defeat the tyrannical Fire Nation. To do that he has to master all of the elements and in this adventure, he is helped by Katara and Zukko. While, Netflix’s live-action adaptation is not a direct adaptation of the animated series, as it is much more of a dramatic and visual feast than the comedic animated adventure like the animated series. The fans seem to love the live-action adaptation, and if you also loved...

Merlin co-creator Johnny Capps was interviewed to celebrate the show's 15th anniversary. Capps revealed that he has spoken with co-creator Julian Murphy about the possibility of a revival. Capps says that "all of that mythology is utterly superb."

The co-creator of Merlin discusses the possibility of a revival series. Merlin, which was created by Julian Jones, Jake Michie, Johnny Capps, and Julian Murphy, is a British fantasy show that ran for five seasons totaling 65 episodes between 2008 and 2012. It starred Colin Morgan as Merlin, the sorcerer from Arthurian legend. The ensemble cast of the series included Bradley James as Arthur Pendragon, Angel Coulby as Guinevere, Katie McGrath as Morgana Pendragon, Anthony Head as Uther Pendragon​​​​​​​, Richard Wilson as Gaius​​​​​​​, and John Hurt in a vocal role as the Great Dragon.

Radio Times recently sat down with Johnny Capps to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the original series. When discussing the possibility...

The festival ran from March 15-26.

Admissions to screenings and events at the 37th edition of the British Film Institute (BFI) Flare: London Lgbtqia+ Film Festival, increased by 16% year on year, with 57% of the audience attending for the first time.

Overall, BFI Flare saw 28,923 audience attendances across BFI Southbank screenings, events and on BFI Player, compared to 25,023 attending the BFI Southbank and on BFI player last year.

Over the first four days of the festival, 800 attendees experienced the first BFI Flare Expanded programme, a selection of five immersive art and virtual reality works from boundary-pushing Lgbtqia+ artists working across emerging technologies.

Exclusive: Ian McKellen is among the stars of Ken McMullen’s Hamlet Within, a part-documentary feature investigating the mythology around the Shakespeare play, which is headed to the Cannes Market.

The Art Cinema and Scape Films co-production will be released as an Nft collection on newly formed Blockchain ecosystem platform Cineverse, which allows filmmakers, distributors and producers to market their features directly.

The film will launch in Cannes at an event on May 21, with Screenbound International Pictures selling it at the market.

Hamlet Within is billed as a “radical cinematic investigation into the myth of Hamlet, its origins and its enduring appeal across cultures and systems of beliefs.” Part-doc and part-fictional discourse, it is shot in five acts and framed by a prelude and an epilogue and billed as “a collage of acted monologues and staged dialogues referencing Hamlet’s most famous soliloquies.”

It will feature the likes of the...

Something wicked this way comes to theaters on Christmas Day: Joel Coen’s “The Tragedy of Macbeth.”. The latest interpretation of Shakespeare’s 1606 Scottish play stars Oscar-winners Denzel Washington as Macbeth, a brave general who hears a prophecy from a trio of witches that he will become king, and Frances McDormand as Lady Macbeth, the general’s ambitious wife, who goads him into killing the King.

It’s the first film the Oscar-winning Coen has done without his brother Ethan. Coen directed his wife McDormand (they married in 1984) to the first of her three Oscars with 1996’s “Fargo.’ Could this film bag her a 4th?

Even though the play is considered “cursed” that hasn’t stopped directors and actors from tackling the powerful tragedy. The last screen version starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard and directed by Justin Kurzel was released in 2015. Reviews were generally good; the box office wasn’t.

As 2021 mercifully winds down, the Criterion Channel have a (November) lineup that marks one of their most diverse selections in some time—films by the new masters Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Garrett Bradley, Dan Sallitt’s Fourteen (one of 2020’s best films) couched in a fantastic retrospective, and Criterion editions of old favorites.

Fourteen is featured in “Between Us Girls: Bonds Between Women,” which also includes Céline and Julie, The Virgin Suicides, and Yvonne Rainer’s Privilege. Of equal note are Criterion editions for Ghost World, Night of the Hunter, and (just in time for del Toro’s spin) Nightmare Alley—all stacked releases in their own right.

See the full list of October titles below and more on the Criterion Channel.

300 Nassau, Marina Lameiro, 2015

5 Card Stud, Henry Hathaway, 1968

Alone, Garrett Bradley, 2017

Álvaro, Daniel Wilson, Elizabeth Warren, Alexandra Lazarowich, and Chloe Zimmerman, 2015

America, Garrett Bradley, 2019

Angel Face, Otto Preminger, 1953

Angels Wear White,...

Exclusive: Forced to halt production after just three weeks of shooting in South Africa when the Covid pandemic struck back in March 2020, and picking up again in Romania seven months later, Around The World In 80 Days is due to have its world premiere at Canneseries on October 10.

Star David Tennant, who plays English gentleman-turned-adventurer Phileas Fogg, is expected on the Riviera to unveil the first two episodes of this mega-adaptation of the Jules Verne classic. An airdate has yet to be set, but is likely around the holidays via such outlets as France Télévisions, PBS/Masterpiece, the BBC, Rai and Zdf. Check out the first-look teaser above.

Joining Tennant in the eight-part adventure are French actor Ibrahim Koma (Oss 177) as Fogg’s irrepressible valet, Passepartout, and Leonie Benesch (The Crown) as determined journalist, Abigail ‘Fix’ Fortescue.

A Slim Film + Television and Federation co-production for the European Alliance, the series boasts a new spin on Fogg.

Life On Mars creator and 80 Days head writer, Ashley Pharoah says, “We wanted Fogg yes to be a preposterously upper middle class over-educated Englishman, but I wanted to give him a sort of childlike sense of wonder because he’s never traveled, he’s never left London or his club. As soon as I hit on that, I thought it’s a love letter to the world, if that isn’t a bit pretentious. He goes to Paris and India and Hong Kong and Yemen and he’s so excited to see a camel, the different colors and cultures. It felt like resetting our relationship with traveling and seeing the world like that.”

In terms of scoring Tennant for the lead, former Kudos boss Simon Crawford Collins, who runs Slim Film + Television, says, “We wanted somebody who could believably do the action adventure, could play the stiff-upper-lip Englishman, but at the same time you never fall out of love with him and you really want to get under the veneer of that and go, ‘Wow, this is actually a complex man.’ David manages that so brilliantly.”

Pharoah, who is also an executive producer, hints at more Fogg adventures to come. “We are in the early stages of wondering — if this goes well — if we could do it again. Taking those three characters and doing a different adventure with them.” Hopefully not under the same conditions, however, which Pharoah recalls as “a really hard shoot.”

It was also expensive, as pandemic-related issues added about £4M in costs, Crawford Collins tells Deadline. “The first lockdown was a killer, but once we got going again we felt very blessed.” Production in South Africa was originally stopped in March 2020 and picked up again in November in Romania. “In an ideal world we would have carried on filming in South Africa where our sets were, but South Africa was coming out slowly so we did the big shift to Romania,” adds the executive producer. This year, production was able to move back to South Africa and the result is “very vibrant and cinematic.”

Around The World In 80 Days counts co-production partners Masterpiece in the U.S., Peu Communications in South Africa, and Belgium’s Be-films and Rtbf. Daro Film associate produces. Seven West Media has also backed the production and will broadcast in Australia. The series has further been acquired by the BBC in the UK and Rts in Switzerland.

While there are myriad partners on the series, Crawford Collins says development and production were “very straightforward.” France Télévisions “came back saying, ‘We love this and really want to make it and we don’t want to be the secondary broadcaster.’ They wanted to be lead, so immediately put in a sizable amount of money. It was a wonderful building block and they then brought the Alliance partners on board.”

The entire process (apart from the shutdown), “was incredibly stress free… We never had any big disagreements… The specter of Europudding still sort of lives heavily in our minds and we all know those days. But I think the trouble with that is when you have a project originated just to secure financing then it really shows through. The difference is that we had a clear vision of what we wanted to say, but just knew we needed a lot of people to help fund it.”

Also starring as series regulars in 80 Days are Jason Watkins (Des) and Peter Sullivan (Poldark). Guest actors include Lindsay Duncan (A Discovery Of Witches), Dolly Wells (Dracula), Richard Wilson (Merlin), Faical Elkihel (The Spy), Anthony Flanagan (The Terror), Gary Beadle (Patrick Melrose) and Giovanni Scifoni (Doc – Nelle Tue Mani).

Around The World In 80 Days is adapted by a team of writers led by Pharoah and Caleb Ranson (Child Of Mine). Steve Barron (The Durrells) directs with Brian Kelly (Downton Abbey) and the late Charles Beeson (The Mentalist).

Federation Entertainment handles distribution rights. Exec producers are Crawford Collins for Slim, Lionel Uzan and Pascal Breton for Federation, Winnie Serite for Peu and Susanne Simpson for Masterpiece.

Exclusive: Matt Hood, Deputy General Secretary of UK trade union Equity, is joining casting platform Talent Systems as Managing Director of Spotlight.

Hood will be responsible for running the Spotlight business in the UK and Europe and working with the company’s leadership team to help grow Talent Systems globally. He will succeed outgoing CEO Richard Wilson who was with Spotlight for seven years.

As we revealed in January, U.S. casting software company Talent Systems acquired UK firm Spotlight earlier this year.

Talent Systems’ portfolio of products includes Casting Networks, Cast It Systems, and Spotlight, which are used to source and manage talent across film, TV, commercials, theater and digital projects. Headquartered in LA, the company operates in the U.S., Canada, UK, Australia, Ukraine, India and Poland.

Hood joins from Equity, the UK trade union for actors and creators, where he has spent 17 years working across membership relations,...

Exclusive: North American casting software company Talent Systems has acquired Spotlight, the United Kingdom’s premier casting platform.

Talent Systems connects talent and their representatives with casting directors in film, television, theater, print, voiceover, and commercials.

The deal creates a unique and global casting software ecosystem and offers the respective clients of each company new partnership benefits as the platforms expand their resources worldwide. Casting directors can use the platform to find, audition, and book top artists, as clients of both companies will now have greater access to a worldwide portfolio of job listings and talent profiles. Talent Systems is led by Co-CEOs Alex Amin and Rafi Gordon, and Spotlight is led by CEO Richard Wilson.

Spotlight’s senior leadership team will remain in place and continue to seamlessly run the business. Spotlight is a 94-year old firm, and based in London’s West End.

Amin and Gordon said, “Spotlight...

After production was halted on David Tennant drama Around The World In 80 Days amid the escalating coronavirus pandemic last March, filming has resumed in Romania. In all, the shoot will be spread across locations and studios in Romania and South Africa over a five-month period.

A Slim Film + Television and Federation co-production for the European Alliance, the project has also been boarded by co-production partners Masterpiece in the U.S., Peu Communications in South Africa, and Belgium’s Be-films and Rtbf. Daro Film associate produces.

Joining Tennant in the eight-part adaptation of Jules Verne’s classic adventure are French actor Ibrahim Koma (Oss 177) as Phileas Fogg’s irrepressible valet, Passepartout, and Leonie Benesch (The Crown) as determined journalist, Abigail ‘Fix’ Fortescue.

Also starring as series regulars are Jason Watkins (Des) and Peter Sullivan (Poldark).

Guest actors now joining the cast include Lindsay Duncan (A Discovery Of Witches...

Will Smith, as you may have heard, is from West Philadelphia (born and raised), and with some help from one of YouTube's newest feature, the A-lister gave back to the area where he grew up. Smith employed the video site's Teespring shelf, which was announced at VidCon last month, to raise $20,000 in two days to support a school in West Philly.

Smith launched a new merchandise line in response to a mural that went up on the side of the Global Leadership Academy Charter School in West Philly. The painting is the work of Richard Wilson, who has created monumental murals in cities across the world.

In order to give back to Wilson and the Global Leadership Academy, Smith rolled out a line of shirts, hoodies, pillows, prints, tote bags, tapestries, phone cases, and mugs, all featuring the mural and all available through Teespring. To help push sales, he...

Channel 4 host under fire for what some feel was an inappropriate remark as he interviewed Richard Wilson about his friend, who had died that day

Jon Snow, the Channel 4 presenter, has been criticised for making a joke during an interview with Richard Wilson about the late Alan Rickman.

Related: Alan Rickman: an actor of singular charm and hypnotic charisma

Continue reading...

The BBC has revealed an eye-catching cast for its new adaptation of Shakespeare comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream, as helmed by Doctor Who veteran Russell T Davies.

A one-off 90-minute TV play set to air in 2016 as part of a special Shakespeare season, the cast includes Matt Lucas (as Bottom), John Hannah (as Theseus) and Richard Wilson (as Starveling).

Then there's Maxine Peake (as Titania), Elaine Paige (as Mistress Quince), Eleanor Matsuura (as Hippolyta) and Bernard Cribbins (as Snout).

The classic Shakespeare comedy - a mainstay of many Gcse courses - sees four plots intersect, with the worlds of humans and fairies colliding thanks to the mischievous Puck (here played by newcomer Hiran Abeysekera).

"This is such an exciting range of actors from stage and screen, from wild comedy to high drama, and some making their first ever appearance on camera," says writer-producer Davies.

"The Dream is coming to life like never before,...

Can you believe it's been seven years since Colin Morgan's boy wizard first strode onto our screens?

The series premiere of Merlin on September 20, 2008 set us off on a magical five-year journey - one with mythical monsters, wicked warlocks and excessive amounts of bromantic banter.

Millions tuned in each Saturday night for the show's blend of fun, fantasy and friendship - because Merlin and Arthur (Bradley James) were definitely just friends, Ok? - but what's happened to Camelot's finest since that epic final episode?

Colin Morgan

The aged Emrys might still be waiting for King Arthur to revive, but Merlin lead Colin Morgan hasn't lain dormant these past few years. He appeared opposite fellow Irish legend Gabriel Byrne in BBC One's moody detective drama Quirke in 2014, was seduced by Gillian Anderson as mercurial copper Tom Anderson in The Fall and played cyborg Leo in Channel 4's smash hit Humans.

Jeremy Clarkson will host the first episode of Have I Got News for You's new series - after pulling out of an appearance at the height of the Top Gear fallout.

The TV presenter will take charge of the satirical panel show on Friday, October 2, according to Radio Times.

Originally booked to host the show back in April, Clarkson pulled out of the appearance weeks after his axe from Top Gear.

At the time, executive producer Richard Wilson said: "We do get people who are booked but can't do it. He's pulled out in the past because of filming commitments but he just doesn't feel the time's right to do it.

"[The BBC] were absolutely fine about it. There was a very tough line for them to tread [but] we made it clear to them we'd booked him before it all kicked off - it wasn't like us sticking two fingers up.

Richard Wilson will bring One Foot in the Grave's Victor Meldrew back to life as part of a fundraiser at The Crucible.

The actor presents An Evening with Richard Wilson at the world-famous venue on Friday, October 23 to raise money for Sheffield Theatres.

"For one night only, Richard Wilson will delight audiences by reprising his role as Victor Meldrew, performing hilarious scenes from One Foot in the Grave," reads the blurb.

"Join Victor as he battles with the irritations of life, with plenty of laugh-out-loud exasperation along the way."

As well as bringing Victor back, Wilson will talk about his life and work and take part in a Q&A on his TV and theatre.

Fans buying VIP tickets can attend a canapés and drinks reception with the actor after the show.

Tickets are available now and are priced from £20 to £40.

One Foot in the Grave ran for six...

From the BBC, and starring newcomer Kascion Franklin, comes the dramatic feature "Danny and the Human Zoo," written by Lenny Henry, which is a fictionalized account of the actor/comedian's his life as a talented teenager in the 1970s, in Dudley, England. Franklin of course plays the title character, Danny, with Lenny Henry playing his dad, Samson, and Cecilia Noble his mum, Myrtle.  Arthur Darvill, Richard Wilson, and Mark Benton round out the starring cast, with BAFTA Rising Star Destiny Ekaragha (whose feature debut, "Gone Too Far," was covered on this blog) is director. Good for her! I wondered what she would do next... Said Lenry Henry in a press statement...

TV newcomer Kascion Franklin has landed the lead role of Danny in Danny And The Human Zoo, Lenny Henry's fictionalised account of his life as a talented teenager in 1970s Dudley.

Kascion (represented by Red Talent Management) from Birmingham, trained at the University of Northampton and Identity School of Acting.

He will star alongside Lenny Henry who will play his dad Samson and Cecilia Noble as his mum Myrtle. Arthur Darvill plays Danny’s Manager Jonesy, Richard Wilson plays promoter James Broughto, Mark Benton plays seasoned entertainer Syd Bolton, and Cherrelle Skeete plays Danny's sister Dee Dee,

BAFTA Rising Star Destiny Ekaragha (Gone Too Far) directs the drama which is being made by Red Production Company for BBC One.

Lenry Henry said: "I can't believe that we're finally shooting my screenplay Danny And The Human Zoo! This is a fantasy memoir of the first two years of my career - my beginnings,...

The BBC has today announced the casting of newcomer Kascion Franklin, in the lead role for "Danny and the Human Zoo," written by Lenny Henry, which is a fictionalized account of the actor/comedian's his life as a talented teenager in the 1970s, in Dudley, England. Franklin will play the title character, Danny, with Lenny Henry playing his dad, Samson, and Cecilia Noble his mum, Myrtle.  Arthur Darvill, Richard Wilson, and Mark Benton round out the starring cast, with BAFTA Rising Star Destiny Ekaragha (whose feature debut, "Gone Too Far," was covered on this blog) is attached to direct. Good for her! I wondered what she would do next... Said Lenry Henry in a...

Arthur Darvill and Richard Wilson have joined BBC One's Danny and the Human Zoo, a fictionalised account of Lenny Henry's life as a teenager.

Newcomer Kascion Franklin is playing the titular Danny, while Henry - who also wrote the script - will portray Danny's father Samson.

Cecilia Noble will play Danny's mother Myrtle. Doctor Who actor Darvill has been announced as manager Jonesy, with Wilson signed on for the part of promoter James Broughton.

Mark Benton also joins as entertainer Syd Bolton.

Danny and the Human Zoo follows the ups and downs of Danny's emerging career after he wins a talent competition at a local club.

Working the comedy circuit, Danny eventually hits the big time on television, but is taken advantage of by his unscrupulous manager.

"I can't believe that we're finally shooting my screenplay," Henry said.

"This is a fantasy memoir of the first two years...

Have I Got News For You has found a replacement for Jeremy Clarkson as guest host on the show.

Stephen Mangan has stepped in to replace the former Top Gear presenter, who was due to host the BBC One news quiz before his high-profile fracas with a producer.

Clarkson's fans were left disappointed after he pulled out of the show, which was to be his first major television slot since being dismissed from Top Gear.

Episodes star Mangan will host the long-running political panel show for the fourth time when he takes the hot seat in the coming weeks, The Guardian reports.

There is still hope for Clarkson to host Have I Got News For You in the future, as executive producer Richard Wilson recently explained that he will return "when he's ready".

Meanwhile, James May has ruled out any chances of returning to Top Gear without Clarkson, saying...

St Patrick's Day gets a lot of love, what with all the pub going and the Guinness drinking. In comparison, England's St George's Day tends to be a much more low-key affair, but there is a benefit to this: an evening free to catch up on some great TV.

To celebrate dragon slaying and all the other things that make our country great, we've put together a list of the best films and television shows from the UK available to watch on Netflix right now:

Sherlock

Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss have redefined Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary detective for the 21st century.

Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman have both been heaped with praise for their roles as the dynamic duo of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, in stories that bring a modern twist to the classic mysteries.

Doctor Who

Digital Spy readers hardly need us to list the virtues of Doctor Who.

Jeremy Clarkson has revealed that he was coping with a possible cancer scare two days before the incident that saw him lose his Top Gear gig.

The presenter has since been given the medical all-clear.

The 55-year-old acknowledged the scare in his latest column for The Sunday Times.

"Two days before the 'fracas', I'd been told, sternly, by my doctor that the lump on my tongue was probably cancer and that I must get it checked out immediately," the presenter wrote. "But I couldn't do that. We were in the middle of a Top Gear series. And Top Gear always came first."

Clarkson also used this week's column to address his plans for the future, which could include creating "another car show" now that he cannot return to Top Gear.

"I have lost my baby but I shall create another," he revealed. "I don't know who the other parent will...

Jeremy Clarkson has revealed that he was coping with a possible cancer scare two days before the incident that saw him lose his Top Gear gig.

The presenter has since been given the medical all-clear.

The 55-year-old acknowledged the scare in his latest column for The Sunday Times.

"Two days before the 'fracas', I'd been told, sternly, by my doctor that the lump on my tongue was probably cancer and that I must get it checked out immediately," the presenter wrote. "But I couldn't do that. We were in the middle of a Top Gear series. And Top Gear always came first."

Clarkson also used this week's column to address his plans for the future, which could include creating "another car show" now that he cannot return to Top Gear.

"I have lost my baby but I shall create another," he revealed. "I don't know who the other parent will...

Have I Got News for You's executive producer has explained that Jeremy Clarkson will host the show "when he's ready".

The presenter had been booked to appear on the BBC panel show later this month - in his first major television slot since being dismissed from Top Gear - but he pulled out last week.

Executive producer Richard Wilson has now told The Guardian that Clarkson chose not to appear because he didn't feel the time was right.

"People pull out of the show quite frequently," he insisted. "We do get people who are booked but can't do it. He's pulled out in the past because of filming commitments but he just doesn't feel the time's right to do it.

"I think there was a big flurry of press about him doing it because the billings went out to listings. I don't know if there was an official announcement saying he was doing it,...

Broadchurch regained more than one million viewers on Monday (February 9), according to overnight figures.

The ITV crime drama was the most watched programme of the evening with 5.86m (25.9%) at 9pm (318k/2.1% on +1). Earlier, Richard Wilson on the Road interested 2.71m (11.6%) at 8pm (95k/0.4%).

BBC One's Inside Out appealed to 3.77m (17.2%) at 7.30pm, before Panorama averaged 2.7m (11.5%) at 8.30pm, and New Tricks continued with 3.17m (14%) at 9pm.

On BBC Two, University Challenge brought in 2.86m (12.3%) at 8pm, while Only Connect garnered 2.16m (9.1%) at 8.30pm. A Cook Abroad was watched by 1.6m (7.1%) at 9pm. Backchat entertained 850k (5%) at 10pm.

Channel 4's The Jump wrapped up with 1.73m (7.4%) at 8pm (183k/0.8%) as Joey Essex won the winter sports competition.

Later, Heston's Recipe for Romance educated 830k (3.6%) at 9pm (145k/1%), while Catastrophe continued with 480k (2.9%) at 10pm (51k/0.6%).

Over on Channel 5, Police Interceptors thrilled 1.13m (4.8%) at 8pm (93k/0.4%). Benefits Britain: Life on...

Silent Witness outperformed Broadchurch in the ratings for a second week running, according to overnight figures for Monday (January 26).

The BBC crime drama appealed to 5.53m (22.5%) at 9pm to be the highest-rated show of the evening outside of the soaps.

Earlier, Inside Out was watched by 3.92m (17.9%) at 7.30pm, before Panorama documentary Rescued from a Forced Marriage interested 3.11m (13.2%) at 8.30pm.

On BBC Two, University Challenge gathered 2.97m (12.8%) at 8pm, while Only Connect quizzed 2.4m (10.2%) at 8.30pm. David Starkey's Magna Carta transfixed 1.5m (6.1%) at 9pm, before Jack Whitehall's Backchat amused 830k (4.6%) at 10pm.

ITV's Broadchurch rose marginally from last week's series low to 5.17m (21%) at 9pm (414k/2.6% on +1). Earlier in the evening, Richard Wilson's On the Road interested 2.9m (12.5%) at 8.30pm (85k/0.3%).

On Channel 4, Dispatches drew in 1.1m (4.7%) at 8pm (138k/0.6%), followed by Food Unwrapped with 1.51m (6.4%) at 8.30pm (141k/0.6%). The Undateables attracted 1.82m (7.4%) at 9pm...

Richard Wilson has told Digital Spy that the BBC have talked to him about starring in a sitcom.

The actor, who is most famous for roles in Merlin and One Foot in the Grave, said that he wasn't sure whether the project would go ahead.

Wilson told DS: "I wouldn't mind considering another sitcom. The BBC have talked about me coming back to do something, but I don't know whether that will happen.

"The trouble with One Foot in the Grave was it was so well-written by David Renwick, it's very hard to find something as good as that."

Wilson is currently fronting ITV's Richard Wilson's On the Road, in which he tours the UK in his vintage car using Shell Guides that were first published in the 1930s.

Asked if he planned to present more factual television, Wilson replied: "No, no. I can still consider myself an active actor,...

Richard Wilson has said that he doesn't miss starring in Merlin.

The 78-year-old actor played Gaius in the BBC One fantasy drama alongside Colin Morgan and Bradley James.

Asked by Digital Spy whether he missed the show, Wilson replied: "No, no. It was too hectic.

"Merlin was made in France and Wales, and I was an associate director [of New Sheffield Theatres] in Sheffield and I live in London, so I was running between Sheffield, London, France and Cardiff which was a wee bit hectic.

"We did five years of it and it was good fun at the time. But no, I wasn't sad to leave Merlin – well I didn't leave Merlin, it finished!"

Richard Wilson is directing Sarah Kane's Blasted at Sheffield Theatres, which opens on February 10.

Broadchurch dipped by a further 400,000 viewers on Monday evening, overnight data reveals.

The ITV drama brought in a series low of 5.15 million viewers (20.7%) on average from 9pm, with an added 507k (3.2%) on +1. Earlier, Richard Wilson's On the Road was seen by 3.21m (13.7%) at 8pm (122k/0.5% on +1).

BBC One's Silent Witness overtook Broadchurch as the highest-rated show outside soaps with 5.87m (23.6%) at 9pm.

Earlier, Inside Out appealed to 3.85m (17.5%) at 7.30pm, while Panorama interested 3.50m (14.5%) at 8.30pm.

BBC Two's University Challenge quizzed 2.84m (12.1%) at 8pm, followed by Only Connect with 2.17m (9.0%) at 8.30pm. Winterwatch attracted 1.71m (6.9%) at 9pm, while Jack Whitehall's Backchat amused 822k (4.5%) at 10pm.

On Channel 4, Dispatches fascinated 1.37m (5.8%) at 8pm, followed by Food Unwrapped with 1.34m (5.6%) at 8.30pm (148k/0.6%). The Undateables intrigued 1.47m (5.9%) at 9pm (342k/2.2%), while new comedy Catastrophe tickled 683k (3.8%) at 10pm (117k/1.3%).

Channel 5's Storage: Flog the Lot! entertained 601k (2.5%) at 8pm.

Broadchurch dropped to its lowest-ever ratings on Monday, overnight figures reveal.

The ITV drama dipped by over 1.6 million viewers from last week, falling to an average 5.57m (22.4%) at 9pm, with an added 555,000 (3.4%) on +1.

Earlier, Richard Wilson's On the Road appealed to 2.88m (12.3%) at 8pm (108k/0.4% on +1).

Earlier in the day, Mel & Sue launched with 888k (8.1%) at 4pm.

BBC One's Inside Out returned with 4.17m (18.9%) at 7.30pm, while Panorama gathered 2.95m (12.5%) at 8.30pm.

Silent Witness was just behind Broadchurch, attracting 5.49m (22.1%) at 9pm.

On BBC Two, University Challenge quizzed 3.06m (13.1%) at 8pm, followed by Only Connect with 2.43m (10.3%) at 8.30pm. Horizon was seen by 1.87m (7.5%) at 9pm, while Jack Whitehall's Backchat amused 1.11m (6.0%) at 10pm.

Channel 4's Dispatches interested 1.51m (6.4%) at 8pm (123k/0.5%), while Food Unwrapped was seen by 1.86m (7.8%) at 8.30pm (112k/0.5%). The Undateables continued with 1.62m (6.5%) at 9pm (475k/2.9%), followed by Bodyshockers with 1.13m (6.9%) at...