Latest from What To Watch in Behind-the-scenes

How to Train Your Dragon behind-the-scenes special airs on NBC tonight, June 6

michael.balderston@futurenet.com (Michael Balderston) — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 12:48:53 +0000

Excited about the release of the live-action How to Train Your Dragon set for next Friday, June 13? Well then, you’re probably going to want to watch Soaring to Life: The Making of How to Train Your Dragon, a behind-the-scenes special for the movie that is airing on NBC on Friday, June 6, at 8 pm ET/PT.

How to Train Your Dragon, one of WTW’s most anticipated summer blockbuster movies of 2025, is a remake of the classic 2010 animated movie of the same name about a Viking boy named Hiccup who goes against his people’s traditions of fighting dragons to befriend one named Toothless. Dean DeBlois, who directed the original animated movies, directs the live-action version as well, which stars Mason Thames as Hiccup, Nico Parker as Astrid and Gerard Butler as Stoic, taking on the role he voiced in the original movie.

In Soaring to Life, NBC has put together a half-hour special that shows how DeBlois took his original animated vision and reimagined it for this new adaptation. That included elaborate hand-crafted sets and cutting-edge filmmaking technology, which will all be previewed by Thames, Parker and Butler in the special.

To watch Soaring to Life: The Making of How to Train Your Dragon on NBC, you must have access to the broadcast network. That can be through a traditional pay-TV provider, a TV antenna or a live TV streaming service (Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, Sling TV and YouTube TV are all examples of ones that carry NBC). Peacock Premium Plus subscribers can also watch the special live on the streaming platform, while all Peacock subscribers can watch it on-demand starting Saturday, June 7.

If the special has you itching to watch the original animated How to Train Your Dragon again ahead of the live-action remake, the movie is currently streaming on Peacock (as well as Max).

Dean DeBlois, Gabriel Howell and Nico Parker on the set of How to Train Your Dragon (Image credit: Helen Sloan/Universal Pictures)

At this time, there are no reviews for How to Train Your Dragon. However, the movie was shown in its entirety at the annual CinemaCon conference in April, where early reactions were quite strong, as shared by Rotten Tomatoes.

NBC has been helping to build the excitement for some big Universal Picture movies recently. Last fall they had a Wicked special ahead of the movie musical’s release; they’ll be doing the same this fall ahead of Wicked: For Good.

But tonight is for How to Train Your Dragon. Again, you can tune in for the special at 8 pm ET/PT on NBC, or stream it on demand on Peacock starting June 7.

Check out the How to Train Your Dragon Trailer right here:

Netflix gets controversial Harry Styles movie marked by unmissable behind-the-scenes drama but with only 38% on Rotten Tomatoes

Tom Bedford — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 05:00:40 +0000

One of the most talked-about movies of 2022 has been added to Netflix in the UK, but fans of drama may find it tantalizing for very different reasons.

This movie is Don't Worry Darling, which was released theatrically in September 2022 and has just been added to Netflix's library as of Wednesday, April 2. It previously streamed on Prime Video where, at the time of writing, it remains.

Don't Worry Darling was directed by actress Olivia Wilde with Florence Pugh and One Directioner Harry Styles in the lead roles and Chris Pine, Gemma Chan and Wilde herself supporting. Set in a perfect-seeming 1950s company town, it's about a housewife who starts to realize that there are strange mysterious going on in the town, which are all linked to the company that created the settlement in the first place.

I've spoken to some people who really enjoyed Don't Worry Darling, but it wasn't exactly a critical hit, sitting at 38% on Rotten Tomatoes right now. Critics slated its unoriginal premise, the poor performance from a pop star and the lack of direction in the plot.

However fans of the dramatic arts got their fix from Don't Worry Darling purely from the behind-the-scenes drama alone. For much of 2022, it felt like there was always some piece of on-set beef or dramatic rumor from the production being reported in the press.

Examples include Shia LaBeouf's exit, Wilde having divorce papers served while at a CinemaCon presentation for the movie, "spit-gate", denials of alleged arguments between Wilde and Pugh, and a dramatic premiere. Every tidbit of drama meant people were arguably more invested in those controversies than the movie itself.

But is Don't Worry Darling actually worth a watch? The critics' score would say no, but the movie actually sits at a 74% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, and it made quite a bit at the box office when it came out.

So for fans of the cast or premise, or those wanting to see if there are any hints of on-screen drama in the finished product, it's probably worth a stream. If you don't think you're interested, though, there's definitely going to be other movies on Netflix worth a watch.

In the US? Don't Worry Darling isn't on any streaming service however you can buy or rent it with video-on-demand services.

The Traitors' Jaz Singh reveals behind-the-scenes secrets of being a finalist

Steven Perkins — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 12:17:41 +0000

The Traitors UK season 3 has delivered plenty of thrilling twists and turns, not to mention numerous murders and banishments that have cut some players' time in the castle cruelly short.

As the show reaches its final stages this week, the pressure will be on for all the contestants: with a huge cash prize at stake, the Faithful will want to catch and banish the remaining Traitors, while the Traitors will be hoping to escape detection right the way to the end of the game.

In last year's gripping finale, Traitor Harry Clark triumphed at the final roundtable after convincing Faithful Mollie Pearce to back him over fellow Faithful Jaz Singh — which meant that Harry took the entire prize fund of just over £95,000, while a distraught Mollie left empty-handed.

We caught up with Jaz to find out what will be going through the current players' minds as they prepare for the final stages of the Claudia Winkleman-fronted gameshow — and what he thinks the Faithful will need to do to win this time around...

Jaz Singh interview for The Traitors

How does it feel to be a finalist on The Traitors?

"The only way to describe it is that time stays still! Your position as a contestant on the show is almost stagnant, even though mentally you know time is ticking, because everything is so difficult and all these things can change at any given moment. You're so convinced that Claudia will just walk into the room and say 'Jaz, you have now left the game, please leave the castle'! It's emotional, and it's hard work. I can't really put into words how difficult it is."

Claudia Winkleman with the cast of The Traitors Series 3 (Image credit: BBC/Studio Lambert)

It must be even tougher for the Faithful, because you've been wondering if you're going to get murdered every night...

"Yeah — if you're a Faithful and you get to the final, it is a different kind of pressure, because every single night, you're going to sleep at 2am or 3am and waking up at 6am, so you're on very little sleep, knowing that tomorrow could be your last day, so you're on constant paranoia. So in getting to the final, the pressure is already so high, to the point where your decision-making, how you behave, how you interact with the other contestants — your vision of everything is so clouded that you have to be a bit regimented."

How did you keep a clear head?

"In my room, I had a little Post-It note, just to remind myself every day of the reason why I was in there, and the people that I wanted to make proud. That just sort of centered me every time, to go 'this is why you're doing this, so just keep pushing'."

The Series 2 finalists with Claudia (Image credit: BBC/Studio Lambert)

Were you always happy to be a Faithful, or did you ever wish you were a Traitor?

"Ooh, nooo — I was not happy at all! I pleaded, I begged to be a Traitor, and it was the biggest shock of my life that Claudia didn't tap me on the shoulder, because I went in thinking and believing, 'I'm going to be a Traitor, I'm going to have full control over this game, I'm going to be the last man standing'. I had no idea that fate had a different story lined up and that I was going to be a Faithful — I didn't plan or prep for that, but as soon as I took that blindfold off, I thought, 'you'd better change your game mindset!'"

You were noted for your detective skills last year — but of course that's only half the battle, because you need a majority of Faithfuls to vote with you to banish the Traitors. In particular, you needed Mollie to side with you against Harry at the end — how did it feel knowing your fate was in her hands?

"Your stomach goes. You start to feel physical responses with dealing with that level of pressure, because you spent nine months trying to get onto a show, and getting to the final is almost impossible, and then once you're in that position, your fate is now in somebody else's hands, so it's a bit of a double-edged sword. But I played the game exactly how I wanted to play it, and I have no regrets. When that element of control has been passed to someone else to try and assist you, you don't want to force an agenda, you don't want to manipulate and influence somebody to make their decision, you just, as a Faithful, have to be yourself, and it's up to them who they click with."

Viewers across the nation screamed when Mollie asked to change her vote at the final banishment! What was that like to experience in real life?

"So, so painful, because to be honest, Mollie changed her mind a few times, and I could see she was in tears trying to make this decision. My stomach kept going, and I didn't know how to remain calm. Should I shout out to Mollie, saying 'don't do it!', or should I say to her, 'Mollie, we've made mistakes in this game, Harry's made no mistakes whatsoever, isn't that suspicious to you?' But in my mind I'm thinking 'Jaz, you've done everything that you can, it is literally beyond your control at this point, and whatever is meant to be will be — and remember, this isn't the real world, you do have a life to go back to after this!'"

Jaz and his fellow finalists with Claudia outside the castle (Image credit: BBC/Studio Lambert)

On that, did you have any idea what life would be like after the show?

"Absolutely not. One thing I can say, Studio Lambert [the production company that makes The Traitors] have been unbelievable in terms of welfare and wellbeing. I've been told horror stories from back in the day where you didn't get that support — you were put on a show, recorded, booted off and then you just returned to normal life, whereas with this, right from the get-go, even during the application process, Studio Lambert and the whole team have been phenomenal. They want to make sure that at the end of the day, you know this is a game, and they're there at your disposal should you need them — I'm still in contact with them, just to have that relationship, it's vital, especially with the ending that I had. I felt that the recovery side of things would take me a long time, but I never thought things would blow up the way they have. The response has been immense — when people come up to you and still want a selfie and call me 'Jazatha Christie', it genuinely does fill my heart — that's all part of the recovery!"

The 'Jazatha Christie' nickname was brilliant! How did you feel about that?

"I didn't know who Agatha Christie was, and that's the worst bit! I actually announced on [Traitors companion show] Uncloaked that I had no idea who this Queen of Crime is, so I had to Google! It's crazy to be associated with an icon, and following that I was able to shoot a VT with This Morning, to go on a journey to Torquay to discover more about who Agatha Christie is. So now I know, I'm in awe — and whoever came up with that name, I still need to get them a gift to thank them!"

Jaz has stayed in touch with Claudia Winkleman (Image credit: BBC/Studio Lambert)

What was it like working with Claudia? Did you all form a bond with her?

"Claudia is something else, she really is — and she's a lot smaller in real life! She's such a powerhouse, she's got so much energy, and she's just perfect for the show. Now I've got that relationship where I can just pick up the phone to her and go, 'Auntie Claud? I've got a question for you, can you help me?' She's been amazing since leaving the castle, she's truly an amazing person."

What tips do you have for the Faithful if they want to win this series?

"Timing is critical. Even though you might know who a Traitor is, or you're 99% sure, pick your moment of when you want to share that, and who you're going to share that with. Balance is important — you can't get too close to someone because that might shoot you in the foot, but you can't be too far apart either because people might think, 'they're not putting in any effort with me, they're a bit dodgy, they're definitely a Traitor', so you have to try and get that dynamic right. Make sure everything is backed up, make sure you've got evidence, don't just pluck things out of thin air like 'oh, that person's a Traitor because they blinked' — you've got to have something strong and tangible that nobody can argue with. And keep your cool!"

The Traitors continues on Wednesday, January 22 and Thursday, January 23 at 9pm on BBC1. The finale airs on Frida,y January 24 at 8.30pm. Catch up on the series so far on BBC iPlayer.

I went behind the scenes of Wham!'s Last Christmas and here's what I found

Rebecca Mahoney — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 12:17:56 +0000

Shoulder pads? CHECK! 80s bouffant hair? CHECK! Christmas spirit? CHECK!
I’m all set to put the “boom boom” into your hearts for a behind-the-scenes adventure in the snowy Swiss village of Saas-Fee, where Wham! made merry music 40 years ago by filming their now-iconic video for hit single Last Christmas.

This year, “to save us from tears”, the picture-postcard ski resort of Saas-Fee takes centre stage once again as BBC2 documentary Wham!: Last Christmas Unwrapped (available now on BBC iPlayer) follows Andrew Ridgeley, plus Wham! backing vocalists Pepsi DeMacque-Crockett and Shirlie Kemp, on a nostalgia-filled return journey four decades later.

“The first time I went to Saas-Fee, I’d never been skiing or anything like that. I was an urbanite from London who was afraid of the cold!” laughs Pepsi. “I always thought snow was all slushy and horrible, but it was all lovely and white as it reflected the sunshine. It was beautiful, and coming back now, I see the beauty of the place again.

“Saas-Fee is so picturesque and it calls for you to get cosy and be with the ones you love,” says Pepsi. “It has this sense of nostalgia and romance, so we can’t avoid feeling that way while here. I think the other star of the show is Saas-Fee, really. It’s a pretty gorgeous place.”

Wham! filmed their video for Last Christmas in stunning Saas-Fee, Switzerland. (Image credit: Saastal Tourismus AG/Amarcster Media)

Surrounded by charming, snow-capped chalets and rolling icy mountain peaks, I’m following in Pepsi and co’s famous footsteps as the high-altitude, car-free village in Switzerland celebrates the song’s 40th anniversary with a feast of Wham!-themed activities.

Nods to the band are dotted around the winding streets and I kick off the ‘Whamiversary’ at the five-star Walliserhof Grand Hotel & Spa, where the stars and film crew stayed in 1984. George’s cosy apartment on the top floor has been renamed ‘The George Michael Suite’. Decorated with photos and albums, it’s a fitting tribute to the pop star, while the spectacular view from the balcony glimpses the Dom, the highest mountain on Swiss ground.

George Michael and his Wham! bandmates stayed at the Walliserhof Grand Hotel & Spa in 1984.

While sipping on George’s favourite cocktail, vodka and watermelon spritz (it would be rude not to!), I learn about the commotion involving the diamanté brooch belonging to Andrew's grandmother that George gives to his love interest in the video (played by model Kathy Hill). After going missing on the day of filming, panic-stricken hotel staff scoured the rooms and corridors, until an eagle-eyed porter spotted it twinkling in the snow outside the Walliserhof.

Next up is a Wham! exhibition in the local museum, a temporary home to posters, photos, recordings and memorabilia, while not far from the hotel, we find the new Wham! monument unveiled by Andrew, Pepsi and Shirlie in the documentary.

Visiting a Wham! exhibition in the museum in Saas-Fee, Switzerland. (Image credit: Future)

Sporting a suitably retro ski suit, my guide Lynn welcomes me on a ‘Wham!Walk’, which tours the video’s filming locations, including the alpine Chalet Schliechte in the ‘Wildi’ part of the village, which provided exterior shots for the snowball fight and infamous “boozy” Christmas dinner scene (interiors were filmed in the cultural centre).

“Plenty of wine was consumed in that dinner scene, but not much food!” Andrew tells me, but Lynn feeds me even more tasty titbits as I approach the chalet.

“The people of Saas found it particularly amusing that George Michael arrived in the depths of winter in summer moccasins,” Lynn smiles. “He insisted on keeping his summer shoes on as long as there was no filming and gave the locals something to laugh about with his slips!”

I visit the iconic chalet that features in the Wham! Last Christmas video. (Image credit: Future)

The tour would not be complete without a ride on the instantly recognisable Felskinn cable car, where Andrew and the gang cheerily wave to George in the video’s opening sequence. Gondola operator Charly Schmidt had no idea who the pop stars were at the time and only saw the video 10 years later.

“In the 80s, it was not yet common to own a TV and nobody had English channels,” says Charly. “We had no idea that the clip was so successful!”

I wave to Last Christmas stars Kathy Hill and Andrew Ridgeley at the Felskinn cable car station. (Image credit: Future)

Andrew’s advice is ringing in my ears as I prepare to board the cable car up to the world’s highest underground funicular, the Metro Alpin, which ascends further to 3,457metres to the world’s highest revolving restaurant.

“Just don’t trip up on that ski lift like I did… several times!” laughs Andrew, who recreates the stumble in the documentary. “It’s a real privilege to be back, though, and to be with the same group of old friends. Obviously, we’re missing a very important personality there, but it’s nevertheless a really warm and affectionate experience.”

Wham! boarded the Felskinn cable car while filming the Last Christmas video. (Image credit: Saas-Fee Saastal Tourism)

George passed away on Christmas Day in 2016 and reconnecting in the Swiss Alps for a special documentary is a tonic for his close-knit circle of friends, including Jonny Fowler, Pat Fernandes, Cheryl Harrison and David Ridler, who all starred in the video.

“Our Christmases all together were the best,” says Shirlie. “George loved this time of year, and we used to go carolling with him in disguise. But it’s a real honour to come back to Saas-Fee, and being with our old friends is both joyous and tearful.”

The Wham! monument stands proudly in Saas-Fee marking the 40th anniversary of the recording of the Last Christmas music video. (Image credit: Future)

One of the few destinations with enough snow in November 1984, Saas-Fee was a last-minute choice for the video’s production team and Wham!’s driver at the time, Stefan Zurbriggen (who’s now the Mayor of Saas-Fee), recalls the moment the stars rolled into the resort.

“They were not equipped for winter at all, and we had to give them shoes and clothes suitable for the snow,” says Stefan. “Honestly, at the time, we didn’t know who Wham! were. But when the song came out, we immediately realised how big this thing was.”

A pop-up Wham! karaoke box greets visitors to Saas-Fee. (Image credit: Future)

With one billion video views, four billion audio streams and hitting the No.1 spot in 16 countries, there’s no escaping the timeless song that finally reached Christmas UK No.1 last year, especially as I stroll around Saas-Fee in December.

So before I wrap up my visit and “go-go”, I can’t resist a turn in the pop-up Wham! karaoke box, where budding George Michaels can belt out one song only. Can you guess what it is?

Wham!: Last Christmas Unwrapped is available now on BBC iPlayer.

How to watch the Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson fight live: streaming, start time, behind the scenes and more

tom.bedford@hotmail.co.uk (Tom Bedford) — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 06:00:00 +0000

On Friday, November 15, legendary boxer Mike Tyson and former Vine star Jake Paul will take to the ring in one of the biggest boxing match-ups of the year.

Tyson represents the sport’s old guard and he’s one of the most famous names in the sport, while Jake Paul has made a surprising transformation from social media influencer to boxer in recent years. All eyes are on the two in this widely-publicized match.

That’s not the only spectacle though with another match on the fight card and a behind-the-scenes documentary that’s been airing in the lead-up to the fight.

So here’s how to watch the Paul vs Tyson event, as well as the documentary, including how and when it airs.

How to watch Paul vs Tyson

You can watch the Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson fight by subscribing to the streaming service Netflix.

That’s right — Netflix, the streamer which is still dipping its toes into the live sports arena, will be showing the event.

That’s also the case with the behind-the-scenes documentary, which we’ll get into later, and the entire fight card for Friday.

You can find prices for Netflix in your region below:

When to watch Paul vs Tyson

Netflix has shared the start time of the entire Paul vs Tyson event.

This time is 5 pm PT/8 pm ET on Friday, November 15, which converts to 1 am UK/midday ACT on Saturday, November 16.

Bear in mind that that’s the start time, and with several matches, it could go on a while — bad news for Brits who don’t want a late night.

Paul vs Tyson fight card

There will be four matches over the course of Netflix’s boxing event.

First up is Neeraj Goyat vs Whindersson Nunes. The Indian and the Brazilian will compete in a super middleweight bout, the former of whom will be making their MVP debut.

The second of the undercards matches up the Americans Mario Barrios and Abel Ramos in a welterweight bout. Barrios is defending the welterweight championship title in the fight.

Then we come to what Netflix is billing as the ‘co-main fight’. Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano sees the Irish boxer try to defend her title from the Puerto Rican, as a rematch from their fight in 2022 which saw the former win victory.

Finally is the main event: Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson. The latter is over twice the age of the former but his 50-6 track record shows him as a proven winner. Paul’s record is 10-1.

Paul vs Tyson behind-the-scenes documentary

To get fans excited for the Paul vs Tyson fight, Netflix has been airing a documentary of behind-the-scenes footage of the fighters (not just the main fight, but the co-main too).

This is called Countdown: Paul Vs. Tyson, and while it had a staggered release, all three episodes are now available to stream on Netflix.

Jackpot! interview: Awkwafina and Paul Feig reveal behind-the-scenes secrets from their post-apocalyptic caper

Elaine.reilly@futurenet.com (Elaine Reilly) — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 08:28:00 +0000

Jackpot! sees former child actress Katie Kim move to Los Angeles on the hunt for fame and fortune after personal tragedy. Ironically she gets exactly what she wished for, but in the most terrifying way possible!

Set in 2030, Katie (Ocean’s 8 star Awkwafina) unwittingly becomes the holder of a futuristic lottery ticket worth $3.6 billion dollars, but there’s a state-sanctioned catch — anyone who kills the winner without using a gun before sunset can claim the prize for themselves.

With a target on her back, Katie reluctantly teams up with amateur protection agent Noel (WWF wrestler John Cena), who in turn plays out his fierce rivalry with his ridiculously successful rival Louis Lewis (Barbie’s Simu Liu) in this mile-a-minute laugh-out-loud comedy from Bridesmaids and Ghostbusters director Paul Feig.

What to Watch sat down with Awkwafina and Paul Feig to learn more about Jackpot!…

Jackpot! interview

When did you realise you wanted to make Jackpot!?

Paul Feig: “I got about 40 pages into Rob Yescombe’s script and realised I didn’t need to finish it - I had to make this movie! For me, truly high stakes for the characters make everything funnier; the best comedy has danger in it. You also have to invest in the characters and this script had it all that from the start.”

Awkwafina: “I had a ton of fun reading the script too. The story exists in its own, near-future world, and Rob has found the perfect mix of twists and turns with a deranged sense of humour. I was also super intrigued by the portrayal of a post-apocalyptic near future. There is definitely darkness and greed, as well as a kind of collective scarcity mentality that conveys a kind of ominous message.”

Is this your first time working together?

Awkwafina: “Yes and Paul is a dream director. He’s collaborative, generous with his time, playful and explorative. There’s never a moment when you feel that your opinion doesn’t matter.”

Paul Feig: “We’ve known each other for years and always wanted to work together. Katie jumped off the page as a great role for her. Awkwafina is so funny and game for anything, yet brings a sense of reality to even the most absurd goings on, which is the only way a movie like this can work. There’s a whole sequence at the end where… actually, I’m not going to give anything away, but let’s just say, she’s a great actor.”

Did John Cena surprise you during filming?

Paul Feig: “Yes, he surprised me every day on set with how good he was - he's a really good actor, he's super funny, so precise, but also willing to play. We couldn't love him more could we?”

Awkwafina: “Yeah, and he’s the perfect scene partner. He’s very professional, especially when we were doing the stunts. With his background he’s very big on safety, which made me feel very safe with him. He’s a really impressive, intelligent and funny guy.”

What do you think makes Katie the perfect character for this caper?

Awkwafina: “The best characters you can play are multi-layered, and there's a lot going on in Katie’s psyche. I genuinely felt bad for her, yet the zany action is enhanced by her backstory!”

Paul Feig: "Plus she doesn’t even know the lottery exists when she gets thrown into this thing so you feel her panic and how affected she is about being in danger. She has to fight out of necessity and panic. I always say that my comedies are just dramas that are fun. You have to have that underpinning of emotion and reality, or everything’s just jokes and the audience will get bored."

Finally, what are your hopes for the movie?

Paul Feig: “I just hope that people walk away thinking ‘that was really fun’.”

Jackpot! is available on Prime Video from Thursday, August 15, 2024.

Runtime: 1 hour, 44 minutes

Rated: R

Awkwafina hit the jackpot when it came to having John Cena as a stunt partner. (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

Jackpot! — cast

The film stars:

Awkwafina (Crazy Rich Asians, The Farewell)

John Cena (Peacemaker, The Suicide Squad)

Simu Liu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Kim’s Convenience)

Ayden Mayeri (I Love That for You, Big Mouth)

Donald Elise Watkins (Fly Me to the Moon, Your Honor)

Murray Hill (Somebody Somewhere)

Seann William Scott (American Pie, Lethal Weapon)

Becky Ann Baker (Big Little Lies, Girls, Freaks and Geeks)

Producers:

Laura Fischer (The School for Good and Evil), Jeff Kirschenbaum (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil), Joe Roth (Bachelor Party) and Paul Feig.

Executive producers:

Zack Roth (Hustle), Michelle Morrissey (A Family Affair), Rob Yescombe and John Cena.

Director:

Jackpot! is directed by Paul Feig.

EastEnders star shares behind-the-scenes look at Patsy Palmer return in ICONIC Bianca outfit

grace.morris@futurenet.com (Grace Morris) — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 13:17:07 +0000

EastEnders star James Farrar has shared a first look at Patsy Palmer's return as Bianca Jackson in her iconic get-up.

James, who plays Zack Hudson in the soap, posted a behind-the-scenes clip on set with his on-screen girlfriend Shona McGarty and Patsy Palmer dressed in Bianca's signature vibrant clothing.

The video shows the trio walking to set singing while Patsy has transformed into Bianca Jackson with her hair scraped back into a ponytail and wearing large gold hoop earrings, a pink leopard print bomber jacket and a blue top with pink bows all over it.

A post shared by James Farrar (@jamescfarrar)
A photo posted by on

James captioned the video: "You’re in for a treat… @patsypalmerofficial is back on set and what a joy she is to have around the place on these long days. Tish told me Pats and I would get on. Full of life, and gratitude. And absolutely electric as Bianca."

It was announced that Bianca would be returning for a short stint when Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) and her boyfriend Zack visit her in Milton Keynes following her off-screen break-up with Terry.

However, Bianca is never far away from drama and it’s not long before chaos kicks off!

Bianca first appeared on the soap in 1993 as the fiery, sharp-tongued daughter of Carol Jackson and remains heavily connected to Walford through the Branning family as well as step-daughter Whitney and sister Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy).

Over her 13 years in Albert Square, Bianca was at the centre of some of the show’s most iconic storylines including the discovery that David Wicks was her dad, her tumultuous relationship with Ricky Butcher and Whitney’s abuse at the hands of Bianca's partner Tony King in 2008.

And she was also known for some truly legendary outfits during her time in Walford, such as her iconic silver puffer jacket.

Bianca in her famous silver puffer jacket. (Image credit: BBC)

Bianca will return in spring as part of a special episode focusing on Whitney and the drama she faces in Milton Keynes.

Bianca's return is likely to coincide with Whitney's exit as it was announced last year that she would be leaving the Square after 15 years.

EastEnders airs Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 7.30 pm on BBC One — see our TV Guide for full listings. You can also catch up on episodes on BBC iPlayer now.

The Masked Singer judge reveals behind the scenes secrets

lucy.buglass@futurenet.com (Lucy Buglass) — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 12:45:47 +0000

The Masked Singer UK's Mo Gilligan has opened up about what producers to do ensure the celebrity's identity stays a secret, for both the judges and the viewers at home.

Speaking to This Morning hosts Rylan and Emma Willis, Mo revealed some behind the scenes secrets about how the beloved competition series works, and how he and the other judges are kept in the dark.

He said: "I get the same feeling the people at home get - you don't know who is going to be on and who is going to be singing and at the end of the show, you get a reveal. We don't know who it is. People still think we know who it is.

"I get taxi drivers, friends, family, who say you know who it is. I still don't know who is behind the mask."

He added: "It is so so secretive. We go in at different ends of the building. I think that's what people love about the show. People play at home, they get their notebooks. It's a fun show!"

"That's the craziest thing of the show, you never know who it is going to be," he explained. "It could be someone you know or it could just be a legend you never thought you would get to meet."

"We don't know what they’re going to perform. You see the costumes, the dancers come out. We’re trying to get any clue we can get.

"It could be someone we’ve met briefly, so you think is it someone I've met before? Sometimes you get to meet someone you want to meet. It's tough. We’re so competitive we don't show it much."

Partridge (In a Pear Tree) won The Masked Singer UK's 2023 Christmas special. (Image credit: Bandicoot TV/ITV)

This year, TV chef Ainsley Harriott won the festive edition of The Masked Singer UK. He was under the Partridge (In A Pear Tree) costume and managed to wow the judges with his performance.

Other celebrities taking part were Carol Vorderman as Reindeer, Tony Robinson as Sprout, and Julian Clary as Decorations.

There's plenty more to look forward to, though, as The Masked Singer UK 2024 is on the way and some fun new costumes are taking to the stage including Piranha, Dippy Egg, and Chicken Caesar.

The Masked Singer UK airs on ITV1 and ITVX.

Virgin River star shares season 5 behind-the-scenes update

grace.morris@futurenet.com (Grace Morris) — Fri, 05 May 2023 11:37:12 +0000

Virgin River favorite Alexandra Breckenridge has given a behind-the-scenes update for the highly anticipated Virgin River season 5.

Alexandra, who plays Mel Monroe in the popular Netflix drama, took to Instagram to give an update for the upcoming fifth season as she shared a selfie in front of the picturesque Squamish River in Canada, which is where the series is filmed.

She captioned the magnificent image : "Flashback to VR season 5 ♥️ No you didn’t miss anything. It’s not out just yet…."

A post shared by Alexandra Breckenridge (@alexandrabreck)
A photo posted by on

Virgin River fans flooded Alexandra's comment section as they excitedly wait for a release date as one said: "So pretty!!! I seriously can’t wait until season 5 gets a release date!! We are also crossing our fingers and toes for season 6! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️," while another commented: "Alex, you are absolutely beautiful. Inside and out. Can't wait for season 5!!"

Another user added: "I CAN’T WAIT TO WATCH YOU AGAIN (I miss Mel so much)😭😍"

While an exact release date hasn't been announced, Alexandra and her co-star Martin Henderson, who plays her on-screen lover Jack Sheridan, both estimated that season 5 could be out in July.

In a Cameo video, Martin revealed: "Season five [is] coming out, I think, probably in July." Meanwhile, Alexandra also echoed the same, saying: "The fifth season [will] come out probably, I don't know, maybe July again?"

Jack Sheridan and Mel Monroe in Virgin River. (Image credit: Netflix)

Alexandra also teased that season 5 is some of the best episodes they've ever done as she revealed to New Beauty that: "I think this season has started out well, and we're getting into a few episodes soon that are pretty heavy. They're really intense and I think that they're some of the best episodes we've ever done. I never say that either!"

She added: "I think that there's a high sense of drama that starts to come up this season that it's going to leave people on the edge of their seats. At least, I hope. I'm excited to get into that."

Season 4 was an emotional rollercoaster, with Charmaine (Lauren Hammersley) dropping some huge baby daddy drama about her twins, Mel and Jack's pregnancy palaver and an unexpected newcomer in the form of Doc's grandson.

Now, fans are wanting to know if Virgin River season 5 will answer their burning questions, including who is the father of Charmaine's twins?

Britain's Got Talent fans SHOCKED by behind-the-scenes golden buzzer shot moment

lauren.hughes@ti-media.com (Lauren Hughes) — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 17:23:40 +0000

Britain's Got Talent fans were shocked after seeing a behind-the-scenes snap that showed what really happens when the judges push the golden buzzer in the show.

A member of the audience for last night's Britain's Got Talent posted on Twitter when 11-year-old Olivia Lynes got the golden buzzer from judge Amanda Holden on Saturday night’s show.

The video showed three men on stage from the circle level of the theatre, straight after Amanda decided to send her through to the semi-finals.

One of the men held up a machine to spray confetti on the little girl, proving that the confetti doesn't fall down from the ceiling like viewers originally thought.

They tweeted, 'Golden Buzzer reshoots aren't as cool looking in real life than all the slow-mo stuff you see on the TV... it's just a guy blowing confetti onto the contestant while cameras film in slow motion...'

Golden Buzzer reshoots aren't as cool looking in real life than all the slow-mo stuff you see on the TV... it's just a guy blowing confetti onto the contestant while cameras film in slow motion... #BGT #BritainsGotTalent pic.twitter.com/mnnMAKlvwYApril 29, 2023

Fans of the show were quick to notice the tweet and comment with disapproval, with one writing, 'It’s clips like this that the producers of #bgt recreate to make us think that we are all gullible and the fakery is real.

'Why can’t the show be more raw and real, it would be appreciated a lot more. All the auditions with acts that have “no history” is amongst the worst.'

It’s clips like this that the producers of #bgt recreate to make us think that we are all gullible and the fakery is real.Why can’t the show be more raw and real, it would be appreciated a lot more. All the auditions with acts that have “no history” is amongst the worst.April 29, 2023

While another said, 'And the golden confetti doesn't come from the ceiling?? Magic spoiled.'

And the golden confetti doesn't come from the ceiling?? Magic spoiled.April 29, 2023

And a third wrote, 'It’s true. A huge anticlimax.'

It’s true. A huge anticlimaxApril 29, 2023

But the confetti drama doesn't take away from Olivia's "wonderful" performance, with Amanda Holden saying she was “blown away” by the “wonderful” Olivia after encouraging the schoolgirl to audition for the show.

Will Olivia go the distance? Tune in next week to find out more.

Britain's Got Talent continues next week on Saturday 6th May on ITV.

Emmerdale anniversary EXCLUSIVE: Lisa Riley reveals behind-the-scenes heroes

Alison Slade — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 14:54:47 +0000

There are 80 plus actors in the Emmerdale cast, but between four and five hundred people working behind the scenes, from cooks to cleaners, set designers to seamstresses.

In an exclusive interview to celebrate the soap’s 50th anniversary, TVTimes magazine has teamed up with star Lisa Riley — better known as the iconic Mandy Dingle — to pay tribute to some of the unsung heroes who make it the success it is today.

Says Lisa, “Emmerdale is like a big tent — we have so many strong poles holding it up, and if those poles are taken away, we can’t make the show.

“I’ve picked these people out because of my own, personal experience, but everyone here plays their part. Emmerdale is a team and it’s the best team ever!”

Emma McDermott, First Assistant Director and Emily Joel, Second Assistant Director

The right direction: Lisa with second AD Emily Joel (left) and first AD Emma McDermott (centre). (Image credit: Mark Bruce ITV)

"A scene will always start with a director’s rehearsal, which involves the actors, the director and the first AD, walking things through," Lisa explains.

"When that’s done, the director will go to the gallery and the first AD will bring the crew in, and take over. They are the voice on the floor; the commander in chief.

‘Emma is brilliant, and has so much respect for us as artists. She has worked on my biggest emotional stories, including Mandy’s infertility and Paul’s death, and she always makes sure I have the time to go to one side and get myself ready. I hold her in such high regard.

"Emily is a second AD, and it’s her job to make sure the cast are where they need to be at every minute of the day. Some actors live in Manchester, and the M62 is renowned for traffic jams. The knock-on effect of someone arriving 20 minutes late is enormous, but the second ADs have to keep everything moving.

"She’s the person who would organize a car to transport me from the studios to the village (which are several miles apart) and if there’s a rewrite, she’ll print and distribute the scripts.

"She’s the proverbial swan — graceful on the surface, but underneath, her legs are going like Usain Bolt!"

Clare Golds, Hair and Makeup designer

She's got the look: Clare Golds (left) leads Emmerdale's super-busy hair and make-up department. (Image credit: Mark Bruce ITV)

"Clare runs one of the busiest teams on the show, and I really trust her with Mandy’s look," Lisa reveals.

"For instance, Mandy normally has hair pieces and a full face of make-up, which takes about 40 minutes to do — or an hour if I don’t stop talking! But in times of turmoil, we have ‘minging Mandy’ with none of those things, so I'll discuss with Clare the gradual transition to having her back to normal.

"Detail is so important — I can’t bear vanity on screen.

"But the really brilliant thing about her is that she has been there for me in times of need. I’m normally very upbeat, but on the rare occasions I’m having a bad day, she can see it, even if I’m pressing the bravado button. I’m blessed to call her a friend."

Ian Holmes, Wardrobe designer

Licenced to thrill: Ian Holmes (right) is the man behind Mandy's iconic wardrobe. (Image credit: Mark Bruce ITV)

‘"Ian designed Mandy’s magenta and leopard print wedding dress for her wedding to Paul — it was inspired by The Vivienne from Drag Race and is one of the most iconic wedding dresses in soap," says Lisa.

"But I think one of his unsung genius moments was when Mandy bought the salon and he designed the leopard print tabards with the pink edging and our names across our boobs and ‘Pampamanda’ on the back.

"We work so well together to create Mandy’s unique look. I can send him a Whatsapp message or he’ll see something and say, ‘What about this?’

"We’re filming Christmas at the moment, and he’s got Mandy loads of new fur coats. One, in particular, makes me look like one of those ‘Forever Friends’ teddies - people keep coming up to me for cuddles!"

Bob Farrell, Head of Scheduling

The man with a plan: Emmerdale would 'crumble', says Lisa, without scheduler Bob (left). (Image credit: Mark Bruce ITV)

"I’ve talked about Emmerdale being a tent — well if Bob’s pole fell, the show would crumble," Lisa admits.

"He works months in advance, planning when and where each scene is filmed and has to consider what actors are available — because some might be on holiday — and what locations can be used.

"You might want to shoot in Pampamanda for example, but if the prison set, which is next door, is in use, then you can’t.

"He’ll work with three or four directors, each with their own crew and clumps of cast and will weave things so that Mandy, for example, might start the day in the Woolpack and end up in the hospital — every minute is accounted for.

"It only takes someone to be off sick to put a spanner in the works, and that’s when he and his team really work their magic. How he creates his incredible jigsaw and still allows us time for a piddle and a brew is beyond me!"

Chris Prior, Cleaner

Clean machine: Lisa with 'Daddy Dettol' Chris Prior. (Image credit: Mark Bruce ITV)

Says Lisa, "Chris is the first person I see in the morning and the last person I see when I leave at night, although I have been told he doesn’t actually live at Emmerdale and works a split shift.

"He is always polishing, vacuuming or emptying something, and does his job with such effort, detail, love and compassion.

"The pressure he and the other cleaners were under during the pandemic was phenomenal - we called him 'Daddy Dettol' by the end of it!

"I speak on behalf of my Dingle family when I say he is the ultimate unsung hero.

"He’s forever smiling and he’s a proper grafter."

Taransay Chisholm, Set Designer

Ready, set, go: Taransay (right) has designed many of Emmerdale's homes and businesses, including Mandy's beloved salon, Pampamanda. (Image credit: Mark Bruce ITV)

"Taransay designed Pampamanda, and said it was like being a kid in a sweet shop," smiles Lisa. "The detail she went to was amazing, down to the leopard print hair foils and the pink and leopard nail files.

"I remember during the pandemic, it was scripted that Mandy had a really camp, gold lamé throw — Taransay was trolling the internet because all the shops were closed, but she did it; she found one.

"She has instilled such fun in my life because that set is a really gorgeous, happy place to be.

‘She says her dream would be to go up that spiral staircase and design the Pampamanda staff room. We talk about it on-screen, but no one ever sees what’s up those stairs.

"Can you imagine it? It would be pretty fabulous!"

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7.30 pm on ITV, with a hour-long episode on Thursdays — see our TV Guide for full listings. You can also catch up on ITV Hub.

'Death in Paradise' star Ralf Little shares hilarious behind the scenes footage

lucy.buglass@futurenet.com (Lucy Buglass) — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 11:21:16 +0000

Death in Paradise actor Ralf Little treated fans to some honest behind-the-scenes footage recently, where he showed the realities of filming the beloved show. Despite the fact the series is known for its sunny setting, viewers don't get to see the storms and rainy weather that the island also experiences.

The series is filmed in Guadeloupe, a collection of islands in the Caribbean that viewers have come to know as the fictional Saint Marie. Most of the time it does have a sunny climate, but it's also known for its rainy season from mid-August to mid-February.

In his caption, Ralf wrote: "It’s (not) always sunny in Guadeloupe... Poor @tahjmiles 😂"

A post shared by Ralf Little (@ralf.little)
A photo posted by on

In his video, co-star Tahj Miles (Marlon Pryce) is seen complaining that his shoes are waterlogged as the group break for lunch, with Ralf saying: "This is not what I came to the Caribbean for... you've got water in your shoes? Sad times, sad times on Death in Paradise!"

Fans will no doubt be delighted to see Ralf back as DI Neville Parker, as the group begin filming Death in Paradise Season 11. The previous season ended on quite the cliffhanger as it saw Neville poised to confess his true feelings to DS Florence Cassell (Joséphine Jobert). But will they end up together in the new season?

While Season 11 isn't set to air until 2022, fans will also be getting a Death in Paradise Christmas special at the end of the year. The new episode will see Danny John-Julies returning as Officer Dwayne Myers after a few years away from the show.

Speaking about this, he said: "It’s always a pleasure going back to the Caribbean. And after four years away, fitting back into the fold should be seamless as I know all the new leading cast members already. I look forward to bringing Dwayne and this tenth-anniversary special script to life."

Go behind the scenes of ‘The Mandalorian’ in Disney Plus special

michael.balderston@futurenet.com (Michael Balderston) — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 17:44:19 +0000

Star Wars fans have a baby Yoda (aka Grogu) sized hole in their hearts as they wait for the third season of The Mandalorian on Disney Plus. Though we still don’t know when we can expect the adventures of Din Djarin and company to continue, Disney Plus is offering a special episode that will take fans behind the scenes of The Mandalorian.

Fans were excited to see in the season two finale of The Mandalorian the appearance of Luke Skywalker, the younger version as the story takes place just a little while after Return of the Jedi. After watching the clip of him slicing through those Dark Troopers like swiss cheese a hundred times, fans posited how The Mandalorian was able to recreate a young Luke Skywalker (no, it wasn’t fan-favorite lookalike Sebastian Stan).

This will be the focus of the Disney Gallery: Star Wars: The Mandalorian special episode, which is set to debut on Disney Plus Aug. 25.

In addition to the announcement, Disney Plus has shared some images (see above) and a clip from the episode. The clip shows some footage from when they were shooting the Luke Skywalker scene, with Mark Hamill reprising his iconic role. Also, The Mandalorian executive producer Dave Filoni discusses what it was like for them to work with Hamill. Here’s the clip:

This is just one of many Star Wars related projects that Disney Plus has in its pipeline. Fans can also expect the new anime-inspired anthology series Star Wars: Visions and The Mandalorian spinoff The Book of Boba Fett releasing later this year. More Disney Plus originals are in the works on popular Star Wars characters including Obi-wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Cassian Andor and Lando Calrissian; there’s also going to be more of The Bad Batch and new series like Rangers of the New Republic, The Acolyte and A Droid Story. Another LEGO Star Wars holiday special, this time Halloween-themed, is also set for a Disney Plus debut.

Disney Plus is the streaming home for everything Star Wars, from these original series to the classic movies. A subscription to Disney Plus costs $7.99 per month ($79.99 for a year), or you can add Hulu and ESPN Plus as part of a $13.99 bundle.

'The Witcher' Season 2 takes us behind the scenes as production wraps up

phil.nickinson@futurenet.com (Phil Nickinson) — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 15:05:20 +0000

The Witcher Season 2 is, as they say, in the can. (Film, you see, used to come in cans, and ... Oh. Right. You have no idea what film is.)

Netflix announced that production on the follow-up of 2019's highly anticipated fantasy series starring Henry Cavill and Anya Chalotra (among scores of others) as wrapped up shooting on its second season. And it did so with a quick look behind the scenes of Season 2.

The video features showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich explaining what they all had to go through to get this second season done.

"It is hard to believe it's been over a year since we kicked off this season," she says,
"in typical Witcher fashion, in a freezing-cold forrest, in the middle of the night."

Season 2 required 158 shooting days, she says, with 89 cast members across 15 locations. Those were dwarfed by the 1,200 crew members who you'll not even see on screen.

"None of us has ever experienced a television season like this before, I'm sure. We cannot wait to show you what Geralt and Ciri and Yennifer and Jaskier and all your favorites have been up to since we left them at the Battle of Sodden Hill."

Season 2 isn't just going to be the same old people doing the same of things, however.

"There are plenty of new characters and storylines and, of course, monsters to explore as well," Hissrich says, "as we dig into the blood of elves and beyond." We do know already that there will be four new Witchers appearing in the upcoming season.

No word yet on when, exactly, Season 2 will land (we'd guess another December drop). But figure that all those monsters require some serious post-production work, we'll just have to bide our time and maybe go back and rewatch things for now.

Get your first look behind the scenes of 'WandaVision' with 'Marvel Studios' Assembled'

phil.nickinson@futurenet.com (Phil Nickinson) — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 18:48:31 +0000

It's impossible to get too much WandaVision. (That is, unless, you're caught in a fantasy world brought about by grief. But that's neither here nor there.) And to that end, you can now go behind the scenes of the hit series on Disney+ in Marvel Studios' Assembled: The Making of WandaVision.

The premiere episode dives deep into WandaVision, the first new original series from the MCU on Disney+. You'll get special features with stars Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany as well as the creative team behind the show, which took us through decades of sitcom styles as we learned exactly what Wanda had done, and why she was doing it. You'll see how the crew emulated the various filmmaking methods used in the early years of television, yet made them watchable in 2021.

You'll also get to hang out with Teyonah Parris, who played Monica Rambeau, and Kathryn Hahn, who was Agnes all along — as well as MCU veterans Kat Dennings and Randall Park.

WandaVision is available now in its entirety on Disney+. You'll see how Disney deftly dealt with Wanda Maximoff's breakdown, and how it introduced Monica Rambeau — daughter of Maria Rambeau in Captain Marvel — as a character we're expecting to see more of in the future. (And we'd better, given how such a great character got short-changed.)

And be sure to stick around for the post-credits scene in the WandaVision finale.

Disney+ is available on every major streaming service in the United States, and also worldwide. And be sure to check out Disney+ on Apple TV.

'Assembled' takes us behind the scenes of 'WandaVision' on March 12

martin.shore@futurenet.com (Martin Shore) — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 16:35:42 +0000

Disney just announced Assembled, a series of documentaries that will delve deep into how Marvel Studios brought the MCU to life. Disney has already given the same treatment to The Mandalorian and Frozen 2, with behind-the-scenes documentaries for both available to stream on Disney+.

The first episode of Assembled is a special purely devoted to WandaVision. Assembled: The Making of WandaVision will join Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany and WandaVision’s creative team and pull back the curtain on how they brought the acclaimed series to life.

The announcement was made on Twitter, and you can see that tweet below:

.@MarvelStudios' ASSEMBLED, a new documentary series of specials, goes behind the scenes of the series and movies of the MCU. The first special, ASSEMBLED: The Making of #WandaVision, is streaming March 12 on #DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/iLX2cPdMcZFebruary 16, 2021

Here's how Marvel described Assembled: The Making of WandaVision:

‘Learn how the production’s surprising concept took shape by drawing inspiration from classic sitcoms. Witness how the crew went to great lengths to emulate various filmmaking methods used during the early years of television. Discover the unique challenges and ultimate rewards of performing an entire episode in front of a live studio audience. Spend time with exciting newcomers to the MCU, such as Teyonah Parris and Kathryn Hahn, along with returning favorites like Kat Dennings and Randall Park.’

Assembled: The Making of WandaVision will air exclusively on Disney+ on March 12, just one week after WandaVision ends. This fills the gap left between WandaVision's conclusion and the return of Bucky and Sam Wilson in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.

Future episodes of Assembled will take a look at other MCU shows like The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Loki, Hawkeye, and the long-awaited Black Widow movie, too. Expect exclusive on-set footage and interviews with filmmakers and stars like Jeremy Renner and Scarlett Johansson along the way.

Each additional installment of Assembled will land on Disney+ after MCU movies hit theaters, or when MCU shows finish a season on Disney+.

WandaVision has been a consistently curious entry in the MCU for its entire season, offering us more and more teasers for what we can expect from Phase 4 of one of the biggest entertainment franchises around.

Also be sure to give Disney+ a go on Apple TV for the best experience.

Call the Midwife shares first look at series 10 with behind-the-scenes snaps

David Hollingsworth — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 13:31:18 +0000

Call the Midwife series 10 will arrive early in 2021

Call the Midwife has shared a first look at the eagerly anticipated 10th series of the BBC1 hit.

The behind-the-scenes snaps show Shelagh Turner (played by Laura Main) and Dr Turner (Stephen McGann) preparing for their next takes.

Laura is pictured getting last minute make-up touches, while Stephen McGann is seen having his doctor’s coat adjusted.

It’s a welcome sight for fans who have not only the 2020 Call the Midwife Christmas special to look forward to, but also the new series.

The show’s official account tweeted: “Exclusive: Final checks! The Turners have their last adjustments before a take on set during filming our latest Call The Midwife series!”

Call the Midwife will be shorter than normal...

Series 10 will be shorter than usual because filming started later than normal due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of the standard eight episodes, the 2021 run will consist of seven hour-long episodes.

Heidi Thomas, Creator, Writer and Executive Producer, commented earlier this year: “Everyone is overjoyed to be whisking the dust sheets off Nonnatus House and getting back to filming after lockdown.

"It is a particular thrill to be able to deliver the Christmas Special on time, just as we promised at the start of the pandemic. We are very much a family at Call The Midwife, and like families everywhere, we have missed each other. We will now be putting more love and energy into our work than ever and can't wait to share Series 10 with our fantastic, loyal audience."

Peter Davison as Mr Percival the Ringmaster in the Christmas special

The festive special will be set in December 1965. It will see the circus coming to Poplar with former Time Lord Peter Davison playing Ringmaster Mr Percival.

Series 10 of Call the Midwife will air in 2021. The Christmas special is likely to air on Christmas Day on BBC1 (see our TV Guide for full listings).

EastEnders heartthrob Nigel Harman reveals the behind the scenes drama over whether Dennis could punch Phil Mitchell!

David Hollingsworth — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 11:35:26 +0000

There had to be meetings at EastEnders!

EastEnders legend Nigel Harman has revealed the soap had meetings over whether his character Dennis Rickman could punch Phil Mitchell.

The 47-year-old actor says there was lots of “faffing” about if it was ok for one of the show’s most iconic characters in Phil to be whacked by new kid on the block Dennis.

Eventually EastEnders decided to go ahead. And so, in his very first episode on 14th April 2003, Dennis walked into the Queen Vic and landed a clean right hook on Phil, sending him flying into a table packed with glasses.

“It was my first episode and I remember there was a whole to do whether or not Phil Mitchell could be punched. I mean there was meetings about it. I remember it very clearly, there was a lot of what I’d call faffing about it,” Nigel recalled on BBC Show The Noughties, which looks back on the 2000s.

Phil is sprawled out on the floor of The Vic after being punched by Dennis (Credit: BBC)

Nigel said he enjoyed working with Steve McFadden, who plays Phil. “He was great to work with,” he commented.

Talking more about his EastEnders days, Nigel said how much he enjoyed working alongside June Brown, who played Dot Cotton...

“I spent a lot time with her over the years, which was fantastic, she’s just legendary.”

He added: “She used to come on set when she had big scenes and she would know inside out what her character was doing, where she’d been.

"She’d reach back 15 years and say why this line wouldn’t work. She was very good at editing her part and putting it together brilliantly.”

Nigel also said he has a lot of "fond memories" of working with Letitia Dean, who plays Sharon.

The popular star, who won a string of awards for the soap, eventually left in 2005 when Dennis was stabbed to death.

Since leaving EastEnders Nigel has clocked up numerous TV credits, perhaps most famously playing evil Green in series four of Downton Abbey. Bates was accused of murdering Green in one of Downton’s most memorable plots.

The Noughties, fronted by Angela Scanlon, continues on BBC2.

Line of Duty fans beside themselves as NEW LOOK behind the scenes pictures emerge

Claire Crick — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 11:01:48 +0000

Filming is well under way for series six...

Line of Duty fans have been given a special treat ahead of the next series after director Jed Mercurio shared some exciting behind the scenes pictures.

The Line of Duty boss delighted his followers on Twitter by sharing pictures of the cast and crew busy filming series six of the police drama.

Fans are thrilled to see filming well underway for series 6 of Line of Duty (Picture: Jed Mercurio/Twitter) (Image credit: Jed Mercurio/Twitter)

The images show Vicky McClure returning to her role as DI Kate Fleming, and Adrian Dunbar as the iconic Superintendent Ted Hastings.

More: Everything you need to know about Strictly Come Dancing 2020 - full line-up now confirmed!

Fans have been desperate to see what AC-12 have been getting up to since series five ended last year.

Sadly filming for the new series has been delayed thanks to lockdown, but thankfully production is now back up and running.

Adrian is back in his role as The Gaffer (Picture: Jed Mercurio/Twitter) (Image credit: Jed Mercurio/Twitter)

Jed shared images of everyone filming again, and fans have been left delighted with the sneaky peak into what is coming up in the new series.

Also with the images of actress Vicky filming again, Jed wrote: "#LineOfDuty 6: V-Mc is back and bent coppers are quaking in their boots @Vicky_McClure

With the images of Adrian Dunbar, Jed added: "#LineOfDuty6: he’s finally floated up the Lagan to join @Vicky_McClure and @martin_compston...the Gaffer himself Mr. Adrian Dunbar."

Jed Mercurio shared this image of Vicky getting back into her role as Kate Fleming (Picture: Jed Mercurio/Twitter) (Image credit: Jed Mercurio/Twitter)

At the start of this month the BBC shared an image of Martin Compston back in the role of Steve Arnott.

Martin could be seen filming with the rest of the production team, who were all sticking to social distancing rules and wearing masks.

The BBC shared this image of filming getting underway for series six of Line of Duty (Picture: ITV) (Image credit: BBC)

Martin spoke about what it was like to be back on set after a break in filming...

"It's been a long few months and it will be a different way of working from when we stopped, but I'm delighted to be back on the case with the Line of Duty team!"

Line of Duty will air on BBC One in 2021 - see our TV Guide for more shows to enjoy.

Away on Netflix behind-the-scenes pictures shows how Hilary Swank and the rest do their space thing

phil.nickinson@futurenet.com (Phil Nickinson) — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 21:35:10 +0000

Seeing behind-the-scenes pictures from Away on Netflix makes you wonder: Is the word "actornauts" a thing? Because it should totally be a thing.

Because we're long past the days in which microgravity had to be conveniently written out of space dramas as something that had been solved so long ago it's not even worth mentioning. Digital editing means actors on wires are the norm (or something even cooler in the case of Sandra Bullock in Gravity), and fake spaceflight is plenty commonplace now.

That's not to say that seeing Hilary Swank upside down or Ato Essandoh suspended above the deck of the ship takes away from the experience any. We know they're not actually in space. We know they're connected, somehow, bonded, surly, to the Earth. It's that suspension of disbelief that makes the suspension of actors possible.

The Away behind-the-scenes pictures also give us another glimpse in to the lives of the family members Swank's Emma Green and crew have to leave behind. Husband Matt Logan (Josh Charles) and daughter Alexis (Talitha Bateman) still have lives at home while Mom rockets off to Mars — and it's not easy for either of them. Same goes for the other members of the crew, too.

And speaking of crews, it's always interesting to see just how many people it takes on the other side of the camera to make even a simple scene happen. (And let's not pretend we're even seeing the half of it.) That's the magic of behind-the-scenes pictures like we have here from Away. That's the magic of film.

All 10 episodes of Away will land on Netflix on Sept. 4. In addition to Swank, Essandoh, Charles and Bateman, Away also stars Ray Panthaki, Mark Ivanir and Vivian Wu. Directors on the series include Ed Zwick, Jeffrey Reiner, Bronwen Luges, David Boyd, Charlotte Brandtrom and Jet Wilkinson.

Seeing behind-the-scenes pictures from Away on Netflix makes you wonder: Is the word "actornauts" a thing? Because it should totally be a thing.

The Away behind-the-scenes pictures also give us another glimpse in to the lives of the family members Swank's Emma Green and crew have to leave behind. Husband Matt Logan (Josh Charles) and daughter Alexis (Talitha Bateman) still have lives at home while Mom rockets off to Mars — and it's not easy for either of them. Same goes for the other members of the crew, too.

All 10 episodes of Away will land on Netflix on Sept. 4. In addition to Swank, Essandoh, Charles and Bateman, Away also stars Ray Panthaki, Mark Ivanir and Vivian Wu. Directors on the series include Ed Zwick, Jeffrey Reiner, Bronwen Luges, David Boyd, Charlotte Brandtrom and Jet Wilkinson.

Gogglebox stars Jenny and Lee give fans glimpse of behind the scenes filming

aleesha.badkar@futurenet.com (Aleesha Badkar) — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 16:52:24 +0000

We've been missing them

Gogglebox stars Jenny and Lee have given fans a glimpse of what it’s like when they film the show.

The best friends Jenny Newby and Lee Riley have become favourites over the years, but have been absent from our screens for the last couple of months while Celebrity Gogglebox has been taking place.

And fans have missing Jenny’s regular bouts of tears and Lee’s hilarious ribbing of her (not to mention his holiday-inspired city T-shirts he wears every episode).

So while the duo won’t be back until September, they did take to their Instagram page with a quick snap giving fans an insight into their behind the scenes.

A photo posted by on

The Instagram story photo showed the pair sitting on their sofa watching TV, with a load of camera equipment in the background.

“It’s #SundaySelfie time with a little behind the scenes of filming a previous Gogglebox series!!” they wrote alongside the snap.

“Hope you’ve had a great day #Gogglebox #JennyandLee.”

Jenny and Lee left fans desperate for some Gogglebox screen time when they recently posted a photo of their usual TV sofa without anyone sitting and watching.

A photo posted by on

"Empty couch folks 😢😢😢," they wrote alongside the post, "but its still #Gogglebox Friday 👍

"Who’s going to watch the best bits of series 15 its on tonight @C4Gogglebox 9pm so we can all reminisce together laugh,cry that’s Gogglebox for you 😢😂 enjoy Goggleboxers see you all in September much love JAL 😘😘xx".

The pair also thrilled fans recently when they revealed that they had been self-isolating together during the coronavirus lockdown.

The duo took to their Instagram feed with a photo of them all dressed up for the races, however admitted that they didn’t quite look like that behind the scenes.

Posting a candid photo on their Twitter page, they wrote, "Thank you for the lovely tweets we do try to give a little laughter on a #Gogglebox Friday.

"So this is the bottom half of virtual races you don’t have to bother pjs and shorts easy, or is it being lazy ***** – stay safe,stay well".

We can’t wait until the pair return in September!

Check out this behind the scenes look at the cast of 'Blood Vessel'

amelia.emberwing@futurenet.com (Amelia Emberwing) — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 17:00:19 +0000

Here's the thing: there is never a bad time to watch folks fighting Nazis. Sad? Watch people fight Nazis. Happy? Sure! Watch people fight Nazis. Angry? Definitely watch people fight Nazis. But what if there was an added level to the Nazi fighting?

That's exactly what The Horror Collective's new feature promises. Blood Vessel follows a small cast of characters as their life raft happens upon an abandoned Nazi vessel in the middle of the ocean. When they board the old boat, they find way more than what they bargained for in what's been promised as a "World War II creature feature".

The Horror Collective was kind enough to let us debut their most recent behind the scenes clip from the project. Give it a look!

The film's cast features Alyssa Sutherland (Vikings), Robert Taylor (The Matrix), Nathan Phillips (Snakes on a Plane), Christopher Kirby (Daybreakers) John Lloyd Fillingham (Hunters) and Alex Cooke (Preacher). Corey Trent Ackerman and Brent Thornquest will act as Executive Producers for the project, with Justin Dix as director and himself and Jordan Prosser as co-writers.

Dix has worked on a host of films, including the likes of The Babadook and Lake Mungo, and we've seen many of this actors deliver solid performances in their respective projects.

You can check out the film on VOD and Demand on July 21st.

This Morning’s Holly Willoughby shares very candid behind-the-scenes video

aleesha.badkar@futurenet.com (Aleesha Badkar) — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 10:41:43 +0000

The star revealed how she (pretty impressively) blow-dries her own hair

Holly Willoughby has shared a behind-the-scenes look at her life in the time of coronavirus.

With permission from the government, the This Morning presenter has been working throughout the coronavirus-imposed UK lockdown alongside her co-host Phillip Schofield.

The popular duo have graced our TV screens most weekday mornings throughout the nearly four-month lockdown, bringing us all the news we need to know alongside tips and advice on how to get through the difficult time.

Between bringing on medical experts to give us all the best advice, interviewing baristas to help us recreate our favourite coffee-shop orders at home and speaking to the nation (and even the Duchess of Cambridge) about everyone’s own diverse personal lockdown experiences, the pair have been essential for viewers.

But now Holly Willloughby has given fans an insight into the behind-the-scenes changes that the coronavirus has led to for her.

With only a limited number of essential workers being able to work in the ITV studios during the lockdown, it has meant that our favourite daytime TV presenters including Good Morning Britain’s Susanna Reid, GMB with Lorraine’s Lorraine Kelly and of course This Morning’s Holly Willoughby have had to live without their hair and makeup professionals.

So this morning Holly shared a candid video with her nearly seven million followers, showing exactly how she gets ready for every show.

A photo posted by on

Sharing a timelapse video, the star revealed how she (pretty impressively) blow-dries her own hair before going on to apply her makeup for the show.

However, after she and co-host Phillip Schofield revealed that they will taking a long summer break from next week, it looks like today may be the last time for a while that Holly will have to do her tiring lockdown pre-show ritual.

With the duo set to be away for the rest of the summer, Holly seems to be hoping that by the time they return she will be able to be reunited with her beauty team, as she captioned her photo, "109 days of lockdown... missing my @patsyoneillmakeup and @cilerpeksah_hairstylist ❤️

"Here’s hoping this is the final time I do this ... 💄 💅🏻💁🏼♀️".

Fingers crossed Holly!

Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian takes fans behind the scenes of the hit Disney Plus show

Ara Wagoner — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 14:49:52 +0000

Source: Ara Wagoner / Android Central (Image credit: Ara Wagoner / Android Central)

May the 4th be with you, and also with this new docu-series from Disney+.

What you need to know

• Disney has announced a new behind-the-scenes series for Disney+ called Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian.

• The eight episode documentary series will give Star Wars fans a peek behind the curtain of the viral Disney+ show.

• The first episode premieres on May the 4th, unofficially known as Star Wars Day.

May the 4th is a precious day for Star Wars fans, a day that's evolved from a pithy pun into a full-blown Star Wars holiday. This year, it'll be a bittersweet day for fans as that's when Star Wars: The Clone Wars comes to an end with its last episode ever. To help soften that blow, Disney+ is premiering a new docu-series all about everyone's favorite bounty hunter, The Mandalorian, on May the 4th.

Pull back the curtain on #TheMandalorian. Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian, an eight-episode documentary series, starts streaming on May the 4th, only on #DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/tHmFGmc2AA — Star Wars (@starwars) April 15, 2020 April 15, 2020

The documentary series looks to explore the making of the show that took die-hard Star Wars fans and casual viewers alike by storm, with interviews, never-before-seen footage, and roundtable conversations hosted by the show's executive producer, Jon Favreau:

"'Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian' is an opportunity for fans of the show to take a look inside and get to see a different perspective, and perhaps a greater understanding, of how The Mandalorian came together and some of the incredibly talented contributors throughout Season 1," said Favreau. "We had a great experience making the show and we're looking forward to sharing it with you."

While we Americans have long-since finished the first season, this new series has fortuitous timing for the European markets that got Disney+ last month, as May the 4th will be the three days after the season one finale debuts in Europe. After the first episode on May 4, following episodes will be available each Friday, the standard release day for Disney+.

Disney+

Binge Baby Yoda

The force is strong with this streaming service.

From the latest chapters of The Mandalorian and Star Wars: The Clone Wars to the films that started it all, Disney+ puts all of your Star Wars favorites in one place, along with a whole galaxy of content from Disney, Marvel, Nat Geo, and Fox.

Watch a behind-the-scenes video for 'Little America' episode 'The Son'

Oliver Haslam — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 12:55:04 +0000

Source: iMore (Image credit: iMore)

What you need to know

• There's a new behind-the-scenes video for "Little America".

• The video covers the show's "The Son" episode.

• We hear from the creative team behind the episode.

Apple TV+ has shared another "inside the episode" video, this time for "Little America" episode "The Son". This follows a similar video last week for another episode .

"Little America" is a show that takes true stories from Epic Magazine and turns them into standalone episodes. If you haven't checked any out yet, now is the time to fix that.

Inspired by the true stories featured in Epic Magazine, "Little America" goes beyond the headlines to bring to life the funny, romantic, heartfelt and surprising stories of immigrants in America. The first season consists of eight half-hour episodes, each with its own unique story from different parts of the world.

You can watch "Little America" on Apple TV+ if you have a $4.99 per month subscription. There isn't a huge amount of content to watch compared to services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, but there are definitely some gems to enjoy. Apple has more shows on their way in the coming months as well. That $4.99 per month will just keep getting better and better value.