There's a superb season of Autumn TV playing out for the rest of 2025. It's an important time for telly fans after the summer holidays are over and they focus on what great television is in store during the Fall and run-up to Christmas.

It's the time of year where all channels give us their major output and Autumn 2025 sees many wonderful new TV shows starting, all with top stars, but also returning favourites, brand new crime thrillers, period dramas and everything in between.

So here at What to Watch we're previewing the best dramas of the Autumn TV season 2025, but please also look out for our August issues of our sister magazine titles TV Times, What's On TV and TV & Satellite Week for more on the upcoming TV shows. Take a look at our Autumn TV drama picks right here...

Riot Women (BBC One and BBC iPlayer)

The six-parter Riot Women is by Happy Valley and Gentleman Jack writer Sally Wainwright follows a group of spirited middle-aged Yorkshire women who form a punk-rock band for a local talent contest. As their musical endeavours give them all a new lease of life, a revelation comes to the fore causes huge trouble. Lorraine Ashbourne, Joanna Scanlan, Amelia Bullmore, Rosalie Craig and Tamsin Greig play the band members. Do also look out for veteran stars Anne Reid and Sue Johnston.

* We will update with the launch date on BBC1 as soon as we can.

I Fought The Law (ITV1 and ITVX)

Sheridan Smith stars in I Fought The Law, which is an emotional four-part drama based on the true story of Ann Ming, who campaigned to change the Double Jeopardy law, which had prevented someone from being tried twice for the same crime, following her daughter’s brutal murder. Julie, 22, had gone missing in November 1989 in Billingham, Cleveland, and her body was found hidden under the bath in her home.

Her murderer, William Dunlop, was wrongfully acquitted but, years later, confessed to the crime. Thanks to Ann’s tireless campaigning, the 800-year-old legislation was overturned and Dunlop was jailed for life. Daniel York Loh plays Anne’s late husband Charlie Ming.

* We will update with the launch date on ITV1 as soon as we can.

The Guest (BBC One and BBC iPlayer)

Torchwood and Keeping Faith star Eve Myles plays business owner Fran, who recruits Ria (Gabrielle Creevy) as a cleaner in four-part thriller The Guest. The duo become friends when Fran helps Ria to decide what she really wants from life, but things go wrong after Fran’s advice leads to a devastating incident and the women are drawn into a chilling plot. Emun Elliott and Sion Daniel Young co-star.

* We will update with the release date date on BBC1 as soon as we can.

Trespasses (Channel 4)

Set in 1975 against the turbulent backdrop of all the Troubles in Northern Ireland, this four-parter follows star-crossed lovers Cushla (Lola Petticrew), a spirited Catholic schoolteacher, and Michael (Tom Cullen), a controversial married barrister, as they embark on a passionate but dangerous liaison. Gillian Anderson plays Cushla’s eccentric mother, Gina.

* We will update with the launch date on Channel 4 as soon as we can.

The Forsytes (5)

Based on the classic Forsyte Saga novels by John Galsworthy, six-part period drama The Forsytes is set in the late Victorian era and follows the lives a well-to-do family of stockbrokers, as they wrestle with who’ll take over the family firm. Joshua Orpin plays Soames Forsyte and Millie Gibson is his dancer bride Irene (see pictured above), while Francesca Annis is matriarch Ann, alongside a strong supporting cast that includes Stephen Moyer, Tuppence Middleton, Eleanor Tomlinson and Jack Davenport.

* We will update with the 5 release date as soon as we can.

King & Conqueror (BBC One and BBCIplayer)

This epic eight-part period drama King & Conqueror follows the Norman conquest of Britain, one of the most decisive historical events in our history, after the infamous Battle of Hastings in 1066. Harold of Wessex (James Norton) and William of Normandy (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) began as allies but ended up bitter enemies as they fought for control of the British throne. Emily Beecham plays Edith Swan Neck, the wife of Harold while Clémence Poésy is William’s wife, Matilda. Eddie Marsan, Claire Holman, Juliet Stevenson, Joseph Mawle, Elliot Cowan and Jean-Marc Barr also star.

* We will update with the launch date on BBC1 as soon as we can.

The Death of Bunny Munro (Sky Atlantic and NOW)

The Death of Bunny Munro is a drama starring former Doctor Who star Matt Smith, which is based on Nick Cave's book about a father/son road trip. After the suicide of his wife Libby, sex addict and lothario Bunny finds himself the sole carer of his nine-year-old son Bunny Junior (Rafael Mathé), with very little idea of how to parent.

As the pair embark on a road trip across southern England, Bunny Junior starts to unravel as a result of his grief. Both are dealing with their grief in very different ways. While older Bunny tries to bed every woman he can, Bunny Junior spends his time talking to his mother’s ghost and trying to distract himself from the fact his dad is a chaotic mess. As Bunny Junior starts to spiral, Bunny realises he must do something to rescue his son from his own outdated notions of what it is to be a man.

* We will update with the Sky Atlantic launch date as soon as we can.

Coldwater (ITV1 and ITVX)

Coldwater sees Andrew Lincoln play John, a stay-at-home dad struggling to cope when a violent incident in a playground leaves him so troubled that he and wife Fiona (Indira Varma) decide to move their family to the (fictional) titular Scottish village to start over. But things get even more complicated in this six-part thriller when John bonds with charismatic neighbour Tommy (Ewen Bremner) who is hiding some very dark secrets…

* We will update with the start date on ITV as soon as we can.

Murder Before Evensong (5)

Murder Before Evensong is based on the debut novel Murder Before Evensong by the Reverend Richard Coles and is a six-part whodunnit series. Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis plays crime-solving cleric Canon Daniel Clement, while Amanda Redman as his nonsense mother, Audrey.

* We will update with the launch date on 5 as soon as we can.

The Woman in Cabin 10 (Netflix)

Based on the bestseller The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware this one-off thriller follows a journalist, played by Keira Knightley (above), who is given the travel assignment of a lifetime when she's asked to cover the maiden voyage of a luxury cruise liner, which then sets sail. Then, late one night, she witnesses a passenger tossed overboard and tries to raise the alarm. However, she is told she must have dreamed it because all passengers are safe and accounted for.

Yet despite no one believing her, she continues to search for the truth, even if it means putting her own life in danger. Other stars include Hollywood star Guy Pearce, Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham, Ajala, Gitte Witt, Art Malik, Daniel Ings, David Morrissey, Christopher Rygh, Paul Kaye, Kaya Scodelario, Lisa Loven Kongsli, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, John Macmillan, Pippa Bennett-Warner and Ayọ̀ Owóyẹmi-Peters.

* The launch date on Netflix for The Woman In Cabin 10 is October 10, 2025.

Down Cemetery Road (Apple TV Plus)

Adapted from the 2003 novel Down Cemetery Road by Mick Herron, who is also the author of Slow Horses, this eight-episode thriller stars Ruth Wilson as Sarah Tucker, who asks private eye Zoë Boehm (Dame Emma Thompson) to help find a child she suspects has vanished in Oxford, UK, but a complex conspiracy unfolds.

* Down Cemetery Road launches on Apple TV Plus on October 29 2025.

Atomic (Sky Atlantic)

Atomic is an intense five-part thriller stars Alfie Allen as drug-smuggler Max and mysterious Mohammed (Shazad Latif) who find themselves flung together and caught up in a sinister terrorist plot to steal uranium to build an atomic weapon. The pair must decide whether to save themselves or save humanity and must also avoid CIA agent Cassie Elliot (played by Samira Wiley) who is hot on their heels.

The Thursday Murder Club (Netflix)

The movie adaptation of Richard Osman’s 2020 novel The Thursday Murder Club boasts a killer cast as four pensioners-turned-amateur sleuths create cosy chaos in their retirement village. Ex-spy Elizabeth (Dame Helen Mirren), former union activist Ron (Pierce Brosnan), retired psychiatrist Ibrahim (Sir Ben Kingsley) and ex-nurse Joyce (Celia Imrie) meet weekly to discuss cold cases. But when a murder occurs on their doorstep, the quirky quartet becomes embroiled in a real whodunnit. David Tennant, Richard E. Grant, Jonathan Pryce, Naomi Ackie and Tom Ellis star, while Harry Potter’s Chris Columbus directs. ‘It’s a dream to see this book in such incredible hands,’ says Osman. ‘What a cast! I’m pinching myself.’

The White Lotus season 3 sees a new batch of ultra-wealthy guests heading to a luxury hotel on the sunny shores of Koh Samui in Thailand.

But, once again, they're about to see their trip of a lifetime descend into a living nightmare as the series opened with a flash-forward where we see at least one character meet a grisly end.

The holidaymakers this time include successful businessman Timothy and his family, while actor Jaclyn has brought her two best friends to the resort for a much-needed girls' catch-up. Then there is free spirit Chelsea, who arrives with her tetchy boyfriend Rick. But as each resort guest finds their holiday thrown off course, who will make it home from the vacation in one piece?

Here is everything that happens in The White Lotus season 3 episode 8...

The final episode of the third season opens with Piper and Lachlan waking up at the Buddhist retreat while Tim is back at the hotel taking more of Victoria's medication. In Bangkok, Rick wakes up in his hotel room after sleeping on a chair, while Frank has been partying all night and is well and truly off the wagon. Frank tries to stop Rick from leaving, but when more women arrive at the hotel suite, Rick makes a hasty exit.

At the hotel, Mook and Gaitok arrive for work and it's the morning after their date. He tells her that he knows who was responsible for the robbery and Mook is happy, knowing that if he helps catch the thieves, then it could help him get a promotion at work.

Jaclyn finds Kate and asks if she has seen Laurie that morning, but she is still sleeping after the eventful evening the night before. Jaclyn goes to wake Laurie and appologises for sleeping with Valentin as she didn't know Laurie cared so much, not realising what Laurie went through the previous evening.

Lachlan and Piper leave the retreat and he has decided he wants to move to Thailand with her, but she doesn't let on that she has changed her mind about moving. They get back to the hotel and Victoria is desperate to know how they got on, hoping it was awful... However, neither Piper or Lachlan want to talk about it and head off to get ready for breakfast.

Belinda and Zion are having breakfast when Pornchai comes over and Belinda introduces him to her son. Belinda explains that Pornchai wants to go into business, but neither of them has the cash - and Zion is quick to remind her that Gary's cash would be the answer to all her problems. She is adamant that it wouldn't be enough anyway and she doesn't want the blood money - but Zion is adamant that she should negotiate with Gary and get him to up his $100,000 offer to £1 million.

At breakfast, Tim is telling Piper he is happy she has realised she can live a simpler life and that they could all do with having a bit less while Victoria shoots him daggers from across the table. But Piper doesn't seem convinced and says the food was bland and not organic, and there wasn't any air conditioning. She says she feels awful for needing these things and cries becasue she can't help being a princess - while Tim looks on, horrified. Victoria is thrilled, telling her daughter that she doesn't have to prove anything and that Piper is right; they are very lucky, but they should just enjoy what they have, otherwise it is offensive to people who don't have what they have.

Back in their room, Saxon can barely look at Lachlan. Lachlan asks what he has done wrong, and Saxon reminds him of what happened between them at the boat party and Lachlan tells him he thought he looked left out and he is a pleaser, so he thought he was doing the right thing... Saxon doesn't want to talk about it and tells his brother to drop it. Forever.

Gaitok calls his boss and leaves a voicemail telling him that he knows it is his day off, but he has something important to tell him. Valentin comes over and says he looked for Gaitok and Mook after the fight but he couldn't find them. Gaitok asks what Valentin's friends are called and he fobs him off, telling Gaitok that they are just men from his gym.

Saxon finds Chloe and Chelsea on the beach and he tells Chelsea that he has read her book on meditation - while they are talking Chelsea sees Rick walking down the beach towards her and she runs to him, throwing herself into his arms and they have sweet reunion, where even Rick seems pleeased to be reunited with Chelsea. She asks him how it went and he tells her he didn't kill anyone and that he said what he had to say and got the monkey off his back, and she is happy for him.

Now that Piper has realized she is just as materialistic as everyone else in her family, a thrilled Victoria takes her to the resort store and encourages her to spend lots of money as Tim watches on, horrified. Eventually, he goes back to the room and finds Lachlan there, reading. He asks his youngest if he could live without money, and he thinks for a moment and says yes, which pleases Tim. He encourages him to go for a swim or to the beach as it is their last day, and Tim is left once again alone with his own thoughts.

Valentin confronts Gaitok and tells him he knows that he has worked out it was his friends who robbed the resort. He begs him not to report him as he will be deported and be killed when he gets back to his country. He says that reporting him is the same as killing him, but before Gaitok can respond, Fabian interrupts him and asks if he can get Jaclyn to agree to a photo with the Hollingers tomorrow when they return from Bangkok.

Tim goes to the tree in their suite that has poisonous fruit and picks one, but before he can eat it Pam arrives to return their phones as their holiday is almost over. Tim is adamant that he doesn't want them back, and she just assumes that he has enjoyed the break from technology and says she will put them on the boat that takes them back to the airport and he agrees. He asks her about the tree and the fruit and she says the locals call it the suicide tree becasue people who want to kill themselves grind the seeds and eat them. Once she has gone, he picks the fruit and tears it open.

Zion and Belinda go to see Gary to ask for more money and Zion goes into full business mode, launching into a speech about how Gary's initial offer wasn't enough, while Belinda sits there silently, terrified. Gary isn't impressed with Zion, especially when he asks for $5 million. Gary says it isn't happening, but Zion says that he has done his research and knows how much Tanya was worth and that surely $5 million is worth the peace of mind knowing that Belinda won't say anything about how Tanya died. Belinda looks like she has had enough and storms out, with Zion following behind, wondering why she walked out of the meeting when he was so close to closing the deal. Zion follows his mom and questions what she is doing, and realizes that it was all an act and that she wants Gary to realize that she is a threat to his future and tells Zion to get back in there and close the deal.

In his room, Tim gets all the poisonous seeds and blends them in Saxon's blender, but instead of eating them straight away, he hides them in the kitchen cupboard.

Mook goes to see Gaitok at the end of her shift and realises something is wrong... he tells her he has to quit his job becasue he isn't meant to be a guard. She tells him that he has worked hard to get to where he is now and that he would have to start at the bottom somewhere else. Mook clearly wants a successful boyfriend and tells him that she isn't sure she can make dinner tonight and when he asks when they can rearrange it for, she tells him she will think about it.

The Ratliff family head to dinner and as they order, Tim tells the waitress that it is their last night and he wants to make Piña Coladas in their room later and that they have the blender but could they deliver the ingredients to their room. She agrees and Victirua is surprised at Tim's new-found enthusiasm. Lachlan asks if he can have a Piña Colada later, but Tim says no as he isn't 21.

Laurie goes to dinner with Jaclyn and Kate and tells them what happened with Alexi - but while she is talking, Valentin comes and interrupts and asks about the photo that Sritala would like with Jaclyn. She agrees and then things are awkward, so he leaves.

Belinda says she is too nervous to eat because Zion failed to close the deal with Gary. He is going to think about the offer and while Zion thinks that perhaps Gary could be wiring the cash to Belinda's account right now, she thinks her son is delusional.

Rick and Chelsea have dinner tgoether and she says she is pleased to have him back and that she thinks they are going to be together forever, and this time, instead of fobbing her off or being mean, Rick tells her 'that's the plan' and she is shocked and silently thrilled that he seems happy at last.

At dinner Kate and Jaclyn are both talking about what a brilliant holiday they have and that they've been on cloud nine being with true friends, but Laurie disagrees and says that she has felt sad all week and that being with her old friends has made her question her life choices. She adds that she loves them dearly and wouldn't be without them, and the three women all cry.

Back in their room, Tim makes Piña Coladas in the blender - he pours out four, one for each of his family members who have said that they couldn't live without their wealth - Victoria, Saxon and Piper - but doesn't let Lachlan have any, telling him he should get a Coke. Tim claims it is becasue he is underage, but it is really becasue he told his dad earlier in the day that he could live without their money.

Tim makes a speech, telling his family that they have had a perfect life and that he loves them all. Saxon says the Piña Colada tastes weird, but Tim just claims it is a bit strong, that's all. As he watches his family drink he realizes the enormity of what he is doing and swats the glass out of Saxon's hand and tells them all that the coconut milk must be off as he pours the cocktails down the sink. Victoria says they should have wine instead. We then see the blender with some of the poisonous crushed up seeds in it has been left on the side of the bar.

The next morning, Sritala and Jim return to the hotel and Gaitok tells his boss that he isn't cut out for this job - but Pee Lek tells him he is a good worker and tells him to think about what he is about to say and that they will talk later.

Belinda checks her bank account and can't believe it when she sees she is $5 million better off. She tells Zion that she has checked with the bank and it is real and that she has booked him a treatment at the spa and then they are leaving as she wants to be as far away from Gary as she can possibly be.

Lachlan makes a protein shake in the blender without cleaning it out and soon collapses next to the pool while Tim sleeps and Saxon, Victoria and Piper go to breakfast. Lachlan is sick into the pool and then lies down all alone, and we see that he feels like he is drowning as underwater shots show him struggling to breathe. At the same time, Tim wakes and realises someone has used the blender before seeing Lachlan lying by the pool. He races out and grabs his son, yelling for help as he cradles his limp body in his lap.

Rick runs into Jim at breakfast and Jim is furious seeing him at the hotel and tells him he needs to leave. He tells Rick that his mother was a liar and that she has painted his father to be a hero, when he was anything but. Rick steps towards Jim, intending to hurt him, but he shows he has a gun on him and Rick walks away and back to Chelsea who asks him what is wrong. She is shocked to see that he is back at square one and once again haunted by his past. Before they know what is happening, Jim's bodyguards are chasing after Rick and he and Chelsea panic. Rick goes to find Amrita, saying he desperately needs to talk to her, but she has a session with Zion and says she will come and find him in an hour.

As Sritala and Jim have their photo taken with Jaclyn, Rick's demons return and he is consumed with hatred for what Jim has done. Despite Chelsea trying to stop him, Rick runs up to Jim, grabs his gun from inside his jacket and shoots him twice in his chest. Sritala yells at him as Jim lays in her lap dying, asking Rick why he shot Jim. He tells her it is revenge for him killing his father, and to his horror, she yells back that he IS his father. Soon, a gun fight gets underway with the Hollingers' bodyguards shooting at Rick, however, he manages to avoid their shots and kills them both.

As the gun fight is happening, Gaitok hears the shots from the security gate and grabs the gun before racing to where the gun fight is playing out between Rick and the security guards. As everyone dives for cover, Rick turns around and finds Chelsea lying on the ground, having been shot in the chest. He is beside himself with grief, telling her that she is going to be okay and that he is sorry as she dies in his arms.

Rick picks Chelsea's body up, telling her that they are going to be together forever, just like she said, as Gaitok finds Sritala with Jim and she yells at him to kill Rick as he is walking away with Chelsea in his arms. It takes Gaitok a little while to gather his courage, and then, with Sritala shouting at him, he shoots Rick twice in the back, killing him and causing him and Chelsea to fall into the water.

Meanwhile. Lachlan suddenly wakes up after eating the poisoned fruit and Tim is over the moon, relieved that his son is going to be okay and they have been given a second chance. He cradles him in his arms and kisses his head, relieved he is still alive.

Elsewhere, Belinda, now a multimillionaire, goes to see Pornchai and tells him that she is leaving and that as her situation has changed, she needs time to get her head straight. He asks about the business they were going to start together, and she says it might happen, but not yet... basically doing to him what Tanya did to her all those years ago.

As the episode comes to a close, we see the boat taking Tim and his family to the airport. Saxon is a changed man now reading a self-help book, while Lachlan looks a little worse for wear but alive. Victoria gets their phones back and hands them out to everyone, and Tim realises this is the moment they are going to find out about his money laundering. He tells them all that he loves them and that family is all that matters - as they all look at him, stunned as their phones ping into life and reality hits.

In another part of the boat, Kate, Laurie and Jaclyn are also heading home, and they hug each other after their holiday came to a traumatic ending with Jim being shot in front of them.

Back at Gary's house, we see Chloe chatting up a man at a party, and she is clearly trying to recruit him to act out Gary's sexual fantasy where he watches her have sex with someone else after Saxon turned her down. Gary is still the king of the castle, sitting in his huge house and although he might be $5 million lighter after paying to keep Belinda quiet, he looks like he might have just gotten away with Tanya's death.

The very end of the epsiode sees Valentin and his friends all partying with a new group of women, seemingly having gotten away with the robbery, while Frank is back on the wagon and finding religion again.

Gaitok and Mook hug as he leaves, this time in plain clothes - his security uniform long gone - as he has now been promoted to be Sritala's bodyguard after proving himself when he shot Rick. As he drives off with Sritala, Mook watches on proudly.

Finally, two body bags containing Chelsea and Rick are loaded onto a plane as Belinda and Zion head home on a very fancy boat. As Belinda waves goodbye to the hotel staff, we see Pornchai waving her off with a sad look in his eye as she speeds off into the sunset.

The White Lotus season 3 is available on HBO in the US and on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK.

Comedian Rob Beckett is back with more TV mayhem with Rob Beckett's Smart TV season 2 — the comedy show all about the magic of television.

The first season of the TV quiz show saw a host of celebrity guests join Rob and his team captains Josh Widdicombe and Alison Hammond as they battled it out to be crowned winners - and now the trio are back!

Each week, celebrity guests will battle through a series of competitive, chaotic rounds to determine who knows the most about TV... these famous faces might be ON TV, but how much do they actually know about the shows on telly?

Speaking of the show returning for a second season, Rob Beckett said: “I'm delighted to be back hosting the best TV quiz show about TV on TV at the time of writing. Alison and Josh are on excellent form as per usual and the guests this year are absolute legends at the top of the game. It was one of the highlights of my year making this show and I can't wait for everyone to see it.”

Here's everything we know about Rob Beckett's Smart TV season 2...

Rob Beckett's Smart TV season 2 release date

Rob Beckett’s Smart TV season 2 starts on Sky and streaming service NOW on Wednesday, March 5. Episodes will then air weekly.

Rob Beckett's Smart TV season 2 hosts

Host Rob is joined for the second series by returning captains Josh Widdicombe and Alison Hammond, as the trio welcome some of the UK’s favourite personalities to celebrate and battle it out on all things ‘telly’.

Rob Beckett's Smart TV season 2 celebrity guests

As well as Alison Hammond and Josh Widdicombe on the show as captains, there is a whole host of famous faces joining the show for each episode.

Here is the full lineup for season 2...

Episode One: Danny Dyer, Richard Osman, Richard Ayoade, Motsi Mabuse

Episode Two: Helen George, Sopẹ́ Dìrísù, Judi Love, Gyles Brandreth

Episode Three: David Mitchell, Kadiff Kirwan, Ryan Sampson, Anna Richardson

Episode Four: Steve Pemberton, Tom Allen, Kola Bokinni, Alex Jones

Episode Five: Jason Watkins, Charlotte Ritchie, Richard Madeley, Chris McCausland

Episode Six: Himesh Patel, Carol Vorderman, Emmett J Scanlan, Kerry Godliman

Is there a trailer for Rob Beckett's Smart TV season 2?

No, sadly there isn't a trailer yet, but if one is released we will add it to this guide.

Behind the scenes and more on Rob Beckett’s Smart TV season 2

Rob Beckett’s Smart TV is produced by Talkback (a Fremantle label) and Executive Produced by Director of Programmes, Kate Edmunds, and Mark Barrett. The Smart TV Podcast (w/t) will be produced by Tom Corrigan. The series was commissioned by Phil Edgar Jones, Director of Sky Arts and Entertainment at Sky. Shirley Jones is the Commissioning Editor.

Rob Beckett’s Smart TV returns to Sky and streaming service NOW on Wednesday 5 March.

The White Lotus season 3 sees a new batch of ultra-wealthy guests heading to a luxury hotel on the sunny shores of Koh Samui in Thailand.

But, once again, they're about to see their trip of a lifetime descend into a living nightmare as the series opens with a flash forward where we see at least one character meet a grisly end.

The holidaymakers this time around include successful businessman Timothy and his family, while actor Jaclyn has brought her two best friends to the resort for a much-needed girls' catch-up. Then there is free spirit Chelsea, who arrives with her tetchy boyfriend Rick. But as each resort guest finds their holiday thrown off course, who will make it home from the vacation in one piece?

Here is everything that happens in The White Lotus season 3 episode 2...

The second episode opens on the same night that episode 1 ended, with Kate and Jaclyn sitting chatting after dinner about Laurie and how much her divorce must have hurt her and her daughter, Ellie. Kate talks about how Ellie has been thrown out of two schools for hitting and throwing furniture, Kate thinks it is because Laurie raised her daughter in New York.

They then talk about how Laurie has always been defined by her career, but Jaclyn points out that Laurie never got that promotion to partner that she talked about and they talk like they are sympathetic, but the underlying tone of their conversation is judgemental and mean.

The women talk about how she looks tired and defeated, despite the fact they both said to her face that she looks great, and then they judge her on her drinking and talk about how much wine she had with dinner. As they are talking, Laurie scares them by banging on the door, and as soon as they let her in they say they were just talking about how great she looks and how they can't wait to spend the week together.

The next morning as everyone gets up after their first night at The White Lotus Resort, Belinda gets ready for her first day learning on the job, while Gaitok asks Mook if she will have lunch with him as he has something important to talk to her about.

At breakfast, Kate corners Victoria who is eating with her family, and tells her that she recognizes her from somewhere and it turns out they went to a baby shower for their mutual friend, Claire, years ago. Victoria is rude and clearly doesn't remember Kate, and the whole conversation is awkward.

When Kate leaves, Victoria's son, Lochlan, tells her she was rude but she doesn't seem to care. Elsewhere, Mook comes to see Chelsea and Rick and goes through their treatments at the spa that morning. Chelsea is looking forward to her massage, while Rick is annoyed she has booked him in for a stress-reducing meditation treatment that he tells her he won't be going to. She reveals that she made a new friend at the bar the previous night and she has asked them to finner, and Chelsea tells Rick she accepted the invitation, which he's cross about. Chelsea tells Rick he will get on with Chloe's boyfriend becasue they have a lot in common, like the fact they are both old and going bald.

Valentin, the health mentor, comes to see Kate, Laurie and Jaclyn and tells them he is looking forward to working with them all - Kate and Jaclyn joke that Laurie needs to flirt with him as she is the only single one between them.

At the spa, the Ratliff family gets their individual relaxation schedules, but Timothy just wants to go to the gym. Meanwhile, Belinda talks with Pornchai from the spa and they agree to give each other their signature treatment and then they can compare notes afterward.

As his family has their treatments, Timothy calls his assistant at home and she says that she hasn't heard from his colleague that he was trying to get hold of, but that someone from the Washington Post was trying to get hold of him, meaning a second newspaper is after an interview.

As Chelsea has her massage, which she talks all the way through, Rick goes for his stress-relieving session with spa worker, Amrita. She asks him about his stress levels and he says he has always been stressed even when he was a child becasue his father was murdered and his mother was a drug addict who overdosed when he was 10.

Gaitok tells Mook over lunch that he likes her, that they are from the same town and her brothers even like him. He asks her on a date, but it seems she doesn't feel the same way, becasue she jokes about the date, telling him to stop acting weird and to just eat his lunch.

Over lunch, Chelsea asks Rick how his session with Amrita was but he fobs her off and says there is no way he is going back for another session. Chloe comes to the table to see if Chelsea wants to hang out together, and Chelsea makes excuses for why Rick is so rude and walks off with her new friend.

At the beach, Kate, Laurie and Jaclyn are hanging out and Jaclyn asks Laurie how her session with Valentin went. She tells her friends that he told her she had the stats of a woman half her age, and Jaclyn says he said the same thing to her... it then gets competitive between the women about who got what readings for hydration and fat levels before talk turns to Jaclyn and her new husband, who she says she is addicted to. Laurie, who is divorced, says that she has only been married a year, so give it time, and the conversation turns awkward and sour.

Chelsea and Chloe complain to one another about their rude boyfriends and Chloe says she has Gary's credit card and they should go to the resort shop and spend his money.

Lachlan and Piper are sitting on hammocks in the sea when Lachlan tells his sister that their older brother Saxon, who is obsessed with the opposite sex, says that Piper has never slept with anyone, which is weird, becasue she is hot. Piper is horrified that her brother is talking about her like that and swims off, disgusted.

At the front gate, Valentin arrives on a motorbike and distracts Gaitok with talk about a fight that he is going to that weekend and asking if he would like a ticket. As they are talking, a black car drives into the resort, and a man jumps out with a mask on and his hood up... he storms into the resort shop and gets out a gun, pointing it at Chelsea who is shopping with Chloe. He smashes the jewelry cases open and takes out the necklaces and stuffs them into his backpack. He then runs out of the shop and back into the car, which drives towards the gate... he gets out and forces the barrier, but Gaitok tries to stop him. However, they end up in a fight and Gaitok is knocked out. The car speeds off and later the police and an ambulance arrive to take statements and check Gaitok over, while Chelsea struggles with being held at gunpoint.

Mook comes to see Gaitok to make sure he is okay - she says he is very brave and she was worried about him, which he likes and we see an attraction between them both.

At dinner, Chloe is miffed about missing seeing the thief as she was in the changing room, but Chelsea tells her that she almost died and she was lucky to miss it. Rick seems pleased that as a result of Chelsea being caught up in the robbery they have got their room for free for the duration of their stay, but things are awkward when Chloe's boyfriend, Gary, doesn't say much. They end up talking about work, but neither of the men gives away what they do, both claiming their careers cover 'this and that'. While they are talking, Belinda sees Gary from afar, and it looks like she might recognize him from somewhere - while she seems to struggle to place him, we know it is Greg from seasons 1 and 2, who was married to Jennifer Coolidge's character, Tanya.

As people finish dinner the evening entertainment begins and hotel owner, Sritala, sings as her staff dance - but while everyone enjoys the show, Rick is fixated on Sritala, clearly still determined to somehow speak to her husband. Later, he overhears Sritala telling Jaclyn that she is going to Bangkok the next day becasue her husband has just got out of hospital there.

Timothy finally gets through to his colleague, Kenny, at home and he is shocked when he tells him he doesn't care about the Wall Street Journal calling becasue the FBI has just been and raided his office after a whistleblower called them. Timothy tells Kenny that he promised this would never happen, but Kenny is panicking about going to jail now the police have everything from his emails to his personal documents. He tells Tim he should never have gone to Bruni and that he regrets taking the position. It turns out that Tim is now caught up in a money laundering business after doing a favor to his friend, and he starts to panic when Ken tells him that he needs to get a decent lawyer and fast. Tim's fuming becasue he 'only' made $10 million out of the scheme and now he could be facing prison. Tim tells his friend that if he mentions his name when questioned by the police, he will find him and kill him, but Kenny replies that he doesn't have to bother becasue he is going to kill himself... and the whole time Tim is talking on the phone, Gaitok is secretly listening in from his security hut.

As Jaclyn heads to bed, Kate and Laurie stay up and talk, but instead of bitching about Laurie like the previous night, Kate now talks about Jaclyn to Laurie. The women say that Jaclyn's marriage sounds fake and that she has had lots of work done to maintain her perfect complexion - both clearly jealous of their friend.

As Tim tries to get himself a lawyer and fast, Gary tells Chelsea that he needs to go to Bangkok, but he won't tell her why and she doesn't seem to mind that he is so mysterious.

But what business does he have with Jim Hollinger?

The White Lotus season 3 airs in the US on Sundays at 9 pm ET/PT on HBO and Max. In the UK new episodes land on Sky Atlantic and NOW every Monday.

The White Lotus season 3 sees a new batch of ultra-wealthy guests heading to a luxury hotel on the sunny shores of Koh Samui in Thailand.

But, once again, they're about to see their trip of a lifetime descend into a living nightmare as the series opens with a flash-forward where we see at least one character meet a grisly end.

The holidaymakers this time around include successful businessman Timothy and his family, while actor Jaclyn has brought her two best friends to the resort for a much-needed girls' catch-up. Then there is free spirit Chelsea, who arrives with her tetchy boyfriend Rick. But as each resort guest finds their holiday thrown off course, who will make it home from the vacation in one piece?

Here is everything that happens in The White Lotus season 3 epsiode 1...

The first episode opens with a hotel guest called Zion sitting on a dock overlooking a tranquil lake, taking a meditation class with spa employee, Amrita. But, as they are trying to focus on their breathing, gunshots go off in the distance and soon panic sets in as a bullet comes through the window of the retreat. Zion worries that his mum is out in the resort somewhere and as Amrita runs to safety, he gets in the lake to swim to the other side to get a closer look at what is happening. But as he prays his mum is okay a body comes floating past him in the water and he flees.

The episode then goes back in time to a week earlier and we see Belinda, the spa manager from season 1, on a boat in the middle of the ocean. On the same boat are the other new guests for the hotel and they are already arguing as Rick lights a cigarette and no one is happy about him smoking.

As the boat comes into the bay, the resort staff are there to welcome their guests, including Fabian, who is the hotel manager. First up is Chelsea and Rick, who are a couple that appear to be like chalk and cheese. Chelsea takes an instant shine to Mook, who is part of the White Lotus Resort staff, while Rick looks like he would rather be anywhere else but with his girlfriend.

Then the Ratliff family are welcomed next - mum and dad - Victoria and Timothy - and their kids, Saxon, the eldest, and then daughter Piper and their youngest, Lochlan. Resort staff member Pam welcomes them (played by Morgana O'Reilly who Neighbours fans will remember as Ramsay Street's Naomi Canning) and she encourages them to leave the phones in a bag that she will lock in a safe so they can have a restful vacation with no distractions. Of course, no one wants to part with their phones and they're outraged when she says there is no wifi.

Finally comes Jaclyn who is well known to the hotel owner, Sritala, as she is a famous actress. Jaclyn is with her friends Kate and Laurie who she has known for years. They are introduced to Valentin, who is a health mentor and very handsome, which doesn't go unnoticed by the women.

Belinda is then welcomed to the resort by Pornchai, who works at the hotel spa and she says she can't wait to start working and learn on the job.

As Rick and Chelsea settle into their room, Chelsea tries to encourage Rick to get a facial at the spa as someone at the airport thought he was her dad. He clearly finds her irritating and tells her no. But while Chelsea is there for a good time, it seems Rick has business to attend to, which he has absolutely no intention of talking about with his girlfriend.

Kate, Jaclyn, and Laurie settle into their rooms and talk about how happy they are to be away together after so many years of being friends. Kate tells Jaclyn that she looks amazing and while they are complimenting one another, it seems some underlying rivalry or jealousy is going on.

Belinda is driven to the spa and welcomed by the staff there - they are all keen to share their wellness knowledge with her and she is happy until she gets freaked out by a huge lizard on the path in front of her. Pornchai tells her she will get used to the wildlife and helps her get settled in. She is thrilled with her room, especially as there are two beds because her son is coming to stay once he has finished his exams and we learn her son is Zion from the opening flashforward scene.

At the resort entrance Mook thanks Gaitok, the resort's security guard, for a lift into work that morning, and as they chat it is clear that he likes her. Meanwhile, Saxon is at the pool when he spots Chelsea sunbathing and tries to get her attention by towling himself off nearby, while elsewhere his younger siblings go to check out a local temple so that Piper can start her thesis that she is writing.

At dinner that evening Chelsea is amused when Rick complains that there is only healthy food on the menu, but he is soon distracted by hotel owner Sritala going to talk to Kate, Jaclyn and Laurie - and it turns out Sritala's husband, an American called Jim Hollinger, who she co-owns the hotel with, is who he wants to talk to.

Timothy gets a call from a reporter at The Wall Street Journal who is running a story on someone he used to work with. He is spooked when they ask questions and doesn't want to talk, so he uses the fact he is on vacation with his family as an excuse and hangs up.

Later Rick does some research on Jim and it is clear he needs to talk to him desperately... but Chelsea isn't happy about being left to have dinner on her own and sits and has cocktails at the bar instead. She meets someone called Chloe and they bond over how much they hate their boyfriends and decide to get drunk together.

Meanwhile, Kate and Jaclyn heap praise on one another, telling each other how amazing they are, and it seems Laurie is feeling a little left out. They try and include her, but she claims the jetlag is catching up with her and she heads off to bed, taking her wine with her. From her room, she can see Kate and Jaclyn still talking at the table and she cries alone in her room.

At the end of the epsiode, Timothy and Victoria are in their room and Timothy is complaining to his wife about Rick, saying he doesn't like him. Victoria says that he is just jealous of Timothy and his beautiful family, but Timothy seems to have something on his mind that he isn't sharing with Victoria.

What is he hiding from his wife and kids?

The White Lotus season 3 airs in the US on Sundays at 9 pm ET/PT on HBO and Max. In the UK new episodes land on Sky Atlantic and NOW every Monday.

Boyzone: No Matter What is a brand-new documentary series following the rise of the Irish boyband as they exploded into the charts in 1993 and quickly found themselves on the road to global stardom.

The three-part series will feature all four remaining members, Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch and Michael 'Mikey' Graham - along with their estranged manager Louis Walsh - as they take us behind the scenes to see how Boyzone went from being a group of unknown lads to selling more than 25 million records worldwide.

For the first time in 30 years, we will find out exactly what led to the band's split in 1999 as well as hear from the boys about how they grappled with the true cost of global fame and the tragic events that have had a lasting impact on all their lives.

Here's everything we know about Boyzone: No Matter What...

Boyzone: No Matter What release date

Boyzone: No Matter What will land on Sky Documentaries in the UK and Ireland on Sunday, February 2, 2025, and there will be three hour-long episodes.

The episodes will also be available on streaming service NOW.

What happens in Boyzone: No Matter What?

For the first time in 30 years, Boyzone band members Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch and Michael 'Mikey' Graham will grant rare and exclusive interview access about their time in one of the biggest boybands in history.

Along with candid interviews and exclusive archival footage, viewers will see how the band was launched onto the 90s pop scene and went on to sell more than 25 million records worldwide.

Part of the series also focuses on late band member Stephen Gately, who tragically died in October 2009, aged 33 from an undiagnosed heart condition. As well as interviews with all remaining band members and their former manager Louis Walsh, there will also be contributions from Stephen's sister, Michelle, and his former partner and pop star Eloy De Jong.

Is there a trailer for Boyzone: No Matter What?

Yes, the trailer gives us a glimpse into what we can expect from the documentary, from the early days when the band was first formed to the highs and lows of fame that followed.

”We were a bunch of kids put together. We weren’t perfect, we weren’t polished,” Ronan says in the trailer. While Louis Walsh, the band's estranged manager adds: “I prefer ordinary people because they work harder. And they do whatever you want at the start.”

We also see clips of the interviews with Ronan, Keith, Shane and Mikey as they talk about their time in the band, as well as the emotional moment the shocking news broke that Stephen had passed away.

You can watch the full trailer below...

Behind the scenes and more on Boyzone: No Matter What

Boyzone sold more than 25 million records worldwide and had five No1 albums, six No1 songs, and 18 songs in the Top 20 in the UK during their run.

Their hits include No Matter What, Picture of You, Words (originally sung by the Bee Gees), Father and Son (originally sung by Cat Stevens), Baby Can I Hold You Tonight?, and When The Going Gets Tough (for Comic Relief).

Throughout the band’s run, the main line-up included Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Stephen Gately and Shane Lynch. Richard Rock and Mark Walton were originally members of the group, but they left the group in 1994.

Boyzone: No Matter What is produced by Curious Films.

Mussolini: Son Of The Century is a period drama series that chronicles the birth of Fascism in Italy and shows how dictator Benito Mussolini rose to power in the 1920s. Based on the 2018 novel "M: Son of the Century: A Novel" by Antonio Scurati and starring Luca Marinelli as Mussolini, the Italian-language drama also explores his relationships with his wife Rachele, played by Benedetta Cimatti, and his lover Margherita Sarfatti (Barbara Chichiarelli).

 The series i by Joe Wright, the director who brought us The Darkest Hour and Pride and Prejudice. He believes is should be viewed as a warning from history. But he also wants viewers to understand the terrible allure fascism can hold. 

"What I hope to do in the series is sometimes allow the audience to be seduced by Mussolini and to get excited by what he’s doing. To demonise these characters absolves us of moral responsibility and that’s really dangerous."

Here’s everything you need to know about the Sky Atlantic series Mussolini: Son Of The Century…

Mussolini: Son Of The Century release date

Mussolini: Son of the Century is an eight-part series that will premiere on Sky Atlantic and NOW from Tuesday February 4 2025 at 9pm, and all eight episodes will also be available from that date as a box set on Sky Box Sets. We'll update on US and international release dates.

Is there a trailer?

Yes the trailer for Mussolini: Son of the Century starts with the dictator declaring, “My name is Mussolini Benito Amilcare Andrea and my time has come.” It shows his lust for power and hints at how he will rise to power as the violent leader of the fascist revolution. Take a look below...

Mussolini: Son of the Century plot

This Italian-language period drama chronicles Fascism in Italy from its start in 1919 and shows how dictator Benito Mussolini (Luca Marinelli), also called Il Duce, rose to power in 1920s Italy. It follows through to Mussolini’s infamous speech in parliament following the murder of socialist Giacomo Matteotti in 1925. The story also explores his relationships with his wife Rachele, played by Benedetta Cimatti, and his lover Margherita Sarfatti (Barbara Chichiarelli).

Filmed in Italian with English subtitles, the drama opens in March 1919 when Mussolini breaks from his left-wing roots to establish the Italian Nationalist Party, a group of veterans who feel betrayed after World War One. Mussolini dreams of revolution and orchestrates violent attacks on the left-wing press. However, before he can take the next step towards power, he must make a deal with Italy’s de facto leader, Gabriele D'Annunzio, who has taken control of Fiume, a city the Allies promised to Italy after the war, but gave to Yugoslavia instead.

Mussolini: Son of the Century cast — Luca Marinelli as Mussolini

in Mussolini: Son of the Century, 40-year-old Italian actor Luca Marinelli plays the power-hungry dictator. He has also starred in in The Old Guard, They Call Me Jeeg Robot and The Eight Mountains.

"I’m an anti-fascist, so playing the part was a very big journey,’ says Marinelli, who gained three stones and shaved his head for the role. ‘I had to suspend my judgement of Mussolini to try to understand him. But the physical transformation was also painful. One day my mother came on set and she didn't recognise me!"

Who else is starring? 

Other cast in Mussolini: Son of the Century are Rachele, played by Benedetta Cimatti as Mussolini's wife Rachele,and Barbara Chichiarelli plays his lover Margherita Sarfatti. Francesco Russo, Federico Majorana, Gaetano Bruno and Fulvio Falzarano also star. Massimo De Lorenzo, Lorenzo Zurzolo, Vincenzo Nemolato, Gianmarco Vettori, Gabriele Falsetta, Maurizio Lombardi, Daniele Trombetti, Gianluca Gobbi, Alberto Astorri, Paolo Pierobon and Federico Mainardi round out the cast.

Behind the scenes and more on Mussolini: Son of the Century

Mussolini: Son of the Century is written by Stefano Bises (Gomorrah, The New Pope, ZeroZeroZero, Speravo de morì prima) and Davide Serino (1992, 1993, Il Re – The king, Exterior Night), with the series outline by Stefano Bises, Davide Serino and Antonio Scurati, the series will tell the events with historical accuracy, with every event, character, dialogue and speech documented or witnessed by multiple sources.

It's directed by BAFTA-winning Joe Wright (Darkest Hour, Atonement, Cyrano) and is produced by Sky Studios and Lorenzo Mieli for The Apartment, a Fremantle group company, in co-production with Pathé, in association with Small Forward Productions, in collaboration with Fremantle, CINECITTÀ S.p.A. and Sky.

The soundtrack is composed by Tom Rowlands, also known for being part of the British electronic music duo The Chemical Brothers, pioneers who brought big beat to the forefront of pop culture, topping charts worldwide. They are multi-award winners, with 6 Grammy Awards, 1 Brit Award, 1 MTV Europe Music Award, and 1 NME Award.

All about Benito Mussolini 

Born in 1883, Benito Mussolini initially carved out a career as a journalist and was thrown out of the Italian Socialist Party for advocating for military intervention in World War One. He founded the National Fascist Party in 1919 and rose to power, becoming the Prime Minister of Italy in 1922. He then transformed Italy into a dictatorship and took on the title Il Duce, or the leader, from 1925. Mussolini ruled Italy with an iron fist, using a vast network of spies and secret policemen and banning any opposition and free press to maintain control, and he allied with Hitler during World War Two. He was deposed by Italian King Victor Emmanuel III in 1943 and was killed by communist partisans in 1945, trying to flee to Switzerland as the end of the war neared. Mussolini’s body was publicly displayed to prove he was dead.

Inheritance is a Sky thriller series that tackles the enduring legacy of colonialism. It stars Loki’s Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Claudia, an ambitious bi-racial lawyer who agrees to go to Jamaica to challenge an inheritance claim made against wealthy aristocrat Oliver Connaught, played by Jonny Lee Miller. However, things take an unexpected turn when she learns that the contested estate is a Jamaican plantation that has haunted her nightmares.

Written by Karla Crome, the five-part series also stars Sheldon Shepherd (Bob Marley: One Love) and A Small Light’s Bel Powley who have prominent roles. So here’s everything you need to know about Sky's genre-busting series Inheritance…

Inheritance release date

Inheritance will launch on Sky in the UK in 2026, most likely on on Sky Max, Sky Showcase and NOW. We can let you know where and when US viewers can catch it in due course. When we hear of a release date, we’ll update this page.

Inheritance plot

Inheritance is set in Bristol, UK, and Jamaica as it follows young lawyer Claudia (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) who embarks on a journey to challenge an inheritance claim filed by an unknown resident in Jamaica. She is sent to help wealthy white aristocrat Oliver Connaught (Jonny Lee Miller), whom the claim has been made against, but soon realises she has a personal connection to the ominous estate. And as she and Oliver investigate, they uncover a chilling connection between historical atrocities and present-day injustices.

Inheritance cast — Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Claudia

Gugu Mbatha-Raw plays lawyer Claudia in Inheritance. She stars as Ravonna Renslayer in the Disney Plus series Loki and played Sophie in the TV miniseries Surface. She’s also starred in The Girl Before, The Morning Show, Beauty and the Beast, Black Mirror, Doctor Who and Spooks.

Jonny Lee Miller as Oliver Connaught

In Inheritance, Jonny plays aristocrat Oliver Connaught. Jonny made his name in the 1990s film Trainspotting but in recent years played former British Prime Minister John Major in Netflix series The Crown. He's also starred in The Covenant, Dexter, EastEnders, Trainspotting, Endgame, Alice, Mindhunters and Mansfield Park.

 Who else is starring?

Look out in Inheritance for Sheldon Shepherd (Bob Marley: One Love) playing Cudjoe East, who files the inheritance claim Claudia must contest. Bel Powley (A Small Light, Masters of the Air) plays Charlotte, Nadean Rawlins (Bob Marley: One Love) is Mercy, Sean Gilder (Mary & George, Slow Horses) is Tom McKenzie, Olunike Adeliyi (The Fire Inside) is Patsy Dawkins, Richard Dillane (Wolf Hall, The Crown) is Eugene Desfrienes, Diveen Henry (The Day of the Jackal) Jack Bandeira (Happy Valley) plays Kenneth Connaught and Shantol Jackson (Sprinter, Yardie) plays Sarah.

 Is there a trailer? 

No but if Sky releases one, we’ll add it onto this page.

Behind the scenes and more on Inheritance

Inheritance started filming in Bristol, UK, from January 2025. It's a five-part series by writer and actor Karla Crome (Am I Being Unreasonable, Carnival Row), directed by Storm Saulter (Better Mus' Come, Sprinter) and produced by Snowed-In Productions in association with Sky Studios. Executive Producers are Ruth Kenley-Letts, Jenny van der Lande, Neil Blair, Karla Crome, Storm Saulter, Sam Hoyle, Serena Thompson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Jonny Lee Miller. The Development Producer is Roxanne Harvey and the Series Producer is Kate Ogborn.

Karla Crome, writer and creator, says: “I feel humbled to be working with such a brilliant team both here and in Jamaica. It is a privilege to see Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jonny Lee Miller, Sheldon Shepherd and Bel Powley bringing my characters to life under Storm Saulter’s evocative direction and I can’t wait to share our work with audiences.”

Ruth Kenley-Letts, Executive Producer and CEO, Snowed-In Productions, and Jenny van der Lande, Executive Producer, adds: “Karla’s an extraordinary talent who has unleashed her wild imagination to create thrillingly unpredictable and original scripts. We are so lucky to be working with her and are grateful for Sky’s commitment and support in bringing this to the screen.”

Meghan Lyvers, Executive Director of Original Scripted, Sky UK and Ireland, said: “We are proud to support Karla Crome and the Snowed In team in bringing this bold, original, and provocative story to screen. With production beginning shortly, we’re thrilled to embark on this journey with an extraordinary creative team and this stellar cast.”

Gangs of London season 3 sees series regulars Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, Joe Cole, Michelle Fairley, Lucian Msamati and Brian Vernel back in action and a host of new cast members to get excited about.

This third season of the violent gang drama sees chaos erupt in London after a spiked shipment of cocaine kills hundreds, sparking brutal power struggles and violent turf wars. Bullet Train’s Andrew Koji, The Diplomat’s T’Nia Miller and The Day of the Jackal’s Richard Dormer are all joining the series with former EastEnders star Phil Daniels popping up as a guest star. Be warned, it's set to be explosive! 

Here's everything you need to know about Gangs of London season 3…

Gangs of London season 3 release date

Gangs of London season 3 will start in the UK on Sky Atlantic and NOW from Thursday March 20 2025 at 9pm. This third series will also also be available as a box set from that date. We will update with any US air date and channel.

* The first two series of Gangs of London are available on Sky Box Sets and NOW.

* The first series of Gangs of London is also available on Netflix.

Is there a trailer? 

Yes! Both a teaser trailer and the official trailer ffor Gangs of London season 3 have been released by Sky. Watch below as gangster Sean Wallace, played by Joe Cole, saying, “do you want some advice? Then get as far away as you can because this life of ours takes everything you have. You think you’re winning at this game. But nobody ever wins.” So, strap in, it’s clearly going to be a bumpy ride!

Gangs of London season 3 plot 

Gangs of London season 3 sees London in crisis when a spiked shipment of cocaine kills hundreds of users. This was no accident, it was a calculated attack, but who was behind it? The disaster leads to a bloody power struggle where unexpected alliances are formed and fierce rivalries reach boiling point. Undercover cop turned gangster Elliot Carter is navigating his new life as a high-level gang leader alongside the Dumanis family but the spiking throws their operations into chaos. And as the street gangs turn on one another and turf wars erupt, no one is safe.

Gangs of London season 3 cast — Joe Cole as Sean Wallace

Joe Cole again plays gangster Sean Wallace in Gangs of London season 3. He's previously played John Shelby in Peaky Blinders and Joe Roag in the 2024 BBC One series Nightsleeper. He's also starred in A Small Light, The Ipcress File, The Damned, Pure, The House and Skins.

Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù on playing Elliot Carter

Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù is again playing cop turned drug dealer Elliot Carter in Gangs of London series 3. 

Ṣọpẹ́ says: "At the end of season two, Elliot told Sean: 'Watch, I’m going to become you, I’m going to do it better than you ever did', And at the beginning of season three, he’s living up to his promise.

"The journey of Elliot over the course of the series of Gangs of London has been crazy. This guy, who had a wonderful moral compass at the beginning as a police officer trying to infiltrate the gangs in order to bring them to justice, seems now to have joined them without a mind towards redemption. 

"Before, he had to live this duplicitous life whereby he was Elliot Carter at home, and Elliot Finch in the streets. But now those two personas seem to have merged, and he’s very comfortable with it."

As we rejoin for a third season of the violent thriller, Elliot is riding high as a crime kingpin with an extensive drug dealing operation, while Sean languishes in jail. 

However, as fans of the stylish series know, in this compeitive criminal world of shifting alliances, where there is no honour among thieves, fortunes can change rapidly. And so it proves for Elliot who, after a shipment of cocaine is spiked, resulting in hundreds of fatalities, becomes public enemy number one when mayor Simone (new cast member T’Nia Miller) announces a crackdown on organised crime. 

"Elliot needs to get to the bottom of it, and that leads him back to Sean Wallace, because all roads lead back to Sean. Sean leaves a little nugget in his mind that leads Elliot on some crazy journey throughout the series where he’s chasing not only the spiking of the cocaine, but also the truth about his family."

* Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù has also starred in Slow Horses, Humans, Black Mirror, Motherland and His House.

Which other cast are returning to Gangs of London season 3? 

Michelle Fairley is back as Sean's mum Marian Wallace, Lucian Msamati is Ed Dumani and Brian Vernel is Sean's brother Billy Wallace. Also returning are Pippa Bennett-Warner as Shannon Dumani, Albanian gangster Luan and Mirlinda Dushaj are played again by Orli and Eri Shuka, Pakistani heroin kingpin Asif is played by Asif Raza Mir and Kurdish militant Lale is portrayed by Narges Rashidi. Jahz Armando is Saba and Fady Elsayed is Faz.

Gangs of London season 3 — new cast joining the series

New cast members include Andrew Koji (Bullet Train, Warrior) is a lone-wolf assassin called Zeek, Richard Dormer (Game of Thrones, Day of the Jackal) plays Cornelius Quinn and T’Nia Miller (Generation Z, The Fall of the House of Usher) plays mayor Simone, with guest stars Phil Daniels (EastEnders, Quadrophenia), Ruth Sheen, and Mat Fraser also joining this season.

Cornelius Quinn, played by Blue Lights and Fortitude star Richard Dormer, has joined forces with who has joined forces with Sean’s brother Billy (Brian Vernel). In a classic Gangs of London set piece, the pair first meet in a night-time showdown in a deserted fairground, which includes a Bond-style gunfight in a hall of mirrors.

Richard Dormer says: "That was my first day of shooting, and it was a baptism of fire, battling in a fairground in the pouring rain and freezing cold,’ reveals Dormer, whose Irish character wields an Irish Shillelagh (a wooden cudgel) as his weapon of choice. Elliot and Luan turn up, looking for somebody, and they get the sharp end of my stick!"

Behind the scenes and more on Gangs Of London season 3

Gangs of London season 3 is produced by Vice Studio Group’s Pulse Films. The award-winning series was created by Gareth Evans and Matt Flannery. Peter McKenna is Lead Writer, Kim Hong Sun is Lead Director. Farren Blackburn and Tessa Hoffe join the series as Directors.

Gangs of London series 1 and 2 recap 

Gangs of London season 1 started when crime boss Finn Wallace was killed and his son Sean was left to pick up the reins and take control of his drugs empire. Sean was helped by the Dumani family and watched by several others wanting to take over his turf. Sean was eventually shot by undercover cop Elliot, who had infiltrated his gang.

Gangs of London season 2 showed that Sean had survived the shooting and Elliot had become enmeshed in criminal activity. Meanwhile the Pakistani mafia and other families had clawed their way to the top, leaving the Wallaces vowing to reclaim their supremacy. The season ended on a cliffhanger, with Sean and Elliot facing off and Sean hanging off a crane.

For more on Gangs of London, listen to our latest Bingewatch podcast!

Brace yourselves for another riotous ride as Vinnie and his gang of small-time crooks embark on more madcap adventures as Sky Max comedy drama Brassic season 6 returns.

Here's everything we know...

Brassic season 6 release date

Brassic season 6 will be winging its way to Sky Max and streaming service NOW with seven brand-new episodes on Thursday, September 26 at 9pm.

Brassic season 6 cast

It wouldn't be Brassic without the show's co-creator Joseph Gilgun, who plays Vinnie, the loveable rogue who masterminds various 'creative enterprises' around the fictional town of Hawley to keep his head above water - and local gangsters Manolito and The MacDonaghs off his back!

Joining in the madcap crusades once again is Fool Me Once star Michelle Keegan as Vinnie's ‘will they, won’t they’ love interest Erin and Ryan Sampson - recently seen alongside Danny Dyer in Mr Bigstuff - as ‘entrepreneur’ Tommo.

They're joined by Tom Hanson, who plays inept lookout Cardi, alongside Bronagh Gallagher as his formidable wife Carol. Irish actor Aaron Heffernan is back as Ashley, the 'muscles' of the gang, with Parth Thakerer returning as mechanic JJ, alongside Joanna Higson as his partner - and new baby mama - Sugar, and his cousin Meena (played by ex-Coronation Street star Bhavna Limbachia).

And, of course, the Brassic cast wouldn't be complete without Steve Evets, who plays foul-mouthed farmer Jim. Get that swear jar ready, people!

What exploits can we expect this series?

After a thrilling climax to Brassic season 5, which saw Vinnie and Erin involved in a high-speed car chase that ended in disaster, the gang are soon back to a string of crazy exploits involving a speeding hearse, man-eating crocodile and some shocking spray tans - and all with drug kingpin Manolito (Rachid Sabitri) and gangster siblings Davey and Donna MacDonagh (Neil Ashton and Samantha Power) hot on their tails, of course! 

Where do we find the gang at the start of Brassic season 6?

As series six - once again written by Danny Brocklehurst - begins Vinnie meets a seasoned criminal with something interesting stashed in his attic - the original FA Cup from 1895. When word gets around about the trophy’s existence and it gets stolen, however, Vinnie enlists the help of his usual partners in crime to travel to Dublin to get it back. But will they score an own goal?

As well as crazy adventures, does Brassic still have a lot of heart?

The reason Brassic has become so popular is largely down to how it can have you rolling around laughing one minute and shedding a tear the next. And series six is no exception as, outside of their outrageous exploits, life is changing for the tight-knit gang.

People are getting older and the question of growing up is in the air. With everyone around him getting married, having babies and generally evolving - even Farmer Jim’s got a love interest! - there’s a sense that Vinnie’s starting to feel left behind. But what does growing up mean to a bunch like this?

Will season 6 end on a similar cliffhanger to season 5?

We couldn't possibly say. But a little bird tells us that this latest installment concludes with 'the most elaborate stunt in Brassic history' that sees 'the gang all in danger'.

Does that mean season 6 is the last series of Brassic?

Don't fret! It was recently announced that season 7 of the hit comedy has been greenlit and will begin pre-production this autumn. 

Co-creator Brocklehurst said: "Season seven! How did this happen?! Brassic is a delight to make and it’s a privilege to create more chaos for our loyal and loving audience."

What To Watch says...

Any continuing comedy drama has the potential to run out of steam. Not Brassic. With Brocklehurst’s slick script, authentic characters that we now know and love and some genuinely laugh-out-loud moments, this outing is shaping up to be its best yet. You do NOT want to miss it!

Is there a trailer for Brassic season 6?

There sure is! Here's a little something to whet your appetite:

Rob and Romesh Vs season 7 reunites comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan for a new three-part series and, when What to Watch joins them for an exclusive interview, it’s clear the duo's friendship is stronger than ever. But that doesn't mean they're not going to put it to the test!

Here, Rob, 38, and Romesh, 46, guide us through what’s in store and explain why they’re fired up as they embark on a new set of challenges…

Rob and Romesh Vs season 7 — release date

The first episode of the Rob and Romesh Vs season 7 is available on NOW, Sky Max and Sky Showcase from 9pm on Wednesday 28 August 2024. Subsequent episodes will be available weekly. 

Rob and Romesh Vs season 7 — episodes

In this seventh series Rob and Romesh push themselves in three new environments as they take on the worlds of Hollywood Stunts, Heavy Metal and Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Episode 1 — Hollywood Stunts

In this opener Rob and Romesh meet superstars Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt in London, train with their The Fall Guy director, David Leitch in LA, and agree to be set alight by his stunt team in a Universal Studios backlot. Yet, this isn’t the highlight of their Vs Hollywood Stunts outing. The daring duo return home with big plans to show off their new skills on Hollyoaks.

(Check out our interview below for more on this!)

Episode 2 — Heavy Metal

The comedian chums are faced with a completely different challenge for their second outing of season 7 - singing live at the Download UK Festival in front of 50,000 heavy metal fans.

After agreeing to perform Metallica anthem Enter Sandman on stage with Scottish band Bleed From Within, Rob and Romesh set off to learn the iconic song. Fortunately some famous faces are on hand to give them pointers including Queens of the Stone Age and Wheatus. After one drink too many to relax their nerves, will the duo prove a hit with the hard rock crowd or as unpopular as a portaloo after a three-day festival?

Episode 3 — UFC

The lads undertake UFC training with English mixed martial arts professional and UFC champ Leon Edwards. Then it’s off to Los Angeles for a Route 66 road trip to Sin City, AKA Las Vegas, with UFC Hall of Fame legend Michael Bisping for International Fight Week. After grappling with the training method known as Animal Flow, our lads go head-to-head in a UFC challenge on the rooftop of the Eiffel Tower on the Las Vegas strip. Who will know their anaconda choke from their 12-to-6 elbow?

Rob and Romesh Vs season 7 — interview with Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan

Rob and Romesh Vs season 7 trailer

We are still waiting for a trailer to Rob and Romesh Vs season 7, but as soon as one is released we will add it to this guide.

This House of the Dragon season 2 episode 2 recap contains spoilers. The aftermath of Prince Jaehaerys' death has far-reaching consequences in King's Landing and Dragonstone, as tempers fray and blood runs hot. Meanwhile Ser Otto Hightower clashes with his grandson, King Aegon, on the best way forward and his daughter Alicent Hightower is consumed by guilt over her actions on that fateful night... 

US viewers wanting to keep up with the epic fantasy series need to be signed up for either HBO or its streaming service Max. HBO can be added to traditional TV packages or live TV streaming services as a premium add-on channel, including YouTube TV. Or you can sign up for Max as a standalone streaming service (though also available as an add-on channel on some platforms).

In the UK, with the show airing on Sky Atlantic, a Sky TV subscription is necessary to watch House of the Dragon. Episodes are also going to be available to stream on-demand on Sky Go and NOW TV.

“Traitors and villains..” 

House of the Dragon season 1 pulled few punches, with scenes like Rhaenyra’s stillbirth scraping the bone, yet after a six year-old was beheaded in the opening episode, the second seems to be going down the same path. Mercifully, that macabre moment took place off screen.

That was of no consolation to King Aegon II, who’s understandably beside himself with grief and fury at the loss of his heir. His mother Alicent Hightower is also in agony, not least because she was carousing with Ser Cristan Cole — who should have been guarding the royal chambers — when Jaehaerys was killed.

Yet while Aegon rages, his grandfather and Hand, Ser Otto Hightower, clearly has no time for his histrionics. “You’re already seen as weak,” he tells the young King, suggesting they use Jaehaerys' death as a chance to paint Queen Rhaenyra as a monster. It’s a good plan, yet Otto may well come to regret losing his patience with Aegon. Speaking to a Targaryen King in such a way rarely produces good results.

Aegon is unwilling to have his son’s body “dragged through the streets like a dog,” in a large funeral procession, which is admirable, but principle and pragmatism are rarely the same thing in Westeros. Despite her instincts as a mother, Alicent knows her father speaks the truth, although bitterly regrets that her daughter Helaena must take part - almost as much as she regrets that when Helaena fled the scene of her son’s murder, she walked in on her and Ser Cristan. 

'You have weakened me, I can not trust you Daemon...'

The funeral procession is a fine illustration of the rampant imbalance between the sexes in Westeros. While Helaena and Alicent are forced to restrain themselves as they walk through the fire of their own grief, in the dungeons Aegon indulges his uncontrollable desire for revenge against the man who slew his son.

News of Jaehaerys’ death also causes consternation in Dragonstone, yet it’s not long before Rhaenyra realises which of her advisors was behind the depraved act. When she confronts Prince Daemon he denies that Jaehaerys was the intended target, but we all remember the dark look he gave to the rat-catcher and Rhaenyra doesn’t believe him either.

“Have you used me as a tool to grasp at your stolen inheritance?” she asks him, before hinting at the darkness he keeps “sheathed inside himself like a blade”. It’s a fine scene and one that exposes all of Daemon’s weaknesses. Duplicity is not always a failing in Westeros, as players like Littlefinger used to demonstrate, but if you’re going to be a liar you need to be an adept liar, and in truth Daemon has seldom been able to outmanoeuvre anyone by wit alone. As allies go, he’s limited.

'There is no absolution for what I’ve done'

With guilt gnawing away at him, Sir Cristan Cole seeks out Ser Arryk Cargyll and begins pouring it all over him, lashing out with accusations about the night Jaehaerys was killed, which he knows he should face. After invoking the treachery of Ser Arryk’s twin, Ser Erryk, he commands the knight to travel to Dragonstone and use their likeness to get close to Rhynaera and kill her. It’s a bold and unhinged move from Ser Cristan, who’s reaching for redemption in under a sea of pain and guilt.

Elsewhere, Prince Aemond finds a sympathetic shoulder to mull things over upon at the local brothel. As the warrior who sits astride the most deadly weapon in the whole of Westeros — Vhagar — he has a burgeoning sense of self-worth and the thought of Daemon sending assassins against him does little to douse those flames. He admits he regrets the ‘business’ with Lucerys Velaryon, but is that only because it has led to his nephew’s untimely death? 

'I wish to spill blood, not ink...'

At Dragonstone, Rhaenys and Lord Corlys discuss Prince Daemon and the wider struggle for power. "Devotion has never sat well with him," she says as they consider his predicament while he flies to Harrenhal to raise an army for Rhynaera. She’s not wrong about that and the struggle many men in Westeros feel when following the orders of a woman.

Meanwhile Rhaenyra questions Daemon's former paramour Mysaria, to gauge her worth. In a world of entitlement and rigid class structure, she’s an entrepreneurial mover who built her own house only for the Hightowers to burn it to the ground. “For too long I made it my aim to be of consequence, but now I see that was the wish of a child,” she says, knowing none of the masters she has served will ever accept her truly. But has she found something of a kindred spirit in Rhaenyra?  

At King’s Landing, Aegon has had all the rat-catchers murdered, including the gambler who snuck into the Red Keep. Ser Otto believes it’s a mistake and finally vents the full spleen of his frustration, calling his grandson an idiot. He’s played the man rather than the ball though, as the killing of a few innocent rat catchers is well within the norm in Westeros, yet the most regrettable aspect of his outburst is his dismissal as the Hand. It’s clear Ser Otto was used to a relatively easy life as the advisor to Viserys, a far more temperate and sensible King, and has struggled to adjust to life under someone more impetuous. However his failings could cost him - and the realm - dearly. 

“He was right about you,” says Ser Otto after invoking memories of Viserys, before hinting that he knows full well that his father never meant for Aegon to become King. And what will Aegon think if he discovers what his new Hand — Ser Cristan Cole — was doing on the night his son was killed? 

Ser Otto tells his daughter he will return to Old Town, yet Alicent urges him to head to High Garden to shore up the Tyrells, in the hope that he might be able to return one day. He tells her they can still prevail as long as they hold fast, yet it’s clear the guilt from the night of Jaehaerys’ death is beginning to weigh terribly upon Alicent. Otto tells her he doesn’t wish to hear of her crime, yet it could prove an invaluable tool for removing Ser Cristan, if he could manage the blow back upon his daughter. Although how long she can contain the truth is in question and if her dark secret is discovered while he's away there could be serious trouble.

'You betrayed us brother...'

Rhaenyra keeps the word of her house and allows Mysaria to go free, yet as she heads to her ship, she spies Ser Arryk heading up the cliffs towards Dragonstone. Realising what this means, she turns back and repays Rhaenyra’s mercy almost immediately by alerting Ser Erryk to his twins’ dark scheme.

Rhaenyra’s servant arrives just in time to save her and after defeating his brother in the ensuing struggle, Ser Erryk falls on his sword. It’s a sad end for both men and a terrible waste of a priceless asset for the Greens - and the Blacks. We can only presume that Erryk killed himself because he knew the Blacks had no way of knowing whether he was a loyal servant or an assassin, yet it’s a very quick end to what could have been an intriguing plot line. 

House of the Dragon season 2 continues on HBO on Sunday, June 30 in the US and on Sky Atlantic on Monday, July 1 in the UK. Each new episode will air at the same time weekly. You may already have HBO as part of your cable plan but if not, several live TV streaming services offer it as add-on packages. Sling TV, DirecTV and YouTube TV offer it, if you pay a little more each month.

If you don't need to watch House of the Dragon season 2 live, then you can catch it on demand using the streaming service Max, which costs $9.99 per month for its basic tier or $16.99 per month for its ad-free one.

Each episode of the new season of House of the Dragon will hit Max after it airs on HBO. The first season of the show is also all on Max for you to watch.

Atomic is a tense drama series set in a world where nuclear bombs are easier than ever to acquire. It features Game of Thrones star Alfie Allen and What’s Love Got to do With It star Shazad Latif play Max and Mohammed, two very different men who become caught up in a sinister terrorist plot to build an atomic bomb. Meanwhile The Handmaid’s Tale star Samira Wiley plays Cassie Elliot, the CIA agent hot on their heels.

The five-part series is inspired by the non-fiction book "Atomic Bazaar: The Rise of the Nuclear Poor" by Vanity Fair journalist William Langewiesche and will take viewers across the inhospitable deserts, hostile borders and labyrinths of medinas in North Africa, as Max and Mohammed grapple with the fact that the fate of humanity lies in their backpacks.

Here’s everything you need to know about the nail-biting series Atomic….

Atomic release date

Atomic is a five-part series that will be shown in the UK on Sky Atlantic from Thursday August 28 2025 at 9pm. We’ll also update this page when we hear of a US release date.

Is there a trailer?

Yes there's an official trailer and a teaser trailer for Atomic available. Take a peek at both below...

Atomic plot 

In Atomic, Max (Alfie Allen) is a drug-trafficker working his way around the Middle East while Mohammed (Shazad Latif) is on the run from those wanting to kill him. Both are in need of redemption but as the strangers run into one another in the Libyan desert, they become swept up in a Venezuelan cartel’s plot to transport uranium capable of fuelling a nuclear bomb. Pursued by a highly-skilled and ferociously determined CIA agent (Samira Wiley), M16 and a network of traffickers, the pair are faced with the prospect of being the good guys for once. But do they risk their lives to save the world?

Atomic cast — Alfie Allen on playing Max

Alfie Allen plays free-spirited drug-trafficker Max. He says: "Max is a free-spirited drug trafficker making runs through the Middle East, but this is interrupted by a crazy stunt literally in the first 30 seconds of the show,’ reveals Alfie, 38. ‘His car flips over, and that’s where he meets this man who Max calls “JJ”, because he won’t reveal his name.

"I was drawn to the role of Max because he’s an “odd one out” in the drug trafficking world. He’s a somewhat misguided soul. He struggles to fit in, and has to adjust to his surroundings. His journey with JJ really appealed to me. He’s the chalk to JJ’s cheese – an idealist who wears his heart on his sleeve. He’s constantly pushing for connection, even when it’s unwelcome.

"The most challenging scene to shoot was probably my first day on set, which was the car crash. There was a lot of dust and debris being chucked around, and fans blowing sand into the car, but it looks great!

"I had a lot of driving training on this job, which I enjoyed. I drive four cars: a 4x4, a two-wheel drive pickup truck, a Mercedes and a Range Rover. Viewers should tune in to Atomic because it’s an intense, passionate story about these two different characters who are grappling with their past and thrust into a chaotic journey. It’s hilarious how they deal with it, but also delicately handled by everyone involved.’

* Alfie Allen is best known for playing Theon Greyjoy in the fantasy series Game of Thrones. He's also starred in in John Wick, Harlots, White House Farm, SAS Rogue Heroes and Jojo Rabbit.

Shazad Latif on playing Mohammed

Shazad Latif plays Mohammed, who is a man haunted by his past. He says: "JJ doesn’t give a lot away – this is a character who doesn’t even reveal his name until the last episode!’ notes Shazad, 37. 

"He obviously has a haunted past, though. He has been in the desert for a few years and has been told he can never return home to the UK, so you have to understand how that would affect someone mentally. He’s in survival mode. He knows he’s probably going to die out here, and that makes him very dangerous.

"JJ and Max don’t like each other immediately, but they realise that they need each other. They are constantly shoved together in high stakes, but at times comedic, situations. Both characters have done bad things, and the whole theme of the show is them looking for redemption.

"I really enjoyed the physical scenes. I play a lot of sport in real life, and I grew up watching action movies like Predator [1987] and Demolition Man [1993], so it’s a joy to be able to do this as an adult. I had a month of training involving practicing with guns, boxing and doing workouts. It was intense, but I loved it.

"Alfie and I hadn’t worked together before, but when we realised we were both football fans, we suddenly had a connection – and Euro 2024 was on while we were filming in Morocco, so a lot of us would watch that to decompress at the end of the day."

* Shazad Latif previously starred as Kaz Khan in the film What’s Love Got to do With It and has also been in Nautilus, Star Trek: Discovery, Toast of Tinseltown, Toast of London, The Pursuit of Love, Spooks, My Mad Fat Diary and The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Samira Wiley on playing Cassie Elliot

Samira Wiley plays CIA agent Cassie, a highly skilled scientist and a Non-Official Cover (NOC) officer.  She says: "Cassie is a NOC, or Non-Official Cover, CIA agent [meaning she operates using a fictional identity that doesn’t link her to her home government], who has been working at the American University of Beirut for at least four years without seeing any action,’ shares Samira, 38. ‘So when JJ and Max come to where she is, she’s immediately ready to pull out her gun and join the race!

"I think all of the characters are addicted to danger. Cassie puts herself in an immense amount of jeopardy, and that’s what makes her interesting. It’s crazy to me for someone to give up their entire history and go out risking their life all the time, but I guess there are people who are just like that.

"The physical training for the role was extensive; I thought I was in shape, but I was not! Even the warm-ups were torture, but every day I was getting stronger. I know I wouldn’t have been able to do all of the running and jumping off things without it. 

"It was very hot in Morocco, I believe it was around 47 degrees Celsius for a while. I’m used to filming in Toronto [in Canada, for her role as rebellious Moira Strand in US dystopian drama The Handmaid’s Tale], where it’s so cold that I’m having heat packs put in my costume. But when it’s this hot, you can’t really do anything about it!’

* Samira Wiley is best known for her roles in The Handmaid’s Tale and Orange is the New Black. Samira has also starred in Will & Grace, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, You’re The Worst, Equal and Breaking News in Yuba County.

Is there a trailer?

Not yet but if one becomes available, we’ll add it to this page.

Behind the scenes, locations and more on Atomic

Atomic is filmed in Morocco in 2024. Inspired by the non-fiction book Atomic Bazaar by William Langewiesche, Atomic is produced by Pulse Films, a VICE Studios Group company, in association with Sky Studios. The series is written by Gregory Burke while Jiwon Lee, Clare McQuillan and Ishy Din are on the writing team. The series is directed by Shariff Korver, and the Series Producer is Peter McAleese. Executive Producers are Jamie Hall and Judy Counihan for Pulse Films, Thomas Benski, Gregory Burke, and Sam Hoyle and Megan Spanjian for Sky Studios.

The Iris Affair is a tense chase drama coming to Sky Max and starring Mary & George’s Niamh Algar and The White Lotus actor Tom Hollander. 

Created by Neil Cross, the man behind the hit BBC1 series Luther, this thriller is set on the Sardinian coast and sees Niamh play Iris Nixon, a codebreaking genius who steals a mysterious code from a charming philanthropist (Tom Hollander). She must then lie low and rely on her intelligence to survive an increasingly deadly game of hide and seek. 

Writer and showrunner Neil Cross says: “All I wanted to do was to make a show I wanted to watch. Iris is an unapologetically exciting, witty, chase-driven adventure show and features a lead character the like of which I don't think we've ever met before on TV. With Niamh Algar and Tom Hollander bringing these complex characters to life, coupled with Terry McDonough's direction, I couldn't be more excited to share this world and these characters.” 

Here’s everything you need to know about the Sky series The Iris Affair...  

The Iris Affair release date

The Iris Affair is an eight-part series will launch on Sky and NOW in the UK later in autumn 2025 — either on Sky Max or Sky Atlantic — and as soon as we hear where US viewers can catch it in the US, we’ll update this page. We’ll also let you know when a release date is announced. 

Is there a trailer?

Yes there's a trailer now released backed by music by The Cardigans. Take a look below....

The Iris Affair plot

The Iris Affair follows Iris Nixon (Niamh Algar), a whip-smart but rootless puzzle addict. By day she works in a mundane job flagging harmful content for a social media platform but at night she solves complex riddles on secret internet forums. 

One day a mysterious thread is posted online inviting people to crack a secretive code. Iris outsmarts every codebreaker in the world but soon realizes she’s unlocked a dangerously powerful piece of technology owned by philanthropist Cameron McIntyre (Tom Holland). And as the net closes in on her, she’s forced to flee to Sardinia and reinvent herself. But the cyber speculation about her whereabouts intensifies and Iris must use all of her intelligence and charm to avoid being found.

The Iris Affair cast — Niamh Algar as Iris Nixon

Niamh Algar plays a codebreaker Iris Nixon who is on the run in The Iris Affair. Niamh recently played Sandie in the Sky Atlantic period drama Mary & George and has also starred in Raised by Wolves, Culprits, Malpractice, The Wonder, Suspect, The Virtues and Deceit. 

Tom Hollander as Cameron

Tom Hollander plays philanthropist Cameron in The Iris Affair. Tom previously starred as Quentin in The White Lotus season 2 and recently took on the role of Truman Capote in Feud. Tom has also starred in The Ipcress File, The King’s Man, Us, Baptiste, The Night Manager and Rev. 

Who else is starring in The Iris Affair?

Other stars of The Iris Affair include newcomer Meréana Tomlinson (The Trials), Sacha Dhawan (Wolf, The Great, Doctor Who), Maya Sansa (Good Morning Night, Dormant Beauty), Peter Sullivan (Poldark, The Borgias) and Debi Mazar (Younger, Entourage).

Also starring are Kristofer Hivju (Game of Thrones, Force Majeure), Harry Lloyd (Arcane, Marcella), Peter Sullivan (Poldark, The Borgias), Marco Leonardi (Nuovo Cinema Paradiso, Anime Nere), Angela Bruce (Silver Haze, Doctor Who) and Lorenzo De Moor (A Simple Favor 2, Dolce Fine Giornata). 

Behind the scenes and more onThe Iris Affair

The Iris Affair started filming in May 2024. It's written and created by Neil Cross, the mastermind behind the acclaimed Golden Globe Award-winning series Luther. The Lead Director is Terry McDonough (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul). The show is a Sky Studios and Fremantle co-production. Wildside is providing production services in Italy. The series is directed by Terry McDonough and Sarah O’Gorman, and the Series Producer is Tim Bricknell. Susan E. Connolly and Ian Scott McCullough are writing episodes. Executive Producers are Neil Cross, Terry McDonough; Dante Di Loreto and Jenni Sherwood for Fremantle, and Adrian Sturges for Sky Studios.

Iris will be available on Sky and streaming service NOW in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Fremantle will handle international sales of the series.  

A League of Their Own: Mexican Road Trip is another hilarious special edition following on from the team's South East Asia adventure. This time it’s all sombreros, mariachi bands and tequila in the epic four-part trip, as captains Jamie Redknapp and Jill Scott go head-to-head with teammates Mo Gillligan, Micah Richards and comedian Maisie Adam, as they attempt sporting challenges with a Latin twist.

That means getting stuck into everything from Mexican-style horseriding and Lucha Libre wrestling to roller-skating at Mexico City’s famous Day of the Dead parade!

Micah Richards says: "It was always going to be difficult to match Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand from the last Road Trip, but we had a brilliant time. As a kid, you always say ‘I want to go to Mexico.’ I suspect I would never have gone to Vietnam or Singapore otherwise but was glad I did. I'd been to Thailand before because of football. We had an unbelievable time that was hard to beat. But Mexico was amazing."

So here’s everything you need to know about A League of Their Own: Mexican Road Trip on Sky Max…

A League of Their Own: Mexican Road Trip release date

A League of Their Own Mexican Road Trip starts on Sky Max and NOW on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 and all four episodes will be available from that date as a box set. 

Is there a trailer?

Yes a trailer from Sky has landed and there are some fun costumes and exploits! Take a look at the A League of Their Own Mexican Road Trip trailer below...

A League of Their Own Mexican Road Trip — destinations, challenges and what happens

While A League Of Their Own host Romesh Ranganathan gets to relax at home (although he does narrate the series!), the gang, including Jill Scott, Jamie Redknapp, Maisie Adams, Mo Gilligan and Micah Richards, fly out to Mexico for some fun in the sun. 

But as the Blue Team and Red Team go head-to-head across the series, with the ultimate loser taking on a thrilling but terrifying forfeit, expect plenty of mickey taking, drunken antics and bad language! Spicy! 

The gang will learn the art of Lucha Libre wrestling, complete with shiny costumes and comedy ring names, before showing off their skills in front of an excited crowed at the Arena Mexico. Across the series they also rollerskate at the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City, rock climb in Guadalajara and take penalties in front of 60,000 football fans. There’s also baseball, horseriding and scuba diving, plus plenty of tequila and a mariachi band surprise!  But the loser will be forced to face a giant bungee swing across a desert canyon in a terrifying forfeit!

Jamie Redknapp on A League of Their Own Mexican Road Trip

Jamie Redknapp says: "There’s something about travelling that I’ve always loved. All of a sudden, I’m going to places I never knew existed. As much as I love the filming, I almost enjoyed the evenings just as much, where we all went out for dinner and might have had a nice tequila, being in Mexico… Getting to be there with Jill, Micah, Mo and Maise was great, and it’s fun getting to meet different people. Road Trip has become a big part of my life now. 

"I’d never been to Mexico before, and I’ve always wanted to go. I had no idea what it was going to be like, but it was unbelievable, so vibrant. We got to do so many cool things, the people were friendly, and the food was incredible. It’s one of the nicest places I’ve ever been to. 

"The Lucha Libre wrestling was amazing. Micah loves wrestling anyway, and he really came into his own – and the size of him! He really took it seriously. I’d hurt my back so couldn’t get involved with that challenge too much, but it would have been a brilliant thing to do. I designed the outfits which was a lot of fun. Getting to see Jill, Maisie and Micah get stuck into the matches was fantastic. 

"Baseball was good fun, we really enjoyed doing that in front of a large crowd. Mexico loves its football but is a big baseball community, too. We had a guy called Manny who taught us how to play and took a real shine to Jill! 

"The Day of the Dead parade was the most incredible thing. Everyone’s seen Daniel Craig there in James Bond! We got fully made up with the face paints and outfits and looked incredible. 

"Scuba Diving was fun and could have gone either way because we couldn’t find the sea lions that we were supposed to be underwater photographing - they were nowhere to be seen! I think we ended up having to pay some to come and do a bit-part in the end! Luckily enough we did find some eventually. Everyone else was scared to get in the water and I felt like David Hasselhoff for the first time in my life! 

"Tequila drinking… that was a challenge that wasn’t a challenge, being asked to drink it all day! Micah and I, unfortunately, took it to a new level. I blame him, though he’ll probably blame me. We had so much fun, we didn’t stop laughing all day, it’s one of the best ALOTO challenges I’ve ever done. I don’t even know who won it, I can’t remember - I can’t even remember the next day either!"

Behind the scenes and more on A League of Their Own: Mexican Road Trip 

A League of Their Own: Mexican Road Trip was commissioned by Zai Bennett, Managing Director of Content for Sky UK and Ireland and Phil Edgar-Jones, Director, Sky Arts and Entertainment. 

The Commissioning Editor for Sky UK is Barbara Lee and the Executive Producers for CPL Productions, a Seven. One Studios company, are Murray Boland, Danielle Lux and David Taylor.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz tells the remarkable true story of Lali and Gita Sokolov, who fell in love when they were both imprisoned in the concentration camp during World War Two.

Based on Heather Morris' book, the six-part drama will air from Thursday, May 2 on Sky Atlantic, Sky Showcase and NOW in the UK, and on NBC Universal’s streaming site Peacock in the US.

The season begins as elderly Jewish widower Lali (Reservoir Dogs' Harvey Keitel) tells budding author Heather (The Last of Us' Melanie Lynskey) about how he met his late wife Gita. 

Flashbacks then show Lali as a young man (World on Fire and The Little Mermaid’s Jonah Hauer-King) living in Eastern Europe, but in 1942, he is sent to Auschwitz and becomes a tattooist, marking identification numbers on his fellow prisoners. When he has to tattoo new arrival Gita (Baptiste’s Anna Próchniak), they forge an instant connection. But sadistic SS guard Stefan Baretzki (The Deutschland trilogy's Jonas Nay) is watching their every move as they fight for their survival…

Here, Jonah Hauer-King and Anna Próchniak tell What To Watch about The Tattooist of Auschwitz…

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is incredibly moving. What drew you both to the drama?

Anna Próchniak: “I’d read the book and I understand the phenomenon of it, because the story is extraordinary and powerful. Gita and Lali find love and hope in a world filled with hatred and horror and in the most inhumane of places. It's beautiful.” 

Jonah Hauer-King: “Yes, I’d read it too and I became so invested in Lali and Gita’s love story, it felt unique and surprising for them to have this profound connection, and to highlight humanity in such a dark place felt inspiring.”

How did you approach the roles?

Anna Próchniak: “Playing a real character is scary because you feel the responsibility, it’s huge. I knew it wasn't going to be an easy story but I love being challenged and the way to approach it is to make it as honestly as possible with sensitivity and love for Gita.”

Jonah Hauer-King: “Heather gave me good advice, which was to get to know Lali before the camp, as a young man who wants to move to Paris and fall in love. Then in the camp, he’s just trying to get through day by day. Gita gives Lali purpose and meaning. It's purely about survival and he wants to get out of there, so he can be with Gita.” 

Tell us about the interaction between Baretzki and Lali…

Jonah Hauer-King: “We didn’t want to create a traditional captive and captor relationship. Lali is terrified of Baretzki and thinks he's a monster. But he's also aware that he owes his life to him. And Baretzki has this strange admiration for Lali, which is extraordinary, given their power dynamic and status.”

What impact does surviving Auschwitz have on the older Lali when he tells his story to Heather in Australia, where he and Gita eventually emigrated?

Jonah Hauer-King: “We wanted to show the extent of the trauma over many decades. It doesn't end when the camp is liberated or at the end of the war. It's carried on forever and it’s passed on.”

Anna Próchniak: “Yes, what the show has done well is to incorporate the modern timeline to emphasise that this is Lali’s memory and he faces the ghosts of the past.”

Jonah, did you enjoy sharing the role of Lali with Harvey Keitel?

Jonah Hauer-King: “It’s a highlight of my professional life so far. I'm such a fan, he's a wonderful actor, so it was a privilege. We knew we both needed to create an essence of Lali but we were telling a story in different times with decades between us. I felt incredibly connected to Harvey.” 

What was it like watching Gita and Lali’s testimonies for your research?

Jonah Hauer-King: “You get the sense of them through the book and through talking to Heather but for them to be on screen, like they’re talking to you, is surreal. It’s so intimate and like a conversation, which is unusual when you're playing a role.”

Anna Próchniak: “Yes, you can see their emotions are still there so strongly. It's powerful to see footage of Gita, to watch her tiny movements and gestures and the way she smiled, and to hear her voice.”

How did you find filming on the Auschwitz set that was created in Bratislava?

Anna Próchniak: “It was rewarding but challenging to go into the camp every day and into that mindset. It took a toll on all the cast and crew and we knew that wasn't even a patch on what it would have been like for the real people.” 

Jonah Hauer-King: “It was a strange experience going to that set, which they've meticulously recreated. The camp takes on its own character in the story. It's such a foreboding and imposing place, it was frightening.”

Gita and Lali have both sadly passed away. How do you think they might feel about the drama?

Anna Próchniak: “I asked Heather, ‘Do you think they would like it?’ She was like, ‘I'm sure they’re beyond happy. They’re dancing in heaven.’”

Jonah Hauer-King: “And their son, Gary, gave us his blessing. He burst into tears and said, ‘It’s like I'm talking to my mum and dad, thank you.’ That, for us, was the most meaningful part of this process. You want to feel they would be proud.”

The Tattooist of Auschwitz airs in the UK from Thursday, May 2 at 9pm on Sky Atlantic and Sky Showcase. The season will also be available on NOW. In the US, the show will air from Thursday, May 2 on NBC Universal’s streaming service Peacock.

Bad Tidings is a festive comedy movie on Sky Max, starring Lee Mack and Chris McCausland as warring neighbours who become unlikely heroes. Lee plays grumpy home-security expert Neil who is constantly driven to distraction by his blind neighbour Scott (Chris McCausland) who insists on leaving his Christmas lights on all year round. Then, one Christmas Eve, their feuding causes chaos and the pair are forced to band together to save their street from notorious burglars.

“Talk about a back of an envelope idea that has got out of hand, we are now making a Christmas comedy film and it's going to be awesome,” says Chris McCausland, who co-wrote Bad Tidings. “I can't wait to get up to some hilarious mayhem with Lee and bring some festive spirit into people's living rooms this Christmas!” 

Meanwhile, Lee Mack adds: “I love Chris McCausland, I love the script and I Iove Christmas!” 

Here’s everything you need to know about Sky's festive special Bad Tidings…

Bad Tidings release date

Bad Tidings premieres in the UK on Sunday December 22 at 7.30pm on Sky Max and also be available from then on NOW for Christmas 2024.

Is there a Bad Tidings trailer?

Yes Sky has now released an official Bad Tidings trailer, so you can watch a preview of the festive fun below...

Bad Tidings plot

Bad Tidings follows Neil (Lee Mack), a moody home-security expert from Stockport, in the north of England, who can’t stand his irritating blind neighbour Scott (Chris McCausland). The problem is the rest of the neighbours think Scott is great and appoint him the head of their Neighbourhood Watch, to Neil’s fury. Their bickering culminates in Lee causing a power-cut, meaning the whole neighbourhood is evacuated on Christmas Eve with just Neil and Scott left behind to keep guard. And when the local crime family decides to rob every house on the street in a single night, the pair must defeat them. But with no power, and 50 per cent of them blind, it’s going to take a heroic effort to save their neighbourhood.

Chris McCausland and Lee Mack on their Christmas caper Bad Tidings: 'We're like adult Macauley Culkins' 

Strictly winner Chris McCausland swaps his dancing partner Dianne Buswell for his comedy partner Lee Mack in heartwarming Sky one-off Bad Tidings

Bad Tidings cast — Lee Mack on playing Neil

Comedian Lee Mack plays grumpy neighbour Neil. "I trust Chris, so I agreed to get onboard without reading the script," says Lee, 56. ‘It’s definitely got a Home Alone-style level of goodies and baddies, and I think the Brennans could have a spin-off film. But I hope people watching think that a pair of incompetent, clueless, moronic imbeciles can get the job done when push comes to shove. And I’m talking about the actors, not the characters!"

* Lee Mack stars in Not Going Out and Semi-Detached and has also had roles in Murder, They Hope, Horrible Histories: The Movie, Inside No.9 and Doctor Who. He also hosts the ITV1 quiz show The 1% Club and is a team captain on Would I Lie to You? From 2014 to 2017 he fronted the show Duck Quacks Don’t Echo. 

Chris McCausland on playing Scott in Bad Tidings

Stand-up comedian Chris McCausland plays Neil’s blind neighbour Scott.

"It’s a buddy-comedy caper, and Lee and I play two feuding neighbours who can’t stand each other,’ says Strictly Come Dancing 2024 winner McCausland, 47, who co-wrote Bad Tidings with the team behind Ghosts and Horrible Histories. ‘Neil and Scott are both really petty, but they have to work together to save the day."

"We set out to make a film that is, I think, funny and captivating, and keeps you on the edge of your seat with a lot of tension and laughs. And Sky actually had the confidence in the two of us to pull it off, although they did get me an acting coach. I think they had slightly less faith in me than they did in Lee."

* As well as his Strictly win, Chris McCausland a regular on comedy panel shows such as QI, Would I Lie To You?, House of Games and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. He appeared on the reality series Scared of the Dark and has had cameo roles in EastEnders, Moving On and Not Going Out. HIs travel series Wonders Of The World I Can't See was shown on Channel 4 and he appeared alongside Lee Mack in Not Going Out.

Who else is starring in Bad Tidings?

Other cast in Bad Tidings are Rebekah Staton, Sarah Alexander, Ben Crompton, Emily Coates, Josiah Eloi, Millie Kiss, Tupele Dorgu, Sunil Patel, Susan Kyd and Donna Preston. 

Behind the scenes and more on Bad Tidings

Bad Tidings is written by Laurence Rickard and Martha Howe-Douglas as well as Chris McCausland. The yuletide comedy is produced by Sky Studios and directed by Tim Kirkby with Adnan Ahmed from Sky Studios producing. Anil Gupta Executive Produces for Sky Studios. NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution handles international sales on behalf of Sky Studios.

Bookish is a stylish crime drama starring Mark Gatiss and Polly Walker. Set in London in 1946, the series is created by Mark Gatiss himself , and he's also the main star playing gay antique book seller Gabriel Book, who helps the police solve crimes by finding the answers to puzzles in the thousands of books that line his shelves.

Bridgerton's Polly Walker plays his wife Trottie while the show also boasts a stellar line-up of guest stars including Daniel Mays, Tim McInnerny, Joely Richardson and Jonas Nay.

"To misquote the movie Goodfellas: 'All my life I’ve wanted to be a detective!'," says Mark. "I couldn’t be more excited to be bringing this series to the screen, and to plunge viewers into our intoxicating version of post-War London. It's an under-examined time and an under-examined world and Bookish is the strange, funny and thrilling show that I’ve always wanted to make."

Here's everything you need to know about U&Alibi's crime series Bookish…

Bookish release date

Bookish starts in the UK on the UKTV channel U&Alibi, with an opening double bill on Wednesday July 16 2025 at 8.10pm and 9pm. Double episodes will then run weekly each Wednesday at the same times. All six episodes are available as a full box set on Sky Box Sets and NOW from July 16.

Bookish got its worldwide premiere at the inaugural Italian Global Series Festival (IGSF) on Tuesday June 24 2025. The show will launch later on t.

US viewers can catch Bookish on PBS or see our handy guide on how to watch the show from around the world on the link below...

How to watch Bookish online or on TV from around the world

Is there a trailer? 

Yes a Bookish trailer is released. Do take a look below...

Bookish plot 

Bookish is set in London 1946 and follows the eccentric and unconventional Gabriel Book (Mark Gatiss) who owns an antique bookshop but is also a self-appointed detective to the local police, acquiring all the knowledge he needs from the books around him. Gabriel surrounds himself with loveable, damaged misfits who he informally protects, cajoles, and mentors. He cares deeply for his wife Trottie (Polly Walker) who runs the wallpaper shop next door. However, theirs is a "lavender marriage" designed to hide Gabriel’s sexuality at a time when it was illegal to be gay.

Gabriel is happily married to his childhood best friend Trottie in an arrangement that suits them both. However, when Book hires a new assistant, Jack (Connor Finch), who’s just been released from prison, what will he make of his boss’s unconventional set-up?

The two-part opening story, which guest stars Daniel Mays and Rosie Cavaliero, sees Book helping the police investigate the death of local chemist Mr Harkup. Inspector Bliss (Elliot Levy) assumes the death was a suicide, but Book isn’t sure, and gathers evidence suggesting Harkup was murdered.

Bookish cast — Mark Gatiss on playing Gabriel Book

Mark Gatiss plays the hero of Bookish — bookseller and sleuth Gabriel Book. "Post-war London is my favourite period," says Mark. 'It’s such an interesting time - the whole world has been turned upside down, and nobody knows their place any more. It’s very exciting, but also kind of frightening.

"Every detective has their own thing, and Book’s is that he can draw on all the world’s books - either physically, or in his head. It’s difficult to come up with something that hasn’t been done before, but the fact that he’s gay and in an arranged marriage is unusual!"

Mark Gatiss reveals his new series Bookish started as a book

* Mark Gatiss previously shot to fame with the comedy show The League of Gentlemen and has also starred in Nighty Night, Funland, Wolf Hall, Sherlock and Game of Thrones. He’s appeared in Doctor Who, Good Omens, 3 Body Problem, Operation Mincemeat, Nolly and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.

Polly Walker on playing Trottie Book

Look out for Polly Walker playing Gabriel’s colourful wife Trottie Book. She says: "All marriages are very different. It’s not a sexual marriage. They are best friends. They get on. They have a similar sense of humour, similar interests. That’s what unites them. I would say they are both outsiders. Trottie less obviously so but she is most definitely different and is prepared to be a bit of a crusader on some level for women. Not that she knows that. She just lives life how she wants to. I guess Book admires that.

"I was struck by Trottie's overwhelming warmth and generosity and positivity, which is nice because I often don’t play those sorts of parts. She is such a good egg without being sickly sweet. She’s her own person. Strangely it is a very good fit for me. I said to Mark Gatiss when I saw him, ‘I can’t believe that you’ve seen the goodness in me.’ My family does. My husband does. But generally, in casting I’ve played a lot of baddies."

* Polly Walker has previously starred in Bridgerton as Lady Featherington and played Delphine in Mr Selfridge. Polly has also starred in Line of Duty, Pennyworth, Prisoners Wives, Rome and The Syndicate.

Who else is starring in Bookish

Other cast in Bookish includes Connor Finch who plays Jack, while Elliot Levey is Inspector Bliss and Buket Kömür is Nora. Blake Harrison (Still Up, World on Fire) plays as Sergeant Morris, with Rosie Cavaliero (The Power of Parker, Funny Woman), Jacob Fortune-Lloyd (Bodies, The Great), Tom Forbes (Champion, Rules of the Game), Amanda Drew (The Gold, Wolf) Luke Norris (Poldark, The Girl Before), Ella Bruccoleri (Call the Midwife, Passenger), and Michael Workéyè (Playdate, This is Going to Hurt) confirmed to guest star.

Paul McGann (Annika, Doctor Who) will star as Mr Kind in episodes 5 and 6, alongside Tim McInnerny (One Day, Ten Percent) as ‘D’, Elizabeth Berrington (Henpocalypse!, Fifteen-Love) as Sylvia Orr, Mark Umbers (Hotel Portofino) as Victor Orr and Angeliki Papoulia (The Lobster) as Princess Ruhije. Joely Richardson (The Gentlemen), Daniel Mays (Magpie Murders) and Jonas Nay are also guest starring in certain episodes.

Bookish episode guide

Here's a brief lowdown on the Bookish episodes which we'll be updating along the way....

Episode 1
It’s Jack’s first day as Book’s assistant. But excavation of a nearby bomb site means the business of bookselling takes an instant back seat. Because the bomb site is full of skeletons! Jack soon realises his new employer has an unexpected sideline: solving murders. Before Jack can even unpack, let alone get his head round Book’s eccentric filing method, another body is found - the local chemist, Harkup, is found poisoned in his shop. The affable Inspector Bliss thinks it’s suicide. Book has his doubts. Jack’s soon making tea for witnesses, examining clues and getting much closer to the police than a recently released prisoner might want to. Daniel Mays and Rosie Cavaliero are guest stars.

Episode 2
The investigation by Book and Bliss into the chemist’s death continues as Book discovers some surprising evidence in the case of the bombsite skeletons. With multiple suspects in the frame, a missing jade figurine, and an unexpected beneficiary in Harkup’s will, Book needs all his ingenuity and his crack team of helpers – Trottie, Jack, Nora and ever-helpful Labrador, Dog, to fit the pieces of the puzzle together. The Law must take its course. But over whom does the shadow of the gallows lie…? Tim McInnerny guest stars.

Episodes 3 to 6
Do check back here as we'll be updating very soon.

Behind the scenes, locations and more on Bookish

Bookish is filming in Belgium during 2024 and is a UKTV Original series that was commissioned by Helen Perry, head of drama for UKTV, and ordered by Emma Ayech, channel director for Alibi, and Hilary Rosen, director of commissioning. Executive producers for Eagle Eye Drama are Jo McGrath and Walter Iuzzolino. The series is co-written with Matthew Sweet and is directed by Carolina Giammetta (Suspect S2, Hollington Drive) and produced by Christopher Arcache (Hotel Portofino). Bookish is produced in association with Happy Duck Films and is supported by the Belgian Tax Shelter.

Helen Perry says: "UKTV is the home for writers’ passion projects, and we are so proud to be working with the exceptionally talented Mark Gatiss on his, along with the effervescent team at Eagle Eye. Mark’s unique detective thriller is full of wit and heart, with a central platonic love story that is sure to enthrall audiences. And because Book is a gay man, at a time when it was illegal to be so, we are proud that the drama shines a light on an important LGBTQ+ story. The star-studded cast Eagle Eye have already put together is tribute to the sure-fire hit Bookish is to become."

Emma Ayech adds: "The story and setting of this brand-new drama is perfect for the Alibi audience and I’m excited to see how the wonderful cast and crew bring it to life on screen. We have a wealth of UKTV original dramas coming down the track and I’m thrilled we’re adding this fantastic addition into the mix."

Jo McGrath, chief creative officer for Eagle Eye Drama, explains: "There are some characters, some ideas that just leap off the page and demand to be realised. Book, Trottie and the clever crimes Mark Gatiss has woven around the precinct of Archangel Lane is one of those projects. The answer to every crime can be found in a book and in Bookish, Mark Gatiss has created a unique, memorable and stand out new detective series."

Oliver Bachert, chief distribution officer, Beta Film commented: “With Bookish, we are thrilled to unveil a truly unique and compelling series that blends a classic detective story with the rich tapestry of post-war London, brought to life by the brilliant Mark Gatiss. With its mix of mystery, history, and heartfelt drama, it is another milestone in our successful partnership with Eagle Eye Drama. Bookish is sure to become a great example of a sophisticated crime drama and instant classic for audiences around the world. We're proud to bring this exciting series to the global stage."

For more on Bookish, listen to our Bingewatch podcast.

Colin Farrell dazzled audiences with his portrayal of Oswald Cobblepot, aka Penguin, in The Batman. It's not surprising that a spinoff was ordered that is called, appropriately, The Penguin.

The Penguin is set in the same cinematic universe as Matt Reeves' The Batman, which features Robert Pattinson in the iconic role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. The spinoff series was greenlit long before a leadership change at Max led to the arrival of James Gunn and Peter Safran, who have their own plans for the DC Universe. As such, the series is considered to be part of an else-verse, a story that's set in its own time and has nothing to do with the series and movies that Gunn and Safran are developing as part of their world-building strategy.

Farrell's Penguin isn't a fully-fledged supervillain in the series, at least not yet. For now, he's a gritty crime boss who's more James Gandolfini than Burgess Meredith.

Here's everything we know about The Penguin.

Next episode of The Penguin 

The Penguin airs Sundays on Max in the US as well as Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK.

Here's what we know about the next new episode airing November 10:

The Penguin episode 8: "A Great or Little Thing"
"Truths are revealed as the power struggle between Oz and Sofia comes to a head."

The Penguin premiered Thursday, September 19.

The series will be available exclusively on Max in the US, so you'll need a subscription in order to watch it. You can choose from one of the Max subscription options below if you don’t have a subscription already. You can subscribe as a standalone service or add it to a Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV or Sling TV package.

The Penguin episode guide

The Penguin episode 1: "After Hours"
"The death of Carmine Falcone and a post-flood crime wave motivates Oz Cobb to fill the power vacuum left in the criminal underworld of Gotham City, while Falcone's children attempt to keep their family together."

The Penguin episode 2: "Inside Man"
"Sofia works to secure her family's strength, while Oz attempts to play both the Falcones and Maronis to his advantage."

The Penguin episode 3: "Bliss"
"Oz and Sofia must address the skeletons in their closet as they attempt to control the future of Gotham's drug trade, while Victor is torn between his new life and what remains of his old one."

The Penguin episode 4: "Cent'Anni"
"Sofia confronts her past in Arkham State Hospital and makes plans for her future."

The Penguin episode 5: "Homecoming"
"With his nascent operation at stake, Oz makes a desperate move to turn the tables. Meanwhile, Sofia strives to build a new legacy for herself."

The Penguin episode 6: "Homecoming"
"Oz strives to extend his reach in the city, despite his enemies' attempts to corner him; Victor encounters a past adversary."

The Penguin episode 7: "Top Hat"
"Oz strives to protect his family and his enterprise; Sofia uncovers a shocking truth."

The Penguin plot

Here's what we know about The Penguin from Max: "The eight-episode DC Studios drama series continues The Batman epic crime saga that filmmaker Matt Reeves began with Warner Bros. Pictures’ global blockbuster The Batman, and centers on the character played by Colin Farrell in the film."

The Penguin cast

The Penguin features Academy Award nominee Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin, Intermission, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them) as Oswald Cobblepot.

The series also stars Cristin Milioti (The Wolf of Wall Street) as Sofia Falcone, Clancy Brown (The Shawshank Redemption) as Salvatore Maroni, Rhenzy Felix (Encanto) as Victor Aguilar, Craig Walker (High Town) as Detective Marcus Wise and Myles Humphus (Reminiscence) as Dom Gigante.

The Penguin trailer

Take a look at the first teaser for The Penguin below:

Previously, Max released a teaser in April 2023 that featured a first look at The Penguin as it went into production. It wasn't long after that when the Writers Guild and Screen Actors Guild strikes shut down the set, pushing the series release date back. Take a look at the In-Production trailer below:

Catch Me A Killer is being shown on Alibi in the UK. It's a gripping police drama that sees real-life psychological profiler Micki Pistorius on the hunt for some of the worst serial killers in history. 

Game of Thrones’ star Charlotte Hope plays Micki, who in the 1990s was the first woman who used psychological profiling to help the police get into the minds of mass murderers. Each episode brings to life another of her most high-profile cases, including that of Sipho Thwala, aka the Phoenix Strangler, who murdered 16 women and carried out 10 rapes in Durban’s sugarcane fields in 1996, and the Station Strangler, who slaughtered 22 young boys. There’s also the ABC Killer, Moses Sithole, whose murderous spree began in Atteridgeville, continued in Boksburg and finished in Cleveland, and ‘cannibal killer’ Stewart Wilken. The real Micki Pistorius acted as a consultant on the series, which also sees her go through difficult times in her personal life and shows how the weight of catching these monsters took its toll on her. 

"Micki was amazing, she really supported me all the way through it,” says the show’s star, Charlotte. "I really wanted to do her justice and I’m so grateful I got to play her."

Here’s everything you need to know about the Alibi series Catch Me A Killer… 

Catch Me A Killer release date 

The 11-part series Catch Me A Killer premieres in the UK on Alibi on Tuesday March 5 2024 at 9pm, with most episodes running weekly on the channel (see episode guide below). Episodes one and two are a double bill, as are episodes eight and nine and 10 and 11. Catch Me a Killer is also available on Sky Box Sets and NOW, and also available to stream worldwide from Showmax.

Is there a trailer for Catch Me A Killer? 

Yes the Catch Me A Killer trailer shows how Micki had to go to some dark places in order to get into the heads of killers. Take a look below...

Catch Me A Killer plot

Catch Me A Killer tracks Micki Pistorius (no relation to Oscar) as she goes from lecturing in psychological profiling to trying to help the Cape Town police find the ‘Station Strangler’ who has murdered 22 young boys. It then follows her as she moves around South Africa, hunting serial killers by understanding what makes them tick. However, she has her own personal problems to deal with and faces resistance from those who dismiss the science behind her methods. 

Catch Me A Killer cast — Charlotte Hope as Micki Pistorious

Charlotte Hope plays Micki Pistroius (no rleation to Oscar). Chharlott is best known for her roles as Myranda in Game of Thrones. She played Catherine of Aragon in The Spanish Princess and has also been in The English Game, The Nun, Bancroft, The Musketeers, Holby City and Whitechapel. 

Who else is starring in Catch Me A Killer? 

The Catch Me a Killer cast changes as Micki moves around police stations in South Africa but Donna Cormack-Thomson is a series regular, playing Erika, Micki’s assistant. Steven John Ward is Micki’s love interest Mark, while Sean Cameron Michael is real-life FBI criminal profiler Robert Ressler. Gavin Werner, Ivan Zimmermann and Vaugh Lucas also star. 

Catch Me A Killer episode guide 

Here's our brief guides to the 11 episodes of Catch Me A Killer...

Episode one (part 1) 
Psychology lecturer Micki Pistorius is asked to help Cape Town police hunt down the ‘Station Strangler’, a man who has killed 22 young boys and shows no sign of stopping.

Episode two (part 2) 
Micki is still on the trail of the Station Strangler and begins to understand his mind. 

Episode three 
Micki is called to Pretoria where a killer has left eight bodies so far in Cleveland’s mine dumps. She must also meet a man who confessed to three murders but is now claiming not to remember anything.

Episode four 
In Atteridgeville Micki is on the hunt for the ABC Killer, who has murdered 15 women.

Episode five 
Christopher Mhlengwa Zikode is suspected of numerous murders and rapes but is refusing to speak. By understanding his past, can Micki get a confession out of him? 

Episode six 
Back in Cape Town, Micki is helping the cops look for a man who has murdered a string of prostitutes. 

Episode seven 
Micki is asked to testify in the case of Stewart Wilken, a man known as the ‘Cannibal Killer’. 

Episode eight (part 1)
Exhausted and overworked, Micki is asked to help find the ‘Phoenix Strangler’ who has dumped several bodies in sugar cane fields. 

Episode nine (part 2) 
Micki is still desperately trying to catch the Phoenix Strangler, but the case is taking its toll on her. 

Episode ten (part 1)
In Pretoria, the police are hunting a man who has shot 16 people in a year. Can Micki get inside the head of the ‘Saloon Killer’?

Episode 11 (part 2)
Micki is still trying everything to catch the Saloon Killer. But can she track him down before his body count piles up? 

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Charlotte Hope on Catch Me A Killer

What can you tell us about Micki Pistorious in Catch Me A Killer? 
Charlotte Hope says: "Micki starts off as a teacher of psychology and she gets brought into the South African police force to help them understand the psychology of serial killers so she can help catch them. Initially she is met with some resistance and they are not very sure about her because they think her methods are somewhat woo woo. Then she becomes a really integral part of the police force and her understanding of the psychology and getting into their brains is a revolutionary way of working. She’s only the second profiler to ever have done this kind of work after Robert Ressler in America for the FBI and the first woman to be doing it, and it revolutionises the way that the police engage with hunting these killers. It becomes less about them being pure evil monsters and more about trying to understand why they’ve become that way and what it is about their upbringing and their childhood that turned them into the people that they are."

It does take its toll on her, doesn’t it? 
Charlotte reveals: "It took its toll on me. The subject matter is really heavy and truthfully the fact that all of the stories we were telling were real serial killers and real people who died, it took a big emotional toll on me. As Micki unravelled, to a certain extent I unravelled as well. By the time we get to some of the later episodes it’s some of the work I’m the most proud of because I was just kind of like a livewire really. By the end it was pretty dark. 

Did it make you appreciate what the real Micki went through? 
Charlotte explains: "Oh completely. She was dealing with it for real. I was making a TV show and I ultimately got to go home at the end of the night and have a hot bath and forget all about it. These people were living with her non-stop for a long time. Micki was amazing, she really supported me all the way through it. I remember there was day when we were filming the first episode and we find the hand in the desert and that day impacted me so much because it was the first time I was really seeing it as she did. I remember calling her at the end of that day and she talked me through it, and she was so kind. She said something to me like ‘I can really see in your eyes that you know what pain is."

Can you tell us about some of the challenges Micki faces? 
Charlotte says: "She is going through a lot in her own life. She just been divorced but she really is one of those people who buries herself in her work in a way that probably is not that healthy but she really feels a responsibility because she is in this position where the faster she works, the fewer people die. As soon as she figures it out, they are able to catch that person and another person won’t be murdered. These are serial killers, so there are sometimes dozens of victims. I think that responsibility lays so heavily on her that it was impossible to step away. I also understood why. I was obsessive about wanting to tell the story as well as I could and to represent her as well as I could. Sometimes that came at a cost of my taking care of myself and I’m just an actor. She was really dealing with life or death and of course that is going to take a toll."

She’s greeted with scepticism at first, isn’t she? 
Charlotte says: "Yes, they don’t want her there at all and she’s a complete outsider. She has the comfort of being an outsider but she’s completely on her own and all the rest of the detectives are going back to their families. Micki goes home and it’s just her and the serial killers that are going round and round in her head. There’s no escape from it." 

Had you heard of Micki or any of her cases before? 
Charlotte says: "No, I knew none of them. I read her book when I was auditioning and I thought it was fascinating. The cases are astounding and terrifying and all true."

How did you find filming in South Africa? 
Charlotte says: "It was heaven. South Africa is just a magical, and complicated, place. The crew on this job are the best crew I’ve ever worked with. They really took care of me and I had such an amazing relationship with anyone I worked with. And with the actors too. We had some incredible actors on the show. Donna, who plays my assistant and comes in in episode three, we became best friends and we did all of our prep work together. It’s very rare that you get those dreamy, magical jobs when you become family but this was one of them and it made it possible. If I’d been dealing with it all on my own, it would have been a heavy toll I think. I didn’t get to see that much of South Africa though. I saw a lot of it from the back of the car. My boyfriend was there at the time, and he really had all these amazing adventures and saw all these incredible things. But I loved Cape Town so much."

Did the sets and costumes make you feel like you were stepping back into the 1990s?
Charlotte says: "I really have done so much of corsets and stuff that to me the 90s felt like I was wearing normal clothes. Quite a lot of them I kept. I was like, ‘this is incredibly fashionable’ so I thought it was great. It all comes back. The series was incredibly shot. I remember seeing some of the stills from the first week and I was like, ‘oh wow this is going to be really beautiful.’ Everything looked like a movie. I used to get the stills at the end of every day, and I was amazed by how good it looked." 

Was there more pressure to get this right because Micki is a real person? 
Charlotte says: "Yeah, I felt a real responsibility because I read Micki’s book and thought she was just such an amazing woman that I really wanted to do her justice. But I also had a huge amount of freedom. There was no point that I was trying to play a copy of Micki. I really was given a lot of free rein to take the character that was on the page and make the best version of Micki I could. The funny thing is I never set out to mimic her. Then, a few weeks in, one of our researchers who knows Micki very well came up to me and was like ‘Charlie it’s uncanny, you have the same mannerisms as her, you’re doing the same expressions and speaking the same way’. I was like ‘am I? Amazing that that has happened, but I wasn’t trying to."

Are you a fan of a psychological thriller? 
Charlotte says: "Yeah I find the psychology aspect particularly fascinating. Less so true crime but I watch a lot of documentaries and watch so many interviews on things like this. I watch this psychology thing that breaks down the process of interviewing suspects and how it works and what are the flags for when people are lying and what are the flags when people are hiding things. I really enjoy that aspect of it in general. With this show, it was really just the script that got me. I remember reading the first two episodes and just thinking ‘wow this story is amazing and this woman is amazing’ and being so grateful that I got to play her."

What cases really stuck with you? 
Charlotte says: "All of them. The Station Strangler story was amazing. At the time we were filming he was up for parole and was potentially being released so it felt very prescient. A lot of the crew were from Mitchell’s Plain and because it was in the 90s they remembered it. We all had a real awareness that this isn’t a story, it was part of people’s very active history. All of the cases are terrifyingly fascinating in several ways." 

Kate Winslet will play a doomed dictator in The Regime, a new limited series about the fall of a modern European autocracy. This project is the Oscar-winning star's third collaboration HBO, after winning critical acclaim for 2011 miniseries Mildred Pierce and 2021 drama Mare of Easttown. 

Full of political intrigue and scandal, six-part drama The Regime will also feature a star-studded cast including Hugh Grant, Andrea Riseborough and Martha Plimpton — who features heavily in an early trailer (take a look below). 

There's also plenty of talent behind the camera as well, with Stephen Frears and Jessica Hobbs directing the series. Frears screen credits include The Queen and British TV dramas Quiz and A Very English Scandal, while Hobbs is well known for directing Broadchurch and episodes of Netflix drama The Crown.   

Will Tracy — who wrote The Menu and episodes of Succession — will serve as executive producer and showrunner. Filming took place in Austria, at Vienna's Liechtenstein Garden Palace, part of the Liechtenstein Museum, and the UK. 

Here's everything we know about The Regime...

The Regime release date

The Regime will premiere on HBO and streaming service Max on Sunday 3 March 2024. In the UK the six-part series will air on Sky Atlantic and NOW from Monday 8 April 2024. 

How to watch The Regime: stream the dark political comedy online or on TV

Is there a trailer for The Regime? 

The official trailer landed in February 2024, check it out below...

There were also two teasers released at the back end of 2023, which offer further insight to the HBO drama...

The Regime plot

An early HBO logline revealed the drama will be set in a "modern European regime", while an official synopsis reads as follows... 

"The darkly comedic six-episode series tells the story of life within the walls of a modern authoritarian regime as it begins to unravel. After not leaving the palace for quite some time, Chancellor Elena Vernham (Kate Winslet) has grown increasingly paranoid and unstable when she turns to a volatile soldier, Herbert Zubak (Matthias Schoenaerts), as an unlikely confidant. As Zubak’s influence over the chancellor continues to grow, Elena’s attempts to expand her power eventually result in both the palace and the country fracturing around her. "

The Regime cast

Kate Winslet, who plays the leading role of Chancellor Elena Vernham in this limited series, is one of the world's most celebrated actors. She starred in blockbuster film Titanic and won an Oscar for her portrayal of a former Nazi camp guard in 2008 film The Reader. 

In 2021 she was highly praised for her performance in Mare of Easttown and the following year won two BAFTAs for her Channel 4 film, I Am Ruth. 

The rest of the cast includes, Matthias Schoenaerts (Rust and Bone), Guillaume Gallienne (Me, Myself and Mum), Andrea Riseborough (National Treasure), Martha Plimpton (A Town Called Malice), Hugh Grant (Notting Hill), Danny Webb (Liar), David Bamber (Darkest Hour), Henry Goodman (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D), Stanley Townsend (In The Name of the Father), Rory Keenan (The Duchess), Karl Markovics (Resistance) and Pippa Haywood (Prisoner's Wives).

Lockerbie: A Search For Truth is a true-life drama that sees Colin Firth play a real-life doctor who lost his daughter in the 1988 terrorist bomb attack that saw a Pan-Am passenger plane explode over the quiet Scottish town of Lockerbie.

The series dramatizes the disaster, that happened on December 21, 1988, where 259 passengers and crew were killed when a Pan Am flight exploded just after take-off. Eleven residents also lost their lives when the plane crashed into the town.

Colin plays Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora died that day and who, alongside his wife Jane, spent the rest of his life fighting for truth and justice. But his battle almost cost him everything.

Here’s everything you need to know about the hard-hitting drama Lockerbie: A Search For Truth…

Lockerbie: A Search For Truth release date

The five-part series Lockerbie: A Search For Truth premieres on Peacock in the US, Sky TV and NOW TV in the UK and Binge in Australia.

All episodes of Lockerbie: A Search For Truth will be available to watch at once on Thursday, January 2, however in the UK the series will also be broadcast on Sky Atlantic at 9pm with episodes airing weekly on Thursdays at the same time from January 2 2025 until the end of January.

How to watch Lockerbie: A Search For Truth — release dates, episodes, streaming options and more

Lockerbie: A Search For Truth trailer

An official trailer for Lockerbie: A Search for Truth was released in early December 2024, and you can see it below:

Lockerbie: A Search For Truth plot

Based on the book The Lockerbie Bombing: A Father’s Search for Justice by Jim Swire and Peter Biddulph, the five-part series Lockerbie: A Search For Truth follows Dr Jim Swire’s fight for the truth in the aftermath of the tragedy. We'll witness the terrifying disaster in which his daughter was killed, and see him nominated as spokesperson for the UK victims’ families who united to demand truth and justice. What followed was a relentless journey across continents, and political divides, taking on a justice system that had no desire for the facts to be exposed. We hear that, ‘as the truth shifts under Jim’s feet, his view of the world is left forever sullied’.

The opening episode begins with Jim (Colin Firth) and his wife Jane (Catherine McCormack) waving goodbye to Flora, only for the terrible news about the bombing to come through a few hours later. Meanwhile, just outside the small town of Lockerbie, local journalist Murray Guthrie (Sam Troughton) races to the scene of the crash, realising an enormous story is unfolding before his very eyes.

Lockerbie: A Search For Truth cast — Colin Firth on playing Dr Jim Swire 

Lockerbie: A Search For Truth sees Colin Firth play Jim Swire, a father determined to uncover the truth behind the bombing of the Pan Am flight. 

Colin Firth says: "I thought it was the most remarkable story, a painful one, but also in many ways an impressive one. His motivation was to find out the truth and also to gain understanding. He wanted to make sense of something which is inherently unfathomable.

"Jim Swire set out in good faith looking for answers and doubts crept in when they weren't as forthcoming as he expected them to be. When he went to meet Colonel Gaddafi he fully expected to be taken prisoner or even shot. He was going into the belly of the beast with this unofficial mission with no support, no back up!"

"I just wanted to be clear that whenever I talk about Jim, I'm going to have to at least partly talk about my Jim and David Harrower's [Writer] Jim, which we hope resonates with the real Jim. I think one of the things that's so extraordinary and so particular about the character of Jim Swire is the journey and its duration. The point where he finds himself today couldn't be further from his starting point. This is a man who, according to my understanding, had a basic trust in institutions and the institutions in which we live. He wasn't a natural activist, as far as I can see. He isn't someone who inherently distrusted establishment. I think he made the assumption that governments seek to tell us the truth, as do law enforcement and the legal profession. That was his starting point.

"So, I think he set out in good faith looking for answers, which he fully expected to be forthcoming as far as possible. Doubts crept in once he realised that they weren't as forthcoming as he expected them to be."

* Colin Firth previously won an Oscar for his role in The King’s Speech and has also starred in the BBC's hit TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. His other films include A Single Man, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Mamma Mia!, Love Actually and Operation Mincemeat. He's also appeared in Fever Pitch, Pride and Prejudice and Before I Go to Sleep.

Catherine McCormack on playing Jane Swire

Catherine McCormack (Slow Horses, Temple, Lucan) also stars in Lockerbie, playing Jane Swire, wife of Dr Jim Swire. 

Catherine McCormack says: "I was 16 when the Lockerbie bombing happened and I remember news footage on the TV at the time, but in terms of Jim Swire’s personal story and his campaigning over the years for an inquiry and the extraordinary lengths he went to find out who was responsible for his daughter Flora’s death, I knew very little, so the scripts were a revelation to me. 

"Alongside Jim’s story was the Swire’s family tragedy. The scripts focused mainly on Jim and his wife Jane’s relationship and their struggles over a 30 year period to deal with the death of their daughter. This for me felt like the emotional heart of David’s scripts, so when I was offered the role of Jane, it was a real honour. Of course, it was also a rather daunting prospect playing a real life person who had suffered such a great loss."

Sam Troughton says: "‘When we first meet Murray he’s walking down Sherwood Crescent in Lockerbie. There are burning buildings everywhere, it’s almost like a Heironymus Bosch level of hell. It was an extraordinary and deeply affecting film set."

Who else is starring in Lockerbie: A Search For Truth?

Sam Troughton plays local Lockerbie journalist Murray Guthrie. Other stars incluide Ardalan Esmaili as Megrahi, Claire Brown as Ellen Walker, Jemma Carlton as Cathy Swire, Harry Redding as William Swire, Nabil Alraee as Gaddafi, Youssef Kerkour as Nabil Nagameldin, Mark Bonnar as Roderick McGill and Michael Landes as Robert Baer

Lockerbie: A Search For Truth episode guide

Here's a brief guide to all five episodes of Lockerbie: A Search For Truth...

EPISODE 1
After losing his daughter in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, Dr Jim Swire begins a quest for truth, searching for why this was allowed to happen and exactly who was responsible for his daughter’s death. 

EPISODE 2 
As Jim continues his campaign for truth and justice, two suspects are indicted for the bombing and his focus has to shift to the fight to bring the men to trial. 

EPISODE 3
After twelve long years, the Lockerbie trial finally begins. But as the trial unfolds, Jim gradually begins to question the official evidence against the suspects.

EPISODE 4 
Convinced they have the wrong man, Jim grows closer to the convicted Abdelbaset al-Megrahi. As he embeds himself within Megrahi’s appeal case and the conspiracy theories swirling around it, he becomes increasingly isolated from his family. 

EPISODE 5 
Jim is left at a loss when Megrahi gives up his appeal in return for release on compassionate grounds. Questioning everything he has come to believe, Jim wonders if he will ever know the truth. 

All about the real Lockerbie bombing in 1988

On December 21, 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed by a bomb 38 minutes after take-off. It had flown from London Heathrow and was on route to JFK airport in New York. All 243 passengers and 16 crew were killed and 11 residents of Lockerbie, a small Scottish town, also lost their lives as the plane crashed into its residential streets. It’s the deadliest terror attack in British history.

Warrants were issued for the arrest of two Libyan nationals in 1991 but it wasn’t until 1999, after protracted negotiations, that Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi handed them over for trial.

Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was jailed for life in 2001, but released on compassionate grounds in 2009, three years before his death from prostate cancer. However, it is widely disputed that he acted alone. And some relatives of the British victims, led by Dr Swire, believe Megrahi was innocent and the real culprits were Iran and the Palestinians.

In 2003 Gaddafi accepted Libya’s responsibility for the bombing but refused to admit that he personally ordered the attack, despite claims to the contrary. In 2020 the US indicted Libyan national Abu Agila Mohammed Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi for his role in the terror attack and he faces a federal trial next year.

Behind the scenes and more on the Lockerbie: A Search For Truth TV series 

Filming on the series Lockerbie started in early 2024. The five-parter is a co-production between Carnival Films, which is part of Universal International Studios and Sky Studios. Renowned Scottish playwright David Harrower (Blackbird, Knives in Hens) is lead writer. Maryam Hamidi (Vigil) is guest writer on an episode. BAFTA Award-winning Otto Bathurst (Peaky Blinders, The Winter King) is lead director. Jim Loach (Save Me) will also direct an episode.

Rob Beckett’s Smart TV is a Sky Max comedy quiz show about the best and worst of TV, with celebrity guests and team captains Alison Hammond and Josh Widdicombe with whom Rob co-presents the podcast Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe’s Parenting Hell. 

Rob will host as the teams compete in chaotic, TV trivia-infused rounds to see who knows the most about what’s on our small screens. Each week team captains Alison and Josh will be joined by actors, comedians, presenters and TV personalities, including comic and screenwriter Natasia Demetriou. 

“I am very excited to be hosting Rob Beckett’s Smart TV. The show was named before I was asked to be the host so as a person named Rob Beckett it seems only fitting that I, Rob Beckett, should be at the helm,” says Rob Beckett. 

“It’s an honour to work alongside the Queen of TV Alison Hammond and it’s a shame that I can’t seem to shake off Josh Widdicombe. But in the words of Bewitched and some French people ‘C’est La Vie’. All the shows have been really funny to film so I can’t wait for everyone to watch them. As well as all the other Rob Beckett’s in the world sat there thinking I could have hosted this”. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the Sky Max quiz Rob Beckett’s Smart TV…

Rob Beckett’s Smart TV release date

Rob Beckett’s Smart TV is an eight-part series that starts on Sky Max and NOW on Wednesday, February 28 2024.

Rob Beckett’s Smart TV — how it works

Host Rob Beckett will oversee team captains Josh Widdicombe and Alison Hammond in a fast and furious panel quiz game. Each week Josh and Alison will team up with celebrities and compete against one another to win madcap TV trivia-based rounds. These frantic TV-themed games – including Roll the Titles, Happy Endings and The Showdown – to test how much they really know about what’s on the box! 

The first week's guests are Jon Richardson, actor Russell Tovey, presenter Stacey Dooley and TV personality Jamie Laing.

"The Showdown sees a player from one team go up against all three of the opposing side, answering questions about their TV obsession," Rob told us. "The teams sit closely facing each other, so there might be a Doctor Who fan nose-to-nose with David Tennant. Even if you know the answers, having actual Doctor Who in your face is off-putting!’

And the atmosphere gets pretty tense… "The players care about winning,’ enthuses Rob. ‘Josh especially gets annoyed if he's losing. He got really competitive with actor Daniel Mays on Only Fools and Horses."

Rob reckons he’d be ruthless playing the game. "My TV obsession would be the original series of The Office,’ he reveals. ‘I’d happily go up against creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant but I’d have to do my homework!"

All about host Rob Beckett

Stand-up comedian Rob Beckett co-presents Rob & Romesh Vs, alongside Romesh Ranganathan. He narrates Celebs Go Dating and appears on Celebrity Gogglebox. In 2021 he presented the show Rob Beckett’s Undeniable and took part in The Great Celebrity Bake Off for SU2C. He’s a team captain on 8 Out of 10 Cats and hosted the spin-off show I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! NOW. He’s also had roles in Cinderella, Fresh Meat and Meet The Richardsons.

Team captain Alison Hammond

Since appearing on Big Brother in 2002, Alison Hammond has become the queen of British TV. She presents The Great British Bake Off and This Morning and in 2022 competed in The Masked Singer UK as Witchetty Grub. Alison had a long-standing role as a member of Loose Women and was a contestant on Strictly in 2014 and I’m A Celebrity… in 2010. 

Alison says: “I'm absolutely thrilled to be a team captain on Smart TV. I understand why they have chosen me - firstly I love TV and secondly, I'm smart. LOL! I can't wait to have fun looking at the TV shows I know and love!  It's like going out for a night with your mates, doing a quiz and escaping life."

Team captain Josh Widdicombe

Comedian Josh Widdicombe is a regular presenter on the popular Channel 4 show The Last Leg. He hosted the series Hypothetical and is a regular panellist on shows such as QI, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Mock The Week and Taskmaster. From 2015 to 2017 Josh starred in his own self-titled comedy series Josh. 

Josh says: "Rob and Alison are two of my favourite people in the world, well, Alison is. But mainly I’m excited as finally someone has come up with a show where I can talk about Neighbours, Gladiators, Noel’s House Party and other cool and up-to-the-minute TV hits. Bring it on."

Is there a trailer for Rob Beckett’s Smart TV?

No but if Sky releases one we’ll put it up on here for you to enjoy. 

Funny Woman season 2 will  catch up with lovable Barbara Parker, aka telly comedy star Sophie Straw, played again by Gemma Arterton. Barbara is a working-class woman from Blackpool who in Funny Woman series one managed to make her name in a major TV sitcom in the Swinging Sixties, despite being a woman in a hugely male-dominated world. 

As we rejoin Sophie Straw, she’s finding that fame isn’t all it's cracked up to be and she desperately wants to make her own voice heard. But it’s not easy as a woman in the 1970s, particularly a beautiful one when the world sees you as little more than a comic muse. 

Here’s everything you need to know about season two of the Sky Max comedy Funny Woman….

Funny Woman season 2 release date

Funny Woman season 2 launches in the UK on Sky Max, Sky Showcase and NOW from Friday September 6 2024 at 9pm, with the six episodes shown weeklyon these channels at the same time, plus as a box set on Sky Box Sets.

Viewers also can catch up on Funny Woman season 1 on NOW, Sky Max and Sky Box Sets, ahead of the new series. NBCUniversal Global Distribution handle international sales of the series on behalf of Sky Studios. 

Is there a trailer for Funny Woman season 2? 

Yes Sky has now released its trailer for Funny Woman series 2 which you can watch below...

Funny Woman season 2 plot 

Funny Woman season 2 sees Sophie Straw frustrated as she's fed up with being the comic muse in old school comedy shows. She tries branching out into art house cinema in the hope it will be more progressive but finds that is not the case either. Undeterred and as determined as ever, Sophie decides to create her own comedy show where she can tell her own stories and get her authentic voice heard. 

She is the nation’s favourite TV comedy star — she’s got a group of good friends and her romance with Dennis is full of promise. But trouble is just round the corner: Dennis's divorce will take three years; Sophie’s new sitcom flops and she uncovers a devastating family secret. Sophie escapes the turmoil by taking a leading role in a film opposite a glamorous French movie heart-throb. The film is a hit and Sophie’s slick new US agent offers her a fresh start in Hollywood…  

But Sophie returns to London, determined to get the gang back together and to create a new show which reflects her real life, challenges outdated cultural conventions and proves that she and her mates are Funny Women!

Gemma Arterton on Funny Woman season 2

Gemma says of Funny Woman season 2: "Sophie has what she's always wanted, but she doesn't have her team. She loves Dennis but he’s married and there are problems with his divorce and whether they can be together, as the press are interested in her."

Meanwhile, her relationship with her dad, George (David Threlfall), is under strain following the reappearance of her estranged mother Gloria (Olivia Williams). "She found out her dad withheld letters from her mother,’ explains Gemma. ‘She's furious. But she goes on a journey…

"Sophie has the capability to create her own work. She does a French film and tries to be a serious actress before realising her passion is in comedy. She starts to break new ground and do things her own way."

Funny Woman — season 1 recap (with spoilers)

Based on Nick Hornby’s bestselling book Funny Girl, series one of Funny Woman saw brash, brainy and beautiful Barbara leave Blackpool and move to London to make it as an actress. However, the 1960s were not the place for a woman to be taken seriously and she faced misogyny (and often worse) at every turn. But with her natural humour and lovable nature, Barbara soon forced her way into a mainstream TV sitcom and her alter-ego Sophie Straw was born. Barbara fell for her egotistic co-star Clive Richardson (Tom Bateman) but left him when he cheated on her. Eventually she realised she was meant to be with her kindly producer Dennis Mahindra (Arsher Ali). 

Funny Woman season 2 — returning cast

Gemma Arterton, who plays lead character Barbara Parker again, shot to fame as Strawberry Fields in the Bond movie, Quantum of Solace. She’s also been in The Boat That Rocked, The Disappearance of Alice Creed, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Their Finest, Black Narcissus and The King’s Man. 

Arsher Ali is back as producer Dennis while Alistair Petrie returns as Ted Sargeant, plus David Threlfall and Rosie Cavaliero played Barbara’s father and aunt, George Parker and Marie Parker. Alexa Davies is back as Marjorie Harrison as are Matthew Beard Bill Gardiner, Leo Bill as Tony and Clare-Hope Ashitey as Diane.

On Season 2, Arsher Ali reveals: "Dennis and Ted Sargent have fallen out. They've had a master and apprentice relationship. The apprentice, Dennis, turned on him because he really wanted to fight to have Sophie in the show and respects her ideas and vision. In series 1, Sophie convinced him to give her a show called ‘Just Barbara’. But unbeknownst to Dennis and the boys, Tony and Bill, Dennis goes off to sign a contract with the rival network. Then, at the end of series 1, Dennis finds the courage to tell Sophie how he feels, and there's a nice moment where they kiss for the first time. So, we're coming straight off the back of that… they're not working together. There's the major spanner in the works of Dennis’ divorce – to all intents and purposes, he is still a married man. 

"In the first episode of series 2, the wheels are in motion. Dennis and his wife, Edith, visit a lawyer. Edith is the one who's been adulterous to all intents and purposes but can't admit it. It would be quite devastating for her in a societal way as in this era it would absolutely ruin her career and reputation. There were no such things as no fault divorces back then. The only way to get around it is to be legally separated for three years and then it warrants a kind of automatic divorce. 

"Sophie's character is a bit like ‘who cares? Let's just do it anyway’ – but then for Dennis, he thinks ‘if I do this, if you were ever seen with me – a married man, it would ruin your career’. Dennis worries Sophie would be dragged down. He does not want to do that, as much as he loves her. There’s an element of self-sacrifice, of true love, which is great to play."

Funny Woman season 2 — new cast joining this second series

Funny Woman season 2 includes plenty of new cast joining the series including Steve Zissis (The Changeling, Togetherness), Marcus Rutherford (The Wheel of Time, Obey), Tim Key (The Witchfinder, This Time with Alan Partridge), Gemma Whelan (Game of Thrones, Cristóbal Balenciaga, The Tower) and Roisin Conaty (GameFace, Man Down).

Behind the scenes and more on Funny Woman season 2

Funny Woman series 2 is produced by Potboiler and Rebel Park Productions, in association with Sky Studios. Creative director of Comedy Anil Gupta is Executive Producer for Sky Studios. The new series is executive produced by Nick Hornby, Morwenna Banks, Gemma Arterton, Andrea Calderwood, Gail Egan, Jessica Parker and Jessica Malik. Ross Williams is series producer. The series is written by multi-award-winning writer Morwenna Banks (Slow Horses), BAFTA and Emmy winning writers Kevin Cecil (Veep) and Andy Riley (Veep). BAFTA nominee Oliver Parker (The Great Escaper) directs.

Funny Woman season 2 writer, Executive Producer, Morwenna Banks says: “It’s a thrill to dive back into the world of 1960’s London - with the extraordinary cast and crew of Funny Woman series 2. Thanks to the genius of Gemma Arterton as Nick Hornby's heroine Sophie Straw - a whole host of new guest stars have joined us. We welcome stellar performances from Steve Zissis, Marcus Rutherford, Tim Key, Gemma Whelan, Roisin Conaty and many more …Tune in Turn On and don’t Drop Out.”

Sweetpea is a twisted comic drama on Sky Atlantic and NOW that sees a normal-seeming woman embrace her darker side. It stars Yellowjackets’ Ella Purnell as Rhiannon, a quiet wallflower whose life is transformed when a change encounter with a stranger has a shocking outcome. And rather than sending Rhiannon spiralling, the incident shows her she may actually be capable of anything. Can the girl nobody notices even get away with murder? 

Based on the bestseller Sweetpea by CJ Skuse, here’s everything you need to know about the comedy drama series Sweetpea…

Sweetpea release date 

Sweetpea will launch on Sky Atlantic and Sky Showcase in the UK on Thursday October 10 2024, with weekly episodes from 9pm, plus the full box set on NOW and Sky Box Sets. We'll update this guide with the US channel and air date when it is announced.

Is there a Sweetpea trailer? 

Yes a full Sweetpea trailer has been released by Sky which you can watch below...

There is also a teaser trailer that was released earlier this year...

Sweetpea plot 

In Sweetpea, Rhiannon (Ella Purnell) is an average girl next door, with a dull job and a presence so bland that people walk past her in the street without a second glance.
She’s continually overlooked for promotion, her dad is seriously ill and her love-life is a joke. So when her dog is run over and her father — the only person in her life she can really rely upon — passes away, she finally snaps and sets off on a rampage to claim vengeance on all who’ve wronged her. It ignites a power in her that is both intoxicating and dangerous. Can she bury her dark side once again or will she embrace this new, more deadly, version of herself? 

Sweetpea cast — Ella Purnell on playing Rhiannon

Ella Purnell plays Rhiannon, a woman hiding a terrible secret. "It’s a story of grief and trauma that results in this complete character transformation," says Emma. "There’s also a coming-of-age element, but it’s mostly an exploration of how murder becomes like an addiction for her. Hopefully the audience really gets inside her head, understands and empathises with her."

She claims her first victim when a drunken lout pushes her too far as she walks home along the canal in the opening episode, however after that there’s one name at the very top of Rhiannon’s hitlist. That person is Julia (Nicole Lecky), a luxury estate agent who bullied Rhiannon relentlessly at school, who returns to town after 10 years away and tries to sell the house her late father left her. It’s a move that flicks a switch in Rhiannon and after locking Julia in her basement, she’s determined to take revenge upon the girl who caused her years of unhappiness. 

"Rhiannon develops a moral code during the show," explains Emma. ‘"She believes there are good people and there are bad people, and that the bad people deserve to die. This black-and- white way of thinking is a trauma response she subconsciously adopted at a young age in order to process what happened to her and help her navigate the world."

However as the power dynamic begins to twist between Rhiannon and Julia and all their dirty secrets are laid bare, telling the difference between bully and victim becomes less than straight-forward.

"Rhiannon doesn’t have to be likeable, she’s a serial killer," says Emma. "I’m not interested in her being likeable, I’m interested in her being relatable. Creating a relatable serial killer means that the audience is going to feel conflicted, which is what made Dexter so great!"

The series is based on the books by C.J. Skuse, although Emma, who’s also an executive producer on the six-part series, says the show explores a different part of the story.

"I read the book and the script, with the understanding that they were going to be two very different things," she says. "I loved the tone of the books where Rhiannon is funny, she’s rude, she says what she thinks. She doesn’t seem to care, and she’s already got someone locked in the basement. I was very interested in how she got to that point. This series is more of an origin story exploring the emotional component behind that journey.’"

Yet playing someone in such a vulnerable and insecure mental space was quite a challenge for Emma on the six-month shoot. "I was constantly in the mindset of someone who was incredibly afraid, very lonely, had a lot of anger, and this sense of victimhood, this sense of injustice. Being in that mindset all the time is quite difficult so I messed around with the cast and crew a lot between takes. I became friends with all the people I murdered!"

* Ella Purnell previously played Jackie in Yellowjackets and has also starred in Star Trek: Prodigy, Sweetbitter, Belgravia and Ordeal by Innocence. Ella will be starring in the upcoming Prime Video sseries Fallout and has starred in the movies Churchill, Maleficent, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and Army of the Dead. 

 Who else is starring in Sweetpea?

Sweetpea also stars Nicôle Lecky (Mood, Sense8) as Julia, Jon Pointing (Big Boys, Smothered) as Craig, Calam Lynch (Bridgerton) as AJ and Leah Harvey (Foundation) as Marina. Jeremy Swift (Ted Lasso) is Norman while Dustin Demri-Burns (Slow Horses) is Jeff.

Behind the scenes and more on Sweetpea

Sweetpea is a six-part series produced by See-Saw Films and fanboy in association with Sky Studios, adapted from C.J. Skuse’s cult novel of the same name by Executive Producer Kirstie Swain (Pure), written by Kirstie Swain, alongside Krissie Ducker (Killing Eve), Laura Jayne Tunbridge and Selina Lim (Sex Education, Hanna). 

Commissioning Editor, Manpreet Dosanjh, is Executive Producer for Sky Studios. Executive Producer for fanboy is Patrick Walters (Heartstopper), and Executive Producers for See- Saw Films are Helen Gregory, Iain Canning, and Emile Sherman. Ella Purnell also serves as Executive Producer. Zorana Piggott (Heartstopper) is the Series Producer. NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution handle international sales of the series on behalf of Sky Studios.

The series is directed by award-winning director Ella Jones (The Baby, Back To Life), who also serves as Executive Producer. 

Rob and Romesh vs Lapland is sending comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan to the freezing Arctic Circle, in some outlandish Christmassy costumes! In Rovaniemi in the Arctic Circle they'll brave temperatures of below minus 20C. The pair are training at Lapland’s Elf Academy to become Santa’s little helpers. 

Under the guidance of head elf Vanilla, they will complete a series of tasks including reindeer racing and an "Elf baptism" where they must completely submerge themselves in a frozen lake. And only then will Santa decide whether they are worthy of joining his Christmas army. 

“I don’t do well in the cold, and I don’t like animals, so I’m not in a good place here, am I?” says Rob. "I’m the new Romesh. I’ve grown a beard, I’ve got glasses and I’m miserable." But, surprisingly, Romesh takes to elf life like a duck to water. "I’m loving it," he says. "I love the reindeer, I love the nature, I’m a big fan of Vanilla’s attitude. Everything about it is for me. Also, the knowledge that Rob isn’t enjoying it at all really helps stoke the engine." 

Here’s everything you need to know about the Sky Max Christmas special Rob and Romesh vs Lapland…. 

Rob and Romesh vs Lapland release date

Rob and Romesh vs Lapland is on Sky Max on Sunday December 17 at 9pm. It will also be available on NOW.

What happens in Rob and Romesh vs Lapland

Rob and Romesh are heading to Finnish Lapland, the official home of Father Christmas, to learn how to be elves. Under the tutorage of head elf Vanilla, they will take a three-mile hike across snow and ice while remaining cheerful, feed and race reindeers, sort through some of the 20 million letters sent to Santa this year and perform the Elf baptism. Then, they will visit Santa to hear if they have got what it takes to join his team. 

All about Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan

Comedian Rob Beckett is a team captain on 8 out of 10 Cats and narrates the series Celebs Go Dating. He was a host on the spin-off series I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here, NOW from 2012 to 2014 and has also had roles in Cinderella, Fresh Meat and Meet the Richardsons. Rob has also presented Rob Beckett’s Savage Socials and took part in The Great Celebrity Bake Off for SU2C in 2021.   

Romesh Ranganathan also appeared in the 2021 movie Cinderella and has starred in Romantic Getaway, Avoidance, King Gary and The Reluctant Landlord. He teamed up with Tom Davis for Romesh and Tom Take Takeshi’s Castle earlier this year and hosts A League of their Own, The Ranganathan and The Weakest Link. 

Is there a trailer for Rob and Romesh vs Lapland? 

No, so you'll just have to tune in to watch the boys' :Lapland special. 

Small Town, Big Story is set in a small town in Ireland with a big secret to hide. And things get tough when a Hollywood production decides to shoot a movie on their doorstep, threatening to uncover truths that have stayed hidden since the turn of the Millennium. 

Created and directed by Bridesmaids star Chris O’Dowd, the series stars Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks as Wendy Patterson, a local girl turned hot-shot TV producer, and Paddy Considine as local doctor Seamus Proctor, who is a pillar of the community. 

Chris O’Dowd says: “I bloody love television, and am most engrossed by stories that bring the remarkable to the everyday. I hope we’ve made a beautiful show that an audience will find funny and will keep people on the edge of their seats…and beyond.”

Here’s everything you need to know about the series Small Town, Big Story…

Small Town, Big Story release date

Small Town, Big Story is a six-part series launching on Sky Atlantic and NOW from Thursday 27 February 2025. As soon as we hear details on its US release and channel, we'll update here. 

Is there a trailer for Small Town, Big Story?

Yes a trailer for Small Town, Big Story has just been released by Sky. Do take a look below...

Small Town, Big Story plot 

Small Town, Big Story follows the residents of Drumban, a small rural village on the border of Ireland and ‘another world’, who have been keeping a huge secret since the eve of the Millennium. But then a big Hollywood production team, with top producer Wendy Patterson (Christina Hendricks) arrives to film an epic drama in the village and throws the area into the spotlight. Can the residents, a collection of ‘rattled misfits’, keep long-buried truths from being revealed to the world? 

The locals often meet in The White Ridge bar (see pictured below), a quintessential Irish pub at the heart of the village. A gathering place for a band of Drumbánian oddballs. There's a mystery llama involved too (see main picture above).

Small Town, Big Story cast — Christina Hendricks on playing Wendy Patterson

Christina Hendricks plays local girl done good Wendy Patterson, who’s now a Hollywood TV producer who returns to Drumbán after over 20 years, having left there under something of a cloud. 

Christina says: "Small Town, Big Story is about a town in rural Ireland. It becomes the location for this big Hollywood production.  It's all about location. I play Wendy, a film producer who is coming back to her hometown. I bring this big Hollywood production to this small place that’s never experienced anything like this. So, it's my old world and my new world combining. The story is about the town's reaction to having Hollywood on its doorstep and a studio and crew adapting to being in this small town. And then, of course, there's a spin on the fact that there's also something else happening which involves several of the characters and Wendy’s past.
"We meet Wendy in California, in Los Angeles. We see a little bit of her surroundings, her home, and we get to know her just a little bit. There are some little clues about her lifestyle. We quickly find out that she's got this work opportunity. A new producing gig back in her childhood home in Ireland for this big studio called History with a Twist. Its’ a bigger project than she's ever worked on before. So, it's a big deal for Wendy. You will discover that she might just be a little bit in over her head. She's learning as she goes, but she's really trying to have this confident pose about herself, saying, "I got this," but as the story progresses things really start to fall apart for her a little bit.
In Small Town Big Story, we have a lot of flashbacks to the millennium and a teenage Wendy and Seamus. We see Wendy’s adolescence back in Drumbán. They capture those sort of awkward teen moments but beautiful moments you have growing up. She’s young, a gothy rock'n'roll teenager interested in Seamus with the world at her feet. I think the Wendy I play remains that person a little bit, but you start to see that maybe she felt a little bit like an outsider back then. The flashbacks are all moments in her life that revolve around the time something rather significant happened in her life. (She had this alien abduction.) So young Wendy and adult Wendy are not too far apart; they are very similar and have experienced this event that really changed her trajectory.
"Wendy starts out very trepidatious about going home to Ireland. It's been over 20 years, she's completely reinvented herself in LA with her job, but she has this opportunity to bring this big production back home.
She thinks, if she's ever going to go back and confront her past, if she's going to have a relationship with her father again and really put to bed her negative feelings about this hometown, this is the time to do it.  And why not come back as a big Hollywood producer with this big fancy show and say, "Hey, look at me, I'm back," in such a grand way. She starts off on this journey to confront her past and finds out very quickly that it's not as satisfying as she hoped it would be. All the channels she’s using to try to reconnect with people from the smalltown are falling apart here and there. Her whole plan is not working; the production is not going well, the relationships are not going well, and then there are all these signs of the otherworldly events, that happened before are happening again. So, there's this uncertainty of what's going to happen next, all around her."

* Christina Hendricks is best known for her role as Joan Harris in the hit show Mad Men but she’s also starred in Bad Girls, Bad Santa 2, Ginger and Rosa, The Buccaneers and Tin Star and voiced characters in animations such as Robot Chicken, Solar Opposites, Scoob and Tinker Bell and the Pirate Fairy. 

Who else is starring in Small Town, Big Story? 

Small Town, Big Story has a great cast. Paddy Considine (House of the Dragon, The Third Day and The Outsider) is Drumban’s local doctor Seamus Proctor. He has a neat and well-ordered life, or at least he thinks he does. Soon he will find himself in the eye of a storm as a celluloid circus descends, threatening to blow open a secret he has been harboring since the Millennium.

David Wilmot plays Keith McCurdle , Michelle Forbes is Barbara the butcher, Peter McGann is Matt Magee and Evanne Kilgallon barkeeper Shelly McGoldrick.

Chris O'Dowd cameos as a Drumban local Jack E McCarthy, plus look out for Eileen Walsh (Catastrophe) as Catherine Proctor, Séamus’ wife and local schoolteacher. Leia Murphy (Fair City) and David Rawle (Moone Boy) star as siblings Joanne and Sonny Proctor. Patrick Martins (The Confessions of Frannie Langton) stars as Jules O’Brien, Evanne Kilgallon (Obituary) stars as Shelly McGoldrick, Andrew Bennett (The Quiet Girl) stars as Barry Battles, Ruth McCabe (Aisha) stars as Betty Battles, David Wilmot (The Alienist) stars as Keith McCurdle, Michèle Forbes (Omagh) stars as Barbara the Butcher. Sam C Wilson (House of The Dragon) stars as Big Jim, Peter McGann (The Apprentice) stars as Matt Magee, Ruth Codd (The Midnight Club) stars as Production Peggy, Jamie Michie (Game Of Thrones) stars as Pubba McGoldrick, Ian McElhinney (The Split) stars as Reverend Patterson, Clarke Peters (The Wire) stars as Chet Donald, Tim Heidecker (Tim and Eric Awesome Show) stars as Brad.

Behind the scenes and more on Small Town, Big Story

Small Town, Big Story is a Sky Original series produced by Playground / FilmNation Entertainment and HotCod Productions in association with Sky Studios. Executive producers are Colin Callender and Scott Huff for Playground, Glen Basner, Milan Popelka and Stefanie Berk for FilmNation Entertainment, and Alex Moody for Sky Studios. Christina Hendricks and Chris O’Dowd are executive producers, Liz Gill is series producer. Directors include Chris O’Dowd, Catherine Morshead, as well as Mike Ahern and Enda Loughman. NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution handle international sales of the series on behalf of Sky Studios.

Chris O'Dowd says: "I'd been looking for something to set in the northwest of Ireland. I'd previously shot in Boyle before with Moone Boy, and I always wanted to go back, but never got around to it. I suppose I was looking for a ‘Small Town’ story but this time I wanted to make somewhere up – ‘Drumbán’. 

"Then a producer friend got in touch with me. They had been watching something I had written and had enjoyed it, so he asked me if I wanted to work together. He was working in Northern Ireland when they were filming Game of Thrones, and we ruminated on the phone about what a fun story it would be, one about a small town and what it might look like after a big show production had left. That was the initial idea. Then in development I did a rewind and thought about what that town would look like beforehand too.

"I had also just reread a play called "The Visit" by Frederick Dürrenmatt. It's a complex revenge story which is an interesting journey for its lead character to go on. I wanted these two ideas meshed, those two elements, and then I thought it also needed a secret that characters could keep or not keep. That’s the part about aliens, which has always been a big part of my experiences in Boyle anyway. Even when I created Moone Boy we had an episode about an alien - Boyle was the UFO capital of Europe. I feel the idea is all in those things together."

Smothered is a new comedy series on Sky that follows strangers Sammy, played by Danielle Vitalis, and Tom (Big Boys and Plebs’ actor Jon Pointing). They share a drunken night together and then agree to have a short-lived fling — on first name terms only with no strings attached! But as romance blossoms between them, the pressures of modern-day dating throw a spanner in the works.

The Smothered cast also includes Aisling Bea, musician Self Esteem, Blair Underwood and former EastEnders star Lisa Hammond. It's penned by Schitt’s Creek writer Monica Heisey. 

So here’s everything you need to know about Smothered on Sky Comedy…

Smothered release date

Smothered is a six-part series that will air on Sky Comedy and Sky Showcase from Thursday December 7 2023 at 10pm then 10.30pm. All episodes will go out in weekly double bills and be box-setted on Sky Box Sets and NOW too. 

In Australia all six episodes will be available from Thursday December 7 2023 on streaming service Binge, also weekly 7:30pm Friday December 8 on FOX8.

We'll update with any US or other international air dates.

Is there a trailer for Smothered?

Yes there's a trailer for Smothered, which shows the ups and downs in the dating lives of Sammy and Tom.T his looks fun! Do take a look below. 

Smothered plot 

Smothered follows Sammy (Danielle Vitalis) who is a fiercely independent woman who grows sick of useless men, so she decides to ditch dating apps and have a good time instead. She meets Tom (Jon Pointing) in a bar, and they bond over bad karaoke before sharing a night of passion. Then, in what seems like a good idea, the pair decide to have a commitment-free affair for three weeks before walking away from one another forever. But neither Sammy nor Tom can ignore the very real sparks between them. Then, Sammy makes a shocking discovery that Tom has another woman in his life — his six-year-old daughter Ellie. 

Smothered cast — Danielle Vitalis on playing Sammy

Danielle Vitalis plays Sammy, who wants some meaningless fun in Smothered. 

Danielle says: "Sammy is a young woman of the world. She’s an aspiring interior designer and works under a woman called Raina. She has big dreams and big hopes, but there’s also the little thing of life, having to live it, paying rent, being happy, not thinking about body image too much and questioning your place in the world...

"At the beginning of the series, Sammy is like ‘wiggy, wiggy, wiggy’ but by the end she wears her natural hair in a bun. I think it speaks to the nature of the character growing into herself. There’s lots that she doesn’t like at the beginning, and won’t stand for, but her non negotiables change as she realises life isn’t like that and you don’t get everything you want when you want it. And you find out that you don’t mind some of the non-negotiables.

"I don’t often laugh when I’m watching things or reading things, but I actually laughed when I read the script for the first time. I’ve done quite a bit of comedy and I find that it’s always funnier after you’ve filmed it and the editors have added all the magic to it, but this script was actually funny on paper."

* Danielle Vitalis previously played the teen Arabella in I May Destroy You and has also starred in Black Mirror, Famalam, Murder, They Hope, Youngers and Stath Lets Flats. She’s also appears in the movie The Great Escaper. 

Jon Pointing on playing Tom

In Smothered, Jon Pointing plays Tom, a man with baggage as he has a wife Gillian daughter Ellie which Sammy doesn't know about during their first meetings. 

Jon Pointing says: "I was drawn to Smothered as it offered me the opportunity to play a mature role. It was a different tone than what I’m used to playing but I enjoyed playing someone who was an adult with responsibilities. Primarily, Tom is a young dad. His daughter Ellie is nine years old, so his life has been on hold while he has focussed on being a dad and keeping a job that enables him to take care of her. He’s a nice guy, but he’s lost his personality a little bit. His life has ran away with him and he’s lost a bit of a spark.

"Sammy is that spark. She is fun and exciting. Tom might have been a party boy in the past, which had to stop when he had Ellie. He sees his old self in Sammy, as well as an opportunity to have a bit of fun again. Throughout the series, he’s torn between having fun with Sammy and enjoying himself and being pulled back by his responsibilities that come with being a dad. Tom is quite serious, and he’s not shy of commitment. His life is full of commitment already, so he’s ready for the relationship. He doesn’t have time for the games that are being played at the beginning of the series. It’s almost nauseating, he’s constantly ready to be this responsible dad guy.

"Tom is rusty at dating so that’s where the humour comes with him. He’s like “I can still have fun, I’m cool” but he proves not to be. He’s out of touch and out of practice. He’s got used to his life with his daughter and there’s lots about that he really likes and doesn’t want to change. He doesn’t not want to have a daughter. It was an accident but a happy one. On one hand, he realises that he needs to start living his own life and have fun, but he doesn’t want to forget about his daughter either. He develops a newfound appreciation for his life as the series goes on."

* Jon Pointing previoulsy played Jason in the popular Roman-era comedy Plebs and has also starred in Channel 4 series Big Boys, plus Starstruck, Pls Like, Crying Out Loud and Down from London. He is appearing in the BBC1's Agatha Christie adaptation Murder Is Easy over the Christmas 2023 season. 

Who else is starring in Smothered?

Smothered also stars comedian Aisling Bea (This Way Up) as Tom's wife Gillian, the musician Self Esteem (real name Rebecca Lucy Taylor) as pansexual Farrah, Sex and the City’s Blair Underwood, hip-hop band Rizzle Kicks’ star Jordan Stephens as Sammy's ex Max and TikTok stars Harry Trevaldwyn plays Tom's best friend Jordan and Sarel Madziya as Sammy's sister Olivia. Former EastEnders star Lisa Hammond, who played Donna Yates in the soap, also stars. 

Harry Trevaldwyn says: "My character Jordan is one of Tom’s best friends from work and I think we’re probably similar in the way we respond quite strongly to things. Jordan has glitzier tops than I do though and wears more mustard yellow than I probably would. It was nice doing it with Tessa because it really felt like we were work best friends. Being able to play off someone as brilliant as Tessa was lovely."

Jordan Stephens says: "Max is Danielle’s ex and is the rebound guy, the afterthought, so I’d like to believe that I have a tiny bit more social awareness and self-respect. Max is also a chef, and although I’m a good cook, I couldn’t call myself a chef in the slightest. My character was a flannel to be honest, he’s just soppy."

Smothered episode guide

Episode 1
Sammy has just about given up on love and the struggles of modern dating, until she meets Tom. Tom’s also disillusioned, but their chance encounter leaves him open to an unconventional proposal from Sammy. Their relationship can only be a three week, no details affair, and once it’s over they go their separate ways. Sammy and Tom struggle during their time apart. Sammy backpedals on the agreement and reaches out to Tom, only to find out he has a daughter.

Episode 2
The unexpected revelation of Tom’s 6-year-old child could be too big an obstacle for Sammy, who’s never wanted kids of her own. Left with no other choice, Tom and Sammy explore other options, but Tom can’t balance dating and children, and Sammy struggles to be mature in the face of potential step-motherhood. Sammy and Tom reconnect, agreeing to take things slowly. The plan seems to be in place until a discovery that’s close to home adds yet another complication to their relationship.

Episode 3
Sammy is semi-recovered from the discovery of Ellie’s mum, and Tom’s ex-wife, Gillian. Though Sammy’s not quite ready to meet Ellie just yet, she is ready to meet Tom’s friends. A wild night out together is just what they need for Tom to show Sammy’s flatmates that he’s fun too. A “dad emergency” derails the night for Tom, testing the balance between his relationship with Sammy, and his responsibilities to his daughter.

Episode 4
Sammy is in full ‘adult mode’, embracing her new role, but only in theory, not practice. Tom realises he’s fallen far out of step with his former friends and tries to forge a new friendship with another dad at school. Sammy’s first proper attempt at babysitting Ellie is a harsh introduction to the realities of parenting. Sammy has trouble being honest with Tom about an old flame.

Episode 5
It’s opening night for Gillian’s restaurant and nerves are high. Raina doesn’t know about Sammy and Tom, and tonight is not the night for her to find out. Olivia’s marital troubles cause her to act out. Gillian and Sammy connect over the recent changes to their family unit. Sammy’s anxious about her place in Tom and Ellie’s life, and the realisation that Tom hasn’t legally divorced Gillian doesn’t help.

Episode 6
It’s nearly Christmas, and Sammy and Tom’s relationship is hanging in the balance after the marriage revelation. Sammy’s anxiety around their relationship proves to be too much for Tom to handle. They spend the holidays apart but are both encouraged to try again and share their true feelings. But is a big romantic gesture enough to bring them back together in time for Christmas?

Behind the scenes and more on Smothered

Smothered is a Sky Original that filmed during the early part of 2023. Smothered was created by former Schitt’s Creek writer Monica Heisey, whose comic novel about newly single life, Really Good, Actually, is a bestseller.

Domina creator Simon Burke was blown away by the response to Domina season 1 and says viewers should be very excited about this year's offering, Domina season 2.

However, while the drama was a hit with fans and critics alike, there was one group of people who found his interpretation of Roman history infuriating, demanding it be taken off the air! 

Burke says sections of the Italian press were outraged to see one of the most celebrated figures from their country's history, Emperor Caesar Augustus, depicted as a leader who relied on the advice of a woman. 

Augustus is played by British actor Matthew McNulty in the show, yet the story revolves around his wife, Livia Drusilla, played by Polish-Italian actor Kasia Smutniak, who's depicted as the real power behind his throne.

"The Italian fascist press were really offended by the first season," says Burke. "Augustus is one of their great figures — like King Arthur to the British... even though he didn't exist, unlike Augustus. 

"He's like a mythical figure from a time when the Italians were really successful. They're really proud of him and the Roman Empire, but they were so offended by the idea that he was advised by a woman and she was behind all his triumphs. There were big articles saying how terrible the show was and how it was a disgrace and should be taken off the air."

The second season will see Livia and Augustus (who goes by his birth name Gaius in the show) returning to Rome to find the city in the grip of famine and on the brink of revolt. 

• Domina season 2 cast: who's who in the historical epic

Meanwhile, Livia and Gaius also face open revolt from their assorted children, many of whom have their own ambitions for power...

"This series is certainly a lot more violent," explains Burke. "There's more sex, violence and a lot more blackmail. We were just able to push Livia a lot further."

"The first season had to cover a lot of important events, but this time we had less to work with in terms of facts and things that actually happened. We're able to invest more in the characters, internal tensions, death feuds and vendettas — we were able to bring it up to a whole new level." 

Domina season 2 is on Sky Atlantic and Now in the UK. In the US, it's currently available on MGM+. 

The Domina season 2 cast is set for a right Roman romp on Sky Atlantic, but keeping track of who's who can be trickier than negotiating the senate's power politics!

In 2021’s Domina season 1 we followed young noblewoman, Livia Drusilla, as she battled to honor the promise she made to her late father and restore the republican state in Rome. 

The first step on that path was marrying Gaius Augustus, who became the first Emperor of Rome. Yet in a climactic series finale, Livia murdered Gaius’ nephew, Marcellus, and installed her own son Tiberius as her husband’s heir, in a move that now threatens to rip Rome’s ruling family in two. 

As the eight-part second series begins, Livia and Gaius are returning to Rome after spending three years in the Eastern provinces, to find the city in the grip of famine and the population on the brink of revolt. 

Yet it's not just their rivals who are plotting against them — some of their family are at it as well! We take a look at the most important players in Domina season 2...

Kasia Smutniak plays Livia Drusilla 

Livia Drusilla, scion of one of the Five Great Families, is married to the most powerful man in Rome, the First Citizen, Gaius Augustus (his third wife). She has sworn to avenge her father’s death and restore the Republic. Despite her brilliant political machinations, this season it will be harder than ever to achieve her goal.

Where have I seen Kasia Smutniak before? The Italian-Polish actress appeared opposite Robert Downey Jr in 2020 movie Dolittle. 

Matthew McNulty plays Gaius

Gaius Augustus, self-styled First Citizen of Rome is Emperor in all but name. He has consolidated his power thanks to the help of his wife, Livia. Their marriage and political partnership will be tested to its limits when he loses sight of how important she is to him and must risk everything to cement his standing. 

Where have I seen Matthew McNulty before? The actor has starred in a host of dramas, including The Terror, Versailles and The Musketeers.

Ben Batt plays Agrippa

Agrippa is Gaius’ closest friend and right-hand man and, along with Livia, he ensures Gaius retains a firm grip on power. He’s also Livia’s closest confidante and husband to Julia, the First Citizen’s only daughter. Despite his brotherly bond with Gaius, over the course of the season, Agrippa must make some hard decisions about the future of their friendship.

Where have I seen Ben Batt before? The British actor has starred in a number of UK-based shows, including Our Girl, The Promise and In The Dark. 

Benjamin Isaac plays Tiberius

Livia’s eldest son Tiberius is traumatised by dark memories of his childhood and abuse from his father Nero. He’s increasingly reluctant to fulfill Livia’s ambition for him and his brother with the mission to restore the Republic. Although he finds some love and light with his new wife, Vipsania, the corruption of Rome overwhelms him and he risks the destruction of his family. 

Where have I seen Benjamin Isaac before? Aside from 2020 short film The Unravelling, Tiberius is Benjamin's first on-screen role. 

Ewan Horrocks plays Drusus

Livia’s youngest son Drusus is headstrong and wilful but finds some equilibrium with his new wife Antonina. An accomplished military commander, Drusus begins to draw the envy of Gaius. Oblivious to the increased threat he poses to his Stepfather, this will lead to him paying the ultimate price for his ambitions.

Where have I seen Ewan Horrocks before? Ewan has previously appeared in Netflix's historical saga The Last Kingdom and its spin-off film Seven Kings Must Die. 

Isabelle Connoly plays Antonina

Octavia’s youngest daughter and Gaius’ favorite niece, Antonina grows into a stable and wise presence for her new husband, Drusus. She accompanies him on military campaigns and quickly endears herself to Livia — the daughter she never had. The two women work together to rein in Drusus’ ambitions but even her best efforts fall short in the end.

Where have I seen Isabelle Connoly before? Isabelle has previously starred in Netflix thriller Stay Close. 

Claire Forlani plays Octavia

Gaius’ sister, Octavia is still grieving for her murdered son, Marcellus. She holds Livia responsible and will try to throw her off course wherever she can. As time passes, the two women seem to find some common ground but Octavia will demand that Gaius exact a terrible revenge for the wrong that Livia has done her.

Where have I seen Claire Forlani before? The English actress has appeared in a slew of movies including Meet Joe Black, Mallrats, Green Street, The Rock and Black Beauty. 

Christine Bottomley plays Scribonia

Gaius’ ex-wife Scribonia (his second marriage) has always been jealous of Livia and sees an opportunity to ruin her when she starts plotting with Gaius’ lover, Gemina. She becomes preoccupied with securing her line of succession through Julia, the daughter she shares with Gaius, and is determined to preserve her legacy at the expense of Livia. 

Where have I seen Christine Bottomley before? Christine has appeared in UK-based shows such as Back To Life, EastEnders, Heartbeat, Shameless and In The Club.

Alex Lanipekun plays Tycho 

After the death of his wife, Antigone, Tycho returns to Rome with his young daughter, Aelina, to work for Livia. He is her most steadfast enforcer, whom she trusts with her life implicitly. He will go above and beyond the call of duty in her service. However, even his loyalty is tested to its limits.

Where have I seen Alex Lanipekun before? Alex is best known for his role as Ben Kaplan in BBC espionage drama Spooks. 

David Avery plays Domitius

Ambitious young aristocrat Domitius has recently joined Gaius’ family through his marriage to Octavia’s daughter, Antonia. Cunning and deceitful, he soon proves himself to be a thorn in Livia’s side. Despite his intelligence, his blindspot is underestimating Livia’s capabilities and she will come to outsmart him at every turn. He is also having an affair with Marcella.

Where have I seen David Avery before? The British actor has had roles in The Night Manager and Gangs of London.

Hannah Chinn plays Antonia 

Octavia’s eldest daughter, Antonia, is married to the smart and politically savvy aristocrat Domitius. As he grows in Gaius’ favour, pressure increases on her to have children and provide an heir. Domitius is frequently cruel and manipulative to her behind closed doors but Antonia has limited options to turn to and it’s up to Livia to ultimately intervene to keep her niece safe.

Where have I seen Hannah Chinn before? Hannah starred opposite Colm Meaney in 2021 film There's Always Hope. 

Joelle plays Vipsania 

Agrippa’s daughter, Vipsania, refuses to play the conventional power games expected of Roman aristocratic life. She is happily married to fellow outsider, Tiberius, and is able to tame his more destructive instincts. She is a key force for good in her husband’s life but this will come crashing down when Tiberius is forced to choose between his wife and his mother. 

Where have I seen Joelle before? The English singer and actor made her screen debut in Hollywood blockbuster Dune back in 2021. 

Aläis Lawson plays Marcella 

Marcella shares her mother Octavia’s suspicion and hatred of Livia because of her brother’s murder. Stuck in a loveless marriage with Iullus, she’s embarked on an illicit affair with Domitius. Both manipulative and vengeful characters they’re well-suited to each other but when she falls pregnant and Iullus refuses to claim paternity for another man’s child, she’s faced with an impossible dilemma.

Where have I seen Aläis Lawson before? Aläis appeared alongside Carey Mulligan in 2018 BBC drama Collateral. 

Liah O'Prey plays Julia

Gaius’ daughter Julia continues her illicit affair with Iullus despite being married to Agrippa. The threat of this secret coming to light compels her to throw herself at the mercy of Livia. When circumstances conspire to force her into an unwanted marriage to Tiberius, Julia’s life takes a darker turn and she sets off on a dangerous path of self-destruction.

Where have I seen Liah O'Prey before? The Spanish-born Irish-French actress has previously starred in 2018 history film Mary Queen of Scots and TV series Marie Antoinette. 

Joseph Ollman plays Iullus

Octavia’s stepson Iullus is unhappily married to Marcella and continuing his affair with Julia. When it’s discovered that Julia’s been unfaithful, there’s a real risk he will pay with his life. Livia intervenes and saves his skin but things between him and Julia will never be the same again and he struggles to assert himself in the shifting power dynamics of Rome. 

Where have I seen Joseph Ollman before? Joseph has had roles in TV shows such as Industry, Knightfall and Vampire Academy. 

Darrell D'Silva plays Piso

The closest thing Livia has to a father figure, Piso, remains determined to help her in her mission to restore the Republic. He is consigliere and wise counsel in her moments of greatest need and will be by her side when Livia faces her most lethal threat. 

Where have I seen Darrell D'Silva before? Darrell has had a long and distinguished career with the Royal Shakespeare Company and screen roles in Van Der Valk, Informer and even an Ironborn in season 6 of Game of Thrones. 

Domina season 2 is arriving on Sky Atlantic and NOW on Wednesday, September 13 2023 and is available to watch in the US on MGM+

Comedy romance The Lovers on Sky Atlantic will show us that just when you think two people are utterly wrong for one another, they might actually be the perfect match. 

Starring Genius actor Johnny Flynn and The Fall star Roisin Gallagher, the six-part series arriving in 2023 follows sweary Belfast supermarket worker Janet as she finds herself falling for suave, egotistical political broadcaster Seamus. Can you really find your soulmate in the most unlikely of places? It seems you can...

Here’s everything you need to know about Sky Atlantic series The Lovers...

The Lovers release date

The Lovers is a six-part series that will launch on Sky Atlantic and NOW on Thursday September 7 at 9pm, so it's a big part of Sky's 2023 Autumn TV. The entire series will also be available on Sky Box Sets from that date. We'll update on any US or international air dates and which US channel The Lovers will arrive on.

Is there a trailer for The Lovers? 

Yes there's a trailer for The Lovers and the romance between the mismatched screen pair looks fun! Do take a look below...

The Lovers plot

The Lovers is a six-parter that follows Belfast shop worker Janet (Roisin Gallagher) who doesn’t care much about anything including her own life. So when a handsome political broadcaster Seamus (Johnny Flynn) climbs into her back yard she really shouldn’t give him much thought. After all he’s selfish, seems to have the perfect life in London, and has hooked up with a celebrity girlfriend Frankie (Alice Eve). The pair are poles apart yet for some reason they seem to be inexplicably drawn to one another, showing that sometimes love can show up in entirely the wrong place. 

The Lovers cast — Roisin Gallagher on playing Janet

In The Lovers, Roisin Gallagher plays the potty-mouthed and hilarious Janet. 

Roisin reveals: "Janet jumped off the script. I instantly cared about her. I think people will recognise Janet, if not her cheeky, hard edge then they’ll recognise her strength and grit.

"Janet’s had a hard paper round, as we say in Belfast. She has had some bad experiences, but she’s trying to hang in there. I find her very courageous. She has an epic sense of humour that she uses to cover up her many insecurities, because she’s very lost when we first meet her. 

"Like all good love stories, Janet and Seamus' relationship is full of tension, obstacles, desire, thrill, expectation... disappointment. It’s beautiful to see these two creatures connect with each other despite having nothing in common and very different views on the world.

"Johnny Flynn is great craic! He is so much fun to work with, and is a very kind and generous actor. I feel that playing opposite Johnny makes me better at what I do as he asks great questions that can expand the potential of a scene. I’m learning from him every day. I don’t know if he realises that, but I do!"

* Earlier this year Roisin Gallagher starred in the series The Dry playing Shiv, an alcoholic who returns from London to family life in Dublin. She’s also had roles in The Fall, Come Home, Made In Belfast and Doctors.

Johnny Flynn on playing Seamus in The Lovers

Johnny Flynn, who plays political broadcaster Seamus in The Lovers, reveals: "At the beginning of the story, Seamus and Janet are so entrenched in their exterior identities. But through waves of discovery, they get to find their true selves. David always talks about them being two aspects of his own psyche battling it out, which I really love. 

"Seamus is a semi-famous current affairs journalist who has just been given his first TV show. At first, he comes across as arrogant, but it’s actually a facility for hiding trauma – and I’ve enjoyed revealing this as the story goes on. It’s fun leaning into those slightly Alan Partridge facets of him and then taking them away and going, ‘Oh, he’s actually sweet’.

"Life is messy and Seamus isn’t perfect. He doesn’t deal with his situation in the best way. It’s good storytelling because it doesn’t let Seamus off the hook. You should feel angry with him and hurt for Frankie, but it shows that not everybody is perfect for each other. The story is told in a responsible way because it emphasises that Frankie hasn’t done anything wrong."

* Johnny Flynn has previously starred as William Dobbin in the mini series Vanity Fair and played a young Albert Einstein in Genius. He’s also had roles in Les Miserables, Lovesick, Operation Mincemeat and The Dig. He also played David Bowie in the film Stardust. Johnny will voice Bob Cratchit in the upcoming Netflix film Scrooge: A Christmas Carol. He'll also be starring as Dickie Greenleaf in the Sky Atlantic series Ripley in 2023.

Who else is starring in The Lovers?

The Lovers also stars Game of Thrones and Holding actor Conleth Hill, playing Janet’s boss at the supermarket called Philip, and Belgravia actress Alice Eve as the celebrity girlfriend of Seamus.

Conleth says: "David Ireland is a terrific writer. I’ve directed two of his plays and two short films that he wrote, but I’d never actually acted in anything that he had written. There’s a lovely neurosis about his writing. It’s probably very tortuous for him, but it’s very funny for us. 

"Philip is the manager of the supermarket where Janet works and she’s not an ideal employee. She’s very lippy, but he’s very patient and understanding with her. He’s fond of her and thinks there’s more to her than meets the eye. He reckons underneath it all she’s worth helping, whereas he’d happily show the other staff the door. 

"The facilities and experience of the TV crews in Northern Ireland is second to none – from Game of Thrones to Line of Duty and Blue Lights. Belfast is unique as well, because you can be in the city centre and within 15 minutes you’re in the middle of nowhere, in the woods or the mountains. It’s unreal."

Behind the scenes, locations and more on The Lovers

The Lovers is produced by Drama Republic, in association with Sky Studios. It's written by award winning playwright David Ireland (Cyprus Avenue, Ulster American) and directed by BAFTA winning Justin Martin (Together, Prima Facie),

Roanna Benn and Rebecca de Souza, Executive Producers for Drama Republic, say: “We're so excited that David’s beautifully crafted, romantic and subversive story is being brought to life by such a brilliant team and cast - with the hugely talented Justin Martin at the helm.”

Locations manager Scott Houston says: "I’ve lived in East Belfast for 15 years. So I knew the area quite well. We do a lot of locations here. We double for London, we double for Birmingham, we double for all these other places. So it’s great when we get something that’s written about Belfast, which sometimes gets shown in a poor light. It’s good to see a script like this that puts a bit of life and a bit of imagination back into the city."

* Guides to more great series on Sky are below...

The Lazaraus Project
Django
A Town Called Malice
Funny Woman
The Midwich Cuckoos
The Fear Index

In Sky Arts’ new six-part travelogue, Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir, the husband and wife duo visit stunning UK locations in search of birds to sketch. Along the way, they draw ornithologists, local artists, and celebrity pals into their birdwatching and painting adventures.

Here Jim and Nancy Moir guide us through their new series…

Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir — release date

Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir season 1 launches on Sky Arts and NOW on Wednesday, April 19 2023 at 9 pm. New episodes are available weekly.

Is there a trailer for Painting Birds season 1?

Yes! It shows Jim and Nancy as they go bird watching with famous friends, and battle the elements as they enjoy paining birds in the great outdoors! 

Check out the official trailer for Painting Birds below...

Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir — the premise

Jim Moir is best known for his alter ego Vic Reeves and comedy partnership with Shooting Stars’ Bob Mortimer, but there’s another aspect to the funnyman. He’s a prolific artist and a devoted birdwatcher. In Painting Birds, Jim teams up with his wife Nancy to travel around the UK and share his two lifelong passions. 

Speaking about the series Jim, 64, says: “I haven’t done Vic Reeves for six years. I can’t see him coming back, particularly. I spend my days painting now, so Painting Birds is just a perfect job. I learned about birds when I was young, but you can never know everything. It’s a thrill. You get that sense of excitement through the screen.

“I think everyone's an artist. A lot of people think art is about being able to draw in a classical style. You don't need that. Art can be whatever you want it to be. Throw paint at a canvas and hang it on the wall — that’s art.”

Painting Birds season 1 — locations and celebrity guests

In the series, the Moirs visit stunning locations in Cornwall, Kent, Scotland, Yorkshire and Lancashire searching for choughs, owls, eagles, gannets and bearded tits. Along the way Jim and Nancy meet ornithologists, local artists, visit local areas of interest and also spend some time with famous friends. As well as plenty of laughs, each episode sees Jim paint the featured birds in his studio in Kent. 

In episode one the couple visit Northumberland and meet up with actor Mark Benton, star of Early Doors, Land Girls, the original series of Waterloo Road and Shakespeare & Hathaway. 

In episode two, they’re in Cornwall with conceptual artist Cornelia Parker. 

Episode three sees the Moirs in Kent with musician pal Jools Holland. 

Episode four sees the husband and wife in Scotland where they catch up with musician Edwyn Collins. 

Episode five is based in Yorkshire with Pop Artist Colin Self as their guest star of the week. 

And the series comes to a close in Morecambe Bay with naturalist Chris Packham, best known for his TV shows The Really Wild Show and BBC’s Springwatch, Autumnwatch, and Winterwatch series.

Jim and Nancy on filming Painting Birds

Jim on being filmed while painting: “I really don't like cameras or anyone looking over my shoulder because you want to show the finished product, but I know that that's what has to happen, so, I'm learning to deal with it. You’ve got to live with it if you're going to do a series like this!”

On travelling and filming together

“We had the best time,” says Nancy. “Believe it or not, Jim and I don’t argue. We sing instead. When you’re travelling for a very long time, there's so much to see out of the window, including birds. And if you think you’re going to argue, just sing.”

Jim adds: “Everything you see us doing on the programme is full-on real without any script. That’s what happens in real life when there’s no camera on us. It’s all very natural.”

Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir — season 1 episode guide

Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir — episode 1:

‘Northumberland’

Jim and Nancy are Curlew spotting in Northumberland with the help of bird expert Tom Cadwallender and along the way see redshank, eider, grey plover, and a peregrine falcon. Later, on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, Jim teaches fledgling artists Nancy and Mark Benton the joy of painting - despite the blustery weather!

“When Jim was teaching Benno and I we had to keep moving to find somewhere we weren’t blown all over the place,” laughs Nancy. “He’s a really good teacher. He’s taught me acting and art now. Jim always says ‘Never be afraid. Get the paintbrush and just go for it.’ I’m not an artist, but I’ve learned a lot and know my birds now - I’m ‘choughed!’”

Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir — episode 2:

‘Cornwall’

Jim and Nancy are in Cornwall in search of choughs, which Jim describes as ‘his favourite crow,’ and pay a visit to artist pal Cornelia Parker.

“We do three days filming [for each episode] and in Cornwall one of the days was absolutely beautiful,” reveals Nancy. ‘That’s when you really get to appreciate the views of the places that you go to.”

Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir — episode 3:

'Kent'

Jim and Nancy are in Kent to see owls and catch up with the one and only Jools Holland.

“We love Kent and the weather was amazing,” says Nancy “We had a brilliant time at Elmley Nature Reserve and Kent Owl Academy. What more could you ask for?”

Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir — episode 4:

‘Scotland’

Jim and Nancy are on the remote Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides on the look out for eagles. They also enjoy a catch up with Edwyn Collins.

Speaking to What To Watch, they shared their memories of this episode. 

Jim: “When we were looking for the eagle it was touch and go on whether we’d see it or not. I don’t want to give anything away but it was pretty close!”

Nancy: “I learned how the golden eagle shows off to woo the female. They fly higher and higher, drop a stone and, as it falls, go around until it gets near the bottom and then scoop it up. It’s just amazing.”

Jim: “It’s like being at one end of a rugby pitch and throwing the ball then running to the other end and catching it and going ‘Check me out!’”

Nancy: “It’s seriously impressive. I mean, I would go out with that golden eagle.”

Jim: “If I could do that with a rugby ball, would you go with me?”

Nancy: “Yes!”

Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir — episode 5:

‘Yorkshire’

Jim and Nancy visit the stunning East Yorkshire Coast on the lookout for gannets. They are joined by local experts, artists Colin and Jess Self, and go on a trip down memory lane over a cuppa with Jim's mum, Audrey. While in Scarborough Jim challenges Colin to complete a painting of the seaside town in 30 minutes. 

Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir — episode 6:

‘Lancashire’ 

Jim and Nancy are in Lancashire in the hope of catching a glimpse of the elusive bearded tit, which Jim describes as "a unique bird... to see one in the feather is really exciting... they're quite mysterious." Colour us intrigued! 

The couple also meet up with wildlife legend Chris Packham, local experts, bird watchers, and artists in the final episode of this delightful series.

Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir season 2 — will there be a second season?

Updated June 15, 2023

Sky Arts have confirmed Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir will return for a second six-part series, following the huge success of series one, which has had the biggest series launch on Sky Arts this year so far.

Jim and Nancy, along with a host of exciting celebrity guests (to be announced at a later date), local artists and conservation experts, will be embarking on their second tour of the UK and Ireland, visiting a range of scenic locations to explore the local birdlife in their natural habitats. Once again, they will be taking on the challenge of creating artwork inspired by the regions they visit, the unique species they observe and the friendly faces they meet along the way.

This series, their adventures will include visiting Chatsworth Estate to learn about the dippers, taking a trip to Battersea Power Station to spot an iconic pair of nesting peregrines and searching for puffins in their wild habitat of the Antrim Coast, plus much more.

Jim and Nancy will also try their hand at an array of artistic techniques during their travels, such as creating linocuts of stilts and golden plovers in Wrexham, learning about the local community project The Hide Sculpture in Fingal, Dublin and using traditional Chinese ink and calligraphy brushes to paint Loch Mallochie in the Scottish Highlands.

The second series of Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir was commissioned by Phil Edgar-Jones, Director of Sky Arts and Entertainment for Zai Bennett, Managing Director of Content for Sky UK and Ireland. The Commissioning Editor for Sky is Barbara Lee. The series went into production in May 2023.

The series is produced by Drum Studios, part of Omnicom Media Group, headed by Andy Holland. Danny Carvalho and Sadia Butt are the executive producers.

You can see Jim and Nancy announcing the news below... 

The second series of Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir airs on Sky Arts, Freeview and NOW from May 08 2024.

Guest stars this time are Justin Hawkins, Mary McCartney, Nitin Ganatra, Stephen Mangan, Joe Pasquale, Ronni Ancona and Imelda May.

There is big news for And Just Like That fans because it has been announced that not only will season 2 arrive sooner than we thought, but a brand new trailer has also dropped. 

The sneak peek into And Just Like That season 2 reveals the new series will pick up shortly after And Just Like That season 1 left off, with Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) all still living their best life in New York City. 

The trailer is less than a minute and a half long, but it gives fans plenty of teasers about the new season, including the fact Carrie has a new man in her life in the shape of her podcast producer Franklyn (Ivan Hernandez). 

Miranda and Che's (Sara Ramirez) relationship seems to be going from strength to strength as the couple move in together, and Charlotte is still navigating the world of being a parent to teenagers after her daughter Lily (Cathy Ang) suddenly announces in the trailer that she is ready to lose her virginity. 

In traditional Sex and the City style, Sarah Jessica-Parker provides the voiceover for the trailer as Carrie, telling viewers that "If you're lucky, you can always count on your closest friends to be there."

But it is only when she teases: "I realized some things are better left in the past. But maybe… not everything..." that we see the return of one of Sex and The City's favorite characters — Carrie's on-again, off-again boyfriend Aidan Shaw (John Corbett).

As Aidan's car pulls up right at the end of the trailer, Carrie is seen turning around to find her former flame standing behind her. 

Could this mean we might see romance blossoming for Carrie once again following the tragic and sudden death of her husband Mr. Big (Chris Noth) at the start of season 1?

Although we are yet to get a specific date for the new season, we do know And Just Like That season 2 will air on HBO Max in the US and on Sky Comedy and NOW in the UK this June.

Danny Dyer's new comedy Mr Bigstuff sees him play a prescription-drug-addicted alpha male who ruins his brother’s life. 

EastEnders star Danny is teaming up with Plebs star Ryan Sampson, who also wrote the series, to play estranged brothers Lee (Dyer) and Glen (Sampson) in a show about "broken families, fragile masculinity and carpet sales". 

Danny Dyer reveals: “Following my nutty exit from EastEnders I feel like it’s time to recalibrate and try something a bit new,” r. “When I read the role of Lee, I was honored to be asked to develop an exciting character and explore his dysfunctional f*****-up family relationships. I fell in love with Ryan Sampson while working with him on Plebs. I can’t wait to get involved with his incredible writing.”

Ryan Sampson adds: “As a particularly short gay dude, I’m fascinated by masculinity; by all the ways that we’re trying and failing to do it right. Maybe it’s because of some unresolved short-man issues. Maybe it’s because of that one time in PE when Mr Walker told me to 'stop crying and start being a man, Sampson'. I probably should have gotten therapy, but instead, I’ve written a show about it,” says Ryan. “It’s about fragile masculinity - about men and how f***** up we are. Also, about families, and how f***** up they are too. I can’t believe how lucky I am in having Danny Dyer himself joining me for the ride.” 

Here’s everything we know about Sky Max comedy  Mr Bigstuff...

Mr Bigstuff release date

Mr Bigstuff is a six-part series that begins on Sky Max and Sky Showcase with a double bill at 9pm and 9.30pm on Wednesday July 17 2024. All episodes are available as a box set too through NOW. This date was also announced by Danny Dyer on his Instagram (see above). We’ll update with the US and international release date and channel.

Is there a trailer for Mr Bigstuff? 

Yes a Mr Bigstuff trailer has been released by Sky. 'Have you seen this geezer?!' says Danny Dyer's rather menacing character Lee! The comedy does look great fun! Take a look below...

Mr Bigstuff plot 

Mr Bigstuff follows two estranged brothers. Weedy Glen (Ryan Sampson) is a carpet sales manager, who wants to live a mundane life in the Essex’s suburbs. He's also a nervous perfectionist who’s suffering from crippling erectile dysfunction. His brother Lee (Danny Dyer) is addicted to prescription drugs and carries his dead father’s ashes around in a biscuit tin. Lee is on the run from his past and suddenly crashes into Glen’s perfectly ordinary suburban life which he enjoys with his shoplifting fiancé Kirsty. And as the mismatched trio are forced to live together in a quiet cul de sac in Essex, their lives soon start to unravel.

Mr Bigstuff cast — Danny Dyer on playing Lee 

Danny Dyer says playing Lee in Mr Bigstuff is a joy: "Lee has a good heart but no filter. He doesn’t conform to the way society expects is running away from some very dangerous people. He needs his brother for many different reasons." 

* Danny Dyer had a long-running role as Mick Carter in EastEnders, which he left in 2022. He played Tommy Johnson in the 2004 film The Football Factory, having already starred in Prime Suspect as a teenager. He later starred in Skins, Plebs (with Mr Bigstuff co-star Ryan Smapson), The Hooligan Factory and Dead Man Running. He hosted the reality show Scared of the Dark plus Cheat and The Wall. He's currently filming Jilly Cooper's Rivals.

Danny Dyer teases hilarious dance routines in his new TV comedy Mr Bigstuff

Ryan Sampson on playing Glen 

Ryan Sampson reveals more about playing Lee's brother: "Glen lives a nice suburban life with his fiancée Kirsty and wants everything to be cute and perfect. He’s saving up for his wedding day then Lee arrives and churns everything up."

* Actor and writer Ryan Sampson is probably best known for playing Grumio in the hit ITV comedy series Plebs set in Ancient Rome. He has also starred in Brassic, Waiting, After You’ve Gone, The Frankenstein Chronicles, The Crown and Holby City. He wrote the series Waiting and Glitchy. 

Who else is starring in Mr Bigstuff?

Mr Bigstuff also has a host of familiar faces including Adrian Scarborough as Glen’s boss, and former EastEnders star Nitin Ganatra and comedian Fatiha El-Ghorrie who play Carpet World colleagues. 

Harriet Webb, Ned Dennehy, Victoria Alcock, Geoff Bell and Judi Love also rock up and look out for former EastEnders star Shobu Kapoor who plays Sheila, the wife of Glen’s boss, Ian, and another EastEnder Cheryl Fergison as Julie, a vendor who runs a mobile food van.

Behind the scenes and more on Mr Bigstuff

Mr Bigstuff is a six-part comedy, co-produced by Sky Studios and Water & Power Productions. Executive Producers are Anil Gupta and Jon Mountague for Sky Studios, Tom Miller and Sam Myer for Water & Power Productions, with Hayley Sterling from Sky Studios producing.

The will-they-won’t-they relationship between private investigator Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips) and Scotland Yard detective William ‘Duke’ Wellington (Stuart Martin) seems to be veering towards ‘They will!’ as Miss Scarlet and the Duke season 3 arrives. 

Here's everything we know about the new season of the Victorian crime drama...

Miss Scarlet and the Duke season 3 release date

Miss Scarlet and the Duke returns to Alibi on Tuesday, April 11 at 9 pm, with all 6 episodes available on Sky, Virgin and NOW.

Is there a Miss Scarlet and the Duke season 3 trailer?

Yes, and you can watch it in full below... 

Is love in the air for Scarlet and William in season 3?

It is, but perhaps not in the way many fans might have hoped! 

"They are edging closer to where some of us want them to go," says Martin about the romantic tension between the Victorian crime fighters. "They can’t deny they’ve grown close, but no one’s quite saying it out loud."

While the pair pose as a couple and meet for regular dinner dates, a cloud soon appears on the horizon in the form of Eliza's childhood nemesis, Arabella (Sophie Robertson), who develops a mutual attraction with Duke.

"Viewers might remember Arabella being mentioned as a girl from Elisa’s schooldays who wasn’t particularly nice to her," says Martin. "Arabella has done well for herself and owns a restaurant, which they visit in connection with a case. William discovers this past they share, and it creates a lot of tension."

The new arrival also sheds more light on the back story of Eliza, who took on her father’s detective agency after his death.

"We find out more about where she came from," says Phillips. "At school, she was the misfit, and Arabella sort of sends her back to that place, which is really sad. You see so much of Eliza being strong and independent, and this is an opportunity to see her vulnerability."

What else is happening in season 3?

There are plenty of intriguing adventures to look forward to in the new season, especially the finale when Eliza receives a bomb in the post and teams up with Duke and rival private detective Patrick Nash (Felix Scott) to discover who sent the deadly package.

"The final case is one of my favourites," says Kate Phillips. "The stakes are super-high and you have all these great characters pulling together."

How can I watch Miss Scarlet and the Duke?

Miss Scarlet and the Duke can be seen on Alibi, Virgin, Sky and NOW TV. 

Buckets and spades at the ready as Dreamland on Sky Atlantic will taking us to the sun-drenched British seaside town of Margate for one big comedy adventure in 2023. Based on Sharon Horgan’s BAFTA-winning short film of the same name, the six-part series is also produced by Horgan and explores the dynamics of an often dysfunctional multi-generational family. 

Exposing the loves, lies, secrets and aspirations of four sisters, it stars Doctor Who’s Freema Agyeman in the lead role as pregnant Trish. The cast also boasts Benidorm’s Sheila Reid, Frances Barber and singer Lily Allen, who is making her TV debut. 

Here’s all the information you need about Sky Atlantic comedy Dreamland…

Dreamland release date

Dreamland is a six-parter that launches in the UK on Sky Atlantic and NOW from 9pm on Thursday April 6 2023.

NBCUniversal Global Distribution handle international sales of the series on behalf of Sky Studios so we'll also let you know of US and worldwide air dates.

Is there a trailer for Dreamland?

Yes a trailer for Dreamland has just been released and it's left us really wanting to see more of the Margate fun. 'You're in Margate babes!' says the excited girl on the coach. Do take a look at the first trailer for Dreamland below...

Dreamland plot 

Dreamland is set in Margate and follows on eldest sister Trish, played by Freema Agyeman, who is pregnant for the third time and is desperate for a girl. Two of her sisters, Clare (Gabby Best) and Leila (Aimee-Ffion Edwards), join their mum (Frances Barber) and ‘legend’ Nan (Sheila Reid) to ‘manifest’ a little girl but then their other sister Mel (Lily Allen) makes an unexpected reappearance into their lives when she moves from Paris back to Margate. Suddenly their ‘dreamland’ is no more, and Mel’s return could destabilize the whole family.

Dreamland cast — Freema Agyeman on playing Trish 

Freema Agyeman plays pregnant elder sister Trish in Dreamland. Freema told us: "When we meet Trish, she is pregnant and organising a ‘manifestival’ - a party to try and manifest a girl, because she has two boys! We learn that she’s had three miscarriages in the past two years, so this is quite a tense time for her. She’s part of this huge, working-class family, and she likes to place herself at the core of most things! But she’s also fighting for a better life for her children - she wants to move off the estate."

* Freema Agyeman is best known for playing Martha Jones in Doctor Who from 2005 to 2007. She’s also starred in Torchwood, Little Dorrit, Survivors, Law & Order: UK, The Matrix Resurrections, Sense8 and New Amsterdam.  

Lily Allen on playing Mel in Dreamland

Singer Lily Allen, daughter of Keith Allen and sister of Alfie Allen, takes on her first TV role as fourth sibling Mel...

Tell us about your Dreamland character Mel?
Lily Allen says: "Mel is a bit of a dark horse within the family make up. She has aspirations outside of Margate where her family live. She’s tried to make a life for herself away from that all, and that’s failed, and she has now returned. She loves her family, each person for different reasons. I think she just feels a bit misunderstood, and maybe not heard and not seen – but’s probably not well equipped to be able to deal with it. 

What drew you to working on Dreamland? 
"I had just moved to New York, but I bring my kids back to the UK for summer to spend time with their dad, so when this landed on my desk, and I heard it was shooting in Margate - and I love Margate – I was instantly hooked. Of course, I thought the script was amazing and this being a Merman production was a big pull for me too. I trusted their instinct with it, and I loved the short that I had seen of it in its previous incarnation." 

You say you love Margate, how was it filming there? 
"It was great! I rented a little house in the square and brought my kids across. It was excruciatingly hot. But it was lovely, it’s steeped in summertime history, that town. 

There are many different generations within the family, but is there a relationship for Mel that stands out most to you? 
"The relationships between Trish, Spence and Mel are particularly interesting. They grew up inseparable friends, but once Trish and Spence got together, Mel was somewhat side-lined and felt abandoned by them. I find that most interesting because that wouldn’t necessarily occur to anyone else, but it is glaringly obvious to her. If she was able to articulate these feelings, then it could have sorted itself out, but she doesn’t have that in her." 

Sheila Reid on playing Nan in Dreamland

Comedy legend and Benidorm star Sheila Reid is the sisters' nan in Dreamland...

Tell us about Nan in Dreamland?
Sheila Reid says: "She’s a bit of a legend in Margate; always up for a challenge and she wakes up every morning excited at what the day may bring. She also feels that if you look good, you feel good. She loves bright colours and looks after herself. Her mother said to her “leave things as you find them or better if you can,” and that’s how she lives her life - hence the litter picking she does! She also has a great relationship with God, she talks to him as if he’s the milkman."

What was it like having a predominantly female crew and cast? 
"There’s a strong sense of camaraderie, and Ellie the director is just supreme. She knows her script inside out but gave us the freedom to explore. There was a wonderfully relaxed, support and open atmosphere on set created by Ellie. I can’t praise her – or indeed the cast – highly enough!" 

What appealed to you about the script? 
"The script appealed to me because of its strong, honest writing. It is very funny, very moving and includes great roles for women! It’s wonderful to play a character with so many levels. Nan is a gift and positive life force. She’s often strong but there is also a vulnerability to her. She is multi-faceted. To play a matriarch of this wonderfully, unruly, opinionated family – what a treat to be asked to part of it!"

This isn’t your first seaside comedy, but what was it like filming in Margate this time? 
"Margate is the epitome of English seaside resorts. It has a timeless quality where very little seems to have changed. The theatre where Nan receives her award is filled with ghosts of past entertainers. It’s so resonant of centuries of shows being in there. It was good to be there to experience the feeling of living by the sea, it helps form your character. I do love the sea; if you look out at the sea, it does something to your mind." 

You mention the award Nan wins. What is Nan’s role within Margate? 
"Nan looks to the future. She organises this great band of litter pickers, and she cares very much about the history of the town. Her objective in life is to leave Margate a better place for future generations." 

Do you see yourself in Nan? 
"Well unlike Nan, I am not a great organiser. But I am a great preserver, and I love looking after my garden and making sure they’re cared for. I think these days we’re often a bit careless about nature, so I like to do my bit – and I think Nan would think the same. "

How does Dreamland balance comedy and drama? 
"The script is so clearly balanced, you never feel like you’re being preached at. But you are seeing a living group of people of different races, statuses, and sexes, all working and living together in harmony. I think that speaks for itself!"

What was it like off camera with fellow your cast mates? 
"They are all adorable. I feel like I’ve made some really good friends amongst the cast, because they are all such lovely, open, intelligent, bright women. And what a joy to be working with such a great group of people. It was such fun off set! I had worked with Aimee before, so it was an absolute joy to be working with her again. She is absolute gold and very talented."

Finally, what are your childhood memories of being at the seaside? 
"I was brought up in Scotland, so it was always a bonus if the sun was shining when we visited the seaside. I remember wearing bathing suits made from tiny squares of nylon which quickly lost their elasticity and sagged and being rubbed down with a rough beach towel. My very patient mother taught me how to swim by the age of six, and I have loved the sea ever since and feel at home in the water. Why I live in London is another question…" 

Who else is starring in Dreamland?

There's a great cast for Dreamland which includes Peaky Blinders star Aimee-Ffion Edwards plays Leila,  who is Trish’s sister while Cheap Cheap Cheap actress Gabby Best plays other sister Clare. Frances Barber (Whitstable Pearl, Silk, Doctor Who) is their mother while Ghosts star Kiell Smith-Bynoe is Trish’s partner Spence. Downton Abbey’s Samantha Bond is making a guest star appearance as Orla. 

Gabby Best says: "Clare is very much the rock of the family, steady and dependable. She’s spent years absorbing everyone else’s drama and she’s perhaps reaching saturation point. To be so heavily relied on, yet completely overlooked... I was drawn to that disconnect, and what it might do to a person. She’s essentially a human buckaroo, just loaded with baggage… At what point will she crack? How might she go about shaking some of that off?"

Aimee-Ffion Edwards says: "I play Leila who is the youngest sister of the family. She’s so warm and caring, albeit quite complex, but sees life simply. She’s great. I’m one of four sisters myself so I really resonated with the shifting sister dynamics in the script. I recognised Leila’s traits in my younger sister, especially with how she positions herself in a conflict or argument. The scripts are so witty but also really moving and upsetting to the point where it doesn’t really fit into one category. You can hate it and love it at the same time. Out of all of them, Leila likes confrontation the least, although she will stand up and back any of her siblings. She hates drama but always finds herself wrapped up in it. But within the family she is more likely to sit back and make everybody a cup of tea. She is also the closest to Nan, as she’s a bit of an old soul."

Frances Barber says: "I play the mother of four grown up girls who are all very different and each, we presume, have different fathers. She’s on a new path, which I think a lot of mothers do when their kids grow up. She has embarked on her first ever gay love affair which she is keeping a secret from the family. She is very excited and emotionally invested in it, but she’s quite frightened too, because everyone knows everyone’s business. She wants to keep it secret, but her lover doesn’t want that which eventually leads to quite an upsetting scenario for her. Cheryl must ask herself; does she stay with the woman or not? Meanwhile there is all this drama is happening with her kids! It’s all very turbulent. She’s stumbled across something very exciting that she can’t let go of. Also, it’s about how would the girls react."

Kiell Smith-Bynoe says: "I play Spence, the husband of eldest sister Trish (Freema Agyeman) and together we’re expecting our third child which Trish really hopes will be a girl. The series follows the build-up to the birth and the goings on within the family along the way, including the return of Mel, the most elusive sister."

Dreamland episode guide (with spoilers)

Here's a guide to the six episodes of Dreamland. There are a few spoilers, so do look away if you need to!

Episode 1
Trish and Spencer take Cheryl and Leila to see the derelict house they want to buy at auction to turn into their dream home. Later, Mel keeps a promise to take Trish’s sons, Jordan and Cayden, to Dreamland. But she’s dismayed when Trish insists on joining them. Learner-driver Leila takes Cheryl and Nan to meet them but hits another car on arrival. She swaps numbers with the driver, Dom, an awkward hipster who’s moved down from London. Spencer arrives at Dreamland and has a spiky exchange with Mel. When Trish worries about seeing Jordan play up to his white friends, Spencer reminds her that Jordan has their strong, loving unit to guide him, so he will be OK. Mel has a heart-to-heart with Clare. 

Episode 2
A flashback to Paris gives insight into Mel’s life there and what went wrong. Back in the present day, Mel and Spencer have a difficult conversation. The next day, estate agent Trish is in her element selling a fancy house, but after picking up on Spencer’s odd behaviour she later suspects that he is getting cold feet about buying their own dream home. The sisters gather at Cheryl’s for dinner, while she goes out to meet Diane. They find a video of Cheryl as a little girl dancing with her now-estranged sister, Orla. Dom and Leila go on a date and discover he’s after the same house as Trish. Clare makes a horrific discovery about Mel.

Episode 3
Mel returns from Paris to her hometown of Margate to find a family party in full swing. Her pregnant sister, Trish, is having a pink ‘Mani-Festival’ to ensure the universe ‘manifests’ a baby girl. Trish’s doting husband, Spencer, is BBQing, helped by her youngest sister, Leila, and their Nan. Mum, Cheryl, is delighted to have all her daughters there – as well as her secret love interest, Diane. Middle sister, Clare, agrees to let Mel stay with her. Trish is annoyed that Mel has stolen her thunder and tensions increase when Mel mocks the party. But while bickering, Mel and Trish have an accident and end up in hospital together, where there’s a shock revelation.

Episode 4
Clare can’t bear to be around Mel, so sets off early from the flat for the Heroes of Margate Awards ceremony, which she is covering for her paper. Mel joins later, with the rest of the family, who are all there to see Nan get a Lifetime Achievement Award for her litter-picking environmental contributions. Mel makes a big decision that freaks out Spencer. Unaware, Trish is enjoying herself until she’s insulted by a photographer. Clare defends Trish – to Trish’s dismay – then later turns on Mel, confronting her about her discovery. But before she gets any answers, Nan collapses.

Episode 5
Nan is in hospital but on the mend, after initially thinking she was dying. The family visit and are relieved to find her perky and on her phone. Mel tries to make amends with Clare. Spencer goes AWOL, panicking Trish – they need to physically sign bank papers by the end of the day, to transfer money for their auction house. When no one else is available to help find him, Trish enlists Mel as a last resort. While searching for Spencer, they talk about the animosity between them. As their barriers drop, their relationship starts to mend. They eventually find Spencer at the Lido. He’s acting strangely but goes home with Trish to sign the papers. Cheryl has a great date with Diane, but her insecurities sour their goodbye. She then goes to collect Nan from hospital and finds an unexpected visitor who threatens to jeopardise her family’s future. 

Episode 6
Trish and Spence win their dream house at auction! Clare tells Mel she is there for her, despite everything. Cheryl apologises to Diane but is rejected. The sisters go to Trish and Spencer’s new place to celebrate. Trish gives Mel a gift, for helping her find Spencer. Then, as the ultimate olive branch, she invites Mel to move in as there’s so much space. The nicer Trish is to her, the more uncomfortable Mel gets. Until, wracked with guilt, her awful secret comes tumbling out, leaving the family devastated – Trish most of all. 

Locations and more about Dreamland on Sky Comedy

Dreamland was filmed in the British coastal resort of Margate, Kent, which boasts a famous old theme park called Dreamland which gives the comedy its title.

The comedy was commissioned by Jon Mountague, Director of Comedy, Sky Studios and Alex Moody, Commissioning Editor, Sky Studios, for Zai Bennett, Managing Director of Content, Sky UK. The series is executive produced by Clelia Mountford, Sharon Horgan for Merman with Jane Bell as Producer and Emma Jane Unsworth as Showrunner and Associate Producer. Alex Moody is the Executive Producer for Sky Studios. 

Written by Emma Jane Unsworth, Gabby Best, Sharma Walfall and Sarah Kendall, Dreamland was directed by Ellie Heydon. 

Frederick Forsyth’s classic novel The Day Of The Jackal and the subsequent much-loved 1973 movie starring Edward Fox are set to be given a modern twist in a new Sky and Peacock Original series starring British Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne. 

The Theory of Everything and The Good Nurse star Eddie will play the assassin known only to authorities as 'The Jackal' in this reimagining, which gets to the heart of the infamous mercenary. Top Boy writer Ronan Bennett is behind the script, which is now set against the complex political climate of our contemporary world.

Here’s everything we know about The Day of The Jackal series so far…

The Day of the Jackal season 1 release date

The Day of the Jackal is a 10-part series and will launch on NBC on Monday December 30 2024 and run weekly on the same night through early 2025.

In the US the series first landed on NBC Universal streaming service Peacock from Thursday, November 14 2024. 

In the Uk, The Day of the Jackal launched on Thursday, November 7, 2024 on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

How to watch The Day of the Jackal: release dates, streaming options and where to watch for free

Is there a trailer?

Yes, The Day Of The Jackal official and teaser trailers give us a glimpse at all the drama we can expect from the new thriller series. Take a look at both below and compare them the 1973 film trailer for The Day Of The Jackal with Edward Fox below both...

The Day of the Jackal series plot 

The plot of The Day Of The Jackal digs into the character of the legendary assassin The Jackal. As the drama begins, the Jackal is in Munich, where his latest hit shocks the world. But he is then approached by a mysterious, anonymous source and offered an eye-watering fee to take on the assassination of another prominent figure, which could also have widespread repercussions. But he soon encounters potential set-backs…

Along the way, as the Jackal battles to track his quarry and also relentlessly chases payment for his previous hit, he is brought into contact with a host of shady characters, from Northern Irish gun maker Norman (Richard Dormer) to enigmatic businessman Timothy Winthrop (Charles Dance). 

But the Jackal is initially unaware that dogged MI6 operative and fire arms expert Bianca Pullman (Lashana Lynch), also has him in her sights, due to the on-going fallout from the events in Germany. As Bianca begins a single-minded mission to identify the Jackal and prevent him from murdering again, can he stay one step ahead?

While this female-led manhunt is a fresh spin on the book and original film, in another intriguing change, the Jackal is no longer an isolated character without apparent ties, as we gradually learn about his rich backstory and his bond with wife Nuria (Úrsula Corberó), who has no idea about his murderous job. But, as her suspicions grow, the emotional pressures on him increase.

The Day of the Jackal series cast — Eddie Redmayne on playing assassin The Jackal

The hitman of The Day of The Jackal is played by Eddie Redmayne, who says: "The original was a film I was brought up on and I read the book a long time ago and adored them both. This felt inspired by, but free from them, it’s a different beast.

"The Jackal’s a character I was curious to play. There’s something old school about him. I wanted him to be elegant, calm and economic. But is he also sociopathic? He glides through space like a knife through butter. And he’s an artist who assumes different identities.’

‘He enjoys all the elements of his job and thinking three moves ahead. There’s delight when those dominoes are set up,’ shares Redmayne. ‘But the second that cascade gets disrupted, it’s about watching someone fumble out of control.

"‘The archetype of the empathy-less assassin whose blood runs cold couldn’t work in this version,’ teases Redmayne. ‘He and his wife love each other, but he has lied to her. He’s made a huge amount of money and thinks he can wrap things up and they can start a new life. That’s his weakness…"

For Eddie Redmayne, one of the highlights of filming was getting the chance to adopt a range of extreme disguises as the Jackal, and to prepare for the role, he worked with movement and voice coaches and also learnt surveillance techniques from a real-life ex-soldier. 

"I thought it’d be a challenge. There’s shapeshifting with the physicality and the prosthetics, so it was an actor’s dream. I start by playing a 65-year-old German cleaner!’ reveals the star, who was also thrilled to shoot the series in Hungary, Croatia, Austria and the UK, which stand in for the stunning global locations that provide the backdrop to Bianca’s hunt for the Jackal and his own pursuit of his target.

"This feels big with the scope and indulgence of seeing these beautiful parts of the world. What I loved about the original movie was that we leapt across the world with someone who seems to nip on a train as he pleases. I hope audiences enjoy going on that ride."

* British star Eddie Redmayne is used to playing chilling characters, having recently starred as killer nurse Charles Cullen in The Good Nurse. He won an Oscar for his turn as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything and plays Newt in the Fantastic Beasts movies. Eddie has also starred in Birdsong, The Trial of the Chicago Seven, The Danish Girl, Les Miserables, My Week With Marilyn and The Good Shepherd. 

Lashana Lynch on playing Bianca

The Day of the Jackal series cast also includes Lashana Lynch who will play Bianca, a tenacious law enforcement agent determined to catch The Jackal.

She says: "I saw this as a beautiful opportunity to dive deeper into a modern Black woman’s story and balance strength and vulnerability. Bianca rubs people up the wrong way and does things in the most unorthodox manner to get what she wants and her home life suffers. But she loves the chase with the Jackal. Every episode, you’re cheering for one of them or the other."

* Lashana Lynch has previously starred in the Bond movie No Time To Die and she's part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the role of Maria Rambeau in the movies Captain Marvel, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. She was Miss Honey in Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical and recently finished filming on the Bob Marley biopic One Love.

Who else is starring in The Day of the Jackal series?

Other cast of The Day of the Jackal include Úrsula Corberó, star of hit Netflix series La Casa De Papel (Money Heist), who play Nuria, someone at the heart of The Jackal’s personal life, but unaware of that he's a top assasin. 

Charles Dance (Game of Thrones, The King’s Man) plays Timothy Winthrop, Richard Dormer (Blue Lights, Fortitude, Game of Thrones) is Norman, Chukwudi Iwuji (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Split) plays Osita Halcrow, Lia Williams (The Capture, The Crown) is Isabel Kirby. 

Khalid Abdalla (The Crown, The Kite Runner) plays Ulle Dag Charles, Eleanor Matsuura (The Walking Dead, I Used To Be Famous) is playing Zina Jansone, Jonjo O’Neill (Andor, Bad Sisters) plays Edward Carver and Sule Rimi (Classified, Andor) plays Paul Pullman.

All about The Day of the Jackal novel by Frederick Forsyth

Frederick Forsyth’s novel The Day Of The Jackal was published in 1971 and focuses on an English hitman called The Jackal who is contracted by a French dissident paramilitary organisation to kill the French president Charles de Gaulle. The assassin is a master of disguise and deception and the novel follows the deputy police commissioner Claude Lebel who is determined to catch him. Frederick Forsyth is a prolific British thriller writer whose other novels include The Odessa File, The Fourth Protocol and Avenger!.

The Day of the Jackal previous film adaptations 

The original 1973 movie The Day Of The Jackal was directed by Fred Zinnemann and starred Edward Fox as the Jackal. Michael Lonsdale played the detective Lebel trying to catch him while Derek Jacobi, Michel Auclair and Tony Britton also starred. This 1973 movie is currently available on ITVX and Sky Movies.

In 1997 Bruce Willis starred in the movie The Jackal, about a ‘faceless’ assassin. The film also featured Richard Gere, Sidney Poitier and Jack Black but Frederick Forsyth refused to allow his name to be used in connection with it and director Fred Zinnemann battled with the studio to ensure the adaptation had a different title to the original film. 

Behind the scenes and more on The Day Of The Jackal

This series of The Day Of The Jackal is written and adapted by Ronan Bennett, creator and writer of the critically acclaimed Top Boy. Internationally award-winning Director Brian Kirk (Game of Thrones, Luther, Boardwalk Empire) is the lead director.  

Gareth Neame and Nigel Marchant are Executive Producers for Carnival Films. Redmayne is also an Executive Producer, and Lynch a Co-Executive Producer on the project. Sam Hoyle is the Executive Producer for Sky Studios.  Sue Naegle serves as Executive Producer and Marianne Buckland as Co-Executive Producer. Christopher Hall is Producer and Emily Shapland is Co-Producer. Frederick Forsyth is Consulting Producer.

It was announced in December 2024 that there would be The Day of The Jackal season 2 which has pleased the show's many fans.