My awkward moment with ballsy Suranne Jones explains why she, Keeley Hawes & top female stars have ditched the BBC & ITV
That's just the first three, breathtaking minutes of her new Prime Video thriller The Assassin, in the latest example of a top British actress shifting to the streamers - and not giving a damn about the fact they forged their careers on the likes of ITV and BBC.
Advertisement
6
Suranne Jones at the National Television Awards in 2018 where my question received a frosty response
Credit: Getty
6
Suranne in the new Netflix show Hostage, which drops next month
Credit: NETFLIX
It comes as no surprise to me just how gutsy and determined they are because, as TV Editor, I've met virtually all of them while reporting on hundreds of dramas over the years - one particular brush with one of these ballsy a-listers is still burned in my memory.
Standing on a stage with around 100 people watching on she said: "Because I'd have to ask him what he got paid and I just can't do that."
Advertisement
Without realising it I impulsively flashed her an expression which said: "Well, you probably could, couldn't you?" And Suranne could have just left the little interaction there. Except - and I absolutely love her for this - she didn't.
Frightened dormouse
"Well, you pull a face," she snapped back, with the brassiness of her former Corrie character Karen McDonald, "but I just can't can I?"
At that point the whole room went quiet, she fixed me with a glare, I stared back like a frightened dormouse and the whole room - including her husband Laurence Akers - glared at me for what felt like an hour (it was probably about ten seconds.)
Only one of Keeley's knives in the eyeballs would have felt less painful.
Now, an average star probably wouldn't have publicly hit back at me like that, but then Suranne isn't your average star. Like
Advertisement
Which is why, just like Keeley, she's also about to launch her own drama with a streaming giant.
Which is quite a leap from playing a Corrie barmaid on ITV. But it's the same leap, with the same streamer, that's been made by
6
Sarah Lancashire in the hit BBC series Happy Valley
Credit: BBC
Sarah is another one I've done interviews with where, if you dare ask a stupid question, she'll stop you in your tracks and tell you it's a stupid question.
And why shouldn't she? She's Sarah Lancashire. She can do that. It only makes me respect her more.
Advertisement
The list of daring defectors doesn't stop there.
Meanwhile the likes of Sheridan Smith, Katherine Kelly and Gemma Arterton, who've all been increasingly dipping their toes in the streamers' waters.
6
Keeley in ITV's The Durrells
Credit: ITV
6
And in her gritty new Amazon Prime role in the drama The Assassin
Credit: Prime / TNI
Though none of them can quite compare with
Advertisement
Over the past three years she has made seven dramas, four of which have been for non-terrestrial services. As well as The Assassin there was Scoop on Netflix, Orphan Black: Echoes on US cable channel AMC and Sky's supernatural thriller, The Midwich Cuckoos.
Before too long there'll be a tipping point where we'll almost only ever see these hugely popular actresses on the streamers - and there's only one way that the likes of BBC, ITV and Channel 4 can stop the rot.
The majority of these household names had their big breaks on the terrestrial channels. But these hugely successful women want control by being made exec producers.
They want good money (just like the men). And they want to cherry pick daring shows which will provide them with a global audience. The cash-strapped terrestrials will struggle to give them all of that.
For us viewers, there's some comfort in the fact that they won't abandon the holy trinity of TV overnight, and we'll still see them pop up here and there on regular telly for a while longer.
Advertisement
6
Suranne fired back when I asked her about equal pay for women stars
Credit: GETTY
Plus, this isn't a fait accomplis. What the execs at the Beeb and commercial channels do need to do is radically change what roles they offer these stars.
They need to quit their obsession with conventional period dramas and route one crime thrillers and turn twee Keeley into a killer, or
It isn't just about money (though, admittedly, that does help) it's more about giving these stars roles the chance to spread their wings as producers and as performers.
But, based on my experiences of these amazing women, they're going to have to grow some sizable kahunas to do it.
Advertisement
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
23 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
We're Benidorm superfans – we've spent 5-figure sum in seven years… here's the reasons it's the best place to holiday
IT was the home of the beloved British comedy for over a decade, but to Mark and Karen Gregory, Benidorm is no joke. The superfans of 5 Mark and Karen Gregory have holidayed in Benidorm a whopping 25 times Credit: Mark Gregory 5 The couple have spent over £30k in the last seven years sunning themselves in Benidorm Credit: Mark Gregory The couple, both 50, have spent over £30,000 in the last seven years sunning themselves in Benidorm, located in And the pair, from Swansea, now have no plans to holiday elsewhere ever again, despite Mark says: 'We used to go to 'We thought we'd try it for a week and we were so pleasantly surprised that my wife started looking for accommodation to go again as soon as we got home. read more on benidorm 'It's the very best place to holiday. "The people who have bad opinions about it have never been. 'We aren't big drinkers but enjoy the "The Most read in News Travel The couple often return to the same haunts every time they visit — enjoying a pint at the Western Saloon, dinner at Country Ribs or Kathmandu curry house, and cocktails at the Hotel California Beach Club. 'Stag groups zigzag home at 6am' They even love seeing the same Moment huge fight breaks out at Benidorm swimming pool in front of shocked tourists Referencing the sitcom, which aired from 2007 to 2018, Mark reflects: ' 'Yes, you get your typical beer-bellied Brits abroad, but there is a much nicer, quieter side too. "We mainly go outside of the peak season as it's much cheaper, but there's entertainment all year round. 'People do have their own opinions of Benidorm and it is a bit of a 'Marmite' resort — but lots fall in love with it and we can see why.' The couple enjoy the year-round nightlife, particularly the live music, tribute and drag acts. And they love it so much they've visited 25 times since late 2018 — barring the pandemic lockdowns — having spent over £30,000 at various resorts in the town. Mark said: 'We mainly stick to the winter but we've been in May a couple of times. " 'And there is still so much to do — you never get bored.' The couple say they avoid the spots frequented by large stag dos and hen parties. Karen said: 'We know the spots to avoid. 'Simply the best' "But we do still occasionally see the stag groups zigzagging home at 6am. 'There's plenty of mad behaviour to see sometimes — and plenty of people passed out on benches.' But they find lots of quieter locations to enjoy their evenings. 5 A George Michael tribute act performs in one of Benidorm's clubs Credit: SWNS 5 A drag act takes to the stage at the holiday resort Credit: SWNS Some of their favourite nights out have been to see a Pink Floyd tribute act, a Tom Jones tribute and a comedian called Tony Scott. The couple largely stay in a self-catered apartment which they visit several times a year — and get a discount because of their loyalty, which keeps costs low so they can afford more visits. But they don't mind, as all the local produce is better quality for their home-cooked meals. Mark explains: 'We do sometimes go for meals but Karen is 'The supermarkets are much better than in England and there are so many gluten-free options for us.' The couple say that since discovering their love for Benidorm they have only holidayed elsewhere once, in Tenerife. But nothing compared to their beloved Benidorm, so they have decided to forget further travel elsewhere. People do have their own opinions, but I don't like it when people share derogatory views about it when they've never been Mark Gregory Mark says: 'There are times we think we might be 'Benidormed out'. 'But then we realise it doesn't compare to anywhere else. And when we go, it just gets better and better.' They now have no plans to visit elsewhere, and live a frugal life at home so they can afford their £6,000-per-year trips. Mark added: 'Whenever we go back there are new places that have opened, but we like the familiarity. 'If we go to a new place it takes a few days to find our feet, whereas going here, it's like coming home.' He added: 'People do have their own opinions, but I don't like it when people share derogatory views about it when they've never been. 'If you've never tried it, and you've just watched the TV show or read about it, don't just jump on the bandwagon. Benidorm is quite simply the best.' 5 Karen poses with Benidorm's Meat Loaf impersonator Credit: SWNS Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
How a brave Brit soldier vowed to give a boy a new face & save his life amid the horrors of a genocidal war
A BLOODY war brought a British soldier and a young boy together in one of the most heartwarming stories you will ever read. Two decades ago, Sgt Wayne Ingram was shown a photo of Stefan Slavic amid the horrors of the 7 Sgt Wayne Ingram was determined to help Stefan Slavic the moment he met him amid the horrors of the Bosnia conflict 7 Stefan, then aged just four, was born with terrible facial deformities that would most probably end his short life in a couple of years Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 7 Stefan and Wayne at Great Ormond Street Hospital, after one of Stefan's operations in 2014 Credit: SWNS:South West News Service Stefan, then aged just four, was born with terrible facial deformities that would most probably end his short life in a couple of years. The toddler had a rare, severe facial Father-of-four Wayne says: 'He only had one airway and we didn't know if there were holes in his skull. 'So, at some point he would have contracted some sort of disease, maybe meningitis, that would have ended his life prematurely.' READ MORE UK NEWS Heartbroken and holding back tears Wayne, a veteran of Ulster's Troubles, made an incredible vow — to raise enough money to pay for life-saving surgery that would change the boy's life for ever. An incredible £160,000 and five major operations later, Stefan and Wayne are best friends, linked by a unique bond. Today, now aged 26, Stefan, plays keyboard in a Bosnian folk band, has a glamorous girlfriend and a promising life ahead of him. It is a far cry from his life as a boy being brought up in a country scarred by Most read in The Sun Now Wayne, 55, has told the incredible story in a new book, Soldier Of Conscience. 'Gargantuan task' In 2003, his regiment, the 9th/12th Lancers were sent to Bosnia where part of their job was to encourage locals to give up their weapons. Incredible video shows how doctors reconstructed man's face after he was savaged by a dog Wayne says: 'It was never going to happen because they had always lived with war throughout the centuries. 'And they always thought that, at some point, it would happen again. So, when we asked for weapons you would get the odd hunting rifle handed in but nothing much else.' The other part of the regiment's job was winning the hearts and minds of locals, but the police chief in Laktasi, near Banja Luka, kept giving British soldiers the slip. In that moment, I knew that I would protect this beautiful child with my life and do my utmost to ensure his operation went ahead Sgt Wayne Ingram on meeting Stefan Wayne says: 'He turned out to be the slipperiest eel I had ever tried to net. I needed to think smarter to nab him. 'On the day of our next planned meeting, I arrived at the police station a full hour early. 'He saw me and made a beeline for the back door. I gave chase, tripped over the kerb and went ass over tip in the car park. 'As I lay there he sped off in his car and gave me a quick look over his shoulder, laughing. 'I heard two men giggling behind me. Lying bruised on the dusty ground, I joined in the laughter. 'After they'd helped me, I introduced myself, unaware that several lives were about to change for ever.' The men were Dragoslav Kovacevic — Laktasi's Minister of Defence — and his personal assistant Milos Savic. Over coffee, wounded war veteran Milos showed Wayne a photograph of his toddler son Stefan and asked if any of the hearts and minds in the British Army could do anything to help his boy. An operation at a specialist hospital in France would cost €30,000. But as Milos only earned a pittance, it was not an option. Wayne was determined to help the little lad but needed permission from military top brass. His bosses gave the go-ahead with a warning: 'Sergeant Ingram, be careful. This has the potential to become a gargantuan task for you.' As we chat near his home in Portland , Dorset, Wayne says: 'Little did I know that he would be chillingly correct. "This would be the first day of a 13-year lone, uphill struggle, during which my emotions would reach immense highs, followed by long, dark descents into self-doubt, where I'd feel totally out of my depth, with no idea how to make it to the next stage.' First, he took a group of his soldiers in a Scimitar tank to meet little Stefan. As the 6ft 2in sergeant knelt down, the blond-haired boy kissed him on the cheek and said 'hallow' in broken English. Wayne says: 'In that moment, I knew that I would protect this beautiful child with my life and do my utmost to ensure his operation went ahead.' The British soldiers organised a football match against a team of locals who had been on opposing sides during the Balkan conflict. Wayne says: 'We lost 7-3, but at a barbecue afterwards all these people who had previously been fighting for years were sharing food. Arms amnesty 'The match raised €6,000 and when the locals saw that we really wanted to help, they asked if there was anything they could do. 'I said, 'We're looking for an arms amnesty'. 'They replied, 'Leave it with us'. 7 Wayne with Stefan and his mum Slavenka in 2014, before his final surgery was carried out Credit: Louis Wood - The Sun 7 Stefan, now 26, is able to live a normal life and is full of gratitude to Wayne - who made it all possible Credit: supplied 'The following Saturday it was like a scene from Jaws. I said to my corporal, 'Bloody hell we're going to need a bigger van'. 'We'd turned up expecting to get a few rifles. There were around 100 AK-47s laid out alongside RPG-7s with warheads. "Loads and loads of hand grenades, 40 or 50 pistols, tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition, land mines, anti-tank mines. All handed in because they trusted us. 'You had to think, if these are the ones they're prepared to hand in, how much was still out there?' After his tour ended in July 2003, Wayne returned to the UK and began raising money in earnest to pay for surgery for Stefan at London's A top Harley Street surgeon, Professor David Dunaway, kindly agreed to operate for free. But the rest of Stefan's hospital care, his family's accommodation and their travel to and from the UK would need to be covered by donations. Wayne says: 'In my naivety, I thought it was just going to be one operation but in the end it was five, the last was 13 years to the day after the first.' That first operation had been to remove some teeth to prepare Stefan's mouth for a 12-hour-op in October 2003, that would completely deconstruct his skull, moving his brain out of the way to rebuild the bones like a jigsaw. Wayne says: 'David is an absolute genius. His surgical skills transformed Stefan's life. 'He became the boy that he had always wanted to be. 'Not once did I ever hear Stefan complain, not once did I see him cry. 'After his 12-hour operation we didn't know whether he'd lose his sight and for four or five days he had his eyes covered up. 'One morning I walked into the hospital ward where they had removed the plasters and Stefan just started smiling. Morphine 'Even as a 13-year-old — when he'd had cosmetic surgery on his nose to open his airways — he had a syringe driver with morphine in it, but he never pressed it so they took it away after a day.' Stefan had three more operations to correct his nose and facial features as his bones grew over the years. Stefan is an amazing man. He works full-time in a warehouse and plays in a folk band. He's such a good-looking guy and has been in a relationship for quite some time with his long-term girlfriend Sgt Wayne Ingram on Stefan While all this was going on, Wayne discovered that he was suffering from complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, caused by a bomb blast 15 years earlier in Belfast. His marriage fell apart but Wayne continued to honour his promise to help Stefan. Wayne says: 'Raising £160,000 to pay for flights for Stefan's family and his hospital care took a lot out of me after 13 years. 'There were plenty of sleepless nights wondering where I was going to get the money from. 'At one point I had a shortfall where I was going to have to sell my motorbike until a stranger I'd never met before contacted me through the local paper. 'She and her husband had followed Stefan's story from day one. Sadly, her husband had died and she gave us £10,000. We weren't allowed to use her name, she only wanted to be called the 'kind granny'. 'This country's amazing. It's called Great Britain for a reason. 'Whenever there's a hardship, people put their hands in their pockets and the community comes together and helps people.' Wayne, who is now remarried and works as an offshore paramedic, stays in touch with Stefan using a translation app. He says: 'Stefan is an amazing man. He works full-time in a warehouse and plays in a folk band. 'He's such a good-looking guy and has been in a relationship for quite some time with his long-term girlfriend. 'She's beautiful and they just look amazing together.' Stefan sent a message to Wayne: 'You changed my life for the better. 'I love you my friend for ever. My gratitude cannot be expressed in words.' Soldier Of Conscience: From Fighting The IRA To Battling PTSD, by Wayne Ingram MBE, published by Pen & Sword, is out now. All royalties go to Scoliosis Support & Research. 7 Wayne has written a book about his amazing mission to help young Stefan - Soldier Of Conscience: From Fighting The IRA To Battling PTSD is out now Credit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun 7 A 12-year-old lad hangs from the barrel of a destroyed tank in Sarajevo in 1996 Credit: AFP
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Mystery as two Love Islanders' parents DELETE TikToks slamming show stars ahead of Meet The Parents day
AS LOVE Island fans bubble with excitement for tonight's Meet The Parents episode - a mystery arises. Two Love Islanders' parents have deleted their TikTok's and slammed the 5 Two Love Islanders' parents have deleted their TikTok's and slammed the show's stars before the episode even airs. Credit: ITV 5 Shakira's mother Sukina Khan refuses to hug Harry Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 5 Toni races down stairs to greet her mum who has flown in from Florida Credit: Shutterstock Editorial On Love Island tonight, viewers will see the loved ones of the contestants enter the villa as But TikTok accounts or made them private before the event takes place. A fan of the show posted on social media site Reddit: "I regularly watch Leslie's (Toni's mum) debrief about the episodes and I noticed she had privatised her account today. "Shakira's mum hasn't but she removed all her debrief videos. Love Island "Do we think they were approached by producers to stop making them so they don't influence the upcoming voting for finals?" One fan responded: "My thought is the producers have contacted her and said that her daughter is now in a couple with Harry and it's going to look pretty bad to have videos stating how much she hates him up hahaha." Another added: "I have a comment on her recent video that is still gaining likes but I can't revisit now, so I noticed." "I think yes and I think each got the call to fly to Mallorca for family day," explained another. Most read in Love Island While a fourth said: "I don't understand how producers have a power over their parents to stop doing something...? "People are not stupid these days to be influenced by some parent... Everyone is free to their own choices. 'Get her out' rant Love Island fans as they call for 'sly' star to be kicked off the show "So are the mums.. If they want to make posts.. So it be!!!" In tonight's episode which is yet to air, Realising friends and family have come to visit the Villa, Toni races down stairs to greet her mum who has flown in from Florida. real life !' As they catch up, talk turns to her Toni replies: 'Sometimes you have to get burned 150 times before you can't get burnt anymore.' Toni laughingly replies: 'No, he's my king - back off!' But Leslie also has some direct words of advice for another Islander - Harry - before she leaves the Villa. What does Leslie tell him? Meanwhile, Harry's best mate Harry and mum Julia arrive Cutting to the core of recent issues, Her mum Sukina says: 'What I will say, with him, he can prove himself to you before he has to prove himself to me.' The other Islanders then watch on tenterhooks as the two families come together at the Firepit. Sukina goes on to How will 5 As Love Island fans bubble with excitement for tonight's Meet The Parents episode - a mystery arises Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 5 Jamie Allen and Yasmin Pettet meet each other's parents and family Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
