Netflix fans have just days to watch 'sexy' period drama with near perfect rating
The enthralling and 'steamy' historical drama — set in 1956 during the Suez Crisis and the Hungarian Revolution — is currently streaming on Netflix, but will depart from the streamer on June 5.
British television drama series The Hour was first broadcast on BBC Two when it made its series premiere back in 2011.
Starring Ben Whishaw, Dominic West, and Romola Garai, supported by Burn Gorman, Anna Chancellor, Tim Pigott-Smith, Juliet Stevenson, Anton Lesser, Julian Rhind-Tutt, and Oona Chaplin, the riveting historical drama has been penned by Brick Lane screenwriter Abi Morgan (who also serves as one of the executive producers on the show).
With hour-long episodes across its two series, the show was mostly filmed in Hornsey Town Hall and its lead director was Coky Giedroy. The Hour is currently streaming on Netflix, but will depart from the streamer on June 5.
Centred around a fictional current-affairs show being launched by the World Service in June 1956, The Hour is set in a BBC newsroom at the time of the Suez Crisis and the Hungarian Revolution. It follows maverick journalist Freddie Lyon (Whishaw), ambitious producer Bel (Garai), and enigmatic anchor Hector (West) as they launch the investigative news show — The Hour.
Drama and tensions run high as the three protagonists become embroiled in a steamy love triangle, playing out against the backdrop of a cryptic murder. Set in the ruthless area of sexual politics, The Hour is a show that redefines the historical drama.
Speaking to Digital Spy about what he felt when he first walked onto The Hour's set, actor Dominic West said: 'It's extraordinary, the detail. You get a sheet of paper which I have to hold while I'm being broadcast, which is in the background anyway. There's no way it'll ever be on screen, and yet it's a detailed timetable or list of detailed questions as it would have been."
Actress Romola Garai also talked about her experience filming for the show and said: "You'll sometimes get someone say to you, 'Do you want something to hold?' because quite often it's nice to have a prop or something.
"So you'll get a piece of paper and it's normally just the lunch menu! You'll get a piece of paper on this job and it'll be typed from a Corona typewriter and it'll be the schedule for a made-up show that isn't even in the script with all period dates of the shows that we would be covering. I think the production design might have OCD! It's really, really accurate."
With a smashing 94 per cent rating on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, The Hour has been lauded by critics as well as audiences. One critic wrote: 'With its casting, its look, its unfolding mysteries, its attention to important historical events, its sexiness, The Hour hits every pleasure centre.'
While another said: 'A gripping thrill-ride of a show; escapist and stylish despite playing a bit fast and loose with historical accuracy at times.'
Another positive review added: 'The Hour is alternately ferocious and tender, and refreshingly clear-eyed about the interactions between gender and class,' and one reviewer observes: 'What makes it so engaging is that it works so well with and within the strictures of the well-thumbed genres it combines in equal parts: spy thriller, murder mystery, backstage drama, triangular romance.'
Praise for director Abi Morgan also ran abound, with one viewer saying: 'Outstanding show: fantastic script by Abi Morgan who also did River and The Split and outstanding performances. Season 2 was even better than season one. The best show we saw this year! I just hope we see more shows from Abi Morgan. She is so talented.'
Another audience review calls The Hour a 'fab series' that's witty and has 'great sets and clothes'. Commending the 'superb line up of the cream of actors', the audience review further states that the show is 'well cast', however 'the pace is a bit odd but it's great evening watching.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
12 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Doctor Who star breaks silence on surprise exit after rumours of bitter BBC row
Ncuti Gatwa has left his role as the Doctor after just two years and Billie Piper is set to take over after his regeneration on the show's latest season finale Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa has spoken out about his departure from the beloved sci-fi series. The actor, 32, who first gained widespread recognition in Netflix 's Sex Education, said an unexpected emotional farewell during the dramatic season finale on Saturday night. After two series flying through space and time to put the universe to rights in the TARDIS, Ncuti has officially stepped down from his role as the Time Lord. His successor has already been confirmed as Billie Piper, who previously played the Doctor's companion Rose Tyler in 2005. After speculation that this exit is happening as a result of a rift with the BBC, Ncuti has addressed his departure in a video, explaining that the demands of the role had taken a toll on him both physically and mentally. He shared: "It's a role that demands a lot of you physically and emotionally and mentally. The actors playing the Doctor are only actors playing the Doctor. Unfortunately, we are mere mortals. "I would love to have the energy and the youth to be able to do this full time for the rest of my life, but my knees are telling me it's time." He also took to social media to reflect on the wild journey his version of the Doctor had experienced over the last two years. Ncuti wrote: "'Monsters, goblins, gods, human-eating Slugs, invisible brain altering creatures, evil barbers, conspiracy theorists… you've had quite a busy two years. Well done and rest up son. Thank you endlessly XV." In his farewell message, Ncuti also acknowledged how hard it is to say goodbye to the role, saying: "You know when you get cast, at some point, you are going to have to hand back that sonic screwdriver and it is all going to come to an end, but nothing quite prepares you for it. This journey has been one that I will never forget and a role that will be part of me forever. "There are no words to describe what it feels like to be cast as the Doctor, nor are there words to explain what it feels like to be accepted into this iconic role that has existed for over 60 years and is truly loved by so many across the globe." His comments come in the wake of online speculation that he had been suddenly dropped from the role. Some fans pointed out that Ncuti previously said he was preparing to film another season of Doctor Who, and questioned what prompted the change of plan. One posted online saying: "In October 2024, Ncuti Gatwa was on The Graham Norton Show saying he was going to be filming another series of DW [Doctor Who] next year. In June 2025, he officially leaves the show and regenerates. This was never the plan. What a shame." However, the BBC was quick to shut down those claims. A spokesperson said: "Whilst we never comment on the future of the Doctor, any suggestion that Ncuti Gatwa has been 'axed' is pure fiction." Now Billie Piper is going to be the second woman ever to play the Time Lord, following Jodie Whittaker, who also made a surprise cameo in the finale.
Daily Mirror
34 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Race Across The World star's heartbreaking wish before tragic death at 24
Sam Gardiner appeared on the BBC show Race Across The World alongside his mother, Jo, in 2020, and during that time, he opened up about their relationship and his hopes for his future Race Across The World star Sam Gardiner has tragically died at the age of 24 after he was involved in a car crash in Manchester last week, which his family have described as a 'terrible accident.' It comes just a few years after he appeared on the second series of the BBC adventure show with his mum, Jo, and during that time, he made a heartbreaking wish for his future. Sam was 19 years old when he joined Race Across the World with his mum, which saw them embark on a seven-week journey from Mexico City's Chapultepec Castle to Ushuaia in Argentina. They reflected on their experience, noting how it had strengthened their bond. Sam described their venture as "life-changing", telling his mum: "How many 19-year-olds can say they've done this and travelled with their mum?". Jo replied: "I think just you, really. We've got long journeys, you're trying to balance it with enjoying yourself, but also have a budget, there's bound to be stresses. But I think our relationship is still in tact even if you find me slightly more irritating that you used to." She added: "This has been really great fun." But before they started their memorable trip, Sam made an admission with a wish for his future. He shared: "To create some memories with my mum will be one of the best things. I'm so happy to be doing it with my mum." He added: "It's what I'll be able to live by and tell my kids when I go travelling with them." The clip was shared at the time in a Facebook post by BBC Two, which read: "This is so moving! The story of 19-year-old Sam, who's travelling with his mum Jo, is giving us all the feels." News of Sam's passing was confirmed over the weekend, with his parents issuing a heartwrenching tribute. His devasted dad, Andrew Gardiner, wrote in a statement: "We are devastated by the loss of our beloved son Sam in a terrible accident. "Sam left us far too soon, and whilst words will never fully capture the light, joy and energy he brought into our lives, we hold on to the memories that made him so special. Sam was adored by his family. As a son, brother and nephew, he was loyal, funny and fiercely protective." Noting that his son was genuine during his time on the BBC show, Andrew added: "Race Across The World opened his eyes to the wonder of adventure and travel. He was willing to go wherever the trail might lead, and he touched everyone he met on the road. "He found great happiness working as a landscape gardener on the west coast of Scotland. Sam brought warmth, laughter and a smattering of chaos wherever he went. "He leaves behind a huge hole in our hearts. We will miss him endlessly, but we'll also remember him with smiles, tall tales, and a depth of love that will never fade." Following the devastating news, a Race Across the World spokesperson said: "Everyone who worked with him and indeed everyone who watched Sam could see just how precious and transformative the trip was for both him and his mum, Jo. "Sam threw himself into the seven-week trip with boundless enthusiasm, affection, and unwavering resolve, which led to him and his mum enjoying incredible adventures across Mexico and Argentina, captivating audiences with their unique bond and charm. "Since filming, both Sam and Jo have been an integral part of the Race Across the World cast family and on behalf of us all from the BBC, production and the rest of the cast, we would like to extend our deepest condolences to his parents, Andrew and Jo; his brothers, William and Charlie; his step mum Justine; his family and friends."
Metro
38 minutes ago
- Metro
Rochelle Humes has moved on from music - what she's doing now might surprise you
Rochelle Humes is still getting used to Zoom quirks – 'I start every conversation muted,' she laughs – but that's about the only part of her day-to-day that's not polished to a shine. As a presenter, entrepreneur, brand founder, and now podcast host, Humes has become a widely recognised force in British media after leaving pop groups S Club Juniors and The Saturdays. Now, she's turning her attention to a new kind of stage: UK House, where she'll host a Ladies Who Launched lunch on June 3 as part of a three-day celebration of British creativity and entrepreneurship. 'I'm so passionate about connecting women in business, that's why the podcast exists,' Humes tells Metro, referring to her new podcast, Ladies Who Launched, which came out on January 1st this year. 'It's built a community really organically. And I know that's such a buzzword now, but what I love is that it's real. Women are arranging to meet up, sharing ideas and supporting each other.' This spirit of connection is core to Humes' vision, and a thread that runs through her many projects. Humes rose to fame as a member of The Saturdays, the girl group that dominated UK charts in the late 2000s. But her pivot into television and later entrepreneurship has defined the last decade of her life – leaving music in the rearview mirror. 'Music feels like forever ago,' she reflects. 'We called it a day when my eldest, Alaia, was one – she's just turned 12 now. Since then, I've built a career in television, and then gradually started building my own brand.' Humes says music is a closed chapter she can't imagine herself revisiting: 'I've got so many fond memories, but I really love what I do now.' Now, her focus includes My Little Coco, her award-winning children's skincare and lifestyle line, which launched in 2020. 'It's my baby, outside of my actual babies,' she jokes. 'It's what gets me out of bed in the morning. It's also my main stress!' The transition from music to media, to business and now podcasting may seem like a sharp turn, but for Humes, it has always felt natural. 'I've always been one for a pivot,' she says. 'There was a time when people would frown at that, like 'Oh, of course they've left pop and now they're trying TV.' But I think it's different now. Creatives are much more fluid. Singers become actors, actors become presenters, influencers become founders.' Now, she says, that kind of cross-platform approach is not only accepted, it's expected. 'Social media has changed everything,' she says. 'That's great in some ways, especially for creators building their platforms, but I'm also cautious, especially as a mum. My kids aren't on social media, and I'm not rushing that.' It's motherhood, and the constant, imperfect balancing act it brings, that underpins Humes' work today. 'I've made peace with the fact that something always has to give,' she says. 'Some weeks, I'm a great mum – I've hosted playdates, I've been to everything. But that probably means I've missed meetings and fallen behind on emails. Then the next week, I've smashed deadlines, but I haven't made it to netball practice.' She pushes back against the myth of perfect balance. 'You can have it all, but not all at the same time. Society sells us this version of balance that's not really attainable. It's okay to be stronger at different things at different times.' But this year's UK House isn't just about startups and stories. It also coincides with the debut of SXSW London and a two-night showcase from the British Music Embassy, spotlighting some of the UK's most exciting new music talent. Taking place just around the corner from UK House at Devonshire Square on June 2 and 3, the BME event will feature performances from Beth McCarthy, Charlotte OC, Master Peace, Joviale and more. As with UK House, it's all about collaboration and cross-industry energy, bringing together the best of the UK's creative economy. More Trending It's a perfect event for Rochelle to be a part of, she notes, as it's all about the fluid relationship between business and creative industries. As for advice to artists and business people alike, Humes thinks storytelling is a common thread. 'You've got to really know who you're speaking to. You can have a big following, but if they're not engaged in what you're doing, it's not the same. Community isn't about numbers, it's about alignment. Be clear on who you are and what you bring, and the right people will come along for the ride.' With everything Rochelle Humes is building, her music career may soon become a footnote in a much bigger story. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: 'SXSW London will be a love letter to the city – we ought to be here' MORE: SXSW London: Everything you can expect from festival's inaugural week in the Capital MORE: You could win tickets to major London festival (with some seriously cool artists)
