Hostage to Long Story Short: the seven best shows to stream this week
Exciting news for BoJack Horseman fans: creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg explores the triumphs and tragedies of the loving but dysfunctional Schwooper family in this new animation. It's told via a series of narrative jumps between childhood and adulthood, locating a perfect balance between the delightful, infuriating triviality of family life and the big stuff that gives context to the everyday. In common with Bob-Waksberg's previous show, it packs a hefty emotional punch. And don't be afraid to get invested in these likable, slightly hapless characters – season two has already been confirmed.
Netflix, from Friday 22 August
Another bout of soul-crushing affluenza, this time introducing the London arm of a franchise that has, since 2006, found a comfortable niche in monetising pathological deficits of self-awareness. The six squabbling socialites include Juliet Angus and Caroline Stanbury whom fans of the genre may remember from Bravo's Ladies of London and The Real Housewives of Dubai. While this pair have the benefit of experience, their companions soon get into the swing – it's a feast of big houses, garish frocks, status-led conflict and overuse of the word 'iconic'.
Hayu, from Monday 18 August
'This is a soap opera, 365 days a year.' Dallas Cowboys owner, president and general manager Jerry Jones is describing his NFL team but he's also offering an insight into why the readymade narratives of sports teams are currently so irresistible to documentary-makers on streaming platforms. This series has a wider scope than most, telling the story of the rise of the Cowboys through the 90s and the controversies that accompanied them on their route to three NFL titles. It's slick, glossy and very pleased with itself.
Netflix, from Tuesday 19 August
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This eight-part drama is written from the point of view of Amanda Knox, who was initially convicted of the 2007 murder of Meredith Kercher before being acquitted on appeal. The tone is uncertain, going from oddly jaunty to melodramatic, and its foregrounding of Knox's story won't be to everyone's taste – hardly surprising, given that she (and Monica Lewinsky) executive produced the show. But it does capture the sense of rising panic as, surrounded by legal proceedings she barely understands, Knox starts to realise how much trouble she's in. Disney+, from Wednesday 20 August
At times during its first two seasons, this divisive sci-fi show has achieved the seemingly impossible by making an alien invasion of Earth seem humdrum. As the third instalment arrives, it's still hard to shake off the feeling that Invasion should be better than it is – it is brave to keep the focus on the Earthlings and not the extraterrestrials but that can make the show feel like a slow burn. Still, action is surely in the offing this time as survivors from around the world must band together on a mission to infiltrate the aliens' mothership.
Apple TV+, from Friday 22 August
The bizarre story of the allegedly racist and homophobic hate attack against actor Jussie Smollett began in 2019 and ended in him serving six days in prison in 2022 for apparently staging the incident with two acquaintances. The conviction was later overturned, but the fallout has seriously damaged Smollett's career. This documentary (from the producers of Don't F**k With Cats) looks set to reignite the controversy. Could Smollett's story have been true all along? It features interviews with police, lawyers and investigators who claim to have found new facts about the case. Netflix, from Friday 22 August
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Dua Lipa goes braless in risqué silver sequin dress with daring cutaway as she rings in early birthday celebrations in Ibiza
Dua Lipa set pulses racing as she slipped into a sequin silver dress with a very daring cutaway as she continued to enjoy her early birthday celebrations in Ibiza. The Houdini singer, 29, who turns 30 on Wednesday uploaded a series of snaps on Saturday looking every inch the global superstar. The revealing cutaway on the glittering number expertly showed off her bronzed body and jaw-dropping figure, whilst the strappy high heels elongated her legs. With her raven hair tucked behind her ears, and a sultry glow, the chart-topper oozed glamour as she playfully posed for pictures. Dua accessorised her sensational look with an array of silver jewellery including two chunky bracelets and some drop down earrings. Alongside the picture, Dua wrote in the caption: 'my bestie made me a killer dress for another perfect night... everyone say thank you Giuliiiiiiii also i'm gonna need to start a cake tally at this rate' Fans gushed in the comment section writing 'beautiful,' 'gorgeous', 'wow'. One fan went one step further as they observed: 'You can't stop serving looks recently'. The pop sensation is currently in Ibiza with pals ahead of her milestone birthday and has been sharing snaps of her lavish getaway with her 88 million followers. In one shot of this most recent carousel, Dua blew out candles on top of an enormous cake that was covered in pink icing. Her new fiancé Callum Turner stood in the background and looked on at her lovingly. In another, she cosied up to a pal, sat on an enormous white sofa with a stunning backdrop of mountains behind her. A final image showed Dua posing with her friend and songwriter Mustafa the Poet and Callum. Callum looked dapper in black and as she smiled for the camera, put his hand sweetly on Dua hip. In June, Dua publicly confirmed rumours she was engaged to Callum Turner as she shared her excitement over the actor getting down on one knee. Dua accessorised her sensational look with an array of silver jewellery including two chunky bracelets and some drop down earrings The hitmaker posed for the front cover of British Vogue where she looked stunning in a pale pink bra that highlighted her jaw-dropping figure. In the interview, Dua discussed her family plans, saying she's concerned how having children will fit in with her career as a pop star. 'I'd love to have kids one day,' she said. 'But it's like the constant question of when would there ever be a good time – how it would fit in with my job and how it would work if I went on tour, and how much time out I'd have to take. 'I think it's just one of those things that's going to happen when it happens. I love kids, but I think there's so much more to raising a child than just loving children.' Dua has been keeping her fans updated on her sun-drenched trip and earlier in the week wowed in an array of bikinis. She treated fans to some stunning pictured of her in a daring burgundy and blue two-piece bikini that left little to the imagination as she enjoyed a boat day on the Spanish island with friends. Another snap from her summer getaway showed Dua in a white vest top paired with a sheer white skirt, which she wore as evening wear. Dua also rocked a black bikini and later in the day hosted a movie night under the stars, while enjoying a sit-down dinner as the sun set. The latest holiday pictures come after Dua embraced a wave of nostalgia on Wednesday as she shared a sweet throwback-inspired post with her sister Rina. Posting to her Instagram Stories, Dua recreated a treasured childhood photo in which she and her sister sat back-to-back, grinning at the camera. In the updated version, the siblings struck the same pose - only this time with years of memories between them.
BBC News
9 minutes ago
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Wolves fans show their love for ex-player Jota before City clash
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Gavin and Stacey's Larry Lamb says he's not averse to penning poems
Gavin and Stacey star Larry Lamb is having the rhyme of his life after taking up poetry following a gap of several actor, who has also written a novel and autobiography, started scribbling stanzas in 1983, but after a poet friend encouraged him he decided to put pen to paper who also said he is 1% Welsh, said he loves the process of writing as he gets to be in charge. "I started writing poetry in the 80s, it just came right out of the blue. A whole string of poems about my life and the way I saw things," the 77-year-old said. He said that in 2020 he found a file of them in the attic and showed them to a poet friend. "And he was really impressed and said, 'We have got to do something with these'. "So cut to quite recently and I started to write poems again. A lot of them about the same period in my life." On 27 September he will be reading his work for the first time, along with some of his favourite poems from his childhood, at Hereford Military History Festival."So I'm going to be close to Wales," he said he surprised himself when he started writing in 1983."But now I have got a lot more experience, a lot more time in life," he told Lucy Owen on BBC Radio Wales. "It's just a fascinating procedure making poetry out of life and comparing the way I write things now to the way I wrote them in 1983. "I'm absolutely loving it. Hopefully I'll be following up the book tour with a tour all over the place telling stories with poetry."He will be promoting his novel All Wrapped Up with a number of UK dates from September to December - visiting Barry on December said he would go to Barry beach - the scene of many memorable Gavin & Stacey scenes - for a swim. Asked if he would be wearing a wetsuit in the winter water, he said: "My birthday suit. I'll hand out masks so people can just shut down on the visuals."
