
BBC iPlayer adds ‘heartbreaking' Emma Thompson film
Emma Thompson is as inspiring as ever in this riveting real-life drama now streaming on BBC iPlayer
One of Emma Thompson's best roles in an acclaimed drama film based on a heartbreaking true story is now streaming for free.
Based on an acclaimed novel by Ian McEwan, in turn loosely inspired by an unbelievable true story, The Children Act is a must-watch for cinephiles this week.
If you want to be stunned and deeply moved at every turn, look no further than BBC iPlayer from Monday night as the film will be available shortly after its broadcast on BBC Two.
That means you'll be able to tune in totally free of charge and have your world shaken over the course of this heart-stopping, 90-minute drama.
Hollywood star Stanley Tucci also features in this gripping narrative about High Court judge Fiona Maye, who is forced to decide the fate of a teenage boy (played by Fionn Whitehead) refusing a blood transfusion that could save his life on religious grounds.
Meanwhile, her marriage to husband Jack (Tucci) is crumbling, putting everything she's built towards at risk during the most pivotal point of her career.
Critics and film fans alike have been raving about The Children Act since its release in 2017, with the BFI calling it 'a heartbreaking lament for loves lost and lives unrealised, a restrained, nuanced movie about nuance and restraint.'
The Guardian added: 'It is a highly watchable drama of the highly educated public-servant class.
'Emma Thompson's performance, so elegant and vulnerable, carries the picture.'
A Google review raved: 'I was so moved by Thompson's performance, that I revisited this film for 4 viewings. The young man, Fionn Whitehead was as engaging as a seasoned actor twice his age.'
Another five-star write-up said: 'Beautiful. That was the first word that came to mind when I watched this movie.
'The execution was simply marvelous. Somehow these people managed to become the characters and bring out such raw emotion whilst being formal and well mannered.
"The crew definitely aced it with this one. Bravo!'
And a strong review on Letterboxd declared: 'Emma Thompson broke my heart in this absorbing drama that will definitely stick with me.'
With the unbeatable Thompson in the lead, now's the perfect time to catch up on an underrated performance from one of the UK's best performers.
The Children Act is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Not Going Out season 14 cast, episodes and format change as show returns to BBC
The new series of Lee Mack's beloved British sitcom is set to premiere this week The new series of Not Going Out is set to premiere this week. The show stars Lee Mack, who also created the series, as a fictionalised version of himself: an unambitious man in his late thirties living in a flat in the London Docklands. Lee soon becomes the lodger of his best friend Tim's (Tim Vine) sister, Lucy (Sally Bretton). The series chronicles the pair's ups and downs of living together and going from friends to one of TV's most popular couples. Premiering in 2006, Not Going Out has since become the second-longest-running British sitcom, behind Last of the Summer Wine - which ran from 1973 to 2010. Here's everything you need to know about season 14 of the hit sitcom, including release date, cast and episode details. When will the new series of Not Going Out be released? Not Going Out's 14th season will air on BBC One on Friday, June 13 at 9pm, with new episodes airing weekly. The entire season will also be available as a box set on BBC iPlayer. Who is in the cast of Not Going Out? As well as Lee and Lucy, it has been revealed that Mike Wozniak, Ray Fearon and Eileen O'Brien will appear in the first episode of season 14. It's not yet clear whether Lee and Lucy's friends, Anna (Abigail Cruttenden) and Toby (Hugh Dennis), or Lucy's parents, Wendy (Deborah Grant) and Geoffrey (Geoffrey Whitehead), will appear in the series. Lee Mack previously revealed that he did try to get Noel Gallagher to guest star in an Oasis-themed episode, but he didn't hear back. "I'd been listening to Rob Brydon's podcast, and he'd interviewed Noel," Lee explained. "I got Noel's number off him and sent him a text asking if he'd be on the show, but he never got back to me. It's been eight months now, so I think it's a no!" How many episodes are in Not Going Out season 14? The new series of Not Going Out consists of six episodes. They are titled House Move, Doll, Campervan, Oasis, Dragon Castle and Hotel Room. In the first episode, Lee and Lucy decide to move house and view the home of their dreams, but when Lee asks to use the toilet, tensions are created with the homeowner. Episode four sees the couple try to buy tickets to the Oasis reunion concert, but when they lose their place in the online queue, they quickly start to blame each other. The final episode of the series features Lee using his collection of free discount vouchers to stay overnight at a mid-range hotel. He makes sure to take advantage of all the hotel's complimentary services. What is the huge format change in Not Going Out? In 2017, the series featured a seven-year time-jump, with married couple Lucy and Lee moving out of their flat and into a house in Walton-on-Thames, where they were raising their three young children. Now, the show is changing again, with another time-jump seeing Lee and Lucy moving house, away from their family home which has become an "empty nest". The episodes will also be taking on a new format, with each instalment playing out in real time - something that has been done in previous episodes, but not in a consistent format. "What I'm trying to do is get the audience involved, to make them feel like they're witnessing an event that's happened. And hopefully that carries over when you're watching at home," Lee Mack explained.

Leader Live
5 hours ago
- Leader Live
Winners of Race Across The World 2025 crowned
Housewife Caroline, 60, and 21-year-old Tom became the first mother-and-son team to win after reaching the final checkpoint in Kanniyakumari, the southernmost tip of mainland India, to claim their £20,000 prize. Four teams in the 14,100km (8,761-mile) race successfully crossed Asia, the world's largest continent, to make it to the finish line. During Wednesday's episode, Caroline and Tom had to find Vattakottai Fort where the final sign-in book was waiting. After turning the page to discover they were the first team to make it to the landmark they hugged, overcome with emotion. Writing their names in the book, Tom said: 'That's a really good feeling, I'm lost for words, I can't believe it. 'Fifty-one days racing through countries I never thought I'd go to. 'I never thought we'd come this far, I never thought we'd achieve so much and I've never been prouder of my mum – she got me through it.' Sisters Elizabeth and Letitia came second, just 19 minutes behind the winners, with teenage couple Fin and Sioned third. Brothers Brian and Melvyn arrived in fourth place, three hours and five minutes behind Caroline and Tom. The winning pair began the last leg in the lead, six hours and 54 minutes ahead of Elizabeth and Letitia. They started from the seventh checkpoint, Panaji in Goa with just over 1,000km (600 miles) to traverse across the southern Indian states to reach the finish line. Reflecting on their win, Tom said the race was 'the best experience of my life'. Caroline said: 'We've learnt so much, we've enjoyed it and to actually win it as well as to have the experience is the best thing that could have happened to us.' The contestants traversed areas of China, Nepal and India, covering more than 14,000km over 51 days. The teams will reunite for a special episode airing at 9pm on Wednesday June 18 on BBC One where they will reflect on the race and the impact it has had on their lives. All eight episodes of Race Across The World are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.


South Wales Guardian
9 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Winners of Race Across The World 2025 crowned
Housewife Caroline, 60, and 21-year-old Tom became the first mother-and-son team to win after reaching the final checkpoint in Kanniyakumari, the southernmost tip of mainland India, to claim their £20,000 prize. Four teams in the 14,100km (8,761-mile) race successfully crossed Asia, the world's largest continent, to make it to the finish line. During Wednesday's episode, Caroline and Tom had to find Vattakottai Fort where the final sign-in book was waiting. After turning the page to discover they were the first team to make it to the landmark they hugged, overcome with emotion. Writing their names in the book, Tom said: 'That's a really good feeling, I'm lost for words, I can't believe it. 'Fifty-one days racing through countries I never thought I'd go to. 'I never thought we'd come this far, I never thought we'd achieve so much and I've never been prouder of my mum – she got me through it.' Sisters Elizabeth and Letitia came second, just 19 minutes behind the winners, with teenage couple Fin and Sioned third. Brothers Brian and Melvyn arrived in fourth place, three hours and five minutes behind Caroline and Tom. The winning pair began the last leg in the lead, six hours and 54 minutes ahead of Elizabeth and Letitia. They started from the seventh checkpoint, Panaji in Goa with just over 1,000km (600 miles) to traverse across the southern Indian states to reach the finish line. Reflecting on their win, Tom said the race was 'the best experience of my life'. Caroline said: 'We've learnt so much, we've enjoyed it and to actually win it as well as to have the experience is the best thing that could have happened to us.' The contestants traversed areas of China, Nepal and India, covering more than 14,000km over 51 days. The teams will reunite for a special episode airing at 9pm on Wednesday June 18 on BBC One where they will reflect on the race and the impact it has had on their lives. All eight episodes of Race Across The World are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.