What to Watch: The Survivors, Stick, This City Is Ours, Lego Masters and Guy Mont Spelling Bee
There has been a plethora of book-to-TV adaptations hitting screens of late. Some have been incredibly watchable (Boy Swallows Universe), some have missed the mark (hello series two of Nine Perfect Strangers). This one, based on the book by Jane Harper, will be hoping to land with audiences — and if the trailer is anything to go by, then viewers can certainly expect a twisty-turny tale.
It sees The Rings Of Power star Charlie Vickers playing a young man, Kieran Elliott, haunted by events that shaped his life some 15 years earlier, when a storm took the lives of two boys close to him. He survived and is haunted by what happened, still wrestling with his complex survivor guilt as he revisits his childhood home with partner Mia (played by Yerin Ha), who also grew up in the town.
Almost as soon as they land back in the tiny Tasmanian town they once called home, a body washes up on the shore, and as events unfold, it begins to look increasingly as though the death is connected to the devastating events that happened all those years ago and the death of another girl they all grew up with.
Shot in Tasmania and produced by the award-winning team at Tony Ayres Productions (Fires, Clickbait, Stateless), The Survivors boasts a stunning ensemble cast, including Robyn Malcolm (pictured), Jessica De Gouw, Catherine McClements, Thom Green and Martin Sacks.
With a cast like that, you know it's going to be worth a watch.
Seven seasons on, it's truly a marvel there's still blood to be squeezed from the Lego Masters stone. But you can't keep a good Brickman down. And he's back, along with host Hamish Blake, to preside over builders from seven countries — Canada, China, Finland, Sweden, USA, New Zealand and Australia — to see who'll be crowned 'the ultimate grandmaster of the galaxy'. It's a stretch, but we'll allow it. Family-friendly fun.
This series, starring Owen Wilson as a washed-up golf pro who finds new purpose in mentoring a young golfing prodigy, has 'TV hit' written all over it. Heartfelt performances, believable characters and clippy dialogue make it an incredibly watchable proposition, even if the idea of a show about golf makes you want to stick a tee in your eye. Even the biggest haters will fall hard for this delightful series — you're going to love it.
Love yourself a gritty British crime drama? This could be about to become your new favourite. And even better — it stars Sean Bean! This series, about a gang of cocaine smugglers, has been getting great reviews in the UK, and is BBC's most-watched new drama launch of 2025, which gives you an idea of what to expect. Also stars James Nelson-Joyce (pictured) and Hannah Onslow. One for Scouse crime fans.
Watching high-profile Australians try to spell on national TV will never not be funny. Throw in comedian Guy Montgomery and his comedy offsider Aaron Chen and you've got a laugh-out-loud quiz show guaranteed to tickle your funny bone. This season's line-up includes Hannah Gadsby, Hamish Blake, Rove McManus, Denise Scott and Dave Hughes. Looking forward to seeing how they fare — the worse, the better!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
2 hours ago
- West Australian
Prince Harry explores severing royal ties by adopting Princess Diana's surname
Prince Harry reportedly explored dropping his royal surname in favour of Spencer, the maiden name of his late mother, Princess Diana, as tensions with the royal family continue to simmer. According to sources who spoke with the Daily Mail, the 40-year-old royal 'actively explored ways to assume his mother's surname' and even raised the idea with his uncle, Charles Earl Spencer, during a recent trip to the UK. 'They had a very amicable conversation,' a friend of Harry's told the outlet. 'Spencer advised him against taking such a step,' citing the legal and logistical difficulties that would come with abandoning the Mountbatten-Windsor name. Had he gone ahead, the move would have marked a significant break from the royal identity passed down through generations. The name Mountbatten-Windsor is a blend of Queen Elizabeth II's royal family name and Prince Philip's adopted surname, chosen when he became a naturalised British citizen and relinquished his Greek and Danish royal titles in 1947. The name traces back to Philip's maternal uncle, Lord Louis Mountbatten, a major influence on both Philip and King Charles III. Prince Harry, born Henry Charles Albert David, has rarely used a surname publicly, instead going by titles. During his school years and military service, he and his brother William used the surname Wales, based on their father's title, the then Prince of Wales. In uniform, Harry was known simply as 'Harry Wales'. He became the Duke of Sussex in 2018, a title granted by Queen Elizabeth II upon his marriage to Meghan Markle, who then became the Duchess of Sussex. Despite stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Meghan has publicly embraced 'Sussex' as the family name, saying she wanted to share a surname with her children. In an episode of her Netflix show With Love, Meghan, she corrected guest Mindy Kaling: 'It's so funny you keep saying 'Meghan Markle', you know I'm Sussex now.' 'You have kids and you go, 'No, I share my name with my children',' she added. 'It just means so much to go, this is OUR family name. Our little family name'. Controversy recently flared over claims Meghan has used the 'HRH' title privately, despite an agreement with Buckingham Palace to forgo the styling. The dispute emerged after a friend received a gift basket accompanied by a card signed, 'HRH The Duchess of Sussex.' Prince Harry remains publicly estranged from senior members of the royal family but has expressed a desire to reconcile. In a May interview following the rejection of his legal appeal regarding UK security arrangements, he told the BBC, 'There have been so many disagreements between me and some of my family… Of course, they will never forgive me for lots of things but… there's no point in continuing to fight anymore.' 'Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has,' he added. 'He won't speak to me because of this security stuff. It would be nice to reconcile.'
Sydney Morning Herald
4 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Doctor who? Why Ncuti Gatwa flopped as the Time Lord
The Doctor has just been exterminated – but not by Daleks. After mounting speculation that leading actor Ncuti Gatwa would be leaving Doctor Who, Saturday's series finale saw him regenerate into the Time Lord's next incarnation sooner than planned. Fan favourite Billie Piper returned to inherit the starring role, having previously starred as companion Rose Tyler. Such a surprise plot twist still can't paper over the cracks. Gatwa becomes the first Doctor to depart without a prior announcement in the show's 62-year history. Piper is the first to be unveiled onscreen, rather than trumpeted in advance. It smacks of desperate decision-making and an ignominious end for a 15th Doctor who once promised so much. This was supposed to be a brave new era for the venerable sci-fi saga. Respected showrunner Russell T. Davies – who masterminded the show's blockbuster reboot 20 years ago – returned to take the reins ahead of the show's 60th anniversary. Streaming giant Disney+ pumped in plentiful cash to boost the budget. One of the hottest young actors around inherited the sonic screwdriver. Whovians were abuzz with anticipation. Early signs were positive, but the expected resurgence didn't come to pass. Ratings have nosedived, averaging 5 million for Jodie Whittaker's last series but a mere 3 million for Gatwa's latest. Loading It's predicted Disney won't renew its deal to bankroll the series. Rumours are rife that production will be paused for the first time since the cult show went off-air between 1989 and 2005 after a previously unbroken 26-year run. Gatwa's Tardis tenure has been a flop of intergalactic proportions, putting Doctor Who firmly back in the doldrums. What went wrong? For a start, his portrayal has missed the mark. Gatwa's time traveller has been the most emotional yet – prone to tears and petulant outbursts. He lacks the authority and gravitas to convince as an old soul who has lived for thousands of years and seen it all. It's not about the actor's age (Peter Davison and Matt Smith were younger), it's about screen presence. With bright colours, plots that included space babies, singing goblins, and a bogeyman made of snot, plus his tendency to use the word 'babes', this Doctor feels overly kid-focused. Disneyfied, if you like. He has been too passive, frequently outwitted by foes and failing to impress until the last moment. Offscreen, Gatwa has appeared hesitant to embrace the ambassadorial side of the role, rarely taking on the extramural duties that are part and parcel of being the Doctor. The clearest indication came in May, when he belatedly backed out of being the UK jury's spokesperson for the Eurovision Song Contest. As one of the BBC's highest profile faces, his last-minute withdrawal is said to have angered bosses. It's rumoured that a row erupted after he allegedly refused to take part when Israel made it to the final. The official line was that he'd dropped out due to 'unforeseen circumstances', but it's been seen as the final straw. There is a feeling that Gatwa never fully fell in love with Doctor Who in the way that his predecessors did, never taking on the plethora of extra duties and personal appearances that other former leads embraced. David Tennant and Peter Capaldi were already life-long fans who dreamed of one day playing their boyhood hero. Whittaker and Matt Smith became passionate devotees during their stints, won over by the franchise's treasured status and loyal fan base. By contrast, Gatwa seems to belong in the same category as one-series wonder Christopher Eccleston – appearing to be a reluctant Doctor, never entirely comfortable in the role. Guesting on a themed edition of Mastermind shortly before his series debuted in 2005, Eccleston pointedly replied, when being introduced as the Doctor, 'Well, for now'. When Gatwa was cast in 2022, he said: 'This role and show means so much to so many around the world, including myself.' However, those fans have largely been let down. In addition, Gatwa was reportedly not universally popular on set in Cardiff, where the series has been filmed since Davies took over. Rumours circulated about difficult behaviour during production. 'I think he has sights beyond [ Doctor Who ] … I think it was a stepping stone for him, rather than wanting to do it,' an insider claims. 'Nobody particularly knows him.' Having tasted Hollywood in the Barbie movie and Steven Spielberg's Masters of the Air, Gatwa's ambitions appear to have always stretched further than Tiger Bay. Neither does he have the mainstream recognition of previous incumbents. Gatwa could probably walk down the street relatively unnoticed. It's partly his prior CV – his breakthrough part was a supporting turn in Netflix teen drama Sex Education – and partly down to his Doctor lacking a signature onscreen look. Changing costume (and even hairstyle) for each adventure has been a mistake. From Tom Baker's scarf to Matt Smith's bow tie, the best Doctors had a sartorial trademark. Gatwa's Doctor never settled on one. Lastly and most crucially, Gatwa has been ill-served by the scripts. Davies might be one of our most decorated screenwriters, but when it comes to the Whoniverse, he's lost his golden touch. Overcomplicated storylines have paid off poorly. Rip-roaring thrills have been in short supply. Self-reflexive writing and fourth-wall breaks, with meta-references to the show's fan base and the villainous Mrs Flood (Anita Dobson) whispering asides to camera, are symptoms of a show increasingly in thrall to its lore and impenetrable for newer viewers. Davies has deliberately swerved classic monsters this time around. Daleks and Cybermen haven't appeared during his current stint. Instead, we've been underwhelmed by the baffling return of obscure old enemies – The Rani, Omega, Sutekh, the Toymaker – who mean nothing to most viewers. The show has entered the realm of fan fiction, rather than primetime entertainment with broad appeal. Anybody who hasn't been watching for decades won't have a clue as to what's going on. Scripts have forgotten ye olde maxim of 'show not tell', with too much proselytising and expositional dialogue. Naysayers believe Davies has focused far too much on identity politics and culture wars issues, rather than family-friendly fun. Plots have featured incels and imperialism, coercive control and conspiracy theorists, non-binary aliens and discussions of pronouns. Crowbarring those topics in has sparked a backlash, with the series being dubbed 'Doctor Woke'. At times, watching it has felt like being thwacked around the head with a progressive pamphlet. Loading Doctor Who hasn't just lost its way. It has lost much of its audience. Overnight ratings for the BBC have plummeted to 1.6 million, down a whopping 10 million from their 1970s heyday. The Tennant era recaptured those glory days, averaging 8.3 million and often hitting 10 million. Even with catch-up viewing taken into account, recent figures have struggled to reach 4 million. Uncertainty about the show's future has increasingly crept into coverage, resulting in a depressing death spiral. You can't blame Disney for wanting to cut its losses after a reported £100 million ($208 million) investment. Gatwa lasted a mere 18 episodes, putting him behind only Eccleston as the shortest-serving full-time Doctor ever. Did he depart of his own accord or was he pushed? Three months ago, tabloids claimed he had 'quit' to pursue other projects and would be written out. A generous reading is that Piper's return was a well-kept secret. A more cynical one says it's a desperate last roll of the dice. Either way, with Gatwa now exiting the Tardis and Davies' crowd-pleasing touch deserting him, the 62-year-old show is in critical condition. Somebody call a Doctor.
The Age
4 hours ago
- The Age
Doctor who? Why Ncuti Gatwa flopped as the Time Lord
The Doctor has just been exterminated – but not by Daleks. After mounting speculation that leading actor Ncuti Gatwa would be leaving Doctor Who, Saturday's series finale saw him regenerate into the Time Lord's next incarnation sooner than planned. Fan favourite Billie Piper returned to inherit the starring role, having previously starred as companion Rose Tyler. Such a surprise plot twist still can't paper over the cracks. Gatwa becomes the first Doctor to depart without a prior announcement in the show's 62-year history. Piper is the first to be unveiled onscreen, rather than trumpeted in advance. It smacks of desperate decision-making and an ignominious end for a 15th Doctor who once promised so much. This was supposed to be a brave new era for the venerable sci-fi saga. Respected showrunner Russell T. Davies – who masterminded the show's blockbuster reboot 20 years ago – returned to take the reins ahead of the show's 60th anniversary. Streaming giant Disney+ pumped in plentiful cash to boost the budget. One of the hottest young actors around inherited the sonic screwdriver. Whovians were abuzz with anticipation. Early signs were positive, but the expected resurgence didn't come to pass. Ratings have nosedived, averaging 5 million for Jodie Whittaker's last series but a mere 3 million for Gatwa's latest. Loading It's predicted Disney won't renew its deal to bankroll the series. Rumours are rife that production will be paused for the first time since the cult show went off-air between 1989 and 2005 after a previously unbroken 26-year run. Gatwa's Tardis tenure has been a flop of intergalactic proportions, putting Doctor Who firmly back in the doldrums. What went wrong? For a start, his portrayal has missed the mark. Gatwa's time traveller has been the most emotional yet – prone to tears and petulant outbursts. He lacks the authority and gravitas to convince as an old soul who has lived for thousands of years and seen it all. It's not about the actor's age (Peter Davison and Matt Smith were younger), it's about screen presence. With bright colours, plots that included space babies, singing goblins, and a bogeyman made of snot, plus his tendency to use the word 'babes', this Doctor feels overly kid-focused. Disneyfied, if you like. He has been too passive, frequently outwitted by foes and failing to impress until the last moment. Offscreen, Gatwa has appeared hesitant to embrace the ambassadorial side of the role, rarely taking on the extramural duties that are part and parcel of being the Doctor. The clearest indication came in May, when he belatedly backed out of being the UK jury's spokesperson for the Eurovision Song Contest. As one of the BBC's highest profile faces, his last-minute withdrawal is said to have angered bosses. It's rumoured that a row erupted after he allegedly refused to take part when Israel made it to the final. The official line was that he'd dropped out due to 'unforeseen circumstances', but it's been seen as the final straw. There is a feeling that Gatwa never fully fell in love with Doctor Who in the way that his predecessors did, never taking on the plethora of extra duties and personal appearances that other former leads embraced. David Tennant and Peter Capaldi were already life-long fans who dreamed of one day playing their boyhood hero. Whittaker and Matt Smith became passionate devotees during their stints, won over by the franchise's treasured status and loyal fan base. By contrast, Gatwa seems to belong in the same category as one-series wonder Christopher Eccleston – appearing to be a reluctant Doctor, never entirely comfortable in the role. Guesting on a themed edition of Mastermind shortly before his series debuted in 2005, Eccleston pointedly replied, when being introduced as the Doctor, 'Well, for now'. When Gatwa was cast in 2022, he said: 'This role and show means so much to so many around the world, including myself.' However, those fans have largely been let down. In addition, Gatwa was reportedly not universally popular on set in Cardiff, where the series has been filmed since Davies took over. Rumours circulated about difficult behaviour during production. 'I think he has sights beyond [ Doctor Who ] … I think it was a stepping stone for him, rather than wanting to do it,' an insider claims. 'Nobody particularly knows him.' Having tasted Hollywood in the Barbie movie and Steven Spielberg's Masters of the Air, Gatwa's ambitions appear to have always stretched further than Tiger Bay. Neither does he have the mainstream recognition of previous incumbents. Gatwa could probably walk down the street relatively unnoticed. It's partly his prior CV – his breakthrough part was a supporting turn in Netflix teen drama Sex Education – and partly down to his Doctor lacking a signature onscreen look. Changing costume (and even hairstyle) for each adventure has been a mistake. From Tom Baker's scarf to Matt Smith's bow tie, the best Doctors had a sartorial trademark. Gatwa's Doctor never settled on one. Lastly and most crucially, Gatwa has been ill-served by the scripts. Davies might be one of our most decorated screenwriters, but when it comes to the Whoniverse, he's lost his golden touch. Overcomplicated storylines have paid off poorly. Rip-roaring thrills have been in short supply. Self-reflexive writing and fourth-wall breaks, with meta-references to the show's fan base and the villainous Mrs Flood (Anita Dobson) whispering asides to camera, are symptoms of a show increasingly in thrall to its lore and impenetrable for newer viewers. Davies has deliberately swerved classic monsters this time around. Daleks and Cybermen haven't appeared during his current stint. Instead, we've been underwhelmed by the baffling return of obscure old enemies – The Rani, Omega, Sutekh, the Toymaker – who mean nothing to most viewers. The show has entered the realm of fan fiction, rather than primetime entertainment with broad appeal. Anybody who hasn't been watching for decades won't have a clue as to what's going on. Scripts have forgotten ye olde maxim of 'show not tell', with too much proselytising and expositional dialogue. Naysayers believe Davies has focused far too much on identity politics and culture wars issues, rather than family-friendly fun. Plots have featured incels and imperialism, coercive control and conspiracy theorists, non-binary aliens and discussions of pronouns. Crowbarring those topics in has sparked a backlash, with the series being dubbed 'Doctor Woke'. At times, watching it has felt like being thwacked around the head with a progressive pamphlet. Loading Doctor Who hasn't just lost its way. It has lost much of its audience. Overnight ratings for the BBC have plummeted to 1.6 million, down a whopping 10 million from their 1970s heyday. The Tennant era recaptured those glory days, averaging 8.3 million and often hitting 10 million. Even with catch-up viewing taken into account, recent figures have struggled to reach 4 million. Uncertainty about the show's future has increasingly crept into coverage, resulting in a depressing death spiral. You can't blame Disney for wanting to cut its losses after a reported £100 million ($208 million) investment. Gatwa lasted a mere 18 episodes, putting him behind only Eccleston as the shortest-serving full-time Doctor ever. Did he depart of his own accord or was he pushed? Three months ago, tabloids claimed he had 'quit' to pursue other projects and would be written out. A generous reading is that Piper's return was a well-kept secret. A more cynical one says it's a desperate last roll of the dice. Either way, with Gatwa now exiting the Tardis and Davies' crowd-pleasing touch deserting him, the 62-year-old show is in critical condition. Somebody call a Doctor.
