Latest news with #AnnabelScholey
Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
The Couple Next Door finale review — the swingers go ludicrous
When I reviewed the first episode of The Couple Next Door (Channel 4) I wrote approvingly that it seemed as if it might be a little less crazed than series one and its swinger neighbours. That'll teach me. The finale was completely, utterly off its head. Watching it was like fever-dreaming after a night on the cheese and port plus a tab of LSD. Were we really expected to believe that Jacob (Sam Palladio), the mild-mannered, slightly dull anaesthetist, would turn overnight into a mad, conniving wife-killer because he feared being exposed for making a clinical error in not giving a patient potassium, which caused his death? Or something. Yes, Jacob probably would go to prison for framing the hot nurse Mia (Aggy K Adams) for it, but please. Would he really try to murder the love of his life just because she said she'd sussed him? He took her to the partly built new hospital wing and gave her coffee laced with morphine … in the middle of a busy day at work! Hello? What about cameras? And why were there conveniently no workmen there, even though the building was still being finished? 'It'll be over soon,' he said like a true baddie as Charlotte (Annabel Scholey) staggered like a shot stag and he used her phone to write a fake suicide note. • The Couple Next Door review — C4's hottest drama is still shameless 'You're having a breakdown!' she managed to say before passing out, a ludicrous bit of exposition. These four words supposedly explained his complete character change to instant psychopath. If this is what real hospitals are like — medics popping illegal pills and altering patient records, senior doctors having threesomes with the sexy new nurse from Norway — no wonder you can't get your hip replacement. This scene was even more preposterous than the one earlier in the series when Charlotte passed out on the sofa after too much wine and Jacob and Mia had sex on a chair 2ft away when his wife could have woken at any second. What a pity Alan the pervert (Hugh Dennis) didn't have his telescope out that night. The content would have sustained him for weeks. Actually I'll say this for The Couple Next Door, which is based on the Dutch series Nieuwe Buren: there aren't many series that would make the local peeping Tom the hero and have his voyeurism save the day. If he hadn't been training his big instrument on Mia in her house, he wouldn't have seen that she was being terrorised by her former therapist, with his terrible man bun and who had abused her as a traumatised teenager, and managed to save her. Dirty old man in woolly hat comes good! Actually, Alan was the best character in it, having been in the first series a completely unlikeable perv who treated his wife selfishly. In this series he found his redemption by showing shame, contrition and genuine kindness to Charlotte's dementia-suffering father, Henry (Jeff Rawle). There was even a sniff of romance with Yvonne (Tanya Moodie) and the possibility that he would look after Henry while Charlotte went off to do good works in Mozambique (don't ask), presumably while Jacob rotted in jail, something she seemed to get over pretty sharpish. • Read more TV reviews, guides about what to watch and interviews Just when I thought it couldn't get any more ludicrous it ended with Mia in Antwerp working as a tour guide wearing a ridiculous wig and eyeing up the next couple she was going to seduce into a throuple. Hilarious. You're probably thinking: surely they can't wring another sex and swingers series out of Appleby Drive, Leeds? (Yes, I know it looks more like a suburb of LA.) Oh, I think they probably can. I just pray that next time it isn't the newly reformed Alan throwing his car keys in the fruit bowl.★★☆☆☆ Love TV? Discover the best shows on Netflix, the best Prime Video TV shows, the best Disney+ shows, the best Apple TV+ shows, the best shows on BBC iPlayer, the best shows on Sky and Now, the best shows on ITVX, the best shows on Channel 4 streaming, the best shows on Paramount+ and our favourite hidden gem TV shows. Don't forget to check our critics' choices to what to watch this week, and browse our comprehensive TV guide
Scotsman
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
The Couple Next Door cast: who is in season 2?
The Couple Next Door has returned for season 2 - with plenty of new faces 👀 Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Channel 4's smash hit The Couple Next Door is back. The second season is airing over two weeks. But who is in the cast of the new episodes? The Couple Next Door's second series will come to an end this evening. The hit Channel 4 show returned last week after nearly two years away. The first season was the broadcaster's biggest scripted streaming launch ever. It has returned with a brand-new story in season two and plenty of new faces. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But who is in the cast of The Couple Next Door series 2? Here's all you need to know: When is The Couple Next Door on TV next? The Couple Next Door series 2 is airing on Channel 4 | Channel 4 The sixth and final episode of the second season is set to air tonight (July 23) on Channel 4. The highly anticipated series has been broadcast across two weeks with episodes on each night Monday to Wednesday. It was the same schedule used for the first season back in November/ December 2023. The last episode of the series is due to start at 9pm on Channel 4 and will run for an hour. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Who is in the cast of The Couple Next Door series 2? The show has returned and brought lots of new faces this time around. Hugh Dennis is back as Alan Richardson while Janine Duvitski has also returned as Gloria. The cast of season two includes: Annabel Scholey - Charlotte Roberts Sam Palladio - Jacob Aggy K. Adams - Mia Sendhil Ramamurthy 0 Leo Maimie McCoy - Gemma Adam James - Ben Tanya Moodie - Yvonne Jackie Clune - Annette Barney White - Brandon Viewers may recognise Sam Palladio from shows like Nashville as well as Humans on Channel 4 back in the 2010s. He has also had roles in the Netflix Christmas film series The Princess Switch. Annabel Scholey is best known for her roles in The Split and The Sixth Commandment. Aggy K. Adams was in Netflix's The Witcher as Iskra and Greek Salad on Prime Video. Older viewers may instantly recognise Sendhil Ramamurthy from his role as Mohinder Suresh in the 00s hit Heroes. More recently he played Mohan in Netflix's Never Have I Ever and has been cast in the One Piece live action remake. If you love TV, check out our Screen Babble podcast to get the latest in TV and film.
Scotsman
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
The Couple Next Door cast: who is in season 2?
The Couple Next Door has returned for season 2 - with plenty of new faces 👀 Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Channel 4's smash hit The Couple Next Door is back. The second season is airing over two weeks. But who is in the cast of the new episodes? The Couple Next Door's second series will come to an end this evening. The hit Channel 4 show returned last week after nearly two years away. The first season was the broadcaster's biggest scripted streaming launch ever. It has returned with a brand-new story in season two and plenty of new faces. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But who is in the cast of The Couple Next Door series 2? Here's all you need to know: When is The Couple Next Door on TV next? The Couple Next Door series 2 is airing on Channel 4 | Channel 4 The sixth and final episode of the second season is set to air tonight (July 23) on Channel 4. The highly anticipated series has been broadcast across two weeks with episodes on each night Monday to Wednesday. It was the same schedule used for the first season back in November/ December 2023. The last episode of the series is due to start at 9pm on Channel 4 and will run for an hour. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Who is in the cast of The Couple Next Door series 2? The show has returned and brought lots of new faces this time around. Hugh Dennis is back as Alan Richardson while Janine Duvitski has also returned as Gloria. The cast of season two includes: Annabel Scholey - Charlotte Roberts Sam Palladio - Jacob Aggy K. Adams - Mia Sendhil Ramamurthy 0 Leo Maimie McCoy - Gemma Adam James - Ben Tanya Moodie - Yvonne Jackie Clune - Annette Barney White - Brandon Viewers may recognise Sam Palladio from shows like Nashville as well as Humans on Channel 4 back in the 2010s. He has also had roles in the Netflix Christmas film series The Princess Switch. Annabel Scholey is best known for her roles in The Split and The Sixth Commandment. Aggy K. Adams was in Netflix's The Witcher as Iskra and Greek Salad on Prime Video. Older viewers may instantly recognise Sendhil Ramamurthy from his role as Mohinder Suresh in the 00s hit Heroes. More recently he played Mohan in Netflix's Never Have I Ever and has been cast in the One Piece live action remake.
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The Couple Next Door viewers brand swinging drama '95% gratuitous sex' as it returns for second season with 'unbelievably ridiculous' premiere
The Couple Next Door viewers have branded the swinging drama '95% gratuitous sex' as it returned to our screens for its second season. Series two of the psychological thriller, which is based on the Dutch TV show Nieuwe Buren, premiered on Monday night (July 14). It comes two years after the first series aired on Channel 4 back in November 2023. The programme, written by David Allison and directed by Dries Vos, stars Annabel Scholey, Sam Palladio, Aggy K. Adams, Sendil Ramamurthy, Hugh Dennis, Maimie McCoy, Adam James, Tanya Moodie, Jackie Clune and Barney White. 4OD's synopsis reads: 'The deliciously dark psychological drama returns, as mysterious new neighbour Mia arrives on the cul-de-sac, determined to work her way into the confidence - and the bed - of the couple next door...' And while the first series was a huge hit, many fans have rushed to the internet to share their brutal opinions on the latest. One said on X: 'Just watched the first two episodes of series 2, it's a dreadful, unbelievable storyline, it's ridiculous. 'After a first really good series this was a disappointment.' 'Five percent authentic story and ninety five percent gratuitous sex. A waste of time and energy.' 'This is woeful sh***, just as bad as the first series, even allowing for the titillating scenes which are just plain embarrassing.' Meanwhile others have been very impressed with the new episodes. 'Season 2 is gooood, I can't stop watching atp.' 'This show is a masterpiece.' 'Been looking forward to this #TheCoupleNextdoor.' Many viewers have rushed to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their thoughts over the new series of The Couple Next Door In the new series Annabel Scholey Annabel plays renowned heart surgeon Charlotte Roberts, who's happily married to consultant anaesthetist Jacob (Sam Palladio). They seem to have a perfect life with busy careers, a large house, nice cars and a loving sex life. But then a red-headed bombshell moves in next door. And patients suddenly start dying Aggy K Adams stars as the mysterious new neighbour, Mia, a nurse who works at the same hospital. She's feisty, outspoken, refuses to obey the hospital hierarchy – and is stunningly beautiful. Soon both Charlotte and Jacob find their worlds being turned upside down by her before Charlotte's millionaire celebrity doctor ex-boyfriend Leo (Sendhil Ramamurthy) re-enters her world. 'The great thing about turning 40 is that I find myself suddenly playing biochemists and heart surgeons, which is hilarious,' says Annabel, who's been acting since she was 13. 'One of the things I love most about my job is getting to experience different worlds, and to play Charlotte I went into an open-heart surgery theatre, which was mind-blowing. 'When I had to do it myself, the heart surgeon I'd been following was in there too, pretending to be learning from me. 'And what I also love about playing women of this age like Charlotte is that she's come to this point in her life where's she's thinking, 'What's next?' She's having a bit of a mid-life crisis. She's achieved everything she wants and then she goes on this journey which sees her unravel. 'As a 40-something woman, that's interesting. You've got to that age where you're confident, you know who you are, what you won't put up with any more. But then you suddenly think, 'What am I supposed to do now?' 'I can feel it myself – I've worked really hard since I left drama school and I feel like I'm not getting really great roles, but I keep thinking, 'What could be next?'' 'The other thing about being in your 40s is when you look in the mirror you aren't necessarily at your peak any more, you start to see signs of ageing, and I love that Charlotte goes on a journey of sexual rediscovery. 'She's hidden that side of herself,her femininity, because she's atop surgeon in quite a masculine world and she's married to someone she's known since she was a student. She becomes awakened physically and mentally, which is really interesting.' As on almost all shows with sexual content now, Annabel worked with an intimacy co-ordinator. She admits she's still getting used to it. 'I've done a lot of sex scenes in my career – I'm often cast in 'sexy' roles and I think because I used to dance for a long time, I'm quite comfortable in my body and the choreographing of these things. 'I've spoken to other actresses of my own age group and this intimacy co-ordinator thing has been a tricky transition for some of us because we were on our own for so long. But I feel like I'm really starting to get used to it, and actually it makes me feel sad we never had this before. There have been some tricky moments in the past.'
Times
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
The Couple Next Door review — C4's hottest drama is still shameless
I wasn't complimentary about series one of The Couple Next Door, calling it overripe ham that began implausibly, ended preposterously and delivered a full house at TV cliché bingo. Which shows what a fat lot I know. It was a success, becoming Channel 4's biggest scripted streaming launch, the first episode getting a million hits in a week. Although is it cynical to suspect that viewers just wanted to see young, attractive swingers bang at it in suburbia? Anyway, I thought, perhaps the second series, set in that same cul-de-sac that bizarrely is supposed to be in Leeds but still looks more like Wisteria Lane, would be less corny and not feature characters so one-dimensional they make stick men look nuanced. Well. The good news is that it is slightly less mad and more layered, though if you keep watching you will see it still shamelessly dangles the sex carrot. No wonder Alan the pervert (Hugh Dennis), in his community service high-vis vest, lives on that street, it's a voyeur's dream. Suffice to say it won't be long before there's some threesome action with two doctors and a nurse and some extramarital sex that is laughably improbable. Mind you, I think most people would find it hard to resist the manipulative, beautiful Norwegian Mia (Aggy K Adams), who had coffee spilt on her scrubs in the first few minutes of appearing, purely so we could see her stripped down to her bra. Annabel Scholey is actually convincing as Lotte, a somewhat buttoned-up, workaholic heart surgeon who schedules 'sex Wednesdays' with her anaesthetist husband, Jacob (Sam Palladio), because 'I'm a very busy woman'. Expect that to change once Mia the hot nurse moves in next door, paying the substantial rent with a mysterious box of cash. Alas, some of the other characters aren't convincing, such as their married friend's new, very young girlfriend (he is separated from his wife), who sulkily declared at their dinner party that she doesn't eat gluten or fish and should have been on castors. Ditto the battleaxe ward matron who is like a Sixties throwback, though for all I know some matrons are still ball-busters. Actually Alan the pervert is a highlight and the show, as it progresses, seems to point to a possible redemption for him. • Read more TV reviews, guides about what to watch and interviews Anyway, as a series it's as daft as a brush but, on a surface level, it is entertaining. ★★★☆☆ Love TV? Discover the best shows on Netflix, the best Prime Video TV shows, the best Disney+ shows , the best Apple TV+ shows, the best shows on BBC iPlayer , the best shows on Sky and Now, the best shows on ITVX, the best shows on Channel 4 streaming, the best shows on Paramount+ and our favourite hidden gem TV shows. Don't forget to check our comprehensive TV guide for the latest listings
