Latest news with #Cucumber
Metro
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Russell T Davies: 'My friend's threesome helped me win a Bafta'
Warning: spoilers for Cucumber (I know it's 10 years old at this point, but you never know). Russell T Davies is an easy person to admire. He's a proud adopted Mancunian, an award-winning TV writer, and he introduced a new generation to Doctor Who. Yet despite that admiration, when Metro called him to chat about the 10th anniversary of his lesser-known TV show Cucumber, I learned he's not someone you should trust with a secret. Why? Well, more than a decade ago, when the 62-year-old – who's speaking about the show at the Scene Festival on 20 August inManchester– sat down to write episode one, he decided to end it with a threesome. This awful orgy between a couple teetering on the edge of a break-up and a drunk (the trois in this calamitous ménage à trois) ends up involving several police officers and an arrest. Needless to say, the whole thing is as sexy as a trip to the chiropodist for new orthopaedic sandals, but it makes for great telly. There was just one problem – he sort of accidentally borrowed it from a friend and put it on TV. With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications! 'That happened word for word, to a friend of mine,' Russell laughs. 'That scene, including literally walking down the street barefoot to find the policeman and get them to his house. 'I put all that on screen, I forgot to tell him. I actually kind of forgot that I'd taken it from real life, because I changed some things about it. He turned up at my house furious!' It's this big climactic blowout that kicks off the dramatic events of the 2015 series Cucumber, a show about two middle-aged gay men – Henry (Vincent Franklin) and Lance (Cyril Nri) – living in Manchester as they go through a messy break-up. If you've never heard of it, don't worry. You're not alone, as Russell told me, 'it wasn't going for headlines'. Still, while it may be the slightly unassuming middle child of Russell's unofficial queer trilogy (as I have decided to name it) – Queer as Folk, Cucumber, and It's a Sin – the show is quietly radical. How so? Well, the series exists to explore a side of queerness rarely seen on TV or, as Russell put it, 'with queer matters, we get discussions of sexuality, which often boil down into discussions about sex'. To take it back to that threesome then, in Russell's mind, Cucumber 'isn't about sex'. 'It's about a relationship completely falling apart because one member of that threesome has never communicated sexually what he wants in his entire adult life,' he explains. 'It's a threesome that is the destruction of a couple, and it quite viciously sets out to do that from the very start.' Russell shares his thoughts on representation on the small screen… 'I think TV is not bad at the moment. In fact, sometimes you watch Coronation Street thinking one more gay person, and you overbalance, which is a very unusual feeling. But it is great to see, and there's always new territory. 'It's great to see that young Oscar Branning swagger onto EastEnders, happily bisexual. I've been dying for that for a decade, for someone to walk in problem-free, saying, 'Hello, I fancy men. I fancy women.' 'That was a little revolution that happened last week. Indeed, these things are now becoming so commonplace that we don't even celebrate them. 'Nonetheless, I've got to say, you say that, and you can still sit through three hours of prime time without a single gay character cropping up. I always nag my fellow executives and writers about this, because we don't have to be the centre of the story. 'Obviously, not every story is a gay story. That's completely fine, but you know, where's the lesbian sister? Where's the trans little brother?' That viciousness then permeates the show, which manages to be a funny and thoughtful meditation on what it means to be gay when you're past your prime. 'That's kind of my wheelhouse. I'm amazed I get away with it,' Russell admits. '[Cucumber] is very critical of gay men, because that's what I'm here for… straight people can write dramas where queer characters are nice and happy. I'm here to find their faults.' If Russell's goal was to depict queer characters as flawed, he succeeded. You'd be hard pressed to see a more unvarnished depiction of gay men in TV history – unless you think hunting hairs on the shaft of your penis is glam – and few characters are more flawed than Henry and Lance. On paper, the neurotic Henry is the more contemptible of the show's leads. It's Henry who breaks up with Lance after an engagement gone wrong and moves in with younger men. Still, to Russell, it's more ambiguous than that. 'Everything that happens to Henry is his fault,' he emphasises. Yet when it comes to Lance's ultimate fate – he's killed by his lover, Daniel, during a horrifying moment of 'gay panic' – Russell is clear he sowed the seeds of his destruction. When I asked Russell what he thought of people online who 'hate Henry', he didn't hold back … 'I don't particularly pay much attention to online opinions because they're primitive. After all, they aren't very nuanced. They make you want to put up a banner saying, 'learn to read'. 'People are very bad at reading dramas and learning anything. The people who post online are…This is why the entire world is sliding into the pit, because that's becoming our primary form of communication. 'Is that doing it any good whatsoever? Not at all. 'So those people who say, 'I hate Henry', what a weird thing to be doing… 'These comments are being typed up by virgins who have literally no experience of anything, ever, anywhere, and so that's why their opinion is so extreme – because it's so simple, because they've never had that nuance or compromise or diplomacy in their lives ever. Yet we find that they're driving the entire conversation of our culture.' 'Death is only a tragedy if it's that person's fault, and it is Lance's fault,' Russell tells me. 'In episode six, he's clearly told to go home. 'He's warned to such an extent that a ghost has to rise from the grave from another programme to warn him (Queer as Folk's Hazel Tyler makes a rather spooky appearance) to stop, and he doesn't listen because he fancies someone.' Unfortunately for Lance, his fate was decided long before Russell hit print on his word processor, as the Doctor Who showrunner wanted to use Cucumber to fix what he saw as a skittishness around death. It was this ambition that led to episode six, a turning point in the drama presented as a flashback through Lance's dying eyes. 'Episode six set out to do things beyond what Cucumber was about,' he tells me. 'I've written a lot of deaths. I started working on soap operas where people were forever falling down stairs and dying, but they were treated very lightly, when death is actually the biggest thing in the world. 'I'd always been dying to write an episode of a drama with a death in it that feels like a death, so you feel like an entire life has come to an end, the tragedy of the most ordinary person dying… I mean, I've never had more motivation to write something in my life.' Interestingly, Russell reveals this episode would eventually lead him to his next queer story – the critically acclaimed It's a Sin, which deals with the Aids epidemic. When we asked Russell about telling LGBTQ+ stories, he admitted he feels very lucky to be in a position to tell them… 'I'm just very lucky that I'm the one who got to write it down. If Jonathan Harvey weren't so slow, (Russell asked us to include this Jonathan, sorry), he would have written it first. 'I'm lucky, and I got to write it before he did, or any other gay writer. I think these things were rising within the soap operas. Gay characters were appearing… there was a kind of animus in the air for this kind of thing. 'It felt like a very inevitable rise towards Queer as Folk, and I'm the one who got to write it. And believe you me, there were a lot of writers at the time looking around, saying, 'Who the f*** is he?' 'There were a lot of sort of heirs apparent who didn't do the hard work of sitting down and actually writing it.' 'You can start to see me turning that lens,' he acknowledges. 'Lance has flashbacks of that boyfriend who died of Aids. My own head was moving towards writing It's A Sin.' Now, however, Russell's head is moving in another direction. His trilogy is set to become a quadrilogy with Tip Toe, a show he lovingly describes as Cucumber's 'progeny'. 'I was literally driven to this desk to write Tip Toe because of the insanity we're hurtling towards at a ridiculous speed,' he stresses, before adding it will deal with the great danger we're all in, gay or straight. 'It's an extension of all [Cucumber's] themes, who we are, how we express ourselves – our wider community, not just gay men, trans characters, lesbian characters – and the pitfalls of life today.' More Trending Of course, the big question you may be asking is what happened to Russell's friend? The one whose threesome features in a TV show that went on to win Russell his Bafta? Well, in Russell's words, 'the friendship survived, but I was lucky'. View More » Russell T Davies and the Cucumber cast will be taking part in the '10 Years of Cucumber' panel at the New Century Hall, Manchester, on Wednesday 20 August 2025 at 8pm. Tickets available at 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: Inside the split over trans women that's threatening to drive a wedge through Labour MORE: Drag queens forced to stop reading Dear Zoo to children at library MORE: All episodes of 'terrifically trashy' drama are finally on free UK streamer
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cucumber and Gherkins Strategic Business Report 2025: Export Demand from North America and Europe Throws the Spotlight on Indian and East European Gherkin Suppliers
The global Cucumber and Gherkins market, valued at USD 6 billion in 2024, is projected to reach USD 7.2 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 2.8%. Key drivers include rising health awareness and demand for low-calorie foods, with gherkins gaining prominence in the global supply chain. Advancements in farming and processing technologies boost yields and quality. North America and Europe lead consumption, while Asia-Pacific and Latin America emerge as key production zones. The comprehensive report covers market trends, regional analyses, and competitive landscape, featuring insights into recent global tariff impacts and future growth prospects. Cucumber and Gherkins Market Dublin, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Cucumber and Gherkins - Global Strategic Business Report" has been added to global market for Cucumber and Gherkins was estimated at US$6.0 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$7.2 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 2.8% from 2024 to 2030. This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of market trends, drivers, and forecasts, helping you make informed business decisions. The report includes the most recent global tariff developments and how they impact the Cucumber and Gherkins market. Why Are Cucumber and Gherkins Gaining Strategic Value in the Global Agri-Food Supply Chain?Cucumber and gherkins have evolved from traditional dietary staples to high-value horticultural crops in the global food market. Their widespread use in fresh consumption, pickling, culinary preparations, and processed food products has led to a robust demand across both developed and emerging markets. Gherkins, in particular, are increasingly cultivated for export purposes, with many countries specializing in contract farming for foreign food processors and supermarket chains. The global market is driven by rising health awareness, shifting consumer preference toward low-calorie, water-rich vegetables, and the growing popularity of fermented and probiotic crops' versatility, short growth cycle, and adaptability to controlled-environment agriculture make them attractive for farmers and agribusinesses. In recent years, gherkin cultivation has gained momentum as an export-oriented agribusiness in countries like India, where contractual cultivation systems link smallholder farmers with global processing companies. The inclusion of cucumbers and gherkins in diet-focused meal kits, plant-based diets, and ready-to-eat convenience foods has further broadened their global appeal, cementing their role in both fresh produce and value-added product supply Innovations Are Shaping Production, Processing, and Value Addition?Advancements in hybrid seed varieties, greenhouse farming, and integrated pest management are boosting yields and improving the quality of cucumber and gherkin harvests. Controlled environment agriculture, including hydroponics and vertical farming, is gaining traction in urban settings and high-tech farms to ensure consistent year-round production with minimal land use and water inputs. These methods allow precise control over temperature, light, and humidity ideal for producing uniform, export-quality the processing side, modern gherkin factories are adopting automated grading, brining, and packaging technologies that ensure food safety and meet stringent international quality standards. Vacuum sealing, pickling with customized brine recipes, and flavor diversification (such as dill, sweet, or spicy variants) are enabling producers to differentiate in competitive markets. Additionally, manufacturers are investing in eco-friendly packaging and cold chain logistics to preserve freshness and extend shelf life during export. Traceability systems and organic certifications are also gaining importance, especially in high-value export destinations where sustainability and transparency are top consumer End-Use Markets and Regions Are Driving Global Demand for Cucumber and Gherkins?Cucumbers are widely consumed in households and foodservice establishments for salads, juices, and garnishes, while gherkins are primarily used in the processed food industry. The food processing sector is a major end-user, especially for pickled gherkins used in burgers, sandwiches, relishes, and condiment assortments. Quick-service restaurants, hotel chains, and deli-product manufacturers are large-volume buyers, often sourcing through contract supply agreements. Supermarkets and retail brands are expanding their private-label pickled vegetable lines to meet rising consumer interest in tangy, low-calorie terms of geography, North America and Europe represent mature consumption markets with high demand for processed gherkins, while Asia-Pacific and Latin America are emerging as key production and export zones. Countries like India, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam are major exporters of brined and pickled gherkins, catering to European food processors. Conversely, countries with developed cold chain infrastructure such as Germany, the UK, and the U.S. are increasingly importing processed gherkin products for both retail and foodservice channels. Urbanization, changing dietary patterns, and the rising adoption of international cuisines are contributing to consistent demand growth in these Factors Are Driving Market Growth for Cucumber and Gherkins Globally?The growth in the cucumber and gherkins market is driven by several factors linked to agricultural innovation, health-oriented consumption, and global trade dynamics. Increased consumer focus on healthy, hydrating, and low-calorie foods is fueling daily consumption of fresh cucumbers and pickled gherkins. The expanding global footprint of fast-food chains and ready-to-eat meal producers is creating sustained demand for processed gherkins as a standard condiment in hybrid seed development, greenhouse production, and integrated supply chains are improving yield consistency and enabling year-round availability. Growth in export-focused contract farming models, especially in developing countries, is ensuring a stable supply of high-quality gherkins to international markets. Lastly, regulatory support for food processing exports, coupled with consumer preference for ethnic and fermented foods, is encouraging product diversification and packaging innovation. Together, these drivers are supporting the continued expansion of the global cucumber and gherkins market across both fresh and processed Insights: Market Growth: Understand the significant growth trajectory of the Conventional Cucumber & Gherkins segment, which is expected to reach US$4.4 Billion by 2030 with a CAGR of a 2.1%. The Organic Cucumber & Gherkins segment is also set to grow at 4.0% CAGR over the analysis period. Regional Analysis: Gain insights into the U.S. market, valued at $1.6 Billion in 2024, and China, forecasted to grow at an impressive 5.3% CAGR to reach $1.4 Billion by 2030. Discover growth trends in other key regions, including Japan, Canada, Germany, and the Asia-Pacific. This edition integrates the latest global trade and economic shifts into comprehensive market analysis. Key updates include: Tariff and Trade Impact: Insights into global tariff negotiations across 180+ countries, with analysis of supply chain turbulence, sourcing disruptions, and geographic realignment. Special focus on 2025 as a pivotal year for trade tensions, including updated perspectives on the Trump-era tariffs. Adjusted Forecasts and Analytics: Revised global and regional market forecasts through 2030, incorporating tariff effects, economic uncertainty, and structural changes in globalization. Includes segmentation by product, technology, type, material, distribution channel, application, and end-use, with historical analysis since 2015. Strategic Market Dynamics: Evaluation of revised market prospects, regional outlooks, and key economic indicators such as population and urbanization trends. Innovation & Technology Trends: Latest developments in product and process innovation, emerging technologies, and key industry drivers shaping the competitive landscape. Competitive Intelligence: Updated global market share estimates for 2025, competitive positioning of major players (Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial), and refined focus on leading global brands and core players. Expert Insight & Commentary: Strategic analysis from economists, trade experts, and domain specialists to contextualize market shifts and identify emerging opportunities. Complimentary Update: Buyers receive a free July 2025 update with finalized tariff impacts, new trade agreement effects, revised projections, and expanded country-level coverage. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 275 Forecast Period 2024 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $6 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $7.2 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 2.8% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: MARKET OVERVIEW World Market Trajectories Tariff Impact on Global Supply Chain Patterns Cucumber and Gherkins - Global Key Competitors Percentage Market Share in 2025 (E) Competitive Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial for Players Worldwide in 2025 (E) MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS Increasing Demand for Pickled Vegetables Propels Growth in Gherkin Production and Exports Expansion of Health-Conscious Snacking Habits Strengthens Business Case for Cucumber-Based Products Rising Global Popularity of Mediterranean and Eastern European Cuisines Fuels Demand for Gherkins Growing Use in Quick-Service Restaurants Expands Addressable Market for Fresh and Processed Cucumbers Adoption of Precision Agriculture Techniques Drives Yield Optimization in Cucumber Farming Shift Toward Organic and Residue-Free Produce Spurs Premium Segment Growth Export Demand from North America and Europe Throws the Spotlight on Indian and East European Gherkin Suppliers Government Support for Contract Farming and Export Clusters Strengthens Smallholder Participation Climate Variability and Water Stress Create Challenges for Year-Round Cultivation Surge in Salad and Plant-Based Diet Trends Sustains Growth in Fresh Cucumber Sales Automation in Sorting and Grading Enhances Processing Efficiency and Global Market Competitiveness FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS Some of the 44 companies featured in this Cucumber and Gherkins market report include: Al Forsan Company B&G Foods Inc. Belvedere Farm Carl Kuhne KG Devos & Lemmens DLIP Industrial Enza Zaden Fresh Line Foods Great Lakes Greenhouses Inc. Green Pickles Pvt. Ltd. Green Valley Pickles Greenfield Pickles Pvt. Ltd. Ippolito Fruit & Produce Majik Farm Agro Allied Mt. Olive Pickle Company Naturcharc Neo Foods Pandora Farm Rijk Zwaan Welver GmbH S & G Pickles For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Cucumber and Gherkins Market CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cucumbers Are Being Recalled in 15 States (So Far) After Multiple Reported Illnesses
This article may contain affiliate links that Yahoo and/or the publisher may receive a commission from if you buy a product or service through those links. Few things are more refreshing than a fresh cucumber. It's a staple in my fridge because it adds a satisfying crunch to salads and sandwiches, and it's delicious on its own as a simple snack. But before you grab one out of the fridge for your next quick lunch, you might want to double check where you got them from. On May 20, the CDC issued a recall for cucumbers grown by Florida-based company Bedner Growers, Inc. and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc. due to salmonella contamination. This isn't the first time this grower has had a recall, either. Last year a Bedner cucumber recall resulted in more than 550 illnesses. It's not just whole cucumbers you need to look out for, either. In addition to grocery stores such as Walmart, Albertsons, and Kroger, the cucumbers were shipped to restaurants and other facilities, so the recall includes ready-to-eat products made with the contaminated cucumbers. According to the CDC, the recall has led to 26 reported illnesses so far, nine of which led to hospitalizations, across 15 states: California, Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee. Here's exactly what you need to know about which products were affected and what retailers they were sold from. Authentic Greek Salad sold at Acme, Safeway, Kings Food Markets, and Balducci's Food Lovers Market in CT, DE, DC, MD, NJ, NY, PA, and VA with best by dates between 5/23/2025 — 5/24/2025 Ready Meals Greek Salad sold at Shaw's and Star Market in MA, ME, NH, RI, and VT with best by dates between 5/20/2025 — 5/24/2025 Greek Salad sold at Shaw's and Star Market in MA, ME, NH, RI, and VT with best by dates between 5/20/2025 — 5/24/2025 Made-to-order sub sandwiches, wraps, and paninis sold at locations in MA and CT between 5/20/2025 — 5/21/2025 Fresh cucumbers, small and large vegetable trays Yummi Sushi products purchased between 4/29/2025 — 5/14/2025 Multiple products sold under the Snowfruit or Snowfox label at Kroger, Roundy's (Pick n Save and Metro Market), and Weis Market in IN, KY, IL, MI, TN, MS, AR, AL, WI, NJ, PA, WV, DE, MD, VA, and NY including vegetable trays, salads, and bowls. Find a complete list of all the products listed here. 5-pound mesh bags of whole cucumbers sold at Restaurant Depot locations in NJ, GA, FL, IL, and OH Marinated Cucumber Salad (6-ounce, 36-ounce, and 5-pound containers) sold at Food Lion Stores in VA and NC; Harris Teeter in VA; Kroger in VA, WV, OH, and KY; Libbie Market in VA; and Ukrop's Market Hall in VA with a sell by date between 5/11/2025 — 5/26/2025 Marketside Fresh Cut Cucumber Slices sold in TX with dates up to 5/24/2025 Salmonella bacteria causes an infection called salmonellosis, one of the leading causes of foodborne illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States. Salmonella infections are also more popular in the summer when there's warmer weather; foods left out unrefrigerated for long periods of time can cause the bacteria to grow. Common symptoms of salmonella infection include diarrhea, stomach cramps, dehydration, vomiting, and fever higher than 102°F, which typically start between six hours and six days after eating the contaminated food. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms after eating cucumbers, seek medical care. While most people will recover in four to seven days, salmonella poisoning can cause serious infections in children under 5, older individuals aged 65 and older, as well as those with weakened immune systems and underlying conditions. If you have recently purchased any of the products above and believe your cucumbers are contaminated, do not eat them. Throw them away or return them to the retailer you bought them from for a full refund. You should also clean and disinfect any surfaces that came in contact with the cucumbers with hot soapy water. If dining out, ask your server if the cucumbers used in any dish were sourced from Bedner Growers or Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc. The One Cookware Brand That Gordon Ramsay Can't Stop Talking About Do Water Filters Really Work — And Which Ones Are the Best? Ball Just Dropped the Most Beautiful Mason Jars for Its 140th Anniversary ("So Iconic!") Sign up for The Kitchn's Daily newsletter to receive our best recipes, posts, and shopping tips in your inbox.
Miami Herald
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Enormous 19-foot, 250-pound creature is left at California reptile zoo. See it
A creature was dropped off at a California reptile zoo that was so massive, one handler said it was one of the biggest they've ever seen — and might even be the biggest one in the world. 'This is Cucumber. She is our Burmese python here at the Reptile Zoo,' Laura Brewer, operations manager at the zoo, says while sitting right next to the python in a video posted to the zoo's Facebook page May 17. 'She was a donation. We've had her for about four months. She is enormous.' The video shows Brewer sitting between the python and a wall of the snake's enclosure as she compares the size of their bodies. The 19-foot-long, 250-pound snake is so big she wolfs down 10-pound rabbits, Brewer said in the video. 'She may be the largest one,' Brewer says. 'I can't even explain how girthy she is. It's incredible.' Brewer then shows the size of her thigh to the python's body, saying the snake is twice the size. Brewer goes on to explain that Burmese pythons are the third largest snake behind reticulated pythons, which are the longest, and anacondas, which are the heaviest. 'These guys are so cool to be able to interact with because they're actually very sweet,' she said. 'So even though she's such a huge Burmese python, she's been interacted with on and off for the last … I mean her whole life, 25 years.' The zoo did not respond to McClatchy News' request for information about where the python was kept before she was dropped off at the zoo. Brewer said the snake's previous owners mentioned that she loves to relax in water in the summertime. 'With a little bit of socialization, having us come through and be with her, she's tamed down. She's so sweet,' Brewer said. 'We have to be very aware of her, obviously, but it's been cool to be able to sort of formulate that relationship.' Several people in the comments joked about the snake's size — and how easy they thought it looked for her to eat a human. 'Better watch her,' someone said. 'She is big enough to eat you.' Others commented saying they couldn't imagine where the snake had been kept before she was donated to the zoo. 'Dropped off? By who, and why?' someone asked. Fountain Valley is about a 40-mile drive southeast from Los Angeles.
BBC News
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Freddie Fox joins the Whoniverse in Doctor Who season 2
He's appeared in fantasy epics on TV and Shakespearean tragedies on stage, but now Freddie Fox will be jumping aboard the TARDIS with the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) for an adventure in time and space in the upcoming second season of Doctor Who, which will air this year. Since his on-screen debut in 2009, Freddie has appeared in many TV hits including The Gentlemen, The Crown, The Great, Slow Horses, and most recently as Ser Gwayne Hightower in House of the Dragon. In 2015, Freddie appeared as Freddie Baxter in Russell T Davies' Channel 4 dramas Cucumber and Banana. In addition to his TV roles, Freddie has also made a big impact on stage, earning a Laurence Oliver nomination for his role as Tristan Tzara in the revival of Travesties at the Apollo Theatre. Freddie is now heading to the Whoniverse, to play a fearsome villain from another planet in an upcoming episode. Russell T Davies, Showrunner says: 'It's been 10 years since I worked with Freddie on Cucumber, and this is a great way to celebrate the anniversary. He's the most spectacular actor, and he comes to Doctor Who with fury, venom, cunning and a beautiful set of horns. Doctor beware!' Freddie Fox, says: 'I had the most amazing time making this show and feel honoured to have been asked to be a part of Russell's crazy, bonkers, beautiful vision. Added to which, sharing space with the iconic Doctor that is Ncuti Gatwa was special beyond imagining. If audiences enjoy watching it half as much as I did making it, televisions are on course to explode right across the world!" Doctor Who is produced by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for the BBC and Disney Branded Television and will air on 12 April exclusively on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, and on Disney+ outside of the UK (where available). JC/JA2/NH
