Latest news with #DeadRingers
Elle
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
'Sirens' Shows We Just Can't Get Enough Of Toxic Sisterhood
Lately, it feels like every time I turn on the TV, a sister is doing something unthinkable. Gaslighting her sibling. Stealing her boyfriend. Faking her own death to ruin her life. Sisterhood, that age-old shorthand for unconditional love, has gone dark – and we can't stop watching. From the calculating twin gynaecologists in Dead Ringers and the scheming siblings of Bad Sisters to the most recent Netflix and Prime thrillers: The Better Sister and Sirens, mainstream culture is fascinated with the kind of bond that cuts both ways – deep love and deeper resentment in one fraught, inseparable package. Because nothing hurts like family, and sisters have an unmatched capability to twist the knife. FIND OUT MORE ON ELLE COLLECTIVE And it's not just on our screens, our bookshelves are also amuck: Esther Freud's My Sister and Other Lovers, lays bare the complex mesh of fear and mistrust between sisters whilst Favourite Daughter by Morgan Dick has two women working together as therapist and patient – with no idea that they're in fact sisters. I should admit upfront: I'm part of the hysteria. In my new novel Selfish Girls, I write the about an uninhibited, dysfunctional family. It's a pressure-cooker narrative about the pain we inflict on those we love most: our sisters. Writing it, I kept asking myself: what happens when a sibling becomes both your witness and your rival? It's true that toxic sisterhood has always been in the narrative fold. From Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? where sibling rivalry curdles into psychological horror, to Atonement and the O'Haras in Gone with the Wind, fiction loves to recognise the emotional volatility built into sisterhood. Even soap operas from Dynasty to EastEnders have mined the vein of sisterly sabotage for decades. We have ancient archetypes of this uneasy alliance with the Graeae: three sisters who shared a single eye and a single tooth, passing them back and forth in a choreography of dependency and distrust. There's something eerily familiar in this arrangement. It mirrors the way sisters – in fiction and real life – must negotiate shared identity, resources, even attention. The myth captures the essence of what today's tales are digging into: how love and resentment often share the same body. If we're in a golden age of complicated women and problematic sisters are the star, where has the sudden surge in interest come from? What links all these stories is a shared fascination with how female closeness can curdle. We're no longer in the land of heart-warming sisterly support (no offence, Little Women). Instead, we're watching women who grew up in each other's shadows, trying to forge identities outside the sibling dynamic, and often failing spectacularly. This duality is exactly what gives these relationships their cataclysmic charge. Sisters know your history; they know your secrets. They share your DNA and your damage. 'Sisters are our first friends and first enemies,' writes Tessa Hadley. And when things go wrong between sisters, it's never just about what's happening now; it's about decades of unspoken competition and those roles inherited in childhood that are never quite escaped. 'When you look in the mirror, your difficult sibling always looks back, though the image is distorted. In the shadows lurk parts of yourself and your past that you don't want to notice. Behind the reflection, silently influencing the interaction, stand your parents, your grandparents, and all their siblings,' writes the psychotherapist, Jeanne Safer, in her book Cain's Legacy: Liberating Siblings from a Lifetime of Rage, Shame, Secrecy, and Regret. How fascinating then, that the crux of our relationship with our sisters is steeped, not just in our own dynamic, but in the lineage of misgivings from the past. Tensions sharpened across generations. Perhaps that's why the emotional pitch of sisterhood can feel so extreme, so polarised, capable of flipping without warning from love to hate. In fiction, these bonds tilt toxic not because sisterhood is broken, but because it's perceived as unbreakable. Sisters have become the stage on which we can rehearse the ethics of our desire – betrayal, manipulation, cruelty is all made permissible by the assumed resilience of the bond. Only a sister could be trusted to hold our most dangerous fantasies and unimaginable transgressions. It's this unique containment, this charged intimacy, that makes for reckless, potent, unfettered (and ultimately interesting) characters. These stories don't erode the sanctity of sisterhood; they prove its strength. Afterall, we would forgive our sister that which we would not forgive anyone. In fiction – if not also in real life - when she fakes her own death, steals your identity, or frames you for a crime she committed – that's not betrayal. That's just not-so-sisterly love. Selfish Girls by Abigail Bergstrom is out on 10 July. Pre-order here. ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE.
Edinburgh Live
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
BBC announce iconic series will return nearly 18 years after being axed
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Celebrating 25 years since its launch, the iconic BBC comedy Dead Ringers is making waves as it prepares for something quite extraordinary. The show, a favourite among fans that has been off-air for nearly two decades, is set to take an exciting new direction. Marking its quarter of a century legacy, Dead Ringers will venture outside the studio for its inaugural UK-wide tour. Renowned for its biting political satire and uncanny impersonations, the series aims to continue delivering laughs to live audiences from across the country. Original cast members such as Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Lewis McLeod, and Duncan Wisbey will lead the expedition, revisiting beloved sketches and providing the top-tier comedy commentary the show is famed for. READ MORE - ITV Helen Flanagan 'dealt huge blow' as she eyes-up return to Coronation Street READ MORE -Paula Radcliffe's daughter's heartbreaking cancer journey as she runs marathon Although the cast have rendezvoused for stage shows in London and the Edinburgh Festival in the past, this impending tour signifies their first full-scale trek around the UK together. The tour not only brings laughter but also stands as a commemoration of Bill Dare, the esteemed creator and producer of Dead Ringers, who tragically passed away this March following an accident abroad. JFL Agency, through which Dare was represented, announced the sad news, with their spokesperson expressing: "We are shocked and greatly saddened to have to announce the death of our brilliant client Bill Dare, who died at the weekend following an accident overseas.", reports Belfast Live. "Our thoughts are with his wife Lucy, daughter Rebecca, and with all of Bill's family and friends who will be devastated by his loss. Bill was a truly legendary producer and writer, and his comedy instincts were second to none." Bill stood as a giant in the world of radio and TV comedy, having played a key role in the creation of seminal shows like The Now Show, Spitting Image, and The Mary Whitehouse Experience. The Dead Ringers crew have shared their excitement about embarking on a tour to honour his legacy. Starting in September, fans can expect a classic mix of satire, mischief, and uncanny impressions that Dead Ringers is celebrated for. Before they take to the stage, the radio iteration of Dead Ringers is set to air this June on BBC Radio 4's Friday Night Comedy. It's important to note that the tour will offer an exclusive live experience that won't be broadcast. The TV version of Dead Ringers was axed in 2009 after seven series. At the time, leading lady Jan Ravens remarked: "It's bizarre, there was no announcement or anything. "The producer just rang me and said it's not going to be re-commissioned. It would be nice to make an announcement or do a farewell edition of the show." Throughout its nine-year run, Jan masterfully mimicked a host of personalities, from Amy Winehouse to Ann Robinson, showcasing her remarkable talent for impersonation.
Daily Mirror
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
BBC hit comedy set for return after 18 years - but with a huge twist
The cast of a popular TV and radio series are set for a big reunion after it the BBC show unexpectedly axed over a decade ago - but there is a twist in its return A popular BBC comedy series is set to make a return after 18 years off air. However, fans won't take in the show in the same way as bosses have announced a big change. To celebrate its 25th anniversary, a former BBC Radio 4' show is taking to the road. The multi-award-winning topical satire show Dead Ringers is heading on full UK tour for the first time. The tour will feature long-standing cast members Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Lewis McLeod, and Duncan Wisbey. It will take its audience on a journey through a quarter century of classic sketches, uncanny impressions, and the cutting-edge political and cultural satire that has defined the series. While the format's stars have previously performed together on stage shows, including in London and at the Edinburgh Festival, the upcoming tour will be the first of its kind for the show. The tour will be a tribute to Dead Ringers creator and producer Bill Dare, who died suddenly in March. In a statement Dare's agent JFL Agency confirmed he died, with has spokesperson saying at the time: 'We are shocked and greatly saddened to have to announce the death of our brilliant client Bill Dare, who died at the weekend following an accident overseas. 'Our thoughts are with his wife Lucy, daughter Rebecca, and with all of Bill's family and friends who will be devastated by his loss. Bill was a truly legendary producer and writer, and his comedy instincts were second to none.' Bill was a legendary figure in radio & TV comedy having also been behind such classic series as The Now Show, Spitting Image, and The Mary Whitehouse Experience. Now, the Dead Ringers team say they are honoured to hit the road to celebrate his work in this way. Audiences are set to watch the trademark Dead Ringers mix of wit, mischief, and impressions when it hits the road in September. Before that, the radio show returns in all its topical glory this June on BBC Radio 4 as part of Friday Night Comedy. This tour is a special event and will not be for broadcast. The TV series of the show was axed in 2009 after seven series. Star Jan Ravens revealed at the time: "It's bizarre, there was no announcement or anything. "The producer just rang me and said it's not going to be re-commissioned. It would be nice to make an announcement or do a farewell edition of the show." Jan took on the mimicking roles from characters including Amy Winehouse to Ann Robinson during its nine years on air.
Wall Street Journal
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
‘The Shrouds' Review: David Cronenberg Peers Into the Grave
The term 'body horror' was first used, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, in a 1983 essay about Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg, and that was before he made the movie that shows a woman giving birth to a maggot (the remake of 'The Fly,' 1986), the one about twin gynecologists who use an array of exotic surgical tools that look like torture instruments ('Dead Ringers,' 1988), or the one about people who seek car crashes for erotic thrills ('Crash,' 1996). Mutation, disfiguration and amputation are Mr. Cronenberg's bread and butter. After 50 years in feature filmmaking, Mr. Cronenberg at age 82 is continuing to play with what seems fair to call an obsession. In 'The Shrouds,' he devises one of his wittier setups, and the film at first promises to be uncharacteristically light and wry, almost a self-sendup. Karsh, who as played by Vincent Cassel looks a lot like Mr. Cronenberg, is a grieving Toronto widower (as Mr. Cronenberg has been since losing his wife eight years ago) haunted by dreams about his beautiful wife, Becca (Diane Kruger). You know you're in Mr. Cronenberg's twisted world when Karsh casually talks to his dentist about looking at X-rays of her dentistry, as though this might provide him some relief.
BBC News
30-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
BBC Audio Drama Award winners announced along with plans for new monthly 90-minute play on BBC Radio 4
The BBC has revealed the winners of the 2025 Audio Drama Awards, celebrating the exceptional talent and creativity in the field of audio drama and comedy, in a ceremony tonight (30th March) hosted by actor and comedian Miles Jupp at the iconic Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House. The BBC's Chief Content Officer, Charlotte Moore, gave a speech emphasising the BBC's commitment to audio drama and announced plans to launch a monthly 90-minute play slot starting later in the spring on BBC Radio 4, which will focus on new dramas and original adaptations of classic stage plays. These will sit alongside the very best of the recent archive, allowing new and existing listeners the opportunity for a deep dive into this beloved genre. "For over 100 years, the BBC has been a pioneer in audio drama, and today we remain the largest commissioner of audio drama globally – and our commitment to new writing remains unparalleled. In the last year alone we've featured the work of 30 new writers and broadcast 118 new titles, ranging from single dramas to 10-part series," said Moore. "While we celebrate our rich heritage and legacy, we must also embrace the evolving digital audio landscape to ensure the continued success of audio drama and its home on BBC Sounds. We will persist in championing new writing and talent, providing opportunities for emerging voices as well as established names across our networks, to deliver the very best to our listeners. I'm thrilled that the new 90-minute play slot on Radio 4 will bring the power of longform audio drama to many millions more listeners.' The ceremony also included a posthumous Outstanding Contribution award for much-missed producer Bill Dare, given in recognition of his huge influence on comedy, and particularly his contribution to audio comedy on BBC Radio 4. Dare, who tragically passed away earlier this month following an accident overseas, leaves behind a legacy of award-winning satirical programmes for radio and TV, including Dead Ringers, which is set to mark its 25th anniversary on Radio 4 later this year, Spitting Image, and recent Radio 4 comedy The Island starring Stephen Mangan. Julia McKenzie, BBC Radio 4's Commissioner for Comedy, said, "Bill Dare's contribution to comedy is unparalleled. He brought joy to so many listeners and his unique talent is hugely missed. This award is a tribute to his legendary status and the immense impact he had on comedy, at BBC Radio 4 and beyond." Moore also presented an Outstanding Contribution award to the podcast drama Central Intelligence, written by Greg Haddrick, produced by John Scott Dryden and Emma Hearn, and executive-produced by Howard Stringer and Jeremy Fox for Goldhawk Productions. The drama was recognised for the sheer scale of its ambition and its success with digital listeners, with over 2.5 million plays. Kim Cattrall, who stars in the series as narrator Eloise Page, was present to celebrate the series' win. Central Intelligence has been a smash hit with listeners on BBC Sounds and is part of the Limelight series of podcast dramas, which showcases fresh approaches to serialized storytelling from the very best new and established writing, acting, and production talents, and consistently ranks in the top ten most-listened-to podcasts on BBC Sounds. It returns for a second series on 20th June. Also amongst the winners was BAFTA and Emmy-award winner Sean Bean, who received the Best Actor award for his role in Antigone by Jean Anouilh. Anouilh's powerful reworking of the classic Greek play, which was an instant success when first staged in Paris in 1944, showcased Bean's exceptional talent for audio acting. Cecilia Appiah won Best Actress for her portrayal of Carol in Oleanna, David Mamet's most controversial play. Oleanna is an incendiary exploration of gender, education, class, power, and perception, which divided audiences but captured the zeitgeist. Appiah's compelling performance was a hit with listeners and praised by the judges. Alison Hindell, Radio 4's Commissioner for Drama and Fiction, said, 'Tonight we celebrate the huge variety of audio drama as a genre – from gripping new podcasts to classic plays – and the people who work so hard to bring brilliant audio drama to the BBC's audiences. The future of audio drama looks bright, with listeners' interest in the genre continuing to grow, and the BBC is here to champion it all the way.' Full List of Winners of the 2025 Audio Drama Awards: • Best Original Single Drama: The Invitation by Katherine Chandler, produced by John Norton, for BBC Audio Wales & West. Special commendation for Nearly Light by Kit Withington, produced by Jelena Budimir at Naked Productions for BBC Radio 4. • Best Original Series or Serial: Life Lines by Al Smith, produced by Sally Avens at BBC Studios Audio London for BBC Radio 4. • Best Adaptation: Tam O'Shanter by Robert Burns, adapted by Gary McNair, produced by Kirsty Williams for BBC Audio Scotland. Special commendation for Love and Information by Caryl Churchill, produced by Mary Peate and Jessica Dromgoole at Hooley Productions for BBC Radio 4. • Best Actor: Sean Bean for his role in Antigone, directed by Pauline Harris at BBC Studios Audio London for BBC Radio 3. • Best Actress: Cecilia Appiah for her role in Oleanna, directed by Gary Brown for BBC Studios Audio Salford. Special commendations for Michelle Fairley in Hello, I Appear to Have Killed My Husband, directed by Kirsty Williams for BBC Audio Scotland, and Kate O'Flynn in Spores, directed by Nicolas Jackson at Afonica for BBC Radio 3. • Best Comedy Performance: Rosie Cavaliero in The Train at Platform 4, produced by James Robinson at BBC Studios Audio for BBC Radio 4. • The Marc Beeby Award for Best Debut Performance: Mae Munuo in Tribe of Two, directed by Jesse Fox at Afonica for BBC Radio 4. • Best Sitcom or Comedy Drama: Rum Punch by Travis Jay, produced by Daisy Knight at Avalon for BBC Radio 4. • Best Stand Up or Sketch Comedy: Janey Godley: the C Bomb Series 2 by Janey Godley with Ashley Storrie, produced by Richard Melvin at Dabster Productions for BBC Radio 4. Special commendation for Munya Chawawa's Election Doom Scroll by Munya Chawawa, Matthew Crosby, James Farmer, and Joe McArdle, produced by Jo Maney and Ben Wicks at Expectation TV for BBC Radio 4. • Best Use of Sound: Restless Dreams, sound by Eloise Whitmore, produced by Eloise Whitmore and Polly Thomas at Naked Productions for BBC Radio 4. • Best Podcast Audio Drama: The Skies Are Watching, written and produced by Jon Frechette and Todd Luoto at Goldhawk Productions for BBC Radio 4. Special commendation for Central Intelligence by Greg Haddrick, produced by John Scott Dryden and Emma Hearn at Goldhawk Productions, and executive-produced by Howard Stringer and Jeremy Fox, for BBC Radio 4. Central Intelligence also received an Outstanding Contribution Award. • Best European Drama: The Fall of Lapinville by Benjamin Abitan, produced by Chloé Asous-Plunian for Arte Radio, France. • Imison Award: Tether by Isley Lynn, produced by Fay Lomas at BBC Audio Wales and West for BBC Radio 4. • Tinniswood Award: Man Friday by Edson Burton, produced by Mary Ward-Lowery at BBC Audio Wales and West for BBC Radio 4. About the BBC Audio Drama Awards: The BBC Audio Drama Awards celebrate the passionate and dedicated work of professionals who bring this artform to listeners - from actors to writers, producers and sound designers. Previous winners include Rosamund Pike, Susan Wokoma, Miriam Margolyes, Juliet Aubrey, Bridget Christie, Edmund Davies, Phil Wang, Danny Sapani, John Hurt and many more. The BBC once again joined with the Society of Authors and Writers' Guild of Great Britain to present the two annual writing awards run by these organisations, the Imison Award (for best script by a writer new to audio) and the Tinniswood Award (for the best audio script of the year). The BBC has compiled a timeline of key audio drama moments from the past century, which can be found here FK
