Latest news with #PhyllisLogan
Daily Mail
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Eton's begging letter to William and Harry - and how Downton's last series ended in tears: EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE
Old Etonians William and Harry will have received a begging letter from the college provost Sir Nicholas Coleridge asking them to help pay for a new sports complex. The royals, along with other former classmates, parents and friends of Eton, are being asked to make a financial gift to the college. Fingers crossed the boys are more receptive than one Old Etonian who wails: 'We are getting increasingly irritated by Nicholas's quests for money - not least because Eton is not giving any concessions re the VAT but passing it all on to parents.' Zut alors! A diplomatic spat has broken out over the decision to ask French president Emmanuel Macron to speak from Parliament's Royal Gallery during next month's State Visit - not the more historic Westminster Hall. My mole whispers the French wanted the latter as that's where Charles de Gaulle addressed both Houses in 1960. That and the fact that the Royal Gallery is famous for two giant frescoes battles of Waterloo and Trafalgar. 'Tant pis', Emmanuel! Downton Abbey star Phyllis Logan, pictured, recalls weeping with fellow cast members Lesley Nicol (Mrs Patmore) and Sophie McShera (Daisy) after the end of the final series of the soap. 'I remember standing by the make-up truck to get my wig on and we three were stood sobbing into each other's necks for about 20 minutes. And then Jim Carter (butler Carson) made a speech and started breaking up - and that's not Jim at all - and so that set everybody off.' Creator Julian Fellowes was no doubt blubbing all the way to the bank. John Cleese, revealing the hit Hollywood role that got away, says: 'I really am sad about [1988's] Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. I was offered the role... but my second marriage [to late US model Barbara Trentham] was in a mess. I thought, I can't go off and make a movie, I've got to go back and decide whether I'm married or not.' Thrice-divorced Cleese, who later split from Trentham in 1990, ruefully adds: 'It took me about a week... and by that time Michael Caine had got it!' Grayson Perry, mourning Alan Yentob in The Spectator, remembers his 'endearing/infuriating' habit of incessant name-dropping and hanging out with celebrities: 'I once arrived early at some big arts event and immediately encountered Alan. We chatted and then he wandered off only to return ten minutes later. "Couldn't you find anyone more famous to hang out with?" I asked. "No," he said.' Ireland football manager Jack Charlton wangled an audience with Pope John Paul when the team were in Rome for Italia 90. 'Jack wasn't a Catholic,' recalls team player Ray Houghton. 'He fell asleep. When he woke up, the Pope was giving a blessing to everyone in general - and Jack thought it was for him and started waving back!'
Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Phyllis Logan's puzzling whodunnit is like a spoof of Midsomer Murders, says RONALD WHITE
Murder Most Puzzling - Channel 5 About halfway through Murder Most Puzzling, actor Adam Best delivered what is surely the most whodunnit line ever: 'This is DI Hooper. A body has been found in the library.' Found? You'd have to be Chief Inspector Clouseau to have missed it. The bloodied corpse dropped from the balcony during amateur detective Cora Felton's birthday party — straight on top of the giant cake. But never mind the death, a bigger mystery was the party itself. Inspector Hooper's main job in this series is to look cross while telling Cora to mind her own business. Why would he organise her birthday party? And how do you slit a hard-bitten private investigator's throat and heave him over a balcony into a room full of police officers without anybody noticing? Murder Most Puzzling has been compared with the BBC 's hit Ludwig, mainly because Cora — like David Mitchell 's character — is a famous crossword compiler. But that's where the resemblance ends. Crosswords and logic are how Ludwig solves crimes, posing as his identical twin brother. There is also something darker lurking in the background, not to mention the suggestion that Ludwig fancies his sister-in-law. We only knew Phyllis Logan's Cora was a famous puzzler in this episode because everybody kept mentioning it. She could just as well be a celebrity chef. Her red specs were straight out of the Prue Leith eyewear range. This six-parter has none of the subtlety of Ludwig. Sometimes it was like watching a spoof episode of Midsomer Murders. There were some clever twists, but far too much seemed far too unlikely. It's a waste of Phyllis Logan, and at two hours, it's much too long (by contrast, the BBC's Death Valley is only 45 minutes). In last night's episode, Cora was hired to clear the name of a man in prison for killing his girlfriend. I don't want to give too much away, but the mayor of Bakerbury (Richard Croxford) could not have been a more obvious villain if he had a duelling scar, sported a twirly moustache, and stroked a white cat. Cora confronted him alone in his office, and it's a miracle she survived long enough to do this. Her preferred method of solving crimes seems to be meeting suspects in circumstances of obvious danger and asking if they've killed anybody recently. At least she had a gun when confronting one killer, who was caught in the act. Who knew crossword compilers were routinely armed? She also managed to force her way into the office of Mr Peacock, the rather limp governor of Bakerbury Prison and an early suspect, by bribing the guards with biscuits. Presumably, these guards were sacked following this outrageous security breach — and immediately recruited by RAF Brize Norton.
Wales Online
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Inside Phyllis Logan's life from tragic loss to famous film star husband
Inside Phyllis Logan's life from tragic loss to famous film star husband Ahead of Murder Most Puzzling's latest episode on Channel 5, let's take a look at the life of actress Phyllis Logan, who is best known for playing Mrs Hughes in Downton Abbey. Murder Most Puzzling: Official trailer Phyllis Logan has gracefully transitioned from her role as Mrs Hughes in Downton Abbey to lead a charming new crime series. Channel 5 recently premiered Murder Most Puzzling, featuring the talented Scottish actress Phyllis Logan as Cora, an avid crossword enthusiast. Upon relocating to the quaint town of Bakerbury with her niece, Cora soon finds herself exercising her sleuthing prowess, aiding the local constabulary with their cases. As we delve deeper into Murder Most Puzzling, here's what you should know about the star, Phyllis Logan. Early life Born in 1956 in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Logan was the youngest sibling, with a brother named Cameron and a sister called Ann. Her mother Betty and father David, who was both a Rolls-Royce engineer and trade union leader, raised her in a modest background. Article continues below Although she participated in school plays and was part of the film club, it wasn't until a friend's encouragement that Logan considered acting as a viable career path. Married actors Phyllis Logan and Kevin McNally in 2017. (Image: GETTY ) Unexpected Love Island couple favourite to win in surprise twist READ MORE: Speaking to Spokesman, Logan shared: "Because I came from a small town outside Glasgow, nobody from my school had ever gone into the acting profession. "It was just something you didn't do." Tragic loss Her talent shone through at her audition, securing her a spot at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Tragically, Logan's father passed away at 59 when she was only 20, never witnessing her flourish in her acting career. In a conversation with The Guardian, she expressed: "He was in intensive care and on a life-support machine for several months; it was horrible." She also reminisced about her parents during a chat with Spokesman in 2013, stating: "Sadly my father died before I graduated so he didn't see any of the success at all. "And my mum, bless her, who just died two years ago, she was very happy. I think she was proud of me." Famous husband Logan, famed for her roles in Lovejoy, Secrets and Lies, and Another Time, Another Place, met her future husband, actor Kevin McNally, on the set of the 1994 mini-series Love And Reason. McNally, recently seen in Miss Austen and Apartment 7A, is perhaps best recognised for his portrayal of Joshamee Gibbs in the Pirates of the Caribbean series. Having tied the knot in 2011 after welcoming their son David in 1996, Logan admitted she initially had reservations about dating a fellow actor. Speaking to The Guardian, she confessed: "I thought they were vain. "And I'd always sworn I'd never allow an actor across the threshold - but then love doesn't follow rules, does it?" Actress Phyllis Logan is famed for portraying Mrs Hughes in Downton Abbey. (Image: ITV ) Downton Abbey ITV's iconic drama Downton Abbey spanned six successful seasons as it shared the tale of the Crawley family and their servants until its conclusion in 2015. The brand extended with two films, the original launched in 2019 followed by A New Era in 2022. Fans can now anticipate the third and ultimate cinematic instalment, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, hitting screens on September 12, 2025. As audiences prepare themselves for what's anticipated to be an emotional finale, Logan revealed to Radio Times that she won't be shedding tears over the conclusion. She said: "No, because it's probably - no, definitely - time to hang up our Downton keys and say goodbye. "I did love playing that character, so it's sad in a way that I won't be getting into that wig again and putting that chatelaine on.." What's next Alongside her role in Murder Most Puzzling, the 69-year-old actress has another intriguing project underway. Her IMDb page indicates that Logan is set to appear in the forthcoming A Taste For Murder, which is currently under production. The description states: "[A Taste For Murder] follows DCI Joe Mottram, a star detective with the Metropolitan police who, after a personal tragedy, retreats to Capri in Italy with his daughter to stay with his Italian in-laws for the summer." Article continues below In this new venture, Logan will take on the role of Elena Da Vinale and feature with acting talents such as Warren Brown from Luther, Beau Gadson of The Crown, and Cristiana Dell'Anna famed for Gomorrah. Murder Most Puzzling will continue to air every Thursday at 8pm on Channel 5.
Scotsman
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Murder Most Puzzling review: You'll be left puzzled by Channel 5's new crime drama, where Prue Leith meets Taggart
Channel 5's new crime drama Murder Most Puzzling (Channel 5, Thurs, 8pm) is, in itself, a bit of a puzzle. 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... At first glance, it bears all the hallmarks of the 'cosy crime' boom – an English country town with the comfortingly bucolic name of Bakerbury, an amateur sleuth in late middle age, sundry bosy-bodies and bumpkins. But after a sickly-sweet, pastel-hued opening scene, it takes a sudden u-turn to a rain-sodden graveyard, where the shoeless body of a young woman has been found, murdered. And the jarring notes don't stop there. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Cora Felton (Phyllis Logan) is 'The Puzzle Lady' in the new Channel 5 crime drama Murder Most Puzzling (Picture: Channel 5) Our sharp-witted crime-buster, Cora Felton (Phyllis Logan), is known as 'The Puzzle Lady', on account of her being a famous crossword-compiler with a nice – and apparently, lucrative - sideline in baked goods. But when we first encounter her, she is slumped asleep in her car after a drunken night out – thinking nothing of drink-driving through the lanes surrounding Bakerbury to her country home. And rather than being a quiet-as-a-mouse Marple type, content to fade into the background to observe the dark doings of those around her, ex-pat Scot Cora bustles around making herself persona non grata at the local police station, invading the privacy of grieving parents and poking around the crime scenes. Throw in a liberal sprinkling of effing and jeffing, Cora's habit of sparking up a gasper whenever she feels a bit stressed, and a liking for chunky necklaces and bright knitwear and The Puzzle Lady comes on as a cross between Prue Leith and Taggart. Alistair Brammer plays local newspaper reporter Anton Grant in the new Channel 5 crime drama Murder Most Puzzling (Picture: Channel 5) And yes, there's definitely 'bin a murrrrdah'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Three, in fact, all done in with hammer blows, as well as a fatal car crash in the past – which inspires a less-than-cosy, decidedly off-colour visual gag – and talk of sexual role-play gone wrong. Bakerbury, meanwhile, is hardly the Cotswold-stone idyll of Midsomer, or the medieval chapels of Cambridge. It seems more like a down-at-heel market town, with a pee-stained multi-storey car park and a sink estate on the edge of town populated by track-suited yobbos. Cora (Phyllis Logan) consults with niece Sherry (Charlotte Hope) in the new Channel 5 crime drama Murder Most Puzzling (Picture: Channel 5) This uneasy mix of the cosy and the corrupt continues into the supporting cast, with Cora's niece Sherry (Charlotte Hope) hiding a dark secret involving her ne-er-do-well husband, while Cora herself is not really the puzzle lady she's cracked up to be. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The main thing about this murder-mystery, however, is that it finds it hard to sustain interest over its two -hour running time, stretching out the 'crossword clue on the body' mystery before discounting it, the various suspects being questioned and released, questioned and released, and everyone we run into seemingly fancying themselves as a detective. Except, of course, the actual detectives themselves, who are totally dependent on everyone else doing the police work while being shouted at by the dim local mayor in one scene every 15 minutes, regular as clockwork. Phyllis Logan does seem to enjoy playing Cora, though, and at least she is not the stereotypical grey-haired sleuth in pearls and twin-set. She loves knocking back the mid-morning bloody Marys, and you believe her when she lets slip the odd F-word, as if you can take Cora out of the Gorbals, but you can't take the Gorbals out of Cora. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Hair of the dog,' she tells her niece. 'besides, I'm going to need a boost if I'm going to solve this murder.' Condensed to a tight one-hour, Murder Most Puzzling would holds its own, but over two hours you can't ignore the inconsistencies in plot and tone which leaving you feeling slightly down and a bit cross.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What is Murder Most Puzzling? Channel 5 launches Ludwig-style murder mystery show
There are few entirely new concepts in TV, so it's unsurprising that every so often a debut series feels like a déjà vu moment for viewers. Murder Most Puzzling might well spark that sense of familiarity in anyone settling down to watch Channel 5 on Thursday, 19 June as the murder mystery starring Downton Abbey's Phyllis Logan follows a similar premise to Ludwig, a hit for the BBC in 2024. Both comedy-dramas feature an oddball cryptic puzzle writer who joins forces with the police to solve some head-scratching cases. Whether Logan's show can replicate the huge success of the David Mitchell starrer remains to be seen, but if you like quirky sleuths and mind-boggling clues, this could be the series for you. Here's all you need to know about Murder Most Puzzling as it begins on Channel 5. A cryptic crossword enthusiast at odds with social norms joins forces with the police to help solve a series of puzzling murders - no, it's not the second season of BBC's Ludwig, this is Channel 5 offering Murder Most Puzzling. This time, the cruciverbalist in question is Cora Felton, played by Phyllis Logan. She's a Bloody Mary-swilling, chain-smoking brain box who turns out to be a match for local detectives when she tries her hand at sleuthing. Ludwig fans might spot plenty of similarities in this three-part series, but it's actually based on the crime-thriller Puzzle Lady Mysteries novels by Parnell Hall which were published between 1999 and 2019. Hall is a US author, but the TV adaptation couldn't be more British, set in the village of Bakerbury where like Midsomer Murders, there is an unusually high ratio of suspicious deaths in the small community. Downton Abbey's Phyllis Logan is the series star as Cora and she told This Morning on Thursday, 19 June what a fun time she'd had making the series. "It's so punchy and different," she said. "I know it's about murder, but if you can have a comedy side to murder then this is it. She likes a Bloody Mary before just great fun to play a character like that." Logan added: "Everybody can't get enough of (crime drama), and people can't get enough of making it either. But this has got a really lovely twist to it because it's not your straightforward, grisly old crime." Her co-stars include Charlotte Hope as Sherry Carter, Adam Best as DCI Hooper, and Nick Danan and Jack Weise as his police colleagues DS Sam Brody and PC Danny Finley. Logan also welcomed her husband Kevin McNally onto set for the second time in a year as they co-starred again after playing husband and wife in BBC's Miss Austen. She told This Morning: "We started the year last year working together playing Mr and Mrs Austen, and then we finished the year playing a kind of romantically-linked couple in Murder Most Puzzling. It's like bring your husband to work day!" Murder Most Puzzling begins on Channel 5 at 8pm on Thursday, 19 June.
