Latest news with #ReachScreenTime
Daily Mirror
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
SAS Rogue Heroes creator shares update on season 3 of hit BBC WWII drama
Reach Screen Time spoke exclusively to SAS Rogue Heroes' creator Steven Knight The creative genius behind the BBC 's action drama SAS Rogue Heroes has given fans an update on the forthcoming third outing, based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Ben Macintyre. In an exclusive interview with Reach Screen Time, Steven Knight said: 'I'm just completing the script as we speak. We start shooting very, very soon. 'It's the next stage. It's France and again it's coming together quite beautifully.' The BBC renewed SAS Rogue Heroes back in April following a successful second outing, with the next instalment focusing on the SAS under the command of the mercurial real-life soldier Paddy Mayne (played by Jack O'Connell). The acclaimed writer is also behind the global smash hit Peaky Blinders, with Knight teasing the forthcoming movie as 'brilliant' and he admitted he was very pleased with how the big-screen outing had turned out. Netflix has yet to confirm a release date for the film, which sees Saltburn's Barry Keoghan, Hollywood star Tim Roth, and Silo's Rebecca Ferguson joining the cast alongside Oscar winner Cillian Murphy and the stars of the TV show who reprise their roles. While fans wait, they can catch another spin-off from the Birmingham gangster franchise: Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby. The 2022 acclaimed stage production is coming to the iconic Sadler's Wells Theatre next month for a limited run. The production follows Tommy Shelby (played by Murphy in the TV series) and his tragic love story with Grace Burgess (Annabelle Wallis). The ballet was borne from a collaboration between Knight and Benoit Swan Pouffer , the artistic director of renowned dance troupe Rambert after the company was brought on for an episode of Peaky Blinders. Reflecting on writing the script, Knight said he sat down and thought about what he 'would like to see' and how to 'tell the story without words'. With the help of Swan Pouffer, who Knight described as a 'genius', the dance show came together. The writer and director and praised the power of dance and movement in telling the story without words. Since then, the production has been put on in various countries across Europe, and Knight said the show had been received with 'equal rapture' and standing ovations - even for matinee performances. He is now booked and busy on various projects, including Netflix's upcoming historical drama House of Guinness which has been described as Succession meets Peaky Blinders with Grantchester's James Norton. Knight is also working on several projects and addressed how he manages to balance writing multiple scripts at the same time. He explained: 'I am able to turn the page quite easily. In other words, I can two do weeks on one project and when that's done, I can go and do a different project and feel they're completely different energy, different source material. 'It does happen. I can turn one off and turn the other one on, which is fortunate but I can't do like two in the same day or something like that. That would be impossible, so it's setting up your mind in a particular way.'
Daily Record
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Graham McTavish reflects on Outlander journey as series comes to an end
Reach Screen Time spoke to the Outlander star about his time on the series An Outlander star has recently shared insights into their experience with the colossal historical drama series, reports the Scottish Daily Express. Graham McTavish, known for his portrayal of Clan War Chieftain Dougal MacKenzie, opened up about the internationally acclaimed series approaching its conclusion. Speaking to Reach Screen Time, he commented: "Well, it's a sort of strange one because I've kind of been leaving Outlander for years and they keep bringing me back. It's like Al Pacino in The Godfather Part III, they keep pulling me back in." He revealed with amusement: "I think the best was when they rang me and said, 'Oh, we want you to play your own bastard son' and I was like, 'Okay.'". Open to various opportunities, he remarked: "I mean, I'm up for anything really and it was great fun to do it, and it was great fun to go back to the flashback episode stuff in season seven." McTavish noted: "Well, you never really leave Outlander that's the thing I've learnt, because there's so many people that come into it. Even very recently I met people the other day just watching season one. So it's a continual mushrooming of the fandom." The actor emphasised the enduring impact of the show, sharing: "There's literally not a day that doesn't go by when people stop me to talk about Outlander. Every day and in every possible part of the world, in the most unlikely places." Reflecting on the sustained popularity of Outlander, he stated it was "remarkable" to see the growth of its fan base, especially as the show is poised to enter its eighth and climactic season – highlighting the formidable reach of streaming platforms. McTavish first caught the attention of network Starz for their action-packed pirate series Black Sails, but he was already committed to The Hobbit film series at the time. When Starz approached him for a role in Outlander, a historical drama set in Scotland's rugged Highlands, McTavish was "absolutely" onboard to join. The next step took him to London for a chemistry read with Sam Heughan, who had already secured his spot on Outlander. Reflecting on the meeting, McTavish shared, "It just went really, really well. We got on straight away. He was very, very warm, very welcoming, very generous and we had a great time,". After securing his role, he along with fellow cast members engaged in Highland bootcamp, diving deep into Diana Gabaldon's vivid universe. McTavish has admitted: "The thing that I would emphasise is that nobody, when we were making [Outlander] especially the first season, really had any idea how it would be received." He elaborated on the pressures they faced: "We were aware of the huge fan following that the books had and we had that kind of weight of responsibility in that respect, but we didn't know whether people would like it." The actor then spoke about the challenge of gauging the show's potential success from within its production: "When you're inside something like that, it's very difficult to get a view from the outside of what is this going to be like." Concluding with appreciation for the team, he remarked: "We were very lucky with all the people we were working with. It's just been a real phenomenon. It's been wonderful." The cast and crew of Outlander have wrapped up filming for the final season, although Starz has yet to announce a release date. In the interim, Starz will broadcast its 10-episode prequel series, Outlander: Blood of My Blood. This series is set years prior to the original drama's timeline and delves into the lives of Jamie (portrayed by Heughan) and Claire Fraser's (Caitríona Balfe) parents. Unlike Outlander, which is based on existing source material, Blood of My Blood is an entirely new creation. The narrative centres around the romance between Brian Fraser (Jamie Roy) and Ellen MacKenzie (Harriet Slater) in 17th century Scotland, as well as the World War I love story between Henry Beauchamp (Jeremy Irvine) and Julia Moriston (Hermione Corfield) amidst the trenches. The series will also introduce younger versions of characters such as Dougal (Sam Retford), Colum MacKenzie (Séamus McLean Ross), Ned Gowan (Conor MacNeill), Lord Lovat (Tony Curran), and Jocasta Cameron (Sadhbh Malin).
Daily Record
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Outlander star details 'disturbing' new role away from series in psychological thriller film
Outlander fan favourite Graham McTavish has opened up his new role in his upcoming film which is premiering this week. Outlander star Graham McTavish, best known for his role as War Clan Chieftain Dougal MacKenzie in the Starz show, has shared details about his new venture. The 64-year-old Scots actor is set to play a very different character in his upcoming movie Dirty Boy. The film follows the dark story of a boy called Isaac, played by Stan Steinbichler, who is a reclusive schizophrenic raised by a cult that are now framing him for a string of ritualistic murders. Isaac must discover the truth about his real parents and clear his name before time runs out, all while trying to overcome obstacles from both the cult and his alter-ego Frankie. The Outlander star plays the evil cult leader Walter Wentworth, the patriarch of the religious group who manipulates everything behind the scenes. During an interview with Reach Screen Time, McTavish said he was "immediately drawn" to Doug Rao's script, who also directed Dirty Boy. While some brand Dirty Boy as a "horror", McTavish said it's "much more than that", likening it to a psychological thriller, the Express reports. He added: "But it's very disconcerting, very disturbing and you just keep feeling like something really bad is about to happen." McTavish has played numerous villains throughout his acting career but McTavish says Dirty Boy's Walter is among the most despicable due to his irredeemable traits, even drawing comparisons with the infamous American child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The actor said: "There are parallels you could draw with a character like Wentworth with Jeffrey Epstein and that kind of world. Epstein didn't create a cult, but that sort of giving yourself permission to do anything and feeling that there will be no consequences, and that's what people like Wentworth do." He further remarked on how individuals like Epstein would "rationalise" their actions into a "story they tell themselves", labelling this as the "root of evil". Unlike some of his past villainous roles, the actor admitted he is finding it "hard to justify anything he's doing", making the part "very difficult" to play. Reflecting on one of the most disturbing scenes in Dirty Boy, McTavish spoke about the moment when Walter gazes at himself in a mirror while awaiting cult member Hope, played by Honor Gillies, before a sex ritual. He said: "It's very creepy. He's not looking in the mirror to see if he has any blemishes, he's just staring at himself, like that phrase 'staring into the abyss." Dirty Boy was filmed back in 2023 amidst the gorgeous scenery of Lake Grundlsee in Austria. The film's star studded cast also includes Netflix's Apple Cider Vinegar and Wentworth Prison actress Susie Porter, Olivia Chenery of Penny Dreadful and Queen fame, Hetty Feather's Ava Merson-O'Brien, along with Ruaridh Aldington, Heidi Rolph-Stott, Alice Lucy, Katharina Scheuba, and Michael Kodi Farrow. The independent film is set to make its UK debut at the Raindance Film Festival this weekend, before gracing cinemas in August. McTavish is currently working on various projects, including two films, his Bourbon brand McTavish Spirits, and a role in Starz's sequel series Spartacus: House of Ashur, set to premiere this autumn.
Daily Record
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Inside one of Scotland's most controversial murder cases which split small community
As The Orkney Assassin airs on Amazon Prime, Reach Screen Time speaks to two people involved in the case One of Scotland's most notorious murder cases is once again under scrutiny, thanks to a new documentary from Prime Video, reports the Scottish Daily Express. The Orkney Assassin delves into the chilling 1994 murder of Shamsuddin Mahmood, a waiter at the Indian restaurant Mumtaz in Kirkwall. Mahmood, a 26 year old Bangladeshi national, was brutally shot by a masked man in front of horrified diners, including families with children. Planning to return to Bangladesh and marry his girlfriend, Mahmood had previously worked on the island the year before his untimely death. After the shocking crime, the gunman disappeared into the night, leaving a lasting impact on the island that still resonates today. Michael Ross, who was just 15 at the time of the murder, was initially questioned by police but subsequently released. However, after a lengthy 14-year investigation, ex-Black Watch soldier Ross was finally convicted for the murder in 2008. In a dramatic turn of events, Ross attempted to flee the court following the guilty verdict, nearly making it out the door before being apprehended. A stash of weapons and camping equipment was later discovered in a vehicle hired by Ross in a nearby supermarket car park, which he claimed was part of his plan to escape and live off the land rather than face imprisonment. Ross is currently serving a 25-year sentence at HMP Shotts in Lanarkshire, one of Scotland's highest security prisons. He has made three escape attempts, which he claims were efforts to bring his case back into the public eye. Despite his conviction, Ross has always maintained his innocence. His family, including father and former policeman Eddy Ross, mother Moira, and other members of the Orkney community are campaigning for his release as part of the J4MR - Justice 4 Michael Ross group. Reach Screen Time exclusively interviewed both local newspaper reporter Ethan Flett and prosecutor Brian McConnachie KC, who provided further insights into the case that continues to divide the Orkney Island community. Flett, who keeps a close eye on the case as new information comes to light, commented: "I think there's quite a split in the community between those that think Ross is guilty and those that think he's innocent." Discussing why doubts persist about Ross' guilt despite the conviction, Flett observed: "There are a lot of inconsistencies and unanswered questions surrounding the case and the investigations that preceded the trial, dubious witnesses whose evidence seems to be rather important in the case, changing positions. Things like that got my interest in that." The journalist from Orkney's longest-running newspaper The Orcadian also noted that despite the "thorough police work" in the unprecedented case, "certain things were missed that look quite important", as well as issues with how the case was managed. Prosecutor McConnachie shared Flett's concerns about the divisions within the local community, stating: "I suspect it still does affect people." Although McConnachie is not an Orkney resident, he noted: "I think there's always going to be two sides." As the case took place in a relatively small community, McConnachie observed that it would inevitably impact the local atmosphere, with people holding differing views on Ross' innocence or guilt, particularly since his family still resides there. McConnachie described the Orkney murder as a "challenging" case and his most high-profile one, saying: "The number of times I have been asked about the case is incredible by comparison to any other case I've ever been involved in." Regarding the ongoing interest in the case, McConnachie attributed it to the fact that "I think because things keep happening" including Ross' multiple escape attempts, the most recent being in 2018. Addressing the lingering doubts about Ross' guilt, McConnachie stated: "I certainly haven't seen anything since the trial back in 2008 that suggests to me that the jury got it wrong." McConnachie further noted: "If you are trying to look for things that point towards guilt, then you might look at the circumstances of the last day of the trial, and the motor vehicle that he had and the things he had in them when he tried to escape from the court - never mind trying to escape from the prison. That there's something unnerving about what was contained within the car." Touching on the unwavering campaigns for Ross's freedom, he remarked, "I think if you are a family member and somebody is convicted and they tell you there are innocent, then the likelihood is that you are going to take their position on it and perhaps try and assist them as best you can in overcoming what they see as being a miscarriage of justice." Audiences are now able to watch The Orkney Assassin, which offers a comprehensive examination into the harrowing murder case and considers both perspectives.
