Latest news with #RiptonStalker
The Herald Scotland
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Then Gordon Kennedy, of Absolutely, was found dead. It was bonkers TV
Full disclosure: I'm an eejit. Before the first of four parts was over it did not need the powers of Sherlock Holmes to see The Game was a rum do. Jason Watkins played DI Huw Miller, a chap so dull he couldn't get anyone to attend his retirement bash. Miller was leaving under a cloud, having failed to catch The Ripton Stalker, a serial killer who made his victims think they were going mad. He was so arrogant he even had a catchphrase: 'Catch you later'. As we saw in a flashback, it was the last thing poor Huw heard before the stalker bashed him over the head and escaped. Back in the present, only Miller's young colleague Jenny (Amber James) made an effort to mark his retirement. 'I don't know what old men like,' she said, handing over cufflinks to the 55-year-old. Ouch, but also quite funny. It was similarly promising when Gordon Kennedy, of Absolutely fame, turned up as Huw's neighbour, Frank. But then Huw found Frank dead in the bath. Never mind, because Frank's house was bought by Patrick Harbottle (Robson Green), a regular charmer with the ladies. 'I like getting hot and sweaty,' said one neighbour as she offered to help him move in. Not everyone fell for Patrick's charms. There was something about the new arrival that made Huw's spidey senses tingle, especially Patrick's use of the phrase 'Catch you later'. Was the game of cat and mouse on again, or was Huw imagining things, just like before? Read more Green had a smashing time playing smoothie chops Patrick, even if he was hardly Max Cady and this was no Cape Fear. With his polo neck and leather blouson, Patrick looked like he had wandered in from an episode of The Sweeney. Watkins had a tougher task with his nervy ex-copper. He was far better, more muted, playing another Everyman tested beyond his limits in the drama Coma. Here, he seemed to have only two gears, one and fifth, and he made a right racket changing up and down. Helping to keep Huw and the drama in general on an even keel was the ever-reliable Sunetra Sarker (Casualty) as the ex-copper's wife, Alice. Her growing scepticism about Patrick kept the drama watchable long after everything else had gone to pot. They've been together now for 25 years, an' it don't seem a day too much. Apart from her effing and jeffing, him splitting his trousers, and her obsession with knocking down walls, that is. To mark the quarter of a century since Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer were joined together in unholy telly matrimony, Location, Location, Location Night (Channel 4, Wednesday) gave viewers a tour of the show and the couple's partnership. (Image: Phil Spencer and Kirstie Allsopp celebrated 25 years together in Location, Location, Location night.) Beans were duly spilled. 'We have never been an item,' declared Kirstie. 'But we are very good friends,' said Phil, finishing her sentence in true married style. 'Most of the time'. Whether they are secretly a couple is one of the questions the pair are most often asked. That, and 'Is Phil as nice as he seems?' No and yes were the answers. Of the four programmes, the look back at the recent history of house buying offered the best value. The show's original title was The Great House Hunt, but after a few pronunciations went badly wrong, this was changed to Location, Location, Location. The year was 2000 and the average house price was £78,000. Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive even if there was no internet and they had to use phone boxes. Couple after couple came along, all different but looking for the same thing: a hand to hold while they took the terrifying leap into buying a place. And help K&P did, as we saw with various case studies, including a couple who traded their flat in London for a house in Arrochar. That so many of the home hunters were still together was a testament to the strength of their relationships and, I'd like to think, the quality of K&P's advice. What one forgets about this pair, but which soon became evident as they talked us through the boom and bust years, is that they genuinely know their stuff. The fascinating facts continued. Did you know that they give house hunters their personal phone numbers? The only rule, said Kirstie, was not to phone while drunk. Only one person had broken it: a bloke at the races, showing off to his pals. As for regrets, they had a few. In Kirstie's case it was evangelising for open plan living, only for Covid to come along. The night finished with a rerun of the first show, featuring a hunt for a one-bedroom flat in Hackney. I'd like to say Phil had hair back then, but no. Kirstie, however, was a stone-cold fox, a young Julie Burchill lookalike in shades, knee-high boots and a killer fringe. Kate the renter eventually found her place for grand sum of £103,000. What the place is worth 25 years on I'd hate to say, but Kirstie and Phil will always be gold. The obsession with property continued as Scotland's Home of the Year (BBC1, Monday) reached the halfway mark. Back in the olden days of 2019, the year SHOTY began, it did not take much to impress viewers. A cleverly placed skylight or nicely restored parquet flooring was enough to send us racing to B&Q, ready to recreate the look. But these days, don't even think of coming through the door unless you know your enfilade from your Zellige tiles, your Eames combo from your Togo sofa. In Scotland, in some parts at least, we're all design freaks now. The judges were in Central and Tayside, where the first stop was the Tree House in Broughty Ferry. Designed by a young architect 60 years ago for his own family, the modernist building had lain empty for five years till Jackie and Paul came along to restore it and add some magic of their own. For judge Danny it was love at first sight. An architect by trade, Danny is usually the first to wheel out his specialist knowledge, but this time he was beaten to the punch by fellow judge and interior designer Anna. 'It's a classic modernist move to connect spaces with partial walls, setting the rooms up enfilade,' she announced. 'Enfilade?' asked Banjo. 'It means without corridors,' said Anna. Not wishing to be left out, Danny started banging on about 'clean lines' and 'creating volumes'. (Image: The Tree House in Broughty Ferry offered a masterclass in modernism. Image: BBC Scotland) On to the kitchen and even Banjo, normally a plain-speaking sort, felt the need to stick his design oar in, praising the Zellige tiles. A quick Google search revealed these to be Moroccan and known for their 'irregularity of appearance' or, to use a more familiar term, wonkiness. All we wanted to see was the rest of the house - gorgeous - before stopping off at The Dairy, a farm steading conversion in Deanston near Doune. With its hand-painted animal wallpaper, Welsh blankets and tray of empire biscuits, The Dairy restored the mood to cosy silliness as usual. The Carriage House, a Victorian conversion in Auchterarder, was the final contender. Audrey and Malcolm's home had some oddly shaped rooms. In the TV room the sofas were away from the walls and placed at a 45 degree angle. Banjo's inner feng shui alarm started to ping. 'I don't know if that's the way to do it,' he said. Did we care? Not much. They spent so long assessing furniture angles there was hardly any time to praise the jewel in the crown - the garden. I know it's Scotland's home of the year and not Scotland's garden, but maybe there is scope for another programme along those lines. With the original SHOTY now so highfalutin, getting back to basics could be just the thing. The winner was never in any doubt, with The Tree House five points clear of the other contenders. Next week, the show is in the Highlands and Islands. What are our chances of spotting shadow gap skirting there?
The Herald Scotland
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Robson Green is back on TV in The Games - a drama so bad it is good
Continues till Thursday A few weeks ago, I reviewed The Feud, a six-part thriller about the building of a kitchen extension. Seriously. A kitchen extension. I ventured that 5's dramas had now become so bonkers they had entered the strange territory of 'so bad they were good'. Clever old 5, sending itself up and giving us a laugh in the process; what would those genre-bending commissioning editors think of next? Full disclosure: I'm an eejit. With two parts down and the same to go, it doesn't need the powers of Sherlock Holmes to see The Game is a rum do. Jason Watkins plays DI Huw Miller, a chap so dull he can't get anyone to attend his retirement bash. Miller was leaving under a cloud, having failed to catch The Ripton Stalker, a mess with your mind type of serial killer who made his victims think they were going mad. He was so arrogant he even had a catchphrase: 'Catch you later'. It was the last thing poor Huw heard before the stalker bashed him over the head and escaped. Back in the present, only Miller's young colleague Jenny (Amber James) made an effort to mark his retirement. 'I don't know what old men like,' she said, handing over a pair of cufflinks to the 55-year-old. Ouch, but also quite funny. Read more It was similarly promising when Gordon Kennedy, of Absolutely fame, turned up as Huw's pal and neighbour, Frank. But then Huw found Frank dead in the bath. Never mind, because Frank's house was bought by Patrick Harbottle (Robson Green), a regular charmer with the ladies. 'I like getting hot and sweaty,' confessed one woman neighbour as she offered to help the new arrival move in. Not everyone falls for Patrick's charms. There's something about him that makes Huw's spidey senses tingle, especially his use of the phrase 'Catch you later'. Is the game of cat and mouse on again, or is Huw imagining things, just like before? Green has a smashing time playing smoothie chops Patrick, even if he is hardly Max Cady and this is no Cape Fear. Watkins has a tougher task on his hands with his nervy ex-copper. He was much better, more muted, playing another Everyman tested beyond his limits in the drama Coma. Here, he seems to have only two gears, one and fifth, and he makes a right racket changing up and down. Helping to keep Huw and the drama in general on an even keel was the ever-reliable Sunetra Sarker (Casualty) as the ex-copper's wife, Alice. Her growing scepticism about Patrick is one of the drama's most promising developments. Every now and then, there's a mad moment where comedy seems to be reasserting itself, as when one neighbour asks Huw to babysit her kids because she is in desperate need of a mani-pedi. It comes to nothing, alas. Green, Watkins and Sarker head a pretty decent cast who are not given enough credible things to do and say. In the game of stripped 5 dramas, those are losing moves in anyone's book.
Daily Mirror
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Channel 4's Virgin Island proves the point that not everything should be on TV
The weather may be hotting up outside, but there's every reason to stay in for a night on the sofa with thrilling new dramas, hard-hitting documentaries and shiny talent shows on our screens. With so much to choose from, I have handpicked the best of the box from big broadcasters like BBC and ITV, as well as streaming services - from Netflix to Prime Video. Tonight, Robson Green plays a charming new neighbour who may or may not be a murderer, while Chris Packham explores ADHD and dyslexia in a new documentary and adult virgins join a reality show to pop their cherries. See below for my top telly picks. This gripping cat and mouse thriller starring Robson Green, Jason Watkins and Sunetra Sarker will have you hooked all week. It follows former detective Huw (Watkins), who is still haunted by the one case that he failed to solve - a stalker who taunted his town, toying with his victims before brutally killing them. As Huw tries to settle into retirement alongside his wife Alice (Sarker), the case of the Ripton Stalker is never far from his mind. And then, when new neighbour Patrick Harbottle (Green) moves in and utters the chilling phrase 'Catch you later' - the stalker's infamous sign off in his letters to the frustrated detective - Huw is convinced that he's finally got his man and starts to spiral. What follows is a high stakes game of psychological chess between the neighbours as Huw tries to unearth the truth. He simply cannot shake the feeling that he is on to something. But has he got the right man, or has his obsession pushed him to the brink? Robson says: 'It's about affirmation and validation. People do the most brutal and destructive things to gain notoriety.' In tonight's first creepy episode, DI Huw Miller retires without much ceremony and a feeling of unfinished business. He then finds his neighbour dead in an apparent suicide - quite a discovery for day one of retirement. Shortly afterwards the handsome and enigmatic Patrick moves in. And he's such a charming guy - TV code for trouble. With a stellar cast and pacy plot, this is a deliciously dark psychological drama. On every night until Thursday. In the latest example of 'Do we really need to televise everything?', this reality show sees 12 adult virgins enter an intimacy retreat. It's hard to understand why someone who is feeling massively insecure about being a virgin would sign up to a TV show, but each to their own. The slightly mad series offers a radical retreat to virgins who want to lose the one thing they feel is holding them back. Overseen by experts - who are ready to do anything to help - the 12 virgins want to overcome their fears of sex and intimacy. Dave, 24, an accountant, says: 'I could be a 40-year-old virgin. I need something to change.' While Emma, 23, a fast food server who is constantly comparing herself to influencers online, says: 'I would like to walk away from the island with more self confidence.' The group arrives at the Mediterranean retreat ready to face their issues - but with some scared to even touch, how are they going to cope? Hot off the success of Inside Our Autistic Minds, Chris Packham is back with this second series to explore what it's like to live inside ADHD and dyslexic minds. Over two episodes, Chris gives four people the chance to work with top film makers, designers and animators to bring their experiences to life with evocative short films. In their own words and images they reveal to their family and friends how they really feel. Chris, who has Asperger's syndrome, says: 'One of seven of us have brains that work differently. All too often, we are misunderstood, reduced to stereotypes, made to feel that we don't fit in. I want to tackle this hidden crisis.' In tonight's ADHD episode, Chris meets 23-year-old tour guide Henry, who says that most days he's fighting just to keep his head above water. He also meets Jo, a 51-year-old project manager, who was only diagnosed after the menopause exacerbated her ADHD traits and made her life unbearable. Living arrangements are causing Liam angst when he catches Mandy in an unguarded moment - he is delighted when Chas agrees he can move in. Newly-single, Ryan despairs as Ross tries to convince him to start playing the field, but Ross's efforts might soon backfire. Manpreet is relieved when Liam agrees to cover-up last night's revelations about what Joe blackmailed her into doing. But Liam is finding it hard to move past his feelings of betrayal at Manpreet's professional recklessness. Harvey prepares for the Slaters' camping trip but things go from bad to worse when Jean refuses to go without Stacey, upsetting Lily in the process. Vicki and Ross continue to worry about Joel's behaviour as Vicki tries to persuade Ross to speak to Ravi and Priya about their discovery last week. Ross speaks to Avani instead. Linda is confused when Phil is reluctant to call Sharon, but then he drops a bombshell and reveals that she slept with Grant. At the wedding fayre, Leanne moans about the position of the Speed Daal pitch. Debbie tries to ignore her. As Maria heads out to set up, Lou steals a bottle of prosecco and disappears. Mick takes a swig of his tea and spits it out. Liam laughs, having laced it with washing powder. Lauren confesses to Bobby that she had no choice but to use the £500 he gave her for a deposit on a flat. He declares their friendship is over.
Daily Mirror
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Robson Green gives ultra-rare insight into relationship with son
Taking on a new sinister role for Paramount+ in The Game, Robson Green had a great time filming for the thriller in Spain. His son, Taylor, 25, was even able to join him. Robson Green flew abroad for his latest project. But amid his hectic filming schedule, he managed to find some downtime with his son, Taylor, 25. The actor, 60, it portraying a mysterious newcomer in Paramount's new thriller The Game alongside Sunetra Sarker and his former Being Human co-star, Jason Watkins. Here, Jason plays Huw, a retired detective still tormented by the case he never cracked - the Ripton Stalker. Years earlier, the serial killer narrowly evaded capture, leaving Huw with nothing but the memory of their voice - and a haunting sense of failure. Despite the series' dark subject matter, the shoot itself was anything but grim. Filming in Spain felt like a summer adventure for the cast, with daily group drives to set and plenty of off-camera laughs. 'It felt like going to summer school,' Sunetra says, 'We were living like students.' A lively WhatsApp group kept the fun going. Robson Green jokes: 'I'm glad you don't have eyes on it!' The Basque Country provided another major perk: incredible food. 'Many a Spanish meal was had in the Basque Country,' Robson says, 'I was certainly well looked after.' He even got to share the experience with Taylor, who visited him during filming. 'We spent time in San Sebastian and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao,' he says, 'He's a history nut so he loved it!' Robson shares Taylor with his ex-wife Vanya Seager, to whom he was married from 2001 to 2013. And though Taylor is rarely seen in the public eye, Robson has often said they share an "extremely close" bond. More than anything, Robson was thrilled to work with Jason again. When his agent mentioned Jason's involvement, he signed up immediately for The Game. 'I love reconnecting with people I've worked with before,' Robson says, 'Watching their careers and journeys from afar, it's a joy.' Even the demanding schedule - which initially worried Robson - turned out to be a blessing. 'We shot a huge showdown with Jason in just half a day,' Robson says, 'What I thought would be stressful was actually joyous.' In the original script, Huw was a keen runner - but Jason quickly vetoed that. 'I can't really run anymore because of my attempts at professional football as a teenager,' he says. 'My knees aren't what they should be. So I made it quite clear early on that I wouldn't be running, only cycling and playing golf.' Robson still can't get over his pal's skills, grinning: 'He's got a very good swing!' Sunetra Sarker, on the other hand, plays Huw's long-suffering wife Alice - and she couldn't be more different from her on-screen character. 'Alice was the voice of reason,' she says, 'It's very different from the real Sunetra.' Alice and Huw start the series close, but his obsession with Patrick drives a wedge between them. It's not the first time Huw's struggled. 'He was sectioned for a couple of weeks,' Sunetra says, 'They've rebuilt things but his obsession triggers her trauma too.' Sunetra loved working with Jason and Robson - and her mum was impressed too. 'She couldn't believe I was working with Robson Green,' she says. Both actors are veterans with long careers filled with iconic roles, from Touching Evil and Wire in the Blood for Robson to The Crown and Line of Duty for Jason. Behind the scenes, Sunetra and Jason built up Alice and Huw's bond by staying in character, even off camera. 'They've got these pet names and in-jokes,' she says. 'Jason and I did the same whenever we could.' Jason adds: 'But the more Huw tries to convince Alice he's right about Patrick, the more insane he seems. He wants peace in his retirement but he can't let this case go.'
South Wales Guardian
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Channel 5 The Game: Full cast list and when it's on TV
The story involves former police detective Huw Miller (Watkins), who settles into retirement with his wife Alice (Sarker). However, when new neighbour Patrick (Robson Green) moves in, his behaviour reminds Huw of a notorious criminal he never managed to catch, and suspicions begin to form. A synopsis on the Radio Times website reads: "Former detective Huw settles into retirement alongside his wife Alice, but never far from his mind is the case he failed to solve - that of the Ripton Stalker. Robson Green and Jason Watkins go toe-to-toe in this exclusive trailer for tense new drama #TheGame – beginning 12th May on @channel5_tv 👇 Read more here: "When new neighbour Patrick moves in and uses the phrase that the stalker used to taunt Huw with in letters, he's determined he's finally got his man." Speaking with Deadline about the show, Green shared: "The way Patrick says, 'catch you later' triggers something within Huw, who thinks he has his man. 'Patrick is over-friendly, and Huw feels everything is not quite what it seems. "Very quickly you realise there is a game being played, but is Patrick a stalker and is Huw on the right track or spiralling out of control psychologically?' The programme, which was originally called 'Catch You Later', then becomes a cat-and-mouse thriller. Recommended reading: When will Channel 5's The Game be on TV? The first episode of The Game will air at 9 pm on Monday, May 12, on Channel 5, with the second episode following in the same timeslot on Tuesday, May 13. After that, the remaining two episodes will air at 9pm on Wednesday, May 14 and Thursday, May 15. These episodes will be available to watch on the Channel 5 player after they have been broadcast.
