Latest news with #TVdrama
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Sarah Lancashire says Happy Valley performance 'born of fear'
Bafta-winning actress Sarah Lancashire has said her award-winning performance in gritty TV drama Happy Valley was "born out of fear".Lancashire, 60, who rose to fame as barmaid Raquel Wolstenhulme in Coronation Street, won two leading actress Baftas for playing no-nonsense Sergeant Catherine Cawood in the BBC decades-long "brilliant and intangible" working relationship with writer Sally Wainwright influenced her role, but she said fear was key to her the role at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, after being formally made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE), Lancashire said: "That was just born out of fear, abject fear, of feeling quite off-piste. "Literally it was a leap of faith, jumping off the cliff at midnight in the dark."But knowing that somebody has the confidence in you and the belief in you - Wainwright is deeply persuasive as an individual, which I absolutely, really admire, I'm very grateful, always."Lancashire starred in Coronation Street from 1991 until 1996, appearing in more than 260 and Wainwright first met when they were "cutting their teeth" on the soap pair later collaborated on the BBC comedy-drama Last Tango In Halifax, for which Lancashire won her first Bafta in 2014 for her supporting worked together again on Happy Valley, which ran from 2014 to what made playing Sgt Cawood so terrifying, Lancashire said: "The setting of it, being asked to play something which I had no knowledge of at all - absolutely no knowledge."And knowing that the level of research that was available to me was going to be quite limited in the time available."But in actual fact - as Wainwright always said - it wasn't a procedural drama, it was not a police drama, it was a family." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Do we need Bookish, yet another cosy crime?
A silhouette on flocked wallpaper. A cute transistor radio playing light jazz. A woman is dozing, slipping down the settee – no, wait – she's being dragged on to the floor, the seams of her nylons disappearing into the shadows. Sedation, abduction and murder, quite possibly, have never looked or sounded more tasteful. In our world of constant, instantly accessible horror, TV schedulers are turning more than ever to – excuse me while I gag – cosy crime . I get it. TV viewers are human. We crave shocks that activate our fight-or-flight instincts, our primitive selves. It's simply that gentler versions are nicer when the news cycle is all disaster, fascism and genocide. On UKTV's cosy crime network (and available to subscribers of Now TV ), Bookish presents itself more poshly than Midsomer Murders, Death in Paradise and the recent BBC Sunday night hit Death Valley. It is set in a strangely glossy post war London, where Mark Gatiss plays the irritatingly named Gabriel Book, who runs an antiquarian bookshop. Polly Walker plays his wife, Trottie, a shoulder-padded, vintage-clad dream who runs the wallpaper shop next door. Outside work, they help police solve crimes, although it's not clear why. We also slowly discover that their marriage is shrouded in mystery for other reasons. The first episode is slow. We're guided through it s world by newcomer Jack (Connor Finch) , a flat-cap-wearing mini Eddie Redmayne with eyes like sapphire marbles. He gets a job at the shop, even though he struggles to locate it (not because he's illiterate: he finds the apostrophe in the store's name, Book's Books, understandably challenging). He's then brought along to a crime scene that reveals itself as a previously undiscovered plague pit. As a police officer railed at the Books' arrival at the scene, questioning who Jack was, while another officer encouraged the amateurs' deductions, my TV recall siren went off. A very similar setup occurs in the first episode of the BBC 's Sherlock, co-written by Gatiss . Why change a winning formula? We're then whisked along to a suicide that might be a murder. Mentions of the war's effects on the city add an intriguing texture to the plot. But what makes cosy crime really zing is the characters who lead it. In the first few episodes, Gabriel Book's camp pedantry clearly aims towards David Suchet's reading of Poirot in the classic ITV series that ran for 24 years. His bon mots – 'Loose lips drop slips' – feel heavy-handed, however. Trottie's sexy matriarch is a much more intriguing figure, and even better is part-time bookseller Nora (Buket Kömür) . All quickfire wit, she makes the screen shimmer every time she appears. Bookish presents itself more poshly than Midsomer Murders, Death in Paradise and the Sunday night hit Death Valley Jump forward to the present day, and more than 5,000 miles west , to the Yosemite National Park , where – surprise! – there's another mysterious death to investigate. Untamed is Netflix's latest brooding, US-set drama, although Australian and New Zealand actors lead it. Eric Bana, 22 years on from playing the Hulk, is 56 and in his moody, silver- fox era. He plays surly national parks special agent Kyle Turner, a man at his happiest when crossing the wilderness on a horse. Sam Neill, clearly in his kindly grandad era, plays Paul Souter, his boss. Written by Mark L Smith ( screenwriter of The Revenant and Twisters ) and Elle Smith, this is the kind of show made for huge, wall-mounted screens. Craggy landscapes loom and ache, while episode one's opening climbing scene is not for the acrophobic. Turner suddenly has a young woman's death on his hands and he's given a rookie agent, Naya Vasquez (played by the sparky Lily Santiago) , to work with. Yes, there are clich es here, but Santiago brings a welcome levity to the role. There are also some bold visual tricks. A twist late in the opener is nicely done, as are jump cuts between Turner's explorations and the victim's last moments. Is he imagining them or is the park revealing its own memories? If the series continues to plough these deeper, weirder furrows, it may work. Mix Tape is a summer romance set in Sheffield and Sydney. It follows fortysomething music journalist Daniel O'Toole (Jim Sturgess) , who's reminded of the first love of his life, Alison Connor (Teresa Palmer) , after his best friend finds out about her success as a novelist. Here's a generation X-er in mid life, still writing about arts and culture, trying to defend their life choices. Ouch. Scenes slip and slide easily between the present and the past as we learn about each character. Alison's complex backstory unfolds gradually. At one point in Australia, she chats worriedly to her literary agent on a park bench, watching kids play football. A whistle blows, and she's a teen back in school watching a young Daniel (a pitch-perfect Rory Walton-Smith) swearing as he misses a goal. Florence Hunt, playing the young Alison, has the crackle and glow of a star in the making. In the post-Normal People era of more explicit romantic dramas, Mix Tape feels old-fashioned, sweet and slightly cloying – like a striped bag of lemon sherbets. Nevertheless, I loved the close ups of ballpoints scrawling on inlay cards and bedroom floors strewn with C90s (under-35s, ask your parents). Despite clunky dialogue, improbable plot points (surely we all befriended our teenage exes on Facebook nearly 20 years ago?) and too many shots of people gazing into the distance, there are some nice subtle details. The links between his situation and his parents' relationship emerge slowly. And Alison's husband marks himself out as definitely not her indie boy by singing Mental As Anything's 1985 cringe-fest Live It Up. Jude Rogers's watch list Human (BBC Two) This ambitious new BBC/PBS co-production, hosted by the engaging British palaeoanthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi (below) , takes us 'behind the curtain of evolution', stuffing us full with cutting-edge science. Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters (ITVX) It sounds like a fevered Alan Partridge programme pitch, with a title that implies the toothy fish should be more afraid of the stars. But this bizarre show comes alive thanks to endearing contestants such as Lucy Punch (Amandaland) and Lenny Henry . The Great British Sewing Bee (BBC One) Sara Pascoe returns from maternity leave (another task, she says, that involves 'labour, love and careful stitching') to host the 11th series of TV's warmest show, cosying up to sustainable fashion guru Patrick Grant and designer Esme Young. Photographs by Nicolas Velter; Netflix
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Danny Dyer and Stephen Graham 'set to reunite for gritty new drama' to rival Netflix hit Adolescence
is reportedly teaming up with acting heavyweight Stephen Graham for a powerful new TV drama - and it's tipped to go head-to-head with 2025's biggest hit, Adolescence. The pair, who last worked together in the 2009 cult horror Doghouse, are in early talks to create a hard-hitting series tackling some of the toughest issues facing society today. A source told The Mirror: 'It's a gritty new drama. They are currently thrashing out what they want to do but it will be in the vein of Adolescence. Something unflinching and moving.' Adolescence, which starred Stephen and was co-created by him and writer Jack Thorne, has become Netflix 's most-watched series of the year. It sparked a national debate and was even discussed in Parliament over its depiction of teenage misogyny and online safety. The series, which follows a father whose teenage son is arrested for murder, hit No1 in 71 countries and clocked up a staggering 66.3 million views in just two weeks. Danny, 47, has publicly praised his friend's work, saying: 'It's such an important subject, Steve. You've got to roll me into something. I want a bit of this.' Away from the cameras, it is reported the duo are also planning to reunite on a more personal level, organising a double date with wives Joanne Mas and Hannah Walters. MailOnline has contacted Danny and Stephen's representatives. It comes after Danny recently revealed he left locals wide-eyed in shock when he ran through a council estate 'stark naked' while filming Mr. Bigstuff. After the success of its first series, the second instalment of the Sky comedy-drama is set to hit screens later this year. The show follows two estranged and rather contrasting brothers, Glen (Ryan Sampson) and Lee (Danny Dyer), as they discover that their father, who they thought was dead, is actually alive. But during filming for the show's second series, which has now finished, Danny was asked to do something not many actors have done before - run through a British council estate fully nude. He and his co-star Ryan told Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston about the hilarious scene on Wednesday during an appearance on Heart Breakfast. As well as working on the production side of things for Adolescence, Hannah also had a camep role in the series as the teacher Mrs Bailey in episode two Ryan explained: 'So, series two, end of the first episode, it got quite a visceral... Shall we say a full-frontal moment?', before Danny revealed: 'Nudity.' Ryan continued: 'There's a full-frontal moment, and it's in a public place as well. And I wasn't sure whether Danny would to do it or whatever, but he's completely up for it.' 'It's a scene where I'm running through a council estate, yeah, stark naked,' Dyer quipped. 'I read it, I laughed. I thought you know, "it's got to be done". The first ep is about Lee, he's been emasculated. So he's just moping about all day, so irritated. 'He needs to find his mojo, I was going to say his plums!,' the former EastEnders actor laughed. 'Anyways, so there's this amazing scene at the end where I'm sort of chasing someone down the street, and I've got a towel, and I take the towel off, and I use it as some sort of lasso. 'I mean, you're sort of reading it going, "How on Earth are we going to do this?"' Ryan went onto describe the moment Danny whipped off the towel and sprinted through the estate, with a local even spotting him as he did so. 'Like, I thought we were going to shut the road down or something. Actually, nope. It's just a real suburban street! 'So, I'm stood at the other end of the street and he's running, and there's this man on his phone. Danny is running down, and this man goes - he's outside the house - and he goes on a phone, "Sorry babe, I'm going to have to get back to you, because there's a man running down the street naked, and I'm not being funny, he looks like Mick from EastEnders".' Danny played Mick, who owned the Queen Victoria pub in the popular BBC soap, for a nine-year period beginning in 2013.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
And Just Like That fans are left furious over mainstay characters who are 'in a race for biggest dummy'
Fans of And Just Like That season 3 were left furious following episode 8, as they accused the show's mainstay characters of vying to be the 'biggest dummy.' On Thursday, the latest episode of the Sex and the City spinoff, titled 'Happily Ever After', saw Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) reunite with boyfriend Aidan Shaw (John Corbett), and Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon) nearly relapse on alcohol. Despite having a long-distance relationship since Aiden moved to Virginia to be present for his children, he suddenly showed up to surprise Carrie at her New York apartment. However, he then revealed his jealousy over her relationship with handsome British downstairs neighbor, writer Duncan Reeves (Jonathan Cake), and 'manipulated' Carrie to cancel their writing session, prompting fans to label him 'insecure and toxic.' Meanwhile, after Miranda's love interest Joy (Dolly Wells) left a bottle of rum at her apartment, Miranda started telling her friends that perhaps she's not really an alcoholic, and was simply drinking before due to her unhappy marriage. 'Miranda and Carrie in a race for biggest dummy is crazy to watch,' one viewer wrote on X after the episode aired. 'Why is Carrie still into Aidan!?' someone else asked. 'I'm hating the blatant emotional manipulation with Aiden and Carrie this season why is she trying to stuff all her money and eggs into that terrible basket.' 'Did Aiden just manipulate Carrie?' another fan questioned. 'Why did they bring back the insecure and toxic Aidan? Carrie doesn't deserve to go through this after losing Big,' someone else chimed in. 'Carrie just go hang out with your hot neighbor. Send Aidan back to the woods.' 'Emotional manipulation. This dude Aiden gets worse and worse. When is Carrie going to wake up. This is so embarrassing.' Fans were also less than thrilled about Miranda's plot line, and how she did not tell Joy that she is an alcoholic. 'Old Miranda would NEVER think abstaining from drinking as an alcoholic was an over correction,' one wrote. 'Miranda gotta go LMAO,' someone else joked. 'When Joy finds out Miranda didn't tell her about the alcoholism she's gonna be pissed and break up with her. And rightfully so.' However, after spending the night together, he revealed his jealousy over her relationship with handsome downstairs neighbor, writer Duncan Reeves (Jonathan Cake), and 'manipulated' Carrie to cancel their writing session, prompting fans to label him 'insecure and toxic' 'Why is Carrie still into Aidan!?' one fans asked, as others also expressed frustration with Carrie for trying to make the relationship work After Carrie spent the night with Aidan, she started getting ready for her writing session with her handsome downstairs neighbor. However, Aiden seemed disappointed that she would be gone and told her that the real reason he came is because his son Wyatt moved back in with his mom and was not answering his texts. Carrie told him she would cancel her writing session so they could spend time together. Later, Aiden suggested they should invite Duncan to dinner. However, Carrie firmly turned down the offer. Aiden questioned what they talk about in their sessions. 'We just talk about work,' she replied. 'I find that hard to believe,' he replied. 'You two just sit there and look at each other and say, what, "Page 22 sucks"'? 'That's exactly right,' she replied. Later Aiden continued to dig to try to learn more about Duncan. While attending a gallery exhibit he asked Seema (Sarita Choudhury) and her new love interest, who is also Carrie's gardener, Adam (Logan Marshall-Green) about Duncan. However they provided him with little information. Meanwhile Miranda attempted to convince Carrie and Charlotte (Kristin Davis) that she doesn't have an alcohol problem. 'Maybe I'm not an alcoholic. Maybe I'm just alcohol-ish.' 'I am not familiar with that term,' Carrie replied. 'I haven't always been an alcoholic,' she went on, 'And I think the main reason I started drinking so much was that I was unhappy in my marriage, my career.' 'I was questioning my sexuality.' 'I understand questioning your sexuality, but questioning your alcoholism?' 'I'm just thinking that maybe I overcorrected. Maybe I'm the kind of person who occasionally enjoys a cocktail with her girlfriend at the end of the day.' Later she nearly had a sip of champagne but Charlotte stopped her. She also reached for the bottle of rum later on in the episode, but in the end doesn't drink it. The beloved Sex and the City series follows friends Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte and their tangled lives in New York City. Nicole Ari Parker and Sarita returned as the group's new besties Lisa and Seema this season. The show picks up 11 years after the events of the 2010 film Sex and the City 2, and follows three of the four original main characters. Following the success of Kim Cattrall 's cameo in the second season, it's been widely reported Samantha will return for at least part of the third season. Sara Ramirez will not be returning as controversial non-binary comedian Che Diaz (there's some disagreement as to whether this was because of their political posts, because of the end of the character's relationship with Miranda, or because viewers just found them so annoying). Since starting in December 2021, the Sex And The City spin-off has seen Carrie, Samantha and Charlotte grapple with sexuality, gender identity, death, grief, divorce, drug use, and pretty much every other hot issue in Western society. The original Sex and the City ran for six seasons, airing on HBO from 1998 until 2004. The story continued with two feature films: Sex and the City (2008) and Sex and the City 2 (2010). The first season of And Just Like That... premiered in 2021. There will be 12 episodes in And Just Like That… season 3, with the last premiering on August 14.
The Guardian
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Tell us about the mix tape that defined your life
In the new TV drama Mix Tape, two ex-lovers are thrown back together with the music they played to each other 20 years earlier. With this in mind, we would like to hear about your mix tape memories. Did you have a treasured tape or CD that defined your life? Guardian writers have shared theirs; now you can tell us about yours – and share pictures – below. You can tell us about your mix tape memories using this form. Please include as much detail as possible. Please note, the maximum file size is 5.7 MB. Please note, the maximum file size is 5.7 MB. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. If you include other people's names please ask them first.
