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Telegraph
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
What's on TV: Jodie Whittaker stars in One Night, BBC Two celebrates Roy Orbison, and more
From a new Jodie Whittaker drama to a documentary following Ozzy Osbourne's final three years to a biopic of Amanda Knox, here's what to watch on television and streaming tonight and this week. Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 16 August One Night ITV1/ITVX, 9.30pm First shown on Paramount+ and boxsetted tonight on ITVX, One Night is the latest Australian mystery drama to arrive in the UK. Like The Last Anniversary, The Secrets She Keeps and to a lesser extent Apples Never Fall, Emily Ballou's six-part series is a female-focused story of shared childhood trauma addressing the collision of fact and fiction, truth and perspective, both on the page and in the flesh. Jodie Whittaker stars, complete with a pretty flawless Australian accent, as Tess. Returning with her wife Vick (Kat Stewart) after 20 years in London, she discovers that her estranged childhood friend Simone (Nicole da Silva) has anonymously published her debut novel, drawing upon a profoundly distressing experience they endured as teenagers. The precise nature of that experience is teased out through flashbacks, but its impact is apparent in both women's struggles with drinking, along with Simone's anger issues, Tess's tattoos and problems with body image. Simone's dementia-stricken father (William Zappa) and their rock-solid mutual friend Hat (Yael Stone) will also doubtless have roles to play, while the enduring presence of the perpetrators acts as a constant, hovering threat to everyone still reckoning with the fallout, two decades on. Athletics: Diamond League Silesia BBC Two/iPlayer, 3pm The build-up to Tokyo's World Championships continues with an event that has a knack for featuring broken world records, ensuring it attracts a high-calibre line-up of athletes. Watch out for the remarkable middle-distance runner Faith Kipyegon and a rerun of the Olympic 100m final between Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson. 24 Hours: the Japanese Surrender Channel 4, 8.10pm Not even nuclear bombs guaranteed a Japanese surrender: an attempted military coup very nearly extended the conflict through a sense of honour that could have proved unassailable had Emperor Hirohito not taken matters into his own hands. Amid a wealth of documentaries around VJ Day, Rosemary Cafferkey's film is enlightening and sobering. Beck BBC Four/iPlayer, 9pm A new case brings Beck (Peter Haber) back into the fold when connections are found to a questionable online university and the Balcony Man. Andrew and Fergie: Duke and Duchess of Excess Channel 5, 9pm Always a reliable source of scuttlebutt, the Duke and Duchess of York will here have their finances raked over by the usual rogue's gallery of commentators one more time for our horrified delectation, from the gimmicky (Pitch@Palace, Budgie the Helicopter) to the grotesque (Jeffrey Epstein). Roy Orbison Night BBC Two/iPlayer, 9.10pm Roy Orbison's unparalleled way with a sad song was underpinned by real-life tragedy; tonight's themed night demonstrates both, starting with archive performances from the BBC at 9.10pm and a greatest hits set accompanied by famous fans (Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, kd lang) at 9.45pm. At 10.45pm he delivers many of the same numbers alone, before a documentary at 11.15pm pays tribute to an extraordinary life and that skyscraping voice. GT Sunday 17 August Murder Case: The Vanishing Cyclist BBC Two, 9pm; already available on iPlayer A desperately sad real-life crime story that, full of twists, turns and secrets, gets its hooks in early and never lets go. At its heart is the pain of a family who, one weekend in 2017, said goodbye to 63-year-old husband and father Tony Parsons as he set off from Fort William in Scotland to complete a 100-mile solo charity cycle ride, only for him to vanish without a trace. The story of the massive search that took place along the A82 main route near Glencoe, and the challenge of locating any missing person in the vast emptiness of the Highlands, is minutely told. The hurt and bafflement, even anger, of family and friends as the search yielded nothing and three long years went by with no new developments, is captured in interviews with family members and the police involved in the stalled investigation. Then, a single phone call changed everything. To say more might spoil what is a finely balanced story, which only gets more complex from that point onwards. Tonight's opening part takes us up to the identification of suspects; next week's conclusion heads into the courtroom for the eventful trial. Live Premier League: Manchester United v Arsenal Sky Sports Main Event, 4pm; kick-off 4.30pm Man U take on Arsenal at Old Trafford in the most eagerly anticipated clash of the Premier League's opening weekend. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be praying his £64 million new striker Viktor Gyökeres gets off to a dream start. Mrs Robinson Sky Documentaries/NOW, 8pm Mary Robinson was only 46 when she was elected president of Ireland in 1990, but she already had a career in politics and the law that put her contemporaries in the shade. This new profile explains, in her own words, how she got there and how she went on to become one of the world's best-known advocates for justice, equality and human rights. Ridley ITV1/ITVX, 8pm The realisation that a body found in the woods is that of a woman who went missing six years earlier forces consultant detective Alex Ridley (Adrian Dunbar) back in touch with Jean Dixon (Elizabeth Berrington), the disgraced former cop who caused him so much strife before. Aurora Orchestra Plays Shostakovich's Fifth BBC Four/iPlayer, 8pm It's a major feat for any orchestra to play a symphony from memory, but it's one the Aurora Orchestra, under conductor Nicholas Collon, perform regularly at the Proms. This time, to mark the 50th anniversary of composer Dmitri Shostakovich's death, they take on his Fifth Symphony. The Narrow Road to the Deep North BBC One, 9.20pm; already available on iPlayer The brooding adaptation of Richard Flanagan's Booker-winning novel reaches a powerful conclusion as Dorrigo (Jacob Elordi/Ciarán Hinds) fulfils the promise he made in Burma, flitting between past and present, love and loss, and the ghost of what might have been. GO Monday 18 August Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home BBC One/iPlayer, 9pm It has been just over a month since Ozzy Osbourne performed a heroic last gig with Black Sabbath in Birmingham. The concert was billed as a homecoming for the Brummie-born Osbourne. But it was also a farewell. The frail singer, no longer able to walk due to Parkinson's disease, performed while sitting down on a throne. Two weeks later, he died from a heart attack. This intimate fly-on-the-wall documentary follows the final three years of Osbourne's life. It was originally commissioned by the BBC as Home to Roost, a spiritual sequel to noughties reality hit The Osbournes. The 10-part series would have chronicled Ozzy and his wife Sharon's return from Los Angeles, where they had lived for 25 years, to their country house in Buckinghamshire. Coming Home has taken that footage and recut it as an hour-long tribute and portrait. It is a poignant watch. The last years of Ozzy's life were marked by his declining health, which had worsened even further after complications from a fall. His anxious children, Jack and Kelly, wonder if he has the strength to make the journey to the UK. Or indeed, to follow through on his determination to perform one last time. The Answer Run BBC One/iPlayer, 4.30pm Jason Manford returns with a second series of his zippy daytime quiz show, airing every day this week. In today's opener, contestants from Warrington, London and North Bangor test their wits against a series of tricky quick-fire 50/50 questions. A simple but addictive format. The Great Ticket Rip-Off: Scams & Scandals BBC Two, 7pm; already available on iPlayer Reporter Steffan Powell explores the murky world of ticket touts, who have become notorious for snapping up tickets for high-profile concerts like Oasis and reselling them at extortionate prices. As Powell learns, the sophisticated techniques touts use to bypass online queues are ruining the fun for everyone else. The Brokenwood Mysteries U&Drama, 8pm The eccentric New Zealand detective drama returns with an 11th series of cosy crime. Tonight's feature-length opener sees detective Shepherd (Neill Rea) and partner Kristin (Fern Sutherland) investigate a murder at the reunion gig of a 1980s pop band. All good fun, if a tad too mannered. Confessions of a Brain Surgeon BBC Two/iPlayer, 9pm Prestigious brain surgeon Henry Marsh is no stranger to death. Yet a recent diagnosis of advanced prostate cancer has led him to reevaluate his career through a patient's perspective. This moving documentary follows Marsh as he reflects on life, mortality and the people he couldn't save. Matthew Perry: a Hollywood Tragedy ITV1/ITVX, 9pm This sensational documentary examines the life and death of Friends star Matthew Perry, who died from a ketamine overdose in 2023. It is an acquisition from American network Peacock but features new material regarding the recent trial of Dr Salvador Plasencia, who has pleaded guilty to giving Perry ketamine. SK Tuesday 19 August Stalking Samantha Disney+ Stalking is a sinister crime with shamefully low rates of prosecution and conviction, both in the US and UK. In October 2022, social worker Samantha Stites was kidnapped in Michigan by her stalker of 11 years, Christopher Thomas; he broke into her home, restrained her and transported her to a specially built bunker nearby. Only two months previously, a court had denied Stites a restraining order against him. A remarkably composed Stites tells her story in full for the first time here, with her friends, cops and lawyers fleshing out her account with help from CCTV and police bodycam footage. Episode one builds up to the kidnapping, with Stites recounting Thomas's growing obsession with her from university onwards. Episode two covers the kidnap; Stites recalling that her first thought when finding herself at the mercy of her tormentor in a soundproofed room: 'If I'm going to get out of this, it's going to be with my mind.' This chilling, compulsive true crime story serves as another indictment of a criminal justice system failing to protect women. You'll likely binge all three episodes today. The Repair Shop BBC One/iPlayer, 8pm This soothing series leaves us all shook up tonight when a giant stuffed hound dog gifted by Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis's manager, to the UK Elvis fan club in 1972 arrives so threadbare that it presents the Teddy Bear Ladies, Julie and Amanda, with their biggest fix-up yet. Also lovingly restored are a shepherd's bag and sewing machine. The Great British Sewing Bee BBC One/iPlayer, 9pm It's kids' week, but there's precious little playtime for the seven contestants left in the sewing contest. The Pattern Challenge of making toddlers' dungarees introduces a tough new element – adaptive fashion, or clothes designed for the disabled. There's fun in the final task, when nine-year-olds model imaginative garments based on the sewers' childhood dreams. Jasper Carrott Remembers BBC Four/iPlayer, 9pm Turning 80 earlier this year hasn't dimmed the verve of Brummie funnyman Jasper Carrott, whose shows Carrott's Commercial Breakdown and The Detectives are still remembered fondly. In this charming retrospective, Carrott recounts his start in comedy, career highlights and names the celebrity whose praise meant the most to him. It's followed by an evening of repeats, including comedy special The Ones (9.30pm), stand-up compilation Back to the Front (10.10pm) and his appearance on Wogan from 1988 (11.10pm). In Flight Channel 4, 9pm; all episodes are already available online Jo (Katherine Kelly) gets a surprise when her son's former paramour, Kayla (Corinna Brown), turns up with news as the propulsive thriller continues. But Jo's determination to get her son out of jail means recklessly putting herself in peril, even following dangerous drug lord Cormac (Stuart Martin) to a rendezvous. Runs nightly until Thursday. Pompeii: Life in the City with Dan Snow Channel 5, 9pm Snow and co-presenter Kate Lister tackle Pompeii's lawlessness in the finale of this breezy docu-series. One Roman wag joked at the time, 'Going out to dinner in Pompeii without writing a will is irresponsible.' We learn how posh folk fortified their houses and of the inhumane punishments meted out to suspects. VP Wednesday 20 August The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox Disney+ The wrongful conviction (and eventual exoneration) of American student Amanda Knox for the murder of her British friend and roommate Meredith Kercher in Perugia in 2007 has all the ingredients of a classic true-crime thriller. Crucially, the four-part miniseries has Knox on board as an executive producer. No less crucially, Kercher's family have distanced themselves from the project. The first episode whisks us through Knox's (Grace van Patten) chaotic but loving upbringing, early experiences in Italy and gradual immersion into Perugian culture, before the murder is discovered and suspicion aroused by her curious response to it, then stoked by the language barrier during police interviews. As drama, it works fitfully; if one were feeling generous, the florid narration could be put down to its callow protagonist: 'In the haze of tragedy, I was a deer in the headlights, unaware that my hunter was about to arrive.' Yet for all the careful efforts to honour her memory, Kercher still feels like a footnote and, in the absence of a showrunner with both experience of the territory and the ability to navigate it – KJ Steinberg (This is Us) is no Jeff Pope – this particular twisted tale feels distasteful and exploitative. Mystery of the Desert Kites BBC Four/iPlayer, 8pm This French-made three-part series is a lavishly photographed and intellectually engrossing affair, following the work of archaeologists as they attempt to make sense of the 'desert kites' across Saudi Arabia and Jordan: megastructures that far predate the Egyptian pyramids, the Peruvian Nazca lines and Stonehenge. George Clarke's Kitchen vs Garden Channel 4, 8pm In the second episode of the series, George Clarke and Luke Millard offer their designs to a couple in Bristol who face a choice between a lavish kitchen or a Japanese garden. Destination X BBC One/iPlayer, 9pm After a stuttering start, this appealingly bizarre contest is picking up speed as the X-bus arrives in an ancient vineyard and a walled city, with Rob Brydon on hand to offer the enticing possibility of sabotage. Continues on Thursday. Soldier: for King and Country Channel 5, 9pm Tonight's double bill of military derring-do begins with the adventures of a few of the Royal Welsh's finest: members of Charlie and Delta Companies enter the Prince of Wales competition and test their physical and mental endurance against each other, while a rugby match and vehicle maintenance offer further diverse challenges. Special Forces: Most Daring Missions follows at 10pm with an account of a perilous rescue operation in Sierra Leone. Mudtown U&Alibi/Sky/NOW, 9pm Driven by the chalk-and-cheese pairing (and shared history) of magistrate Clare Lewis (Erin Richards) and gangster Saint Pete (Tom Cullen), this dark, wryly humorous and supremely confident Newport-set crime drama follows the fallout of an arson attack implicating a friend of Clare's daughter and costing Pete the kind of money he will need to rustle up quickly or risk losing his criminal empire. GT Thursday 21 August Hostage Netflix You just know things won't go smoothly for newbie British prime minister Abigail Dalton (Suranne Jones) when she spends much of the opening scene fretting about the risk of, one day, having to choose between politics and family. You don't have to be a genius, either, to suspect that if a serving British prime minister's angelic doctor husband (Ashley Thomas) heads off to a war zone to dispense vaccines to sick children, without an armed security detail in tow, it's unlikely to have a good outcome. But if you can hold your disbelief at bay (and plenty more will test it as the story unfolds), there's a great deal to enjoy in this fast-moving five-part thriller. Especially the entertaining swordplay between Dalton and her devious French opposite number Vivienne Toussaint (Julie Delpy), who not only holds the key to most of Dalton's problems but isn't afraid to use that power to leverage major political gains for her election campaign back home. Lucian Msamati and Jehnny Beth are also superb in support as the two prime ministers' chief advisors, constantly checking phones and weighing the odds, desperately trying to avert all the other political disasters hurtling their way. Tom Kerridge Cooks Spain ITV1/ITVX, 8.30pm The TV chef is in Extremadura where, at the scenic Lake Orellana reservoir, he learns how to catch the ingredients for a crayfish cocktail. From there it's on to melons in Murcia, where he joins in at the annual piel de sapo harvest. Football's Financial Shame: The Story of the V11 BBC Two/iPlayer, 9pm An exposé of the 'biggest scandal in the history of the Premier League'. Richard Milway's documentary uncovers what's alleged to be one of elite football's most closely guarded secrets, as 11 former Premier League stars claim they lost millions to a culture of financial exploitation and abuse. Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild Channel 5, 9pm A particularly charming edition gets to the heart of why some seek solitude and alternative ways of living. Fogle is in Japan to meet 57-year-old Rupert, whose search for a simpler lifestyle led him to the southern island of Kyushu and the hardworking life of a traditional rice farmer. Talking Pictures BBC Four/iPlayer, 9.35pm Ahead of tonight's screening of The Silence of the Lambs, at 10.20pm, Celia Imrie rummages through the archives to find out why Jonathan Demme's 1991 crime-chiller exerts such a hold on the public imagination, and how Anthony Hopkins set about becoming one of the movies' most memorable monsters, Hannibal Lecter. Death Inc Netflix A third season for this Spanish funeral-home comedy. When founder Torregrosa passes away, his second-in-command expects to take over the business until the old man's widow announces she's taking charge. With a power vacuum at the top, a rival firm spots an opportunity for expansion. GO Friday 22 August Peacemaker Sky Max/NOW, 2am/10pm You could be forgiven for feeling fatigued by the idea of yet another superhero show; we are already awash with forgettable comic book slop. The first series of DC Comics' black comedy Peacemaker, however, rivals The Boys as one of the genre's sharpest outliers. It stars John Cena as the titular Peacemaker, an absurd gun-toting anti-hero who believes that the only way to achieve peace is to kill for it. In the 2021 film The Suicide Squad, he was a cartoonish satire of American patriotism. Here, Cena makes him into something more layered and likeable; bolstered by a hilarious script from DC supremo James Gunn. The second series opens tonight with Peacemaker at a low ebb. He is grieving the death of his white supremacist father (whom he had to kill). His audition to be part of a new superhero gang doesn't go well. And his foray into a mysterious pocket dimension – introduced in Gunn's recent Superman movie – ends with a disastrously bonkers cliffhanger. We cannot reveal specifics, of course, except to say that it is one of those great emotional science fiction ideas that gives Cena the chance to show his range. Perhaps the superhero is not beaten after all. 007: Road to a Million Amazon Prime Video The jet-setting James Bond-themed reality contest returns with a more competitive format. In today's lavish opening episode, for instance, teams must compete directly against each other to retrieve a data disk in Thailand. The highlight remains host Brian Cox, who chews the scenery as the villainous Controller. Invasion Apple TV+ The first two series of this epic science fiction thriller followed humanity's desperate response to an alien invasion. Today's slow-burning third season premiere picks up two years after Earth's ostensible triumph. But has the threat gone away? Or has it merely evolved? The Truth about Jussie Smollett? Netflix In 2019, actor Jussie Smollett claimed to be the victim of a hate crime in Chicago; he was later accused of staging the attack. This documentary utilises interviews with detectives, lawyers and Smollett himself to argue that the case is more complex than it seems. Women's Rugby World Cup 2025: England v USA BBC One/iPlayer, 6.30pm; kick-off 7.30pm The Women's Rugby World Cup gets underway in Sunderland, as hosts England face the USA in the first group stage match of the tournament. England were the runners-up at the 2022 World Cup and are the favourites to win tonight at the Stadium of Light. Miriam Margolyes Discovers New Zealand BBC Two/iPlayer, 9pm Last year, Miriam Margolyes made a BBC documentary about returning to her 'second home' of Australia. In this two-part acquisition from Australian network ABC, she hops over to neighbouring New Zealand to see what all the fuss is about. Tonight, that mainly entails rugby, hobbits and the inspiring struggles of the Maori community. SK Television previewers
The Advertiser
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Teresa Palmer back for another Aussie drama series
Fresh off the back of The Last Anniversary, Teresa Palmer stars in another Aussie drama. Mix Tape, which is a British co-production, follows Alison and Daniel across two timelines. They first meet in high school in the north of England. Daniel is the more popular of the two, while Alison is quiet and reserved, but both have a love of music and an undeniable attraction to the other. Fast forward a quarter century and their lives look very different. Daniel has become a music writer, has a wife and kid, and is still living in Sheffield. Alison, meanwhile, is now a celebrated author living in Sydney with a mostly Aussie accent, doctor husband and moody teen daughter. News of Alison's new book reaches Daniel back in their hometown, and it seems inevitable that these two will be meeting again. The series takes place over four episodes, with only one episode dropping each week, so we'll have to be patient as the story unfolds. Florence Hunt (Bridgerton's Hyacinth) and newcomer Rory Walton-Smith are delightful as the teen versions of the pair in 1989. Palmer is the grown up Alison, and there's a clear sadness and underappreciation in her performance that invites you to learn more about this woman's life. Jim Sturgess (One Day) is the adult Daniel, clearly still harbouring some feelings for his high school love. Mix Tape is a serious, music-infused romantic drama, its emotions played with earnestness. It doesn't feel the need to break tension with laughs. There's not a great deal in the way of story in the first episode, so you'll have to stick it out to see where these characters are going. Remember the raunchy teen comedy genre? It was huge in the 80s, but where did it go? Summer of 69 tries to resurrect that genre, and mostly does, but also manages to be unexpectedly wholesome and sweet. From writer-director Jillian Bell (you might remember her from 22 Jump Street, Brittany Runs a Marathon, Godmothered), the coming of age comedy sees high schooler Abby (Sam Morelos, That 90s Show) determined to win the affections of her dreamboat classmate Max (Matt Cornett, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series) in the wake of his relationship ending. Learning from a perhaps unreliable source of school gossip that Max's sexual interests tend towards the number of the film title, Abby decides she needs to become more skilled in the bedroom department and hires a local stripper to teach her the ways of the world. Enter Santa Monica (SNL's Chloe Fineman), who needs to make $20,000 fast to save her strip club from being sold to a slimy rival, and agrees to help Abby become a more confident, capable version of herself in order to woo Max. It's a truly ludicrous premise that does feel straight out of the 80s, but Summer of 69 is actually far tamer than you'd expect. There's no nudity, and the raunchiness doesn't get much further than the title. The heart of this film is the growing friendship between Abby and Santa Monica, who both grow under the other's influence to become more well-rounded, self-confident women. What should have been a massive miss is actually a surprising success, and a lot of that goes down to funny and sharp writing, and committed performances from the cast, which also includes Charlie Day, Natalie Morales, Liza Koshy and Nicole Byer in support. Julianne Moore and Sydney Sweeney are mother and daughter in this moody dramatic thriller. Moore's Kate lives and works alone at her farm, caring for horses and teaching the occasional lesson. She's grieving the loss of her wife and struggling to pay for the upkeep of the property. Her quiet monotony is broken one night when her daughter Claire shows up out of the blue. Claire has a history with substance abuse, and Kate - desperate for her daughter to be alright and keep coming home - is powerless to hold back assistance when she asks for it. But this latest visit comes with trouble. Claire and her on-again-off-again boyfriend have fallen foul of their drug dealer Jackie (a long-haired Domhnall Gleeson, recently seen in Fountain of Youth) and need to go off the grid for a few days until the heat dies down. Unsurprisingly, that's not the end of the story, and we'll see just how far Kate will go to keep her daughter safe. Echo Valley is more of a character piece than a plot-driven affair. The pacing is slow, the dialogue sparse and the overall mood pretty gloomy. The performances are solid, and the ending makes up for some of the experience of watching what can at times be a borderline boring film. But given the solid cast - which also includes Fiona Shaw and Kyle MacLachlan - you might be expecting more from Echo Valley than you get. Newly-minted Oscar nominee Monica Barbaro is back in action alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the second season of Netflix's over-the-top action comedy FUBAR. Also on Netflix you'll find a doctumentary about the doomed submarine implosion, Titan: The Oceangate Submersible Disaster, as well as another doco on Travis Scott's festival disaster Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy. Catch Nicolas Cage in an Aussie thriller in Stan's The Surfer, or check out Orlando Bloom and Bryce Dallas Howard in the hilariously silly action comedy Deep Cover on Prime Video. If you're after something a little more sci-fi, check out new series Revival on Binge, where dead folks are rising from the grave with apparently no ill effects. Ryan Reynolds tries his hand at nature documentaries on Disney+, providing the narration for the fun Underdogs, which takes a look at some of the animal kingdom's more left-of-centre creatures like the pistol shrimp and axolotl, with his trademark snarky delivery. On Disney+ you'll also find the fourth season of Wild Crime, a true crime docuseries that this season focuses on serial killer Israel Keyes. Fresh off the back of The Last Anniversary, Teresa Palmer stars in another Aussie drama. Mix Tape, which is a British co-production, follows Alison and Daniel across two timelines. They first meet in high school in the north of England. Daniel is the more popular of the two, while Alison is quiet and reserved, but both have a love of music and an undeniable attraction to the other. Fast forward a quarter century and their lives look very different. Daniel has become a music writer, has a wife and kid, and is still living in Sheffield. Alison, meanwhile, is now a celebrated author living in Sydney with a mostly Aussie accent, doctor husband and moody teen daughter. News of Alison's new book reaches Daniel back in their hometown, and it seems inevitable that these two will be meeting again. The series takes place over four episodes, with only one episode dropping each week, so we'll have to be patient as the story unfolds. Florence Hunt (Bridgerton's Hyacinth) and newcomer Rory Walton-Smith are delightful as the teen versions of the pair in 1989. Palmer is the grown up Alison, and there's a clear sadness and underappreciation in her performance that invites you to learn more about this woman's life. Jim Sturgess (One Day) is the adult Daniel, clearly still harbouring some feelings for his high school love. Mix Tape is a serious, music-infused romantic drama, its emotions played with earnestness. It doesn't feel the need to break tension with laughs. There's not a great deal in the way of story in the first episode, so you'll have to stick it out to see where these characters are going. Remember the raunchy teen comedy genre? It was huge in the 80s, but where did it go? Summer of 69 tries to resurrect that genre, and mostly does, but also manages to be unexpectedly wholesome and sweet. From writer-director Jillian Bell (you might remember her from 22 Jump Street, Brittany Runs a Marathon, Godmothered), the coming of age comedy sees high schooler Abby (Sam Morelos, That 90s Show) determined to win the affections of her dreamboat classmate Max (Matt Cornett, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series) in the wake of his relationship ending. Learning from a perhaps unreliable source of school gossip that Max's sexual interests tend towards the number of the film title, Abby decides she needs to become more skilled in the bedroom department and hires a local stripper to teach her the ways of the world. Enter Santa Monica (SNL's Chloe Fineman), who needs to make $20,000 fast to save her strip club from being sold to a slimy rival, and agrees to help Abby become a more confident, capable version of herself in order to woo Max. It's a truly ludicrous premise that does feel straight out of the 80s, but Summer of 69 is actually far tamer than you'd expect. There's no nudity, and the raunchiness doesn't get much further than the title. The heart of this film is the growing friendship between Abby and Santa Monica, who both grow under the other's influence to become more well-rounded, self-confident women. What should have been a massive miss is actually a surprising success, and a lot of that goes down to funny and sharp writing, and committed performances from the cast, which also includes Charlie Day, Natalie Morales, Liza Koshy and Nicole Byer in support. Julianne Moore and Sydney Sweeney are mother and daughter in this moody dramatic thriller. Moore's Kate lives and works alone at her farm, caring for horses and teaching the occasional lesson. She's grieving the loss of her wife and struggling to pay for the upkeep of the property. Her quiet monotony is broken one night when her daughter Claire shows up out of the blue. Claire has a history with substance abuse, and Kate - desperate for her daughter to be alright and keep coming home - is powerless to hold back assistance when she asks for it. But this latest visit comes with trouble. Claire and her on-again-off-again boyfriend have fallen foul of their drug dealer Jackie (a long-haired Domhnall Gleeson, recently seen in Fountain of Youth) and need to go off the grid for a few days until the heat dies down. Unsurprisingly, that's not the end of the story, and we'll see just how far Kate will go to keep her daughter safe. Echo Valley is more of a character piece than a plot-driven affair. The pacing is slow, the dialogue sparse and the overall mood pretty gloomy. The performances are solid, and the ending makes up for some of the experience of watching what can at times be a borderline boring film. But given the solid cast - which also includes Fiona Shaw and Kyle MacLachlan - you might be expecting more from Echo Valley than you get. Newly-minted Oscar nominee Monica Barbaro is back in action alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the second season of Netflix's over-the-top action comedy FUBAR. Also on Netflix you'll find a doctumentary about the doomed submarine implosion, Titan: The Oceangate Submersible Disaster, as well as another doco on Travis Scott's festival disaster Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy. Catch Nicolas Cage in an Aussie thriller in Stan's The Surfer, or check out Orlando Bloom and Bryce Dallas Howard in the hilariously silly action comedy Deep Cover on Prime Video. If you're after something a little more sci-fi, check out new series Revival on Binge, where dead folks are rising from the grave with apparently no ill effects. Ryan Reynolds tries his hand at nature documentaries on Disney+, providing the narration for the fun Underdogs, which takes a look at some of the animal kingdom's more left-of-centre creatures like the pistol shrimp and axolotl, with his trademark snarky delivery. On Disney+ you'll also find the fourth season of Wild Crime, a true crime docuseries that this season focuses on serial killer Israel Keyes. Fresh off the back of The Last Anniversary, Teresa Palmer stars in another Aussie drama. Mix Tape, which is a British co-production, follows Alison and Daniel across two timelines. They first meet in high school in the north of England. Daniel is the more popular of the two, while Alison is quiet and reserved, but both have a love of music and an undeniable attraction to the other. Fast forward a quarter century and their lives look very different. Daniel has become a music writer, has a wife and kid, and is still living in Sheffield. Alison, meanwhile, is now a celebrated author living in Sydney with a mostly Aussie accent, doctor husband and moody teen daughter. News of Alison's new book reaches Daniel back in their hometown, and it seems inevitable that these two will be meeting again. The series takes place over four episodes, with only one episode dropping each week, so we'll have to be patient as the story unfolds. Florence Hunt (Bridgerton's Hyacinth) and newcomer Rory Walton-Smith are delightful as the teen versions of the pair in 1989. Palmer is the grown up Alison, and there's a clear sadness and underappreciation in her performance that invites you to learn more about this woman's life. Jim Sturgess (One Day) is the adult Daniel, clearly still harbouring some feelings for his high school love. Mix Tape is a serious, music-infused romantic drama, its emotions played with earnestness. It doesn't feel the need to break tension with laughs. There's not a great deal in the way of story in the first episode, so you'll have to stick it out to see where these characters are going. Remember the raunchy teen comedy genre? It was huge in the 80s, but where did it go? Summer of 69 tries to resurrect that genre, and mostly does, but also manages to be unexpectedly wholesome and sweet. From writer-director Jillian Bell (you might remember her from 22 Jump Street, Brittany Runs a Marathon, Godmothered), the coming of age comedy sees high schooler Abby (Sam Morelos, That 90s Show) determined to win the affections of her dreamboat classmate Max (Matt Cornett, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series) in the wake of his relationship ending. Learning from a perhaps unreliable source of school gossip that Max's sexual interests tend towards the number of the film title, Abby decides she needs to become more skilled in the bedroom department and hires a local stripper to teach her the ways of the world. Enter Santa Monica (SNL's Chloe Fineman), who needs to make $20,000 fast to save her strip club from being sold to a slimy rival, and agrees to help Abby become a more confident, capable version of herself in order to woo Max. It's a truly ludicrous premise that does feel straight out of the 80s, but Summer of 69 is actually far tamer than you'd expect. There's no nudity, and the raunchiness doesn't get much further than the title. The heart of this film is the growing friendship between Abby and Santa Monica, who both grow under the other's influence to become more well-rounded, self-confident women. What should have been a massive miss is actually a surprising success, and a lot of that goes down to funny and sharp writing, and committed performances from the cast, which also includes Charlie Day, Natalie Morales, Liza Koshy and Nicole Byer in support. Julianne Moore and Sydney Sweeney are mother and daughter in this moody dramatic thriller. Moore's Kate lives and works alone at her farm, caring for horses and teaching the occasional lesson. She's grieving the loss of her wife and struggling to pay for the upkeep of the property. Her quiet monotony is broken one night when her daughter Claire shows up out of the blue. Claire has a history with substance abuse, and Kate - desperate for her daughter to be alright and keep coming home - is powerless to hold back assistance when she asks for it. But this latest visit comes with trouble. Claire and her on-again-off-again boyfriend have fallen foul of their drug dealer Jackie (a long-haired Domhnall Gleeson, recently seen in Fountain of Youth) and need to go off the grid for a few days until the heat dies down. Unsurprisingly, that's not the end of the story, and we'll see just how far Kate will go to keep her daughter safe. Echo Valley is more of a character piece than a plot-driven affair. The pacing is slow, the dialogue sparse and the overall mood pretty gloomy. The performances are solid, and the ending makes up for some of the experience of watching what can at times be a borderline boring film. But given the solid cast - which also includes Fiona Shaw and Kyle MacLachlan - you might be expecting more from Echo Valley than you get. Newly-minted Oscar nominee Monica Barbaro is back in action alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the second season of Netflix's over-the-top action comedy FUBAR. Also on Netflix you'll find a doctumentary about the doomed submarine implosion, Titan: The Oceangate Submersible Disaster, as well as another doco on Travis Scott's festival disaster Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy. Catch Nicolas Cage in an Aussie thriller in Stan's The Surfer, or check out Orlando Bloom and Bryce Dallas Howard in the hilariously silly action comedy Deep Cover on Prime Video. If you're after something a little more sci-fi, check out new series Revival on Binge, where dead folks are rising from the grave with apparently no ill effects. Ryan Reynolds tries his hand at nature documentaries on Disney+, providing the narration for the fun Underdogs, which takes a look at some of the animal kingdom's more left-of-centre creatures like the pistol shrimp and axolotl, with his trademark snarky delivery. On Disney+ you'll also find the fourth season of Wild Crime, a true crime docuseries that this season focuses on serial killer Israel Keyes.
Perth Now
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
You're going to LOVE Teresa Palmer's new TV project Mix Tape
There's busy. And then there's Teresa Palmer busy. The actor has an easy, breezy air about her that belies the fact she's got enough going on to make your head spin: back-to-back projects for two years, including working with Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Russell Crowe and Liam Neeson, all while parenting five children and this year, balancing the demands of pregnancy. Palmer is the first to admit she made a conscious decision to 'bust my balls' and go at breakneck speed, so she can hit the brakes hard when her next child is born later this year. 'I was like, 'alright, I am just going to work back-to-back-to-back so that we can have another baby, and I can take time off, and still have stuff coming out,' she explains. 'But I have also been very selective with the projects I take — I won't take just anything.' There have been movies (Bruna Papandrea's Addition, The Fall Guy with Gosling and Blunt) and TV series (The Last Anniversary and The Clearing, with Miranda Otto), with more to come this year (action-thriller Bear Country with Crowe and the black comedy heist movie 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank with Neeson). Teresa Palmer announces she is expecting another baby, surrounded by her four children. Credit: @teresapalmer While Palmer agrees it was a lot, it was a means to an end that she's looking forward to. 'I knew that I was in this season of (work), so it was like, 'Alright, for the next 18 months, I am going to bust my balls and then I can have this baby, and take a breath, and focus on being a parent, and taking my kids to school every day,' she says. The next cab off the rank is her role in the Binge adaptation of Jane Sanderson's novel Mix Tape: a four-part miniseries about the teenage romance of Daniel and Alison in the 1980s, then picking up with them again as adults, played by Jim Sturgess and Palmer, living on opposite sides of the world. As kids, the young friends, who live in Sheffield in the north of England, fall in love and connect through the making of mix tapes. After a long period of estrangement, they find a way back to one another through music once more. Needless to say, the series boasts a killer late-80s soundtrack. It struck a chord when it made its debut at SXSW Film and TV Festival in Texas earlier this year, winning the coveted Audience Award in the TV Spotlight category. 'I am not surprised that people connect with it, because it's so nostalgic,' Palmer says. 'I think we dream of a simpler time, when we were making our lovers mix tapes, and burning CDs. 'It's that 'first love' feeling and there's nothing more intoxicating and more beautiful than those butterflies, and that intensity.' Teresa Palmer is starring alongside Jim Sturgess in Mix Tape, coming to Binge. Credit: Supplied Though much younger than the characters in the book — Palmer was born in 1986, three years before the series is set — Palmer still remembers playing mix tapes in her mum's Holden Barina before graduating to CDs, and her own car, a few years later. 'I had an external plug-in CD player from Cash Converters and a $40 Cash Converter sub-woofer,' she laughs. 'The car was a bright yellow Hyundai Accent, 2002, and I would crank Dr Dre, Eminem, and Snoop Dog with the windows down and drive up to my private Catholic school.' It's hard to imagine that Palmer — esteemed actress, podcaster, earth mother, Byron Bay resident and co-founder of the parenting blog Your Zen Mama — was ever a rebellious schoolgirl blasting rap music out of the windows of a canary-coloured car. But if there is one thing Palmer insists upon, it's being true to herself. Not long ago, she and her husband, director Mark Webber, relocated to Byron Bay, after splitting their time between Palmer's hometown of Adelaide and Los Angeles, where Webber's son is based. They're now in the process of planning their forever home on rural acreage outside of the town. Palmer says she owes her sanity these past few years to her steadfast commitment to herself to always 'keep things real' as a public figure, as she navigates motherhood and her acting career. She's always careful to be authentic online, sharing the grief of a miscarriage last year and intimate stories of her pregnancies through her blog. 'I would never be able to do all this without being myself,' Palmer explains. 'I am just so grateful, and so lucky that I am living this beautiful, dream life. But if I suddenly start being a version of myself online, and people start to be in a state of comparison with me, I just . . . I can't. I have just got to keep it real. Because I would go crazy if I wasn't like that.' Teresa Palmer, styled by Irene Tsolakas. Teresa wears: Common Hours top and Golden Goose jeans. Credit: JOHN TSIAVIS Binge But if Palmer has felt like she was in the eye of the storm the past couple of years, she's about to take that to a much more literal place — she's taking her family on a five-week caravan trip across the US, including her 'bucket list' destination of Tornado Alley. 'We are taking all the kids.' she says with a laugh. 'My stepson Isaac (who lives in America with his mother, actor and director Frankie Shaw) finished year 11 today, so he is coming with us. 'We'll all be in a 30-foot RV that my husband drives, going up through Texas, staying with the Van Der Beeks.' And yes, the Van Der Beeks that Palmer speaks of are the family of Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek, who has six children with wife Kimberly Brook. The older and younger versions of Alison and Daniel: (l-r) Teresa Palmer, Jim Sturgess, Rory Walton-Smith and Florence Hunt. Credit: Supplied Leanne Sullivan But 11 kids running around is not even where the chaos ends, Palmer laughs, because then they are driving north through the centre of North America known for tornadoes. 'I wanted to do Tornado Alley during tornado season; me and my son Forest are obsessed with Twister, and we watch Storm Stories. I think we have watched every single tornado documentary that has ever been released. 'It's our thing that we do together and he and I secretly want to see one, but also — not.' Palmer admits her husband isn't fully on board. '(He) is like, 'Do you want to be Helen Hunt (from Twister) or something?'' she says. 'I said, 'I just want to experience real weather', and Mark is like, 'Wow, that is some weird pregnancy craving'.' But when this flurry of work is finished, the bucket list item is ticked, the caravan is stowed and Palmer returns home to Byron Bay with her family, a new, slower pace awaits. And she's ready for that season, too.
Sky News AU
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Controversial Married At First Sight groom Ryan Donnelly shocks fans as he debuts his latest acting role after interim restraining order from TV "bride"
Controversial Married At First Sight groom Ryan Donnelly has shocked fans as he debuted his latest acting gig. It's understood the project manager, 36, has pursued acting amid reports he is unable to find work after Nine's reality hit finished airing in April. On Sunday, the reality star took to Instagram Stories to share a photo of himself dressed as a police officer for a new role. Ryan looked every inch the real-life cop, complete with his faux attire that included a badge, patches, a blue shirt, and a bulletproof vest. "We on," he wrote, along with a screenshot notifying his 19,000 followers his account has been verified with a blue badge. MAFS fan account mafsgossip quickly reshared the new gig along with two other of Ryan's past dress-ups. He could be seen rocking a 70's moustache in one, while the other showed him posing with claws and a white tank top at a festival. Fans flocked to the comments section to say the MAFS star was well suited to the force. "He actually suits it," one person said. "Suits you. It's never too late to join the police force," another person said. It's not the first time the aspiring actor has stunned fans by posing as an officer. In March, one fan took to social media to point out Ryan's cameo appearance in the new BINGE Original Series The Last Anniversary. 'Just watching new series on BINGE, is this who I think it is? It's called The Last Anniversary,' they wrote, along with a screenshot of the star. The Last Anniversary, based on the book of the same title by author Liane Moriarty, is executive produced by Australian A-lister Nicole Kidman. The Campbelltown groom can be seen around 20 minutes into episode one, sporting a white shirt and muli-coloured jacket in an office scene. Ryan confirmed to Yahoo Lifestyle he played a 'simple police officer guarding the star patient in that episode'. 'Always amazing fun on sets like those,' he said. The role on BINGE isn't Ryan's first, as he has previously starred in Neighbours and NCIS: Sydney. The 36-year-old also appeared briefly on Nine's Beauty and the Geek in 2022. Earlier this year, he was spotted on the streets of Sydney acting in a major upcoming Hollywood horror film starring American actor Dylan O'Brien. Ryan could be seen strutting across a footpath dressed in a corporate navy blue suit, white shirt and tie for the gig. He was clean-shaven and completed the look with a carry bag and a pair of shiny black dress shoes. Ryan's tumultuous relationship with his on-screen wife Jacqui Burfoot dominated season 12 as the pair frequently fought and made up over seemingly mundane details like having a TV in the couple's bedroom. Jacqui also raised several concerns about Ryan's financial skills and his ability to contribute to their future family. The Kiwi bride suggested his career choice might not be "enough" financially. She later took to TikTok to clarify she raised the concerns about his acting ambitions, not his salary as a project manager. Ryan and Jacqui's rows spilled over into court around the time they dramatically ended their union at Final Vows in April. In March, Jacqui obtained an interim restraining order against Ryan, which prevented him from commenting on social media about her. Ryan subsequently applied for an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO) against her. The matter was heard at Campbelltown Court House in April. Magistrate Shane McAnulty told the court he was unwilling to grant the order in Jacqui's absence and asked the parties to prepare submissions for the matter to return to court on Tuesday, June 24. has reached out to Ryan Donnelly for comment.
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
BBC viewers break down in tears as all episodes of 'masterpiece' family drama hit iPlayer - and they 'binge every episode in one day'
BBC viewers broke down in tears after all instalments of a 'masterpiece' family drama finally hit iPlayer - binging 'every episode in one day'. The Last Anniversary, which hit the on-demand platform on Saturday, follows journalist Sophie (Teresa Palmer) after she inherits her ex-boyfriend's great-aunt's house on the remote, fictional Scribbly Gum Island. As she settles in, she also attempts to solve a 50-year-old local cold case that has haunted the island - and drawn in true crime tourists - for years. The Australian six-part comedy-drama, first released down under in March, is based on the 2005 novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty, the author behind Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers. Alongside lead Teresa (The Fall Guy), it also stars Oscar-nominated British actress Miranda Richardson (Good Omens) and Australian actress Danielle Macdonald (The Tourist). Co-produced by Nicole Kidman and Liane herself, among others, it has impressed critics and viewers alike, whose reviews and comments online sing their praises for the high-quality show. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The Australian six-part comedy-drama, first released down under in March, is based on the 2005 novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty, the author behind Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers One viewer said on X: 'I just binged The Last Anniversary on iPlayer, that was good.' Another added: 'I'm three episodes deep and I'm loving this! Phenomenal cast and the story is really well written too.' Someone else wrote on Rotten Tomatoes: 'Sitting here absolutely crying my eyes out because this show is a masterpiece.' One user also said: 'Excellent show. I'm really enjoying it.' The Guardian 's review read: 'The tone of this gracefully crafted adaptation of Liane Moriarty's bestselling novel is tender and mysterious, imbued with a soft literary quality.' The Independent similarly gave it high praise, dubbing the literary adaptation 'thought-provoking, hilarious and scrumptiously well-acted': 'This new six-parter isn't milking a franchise, it's launching one.' Common Sense Media, meanwhile, said: 'The mystery is mostly backdrop to a patient, lovely drama that delves into the complexities of family, motherhood and relationships.' The BBC synopsis reads: 'When Sophie Honeywell mysteriously inherits a house on Scribbly Gum Island, her arrival threatens to unearth secrets held close by three generations of women.' It has impressed critics and viewers alike, whose reviews and comments online sing their praises for the high-quality show It also bills the drama as a 'gripping mystery about family, motherhood and the women who define the generations that come after them'. Sue Deeks, head of BBC programme acquisition, dubbed the show 'an entertaining drama full of vivid characters, comedy and romance, with a compelling mystery at its heart'. She continued: 'I'm sure BBC viewers will thoroughly enjoy their visit to beautiful Scribbly Gum Island.' Though the inheritance comes as a surprise, and the islanders give her a somewhat frosty reception upon her arrival, Sophie quickly realises it could be the fresh start she has been looking for. Single and nearing 40, she is also drawn in by her elderly benefactor's promise that the island may well bring her romance at last. We learn the mystery somehow concerns two sisters - one of them being the elderly woman Sophie inherits the house from - along with a couple who went missing and a baby who was abandoned. But exactly how it is all connected remains to be seen. It is another victory for the BBC, after it announced last week it was welcoming back a legendary sitcom for a brand new series - to fans' delight. First released in 2006, it follows unambitious layabout Lee, played by the funny man (pictured), and his best friend's sister Lucy (Sally Bretton, pictured), who is also the landlady of his London flatshare Not Going Out, the award-winning popular show created by comedian Lee Mack, is set for a comeback for a six-part series 14, around two years after the latest episodes aired. First released in 2006, it follows unambitious layabout Lee, played by the funny man, and his best friend's sister Lucy (Sally Bretton), who is also the landlady of his London flatshare. A will-they-won't-they romance between the two unfolded over several series, until the unlikely couple married in the season seven finale, just before having a baby. The eighth series jumped eight years into the future, with all subsequent instalments following their chaotic family life with three children. And now series 14 will move the story on several years more, when the couple are empty nesters and moved out of their suburban family home - but still up to plenty of antics.
