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The Guardian
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
In Flight review – the Bulgarian tourist board is going to hate this TV show
I wonder, sometimes, if Katherine Kelly misses her days as Becky McDonald in Coronation Street. Yes, Becky was a once-homeless, thieving ex-con who worked her way through the full panoply of soap storylines (abuse, miscarriage, drink problem, buying a child, marrying Steve, smashing up Tracy Barlow's front room with a sledgehammer, a stint in the Rovers Return) before her departure from the cobbled streets for a new life in Barbados after a triumphant wedding-reception-wrecking, but, y'know, she got to have a laugh while she was doing it. This was during the early 00s, when Coronation Street still dealt in comedy as well as tragedy, recognising them as two sides of the same life coin, especially among the barmaids – fully formed or embryonic battleaxes all – gazing out on the world and its punters as they wearily pulled pints behind the bar. Since then, Kelly's output has largely been one of unrelenting grimness. I can't remember the last time she took a main role in anything that required a lightness of touch, let alone the exercise of her comic chops. And never more so than in her latest outing, the exhausting six-part thriller In Flight, in which she plays a desperate single mother, Joanne, whose son, Sonny, is sentenced to 15 years in a Bulgarian prison for a murder he swears he did not commit. Oh God, the suffering! The bleak, bleak suffering! Joanne sits opposite her boy as he cries and gibbers at the thought of spending years – if he is not shanked by breakfast time – in the terrifying hellhole run by thugs (it is safe to say that the Bulgarian tourist board will not be happy with In Flight). She goes home and trawls through his case files again, in preparation for a hearing that promises to be just as unsuccessful as all the others. It is almost a relief when the thriller proper begins; give me raw suspense over emotional battery any day. Joanne, a long-haul flight attendant, is approached by a menacing man called Cormac (Stuart Martin) and presented with a non-opportunity: start smuggling drugs for the cartel he represents and get her son protected in prison – albeit at the risk of life imprisonment or the death penalty herself, depending on whether she gets caught and in which country – or refuse and get him killed. Cormac hands her a suitcase with a false bottom, tips on how to disguise the smell of the heroin she is told to pick up in Istanbul, and vanishes into the night after warning her not to tell anyone. She tells Dominic (Ashley Thomas). He is a customs officer and they had a thing while he was separated from his wife. He is now back with his wife and trying to make a go of things, but he and Joanne still gaze at each other yearningly across the baggage carousel. Thus the stage is set for – well, hours of ordinary people being terrorised into acts of increasingly inventive desperation, really. There are lots of set pieces ratcheting up the tension as Joanne is nearly caught in the act again and again and kilos of drugs have to be hidden in tampon dispensers. Ambiguous conversations are held and more and moren trusted folk turn out to be corrupt horrors; you would simply give anything to make it stop. Partly so Joanne and Sonny's anguish can end, partly so yours can. I don't know if this counts as a successful thriller or not. Clearly, it works to the extent that the viewer is invested enough to be discomfited along with the characters. Equally clearly, the choking airlessness of it all is … not entertaining, especially with a script that dispenses necessary information in as unadorned a manner as possible. But I am a coward when it comes to the drug-smuggling thriller format. I feel as if I am being forced to watch a dog chew off its own leg to escape from a trap. But for those who love precisely that about it, In Flight will be a classic of the genre: the claustrophobic nature of it all, the endangerment of hapless innocents and the reminder of the evil that spreads untrammelled across space and history are a cluster of superb selling points. It's brisk, it's well made, it's entirely harrowing. I wish you your strange, strange joy of it. In Flight airs on Channel 4 and is available online now
Scottish Sun
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Coronation Street siblings look unrecognisable almost two decades on from ITV soap exit
CORONATION Street fans have been left stunned after spotting two former child stars looking totally unrecognisable. The twin sisters were last seen in Weatherfield 17 years ago - but do you recognise them? Advertisement 5 The Coronation Street siblings look unrecognisable 17 years after their debut Credit: Instagram 5 Bethany Platt first appeared on the cobbles back in 2000 Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Twin sisters, Emily and Amy Walton, shared the role of Bethany Platt for seven years from 2000 to 2007 on Coronation Street. The long-standing character first appeared on the cobbles back in 2000 and is the daughter of Sarah Platt (Tina O'Brien). They were involved in some major dramatic storylines from being kidnapped by her paternal grandmother Brenda Fearns (Julia Deakin), to taking an ecstasy pill that her uncle had stashed inside of her doll and ended up hospitalised. However, Bethany left the cobbles in 2007 when Sarah decided to move to Italy. Advertisement Since then, the twins have moved away from the acting and showbiz world. They competed in the British Trampoline finals in 2016, with Amy securing a place in Great Britain's team the European Championships the following year. Emily shared a snap with her sister on Instagram back in January - and the pair look worlds away from their Coronation Street days. They both beamed at the camera as they holidayed in Thailand. Advertisement She captioned the snap: "The last of Thailand," alongside a yellow heart emoji. Meanwhile, when Bethany Platt returned in 2015, Lucy Fallon took over the role. Inside Coronation Street star Lucy Fallon's £300 per night holiday at luxury getaway She has brought drama and awareness through major storylines, including being groomed by Nathan Curtis (Christopher Harper) and getting a stoma bag through botched surgery. The 29-year-old returned to Corrie in December 2023 after having previously left in 2019 to go on maternity leave after welcoming her first child, Sonny, in early 2023. Advertisement The actress then revealed she was leaving again shortly after she announced she was pregnant with her second child, who she gave birth to in January with partner Ryan Ledson. Despite exiting twice, the door has always being left open for her to return - but Lucy has now hinted she's quit for good. Soap characters who've been recast Soap operas are staple viewing for many people, but even some of the most famous characters have been played by different actors. Here are some examples from over the years. Coronation Street Tracy Barlow : Kate Ford took on the role of Corrie legend Tracy Barlow in 2002. Before Kate, three other actresses had played Tracy - most notably Dawn Acton from 1988 to 1999. : Kate Ford took on the role of Corrie legend Tracy Barlow in 2002. Before Kate, three other actresses had played Tracy - most notably Dawn Acton from 1988 to 1999. Nick Tilsley: Ben Price has been playing Gail's oldest child in 2009, but the former Footballers' Wives star is the third actor to take on the part. Ben Price has been playing Gail's oldest child in 2009, but the former Footballers' Wives star is the third actor to take on the part. Sarah Platt: Although Tina O'Brien debuted as Sarah Platt in 1999, she is the third actress who has played the iconic role of Sarah Platt. Although Tina O'Brien debuted as Sarah Platt in 1999, she is the third actress who has played the iconic role of Sarah Platt. David Platt: Completing the line-up of Gail's children, David was initially played by Thomas Ormson for a decade before Jack P. Shepherd took over. Completing the line-up of Gail's children, David was initially played by Thomas Ormson for a decade before Jack P. Shepherd took over. Daniel Osbourne: For almost a decade, the role of Ken Barlow's son Daniel has been portrayed by actor Rob Mallard. Before Rob joined, two other actors had previously played Daniel. For almost a decade, the role of Ken Barlow's son Daniel has been portrayed by actor Rob Mallard. Before Rob joined, two other actors had previously played Daniel. Bethany Platt: Fans know Lucy Fallon as Bethany nowadays but before her, three other actresses had stepped into the character's shoes. Fans know Lucy Fallon as Bethany nowadays but before her, three other actresses had stepped into the character's shoes. Kirk Sutherland: Before Andy Whyment took on the role of Kirk, he played by an uncredited actor in his very first appearance. Before Andy Whyment took on the role of Kirk, he played by an uncredited actor in his very first appearance. Todd Grimshaw: Gareth Pierce stepped into the role of Todd back in 2020, becoming the second performer to play this part. Gareth Pierce stepped into the role of Todd back in 2020, becoming the second performer to play this part. Summer Spellman: Harriet Bibby became the second actress to play Summer, taking over the role from Matilda Freeman in 2020. Harriet Bibby became the second actress to play Summer, taking over the role from Matilda Freeman in 2020. Ryan Connor: Ryan Prescott currently plays the long-running character, but Ben Thompson and Sol Heras had earlier portrayed the role. EastEnders Martin Fowler: Although Martin was the first baby born on-screen in EastEnders, he hasn't always been played by the same person. His current portrayer, James Bye, is the third actor to star as the character. Although Martin was the first baby born on-screen in EastEnders, he hasn't always been played by the same person. His current portrayer, James Bye, is the third actor to star as the character. Peter Beale: Seven actors have portrayed Ian Beale's elder son, with the current actor, Thomas Law, in his second stint as the character. Seven actors have portrayed Ian Beale's elder son, with the current actor, Thomas Law, in his second stint as the character. Ben Mitchell: Ben has been played by a total of six actors - with Max Bowden bowing out of the role in March 2024. Ben has been played by a total of six actors - with Max Bowden bowing out of the role in March 2024. Bobby Beale: Before Clay Milner Russell, Ian's younger son had been played by four other actors. Before Clay Milner Russell, Ian's younger son had been played by four other actors. Freddie Slater : Bobby's best mate, Freddie Slater, had been previously played by twins Alex and Tom Kilby before Bobby Brazier took over in 2022. : Bobby's best mate, Freddie Slater, had been previously played by twins Alex and Tom Kilby before Bobby Brazier took over in 2022. Chelsea Fox: Former Coronation Street actress Zaraah Abrahams took over the role of Chelsea in 2020. The character had been first played by Tiana Benjamin from 2006 to 2010. Former Coronation Street actress Zaraah Abrahams took over the role of Chelsea in 2020. The character had been first played by Tiana Benjamin from 2006 to 2010. Lauren Branning: Jacqueline Jossa took on the role of Lauren in 2010, succeeding Madeline Duggan who'd played her from 2006 to 2010. Jacqueline Jossa took on the role of Lauren in 2010, succeeding Madeline Duggan who'd played her from 2006 to 2010. Johnny Carter: Johnny has been played by three actors since debuting in 2013 - most recently, Charlie Suff has taken on the role. The soap star has signed up to talent agent Off Limits, which help TV stars and influencer clients land brand deals, which goes against ITV's strict rules for their cast. While Coronation Street does allow product placement on the show, like with the Co-op and Costa Coffee, the cast is generally restricted from doing their own brand deals. Advertisement This has caused some tension, with actors expressing frustration at being able to promote products on the show but not off-screen. The Sun have reached out to Lucy's rep for comment. A slew of mid-salary stars is furious that ITV bosses have agreed to the money-spinning deal to have the high street giants' shopfronts and products on-screen on the expanded new set. But at the same time, cast members are banned from taking ad work promoting products away from the soap that could massively boost their earnings. Advertisement ITV rules state that the stars are only allowed to take part in other shows like I'm A Celebrity and Dancing on Ice and do personal appearances like shop openings. It comes after Jack P Shepherd is set to be bombarded with big money deals after winning Celebrity Big Brother. But any plans to cash in by signing up to star in television adverts will be blocked by Coronation Street bosses. A TV insider said: "It used to be a lot more strict, but these days ITV soap stars are allowed certain partnerships that are permitted on social media. Advertisement "The line is drawn at advertising more generally - and absolutely no TV adverts." 5 The twins played the character for seven years Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 5 Bu they are no longer in the TV world since their departure in 2007 Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 5 Has Lucy Fallon hinted she's left Coronation Street for good? Credit: Getty
