Latest news with #U&Drama
Daily Mirror
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
David Attenborough's great-nephew gets explosive role in brand new drama
A new addictive series is coming to U&Drama and one name in the line-up might have a familiar ring to it. Sir David Attenborough's great-nephew Will takes on a surprising role. David Attenborough has retired from public life but another member of his family is keeping his legacy in the spotlight. David, 99, has most recently starred in a powerful documentary to raise the alarm bells for our oceans. Now, Sir David Attenborough 's great-nephew Will Attenborough stars in a new show on U&Drama, titled Outrageous, alongside Bessie Carter, James Purefoy, Anna Chancellor and Joshua Sasse. In the six-part series, Will, 33, plays a fictional character named Joss, crafted from several real figures. 'It was originally going to be Evelyn Waugh, then writer Sarah Williams thought it'd be interesting to make him Jewish, but not very openly,' Will says. 'He's also gay, but that's never really talked about in the show.' Joss forms a bond with main character Nancy, played by Bessie Carter, particularly in scenes that reflect the wider political chaos of the time. One scene in Buckinghamshire stands out to Will in particular. 'They're talking about the far-right,' he remembers, 'And we were filming while riots were actually happening around the country last summer. It was a reminder: 'These things don't happen in isolation. There's a culture behind it. History is being repeated.'' READ MORE: NARS' new summer collection includes cream eyeshadow that 'doesn't budge' on oily eyelids Actress Bessie Carter made her name as the scheming Prudence Featherington in Bridgerton. Now, she's taking centre stage in Outrageous, a drama with bite, built on truth, and unafraid to rattle the bones of British history. Adapted from Mary S. Lovell's novel The Mitford Girls, the six-part series set in the 1930s sees Bessie play Nancy Mitford - the eldest of six aristocratic siblings who each challenged, defied or catastrophically clashed with the values of their time. 'I knew a weird amount about them already,' Bessie says, 'I've been strangely connected to Nancy for ages.' That connection turns out to be more than just artistic. Bessie, who is the daughter of actors Jim Carter and Imedla Staunton, voiced the audiobook of Nancy's The Pursuit of Love and later discovered they shared some eerie life overlaps. 'I found out I went to the same school as her for the same amount of time, only three years. During the war she worked at St Mary's Hospital, which is where I was born,' Bessie says. 'She lived in Maida Vale, 10 minutes from where I used to live. It's a series of really odd coincidences.' That synchronicity only deepened Bessie's instinct for Nancy. In Outrageous, Nancy is the anchor - a writer determined to make sense of the crumbling world around her, and to carve a new one through sharp prose and even sharper choices. Her sisters, however, take wildly different paths. 'They want to find their own rules because there's so much to fight against in that house. They grew up with a bit of a dictator as a father,' says Bessie, 'Nancy is fearless as a writer, but the others veer off into other directions perhaps because they lack real purpose in life.' Enter Joanna Vanderham as Diana, Nancy's closest sister - and political opposite. At first, Diana is the glamorous wife of London's richest man. But after a bitter divorce, she finds solace in Oswald Mosley, founder of the British Union of Fascists. The series traces her transformation and the painful wedge it drives between her and Nancy. 'Diana and Nancy are best friends to begin with, but the story follows the breakdown of their relationship,' Joanna says, 'You realise how problematic fascism is through Nancy's eyes because you see what it does to Diana. Politics cause the fracture between them. Neither can see it from the other's perspective.' To make matters worse, Diana's relationship with Oswald is nothing short of hectic. 'He's had numerous affairs, but she stood by him,' Joanna says. 'When she says, 'He's the one I'm going to spend the rest of my life with,' she makes that happen.' Joanna adds: 'The Mitfords are known for their sense of humour but Diana starts losing that. She can't poke fun at herself anymore. She becomes a bit uptight and keeps her emotions very private.' Yet she remains outspoken about her views - which became increasingly difficult for Joanna to portray on-screen. 'I had a line the other day and was like, 'This is just horrible to say and to think,'' Joanna recalls. 'The biggest acting demand is to say that with conviction and to not feel physically revolted by it.' To ground her own performance, Bessie leaned on the sisters' extensive real-life correspondence. 'One book I found really useful was The Mitford: Letters Between Six Sisters. They wrote over 17,000 letters between them,' Bessie says, 'This book obviously doesn't contain nearly as many as that, but it's already as thick as a brick.' Outrageous doesn't shy away from the more uncomfortable chapters. Shannon Watson plays Unity Mitford, infamous for her obsession with Adolf Hitler and her open antisemitism. Zoe Brough also joins the cast as Jessica Mitford, who became a staunch communist. The ideological gulf between the sisters mirrors the chaos of the era. 'We see the pressure these political divides put on Nancy,' says Bessie. 'Do you stay true to your family because they are blood…or do you stay true to yourself and your beliefs? I found all that so interesting.' Outrageous airs on U and U&Drama from Thursday, June 19th.
Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'Binge-worthy' crime drama that viewers are 'missing out' on is now streaming
A "binge-worthy" crime drama that viewers are "missing out" on is now available to stream. The quintessential British crime drama, The Chelsea Detective, is the brainchild of Peter Fincham and first made its debut on Acorn TV. Each season consists of four episodes, with the murder mystery not being unravelled until the season finale. The inaugural season kicked off in February 2022. The second season wrapped up in September 2023, paving the way for the third season's premiere in May. Here's the lowdown on everything you need to know about the series, including plot summary, cast details, and audience reactions, reports Surrey Live. The Chelsea Detective is currently airing on U&Drama The Chelsea Detective features Gavin and Stacey's Adrian Scarborough as the tenacious detective, DI Max Arnold, who probes into murder cases in the affluent London borough of Chelsea. "London's Chelsea neighbourhood is a beautiful borough for beautiful people, but it has a dark underside of deception, violence, greed and murder," the official synopsis teases. "Bodies have a way of showing up, and things are rarely what they seem. DI Max Arnold and his partner, DS Priya Shamsie (Sonita Henry), must root out the truth and bring those responsible to justice, no matter their wealth or status." After Priya's exit at the conclusion of the first season, DS Layla Walsh (Vanessa Emme) makes her entrance as the latest lead character in the second season. The series follows two detectives working in the London borough of Chelsea The latest series features four new murder mysteries, including the suspicious death of a former popstar, the discovery of an ex-soldier's body in an allotment, the brutal murder of an antiques dealer and the peculiar case of a climate scientist found dead in a stolen car. The stellar lineup includes Adrian, Priya, and Vanessa, with Peter Bankole as DC Connor Pollock, Lucy Phelps playing DC Jess Lombard, and Sophie Stone portraying Chief Forensics Officer Ashley Wilton. The series also boasts performances from Fury's Anamaria Marinca, Silk's Frances Barber, and Doctor Who alum Alex Kingston. Adrian Scarborough plays DI Max Arnold Audiences are absolutely loving the show, with many flocking to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express their joy. "Only just discovering this a few nights ago, and I am really enjoying it. It's one of those shows that is relaxing, even though it is about murder etc. It just takes me away from all the noise that's going on in the world now," one person wrote. "I think a lot of viewers are missing out on this, it should be on BBC or ITV," commented another, while someone else remarked: "The only problem with series 3 is there's not enough episodes. I love The Chelsea Detective. More please." Another fan couldn't hide their enthusiasm, stating: "Great show! I'm on my third rewatch," and yet another chimed in with: "Brilliant series!!!!" The Chelsea Detective is currently airing on U&Drama and streaming on U
Metro
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
TV fans lament what could have been as BBC series ends with 'fantastic' finale
Fans of Eldorado have been left pondering what could have been as the classic BBC One soap concludes its daytime TV repeat run. Created by Tony Holland and Julia Smith, the legendary duo responsible for EastEnders, Eldorado followed the lives of British and European expatriates who resided in the fictional town of Los Barcos in Spain. The series – which bosses hoped would follow in the footsteps of Neighbours and replicate EastEnders' success – was short-lived, running for only 156 episodes between 1992 and 1993 despite an overhaul towards the end of its run that was received positively by audiences. Fans have been re-living the BBC classic via daily repeats on U&Drama, the very same broadcaster which has brought us EastEnders from the beginning. However, the time has come to say goodbye to the residents of Los Barcos once again, with Eldorado's repeat run set having concluded on Wednesday (May 14). 'Los Barcos, I'm gonna miss you,' wrote James on X, formerly known as Twitter, referring to the overhauled era of the classic soap as 'f***ing fantastic television'. 'I shall be gutted when it's over,' said another. 'It's a real shame it wasn't given more of a chance when the new team came in,' said Emmett. 'I genuinely love it. This latest run of Eldorado was thought to be the first in over two decades, with UKTV Gold having previously re-aired the series in the late 1990s and early 2000s. A selection of episodes were made available on BritBox in 2021. Want to be the first to hear shocking EastEnders spoilers? Who's leaving Coronation Street? The latest gossip from Emmerdale? Join 10,000 soaps fans on Metro's WhatsApp Soaps community and get access to spoiler galleries, must-watch videos, and exclusive interviews. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications so you can see when we've just dropped the latest spoilers! Since Eldorado returned to screens in January, fans have made it quite clear that they've enjoyed having the opportunity to re-visit the short-lived gem. More Trending '#Eldorado continues to deliver absolute camp' said a viewer on X at the time. Another added: 'Enjoying the repeats of Eldorado. I mean I can't hear it half the time but at least I can blame those Spanish acoustics and not my age.' 'Thoroughly enjoyed the first episodes of #Eldorado being repeated yesterday' added another. View More » Eldorado can now be streamed in its entirety on UKTV Play. If you've got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@ – we'd love to hear from you. Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage.
The Herald Scotland
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
BBC Bergerac reboot getting a series 2 - here's when
The series, which was released in February on the U&Drama channel and stars Damien Molony, follows Bergerac returning to work after a period of compassionate leave following the death of his wife. Now, it has been confirmed that the popular show is returning for a series 2. BBC Bergerac reboot getting a series 2 UKTV has announced today, April 30, that the re-imagined series of Bergerac will return for a second series following the "overwhelming success of the recent launch". It said: "The first series of Bergerac, which launched on February 27 on U and U&DRAMA, has become the second highest rating programme on U&DRAMA ever, with record numbers of 1.8 million consolidated viewers tuning in. "The launch contributed to a record-breaking performance on U, helping to achieve the best week ever for the platform." On the show's return for a second series, Molony, who stars at the titular character, said: 'I'm so excited to be returning for a second series and to be heading back to the beautiful island of Jersey. Bringing this iconic role back has been an incredible experience. "My predecessor had solved six crimes in the time it's taken for me to solve one, so I have a bit of catching up to do. I can't wait to explore the character of Jim Bergerac further and see what case we crack next.' Speaking with the Radio Times, previously discussed how he had met original Bergerac actor John Nettles and was given his blessing for a new version of the role. When is the Bergerac reboot returning for series 2? The rebooted series of Bergerac will be returning for another six-episode run and it set to air in 2026. UKTV said the second series will see Jim Bergerac "starting to put his life back together, while his mother-in-law Charlie Hungerford has a new man in her life". ♬ original sound - StreamOnU @streamonu John Nettles passes the mantle to Damien Molony in the brand new reimagining of the classic series, Bergerac. Watch the full conversation free on U! Brand new #Bergerac They continued: "Jim's even tentatively dating, with his daughter's encouragement, although it's a big step for him. But then he meets Nicola, a visitor to Jersey, and they connect. Could this be the start of something for Jim? "However, before the relationship even has time to blossom, Jim is pulled back into his next big case. "When the groom at a wedding reception on the island is found murdered in his hotel room, the wedding party comes under intense suspicion and scrutiny. "Jim will have to decipher the victim's cryptic last words from his speech if he is ever going to bring the killer to justice. "And when Jim starts to unravel old secrets, more skeletons come to light, making this his most intricate case yet." Recommended reading: How to watch the original and rebooted series of Bergerac Bergerac is available to stream for free on the streaming service U. Episodes from the original Bergerac series air occasionally on U&Drama and can also be found on the U streaming service.
Metro
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Poldark fans - get ready for your next period drama binge 10 years later
It's been ten years since Aidan Turner first hit screens as Captain Ross Poldark and swept fans away with the BBC programme's gripping drama, leaving fans devastated when it came to an end after five seasons. But a decade later, and we may have just found your next fix. 2024 miniseries The Count of Monte Cristo will be launching on UKTV's free-to-air channel U&Drama and streaming service U this summer. The epic historical adventure drama, based on Alexandre Durmas's classic novel of the same name, stars Daisy Jones & the Six actor Sam Claflin and House of Gucci's Jeremy Irons. Sam stars as young sailor Edmond Dantes, who was falsely accused of treason and imprisoned without trial in the Château d'If, a grim island fortress off Marseille. After many years of captivity during which he is educated by a fellow prisoner, he finally escapes and takes on the identity of the wealthy and enigmatic Count of Monte Cristo. The synopsis teases: 'With his newfound resources, he embarks on a journey of revenge on those who have wrongly accused him.' The series also stars The Gilded Age's Karla-Simone Spence, Harry Taurasi, Poppy Corby Tuech, Ana Girardot and Gabriella Pession. After premiering in Italy, The Count of Monte Cristo reached immense success with an average of nearly six million viewers. It's also scored 7.8 on IMDb, with viewer reviews branding the eight-part series 'captivating', 'amazing' and 'magnificent'. @sjensenstrad said: 'Great acting, great flow in the story, cinematic experience was superb felt like a historical experience and the audio was amazing. Our family, old and young, was glued to the screen for two days.' 'I'm extremely happy with how this series was made. Not only have they found a way to make it realistic, but they've also found a way to make the story so precise that it could have easily happened in reality. One of the few adaptations I can say is wonderful. The cast and locations are breathtaking in their authenticity,' @tactrix added. @omigen wrote: 'I can honestly say, that I didn't miss a second of this fantastic version of the classic tale. The cast, the direction, the locations… all of it is perfect. Nothing less. I binged it all through Christmas day and now I don't know what to watch next! It's that kind of adaptation. It's that good. It's worth a second watch, and that's what I will do.' @reggiemiller-59077 called it 'Television at its finest!' with @tiky-41483 writing: 'The masterful interpretation of the Count of Monte Cristo by the actor Sam Claflin is spectacular, which together with the direction and costumes, photography, gives the spectator an unparalleled cinematic spectacle.' Filmmaker Bille August revealed in a past interview that he was lured by the project because it's 'all about relationships, the complexities of human beings and in that sense it's very modern and timeless'. More Trending According to Variety, he said: 'I love The Count of Monte Cristo [it's] a great story about the human being and about person who is so obsessed by revenge that it eats him up from the inside and he is not able to love anymore. That's an important message.' He added that the series is a 'beautiful love story' despite the darker themes. View More » The Count of Monte Cristo will be available to watch on U&Drama this summer. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
