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Wednesday 31 July 2019

NETFLIX AND WWE STUDIOS ANNOUNCE LIVE-ACTION FAMILY COMEDY SERIES, THE BIG SHOW SHOW




Production on the Multi-Cam Comedy Commences in August

Netflix today announced The Big Show Show, a half-hour, multi-cam comedy series starring WWE Superstar The Big Show. Production on the 10-episode series begins in Los Angeles on August 9.

Cast:
The series stars WWE Superstar The Big Show aka Paul Wight (Fighting with My Family, WWE), Allison Munn (Nicky, Ricky, Dicky and Dawn),Reylynn Caster (American Housewife), Juliet Donenfeld (Pete the Cat) and Lily Brooks O'Briant (The Tick).

Synopsis:
When the teenage daughter of The Big Show, a retired world-famous WWE Superstar comes to live with him, his wife and two other daughters, he quickly becomes outnumbered and outsmarted. Despite being 7 feet tall and weighing 400 pounds, he is no longer the center of attention

Ian Hart, Tanya Moodie, Joanne Whalley and Kerrie Hayes join Tim Roth, Genevieve O’Reilly and Abigail Lawrie as filming commences on the third and final chapter of Sky original Tin Star




Filming has commenced in the city of Liverpool this week on the third and final chapter of Sky original epic thriller, Tin Star. Tim Roth, Genevieve O'Reilly and Abigail Lawrie reprise their roles as the worth family one last time for a series more explosive than ever before.

Sky Atlantic's critically acclaimed drama will also star Ian Hart (Boardwalk Empire, Harry Potter), Tanya Moodie (A Discovery of Witches, Sherlock), Joanne Whalley (The Edge of Darkness, The White Princess) and Kerrie Hayes (Little Boy Blue, The Mill) in this 6x60' series created by Rowan Joffe and co-produced by Gaumont Television UK and Kudos.

At the end of series two, which is currently available to watch on demand on Sky and streaming service NOW TV, Jack (Roth) and Angela (O'Reilly) are forced to reveal a devastating truth to their daughter, Anna (Lawrie); and now the family's dark history is catching up with them in their native Liverpool as their ultimate nemesis arrives on their doorstep.

Thousands of miles away from the Rocky vista of Canadian town, Little Big Bear, Jack, Angela and Anna return to the UK twenty years after leaving to confront the sinister truth they ran from. The secrets they hold threaten a group of dangerous criminals who are still operating in the city.

Leading this gang is Merseyside's most successful crime boss Michael Ryan (Hart). Michael is a fearless, resourceful and clever businessman generating major redevelopment in the city. Firmly rooted in the underworld, he can also smell the law through concrete walls and across county lines which is why he remains un-convicted of any major drugs related crime. And it's not just a business feud, it's deeply personal and on top of having the inside track on local corruption and drugs trafficking, Angela and Jack hold a deeper secret, which if exposed, will blow the city apart.

Tanya Moodie stars as Catherine McKenzie who was Jack's handler twenty years ago when he was undercover for the Met assigned to infiltrate organized crime in Liverpool and in particular, Michael Ryan. Catherine is now the Chief Constable of Greater Merseyside Police. She is ruthless, highly intelligent and extremely powerful and it isn't long before she and Jack are reunited.

Kerrie Hayes will play D.I Sarah Lunt who is a local girl done good. A highly trained officer who looks up to Catherine and is an asset to any police force. Sarah is ambitious, keen to impress and a straight down the line cop but when she suspects her boss is willing to cross the line to get what she wants, Kerrie finds herself in over her head where she is forced to think quickly and act fast.

Joanne Whalley plays Mary, part police informant, part community activist. Mary is a charismatic woman who is a trusted friend of Jack's. Twenty years ago, Jack entrapped Mary by playing her at her own game and obliging her to turn informer for an undercover operation he was running, developing into an invaluable friendship. Jack arrives back in her life and the dynamic between them is as though no time has passed at all, giving a glimpse into how Jack used to be. They pick up right where they left off only this time, they are on the same side of the law.

Jack, Angela and Anna will stop at nothing to defeat their common enemy. The latest series of Tin Star will be a genre bending cocktail of action, suspense, thrills, spills and pitch-black comedy gelled together with the love and affection of a family growing together and trying to get by…

On the Edge drama anthology championing fresh new talent returns





On The Edge, Channel 4's BAFTA nominated anthology of (3x30) short films is back for a second series. The films, produced by BlackLight Television, a Banijay Group company, and written and directed by the most exciting new talent in the UK, look at the lives of three diverse characters trying to find their place in the world.

This year, the films focus on three unusual love stories depicting characters and worlds not often seen on British TV. With humour, truthfulness and warmth, the anthology asks: how do we navigate today's complicated world? How do we share our inner challenges with the ones we love? And how do we form connections despite, or perhaps because of, our differences?

The cast across the anthology include BAFTA winner Jack Rowan (Born to Kill, Peaky Blinders), BAFTA nominated Amanda Redman (New Tricks, The Good Karma Hospital), Michael Socha (This is England '90, Electric Dreams), Catherine Steadman (Downton Abbey, Victoria), Rudi Dharmalingam (The Split, Dark Money), Andi Osho (Kiri, Curfew), Shobna Gulati (Coronation Street, In the Club) WhatsOnStage Award winner Jamael Westman (Hamilton) and introducing newcomers India Eva Rae and Juliet Okotie.

Tuesday 30 July 2019

Major all-star cast announced for new animated film of The Tiger Who Came to Tea


The stellar voice cast has been announced for Channel 4, Lupus Films and HarperCollins’ captivating animation The Tiger Who Came to Tea which is set to air this Christmas.

Based on the classic children’s book by the much-loved Judith Kerr OBE, who sadly died in May this year, the half-hour film will bring to life the vivid images and irresistible story of this classic picture book turning it into a truly festive family treat.

Benedict Cumberbatch (Brexit: The Uncivil War, Sherlock, Avengers: Infinity Wars), Tamsin Greig (Tamara Drewe, Friday Night Dinner, The Guilty, Episodes) David Oyelowo (Les Miserables, A United Kingdom, Nightingales) David Walliams (Walliams & Friend, Little Britain, Come Fly With Me) and Paul Whitehouse (Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, The Fast Show) will portray the familiar characters of Daddy, Mummy, Tiger, Narrator and Milkman respectively, while seven-year-old newcomer Clara Ross makes her TV debut as Sophie.


Published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, and produced by Lupus Films, the makers of the hugely-popular We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and The Snowman and The Snowdog, The Tiger Who Came to Tea tells the delightful story of what happens when the doorbell rings just as Sophie and her Mummy are sitting down to tea in the kitchen. Confronted with a very unexpected guest – a big, furry, stripy tiger – they invite him inside where he proceeds to eat everything in sight before making a timely exit, just before Daddy gets home.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea has sold over five million copies since it was first published in 1968. Inspired by Judith Kerr’s daughter Tacy, the story of Sophie and her extraordinary, stripy teatime guest has enchanted generations of children and has become a timeless classic. Lupus Films' distinctive, hand-drawn animated style will beautifully bring it to life to charm a whole new audience this Christmas, when Channel 4 will broadcast the one-off half-hour special.


Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Daddy, said: “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be playing a small part in bringing Judith Kerr’s timeless children’s classic to the screen for another generation to enjoy.”

David Oyelowo, who plays the Tiger said: “Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to play the iconic tiger from The Tiger Who Came to Tea? He’s a big cat of few words because - he’s too busy eating! - but I relished all of the growling, chomping and slurping, which called on me to find my inner cat.”

David Walliams, who plays the Narrator, said: “I knew Judith well and I really adored her. She was an incredible inspiration - her work is so brilliant. The book is a thing of beauty – there isn’t a word out of place, the illustrations are just gorgeous. I really wanted to be a part of it and I was chuffed that she wanted me to narrate. I’m so proud to be associated with it because it’s a stone cold classic. Just like the book has been around for over 50 years, hopefully the animation will have this incredible longevity too.”

Tamsin Greig, who plays Mummy, said: “The story has a universal appeal. It’s about encountering the other and the danger of the unknown adventure. What drew me is that Mummy is not there imposing authority, but she’s agreeing to go on the journey with her daughter, and be a child with her.”

Paul Whitehouse, who plays Milkman, said: “I wanted to get involved because it has fond memories for me and a close association with my girls. I first read the book to my eldest daughter who is now 26, and I’ve got quite a young daughter as well that I now read it to. It’s one of the not-that-many books where the girl is the central character … I’ve read it to all my four girls, so it’s never been out of my life!”


Clara Ross, who plays Sophie, said: “I do like reading books because they take you to an imaginary world, and this book is really nice. I like all the characters and that an animal can talk because in real life, how can an animal talk? I’m really excited that my voice is going to be animated and I can’t wait for it coming out at Christmas on Channel 4.”

Caroline Hollick, Channel 4 Head of Drama said: “‘We’re delighted to have assembled such a fantastic cast to tell this wonderful and much-loved children’s classic. It really does promise to be a fabulous festive treat for all the family.”

Ruth Fielding, producer for Lupus Films, said: “We are thrilled to have attached such an amazing cast to bring to life the characters in this timeless family favourite. It’s a real honour to be working with such a glittering array of talent who are going to help make this animation truly special.”

Ann-Janine Murtagh, Executive Publisher HarperCollins Children’s Books, said: “We are delighted to be working with such a brilliant cast who will introduce this treasured story to a whole new generation and honour the extraordinary woman who created it.”

Sunday 28 July 2019

Love Island goes to two series a year in 2020



Love Island goes to two series a year in 2020
 
Viewers will no longer have to wait a year for their next instalment of TV’s most talked about summer series, as ITV today confirmed that during 2020 there will be two series of Love Island on ITV2.
 
Love Island is the most watched programme of the year for adults aged 16-34, across any channel. 
 
The show has hit new heights in its fifth series this summer, breaking the 6 million viewers mark for the first time, in terms of four-screen consolidated viewing.
 
There have been over 2 billion impressions on Twitter so far this series, and the Love Island account has over 3 million instagram followers.
 
In early 2020 Love Island will be back in an all new location, with the first series of the year bringing the sunshine to viewers at home from a brand new villa in South Africa. 
 
The summer series will then return to Europe for a summer of love closer to home.

ITV commissions detective drama Invisible, starring Jason Watkins and Tala Gouveia



ITV commissions detective drama Invisible, starring Jason Watkins and Tala Gouveia, produced by Mammoth Screen
 
“You know...you’re, uh...quite good at this...detective stuff.”
 
Filming begins this August on Invisible, a series of feature length crime mysteries, featuring two intriguing stories in this first outing, and starring BAFTA winner Jason Watkins (The Crown, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies, W1A) and Tala Gouveia (Cold Feet).
 
Commissioned by Polly Hill, ITV’s Head of Drama, Invisible is produced by Mammoth Screen, part of ITV Studios, and created and written by screenwriter, Robert Murphy (lead writer on DCI Banks).
 
Set in Bath, two feature-length films pair the wildly ambitious DCI McDonald with the shy, modest DS Dodds. While McDonald has transferred from the mean streets of South London to leap up the career ladder, Dodds has happily languished on the shelf for most of his working life. McDonald is a tough, driven, battering ram of a cop who cracks cases through sheer force of will; Dodds – the tortoise to her hare – is quiet, unassuming and enigmatic. But thrust back into frontline action for the first time in a decade, he discovers a hidden talent for deciphering puzzles.
 
Two contemporary Britons, seemingly with nothing in common, thrown together, boss McDonald and loyal sidekick Dodds forge a rumbustious, entertaining and ultimately – give or take a few setbacks – effective partnership.
 
Each episode takes us into a new story world - from a greed-fueled murder in the upper echelons of Bath society to an unexplained death in a private hospital for recovering addicts. With a classic crime story at its heart, Invisible combines intriguing plots and the journey of two 'fish-out-of-water' detectives with warmth and humour.

Monday 22 July 2019

Competition: Win Agatha Raisin - Series 2 on DVD

Agatha Raisin - Series 2  is out on DVD on July 29th

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 3 copies on DVD to give away.

Synopsis
Ashley Jensen (Extras, Ugly Betty) returns as the eponymous amateur sleuth extraordinaire Agatha Raisin, for a second delightful, mystery-packed series. The high-flying PR exec turned investigator is back to solve strange murders in the quaint Cotswolds village that she now calls home in this fun-filled detective romp.

Based on M C Beaton’s best-selling novels, three brand new mysteries, dramatised over six episodes, arrives on DVD 29 July 2019, alongside the Agatha Raisin Series One and Two Box Set from Acorn Media International.

Now she’s settled into village life…but Agatha’s early retirement is far from the quiet life she’d imagined. Joined by a host of colourful characters from the village of Carsely, alongside her trusty roster of friends: ladies’ man Sir Charles Fraith (Jason Merells – Waterloo Road), ex-assistant Roy (Mathew Horne – Gavin & Stacey), and cleaner Gemma (Katy Wix – The Windsors), she takes on mischief, mayhem and murder.

Series Two sees Agatha return from a disastrous trip to Cyprus, her fiancé James (Jamie Glover – Endeavour) having gone AWOL. Alone once more, she investigates the village’s bizarre murders with panache, from the downfall of an arrogant hair stylist to mysterious occurrences attributed to fairies and the frenzy surrounding the new handsome curate that leads to murder. But there’s one case she just can’t seem to crack…her messy love life.

Make this charming detective the Agatha Raisin d’être for your next box set binge.


Buy from Amazon by clicking here (Opens in a new window)

For your chance to win just answer the question below.

COMPETITION CLOSED


Terms and conditions
1. Closing date 05-08-19
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.


Sunday 21 July 2019

DC Universe's Harley Quinn Official Trailer - Comic Con 2019


Harley Quinn is an upcoming American animated web television series based on the Harley Quinn character created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm that is set to premiere in October 2019 on DC Universe. The series is set to be written and executive produced by Justin Halpern, Patrick Schumacker, and Dean Lorey and will follow the misadventures of the Joker's psychotic ex-girlfriend and partner-in-crime, Harley Quinn, and her best friend, Poison Ivy.

Harley Quinn follows Harley Quinn's adventures after she breaks up with the Joker, including receiving help from Poison Ivy and others to become a member of the Legion of Doom.

Kaley Cuoco as Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn
Lake Bell as Dr. Pamela Isley / Poison Ivy
Diedrich Bader as Bruce Wayne / Batman
Alan Tudyk as Joker

Westworld Season 3 Trailer


HBO greenlit a third season of Westworld on May 1, 2018.

The season is scheduled to broadcast in 2020. Taking place immediately after the events of the second season, Dolores develops a relationship with Caleb (played by Aaron Paul) in neo-Los Angeles, and learns how robots are treated in the real world. Meanwhile Maeve finds herself in another Delos park themed amid World War II among Nazi Germany.


Star Trek: Picard - Official Teaser


Star Trek: Picard is an upcoming American web television series created for CBS All Access by executive producer Alex Kurtzman. It will be the eighth series in the Star Trek franchise and centers on the character Jean-Luc Picard. Set at the end of the 24th century, twenty years after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis (2002), the storyline is affected by the destruction of Romulus referenced in the film Star Trek (2009), as well as the death of Data from the aforementioned Nemesis.

Patrick Stewart executive produces the series and stars as Picard, reprising his role from Star Trek: The Next Generation as well as other Star Trek media. Santiago Cabrera, Michelle Hurd, Evan Evagora, Alison Pill, Harry Treadaway, and Isa Briones also star. Several actors from previous Star Trek series will also reprise their roles, including Brent Spiner, Jeri Ryan, Marina Sirtis, and Jonathan Frakes.

The series was first rumored in June 2018 when Kurtzman began his expansion, and was officially announced that August after months of negotiations with Stewart, who had previously said he would not return to the franchise after Nemesis. Filming began in California in April 2019, with the series' official title announced a month later.

Star Trek: Picard is expected to premiere in early 2020, and its first season will consist of ten episodes.

Watchmen | Official Comic-Con Trailer | HBO


There is a vast and insidious conspiracy at play. Watchmen debuts this October.

From Damon Lindelof and set in an alternate history where masked vigilantes are treated as outlaws, this drama series embraces the nostalgia of the original groundbreaking graphic novel of the same name while attempting to break new ground of its own. The cast includes Regina King, Jeremy Irons, Don Johnson, Jean Smart, Tim Blake Nelson, Louis Gossett Jr., Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Hong Chau, Andrew Howard, Tom Mison, Frances Fisher, Jacob Ming-Trent, Sara Vickers, Dylan Schombing, and James Wolk.

Watchmen is based on the graphic novel co-created and illustrated by Dave Gibbons and published by DC.

Monday 15 July 2019

Competition: Win Beecham House on DVD


Beecham House is out on DVD on July 22nd.

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 3 copies on DVD to give away.

Synopsis
LOVE, HONOUR, secrets, betrayal…welcome to Beecham House. Bend it like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha pens this lavish ‘Dehli Downton’ drama, set amongst British nobles in India during the cusp of the 19th century. Airing this Summer on ITV, the stunning six-part series is set to arrive on DVD and digital from Acorn Media International.

Tom Bateman (Vanity Fair, Murder on the Orient Express) stars as John Beecham, an Englishman who resigned from the East India Company to make an honourable life for himself in Delhi, but he leaves Calcutta under a shadow. How long can he survive before his secret past is revealed, and what does this past mean for his descendants in generations to come?

John’s widowed mother Henrietta (Lesley Nicol – Downton Abbey) finds life in India a difficult adjustment, but is helped by her spirited companion Violet (Bessie Carter – Howard’s End), who has feelings for John. Australian-Indian actress Pallavi Sharma (Lion) plays the regal Chandrika Kumari, a princess seeking refuge at Beecham House, who clashes with Henrietta over the running of the household.

The staff also have a part to play: the loyal head of servants Baadal (Viveik Kalra – Blinded by the Light) would do anything for naïve nursemaid Chanchal (Shriya Pilgaonkar - Fan), who accompanies John to look after his mysterious olive-skinned baby. But who is the child’s mother, and what exactly is John hiding?

This sumptuous period drama provides a new perspective of British rule in India, from the mind of the iconic British-Indian filmmaker behind Bhaji on the Beach, Viceroy’s House and the upcoming Blinded by the Light.

Buy from Amazon by clicking here (Opens in a new window)

For your chance to win just answer the question below.

COMPETITION CLOSED


Terms and conditions
1. Closing date 29-07-19
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.


Competition: Win Year of the Rabbit on DVD


Year of the Rabbit is out on DVD on July 22nd.

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 2 copies on DVD to give away.

Synopsis
Fresh from the success of What We Do In The Shadows, Matt Berry makes a welcome return to our screens in Year of the Rabbit,  a brand new original comedy for Channel 4 set in Victorian London.

This hilarious six-part series is set to turn the detective genre on its head with a brand new crime fighting trio, that sees Matt Berry’s (Toast of London, The IT Crowd), Detective Inspector Rabbit, teaming up with Freddie Fox (King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, Cucumber) and Susan Wokoma (Chewing Gum, Crazyhead). They are joined by a stellar line-up of great British acting talent including Line of Duty favourites Keeley Hawes (The Durrells, Bodyguard) and Craig Parkinson (Misfits, Four Lions), plus Sally Phillips (Smack The Pony, Miranda), Jill Halfpenny (Three Girls, In the Club), Alun Armstrong (The Cane, Frontier) and Paul Kaye (Wanderlust, Afterlife).

Detective Inspector Rabbit is a hardened booze-hound who’s seen it all, his new partner is hapless and by-the-book…when they’re called in to investigate a local murder, they are joined by the lewd, but insightful adoptive daughter of the chief of police, she’s also the country’s first female officer. Together, the mismatched team must fight crime while rubbing shoulders with street gangs, crooked politicians, Bulgarian princes, spiritualists, music hall stars and the Elephant Man.

Directed by BAFTA-nominated Ben Taylor (Catastrophe) and written by Emmy and WGA Award-winners Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil (Veep), with Matt Berry contributing with his offbeat wit and talent Year of the Rabbit is the must-see comedy of the summer.

Buy from Amazon by clicking here (Opens in a new window)

For your chance to win just answer the question below.

COMPETITION CLOSED

Terms and conditions
1. Closing date 29-07-19
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.


Friday 12 July 2019

Grantchester will return to ITV for a fifth series



Grantchester, starring Robson Green and Tom Brittney, will return to ITV for a fifth series.

In series four, which aired on ITV earlier this year, young, new parish priest Will Davenport (Tom Brittney) became DI Geordie Keating's (Robson Green) new crime-fighting partner.

Series five picks up a year later, in Cambridge in 1957, the year Prime Minister Harold Macmillan told the British people that they had 'never had it so good'. For many of the residents of Grantchester, it really will feel like they're in a delightful new Eden, but for all the talk of paradise on earth and faith-in-action, Geordie Keating knows that trouble is never far away.

Kudos Executive Producer Emma Kingsman-Lloyd says:

"We are very excited that Grantchester is returning for a fifth series. The audience has taken the pairing of Robson Green and Tom Brittney to their hearts and we are delighted to be able to continue the story of Geordie and Will with Masterpiece and ITV. "

Grantchester will start shooting this summer in Cambridgeshire, with further casting news set to be announced in due course. The series will be Executive Produced for Kudos by Emma Kingsman-Lloyd and by writer/creator Daisy Coulam. The Executive Producer for MASTERPIECE is Rebecca Eaton at WGBH Boston. Series five will be produced by Richard Cookson and directed by Gordon Anderson, Christiana Ebohon-Green and Rob Evans. Adapted from the Grantchester Mysteries novels by James Runcie, the series was developed for television by Daisy Coulam and written by Daisy Coulam and John Jackson, Carey Andrews, Jake Riddell and Joshua St Johnston.

Tez Ilyas joins Channel 4 with brand new satirical news show



One of the most exciting break out stars in British comedy, Tez Ilyas, joins Channel 4 this summer with The Tez O'Clock Show, a late-night satirical comedy show.

Comedian Tez Ilyas presents a fast-paced mix of stand-up, sketches and studio antics. Filmed in Manchester with a combination of comedians and celebrity guests, this hilarious and subversive show will blow the cobwebs off TV satire and prove once and for all that it's possible to joke about anyone and anything without getting cancelled.

The show is a topical mix of sketches and studio antics, including provocative monologues and celebrity interviews.

Crashing into the studio show will be parodies, sketches and news bulletins from the Pakistani Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), starring Man Like Mobeen's Guz Khan and comedian Sindhu Vee, which will provide a satirical take on the news and show Britain (and the West) in a very different light.

The studio show sees Tez take part in a briefing room – just like the ones that happened when he worked at the Home Office - on the hot topics of the day. Here he'll be briefed by his fellow fast rising comics and Uncivil Servants, Sophie Willan and Adam Rowe, who will each try and sway him to their way of thinking.

He'll then be joined by his co-anchor Sindhu Vee, in the on set shisha café, where they'll be joined by funny, opinionated, big name guests.

The fast paced 3 x 60' show, airing at 11pm each Thursday from 25th July is made exclusively for Channel 4 by Expectation and Ilyas' own company Pious Productions. It will be filmed each week at Manchester's MediaCityUK in front of a live studio audience.

Wednesday 10 July 2019

First look images and trailer from upcoming original comedy Brassic


Sky’s new original comedy Brassic has released its first look trailer and images today.

Definition: “Brassic: Broke, penniless, without means, boracic lint -skint, on the bones of yer arse.”


Joe Gilgun (This is England), Michelle Keegan (Our Girl) and Damien Molony (Ripper Street) star in Brassic, an edgy new original comedy from Sky co-created by Joe Gilgun and BAFTA-winning writer Danny Brocklehurst (Safe). With a distinct northern flavour, Brassic is about a group of working-class friends finding unconventional ways to win at life in northern suburbia. Ruth Sheen and Tim Key are also set to star. You can read more about the show here.

All episodes will be available to watch from 22nd August on Sky One and streaming service NOW TV

In For A Penny is commissioned for a second series and Christmas Special


Stephen Mulhern will be back travelling the UK as In For A Penny is commissioned for a second series and Christmas Special.

ITV has commissioned ITV Studios and Mitre Television to produce a second series and a Christmas Special of the popular on the street gameshow, In For A Penny.

Host Stephen Mulhern will once again be let loose in towns and cities across the UK challenging the Great British public to take part in a series of hilariously silly games.

Nowhere is safe as Stephen will pop up at a host of brand new locations all over the UK asking shoppers for a penny to take part - there is no contactless on this show. 

The people of Great Britain beware, Stephen could be heading to your town – are you ready to open your suitcases, get soaked with water or balance fruit and veg on your body in the hope of winning a cash prize?   The world famous ‘stop watch game’ will also be making a return giving shoppers the chance to bag £1000. 

Stephen Mulhern said: “It’s humbling to know that people enjoyed watching the show as much as we enjoyed making it.  We met some incredible people on the first series and I can’t wait to get back out on the streets of the UK meeting the great British public and challenging them to take part in some silly games.  It’s the best job in the world.”

Ant & Dec (co-creators of the format) said: “Another series? You've got to be kidding! That’s brilliant news because that means when he's out on the street filming this, he isn’t bothering us.  Pennies at the ready Great Britain.”

ITV’s Head of Entertainment, Siobhan Greene said: "A laugh out loud hit from the get go... it was a no brainer to do it again. Britain watch out. We are back!"

GameFace series 2: Interview with writer, creator and star Roisin Conaty


Game Face is back for series two. For those who missed it (and might want to watch it on All 4) what is the show about?

It’s about Marcella, a struggling actress who starts to see a lifecoach, she is heartbroken because Simon, her partner of 12 years, married someone else two weeks after they’ve split up.

Where do we pick things up in season 2?

We pick it up pretty much from the end of season one. It’s not much later, just a few weeks. Marcella is taking her driving test, and gets herself into a bit of a situation. It picks up her relationship with Jon [her driving instructor] she’s working at the London Dungeon, and desperately trying to move on with her career. Meanwhile Simon her ex has moved in with her mum, and is going to be living with her brother. So her ex is very much still in play. It’s an interesting family dynamic and, as usual, Marcella’s impulses are getting her into trouble.

How did you find writing series two? Was it easier, because you had all the characters established, or the more difficult ‘second album’ syndrome?

A bit of both, I think. It’s easier in that whenever you get those “I can’t do it” moments, there’s evidence that you can, in the form of a series. You’ve been there before, you got through it, and it worked out okay. But there is also the challenge of trying to move it on in a believable way, and make it interesting and surprising

It’s got a great cast – did you manage to get everyone back for series 2?

I have, yeah. I was so pleased, everyone’s really brilliant. They’re such an amazing cast, and so enjoyable to watch. Once you’ve performed with them, it’s easier to write for them, you know their cadences, and you know much more how to write for each character. So that becomes easier.

Are there any new characters prominent in this series?

Yes. The therapist now has a student called Frances, who is very young and earnest and doesn’t like the chaotic sessions where Marcella’s not really trying to help herself and he’s not trying to help Marcella. So she’s trying to bring a bit of order to it, and actually does.

Do you like performing your own sitcom, or is it too stressful to actually enjoy?

I love it, getting the chance to write and perform your own stuff, with a huge team of people creating that world for you, is truly magical. You might have casually written down “She’s drinking a Tizer” and the art department have gone out and started panicking “Oh my God, Tizer doesn’t exist anymore.” It’s mad, a whole production going through these scripts making them happen. I really enjoy it. The characters are all my babies, and I feel protective of them all. There’s nothing like watching it all come together in an edit, and thinking “Oh my God, this thing that I wrote in my pyjamas now seems real.”

You are executive producer on the show as well as writing and starring. Does it ever feel like too much?

I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t true. It’s an ambitious show, I write very visual scenes, and we want the show to look amazing, so that means time is always hard, we’re always chasing our tail because it’s not just all set in a house. There’s loads of locations. And midway through a shoot a location might fall through, and I’m across all the decisions, so if a location falls through or we have to move a scene, I’m involved in that. I have to be really focussed, and whenever you’re extraordinarily focussed, you’re not really having fun. You’re making decisions all through the day. That’s not exactly enjoyable, but I love it. At the end you can enjoy it. It’s very hard work. It’s hard to enjoy that pressure, but you just have to thrive off it.

Marcella seems to have a problem being serious – she makes jokes all the time, sometimes in inappropriate situations. Is that something you can relate to?

Yeah. I think with someone like Jon, Marcella is quite scared of opening up again after the Simon relationship, so they dance around each other making jokes. I think it’s quite sweet. I’d say I’m more direct than Marcella, but I get the whole thing about making jokes. That’s my natural disposition. If something’s awful, I find it funny. If something’s funny, I find it funny. It’s my natural, go-to place.

She’s incredibly resilient, and fundamentally pretty strong. Do you admire her?

Oh yeah, I love her. I think she’s got blind spots about her actual flaws which is frustrating sometimes but I think that’s like all of us. She makes things more difficult than they need to be sometimes, but I think she’s an optimist, and I think she’s got a life in her head that she really wants, and she’s trying to push herself to. Her impulses let her down, but I do admire her...

Received wisdom has it that happiness isn’t funny. Do you feel you have to keep Marcella struggling a little bit? Is that frustrating?

I’m not sure that happiness isn’t funny. There are happy scenes in it. She enjoys her friends. But I guess life isn’t always happy, in one day you can feel 50 emotions, so I just want the show to be truthful. I think the constant being told that we should all be happy is making us all unhappy, I don’t think it’s a healthy thing. It’s good to accept that life can sometimes be hard. But she gets wins in this series.

Have you learned to drive yet?

Nope, I still can’t. I’m going to learn to drive an automatic. Forget about learning ‘stick’ as they say in the States.

Were you tempted to have lessons as research for this?

Oh I’ve had lessons, mate! I have lessons galore! I’ve had more driving instructors than I can count. I’ve had lessons, don’t you worry!

Is it true that the show went out on Hulu in America? What’s that like?

Yeah. It was really lovely, the reaction to it was really nice. It wasn’t a huge show over there, but people who liked it really, really liked it. I have tried to write truthful characters, so it shouldn’t matter where you’re from. I watch stuff from all around the world. We all grow up watching American TV, so the idea that I might have teenage American girls watching my show is kind of funny!

When do you get most nervous? Before filming, before the previews, before it transmits?

This is the thing, I don’t really have much middle ground. Everything is a ten. There’s not one bit where I feel like it’s easier. The script bit I’m in hell, then when you start filming its really high stakes, can we cut it together, does it make sense? Then in the edit, then first week of rushes is so nerve-wracking, I couldn’t watch it for four days because I was so frightened. I wish there was one bit I took lightly, but I’m always all over everything, trying to make it okay.

How do you find watching yourself?

It’s really awful, actually. It’s not so bad in the edit, I’ve got used to that now, but at the screening was weird. It’s really unnatural to be in a room full of people watching you on screen. It’s exposing. Your little imaginary world is up on screen. They can see what I’ve been thinking about! It’s very odd.

Monday 8 July 2019

Competition: Win Chernobyl - (2019 Sky Atlantic Drama)

Chernobyl is out on DVD & Blu-ray on July 15th.

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 2 copies on DVD to give away.

Synopsis
‘ENTHRALLING, QUIETLY spectacular, meticulously researched’ (The Observer) Sky Original drama Chernobyl explores the truth surrounding the disastrous nuclear power plant explosion in 1986 – a story of incredible heroism and sacrifice, but also shocking lies and conspiracy.

The result of extensive research, Chernobyl seeks to tell the stories of those directly involved in causing the catastrophe, and those affected by the nuclear fallout felt across the world. Jared Harris (Mad Men, The Crown) stars as Valery Legasov, a nuclear physicist who is one of the first people to grasp the scope of the nuclear disaster. Ulana Khomyuk (Emily Watson РApple Tree Yard, The Theory of Everything) is a scientist committed to getting to the bottom of the cause, while Lyudmilla Ignatenko (Jessie Buckley РWild Rose, Beast) is the wife of a firefighter who was first on the scene. Stellan Skarsg̴rd (Mamma Mia, Thor) plays Soviet Deputy Prime Minister Boris Shchergina, leading the government commission from a safe distance.

Directed by The Walking Dead’s Jonas Renck, the series is committed to a realism that refuses to shy away from the horrors, both physical and psychological, inflicted upon the victims of this uniquely horrifying event. A deeply moving story about how individuals act when faced with something inexplicable, this drama seeks to honour the spirit of those who helped stop the devastation from spreading even further.

Investigating the lengths to which governments will go to cover up atrocities and suppress the spread of information, Chernobyl also acts as a timely warning: the truth will out.

Buy from Amazon by clicking here (Opens in a new window)

For your chance to win just answer the question below.

COMPETITION CLOSED

Terms and conditions
1. Closing date 22-07-19
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

COMPETITION: Win Romance on Blu-ray

Romance is out on Blu-ray on July 15th.

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 3 copies to give away.

Synopsis
Controversial. Groundbreaking. Daring. Extraordinary. Explicit. Shocking. Romance, directed by Catherine Breillat, is all this and more. And now one of the most provocative films of modern cinema is coming to UK Blu-ray for the first time in a newly restored version, courtesy of Second Sight.

A teacher, Marie (Caroline Ducey) is happy living with her boyfriend, but their relationship lacks intimacy and, desperate for physical affection, she sets off to find it elsewhere, in a series of ever-more extreme encounters with strangers...

The film, originally released in 1999, drew as many shocked gasps from critics as it did plaudits when it first opened. It also troubled censors in the UK and around the world as it blurred the lines between art and pornography with its searingly honest depiction of a woman embarking on an odyssey of increasingly explicit sexual experiences.

Described by Empire as a ‘daring study of sex and sensibility’ it arrives on Blu-ray with a brand-new scan, complete with a host of special features on 15 July 2019.

Buy from Amazon by clicking here (Opens in a new window)

For your chance to win just answer the question below.

COMPETITION CLOSED


Terms and conditions
1. Closing date 22-07-19
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.

Thursday 4 July 2019

Channel 4 marks Apollo 11 anniversary in moonumental style


July 16th marks the 50th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 11, the first mission to land men on the Moon.  It was a monumental event, when the world came together to see if we could accomplish our greatest adventure ever. Channel 4 will air two documentaries with incredible news archive from around the world, as well as exclusive NASA footage to re-tell the extraordinary bravery, anticipation and achievement of this iconic moment.

The digital highlight of the multi-platform event will be a live stream of the Apollo 11 mission minute-by-minute, from the moment of blast off on July 16th until the astronauts leave the moon on July 21st. The mission will play out in real time, 24 hours a day on the Channel 4 YouTube channel. The broadcast will be made up of six days of NASA recorded audio communications between Mission Control and the spacecraft, footage and still images taken by the Apollo 11 crew, along with specially-created graphics and reconstruction where needed to tell an immersive story entirely from the crew’s point of view.

The documentaries and YouTube stream will be supported by further bespoke social media content, written in the imagined style of how mission control would have posted if they had Twitter and Instagram in 1969.  The Channel 4 Instagram Story will be taken over for the five days between launch and landing complimented by real time Twitter commentary at key points throughout the mission. Capitalising on the mystery and excitement of the mission there will be ‘Moonbuster’ videos to explore some of the biggest conspiracies and theories about the moon mission, bringing to life this extraordinary feat for a new generation.

Additionally, 6 x short films will go out after Channel 4 News on the week of the mission, the Monday before Tuesday’s launch and then everyday leading up to the landing on Saturday, with a daily mission update from the astronauts and Mission Control.

Wednesday 3 July 2019

Interview with Jason Stojanovski


Jason Stojanovski talks about his early TV experiences – working on soaps like “All Saints” – and his most recent, the mini-series “The Bench”.

Q: What inspired you to become an actor? 
I got forced into taking an acting class! My brother had won a free acting class as a prize in a competition. He was far too shy to ever even consider taking it and my mother wasn’t about to let it go to waste. So, she didn’t take no for an answer and made me take the class. Glad she did obviously, because I fell in love with it from the first moment.

Q: Was TV’s All Saints your first on-camera experience? What can you tell me about it?
It actually wasn’t! All Saints was my first experience working in the world of network television. It was amazing. I’m so lucky that it was there I got my first taste of TV. It was an incredibly successful long running TV show starring some of Australia’s best and it ran like a well-oiled machine so I got to learn how to work with the much faster pace than I’d previously experienced in the film world.
My FIRST on camera experience was a film called Subterano. That was a real case of being thrown in the deep end! At the time, it was Australia’s biggest budgeted feature film ever and I was fortunate enough to be cast as a support lead and got to work beside some Australian film greats! I couldn’t have even dreamed of a better start to my career as an actor.

Q:  As you’ve gotten older, have the types of roles you’ve gone in for changed?
I don’t know if changed is the right word for me to use but they’ve definitely broadened. There seems to be a much wider variety of roles that id be considered suitable for as I’ve gotten older and I think that’ll probably continue to open up for the next little while at least.

Q: Does it go without saying that you’re a fan of dramas- - a lot of your work seems to gravitate towards a good, meaty character piece
Absolutely yes! I’m a graduate of the Meisner technique of acting and much of my time in acting school was spent working on my emotional maturity, range and depth so that I would have a base set of skills to really dig in to those meaty character roles, hopefully allowing me to continue to learn and grow throughout my career.

Q:  Which of your projects has opened the most doors for you?
That’s a really tough question to answer! I guess because you never really know what leads to what in this industry, so looking back, I’m equally as grateful for every opportunity that I’ve been presented with. But if I was pressed to pick one, I’d probably go with Subterano that I mentioned earlier. Being put in that position at the very beginning of my journey really solidified my choice to stay on this path in such a difficult industry and having such a big credit attached to my name that early certainly lead to some other opportunities even years after.

Q. Can you tell us about your work on the stage?
My most recent theatre appearance was at the hugely successful San Francisco Playhouse where I happily lead a wonderfully talented group of actors in a new, beautifully written drama piece called Colossal that is about a star collage football athlete who is wheelchair bound after a serious on-field accident and now has to struggle with his inner demons to find himself again so he can hopefully find the strength and will to heal, both physically and mentally. It was an incredibly well received play and an amazing overall experience for me. I was so happy to be on stage again. It’s a very different skillset that I think every screen actor should revisit from time to time.

Q. What is The Bench? And can you tell us a little about the plot and the role you play in it?
We’re still in pre-production on this one so I’ll have to be cautious with my words. But the official Log line for the miniseries is;

“A high-profile attorney falls to police bullets. A decorated police officer’s life is ended by a sniper. A young transient Native American girl is caught in the convergence of it all.”

As that log line suggests, we are going to be exploring some of the current social issues we’re experiencing in the world today. I play one of the central characters in the series, Officer Michael Benedetto.

Q: Where was it shot?
As I mentioned we are still in pre-production, but at this stage we are set to be filming in San Francisco and surrounding areas so I’m excited to be heading up north to the beautiful Bay Area again.

For everyone interested on keeping up to date with the project as is progresses, search for @TheBenchPilot on Facebook and give it a like!

Q: Is directing something you’d like to do?
It’s not something that I’ve actively considered pursuing at this point if only because I like to keep my creative energy focused on my acting, but let’s not rule anything out, shall we? Who knows what the future holds!


Monday 1 July 2019

Maisie Williams stars in new Sky original comedy Two Weeks To Live (W/T)


Emmy Award® nominee Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones) is to star in the latest Sky original, Two Weeks to Live (W/T), a comic tale of love and revenge born from a seemingly harmless prank that goes terribly wrong.

Written by Gaby Hull (Cheat), the six-part series will be produced by Kudos, part of Endemol Shine UK, and revolve around Kim Noakes (Williams), a strange young misfit who was just a little girl when her father died in murky circumstances. Following his death, her mother whisked her away to a remote rural life of seclusion and bizarre survival techniques.

Now all grown up, Kim sets out into the real world for the first time to begin a secret mission of honouring her father’s memory. Meanwhile, socially awkward Nicky isn’t good at impressing girls, and when Kim walks into his and brother Dave’s local pub, it sets in motion a chaotic series of events that puts all their lives in danger. Who would have thought a few drinks and an ill-judged prank could go so violently wrong?

The unlikely trio soon find themselves on the run from a murderous gangster and the police with a massive bag of stolen cash. But Kim is no ordinary fish out of water – she’s more like a great white shark who knows how to strip a Smith & Weston SDVE pistol in 6 seconds flat, skin a deer to make a sleeping bag, and perform all the routines from Dirty Dancing. With her in their team, they might all just survive….

Maisie Williams said: “Looking forward to getting into something new, I think Two Weeks To Live has really great potential and I want to make something incredible with this wonderful team!”