Radio Times 2023-11-30T09:56:57Z https://www.radiotimes.com/feed/atom/ Abby Robinson <![CDATA[Obliterated cast – Meet the characters in Netflix comedy]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1936677 2023-11-30T09:56:57Z 2023-11-30T09:56:57Z

Netflix comedy Obliterated, which is the brainchild of Cobra Kai‘s Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg and Josh Heald, revolves around an elite team comprised of the best and brightest from various branches of the US military.

They are ordered to stop a catastrophic terrorist attack in Las Vegas, and in the first episode, they appear to wrap up their mission, celebrating with a night of wild partying.

But little do they know they’ve been outsmarted by their enemies, with the deadly nuke still out there.

Can the team, who are all either drunk or high, race against the clock to save the day?

The extensive cast boasts some well-known faces, plus a few you might not be familiar with. Read on for more information.  

Obliterated cast

  • Shelley Hennig as Ava Winters
  • Nick Zano as Chad McKnight
  • Terrence Terrell as Trunk
  • Paola Lázaro as Angela Gomez
  • Kimi Rutledge as Maya Lerner
  • Eugene Kim as Paul Yung
  • C Thomas Howell as Haggerty
  • Alyson Gorske as Lana
  • Carl Lumbly as Langdon
  • David Costabile as Maddox
  • Costa Ronin as Ivan Koslov
  • Ivan G’Vera as Vlad
  • Tobias Jelinek as Ehren
  • Lindsey Kraft as Yani
  • Minnie Mills as Jen
  • Virginia Madsen as Marge
  • Lori Petty as Crazy Susan
  • Clive Standen as Liam
  • Keston John as Mr Dugan

Read on for information about the characters and where you’ve seen them before.

Main cast

Shelley Hennig as Ava Winters

Close-up of Ava in a casino wearing a black dress
Shelley Hennig as Ava Winters.
Ursula Coyote/Netflix

Who is Ava Winters? A CIA agent and the leader of the elite team charged with retrieving the nuke and saving Las Vegas. Winters is very good at her job, but finds it difficult to switch off, unlike the rest of her team.

Where have I seen Shelley Hennig before? She’s best known for US soap Days of Our Lives and supernatural drama Teen Wolf. You might also Hennig from The CW’s The Secret Circle and Netflix’s The Woman in the House.

Nick Zano as Chad McKnight

Chad listening to a presentation at the army base
Nick Zano as Chad McKnight.
Netflix

Who is Chad McKnight? A Navy SEAL team leader and a ladies’ man whose hobbies include walking around shirtless and chanting “USA”. He is secretly in love with Winters. 

Where have I seen Nick Zano before? You might know him from superhero drama Legends of Tomorrow, sitcom What I Like About You and Final Destination 4.

Terrence Terrell as Trunk

Trunk standing in a casino talking on the phone
Terrence Terrell as Trunk.
Ursula Coyote/Netflix © 2023

Who is Trunk? A Navy SEAL who is hiding a big secret from his best friend McKnight, which leads to tension between the pair.

Where have I seen Terrence Terrell before? His CV includes sitcom B Positive, award-winning web series Giants and US comedy Bigger. 

Paola Lázaro as Angela Gomez

Angela sat in a helicopter with the door open
Obliterated. Paola Lázaro as Angela Gomez.
Ursula Coyote/Netflix

Who is Angela Gomez? A Marine sniper. Gomez, who is gay, is considered “one of the guys” by McKnight and Trunk.

Where have I seen Paola Lázaro before? Most viewers will know her from post-apocalyptic drama The Walking Dead.

Kimi Rutledge as Maya Lerner

Maya in a hospital wearing a gown with a camel stood behind her
Kimi Rutledge as Maya Lerner.
Ursula Coyote/Netflix © 2023

Who is Lana Lerner? An NSA agent, also known as “tech girl”. She has a monumental crush on McKnight.

Where have I seen Kimi Rutledge before? She has mostly appeared in short films, and she also popped up in a single episode of comedy Shrill. 

Eugene Kim as Paul Yung

Paul stood with a group of men behind him, he looks angry
Eugene Kim as Paul Yung.
Netflix

Who is Paul Yung? An Air Force pilot. When he learns his teenage daughter is also in Las Vegas, he becomes distracted.  

Where have I seen Eugene Kim before? He’s had very minor roles in the Magnum PI and The Lincoln Lawyer reboots, and police comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine, among others. 

C Thomas Howell as Haggerty

Haggerty dressed in his army uniform, sat down at base, listening to a presentation
C Thomas Howell as Haggerty.
Lewis Jacobs/Netflix

Who is Haggerty? The best explosives technician in the business. He takes an unconventional approach to his work.

Where have I seen C Thomas Howell  before? He’s best known for The Hitcher, The Outsiders, Grandview, USA and Red Dawn, among others. 

Alyson Gorske as Lana

Lana wearing a short grey dress, with her right arm outstretched, people standing around her
Alyson Gorske as Lana.
Netflix

Who is Lana? Winters and McKnight find her handcuffed to a bed when they raid a hotel room in search of arms dealer Ivan Koslov. She unexpectedly becomes part of their team. 

Where have I seen Alyson Gorske before? She had a minor role in Apple TV+ comedy Shrinking. 

Recurring Cast

  • Carl Lumbly (Cagney & Lacey) as Langdon – CIA director. The team report to Langdon
  • David Costabile (Breaking Bad) as Maddox – a black market operative who is a “worthy adversary for our heroes”
  • Costa Ronin (The Americans) as Ivan Koslov – an arms dealer
  • Ivan G’Vera (Days of Our Lives) as Vlad – he works for Koslov
  • Tobias Jelinek (Hocus Pocus) as Ehren – he works for Maddox
  • Kellee Stewart (Chicago Med) as Sharonda – she befriends Lana
  • Lindsey Kraft (Grace and Frankie) as Yani – a lounge singer
  • Minnie Mills (The Summer I Turned Pretty) as Jen – Paul’s daughter

Guest stars

  • Virginia Madsen (Candyman) as Marge
  • Lori Petty (Orange is the New Black) as Crazy Susan
  • Clive Standen (Vikings) as Liam
  • Keston John (In the Dark) as Mr Dugan

Obliterated is available to stream now on Netflix. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on.

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

]]> Abby Robinson <![CDATA[The Couple Next Door ending explained – What does Evie’s final smile really mean?]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1936697 2023-11-30T09:41:18Z 2023-11-30T09:41:18Z

In the final episode of Channel 4 thriller The Couple Next Door, tensions reached breaking point when the two central couples were forced to confront the chaos unfolding before them.

Evie had shunned Pete in pursuit of Danny, the father of her baby, which caused him to suffer a complete emotional collapse as all of their lives changed forever.

But how did this whole sorry saga wrap up? Read on for a comprehensive breakdown of where we left Evie, Pete, Danny and Becka in The Couple Next Door, plus what happened to Alan and Jean.

The Couple Next Door ending explained

Pete at the cottage pointing a gun at Danny
Alfred Enoch plays Pete in The Couple Next Door.
Channel 4

Evie lured Danny to her family cottage in the woods by pretending she was in danger. She claimed her father Brian was preventing her from leaving after learning that she was pregnant with her neighbour’s baby.

During the couples’ stay at the spa hotel in episode 3, when Evie and Danny took things to the next level, his condom split, which they addressed in the moment.

But despite claiming she was on the contraceptive pill, it later emerged that was a lie.

When Evie lost her baby, she truly believed Brian had “cursed” her for turning to IVF, and she saw Danny as the answer to her prayers.

But not only did she want to keep the baby, she also declared her love for Danny and desperately wanted them to be a family.

Read more:

Naturally, Pete was heartbroken and furious when he learned he wasn’t the father, and he also demanded that she have an abortion.

From that point, his mental state began to deteriorate substantially, and his dislike of Danny, which had always been there, increased tenfold.

When he arrived at the cottage, he produced the gun he’d stolen from the traffic cop and pointed it directly at him.

But he wasn’t the only person present with a gun.

Danny lying on the forest floor with a gunshot wound, Becka holding him
Sam Heughan plays Danny and Jessica De Gouw plays Becka in The Couple Next Door.
Channel 4

One of Robbie Spencer’s goons was also in the woods, there to kill Danny. He had given evidence of the corrupt businessman’s crimes to Pete, which were subsequently published in the local paper and landed Robbie in jail.

But his revenge plot failed when Brian shot Robbie’s henchman dead.

Following that, a struggle ensued between Danny and Pete, with the former trying to wrestle the gun from his hands. As shots rang out, Evie fled the cottage, with all four of them sprinting after her in a state of blind panic.

They reached a clearing and Pete, with gun still in hand, proceeded to point the weapon at both Evie and Danny, unsure quite what to do next.

He then begged his wife not to leave him, a moment of vulnerability which Danny exploited in an effort to retrieve the firearm. But a furious Pete shot Danny in the scuffle.

Danny was injured, but the wound was superficial. However, following that, Pete was seemingly gearing up to kill him – that is, until Evie stepped in and subdued him.

“Do you still love me?” he asked her, momentarily quelled.

She paused.

“No,” she replied.

Following that, another shot rang out, but this time it was Pete who had been shot at Evie’s hands.

When the full force of what she’d done hit her, she was inconsolable. But in the moments following as the shock wore off, her behaviour shifted.

What does Evie’s smile really mean?

Evie and Pete standing opposite one another in the forest, Evie smiling and Pete looking shocked
Eleanor Tomlinson plays Evie and Alfred Enoch plays Pete in The Couple Next Door.
Channel 4

As Evie was being led to a police car by one of the officers on the scene, she took one final look at Pete, who had miraculously survived – for now, at least – and was being tended to in the ambulance, and her former neighbours Becka and Danny.

Becka’s expression towards the woman she once comforted when she had a miscarriage was one of alienation. And while Evie’s expression initially suggested sorrow, it quickly morphed into something cold and detached.

But between Danny and Evie, there remained palpable chemistry, even after everything that had happened.

They drunk one another in from afar as they had done previously, before their lives imploded, and just before she turned away from him, she smiled, like the cat that got the cream.

It’s an interesting detail, and while we can’t speak for Evie, it indicates that she’s very much still under Danny’s spell, and that she has no regrets about pursuing him, despite the fallout that ensued.

What happened to Alan and Jean?

Hugh Dennis as Alan in The Couple Next Door wearing a brown jumper, holding a stick
Hugh Dennis plays Alan in The Couple Next Door.
Channel 4

Alan suffered a stroke while he was pleasuring himself in Becka and Danny’s bedroom. His obsession with the yoga instructor reached its lowest point when he slipped into the couple’s house while they were away and found footage from of one of their foursomes, which he captured on his own mobile. But while he was enjoying himself, he collapsed.

The next time we saw Alan, he was in a wheelchair, unable to care for himself, and that’s where he’ll stay for the foreseeable.

That was also the beginning of the end for Alan and Jean’s marriage. After learning of her husband’s creepy extra-curricular activities, and that he had been lying to her about their financial situation, she thankfully decided to leave him.

And Jean also told her former husband that when he his health improved, the police would be paying him a visit.

“Actions have consequences, Alan,” she said as she departed for a new life.

The Couple Next Door airs on Channel 4 in the UK. If you’re looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide or visit our Drama hub for more news and features.

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]]> Morgan Cormack <![CDATA[Doctor Who’s Jenna Coleman and The Invisible Man’s Oliver Jackson-Cohen in Jackdaw trailer]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1936627 2023-11-30T09:32:13Z 2023-11-30T09:30:52Z

Action film fans, new British movie Jackdaw is landing on the big screen next January – and we finally have a trailer for it.

The new film will reunite Jenna Coleman (Doctor Who) and Oliver Jackson-Cohen (The Haunting of Hill House) once again, after the pair recently led Prime Video thriller Wilderness.

Well, in this film, it looks as though their paths collide in the most unlikely of ways, as Jackson-Cohen’s Jack is on a mission for answers when his brother is kidnapped in a deal gone wrong.

Jackdaw has been described as “an unrelenting action thriller” and, from the looks of the new trailer, it’s just that.

The movie unfolds against the backdrop of north east England and we follow Jack, who is a previous motocross champion and army veteran.

But when Jack returns home, he takes on job that has the potential to change the course of his life.

It’s set to be a straightforward package pick-up, arranged by an old school friend, Silas, so what could go wrong? Well, things soon turns awry as Jack realises he’s not only been double-crossed, but that his brother has been kidnapped.

The trailer gives us our first look at the action as we see Jack dive down into the depths of the sea for the package, but he then realises his brother is missing.

“What’s this tangled web you’re in, Jack?” Coleman’s character asks him in a nightclub.

It certainly seems like a roller coaster that Jack finds himself on – and Jackdaw is set to take viewers on a similar journey, with the trailer boasting high-speed car (and horse) chases, speedboats, romance and more.

Watch the Jackdaw trailer for yourself below.

As per the synopsis: “As he fights for survival and searches for answers, Jack encounters friends and adversaries old and new across a violent night-time odyssey through England’s northern rust belt.”

The new release comes from Jamie Childs (The Sandman), who is making his feature film debut.

Read more: 

As well as a cast that’s led by Jackson-Cohen and stars Coleman, the rest of the Jackdaw line-up includes Thomas Turgoose (This Is England) and Rory McCann (Game of Thrones).

And if the pulsating music of the trailer has you thinking about what else could be coming in the movie, you’re in luck – as Jackdaw boasts a soundtrack which will include plenty of classic dance music tracks.

We’re talking The Prodigy, The KLF, Aphex Twin and Robin S, as well as an exclusive brand new song from Sam Fender.

Jackdaw will come to cinemas on 26th January 2024.

Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on.

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

]]> Laura Wybrow <![CDATA[How to get Pink tickets as Ticketmaster sale goes live for her Summer Carnival UK tour dates]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1936278 2023-11-30T08:01:12Z 2023-11-30T08:00:51Z

American singer-songwriter Pink has so many accolades under her belt, it can be difficult to know where to begin. After all, since her debut in 2000, Pink has released eight studio albums and provided us with the smash-hits So What, Who Knew, Get the Party Started, and so many more.

In the last 23 years, Pink has sold over 140 million album equivalents worldwide, and had 15 singles reach the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 (four of which hit the number one spot).

The 44-year-old is the winner of three Grammy Awards, as well as an incredible 21 nominations, one Emmy Award, seven MTV Video Music Awards, two MTV Europe Awards, two People’s Choice Awards, and was named Billboard’s Woman of the Year in 2013. Pink also has been awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame — unsurprising, considering she’s spent over 400 weeks in total on the UK Albums Chart.

With all of these achievements, we still best know Pink as the singer who wrote our ultimate ‘sad song for staring out the car window’: Just Like a Pill. We’re sure you’re just as thrilled as us to hear that Pink is bringing her Summer Carnival tour to the UK, and she’ll be joined by support acts The Script, Gayle and KidCutUp.

While fans had to register for Pink pre-sale tickets, general on sale is open to everyone. So, to hear some of Pink’s biggest hits and new music releases, and to see her iconic flying stunts, here’s how to secure concert tickets today.

Buy Pink tickets at Ticketmaster

There’s lots of fantastic artists going on tour at the moment; check out Girls Aloud tickets, Nickelback tickets, Avril Lavigne tickets and Tom Jones tickets.

When and where is Pink playing on her 2024 tour?

Pink is bringing her Summer Carnival tour to this side of the pond, and we have the full list of UK dates and venues below.

How much are Pink UK and Ireland tour tickets?

Tickets for Pink’s UK tour start from £50 for seated tickets, and £95 for standing tickets, not including the booking fee or service charge.

Buy Pink tickets at Ticketmaster

How to get Pink pre-sale tickets at Ticketmaster

how to get pink tickets summer carnival uk tour 2024
Photo by Jeff Hahne/Getty Images
Photo by Jeff Hahne/Getty Images

In recent months, we’ve seen Ticketmaster introduce registration for tickets to combat those pesky queues and to give artist’s fans a good chance of securing tickets over bots. For example, we’ve seen Olivia Rodrigo tickets and Taylor Swift tickets be sold through a registration process.

The Pink registered ticket pre-sale started on Tuesday 28th November at 10am, and only fans with approved links were able to join; registered invitations were sent to fans on Monday 27th November, which included a ticketing link and access code.

However, there will be a general sale today (Thursday 30th November) at 10am.

Buy Pink tickets at Ticketmaster

How to get Pink tickets for her 2024 UK and Ireland tour

General on sale for Pink concert tickets goes live at 10am this morning (Thursday 30th November).

Anyone is able to access tickets — you needn’t have registered — but you might need a little helping hand in getting through the Ticketmaster queue. Luckily, the Going Out team have put together a guide on how to beat the Ticketmaster queue.

Buy Pink tickets at Ticketmaster

For even more ticketing tips, here’s how to get cheap concert tickets.

]]> Laura Rutkowski <![CDATA[How Squid Game: The Challenge created the tricky Glass Bridge game]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1935859 2023-11-30T08:01:06Z 2023-11-30T08:00:22Z

Most scenes in Netflix’s hit South Korean series Squid Game featured visual effects (VFX). It was filmed using green or blue screen, and CGI.

That’s why Squid Game: The Challenge’s production designer Mathieu Weekes and games designer Ben Norman had a difficult task ahead of them when building the sets for the reality series. Plus, they didn’t actually confer with anyone who worked on the original show. 

As the second batch of episodes were released on Netflix yesterday, the remaining contestants were faced with the Glass Bridge challenge, which Weekes and Norman tell us was the trickiest to replicate.

For Squid Game, the actors crossed a makeshift bridge that was one metre off the ground and jumped between tempered glass panels to film the scene.

Read more:

The reality show players had a three-metre drop across a 35-metre-long truss bridge on as few legs as possible so it looked like it was floating, concealing as much of the structure as possible.

“We were really strict with the lighting levels and blacking everything out,” Weekes tells us. “Even the stairwell to get to the bridge was blacked out, so the contestants had no idea how far up they were, to fully tap into the fear of the unknown as they reached the ‘glass’ panels to cross.”

Norman continued: “We did initially go down the route of seeing if we could do it with glass. But it was a huge battle of safety, and without a shadow of a doubt, you could tell the difference between glass that could hold someone and glass that couldn’t. We looked at other options, like using sugar glass, but trapdoors were the final idea.”

The trapdoors were made out of two steel frames with solid Perspex tops that looked like glass. If activated, they would split in the middle and the frames would drop on either side.

“Right until the moment they played that game, there were no details of what the exact path was so that nobody could find out. There was no way of cheating it,” says Norman.

Glass bridge on Squid Game: The Challenge
Glass bridge on Squid Game: The Challenge.
Netflix

Now that brings us to the falling aspect… in the drama, unlucky guessers would drop to their death, but here, a decision was made close to the gameplay that there would be no falling at all.

Although Norman initially created the game for players to fall through, and they were briefed by the production team and stunt coordinators that they would be falling and how to do so, Netflix explains that their “falls” were visual effects instead to guarantee the safety of the players.

Weekes says: “VFX came in to make it seem as invisible as possible where our world ended and their world began.”

An airbag was also placed under the bridge as an extra precaution. In addition, multiple stunt teams tested the game repeatedly until they were happy with all of the systems that had been put in place.

The first nine episodes of Squid Game: The Challenge are available to stream on Netflix now. The 10th, and final, episode is available on Wednesday 6th December. Sign up for Netflix from £6.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.

Looking for something else to watch? Check out our guide to the best series on Netflix and best movies on Netflix. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on.

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

]]> Laura Denby <![CDATA[EastEnders airs dark, toxic Panesar twists in early iPlayer release]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1936498 2023-11-30T06:31:06Z 2023-11-30T06:30:41Z

This article includes reference to rape and sexual assault that some readers may find upsetting.

*Warning: Contains spoilers for EastEnders’ Thursday 30th November 2023 episode.*

EastEnders has aired some dark new twists in the harrowing Panesar storyline, as Nish’s (Navin Chowdhry) revenge on Eve Unwin (Heather Peace) took another shocking turn.

After Nish hit Eve with a champagne bottle in anger over her affair with his wife Suki (Balvinder Sopal), he ordered his son Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) to kill her. Ravi took some convincing, but manipulative Nish talked him round, heading home to Suki while Ravi carried out the grim task.

Ravi tied Eve up and bundled her into a van, preparing to end her life and bury her in the woods. Now conscious, though, Eve managed to break free. When Ravi caught up with her, Eve overpowered him as he held onto his weapon of choice, a tree log.

Gaining the upper hand once more, Ravi braced himself to deliver the fatal blow, but Eve begged for her life; and Ravi found he couldn’t go through with Nish’s orders, ploughing the log into the ground instead.

Meanwhile, back in the Square, Nish texted Suki from Eve’s phone, telling her she was leaving forever and ending their romance for good.

Abusive Nish continued to make Suki feel uneasy as she was forced to return home to him; and after he opened up about his unhappy childhood, Nish kissed Suki and it was heavily implied that he intended to rape her as she squirmed beneath him in disturbing scenes.

Later, Suki lay in bed alone, trapped, heartbroken and unaware that Eve was with Ravi in the woods. Although Ravi opted not to murder Eve, he was tormented by the knowledge that Nish would ruin his life if he found out that Ravi hadn’t complied with his wishes.

Aaron Thiara as Ravi Gulati and Navin Chowdhry as Nish Panesar in EastEnders
Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara, left) did not do as his evil father Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry) asked.
BBC

So Ravi menacingly warned Eve to leave and never come back, adding that if she tried to make contact he would kill both Suki and Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner)!

Eve tried to argue, but ultimately fled; and Ravi later told Nish he had killed her, with Nish expressing his pride and gratitude. But will Eve be back, and will Suki realise that her soulmate hasn’t left her willingly?

Anyone affected by Suki’s story can find support by visiting Rape Crisis, or calling their 24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line on 0808 500 2222.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can visit Refuge for more information and contact 0808 2000 247 for support. Help can also be found at The Hideout.

Read more:

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and from 6am on BBC iPlayer.

Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. If you’re looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide.

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]]> Abby Robinson <![CDATA[Shetland episode 5 ends on a chilling note after haunting revelation]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1936062 2023-11-29T22:00:06Z 2023-11-29T22:00:00Z
*Warning: Spoilers ahead for season 8 episode 5 of Shetland*

Who murdered Ellen Quinn? Over the course of Shetland season 8, multiple suspects have been ruled out, from gangsters John Howell and Lukas Nowak to plumber Peter Ayre and Ellen’s best friend Rosemary Strachan, the local sheep killer.

But in tonight’s episode (Wednesday 29th November), a harrowing reveal saw the police move one step closer to uncovering the person – or persons – responsible for her death.

While consultant psychologist Azir Sandat was being questioned by Tosh, he admitted that Ellen had turned up at his house on the night of her death.

Ellen’s mental health had severely deteriorated due to witnessing the death of Azir and Farida’s child, Akmal. The tragedy occurred while Azir was at work and Farida was sleeping after taking some unprescribed pills her husband had given to her.

Read more:

Heather Bain, who was cleaning the Sadat’s house that day alongside Ellen, told them that if they reported the truth – that Azir had illegally supplied his wife with prescription drugs and she had willingly taken them – they would lose everything, so they followed her lead.

Ellen, by contrast, wanted to tell the truth.

“As soon as we started lying, she had us,” he said.

After Akmal’s memorial, Heather asked them for some money, “made it sound like a loan”, and had been doing so ever since.

Ashley Jensen as Ruth Calder and and Alison O'Donnell as Tosh in Shetland. They are talking in a morgue.
Ashley Jensen as Ruth Calder and and Alison O’Donnell as Tosh in Shetland.
BBC

When Ellen arrived at the Sadat’s house in the hours leading up to her death, she told Azir she was in trouble and needed money to escape Shetland, but he refused to give her what she wanted. When Ellen became angry, he said he would try and find her some cash in the morning. 

She then left, but Azir claimed he was still worried for her welfare and drove after her. When she climbed into his car, he asked her where she wanted to go.

“I told her I’d take her anywhere,” he said.

Tosh looked concerned.

“Where did you take Ellen?” she asked.

It was the next piece of the puzzle that made her blood run cold.

At the end of the episode, the detective was joined by Ruth and Sandy at the scene of the crime.

“They’re all lying,” said Tosh, standing at the top of the Bain’s driveway. “Ellen came home that night.”

What happened inside the house? And, crucially, which family members were involved in her death?

The final episode of Shetland season 8 airs on Wednesday 6th December at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer. Ann Cleeves’s Shetland novels are available to buy now. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on.

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]]> James Hibbs <![CDATA[Slow Horses creator explains changes from book for season 3]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1935320 2023-11-29T21:01:05Z 2023-11-29T21:00:39Z

*Warning – contains spoilers for Slow Horses season 3 episode 1*

Apple TV+ spy thriller Slow Horses has kicked off its third season in style, with two thrilling episodes now available to stream.

The new season is based on Mick Herron’s novel Real Tigers, and tells the story of a conspiracy which envelopes the Slough House gang as MI5 secrets are on the verge of being leaked.

The show’s creator, Will Smith, recently caught up with RadioTimes.com about the new season, and revealed how close it sticks to the original source material – and one big deviation it makes.

Smith said: “We try to be as faithful to the book as we can. And certainly, when we do change it, we try and stick to the spirit – we always stick to the spirit of the characters and we’re not going to change that at all, because we love Mick’s world and the characters.

“And with the story, it’s just building it out. We normally get about four episodes and a couple of really great endings and then we sort of build out from that.”

Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù in Slow Horses
Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù in Slow Horses
Apple TV+

Smith continued: “I think the biggest change in this was… it’s all about Sean Donovan seeking revenge for the death of the woman he loves, and it was just showing that death basically, and animating that so it wasn’t just a thing that he was remembering, as he does in the book.

Read more:

“It works in the book, because you can go in his head and that’s all great, but obviously, you can’t do that in TV. And it’s just like, if this man is gonna go to these extreme lengths to get vengeance for this woman then, if it’s in the abstract and you’re only hearing about her you don’t really believe it.

“But if you can see the love they have, you see the grief that that he’s experiencing then it explains the things he’s doing, so it was just making sure that you were with him on that journey.”

The moment Smith talks about comes right at the start of the first episode, when Katherine Waterston’s new character, MI5 agent Alison Dunn, is killed off in a shocking moment.

The other major new character this season, Sean Donovan, is played by Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, who Smith said is a “a massive star, and he’s gonna be an even bigger star”.

Slow Horses season 3 continues on Wednesday 6th December, while seasons 1-2 are available to watch now on Apple TV+. Sign up to Apple TV+ now. Mick Herron’s full Slough House book series is available now.

Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what’s on tonight.

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]]> Lidia Molina-Whyte <![CDATA[Newsnight to be cut back and overhauled as BBC makes “difficult choices”]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1936583 2023-11-29T17:50:42Z 2023-11-29T17:50:42Z

BBC Two staple Newsnight is set to be cut back and overhauled as part of the broadcaster’s money-saving strategy.

The move comes in the wake of the two-year freeze to the price of TV licences, with the broadcaster also struggling with the effects of inflation.

BBC News and Current Affairs CEO Deborah Turness acknowledged that the corporation has had to make “difficult choices”, telling BBC News: “When we started work on this announcement, I did not know if it would make financial sense to keep Newsnight on air.

“We, like many other news organisations, have streamlined our editorial teams to avoid duplication. It simply no longer makes sense to keep a bespoke reporting team dedicated to a single news programme with a small and declining audience, however good that programme is.”

The programme will have a new, shorter format in the shape of a “30-minute late-night news-making debate, discussion and interview programme”, Turness said.

Newsnight’s current team of 57 reporters will be more than halved, with only 23 remaining, according to BBC News.

Long-standing presenter Mark Urban took to social media to share his thoughts, saying: “The honour of presenting @BBCNewsnight falls to me tonight. I have worked on the programme for 32 years, around the world, risking my life many times for its journalism. You can well imagine my feelings at cuts to our staff and budget of more than 50%.”

 

The BBC News at One TV bulletin has also been extended to an hour, while Newsnight’s new format will draw on “top reporting talent and experts” from across BBC News.

The cuts are expected to save £7.5m, but will lead to a boost in budget for the broadcaster’s online journalism output.

Read more:

The National Union of Journalists responded to the announcement, with broadcasting organiser Paul Siegert saying: “While we welcome investment in digital, we have grave concerns that the axe is falling disproportionately on investigatory news output.

“The proposals would, on the face of it, diminish a part of the BBC’s output that has already been negatively impacted by previous rounds of cuts. The extension of BBC Breakfast and News at One would not provide an equivalent in-depth analytical and agenda-setting news product.”

Looking for something else to watch in the meantime? Check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on.

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]]> Morgan Jeffery <![CDATA[Doctor Who debuts new scene from mysterious next episode Wild Blue Yonder]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1936644 2023-11-29T17:47:52Z 2023-11-29T17:47:52Z

The veil of secrecy surrounding the next episode of Doctor Who, Wild Blue Yonder, is slowing beginning to lift, with the BBC dropping a first-look clip.

The episode, written by showrunner Russell T Davies, promises to take the Doctor (David Tennant) and Donna (Catherine Tate) “to the furthest edge of adventure”.

The synopsis continues: “To escape, they must face the most desperate fight of their lives, with the fate of the universe at stake.”

In the new clip, Donna is left panicked when the TARDIS disappears, with the Doctor promising to return her home to her daughter Rose. But it appears someone – or something – is watching them…

The scene also features a preference to the TARDIS’s Hostile Action Displacement System – or HADS – which were first referenced way back in 1968/69 story The Krotons.

Russell T Davies has called Wild Blue Yonder “weird” and “scary”, but we still know relatively little about the episode’s plot, which has led fans to theorise that a surprise guest appearance is being kept under wraps.

Read more:

However, the episode’s director Tom Kingsley has sought to play down the rumours while acknowledging that the plot is “a TOTAL SECRET”.

Describing the episode as “weird and exciting”, he added: “Fan PSA: the story of Wild Blue Yonder isn’t a secret because there are any surprise returning actors or villains. It’s just because we thought you might find it fun to watch it without knowing what’s going to happen next. Promise!”

Doctor Who continues on Saturday 2nd December at 6:30pm on BBC One. Previous episodes are available on BBC iPlayer and on BritBox – you can sign up for a 7-day free trial here.

Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on.

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]]> Patrick Cremona <![CDATA[New on Disney Plus UK December 2023 – Every new film and show this month]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1630552 2023-11-29T17:58:44Z 2023-11-29T17:30:40Z

This festive season on Disney Plus, the streamer is giving fans a nine day long present, as the new season of Marvel animated series What If…? releases a new episode daily.

There also plenty of other exciting series and films arriving this month, including the long-awaited adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Meanwhile, more episodes of A Murder at the End of the World and The Santa Clauses will be releasing weekly, while films being added to the service include Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Theatre Camp.

With plenty of other series and films on the release schedule for this month, read on for the full list of titles coming to Disney Plus this December.

New on Disney Plus this week (27th November – 3rd December 2023)

New content arriving this week on Disney Plus includes news episodes of A Murder at the End of the World, Family Guy and The Santa Clauses.

New content arriving on the platform this week is as follows:

  • A Murder at the End of the World episode 3
  • Reservation Dogs season 3
  • Assembled: The Making of Loki season 2
  • American Horror Stories season 3
  • The Santa Clauses season 2 episode 5
  • The Kardashians season 4 episode 9
  • The Naughty Nine
  • The Shepherd
  • The Invisible Woman

New on Disney Plus in December 2023

Friday 1st December 

  • The Naughty Nine Family Christmas heist film about naughty children on a mission to break into Santa’s Village in the North Pole and steal toys.
  • The Shepherd Short film based on the book of the same name about a RAF pilot’s miraculous flight, starring Ben Radcliffe and John Travolta.
  • The Invisible Woman Biographical drama film starring Ralph Fiennes and Felicity Jones about the secret love affair between Charles Dickens and Nelly Ternan.

Tuesday 5th December 

  • Isabel Preysler, My Christmas Spanish special in which Isabel Preysler invites us into her home to show how she celebrates Christmas.
  • A Murder at the End of the World episode 5

Wednesday 6th December

  • Theatre Camp Comedy film from this year starring Ben Platt and Molly Gordon about the staff at a rundown theater camp trying to keep it afloat.
  • Their Stories Latin American series in which four women from different social classes have to live under the same roof.
  • Fresh Off the Boat seasons 1-6 All seasons of the comedy series about the life of a Taiwanese-American family in the 1990s starring Randall Park and Constance Wu.
  •  Soundtrack #2 episodes 1-2 Korean romantic drama series.
  • The Santa Clauses season 2 episode 6
  • Family Guy season 22 episode 2

Friday 8th December

  • Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever Animated Christmas film in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

Tuesday 12th December 

  • A Murder at the End of the World episode 6

Wednesday 13th December

  • Planners season 2 Second season of the Spanish language comedy series.
  • Soundtrack #2 episodes 3-4
  • Family Guy season 22 episode 3

Friday 15th December

  • Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny This year’s final Indiana Jones film, starring Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
  • Timeless Heroes Documentary film exploring the legacy of Harrison Ford’s iconic hero, Indiana Jones.

Tuesday 19th December

  • A Murder at the End of the World episode 7

Wednesday 20th December

  • Percy Jackson and the Olympians episodes 1-2 Fantasy adventure series based on the books by Rick Riordan, starring Walker Scobell.
  • Chip ‘n Dale: Park Life Christmas special Christmas special of the animated Chip ‘n Dale series.
  • BTS Monuments: Beyond the Star episodes 1-2 Docuseries taking fans on a journey through BTS’s 10-year history.
  • Soundtrack #2 episodes 5-6
  • Family Guy season 22 episode 4

Friday 22nd December

  • What If…? season 2 episode 1 A brand-new season of multiversal adventures set in the MCU, featuring voices from the films and series.

Saturday 23rd December

  • What If…? season 2 episode 2

Sunday 24th December

  • What If…? season 2 episode 3

Monday 25th December

  • What If…? season 2 episode 4

Tuesday 26th December

  • What If…? season 2 episode 5

Wednesday 27th December

  • Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted Showdown Reality cooking show with Gordon Ramsay.
  • Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 3
  • BTS Monuments: Beyond the Star episodes 3-4
  • Family Guy season 22 episode 5
  • What If…? season 2 episode 6

Thursday 28th December

  • What If…? season 2 episode 7

Friday 29th December

  • Harry Brown 2009 action film starring Michael Caine as a widowed Royal Marines veteran who takes justice into his own hands.
  • What If…? season 2 episode 8

Saturday 30th December

  • What If…? season 2 episode 9

Best November 2023 releases on Disney Plus

November was a big month for Disney Plus, with the end of Loki season 2 and the arrivals of Now and Then: The Last Beatles Song, Culprits and A Murder at the End of the World.

Here’s a list of some of the biggest and best series and films that arrived on Disney Plus in November 2023:

  • The Simpsons season 34 Latest season of the long-running animated comedy series.
  • Now and Then: The Last Beatles Song The short documentary will explore how the newly released last Beatles song came together.
  • Welcome to Wrexham season 2 episode 12 – 14 Final episodes of the second season of this sports docuseries with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
  • Loki season 2 episodes 5 – 6 Final two episodes of the latest Marvel series, starring Tom Hiddleston as the God of Mischief.
  • Goosebumps episode 8 – 10 Final episodes of the series based on the horror comedy book series by RL Stine, starring Justin Long.
  • Culprits Original series starring Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Gemma Arterton and Niamh Algar in which a group of criminals start being killed off after they conducted a heist.
  • The Santa Clauses season 2 episodes 1 – 5 Second season of the festive follow-up to the Santa Clause film trilogy, starring Tim Allen.
  • A Murder at the End of the World episodes 1 – 3 Mystery series starring Emma Corrin and Clive Owen about a a Gen Z amateur sleuth investigating a murder.
  • Dashing Through the Snow Christmas comedy film starring Lil Rel Howery and Ludacris about a divorced social worker who despises Christmas but meets a man who helps him to understand the joy.
  • Family Guy season 22 episodes 1 – 2 Latest season of the long-running adult animated comedy series.
  • Faraway Downs Re-edited, serialised version of Baz Luhrmann’s film Australia, starring Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman.
  • Reservation Dogs season 3 Third season of the comedy drama, created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, which follows four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma.
  • Assembled: The Making of Loki season 2 Documentary about the making of the latest season of Loki.
  • American Horror Stories season 3 Third season of the horror anthology spin-off series.

Read more:

You can sign up to Disney Plus for £7.99 a month or £79.90 for a year now.

Looking for something else to watch? Check out our list of the best movies on Disney Plus and best shows on Disney Plus, or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what’s on tonight.

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

]]> Molly Moss <![CDATA[How to watch Wonka – when can you get tickets?]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1936598 2023-11-29T17:29:41Z 2023-11-29T17:29:41Z

Wonka, a musical film prequel to Roald Dahl’s 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, will soon be coming to the big screen, featuring an epic cast including Timothée Chalamet in the titular role, as well as Hugh Grant, Olivia Colman, Sally Hawkins and Keegan-Michael Key.

The film explores Willy Wonka’s backstory, with Chalamet starring as a younger version of the character, compared to a 38-year-old Wilder and a 42-year-old Depp – and this was no easy feat given the mystery surrounding the figure’s past in Dahl’s source material.

Speaking about making Wonka, director Paul King recently told Games Radar: “That’s definitely the challenge of it, because he’s a very mysterious figure in the books. He’s shut in this factory, and nobody’s seen him for years, and Grandpa Joe has some stories about him, but nobody’s entirely sure how true they are.”

He continued: “But I also felt – maybe misguidedly, but just probably from those childhood readings – that I did know who this person was.”

If you’re wondering when the film is coming out in cinemas and whether it’s expected to come to streaming, read on for everything you need to know.

How to watch Wonka in the UK: Can you get tickets?

Olivia Colman as Mrs Scrubbit in Wonka smiling, wearing a green dress
Olivia Colman as Mrs Scrubbit in Wonka.
Jaap Buittendijk/ Warner Bros.

Wonka is set to land in cinemas on 8th December in the UK – a week earlier than originally planned.

The upcoming prequel was initially due to launch on 15th December and, while this later date is still set to go ahead in the US, it will hit the big screen earlier in the UK.

Bookings have become available at certain cinemas, including Odeon, Vue and Cineworld. Check your local cinema to see if screenings have been announced.

The film has been in the works with Warner Bros since late 2016 after the company acquired the rights to the classic character from the Roald Dahl estate.

Will Wonka become available to stream?

Following its theatrical run, the Warner Bros movie will likely end up on Max, the platform formerly known as HBO Max.

While a streaming release date is yet to be officially confirmed, Warner Bros films typically become available to stream 30-45 days after their theatrical release.

If this is indeed the case, Wonka will become available to stream in early 2024.

Wonka will land in cinemas on 8th December 2023. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what’s on tonight.

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now and celebrate the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who with a special issue of Radio Times. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

]]> Katelyn Mensah <![CDATA[Will there be a The Kardashians season 5? Release date speculation and latest news]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1936311 2023-11-29T17:20:50Z 2023-11-29T17:20:50Z

The Kardashians returned for an explosive season on Disney Plus earlier this year, giving viewers an insight into trips to London, awards shows, the incredibly lavish Met Gala and an added hit of family drama.

With season 4 now over, fans are no doubt wondering if they’ll be able to get their extra dose of the Kardashian family – from more than just their Instagram stories.

So, what could be in store for a potential fifth season? Read on for everything we know about the likelihood of The Kardashians season 5.

Will there be a fifth season of The Kardashians?

Kim and Khloe Kardashian and Kylie and Kendall Jenner gathered around a table full of food
Kim and Khloe Kardashian and Kylie and Kendall Jenner. Hulu

While a fifth instalment of The Kardashians hasn’t been officially confirmed, Kim and Khloé Kardashian previously claimed the show would be returning for 20 episodes after season 3.

With 10 new episodes airing in season 4 since that announcement, it can be assumed a fifth season is on the cards.

The first four seasons of The Kardashians premiered in the summer and autumn seasons each year. Following this, the next instalment of the series could arrive in the summer of 2024.

Once we know more, we’ll be sure to keep this page updated.

Who could feature in a potential The Kardashians season 5?

If there is a fifth season of The Kardashians, it’s safe to assume Kris Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian Barker, Khloé Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner could return.

Other appearances could include North West, Travis Barker and Kourtney, Kylie and Khloé’s children, as well as friends of the famous sisters.

How many episodes could there be in a potential The Kardashians season 5?

While a fifth season hasn’t been confirmed, based on what Kim and Khloé Kardashian said last year, there could be 10 episodes of The Kardashians.

What could potentially happen in a potential The Kardashians season 5?

Based on what has happened in the lives of the Kardashians family, there is a lot going on.

Kourtney Kardashian recently gave birth, and the lead-up to that big moment could very well feature, much like Kylie Jenner’s pregnancy did in previous seasons.

Kim Kardashian is currently starring in American Horror Story: Delicate, alongside Emma Roberts and Cara Delevingne, and moments from that could make it into the series.

Read more:

It isn’t clear whether or not Timothée Chalamet will make an appearance on The Kardashians.

According to an insider, the actor is very “careful” about his appearances, suggesting it is unlikely that he would make a cameo on the reality TV show.

“Timothée is very careful with his personal conduct in relationships because one dumb mistake can send everything he’s built down the toilet,” the source told The Sun.

That said, it’s safe to assume he will not make an appearance.

You can watch seasons 1-4 of The Kardashians on Disney Plus – sign up to Disney Plus for £7.99 a month or £79.90 a year.

Looking for something else to watch? Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on.

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

]]> David Craig <![CDATA[Who is Nigel Harman? Meet the Strictly Come Dancing 2023 contestant and EastEnders star]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1871133 2023-11-30T09:39:41Z 2023-11-29T17:11:43Z

Nigel Harman will be taking on a Charleston as he returns to the Strictly Come Dancing dance floor this weekend.

The former EastEnders actor and pro dance partner Katya Jones will be performing to Step in Time from Mary Poppins as the show embarks on Musicals Week.

The couple will be hoping to impress the Strictly Come Dancing judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood after finishing at the lower end of the leaderboard again with 33 points.

Last weekend, they performed a quickstep to Rumba to It’s All Coming Back to Me Now by Celine Dion but found themselves at the bottom of the leaderboard with 31 points.

With just five celebrities remaining, the Strictly Come Dancing 2023 line-up, the pressure is well and truly on to get to the final.

Currently at the top of the Strictly Come Dancing 2023 leaderboard is Coronation Street actress Ellie Leach, with a near perfect score of 38 points following her Paso Doble last weekend.

But this is Strictly Come Dancing at the end of the day, and anything can happen during the live shows.

During the early weeks of this year’s show, Nigel left viewers hot under the collar with his performances – and his reign looked sure to continue.

Former Strictly Pro Vincent Simone also thinks Nigel could have a good chance of lifting the Glitterball, admitting that while Ellie and Vito are his first choice: “If not her, then I will say Nigel. I like Nigel!”

As Nigel returns to the dance floor, read on for everything you need to know about Strictly Come Dancing 2023 contestant Nigel Harman.

Who is Nigel Harman?

Nigel Harman for Strictly Come Dancing 2023
Nigel Harman for Strictly Come Dancing 2023.

Age: 49

Job: Actor

Instagram: @themeditatingactor

Twitter: N/A

Strictly partner: Katya Jones

Harman is best known for his various acting roles on television, which include Dennis Rickman in EastEnders, Sam Franklin in Hotel Babylon and, most recently, clinical lead Dr Max Cristie in medical drama Casualty.

However, he also has theatrical experience – having previously appeared in productions of Guys and Dolls, I Can’t Sing! The X Factor Musical and Shrek: The Musical – which could come in handy as he takes to the ballroom floor.

Harman also has a side business teaching and practicing meditation, so it seems unlikely that nerves will get the better of him during the competition.

Nigel Harman’s Strictly journey so far

Nigel Harman and Katya Jones for Strictly Come Dancing 2023
Nigel Harman and Katya Jones for Strictly Come Dancing 2023.
BBC/Ray Burmiston

Scoreboard

Week One: Paso Doble (8+8+8+8) = 32

Week Two: Viennese Waltz (7+7+6+7) = 27

Week Three: Jive (6+6+6+7) = 25

Week Four: Salsa (8+9+8+8) = 33

Week Five: Foxtrot (7+7+7+8) = 29

Week Six: Cha Cha (8+7+7+8) = 30

Week Seven: Tango (7+9+9+8) = 33

Week Eight: Couple’s Choice (8+8+9+9) = 34

Week Nine: Quickstep (7+8+8+8) = 31

Week Ten: Rumba (8+8+8+9) = 33

When does Strictly Come Dancing 2023 air?

Strictly Come Dancing airs every Saturday evening, followed by the result show on the Sunday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday 2nd December at 7:25pm. The results show will air on Sunday 26th November on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on.

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
]]> David Craig <![CDATA[Who is Layton Williams? Meet the Strictly Come Dancing 2023 contestant and West End star]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1868804 2023-11-30T09:33:10Z 2023-11-29T17:01:40Z

In a shock to many, Layton Williams found himself fighting for his place in the competition after he faced the dance-off on last week’s Strictly Come Dancing against Angela Scanlon.

Despite scoring an almost perfect sore of 39 the week before, the judges weren’t wholly impressed with his performance.

Luckily, the actor was saved by the judges and he will most certainly be giving his all on the dance floor this weekend as he performs a Paso Doble to Backstage Romance from Moulin Rouge! The Musical.

In Week Nine, Layton and his professional dance partner Nikita Kuzmin thrilled the judges with his Argentine tango, scoring an almost perfect score of 39 points.

While judges Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas gave the 29-year-old actor 10 points, Craig Revel Horwood opted for a nine.

Speaking to RadioTimes.com, Argentine tango expert and former Strictly pro Vincent Simone said Craig was right about Layton Williams’s score.

“I agree with what Craig said that it was too aggressive. It was very intense. I mean, listen, I loved it and I wouldn’t change anything. I think it was perfect for them at the moment to do it that way.

“But, it’s not supposed to be stiff upper body parts, you know, being stiff and hard and sharp and so on. It still needs to be kind of soft,” Vincent explained.

Could this be the weekend Layton gets his perfect 40?

As Strictly continues, read on for everything you need to know about Layton Williams.

Who is Layton Williams?

Layton Williams for Strictly Come Dancing 2023 wearing a white tank top looking into camera
Layton Williams for Strictly Come Dancing 2023.

Age: 29

Job: Actor, singer and dancer

Instagram: @laytonwilliams

Twitter: @LaytonWilliams

Strictly partner: Nikita Kuzmin

Williams rose to prominence in the theatre scene, with major roles in iconic shows including Billy Elliot, Rent, Hairspray, Kiss Me, Kate and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.

Viewers may also recognise him from BBC sitcom Bad Education, where he has played Stephen Carmichael since 2012, and Sky Atlantic’s darkly comic drama I Hate Suzie Too.

Earlier this year, he earned another wave of fans for his voiceover work on BBC Three’s LGBTQ+ dating show I Kissed A Boy.

Read More:

Who is Layton Williams’s partner Nikita Kuzmin?

Nikita Kuzmin and Layton Williams for Strictly Come Dancing 2023
Nikita Kuzmin and Layton Williams for Strictly Come Dancing 2023
BBC/Ray Burmiston

Williams’ partner Nikita Kuzmin is a Ukrainian dancer and choreographer who first joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2021. He was previously a professional dancer on the German version of Strictly, Let’s Dance.

He said as he joined the show: “I’ve always been amazed by the magic Strictly Come Dancing brings. No matter what country I have found myself living in, I’ve never missed a chance to watch it.

“Joining it as a professional dancer is my big chance to make some magic on the most famous dance floor. I can’t wait to give it my all.”

For season 19 he was partnered with Tilly Ramsay, while season 20 saw him partnered with Ellie Simmonds.

Layton Williams’s Strictly journey so far

Scoreboard

Week One: Samba (7+8+7+7) = 29

Week Two: Quickstep (9+9+9+9) = 36

Week Three: Viennese Waltz (7+7+7+7) = 28

Week Four: Cha Cha (9+10+9+9) = 37

Week Five: Salsa (9+10+10+10) = 39

Week Six: Tango (9+9+9+9) = 36

Week Seven: Jive (8+10+10+8) = 36

Week Eight: Argentine Tango (9+10+10+10) = 39

Week Nine: Couple’s Choice (9+10+10+10) = 39

Week Ten: American Smooth (8+9+8+9) = 34

Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin
Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin. BBC/Guy Levy

What has Layton Williams said about joining Strictly 2023?

Williams said in a statement: “Absolutely buzzing to confirm that I will be taking part in the most iconic dance competition in the UK! It’s time to bring it to the Ballroom.

“So excited to learn new skills from the best. Bring on the sequins… all the sequins!”

Williams has a lot in store for this year’s Strictly through his costume choices. It was reported the West End performer will be the first Strictly contestant to wear both a dress and suit in the competition, and Williams says he hopes to be as “fabulous” as possible throughout.

Speaking to RadioTimes.com and other press, the actor said: “Obviously, there are some weeks that will be like a costume for the theme that you’re doing, or the storyline, but I dress many different ways when I’m Layton. So, I feel like, why wouldn’t I do that when I’m on Strictly?

“I want to represent me, I want to represent my community and go out there and slay!”

When does Strictly Come Dancing 2023 air?

Strictly Come Dancing 2023 airs every Saturday evening, followed by the results show on the Sunday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday 2nd December at 7:25pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on.

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

]]> James Hibbs <![CDATA[Slow Horses season 3 kicks off with surprise character death]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1924825 2023-11-29T17:01:05Z 2023-11-29T17:00:24Z

*WARNING – CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR SLOW HORSES SEASON 3 EPISODE 1*

Slow Horses has now returned for a third season of spy shenanigans with Gary Oldman’s Jackson Lamb and the rest of the Slough House team, although the first episode had a surprise opening segment, without any of our returning characters.

Instead, the first 10 minutes of the episode introduced us to the already announced new characters played by guest stars Ṣọpẹ Dìrísù’s (Gangs of London) and Katherine Waterston (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them), two agents and lovers in Istanbul.

Waterston’s character Alison found Dìrísù’s character Sean rifling through her things, as he revealed that the agency believed she was about to leak a sensitive file. As it turns out, they were right.

A chase across the city ensued, but Alison got the file to her contact – or so it seemed. While we didn’t see just what happened next, Sean found her lifeless body, with Alison having either fallen or been pushed off a stadium.

Katherine Waterston
Katherine Waterston.
Lia Toby/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures

While it’s not unlike Slow Horses to kill off its supporting cast, it was still a shock to see such a big name actor bite the dust so early in their tenure, only 10 minutes into their first episode – particularly as Waterson’s casting had been so readily announced.

Read more:

The rest of the episode saw Sean kidnap Catherine Standish sometime later, with the cliffhanger seeing Jack Lowden’s River also roped into whatever is going on.

The first episode was released alongside the second on Apple TV+, with subsequent instalments set to be released weekly on Wednesdays.

This third season won’t be the last of Slow Horses. We already know that a fourth season is on the way, with new guest stars including Hugo Weaving (The Lord of the Rings), Joanna Scanlan (After Love), Ruth Bradley (Guilt), Tom Brooke (Empire of Light) and James Callis (Battlestar Galactica).

However, given this season 3 premiere, who knows how many of them will make it beyond the title sequence…

Slow Horses season 3 will debut on Wednesday 29th November, while seasons 1-2 are available to watch now on Apple TV+. Sign up to Apple TV+ now. Mick Herron’s full Slough House book series is available now.

Visit our Drama hub for more news, interviews and features, or find something to watch now with our TV Guide or Streaming Guide.

Want to visit Death in Paradise locations in Guadeloupe at a discount? Radio Times is offering savings of up to 7% for registered users booking their next holiday with travel website Expedia. Claim your exclusive Radio Times Expedia holiday discount now.

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now and celebrate the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who with a special issue of Radio Times. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

]]> Lidia Molina-Whyte <![CDATA[Who is Annabel Croft? Meet the Strictly Come Dancing 2023 contestant and tennis icon]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1871142 2023-11-30T09:29:07Z 2023-11-29T16:58:24Z

Annabel Croft returns to the dance floor this weekend, and as per the Week 11 Strictly Come Dancing songs and dances, she’ll be performing foxtrot to For Good from Wicked.

Last weekend, Annabel and her professional dance partner Johannes Radebe scored 36 points for their paso doble to España Cañi by Trad, in which she received her first 10 and highest score of the series.

Weeks before, the dancing duo moved the audience and judges alike with their poignant and affecting dance to Wings by Birdy, during which Annabel paid tribute to her late husband, Mel Coleman, who died earlier this year, months after being diagnosed with cancer.

The former tennis player will be hoping to beat the likes of Ellie Leach, who currently holds the top spot on the Strictly Come Dancing 2023 leaderboard, with a score of 38 points last time out.

So, who is Annabel Croft? Does she have what it takes to lift the Glitterball this year? And how does she feel about her stint on the dance floor?

Read on to find out everything you need to know about Annabel Croft – one of the five remaining celebs in the Strictly Come Dancing 2023 line-up.

Who is Annabel Croft?

Annabel Croft for Strictly Come Dancing 2023.
Annabel Croft for Strictly Come Dancing 2023.
BBC

Age: 57

Job: Former British Number One tennis player and presenter

Instagram: @annabel_croft

Twitter: @Annabel_Croft

Strictly partner: Johannes Radebe

Annabel Croft is a former British Number One tennis player. At 15, she became the youngest British player to compete at Wimbledon for 95 years, going on to achieve a world ranking of 24 at the height of her tennis career.

She won the WTA Tour event Virginia Slims of San Diego and represented Great Britain at various prestigious competitions, including Wightman and several Federation Cups. She retired from professional tennis at the age of 21 and went on to work as a radio and television presenter, playing an integral role in Wimbledon coverage since.

Croft has also presented the likes of Treasure Hunt and Inceptor, and works as a pundit for broadcasters such as BBC, Sky, Amazon Prime, ITV and Discovery.

Annabel Croft’s Strictly journey so far

Scoreboard

Week One: Cha Cha (7+7+7+7) = 28

Week Two: Quickstep (4+6+6+6) = 22

Week Three: Waltz (8+8+7+7) = 30

Week Four: Jive (7+7+7+8) = 29

Week Five: Charleston (5+7+7+8) = 27

Week Six: Tango (7+7+7+8) = 29

Week Seven: Couple’s Choice (8+9+9+9) = 35

Week Eight: Samba (7+8+8+8) = 31

Week Nine: American Smooth (8+9+9+9) = 35

Week 10: Paso Doble (8+9+9+10) = 36

So far in the competition, the couple have had a pretty stead performance. Their Week Six  tango to Need U Tonight by INXS for Halloween Week earned them 29 points, while their Charleston to Ladies Night by Kool & The Gang in Week Five saw them earning 27 points. 

In Week Three, Annabel and Johannes dazzled with their energetic jive to Feel It Still by Portugal, The Man, scoring 29 points and placing sixth on the leaderboard. 

What has Annabel Croft said about joining Strictly 2023?

Speaking of joining the Strictly line-up, Croft said: “I have always loved watching Strictly and can’t quite believe I’m going to be part of this magical show – swapping tennis balls for glitter balls and looking forward to finding some joyfulness in the process.”

Having won ITV’s one-off Celebrity Wrestling in 2005, it appears Croft is no stranger to stepping out of her comfort zone, and she certainly sounds ready to put on those dancing shoes.

Annabel Croft and Johannes Radebe for Strictly Come Dancing 2023
Annabel Croft and Johannes Radebe for Strictly Come Dancing 2023.
BBC/Ray Burmiston

Ahead of Croft’s appearance on the shiny dance floor, Strictly Come Dancing podcast host Joe Sugg caught up with the tennis player and revealed one thing she is looking forward this Strictly season.

Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com, Joe Sugg said: “With this experience, she just wants to completely take away that sort of competitive nature and actually go into it just embracing the experience and having fun with it, which is exactly what the show is about and actually I think that a lot of the time, that’s what takes you further into the competition is when the public can really see that you are really just enjoying the whole process.”

When does Strictly Come Dancing 2023 air?

Strictly Come Dancing 2023 airs every weekend on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman hosting the show, and Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas returning to the judging panel.

Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday 2nd December at 7:25pm. 

Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on.

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
]]> Morgan Cormack <![CDATA[Who is Bobby Brazier? Meet the Strictly Come Dancing 2023 contestant and EastEnders star]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1870287 2023-11-29T17:35:37Z 2023-11-29T16:50:25Z

After a not so great week on Strictly Come Dancing last weekend, Bobby Brazier found himself second place with 37 points this time out!

Viewers and judges alike were in tears following Bobby’s latest performance, in which he dedicated the dance to his late mother, Jade Goody.

Head judge Shirley said the dance was “very charismatic” and had some of the “most beautiful, true movements through the body”. She also added that it was Brazier’s best number to date.

“You danced it from your heart,” she said.

As we get closer to the Strictly Come Dancing 2023 final, the pressure is certainly on, with just five contestants left in the running to lift the Glitterball.

Bobby – who is best known for playing Freddie Slater on the BBC soap –  has the likes of Layton Williams and Ellie Leach to beat, although Layton had to survive a dance off last week.

The Strictly Come Dancing songs and dances have been revealed for Week 11, and Bobby and his professional dance partner Dianne Buswell performing a salsa to (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life from Dirty Dancing.

Will this performance that puts Bobby at the top of the scoreboard and out of the dance off?

Read on for everything you need to know about Bobby Brazier and what he has said about Strictly Come Dancing.

Who is Bobby Brazier?

Bobby Brazier in front of Strictly Come Dancing backdrop
Bobby Brazier for Strictly Come Dancing. BBC

Age: 20

Job: Actor and model

Instagram: @bobbybrazier

Twitter: N/A

Strictly partner: Dianne Buswell

Brazier is an actor and model, best known for his current role in long-running soap EastEnders. Although Brazier only recently joined the EastEnders cast in 2022, his character, Freddie Slater, has been subject to a major emotional storyline as of late regarding the true paternity of his father.

When he’s not acting, Brazier is also a model, having appeared on magazine covers, taken to the runway for Dolce & Gabbana in Milan Fashion Week and has also subsequently modelled at London and Paris Fashion Weeks.

Brazier is the son of TV presenter Jeff Brazier and Big Brother star Jade Goody, who passed away from cervical cancer in 2009. As a child, before his mother’s death, he appeared in her three Sky Living reality series (Just Jade, Jade’s Salon and Jade’s Wedding) from 2005 until her passing in 2009.

Since then, Brazier has won the award for Rising Star at the National Television Awards for his role on EastEnders. When he’s not acting, Brazier also uses his TikTok account to give a behind-the-scenes look into his life, share updates and promote positive mental health and wellbeing.

Strictly star Bobby Brazier
Strictly star Bobby Brazier. BBC/Ray Burmiston
BBC/Ray Burmiston

Bobby Brazier’s Strictly journey so far

Scoreboard

Week One: Foxtrot (6+7+8+8) = 29

Week Two: Charleston (7+7+7+8) = 29

Week Three: Samba (8+8+8+8) = 32

Week Four: Tango (7+7+8+8) = 30

Week Five: Viennese Waltz (7+8+8+9) = 32

Week Six: Cha Cha Cha (6+9+7+8) = 30

Week Seven: Argentine Tango (6+8+8+8) = 30

Week Eight: American Smooth (7+8+8+9) = 32

Week Nine: Jive (8+9+9+9) = 35

Week 10: Couple’s Choice (8+9+10+10) = 37

What has Bobby Brazier said about joining Strictly 2023?

Speaking about his Strictly Come Dancing debut, Brazier told the BBC: “I’m so excited to be part of the Strictly line-up, I can’t wait to start training like a professional dancer and adding a few moves to my locker.”

He added: “I’m looking forward to performing in-front of everyone, it’s going to be so much fun!”

Ahead of his appearance on the dance competition, Brazier told RadioTimes.com that he is looking forward to doing the “sexy dances” on this year’s Strictly.

When asked what dances he is particularly looking forward to, the EastEnders actor said: “I keep saying the sexy ones. By that I mean the hips and the shoulders.”

When does Strictly Come Dancing 2023 air?

Strictly Come Dancing 2023 airs every Saturday evening on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with the results show airing on the following Sunday evening.

Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday 2nd December at 7:25pm. The results show will air on Sunday 26th November on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on.

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

]]> Lidia Molina-Whyte <![CDATA[Call the Midwife shares emotional first look at Christmas special]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1936514 2023-11-29T17:04:33Z 2023-11-29T16:48:02Z It won’t be long before the Poplar gang return to our screens for the annual Call the Midwife Christmas special.

As with previous years, this one already seems determined to tug at our heartstrings – as well as spreading some festive cheer.

A new clip for the special teases what’s to come for Nonnatus House staple Shelagh Turner (Laura Main), who is a bit distracted at work.

When Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) confronts her about it, she reveals she has received a package from Hong Kong from her adopted daughter Mae’s biological mother.

A tearful Shelagh reveals she hasn’t even told her husband, Dr Patrick Turner (Stephen McGann), about it. She’s too worried the package will upset Mae, who is “perfectly content” as it is, after not receiving anything from her mother on previous special occasions.

Of course, Sister Julienne has some wise counsel for the nurse, encouraging her to tell her husband. “No marriage thrives on secrets, large or small,” she tells her.

We’re sure the pair will come together in the end and do what’s best for Mae.

Trixie holding Jonty in front of a Christmas tree
Trixie and Jonty in Call the Midwife.
Neal Street Productions/Andrea Southam

They’re not the only one’s who’ll be experiencing some troubles this season, however.

Helen George’s Trixie and her new husband Matthew (Olly Rix) are preparing for their first Christmas together following last season’s nuptials. But it sounds like it will be far from magical.

Read more:

“It’s their first Christmas together as a married couple, so it’s one of those awkward years when they’re trying to work out what they’re going to do.

“And Trixie doesn’t really have any family apart from Nonnatus House – and, of course, he’s a Chelsea boy, so does he really want to spend Christmas in Poplar?” George explained.

Trixie’s brother Geoffrey will be spending the holidays with them, throwing another spanner in the works – and undoubtedly making for some rather entertaining viewing.

All 12 seasons of Call the Midwife are available to stream on BBC iPlayer. If you’re looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide or visit our Drama hub for more news and features.

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Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

]]> Patrick Cremona <![CDATA[New on Netflix UK December 2023: All the upcoming shows and films]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1629099 2023-11-29T17:18:21Z 2023-11-29T16:40:26Z

It’s the season of giving, and as the year draws to a close, Netflix isn’t done with giving us brand new content yet – with plenty more up their sleeves for December.

This festive season sees a number of major new film releases on the streamer, including May December, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, Maestro and Rebel Moon Part One: A Child of Fire.

Of course, there are also big series coming up too, with the final episodes of The Crown set to arrive, as well as animated Star Trek series Star Trek: Prodigy.

Meanwhile, there’s a host of stand-up specials coming up, including one from Trevor Noah and another from Ricky Gervais.

With other new additions, including plenty of classic films and fresh originals, scroll on to find out more about what’s coming to Netflix in December 2023.

New on Netflix this week (27th November – 3rd December)

Natalie Portman as Elizabeth and Julianne Moore as Gracie in May December standing together, looking in a mirror
Natalie Portman as Elizabeth and Julianne Moore as Gracie in May December.

The biggest new releases arriving on Netflix this week include Bad Surgeon: Love Under the Knife, Obliterated and films Family Switch and May December.

Here’s a list of some of the best titles releasing this week, and find below a full list of everything releasing in December 2023.

  • Bad Surgeon: Love Under the Knife season 1 – Docuseries about disgraced surgeon Paolo Macchiarini.
  • Family Switch (2023) – Body-switching Christmas comedy film starring Jennifer Garner and Ed Helms.
  • Obliterated season 1 – Action comedy-drama series about an elite team who get drunk after stopping a bomb threat, but find it was fake – so must neutralise the real bomb while drunk.
  • May December (2023) – Critically acclaimed drama film starring Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, directed by Todd Haynes.

New on Netflix UK in December

Friday 1st December

  • A Brush with Christmas (2022) –  Christmas rom-com starring Jillian Murphy and Joseph Cannata.
  • Black is the New Black – Documentary with Black British figures from the world of sports, entertainment and more speaking about their experiences.
  • Catering Christmas (2022) – Christmas rom-com starring Merritt Patterson and Daniel Lissing.
  • Christmas at the Drive-In (2022) – Christmas rom-com starring Danica McKellar and Neal Bledsoe.
  • Dangerous Games: The Legacy Murders (2022) – Horror murder mystery film starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Will Sasso and Jon Voight.
  • Disquiet (2023) – Horror film starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers about a tech entrepreneur waking up an in abandoned hospital.
  • Fisk season 2 – Second season of the Australian comedy series about lawyer Helen Tudor-Fisk.
  • Gordon, Gino & Fred’s Great Christmas Roast – 2017 Christmas cooking specials starring Gordon Ramsay, Gino D’Acampo and Fred Sirieix.
  • How to Tell a Secret (2022) – Experimental Irish documentary focusing on those living with HIV.
  • Ninjago – Multiple seasons of the animated LEGO series.
  • May December (2023) – Critically acclaimed drama film starring Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, directed by Todd Haynes.
  • PRU season 1 – British comedy series about four teens who are expelled from school and enter a programme designed to give them a new attitude.
  • Sweet Home season 2 – Second season of the hit Korean fantasy series.
  • Who We Become (2023) – Documentary film about three Filipinas living in Texas.

Saturday 2nd December 

  • Welcome to Samdal-ri season 1 – Korean rom-com.

Monday 4th December

  • Costco at Christmas season 1 – British reality show about the inner workings of Costco during the festive season.
  • Dew Drop Diaries season 2 – Second season of the animated children’s show.

Wednesday 6th December

  • Blood Coast season 1 – French crime drama series.
  • Christmas as Usual (2023) – Norwegian Christmas rom-com.
  • Green Lantern (2011) – DC superhero film starring Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan, and also featuring Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard and Mark Strong.

Thursday 7th December 

  • Analog Squad season 1 – Japanese drama series about a man who fakes a family in order to reunite with his father.
  • High Tides season 1 – Belgian romantic drama series.
  • Hilda season 3 – Third season of the animated children’s show.
  • I Hate Christmas season 2 – Second season of the Italian romantic comedy Christmas series.
  • My Life With the Walter Boys season 1 – Romantic teen comedy series based on the book of the same name.
  • NAGA (2023) – Saudi Arabian thriller film.
  • The Archies (2023) – Hindi language feel good film set in 1960s India.
  • World War II: From the Frontlines season 1 – British Second World War documentary.

Friday 8th December

  • Barbie: A Touch of Magic (2023) – Animated children’s Barbie film.
  • Blood Vessel (2023) – Nollywood drama about six people escaping a town ruined by oil pollution on board a mysterious ship.
  • Leave the World Behind (2023) – Psychological thriller starring Ethan Hawke, Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali, about a family vacation which is interrupted by two strangers bearing news of a mysterious blackout.

Monday 11th December

  • True Beauty season 1 – Korean romantic teen comedy series.

Tuesday 12th December

  • Happiness season 1 – Korean zombie thriller series.
  • Kevin Hart & Chris Rock: Headliners Only (2023) – Documentary giving a behind-the-scenes look at the friendship between Kevin Hart and Chris Rock.
  • Single’s Inferno season 3 – Third season of the Korean reality dating series.
  • Under Pressure: The US Women’s World Cup Team season 1 – Docuseries about the US Women’s World Cup team who competed in 2023.

Wednesday 13th December

  • 1670 season 1 – Zany Polish mockumentary series.
  • Car Masters: Rust to Riches season 5 – Fifth season of the American reality series about the crew from Gotham Garage.
  • If I Were Luísa Sonza (2023) – Brazilian documentary about Luísa Sonza.
  • The Influencer season 1 – Colombian romantic drama series about a social media influencer who must rebuild her reputation after a stunt gone wrong.

Thursday 14th December

  • As the Crow Flies season 2 – Second season of the scandalous Turkish drama series.
  • The Crown season 6 part 2 – Final six episodes of the Royal drama starring Imelda Staunton and Dominic West.
  • Yu Yu Hakusho season 1 – Live-action Japanese adaptation of the manga of the same name.

Friday 15th December

  • Carol & The End of the World – Animated comedy series about a woman trying to find meaning as the apocalypse looms.
  • Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023) – Sequel to the beloved classic Aardman film, starring the voices of Thandiwe Newton and Zachary Levi.
  • Face to Face with ETA: Conversations with a Terrorist (2023) – An in-depth interview with José Antonio Urrutikoetxea.
  • Familia (2023) – Mexican drama film about a family dinner revealing the complexities of their relationships.
  • Spider-Man: No Way Home Extended Edition (2021) – Extended edition of the 2021 Tom Holland Spider-Man film, featuring deleted scenes.
  • U-571 (2000) – Submarine thriller film starring Matthew McConaughey, Harvey Keitel and Bill Paxton.
  • Yoh! Christmas season 1 – South African rom-com series set at Christmas.

Saturday 16th December

  • Marry Me (2022) – Rom-com starring Jennifer Lopez as a pop superstar who decides to marry a man holding a “Marry Me” sign at her concert, played by Owen Wilson.

Monday 18th December 

  • The Outsiders season 1 – British documentary about young Black creators shaking up their field in both the UK and US.

Tuesday 19th December

  • Trevor Noah: Where Was I (2023) – Stand-up comedy special with Trevor Noah.

Wednesday 20th December

  • American Underdog (2021) – Biographical sports film about NFL quarterback Kurt Warner, played by Zachary Levi.
  • Cindy la Regia: The High School Years season 1 – Mexican teen high school series.
  • Maestro (2023) – Drama film from director Bradley Cooper in which he also stars as famed conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein. Also starring Carey Mulligan.

Thursday 21st December

  • Like Flowers in Sand season 1 – Korean romantic drama series.
  • Supa Team 4 season 2 – South African animated children’s series.

Friday 22nd December

  • Gyeongseong Creature season 1 – Korean horror series about people fighting at the border between life and death.
  • Rebel Moon Part One: A Child of Fire (2023) – Sci-fi epic from director Zack Snyder starring Sofia Boutella and Charlie Hunnam.

Monday 25th December

  • Ricky Gervais: Armageddon (2023) – Stand-up comedy special with Ricky Gervais.
  • Star Trek: Prodigy season 1 – Animated Star Trek series which is now set to return for a new season on Netflix.

Wednesday 27th December

  • Hell Camp: Teen Nightmare (2023) – Documentary film about a therapy camp for out of control teens, which had brutal conditions.

Thursday 28th December

  • Pokémon Concierge season 1 – Stop-motion animated Pokemon series about Haru, a concierge at the Pokémon Resort.

Friday 29th December

  • Berlin season 1 – Money Heist spin-off series following up with fan-favourite character Berlin.

Best Netflix releases from November 2023

Last month on Netflix also saw a host of big new releases, with series and films such as All the Light We Cannot See, Robbie Williams, The Killer, The Crown season 6 part 1 and Squid Game: The Challenge being added to the service.

Here’s a list of some of the best new releases on Netflix in November 2023:

  • All the Light We Cannot See – Mark Ruffalo and Hugh Laurie star in this historical drama, an adaptation of the 2014 novel of the same name.
  • Selling Sunset season 7 – New season of the reality series following high-end realtors.
  • Sly – Documentary film about the life and career of Sylvester Stallone.
  • Escaping Twin Flames season 1 – Docuseries about the controversial online community, Twin Flames Universe.
  • Robbie Williams – All-access documentary series charting the life and career of singer and songwriter Robbie Williams.
  • The Killer (2023) – Thriller film from director David Fincher, starring Michael Fassbender as a hitman on a job.
  • The Crown season 6 part 1 – First four episodes in this final season of the royal drama, starring Imelda Staunton and Elizabeth Debicki.
  • Scott Pilgrim Takes Off season 1 – Anime series based on the Scott Pilgrim graphic novels, executive produced by Edgar Wright and featuring the cast of the 2010 film adaptation reprising their roles.
  • Squid Game: The Challenge season 1 – Reality series spin-off from Squid Game, which sees real contestants taking on the games from the show to try and win a huge cash prize.
  • Bad Surgeon: Love Under the Knife season 1 – Docuseries about disgraced surgeon Paolo Macchiarini.

Read more:

Sign up for Netflix from £4.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.

Check out our Streaming Guide for more recommendations on what to watch, or visit our TV Guide to see what’s on tonight. 

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

]]> Molly Moss <![CDATA[How to watch Slow Horses – where are episodes available?]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1936523 2023-11-29T16:17:56Z 2023-11-29T16:17:56Z

Slow Horses fans, assemble: season 3 of the spy thriller is upon us, launching Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden and the rest of the show’s cast back onto our screens.

Based on the Slough House series of books by author Mick Herron, the espionage drama revolves around a dysfunctional team of British intelligence agents headed up by Jackson Lamb (Oldman).

Season 3 sees Slough House pulled into a conspiracy which threatens to bring down the entirety of MI5, and guest stars Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù in a key role as Sean Donovan.

The new instalment also sees the outcast agents racing to save one of their own after Catherine Standish (Saskia Reeves) is kidnapped, with plenty of chaos ensuing.

If you’re wondering how to watch the new season of Slow Horses, as well as the previous instalments, read on for everything you need to know.

Where to watch Slow Horses in the UK

Gary Oldman in Slow Horses
Gary Oldman in Slow Horses.
Apple TV+

Slow Horses season 3 landed on Apple TV+ on Wednesday 29th November. The first two episodes of the six-part series are available to watch on the streaming service now.

The remaining episodes will be released each week on a Wednesday, with the release schedule as follows:

  • Episode 1 – Strange Games – Wednesday 29th November 2023 (out now)
  • Episode 2 – Hard Lessons – Wednesday 29th November 2023 (out now)
  • Episode 3 – Negotiating with Tigers – Wednesday 6th December 2023
  • Episode 4 – Title TBC – Wednesday 13th December 2023
  • Episode 5 – Title TBC – Wednesday 20th December 2023
  • Episode 6 – Title TBC – Wednesday 27th December 2023

The first two series of Slow Horses can also be watched on Apple TV+, which fans can sign up to for £8.99 a month.

Apple Plus TV also offers a seven-day free trial to new subscribers. Your plan will then automatically renew at £8.99 per month, unless you cancel.

Sign-up for Apple TV+ for £8.99 at Apple

Sign-up for a seven-day free trial of Apple TV+ at Apple

Slow Horses season 3 will continue on Wednesday 6th December, while seasons 1-2 are available to watch now on Apple TV+. Sign up to Apple TV+ now. Mick Herron’s full Slough House book series is available now.

Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what’s on tonight.

Want to visit Death in Paradise locations in Guadeloupe at a discount? Radio Times is offering savings of up to 7% for registered users booking their next holiday with travel website Expedia. Claim your exclusive Radio Times Expedia holiday discount now.

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]]> Grace Henry <![CDATA[Jamie Lynn Spears quits I’m a Celebrity for medical reasons]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1936381 2023-11-29T16:52:31Z 2023-11-29T16:15:28Z

Jamie Lynn Spears has quit I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! 2023.

On Wednesday 29th November, ITV revealed that the 32-year-old, who was part of the original I’m a Celebrity 2023 line-up, has left the series due to medical reasons.

A show spokesperson said: “Jamie Lynn Spears has left I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! on medical grounds. She’s been a fantastic campmate who has triumphed at trials and bonded well with her fellow celebrities.”

The Zoey 101 star has now left the camp and her fellow campmates are aware that she won’t be returning. Her last appearance will be on Wednesday night’s show.

Read more:

Jamie is the latest contestant to leave this year’s show.

On Monday 27th November, the show revealed that Grace Dent had left I’m a Celebrity on medical grounds. The exit came after the 50-year-old food critic confessed to her fellow campmates: “I just want to go home.”

Also during this week’s episodes, Nella Rose visited the on-site medic before returning to the main camp.

“Now, unfortunately Nella is being seen by the medic, so she’ll be back later, but it means she’s now exempt from this trial. So let’s go in there and see who will be doing it,” Ant & Dec explained on last night’s show.

Jamie Lynn Spears originally entered the jungle during the launch show on Sunday 19th November, alongside Marvin Humes, Fred Sirieix, Sam Thompson and more.

Speaking of why she decided to sign up for the show, she said: “When they approached me, the first thing I had to do was talk it over with my family and my kids to make sure they were ok about me being gone for this amount of time. Once I got the all-clear from everybody, I was like, ‘Yeah, let’s go’.

“I think it is so far out of my comfort zone, and this year with SAG being on strike, I have said ‘yes’ to a lot of unscripted projects. I am really enjoying throwing myself into these experiences.”

I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! airs at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

Looking for something else to watch in the meantime? Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on.

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]]> Matt Poskitt <![CDATA[Lethal Company reviews round-up: Is it worth playing?]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1936522 2023-11-29T16:07:35Z 2023-11-29T16:07:35Z

Lethal Company, a new indie co-op horror game that was released into early access in October, has seen a huge spike in players over the past few weeks.

Over 88,000 Steam user reviews have been posted at the time of writing for Lethal Company, accumulating to an “Overwhelmingly Positive” consensus on the PC platform.

Set in retrofuturistic post-apocalyptic dystopia, the premise has players taking on the role of contracted employees for a corporation, known simply as the Company. Your goal is to explore planets for scrap before selling it off and repeating with increased difficulty in a risk versus reward system.

With a not-so-subtle theme of capitalism, the indie game has been incredibly popular – with more than 100,000 concurrent players joining in on the action (as confirmed by developer Zeekerss).

To see why Lethal Company has become a bona fide hit with PC players around the globe, head below for a round-up of reviews.

Lethal Company reviews round-up: Is it worth playing?

A handheld transceiver in Lethal Company
Lethal Company.
Zeekerss

While no official reviews from critics have been conducted as of yet – likely due to the game being in early access – here’s a selection of Steam users’ reviews to give you an idea of its quality.

“The Steam trailer really doesn’t do this game justice,” one review by a gamer named Joe said. “Its extremely early access right now, and the gameplay itself is nothing too spectacular (yet), but the super dynamic proximity chat is what really makes this game for me.

“Hearing the muffled screams of someone getting choked out by a bug, followed shortly after by the panicked wails of another crewmember running for their life, is likely one of the funniest things I have ever experienced in a video game.”

“My friend was slowly being killed in a room and all I could do was listen to his horrified screams over the radio. Anyways, we met quota….10/10,” another user review under the name jjhamm said.

Steam user Ember, who has logged over 140 hours, shared their thoughts: “This game is amazing. It’s both horrifying and hilarious – the screams of terror coming from my teammates becoming muffled as a snare flea smothers them is just golden. The proximity voice chat is perfect. I’m hoping they add more moons to make it easier to meet higher quotas.”

Another positive review from Fred Durst (we’re assuming it’s not the Limp Bizkit rapper) simply stated: “Buy this game and go in blind with some friends.”

“I hit ‘not recommended’ because most of the recommended reviews do not mention any problems,” wrote Undy1ngWill, though, in one of the few negative reviews.

“I did enjoy this game, but I feel it has a flaw that seriously mitigates it in the long term. This game is a great time with friends and it is fun to progress, get loot, and furnish your ship. However, the game is set up where there is no ending, however the quota will keep rising until it is unachievable and you will die as a result.”

Lethal Company is available to play exclusively on Microsoft Windows via Steam.

Looking for something else? Check out the best PC games to play right now.

Listen to our One More Life podcast, subscribe to our free newsletter and follow us on Twitter for all the latest gaming intel.

Looking for something to watch? Check out our TV Guide or Streaming Guide.

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]]> Jo Berry <![CDATA[Blue Bloods season 14: Release date speculation, cast and latest news]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1902740 2023-11-29T16:31:59Z 2023-11-29T16:00:52Z

Cop drama Blue Bloods launched in 2010, and 275 episodes later, we now officially know that the series will be coming to an end.

The show, which is led by Magnum, PI and Friends star Tom Selleck as patriarch Frank, is a mix of family drama and police procedural, and boasts a well-known cast, including Donnie Wahlberg and John Wick’s Bridget Moynahan as two of Frank’s kids.

We now know that the upcoming 14th season of the show will not only be split into two parts, but it will be the series’s last run, with president of CBS Entertainment, Amy Reisenbach, and president of CBS Studios, David Stapf, saying in a joint statement: “Blue Bloods will forever be a beloved part of CBS’s legacy.

“It ruled Friday nights with unprecedented dominance since its premiere and established itself as a pillar of our winning line-up with an exceptionally devoted fan base.

“We’ll be forever grateful to the legendary Leonard Goldberg for developing this signature series, and to the amazing cast led by Tom Selleck, who America embraced as family and watched as welcomed guests at the Reagan dinner table.

“We also sincerely thank the incredible writing and producing teams guided by executive producer Kevin Wade for years of compelling episodes, as they conceive this final chapter that we expect to be the most satisfying season yet for our loyal viewers.”

But when can fans expect to see the new season? Read on for everything you need to know about the upcoming Blue Bloods season 14.

Will Blue Bloods season 14 be the show’s final season?

Tom Selleck as Frank Reagan in Blue Bloods sat in his office chair, wearing a suit
Tom Selleck plays Frank Reagan in Blue Bloods.
CBS

Sadly, it will. It has already been announced that the 14th season of the long-running series will be its last, with star Tom Selleck saying: “For the past 13 years it has been an honour and a privilege to work on a show that not only celebrates the men and women who protect and serve in New York City, but also displayed the importance of family.

“Working alongside these incredible actors, writers, producers, directors and crew has been a dream come true and I’m grateful to have been a part of this extraordinary group for over 275 episodes.

“Thank you to CBS Studios and CBS Network for their steadfast support, and we offer heartfelt gratitude to the fans who gathered with us for dinner every Friday night.”

On the bright side for fans, the new season will be an extended, two-part run, with the first 10 episodes arriving first before the final eight air at a later date.

When will Blue Bloods season 14 air?

We don’t yet know an air date for certain in the UK, but we do know exactly when Blue Bloods will begin airing in the US.

The first batch of 10 episodes from the new season will air in the US on CBS and Paramount+ from 16th February 2024. Then, the remaining eight episodes will air later, in autumn 2024.

We will keep this page updated as soon as we know when we will be getting the episodes on this side of the pond as well.

Blue Bloods season 14 cast: Who’s returning?

Bridget Moynahan as Erin Reagan in Blue Bloods in the office
Bridget Moynahan plays Erin Reagan in Blue Bloods.
CBS

TV legend Tom Selleck stars as Frank, the patriarch of the Reagan family, and he will return for season 14 along with:

  • Donnie Wahlberg as Danny
  • Bridget Moynahan as Erin
  • Will Estes as Jamie
  • Len Cariou as Henry
  • Marisa Ramirez as Maria Baez
  • Vanessa Ray as Eddie Janko-Reagan

Blue Bloods season 14 plot: What will happen?

Donnie Wahlberg as Danny Reagan in Blue Bloods, standing in the office, wearing a suit
Donnie Wahlberg plays Danny Reagan in Blue Bloods.
CBS

The end of season 13 didn’t leave us with many cliffhangers or hints of what may happen in the upcoming season, but the finale did bring back some characters we haven’t seen for a while, including Danny’s former partner Jackie Curatola (Jennifer Esposito), and two family members who popped back up for the family dinner – Danny’s eldest son Jack (Tony Terraciano) and Erin’s daughter Nicky (Sami Gayle).

Could these reappearances be a sign more fan favourites may return for season 14? Jackie’s storyline was neatly concluded, but it would be great to see more of Jack and Nicky and other characters from previous seasons too, such as Lorraine Bracco’s former mayor and Bebe Neuwirth’s character Kelly Peterson.

Is there a Blue Bloods season 14 trailer?

There is no trailer for Blue Bloods just yet, but we’ll update this page when any new footage is released.

Blue Bloods airs on Sky and NOW in the UK. You can also watch it on Paramount+ – get a seven-day free trial of Paramount Plus on Amazon Prime Video. 

For more news, interviews and features, visit our Drama hub, or find something to watch now with our TV Guide and Streaming Guide.

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

]]> James Hibbs <![CDATA[BAFTA Breakthrough participant on learning from Doctor Who’s Peter Capaldi]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1934994 2023-11-29T16:12:54Z 2023-11-29T16:00:23Z

Vivian Oparah, star of this year’s Rye Lane and Then You Run, has been chosen for this year’s BAFTA Breakthrough scheme, which provides a springboard to creatives in film, games and TV.

BAFTA Breakthrough, which is supported by Netflix, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year, and Oparah spoke with RadioTimes.com exclusively about being chosen for the scheme.

Asked how it felt to be among this year’s cohort, Oparah said: “Bonkers. You spend so much time having so much respect for stuff like BAFTA and you end up kind of being welcomed into the fold a little bit.

“I feel like I’ve infiltrated the CIA or something, because it feels so elusive from the outside. But yeah, it’s great.”

Oparah was first seen on-screen as one of the lead roles in Doctor Who spin-off Class, with the actor saying she felt as though she “got into the industry through a bit of a back door”, and so “never really had a cohort of people that I went to drama school with, or teachers or mentors that I could really reach out to and connect with”.

Read more:

“I’d say this year is the first year I’ve ever begun to have contemporaries in the industry,” Oparah explained, while revealing she wants to establish “a feeling of community” through BAFTA Breakthrough.

“I’ve likened this experience to being in Year 7 again, and I’m just trying to find my friends,” Oparah said. “It feels mad that there are people that will be willing to offer me nuggets of advice or keys to the doors I’m trying to get through.”

Oparah also reflected on her first role in Class, saying that looking back on that series is “bananas”.

Vivian Oparah, Sophie Hopkins, Greg Austin and Fady Elsayed for Class sitting around a wooden table
Vivian Oparah, Sophie Hopkins, Greg Austin and Fady Elsayed for Class.
BBC

She continued: “I literally was with Pearl [Mackie], like, two days ago, and I haven’t seen her since circa that time. So that felt really beautiful. And I guess that reflects the whole experience, in a way.

“That was my way in. So I look on it super fondly. Fady [Elsayed], Sophie [Hopkins], Jordan [Renzo], Greg [Austin], we’re all still in contact. It was a beginning. And there’s several beginnings, is what I’m learning. But it was a very meaningful beginning; I got my agent, who I love, through that.”

Oparah also revealed that she “learned so much from that job through watching Peter Capaldi for the one scene he was in”, and that she looks back upon it with “great fondness and gratitude”.

Peter Capaldi with Katherine Kelly during Class' first episode talking by the TARDIS
Peter Capaldi with Katherine Kelly during Class’s first episode.
BBC

Alongside Oparah, individuals chosen for this year’s Breakthrough scheme from the UK include: Bella Ramsey, Raine Allen-Miller, Charlotte Regan, Adjani Salmon, Cash Carraway, Pete Jackson, Rosy McEwen, Georgia Oakley, Kat Morgan, Kathryn Ferguson, Talisha ‘Tee Cee’ Johnson, Funmi Olutoye, Ella Glendining, Cynthia De La Rosa, Holly Reddaway, Joel Beardshaw, Michael Anderson, Samantha Béart and Kitt (Fiona) Burn.

Meanwhile, US Breakthroughs include: Aminah Nieves, Jingyi Shao, Cheyenne Morrin, Sing J Lee, Vuk Lungulov-Klotz, Shelly Yo, Edward Buckles Jr, Amanda Kim, Maria Altamirano, Apoorva Charan, Santiago Gonzalez and Gary Gunn.

Doctor Who continues Saturday 2nd December at 6:30pm on BBC One. Previous episodes are available on BBC iPlayer and on BritBox – you can sign up for a 7-day free trial here.

Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on.

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

]]> Melissa Parker <![CDATA[Doctor Who’s disability representation proves why small moments matter]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1935318 2023-11-29T16:27:01Z 2023-11-29T16:00:15Z

Doctor Who fans worldwide are being charmed by the highly anticipated 60th anniversary specials. However, one character has sparked excitement and intrigue among disabled viewers: Shirley Anne Bingham, played by Ruth Madeley.

This more nuanced portrayal of a wheelchair user in Doctor Who is an extraordinary step forward for representation in the beloved series — but amid the fantastical, fairytale things, there can still be hard realities.

Ruth Madeley’s work has never been about perfection, but complex, hard-fought realities, and the same can be said of Russell T Davies. Both can get to the personal, up-close, staring-you-right-in-the-face experience through their writing and performances. They possess a unique ability to bring audiences close, allowing them to leave a lasting impact.

In these seconds on screen, we see the full power of disability representation. Often, the small, up-close moments have the most unforeseen consequences. Upon close inspection, a subtle, perhaps unconsciously done detail becomes apparent in a scene: Ruth Madeley’s character crosses her legs.

This seemingly insignificant moment holds profound meaning for disabled people as it was picked apart across social media by non-disabled people. We understand all too well the scrutiny and misunderstanding we often face regarding our own bodies.

Ruth Madeley and David Tennant on the set of Doctor Who
Ruth Madeley and David Tennant on the set of Doctor Who.
BBC Studios/Alistair Heap

As a wheelchair user, I have endured so much: uncomfortable gazes from men on buses, questions about why my leg is “bent” or “warped,” and unsolicited comments about my muscular legs not appearing “disabled enough” not to work. One of the earliest questions I ever asked a stranger was, “Why are you looking at my legs like that?”, instinctively adjusting protectively. 

So, the abundance of social media reactions about a wheelchair user in Doctor Who crossing her legs on screen, frequently mistakenly assumed to be a continuity error, was unsurprising. Non-disabled people know nothing of what it’s like to live in and around our wheelchairs through various stages and moments in life and health.      

This is still our burden, having to be explicit and clear on social media and everyday interactions. Knowing that this is a conversation that we very much need to be in control of — we need to be able to have these moments and question non-disabled ignorance — and get through it.      

That is the core of good disability representation, even if it’s unconsciously done: the chance to acknowledge that ordinary disabled people still have these hard conversations and live in these moments. 

Amid these fantastical fairytale things, there can still be small moments, small details that speak to an everyday truth — eliciting knowing nods from a disabled audience. 

As Shirley asserts: “Don’t make me the problem, just get in there” when faced with a staircase that UNIT officers need to climb. This line serves as a knowing nod to the social model of disability, reminding viewers that people are disabled by barriers in society, not their impairments or differences.     

But imagine disabled children getting to be Shirley.    

Getting to play make-believe — to be the scientist, the leader. Getting to dress up or replicate and imitate that image, getting an earlier understanding that our society is built on half-truths and incomplete histories. 

As a child, Doctor Who offered an escape, a reprieve from my “othered” existence, from the growing pains of existing in a disabled body, a place to rest my tattered mind. From the first “Fantastic!” we had each other with matching northern accents. We each wore muted clothing and a black leather jacket for a time.   

I can’t imagine not pushing parts of myself down to relate to a character or escaping into other worlds without compromising my identity.   

But, from the UNIT-branded wheelchair to including weapons as wheelchair accessories and the casual, calm confidence of “I don’t just fire darts, mate”, the show now embraces diversity in a way that will continue to resonate with disabled viewers for generations, and the disabled community will now go into inaccessible places and proudly proclaim, “Even the TARDIS is accessible now”.

Ultimately, it’s not just about the accessibility of the TARDIS or the ongoing conversations with those who aren’t disabled. It’s about this new generation of disabled children finally seeing themselves represented in Doctor Who. During frightening points, they will still experience the familiar jitters of monsters hiding under their beds or behind the couch, clutching at a cushion. They will have “their” Doctor, “their” companion, and “their” era.

One day, they will fondly recall that chilling moment when a Russell T Davies villain gave them nightmares. However, amid all the heartwarming nostalgia, they will also find comfort in knowing that disabled characters exist within the expansive Doctor Who universe, woven in whatever incredible guises they may take now or in the future. Action figures will bear their likeness and be beaten down in over-enthusiastic child’s play; drawings will proudly adorn fridges with the help of multicoloured magnets, and homemade or shop-bought Halloween costumes will be worn.    

The inclusion of a nuanced portrayal of a wheelchair user in Doctor Who’s 60th-anniversary specials is a positive step towards greater disability representation — but it’s also a reminder that even amidst the fantastical, fairytale somethings, we can still experience the harshest of our realities.   

Doctor Who continues Saturday 2nd December at 6:30pm on BBC One. Previous episodes are available on BBC iPlayer and on BritBox – you can sign up for a 7-day free trial here.

Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on.

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

]]> Lidia Molina-Whyte <![CDATA[The Gold renewed for season 2 of hit factual drama on BBC]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1936376 2023-11-29T15:57:11Z 2023-11-29T15:57:11Z

The BBC’s factual drama The Gold handed out convictions to most of the names involved in the 1983 Brink’s-Mat robbery in season 1, but that doesn’t mean the story is over.

In fact, the BBC has confirmed the acclaimed series will be returning for a second run – which is hardly surprising, considering the first became one of the top five most watched new dramas in the UK this year.

The show received plenty of praise from audiences and critics alike, both for how it tackled the true story behind the ‘crime of the century’ and the performances of its stellar cast.

The broadcaster has confirmed the detective trio who led last season’s investigation will be back, with Hugh Bonneville, Charlotte Spencer and Emun Elliott returning as Brian Boyce, Nicki Jennings and Tony Brightwell respectively.

Tom Cullen (John Palmer), Stefanie Martini (Marnie Palmer) and Sam Spruell (Charlie Miller) are also set to appear.

It’s unclear at this stage whether we’ll see the likes of Dominic Cooper, Jack Lowden, Adam Nagaitis, Frankie Wilson and Dorothy Atkinson, though, following their characters’ convictions at the end of season 1.

Edwyn Cooper (Dominic Cooper) in The Gold wearing a suit, looking into camera
Edwyn Cooper (Dominic Cooper) in The Gold.
BBC/Tannadice Pictures/Sally Mais

As well as confirming the series’s return, the BBC also released a synopsis teasing what’s to come for the detectives. “Following the conviction of some of those involved in the theft and handling of the Brink’s-Mat gold, the police realised that those criminals only ever had half of it,” it revealed.

As robber Kenneth Noye (Lowden) taunted them in the finale, a big chunk of the gold hadn’t been recovered, despite the detectives’ best efforts.

Writer and executive producer Neil Forsyth said in a statement: “I am delighted that we have been given the opportunity to tell the rest of the Brink’s-Mat story, which sees the consequences of the robbery and its aftermath grow only more surprising, dramatic and far-reaching, both in Britain and around the world.”

Read more:

Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, added: “We’re immensely proud to partner with Neil Forsyth and the team to continue the story of The Gold.

“Millions of viewers across the UK were enthralled with its gripping and confident exploration of the fallout from the notorious Brink’s-Mat robbery and, as we saw, there’s still so much more left for DCS Boyce and the team to uncover.”

Details of when the six part season will be released are yet to be confirmed.

The Gold season 1 is available to watch on BBC iPlayer. The Gold: The Real Story Behind Brink’s-Mat: Britain’s Biggest Heist by Neil Forsyth and Thomas Turner is available to order now.

Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what’s on tonight.

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

]]> Morgan Jeffery <![CDATA[What is the big mystery surrounding Doctor Who’s Wild Blue Yonder?]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1936404 2023-11-29T15:43:10Z 2023-11-29T15:43:10Z

You might expect a season finale to be shrouded in secrecy, with plot points and even the full cast list concealed so as to not to spoil viewers’ enjoyment of the climax, but in fact it’s the middle instalment of Doctor Who‘s “mini-season” of 60th anniversary specials that’s proving to be the most mysterious.

Even before it aired on Saturday (25th November), we were familiar with the broad strokes of opening episode The Star Beast – an adaptation of the 1980 comic strip of the same name, featuring the cute but not so cuddly Beep the Meep, and reuniting the Doctor (David Tennant) with former companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate).

We’ve also seen a fair amount come out around the trilogy closer, The Giggle – it’ll feature the return of the villainous Toymaker, last seen on television way back in 1966 and now played by Emmy-winning actor Neil Patrick Harris.

Though not officially announced, trailer footage and interview teases have also pointed to appearances from UNIT, their leader Kate Stewart (Jemma Redgrave) and their scientist advisor Shirley Anne Bingham (Ruth Madeley).

But we know next to nothing about episode two, Wild Blue Yonder, which airs this Saturday (2nd December) – showrunner Russell T Davies has called it “weird” and “scary”, but the brief plot synopsis that’s been released is impressively vague: “The TARDIS takes the Doctor and Donna to the furthest edge of adventure. To escape, they must face the most desperate fight of their lives, with the fate of the universe at stake.”

Besides Tennant and Tate, only one additional cast member has been confirmed – Susan Twist, who’ll play a character named “Mrs Merridew”.

Catherine Tate as Donna Noble, David Tennant as The Fourteenth Doctor holding the Meep and Yasmin Finney as Rose surrounded by monsters for the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials.
Doctor Who 60th specials.
BBC

The key art for the episode (see above) suggests the inclusion of a robot, though it’s unclear whether it’ll be friend and foe.

The trailer released shortly after broadcast of The Star Beast, meanwhile, also seems to delight in keeping things ambiguous, revealing only that the Doctor and Donna have landed in a mysterious space-age location, where they encounter “life signs” and are menaced by an unseen threat…

Doctor Who fans, of course, abhor a vacuum, so the lack of information about Wild Blue Yonder has sparked rampant speculation. Why the secrecy? What’s being hidden?

Fan theories have included suggestions that the episode is set entirely within a TARDIS – with the Doctor’s ship landing inside another time/space machine – or that all this cloak and dagger is concealing a huge surprise return, with names put forth including Carole Ann Ford as the Doctor’s granddaughter Susan and Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor.

There’s also a school of thought that the episode will feature an early appearance from Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor, and even Millie Gibson’s new companion Ruby Sunday.

We know for a fact that the events of Flux, the Doctor Who series arc aired in 2021, will be dealt with “very slightly” in the episode, which has led fans to guess at everything from some involvement from The Division to a story set during “the Dark Times” (an age of chaos and monsters that predated the Doctor’s reality).

To be clear, all of this is just guesswork at this point. In fact, Tom Kingsley, director on Wild Blue Yonder, has sought to play down the rumours while acknowledging that the plot is “a TOTAL SECRET”.

Describing the episode as “weird and exciting”, he added: “Fan PSA: the story of Wild Blue Yonder isn’t a secret because there are any surprise returning actors or villains. It’s just because we thought you might find it fun to watch it without knowing what’s going to happen next. Promise!”

Couldn’t that rationale apply to any other episode, though? Adventures that weren’t/aren’t being kept under wraps to the same degree?

The Doctor (David Tennant) and Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) in Doctor Who embracing each other
The Doctor (David Tennant) and Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) in Doctor Who.
James Pardon/Bad Wolf/BBC Studios

Perhaps the biggest clue we have to latch on to comes via David Tennant. Speaking to Total TV Guide, he said: “The second script is unlike any Doctor Who I’ve ever seen.

“I don’t want to give too much away, but I was always aware of the casting that was going to be part of the episode. That was something that Russell was very specific about. I just didn’t imagine it would… manifest itself in the way that it does…”

Could this piece of casting be the cause of all the covertness? If we take director Kingsley at his word that Tennant and Tate will be the only series veterans appearing, then perhaps it’s not a returnee we should be expecting but some other familiar face – a big name actor whose casting is yet to be announced? Or just a particular type of performer?

Clearly, whoever it is, or whoever they are, said casting has a significant impact on the plot…

“I love humans,” the Eighth Doctor once commented. “Always seeing patterns in things that aren’t there,” – it does feel, however, as though something is definitely afoot here.

Just three days to wait until the exact nature of that secret is revealed…

Read more:

Doctor Who continues on Saturday (2nd December) at 6:30pm on BBC One. Previous episodes are available on BBC iPlayer and on BritBox – you can sign up for a 7-day free trial here.

Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on.

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

]]> Joanna Magill <![CDATA[How to get A Mirror tickets as Jonny Lee Miller and Tanya Reynolds reprise starring roles]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1936155 2023-11-29T15:04:32Z 2023-11-29T15:04:32Z

You are once again cordially invited to celebrate the wedding of Leyla and Joel, this time at the Trafalgar Theatre.

Yes, you heard us correctly: Sam Holcroft’s critically acclaimed play A Mirror is returning to the West End. The play is set at the wedding of Leyla and Joel, however as time goes by, it’s revealed that all is not as it seems. Thus begins a thought-provoking journey through twists and turns, all leading to the ultimate question: what is the truth?

Sam Holcroft’s play originally premiered at the Almeida Theatre earlier this year in August, featuring a star-studded cast with Jonny Lee Miller (Trainspotting, Elementary) and Tanya Reynolds (Sex Education, Scenes With Girls) taking up the lead roles. Cast members also included Geoffrey Streatfeild (Anatomy of a Scandal, The Other Boleyn Girl) as Bax and Samuel Adewunmi (The Last Tree, You Don’t Know Me) in his West End debut as Adem.

This latest production will be directed by original director Jeremy Herrin (Best of Enemies), and will also see the majority of the original cast reprising their roles. From January until April 2024, you’ll have ample opportunities to catch it. Here’s how you can get tickets.

Buy A Mirror tickets at LOVEtheatre

If you’re keen for a theatre fix before 2024 comes around, be sure to check out our recommendations for the best pantomimes to see across the UK, as well as the best Christmas shows in London for 2023. 

A Mirror UK date and venue: Where will A Mirror be performed?

A Mirror will take place at the Trafalgar Theatre. Located just a stone’s throw from Trafalgar Square itself, the theatre is easy to get to, with Embankment and Charing Cross within walking distance, as well as numerous bus routes.

Performances will take place from Monday 22nd January 2024 until Saturday 20th April 2024, which gives you plenty of opportunity to catch the show.

Buy A Mirror tickets at LOVEtheatre

How much are A Mirror West End tickets?

Ticket prices start from £22.80 and can go up to £114, depending on your desired seats.

Buy A Mirror tickets at LOVEtheatre

How to get A Mirror tickets as show transfers to London’s West End

Tickets are live now on the LOVEtheatre website.

A Mirror’s debut at the Almeida Theatre ended up being a sold-out run, so we’d recommend getting your tickets as soon as possible.

Buy A Mirror tickets at LOVEtheatre

There are plenty of exciting productions coming to the UK capital next year. Take a look at our guides on how to get Players Kings tickets starring Sir Ian McKellen, and how to get tickets for Long Day’s Journey Into Night starring Brian Cox for some inspiration. 

]]> Rob Leane <![CDATA[Is the Meta Quest 3 worth it? Our review of the hot new VR headset]]> https://www.radiotimes.com/?p=1936206 2023-11-29T14:46:56Z 2023-11-29T14:46:56Z
4.5 out of 5 star rating

The world of VR can be a tricky thing to get into, and the Meta Quest headsets — formerly known as Oculus Quest headsets, prior to Facebook buying the company — generally represent one of the easiest ways for new players to get involved with virtual reality.

This year, we’ve seen the arrival of the Meta Quest 3, the latest in this impressive range of headsets.

Like its predecessor, the perennially popular Meta Quest 2, it does not require a PC to run a number of high-profile games. Heck, you don’t even need to be plugged into a power source!

Love gaming? Listen to our podcast One More Life!

But with the Meta Quest 3 being priced at £479 by retailers like Currys, it’s not exactly a small investment.

We’ve been lucky enough to test out the headset for the last couple of weeks, and our primary goal here is to answer that one big question: Is the Meta Quest 3 worth it? Read on to find out with our full review!

Is the Meta Quest 3 worth it? Our review at a glance

Yes, we’d say that the Meta Quest 3 is worth it, especially if you’re planning to be involved in VR gaming for the next five years or so. If that sounds like you, head over to Amazon or your retailer of choice once you’ve got the money saved!

The Meta Quest 3 is a vast improvement on the Meta Quest 2 in all sorts of areas. For now, games will continue to come out on that older headset too, but we assume that developers will gradually begin to prioritise the Quest 3 over the next few years.

Think of it like the difference between buying a PS4 and buying a PS5 at the moment. Sure, there are loads of games on the older system, but you’ll get better graphics and a more future-proofed purchase if you opt for the most recent edition.

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Meta Quest 3 review: Why do we we recommend it? 

First things first, setting the Meta Quest 3 up is really simple, and the lack of wires continues to be a really nice touch. That’s something that you can’t say about the PSVR 2, this year’s other big hardware launch in this space, which doesn’t work unless it’s plugged in. (Note: although the Meta Quest 3 runs loads of games wirelessly on its own, you can also connect it to a PC if you really want to!)

Wearing the Quest 3 is pretty comfy, as well, even if you’re a glasses wearer like me. The strap is maybe a little bit basic, and it did leave a red line on my head after one particularly intense session, but you won’t be thinking about that while you’re wearing the thing!

In fact, speaking as a glasses user, I’d say that the Meta Quest 3 is the best headset I’ve tried in terms of truly achieving a nice clear image, even though the game is going through two sets of lenses (those on the headset and those on your glasses) before actually reaching your eyes.

The view was crystal clear in every game I tried, helped along by the Quest 3’s fish-eye lenses and its improved resolution.

Those are just the basics, though. What about the major upgrades and new features? The best of these, undeniably, is the vastly improved ‘pass-through’ cameras.

While the previous Quest headset could take a rudimentary scan of your surroundings to save you from bumping into things, this new version can take a properly detailed image of your real-life gaming room and blend that seamlessly with your gaming experience.

The possibilities here for augmented reality gaming experiences are really exciting, and Meta has even started making experiences that play up to this.

There’s a proof of concept demo called First Encounters, for example, where the pass-through cameras are used to make it look like aliens are bursting into your room. Blasting them is really fun, the stitching between realities is seamless, and although this is only a short experience, it really sells the concept and makes us want to see more developers embracing AR in their VR games.

Of course, the Meta Quest 3 is a very new piece of tech, and there aren’t too many games out there yet which really make the most of this feature. That’s why we’d say that buying the Meta Quest 3 is really an investment in the next few years of VR. Being an early adopter now will really pay off later if developers embrace this tech.

In the meantime, while we wait to find out what kinds of games will be made exclusively for the Quest 3, it’s worth noting that there are loads of pre-existing VR games playable on this headset.

In fact, the vast majority of the best VR games ever — titles like Beat Saber, Superhot, Vader Immortal, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners and Walkabout Golf — are available on the Quest 3, and every game we tried ran very smoothly.

We had a particularly good time with Eleven Table Tennis, which we’d never tried before. It was a good test for the controllers, which are just as light and easy to use as we’ve come to expect.

One word of warning, though: if you’re susceptible to motion sickness, we wouldn’t say that the Meta Quest 3 has cured that problem, and perhaps there will never be a VR headset that fully does away with it.

When I was playing Jurassic World Aftermath, a fun tie-in to the films, my stomach did turn a couple of times while running about. Most games will allow you to fiddle your movement settings, though, which should help you overcome that.

The operating system on the Quest 3 could use a bit of work, as well, as it does get a bit fiddly and frustrating at times. But when you’re in a game, everything works wonderfully. And we’d hope that the OS will be tweaked and improved over time, as more games come to the headset and it becomes an even better proposition.

Here at launch, let’s just say that we’re very impressed!

The Meta Quest 3 is out now and you can buy yours from retailers including Currys, Amazon and Argos. 

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