The Night Manager season 2 finale first-look images tease grave danger for Pine and character return
The season 2 finale is set to be a thrilling hour of television.
The Night Manager fans have got their first look at the season 2 finale, with a slew of newly-released images giving us some tantalising hints about how things will unfold. Viewers have been hooked by the belated sequel, which drags Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) out of his quiet life in London on another high-stakes undercover mission, which has brought up a few nasty surprises. Chief among them is the jaw-dropping revelation that twisted arms dealer Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie) survived his apparent death at the hands of disgruntled customers – and was working his way back to the top. Until recently, he'd been plotting a comeback in cahoots with his son, Teddy Dos Santos (Diego Calva), but their bond has come under significant strain after Pine exposed Roper's true feelings towards his secret love-child. These hurtful comments, combined with Teddy's strong feelings for Pine, seem to be luring him into changing sides – but can the two of them turn the tables on their shared foe? Early images from the season finale show Pine (above) looking bruised and worried in a Colombian forest, where Roper and Teddy can also be seen exploring with flaming torches. It remains to be seen what brings them to this remote location. Another snapshot sees Teddy's associate, Roxana Bolaños (Camila Morrone), brought before Roper. Restrained by an unseen henchman, Roper looks royally p****d off in the troubling scene. Roxana has proven herself adept at getting out of tough situations – but is this where her luck runs out? Another image confirms the return of Noah Jupe as Danny, who has been notably absent since the season 2 premiere, where we learned he was at a boarding school – and still harbouring great resentment towards Pine. Jupe is currently on the awards trail promoting his Shakespeare drama Hamnet, co-starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley. Neither of the Roper boys are looking particularly happy going into this finale, with Danny looking upset as he stares into the distance (above), while Teddy is seemingly contemplating some deep shower thoughts (below). We've all been there. Another familiar face set to feature in the season 2 finale is Olivia Colman as fan-favourite character Angela Burr, who will be drawn back to the frontlines following the shocking murder of ally Basil (Paul Chahidi) in the penultimate chapter. The MI6 agent was betrayed by boss Mayra Cavendish (Indira Varma) in a poignant and disturbing scene, but not before he left behind evidence for Angela to continue his work. The Night Manager season 2 cast also includes Hayley Squires, Michael Nardone and Alistair Petrie. But who will still be standing when the final credits roll? Tune in this weekend to find out. The Night Manager season 2 airs Sundays on BBC One and iPlayer. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add The Night Manager to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Fallout season 2 release schedule: When is episode 7 on Prime Video?
Ella Purnell and Walton Goggins lead the cast of Prime Video's hit video game adaptation.
Fallout season 2 has just dropped another episode on Prime Video, which adds a major Hollywood star whose connection to the franchise dates surprisingly far back. Ron Perlman (of Hellboy, Drive and Sons of Anarchy among other credits) guest stars in the latest chapter as a mysterious 'Super Mutant', the likes of which will be familiar to gamers. The actor's appearance in the adaptation seemed inevitable given his long-standing association with all things Fallout, originating from his voice work in the 1997 original game and its numerous sequels. Given the history, Perlman told GQ that he'd expected his appearance in the series to happen sooner, but now appreciates that the writers were busy cooking up a role with appropriate "gravitas". "They came up with a character — they might hate me for saying this — but a character who feels kind of like you're finally meeting [Apocalypse Now's] Colonel Kurtz," he teased. "In this post-apocalyptic world, I'm one of the remnants of the dust heap upon which civilisation is trying to rebuild itself." If you're excited to see Perlman's introduction, or to see where his character goes next, read on for our full guide to the Fallout season 2 release schedule – including when to expect episode 7 on Prime Video. When is Fallout season 2 episode 7 out? Fallout season 2 episode 7 will be released on Prime Video on Wednesday 28th January 2026. The hit video game adaptation is set to be rolled out weekly on the streaming platform, which is the treatment typically given to its most high-profile productions. Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google What time are Fallout season 2 episodes released in the UK? New episodes of Fallout season 2 will premiere at 2am on Wednesdays in the UK. Prime Video has announced that, from 27th January, Fallout season 2 episodes will drop at 6pm PT – six hours earlier than they had been beforehand. Alas, due to the time difference, that still equates to the early hours of Wednesday morning for UK-based fans, meaning it probably won't have a huge impact on viewing habits over here. How many episodes are there in Fallout season 2? Fallout season 2 will consist of eight episodes in total, matching the number that comprised the first chapter. Fallout season 2 release schedule Here’s an overview of the full Fallout season 2 release schedule, so you can be prepared for when each episode drops: Fallout season 2 episode 1 – The Innovator – Wednesday 17th December 2025 (out now) Fallout season 2 episode 2 – The Golden Rule – Wednesday 24th December 2025 (out now) Fallout season 2 episode 3 – Wednesday 31st December 2025 (out now) Fallout season 2 episode 4 – Wednesday 7th January 2026 (out now) Fallout season 2 episode 5 – Wednesday 14th January 2026 (out now) Fallout season 2 episode 6 – Wednesday 21st January 2026 (out now) Fallout season 2 episode 7 – Wednesday 28th January 2026 Fallout season 2 episode 8 – Wednesday 4th February 2026 Fallout is available to stream on Prime Video. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add Fallout to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Marvel's Wonder Man release date, trailer cast and latest news
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II steps into his third comic book role in this Disney+ project.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is taking one of its biggest gambles in years with Wonder Man, which will drop all episodes on Disney Plus this week. The series appears to be most closely comparable to earlier experiments WandaVision and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, taking a low-stakes comedic spin through the sprawling comic book world. We'll meet Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), a struggling actor trying to make it in Hollywood, as he joins forces with fellow performer and one-time terror suspect Trevor Slattery (Sir Ben Kingsley). Together, they will be attempting to woo enigmatic film director Von Kovak (Zlatko Burić), as they vie for roles in his forthcoming remake of classic superhero film Wonder Man. So far, so unusual for the MCU, with co-creator Andrew Guest acknowledging that Wonder Man is a "big swing" for the franchise (via TechRadar), but remaining hopeful it can please longtime fans and newcomers alike. If you're intrigued, here's everything you need to know about Marvel's Wonder Man on Disney Plus. Marvel's Wonder Man release date Marvel's Wonder Man will premiere on Disney Plus on Wednesday 28th January 2026. The series was previously said to be landing in time for Christmas 2025, but ultimately fell into the following year amid a string of release schedule shake-ups by Marvel Studios. To mitigate the slight delay, all episodes of Wonder Man will be available to stream at once, rather than following a weekly rollout as most earlier MCU shows have done. You can sign up to Disney Plus from £5.99 a month now. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website Marvel's Wonder Man cast Yahya Abdul-Mateen II leads the cast of Wonder Man as Simon Williams, an actor living and attempting to work in the MCU's version of Hollywood, Los Angeles. This marks the actor's third live-action comic book role, having previously appeared in HBO's acclaimed Watchmen miniseries as well as DC's Aquaman films, where he played the villainous Black Manta. Abdul-Mateen II is joined by legendary actor Sir Ben Kingsley in the comical role of Trevor Slattery; another aspiring actor, who has bumbled his way into a number of bizarre situations over the years. Kingsley debuted in the role more than a decade ago for Iron Man 3, where hapless Trevor masqueraded as a terrorist, before returning for short film All Hail the King and 2021's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton acts as co-creator, executive producer and director on Marvel's Wonder Man, so the series could well acknowledge the events of the movie in some way. MCU aficionados may also recognise Succession alum Arian Moayed as his returning character, Damage Control's Agent Cleary, who previously took small roles in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Ms Marvel. Meanwhile, Danish-Croatian actor Zlatko Burić is universe-hopping, playing artsy film director Von Kovak in Wonder Man, mere months after appearing as corrupt world leader Vasil Ghurkos in James Gunn's Superman. The Disney Plus series also stars Demetrius Grosse (Justified) as Simon's brother Eric, who becomes notable super villain Grim Reaper in the comic books, plus Hollywood legend Ed Harris (Top Gun: Maverick) as talent agent Neal Saroyan. Here's a round up of the confirmed Wonder Man cast thus far: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams / Wonder Man X Mayo as Janelle Jackson Zlatko Burić as Von Kovak Arian Moayed as Agent P Cleary Shola Adewusi as Martha Williams Demetrius Grosse as Eric Williams / Grim Reaper Béchir Sylvain as Sanford Williams Olivia Thirlby as Vivian Byron Bowers as DeMarr Davis / Doorman Joe Pantoliano as himself Josh Gad as himself Ben Kingsley as Trevor Slattery Ed Harris as Neal Saroyan What is Marvel's Wonder Man about? Wonder Man is a showbiz comedy set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, following struggling actor Simon Williams (Abdul-Mateen II) as he attempts to become a star. "During a chance meeting with Trevor Slattery, an actor whose biggest roles may be well behind him, Simon learns legendary director Von Kovak is remaking the superhero film, Wonder Man," teases the synopsis. "These two actors at opposite ends of their careers doggedly pursue life-changing roles in this film as audiences get a peek behind the curtain of the entertainment industry." Speaking to Collider last year, executive producer Brad Winderbaum said: "It's a very new flavour for Marvel. It's straight from the minds of [co-creators] Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest. "Honestly, it is one of my favourite things ever. I think it's the best show no one's ever seen, and I’m very excited to see the audience reaction to it. I think it's a love letter to what we do as filmmakers." He added: "It's a love letter to acting as a profession, and it's a very sincere, beautiful show." In the comics, Simon Williams aka Wonder Man is best known as a member of the West Coast Avengers – a California-based offshoot of the New York-centric main team – and Winderbaum has teased an "homage" to that source material (via Collider). Marvel's Wonder Man trailer The latest Wonder Man trailer has dropped, giving us an idea of what to expect from the forthcoming superhero comedy – watch here: View oEmbed on the source website It followed an earlier teaser, which introduced Abdul-Mateen II's hero and his aspiring Hollywood career. Watch here: View oEmbed on the source website Marvel's Wonder Man is coming to Disney Plus on Wednesday 28th January 2026. You can sign up to Disney Plus from £5.99 a month now. Add Wonder Man to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms release schedule: When is episode 3 out?
New friends and foes await on this Westeros adventure...
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is approaching its halfway mark, having already established itself as a Game of Thrones series like no other. Far removed from the grand palaces and epic battles of the original and its prequel, House of the Dragon, this adventurous romp is more interested in having fun with its leads Dunk (Peter Claffey) and Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). Case in point: perhaps the most talked-about moment from the latest episode involves Dunk's mentor, Ser Arlan of Pennytree (Danny Webb), comically stumbling out of a brothel fully nude. Taking a cue from fellow HBO drama The White Lotus – in which Jason Isaacs had a similarly revealing season 3 scene – A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms used a prosthetic for the scandalous moment. At least, showrunner Ira Parker thinks they did. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he joked: "Was that a prosthetic? I forget... I thought [Webb] just showed up on set that way, but maybe it was prosthetic." It exemplifies the zany unpredictability that has made A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms such a hit with fans, including author George RR Martin himself, who has gushed over the series in interviews. Speaking to Esquire, Parker added: "I made it my mission to make him happy this season. So, the fact that that is the case? Mission successful. I hope everyone else likes it too. But yes, this one was written for him." Keep this page bookmarked to stay updated on when you can watch A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms in the UK, with a full release schedule including details on episode 3. When is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 3 on Sky and NOW? A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 3 will premiere on Sky Atlantic on Monday 2nd February 2026, airing first at 3am (to coincide with the US launch) and repeating at the more reasonable hour of 9pm that night. Alternatively, episodes will head to NOW shortly after they launch on Sky, so you can stream them there at your convenience. In the US, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is airing on Sundays via HBO and HBO Max. How many episodes are in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms? A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 will consist of six episodes in total; a notably shorter run than most other seasons of preceding shows Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. Fortunately, HBO clearly has confidence in the project as the broadcaster has already renewed it for season 2. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms release schedule Here's an overview of the UK release schedule for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms on Sky Atlantic and NOW. Mark your calendars if you want to keep up with the hotly anticipated series! A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 1 – The Hedge Knight – Monday 19th January 2026 (out now) A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 2 – Hard Salt Beef – Monday 26th January 2026 (out now) A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 3 – The Squire – Monday 2nd February 2026 A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 4 – TBA – Monday 9th February 2026 A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 5 – TBA – Monday 16th February 2026 A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 6 – TBA – Monday 23rd February 2026 A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is available to watch on Sky Atlantic and NOW. Add A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Riz Ahmed reveals his new James Bond audition show got the approval of former franchise boss Barbara Broccoli
The show follows an actor whose life is thrown into chaos by Bond rumours.
Riz Ahmed reveals that former James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli gave her "blessing" to his new comedy-drama, where he portrays an actor being considered for the iconic spy role. Bait is a six-part comedy-drama coming to Prime Video in March, following "struggling actor" Shah Latif (Ahmed) over "four wild days" after viral reports emerge that he is in the running for 007. As "the entire world" voices their opinions on his potential casting, viewers will see how Shah's personal life "spirals out of control" as he's faced with "his last chance to hit it big". The series comes at a very appropriate time, given that the James Bond franchise is currently missing a leading man, and has been since Daniel Craig's definitive send-off in 2021's No Time to Die. View oEmbed on the source website If that wasn't enough, the Bond machine had to weather more fundamental change, when historic film studio MGM was purchased by Amazon, and longtime franchise producers Broccoli and Michael G Wilson later relinquished their control. Prior to that shock move, Ahmed told Deadline at the Sundance Film Festival that he had spoken to Broccoli about Bait, even though it isn't strictly a 'James Bond show' (the likes of which have been expected since Amazon took over). Rather, the Rogue One and Phoenician Scheme star considers Bait to be "about that crazy distance between our public and our private selves". He explained: "On the outside, it's like, 'Wow, you're killing it man. You're doing great...' [But in reality,] you're broke. These things happen, these contradictions between how we're perceived, how we want to be perceived, and how we are. "That's what the show is really about. It was through discussing with my co-showrunner Ben Karlin, we were talking about our lives, our experiences, funny anecdotes, and the Bond thing came up." Ahmed continued: "And I was like, 'Actually, that's the perfect aspirational symbol that can help drive the story of someone who aspires to be someone else'. "That's not where the show grew out of, but it was a conversation with Barbara Broccoli, who understood that and understood the show's not really about that. And yet, gave her blessing, she really loved the script." Broccoli sold her controlling stake over Bond (inherited from her father's production company EON) in February 2025, prompting shock from fans and the industry after decades of protective stewardship. Since then, work on the next James Bond film has ramped up, with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight writing the script, and Dune director Denis Villeneuve set to lead the project. As for that all-important casting, it remains a mystery. Bait is coming to Prime Video on Wednesday 25th March 2026. Sign up for a 30-day free trial of Prime Video and pay £8.99 a month after that. Add Bait to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Night Manager season 2 release schedule: When is episode 6 out?
There's no iPlayer box set for this one – but don't worry, you won't be waiting long for the next chapter.
The Night Manager season 2 comes to an end this week, but fans have a nail-biting wait to find out whether Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) can once again outwit his sinister nemesis, Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie). Once thought dead, Roper has re-emerged intent on wreaking more havoc on the global stage and restoring his comfy position at the heart of the British establishment. He might be on the ropes following season 1's botched deal and years spent in captivity, but don't underestimate the smooth-talking crook, who has MI6 boss Mayra Cavendish (Indira Varma) in his corner – as the latest episode sadly proved. The stage is set for a blockbuster finale, with the wavering loyalties of Roper's son Teddy Dos Santos (Diego Calva) and his business partner Roxana Bolaños (Camila Morrone) rendering it a tough episode to predict. If you're as excited as we are to find out how this chapter concludes, read on for our full guide to The Night Manager season 2's UK release schedule on BBC One and iPlayer – as well as where to watch from the US. When is The Night Manager season 2 episode 6 out? View Green Video on the source website The Night Manager season 2 episode 6 will air on BBC One and iPlayer at 9pm on Sunday 1st February 2026. The first episode premiered on Thursday 1st January (New Year's Day), but the series has subsequently shifted to Sunday nights, which is typically where the BBC positions its most high-profile dramas. The Night Manager is following a weekly release schedule (meaning no box set was made available on iPlayer after the premiere) in a bid to make it appointment viewing and preserve its secrets for as long as possible. In the US and other international territories, The Night Manager season 2 is airing on Prime Video, where new episodes are also dropping on Sundays. The Amazon-owned streamer caught up with its UK partner after a triple-bill launch on 11th January. Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google How many episodes are in The Night Manager season 2? The Night Manager season 2 is comprised of six episodes in total. But the story won't end there! A third season is confirmed to be on the way too. The Night Manager season 2 release schedule Following a primetime premiere on New Year's Day, The Night Manager season 2 has settled in to the usual Sunday night slot reserved for BBC One's flagship dramas. Here's an overview of the The Night Manager season 2 release schedule, so you can mark your calendars accordingly: The Night Manager season 2 episode 1 – Thursday 1st January 2026 at 9:05pm (out now) The Night Manager season 2 episode 2 – Thursday 1st January 2026 on iPlayer (out now) The Night Manager season 2 episode 3 – Sunday 11th January 2026 at 9pm (out now) The Night Manager season 2 episode 4 – Sunday 18th January 2026 at 9pm (out now) The Night Manager season 2 episode 5 – Sunday 25th January 2026 at 9pm (out now) The Night Manager season 2 episode 6 – Sunday 1st February 2026 at 9pm The Night Manager season 2 is currently airing on BBC One and iPlayer. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add The Night Manager to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
The Night Manager season 2 airs major death of [spoiler] in shocking twist ahead of the finale
Time ran out for a fan favourite new character. *SPOILERS FOR THE NIGHT MANAGER SEASON 2 EPISODE 5*
The Night Manager season 2's death toll just ticked up, as a noble ally to Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) met their sudden and unjust demise in tonight's episode. The latest chapter picked up the pieces from last week's bombshell ending, which exposed Pine as a mole inside the operation of father-son duo Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie) and Teddy Dos Santos (Diego Calva) Alarmed by his enemy's reemergence and eager to avoid a repeat of last time, Roper quickly got on the phone to MI6 boss Mayra Cavendish (Indira Varma), telling her to root out Pine's supporters while he dealt with the man himself. That command proved to be a death sentence for Basil Karapetian (Paul Chahidi), a senior MI6 official and one of the few characters in this season that we could unquestionably trust. Following the retirement of Angela Burr (Olivia Colman) and the mysterious death of Rex Mayhew (Douglas Hodge), it was Basil who stepped in to set up Pine's latest undercover operation. Basil also covered for Pine in several icy exchanges with boss Mayra, who he knew to be in cahoots with Roper on a secret plot to spark regime change in Colombia. Alas, he'd overplayed his hand by approaching her associate, Adam Holywell (Kerr Logan). Mayra's net eventually closed around him at London Bridge station, where he was intercepted by her thuggish agents – but not before he stashed away his laptop full of evidence in a nearby shop, for Angela to collect later. Basil was taken to an unassuming residential property, where his captors attempted to extract information by savagely beating him. Later in the episode, he gives Mayra a partial account of what he knows, but it isn't enough to save his skin. "Thank you for your hard work, Basil, and your sacrifice," she said in a chilling final remark to him. "But as I said, sometimes we have to stand on some heads. Game over." When Mayra leaves and her henchman re-enters, a gunshot rings out as the scene changes – and while The Night Manager season 2 has previously tricked viewers with a faux death, this particular case seems tragically genuine. It's a major blow for Team Pine as we brace for the season finale, with the apparent defection of Roxana Bolaños (Camila Morrone) in the episode's final moments being yet another grave threat to their work. At this rate, it certainly feels like this Basil won't be our last painful goodbye. The Night Manager season 2 is airing Sundays on BBC One and iPlayer. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add The Night Manager to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
The Night Manager season 2 cast: New and returning stars in BBC thriller
The long-awaited sequel boasts plenty of familiar faces.
It's been a superb season of The Night Manager already, with just a few episodes to go before it reaches its no-doubt thrilling conclusion. Almost a decade after the first season aired, Tom Hiddleston returned as Jonathan Pine, who has to go undercover with the extremely dangerous Teddy Dos Santos (Diego Calva) in Colombia. Olivia Colman also returned as Angela Burr as well as a very surprising name which was kept under tight-wraps. Speaking to Metro about the return of the show, Hiddleston previously said: "I know we’ve been braver. I sort of had it tattooed onto the inside of my brain that we had to be harder, better, faster, stronger, to steal from Daft Punk." He added: "We had to be braver and deeper, and had to try to be both more courageous and more compelling and also more intense and more vulnerable, to try and excavate the centre of who Jonathan Pine is at a deeper level." There are also plenty of new additions to the cast this time around, including a new love interest for Pine in the form of Roxana Bolaños (Camila Morrone), as well as Hayley Squires and Indira Varma. Here's your complete guide to the new and returning members of The Night Manager season 2 cast, as the acclaimed spy thriller continues on BBC One and iPlayer. The Night Manager season 2 cast: New and returning stars View Green Video on the source website The Night Manager season 2 cast members are as follows – read on for more details on each character and the actor playing them, including where you might have seen them before. Tom Hiddleston as Jonathan Pine aka Alex Goodwin Hugh Laurie as Richard Roper Olivia Colman as Angela Burr Camila Morrone as Roxana Bolaños Diego Calva as Teddy Dos Santos Alistair Petrie as Lord Alexander 'Sandy' Langbourne Douglas Hodge as Rex Mayhew Michael Nardone as Frisky Noah Jupe as Daniel Roper Indira Varma as Mayra Cavendish Paul Chahidi as Basil Hayley Squires as Sally Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Dr Kim Saunders Tom Hiddleston plays Jonathan Pine aka Alex Goodwin Who is Jonathan Pine aka Alex Goodwin? When we met him in season 1, Jonathan was a former soldier turned hotel night manager, who became an informant to British intelligence over some of his less reputable guests. Eventually, he was tapped by Angela Burr to go undercover deep inside the inner circle of arms dealer and 'worst man in the world' Richard Roper (played by Hugh Laurie). In season 2, almost a decade has passed since that successful – but high risk – operation, with Pine now living under the name Alex Goodwin and leading an intelligence-gathering team for MI6, known as the Night Owls. But when a familiar name comes up, he'll be dragged behind enemy lines once more for another nail-biting mission. This time, he'll be playing the role of a reckless financier named Matthew Ellis. Addressing Jonathan's disarming knack for assuming new identities on his missions, Hiddleston mused: "Each persona expresses different dimensions of Pine’s inner life. Somewhere, underneath all the masks, is his true character." What else has Tom Hiddleston been in? Hiddleston is best known for his role as the Marvel Cinematic Universe's God of Mischief, having appeared in the Thor trilogy, The Avengers as well as the Disney Plus series Loki. He'll next reprise the role in epic crossover flick Avengers: Doomsday. The star has also had major roles in Crimson Peak, Kong: Skull Island and High-Rise. Meanwhile, TV credits include The Hollow Crown, Kenneth Branagh's Wallander and The Essex Serpent. Olivia Colman plays Angela Burr Who is Angela Burr? In season 1, Burr was the head of a modestly budgeted and always underestimated team in the UK's Foreign Office, known as the International Enforcement Agency. She made it her life's work to take down Richard Roper, out of sheer horror and disgust at his profiteering from the murder and suffering of innocent people. Having been pregnant at the time of season 1's events, Burr has now stepped back from her perilous intelligence work, presumably to focus on her family – but Colman is confirmed to be reprising the character for season 2. On the dynamic between Angela and Jonathan, Colman explained: "They look after each other. They're friends who have each other's backs. Angela is protective of him as she's the one who got him into this, so to her, she feels responsible for the situation." What else has Olivia Colman been in? Legendary actress Colman started her career in comedy, before turning to dramatic work in the likes of Broadchurch and The Crown. Film credits include Yorgos Lanthimos films The Lobster and The Favourite, plus more awards fare in The Father and The Lost Daughter. More recently, she had a voice role in family comedy The Mitchells vs The Machines and joined the MCU in Disney Plus miniseries Secret Invasion. Diego Calva plays Teddy Dos Santos Who is Teddy Dos Santos? An illegal arms dealer, who has modelled himself and his business on Richard Roper – later revealed to be his father. Calva teased of the new episodes: "This season has a lot of spirit and soul. It's not just an espionage thriller with suspense; it's a story about betrayal and family. In Teddy's case, it's also a story about faith and hope, which I think people will be able to relate to." What else has Diego Calva been in? Fans may recognise Calva from his previous roles in Netflix thriller Narcos: Mexico and Babylon, a star-studded film about the early days of Hollywood. Hugh Laurie plays Richard Roper Who is Richard Roper? Roper is a notoriously cruel arms dealer, whose illicit dealings have caused untold misery around the world. He was thought to be dead after the events of season 1, in which Jonathan Pine and Angela Burr worked together to infiltrate his inner circle and sabotage a major sale. That landed him in seriously hot water with the buyers who lost money on the botched deal, but ever the survivor, Roper was able to worm his way out of what seemed like a grisly fate. Now, he's seeking to restore his former status and settle his debts, in a high-stakes plot concocted with secret son Teddy Dos Santos (Diego Calva). Revenge on Jonathan Pine is also on the agenda, we suspect. Of his sinister role, Laurie said: "I'll be honest, I love Richard Roper. I probably shouldn't, but I do. "Though maybe the responsibility of every actor is, at some level, to love the character they play," he continued. "If you ever take on a character and you look down on them, you sell the character short, you undermine the energy that they present to the rest of the story. "So no, I'm not going to apologise for loving the worst man in the world. Laurie concluded: "I'm repulsed, but sneakily, I love him too." What else has Hugh Laurie been in? Laurie has been a major player on British television for decades, starting out in the comedy genre with credits in Blackadder, A Bit of Fry & Laurie, and Jeeves and Wooster – starring opposite Stephen Fry in all three. He found further success on the small screen as the title character in medical drama House, which was one of the most popular shows in the world circa 2008. Later TV work included Veep, Avenue 5, Roadkill and Why Didn't They Ask Evans?, while Stuart Little, Tomorrowland and The Personal History of David Copperfield are among Laurie's best known films. Noah Jupe plays Danny Roper Who is Danny Roper? The son of arms dealer Richard Roper. In season 1, British intelligence staged an attack on the Roper family, in which Jonathan "saved" Danny's life, giving him an entry point into Richard's secretive inner circle. During his time undercover, Jonathan seemed to take a shine to Danny – but of course, his deception would prove disastrous for his father. All these years later, we'll revisit Danny as the dark legacy of his father rears its ugly head once more. Jupe explained: "He’s gone through dramatic changes. He left his home in Spain and returned to London and never saw his dad again. He has this constant question looming over him and a shadow of grief that has taken its toll. "He's negative and cynical and he's having a tough time growing up and trying to work out who he is, due to the absence of his father." What else has Noah Jupe been in? Since the first season of The Night Manager, Jupe has starred in major films such as Ford v Ferrari and A Quiet Place. He has also previously appeared in Sky Atlantic’s The Undoing. Coming up, he has major awards contender Hamnet, which co-stars Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley. Alistair Petrie plays Alexander 'Sandy' Langbourne Who is Alexander 'Sandy' Langbourne? In the first season, he was one of Roper's most trusted allies. It's not yet clear how the arms dealer's downfall might have impacted him. Quizzed on season 2, Petrie said: "There's a danger to it, which is incredibly seductive. With this drama and genre you are going to be entering into a world that is glamorous, dangerous, exciting, and morally compromised. And we will excite and confuse you." What else has Alistair Petrie? Sex Education fans will recognise Petrie from his role in the drama as one-time headmaster Michael Groff. His other TV work includes Funny Woman, Why Didn't They Ask Evans?, Deep State and Sherlock. The actor has also appeared in films such as Rush and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, reprising his role in the latter (as a member of the Rebel Alliance) in recent spin-off series Andor. Camila Morrone plays Roxana Bolaños Who is Roxana Bolaños? Roxana runs a shipping company, through which she becomes entangled with both Jonathan and Teddy – but to whom is she most loyal? Morone said of her character: "Roxana is interesting, because on paper, one would expect her to be a certain way, but she's unpredictable, resilient and brave. She's only focused on self-preservation and her family. "It's very easy to put her in a femme fatale category, but what's interesting about Roxana, and what I love about David Farr's writing, is that she's not anybody's toy. She's the smartest person in the room." What else has Camila Morrone been in? Morrone has starred in a number of films including Bukowski, Death Wish, Never Goin' Back and Valley Girl. She also led the cast of Prime Video's musical drama Daisy Jones & The Six, taking the role of Camila Dunne. Douglas Hodge plays Rex Mayhew Who is Rex Mayhew? A bureaucrat in Whitehall, who was an ally to Angela Burr's underfunded operation – even when facing serious pressure from individuals within the British state, who were harbouring ulterior motives. He continues to work with Jonathan when we meet him again in season 2. What else has Douglas Hodge been in? Previous TV credits include Penny Dreadful, ITV's The Town and acclaimed comedy-drama The Great. The actor also starred as Sir Robert Loxley opposite Russell Crowe’s Robin Hood in 2010. Michael Nardone plays Frisky Who is Frisky? A brutal henchman of Richard Roper, who was prepared to do virtually anything to protect the boss. Suffice to say, a reunion with Jonathan wouldn't be the warmest of occasions. What else has Michael Nardone been in? The star has appeared in a number of TV series including Silent Witness, River City, Rome, Merlin, Doctors, Line of Duty, Shetland, This is England '90 and Guilt. Meanwhile, film credits include Rogue One, Dune and Napoleon. Indira Varma plays Mayra Cavendish Who is Mayra Cavendish? A senior official in British intelligence. Essentially Jonathan's boss, she is responsible for deciding whether his Night Owls team is allowed to continue their operations. What else has Indira Varma been in? Varma has previously appeared in TV series including Luther, Game of Thrones, Rome, Patrick Melrose, Carnival Row, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Capture and Extrapolations, as well as in the films Exodus: Gods and Kings and Official Secrets. Hayley Squires as Sally Who is Sally? Sally is a member of Jonathan's covert 'Night Owls' team, which primarily works on intelligence-gathering – and not high-stakes undercover work. What else has Hayley Squires been in? Squires previously starred in Steven Knight's reimagining of Great Expectations and TV drama The Essex Serpent. On the big screen, she is known for indie movies I, Daniel Blake, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain and Beau Is Afraid. Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Dr Kim Saunders Who is Dr Saunders? She is a psychiatrist responsible for assessing the mental health of British intelligence agents – and whether they are fit to continue working in the field. Despite his cool composure, Dr Saunders has her reservations about Jonathan. What else has Kirby Howell-Baptiste been in? Howell-Baptiste recently played Death in Netflix fantasy shows The Sandman and Dead Boy Detectives. Other noteworthy credits of hers include Cruella, The Good Place and Killing Eve, plus Apple TV's Sugar and HBO's Barry. Paul Chahidi plays Basil Who is Basil? Basil is another official in the British intelligence community. What else has Paul Chahidi been in? Fans will recognise Chahidi from his recent appearances in Wicked Little Letters, The Serpent Queen and This Country, where he played a local vicar who looked out for the sitcom's wayward youths. The Night Manager season 1 is available to watch on BBC iPlayer. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Where was A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms filmed?
HBO's latest fantasy drama was a homecoming for the Game of Thrones franchise.
There's a new expansion to the on-air world of Game of Thrones with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, telling the story of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his squire, Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). While they're not fighting for ultimate power, they do have a fun adventure and a story of unlikely friendship in this unique entry into the Westerosi universe. Another remarkable thing to note about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is that it's absolutely stunning, with gorgeous settings as a backdrop to the fun. If you're in the mood for an odyssey of your own, here's our guide to the locations of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms - and in good news for UK readers, it's pretty accessible for you. Where was A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms filmed? HBO's brand new drama A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was primarily filmed in Belfast, Northern Ireland; a location that holds a long history with the Game of Thrones franchise. The original series, which began production back in 2010, relied on the impressive Paint Hall Studios in Belfast's Titanic Quarter as a key base for its filming, along with several other locations across Northern Ireland (and further afield). Famously, the success of the fantasy drama led to a spike in tourism to the region, as fans flocked to get a glimpse of the real-life locations that had helped to bring George RR Martin's novels to life. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms represents a homecoming in that sense, returning to the sprawling media campus of the Titanic Quarter and even bringing back "some of the same crew" from the original series (according to BBC Culture). View Green Video on the source website Belfast won't be losing its Game of Thrones connection in the immediate term either, as A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2 is currently filming in and around the Northern Irish capital (as of December 2025). HBO handed the high-profile drama a renewal well in advance of its premiere as a show of confidence in the franchise's latest iteration. That bold move could well pay off, if the broadly positive early reviews are any indication. Game of Thrones' return to Northern Ireland with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms renders fellow prequel series House of the Dragon something of an outlier in the franchise. It stands apart as the only Game of Thrones project to be primarily filmed in England, with even the untitled Naomi Watts-led spin-off (which stalled at pilot stage) briefly choosing Northern Ireland as its base. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres on Sky Atlantic and NOW on Monday 19th January 2026. Add A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Night Manager season 2 episode 5 first look clip reveals Roper scheming against Pine ahead of finale
The spy and his team have targets on their back – can they get out in one piece?
The Night Manager season 2 is barrelling towards an epic conclusion with episode 5, which sees Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie) rally against his re-emerged rival. In a dramatic shoot-out at the end of last week's chapter, Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) revealed himself as a plant inside the operation of Roper's own son, Teddy Dos Santos (Diego Calva), in order to save the life of an innocent teenager. Although the bold intervention allowed him to rescue both Tavo (Samuel Gómez López) and Roxana (Camila Morrone), it came at a heavy price: alerting Roper to the fact that Pine is on his case once again. In an exclusive clip for readers of RadioTimes.com, the ruthless arms dealer can be seen plotting with allied MI6 boss Mayra Cavendish (Indira Varma), ordering her to root out Pine's support team in England. Meanwhile, Roper plans to deal with the spy himself personally in Colombia – after all, we wouldn't expect the worst man in the world to pass up an opportunity to exact revenge in the cruelest form. The Night Manager season 2 shocked viewers with its reveal that Roper had survived an abduction by his furious customers, with a body identification scene in the first episode later revealed as bogus. Last week's episode explained how Roper had managed to fake his death by compromising long-time foe Angela Burr (Olivia Colman), with a chilling threat to her and Pine's life issued while they were in a remote part of Syria. It was a shocking turn for someone who had previously seemed unimpeachable, but with a young daughter at home to protect, Burr had little choice but to go along with Roper's deception. Prior to his convincing cadaver performance, the criminal businessman had previously saved his skin by charming his captors, convincing them that he would be able to repay them if given a chance to restore his status (as Laurie recently explained). The Night Manager season 2 cast also features Hayley Squires, Alistair Petrie and Paul Chahidi, among others. The Night Manager season 2 continues Sunday 25th January 2026 on BBC One and iPlayer. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add The Night Manager to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Steal and The Girlfriend are a much-needed lifeline for Amazon's UK dramas – but can this template keep working?
The streamer has hit reset with some compelling thrillers, but levelling up will take some bigger risks.
Add Steal and The Girlfriend to your watchlist If you've ever given Amazon Prime Video a cursory glance, you may have noticed that it's missing something rather important. Despite a presence in more than 10 million UK homes and the backing of one of the world's largest companies, the streamer has long struggled to make any genuinely impactful British dramas. The question is: could that be about to change? This week, Sophie Turner leads the cast of Steal, a brand new thriller set and filmed in London, which follows investment firm employee Zara after she is forced at gunpoint to aid a violent robbery. It follows Golden Globe-nominated miniseries The Girlfriend, released mere months earlier, which charted the delirious feud between a protective mother and her son's mysterious new partner. At first glance, the two shows wouldn't appear to share much in common, but take a closer look and parallels begin to emerge which could signal where Amazon Prime Video is headed with its UK originals. The Girlfriend’s co-lead Cherry (Olivia Cooke) and Steal’s protagonist Zara (Turner) are both young women from working-class homes, marred by absent or abusive fathers and strained relationships with their world-weary mothers. Both are unjustly overlooked in their elitist workplaces due to classism, but use this to their advantage in vengeful schemes involving rather hopeless men — namely Daniel (Laurie Davidson) and Luke (Archie Madekwe). Despite the questionable morals that Cherry and Zara exhibit, these tenacious underdogs remain at least partly sympathetic as they fight for a secure foothold in a world stacked against them. While The Girlfriend takes a more darkly humorous flavour to Steal, the base recipe is remarkably similar and shares ingredients with Amazon Prime Video’s other recent UK drama, Malice — another star-led revenge thriller with the rich and powerful in its crosshairs. It's an ironic target for a company whose founder is one of the world's wealthiest men, with a personal fortune that would dwarf the most moneyed characters in The Girlfriend, Steal and Malice combined. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/11/Jack-Whitehall-Malice-0603219.jpg" width="1909" height="1273" alt="Two men stand facing each other in a tense confrontation inside a modern, softly lit room. One man, wearing a blue polo shirt, leans slightly against the wall while speaking; the other, in a light green collared shirt, listens intently. The setting features neutral décor, wicker furniture, and a large window in the background." title="Malice" /> But not one of these shows is a genuine indictment of the super-rich (as seen in Parasite or Succession). Instead, they play like Channel 5-style airport fiction, with a level of gloss and celebrity closer to Apple TV's typical offerings. Suffice it to say, they aren't revolutionary or particularly ambitious. Nevertheless, such watchable mystery thrillers are a sturdy foundation to build on as Amazon Prime Video executives attempt to revitalise their UK scripted output (as reported by Ankler). But can they comprise the entire strategy? That depends on what the platform is hoping to achieve. These bread and butter projects might be enough to draw a healthy crowd. They could even pick up the odd award nomination, like The Girlfriend, although I suspect that was largely out of respect for director and star Robin Wright. The fun-but-frivolous drama wasn't a frontrunner in either of its categories, nor did it turbocharge conversation on a mass scale like fellow miniseries Adolescence – which Amazon Prime Video infamously passed on. Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller and Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller in Adolescence. All this to say that, if the streamer truly wants competitive British drama, it isn't enough to simply cut and paste a recognisable Brit into a broadly enjoyable thriller – be it Cooke, Turner, Martin Compston (Fear) or Jenna Coleman (Wilderness). Instead, executives should take a cue from their own US output, which is a balance of crowd-pleasing vanilla flavour like Reacher, The Summer I Turned Pretty and Bosch, with more offbeat fare like Mr & Mrs Smith, Overcompensating or The Boys. There are promising signs that the UK counterparts could yet follow suit, with Bait – a meta comedy-drama starring Riz Ahmed as an actor up for Bond – and the highly publicised Tomb Raider reboot from Phoebe Waller-Bridge coming down the pipeline. The former marks an overdue investment by the streamer in British comedy; a genre it has inexplicably overlooked despite early success as the BBC's international partner on Fleabag. Waller-Bridge's return with Tomb Raider – now filming here in England with Steal's own Sophie Turner – could well be her answer to Donald Glover's Mr & Mrs Smith (a project she dropped out of midway through development). Will these gambles be enough to draw people away from Netflix? That's unclear, given that the rival platform seems to have the easiest time launching hit British shows, regardless of their quality. But even if they can simply make people sit up and notice Prime UK's originals, that will be more than many were doing before.
Steal and The Girlfriend throw a much-needed lifeline to Prime Video's UK dramas – but can this template keep working?
If you've ever given Prime Video a cursory glance, you may have noticed that it's missing something rather important. Despite a presence in more than 10 million UK homes and the backing of one of the world's largest companies, the streamer has long struggled to make any genuinely impactful British dramas. The question is: could that be about to change? This week, Sophie Turner leads the cast of Steal, a brand new thriller set and filmed in London, which follows investment firm employee Zara after she is forced at gunpoint to aid a violent robbery. It follows Golden Globe-nominated miniseries The Girlfriend, released mere months earlier, which charted the delirious feud between a protective mother and her son's mysterious new partner. At first glance, the two shows wouldn't appear to share much in common, but take a closer look and parallels begin to emerge which could signal where Prime Video is headed with its UK originals. The Girlfriend's co-lead Cherry (Olivia Cooke) and Steal's protagonist Zara (Turner) are both young women from working-class homes, marred by absent or abusive fathers and strained relationships with their world-weary mothers. Both are unjustly overlooked in their elitist workplaces due to classism, but use this to their advantage in vengeful schemes involving rather hopeless men, i.e. Daniel (Laurie Davidson) and Luke (Archie Madekwe). Despite the questionable morals that Cherry and Zara exhibit, these tenacious underdogs remain at least partly sympathetic as they fight for a secure foothold in a world stacked against them. While The Girlfriend takes a more darkly humorous flavour to Steal, the base recipe is remarkably similar and shares ingredients with Prime's other recent UK drama, Malice; another star-led revenge thriller with the rich and powerful in its crosshairs. It's an ironic target for a company whose founder is one of the world's wealthiest men, with a personal fortune that would dwarf the most moneyed characters in The Girlfriend, Steal and Malice combined. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/11/Jack-Whitehall-Malice-0603219.jpg" width="1909" height="1273" alt="Two men stand facing each other in a tense confrontation inside a modern, softly lit room. One man, wearing a blue polo shirt, leans slightly against the wall while speaking; the other, in a light green collared shirt, listens intently. The setting features neutral décor, wicker furniture, and a large window in the background." title="Malice" /> But not one of these shows is a genuine indictment of the super-rich (as seen in Parasite or Succession). Instead, they play like Channel 5-style airport fiction, with a level of gloss and celebrity closer to Apple TV's typical offerings. Suffice it to say, they aren't revolutionary or particularly ambitious. Nevertheless, such watchable mystery thrillers are a sturdy foundation to build on as Prime Video executives attempt to revitalise their UK scripted output (as reported by Ankler). But can they comprise the entire strategy? That depends on what the platform is hoping to achieve. These bread and butter projects might be enough to draw a healthy crowd. They could even pick up the odd award nomination, like The Girlfriend, although I suspect that was largely out of respect for director and star Robin Wright. The fun-but-frivolous drama wasn't a frontrunner in either of its categories, nor did it turbocharge conversation on a mass scale like fellow miniseries Adolescence – which Prime Video infamously passed on. All this to say that, if the streamer truly wants competitive British drama, it isn't enough to simply cut and paste a recognisable Brit into a broadly enjoyable thriller – be it Cooke, Turner, Martin Compston (Fear) or Jenna Coleman (Wilderness). Instead, executives should take a cue from their own US output, which is a balance of crowd-pleasing vanilla flavour like Reacher, The Summer I Turned Pretty and Bosch, with more offbeat fare like Mr & Mrs Smith, Overcompensating or The Boys. There are promising signs that the UK counterparts could yet follow suit, with Bait – a meta comedy-drama starring Riz Ahmed as an actor up for Bond – and the highly publicised Tomb Raider reboot from Phoebe Waller-Bridge coming down the pipeline. The former marks an overdue investment by the streamer in British comedy; a genre it has inexplicably overlooked despite early success as the BBC's international partner on Fleabag. Waller-Bridge's return with Tomb Raider – now filming here in England with Steal's own Sophie Turner – could well be her answer to Donald Glover's Mr & Mrs Smith (a project she dropped out of midway through development). Will these gambles be enough to draw people away from Netflix? That's unclear, given that the rival platform seems to have the easiest time launching hit British shows, regardless of their quality. But even if they can simply make people sit up and notice Prime UK's originals, that will be more than many were doing before. Steal and The Girlfriend are available to stream on Prime Video. Sign up for a 30-day free trial of Prime Video and pay £8.99 a month after that. Add Steal to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy release schedule – when is the next episode out?
Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti star in the latest frontier for the long-running franchise.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is facing some major turbulence in its early weeks on Paramount Plus, as the sci-fi drama becomes the latest target of review-bombing (echoing the reception of The Acolyte and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law). Despite reasonable reviews from critics (including our own three-star verdict), Starfleet Academy's user scores are tanking on sites such as Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb and Metacritic as it becomes a flashpoint in culture war debates. Although its format was bound to divide longtime fans – sharing more in common with a high school teen drama than a typical Star Trek show – many of the most vocal critics appear to be targeting the show's perceived politics. Polygon notes that Star Trek has always been a progressive franchise, dating back to The Original Series of the 1960s and its commentary against racial discrimination. Therefore, efforts to paint Starfleet Academy's representation as a radical politically-motivated departure suggest a lack of knowledge on what came before, but there are certainly other valid criticisms to be levelled at the spin-off. RadioTimes.com's Sci-Fi and Fantasy Editor Louise Griffin praised the performances of lead actors Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti, but criticised the bloated size of the supporting cast and a tone that is "too sickly sweet" for some palates. If you're sticking with the show and want to know when class is next in session, read on for your full guide to the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy release schedule on Paramount Plus. When is the next episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy out? Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is following a weekly release schedule on Paramount Plus, meaning that new episodes of the sci-fi drama will be released on Thursdays. The show premiered on Thursday 15th January 2026 with a double-bill launch, introducing USS Athena captain Nahla Ake (played by Holly Hunter) and her team of fresh-faced cadets. Expect episodes to keep dropping until the finale in mid-March. How many episodes are in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy? View Green Video on the source website Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1 will consist of 10 episodes in total. If that leaves you wanting more, rest assured that a second season of the spin-off is already in production. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy release schedule Here's an overview of the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1 release schedule, so you can mark your calendars for when each episode drops. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 1 – Thursday 15th January (out now) Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 2 – Thursday 15th January (out now) Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 3 – Thursday 22nd January (out now) Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 4 – Thursday 29th January Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 5 – Thursday 5th February Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 6 – Thursday 12th February Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 7 – Thursday 19th February Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 8 – Thursday 26th February Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 9 – Thursday 5th March Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 10 – Thursday 12th March Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is streaming on Paramount+. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/offers/?benefitId=paramountplusgb&ref_=DVM_PDS_CHN_UK_mi_C_mkw_sNynrT7ZC-dc_pcrid_637893181401&mrntrk=slid__pgrid_143491579803_pgeo_9045946_x__adext__ptid_kwd-1210995054370&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAs5i8BhDmARIsAGE4xHwTfGgy5aYKkYxNQV68UYUZhVWUr2bVS4o-EfnvpowOvplyXMbKqXAaArmvEALw_wcB&tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-2191954" target="_blank" rel="noopener sponsored">Sign up to your seven-day Paramount+ free trial. Add Star Trek: Starfleet Academy to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 3 release date speculation and news
Everything we know so far about The Titan's Curse.
Warning: the following article contains spoilers for Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2. Percy Jackson and the Olympians has wrapped its Sea of Monsters arc on Disney+, with all eyes now turning to the third chapter in this flashy adaptation. Following the action-packed season 2 finale – and that unexpected twist involving Thalia (Tamara Smart) – fans were treated to an exciting reveal midway through the credits. Based on the beloved Rick Riordan books, the story chronicles the formative years of demigod Percy (Walker Scobell) as he gets to know the wild world of ancient Greek gods to which he belongs. The series has proven a breakout hit for Disney+, so it's no surprise that a third season is currently in production in Vancouver – and further along than you might expect! Indeed, with its stars growing up fast and its viewers eager to see every book adapted to the screen, the team behind Percy Jackson and the Olympians are racing to bring us more episodes as soon as possible. Here's what we know so far about Percy Jackson season 3 on Disney+. Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 3 release date speculation As the credits rolled on the season 2 cliffhanger, fans were treated to an unexpected first look at the third season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, before Disney confirmed that the upcoming instalment will debut later this year – an impressive turnaround indeed. The mid-credits footage from the upcoming season teased a highly anticipated moment from the third novel in Rick Riordan’s series, The Titan’s Curse, with Percy (Walker Scobell) & Annabeth (Leah Sava Jeffries) taking to the dance floor. As Annabeth leads Percy onto the dance floor, she pulls him closer and the pair begin to slow dance to Stephen Sanchez’s Until I Found You, teasing the huge Percabeth moment book fans have been waiting for. The scene will adapt the moment the duo go undercover at Westover Hall, a military academy in Maine, in the hope of rescuing three hostages. “First look. First dance. Season 3 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians premieres THIS YEAR,” the official Percy Jackson and the Olympians account posted alongside the sneak peek on Instagram. With such a quick turnaround for the upcoming third instalment, it certainly seems Disney are keen to avoid the issue of the show’s young leads aging too rapidly between seasons - a challenge the Stranger Things creators, the Duffer Brothers, famously encountered. "We're so grateful to be continuing the story of Percy Jackson on Disney+," said author Rick Riordan. "This third season will be new territory for the screen, bringing fan favourites like the Hunters of Artemis and Nico di Angelo to life for the first time. "It's a huge sign of commitment from Disney, and speaks volumes about the enthusiasm with which the fandom has embraced the TV show. Thank you, demigods worldwide!" Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 3 cast: Who is returning and who are the new additions? Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries and Aryan Simhadri will return to the Percy Jackson cast for season 3, reprising the iconic roles of Camp Half-Blood kids Percy, Annabeth and Grover. Other returning Camp Half-Blood demigods include Tamara Smart and Charlie Bushnell, reprising their key roles in the growing conflict between the Titan Lord Kronos and the Olympians. They'll be joined by a slew of new additions, including His Dark Materials and Deadpool & Wolverine star Dafne Keen as the goddess Artemis, whose kidnapping by Atlas is a key plot point in the third chapter. Atlas himself is to be portrayed by Holt McCallany, whose recent credits include Netflix dramas The Waterfront and The Lincoln Lawyer, plus action flick The Amateur and tragic biopic The Iron Claw. Also joining the hit fantasy drama in season 3 is Saturday Night Live and Barbie star Kate McKinnon, who is taking on the role of Aphrodite; another member of the pantheon that Percy crosses paths with in this latest adventure. Rounding out the new additions are Jesse L Martin (The Flash) as Annabeth's father Frederick, Saara Chaudry (The Muppets Mayhem) as Artemis' top lieutenant Zoë Nightshade, and David Costabile (Billions) as the villainous Dr Thorn, and Olive Abercrombie and Levi Chrisopulos as the children of Hade - Nico and Bianca di Angelo. Here's an overview of the Percy Jackson cast: Walker Scobell as Percy Jackson Leah Sava Jeffries as Annabeth Chase Aryan Simhadri as Grover Underwood Charlie Bushnell as Luke Castellan Tamara Smart as Thalia Grace Dior Goodjohn as Clarisse La Rue Daniel Diemer as Tyson Glynn Turman as Chiron / Mr Brunner Nick Boraine as Kronos Jason Mantzoukas as Dionysus / Mr D Adam Copeland as Ares Timothy Simons as King Tantalus Kate McKinnon as Aphrodite Holt McCallany as Atlas David Costabile as Dr Thorn Jesse L Martin as Frederick Chase Levi Chrisopulos as Nico di Angelo Olive Abercrombie as Bianca di Angelo Dafne Keen as Artemis Saara Chaudry as Zoë Nightshade Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 3 plot speculation: What will happen next? Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 3 is, fittingly, adapting the third book in Rick Riordan's series of novels, titled The Titan's Curse, which sends the main character on a rescue mission. The book synopsis, courtesy of Penguin, reads: "A powerful goddess has gone missing. The Greek gods are on the brink of war with the Titans. And there's the minor threat of a mystery beast that could destroy Mount Olympus forever. "This time, Percy's going to need help and he's found two powerful demigods for the job... There's just the small problem of the prophecy. The one that has predicted not all of them will survive. But when you're the son of a Greek god, it happens. Right?" Following the shocking season 2 finale - which saw the series deviate from the source material regarding Thalia’s fate and the true reason she was turned into a pine tree - the dramatic tension has certainly ramped up in the growing conflict between the Olympians and Kronos. As revealed by the centaur Chiron (Glynn Turman), Thalia was turned into a tree not to save her life, as previously believed, but as a punishment from her father Zeus for refusing to join him in the coming war, declaring that she’ll “never be a weapon”. With the Great Prophecy looming, which champion will it refer to: Thalia or Percy? And which side of the upcoming conflict will they choose to join? Percy Jackson star Walker Scobell has already started generating hype for the next season by assuring fans that the adaptation won't be straying far from the beloved source material. "I think season 3 is... the most book-accurate season we've had yet, just from watching it," he told The Direct. "The book is just perfect to break up into eight episodes. So it's just really worked out so far, and I've been really happy with it." Is there a Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 3 trailer? Not a full trailer per say, but Disney has officially released the brief first look footage teased during the season 2 finale mid-credits scene online, spotlighting the highly anticipated Percabeth moment. You can watch the Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 3 first-look footage below. You can also revisit the season 2 trailer below. View Green Video on the source website Percy Jackson and the Olympians is available to stream on Disney+. Sign-up to Disney+ from £5.99 a month. Add Percy Jackson and the Olympians to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Night Manager's most surprising romance is probably doomed – but it's not too late for Teddy…
Believers in the 'Jeddy' relationship would be wise to keep their expectations low...
Add The Night Manager to your watchlist *Warning: spoilers for The Night Manager season two episode four* The bullets sent flying were the least dramatic part of the shoot-out that brought The Night Manager's latest chapter to a close. Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) finally revealed his true self to Teddy Dos Santos (Diego Calva), in order to rescue an innocent teenager tricked into aiding the assassination of Alejandro Gualteros (Alberto Ammann). But the sequence didn't play out like a typical double-cross, the likes of which spy fiction is filled with. The swelling music, teary eyes and anguished outburst made one thing clear: this was a matter of the heart. Pine's earlier flirtations with Teddy certainly hadn't gone unnoticed (a gentle touch here, a stolen glance there), but even after last week's steamy dance scene, it remained unclear whether the deep cover agent was just exploiting him. Well, consider that case closed. In contrast to Pine's unhesitating brutality towards season 1 rivals Corky (Tom Hollander) and Freddie (David Avery), we can clearly see that he's distraught to be raising his weapon against Teddy – despite having legitimate cause. Both Hiddleston and Calva deserve high praise for this powerful stand-off, but especially the latter, who is dragged through a dizzying cycle of confusion, heartbreak and fury as Teddy wakes up to his deception. It's gut-wrenching enough to make you briefly forget who the 'villain' is in this scene, which is impressive given that one character just executed a public servant for no other reason than he couldn't be bought. To Calva's credit, even in the grotesque inhumanity of that action, we can still see the dying embers of a soul in Teddy – which is perhaps what draws Pine to him as well. It begs the question: can he be redeemed for his many grave sins? Well, the seeds might already be planted. In episode four, we saw how slippery Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie) can be to even his own flesh and blood – but it could come back to haunt him. After decades spent at arm's length as a secret love child, Teddy tells Roper that he wants to be formally acknowledged as his son in return for helping him through the darkest period of his life. Roper ostensibly accepts the deal, but later, he cruelly dismisses Teddy, making it clear to old pal Sandy (Alistair Petrie) that he views Danny (Noah Jupe) as his only true heir. For now, Teddy remains oblivious to this rejection, making his attempts to please his father all the more heartbreaking – from personally making him breakfast to lying when their kidnapping plot goes awry (admittedly, not the greatest bonding activity). But should Roper's disdain become apparent, could Teddy be so aggrieved as to turn his back on his own father? It's a plausible path forward, but probably not one that leads to Pine's loving embrace. Hiddleston's chameleonic agent doesn't have a brilliant track record when it comes to romantic relationships (case in point: where is Jed?), with producer Stephen Garrett dourly telling Deadline that "spies have no friends, have no family". Regardless of his obvious sympathy for Teddy, it's also highly doubtful that principled Pine would let him off scot-free for crimes already committed; recruitment as an asset would surely be his most lenient proposal (followed by Teddy becoming a monk). While hardly a fairytale ending, any outcome that frees both men of Roper's corrupting influence would give this sizzling connection some long-term meaning – and that isn't nothing! It's certainly preferable to the believable alternative for our star-crossed (almost) lovers: abject tragedy. On behalf of the burgeoning Jonathan and Teddy fandom, please don't ruin our year!
Doctor Who's Ncuti Gatwa and Sir Derek Jacobi among finalists for BBC Audio Drama Awards 2026
Here's the full list of nominations – have you heard them all?
The BBC has unveiled the nominees for its 15th annual Audio Drama Awards, with former Doctor Who stars Ncuti Gatwa and Sir Derek Jacobi among the contenders. Gatwa and Jacobi will go up against A Thousand Blows' Malachi Kirby in the Best Actor category, which recognises their work in BBC Radio dramas Gatsby in Harlem, When Maggie Met Larry and The Final Touch respectively. In Best Actress, the three nominees are Gabrielle Creevy (Black Doves), Lydia Leonard (Wolf Hall) and Jodie McNee (The Gathering), who lent their voices to Astronomers, Gershwin and Miss Swift, and Secrets and Lies: Mona Best and The Beatles. Other recognisable names in contention are This Town breakout star Levi Brown (for book adaptation Brat Farrar), impressionist Jon Culshaw (for satire Churchill's Bust) and American writer David Sedaris (for his self-titled sketch comedy). Nominees for the Tinniswood Award celebrating best audio script are still to be announced, with these to be confirmed early next month by the Society of Authors and the Writers' Guild of Great Britain. Here's the full list of nominations for the BBC Audio Drama Awards 2026: Best Original Single Drama The Final Touch by Roy Williams, producer Celia de Wolff (Pier Productions for BBC Radio 4) One Hundred and Fifty Days by Oliver Emanuel, producer Kirsty Williams (BBC Audio Scotland for BBC Radio 4) Sleaze by Joe von Malachowski & Will Close, producer Anne Isger (BBC Studios Audio for BBC Radio 4) Best Adaptation Gatsby in Harlem adapted by Roy Williams from F. Scott Fitzgerald, producer Nathan Freeman (Granny Eats Wolf for BBC Radio 3) Kramer versus Kramer by Avery Korman, adapted by Sarah Wooley, producers Gaynor Macfarlane & Carl Prekopp (BBC Audio Scotland for BBC Radio 4) Saint Joan of the Anthropocene adapted by Linda Marshall Griffiths from George Bernard Shaw, producer Nadia Molinari (BBC Studios Audio for BBC Radio 3) Best Original Series or Serial Aldrich Kemp and the Rose of Pamir, producer Sarah Tombling (Sweet Talk Productions for BBC Radio 4) Life and Time by James Fritz, producer Tracey Neale (BBC Studios Audio for BBC Radio 4) Mothercover by Fflur Dafydd, producer Fay Lomas (BBC Audio Wales & West for BBC Radio 4) Best Actress Gabrielle Creevy, Astronomers, director John Norton (BBC Audio Wales & West for BBC Radio 4) Lydia Leonard, Gershwin and Miss Swift, director Tracey Neale (BBC Studios Audio for BBC Radio 3) Jodie McNee, Secrets and Lies: Mona Best and the Beatles, director Carl Prekopp (Essential Productions for BBC Radio 4) Best Actor Ncuti Gatwa, Gatsby in Harlem, director Celia de Wolff (Granny Eats Wolf for BBC Radio 3) Sir Derek Jacobi, When Maggie Met Larry, director Richard Clifford (Catherine Bailey Productions for BBC Radio 4) Malachi Kirby, The Final Touch, director Celia de Wolff (Pier Productions for BBC Radio 4) Best Podcast Audio Drama Buzz: the Man and the Moon by Stephen Kronish, producer John Scott Dryden (Goldhawk Productions & Thoroughbred Studios for iHeart) Discretion by Chris Brandon & Davy Banks, producers Claire Broughton & John Wakefield (Hat Trick Productions for BBC Radio 4) Up in Smoke written and produced by Guy Larson & Cambria Bailey‑Jones (Penny4, acquired by BBC Sounds) Best Comedy Performance Chris Cantrill, Icklewick FM, producers Benjamin Sutton & Laura Shaw (Daddy’s SuperYacht Productions for BBC Radio 4) Jon Culshaw, Churchill’s Bust, producer Richard Clemmow (Perfectly Normal for BBC Radio 4) Michael Spicer, Michael Spicer: No Room, producer Matt Tiller (Tillervision for BBC Radio 4) The Marc Beeby Award for Best Debut Performance Levi Brown, Brat Farrar, director Gemma Jenkins (BBC Studios Audio for BBC Radio 4) Connor Finch, Life and Time, director Tracey Neale (BBC Studios Audio for BBC Radio 4) Sofia Oxenham, The English Are Coming, director Nicolas Jackson (Afonica for BBC Radio 4) Best Sitcom or Comedy Drama Crybabies Presents… Yours, Fatally by Michael Clarke, James Gault & Ed Jones, producer Benjamin Sutton (Boffola Pictures for BBC Radio 4) Icklewick FM by Chris Cantrill & Amy Gledhill, producer Benjamin Sutton (Daddy’s Superyacht Productions for BBC Radio 4) Lyra by Joe Barnes & Henry Perryment, producer James Robinson (BBC Studios Audio for BBC Radio 4) Best Stand Up or Sketch Comedy It’s a Fair Cop by Alfie Moore, producer Carl Cooper (BBC Studios Audio for BBC Radio 4) Meet David Sedaris by David Sedaris, producer Steve Doherty (Giddy Goat Productions for BBC Radio 4) Tough Crowd by Kiri Pritchard‑McLean, producer Suzy Grant (Listen for BBC Radio 4) Best Use of Sound The Bolt, sound by Catherine Robinson, producer John Norton (BBC Audio Wales & West for BBC Radio 4) The Girl of the Sea of Cortez, sound by Adam Woodhams, producer Nicolas Jackson (Afonica for BBC Radio 4) Secrets and Lies: Mona Best and the Beatles, sound by Lucinda Mason Brown, David Chilton & Alisdair McGregor; producers Lucinda Mason Brown & Stewart Richards (Essential Productions for BBC Radio 4) Best European Drama Macbeth by Mathilda von Essen & Axel Wingqvist after William Shakespeare, producers Marie Wennersten & Louise Jacobson (SR Sweden) Not Born For a War by Anatolii Neiolov, producer Irina Korniienko (Radio Kultura, Suspilne, Ukraine) The Pack by Monica Helfer, adapted and directed by Elisabeth Weilenmann, producer Wolfram Höll (ORF Austria) Imison Award Do Not Disturb: ‘Good Sex in Progress’ by Sherise Blackman, producer Victoria Lloyd (Platform Media, Audible) A Tale of Two Trumpets by Sylvia‑Anne Parker, producer Kirsty Williams (BBC Audio Scotland; BBC Radio 4) When Maggie Met Larry by Tim Walker, producer Catherine Bailey (Catherine Bailey Productions; BBC Radio 4) The BBC Audio Drama Awards 2026 will take place on Sunday 1st March at the BBC’s Radio Theatre. Check out more of our Audio coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add TV and streaming shows to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Steal cast: Full list of actors in Prime Video thriller
Sophie Turner leads Prime Video's latest fast-paced British thriller.
Sophie Turner is leading a pulse-pounding thriller on Prime Video, which explores the fallout from an enormous theft at an investment fund, leaving billions of pounds unaccounted for. For Zara (Turner), the day begins like any other, but quickly spirals into a nightmare as armed robbers storm her company's offices in a premeditated attack. Zara and close friend Luke (Archie Madekwe) are on the sharp end of it, as the culprits force them to go along with their plan at gunpoint – but who exactly are these mystery assailants? That's what DCI Rhys (Jacob Fortune-Lloyd) is brought in to find out, but it soon becomes clear that this conspiracy is even more far-reaching and dangerous than it first appears. If you're excited for the intense new series, read on for an introduction to the Steal cast on Prime Video. Steal cast: Full list of actors in Prime Video thriller Here's an overview of the main Steal cast – read on for more detailed profiles on each of the key characters and the actors playing them, including where you might have seen them before. Sophie Turner as Zara Archie Madekwe as Luke Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as DCI Rhys Andrew Howard as Sniper Jonathan Slinger as London Ellie James as DI Ellie Lloyd Harry Michell as Milo Carter-Walsh Thomas Larkin as Wayne Sarah Belcher as Kate Shaw Tara Summers as Sophia Díana Bermudez as Tall Spike Leighton as Junior Yusra Warsama as Glasses Andrew Koji as Darren Yoshida Eloise Thomas as Myrtle Clarke Tomisin Ajani as Scots Kadiesha Belgrave as Chioma Dominic Mafham as George Cartwright Sophie Turner as Zara Who is Zara? Zara works at a pension fund investment company. On a typical day, a gang of thugs infiltrate their high-rise office and steal an eye-watering sum of money at gunpoint. Their identities and motivations, besides the obvious, are a mystery. What else has Sophie Turner been in? Turner rose to stardom on HBO's fantasy drama Game of Thrones, where she played Sansa Stark across all eight seasons. She went on to play powerful mutant Jean Grey in the X-Men prequels Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix. More recently, Turner appeared in true crime dramas The Staircase (on HBO) and Joan (on ITVX). Next up, she'll be returning to Prime Video for a Lara Croft: Tomb Raider reboot, penned by Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Archie Madekwe as Luke Who is Luke? Luke is Zara's best friend, who is by her side during the violent break-in, where they are both held at gunpoint and forced to carry out the will of the robbers. What else has Archie Madekwe been in? Madekwe is probably best known for his role in Emerald Fennell's hit drama Saltburn. Other projects include horror flick Midsommar and Apple TV's sci-fi series See, where he co-starred alongside Jason Momoa. Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as DCI Rhys Who is DCI Rhys? The lead detective on the investigation into the robbery. He is hiding a gambling addiction that could be a threat to his fight for answers. What else has Jacob Fortune-Lloyd been in? Fortune-Lloyd debuted on our screens in the first season of Wolf Hall on BBC Two, where he played Anne Boleyn's friend and alleged lover Francis Weston. Later credits include Medici: The Magnificent, The Queen's Gambit, The Great and Netflix's Bodies, starring Stephen Graham. Ellie James as DI Ellie Lloyd Who is DI Lloyd? The colleague of DCI Rhys, who works with him on the investigation into the theft. What else has Ellie James been in? James recently played the legendary Nimue in ITV's Arthurian drama The Winter King. She has also appeared in Bodies, Red Rose, I May Destroy You and Giri/Haji. Jonathan Slinger as London Who is London? London is the codename of a leading member of the gang who robs Zara and Luke's company. What else has Jonathan Slinger been in? His earlier screen credits include The Sandman, The Sixth Commandment, Alex Rider and The Salisbury Poisonings. Eloise Thomas plays Myrtle Clarke Who is Myrtle? Myrtle is a new addition to the team at pension fund Lochmill Capital. She has one of the worst first days imaginable, witnessing the violent robbery and briefly being held hostage by the culprits. What else has Eloise Thomas been in? Thomas recently appeared in BBC One's short-lived crime drama Dope Girls. Other credits include True Detective: Night Country, The Bay season 4, and Erin Doherty thriller Chloe. Andrew Koji as Darren Yoshida Who is Darren Yoshida? Darren is a financial investigator, with expertise in the work that Zara and Luke do. It is hoped that he can help police detectives get to the bottom of how the enormous theft was accomplished. What else has Andrew Koji been in? In addition to acting, Koji is also a martial artist, who has shown off his moves in Snake Eyes, Bullet Train and crime drama Warrior. Later this year, he will also play the central role of Ryu in a new adaptation of the Street Fighter video game. Other credits include BBC One's Peaky Blinders, Netflix's Black Doves and Sky's Gangs of London. Andrew Howard as Sniper Who is Sniper? A dangerous individual in cahoots with the criminals. What else has Andrew Howard been in? Howard's credits include Marvel miniseries Echo and Paramount's Mayor of Kingstown, plus HBO dramas Perry Mason and Watchmen. Most recently, he appeared in Ben Affleck-led action flick The Accountant 2. Steal is streaming on Prime Video from Wednesday 21st January 2026. Sign up for a 30-day free trial of Prime Video and pay £8.99 a month after that. Add Steal to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Beloved medical drama is coming to Netflix – with 15 seasons streaming soon
Is this still the best that the genre has to offer?
Netflix is getting us all nostalgic as one of the biggest shows of the 1990s is about to land on the streaming platform, allowing subscribers to relive the highs and lows of some of TV's most photogenic medical professionals. All 15 seasons of ER will be available to binge at your convenience on Netflix UK and Ireland from Monday 9th February 2026 – that's more than 300 episodes unfolding in the bustling Cook County General Hospital. The series once held the title of the longest-running primetime medical drama in American television history, until Shonda Rhimes's evergreen juggernaut Grey's Anatomy overtook it back in 2018. Regardless, ER still holds a high place in television history, having helped launch the careers of George Clooney (Jay Kelly), Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife), Alex Kingston (Doctor Who) and Noah Wyle (The Pitt), among others. It is also credited for creating the template that modern medical dramas, including Grey's, have adopted and continued to build upon, blending high-stakes workplace scenarios with the compelling personal struggles of staff members. For that service, it was rewarded with a whopping 124 Emmy nominations, of which it won 23, including Outstanding Supporting Actress (for Margulies) and Outstanding Drama Series (in 1996). ER finally concluded in April 2009, with later cast additions Parminder Nagra (DI Ray), Maura Tierney (The Iron Claw), Linda Cardellini (Dead to Me), John Stamos (Palm Royale) and Angela Bassett (Black Panther) leading the show at that time. Unlike so many other high-profile TV shows – including some very recent efforts – ER was able to stick the landing with season 15 finale And in the End..., which currently holds an impressive 9.2/10 user score on IMDb. View oEmbed on the source website Original ER cast member Wyle has recently found further success in the realm of medical drama as the star of HBO Max's The Pitt, which has recently picked up awards at this year's Emmys and Golden Globes. Alas, the acclaimed series is yet to find a home in the UK. Hopefully, an ER resurgence on Netflix can help fill the void until it does. ER is coming to Netflix UK on Monday 9th February 2026. Add ER to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Harry Potter TV series: Release date speculation, casting & latest news
Everything to know about the new Wizarding World TV series adapting the original seven books.
As filming on HBO's upcoming Harry Potter TV series continues, some key figures behind the production are starting to give their assessments of how it's going thus far, and what fans can expect. For instance, in December 2025, HBO Max head of original content Sarah Aubrey spoke about the series while on a panel at Content London, as reported by Variety. Aubrey said that she was visiting the set of the series the following day, before adding: "I just keep thinking, it’s such a delightful adaptation of the books. And I think when people watch it, they [will] think, 'These are the books.'" Meanwhile, Warwick Davis, currently the only star to be returning from the Harry Potter movies to play the same part of Filius Flitwick in the series, spoke about the new adaptation on Times Radio, as reported by Deadline. "I’m working on it at the moment, but I can’t really tell you anything other than we’re retelling those wonderful stories but with more depth and detail than has been seen before," he said. "They’re very faithful adaptations of the book. "We’re obviously telling the same story so there are similar moments that we’re experiencing as actors on the set. But it’s weird being back in the same studios again, doing it all again, because Leavesden is where we shot the films." Of course, with filming ongoing, we're still far off from getting a specific release date, but more news is being revealed frequently. Most recently, Hans Zimmer and his collective of composers, named Bleeding Fingers, were tapped to compose the score for the series. Hans Zimmer, Kara Talve and Anže Rozman said in a statement together: "The musical legacy of Harry Potter is a touch point for composers everywhere and we are humbled to join such a remarkable team on a project of this magnitude. The responsibility is something that myself, Kara Talve and Anže Rozman do not take lightly. "Magic is all around us, often just beyond reach, but as in the world of Harry Potter, you simply must look for it. With this score we hope to bring audiences that little bit closer to it whilst honoring what has come before." For more on the Harry Potter series, including the potential release date, more casting news, and the TV show's plot, the rest of this watch guide below has you covered. Harry Potter TV series release date speculation HBO's Harry Potter adaptation is currently expected to premiere in 2027, following comments by CEO & President of Warner Bros. Discovery, David Zaslav. Originally reported by TVLine, Zaslav told press back in November 2024: "Oh, it could probably be [2027], something like that." "But don’t hold me to any of that, because we’re just getting started in the writing and casting process." Although an exact release date hasn't been announced yet, we'll update this page as soon as we hear more. A lot has happened since Zaslav's comments, including the casting of the key actors, but logistically it still looks like a 2027 release date for the Harry Potter show is doable. Filming for the new Harry Potter began in July 2025, kickstarting what is intended to be a seven-season adaptation, taking place across the UK in locations like London Zoo, King's Cross Station, and Hertfordshire. One obvious concern is making sure the show stays on track to release one new season per year, so the lead actors don't end up growing too old for their roles. Speaking about HBO's plans to film new seasons as quickly and efficiently as possible, HBO CEO Casey Bloys, explained to Collider’s Steve Weintraub: "From 11 to 13, is a big jump in kids' lives. You can get away with 13 to 15, something like that. So we are going to have to think about scheduling and shooting so that they don’t grow too much between seasons. It is a consideration." "I think an annual schedule would be tough, but it depends on how much is written ahead of time." In November 2025, Bloys confirmed that season 2 was already being written. Bloys told reporters during a press conference, as reported by Deadline: "The plan is to still try and get it — I don’t know if it’s going to be like stop shooting Season 1 on Friday and start Season 2 on Monday. "There’ll be a break in there, but we’re going to do whatever we can to not have a huge gap. For the kids, obviously, but also for viewers. You know, trying to not have massive gaps. It is a big show, lots of special effects, obviously, massive operation, but we’re going to do what we can." Bloys also previously confirmed that author JK Rowling is involved in the project, amid ongoing controversy regarding her views on trans rights, which have turned many former fans away from the franchise. In response to these concerns, an HBO spokesperson said (via Variety): "We are proud to once again tell the story of Harry Potter — the heartwarming books that speak to power of friendship, resolve and acceptance". "JK Rowling has a right to express her personal views. We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement." This has done little to quell concerns over Rowling's impact as a public figure, and how her income from the Potter franchise may be used to facilitate anti-LGBTQ+ projects. In recent years, the author was notably absent from the 20-year anniversary special of the Harry Potter movies, and the 2023 Hogwarts Legacy spin-off game faced boycotts. Meanwhile, several fan-run organisations have distanced themselves from Rowling, including the international association for real-life Quidditch, which has renamed the sport "quadball." Who will be the cast starring in the Harry Potter TV series? As mentioned above, the lead stars playing Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger have been confirmed. Back in September 2024, there was an open casting call looking for the three kids, with Warner boss Channing Dungey admitting it would be "tricky" to allocate the roles (via Variety). Now we know that, in HBO's Harry Potter series, Dominic McLaughlin will play Harry, Arabella Stanton will play Hermione and Alastair Stout will play Ron. Stanton is known for having previously starred in the West End production of Matilda, as well as the Andrew Lloyd Webber production of Starlight Express. Stout has been seen in TV advertisements, while McLaughlin will be seen in Sky Original comedy Grow. Following the lead actors being announced, showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director/executive producer Mark Mylod said in a statement to Variety: "After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione and Ron". "The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen. We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It's been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there." Meanwhile, HBO previously announced that John Lithgow is set to play Albus Dumbledore in the new Harry Potter show. Lithgow previously said of taking on the role: "It came as a total surprise to me. I just got the phone call up at the Sundance Film Festival for yet another film, and it was not an easy decision because it's going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I'm afraid. But I'm very excited." Elsewhere, Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You) will star as Severus Snape, Janet McTeer (Tumbleweeds) will star as Minerva McGonagall, and Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead) will appear as Rubeus Hagrid. While those four series regulars had previously been rumoured to be joining the project, some other new additions have been more unexpected. The more surprising additions are Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell and Paul Whitehouse (The Fast Show) as Argus Filch, who will appear in guest/recurring roles. Thallon is currently best known in the theatre world and most recently starred in the Royal Shakespeare Company's 2025 Hamlet. In June, a whole load of new additions were also announced to fill out supporting roles. Katherine Parkinson (Rivals) will play Molly Weasley, Lox Pratt (Lord of the Flies) will play Draco Malfoy, Johnny Flynn (Ripley) will play Lucius Malfoy and Bertie Carvel (The Crown) will play Cornelius Fudge. Meanwhile, Leo Earley will play Seamus Finnigan, Alessia Leoni will play Parvati Patil, Sienna Moosah will play Lavender Brown, Bel Powley (Masters of the Air) will play Petunia Dursley and Daniel Rigby (I, Jack Wright) will play Vernon Dursley. Unfortunately, those hoping for returns from the film franchise's stars, such as Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson or Rupert Grint, are out of luck – it's not looking likely. Chatting to ComicBook.com, Radcliffe quashed any speculation about him making an appearance. He said: "My understanding is that they’re trying to very much start fresh, and I'm sure whoever is making them will want to make their own mark on it and probably not want to have to figure out how to get old Harry to cameo in this somewhere." He continued: "So I'm definitely not seeking it out in any way… but I do wish them, obviously, all the luck in the world, and I'm very excited to have that torch passed. But I don't think it needs me to physically pass it." Argus Filch star David Bradley told RadioTimes.com: "I think it’ll be very interesting to see what they will do with the extra time they’ll have to film more of the books than we could. "The Goblet of Fire and the last two, they were quite chunky – how do you condense those into a two and a half hour film? "Of course, you’ve got to sacrifice quite a lot of plot and characters. I’m assuming the reason they’re doing it is they’ll be able to include more of the story because they’ll have more screen time – a lot more than the films had. I’ll be interested. I haven’t had the call yet!" Asked whether it felt strange to see a new adaptation in the works, Jason Isaacs, who played Lucius Malfoy, mused: "It’s no weirder for me than for everybody else who’s seen the films. I happen to be in the films too." View Green Video on the source website He continued: "They make a new Spider-Man every 15 minutes. You know, there was a ton of stuff in the books that we left out. Yeah, it's an odd feeling, but it’s no odder for me than it is anyone else. I can’t wait to see them and see what they do." Behind the camera, we know that His Dark Materials writer Francesca Gardiner will serve as showrunner, while Succession director Mark Mylod is attached to produce and film some episodes. Meanwhile, JK Rowling will executive produce the series, alongside Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts. "Max’s commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me, and I’m looking forward to being part of this new adaptation which will allow for a degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long form television series," said Rowling. Who is playing Voldemort in the Harry Potter series? The actor who will be playing Voldemort in the Harry Potter HBO series hasn't been revealed just yet, but well-known contenders like Matthew Macfadyen, Matt Smith, Paul Bettany, Cillian Murphy and Tom Hiddleston are in the running, according to Online Betting Guide. However, known entertainment industry leaker Daniel Richtman recently posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the Harry Potter TV show is "auditioning both men and women for Voldemort", so there is a chance Tom Riddle could be portrayed by a woman. There is no confirmation of either claim yet, but we will be updating this guide as soon as we hear more. What is the Harry Potter TV series about? The series will be based on all seven books in the series, originally published between 1997 and 2007. A statement from the newly branded Max explained: "The stories from each of Rowling’s Harry Potter books will become a decade-long series produced with the same epic craft, love and care this global franchise is known for. "The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail, much-loved characters and dramatic locations that Harry Potter fans have loved for over 25 years." It continued: "Each season will be authentic to the original books and bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic and beloved films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally." The Harry Potter series will stream on HBO Max. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Night Manager's most surprising romance is probably doomed – but it's not too late for Teddy
*Warning: spoilers for The Night Manager season 2 episode 4* The bullets sent flying were the least dramatic part of the shoot-out that brought The Night Manager's latest chapter to a close. Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) finally revealed his true self to Teddy Dos Santos (Diego Calva), in order to rescue an innocent teenager tricked into aiding the assassination of Alejandro Gualteros (Alberto Ammann). But the sequence didn't play out like a typical double-cross, the likes of which spy fiction is filled with. The swelling music, teary eyes and anguished outburst made one thing clear: this was a matter of the heart. Pine's earlier flirtations with Teddy certainly hadn't gone unnoticed (a gentle touch here, a stolen glance there), but even after last week's steamy dance scene, it remained unclear whether the deep cover agent was just exploiting him. Well, consider that case closed. In contrast to Pine's unhesitating brutality towards season 1 rivals Corky (Tom Hollander) and Freddie (David Avery), we can clearly see that he's distraught to be raising his weapon against Teddy – despite having legitimate cause. Both Hiddleston and Calva deserve high praise for this powerful stand-off, but especially the latter, who is dragged through a dizzying cycle of confusion, heartbreak and fury as Teddy wakes up to his deception. It's gut-wrenching enough to make you briefly forget who the 'villain' is in this scene, which is impressive given that one character just executed a public servant for no other reason than he couldn't be bought. To Calva's credit, even in the grotesque inhumanity of that action, we can still see the dying embers of a soul in Teddy – which is perhaps what draws Pine to him as well. It begs the question: can he be redeemed for his many grave sins? Well, the seeds might already be planted. In episode 4, we saw how slippery Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie) can be to even his own flesh and blood – but it could come back to haunt him. After decades spent at arm's length as a secret love child, Teddy tells Roper that he wants to be formally acknowledged as his son in return for helping him through the darkest period of his life. Roper ostensibly accepts the deal, but later, he cruelly dismisses Teddy, making it clear to old pal Sandy (Alistair Petrie) that he views Danny (Noah Jupe) as his only true heir. For now, Teddy remains oblivious to this rejection, making his attempts to please his father all the more heartbreaking – from personally making him breakfast to lying when their kidnapping plot goes awry (admittedly, not the greatest bonding activity). But should Roper's disdain become apparent, could Teddy be so aggrieved as to turn his back on his own father? It's a plausible path forward, but probably not one that leads to Pine's loving embrace. Hiddleston's chameleonic agent doesn't have a brilliant track record when it comes to romantic relationships (case in point: where is Jed?), with producer Stephen Garrett dourly telling Deadline that "spies have no friends, have no family". Regardless of his obvious sympathy for Teddy, it's also highly doubtful that principled Pine would let him off scot-free for crimes already committed; recruitment as an asset would surely be his most lenient proposal (followed by Teddy becoming a monk). While hardly a fairytale ending, any outcome that frees both men of Roper's corrupting influence would give this sizzling connection some long-term meaning – and that isn't nothing! It's certainly preferable to the believable alternative for our star-crossed (almost) lovers: abject tragedy. On behalf of the burgeoning Jonathan and Teddy fandom, please don't ruin our year! The Night Manager season 2 is airing on BBC One and iPlayer. Add The Night Manager to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Night Manager season 2 episode 4 explains Richard Roper twist at last – as key character compromised
Roper couldn't have pulled off his fake death without help from a coerced foe. *SPOILERS FOR THE NIGHT MANAGER SEASON 2 EPISODE 4*
The Night Manager season 2 has answered one major question about last week's bombshell ending, which confirmed the survival of cruel and calculating arms dealer Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie). The villain was thought to have met a grisly demise at the hands of his own wronged customers, with an eerie scene from the season 2 premiere even showing his body on a slab for Angela Burr (Olivia Colman) to identify. However, we now know that there's much more to that prologue than meets the eye. The fourth episode, which is available now on BBC iPlayer, demonstrates that there really is no one that Roper cannot compromise, as even his sworn enemy Angela is cowed into submission in a revealing flashback. In a tense conversation with her former agent Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston), she recounts how Roper confronted her in their humble accommodation the night before they were due to identify his 'dead' body in Syria. He threatened to kill her and Jonathan right there and then, in addition to sending people after her husband and young daughter, unless she agreed to falsely verify his death the following morning. Backed into a corner, Angela had little choice but to agree, but kept the chilling interaction a secret from Jonathan in order to keep him safe from a vengeful Roper. She did, however, divulge the truth of his survival to the ill-fated Rex Mayhew (Douglas Hodge), but their attempts to follow-up on the matter were scuppered by the appointment of Mayra Cavendish (Indira Varma). As Laurie had previously stated in a post-episode 3 interview, a key factor in Roper's survival was his ability to charm his captors, eventually getting them to agree to a deal that would give him a chance at settling his debts. That remains a crucial part of Roper's new business plan, concocted with secret son Teddy Dos Santos (Diego Calva). Laurie explained: "He's a conqueror really, a pirate, and he will never stop dreaming of the treasure of taking people, territory, and control... He does have a weakness for control. "And he has it on a grand scale, building a vast empire, but he also has it on a small individual scale of obtaining victories against specific people, and Pine is his principal objective. "He was beaten by Pine once, and Roper is not a man to forgive or forget easily." Sure enough, the two arch-enemies appear to be on a collision course, but who will come out of their not-so-happy reunion on top? Keep watching The Night Manager season 2 to find out more. The Night Manager season 2 is airing Sundays on BBC One and iPlayer. Add The Night Manager to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms release date, trailer and latest news
Another era in Westeros history is set to be explored on screen.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms bursts onto the screen this month, showing viewers the lighter side of life in Westeros after many years of bleak and bloody storytelling. Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell lead the cast as mismatched duo Ser Duncan the Tall and his young squire, nicknamed Egg, who became fan favourites in a trilogy of novellas by Game of Thrones author George RR Martin. The novelist has been vocally enthusiastic about this latest TV spin-off, which should come as relief to anyone troubled by his criticisms of House of the Dragon – which have not softened during the show's hiatus. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is headed up by producer Ira Parker, whose past work includes the divisive Thrones prequel, plus action drama The Last Ship, dark comedy Better Things and spy miniseries The Sympathizer. So far, he seems to have done a good job, with our own A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review calling it the "best visit to Westeros in nearly a decade". If you're as excited as we are about the new series, read on for everything you need to know about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – including its premiere date on Sky Atlantic and NOW. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms release date A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will premiere on Sky Atlantic and NOW on Monday 19th January 2026 in the UK, airing first at 3am (to coincide with the US debut) and again at 9pm that same day. In the US, the show will air on HBO and HBO Max on Sundays, starting from 18th January. The finale will drop six weeks later both here and across the pond – but that won't be the end of Dunk and Egg's journey! A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms scored an early renewal for season 2, which is filming right now (as of December 2025), and HBO executive Francesca Orci has expressed hope for a trilogy. She told Deadline last year: "You're going to be so impressed by Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell as Dunk and Egg... So much so that we're already planning on how we build this for three seasons in total. "We're looking at it as a holistic piece, seasons 2 and 3, because there's three novellas." View Affiliate Playlist on the source website When is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms set? Game of Thrones connection explained A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set almost a century before the events of Game of Thrones, meaning it's unlikely that we'll be seeing any cameos from stars of the original series. This also puts it considerably further up the timeline than hit prequel House of the Dragon, which unfolds approximately seven decades before the Tales of Dunk and Egg. What is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms about? A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms chronicles the formative experiences of Ser Duncan 'Dunk' the Tall and his young squire, known as Egg. Their adventures take place during a tumultuous period for Westeros, when the land is still recovering from a schism in House Targaryen that led to a period of brutal conflict, from which King Daeron II Targaryen emerged victorious. The story of Dunk and Egg was first told in a George RR Martin-penned novella titled The Hedge Knight, with the author calling A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms "as faithful [an] adaptation as a reasonable man could hope for". He wrote on his blog: "Viewers who are looking for action, and more action, and only action… well, this one may not satisfy you. "There's a huge fight scene here, as exciting as anyone could ask for, but there are no dragons this time around, no huge battles, no white walkers… this is a character piece, and its focus is on duty and honour, on chivalry and all it means." The comments are reassuring after Martin's vocal disapproval of House of the Dragon season 2, which also provoked the ire of fans with a finale that many deemed anticlimactic. Previously, HBO boss Casey Bloys had teased (via THR) that the show has a "lighter tone" than both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, which helps to make it a "very different" series. On the performance of child actor Ansell, who has previously appeared in Emmerdale, showrunner Ira Parker told TVLine: "I remember seeing Egg standing outside the stables as Dunk was riding in, and the way that it was lit, he seemed otherworldly. "It was like this alien entering. If you haven't read the books, you don't know where their stories are going to take you, but for some reason, you feel that this character is special." Is there A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms trailer? Yes, HBO and Sky both released the final trailer for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms last month, teasing knightly heroics, jousting tournaments and skirmishes – with a much lighter tone than its predecessors. Check out A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms trailer below: View oEmbed on the source website A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms debuts on Sky and NOW from Monday 19th January 2026. Add A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How to watch Star Trek in order – both release and chronological orders
From The Original Series to Starfleet Academy, here's how to watch the entire Star Trek canon in order.
With the franchise continuing the events of Discovery in the far flung future, Starfleet Academy marks the first Star Trek series to be set primarily within the hallowed institution, following a whole new generation of competitive cadets. The Paramount Plus series is set in the 32nd century and follows a new group of Starfleet recruits at the iconic San Francisco academy, as they’re taught by a collection of new and returning faces. With fan-favourite characters such as Voyager’s EMH (Robert Picardo) and Discovery’s Commander Jett Reno (Tig Notaro) returning - along with a whole assortment of wide-ranging Easter eggs - there’s certainly plenty for Trekkies to enjoy. But if you're feeling a little daunted by the depth of the lore and the sheer amount of Star Trek at your disposal, never fear! Read on for our overview of how to watch Star Trek in both release and chronological order. Once you have all the information you need, venture forth into the final frontier. How to watch Star Trek in release order Arguably, the most faithful way of watching Star Trek is in the order each series was made, allowing you to follow the franchise from its inception and explore its universe as the original fans did decades ago. It makes sense to do it this way as while the shows do jump around in terms of time period, they still find ways to build on what came before in order of release. In that sense, you're likely to get a slightly more complete picture of Star Trek by watching in this order, instead of piecing the shows together in a chronological timeline. Star Trek release order (films listed in italics) Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS) Star Trek: The Animated Series (TAS) The first six Star Trek films (The Motion Picture up to Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country) Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) Star Trek: Generations Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9) Star Trek: Voyager (VOY) Star Trek films 8-10 (First Contact, Insurrection, Nemesis) Star Trek: Enterprise (ENT) Star Trek (2009), Star Trek Into Darkness, Star Trek Beyond Star Trek: Discovery (DSC) Star Trek: Short Treks* Star Trek: Picard (PIC) Star Trek: Lower Decks (LOW) Star Trek: Prodigy (PRO) Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (SNW) Star Trek: Section 31 Star Trek: Starfleet Academy *Star Trek: Short Treks premiered after Discovery, hence the listing here. However, Short Treks season 2 sets up some plot threads picked up in Discovery season 2 and beyond, so it's best to alternate between them if you can. Some people who watch in this order choose to skip over the first three steps and begin with Star Trek: The Next Generation. There is a belief among certain Trekkies that TNG has aged better than The Original Series, making it an easier entry point for newcomers to the franchise. It would be worth watching the first few episodes of TOS to see what you think of it, but if William Shatner's Captain Kirk doesn't quite cut it for you, feel free to move on to the dulcet tones of Patrick Stewart's Jean-Luc Picard. The two shows have relatively few connections, so you don't need to worry about feeling lost (although they do eventually cross over in a major way in the Star Trek: Generations movie). How to watch Star Trek in chronological order As previously stated, the various shows in the Star Trek universe take place at different points in a sprawling timeline, so an alternative method is to watch in chronological order. This comes with pros and cons: on the one hand, it allows you to begin with a modern show, which may be preferable to some people. But on the other hand, some of the references contained in more recent episodes may not land with you in the way they were intended. Star Trek chronological order (films listed in italics) Star Trek: Enterprise (Year: 2151-2161) Short Trek: The Girl Who Made the Stars (Year: 2230s) Short Trek: The Brightest Star (Year: 2239) Star Trek: The Cage – The Original Series one-off pilot episode (Year: 2254) Short Trek: The Escape Artist (Year: 2250s) Short Trek: Q&A (Year: 2253) Star Trek: Discovery season 1 (Year: 2256) Short Trek: Runaway (Year: 2257) Star Trek: Discovery season 2 (Year: 2258) Short Trek: The Trouble with Edward (Year: 2250s) Short Trek: Ask Not (Year: 2250s) Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Year: 2259) Star Trek: The Original Series (Year: 2265-2269) Short Trek: Ephraim and Dot (Year: 2267-2285) Star Trek: The Animated Series (Year: 2269-2270) The first six Star Trek films (Year: 2273-2293) Star Trek: Section 31 (Year: 2333) Star Trek: The Next Generation (Year: 2364-2370) Star Trek films 7-10: Generations up to Nemesis (Year: 2293-2379) Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Year: 2369-2375) Star Trek: Voyager (Year: 2371-2378) Star Trek: Lower Decks (2380) Star Trek: Prodigy (Year: 2383) Short Trek: Children of Mars (Year: 2385) Star Trek: Picard seasons 1-3 (Year: 2399-2402) Star Trek: Discovery seasons 3-4 (32nd Century) Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1 (32nd Century*) Short Trek: Calypso (far future, year unknown) *Starfleet Academy opens with a prologue set at stardate 853724.6, roughly placing it in 3176. The series then jumps ahead around fifteen years to 3191, aligning it with the events of Discovery season 5. Note – Star Trek: Short Treks was a two-season anthology series, which visits various periods on the franchise timeline. Anything listed as a Short Trek is a single episode of this show (with a runtime between 8 and 18 minutes). It's not currently confirmed where precisely Toby Haynes' film will sit in the chronology but we do know it'll be a prequel film, taking place "decades" before Star Trek (2009). For those wondering, the recent trilogy of Star Trek movies directed by JJ Abrams and Justin Lin – Star Trek, Into Darkness and Beyond – are set in an alternate universe, meaning they do not connect to a chronological order of the series. They do, however, contain references to The Original Series – most notably the return of Leonard Nimoy as Spock – but can be watched at any point as standalone stories. Star Trek: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Voyager, Deep Space Nine and Enterprise are available to stream on Netflix. Star Trek: Discovery, Picard, Lower Decks, Strange New Worlds and Section 31 are available to stream on Paramount Plus. Sign up via Prime Video or Sky. Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on tonight. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Avengers: Doomsday release date, trailers and latest news
The full cast list has now been revealed for the upcoming MCU film – and it's certainly a star-studded affair.
We are well and truly on the road to Avengers: Doomsday, with a sequence of cryptic teasers in recent weeks revealing the key factions in Marvel's forthcoming mega-crossover. So far, the heroes spotlighted include Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth), both founding members of the Avengers, who made their Marvel Cinematic Universe debut 15 years ago. Of course, that's nothing compared to the tenure of Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen and James Marsden, who reprise the roles of Professor X, Magneto and Cyclops a quarter of a century on from 2000's genre-defining hit X-Men. View oEmbed on the source website How the characters from Fox's older (and once thought-defunct) universe factor into this story is anybody's guess, but Marvel fans have been excited to see Marsden's Cyclops move substantially closer to his comic book and animated counterparts. Most recently, Disney dropped another brief teaser bringing together the Wakandans, led by King M'Baku (Winston Duke) and Shuri (Letitia Wright), plus their bitter rival Namor (Tenoch Huerta) and the recently introduced Fantastic Four. View oEmbed on the source website Avengers: Doomsday directors Anthony and Joe Russo have encouraged fans to look for "clues" in each of the teasers, with fan theories appearing at a rapid rate online – including a few that a Doctor Doom expert told us. Perceived as a make or break moment for the MCU, Doomsday is hoped to redeem a spotty period in the franchise's history, which has seen some giddy highs as well as some embarrassing lows. If you're eager to know more about the Avengers: Doomsday cast, plus the current release date and fleeting story details released so far, read on for your full guide to the hotly anticipated film. Avengers: Doomsday release date Avengers: Doomsday will be released in cinemas on Friday 18th December 2026. The epic film had previously been scheduled for early May of that year – a weekend that the MCU has previously dominated – but was forced to move as production was behind schedule. In its new spot, the Marvel flick will face formidable competition from Dune: Messiah – the third film in Denis Villeneuve and Timothée Chalamet's sci-fi saga – which means that sci-fi fans will be having a very merry Christmas indeed. Downey Jr and Chalamet recently addressed the clash at a special screening for Marty Supreme, suggesting "Dunesday" as the nickname for any double-feature events that might occur (referencing 2023's epic 'Barbenheimer'). "We'll see if we're still friends by then," joked Downey Jr (via Variety). Who will star in Avengers: Doomsday? Confirmed members Avengers: Doomsday stars Robert Downey Jr as Victor Von Doom; a towering villain that unites the combined might of several superhero teams. It's unclear precisely what Doom has planned, or if he'll have any direct connection to Downey Jr's earlier role of Tony Stark (aka Iron Man), but comic book fans know that he is not to be underestimated. It appears that Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) will play a major role in the resistance to Doom's machinations, with the first Avengers: Doomsday trailer revisiting the character after his final moments in Endgame. Previously, Deadline had reported that Hayley Atwell would also appear as Peggy Carter, which seems very likely given how the short clip references Steve's marriage and apparent fatherhood. Some fans aren't ruling out the possibility of a misdirect, however, with one theory suggesting that this version of Steve could be a member of HYDRA – adapting a controversial storyline from the source material (see 'Secret Empire'). Even before Evans's reveal, the cast of Doomsday was looking spectacularly starry, boasting the Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men and Thunderbolts teams, as well as wild cards Namor (Tenoch Huerta) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston). Anthony Mackie is reprising the role of Sam Wilson aka Captain America, who was tasked with putting together a new Avengers team at the end of his recent solo outing Brave New World. Likely candidates for that group include Letitia Wright's Shuri, the new Black Panther, plus Chris Hemsworth's Thor, Simu Liu's Shang-Chi, Paul Rudd's Ant-Man and Danny Ramirez's Falcon. As previously confirmed, the cast of Fantastic Four: First Steps will also reappear here, comprised of Pedro Pascal (Mr Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby (Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn (Human Torch) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Thing). First Steps director Matt Shakman said – apparently mistakenly – in an interview that Mr Fantastic would go on to be "leader" of the Avengers, but Pascal himself has since corrected the record. "It’s big news to me, that's for one," he joked, in an interview with Associated Press. "There is something that happens in the comics where he is sort of drawn in by the Avengers family and asked to be put into a leadership position. "That is something that happens in the comics. It isn't necessarily something that my character's future entails." The Thunderbolts* cast will also reappear in Doomsday, with Florence Pugh (Black Widow), Sebastian Stan (Winter Soldier), Wyatt Russell (USAgent), Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost), David Harbour (Red Guardian) and Lewis Pullman (Sentry) all credited in the announcement. Meanwhile, in a surprise move, Marvel Studios has also announced the return of several cast members from 20th Century Fox's X-Men franchise, which appears to have been revived in the wake of Deadpool & Wolverine's success. Returning from that smash-hit is Channing Tatum as Gambit, alongside franchise veterans Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), James Marsden (Cyclops) and Kelsey Grammer (Beast). Both Cumming and Marsden had warm words to say about returning from a long absence, with their incarnations of Nightcrawler and Cyclops not being seen since 2003's X-Men 2 and 2014's Days of Future Past respectively. On filming Doomsday, Paradise's Marsden said (via Deadline): "It's been a blast. It really has. It's been a nice little homecoming to a role that really put me on the map. It was the first real event project that I was ever a part of, and a very beloved character – this icon from the comics. And so, to step back into that role was pretty special." Meanwhile, Cumming described it as "really healing and really nice to go back to something that was a terrible experience when I did it the first time" (in another Deadline chat), although his time on set was short as his scenes were scheduled tightly so that he could be released to host the next season of The Traitors (US). Here's the confirmed Avengers: Doomsday cast in full: Robert Downey Jr (Doctor Doom) Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards/Mr Fantastic) Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm/Invisible Woman) Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm/The Human Torch) Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm/The Thing) Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson/Captain America) Chris Hemsworth (Thor) Letitia Wright (Shuri/Black Panther) Winston Duke (M'Baku) Paul Rudd (Scott Lang/Ant-Man) Simu Liu (Shang-Chi) Danny Ramirez (Joaquin Torres / Falcon) Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova/Black Widow) Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier) Wyatt Russell (John Walker/US Agent) Hannah John-Kamen (Ava Starr/Ghost) David Harbour (Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian) Lewis Pullman (Bob/Sentry) Patrick Stewart (Charles Xavier/Professor X) Ian McKellen (Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto) James Marsden (Scott Summers/Cyclops) Rebecca Romijn (Raven Darkhölme/Mystique) Alan Cumming (Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler) Kelsey Grammer (Hank McCoy/Beast) Channing Tatum (Remy LeBeau/Gambit) Tenoch Huerta Mejia (Namor) Tom Hiddleston (Loki) As you might have noticed, that list includes some rather glaring omissions who were thought to be all but guaranteed for the next Avengers film. The absence of Tom Holland's Spider-Man, Brie Larson's Captain Marvel, Chris Pratt's Star-Lord, Mark Ruffalo's Hulk and Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch have been greeted with particular outcry from the fanbase. However, there is hope yet that these characters could factor into the story, with Marvel teasing on its social media channels that there is "always room for more" cast members. Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds and Andrew Garfield are also uncertain, with the latter Spider-Man actor recently telling GQ that he is "unequivocally" not appearing in the blockbuster. It's just so hard to believe him after No Way Home! Recently, Marvel fans have been debating the probability of Reynolds returning as Deadpool for the crossover, with a source telling The Hollywood Reporter that the Merc with a Mouth would have a role – albeit, probably a small one. Reynolds himself later cast doubt on the claim, telling Variety that he hasn't "stepped foot on set", although that may just be some creative wording from the actor – after all, he could well have filmed scenes or recorded audio remotely. As for Jackman, the actor recently appeared on The Graham Norton Show, where he told the host that he is "never saying 'never' ever again," after cancelling his post-Logan retirement for 2023 hit Deadpool & Wolverine. Sadly for fans of Fox's original X-Men cast, Famke Janssen recently revealed (via Entertainment Weekly) that Marvel Studios hasn't ever reached out to her about the prospect of a Jean Grey comeback, so the reunion may never be complete. Something to consider, though, is that this line-up is for Avengers: Doomsday only, which is one half of a two-part storyline set to conclude in 2027's Secret Wars – so it seems likely that the sequel could scoop up some late-comers. Case in point: Benedict Cumberbatch has already told Business Insider that he'll be in the "next one" as Doctor Strange, after previously assuring fans that Marvel Studios was "cooking up a storm" with its latest cinematic event. What is Avengers: Doomsday about? Avengers: Doomsday does not yet have an official plot synopsis, but the movie is set to formally introduce Victor von Doom as a major threat to the Marvel multiverse. The character made a brief appearance in the Fantastic Four: First Steps post-credits scene, where he is seen (albeit, only from behind), approaching the universe's most powerful four-year-old: Franklin Richards. What does he want with him exactly? That remains to be seen. It's possible that the intricacies are still being worked out! Producer Kevin Feige confirmed (via The Hollywood Reporter) over the summer that the script was still being worked on after cameras started rolling, which he actually views as a strength of the production. He said: "Those actors, both the ones that are playing these characters for the first or second time and the ones playing them for the 10th or 12th time, are the best in the world at it, and know these characters so well. So if they have an idea, you want to listen to it and you want to adjust to it and you want to improve it. I wouldn't want to change that." Much like Infinity War and Endgame, which became two of the highest-grossing films of all time, Doomsday and its sequel Secret Wars will serve as two parts of a larger narrative – with one leading directly into the other. Teasing the plot to The Hollywood Reporter, co-director Joe Russo said: "I think these movies are going to be a surprise to people – we found a way into the story that’s very exciting to us but we think very radical and I think it’s going to challenge audiences." In the 2016 comic book series Secret Wars, upon which the film may be inspired, Doctor Doom salvages elements of a destroyed multiverse and reforms them as 'Battleworld' – a domain in which he is the unquestioned god and ruler. Prior to this storyline, the Marvel comics had dealt with the concept of incursions, whereby one reality would collide with another, either destroying both or causing one side to take a deadly defensive action. Perhaps these terrifying events might begin occurring in Avengers: Doomsday, leading Doctor Doom to create his surreal new reality as he did in the source material – leaving enormous questions lingering for Secret Wars to answer. The post-credits scene in Thunderbolts* added weight to this theory, with Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) addressing a "space crisis" which could well be other planets or realities on a collision course with Earth. Yelena vents frustration that her own New Avengers teams are viewed negatively by the press and public, while Sam Wilson's separately assembled team is regarded as more legitimate – and refusing to share intel. That's when an inter-dimensional ship carrying the Fantastic Four is spotted entering the atmosphere, with the team likely to be carrying a dire warning of apocalyptic threat (if the film's subtitle is any indication). Interestingly, the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene was actually filmed on the set of Avengers: Doomsday, with director Jake Schreier describing it as "a small hint of that film" (via Entertainment Weekly). Another threat to the Fantastic Four will come from a most unexpected place, with Nightcrawler actor Alan Cumming recently revealing that he's filming an action scene that involves "hitting Pedro Pascal against the head" (via Buzzfeed). No doubt Mr Fantastic and Nightcrawler will eventually reconcile to face their real adversary. Don't expect the crossover to come to a neat conclusion, though, with Captain America star Mackie apparently confirming that – as expected – Doomsday will end on a cliffhanger comparable to the catastrophic 'snap' in 2018's Infinity War. "It's one of those stories that really pushes the boundaries," he teased in an interview with Collider. The cliffhanger at the end... the last moments of the film, it really builds and sets us up for a way for the continuation of the Marvel saga, which is really exciting." Mackie added: "You see these characters, and you see how they're introduced and how they play in the universe moving forward, and no one is safe. Everyone is expendable." Why was Avengers: The Kang Dynasty cancelled? Previously, the fifth movie in the Avengers franchise was to be named The Kang Dynasty and to continue plot threads previously established in Disney Plus series Loki and Marvel blockbuster Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Jonathan Majors appeared in both projects as variants of Kang the Conquerer; a powerful time-travelling menace who was initially intended to be the MCU's next Thanos-level threat. However, Majors was dropped by Marvel Studios after he was found guilty of assaulting and harassing his ex-girlfriend by a jury in New York. He was convicted on two counts but acquitted of a different assault charge and of aggravated harassment. Some had expected Marvel Studios to continue the storyline with a new actor as Kang, but the company has instead decided to go in an entirely different direction with its plans. Avengers: Doomsday trailer Marvel dropped the teaser for Avengers: Doomsday in December 2025, playing first before screenings of Avatar: Fire and Ash before being released online days later. Watch here: View oEmbed on the source website Another, featuring Chris Hemsworth's Thor, followed soon after. Watch now: Avengers: Doomsday is coming to cinemas in December 2026. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
EastEnders icon confirmed to play daughter of Vera legend Brenda Blethyn in first look at glossy new remake of beloved drama
A shocking betrayal by this key supporting character triggers a bold revenge play by Emma Harte (Brenda Blethyn).
Channel 4's new adaptation of iconic story A Woman of Substance has added another big name to its ensemble in the form of EastEnders alum Jo Joyner. Brenda Blethyn (Vera) stars in the upcoming eight-part series, which is based on Barbara Taylor Bradford's novel of the same name, taking the main role of Emma Harte; a woman who goes on a "rags to riches" journey over an extraordinary life. The role of Emma is shared between Blethyn and Jessica Reynolds (House of Guinness), who plays her at an earlier stage of her life. They fill the shoes of Deborah Kerr and Jenny Seagrove, who co-starred in Channel 4's prior adaptation in 1985. RadioTimes.com can exclusively confirm that Stay Close and Ackley Bridge star Joyner will play Elizabeth Harte Ainsley in the new series; the eventual daughter of Emma, who shockingly deceives her mother in a betrayal of trust. The incident prompts Emma to take revenge on those she considers to be traitors – and suffice it to say, Elizabeth falls firmly into that group. Here's a first look at Joyner in the role, courtesy of Channel 4: <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/01/JoJoyner-AWomanofSubstance-08968dc.jpg" width="4500" height="3000" alt="Jo Joyner stars in A Woman of Substance; she is seen here in a house, where a party is being thrown. There are balloons behind her and a pink cake on a table in front of her. Despite the surroundings, she looks unhappy and angry at someone" title="Jo_Joyner_-_A_Woman_of_Substance" /> Over the course of the series, we'll see Emma go from an impoverished, ambitious maid in 1911 to the world's richest woman several decades later, having defied expectations and shattered glass ceilings along the way. "Her masterplan: Get to the top. Whatever it takes," teases the synopsis. A Woman of Substance's large cast also includes Emmett J Scanlan (Mobland), Lydia Leonard (Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light), Will Mellor (Mr Bates vs the Post Office), Lenny Rush (Am I Being Unreasonable?) and Robert Wilfort (Gavin & Stacey). You can also expect to see Leanne Best (This City Is Ours), Ewan Horrocks (The Last Kingdom), Harry Cadby (In Flight), Toby Regbo (A Discovery of Witches), Hiftu Quasem (The Witcher), Georgina Sadler (Boarders) and Niall Wright (Slow Horses) appear. The project comes from key creatives behind Apple TV's The Buccaneers, including screenwriters Katherine Jakeways and Roanne Bardsley, plus director John Hardwick, who oversaw the first block of filming. Rebecca Holdsworth, commissioning editor at Channel 4, said: "Attracting an ensemble cast of this quality is testament to Katherine and Roanne’s exceptional scripts. We are so excited to be bringing this fresh, sexy and bold adaptation of an iconic book to Channel 4." A Woman of Substance is coming soon to stream and watch on Channel 4. Add A Woman of Substance to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Night Manager star reveals secret of character's survival – and what they want now
**Warning: contains spoilers for The Night Manager season 2 episode 3.** The Night Manager season 2 star Hugh Laurie has addressed the shock return of his character at the end of episode 3, detailing how Richard Roper survived his years in captivity – and what his plans are now. The arms dealer experienced an almighty fall from grace at the end of season 1, after Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) sabotaged a massive weapons sale, which left Roper heavily indebted to his furious customers. It seemed he had paid the ultimate price for his failure, with Pine and his former handler Angela Burr (Olivia Colman) travelling to Syria in the season 2 prologue, where they identified the body of a bruised and dishevelled Roper. While stopping short of explaining how that particular deception was pulled off, Laurie has filled in some of the blanks in our knowledge ahead of this weekend's episode. He began: "For a large chunk of the intervening years, [Roper] was a prisoner, essentially a hostage to the shadowy cartel to whom he owed a great deal of money. "Initially they were going to simply kill him, but Roper’s a good talker and he's quick on his feet, and he was able to bargain with them. The captive can sometimes gain the upper hand over the captor, even though he doesn't have the key to the door." Although Roper appears to have returned to his old tricks in The Night Manager season 2, Laurie is quick to clarify that this isn't business as usual for the character. Rather, there are enormous personal stakes attached to this latest scheme. "He's got himself back onto the playing field and reactivated a lot of his contacts and formed a plan that will allow him to pay off his debt and therefore survive, because if he doesn’t, they will surely get him," the former House star explained. "But also to rebuild his empire, and once again, conquer all. He's a conqueror really, a pirate, and he will never stop dreaming of the treasure of taking people, territory, and control." Laurie proceeded to tease that Roper is seeking to build "a new force in the world" and will do "almost anything" to restore his former status. However, there's one thing that separates him from other power-hungry characters. "Roper does not dream of public glory, or 30-foot bronze statues. Roper enjoys the mystique, being off stage. Roper doesn't have that weakness, but he does have a weakness for power. He does have a weakness for control. "And he has it on a grand scale, building a vast empire, but he also has it on a small individual scale of obtaining victories against specific people, and Pine is his principal objective. "He was beaten by Pine once, and Roper is not a man to forgive or forget easily." Hiddleston, Laurie and Colman are officially back in The Night Manager season 2 cast, with Diego Calva, Camila Morrone and Hayley Squires among the notable new additions for this chapter. View Green Video on the source website The Night Manager season 2 is airing Sundays on BBC One and iPlayer. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add The Night Manager to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Heated Rivalry season 2 release date, cast and latest news
It's taken the world by storm – and now all eyes are on season 2.
Steamy ice hockey romance Heated Rivalry has finally arrived in the UK, following a six-week wait for the much-hyped show to make the journey across the pond. The series, which is now available on Sky Atlantic and NOW, follows the secret love affair that unfolds between professional sportsmen Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie). The show has attracted no shortage of attention for its sex scenes, but has also earned praise for its heartfelt romance and discussions around the difficulty of coming out – especially for those living in the public eye. After becoming a breakout hit, making overnight stars of its lead actors Williams and Storrie, it should come as no surprise that Canadian streaming platform Crave quickly ordered more episodes of the LGBTQ+ drama. But, unfortunately for fans, we now have a wait on our hands before any new chapters arrive. Here's everything we know so far about Heated Rivalry season 2, including comments from showrunner Jacob Tierney and author Rachel Reid. Heated Rivalry season 2 release date speculation Heated Rivalry season 2 does not yet have a confirmed release, but it seems safe to assume that the show's next chapter will be a top priority for Canadian streamer Crave and its US partner HBO Max. The show swiftly earned a renewal in December 2025, amid a massive wave of acclaim and popularity, but showrunner Jacob Tierney admitted later that month that he hadn't started plotting the second season. With any luck, the show will be able to stick to a roughly annual production cycle, which would point to a premiere date in winter 2026, but that's just speculation for the time being. We'll update this page when further details about the Heated Rivalry return date emerge. Heated Rivalry season 2 cast speculation Heated Rivalry season 2 will see the return of Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie as star-crossed ice hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. The pair had only minor screen credits to their name prior to the show's premiere, but are now two of the most in-demand stars in Hollywood, with prolific talent agent CAA scooping them both up. Given the enormous status that the show has developed over the last few months, it wouldn't be surprising to see some prolific cast additions in season 2, but there's no word yet on further casting. Behind-the-camera, pop star Miley Cyrus recently expressed interest in writing a song for the second season, having recently picked up a Golden Globe nomination for her Avatar: Fire and Ash track Dream as One. Meanwhile, Heated Rivalry author Rachel Reid has voiced her support for "more Scott and Kip" in season 2, following the popularity of their relationship, which is a particular focus of the third episode of season 1. Here's a reminder of the main cast of Heated Rivalry: Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander Connor Storrie as Ilya Grigoryevich Rozanov François Arnaud as Scott Hunter Robbie GK as Christopher 'Kip' Grady Christina Chang as Yuna Hollander Dylan Walsh as David Hollander Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova as Svetlana Sergeevna Vetrova Callan Potter as Hayden Pike Matt Gordon as George Grady, Kip's father Sophie Nélisse as Rose Landry Heated Rivalry season 2 plot speculation: What could happen next? Heated Rivalry showrunner Jacob Tierney has teased that season 2 will be based on The Long Game by author Rachel Reid; fittingly, her second book about Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. Although there are six books in the Game Changers series of novels, they follow an anthology format which splits focus between various different gay couples in the world of sport. As a result, Heated Rivalry and The Long Game are currently the only two novels about Shane and Ilya, but a third chapter in their romance story is expected to hit book store shelves in September of this year. On his plans (or lack thereof) for the adaptation, Tierney told Deadline: "I have not started writing, so I'm not just trying to be evasive. I genuinely don't know yet. "I'm so lucky to have a whole world of books here to grab things from, to use, to add colour, to add context, to add story... Heated Rivalry will always be centred around Shane and Ilya, but we have a whole universe here. He added: "There's loads of other things that we're thinking about and that we're gonna explore and that we're gonna start to take more seriously now that we know that there's an audience for it. And that’s pretty exciting." His comments seem to suggest that spin-offs for the likes of Scott Hunter (François Arnaud) and other Game Changers protagonists aren't outside the realm of possibility. But viewers locked into Shane and Ilya's relationship can be assured that they won't be sidelined moving forward. The synopsis for The Long Game, which might offer clues about Heated Rivalry season 2 storylines, reads: "Ten years. That's how long Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov have been seeing each other. How long they’ve been keeping their relationship a secret. "From friends, from family… from the league. If Shane wants to stay at the top of his game, what he and Ilya share has to remain secret. He loves Ilya, but what if going public ruins everything? "Ilya is sick of secrets. Shane has gotten so good at hiding his feelings, sometimes Ilya questions if they even exist. The closeness, the intimacy, even the risk that would come with being open about their relationship… Ilya wants it all. "It's time for them to decide what's most important—hockey or love. It's time to make a call." View oEmbed on the source website That synopsis lines up with what Heated Rivalry star Hudson Williams said he'd like to see from season 2 (via Entertainment Tonight). "I want to see [Shane and Ilya] in a relationship," he said. "We see them get into a relationship, but we don't see them in one. So seeing them deal with s**t that everybody has to deal with would be nice... the real stuff!" In an interview with Variety, author Reid shared her hopes for the future: "Obviously, the focus has to stay on Ilya and Shane. We're not going to do season 2 and it’s a totally different couple. It wouldn't be very popular. "Not that we weren’t expecting it, but I think we're all surprised at how popular Scott and Kip were. So now it's, 'OK, how do you get more Scott and Kip?'" She added: "I think it's going to be mostly The Long Game... but there's another book, Role Model, that kind of overlaps it. So I’m hoping that we’ll get both stories told at the same time." Role Model follows the relationship that blossoms between "grumpy" ice hockey player Troy Barrett, who is "traded to the worst team in the league," but finds solace in the team's "peppy social media manager" Harris Drover. Is there a Heated Rivalry season 2 trailer? Alas, there's no new footage to share just yet – but we'll update this page when that changes. For now, why not refresh your memory of the first season? View Green Video on the source website Heated Rivalry is available on Sky Atlantic and NOW. Add Heated Rivalry to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Kit Harington "angered" by Game of Thrones fans who petitioned for season 8 remake
The Jon Snow actor dismissed the lofty demand as "idiocy".
Kit Harington has revealed he was "genuinely" angry about a petition that went viral in the weeks after Game of Thrones aired its controversial final season. The actor achieved international stardom in the role of Jon Snow, appearing across all eight seasons of the fantasy drama, which was once considered the jewel in HBO's glittering crown. A divisive and generally underwhelming finale tarnished that reputation to a sizeable extent, even prompting a petition for a total reshoot with "competent writers," in a jab at showrunners David Benioff and DB Weiss. In total, that campaign attracted a staggering 1.8 million signatures, which is a powerful illustration of the dissatisfaction felt over the ending that the duo presented. In an interview with The New York Times to mark Industry season 4's premiere, Harington revealed that the outlandish demand left him seething. He recalled: "That genuinely angered me. Like, how dare you? Sorry, that's just how I feel. I think it was a level of idiocy that can only come about through social media." Despite coming to the defence of Benioff and Weiss in this instance, Harington recently distanced himself from the Game of Thrones franchise after years spent developing a Jon Snow-focused spin-off. When asked if he would want to reprise the role in a full cast audiobook, the likes of which Harry Potter has recently received, Harington said firmly: "No, god no. I don't wanna go anywhere near it. I spent 10 years doing that. Thanks, I'm alright." The comments came almost two years after Harington confirmed that the Jon Snow series was dead at HBO, telling ScreenRant that "we all couldn’t find the right story to tell that we were all excited about enough". As for the petition, it should come as no surprise that HBO didn't jump at the chance of remaking Game of Thrones season 8, which is estimated to have cost just shy of $100 million to produce. After the initial hubbub died down, HBO boss Casey Bloys remarked (via Variety): "The petition shows a lot of enthusiasm and passion for the show, but it wasn't something that we seriously considered." Game of Thrones is available on Sky and NOW. Add Game of Thrones to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Does Hugh Laurie appear in The Night Manager season 2?
The actor has a larger role than we were led to believe.
**Warning: major spoilers for The Night Manager season 2 episode 3** The Night Manager season 2 has thrown quite a curve ball at viewers, as the fate of Hugh Laurie's menacing villain Richard Roper is nowhere near what we first imagined. The memorable character was not expected to feature in this belated sequel, with the synopsis actively throwing fans off the scent by stating that Roper was unequivocally dead. However, as Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) returned to his high-stakes undercover work, Roper's fingerprints were all over the business deals of his secret son, Teddy Dos Santos (Diego Calva). Now we know, it's for one good reason: Roper is very much alive! The shocking twist is sure to generate spirited debate, with some viewers celebrating Laurie's return and others left asking whether this is actually a step back for the show. Read more: The Night Manager season 2's shock return is a frustrating twist that could do real damage If you want to find out about Hugh Laurie's role in The Night Manager season 2, or need a reminder of what happened to Roper in the first chapter, read on for a full rundown of the key details. Does Hugh Laurie appear in The Night Manager season 2? Yes, Hugh Laurie does appear in The Night Manager season 2, which includes major revelations about his character's true fate. The actor earned acclaim for his portrayal of Richard Roper in season 1, but initially, his role in the follow-up was said to be limited to behind-the-camera duties as an executive producer. This quickly proved false, however, as Laurie appeared on camera for a short-yet-impactful cameo in the season 2 premiere. The appearance centred around a grim reunion for Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) and Angela Burr (Olivia Colman) in Syria, where they are summoned to identify the body of their late nemesis. Years later, when Jonathan learns of a potential successor to Roper's criminal empire, he suffers an eerie flashback to that day, in which we get a closer look at Laurie's dishevelled character – with chilling audio from season 1 playing over the top. It isn't until the tail-end of episode 3 that we learn Roper is actually still alive in the present day and still operating as a trader on the illegal arms market, meaning that the aforementioned identification scene must have been a clever ruse. What happened to Richard Roper in The Night Manager? <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2023/03/1459104320-10270812-low-res-the-night-manager-dd06252.jpg" width="1403" height="936" alt="The cast of The Night Manager (L-R) Tom Hollander, Olivia Colman, Tom Hiddleston, Elizabeth Debicki and Hugh Laurie – they are stood in a row wearing formal clothing and facing the camera" title="1459104320-10270812-low-res-the-night-manager" /> Richard Roper was abducted by his former business partners at the end of The Night Manager season 1, after Jonathan Pine sabotaged a major deal that lost them a fortune. Working undercover for Burr's overlooked International Enforcement Agency, Pine assumed the identity of a career criminal to successfully gain Roper's trust, all in a high-risk bid to bring down his illegal arms dealing business. By the end of the season, Roper had finally detected Pine's treachery, but by this point, the inside man and his handler, Angela Burr, were already a few steps ahead – and their plan ended in spectacular fashion. At a handover in the desert, Roper presents truckloads of lethal weaponry to his buyers, which they had purchased for an eye-watering sum days earlier, paid to a shell company registered in Pine's name (before it was sullied). Little does he know, however, that Pine had leant on contacts in Cairo to rig the trucks with explosives, while also moving the enormous payment to another account beyond Roper's reach. Therefore, when the weapons blew up before their eyes, the arms dealer had insufficient funds to offer recompense to his furious buyers; meanwhile, Angela rescued his abused partner Jed (Elizabeth Debicki), who had been used as leverage. Despite all these blows to his operation, Roper remained smugly convinced that he'd be able to worm his way out of this predicament. That is, until his police convoy was hijacked by his own militant buyers, which sent him into a hysterical panic. The Night Manager season 2 confirms that these unhappy customers had imprisoned Roper for four years, when he was thought to have been killed. However, it now appears that reports of his death were greatly exaggerated. The Night Manager season 2 is currently airing on BBC One and iPlayer. Consult our release schedule for when to expect the next episode. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add The Night Manager to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
The Night Manager season 2's shock return is a frustrating twist that could do real damage
Pine is horrified to be reunited with a ghost from his past – and so am I, but for different reasons.
**Warning: major spoilers for The Night Manager season 2 episode 3.** Do not adjust your set: the wild, yet grimly predictable, resurrection of Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie) really just happened. If you don't know how to feel, join the club – we have biscuits. Tonight's episode of The Night Manager saw Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) delve deeper into the murky affairs of his latest target, Teddy Dos Santos (Diego Calva), who he'd already learned is the secret son of his late nemesis. As if that wasn't a strong enough link to season 1, screenwriter David Farr tightens ties to the point of near-strangulation in episode 3, when it emerges that Teddy's business partner is, in fact, dear old dad himself. Operating under the stolen identity of Gilberto Hanson, who died many years earlier, Roper is still up to his old tricks – and emphasis on 'old', as his modus operandi seems not to have changed even slightly in the decade since. It speaks to a lack of ingenuity that, I'm afraid to say, also permeates the scripts, which were already feeling overly familiar prior to this bizarre twist. Suffice to say, Roper's return seems unlikely to generate points of difference. Of course, an inability to allows stories to end or characters to rest is endemic in today's pop culture landscape. It's why you see the same exhausted film franchises continuing to limp along, or once-celebrated TV shows painfully outstaying their welcome. But if The Night Manager season 2's very existence was questionable, its prologue seemed like a step in the right direction. We saw Roper's corpse laid out on a slab for Angela Burr (Olivia Colman) to identify, in what then appeared to be a powerful statement of intent. The definitive end of one chapter, and the start of another. In light of Laurie's spritely return at the tail-end of episode 3, it now plays like the cheapest of misdirects; one that will presumably be hand-waved away, perhaps by some kind of pulse-slowing tranquilliser or other cartoonish deception. Much like Disney's depressing Star Wars sequels sap any joy from Return of the Jedi's ending – stop celebrating, guys! – this unnecessary addendum nullifies all satisfaction from The Night Manager season 1's final moments. Watching Roper's smugness devolve into panic as his police van is hijacked by aggrieved clients, seemingly intent on torturing and killing him, unlocked a little sadism in us all (albeit, only a small sliver of what the wicked crook himself contained). We basked in Angela's triumph over the man that had caused untold misery to innocent people around the world – and cast such an ominous shadow over her own life. Alas, we can do so no longer. The revelation that Roper not only survived, but restored his status in the illegal arms trade, devalues The Night Manager's first season – and perhaps even more frustratingly, it points to a lack of confidence in the show's new antagonist. As mentioned in my review, the electric chemistry between Calva and Hiddleston has been one of the most intriguing things about The Night Manager season 2, presenting an opportunity for Farr's derivative sequel to really blaze its own trail. Now though, there's good reason to worry that Teddy will be relegated to a secondary position as the prodigal father returns. After all, Pine obviously isn't going to just shrug off the reemergence of his most bitter foe. Suddenly, this is a rematch. If Farr wanted to have his cake and eat it too (i.e. keep Roper around, while maintaining Teddy's position), it would have made more sense to restrict Laurie's role to flashbacks. After episode 2, things seemed to be heading in that direction, as we caught a glimpse of Teddy's father visiting him as a boy, but the camera ultimately stopped short of revealing a younger Roper. Still, it's a period that seemed ripe for revisiting in scenes that could give Laurie time to shine as his charismatic menace, while also enriching Teddy's backstory and fleshing out the nature of their father-son relationship. Of course, the BBC doesn't have the money to digitally de-age actors as Hollywood now prefers, but switching up Laurie's hairstyle and shooting from creative angles would probably have been enough to hold these scenes together. Instead, simply cutting and pasting Roper into season 2's present day storyline – and doing so more or less exactly as we remember him – is infinitely less interesting. Unfortunately, it seems poised to undercut Teddy, rather than elevate him. View Green Video on the source website That said, it's important to note that these doubts are, admittedly, only a knee-jerk reaction to this development. I haven't seen any more of The Night Manager season 2 than you have, and it's quite possible that Farr will justify this return in a blistering second half. In which case, I will happily eat my proverbial hat. But it's also valid to be sceptical about an entertainment ecosystem increasingly dependent on recycling old ideas, perpetuating intellectual property and whipping out well-known stars in their most beloved roles. At this point, we've done this dance many times and it often ends with toes being stamped on. Hopefully, The Night Manager season 2 can move as gracefully as its leading man. The Night Manager season 2 airs on Sundays at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer. 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