Daredevil boss offers advice on Matthew Lillard fan theories: "That wasn't on the page"
Dario Scardapane and Sana Amanat addressed the rampant speculation among fans.
Daredevil: Born Again showrunner Dario Scardapane is tempering expectations for Matthew Lillard's grand entrance into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The actor has been enjoying a rather busy period lately, defying Quentin Tarantino's viral criticism with roles in The Life of Chuck, Scream 7, Cross and the upcoming Carrie remake. In addition, he joins Daredevil: Born Again season 2 as the mysterious Mr Charles, who has been the subject of speculation since relatively few details have been disclosed about him. Naturally, that secrecy has stirred up theories that he could be a famous comic book character in disguise, but head writer Scardapane ruled out that possibility in an interview with Radio Times. "I think the cat's out of the bag: just enjoy the character. He's somebody that I wrote from whole cloth specifically for Matt Lillard," he explained. "I'll tear the band aid off: if you're expecting him to be somebody from the larger MCU, that wasn't on the page." Daredevil: Born Again executive producer Sana Amanat interjected: "That doesn't necessarily mean he's not connected to it." Scardapane responded, intriguingly: "He's definitely connected to the larger MCU, but he is not a hidden character." It's a necessary point to clarify as fan theories have engulfed and seriously detracted from earlier Marvel projects, including fellow Disney+ series WandaVision, which was plagued by rumours that it would introduce Mephisto or Reed Richards. When neither appearance materialised, it left a sour taste in the mouths of some excited viewers, so it's arguably better to settle these questions early than to let them linger. In a separate interview with MovieWeb, Lillard had clarified that he does "not wear any lycra of any kind" in Daredevil: Born Again, dashing hopes that he could emerge as a costumed supervillain. He continued: "[Scardapane] built something that he was really excited about sharing, and I couldn't be happier to be a part of it. I really love that world. It fits perfectly with the tone I bring as an actor." View Green Video on the source website Lillard and Scardapane have actually been friends for more than a decade, having first crossed paths on a US crime drama called The Bridge, which ran for two seasons on FX between 2013 and 2014. Since then, the creatives have kept in touch – partly, through a Dungeons & Dragons group they both play in (as reported by GamesRadar+). "I'm always really interested in... scary and evil [characters], who just seems like totally regular guys," Scardapane hinted to the publication of Lillard's role, adding that George Clooney's performance in 2005's Syriana fits in the same category. We'll learn more about Mr Charles (and his mysterious 'connections') in the coming weeks as Daredevil: Born Again rolls out its second season on Disney+. Daredevil: Born Again is available to stream on Disney+. Sign-up to Disney+ from £5.99 a month. Add Daredevil: Born Again 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.
Russell T Davies's groundbreaking It's a Sin to be revisited in a "visceral" new format
The hard-hitting series will break hearts all over again on stage.
Acclaimed Channel 4 drama It's a Sin is being reinterpreted for a bold new format. Contemporary dance company Rambert is teaming up with Factory International to mount a stage version of the deeply affecting story, which explored how the AIDS crisis ravaged a group of friends – and the wider LGBTQ+ community – in the 1980s. The original version starred Years & Years singer Olly Alexander as Ritchie Tozer, who went from a quiet life in a small English town to the dynamic gay scene of London, where he could finally be himself openly. Tragically, what begins as a magical period of his life descends into a nightmare, as the reality of the AIDS crisis gradually becomes apparent and strikes mercilessly close to home. Omari Douglas, Callum Scott Howells, David Carlyle, Nathaniel Curtis and Lydia West also starred in the five-part drama, although there's no word yet on the cast of the stage version, which is in the early stages of development. "Raw, euphoric and deeply moving, It’s a Sin will be a visceral theatrical experience," promises Rambert in its announcement. "A reckoning and a celebration told through fearless movement. Clubs pulse with possibility. Friendships ignite. Fear edges closer. Lives are changed forever." It's a Sin writer Russell T Davies will serve as an executive producer on the adaptation, alongside legendary pop duo The Pet Shop Boys and Sink the Pink's Glyn Fussell. Choreography will be handled by Rambert's Benoit Swan Pouffer, who will also direct, while Kaite O'Reilly will pen the script for the stage version. Pouffer said: "This is a story we feel compelled to tell right now, and collaborating with Russell – one of the most powerful storytellers of our time – is incredibly exciting. "Together we're exploring how dance can carry urgent, emotional narratives in a visceral way. I can't wait to share this with audiences." View Green Video on the source website Davies commented: "It's a Sin was such a special show for me, and it's one of the greatest honours of my life to have it transformed by Rambert into something new and exciting." The Pet Shop Boys added: "The original TV drama was a landmark series which compellingly presented the reality and tragedy of the AIDS crisis to a mass audience. "Our song, It's a Sin, was contemporary with the crisis and we are proud to be involved as this important story is interpreted in a different medium." There's no opening date for the It's a Sin stage production just yet, but the first performance will take place at Aviva Studios in Manchester, with plans for more across the UK and Europe – you can sign up to receive updates from Rambert now. It's a Sin is available to stream on Channel 4 online and Disney+. Add It's a Sin 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.
5 standout moments from Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer - from Zendaya return to dangerous new villains
The jaw-dropping trailer has given us a lot to talk about.
Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures have done the impossible with Spider-Man: Brand New Day, evading the leaks and spoilers that plague so many comic book blockbusters to cook up a genuine surprise for fans. Even after the Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer, which launched today to great excitement (and you can watch above), there are still more questions than answers about what to expect from Tom Holland's fourth solo film as the beloved superhero. Picking up after the events of 2021's No Way Home, we see Peter Parker (Holland) forced to fend for himself for the first time, after the entire world forgot he existed due to a powerful spell from Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch). In a fan-friendly move, it tears the character away from the high-tech comforts of Stark Industries, dropping him into a highly comics-accurate status quo of taking down street-level baddies in his local neighbourhood. Following a stellar first trilogy in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), there's reason to be optimistic for this bold new era, with acclaimed Shang-Chi director and Wonder Man co-creator Destin Daniel Cretton taking the reins from earlier filmmaker Jon Watts. If you're as excited as we are, you're in the right place! Here you'll find all the key takeaways from the Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer broken down with expert analysis. Now, how many minutes away is July? 1. Tom Holland and Zendaya reunite After weeks of rumours regarding their marital status (not that it should matter to anyone but them), real-life couple Tom Holland and Zendaya will be relieved to have something else to talk about in their next media appearance. That is their long-awaited on-screen reunion as Peter Parker and MJ, whose relationship was sadly torn apart at the end of No Way Home, as the former made a noble sacrifice to keep the barriers between multiverses from disintegrating. A spell concocted by Doctor Strange wiped all memory of Peter from the universe, restoring his secret identity, but nullifying even his closest relationships in the process. Some time later, Peter still appears heartbroken by his loss of MJ, who seems to be getting on rather well at university, where she claims to be the happiest she's ever been. Ouch. Not the kind to just give up, Peter does appear to be creeping back into her social circle. The trailer ends with a somewhat awkward meeting between them at a house party, where the ice is broken (again). But will it stir up any of those lost memories? 2. What's happening to Peter Parker? Arguably more intriguing is the suggestion that Peter is undergoing some kind of mutation to his very DNA, not dissimilar to that which real spiders go through (as per the narration – I cannot tell you if it's scientifically accurate). There are two moments in particular that are sure to stir up speculation in this regard. First, we see a scantily clad Peter hanging from a building, with only some webbing around his waist to hold him in place. Intriguingly, he's lacking his wrist-worn web shooters, which has led some to speculate whether he could start producing web organically, as was the case with Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker (who explained as much to Holland's version in No Way Home). These changes do appear to be taking their toll on poor ol' Pete, who later stares ominously down the camera with his eyes turned fully black and red. One possible explanation could be symbiote shenanigans. Viewers will remember that, when Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock was temporarily (and uneventfully) transported to the MCU, he accidentally left a tiny sliver of Venom symbiote behind. Could that have found its way to Peter Parker, whose image Venom enthusiastically licked in the Let There Be Carnage post-credits scene? I'm starting to think I've seen too many of these movies. 3. Dangerous villains strike: The Scorpion, Boomerang and... The Hand? Without doubt, one of the biggest questions hanging over Spider-Man: Brand New Day remains who exactly the 'main' villain is. This trailer doesn't answer that, but does give us some (surprising) candidates. We see Spider-Man in a brief scrap with Frank Castle aka The Punisher, but despite their moral disagreements, he's more of an antihero these days than chief antagonist material (as shown recently in Daredevil: Born Again). Throughout the trailer, we get glimpses of B-tier villains like Scorpion (Michael Mando, returning from Homecoming) and even Boomerang (see top of page, actor TBC), seen hurling his projectiles in an airborne encounter with Spidey. These inclusions will delight Spider-Man fans, for whom a large part of the character's appeal is his day-to-day crimefighting, but they don't exactly scream 'high-stakes blockbuster villain'. Instead, a psychic or paranormal menace could fill that role... An as-yet-unexplained moment in the Brand New Day trailer sees Spider-Man rescue an older woman from a crashed vehicle, whose consciousness seems to hop from that body to a nearby armoured soldier. This unknown entity smirks at Spider-Man from this body, before viscerally jumping again to another nearby individual, as the voiceover (from Severance's Tramell Tillman) warns of a danger we "can't control" or "even see". In a further twist, ruthless ninja clan The Hand (previously seen in Marvel's Daredevil and The Defenders) appear to be in New York City again, raising the possibility of this unidentified enemy being demonic or mystical in nature. But who could take the role of such a powerful antagonist? That's yet another of Brand New Day's enticing mysteries. 4. Bruce Banner's return is finally confirmed... Although widely reported in the press, Mark Ruffalo had been somewhat coy about confirming his return for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, so it's good to see that we can finally put that small matter to bed. In-keeping with Strange's spell, Bruce Banner has no memory of the plucky kid he fought alongside in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, but does lend some advice to a worried Peter regarding his uncontrollable mutations. Ruffalo previously worked with Brand New Day director Destin Daniel Cretton on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, where he appeared in a post-credits scene alongside other Avengers favourites. However, this marks the first time in many years that Banner has reverted to his regular human persona, after an extended stint as 'Smart Hulk' or 'Professor Hulk' depending on your preferred nickname. 5. ... but where is Sadie Sink? Several members of the Spider-Man: Brand New Day cast remain unaccounted for, but arguably, the actor of most interest to Marvel fans is Stranger Things star Sadie Sink. The internet went into meltdown speculating who the star might be playing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with guesses ranging from burglar Black Cat to mutant Jean Grey and from superhero Firestar to love interest Gwen Stacy. After this trailer, we're still none the wiser, with Sink yet to make an on-screen appearance. Could she be playing the shapeless body-hopping entity that we see wreaking havoc earlier on? Or might she be the hooded individual facing away from us (see above), who boastfully gestures before a high-tech set up designed for who knows what? For now, we can't know, but expect theories and rumours to only intensify as we get closer to Brand New Day's summer premiere. Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into cinemas on 31 July 2026. Check out more of our Sci-fi and Film 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 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.
Invincible season 5 release date speculation, cast and latest news
Prime Video's hit superhero animation Invincible only recently returned with its fourth season, but it hasn't taken long for attention to turn to the upcoming fifth entry. The good news is: it's happening! The streaming platform handed Invincible an advance renewal before a single episode of season 4 had launched, showing enormous confidence in the project, with all voice roles being recorded in full last summer. That savvy planning allowed the show's animators to start working their magic nice and early, with an eye to keeping the wait between seasons to an absolute minimum. In short, there's reason to be optimistic that Invincible season 5 will bring the series back to the late winter/early spring release window it has carved out in recent years – here's everything we know so far. Invincible season 5 release date speculation Invincible season 5 is confirmed to be on its way to Prime Video, although the streaming platform is yet to announce exactly when it will be released. The animated series was renewed in summer 2025, but the decision would probably have been made some time earlier, given that the new episodes had been fully recorded by the time of the announcement. The news took the form of a star-studded behind the scenes video, which saw the likes of Steven Yeun, Walton Goggins and Gillian Jacobs enjoying another unpredictable read through. View oEmbed on the source website As for when the episodes will be released, Invincible has overcome its early delays to establish a pretty consistent annual schedule, which suggests that season 5 is probably going to be streaming from February or March 2027. That's just speculation for now, though – we'll update this page when concrete details emerge. Invincible season 5 cast: New and returning <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/03/invincible-season-4-b95c668.jpg" width="2000" height="1333" alt="Allen The Alien (Seth Rogen), Invincible (Steven Yeun), Great Thaedus (Peter Cullen), Oliver Grayson (Christian Convery), Omni-Man (JK Simmons) and Battle Beast (Michael Dorn) in Invincible season 4; the characters are seen standing in a large room with a shimmery silver back wall" title="invincible-season-4" /> Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh and JK Simmons will reprise their roles for Invincible season 5, playing the highly dysfunctional Grayson family, comprised of son Mark, mother Debbie and father Nolan (aka Omni-Man). As confirmed by a recent behind-the-scenes clip, Invincible season 5 will also feature Walton Goggins (Cecil), Gillian Jacobs (Atom Eve), Jonathan Banks (Brit), Clancy Brown (Damien Darkblood), Ben Schwartz (The Shapesmith) and executive producer Seth Rogen (Allen the Alien), among others. The promo also revealed that Matthew Rhys, best known for FX's The Americans, HBO's Perry Mason and Netflix's The Beast in Me, would be joining the Invincible cast. He is reportedly playing Dr David Anders and his destructive alter-ego Dinosaurus (according to Comic Basics). Here's a reminder of the key players in Prime Video's Invincible: Steven Yeun as Mark Grayson aka Invincible Sandra Oh as Debbie Grayson JK Simmons as Nolan Grayson aka Omni-Man Gillian Jacobs as Atom Eve Seth Rogen as Allen the Alien Walton Goggins as Cecil Lee Pace as Thragg Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Conquest Jason Mantzoukas as Rex Splode Zazie Beetz as Amber Chris Diamantopoulos as Isotope Ross Marquand as various Andrew Rannells as William Kevin Michael Richardson as The Mauler Twins Ben Schwartz as The Shapesmith Clancy Brown as Damien Darkblood Mark Hamill as Art Rosenbaum Matthew Rhys as Dr David Anders aka Dinosaurus Danai Gurira as Universa Malese Jow as Dupli-Kate What is Invincible season 5 about? There are few available plot details about Invincible season 5 just yet, but of course, the show will continue adapting Robert Kirkman's celebrated comic book series. The pages of the source material would be your best bet for clues on what's to come in the TV version, with massive compendiums from Image Comics collecting the series in bulk. You can find them from Amazon or other booksellers. Is there a trailer for Invincible season 5? There isn't just yet, but we'll update this page when that changes. Invincible is available to stream on Prime Video. Sign up for Amazon Prime for £8.99 a month. Add Invincible 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.
Daredevil: Born Again boss explains controversial choice for Jessica Jones return
Dario Scardapane and Sana Amanat discussed the character's return – and whether we can expect a power upgrade.
Daredevil: Born Again showrunner Dario Scardapane has addressed a sure-to-be controversial choice for the reintroduction of Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter). Fans have already waited years for the character to reappear, following the cancellation of her Netflix series in 2019 and the subsequent absorption of certain elements into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) shows on Disney+. Alas, they're going to have to be patient for a little while longer, as Ritter's no-nonsense private investigator and vigilante is notable only by her absence in the early episodes of Daredevil: Born Again season 2. It's a creative choice that holds the potential to frustrate some viewers, but showrunner Dario Scardapane told Radio Times that it was essential to make sure the return was done right. "Jessica Jones coming into our world needed to be, for lack of a better word, part of the story," he began. "You have a situation where vigilantes are being hunted... What's the reaction that particular vigilante is going to have to being hunted?" View Green Video on the source website Scardapane continued: "If you've seen to the end of episode 4, you kind of have an idea of what's happening. We needed to get to a certain part of the story before Jessica coming in would make perfect sense." Born Again season 2 takes viewers back to New York City under the tyrannical rule of Mayor Wilson Fisk (Vincent D'Onofrio), better known by his criminal pseudonym Kingpin. Although his public image remains carefully curated, Fisk hasn't laid any of his grudges to rest, with an anti-vigilante task force being founded at the end of season 1 to keep the likes of Jessica and Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) in check. Jessica is, in theory, one of the more powerful characters on Marvel's "street-level" hero roster, although you may not have got that impression from her Netflix series, where feats of strength mainly involved breaking locks and doors. Scardapane, who previously worked on Netflix's two-season The Punisher series, confirmed that Born Again does indeed have a larger budget than its precursors on the rival streaming platform – but will that result in flashier powers for Jessica? "Everything feels a bit more grounded [in Born Again]," said executive producer Sana Amanat. "And we intentionally want to do that. We don't want to necessarily start having bright magic, shiny powers running around." That said, Amanat did promise that "we're going to do some cool things" with Jessica Jones, including some "story-specific" exploration of what precisely her superhuman abilities are. Daredevil: Born Again is the second live-action MCU project of the year, following January's Wonder Man and preceding this summer's Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which remains shrouded in total mystery. Daredevil: Born Again launches on Disney+ UK on Wednesday 25 March 2026. Sign-up to Disney+ from £5.99 a month. Add Daredevil: Born Again 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.
Coronation Street and more stars confirmed for special Amandaland sketch in Comic Relief
Amanda is rubbing shoulders with celebrities in the new sketch – but will it end in another humbling embarrassment?
Amandaland's place in the pantheon of modern sitcoms is to be cemented with an exciting sketch for Comic Relief 2026, which brings together some of TV's most notable Amandas. Series regulars Lucy Punch and Philippa Dunne will reprise the roles of snobby suburbanite Amanda and her mistreated 'best friend' Anne, in a short story that sees the duo invited to BBC Broadcasting House for an interview with Sara Cox. Alas, things don't go quite according to plan as "mix-ups, misunderstandings, and classic slapstick humour" ensue, involving other famous Amandas from across the length and breadth of British telly. Confirmed names to feature include Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden, property expert Amanda Lamb, Coronation Street legend Amanda Barrie, TV presenter Amanda Byram and recent The Traitors contestant Amanda Collier. The sketch will premiere as part of the Comic Relief telethon, which commences on Friday 20th March at 7pm on BBC One, iPlayer and YouTube, with a behind-the-scenes teaser to be unveiled on Thursday night's edition of The One Show. "Doing a sketch for Comic Relief is pretty iconic, so that's a big deal," said co-star Dunne. "I'm looking forward to working with Lucy again, meeting all the Amandas, being inside the BBC building and having a nose around – not that I'll be doing that!" She continued: "Any chance to do a bit of Amanda and Anne stuff is always fun as far as I'm concerned... We just have the utmost fun when we're doing those two characters because we get to be silly, so it's really nice." Holden commented: "I am a massive, massive fan of Amandaland. We watch it religiously in our house, so it's a little bit of an out of body experience for me, especially because my name gets mentioned in the sitcom quite a bit!" Also taking part in the fun is Cox, who plays herself as one of the BBC's most trusted radio presenters, plus It's A Sin and Big Mood star Lydia West as her "overwhelmed" producer and Lucia Keskin (Things You Should Have Done) as a production runner. "The money raised this Red Nose Day could help people access food, shelter and safety – the vital essentials everyone needs to survive," explained the BBC in today's announcement. Cox added: "Whether it is donating or fundraising, [Red Nose Day] is an opportunity for the nation to come together and show that simple acts of silliness can make a serious difference." Details on how to get involved can be found on the Comic Relief website. Amandaland is certainly a strong partner for Comic Relief, given it was comfortably the BBC's top comedy of 2025, which included a well-received Christmas special. Season 2 is also on the way. The series follows Punch's eponymous character, who debuted in Motherland, at a later point in life, raising her now-teenage son and exploring new relationships post-divorce. Amandaland is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Check out more of our Comedy 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 Amandaland 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.
Invincible season 4 cast: Full list of actors and characters
More brutal action and unpredictable twists await in the fourth chapter of Robert Kirkman's animated series.
Invincible is back! After only a year away from our screens, Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) is about to be put through another gruelling ordeal in his superhero double-life. The (strictly) adult animated series has gone from strength-to-strength since its belated second season, finding a confident stride in terms of both storytelling and release pattern. Likewise, Mark himself has become a more competent and formidable hero before our eyes, having been forced to step up to the plate earlier than expected following the stunning betrayal of his father, Omni-Man (JK Simmons). Based on the comic books by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman, Invincible has never failed to attract A-list talent to its cast – and season 4 is no exception! Lee Pace (Foundation), Danai Gurira (Black Panther) and Matthew Rhys (The Beast in Me) are making their series debuts, alongside a long list of returning favourites. If you're as excited as we are, read on to find out more about the Invincible season 4 cast. Invincible seasons 1-4 cast and characters You can find a brief guide to the Invincible cast below – and scroll on for more detailed profiles on each character and actor, including where you might have seen them before. Steven Yeun as Mark Grayson/Invincible Sandra Oh as Debbie Grayson JK Simmons as Nolan Grayson/Omni-Man Lee Pace as Thragg Danai Gurira as Universa Matthew Rhys as Dinosaurus Gillian Jacobs as Eve Wilkins/Atom Eve Andrew Rannells as William Clockwell Walton Goggins as Cecil Stedman Chris Diamantopoulos as Donald Ferguson Ross Farquand as The Immortal, Rudy Connors Jason Mantzoukas as Rex Splode Grey Griffin as Shrinking Rae Jay Pharoah as Bulletproof Ben Schwartz as The Shapesmith Kevin Michael Richardson as The Mauler Twins Mark Hamill as Art Rosenbaum Seth Rogen as Allen the Alien Clancy Brown as Damien Darkblood Sterling K Brown as Angstrom Levy Mahershala Ali as Titan Michael Dorn as Battle Beast Aaron Paul as Powerplex Simu Liu as Multi-Paul Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Conquest Jonathan Banks as Brit Kate Mara as Becky Duvall Xolo Maridueña as Fightmaster & Dropkick John DiMaggio as The Elephant Tzi Ma as Mr Liu Doug Bradley as The Technicians Christian Convery as Oliver Grayson View Affiliate Playlist on the source website Steven Yeun voices Mark Grayson / Invincible Who is Mark Grayson? Mark is of course, the titular Invincible himself, the 17-year-old son of Debbie and Nolan Grayson who has been grappling not only with how to become a superhero but also the shocking revelation of the truth of his father's presence of Earth in the season 1 finale. The synopsis for Invincible season 4 teases that Mark will have been "changed" by the events of the previous run, which ended in catastrophe, fuelling him to once again stand up and fight "to protect his home and the people he loves". Where have I seen Steven Yeun before? You probably known Yeun for his role as delivery boy Glenn Rhee in The Walking Dead, before going on to independent film fare like Burning, Okja, Sorry to Bother You and Minari, for which he was Academy Award-nominated. More recently, he faced off against Ali Wong in hit revenge thriller Beef (which earned both actors Emmys for their electric performances), before teaming up with legendary director Bong Joon-ho for Mickey 17. Earlier this year, he joined Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in Netflix original film The Rip. Lee Pace voices Thragg Who is Thragg? Thragg holds the title of Grand Regent of the Viltrum Empire. What else has Lee Pace been in? Pace currently plays a leading role on Apple TV's visually dazzling sci-fi series Foundation, which is based on the novels by Isaac Asimov. He'd previously ventured out into deep space for Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain Marvel, where he played menacing villain Ronan the Accuser. Pace's other noteworthy credits include The Hobbit trilogy, tech drama Halt and Catch Fire, plus cult favourite comedy Pushing Daisies. Danai Gurira voices Universa Who is Universa? An extraterrestrial threat who, by the looks of the first-look image above, will come to blows against Atom Eve. What else has Danai Gurira been in? Gurira's two most iconic roles are that of Michonne in The Walking Dead, which she recently reprised for miniseries The Ones Who Live, and Wakandan soldier Okoye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Coming up, she'll be seen in heist film The Thomas Crown Affair (directed by recent Oscar winner Michael B Jordan) as well as Apple TV's adaptation of the Matchbox toy brand. Matthew Rhys voices Dinosaurus AKA David Anders Who is Dinosaurus? Dinosaurus is the alter-ego of David Anders, who can transform into a prehistoric beast at will. What else has Matthew Rhys been in? Rhys is probably best known for his acclaimed Cold War thriller The Americans, where he co-starred with Keri Russell, whom he later married in real-life. Previously, the actor had been known to viewers from US family drama Brothers & Sisters. More recently, he took on the title role for HBO's Perry Mason reimagining, before stepping into a sinister light for Netflix miniseries The Beast in Me, where he played a man accused of murdering his wife. He also appeared in BBC One's recent Agatha Christie adaptation Towards Zero. Sandra Oh voices Debbie Grayson Who is Debbie Grayson? Debbie is Mark's mother who was one of the only people in the world to know the double life of her husband, keeping his identity a secret alongside becoming a successful and experienced real estate agent. In season 2, we saw the long-term damage that Nolan's betrayal left on the Grayson family, with Debbie reluctantly joining a superhero support group – only to discover Nolan is responsible for most of the grieving individuals' pain there. To make matters worse, it seemed as though Mark is pulling away from her, leaving Debbie feeling very lonely. Where have I seen Sandra Oh before? If you're a Grey's Anatomy fan, you'll immediately recognize Oh as Dr. Cristina Yang, or potentially as Eve Polastri from BBC's Killing Eve. She's also a well-versed voice actor, lending her vocals to the likes of American Dragon@ Jake Long, The Proud Family, Phineas and Ferb, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power amongst many others. JK Simmons voices Nolan Grayson / Omni-Man Who is Nolan Grayson? Nolan is, or rather was, Invincible's equivalent of Superman as the archetypal hero of the world and member of the Guardians of the Globe... until he savagely murdered all of them, turned on Earth and was narrowly beaten by his own son, leaving him to flee his position as the installed Earth-based Viltrumite. Since then, he started up another family on the planet of Thraxa, giving Mark an unexpected half-brother in the form of Oliver Grayson. Where have I seen JK Simmons before? Everyone knows J.K. Simmons from something - Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, Juno, La La Land, Jennifer's Body, Burn After Reading, Law & Order, Counterpart, the list goes on and on. He's one of the best genre and character actors currently working. Gillian Jacobs voices Eve Wilkins / Atom Eve Who is Atom Eve? Also known by her human name as Samantha 'Eve' Wilkins, Atom Eve is one of Invincible's fellow teenaged superheroes and also one of his class-and-university mates. Eve is actually one of the show's most superpowered beings, with the ability to rearrange the molecules of anything into anything else – it's a little confusing to explain, but in practice, it makes total sense. In season 2, we see that just like Mark, she's still struggling to get used to the life of a superhero, as she fights with her parents and also engages in a reckless battle with a B-tier supervillain on a bridge, leading to a near-fatal accident involving civilians. In the comics, Eve becomes a very important character for Mark as he gets older, so it'll be interesting to see how much the show follows the same path. Where have I seen Gillian Jacobs before? Most people were likely introduced to Jacobs through Community, where she played eternal buzzkill Britta Perry - she's also had turns in the likes of Netflix's Love as Mickey Dobbs as well as Mimi-Rose Howard in HBO's Girls. Recently, she's appeared in the likes of Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, The Bear and Transatlantic. Jeffrey Dean Morgan voices Conquest Who is Conquest? Introduced in season 2 episode 7, Conquest is an iconic comic book villain, a grizzled war veteran of the Viltrumite empire who faces up to Mark. Where have I seen Jeffrey Dean Morgan before? Jeffrey Dean Morgan is best known for playing Negan in The Walking Dead. He's also appeared in Supernatural, Grey's Anatomy and The Boys. Andrew Rannells voices William Clockwell Who is William Clockwell? William is Mark's 'guy in the chair', to borrow a phrase from the MCU's Ned Leeds. He's Mark's best friend and also one of the only people in the world to know his double life as the crime-fighting Invincible. He's also aware of the real truth behind what happened with Nolan around the time that Omni-Man went rogue, whereas most of the world believed that Nolan perished in an accident caused by Omni-Man's destruction around that time. Where have I seen Andrew Rannells before? Rannells is an acclaimed stage actor, best known for his role of Elder Kevin Price in Trey Parker and Matt Stone's The Book of Mormon opposite Josh Gad. He's also appeared in the likes of Hairspray, Jersey Boys, Hedwig and the Angry Itch and Hamilton, and most recently can be seen reuniting with Gad in Gutenberg: The Musical. His other non-stage work includes voicing Matthew MacDell on Netflix's Big Mouth, Veneer in Trolls: Band Together and a lot of English anime dubs. Walton Goggins voices Cecil Stedman Who is Cecil Stedman? Cecil heads the GDA - better known as the Global Defence Agency – which is essentially Invincible's version of SHIELD. It's a secret organisation that oversees all of the superheroes in the world, providing them with advanced tech, intel and assistance on intergalactic operations. Their number one was Omni-Man – now, Mark will have to do. Where have I seen Walton Goggins before? While Goggins's early career includes stints in The Next Karate Kid, Joy Ride, and House of 1000 Corpses, he really rose to fame as Detective Shane Vendrell on The Shield. He followed that up with the villainous Boyd Crowder on Justified as well as comedic heel-turns in Vice Principals and The Righteous Gemstones, both opposite Danny McBride. He also played a minor villain in Marvel's Ant-Man and the Wasp in 2018. More recently, Goggins's star has ascended even higher following an acclaimed turn opposite Aimee Lou Wood in The White Lotus season 3, and a transformative appearance as post-apocalyptic bounty hunter The Ghoul in Prime Video's Fallout. Ross Marquand voices The Immortal and Rudy Connors Who is The Immortal? The clue being in the name, The Immortal is an ancient superhero who is unable to be killed unless he is decapitated. He has a rich and vibrant personal history, having through a number of significant historical events including the Crusades, and supposedly became Abraham Lincoln at one point before going on to form the Guardians of the Globe. The Immortal in season 2 has become the new Guardians' leader, having been resurrected by Cecil after Robot's inability to lead the team functionally. He has a clear distrust of Invincible due to him being Nolan's son, which may lead to some unfriendly sparring down the line. Who is Rudy Connors? Rudy Connors is the human host of the hero known as 'Robot' - for a long time, he was a pretty mutated boy kept alive via an advanced healing tank, leading to the necessity of Robot to experience the world. However, after pinching a sample of Rex Splode's DNA and recruiting the help of the Mauler Twins, Robot was able to clone himself a human body, leading to none other than Rudy Connors. In Season 2, it's clear that Rudy has spent so much time in Robot form that he's still getting used to how to be human - handling emotions, asking out the likes of Monster Girl on a date. Comics fans will know that Rudy and Robot play a huge role in Invincible's future, so for now, keep a close eye on him. Where have I seen Ross Marquand before? Similar to Rhee, Marquand had his big outing first in The Walking Dead as Aaron. Since then, he's landed voice work on the strength of his vast array of impressions, including portraying Red Skull in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame (taking over the role from Hugo Weaving). Jason Mantzoukas voices Rex Splode Who is Rex Splode? The most hot-headed of the Guardians of the Globe in more ways than one, teenaged Rex Splode has the ability to turn anything into an explosive device at the touch of his fingertips. More often than not, he seems to explode his interpersonal relationships than anything else though, as evidenced through his tumultuous relationship with Dupli-Kate. Where have I seen Jason Mantzoukas before? Another classic character actor, Mantzoukas has popped up in Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Good Place, alongside film roles in John Wick: Chapter 3, The Dictator and Sleeping with Other People. He's also a fantastic voice actor, lending his dulcet tones to the likes of Big Mouth, Star Trek: Prodigy and adult animated series Close Enough. If all of that wasn't enough, he's also the co-host of popular film podcast How Did This Get Made?. Malese Jow voices Dupli-Kate Who is Dupli-Kate? No prizes for guessing what Dupli-Kate's power is. Like the rest of the current Guardians of the Globe, Kate was a part of the Teen Team before having to step up due to Omni-Man's actions to the big leagues. While she was at one point dating Rex Splode, she seems to have moved onto greater pastures – that being, The Immortal. Where have I seen Malese Jow before? Jow got her start on Nickeledeon, appearing in shows like Unfabulous as Geena Fabiano as well as Big Time Rush. However, she also appeared in more adult fare including The Vampire Diaries as Annabelle 'Anna' Zhu and turns in other genre fare like The Flash. Jay Pharoah voices Bulletproof Who is Bulletproof? Bulletproof is... well, he's bulletproof. Literally. He's a newcomer to the Guardians of the Globe, having been invited to join by none other than head of the GDA himself, Cecil Stedman. Bulletproof joined the Invincible party from season 2, and has since become an established fixture. Where have I seen Jay Pharoah before? If you're a fan of Saturday Night Live, you'll definitely recognise Pharoah. Having been enlisted as a performer on SNL between 2010 and 2016, he was cited as No. 55 on Rolling Stone's greatest SNL cast members. He's had roles in animated films Sing and The Mitchells vs. The Machines, plus horror satire The Blackening and psychological thriller Unsane (directed by prolific filmmaker Steven Soderbergh). Ben Schwartz voices The Shapesmith Who is The Shapesmith? Continuing the narrative thread of the failed Mars mission in season 1, The Shapesmith is the identity formed by the Martian who assumed astronaut Rus Livingston's persona upon the rocket's return back to Earth. Where have I seen Ben Schwartz before? Schwartz is an acclaimed voice actor, known for his work as Dewey in the Ducktales reboot, Sonic the Hedgehog in Paramount's film franchise, plus DC League of Super-Pets and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie. However, you probably know him best as the scene-stealing Jean-Ralphio Saperstein in Parks and Recreation. Kevin Michael Richardson voices The Mauler Twins Who are The Mauler Twins? The Mauler Twins are probably the most recurring villain in the show after Omni-Man. The rowdy blue scientists who constantly accuse the other of being a clone have been instrumental to the plot of Invincible seasons 1 and 2 so far, firstly for the creation of Rudy Connors, then for turning Angstrom Levy into a monstrously intelligent (and horrific-looking) being, with psychosis as a mild side effect. While it seemed that who was the clone and who wasn't was finally over, after burn marks were left on of their faces, we went back to square one after the clone murdered his original maker. We'll likely see the Mauler Twins again very soon. Where have I seen Kevin Michael Richardson before? While you likely haven't seen Kevin Michael Richardson before, you've definitely heard him. He's lent his voice to Lilo and Stitch, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Family Guy, American Dad, The Cleveland Show, The Simpsons, Futurama, Teen Titans, Ratchet & Clank, The Batman to name just a few. Aaron Paul voices Powerplex Who is Powerplex? Powerplex is a super-powered villain first encountered by Invincible in season 3. What else has Aaron Paul been in? Paul became famous around the world for his performance in crime drama Breaking Bad. He went on to reprise his role of Jesse Pinkman in sequel film El Camino and prequel series Better Call Saul. Paul went on to voice loveable misfit Todd in Bojack Horseman and, in 2023, starred in Black Mirror season 6 episode Beyond the Sea. More recently, he's entered another super-powered world by taking the lead role in hit video game Dispatch. Simu Liu voices Multi-Paul Who is Multi-Paul? Multi-Paul is the brother of Dupli-Kate, who shares the same power set as her – that being the ability to spawn copies of themselves. However, Paul went down a villainous path in life rather than becoming a superhero like his sister. What else has Simu Liu been in? Liu is probably best known for his leading role in Marvel Studios blockbuster Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. He also starred in Canadian sitcom Kim's Convenience and had a supporting role in 2023's hit film Barbie as one of the film's numerous Kens. Christian Convery as Oliver Grayson Who is Oliver Grayson? Oliver is the son of Omni-Man and Andressa, Empress of Thraxa, which also makes him Mark's half-brother. What else has Christian Convery been in? Convery rose to fame on Netflix's young adult fantasy drama Sweet Tooth. He also played a supporting role in anarchic 2023 action-comedy Cocaine Bear. Mark Hamill voices Art Rosenbaum Who is Art Rosenbaum? Art is the superhero tailor, having designed costumes for both Omni-Man and of course, Invincible. He is one of the few friends that many of the superheroes have, due to the length of time he spends with them designing their costumes to be just right for their specific abilities. He's instrumental in helping Debbie to uncover the truth behind what Nolan was up to, and as a result, he's just as lonely as Debbie was, having betrayed one of his closest friends in the process for the greater good. Where have I seen Mark Hamill before? I mean, apart from Star Wars? And The Joker across most non live-action Batman projects? Or Lord Ozai in Avatar: The Last Airbender? Or Skips from Regular Show? Really, it's easier to tell you the geeky projects Mark Hamill isn't involved in at this point. Clancy Brown voices Damien Darkblood Who is Damien Darkblood? Damien was the private detective hired by Cecil to tail and uncover the truth behind Omni-Man's strange behaviour throughout season 1. He also happens to be a demon who escaped from hell and for some reason, chose to take up P.I. work as his new-found career. Unfortunately, he picked up the wrong case in the form of tailing Nolan, as it led to Cecil banishing him back to Hell in order to avoid revealing Nolan's truth too early. Perhaps that was a mistake. Where have I seen Clancy Brown before? You probably know Clancy Brown from The Boys spin-off Gen Z as Professor Brink, or perhaps in Dexter: New Blood as Kurt Caldwell. While you might recognise Brown for his live-action work, you've definitely heard his voice performances: he's Mr. Krabs from Spongebob Squarepants, among many other roles. Sterling K Brown voices Angstrom Levy Who is Angstrom Levy? Angstrom Levy is a scientist with a bit too much ego and not enough restraint. Coming from a dimension in which Mark did join his father and take over Earth, Angstrom is their only savior - his power to open portals to other dimensions allows him to accumulate knowledge on how other dimensions were able to defeat Mark and Nolan so that he may be able to return to his own dimension and save the day. However, how does one hold all of that knowledge? Well, the Mauler Twins concocted a botched operation to supplant all the versions of Angstrom's self into his mind - however, Invincible arrives, quickly gets the wrong end of the stick, and annihilates the machine. That's Angstrom Levy in the ground, right? Oh no. Instead, he's the literal definition of 'Big Brain' - and now bloodthirsty for revenge. Where have I seen Sterling K Brown before? Multi-Emmy winner for his work on The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story and This Is Us, Brown is one of the most versatile American actors currently working in television. He currently stars in Hulu/Disney+ thriller Paradise. In addition to his many TV credits, he's appeared in high-profile films such as The Predator, Waves, Frozen II, American Fiction, and Black Panther. Jonathan Banks voices Brit Who is Brit? Brit is a veteran superhero introduced in Invincible season 3. What else has Jonathan Banks been in? Banks is best known for playing Mike Ehrmantraut in Breaking Bad, its sequel film El Camino and its prequel series Better Call Saul. He also had a regular role in the fifth season of cult sitcom Community. Invincible seasons 1-3 are available to stream on Prime Video now. Sign up for Amazon Prime for £8.99 a month. Add Invincible 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.
Martin Clunes reveals key element that helped him through filming "uncomfortable" Huw Edwards drama
"I don't know how I would have done it otherwise," said Clunes.
Martin Clunes has revealed that he's not sure he could have got through his "uncomfortable" scenes on Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards without one key element in place. The one-off 5 drama sees the actor portray former BBC News presenter Edwards, who was highly respected for many years, until a public scandal ended with him pleading guilty to making indecent images of children. In addition to dramatising Edwards's fall from grace, the feature-length programme will focus on how the story affected 'Ryan' (not his real name); a teenage victim of the former presenter, who is portrayed by Under Salt Marsh star Osian Morgan. Speaking to press, Clunes explained that dark stories like that of Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards "can be uncomfortable" for an actor to navigate, "but it's all part of the job and you just have to go there". "Sometimes it's harder when a role is more nebulous and you can't pin your performance on something," he continued, "but we had transcripts of text messages between Huw Edwards and Ryan, and they do appear in the script, so we breathed life into them. "It was hard towards the end of the story, hearing Osian's vulnerable voice when Edwards was bullying him, and the hurt of this boy reaching out in a sensitive way," recalled Clunes. "I didn't feel very nice at the end of those scenes." Although interactions between Edwards and Ryan took place remotely over the phone, both Clunes and Morgan were present on set for all of their scenes in order to help with each other's performance and create a sense of "intimacy". View Green Video on the source website Clunes added that, after emotionally draining moments, it was also "good to have Osian in the room to talk to afterwards". But perhaps the most important element was the pre-existing familiarity that Clunes had with the crew on Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, which helped him to feel safe in such a challenging role. "I was working with the same camera crew that we had on [2025's ITV drama] Out There, who I adore, so I was among friends. I don't know how I would have done it otherwise," he concluded. According to 5's synopsis, Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards "paints an unflinching portrait of what it is like for the vulnerable to be groomed by powerful figures, revealing how Edwards seized on and exerted control over the young man, leaving lasting consequences". Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards premieres on 5 on Tuesday 24 March 2026. Add Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards 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.
Firefly animated series with original actors teased by star Nathan Fillion – but there's an obstacle to solve
Firefly could return as an animated series, according to star Nathan Fillion, whose production company is attempting to get a reunion show picked up
Few sci-fi shows can boast as large an impact with as few episodes as Joss Whedon's Firefly, which might finally be getting its long-awaited revival – albeit, not in the form initially imagined. The cult favourite series premiered back in 2002, introducing viewers to 26th century space captain Mal Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) and his ragtag crew, as they explore a new star system in the years following a devastating civil war. Although it only aired 11 of its 14 total episodes before original broadcaster Fox pulled the plug, Firefly has remained a cultural touchstone for sci-fi aficionados for more than two decades. The lingering enthusiasm led to a 2005 film continuation, titled Serenity, but the franchise has been limited to novels and comic books since that effort majorly underperformed at the box office. Excitingly, original star Fillion – also known for TV dramas The Rookie and Castle, plus James Gunn's Superman – announced over the weekend that an animated series was in the advanced stages of development, set between the events of Firefly and Serenity. Fillion took to panel stage at Washington DC's Awesome Con for a live podcast recording with co-stars Alan Tudyk (Andor), Gina Torres (Suits), Jewel Staite (Resident Alien), Morena Baccarin (Deadpool), Sean Maher (Arrow) and Summer Glau (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles). All of them, plus absent original co-star Adam Baldwin (The Last Ship), were attached to the developing Firefly animated series, which is being overseen by writer-producers Marc Guggenheim (of DC's now-retired Arrowverse) and Tara Butters (Agent Carter). Firefly creator and Avengers director Joss Whedon is not involved in the project, although Fillion claimed that it had his blessing. Whedon's career has been quiet since allegations of toxic work environments on his sets, which he denies. View Green Video on the source website Concept art was revealed, evidencing how far along in development the proposed series is, but there remains one crucial obstacle to overcome: the small matter of finding a broadcaster or streaming platform. As a project of 20th Television Animation, a production arm of the Disney-owned ABC, it could make sense for the show to land somewhere in the media giant's vast entertainment empire. Notably, Hulu/Disney+ is currently the home of another 2000s-era animated sci-fi revival in the form of Futurama, so there's a precedent for such fan-friendly fare thriving in the new age of streaming. View oEmbed on the source website Fillion's production company Collision33 will be presenting the assembled package to potential buyers in the short-term, and gave Deadline his view on why its important that the show goes ahead. "The dedication of Firefly fans has kept this 25-year-old show relevant. Clearly, the return of Firefly is something the fans want. More importantly, it's something they deserve," he said. We'll bring you more updates on the Firefly revival as they come in. Firefly is available to stream on Disney Plus UK. Sign-up to Disney+ from £5.99 a month. Add Firefly 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.
Virgin River season 7 cast: Meet the new and returning characters
The community of the California town is back on our screens.
It's been well over a year since viewers found themselves transported to Virgin River and now, it's finally time as Mel and Jack get used to married life. This season, some new faces have been welcomed to town, including a couple who could shake up Virgin River in a major way, but particularly Mel and Jack as they take their first steps into adopting a baby! Showrunner Patrick Sean Smith previously said that season 7 will "explore the honeymoon phase for them as they’re building their lives on the farm, which can come with its own obstacles". And plenty of obstacles have been thrown in their way, but who is the cause of them? Read on for everything you need to know about the Virgin River cast on Netflix – but be warned, some spoilers follow for seasons 1-7. Who's in the cast of Virgin River season 7? Virgin River season 6 cast members are as follows: Alexandra Breckenridge as Melinda 'Mel' Monroe Martin Henderson as Jack Sheridan Annette O'Toole as Hope McCrea Tim Matheson as Doc Mullins Benjamin Hollingsworth as Dan Brady Zibby Allen as Brie Colin Lawrence as Preacher Sarah Dugdale as Lizzie Kai Bradbury as Denny Cutler Mark Ghanimé as Dr Cameron Hayek Kandyse McClure as Kaia Bryant Elise Gatien as Lark Teryl Rothery as Muriel Gwynyth Walsh as Jo Ellen Nicola Cavendish as Connie David Cubitt as Calvin Marco Grazzini as Mike Lauren Hammersley as Charmaine Roberts Jessica Rothe - Young Sarah Callum Kerr - Young Everett John Allen Nelson - Everett Rachel Drance - Marley Sara Canning - Victoria Cody Kearsley - Clay Austin Nichols - Eli Matty Finochio - Tony Read on for everything you need to know about the stars and who they portray... Alexandra Breckenridge plays Melinda 'Mel' Monroe Who is Melinda 'Mel' Monroe? Melinda is a nurse and midwife who moves to the remote town of Virgin River, California, for a fresh start away from her painful memories. She has since become romantically involved with local man Jack Sheridan, with the two now engaged to be married! What else has Alexandra Breckenridge been in? Breckenridge has appeared in two seasons of American Horror Story, portrayed Jessie Anderson in The Walking Dead and, in one of her more recent projects, she had a main role in the smash-hit US drama This Is Us. Martin Henderson plays Jack Sheridan Who is Jack Sheridan? Jack Sheridan is a former US marine who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder from his time in the military. These days, he spends his time managing the local bar in Virgin River. He recently became engaged to Melinda Monroe, and season 6 will focus on the run-up to their big day. What else has Martin Henderson been in? Henderson had a main role in seasons 12-14 of the long-running US medical drama Grey's Anatomy. Annette O'Toole plays Hope McCrea Who is Hope McCrea? Hope is the mayor of Virgin River. In season 3, she was involved in a car accident that left her with a serious brain injury, although viewers will be pleased to hear that she is walking the long road to recovery. Speaking to Country Living about the characterisation of Hope, Annette O'Toole told Country Living: "I don't see her that way, of course, because I'm inside her and I see what drives her and what is important to her and she's just… she's a stickler and she's got tremendous energy and intelligence, and I think she has more common sense than she has book smarts, and she's kind of figured a lot of stuff out for herself. And she's very stubborn. And those qualities still exist [in older people in real life]." What else has Annette O'Toole been in? Superman fans will be very familiar with Annette O'Toole as she played both Lana Lang in 1983's Superman III and Clark Kent's adoptive mother Martha in Smallville. She also had a main role in 1990's adaptation of Stephen King's IT and, more recently, appeared in the acclaimed drama series Halt and Catch Fire. Tim Matheson plays Vernon 'Doc' Mullins Who is Vernon 'Doc' Mullins? As his nickname suggests, Vernon is the local medical doctor in Virgin River. While he initially struggled with the idea of Mel joining the practice, he has since become a father figure to the nurse practitioner. What else has Tim Matheson been in? Tim Matheson has been acting since the 1960s and in that time has appeared in the likes of Animal House, Fletch, White Collar, Entourage and The Affair. Benjamin Hollingsworth plays Dan Brady Who is Dan Brady? Dan Brady is another veteran now living in Virgin River, but he's finding it difficult to readjust to normal life after his time in the service. What else has Benjamin Hollingsworth been in? Hollingsworth had a main role on the medical drama Code Black, which ran for three seasons before ending in 2018. Colin Lawrence plays John 'Preacher' Middleton Who is John 'Preacher' Middleton? John is a close friend to Jack, having also served in the Marines, and now works as a chef at the bar he owns. What else has Colin Lawrence been in? Lawrence will be known to Riverdale fans as Coach Clayton, while he also portrayed Janko on the fantasy series iZombie and Benjamin Abani on crime drama The Killing. Sarah Dugdale plays Lizzie Who is Lizzie? Lizzie is Connie's niece, who is sent to Virgin River in season two by her parents after misbehaving at home in Los Angeles. Whilst staying with her aunt, she begins a romance with Ricky, but following their relationship break down she began getting to know Denny Cutler - and they're now expecting their first child! What else has Sarah Dugdale been in? Dugdale has appeared in Arrow, dark comedy Phil, Netflix's In the Shadow of the Moon and Mystery 101. Gwynyth Walsh plays Jo Ellen Who is Jo Ellen? Jo Ellen is a resident of Virgin River who has earned a reputation around town for being incredibly chatty. Where have I seen Gwynyth Walsh before? Canadian actor Gwynyth Walsh is best known for starring as B'Etor in the Star Trek franchise and for her roles in Da Vinci's Inquest, NYPD Blue, American Horror Story, Van Helsing, The 100, and The Man in the High Castle. Nicola Cavendish plays Connie Who is Connie? Connie is a friend of Hope's who runs Virgin River's general store and looks after her niece Lizzie while she temporarily lives with her. She's a bit of a busy body but ultimately has a good heart, helping with Paige's bakery truck while she's away. What else has Nicola Cavendish been in? Cavendish has appeared in drama The Romeo Section, Sabrina the Animated Series, The L Word, Air Bud and The X Files. David Cubitt plays Calvin Who is Calvin? Calvin was the leader of a local gang who ran an illegal marijuana farm on the edge of Virgin River. Where have I seen David Cubitt before? Cubitt starred in supernatural drama Medium and has appeared in Bates Motel, Arrow, Ray Donovan, Van Helsing, Siren and The Good Doctor. Teryl Rothery plays Muriel Who is Muriel? Muriel is an actress and a member of Virgin River's knitting group, who Hope takes a disliking to after she expresses a romantic interest in Doc. Where have I seen Teryl Rothery before? Rothery has appeared in Supernatural, iZombie, The Killing, Bates Motel, The X-Files, Best in Show and Stargate SG-1. Marco Grazzini plays Mike Who is Mike? Mike is Jack's policeman friend who led the investigation into his shooting. Where have I seen Marco Grazzini before? Marco Grazzini is best known for playing Alejandro in Kim's Convenience and for his roles in Supernatural, The Murders, A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Art of More, The Magicians, The Flash and Degrassi: The Next Generation. Zibby Allen plays Brie Who is Brie? Brie is Jack's sister who visits him in Virgin River after he's shot. She is now a permanent resident in Virgin River and is in a relationship with Mike. Where have I seen Zibby Allen before? Allen is best known for playing Nurse Zibby in Grey's Anatomy and for her roles in A.N.T. Farm, Bates Motel, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Nancy Drew and The Good Doctor. Kai Bradbury plays Denny Who is Denny? Denny is a young man who turns up in Virgin River and reveals himself to be Doc's long-lost grandson. In season 4, he was revealed to be living with the degenerative condition Huntington's disease. He is now in a relationship with Lizzie and they are expecting their first child together! Showrunner Smith added: "What we get in season 5 is a much clearer picture of who Denny is and what he's going through, and the relationships that he forms as people in the town and people close to him in his life start to become a support system for it and create stronger bonds between them all." Where have I seen Kai Bradbury before? Kai Bradbury has appeared in Fort Salem, The Boys, Warigami, Supernatural and The Man in the High Castle. Lauren Hammersley plays Charmaine Roberts Who is Charmaine Roberts? Charmaine is a local from Virgin River, who previously had a 'friends with benefits' arrangement with Jack. She became pregnant with twins at around this time and told Jack that they were his – but a bombshell twist in the season 4 finale exposed this as a lie. The true father was revealed in season 5 to be none other than Calvin. What else has Lauren Hammersley been in? Hammersley had a recurring role in the Canadian sitcom Mr D and also played Adele in the sci-fi drama Orphan Black. Kandyse McClure plays Kaia Bryant Who is Kaia Bryant? Kaia is a firefighter who is first introduced in season 5 when wildfires spread across Virgin River. She later becomes romantically involved with Preacher. What else has Kandyse McClure been in? Canadian actress Kandyse McClure has starred in a string of TV shows and movies including Carrie, Battlestar Galactica and Ghost Wars. John Allen Nelson plays Everett Who is Everett? It was revealed in the final episodes of season 5 that Everett was indeed Mel's biological father. What else has John Allen Nelson been in? John Allen Nelson is best known for starring in 24 as Walt Cummings and as President Devore in the 2014 series Crisis. His other credits include Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Red Band Society and NCIS. Rachel Drance plays Marley Who is Marley? Marley is an expectant mother in Virgin River, whose baby Jack and Mel plan to adopt. What else has Rachel Drance been in? Drance's other credits include Salvation, The Hardy Boys and The Flash. Sara Canning plays Victoria Who is Victoria? Victoria is a former police officer turned medical investigator who comes to Virgin River to look into Doc's practice. What else has Sara Canning been in? Canning is perhaps best known for her role as Jenna Sommers in The Vampire Diaries. Her other credits include Shaman, Influencer and horror movie Z. Cody Kearsley plays Clay Who is Clay? Clay is a new resident in Virgin River who has experience working in the rodeo circuit, hiding a major secret from his new employer Jack. What else has Cody Kearsley been in? Kearsley is a Canadian actor best known for his portrayal of Moose Manson in Riverdale and as Turbo Pokaski in Daybreak on Netflix. Matty Finochio plays Tony Who is Tony? Tony is Hope's new temp assistant filling in for Lizzie while she is on maternity leave. What else has Matty Finochio been in? Finochio's other credits include Night of the Reaper, Pumpkinhead and Autumn Dreams. Austin Nichols plays Eli Who is Eli? Eli is a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon operating on Mel and Jack’s adopted newborn son and had previously worked with Mel. What else has Austin Nichols been in? Austin Nichols is best known for his role as Julian Baker in One Tree Hill. His other notable credits include The Day After Tomorrow and Wimbledon. Elise Gatien plays Lark Who is Lark? Lark was introduced in season 5 after her and her daughter's lives were uprooted due to the wildfires. She sparks a connection with Brady, but it's clear it's all a ruse as she is really working with Jimmy. What else has Elise Gatien been in? Elise Gatien has starred in the likes of Supernatural, Colony and Life Sentence alongside Lucy Hale. Jessica Rothe plays Young Sarah Who is young Sarah? Sarah is Mel's mother and, in season 6, will be shown in a series of flashbacks. What else has Jessica Rothe been in? Jessica Rothe has appeared in a number of films including both Happy Death Day movies, Forever My Girl and, more recently, Boy Kills World. Callum Kerr plays Young Everett Who is young Everett? Everett is Mel's father, and in season 6 will be shown in a series of flashbacks as it delves into his relationship with Sarah. What else has Callum Kerr been in? Callum Kerr has appeared in a number of the Flowers in the Attic instalments as well as Monarch and Zomboat!. Virgin River returns seasons 1-7 are available to watch on Netflix now. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Add Virgin River to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" class="x_OWAAutoLink" 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.
For all Mankind season 5 release date, cast, trailer, latest news
The alternate history drama has hooked a loyal fanbase.
Season 5 of For All Mankind is almost upon us, with humanity on the brink of a brand-new frontier as deeper exploration of the solar system becomes a reality. The latest instalment in the alternate 21st-century timeline also ushers in a growing interplanetary conflict between the Happy Valley colony and the nations of Earth, while a brand-new generation takes centre stage. "Our fascination with the Soviet space programme has grown with every season of For All Mankind," said executive producers Matt Wolpert and Ben Nedivi. "The more we learned about this secret city in the forests outside Moscow, where Soviet cosmonauts and engineers worked and lived, the more we wanted to tell this story of the other side of the space race." "We could not be more excited to continue building out the alternate history universe of For All Mankind with our partners at Apple and Sony." Ahead of the upcoming return mission to Mars, here’s our debrief for For All Mankind season 5. For All Mankind season 5 release date The countdown to launch is officially underway, as the fifth instalment of the hit sci-fi show lands on Apple TV+ on Friday 27 March 2026. For All Mankind season 5 will consist of ten episodes, which will be released weekly, with the series continuing through to the season finale on Friday 29 May 2026. New episodes are typically available to watch from 8am UK time on the streaming service. What will For All Mankind season 5 be about? The next entry jumps another decade into the future to 2012, with the fallout of the Goldilocks asteroid heist further deepening the interplanetary friction, as the trailer teases a growing conflict between the two factions. Happy Valley - the growing base on Mars - is now a bustling colony fighting for independence after acquiring a certain valuable asteroid in the season four finale. And yet, there’s a revolution brewing on the red planet, with an elderly Ed Baldwin (Joel Kinnaman) encouraging his grandson Alex Baldwin (Sean Kaufman) to rally the younger generation and take back the planet from Earth’s control - and the Mars peacekeeper security force. Meanwhile, new planets and new frontiers are potentially on the horizon with deeper solar system exploration thanks to the Mars base, with Aleida Rosales (Coral Peña) and Kelly Baldwin (Cynthy Wu) looking to the stars. "Our mission is to find life in the far reaches of the solar system" Aleida teases in the trailer. While plenty of sci-fi shows and films have explored interplanetary missions and colonies on Mars and the Moon, with the fifth season of For All Mankind particularly mirroring The Expanse, could the Apple TV+ series finally take one giant leap for mankind and explore the unexplored? "Season 5 is a lot about how that shifting of the decks really changes things," showrunner Matt Wolpert said in an interview with Inverse. "As technology makes Mars more liveable and it becomes a bigger colony, how does that change the dynamics of Mars and Earth and the solar system? I think it’s really going to be an epic season, and I think people will really love it." For All Mankind season 5 full cast With the fifth season of the Apple TV+ sci-fi series jumping ahead another decade, the cast has expanded with several younger additions, as a brand-new generation is set to make their mark on Mars. Longest-serving cast members Joel Kinnaman (as Ed Baldwin) and Wrenn Schmidt (as Margo Madison) will return, with both actors aged up to reflect the series’ latest time jump. Helios founder Dev Ayesa (Edi Gathegi) is also set to return on Happy Valley, alongside Aleida Rosales (Coral Peña) and Kelly Baldwin (Cynthy Wu). Meanwhile, five new series regulars have been added in the form of The Killing star Mireille Enos, The Summer I Turned Pretty’s Sean Kaufman, Bottoms star Ruby Cruz, Homeland’s Costa Ronin and Royalteen star Ines Asserson. The cast of For All Mankind season 5 includes: Joel Kinnaman as Edward 'Ed' Baldwin Jodi Balfour as Ellen Wilson (will not return as a series regular though) Wrenn Schmidt as Margo Madison Krys Marshall as Danielle Poole Cynthy Wu as Kelly Baldwin Casey W Johnson as Danny Stevens Coral Peña as Aleida Rosales Edi Gathegi as Dev Ayesa Toby Kebbell as Miles Dale Mireille Enos as Celia Boyd Costa Ronin as Leonid "Lenya" Polivanov Sean Kaufman as Alex Poletov Baldwin Ruby Cruz as Lily Dale Ines Asserson as A.J. Jarrett Is there a trailer for For All Mankind season 5? Yes - you can check out the action-packed trailer below: View oEmbed on the source website For All Mankind is available to stream on Apple TV+. 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.
One Piece season 3 release date speculation, cast and latest news
Production has started, with new recruits including a familiar face from the DC Universe.
Netflix's epic anime adaptation One Piece will continue for more wild and wacky adventures, with fans only hoping for a shorter wait on their hands this time around. The second season, subtitled Into the Grand Line, has just launched on the streaming platform, sending Monkey D Luffy (Iñaki Godoy) and his crew into an exciting adventure – including their first brushes with the gang known as Baroque Works. That's just the beginning, though, as fans of the incredibly long (and still ongoing) One Piece anime will be all too aware of (live-action co-star Mackenyu recently indicated that Netflix's adaptation, unsurprisingly, has an earlier endpoint in mind). Despite the long break between episodes, the streamer has remained very confident in One Piece, as proven by its decision to announce a third season many months before the second was due. If you're excited to find out what's in store, read on for everything we know so far about One Piece season 3 on Netflix. One Piece season 3 release date speculation One Piece season 3 is confirmed to be on its way to Netflix, although the streamer is yet to announce when exactly the new episodes will drop. The show was handed an early renewal in August 2025, and cameras started rolling three months later in Cape Town, South Africa. This effective head-start could help bring down the lengthy production gap between seasons 1 and 2, which topped two-and-a-half years, caused in part by the strikes that gripped Hollywood for much of 2023. As a result, we predict that One Piece season 3 could sail onto our screens in late 2027 or early 2028 – but that's merely speculation for now! We'll update this page when concrete details emerge. One Piece season 3 cast: New and returning One Piece season 3 will once again star Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D Luffy, leader of the Straw Hat Pirates, whose crew consists of Roronoa Zoro (Mackenyu), Nami (Emily Rudd), Usopp (Jacob Romero), and Sanji (Taz Skylar). The show's wider universe continues to grow too, with some high-profile new additions for season 3, including Cobra Kai and Blue Beetle star Xolo Maridueña as fellow pirate Portgas D Ace. Meanwhile, Search Party alum and Broadway star Cole Escola has also joined the anime adaptation, fittingly taking the role of "theatrical assassin" Bon Clay (as confirmed by Tudum). The Netflix publication also announced that the ranks of One Piece's infamous criminal syndicate Baroque Works will also be expanding, with the introduction of Daisy Head (Shadow and Bone) as Miss Doublefinger and newcomer Awdo Awdo as Mr 1. View oEmbed on the source website In terms of familiar faces, Variety reported that Mikaela Hoover (Chopper), Joe Manganiello (Mr 0), Lera Abova (Miss All Sunday) and Sendhil Ramamurthy (Nefertari Cobra) would all be reprising their roles in season 3. What's more, they've gone from recurring cast members to series regulars, meaning we can expect them to have more screen time overall in the next chapter. We'll update this page with further updates and additions on the One Piece season 3 cast as they are unveiled. One Piece season 3 plot: What's next? <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/03/ONEPIECESeason200010521.Still017R-88bbfd4-e1772730382421.jpg" width="2700" height="1800" alt="Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro, Jacob Romero as Usopp, Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy and Taz Skylar as Sanji stand alert on the deck in One Piece season 2, their attention fixed ahead as warm light washes over the ship’s wooden set." title="Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro, Jacob Romero as Usopp, Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy and Taz Skylar as Sanji stand alert on the deck in One Piece season 2, their attention fixed ahead as warm light washes over the ship’s wooden set." /> One Piece season 3 is yet to get an official plot synopsis or subtitle, but it appears that the next set of episodes will complete an adaptation of the source material's Arabasta Saga. That was the conclusion of ComicBook.com, who also probed One Piece co-star Mackenyu on just how far the live-action version could run for, given the extraordinary length of its manga and anime counterpart. Suffice it to say that a 'complete' live-action version would be unfeasible (as it would probably take a lifetime to produce and a bottomless pit of cash), but the actor revealed that creator Eiichiro Oda does have a reachable end point in mind. "He has a vision to where he wants to end," Mackenyu explained. "Not end, but where he wants us to take the live-action to. And we all know about it. We know where he wants to go up to. That hyped me up a lot. There's a specific arc he wants us to go up to." One Piece season 3 retains co-showrunner Joe Tracz, with Ian Stokes joining as his new creative partner, following Matt Owens' decision to leave the show he helped create for a well-deserved break. In an Instagram post, he wrote: "The last six years working on the live-action One Piece have been a life-changing journey. A dream come true. It's also been a lot. So I'm stepping off the Going Merry to take a break and focus on myself and my mental health." Owens added that he planned to "come back refreshed for the new adventures that await," so it might not be a permanent end to his time in the wild One Piece universe. Is there a One Piece season 3 trailer? There's no footage from Netflix's One Piece season 3 just yet, but we'll update this page when the first trailer drops. One Piece is available to stream on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. 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. Add One Piece 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-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
People Just Do Nothing creators tease potential return for Kurupt FM characters
People Just Do Nothing is currently competing in Radio Times' greatest modern comedy poll – but could a new chapter be on the cards for Kurupt FM?
The creators of People Just Do Nothing have addressed the possibility of their Kurupt FM characters returning in a "new format". The hit BBC series, which originally ran from 2014 to 2018, follows a group of amateur garage artists – led by the comically self-aggrandising MC Grindah (Allan 'Seapa' Mustafa) – running a pirate radio station out of west London. Co-creators Steve Stamp and Asim Chaudhry, who devised the show alongside Mustafa and Hugo Chegwin, spoke to Radio Times as People Just Do Nothing was shortlisted in our greatest modern British comedy poll (voting is open now, until 24 March). Chaudhry attributed the show's resonance to its "conventional sitcom characters," who were instantly recognisable to all viewers regardless of their familiarity with garage music – and teased that they could live on in future projects. "The show has finished," said Chaudhry. "But I think, if the idea is strong enough, then the characters can return." Stamp echoed that opinion, revealing that the creators have "talked about a few different ideas" for reusing their Kurupt FM personas, but they want to avoid anything that could be perceived as "lazy". "It feels like there's a standard that we have to uphold for our fans," he explained. "We've done the big goodbye [in season 5], and then we've done the film [2021's Big in Japan]. "There was a sort of emotional ending to that, so we didn't want to immediately come back and start doing more stuff, because that feels like we're not staying true to the story." What is the greatest modern British TV comedy? Vote in Radio Times' poll Of course, the team has previously experimented with bringing their Kurupt FM characters into other mediums, such as 2022's live tour and a three-season Audible podcast – and it seems likely that won't be the end of it. "There's definitely life in all of the characters," concluded Stamp. "It's just choosing the right way to continue the legacy or to expand the world." One thing is for sure, Chaudhry won't be disowning his People Just Do Nothing character Chabuddy G – a Del Boy-esque "deluded" entrepreneur – whose body of work includes a self-help book and a stint on Love Island (via Red Nose Day). View Green Video on the source website "If you get one character in your whole life as an actor that sticks and people call you that on the street – even though it might get annoying – at the same time, it's a great honour," added Chaudhry. "You've created a character that's memorable to a point where a lot of people can't see you as anything else... I'd rather have that than struggle my whole life, because I think the hardest things to create in comedy are memorable characters." You can get more advice from Chaudhry and other British comedy stars in our brand new feature on how to write a hit sitcom. People Just Do Nothing is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Add People Just Do Nothing 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 Comedy 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.
I interviewed TV comedy's biggest stars – and here's how to write a hit sitcom
The ingredients of a potential classic, outlined by Lisa McGee, Asim Chaudhry, Martha Howe-Douglas, Mackenzie Crook, Rob Delaney – and more!
I've spent the last few months trying to convince the country that British comedy isn't dead. To say it's been an uphill struggle would be underselling it, but to be fair, my competition is a tad more prolific. My journey began shortly after John Cleese declared, in an interview with Radio Times, that the once-great genre had popped its clogs – and the BBC was standing over its body holding a bloody knife. "The people in charge now have no idea at all," he concluded, in an indictment of our public broadcaster. "The writers deserve better than this. The British people deserve better than this." In his view, the BBC had not produced a decent comedy since The Office (which ended in 2003). Now, far be it from me to correct the creator of Fawlty Towers, but this struck me as a patently ridiculous claim. Six months on, a cursory glance at the shortlisted contenders in Radio Times' greatest modern comedy poll should decisively prove otherwise (and yes, voting is still open, by the way). It is true, however, that the comedy genre faces serious challenges: audiences are more fragmented than ever, personal tastes are thoroughly polarised and funding seems to evaporate into thin air. Earlier this week, I explained why a renewed focus on quality long-running sitcoms could help reverse those money woes. Now, it's time to think about how to make one – and for that, I've gathered some advice from those who've done it before. 1. Be specific – it won't scare people off When crafting a sitcom intended to have mass appeal, your inclination might be to think of a setting as generic as possible to avoid alienating viewers with something that they don't instantly recognise. It's an understandable, but misguided notion. On the contrary, the premise is where you can be as granularly specific as you like, so long as there is an access point for the uninitiated. Friday Night Dinner creator Robert Popper describes it as having a clear idea of what your show is "really" about, under the surface, throughout the development and writing process. His own hit comedy revolves around the Jewish tradition of Shabbat dinner, held on Fridays, inspired to a large extent by his own family and life experience. In that respect, it's quite personal, but there's a universal element at its core. "It's the feeling you have when you go home to your parents as an adult, and as soon as you walk in, you're 13 again," explained Popper to Radio Times. "Everyone has that, so it doesn't matter if your family's not the same, you will know that feeling." He continued: "If I wrote just a general family that I thought were kind of funny, I don't think it would have resonated. I think the more specific it is, the more relatable it becomes, because it feels so real." Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee took a similar approach to her own celebrated series, following a group of Catholic schoolgirls growing up in Northern Ireland during the fraught and deadly Troubles. Upon first glance, it might read like an incredibly particular scenario. But again, McGee drew out what all viewers would identify with, while not compromising on the (at times, moving) truth of her premise. "Even though the situation they were in was very different from most teenagers' experience, I always had in my head this idea that the Troubles were going on, but the real troubles were your teenage years," she told Radio Times. "Everyone's had those real troubles of fancying the person that doesn't fancy them, their mum not letting them do something, their teacher being a nightmare – and I think people responded to that." John Morton employed this method too while giving the workplace comedy a refresh with W1A, which is set within the walls of the BBC, but sought to be more than a self-indulgent in-joke for the corporation's employees. "I hope that people who have watched it recognise the situation, even if they have no interest in or knowledge of media," he said, in an interview with Radio Times. "It's about some people trying to organise something important under pressure from day to day, and stubbing their toe on details and on human nature. Really, they could be organising anything – it could be the village fete." In summary, far from being a liability that limits your audience, specificity can actually help rejuvenate well-trodden ground. Just ask Gavin and Stacey, whose rollercoaster romance was only made richer by its embrace of the distinctly regional, while amassing viewers in huge numbers with the relatable pitfalls of young love, clashing in-laws and domestic quirks. 2. Your premise is only as good as its characters What does every legendary sitcom have in common? The style of comedy may vary, but everything from Only Fools and Horses to Friends to Peep Show to Ghosts shares one unifying feature: iconic characters. In each case, their personalities are so intricately fine-tuned that they really take on a life of their own, which continues in the collective imagination long after the credits roll. Brassic co-creator Danny Brocklehurst knows "for a fact" that the camaraderie between his show's smalltime crooks was the driving factor that kept viewers coming back year in, year out – as was the finding of annual research by Sky. "They got up to silly things and they swore a lot, but they were really good-hearted criminals who all look after each other and tried to do the right thing for each other," he told Radio Times. "And I think that's quite endearing to an audience." Alas, devising your lead role(s) is the "hardest" part of comedy writing, according to People Just Do Nothing co-creator and star Asim Chaudhry, who played wannabe Lothario and businessman Chabuddy G. "We can all write jokes and we can all write funny situations, but to come up with a truly memorable character that stands the test of time... there's only a handful of them in British comedy," he explained, in a chat with Radio Times. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2018/11/16695342-high_res-people-just-do-nothing-c107f44.jpg" width="4270" height="2846" alt="(L-R) Steve Stamp, Daniel Sylvester Woolford, Asim Chaudhry, Marvin Jay Alvarez, Allan 'Seapa' Mustafa and Hugo Chegwin star in People Just Do Nothing; in this photo, the Kurupt FM crew are stood in a row on a concrete bridge with blocks of flats in the distance behind them" title="Generic" /> The work might be tough, but it's necessary to ensure your sitcom has a healthy engine that can keep it on the road for years, as Martha Howe-Douglas and her Ghosts co-writers found while working on the BBC One mega-hit. "We tackle sexuality, homelessness, grief, all things that are not funny in themselves, but the way that the characters deal with those subjects is where the jokes come from," she explained to Radio Times. "We don't make fun of the situations that the characters are in... it's about how they learn lessons," continued Howe-Douglas. "By series 2, you knew how the characters would react to certain situations – that was the fun in the show." Chaudhry added that a well-developed comedy character can be funny "anywhere", citing Chabuddy G's short-lived stint on Love Island (for 2023's Red Nose Day) and an earlier appearance by the Kurupt FM crew on Dragons' Den. Arguably, the epitome of this coveted achievement is Steve Coogan's beloved broadcaster Alan Partridge, whose masterfully observed personality has generated belly laughs across a wide variety of formats and mediums. It just goes to show how a fully fleshed out protagonist can be the key that unlocks a dazzling array of possibilities. 3. Embrace your "undiluted" voice In the world of TV development and production, there can often be a lot of cooks in the kitchen – and some of them, like it or not, do need to be there. So, by no means am I suggesting you should turn your nose up in disgust at the audacity of a constructive note, but there is clearly merit in sticking to your most firmly held beliefs about what a given project should be. As Big Boys creator Jack Rooke told Radio Times: "For a long time, the producers wanted it to be more like an E4/Inbetweeners-style 'laddy' comedy, but I just can't write that. We did try! "The early iterations of Big Boys were a bit more like that, but I just really didn't like it. I like 'lad humour' – there are episodes of The Inbetweeners that make me howl with laughter – but it's just not the story I wanted to tell." Would Big Boys have carried the same poignancy with its exploration of grief and youth mental health had it taken the more lowbrow route suggested? It seems unlikely. Similarly, Rob Delaney credits Catastrophe's success to the strong "authorial imprint" made by himself and co-creator Sharon Horgan, which produced a hilarious romcom that was also able to touch on weightier themes. "We talked about what we wanted to talk about. We did it in a way that we wanted to do it," he reflected, in a conversation with Radio Times. "I think you can tell if shows are made out of compounds and stuff. Catastrophe is pretty elemental. "It's undiluted: What two people, who were united in their creative goals, really wanted to do," he added. "And if it hadn't been that, I don't think it would have been successful." Matt Berry used that same word ("undiluted") to describe his own Channel 4 series Toast of London, which couldn't be further from Catastrophe in terms of tone, style and subject matter – and yet, the hands-off approach still mined comedy gold. "This was a show that contained material that myself and Arthur [Mathews, co-creator] found funny, and we just hoped that Channel 4 would think it was OK. To be fair, they didn't mess with it, they just let us get on with it," he said. "I don't know whether that goes towards it lasting or not... All I would say is that it was a fairly pure voice due to the amount of people that were involved in the creative side – largely, just two." As Berry proceeded to make clear, that amount of creative freedom is very unusual, but a powerful or distinctive voice is clearly something that shouldn't be suffocated or shied away from – by commissioners, producers or the writer(s) themselves. Just think: would a more reserved approach have helped or hindered other genre delights, such as Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Fleabag, Michaela Coel's Chewing Gum or Kat Sadler's Such Brave Girls? That isn't to say this mantra is only good for stories of a ruder disposition; it was daring, in its own way, to commission something as earnest and understated as Detectorists in the face of more trendy competition. "I wanted to see if people would still go for something that had some warmth and some heart to it, and wasn't cynical," recalled Mackenzie Crook, who defied the typical style of the 2010s with a series evoking The Good Life and Ever Decreasing Circles. 4. The cheaper, the better (sorry) Two things can be true at one time: no, comedy shouldn't be viewed as a strictly low budget endeavour, but yes, in the eyes of UK commissioners, it currently is. If you're looking to get a sitcom made, and especially if you want the most creative freedom possible, it would be advisable to come up with a premise that can be realised without breaking the bank. Mackenzie Crook credits affordability for why Detectorists was such an easy sell to BBC Four. Despite being a "strange idea on paper," he told Radio Times, "they commissioned it almost immediately because there was no risk – it was cheap to make". Rob Delaney also cites low costs when decoding why he and Sharon Horgan were granted such a long leash on Catastrophe, although filming in east London in 2026 might not be the steal it was a decade earlier. Fortunately, recent years have seen a concerted effort to spread production more widely across the country, including G'wed in Liverpool, The Outlaws in Bristol and Alma's Not Normal in Bolton. In any case, consider how many locations, cast and crew members your story really needs in order to be told effectively – and if that sounds almightily depressing, try to reframe it as a creative exercise of its own. For example, breakout hits of recent years like Peter Kay's Car Share and Ghosts were able to keep costs down through the resourceful use of a single location: a red Fiat 500L and Surrey's West Horsley Place (aka Button House), respectively. Ghosts producer Matthew Mulot clarified that it was "not cheap" to hire out the show's manor house for months at a time, but the team squeezed every penny out of it by dressing up the many rooms and corners as external environments. This meant that they very rarely needed to devote time and resource to moving the cast and crew across town, which in turn allowed production to advance at a rapid pace. Mulot added that there's "no way" Ghosts could have conjured the same "authenticity" for its historic haunted house on a studio set, but it's an option to mull over for sitcoms with a more mundane primary setting. Changing Ends creator Alan Carr shared that, even after falling out of fashion, the classic and relatively inexpensive studio-based sitcom (à la Miranda, Not Going Out or Mrs Brown's Boys) remains an oft-elusive "holy grail" to broadcasters. "I just wanted that 'meat and two veg sitcom'," he explained. "There's nothing wrong with being traditional – it's nice to think that people are passing the baton along. It's a wonderful thing, and it's very British as well." It's certainly not an option to be dismissed out of hand, no matter how slick and modern you may wish to be perceived. After all, in the words of Matt Berry, "everything ends up on GOLD". "Even these things that you think are the most cutting-edge, with the most cutting-edge people in, that's going to eventually end up on GOLD," he mused. "As long as you were true to yourself when you put it together, I think that's it, really." Check out more of our Comedy 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 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.
Award-winning Netflix drama unveils first look at second season with all-new A-list cast
Can this 'beef' really be even juicier than the first?
Netflix has dropped the first teaser trailer for Beef season 2 – and it looks like that three-year wait was worth it. The new episodes kick off when "a Gen Z couple witnesses an alarming fight between their Millennial boss and his wife," setting in motion a chain of events that neither could possibly have predicted. The story is an all-new direction for the drama anthology, which began in April 2023, with a critically-acclaimed feud between wealthy businesswoman Amy (Ali Wong) and struggling contractor Danny (Steven Yeun). Both stars walked away with Emmys, Golden Globes and Actor Awards (formerly SAG Awards), which naturally made the lead characters in season 2 of great interest to Hollywood's A-listers. Ultimately, the four roles went to Cailee Spaeny (Wake Up Dead Man) and Charles Melton (Warfare), as the younger couple, with Oscar Isaac (Frankenstein) and Carey Mulligan (The Ballad of Wallis Island) as their older rivals. You can get an intriguing introduction to their characters in Beef season 2's cryptic teaser trailer. Watch here, and catch all episodes on Netflix from Thursday 16 April 2026. View oEmbed on the source website The synopsis for the new episodes explains: "Newly-engaged Ashley Miller (Spaeny) and Austin Davis (Melton), both lower-level staff at a country club, become entangled in the unraveling marriage of their general manager, Joshua Martín (Isaac), and his wife, Lindsay Crane-Martín (Mulligan). "Through favours and coercion, both couples vie for the approval of the elitist club's billionaire owner, Chairwoman Park (Youn Yuh Jung), who struggles to manage her own scandal involving her second husband, Doctor Kim (Song Kang Ho)." Although the on-camera talent has changed, Beef season 2 has again been dreamt up by series creator and head writer Lee Sung Jin, with season 1's executive producer (and subsequent Thunderbolts* filmmaker) Jake Schreier also returning. Beef season 2 is coming soon to Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Add Beef 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.
Jane Austen-inspired BBC drama The Other Bennet Sister gets release date confirmed in new trailer
Ella Bruccoleri, Ruth Jones and Richard E Grant are among the starry cast.
The Other Bennet Sister finally has its confirmed premiered launch date on BBC One and iPlayer, with the picturesque Jane Austen-inspired period drama to arrive just in time for spring. Based on Janice Hadlow's novel of the same name, the series follows the "overlooked" character of Mary Bennet (played by Call the Midwife's Ella Bruccoleri), who first appeared in a smaller capacity in Austen's literary classic Pride & Prejudice. Now, she takes centre stage in a story that overlaps with the events of Pride & Prejudice, in addition to imagining what came next, with Mary embarking "on a very different path" to her sisters, who "pursue romance and social triumph". The Other Bennet Sister will premiere on BBC One at 8pm on Sunday 15 March 2026, with a double-bill to air on broadcast television that night, while all episodes will be streaming as a box set on iPlayer from that very same date. The BBC has also unveiled a brand new trailer, previewing what viewers can expect – you can watch it below. View oEmbed on the source website Sharing some details on what to expect, the synopsis reads: "Leaving Longbourn behind, Mary travels to London to live with her aunt and uncle, Mr and Mrs Gardiner, in their elegant home on Gracechurch Street. "There, she begins a journey of self-discovery." Hadlow praised the performance of The Other Bennet Sister's "wonderful" lead actor Bruccoleri (Down Cemetery Road, Bridgerton), promising that she plays the role of Mary with "such feeling". Screenwriter Sarah Quintrell (The Power) added: "Exploring Jane Austen's world through the eyes of Mary Bennet for the first time has been a joyful experience – and our incredible cast have added a whole new layer of life to these characters. "Our story is set in a familiar and much-loved world, but we're coming at it from a completely new angle. Mary's story is about coming of age when you're the odd one out – how do you find your place in the world? <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/12/Other-Bennet-Sister-cast-d967f31.jpg" width="5120" height="3414" alt="Maddie Close as Jane Bennet, Poppy Gilbert as Lizzie Bennet, Ella Bruccoleri as Mary Bennet, Molly Wright as Kitty Bennet and Grace Hogg-Robinson as Lydia Bennet in The Other Bennet Sister all walking down a country path, wearing pastel coloured outfits and smiling." title="547457,TITLE:The Other Bennet Sister" /> "As a young girl growing up in Croydon, my world could not have been more different to Jane Austen's – but there is a universality in her work that reaches across generations and class boundaries, and we cannot wait to bring the Bennet family to a new audience." Quintrell concluded: "The Other Bennet Sister is true to the spirit of Pride and Prejudice but I hope it will also surprise and delight fans both old and new." The series also stars Ruth Jones (Gavin & Stacey), Richard E Grant (Suspect), Laurie Davidson (A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story), Tanya Reynolds (The Decameron), Ryan Sampson (Mr Bigstuff) and Indira Varma (The Night Manager), among others. The Other Bennet Sister arrives mere months after the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, which was commemorated last year with a first-look clip from the forthcoming drama. The Other Bennet Sister premieres on BBC One and iPlayer on Sunday 15th March 2026. 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 Other Bennet Sister 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.
British TV desperately needs something it has rarely achieved for the comedy genre to thrive
It's time to end the stigma around long-running sitcoms.
Click here to vote in RT's poll for the greatest modern British comedies. There are plenty of words that you could use to describe British sitcoms: silly, sarcastic, sympathetic, or even sad. But arguably the most consequential of modern times is 'short'. The limited runs exemplified by Fawlty Towers and The Office, both of which bowed out after a dozen or so episodes, has seemingly become the favoured model by today's writers and commissioners. Take a look at the shortlist in RT's greatest modern British sitcom poll and you'll find many more recent examples, including Big Boys, Derry Girls, Fleabag, Car Share, W1A and After Life. The average number of lifetime episodes per show in the entire line-up is... a rather modest 21. For context, that's one shy of a single traditional season of US network telly (admittedly, those have shrunk lately due to the shift towards streaming). On the other hand, only five adult-oriented British sitcoms have ever topped 100 episodes: The Army Game (1957-61), Last of the Summer Wine (1973-2010), Birds of a Feather (1989-2020), My Family (2000-11) and Not Going Out (2006-present). That milestone has been far more frequently surpassed in the US, across both comedy and drama, in large part due to lucrative syndication deals that kick in from around that point. You need only look at the eye-watering sums paid out for the likes of Seinfeld, Friends and The Office (US) – hint: hundreds of millions of dollars each(!) – to see the benefit that this approach can have in its most extreme cases. Now, I'd be the last person to suggest that we follow the Americans down every path they tread. But in this case, the British industry's reluctance (or inability) to produce long-running, bankable comedies is a factor challenging the genre at large. The point was brought to my attention in a recent RT interview with Big Boys creator Jack Rooke, who argued that the brevity of a typical Britcom is both a blessing and a curse for our country's cultural footprint. "Yes, there's artistic integrity in starting something and ending it exactly how you intended. I do think it's great that British comedy has enabled that," he prefaced. "I also think it speaks to a slight problem, which is that there's a huge disparity in the finances of making a comedy versus making a drama." "I think that's why Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Michaela Coel, and Jesse Armstrong and all of our finest writing talent leave comedy to make dramas. You just get way more budget to spend. It would be nice if we could bring some of those writers back." Rooke concluded: "If we could start having comedies that run for longer than two or three seasons, there would be a better financial payback to those creators and larger budgets to tell more ambitious comedic stories." His use of the word "ambitious" is key. Often, when sitcoms do manage to persist in the UK, it is viewed (rightly or wrongly) as the flogging of a dead horse, but it doesn't need to be this way. There's no law of nature dictating that any sitcom to reach a certain number of episodes must enter into terminal decline, although it certainly has occurred in numerous instances. The question is, how can that risk be lowered? Obviously, the writers must take some accountability for the length of a sitcom's golden (or watchable) years, but the tools they have to work with are also hugely influential – principally, the situation at play, and the characters inhabiting it. For instance, some sitcoms come with a built-in limit for how long they can run, such as Rooke's own Big Boys, which was inspired by his real-life experiences at university and, naturally, ends after graduation. Others could go on in perpetuity, but lack a compelling reason to do so; take ITV's Piglets, which has a broad premise that could easily be refreshed, but gags and characters that make you reach for the remote within five minutes of turning it on. The takeaway is that dynamic protagonists in a malleable setting are the base ingredients for any long-running TV comedy (not to be read as: "crude clowns somewhere boring"). I'm not suggesting that it's easy to concoct this magic combination, but it would be nice to see more efforts operating above the low bar set by Piglets, Queen of Oz or Mrs Brown's Boys (distinct in that it is popular, but polarises opinion massively). Is there a flawed, dated image in the minds of writers or commissioners for what a mainstream British sitcom needs to be in order to thrive on a leading broadcaster? It certainly seems that way to this frustrated viewer. Imports like Friends and Seinfeld as well as longer homegrown hits like Only Fools and Horses, Peep Show and Friday Night Dinner prove that comedies don't need to be creatively bankrupt after a decade on screen – and nor should they start out that way. As Rooke observes, there's a genuinely strong argument that commissioners should be exploring comedy pitches with, at least, the potential to stretch over many years, without stripping away at quality or coherence. I'm not proposing that prestige and finite British comedies, such as Fleabag, This Country or Chewing Gum, which have deservingly earned high praise, should now be consigned to the dustbin of history. But, amid a genre brain drain and doomsday warnings over funding for British stories, there needs to be a considered balance for British comedy to once again thrive – and cease being regarded as just "the cheaper scripted genre" (in Rooke's words). Of course, producing more long-running hits with international appeal (à la Ghosts) will involve rolling up sleeves and putting some actual thought in, rather than resting on the same tired archetypes and crass humour that are usually deemed safely palatable. In other words, give those 'mainstream' pitches as much care as the more BAFTA-friendly ones, and who knows what you might end up with? Netflix paid $500 million for Seinfeld, two decades after it ended.
DC releases Lanterns trailer and fans are divided on its gritty approach to comic book material
Let's just say, there's a reason they dropped 'green' from the title...
DC Studios has dropped a first look trailer at sci-fi detective series Lanterns – and its generating spirited debate online. The series follows Green Lantern Corps veteran Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) as he trains up incoming recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), while the pair unravel the dark mystery at the heart of a Nebraskan town. Announced in January 2023 as part of writer-director James Gunn's new vision for Warner Bros' shared DC Universe, Lanterns was always said to be drawing inspiration from HBO crime drama True Detective. However, many fans have expressed shock on social media over just how heavily the project is leaning in that direction, while seemingly discarding the bold sci-fi elements and bright colour palette that defines a typical Green Lantern comic book. A particular source of derision and disdain has been the first glimpse at Hal's costume (see image, above), which is a very dark, muted shade of green – and draped rather mundanely over a plastic coat hanger. Of course, a more vibrant take on the Green Lantern universe was rejected by mainstream audiences in 2011, when a since-disowned film adaptation starring Ryan Reynolds failed critically and commercially. So, this more grounded approach to the material isn't entirely without reason. You can judge DC Studios' Lanterns trailer for yourself by tuning in to the teaser below, which teases a premiere in August. View oEmbed on the source website Chandler bagged the role of Hal Jordan in 2024, after original choice Josh Brolin (Weapons) turned it down, while Pierre became the clear fan-favourite to play John Stewart following the success of his Netflix action flick Rebel Ridge. Line of Duty and Trainspotting alum Kelly Macdonald co-stars as the sheriff of the town where their investigation takes place, while Nathan Fillion will reprise the role of Guy Gardner, another Green Lantern, from Superman and Peacemaker season 2. Lanterns is co-created by Damon Lindelof (HBO's Watchmen), Chris Mundy (Ozark) and comic book writer Tom King, whose influential work in the medium is also the basis for this summer's Supergirl solo film. Lanterns is coming to HBO Max in August. Add Lanterns 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.
There are plenty of words that you could use to describe British sitcoms: silly, sarcastic, sympathetic, or even sad. But arguably the most consequential of modern times is 'short'. The limited runs exemplified by Fawlty Towers and The Office, both of which bowed out after a dozen or so episodes, has seemingly become the favoured model by today's writers and commissioners. Take a look at the shortlist in Radio Times' greatest modern British sitcom poll and you'll find many more recent examples, including Big Boys, Derry Girls, Fleabag, Car Share, W1A and After Life. The average number of lifetime episodes per show in the entire line-up is... a rather modest 21. For context, that's one shy of a single traditional season of US network telly (admittedly, those have shrunk lately due to the shift towards streaming). On the other hand, only five adult-oriented British sitcoms have ever topped 100 episodes: The Army Game (1957-61), Last of the Summer Wine (1973-2010), Birds of a Feather (1989-2020), My Family (2000-11) and Not Going Out (2006-present). That milestone has been far more frequently surpassed in the US, across both comedy and drama, in large part due to lucrative syndication deals that kick in from around that point. You need only look at the eye-watering sums paid out for the likes of Seinfeld, Friends and The Office (US) – hint: hundreds of millions of dollars each(!) – to see the benefit that this approach can have in its most extreme cases. Now, I'd be the last person to suggest that we follow the Americans down every path they tread. But in this case, the British industry's reluctance (or inability) to produce long-running, bankable comedies is a factor challenging the genre at large. The point was brought to my attention in a recent Radio Times interview with Big Boys creator Jack Rooke, who argued that the brevity of a typical Britcom is both a blessing and a curse for our country's cultural footprint. View Green Video on the source website "Yes, there's artistic integrity in starting something and ending it exactly how you intended. I do think it's great that British comedy has enabled that," he prefaced. "I also think it speaks to a slight problem, which is that there's a huge disparity in the finances of making a comedy versus making a drama." "I think that's why Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Michaela Coel, and Jesse Armstrong and all of our finest writing talent leave comedy to make dramas. You just get way more budget to spend. It would be nice if we could bring some of those writers back." Rooke concluded: "If we could start having comedies that run for longer than two or three seasons, there would be a better financial payback to those creators and larger budgets to tell more ambitious comedic stories." Vote in Radio Times' poll: What is the greatest modern British TV comedy? His use of the word "ambitious" is key. Often, when sitcoms do manage to persist in the UK, it is viewed (rightly or wrongly) as the flogging of a dead horse, but it doesn't need to be this way. There's no law of nature dictating that any sitcom to reach a certain number of episodes must enter into terminal decline, although it certainly has occurred in numerous instances. The question is, how can that risk be lowered? Obviously, the writers must take some accountability for the length of a sitcom's golden (or watchable) years, but the tools they have to work with are also hugely influential – principally, the situation at play, and the characters inhabiting it. For instance, some sitcoms come with a built-in limit for how long they can run, such as Rooke's own Big Boys, which was inspired by his real-life experiences at university and, naturally, ends after graduation. Others could go on in perpetuity, but lack a compelling reason to do so; take ITV's Piglets, which has a broad premise that could easily be refreshed, but gags and characters that make you reach for the remote within five minutes of turning it on. The takeaway is that dynamic protagonists in a malleable setting are the base ingredients for any long-running TV comedy (not to be read as: 'crude clowns somewhere boring'). I'm not suggesting that it's easy to concoct this magic combination, but it would be nice to see more efforts operating above the low bar set by Piglets, Queen of Oz or Mrs Brown's Boys (distinct in that it is popular, but polarises opinion massively). Is there a flawed, dated image in the minds of writers or commissioners for what a mainstream British sitcom needs to be in order to thrive on a leading broadcaster? It certainly seems that way to this frustrated viewer. Imports like Friends and Seinfeld as well as longer homegrown hits like Only Fools and Horses, Peep Show and Friday Night Dinner prove that comedies don't need to be creatively bankrupt after a decade on screen – and nor should they start out that way. As Rooke observes, there's a genuinely strong argument that commissioners should be exploring comedy pitches with, at least, the potential to stretch over many years, without stripping away at quality or coherence. I'm not proposing that prestige and finite British comedies, such as Fleabag, This Country or Chewing Gum, which have deservingly earned high praise, should now be consigned to the dustbin of history. But, amid a genre brain drain and doomsday warnings over funding for British stories, there needs to be a considered balance for British comedy to once again thrive – and cease being regarded as just "the cheaper scripted genre" (in Rooke's words). Of course, producing more long-running hits with international appeal (à la Ghosts) will involve rolling up sleeves and putting some actual thought in, rather than resting on the same tired archetypes and crass humour that are usually deemed safely palatable. In other words, give those 'mainstream' pitches as much care as the more BAFTA-friendly ones, and who knows what you might end up with? Netflix paid $500 million for Seinfeld, two decades after it ended. Check out more of our Comedy 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 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.
Alan Carr reveals whether we can expect acting career pivot after Changing Ends and Celebrity Traitors success
The comic also revealed key influences on his sitcom – and why writing it was a "challenge".
Alan Carr has firmly ruled out a pivot into acting, despite his recent success on both ITV1 sitcom Changing Ends and BBC One's deception-based game show The Celebrity Traitors. In both cases, the comic has convincingly played versions of himself, acting as an on-screen commentator of events from his childhood in the former, while accentuating his public persona to evade suspicion in the latter. Despite these runaway successes, Carr told Radio Times that he has no ambition to pursue an acting career, after Changing Ends was shortlisted in our greatest modern comedy poll (voting is open now, until Tuesday 24th March). "I don't know how actors do it: You sit in, basically, a portaloo with a mirror in it, and then you're called to set, you do your lines, and then you go back," he shared. "I have no desire to be in a sitcom. My thing is stand-up comedy," continued Carr, addressing options beyond Changing Ends. "I love it – wham, bam, thank you, ma'am, tell your jokes and go home!" Reflecting on the success of Changing Ends, which recently aired its third season and has a fourth on the way, Carr explained that he sought to make a "traditional" sitcom with a more family-friendly approach than his stand-up sets. "When I wrote it, I deliberately didn't put any swearing in or anything uncomfortable or rude," he explained. "I wanted a bona fide sitcom like I used to enjoy when I was growing up, that I would sit down with my family [to watch]. What is the greatest modern British TV comedy? Vote in Radio Times' poll "I wanted to push myself and not have a swear word as a punch line. I wanted it to be good, old fashioned jokes that resonate with people. It was a challenge to myself, because if you've seen my stand up, you'll know I can be a little bit potty-mouthed!" Carr added that he wanted his own working-class upbringing to be represented in Changing Ends, citing Only Fools and Horses and Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights as influential earlier shows with a similar kind of authenticity. "When you look at Changing Ends, it's all caravan parks, it's division four football. It was always these places that are a little bit run down, but that's where you saw life! That's where you saw the characters," he recalled. Carr may not have plans to star in another sitcom after the semi-autobiographical Changing Ends winds down, but he has a palpable enthusiasm for the genre, citing Golden Girls as a personal favourite. So much so that Amanda Holden, his close friend and co-host on a popular BBC renovation series, gifted him a set of Golden Girls coasters for Christmas. You can see more from the duo in their episode of Radio Times interview series Two's Company: View Green Video on the source website Changing Ends is available to stream on ITVX. Check out more of our Comedy 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 Changing Ends 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.
Spooks and Marvel legends confirmed for all-new adaptation of beloved classic with "striking contemporary edge"
The "bold and atmospheric reimagining" is currently in the works for Paramount+ UK.
Classic adventure story Treasure Island will be reimagined as a "high-stakes coming-of-age" series for a "new generation", with David Oyelowo (Spooks) and Hayley Atwell (Marvel's Agent Carter) set to star. Inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson's legendary novel, the upcoming adaptation will chart "the transformation of teenager Jim Hawkins from sheltered boy to emboldened young pirate". Jim will be played by rising star Tom Sweet, who you may have spotted as a young Pip in Steven Knight's Great Expectations, with Oyelowo taking on the role of the "charming [yet] terrifying" veteran pirate Long John Silver. Mission: Impossible and rumoured Avengers: Doomsday cast member Atwell co-stars as Jim's mother, Bess, whose "clever and decisive actions leave him holding valuable knowledge that puts both of their lives in danger". Rounding out the Treasure Island cast is Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire) as duplicitous British agent Aaron Graham and Tomer Capone (The Boys) as jaded seaman Billy Bones. The synopsis teases: "Jim has to grow up fast as he and his mother fight for survival on a voyage where alliances shift, secrets multiply and peril closes in from all sides. "Set across the Atlantic, in a Caribbean on the brink of revolution and on the terrifying Skeleton Island, the series tracks Jim as he confronts a world far more complex and dangerous than he ever imagined, where resilience, loyalty and identity are tested – and fortune is the prize." Treasure Island is a co-production between streaming platforms Paramount+, where it will stream in the UK, and the Amazon-owned MGM+, which will take the US rights. Paramount UK's deputy chief content officer Sebastian Cardwell commented: "Treasure Island is a bold and atmospheric reimagining of a story that has captivated audiences for generations. "This adaptation brings fresh emotional depth and a striking contemporary edge to Stevenson's classic." The series is created by McDonald & Dodds scribe Robert Murphy, with directors Jeremy Lovering (Slow Horses), William McGregor (His Dark Materials) and Paul Walker (Riviera) to put in shifts across the six-part run. Treasure Island is currently filming in Spain. Treasure Island is coming soon to Paramount+ in the UK. <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. 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 Treasure Island 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.
Ghosts feature film The Possession of Button House reveals new competition with "truly extraordinary" prize for fans
Button House is opening its doors for a limited number of lucky fans – here's what you need to know.
Ghosts fans have the chance to visit the set of upcoming film The Possession of Button House, courtesy of West Horsley Place. The Surrey-based estate has played host to the BBC's hit comedy since it began back in 2019, with its large manor house doubling for the decaying home of Alison (Charlotte Ritchie) and Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe). The cast and crew are currently back together for Ghosts feature film The Possession of Button House, which was recently announced to the delight of fans around the world. A limited number of those fans can now enter for the chance to visit the set during a break in filming on either Saturday 21 or Sunday 22 March 2026 (no other dates will be available, so make sure you're free before entering!). West Horsley Place have allotted time for 100 winners to enjoy the "truly extraordinary" visit across those two days, with each ticket permitting entry for the holder and up to three guests. Things to be aware of are that the Ghosts cast will not be present due to a break in filming, and photography won't be allowed during the tour due to a risk of spoilers for the hotly anticipated new story. Entries to the competition can be purchased for £25 via West Horsley Place's website until midnight on Sunday 15 March, or alternatively, a free postal entry can be sent. Winners will be notified within 48 hours of the closing date. The competition is open to UK residents aged 18 or over, but the guests of each adult winner can be of any age, meaning any junior Ghosts enthusiasts would be able to tag along with a lucky adult guardian. The tours are estimated to last for between 90 minutes and two hours, with staggered slots to be assigned between 9:30am and 4:15pm. View Green Video on the source website "Every paid entry will help support West Horsley Place's charitable work, contributing directly to the care, conservation, and protection of this remarkable historic building," the organisers said in the announcement. "This is a rare opportunity to glimpse something truly special. West Horsley Place looks forward to sharing this magical moment with the fans who have helped keep its story alive." Full terms and conditions for the prize draw can be found on the West Horsley Place website. Ghosts announced "one more adventure" late last week after many months of speculation, with a brand new script penned by series creators Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond. Their co-stars, Lolly Adefope, Charlotte Ritchie and Kiell Smith-Bynoe are also reprising their roles, while "brilliant new faces" are also promised in a film billed as a "soul-stirring tale of life and death". Ghosts is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. The Possession of Button House is coming soon. Add Ghosts 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 Comedy 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.
Toast of London's Matt Berry reveals why he fears another revival for the wacky sitcom
Toast has been notably absent since his 2022 trip to Tinseltown.
Matt Berry has cast doubt on the possibility of another revival for his cult favourite sitcom Toast of London. The series followed aloof actor Steven Toast (Berry) as he navigated an often surreal distortion of London's showbiz scene, including tedious voiceover gigs and frequent bust-ups with his bitter rival, Ray Purchase (Harry Peacock). Toast of London premiered on Channel 4 in October 2013, only a month after The IT Crowd's final episode, which also starred Berry, making it a natural follow-up watch for fans of oddball humour. Ultimately, the show bowed out after three seasons, but received a surprise second life during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it returned with a series of lockdown-era audio skits, which paved the way for a full revival as Toast of Tinseltown. The Hollywood-set sequel drew on Berry's connections from high-profile US work – most notably, What We Do in the Shadows – boasting roles or cameos for the likes of Rashida Jones, Larry David, Paul Rudd and Homer Simpson, among others. Berry gave Radio Times his thoughts on resurrecting the dormant character once again, after Toast of London was shortlisted in our greatest modern British comedy poll (voting is open until Tuesday 24th March). "The main positive of it would be that I'm about the age that Steven Toast always was, and kind of should have been," he explained. "Right from the get go, he was in his late 40s and I was in, I think, my 30s when I first started to play him. "But there's just been crazy work things that have happened since that I didn't expect – and I'm incredibly thankful for. There just hasn't really been any time to think about that character again." View Green Video on the source website In addition to vampire mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows, which ran for six acclaimed seasons, Berry has also bagged roles in Netflix's Disenchantment, Disney's The Book of Boba Fett, Dreamworks' The Wild Robot and Prime Video's Fallout. On Toast of London, Berry wondered aloud whether "these things should just stay in 2010 or whenever it was, because they're right for the time". "I think it's too much of a risk," he elaborated. "If it doesn't go well, then you start to sort of ruin the work that's happened before. The last thing will be the last failure of that thing." What is the greatest modern British TV comedy? Vote in Radio Times' poll Berry stopped short of definitively ruling out more Toast, but claimed to be "90 per cent" convinced that it's had its day. He concluded: "I'm not ever nostalgic about my own work, so I wouldn't ever go back to it for those reasons. I'm only ever interested in the new thing and I think Arthur [Mathews] is the same. He would only do it with me if we had a really strong idea." Coming up, Berry has detective comedy Force & Majeure, co-starring Poker Face's Natasha Lyonne, plus more voice roles in animated Dr Seuss adaptation The Cat in the Hat and 2000AD comic book movie Rogue Trooper. Toast of London is available to stream on NOW. Check out more of our Comedy 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 Toast of London 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 Marlow Murder Club season 3 first-look trailer sees beloved Doctor Who star return amid flurry of guest stars
Three more cases are opening up – including one that tears at the very fabric of the close-knit club.
The Marlow Murder Club season 3 is coming to U&Drama this month, with a first-look trailer showing the gang back in action alongside a cavalcade of guest stars. The series follows a trio of amateur investigators – retired archaeologist Judith Potts (Samantha Bond), dog walker Suzie Harris (Doctor Who's Jo Martin), and vicar’s wife Becks Starling (Cara Horgan) – who become invaluable assets to now-Detective Inspector Tanika Malik (Natalie Dew). Based on the novels by Death in Paradise creator Robert Thorogood, The Marlow Murder Club has become a standout title in the 'cosy crime' craze currently gripping British telly, with the next episodes shaping up to be another bunch of crowd-pleasers. The synopsis, courtesy of UKTV, teases: "From the sudden death of the town's beloved mayor – the nicest man in Marlow – to a celebrity chef found dead at the launch of his cookbook with half the town in attendance, the team will be working under the watchful eye of the Marlow community. "They'll also be called to action at a university reunion in an eerie manor house where, in a surprising twist, Becks finds herself amongst the suspects. Could this case threaten our amateur sleuths' roles as civilian advisors?" If you're suitably intrigued, check out The Marlow Murder Club season 3 trailer right here: View oEmbed on the source website Previous images have shown off guest stars Peter Davison (Doctor Who) and Jacqueline Boatswain (After the Flood), with Nigel Harman (Eastenders), Sarah Alexander (Art Detectives), Tony Gardner (Last Tango in Halifax) and Jason Merrells (Waterloo Road) to join them in the first two-parter. Later episodes boast appearances from Harry Enfield (The Windsors), Cherie Lunghi (Strike), Adrian Lukis (SAS Rogue Heroes) and Alastair Mackenzie (Andor). Meanwhile, the returning regulars include Hugh Quarshie (Professor Darius Gifford), Phill Langhorne (DC Brendan Perry), Holli Dempsey (DC Alice Hackett) and Tijan Sarr (DC Jason Kennedy). In our The Marlow Murder Club season 2 review, Radio Times writer James Hibbs said: "There's no doubt that the show has effectively transitioned from a one-off novel adaptation into a continuing, episodic formula, and thus set itself up for the future". He also claimed it was taking "cosy crime to new heights of cosiness," which is a description that co-star Samantha Bond would likely push back against. In an interview with Yahoo UK last year, she explained: "I really hate the expression cosy crime, I suppose I need to get past that... The plots are intricate, complex, intriguing, and they really make you think. "I suppose the word 'cosy' comes about because you don't see the violence, that's the only thing that's cosy about them... I'm of an age now where I don't want to see violence on my television." The Marlow Murder Club is coming to U&Drama on Wednesday 18th March 2026. Check out more of our Comedy 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 Marlow Murder Club 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 Lady true story: How Sarah Ferguson's dresser Jane Andrews became a killer
The gripping four-part drama depicts events leading up to the headline-making crime – and its devastating aftermath.
With the help of the creators of The Crown, ITV is examining the shocking true crime case of Jane Andrews, a former employee of Sarah Ferguson who was convicted of murder. The Lady, which continues tonight on ITV1, tells the life story of Jane Andrews (played by Mia McKenna-Bruce), who went from a relatively poor home in Grimsby to the opulence of Buckingham Palace after becoming a dresser to the then-Duchess of York (Natalie Dormer). Their friendship continued throughout Ferguson's divorce from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, but fizzled out not long after, leaving Andrews bereft at losing access to the royal world. Just a few short years later, Ferguson would be contacted by police about the whereabouts of her earlier confidante, whose boyfriend had been found dead in his west London home. This is the true story that inspired ITV drama The Lady. The Lady true story: How Sarah Ferguson's dresser Jane Andrews became a killer ITV drama The Lady tells the life story of Jane Andrews, who rose from humble origins to the privileged position of Sarah Ferguson's dresser. But years later, events took a dark turn. Andrews was born in April 1967 to a working-class family, who spent her early years in Cleethorpes before moving to Grimsby due to financial difficulties. Although she performed well at school initially, her academic life took a dip in her teenage years as severe mental health issues arose, causing her to attempt to take her own life at the age of just 15. Andrews recovered from the incident and later found her passion studying fashion at Grimsby College, which led to a job as a sales assistant in a local Marks & Spencer store. By the age of 21, she was itching for a new opportunity, which came from an anonymous job advert in The Lady – a historic women's magazine which ceased publication last year – seeking a dresser for an unnamed individual. That person later turned out to be none other than Sarah Ferguson, then-Duchess of York. Andrews secured the job in the summer of 1988, transforming her life overnight. At the time of the hiring, Ferguson was still married to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (known as Prince Andrew at that point in time), but the breakdown of that relationship soon followed. For Andrews, her job only became more important in that tumultuous period as she proved to be a valuable emotional support for Ferguson, who kept her close even when other staff had to be let go. In her own life, Andrews had also been through a divorce to a man named Christopher Dunn-Butler (portrayed by Adolescence star Mark Stanley in The Lady), whom she was married to for approximately five years. A subsequent relationship with affluent Greek businessman Dimitri Horne ended badly, with Andrews admitting to entering his home and damaging his property. "I was so angry, I took our photographs down," she told The Guardian. "On the mantelpiece in the living room was a cup and saucer that I knew was very special to him and I smashed it. "I went through his journal with a black marker pen and blanked out all the references to myself. I picked up his telephone and smashed that as well. I'm ashamed of what I did. I've never done that to anyone else's possessions." A character similar to Horne is played by Sean Teale (The Gold) in The Lady. Eventually, the axe came for Andrews, who was made redundant in November 1997 in what has been described simply as a "cost-cutting exercise," but it took her completely by surprise. She felt betrayed and became deeply depressed. Later, she found a new job at a Knightsbridge jewellers and met another businessman, Thomas Cressman (portrayed by Ed Speleers), with whom she began a relationship. This was a romance that ended in horror as, around two years after they met, Andrews violently murdered Cressman in his sleep using a cricket bat and a knife. Earlier that evening, he had called the police requesting officers to visit their address, due to a volatile argument between himself and Andrews that he feared would result in one of them getting hurt. They never came. While it is accepted that Andrews killed Cressman, the motives behind the crime are the subject of debate. The prosecution argued that Andrews's anger over her boyfriend's refusal to propose fuelled the shocking attack, with friends and relatives of Thomas claiming that she had exhibited possessive behaviour. In her defence, Andrews accused Cressman of being abusive, claiming that a broken wrist she had suffered while dancing with him had been inflicted deliberately. She also alleged that he would hit her with a wooden brush and abuse her sexually (via The Guardian). The withholding of a proposal was, by her account, one of the "mind games" that he would play with her. "I stayed with Tom for a thousand and one reasons, because every time he was violent or abusive, apologies came and he said he would change," she told the newspaper in an extensive interview, which took place after her conviction. Cressman's family strongly pushed back against the narrative that he mistreated Andrews, pointing to favourable testimonies from ex-girlfriends and a lack of forensic or anecdotal evidence to support the claims. After the trial had ended, Thomas' father Harry claimed that Andrews had "tried to destroy his reputation," while an earlier ex named Christina Spanier said "it was like she was killing him all over again" (via BBC News). "He was never violent and never made any horrible demands," added Spanier. "It is so unfair that he is dead and isn't here to defend himself." Due to the historic nature of the allegations, it is impossible to know with absolute certainty what happened behind closed doors, but Thomas's brother, Rick Cressman, remains firm in his own beliefs two decades later. Appearing on This Morning in 2021, he reiterated his view that Thomas's "character was besmirched in every which way as an excuse to try to justify murder". Immediately after the murder, Andrews fled the scene and went missing for several days, during which time Ferguson and other contacts were approached by police for assistance in locating her. Eventually, she was found in a car in Cornwall, having taken an overdose, which she recovered from. Andrews's trial at the Old Bailey was widely covered by the mainstream media, due largely to her connection to the Royal Family, which Rick cites as the principle reason why the case has never fully been put to rest. Andrews has been out of prison since 2019. The Lady continues on Sunday 1 March at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX. Add The Lady 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 Lady cast and their real-life counterparts: Who stars in ITV's drama?
Inspired by true events, the new miniseries explores a shocking murder with a royal connection.
The Lady is ITV's latest drama offering, telling the story of convicted murderer Jane Andrews, featuring BAFTA Rising Star winner Mia McKenna Bruce (Agatha Christie's Seven Dials) in the leading role. Andrews became the subject of great media interest in September 2000, when she killed her boyfriend, Thomas Cressman (Ed Speleers), before going on the run for several days. Besides the shocking nature of the crime itself, Andrews had previously been a staff member and close confidante to Sarah Ferguson (Natalie Dormer), then known as the Duchess of York (a title she has since stopped using). Andrews had parted ways with Ferguson a few years earlier, but her connection to the Royal Family was a prominent angle of news coverage – and, according to Thomas's brother, Rick, it's the main reason why the case continues to be examined. The four-parter from the creators of The Crown available as a box set on ITVX, airs its third episode Sunday 1st March in which "Jane starts to unravel and a make-or-break holiday has disastrous consequences". This dramatisation of the true story was written and produced prior to the release of old emails from Ferguson to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which have been the source of outrage and criticism in recent weeks. The Lady co-star Dormer, who portrays Ferguson, has chosen not to promote the show or accept her salary, which she instead donated to charities supporting victims of child abuse. Read on for an overview of The Lady cast as the series premieres on ITV1 and ITVX. The Lady cast: Who stars in ITV's drama? Here's a round-up of the key players in The Lady cast – read on for more detailed profiles on each character and the actor playing them, including where you might have seen them before. Mia McKenna-Bruce as Jane Andrews Natalie Dormer as Sarah, Duchess of York Ed Speleers as Thomas Cressman Philip Glenister as DCI Keith Douglas Stephanie Street as DS Smart Claire Skinner as June Andrews Laura Aikman as Francesca Ophelia Lovibond as Aleksandra Mark Stanley as Charles Daniel Ryan as David Andrews Sean Teale as Luis Ella Bruccoleri as Angela Mia McKenna-Bruce plays Jane Andrews Who is Jane Andrews? Jane is a working-class woman from northeast England, who moves to London after getting a job as the dresser of Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York. The opportunity initially seems to be a dream come true, giving her the chance to rub shoulders with royalty and other upper-class socialites, while also earning a good salary herself. However, being so far from her family also means she is without a strong support unit in difficult times, which is particularly significant for somebody with a history of mental health issues. The Lady depicts the period leading up to the murder of Thomas Cressman in September 2000, which Jane was found guilty of the following year. She served 14 years in prison, before being released on licence. What else has Mia McKenna Bruce been in? McKenna-Bruce recently won the BAFTA Rising Star Award for her starring role in 2023 coming-of-age drama How to Have Sex. She is also known for Netflix mystery Agatha Christie's Seven Dials and teen drama Get Even as well as CBBC shows Tracy Beaker Returns and The Dumping Ground. Natalie Dormer plays Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York Who is Sarah Ferguson? At the time when The Lady is set, Sarah Ferguson was still using her royal title, the Duchess of York, attained through her marriage to the former Prince Andrew (now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor). The series follows her in the twilight years of that unsuccessful relationship and in the immediate aftermath of her divorce. The Lady star Natalie Dormer has declined from promoting the show due to Ferguson's historic relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. She also donated her salary for the show to the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) and the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse (via Barnardo's). She told Variety in September 2025: "Since completing the project, new information has come to light that makes it impossible for me to reconcile my values with Sarah Ferguson's behaviour, which I believe is inexcusable." What else has Natalie Dormer been in? Dormer is probably best known as Margaery Tyrell in HBO's smash-hit fantasy drama Game of Thrones. She went on to join The Hunger Games franchise with Mockingjay – Parts 1 and 2, where she played rebel filmmaker Cressida. Other credits include The Tudors, Elementary and Penny Dreadful: City of Angels. Ed Speleers plays Thomas Cressman Who is Thomas Cressman? Thomas is a man who gets into a romance with Jane Andrews. She murdered him when their relationship soured, prompting widespread media coverage in part due to her connection with the Royal Family. What else has Ed Speelers been in? Speelers has recently appeared in Netflix thriller You, Paramount's Star Trek: Picard and BBC sitcom Black Ops. He's also known for playing Jimmy Kent in Downton Abbey, Stephen Bonnet in Outlander and Eragon in the fantasy film of the same name. Philip Glenister plays DCI Keith Douglas Who is DCI Keith Douglas? Douglas is the lead detective investigating the suspicious death of Thomas Cressman. What else has Philip Glenister been in? Glenister has a long list of credits to his name, including Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes, Steeltown Murders and Apple TV's Foundation. Most recently, he's been seen in UKTV's Bergerac reboot and ITV's After the Flood. Stephanie Street plays DS Smart Who is DS Smart? She is DCI Douglas's partner on the case of Thomas Cressman's murder. What else has Stephanie Street ben in? Recent credits include ITVX biopic Joan, true crime series Until I Kill You, pandemic hospital drama Breathtaking and Channel 4's The Couple Next Door. Claire Skinner plays June Andrews Who is June Andrews? June is the mother of Jane Andrews. What else has Claire Skinner been in? Skinner is best known for playing Sue Brockman in the long-running BBC sitcom Outnumbered, which returned for a special Christmas episode in 2024. Other credits include Agatha Christie's The Pale Horse, McDonald & Dodds and Riot Women. Laura Aikman plays Francesca Who is Francesca? Francesca is a wealthy woman who befriends Jane after she joins London's social scene. What else has Laura Aikman been in? Most recently, Aikman played Sonia in the final two episodes of Gavin & Stacey, and Rachel Duffy in BBC One's crime drama This City is Ours. Ophelia Lovibond plays Aleksandra Who is Aleksandra? Another of Jane's affluent friends, who holds classist prejudice against her. What else has Ophelia Lovibond been in? Lovibond's past credits include BBC sitcom W1A, Netflix comedy-drama Feel Good and Apple TV's Trying. She's also known for Sherlock Holmes adaptation Elementary and Elton John biopic Rocketman. Additionally, Lovibond played the role of Carina, servant to The Collector (Benicio Del Toro), in Thor: The Dark World, Guardians of the Galaxy and Marvel's What If...?. Mark Stanley plays Charles Who is Charles? Charles is an earlier romantic partner to Jane Andrews, whom she later marries. What else has Mark Stanley been in? Stanley recently appeared in Netflix's smash-hit drama Adolescence and ITV's true crime series A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story. Other credits include Game of Thrones, Sanditon, Trigger Point and Happy Valley. Daniel Ryan plays David Andrews Who is David Andrews? David is the father of Jane Andrews. What else has Daniel Ryan been in? You may have seen Ryan recently in The Hack (as Tom Watson), Such Brave Girls (as Graham) or The Bay (as DI Manning). Sean Teale plays Luis Who is Luis? Luis is another wealthy man, who Jane briefly dates. What else has Sean Teale been in? Teale has previously starred in X-Men spin-off The Gifted, Netflix thriller Who is Erin Carter? and Disney Plus mystery drama Doctor Odyssey. You might also have spotted him in the second season of BBC drama The Gold, where he played Enriqué. Ella Bruccoleri plays Angela <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/the-lady-cast-9bf6fa6.jpg" width="4502" height="3000" alt="(L-R) Caroline Fabar, Natalie Dormer and Ella Bruccoleri star in The Lady; Sarah Ferguson (Dormer) stands between two seated women holding a newspaper as they look on. Another woman stands in the foreground ahead of them, with her back to the viewer." title="the-lady-cast" /> Who is Angela? Angela is another employee of Sarah Ferguson. What else has Ella Bruccoleri been in? Bruccoleri became known to many as Sister Frances on the BBC drama Call the Midwife, holding the role from seasons 8 through 12. Since leaving the cast, she's appeared in ITVX drama Passenger and Apple TV's Down Cemetery Road as well as Netflix period dramas Bridgerton and Agatha Christie's Seven Dials. On the big screen, she's nabbed roles in Polite Society, Joy, Paddington in Peru and recent slasher trilogy The Strangers: Chapters 1-3. The Lady continues on Sunday 1 March 2026 at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX. 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 Lady 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.
Netflix's "gripping" new detective drama based on "legendary" Jo Nesbø books gets first-look trailer
A Nordic noir favourite is getting a second chance at screen success.
Netflix has dropped an intense trailer for its upcoming adaptation Jo Nesbø's Detective Hole, which boasts a cast led by familiar faces from The Last Kingdom and Apple TV's For All Mankind. Harry Hole (Tobias Santelmann) is a Norwegian sleuth featured in more than a dozen novels by the prolific author, including The Bat, The Snowman and, most recently, 2023's Killing Moon. The character previously made a botched live-action debut in 2017's film adaptation of The Snowman, where he was played by Michael Fassbender. Unfortunately, the feature got a brutal drubbing by critics and flopped at the box office. It would be fair to say, then, that the bar has been set rather low for this redux, but Netflix's Detective Hole looks to clear it confidently with its faithful and atmospheric approach. For starters, they actually cast a Norwegian in the lead role! Santelmann is probably best known to UK-based viewers from The Last Kingdom, playing the noble warrior Ragnar across the first three seasons of the historical drama. In Detective Hole season 1, which is based on the novel The Devil's Star, he'll be facing off against For All Mankind and Peacemaker star Joel Kinnaman, who plays corrupt cop Tom Waaler – you can see both in action in the first-look trailer here: View oEmbed on the source website "Harry Hole isn't just another detective – he is a character readers around the world have lived with for almost 30 years, and I am grateful for the opportunity to bring him to the screen," said Santelmann. "I approached this role with deep respect for Jo Nesbø's work and for the audience that has followed Harry for so long... I hope we’ve created something that feels true to the spirit of the books while also standing on its own." Co-star Kinnaman commented: "Filming in Oslo, the city so deeply woven into Jo Nesbø's novels, brings an authenticity to the series that's impossible to replicate. "Collaborating closely with Jo to explore this darker side of Harry’s world has been a rewarding creative experience, and I'm so proud to help bring this story to the screen." There's more star power behind-the-scenes too, with Nick Cave and Warren Ellis – of moody rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – serving as composers. They recently scored The Death of Bunny Munro, based on Cave's novel. Detective Hole is coming to Netflix on Thursday 26 March 2026. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Add Detective Hole 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.
Scream 7: Release date and latest cast news
Fans of the franchise have weathered some major changes.
It's not an exaggeration to say that Scream 7 has had a rocky road to cinema screens – with the controversial firing of Melissa Barrera and the exit of original director Christopher Landon leading to a a creative overhaul of the project. The film now arrives in UK cinemas this weekend and the review embargo has just lifted, so was it worth the wait? Well, that depends on who you ask. At the time of writing, the film sits on just 43 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes after 37 reviews, the weakest score for the franchise in its history. That said, our own Radio Times review came down largely on the positive side, awarding it 3 stars and declaring that despite "faults, plot holes and a dubious ending" the slasher franchise "still has its pleasures". The film sees original franchise star Neve Campbell (The Lincoln Lawyer) back in the lead role as Sidney Prescott after she sat out the last film due to a pay dispute, while Courteney Cox also reprises her role as Gale Weathers. If you're intrigued to see where the horror film series is headed now, here's everything we know about Scream 7. Scream 7 release date Scream 7 will be released in cinemas on Friday 27th February 2026, as was confirmed by writer-director Kevin Williamson and star Neve Campbell in a joint post on Instagram, Williamson celebrated the start of filming on Instagram on Wednesday 7th January 2025, sharing an image of Scream 7's first clapperboard despite admitting that he's "not supposed" to be talking about the film yet. "I hope Spyglass and Paramount will forgive me but when you have one of the best days of your life it's really hard to keep it to yourself," he wrote. "What an extraordinary day I had working with an amazing and talented cast and crew." Williamson continued: "They brought their A game and had my back every step of the way. I'm so very grateful for this opportunity and to Wes Craven who was on my mind through it all. The profound impact he has had on my life and career is endless." Scream 7 cast: New and returning members Neve Campbell stars in Scream 7, reprising her role of franchise stalwart Sidney Prescott. The actor declined to appear in the sixth instalment, reportedly over a pay dispute, which instead pivoted focus to the Carpenter sisters Sam (Melissa Barrera) and Tara (Jenna Ortega). In March 2024, four months after Barrera's firing (see next section for details), it was announced that Campbell would be returning as the franchise's primary focus in its seventh entry. She announced the news on her Instagram account, writing: "I’m so excited to announce this news!!! Sidney Prescott is coming back!!!! It’s always been such a blast and an honour to get to play Sidney in the Scream movies. "My appreciation for these films and for what they have meant to me, has never waned. I’m very happy and proud to say I’ve been asked, in the most respectful way, to bring Sidney back to the screen and I couldn’t be more thrilled!!!" She'll be joined by Friends legend Courteney Cox as reporter and repeated Ghostface survivor Gale Weathers, who is now the only actor to appear in every single Scream film (besides Roger L Jackson as the disguised voice of all the killers). Although neither Barrera nor Ortega are returning for Scream 7, the upcoming sequel won't be entirely discarding the additions made by the creatives behind the fifth and sixth entries. Mason Gooding (Love, Victor) and Jasmin Savoy Brown (Yellowjackets) will be reprising their roles as siblings Chad and Mindy, who are the nephew and niece of deceased original character Randy Meeks (Jamie Kennedy). Meanwhile, the producers have added a number of up-and-coming actors to the Scream family, including Isabel May (Yellowstone: 1923), Celeste O'Connor (Madame Web), Asa Germann (Gen V), Mckenna Grace (Ghostbusters), Sam Rechner (Heartbreak High) and Ethan Embry (Grace and Frankie). There are no details on precisely who they're playing just yet, but it seems unlikely that all of their characters will make it out of the movie alive. In addition, Scream 7 has also tapped some more established names, including Mark Consuelos, Pitch Perfect star Anna Camp in an as-yet-undisclosed role and Community's Joel McHale as the husband of Sidney Prescott. The latter casting raised eyebrows among the fan base, as Sidney's perpetually off-screen husband had previously been identified as Patrick Dempsey's detective Mark Kincaid, whose sole franchise appearance was in the divisive Scream 3. The Grey's Anatomy alum seemed open to returning to the role in an interview with NBC's Today show last year, telling the hosts that there "has been a conversation about it" and that he was "waiting on the script". But it was eventually revealed at the beginning of 2025 that Dempsey would not be playing detective Mark Kincaid again. Revealing why he’s not returning, the actor recently told Variety: “It just didn’t work out and we were dealing with the fires and everything that was going on and the schedule didn’t work out, unfortunately,” While Dempsey won't be making a comeback, and we're still waiting for official confirmation of roles for other franchise players, including Hayden Panettiere's Kirby Reed, there are two surprising returnees who have been announced recently - Scott Foley and Matthew Lillard. Foley previously portrayed antagonist Roman Bridger, the film director and half-brother of Sidney Prescott in Scream 3, who seemingly died at the end of that film. Meanwhile, Lillard played Stu Macher in the first film, another villainous character who bit the dust. David Arquette will also be reprising his role as Dewey Riley, and Roger L Jackson's will be back as the voice of Ghostface. How these returns will feature into the story remains to be seen, but its fair to say they've got fans excited about the new instalment. Meanwhile, original star Skeet Ulrich – who appeared as hallucinations of Barrera's character in the last two instalments – revealed that he had been set to reprise his role before Barrera was fired. "I used to know because part of coming back for five and six was being a part of seven," he told Deadline. "It was a three-picture arc for Billy Loomis, or the imagination of Billy Loomis in Melissa Barrera‘s character’s head. But when all that went down with her, obviously you lose her and you lose what’s in her head." Why was Melissa Barrera fired from Scream 7? It had seemed that Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega would be moving forward as the faces of the franchise, but that plan fell apart after Barrera was fired by production company Spyglass over her comments on the conflict in Gaza. In one Instagram post, Barrera wrote: "Western media only shows the [Israeli] side. Why do they do that, I will let you deduce for yourself... We don’t need more hate. No Islamophobia. No Anti-semitism." A spokesperson for Spyglass said (via Variety): "Spyglass's stance is unequivocally clear: We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech." Barrera countered in an Instagram post: "First and foremost I condemn Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. I condemn hate and prejudice of any kind against any group of people. "As a Latina, a proud Mexicana, I feel the responsibility of having a platform that allows me the privilege of being heard, and therefore I have tried to use it to raise awareness about issues I care about and to lend my voice to those in need." She added: "I believe a group of people are NOT their leadership, and that no governing body should be above criticism. I pray day and night for no more deaths, for no more violence, and for peaceful co-existence." Ortega dropped out of the Scream franchise shortly after Barrera's firing, although her exit was revealed to be over a scheduling conflict with Wednesday season 2. Behind the camera, Scream 7's original director Christopher Landon (Happy Death Day, Freaky) also left the project, after posting on X (formerly Twitter): "Everything sucks. Stop yelling. This was not my decision to make." In November 2024, a year on from her firing, Barrera opened up to The Independent about the negative impact it had on her career in the immediate term. "It was quiet for, like, 10 months," she began. "I was still getting offers for small things here and there – I’m not going to lie and say there was nothing – but [the message] was, 'Oh, she probably doesn’t have work, she’ll say yes to anything.' "It was the darkest and hardest year of my life, and I had to reevaluate everything. There were times when I felt like my life was over." The film's premiere in LA was met with a demonstration by pro-Palestine protestors in response to the firing of Barrera – who had spoken out against the destruction in Gaza – with the protest stating that its aims were to "draw attention to the industry’s widespread silencing of pro-Palestinian voices". The demonstration was organised by a number of groups including Entertainment Labor for Palestine, Codepink LA, Musicians for Palestine, and Jewish Voice for Peace-Los Angeles, and Barrera herself appeared to respond to the show of support, posting an Instagram story that included a heart emoji and the words "I see you". Meanwhile, asked about the protests, director Kevin Williamson told The Hollywood Reporter: "I saw them and my heart just sort of stopped. Look, we live in America. Everyone has a right to protest and everyone should be heard. "And if you have your truth and if you want to stand up and be heard, you protest. That is your right in this country, and I stand by it. I support that 100 per cent." Scream 7 plot: What is the film about? The official plot synopsis reads: "A new Ghostface killer emerges in the quiet town where Sidney has built a new life, and her darkest fears are realized as her daughter (Isabel May) becomes the next target. Determined to protect her family, Sidney must face the horrors of her past to put an end to the bloodshed once and for all." Campbell previously explained that she was tempted into returning because of a renewed focus on Sidney Prescott. "We are going to follow Sidney," she told Entertainment Tonight, before adding that the concept is along the same lines as Jamie Lee Curtis' return to the role of Laurie Strode in the Halloween franchise, 40 years after the original. "They did pitch the concept to me, and it’s the reason that I jumped on board," Campbell said. She added: "I love these movies, they are so much fun to be a part of, I'm so grateful for them, I could never have imagined being a part of a movie that would have lasted this many decades.” Meanwhile, Scream 7 star Gooding recently teased that franchise villain Ghostface is “the most brutal he’s been” in the seventh instalment. “It feels like an amplification of what’s came before, and there’s no better indication of that than Kevin Williamson, who wrote the original, coming back now to direct,” Gooding told Variety. He added: “I think that Ghostface is absolutely the most brutal he’s been. I don’t want to spoil anything, but there’s some stuff that they do to the human body that I feel like Kevin is breaking new ground with.” And it looks like this might not be the end for the franchise yet, with Williamson telling Deadline that he and Campbell had already begun planning ideas for an eighth instalment. "When you’re sitting on the set at three in the morning, you’re like, 'Well, what would Scream 8 be about?' And you just start spit-balling," he said. "And Neve had this great idea, and everyone seemed to run with it. So yeah, if this movie works and people want it, we’re here for the fans. So, if they want it, we’ll certainly give it to them.” Is there a trailer for Scream 7? Yes, a trailer has been released, and it shows Campbell's character Sidney and her daughter evading Ghostface. Watch for yourself below: View Green Video on the source website Check out more of our Film and Sci-Fi coverage, or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what’s on tonight. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
5 confirms "powerful" true crime drama which will depict Kate McCann interrogation following Madeleine McCann disappearance
The feature-length drama is one half of a new anthology series.
A new 5 drama will investigate moments in high-profile criminal investigations "when the victims themselves become the prime suspects", with the first episode to focus on Kate McCann in the months after the disappearance of her daughter, Madeleine. Laura Bayston (Slow Horses, Casualty) will portray the devastated mother during a particularly dark period in July 2007, when she was questioned as a suspect by Portuguese police and subsequently became engulfed by a negative "global media narrative". The synopsis, courtesy of 5, recounts: "What started innocently enough quickly turned hostile – police told Kate that they no longer believed her and would be considering her an 'arguida' (formal suspect). "Detectives told her they had evidence that would prove her involvement in the disappearance, and that if she didn't confess she would face murder charges... It's the story of every parent's nightmare, somehow getting worse." The 90-minute standalone drama is based on official police material, documentary evidence and recorded testimony, highlighting how "flawed evidence" led to the interrogation and created a "false legacy" that persisted for many years after. Portuguese police officially confirmed the following year that Kate and husband Gerry McCann, who had always denied any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance, were no longer suspects. Dan Louw, commissioning editor at 5, said: "This fantastic film goes where the cameras couldn't – behind the closed doors of the interview room – to create a deeply moving drama from documentary evidence. "Suspect: Kate McCann is one of the most tense, moving and shocking films you will see this year. I cannot praise the writing, directing and acting enough – especially a star-making turn from Laura Bayston as Kate McCann." The Kate McCann episode of Suspect is written by Philip Ralph (Einstein and the Bomb, Doctors) and directed by Paula Wittig (Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home). The anthology will continue with Suspect: The Road Rage Killer (working title), which focuses on the very different case of Tracie Andrews (portrayed by Hollyoaks alum Emma Rigby) in the weeks after the suspicious death of fiancé, Lee Harvey. Andrews initially claimed that Harvey was fatally attacked by a passing driver in a road rage incident, but it didn't take long for holes in the story to start to show. "This tense drama follows Tracie's transformation from victim to suspect and explores how truth fractures under pressure," reads the synopsis. "It's the story of how one woman's need for love and attention turned into delusion, control and violence." The Andrews-centric episode of Suspect will be directed by Grant Armour (Manhunt: The Search for the Cop Killer) and promises to combine "the storytelling of great drama with integral documentary detail". Executive producer Nat Lippiett added: "You might think you know these stories, but these powerful, meticulously researched dramas will surprise viewers by shedding light on the lesser-known moments in these iconic crime cases." Suspect is coming to 5 later this year. 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 Suspect 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.
W1A creator hails David Tennant's "ludicrous" narration – and teases "very different" Twenty Twenty Six
The prolific star will narrate the many more gaffes of Ian Fletcher's next chapter.
W1A and Twenty Twelve creator John Morton has praised the work of TV legend David Tennant in the hit sitcoms, while teasing his "utterly delightful" return in the imminent follow-up Twenty Twenty Six. Hugh Bonneville stars in the trilogy of shows as senior executive Ian Fletcher, who often finds himself cornered into farcical situations by his colleagues and his own self-interested actions. Ian's career is presented to viewers in the form of a 'mockumentary', with Tennant taking an off-screen role as its narrator, lending his authoritative voice to some truly daft scene-setting lines. Following W1A's inclusion in Radio Times's poll to find the greatest modern British sitcom (vote now!), Morton looked back on the workplace comedy and the impact of Tennant's understated contribution. He explained that scripting the narration is less "technically complicated" than the show's fast-paced dialogue, which is packed with filler words and cross-talk, but Tennant elevates it to be just as punchy and memorable. "He's utterly brilliant," said Morton. "He knows exactly where the line is. When he's got something particularly silly to say... if you say it as a joke, it just doesn't work, but if you say it without any comedy at all, it goes 'clunk'. "David manages to tread that line to let you enjoy the ludicrousness of what he's saying without him pointing at it. It's a very, very delicate thing." Tennant is reprising his role as narrator for the forthcoming Twenty Twenty Six, which sees Ian go from Head of Values at the BBC to Director of Integrity on the oversight committee for an unspecified global football tournament. Coincidentally, the sitcom happens to be releasing just prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Morton revealed that Tennant recorded his narration for Twenty Twenty Six late last year, assuring fans that the Doctor Who and Rivals icon hasn't lost any of his comic potency. "He's exactly the same: utterly delightful, so quick," he promised. "I sometimes forget until the very last bit of [production] what a big note in the overall music of the show he is... So we're super grateful for David." Of course, Morton also expressed his "admiration" for the entire W1A cast, who he tasked with memorising incredibly "precise" scripts, where just the slightest slip-up could mean that the "whole engine crashes". "At the end of one of those long meeting room scenes, I remember saying to them, 'The annoying thing about this is that when it comes out the other end, it'll look absolutely effortless. No one will ever know what you've just done,'" he said. "So this opportunity is great for me, because I get a chance to say they are, all of them, my heroes." What is the greatest modern British TV comedy? Vote in Radio Times' poll The return of Tennant, Bonneville and Fleabag's Hugh Skinner (as Ian's hapless personal assistant Will) should make viewers of the earlier Fletcher-verse shows feel at home, despite a largely new cast, workplace and project to deliver. "It's very different because a lot of people will not have seen the previous [shows], so it's got to work out of the box, fresh," explained Morton, whose ultimate "aspiration" is that Twenty Twenty Six actually improves upon its two precursors. "[Making a TV show is] not easy, so given that you're embarking on something that will completely dominate your life and put you under a lot of stress and anxiety, you've got to hope that it will be better than the thing you did before," he added. Morton will leave it up to viewers to decide whether he scored that particular goal. Twenty Twenty Six is coming soon to BBC Two and iPlayer. Twenty Twelve and W1A are streaming on iPlayer. Add W1A 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 Comedy 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.