Line of Duty ending explained – how season 6 revealed the identity of H, and all the important details from the finale
All of the major developments, recapped and explained, ahead of the now confirmed season 7.
It's official: Line of Duty is returning for season 7. Rumours had been swirling that Jed Mercurio's crime drama would be back for more almost immediately after it was last on screens, all the way back in 2021. And the BBC has now finally confirmed that more episodes are on their way, with key cast Vicky McClure, Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar set to begin filming in Belfast in spring 2026. "Everyone involved in Line of Duty feels enormous gratitude to the show’s fans," Mercurio said of the news. "We’re privileged to have had so many of you follow the ups and downs of AC-12 over six previous seasons and we couldn’t be more delighted to be returning for a seventh." So, what can we expect? In the new episodes, "AC-12 has been disbanded and rebranded the Inspectorate of Police Standards." "Anticorruption work has never been more difficult and in this challenging climate Steve Arnott (Martin Compston), Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) and Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) are assigned their most sensitive case so far," continues the official synopsis. "Detective Inspector Dominic Gough, a charismatic officer winning plaudits for a string of takedowns of organised crime, is accused of abusing his position of trust to act as a sexual predator. "But is Gough’s case a deliberate distraction from a bigger threat still operating in the shadows?" Another quiet season of telly, then... Read more: So, what should we expect from Line of Duty season 7? I have some questions Speaking about the renewal, Compston said: "Line of Duty has been a job of a lifetime. Not only in terms of the show's success but the people I’ve had the opportunity to work with I now call some of my closest friends. I can’t wait to pull the waistcoat on again and get the team back together.” And McClure was equally as gushing: “It goes without saying I’m so excited Line of Duty is back! Can’t wait to work with Jed, Martin and Adrian again. Belfast, we’ll see you soon!” With its arrival quite a way off (we're predicting New Year's Day 2027 given the BBC's penchant for a big release at the year's start), we thought what better time than now to refresh your memories with a breakdown of what happened when we last spent time with the now former AC-12. Halfway through the Line of Duty season 6 finale, AC-12 finally found out the identity of 'H', or the "Fourth Man" who they had been chasing for so long. But did we, the viewers, find out at the same time? No, we most certainly did not. For another excruciating eight minutes, the team passed around print-outs and made cryptic remarks, exchanged knowing looks, and got sidetracked into other conversations. "All this time we've been chasing shadows! If this is right he's been under our noses from the very beginning!" declared Steve. (Who was he talking about? Surely it's Chief Constable Osborne, we thought.) And then we had a montage of armed officers drawing up to AC-12 and marching an unseen interviewee into the building, while DI Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) tap-tapped on his iPad and linked up the DIR. Of course, the camera pulled away before he typed in the name of the interviewee. And when we finally – finally – got to see who was sitting on the other side of the table in AC-12's interrogation room it was... Buckells. Bloody Buckells! (If you listened carefully at 9:34pm on the dot, you probably heard a howl of disbelief as millions of Line of Duty fans across the country yelled at their TV sets. Mother of God!) "All the time we were here, thinking we were chasing some criminal mastermind, but no," Superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) said, fuming: "Your corruption was mistaken for incompetence." So, that was that. But elsewhere, there was quite a lot to absorb in that final episode – so here's the season 6 ending, recapped and explained. Line of Duty ending explained DCI Ian Buckells revealed as H, the "Fourth Man" After all that, DCI Ian Buckells (Nigel Boyle) was the big bad! But maybe a bit less "big" than everyone anticipated. "Yeah right, I'm a blundering fool. I'm only the one who's made total mugs out of you lot," he said. In 2003, when Buckells was only a Detective Constable, he was working on a corrupt team of cops who mishandled the Lawrence Christopher case on the orders of Tommy Hunter, ensuring that the OCG boss's son Darren Hunter escaped justice. At the time, it was Buckells' boss Marcus Thurwell (James Nesbitt) who was the criminal cop, although (suspiciously) future Chief Constable Philip Osborne (Owen Teale) was also involved in the case. After the events of 2003, Buckells then "failed upwards", as Hastings put it – somehow climbing the ranks, despite his mediocrity. Even after Tommy Hunter was killed in 2014 and the OCG dissolved into multiple smaller OCGs, Buckells kept tipping off the criminals and bent coppers. He'd send them details and instructions via an encrypted messaging service, with Thurwell handily assisting from his retirement home in Spain by routing the messages through his Spanish IP address and then back to the UK again. His motive? Greed. "As you made your way up through the ranks, there wasn't anything that you wouldn't turn your hand to as long as the price was right," said Ted. "That's the top and bottom of it, isn't it, fella?" In Buckells' mind, he was just giving the criminals information and letting them be the ones to make the decisions and do the killings. "That's the OCGs! That's their doing! I just pass things on. I didn't plan it or nothing, did I?" All he did was collect the money and use it to pay for swanky houses, and he sees nothing wrong with that. And where does Jo Davidson fit in? Well, Jo simply didn't know it was Buckells calling the shots! She was sitting in an office right next to him, and she thought Buckells was just an incompetent fool who she could frame for her own bent-copper actions. Which she managed, quite successfully at first – to Buckells' profound bafflement. All the time when Jo was talking to "H" on her special laptop throughout season 6, she thought she was talking to Patrick Fairbank (George Costigan) – even though she was actually talking to Buckells. That's because Tommy Hunter told teenaged Jo a horrible, useful lie: he claimed that the man who raped and impregnated Jo's mother Samantha Davidson was none other than Fairbank. Samantha Davidson had recently died, so she wasn't around to contradict Tommy. Jo believed this lie up until the moment AC-12 broke the horrible news to her that Tommy was not just her uncle, but her real biological father. The Fairbank's-your-dad lie must have been part of Tommy's strategy to control and coerce his niece/daughter Jo as he pushed her into the police force in the late 1990s. Back then, Fairbank was a senior corrupt cop (and serial child abuser), and he was likely the one passing on orders to more junior cops in that clandestine network of bent coppers. But even after Fairbank retired, and even after his arrest and conviction, Jo continued to believe that her rapist father was calling the shots – first from home, and then from prison. So when she finally told AC-12 about Fairbank, she thought she was giving them "H" – and AC-12 thought so too. But a search of Fairbank's cell revealed absolutely no communication equipment, and in his interrogation Fairbank was utterly baffled (though a lot of that was surely due to Alzheimers / memory loss). "I've not the foggiest!" Fairbank said. Then DC Chloe Bishop (Shalom Brune-Franklin) came to the rescue! Line of Duty fans have been suspicious of AC-12's brainy new recruit ever since she appeared this season, but in the end it was entirely unwarranted. Chloe did the desk research and delivered the goods. By searching through all the old case files for the Lawrence Christopher case and newly-found ones from Operation Lighthouse, she found handwritten notes from Buckells – in which he spelled "definitely" as "definately", just like the person communicating with Jo and the OCGs. Got him! "Definately" wasn't a red herring – it was the vital clue all along. AC-12 then collected more evidence against Buckells, and brought him in for questioning. Facing him across the table were Steve, Ted, and Kate (presumably on loan from Operation Lighthouse), while Patricia Carmichael opted out – in favour of lurking in her office doorway, observing the interrogation in a socially-distanced manner. The evidence was overwhelming. In an interrogation peppered by "no comment"s from Buckells, the AC-12 trio revealed the fingerprint-covered laptop that had been found hidden in his cell at Blackthorn Prison; the IP addresses that matched the one at Thurwell's in Spain; and the analysis of the "definately" misspelling. They had messages suggesting he'd masterminded the attempted abduction and murder of both Jo and DI Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure). They had evidence of his £3 million property portfolio, far beyond what he should realistically be able to afford. And in one of the houses, they'd found a DNA and fingerprint-covered hard drive with evidence of him approving the 2019 Eastfield Depot raid. Faced with the evidence, Buckells saw he couldn't keep on saying "no comment". But he had another plan in mind. "So you see the thing is, DCS Carmichael is meant to be taking over, in't she? But she ain't in here. So that makes me wonder if she doesn't want to be associated with detecting institutionalised corruption. Because officially institutionalised corruption don't exist, does it? Officially, 'H' or the Fourth Man or whatever you want to call him, he don't exist neither. So that makes me realise that everyone would be much happier if this all just went away. So I'll take immunity and witness protection, thank you very much." So Buckells began to spill the beans. According to him there was no set group of four "H"-es running the shop, so the theory about Dot's dying declaration seems to have been a bit shoddy. Instead, Tommy Hunter was the top man in this whole thing; after his death, the OCG split into multiple, smaller OCGs. Back then, Buckells was just a junior guy "passing on orders". The senior figures used to be Fairbank and Thurwell; then they were Derek Hilton (Paul Higgins) and Dot Cottan (Craig Parkinson); then the mantle fell to Buckells. he made no mention of Gill Biggeloe, who AC-12 previously had down as an 'H'. But then Buckells' plan to seek witness protection or immunity hit a rock he had not anticipated – and the cockiness started to ebb away. The trick up AC-12's sleeve was a question about whether he and/or Chief Constable Osborne conspired in the murder of Gail Vella. Because, in this particular instance, Buckells and/or Osborne weren't just going along with OCG plans, but actually ordered the killing. Buckells had found out via Lee Banks that Gail was digging into the Lawrence Christopher inquiry, and he needed her to stop before she got to the truth. "Naturally, you're aware failing to cooperate with this inquiry would make you ineligible for witness protection," warned Steve, while Kate piped up with: "And you're also aware that confession to conspiracy to murder would make you ineligible for immunity from prosecution." Trapped! "No one makes mugs of AC-12," said Ted, sending Buckells back to prison, where he remains. But – as we learned at the very end – Central Police has submitted an application for public-interest immunity in legal proceedings against Buckells. If successful, no evidence relating to institutionalised corruption will be heard in court; Buckells' plan may work out after all. Got it? OK, now we've got that sorted, let's talk about what else happened in the episode: The OCG strongbox under the floor When beardy Lewis and that other bloke from the OCG turned up at the gun workshop on Ryan's tip-off, what they were really meant to be doing was tearing up the concrete floor and removing the OCG's strongbox. But the police got there first, and shot them both dead. Then, when Kate had the bright idea of using radar to look underground, she struck gold: a box full of OCG goodies. We've seen before that OCG bosses like to hoard incriminating evidence, so bent coppers and thugs alike are forced to continue complying. From this box, DS Chris Lomax (Perry Fitzpatrick) recovered the OCG's blackmail material on Ryan Pilkington (a knife he used to kill PC Maneet Bindra) and Carl Banks (the gun he used to kill Gail Vella, and the gloves he wore). That said, not all of this could be taken at face value: the knife covered with Jackie Laverty's blood was, as Steve handily already knew, put in Tony Gates's hand against his will – specifically to create this evidence. The prison officers kidnapped Jo to kill her Ah, Leland and Merchant, Line of Duty's most evil double act. The prison officers from Brentiss Prison are in the pocket of the OCG, and in this episode they were given orders to kill prisoner Jo Davidson ("JD definately high risk. Contact assets in BP"). As Jo was on the Vulnerable Prisoner Unit, with security cameras everywhere and "elevated monitoring", they couldn't reach her there – so they instead carried out an audacious plan (presumably with plenty of help) to remove her from the jail and put her in a transport van, so the OCG could stage a kidnap. Someone forged a "production order", calling Jo Davidson in for an interview at Hillside Lane Police Station. It looked pretty legit on the system: they even forged the signatures of DS Chris Lomax and DI Kate Fleming. Leland, Merchant and an accomplice then loaded Jo into the back of a van; the plan was for a bunch of balaclava men to ambush the police transport en route to the Hill, pretending to hold the prison officers at gunpoint. The balaclava men could then kidnap and kill Jo Davidson: problem solved! But they reckoned without AC-12's Amanda Yao (Rosa Escoda), who had intercepted the encrypted message from "H" to his criminal cronies (thanks, in part, to the seizing of communications equipment at Thurwell's house in Spain). Jo's life was in danger! AC-12 scrambled into action, putting all the pieces together in time to track down the van and get to Jo before the OCG did. Plus, AC-12 pulled off an even bolder move. In a scene that took place off-screen, Steve and Kate stopped the van and removed prison guard Leland from the back, replacing her with an armed and angry Kate. Steve stepped in as driver, and Merchant was forced to comply with this new set-up from the passenger seat. So when the balaclava men jumped out of their shiny black cars to ambush the van as planned, they were instead surprised by Steve and Kate, followed by a whole load of Armed Firearms Officers who had been waiting in the wings. This audacious switch-up meant that AC-12 were able to get more balaclava men in custody, and also demonstrate to Jo that she really was about to be killed by "H" – and it was time to give up his identity. Steve finally went to Occupational Health Steve managed to accomplish that heroic van ambush with nothing but a taser gun (and a gun he cheekily nicked off one of the balaclava men). That's because he had to surrender his "blue ticket" firearms licence, on the orders of Occupational Health – who finally compelled him to go to an appointment, under threat of suspension from duty. As the medical counsellor (played by Steve Oram) told Steve, his urine sample had revealed "very high doses" of painkillers. The counsellor noted the serious assault Steve suffered in season four, and raised an eyebrow at Steve's claim he was only taking painkillers for a couple of minor sports injuries. He suggested Steve should take some time off work, and told him he'd have to surrender his firearms licence voluntarily, or risk having it formally removed. In addition, he probed the mental trauma Steve must be carrying from having witnessed so many colleagues' violent deaths. All very fair. And there was no sense that Steve was being punished; this was more about looking after his welfare, and keeping everyone safe. Steve's now getting treatment and therapy, and so is Kate – having been through quite a lot during the last few years. Hastings came clean on John Corbett Just as Ted Hastings was about to storm off to tell DCS Patricia Carmichael (Anna Maxwell Martin) about Buckells being 'H', Steve and Kate decided it was the right moment to confront the gaffer with what they knew. And it took a bit of beating around the bush for him to come clean – but when he did, the air was finally clear between Line of Duty's famous trio. First they told him Steve had been in contact with Steph. Ted tried to turn it back around on Steve at that point, saying he'd heard from her about Steve's painkiller addiction and had given him a chance to sort himself out. ("That's loyalty.") Then they told him what they really knew about Steph, which was that she had a bundle of £50 notes in the attic – given to her by Ted. Ah, said Ted – yes, I did keep half of that bribe money, but at least it went to a good cause. "Are we done?" Finally, having given Ted a chance to 'fess up to the whole thing off his own back (a chance which Ted didn't take), Steve and Kate revealed what they really knew: that Ted told Lee Banks there was a rat inside the OCG, directly leading to undercover police officer John Corbett's death. At last, Ted was confronted with the truth – and he could deny it no longer. "I swear to God, I did not disclose John Corbett as a UCO," he said. "I told Lee Banks that there was an informant in the OCG, no more than that. I thought that Corbett, when he heard about it, he would go to ground, he would hand himself in at the nearest police station. It was my way of bringing him in. I swear to God." Prodded about whether he understood there was a risk of Corbett coming to harm, he said: "Well that is the worst part of it, yes. John Corbett had been involved in the deaths of four police officers, our Maneet being one of them. He had beaten and tortured my own wife, so I thought he had it coming to him in spades. But what I didn't know, was that he was the son of a woman I cared deeply about, many years ago. If there is one thing I could take back, it would be that. What a terrible thing I did. What a terrible thing I did. Giving that money to that young woman was my way of atonement, what little there was of it." Steph doesn't know – "and if she did, what would she make of it? Who's going to judge what I did? Her? The law? My colleagues? God?" Steve and Kate couldn't quite decide what to do with that information, having interviewed him off the record. But right at the end, Ted did the decent thing himself, and confessed. Well, sort of... So, having just declared to Carmichael that he intended to fight his own mandatory retirement, Ted left AC-12. But he then returned, with something important to tell Carmichael. To Carmichael's slight bemusement, he declared that he had given Lee Banks the information that led to Corbett's death. It was a confession, but still quite an ineffectual one. Because Carmichael is not interested in one thing and one thing only (bent coppers!), and she'll have no interest in following this up in case it can benefit her own career in some way. She took no notes, and there was no voice recorder running (to our knowledge). Perhaps it has cleared Ted's conscience a little and removed some of Steve and Kate's unease, but it was quite a wishy-washy way to do it. Plus, he still hasn't told about the £50k off-the-books gift to Steph Corbett. Jo Davidson in witness protection By working with AC-12 and identifying Fairbank, Jo Davidson secured herself a spot in witness protection (despite the fact that Fairbank wasn't actually the Fourth Man). And in those closing moments, we got a glimpse of her outrageously idyllic new life. Cosy jumper! Large, rustic cottage! Good-looking girlfriend! Golden retriever! She certainly got a good deal out of her new identity, especially compared to Gill Biggeloe. And despite Jo's previous fears that she'd still be vulnerable to OCG assassination in witness protection, it's so far so good for her personal safety. A happier ending, too, for Terry Boyle (Tommy Jessop), who has been given a spot in a nice-looking group home alongside other people with Down's Syndrome. He got a friendly welcome from the staff and other residents, and he should now finally be free of criminal exploitation – as an inquiry examines systemic failures to protect his welfare. And Farida is out of jail and back on active duty at Hillside Lane. Good for her! Future of AC-12 still in doubt when season 6 wrapped up Buckells might be locked away, and Darren Hunter might be under investigation for the murder of Lawrence Christopher – but it's hardly a triumphant end to season 6 for AC-12. Ted is retired, even if he means to contest it; the process to merge and cut back on AC-3, AC-9 and AC-12 is still underway; close colleagues of the Chief Constable have been appointed to senior anti-corruption jobs; Steve must face his addiction and his back problems; Kate wants to rejoin AC-12, but may derail her career if she does; and institutional corruption remains rampant. Across all six seasons, our anti-corruption heroes have been picking rotten apples out of the barrel, but they can never remove enough to stop the rot. Carmichael's now in the ascendant. When Kate told her about MIT's cold case inquiry into the Lawrence Christopher case, she only said "good luck with that" – and then turned down Steve's request for a parallel inquiry into the serving police officers who were involved in that deliberately-botched case under SIO Thurwell. "Historic corruption cases aren't a priority," she said. She's also told Ted that, despite the deluge of evidence, she's still not prepared to accept this as institutional corruption rather than Ian Buckells acting alone. And Chief Constable Philip Osborne remains in charge of Central Police, despite his concerted attack on anti-corruption – and AC-12's very legitimate doubts about him. In a televised statement worthy of a super villain, Osborne said: "I give you my personal assurance that any failings in the original inquiry will be thoroughly investigated. Lessons will be learned. Throughout my career, whenever I've encountered wrongdoing, I've acted. But let me be clear: these are the misdeeds of a few rotten apples. And to invoke institutionalised police corruption is an outrageous lie and an insult to my officers. The public don't want police officers to be held to account for every little thing they're meant to have done. They want us to get on with the job, and that's what we will do." And as all the pictures symbolically came off the AC-12 pin-board and were stowed away in a box, Jed Mercurio gave us one final line: "Currently AC-12's powers to curb wrongdoings in public office have never been weaker." The end! What we know going into season 7 It has since been announced that AC-12 is no more, having become the Inspectorate of Police Standards, which is working to tackle corruption within the force — an issue that remains as prevalent as ever. In the new episodes, Steve, Kate and Hastings are overseeing their "most sensitive" case yet: Dominic Gough, a Detective Inspector celebrated for his success in taking down OCGs, has been accused of being a sexual predator. But is Gough’s case merely a smokescreen for a "bigger threat still hiding in the shadows?" Want more analysis of the finale? Take a look at these Line of Duty unanswered questions, or check out all the Line of Duty red herrings spotted throughout the series. Line of Duty seasons 1-6 are available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Add Line of Duty 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.
Where is ITV crime drama The Bay filmed?
ITV's tense seaside crime drama returns for season 5 – and once again, showcases the surroundings of Morecambe.
The Bay is back on ITV for season 5 and the action has already kicked off with a grisly case of a murdered woman in a lock. As ever, the iconic setting of Morecambe Bay is at the heart of the drama. Season 5 once more explores the sandy beach, windswept promenade and choppy seas fans know and love, but this year there will be a few new places to explore, as well. Marsha Thomason – returning as series lead DS Jenn Townsend – said of the locations: "Morecambe is so picturesque. I know we say it every series, but it really is its own character and it adds to the drama. It just is beautiful. "This series we shot at this location that was incredibly difficult because it was an island and once you got there, the tide would come in and you couldn't leave. You had to wait for it to go out again. It was just breathtaking. It will so be worth it." Daragh Carville – writer on The Bay – previously opened up about how he's glad the drama is shining a light on Morecambe, which he believes doesn't get the recognition it deserves. Although originally from Northern Ireland, Carville has made his home in nearby Lancaster, where he and his wife, the novelist Jo Baker, have raised their family. Speaking about returning to The Bay for season 5, Carville said: "Honestly, I don't feel like I ever left! Not least because I live in the Morecambe Bay area, but also because when I'm not actually working on the show, I'm constantly thinking about it and planning for what's coming next. "But it was brilliant to get a fifth series and so lovely to have a chance to write for these characters again. I feel like I know our core team really well by now, but it also gave us a chance to push the boat out a bit more and explore new areas." He previously told RadioTimes.com ahead of the first season in 2019 that Morecambe was "a place that I always liked", saying: "It's a really interesting mix of things, because on the one hand it's very striking, it's beautiful, it's got extraordinary views out across the bay towards the Lake District. "But it's also got that very distinctive British or Irish seaside town quality, because, as with many seaside places, it has slightly lost its raison d'être." With that in mind, here's everything you need to know about Morecambe – and the locations we see on screen in The Bay season 5. Where is The Bay set? ITV drama The Bay is set and filmed in the coastal town of Morecambe. This Lancashire town is located north of Blackpool, and was once a bustling seaside resort which has seen a decades-long decline in tourism. Morecambe thrived after the arrival of the railways, with holidaymakers coming down on the trains from Scotland and from Yorkshire all through the first half of the 20th century. But from the 1970s, Brits could increasingly afford foreign holidays and Morecambe was out of fashion – especially after its two piers were destroyed. "You can still see traces of it. There are still these magnificent buildings like the Winter Gardens and the Midland Hotel, so it's still got this sense of slightly faded grandeur," writer Carville previously said, explaining why he decided to set The Bay in Morecambe. "And I suppose the combination of it being a beautiful place, but also a place that has had its struggles – there's something about Morecambe, it's literally on the edge of the country, but there's also a metaphorical edge to it as well." Where was The Bay season 5 filmed? Filming for The Bay season 5 took place at the police station, beach, town hall and Midland Hotel in Morecambe. Other scenes were shot at Sunderland Point, a village at the end of the tidal causeway that gets cut off by the tide, and Glasson Dock, another picturesque village in Lancashire. Speaking about filming on location for season 5, Daniel Ryan (who plays DI Tony Manning) said of this season: "What this show gets from Morecambe is the extraordinary location. It never fails to take my breath away when I get off the train. It always seems to be one of those days where the light is amazing and you can't believe how beautiful it is. "When we contrast the characters in the series in the deepest of despair set against this extraordinary beauty, there's a kind of melancholy that we wouldn't get anywhere else." Read on for more information on each filming location. The beach Morecambe has a five-mile stretch of sandy beach with panoramic views over to the Lakeland Fells. Along the coastline is a long promenade, lined with cafés and restaurants and hotels. Filming took place along the beach, but particularly around the Stone Jetty, which is now all that remains of the original Victorian harbour. While his character is primarily seen in the police station, Ryan admits that his favourite part of filming is when he does manage to get down to the beach. He reveals: "When I do leave the station, my favourite bits are when we film anything along the shoreline. It’s the sea, the coast, the view of the lakes, the sheer beauty of it all." Sunderland Point Filming for season 5 also took place at Sunderland Point, a small village of around 30 houses that sits on a peninsula between the Lune estuary and Morecambe Bay and is cut off twice daily at high tide. "This series we got to film at Sunderland Point, an extraordinary place that gets cut off by the tide. We go to Glasson Dock too, which was so fascinating. "What’s so great is that wherever we go, everyone thrilled that we're there, that we're showcasing the amazing beauty of Morecambe," Ryan added of the season 5 filming locations. The police station While many of the scenes of the hard-working MIU team are shot elsewhere, the police station as shown in Morecambe is a real location. "It is indeed a working police station," Carville told us, adding: "To be fair, and without wanting to ruin the magic of television, the exteriors and the interiors are filmed at different places." While exteriors were shot in Morecambe, the interior scenes of meeting rooms and office and interview rooms were filmed at a disused police station in Manchester. Glasson Dock Other scenes were filmed at Glasson Dock, a small village in Lancashire which was originally a small farming and fishing community. New cast addition Olwen May (who plays DC Louise 'Lou' McClaren) said of the season 5 setting: "Setting the drama in Morecambe means that we have that amazing landscape. Whenever you're on the coast, you get that different quality of light, the water, the big skies. "A couple of times when I was out of the office, and out at places like Glasson Dock and Sunderland Point, it's just beautiful. We must have had the best green room view of any show ever. "We were looking out onto the estuary and at all the wading birds. I got very excited by the oyster catchers. The expanse of that landscape, and in the town as well, adds something visually which is really special." The Bay is showing on ITV1 and ITVX. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what else is on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Vera cast: Meet the stars of Brenda Blethyn series
Your essential guide to the cast of Vera.
Vera Stanhope (played by Brenda Blethyn) has one more case to solve in the ITV series. The Dark Wives will see Vera step back into her childhood memories as she connects emotionally with a missing girl. But there's still a murder to solve, and there's no one better to get to the bottom of the case than wor Vera. Will Vera be able to solve it and make a decision on the promotion offered to her? Read on to find out more about the ensemble, and find a full list of every episode's guest stars. Vera cast regulars Brenda Blethyn plays DCI Vera Stanhope Who is Vera? DCI Vera Stanhope is a talented, compassionate and unconventional detective who heads up a team at Northumberland and City Police. She's prickly, blunt, almost always wears her distinctive hat, and doggedly pursues the truth of each case – even if it lands her in hot water. As the seasons have progressed, we've learnt more about her backstory, including her difficult relationship with her father. Where have I seen Brenda Blethyn before? You might recognise the two-time Oscar nominee as Mrs Bennett in the Keira Knightley version of Pride & Prejudice, or from her roles in Atonement, Secrets & Lies, Little Voice and the Clémence Poésy version of War and Peace. Speaking ahead of season 11, Blethyn revealed that she can never say never to future Vera seasons. "At the end of filming every season, I think, 'Oh, thank the Lord I’m going home. Never again,'" she said. "But it’s like having a lovely slap-up meal. You’ve eaten too much. You couldn’t eat another morsel. And you’re shown the menu again. 'Take it away, take it away!' But then, a week later, you get hungry again." David Leon plays Joe Ashworth Who is Joe Ashworth? Joe was Vera's first assistant on the TV series, and helped her solve many a case. He left in 2017, but is back in 2024 for season 13 – yet he's certainly different. Speaking about returning to Vera and what fans can expect from Joe, Leon said: "A period of time has gone by. You grow and evolve as a person through those cycles of life and the character reflects that. "When I agreed to come back part of the discussions we had were, ‘What would it mean for the character?’ To pick up where we left off was not hugely interesting to me, personally. And I don’t think it’s that interesting for the audience. "There needed to be a justification, a reason, for why Joe has come back. Along with a readdressing of the balance in terms of the dynamic of the relationship between Joe and Vera." Fans will find out in season 13 episode 1 just what brings Joe back into Vera's working life. Where have I seen David Leon before? Aside from his role in Vera, Leon has appeared in popular TV shows like Silent Witness, In the Dark and Gold Digger. He also had a part in Guy Ritchie's RocknRolla. Rhiannon Clements plays DC Steph Duncan Who is Steph Duncan? Steph is the new kid on the block, and is enthusiastic about solving crimes. She's very personable and enjoys meeting different people associated with every case – and she definitely doesn't want to be stuck at her desk. Sometimes Vera finds her a bit much, but Steph's hard work always helps drive the cases along. Where have I seen Rhiannon Clements before? Viewers will best know Clements for her role as Summer Ranger on Hollyoaks, but she's also appeared in Death on the Nile, Big Boys and Doctor Who. Jon Morrison plays DC Kenny Lockhart Who is DC Kenny Lockhart? A loyal detective with decades of experience under his belt, and the cynical sense of humour to prove it. Where have I seen Jon Morrison before? The Scottish actor has previously starred in The Bill, Monarch of the Glen, High Times, Dream Team and Who Dares Wins. Sara Kameela Impey plays Pathologist Dr Paula Bennett Who is Dr Paula Bennett? Dr Paula is the latest pathologist on Vera's team. She's extremely diligent and hardworking – even finding the time for a couple of wise-cracks at Vera. While we wouldn't normally recommend it, it seems Vera likes having someone strong to bounce off! Where have I seen Sara Kameela Impey before? Kameela Impey has worked on some of the most popular shows of recent years, including a stint in We Are Lady Parts as Saira and Neelum Khan in Maternal. She was also the voice of Lena Manzour in The Archers. Season 14 episode 2 guest stars Jonathan Iceton plays Josh Worsten Freya Parks plays Stella Marsh Graeme Hawley plays Will Marsh Charlotte Bradley plays Chloe Spencer Sarah Priddy plays Tracey Jacks Christopher Connel plays Dave Limbal Darren Morfitt plays Jimmy Hebble Anthony Flanagan plays Chris Worsten Kate Maravan plays Anna Worsten Tiegan Anson plays Rachel Anson Gassan Abdulrazek plays Miggy Gassan Sennia Nanua plays Esther Owens Olwen May plays Helen Allenby Derek Thompson plays Gordon Spencer Jacquetta May plays Pam Spencer Angela Bain plays Ma Hebble Jada Langley plays Alice Hartford Vera: The Dark Wives guest stars Jonathan Iceton plays Josh Worsten Who is Josh Worsten? Josh is the victim in The Dark Wives. Who is Jonathan Iceton? Vera makes for Iceton’s first TV role. Freya Parks plays Stella Marsh Who is Stella Marsh? Stella was Josh’s high-school sweetheart, but before his death the pair split up. Who is Freya Parks? Viewers will recognise Parks from the likes of Jane Eyre, Grace, This Town and a role in the Les Misérables film, too. Graeme Hawley plays Will Marsh Who is Will Marsh? Will is Stella’s dad. Who is Graeme Hawley? Viewers will most likely remember Hawley from his iconic role in Coronation Street as John Stape, but he’s also appeared in Ridley, Finding Alice and Doctors. Charlotte Bradley plays Chloe Spencer Who is Chloe Spencer? Chloe lives at the children’s home and is missing the night Josh’s body is found. Who is Charlotte Bradley? Bradley appeared in How to be a Person. Sarah Priddy plays Tracey Jacks Who is Tracey Jacks? Tracey works at the children’s home. Who is Sarah Priddy? Viewers will have recognised Priddy from Wolf Hall and Sherwood. Christopher Connel plays Dave Limbal Who is Dave Limbal? Dave is the manager of the children’s home. Who is Christopher Connel? Connel has appeared in the likes of Inspector George Gently, Coronation Street and Emmerdale. Darren Morfitt plays Jimmy Hebble Who is Jimmy Hebble? Jimmy is a local landowner and discovers the body. Who is Darren Morfitt? Viewers will know Morfitt from his role as Dom Everett in Coronation Street. Anthony Flanagan plays Chris Worsten Who is Chris Worsten? Chris is Josh’s mum. Who is Anthony Flanagan? Flanagan is best known for his role as Ser Steffon Darklyn in House of the Dragon. He also starred in COBRA, Happy Valley and Gentleman Jack. Kate Maravan plays Anna Worsten Who is Anna Worsten? Anna is Josh’s mum. Who is Kate Maravan? Viewers will have recognised Maravan from The Split, Holby City and Pan Tau. Gassan Abdulrazek plays Miggy Who is Miggy? Miggy is Josh’s flatmate who lives in the flat his friend’s parents bought him. Who is Gassan Abdulrazek? Viewers will know Abdulrazek from Mr Big Stuff. Sennia Nanua plays Esther Owens Who is Esther Owens? Chloe’s friend at school. Who is Sennia Nanua? Alongside a role in Casualty, Nanua had a starring part in The Serpent Queen. Olwen May plays Helen Allenby Who is Helen Allenby? The head of the school academy. Who is Olwen May? May has starred in The Bay, Slow Horses, A Very British Scandal and Corrie to name but a few from her successful career. Derek Thompson plays Gordon Spencer Who is Gordon Spencer? Gordon is Chloe’s grandfather who was asked to take her in as a kid but didn’t feel they could cope. Who is Derek Thompson? Viewers will best know Thompson from his iconic and long-running role of Charlie Fairhead in Casualty. Jacquetta May plays Pam Spencer Who is Pam Spencer? Pam is Gordon’s wife and Chloe’s grandmother. Who is Jaquetta May? Viewers will have seen May in Ridley, New Tricks and Midsomer Murders. Angela Bain plays Ma Hebble Who is Ma Hebble? Ma is Jimmy’s sister, and works in The Stanhope Arms. Who is Angela Bain? Bain has starred in The Hunt for Raoul Moat, The Devil’s Hour, The Larkins and Call the Midwife. Season 14 episode 1 guest stars Bryan Moriarty plays Zachary Martin Chelsea Halfpenny plays Kimberley Martin Yazmin Kayani plays Justine Kohli Amanda Root plays Deena Corbridge Simon Lenagan plays Lucas Corbridge Shobna Gulati plays Chief Superintendent Khalon Clinton Blake plays Greg Wakely Joshua Sher plays Dylan Rowlins Michelle Holmes plays Erika Rowlins Simon Lenagan plays Richard Rowlins Kevin Whately plays Gary Creelan Cathy Tyson plays Kath Oliver Jacoba Williams plays Gwen Cobden George Beach plays Theo Patterdale Alexandra Hannant plays Jessie Ashworth Victoria Elliott plays Imogen Langworth Vera: Inside guest stars Bryan Moriarty plays Zachary Martin Who is Zachary Martin? Zack is the victim of Vera's episode Inside. He was in prison for GBH and had just been released a month before his death. Where have I seen Bryan Moriarty before? Viewers may recognise Bryan Moriarty from The Vanishing Triangle, The Wonder and Almost Never. Chelsea Halfpenny plays Kimberley Martin Who is Kimberley Martin? Kim is Zack's wife, who is mother to their son, Ollie. Where have I seen Chelsea Halfpenny before? Daughter of Jill Halfpenny, Chelsea has had roles in Emmerdale (Amy Wyatt), Byker Grove, Grantchester and Casualty. Yazmin Kayani plays Justine Kohli Who is Justine Kohli? Justine is Zachary's probation officer. Where have I seen Yasmin Kayani before? Yasmin starred in Doctors as Lorna Mills. Amanda Root plays Deena Corbridge Who is Deena Corbridge? Deena is Lucas's sister. Where have I seen Amanda Root before? Amanda has enjoyed a successful career on screen, starring in the likes of Baby Reindeer and Wolf Hall just this year. She's also known for The Sixth Commandment, Casualty, Dalgliesh and You & Me. William Houston plays Lucas Corbridge Who is Lucas Corbridge? Lucas was sent down for the murder of his wife, but always claimed innocence. He was in prison with Zach and the pair were firm friends. Where have I seen William Houston before? Viewers will recognise William for his roles in Wednesday as Joseph Crackstone and Will, to name but a few shows he's starred in. Shobna Gulati plays Chief Superintendent Khalon Who is Chief Superintendent Khalon? Chief Superintendent Khalon arrives and demands that Vera investigates a cold case. Where have I seen Shobna Gulati before? Shobna is best-known for her role as Sunita in Coronation Street, but has also starred in Hullraisers, Brassic, The Serial Killer's Wife and Murder, They hope. Clinton Blake plays Greg Wakely Who is Greg Wakely? Greg worked in the prison and managed Zach's working life. Where have I seen Clinton Blake before? Viewers will know Clinton for his role in Skins, Sanditon and The Stranger. Joshua Sher plays Dylan Rowlins Who is Dylan Rowlins? The ex friend of Zach, who was attacked by him and left paralysed. Where have I seen Joshua Sher before? Joshua has enjoyed roles in Game of Thrones and Casualty. Michelle Holmes plays Erika Rowlins Who is Erika Rowlins? Dylan's mum, and furious with Zach for hurting her son. Where have I seen Michelle Holmes before? Viewers will know Michelle from Doctors, Casualty and Cold Feet, to name but a few shows she's starred in. Simon Lenagan plays Richard Rowlins Who is Richard Rowlins? Dylan's dad, and not a fan of Zach either. Where have I seen Simon Lenagan before? Simon has starred in Happy Valley, Death in Paradise and EastEnders. Kevin Whately plays Gary Creelan Who is Gary Creelan? A former officer who was responsible for the Corbridge case but some of the evidence at the time was a bit shaky. He was Kenny's boss. Where have I seen Kevin Whately before? Kevin needs no introduction, having starred as Lewis for years. He's also famously been in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet as Neville. Cathy Tyson plays Kath Oliver Who is Kath Oliver? Kath worked on the Corbridge case 20 years ago. Where have I seen Cathy Tyson before? This year, viewers will have seen Cathy in Dune: Prophecy, Kaos and Criminal Record. The actress has also appeared in Mona Lisa, The Serpent and the Rainbow, and The Consequence. Victoria Elliott plays Imogen Langworth Who is Imogen Langworth? Imogen is Lucas's daughter, who changed her name to get distance between her and the family. Where have I seen Victoria Elliott before? Victoria has starred inTed Lasso, Rain Dogs, The Bay and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. Season 13 episode 3 guest stars Lee Armstrong plays Ross Simmons Leon Annor plays Anthony Davidson Scott Turnbull plays Scott Rhodes Jasmine Bayes plays Rachel Lim Shane Attwooll plays Trevor Armley Scarlett Brookes plays Carrie Hawton Tareq Al-Jeddal plays Tyler Hawton Ryan McKen plays Ollie Keeble Mia Soteriou plays Pat Helliwell Aoife Kennan plays Sophie Jenson Margaret Jackman plays Heidi Stokes Kay Milbourne plays Doctor Stanton Lindsay Bennett-Thompson plays Crystal Hawton Vera: Salt and Vinegar guest stars Lee Armstrong plays Ross Simmons Who is Ross Simmons? Ross is Scott's business partner who has a tense relationship with his co-owner. Where have I seen Lee Armstrong before? Viewers will no doubt recognise Armstrong from another Sunday show, Call the Midwife, where he played Dr Kevin McNulty. He's also appeared in The Nevers, Endeavour and Doctors. Leon Annor plays Anthony Davidson Who is Anthony Davidson? Anthony works at the fish and chip shop for Scott and Ross. Where have I seen Leon Annor before? Fans of Harlan Coben might've seen Annor in Stay Close, but aside from that, you'll have seen him in Britannia and Mister Winner. Scott Turnbull plays Scott Rhodes Who is Scott Rhodes? Scott is the unfortunate victim in this episode of Vera. Where have I seen Scott Turnbull before? This is Turnbull's first major TV role. Jasmine Bayes plays Rachel Lim Who is Rachel Lim? Rachel finds the body in the chip shop on a sleepy Sunday morning. Where have I seen Jasmine Bayes before? Bayes has appeared in Father Brown and Platform 7. Shane Attwooll plays Trevor Armley Who is Trevor Armley? Trevor used to supply fish to Scott and Ross's business, but when they cut ties with him, he threatens to kill Scott. Where have I seen Shane Attwooll before? Attwooll has enjoyed roles in the likes of Silent Witness, Carnival Row and The Alienist. Scarlett Brookes plays Carrie Hawton Who is Carrie Hawton? Carrie is Scott's girlfriend. Where have I seen Scarlett Brookes before? Fans will have no doubt enjoyed Brookes' work on Criminal Record, Silent Witness and Call the Midwife, among other shows. Tareq Al-Jeddal plays Tyler Hawton Who is Tyler Hawton? Tyler is Carrie's son from a previous relationship. Where have I seen Tareq Al-Jeddal before? Al-Jeddal has had roles in Rosie Molloy Gives Up Everything, Coronation Street and Maternal. Ryan McKen plays Ollie Keeble Who is Ollie Keeble? Ollie is a local football coach and clashed with Scott at times. Where have I seen Ryan McKen before? McKen had roles in Game of Thrones, Bancroft, Temple and The State among many other popular TV shows. Mia Soteriou plays Pat Helliwell Who is Pat Helliwell? Pat runs the rival chippy on the high street, and is often enjoying a bigger customer volume than Simmons'. Where have I seen Mia Soteriou before? Soteriou will be well-known to viewers, having starred in everything from Mamma Mia! to Who is Erin Carter? and Little Birds. Aoife Kennan plays Sophie Jenson Who is Sophie Jenson? Sophie is Scott's secret lover. Where have I seen Aoife Kennan before? Kennan has starred in Victoria and Blue Jean. Margaret Jackman plays Heidi Stokes Who is Heidi Stokes? Heidi is Carrie's grandmother. Where have I seen Margaret Jackman before? You'll know Jackman from the likes of Game of Thrones, Casualty, The Following Events Are Based on a Pack of Lies and Grimsby. Lindsay Bennett-Thompson plays Crystal Hawton Who is Crystal Hawton? Crystal is Carrie's sister. Where have I seen Lindsay Bennett-Thompson before? Aside from Waterloo Road and Coronation Street, viewers might've seen Bennett-Thompson in Greatest Days. Season 13 episode 2 guest stars Emily Kathryn plays Gabi McSwain Julia Sawalha plays Helen Rushden Joelle Dyson plays Rosa Adeyemi Jake Lowe plays Lee Critchley Reece Douglas plays Jonathon Rushden Steven Stobbs plays Darren Childs Fraser James plays Tom Rushden Lynn Roden plays Maia Scholes Gillian Kearney plays Deborah McSwain Shaun Dooley plays Matthew McSwain Gabrielle Green plays Sian Jordan Bridget Marumo plays Fiona Rushden Euan MacNaughton plays Jonah Green Vera: Tender guest stars Emily Kathryn plays Gabi McSwain/Fisher Who is Gabi McSwain/Fisher? Gabi is a 20-year-old woman who is the victim of this week's episode. Where have I seen Emily Kathryn before? This is Kathryn's first TV role. Julia Sawalha plays Helen Rushden Who is Helen Rushden? Helen has been looking after Gabi for the past few months while she battled cancer and was in a vulnerable situation. Where have I seen Julia Sawalha before? Viewers will know Sawalha for her role in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, and for her voice in Chicken Run (Ginger). She's also appeared in the likes of Midsomer Murders, Remember Me and Marple. Joelle Dyson plays Rosa Adeyemi Who is Rosa Adeyemi? Rosa works at the hospital Gabi was attending as a pharmacist. Where have I seen Joelle Dyson before? Those who saw Barbie in 2023 might recognise Dyson as one of the dancers in Greta Gerwig's blockbuster films. She's also been in EastEnders, but is best known for her stage roles. Jake Lowe plays Lee Critchley Who is Lee Critchley? Lee is a long-term friend of Gabi. The pair used to date, and Lee now works as a drug dealer. Where have I seen Jake Lowe before? Viewers might've seen Lowe in the likes of Emmerdale and Doctors over the years. Reece Douglas plays Jonathon Rushden Who is Jonathon Rushden? Jonathon is Helen and Tom's son. Where have I seen Reece Douglas before? Douglas has been in the likes of Archie and Ridley over the years, as well as The Bay. Steven Stobbs plays Darren Childs Who is Darren Childs? Darren finds Gabi's body on the hiking trail. Where have I seen Steven Stobbs before? Viewers may have seen Stobbs in Wire in the Blood or Functional Rejects. Fraser James plays Tom Rushden Who is Tom Rushden? Tom is Helen's husband, father to Jonathon and Fiona. Where have I seen Fraser James before? James has enjoyed a successful stage on the big and small screens, starring in the likes of Carnival Row, Boxing Day, Endeavour and Terminator: Dark Fate. Lynn Roden plays Maia Scholes Who is Maia Scholes? Maia works at the hospital Gabi was attending. Where have I seen Lynn Roden before? Roden was recently a star of Better, and has also had roles in Years and Years, Care, Coronation Street and Emmerdale. Gillian Kearney plays Deborah McSwain Who is Deborah McSwain? Deborah is Gabi's biological mother. Where have I seen Gillian Kearney before? Kearney is best known for her role of killer Emma Barton on Emmerdale, but you'll have also seen her in Silent Witness, Suspects and Casualty. Shaun Dooley plays Matthew McSwain Who is Matthew McSwain? Matthew is Gabi's biological father. Where have I seen Shaun Dooley before? Dooley needs little introduction and is a British TV icon. Aside from recently starring in Saltburn, Dooley has had a successful career starring in the likes of Criminal Record, Mr Bates vs The Post Office, The Long Shadow, Black Mirror and many, many more popular series. Gabrielle Green plays Sian Jordan Who is Sian Jordan? Sian is Lee's girlfriend. She's unhappy with his friendship to Gabi. Where have I seen Gabrielle Green before? Viewers might recognise Sian from Wolfblood and Tripped. Bridget Marumo plays Fiona Rushden Who is Fiona Rushden? Fiona is Helen and Tom's daughter. Where have I seen Bridget Marumo before? This is one of Marumo's few TV roles. Euan Macnaughton plays Jonah Green Who is Jonah Green? Jonah works with Fiona and their relationship isn't exactly appropriate for colleagues. Where have I seen Euan Macnaughton before? In 2023, Macnaughton starred in Refuge, Outlander and Guilt, but he's also appeared in This England, All Creatures Great and Small and Bridgerton during his successful TV career. Season 13 episode 1 guest stars Travis Ross plays Danny Meddon Patrick McNamee plays Owen Duggan Nimmy March plays Carol Sloane Andrew Dunn plays Ian Headley Amit Shah plays Milan Shah Evie Hargreaves plays Leanne Barrie Stephen Lord plays Tony Meddon Farzana Dua Elahe plays Basma Shah Bryan Dick plays Alun Barrie Samantha Seager plays Kathy Barrie Susan Jayne-Robinson plays Alison Rahim Beruce Khan plays Neil Rahim Vera: Fast Love guest stars Travis Ross plays Danny Meddon Who is Danny Meddon? Danny is the unfortunate victim in Fast Love. He's a market stall trader. Where have I seen Travis Ross before? Ross has enjoyed a career on the stage, starring in the likes of Cabaret, Cake: The Marie Antoinette Playlist and Mrs Doubtfire. Patrick McNamee plays Owen Duggan Who is Owen Duggan? Owen is Danny's friend - and it transpires that he has been keeping a lot of secrets. Where have I seen Patrick McNamee before? Vera isn't the only role McNamee will be in this year; he's also got a starring role in Masters of the Air. Viewers will know him from Our Girl and Inspector George Gently, too. Nimmy March plays Carol Sloane Who is Carol Sloane? Carol is another market trader. Where have I seen Nimmy March before? March has enjoyed a successful career on TV, having starred in the likes of Midsomer Murders, Agatha Raisin and Doctors. Andrew Dunn plays Ian Headley Who is Ian Headley? Ian is another market trader, who certainly didn't get on with the victim, Danny, and the pair had a historical bust-up. Where have I seen Andrew Dunn before? Dunn has appeared in Doctors, Moving On, My Family and Midsomer Murders. Amit Shah plays Milan Shah Who is Milan Shah? Milan Shah runs the market as the inspector. He isn't afraid to upset any of the traders. Where have I seen Amit Shah before? Viewers will have just watched Shah in Mr Bates vs The Post Office, but you'll also know him as Rishi Sunak in The Windsors. He also appeared in Happy Valley and Death in Paradise. Evie Hargreaves plays Leanne Barrie Who is Leanne Barrie? Leanne helps out on the market stalls, but isn't the most reliable employee... Where have I seen Evie Hargreaves before? Viewers will have seen Hargreaves in Doctors previously. Stephen Lord plays Tony Meddon Who is Tony Meddon? Tony is father of the victim, Danny. Where have I seen Stephen Lord before? Lord played Tez in Coronation Street in 2021, but has also appeared in the likes of Domina, The South Westerlies and Safe House. Farzana Dua Elahe plays Basma Shah Who is Basma Shah? Basma is Milan's partner. She's hiding secrets for her husband. Where have I seen Farzana Dua Elahe before? Elahe has starred in the likes of Next of Kin, Our Girl, Honour and Into the Badlands. Bryan Dick plays Alun Barrie Who is Alun Barrie? Alun is Leanne's father, who doesn't like his daughter growing closer to Danny. Where have I seen Bryan Dick before? Viewers will know Dick from a multitude of shows including Ridley, Midsomer Murders, The Split and Wolf Hall. Samantha Seager plays Kathy Barrie Who is Kathy Barrie? Kathy is Leanne's mum. Where have I seen Samantha Seager before? Seager recently starred in EastEnders as DS Miles, but you'll have also seen her in Casualty, Holby City and Doctors. Susan Jayne-Robinson plays Alison Rahim Who is Alison Rahim? Alison is Danny's biological mum. Where have I seen Susan Janye-Robinson before? Jayne-Robinson has made her way around a few different soaps, having had roles in Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Doctors and Hollyoaks, as well as All Creatures Great and Small and Tin Star. Beruce Khan plays Neil Rahim Who is Neil Rahim? Neil is Alison's husband. Where have I seen Beruce Khan before? Viewers will have seen Khan in War of the Worlds, The Capture and The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe. Former Vera cast members Ibibnabo Jack plays DC Jacqueline 'Jac' Williams Who is DC Jacqueline 'Jac' Williams? A young and talented detective with a wry sense of humour and a knack at finding key witnesses and crucial information. Where have I seen Ibibnabo Jack before? Jack played Theresa Sutton in Doctors, and has previously starred in the film Two for Joy. Kenny Doughty plays DS Aiden Healy Who is DS Aiden Healy? Vera's right-hand man, DS Aiden Healy has proven himself to be a fiercely loyal and hard working partner-in-solving-crime. He's a family man with a young boy, and when it comes to cases about fathers and sons or children he sometimes struggles to keep his emotions in check. Where have I seen Kenny Doughty before? Doughty previously played Jake Harman in Coronation Street and Sean in Stella. He's also more recently starred in Kay Mellor’s BBC One drama Love, Lies and Records, and in an episode of Black Work (playing Ryan Gillespie). Jake Ashton-Nelson plays PC Billington Who is PC Billington? "Billy" is a bit of a nightmare for Vera; he's not as thorough as she would like him to be and often misses crucial details. But there's something incredibly loveable and heart-warming about him, which Vera can't quite escape. Where have I seen Jake Ashton-Nelson before? Vera marks Ashton-Nelson's first major TV role. Vera Christmas special guest stars Clare Holman plays Annie Laidlore Adrian Mills plays Rick Kelsall Suzette Llewellyn plays Louisa Hampton Brian Bovell plays Sam Hampton Orlessa Altass plays Yaz Kaur Phil Cornwell plays Philip Robson Adrian Rawlins plays Daniel Rede Kate Isitt plays Charlotte Thomas Felicity Dean plays Cecilia Natasha Patel plays Pamela Sara Powell plays Katherine Willmore Cora Kirk plays Eliza Willmore Martin Turner plays Gordon Stanwick Eric Richard plays Isaiah Thomas Phillippa Wilson plays Ellie Thomas Liz Crowther plays Judith Sinclair Sam Halfpenny plays Superintendent Watkins Peter Peverley plays Jacob Vera: The Rising Tide guest stars Clare Holman plays Annie Laidlore Who is Annie Laidlore? Annie is one of the suspects in the Lindisfarne house. She has some secrets that emerge during the investigation. Annie is the one who found Rick. Where have I seen Clare Holman before? Accomplished actress Holman has starred in the likes of Blood Diamond (as a news reporter), Suite Française (as Marthe) and Lewis (as Dr Laura Hobson). She's also been in The Diplomat as Paula and Treason as Mary Angelis. Adrian Mills plays Rick Kelsall Who is Rick Kelsall? Vera is called to investigate Rick's death. At first, it looks like a tragic suicide, but when she looks closely, she discovers someone killed Rick - and it soon emerges there are plenty with a reason to. Rick was a minor celebrity who was involved in a scandal. Where have I seen Adrian Mills before? Mills is perhaps best known for his role on That's Life! with Esther Rantzen which he was a part of for seven years. He was also a location reporter on Surprise, Surprise and made a name for himself in the world of acting through roles in Doctor Who, Brookside and Minder. Suzette Llewellyn plays Louisa Hampton Who is Louisa Hampton? Louisa is one of the suspects at the Lindisfarne house. Where have I seen Suzette Llewellyn before? You'll best know Llewellyn from the likes of EastEnders (where she played Sheree Trueman), Our House (where she played Grace Deakin) and Top Boy (where she played Charlotte). Brian Bovell plays Sam Hampton Who is Sam Hampton? Sam is one of the suspects at the Lindisfarne house. Where have I seen Brian Bovell before? Bovell has starred in several popular TV shows, such as Andor, Grantchester and Ghosts. He will also be recognisable to fans of Love Actually, who'll know him as the Radio Watford DJ. Phil Cornwell plays Philip Robson Who is Philip Robson? Philip is one of the suspects in the case staying at the Lindisfarne house. Where have I seen Phil Cornwell before? Cornwell has enjoyed a successful career across the small and big screens, most notably starring in the likes of Mrs Brown's Boys, Call the Midwife, Strike and Man vs Bee. His most recent role was as Sanson the Bourreau in Napoleon. Sam Halpenny plays Superintendent Watkins Who is Superintendent Watkins? The Superintendent urges Vera to look into Rick's death and is on her case throughout her investigations when she starts to poke her nose in where she isn't wanted... Where have I seen Sam Halpenny before? Halpenny is perhaps best known for his roles in Raymond's 5, Backup and The Knock. Kate Isitt plays Charlotte Thomas PIC Who is Charlotte Thomas? Charlotte is Rick's ex-wife. She becomes crucial in the investigation into Rick's death. Where have I seen Kate Isitt before? Thomas will be very familiar to most, having starred as Sally in Coupling. she also played Felicity in Last Tango in Halifax and Lady Macbeth in If It Were Done. Eric Richard plays Isaiah Thomas Who is Isaiah Thomas? Isaiah's reputation precedes him - he's part of the biggest crime families in the North East. And his daughter was married to the deceased. Where have I seen Eric Richard before? Eric Richard has enjoyed a successful career across the big and small screens. He's starred in blockbusters such as Dunkirk and Little Dorrit. He's also had roles in EastEnders, Casualty and Holby City. Adrian Rawlins plays Daniel Rede Who is Daniel Rede? Daniel is Annie's ex boyfriend. Where have I seen Andrian Rawlins before? Rawlins will be very familiar with viewers of The Sixth Commandment, Slow Horses, All Creatures Great and Small or Gentleman Jack. He's also appeared in One Life and most notably, the Harry Potter series as James Potter. Sara Powell plays Katherine Willmore Who is Katherine Willmore? Katherine is the new Police and Crime Commissioner and has only been in the job a month. When Vera starts poking around her partner, she gets a stern warning to stay away... Where have I seen Sara Powell before? Viewers might know Powell from the likes of Murder in Provence, Ghosts and The Killing Kind. She's also appeared in Doctor Who as Mary Seacole. Cora Kirk plays Eliza Willmore Who is Eliza Willmore? Eliza is the Police and Crime Commissioner's daughter. Where have I seen Cora Kirk before? Kirk has appeared in the likes of Doctors, Midomer Murders and After Everything, but viewers will know her from Prey for the Devil and Your Christmas or Mine 2. Season 12 episode 1 guest stars Paul Bown plays Glynn Allen Samantha Spiro plays Belinda Rayford Robert Wilfort plays Cal Wallace Amanda Horlock plays Julia Channing Dharmesh Patel plays Nitesh Aya Patricia Potter plays Oonagh Wallace Ade Ajibade plays Leonie Becker Flynn Allen plays Lyle Channing Jasmine Kerr plays Alison Ayad Theo Solomon plays Jason Hewley Harvey Smith plays Frank Channing Rachel Morris plays Carmen Harris Eilis Konstantina plays Amy Watson Season 11 episode 4 guest stars Charlotte Baker plays Lisa Millworth Who is Lisa Millworth? Lisa is the unfortunate victim of this week's murder mystery. In gruesome scenes, she is found washed up on the shore of the River Tyne, with no explanation as to how she got there - that is, until, Vera starts investigating. Where have I seen Charlotte Baker before? This is Baker's first major TV role. Michael Balogun plays Lee Millworth Who is Lee Millworth? Lee is Lisa's husband and doesn't quite tell Where have I seen Michael Balogun before? Balogun has enjoyed a successful career across the small screen and stage. He played Cyprus in Top Gun, Face in You Don't Know Me, Delroy in the National Theatre Live's Death of England - Delroy, and the Doctor in the National Theatre Live's Macbeth. Catherine Dryden plays Joanne Smith Who is Joanne Smith? Joanne is Lisa's best friend who doesn't tell Vera the whole truth - a dangerous game around the detective. Where have I seen Catherine Dryden before? Vera is Dryden's first major TV role. Kris Mochrie plays Adam Michaels Who is Adam Michaels? Adam is the father to Lisa's daughter, Sam. They work together at the wind turbine factory and their relationship is fraught. Where have I seen Kris Mochrie before? Mochrie is best known for playing Lee Posner in Emmerdale, but has also starred as Daley in Bulletproof, Scott in The League of Gentlemen and Jez in Ordinary Lies. Poppy Winter plays Sam Michaels Who is Sam Michaels? Sam is Lisa and Adam's daughter, though she has a better relationship with Lee, who she calls her father. Where have I seen Poppy Winter before? This is Winter's first major TV role. Ross Waiton plays Damien Richardson Who is Damien Richardson? Damien is Lisa's boss and the CEO of the wind turbine factory. He's ruthless in business and not happy about Vera poking her nose around the company. Where have I seen Ross Waiton before? Waiton has enjoyed a very successful career in the industry, having starred in James Bond movie, Skyfall as a police guard. He's also appeared in The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe as a lifeboat coxswain, and a captain in the National Theatre Live's adaptation of King Lear. Andrew Whipp plays Warren Dryden Who is Warren Dryden? Warren is a worker at the wind turbine factor and it's safe to say he's got his fair share of enemies. His bad attitude catches Vera's interest. Where have I seen Andrew Whipp before? Whipp is probably best-known for his role of Brian Fraser in Outlander and he also played Danny Cairns in Shetland. Rochelle Goldie plays Jess Farnsby Who is Jess Farnsby? Jess is Sam's girlfriend who lived at Lisa and Lee's house. There's a complex secret about Jess that emerges. Where have I seen Rochelle Goldie before? Before Vera, Goldie appeared in two shorts, called A Series of Light and Skating By. Also starring in The Way the Wind Blows: Stacey Evans plays Ashley Dryden Hopi Grace plays Ruth Farnsby Jon Edgley-Bond plays Barry Farnsby Alan Stocks plays John Batley Sian Webber plays Glenda McMann Ezra Faroque Khan plays Hisham Kalb Cynthia Emeagi plays Gemma Thompson Season 11 episode 3 guest stars Hugh Quarshie plays Dr Leon Palmer Who is Dr Leon Palmer? Leon is an acquaintance of Lucy and is hiding a lot of secrets. Where have I seen Hugh Quarshie before? Esteemed-actor Quarshie mmost recently appeared in Riches as Stephen Richards and Holby City as Ric Griffin. He's perhaps best known for playing Captain Panaka in Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace. Issey King plays Martha Palmer Who is Martha Palmer? Martha is Leon and Olivia's daughter. She is hiding a few secrets which Vera is desperate to find out more about. Where have I seen Issey King before? This is King's first major TV role. Frances Grey plays Olivia Palmer Who is Olivia Palmer? Olivia is Leon's wife and the mother of Martha. Where have I seen Frances Grey before? Grey has appeared in Doctors, Traces and Van der Valk along her career. Most recently, she played Clare in Bloods. Geoffrey Lumb plays Rob McShane Who is Rob McShane? Rob is Lucy's husband who's entirely baffled at who called her out on an emergency so late at night... Where have I seen Geoffrey Lumb before? This is Lumb's first major TV role. Angela Sims plays Pat Cringle Who is Pat Cringle? Suspicious Pat had a couple of run-ins with Lucy before she died - is Pat guilty? Where have I seen Angela Sims before? Sims has appeared in 2021 Cruella as Society Maven, and has also appeared in the likes of Call the Midwife as Lil in 2020 and The Crown as Princess Margaret's Dresser in 2016. She's also had roles in Casualty, New Tricks and Law & Order: UK. Garry Cooper plays Chris Cringle Who is Chris Cringle? Chris Cringle is Pat's husband, and equally as shady as her. Where have I seen Garry Cooper before? Most recently, Cooper appeared in House of the Dragon as Lord Ryam Redwyne, but has also had roles in Gangs of London, Landscapers, Temple and New Tricks. He also starred in 1979 cult film, Quadrophenia, as Peter. Joyce Veheary plays Dr Lucy Yo Who is Dr Lucy Yo? Dr Yo is unfortunately this episode of Vera's victim. She is found brutally murdered in a quarry and the circumstances of her death - and who killed her - are a big mystery. Where have I seen Joyce Veheary before? You'll have seen Veheary in Trying and The Dumping Ground most recently, where she played Lorna and Mayumi respectively. She has also had a recurring role in Coronation Street between 2014 and 2020 as a sonographer. Also starring in Vital Signs: Danyal Ismail plays Yousef Adwan Spike Leighton plays Aaron Kirkstall Freya McNulty plays Zoe McShane Isabel Butt plays Raya Bellingham Sean Kearns plays James Stratton Kirsten Foster plays Tasmin Yo Heather Bleasdale plaus Val Kirkstall Season 11 episode 2 guest stars Karlina Grace-Paseda plays Angela Konan Who is Angela Konan? Angela Konan is unfortunately episode 2's murder victim. Where have I seen Karlina Grace-Paseda before? Grace-Paseda has appeared in the likes of EastEnders and Doctors before. Caroline Lee Johnson plays Darlene Houghton Who is Darlene Houghton? Darlene is Angela's manager. Where have I seen Caroline Lee Johnson before? People may recognise Johnson from Holby City and Gangs of London. Ayten Manyera plays Ayisha Nassar Who is Ayisha Nassar? Ayisha is one of Angela's clients. Where have I seen Ayten Manyera before? Manyera has appeared in Kiss Me First and Holby City. Sian Reese-Williams plays Beth Draper Who is Beth Draper? Beth is another of Angela's clients. Where have I seen Sian Reese-Williams before? Reese-Williams has appeared in Line of Duty, but many will recognise her as Gennie in Emmerdale. Also starring in Recovery: Mia McKenna-Bruce plays Maya Draper Mark Benton plays Stanley Booth Cayyvan Coates plays Noel Henderson Natasha Atkinson plays Kirsty Smith Jamie Ballard plays Duncan Maxwell Natasha Alderslade plays Lou Maxwell Louis Emerick plays Jack Kassin Shvorne Marks plays Lara Kassin Edem-Ita Duke plays Reuben Kassin John Bulwich plays Shaun Barrow Season 11 episode 1 guest stars Ian Bonar plays Ewan Webster Who is Ewan Webster? A local professional who works with vulnerable people, and with connections to a well-respected local builder, Jim Tullman, who is found beaten to death on the steps of the Collingwood Monument. As Vera discovers, Jim was due to testify as a witness to a violent crime. Where have I seen Ian Bonar before? He's known for I May Destroy You, Skyfall, Now Blood, Atonement, and Starter for 10, among other projects. Rina Mahoney as Aliah Kapoor Who is Aliah Kapoor? A lawyer with links to murder victim Jim Tullman. Where have I seen Rina Mahoney before? Although best known for her work on-stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the actress is also known for roles on Doctors, Hollyoaks, and Scott & Bailey. Micky McGregor plays John Paul Tullman Who is John Paul Tullman? The adoring adult son of murder victim Jim Tullman. He learns that his father has died in our exclusive Vera preview for season 11, in which Vera breaks the news to him. Where have I seen Micky McGregor before? The actor is known for I, Daniel Blake, Sorry We Missed You, among other projects. Season 10 episode 3 guest stars Emily Stott plays Georgia Hay Who is Georgia Hay? An old friend and neighbour of Luke Sumner, who has died following an assault. Her sister went to school with Luke. Where have I seen Emily Stott before? The up-and-coming actress is still starting out in her career, but has appeared in shorts and onstage in A Comedy about a Bank Robbery. Jacqueline Boatswain plays Sarah Ashers Who is Sarah Ashers? The mother of Jasmine, who used to date Luke when they were teenagers. Where have I seen Jacqueline Boatswain before? The actress recently starred in Hollyoaks as Simone Loveday, and plays Frances Holland in this year's Bancroft series. She's previously starred in Grange Hill and Shameless. Leah Walker plays Jasmine Ashers Who is Jasmine Ashers? An ex-girlfriend of the deceased, Luke. Where have I sen Leah Walker before? Walker has appeared in Safe, Stan Lee's Lucky Man, The Dumping Ground, The Royals, and In The Dark. Dempsey Bovell as Jojo Walters Who is Jojo Walters? A mini-bus driver who works for the same cleaning company that Luke did. Where have I seen Dempsey Bovell before? Bovell played a drug dealer in Patrick Melrose alongside Benedict Cumberbatch, and has previously had cameos in Solo: A Star Wars Story and Rocketman. Episode 2 guest stars Martha Cope plays Steph Bayliss Who is Steph Bayliss? The mother of a young man, Dennis, who is found washed up on a beach. She reveals that her son had recently tracked down his birth father. Where have I seen Martha Cope before? The TV actress has appeared in various shows, including Doctors, Men Behaving Badly, Peak Practice and Family Affairs. Stuart Laing plays Rob Bayliss Who is Rob Bayliss? The man who raised Dennis, Rob is married to Steph. Where have I seen Stuart Laing before? Laing is perhaps best known for playing Rob Minter in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. He's also starred in various shows including 3 Steps to Heaven and Strike Force. Episode 1 guest stars Ajay Chhabra plays Nasir Ali Who is Nasir Ali? A car salesman and father of two whose absent business partner, Freddy Gill, is found mysteriously murdered. Where have I seen Ajay Chhabra before? Younger viewers might recognise Chhabra as Anil from The Basil Brush Show; he's also played Defense Barrister George Karnad in Holby City and Suresh Mattai in the BBC Radio series The Archers. Viraj Juneja plays Saddiq Ali Who is Saddiq Ali? Nasir's youngest son, Saddiq is a university student and is coddled by both his father and older brother. Where have I seen Viraj Juneja before? The actor has previously starred in Doctors, Boyz in the Wood and The Stand Up Sketch Show. Mariam McLoughlin plays Tina Tripp Who is Tina Tripp? A proud matriarch and pub owner whose husband has just died; her grandson's father, Freddy Gill, has also just been murdered, but Tina doesn't spare any tears for him. Where have I seen Mariam McLoughlin before? The actress has previously starred in Party Animals, Holby City, Truckers, and The Bill. Additional cast for series 10 episode one: Ay Saighal as Agrah Ali, Saddiq's older brother Josh Barrow as Riley Gill, teenage son of murder victim Freddy Gill Barry Aird as Darren Tripp, brother-in-law to widow Tine Tripp Charlotte Pyke as Jade Gill, the ex of murder victim Freddy Gill Jonathan Spencer as murder victim Freddy Gill Brian Lonsdale as Jade's volatile brother, Lee Tripp Season 9 episode 4 guest stars Daniel Ryan plays Alec Sidden Who is Alec Sidden? Boss of Sidden Holdings, and son of the famous Leonard Sidden – a renowned businessman (and crook) who was untouchable in his heyday and has always managed to cover his tracks. Now Leonard is retired, Alec has taken over the company and is determined to make it a legitimate business. What else has Daniel Ryan been in? Recent roles have included Phil Collins in the Lee Ingleby drama Innocent, Dan in Mount Pleasant, and Bryn Brindsley in Home Fires. He has also appeared in Doctor Who, playing Biff Kane in the 2008 episode Midnight. Michael McKell plays Michael Claythorpe Who is Michael Claythorpe? Leonard Sidden's finance guy, and a member of his inner circle back in the nineties. He also happened to know Vera's dad, Hector Stanhope. What else has Michael McKell been in? He is perhaps best known as DC Nick Henshall from Emmerdale, but left in 2011 when his character died by suicide. Other roles include Dr Nick West in Doctors, Basil in Hatton Garden the Heist, and Joseph Mengele Senior in The Angel of Auschwitz. Leon Stewart plays Scott Keane Who is Scott Keane? Scott works for Alec Siddon, and is on the building site when the human remains are discovered. He is recently separated from his wife Patty Keane and their two children. What else has Leon Stewart been in? The actor has made appearances in Endeavour, Victoria, and The Bill. Kathleen Cranham plays Patty Keane Who is Patty Keane? Scott Keane's estranged wife. She was adopted as a child. What else has Kathleen Cranham been in? The actress is a newcomer to our screens. Brenda Blethyn especially praised her performance, saying: "One of the highlights for me was working with Kathleen Cranham on the fourth episode, The Seagull. It was her first TV role and the performance she gave was great." Mark Wingett plays John Brace Who is John Brace? An ex-detective currently in jail for perverting the course of justice. This corrupt cop was involved in some shady business with Leonard Sidden. He also worked with Vera's late father Hector Stanhope. What else has Mark Wingett been in? This is far from the first time Mark Wingett has played a police officer: he starred as DS Jim Carver in The Bill for more than 780 episodes. Since then he has appeared in the TV series Missing as Danny Hayworth, the movie Snow White and the Huntsman as Thomas, and Mr Turner as Mariner. He is also a stage actor and director. Michael Feast plays Leonard Sidden Who is Leonard Sidden? Vera is NOT a big fan of Leonard Sidden. Everyone knows he was a gangster in his heyday, but he handed out bribes and somehow was never brought to justice. Now he is retired and lives locally with his wife Elaine, while their son Alec tries to make his mark on the family business. What else has Michael Feast been in? Pictured here in a production of Pygmalion at the Garrick Theatre in London, Michael Feast is an accomplished stage actor. He is also known for his TV roles including Aeron Greyjoy in Game of Thrones and Andrew Wilson in State of Play. Claire Higgins plays Elaine Sidden Who is Elaine Sidden? Leonard's wife. She has spent a lifetime protecting him and is wary of Vera's renewed interest in the Sidden family business. What else has Claire Higgins been in? Her film credits include Hellraiser, Small Faces, Ready Player One, and The Golden Compass. On TV she currently stars in Sheridan Smith drama Cleaning Up and children's show The Worst Witch, playing Miss Cackle, while previous roles have included Ohila in Doctor Who and Mrs Bartlett in Downton Abbey. She is also a three-time Olivier Award winner who can often be found on the West End or Broadway stage. Josie Walker plays Mary-Frances Lascola Who is Mary-Frances Lascola? We first encounter Mary-Frances as the young girl in the photograph taken at nightclub The Seagull. What else has Josie Walker been in? She is an Olivier-nominated musicals star, with credits including Cats, The Beautiful Game, Evita, Matilda the Musical, and Everybody's Talking about Jamie. On TV Josie Walker has appeared in Call the Midwife, Waterloo Road, and Holby City. Additional guest stars for episode 4: Steve Evets plays PC George Wooten Delena Kidd plays Eleanor Marshburn Ian Reddington plays Glen Polson Angela Wynter plays Justine Brace Joanne Henry plays Alison Mackie Zita Sattar plays Laura Harper Episode 3 guest stars Robert James-Collier plays Richard Who is Richard? A businessman who invests in the hospitality industry. He owns the boat which hosted the booze cruise where Dani died. What else has Robert James-Collier been in? His most famous role is in Downton Abbey, playing Thomas Barrow – a role he is set to reprise in the upcoming Downton movie. Recently he starred in an episode of Death in Paradise, and he's also been in The Level, A Christmas Star, and Coronation Street – as Liam Connor. Shivani Ghai plays Lisa Varsey Who is Lisa Varsey? Successful businesswoman Lisa Varsey is owner of an empire of beauty salons in Newcastle. She was hosting a lavish boat party on the River Tyne when her sister went overboard. What else has Shivani Ghai been in? After starring as Ayesha Rana in EastEnders, the actress went on to play Arika in Dominion, Amal Mansoor in London Has Fallen, and Felicity in The Catch. Her other credits include House of Saddam, Identity (starring Keeley Hawes), and Five Days II. Patrick Baladi plays Ross Varsey Who is Ross Varsey? Lisa's caring husband. He runs the training side of the family business. What else has Patrick Baladi been in? He played Neil Godwin in The Office. You may also have spotted him in Marcella (as Stephen Holmes), Line of Duty (as lawyer James Lakewell), Stella (as Michael Jackson) and No Offence (as Lionel Dirkin). Russ Bain plays Nial Who is Nial? The boyfriend of victim Dani. The Varsey family are keen to blame him for her death, but Nial maintains his innocence. What else has Russ Bain been in? The actor has appeared in a handful of minor roles in Bodyguard, Manhunt, Snatch and The Rack Pack. He voices characters in video games, including characters in State of Mind, Battlefield V, Spellforce 3 and Mass Effect: Andromeda. Sonita Henry plays Sadie Who is Sadie? Lisa (and Dani)'s sister. What else has Sonita Henry been in? As pictured above, she starred as Raika in Krypton. Sonita Henry recently appeared as Daria Shubik in Luther, and has also taken on roles in Doctor Who (as Colonel Meme), Olympus, The Good Karma Hospital, and Star Trek. Elizabeth Berrington plays Paula Who is Paula? A member of the Varsey family. What else has Elizabeth Berrington been in? Recent credits include Stella, Patrick Melrose, Little Boy Blue, and Vanity Fair – where she played the awful Lady Bareacres. She has also featured in Doctor Who, Being Eileen, Waterloo Road, Camping, Black Mirror and Doctors. Additional guest stars for episode 3: Natasha Atherton plays victim Danielle, otherwise known as Dani Gordon Kennedy plays boat captain Eddie Laura Jane Matthewson plays Eddie's daughter and crew member Kirsty Esther Hall plays coastguard Gayle Natalie Gumede (best known for Coronation Street and Strictly) plays hairdresser Megan Sibisi Episode 2 guest stars John Hollingworth plays PC Shawn Turnly Who is PC Shawn Turnly? Local cop PC Turnly knows everybody in town. When a body is found and a murder investigation opened, he must work with Vera and her team to track down the killer – but will his connections to the local area be a help or a hindrance? What else has John Hollingworth been in? The actor is perhaps best known for his role as Captain Henshawe in Poldark. His other credits include Dark Angel, Doc Martin, Da Vinci's Demons, The Hour, Top Coppers, and Transformers: The Last Knight. Chelsea Edge plays Kayleigh Mincham Who is Kayleigh Mincham? Stroppy teenager Kayleigh works at the cafe in town, waiting tables. She is estranged from her dad Gary, who owns the struggling boatyard where the body of murder victim Caden is found. What else has Chelsea Edge been in? She appeared as the real Alice Webster in The Missing, and starred in Wolf Alice's music video for Don't Delete the Kisses. Dean Fagan plays Dave Miller Who is Dave Miller? Down at the Ferrycross Estate, Dave tries to keep the local kids out of trouble at his community centre. What else has Dean Fagan been in? The actor spent four years starring as Luke Britton in Coronation Street. His other credits include Homefront, Fresh Meat, and All at Sea. Louis Healy plays Tyler Lennon Who is Tyler Lennon? The younger brother of murder victim Caden Lennon. The two of them have been raised in care after the death of their mother, and Tyler is a vulnerable teenager full of rage and grief. What else has Louis Healy been in? He appeared in the TV series Hetty Feather, as well as Scott & Bailey, Doctors, and Sometimes Always Never. Additional cast for episode two: Ben Robinson plays murder victim Caden Lennon Sam Chapman plays bathroom attendant and drug addict Declan Price Deka Walmsley plays boatyard owner (and Kayleigh's dad) Gary Mincham Pauline Turner plays Kayleigh's mum Bridie Mincham Stephanie Street plays the Lennon brothers' foster mum Christine Madden Vineeta Rishi plays yacht club boss Nita Dajani Jonny Lavelle plays boatyard employee Alan White Mark Addy plays ex drug-dealer and local club owner Tony Briggs Lorcan Cranitch plays café owner and neighbourhood busybody Roy Brewer Assad Zaman plays surf instructor Lee Nadella Matt Cross plays Nathaniel "Nat" Halpin Episode 1 guest stars Peter Davison plays Matthew Wells Who is Matthew Wells? The senior forensic psychologist of Northumberland's prison, HMP Scanton. He worked with the murder victim, Joanne Caswell, who was a trainee forensic psychologist. What else has Peter Davison been in? Doctor Who star Peter Davison played the Fifth Doctor, and is also the father of Georgia Moffett – who appeared in the BBC time-travel show and went on to marry David Tennant. Davison's other credits include Sink or Swim, Law & Order: UK, Toast of London, and Liar. He'll soon appear in the TV series Gentleman Jack. For the latest news and expert tips on getting the best deals this year, take a look at our Black Friday 2021 and Cyber Monday 2021 guides. Seeta Indrani plays Sandra Main Who is Sandra Main? Matthew Wells' loyal and capable office co-ordinator at HMP Scanton. What else has Seeta Indrani been in? The actress recently played Bryce in the TV drama Unforgotten, and portrayed Dr Amira Shah in the Jodie Whittaker thriller Trust Me. Indrani also appeared in Catastrophe, playing the character Harita, and spent several years starring as Dr Lily Hassan in Doctors. Additional cast for season 9 episode 1: Sharon Singh plays murder victim and trainee forensic psychologist Joanne Caswell Amira Ghazalla plays her mother Ava Caswell Adrian Lukis plays her father Graham Caswell Faith Alabi plays her girlfriend Melanie Kirk James Atherton plays football coach Kieran Webb Jodie McNee plays Kieran's wife Natalie Webb Andrew Readman plays retired detective Jim Paisley Sean Cernow plays ex-inmate Paul Eastman Caitlin Drabble plays a former inmate's little sister Ashleigh Beck Gerard McDermott plays bereaved father Frank Payne Vera season 13 will start airing at 8pm on Sunday 7th January 2024. To find out what else is on, check out our TV Guide or visit our dedicated Drama hub. You can buy the first of Ann Cleeves's Vera novels here. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Meet the cast of Inspector George Gently
The long-running crime drama has arrived on Netflix.
After a long run on the BBC across 10 years from 2007-2017, Inspector George Gently has arrived on Netflix - and is bound to attract a whole new legion of fans across the globe. Led by Martin Shaw as Gently and Lee Ingleby as DS John Bacchus, the crime drama proved popular with audiences in the UK throughout 25 tense episodes. Investigating everything from the death of old friends to village-wide conspiracies, this whip-smart show is likely to stand the test of time. Featuring stars from the likes of Poldark, Sex Education and more, the cast were as crucial for the success of this series as its BAFTA-winning creator Peter Flannery. But who exactly features in Inspector George Gently? Find out below. Meet the cast of Inspector George Gently Below are the main cast members in Inspector George Gently. Read on for more on the stars and where you've seen them before. Martin Shaw – George Gently Lee Ingleby – John Bacchus Lisa McGrillis – Rachel Coles Anamaria Marinca – Eve Liddell Victoria Bewick – Marion Liddell Ruby McAvoy – Young Marion David Prosho – Donnelly Richard Harrington – Michael Clements Naomi Frederick – Adele Watson Martin Shaw – George Gently Who does he play? Inspector George Gently is an old-fashioned copper with a strong moral code who doesn't like to jump to conclusions about anyone. Before we met him he saw active service in the Second World War, met his wife Isabella and then worked as a Chief Inspector in London. At Isabella's funeral he handed in his notice, telling his superiors that he felt his dangerous job had resulted in his wife's murder. But during one final case in Northumberland, he met DS John Bacchus and decided to stay in the North East so he could take him under his wing. Now he is finally heading towards retirement, Gently is concerned about Bacchus and his other protege DS Rachel Coles – are they up to the job? Where have I seen him before? Perhaps in Apparitions, Judge John Deed, Always and Everyone, cop drama The Chief, Rhodes or The Professionals. Back in the '60s he played Robert Croft on Coronation Street. He hasn't appeared on-screen since 2021. Lee Ingleby – John Bacchus Who does he play? Bacchus is a talented and intelligent cop, but he doesn't always play by the book and he lacks Gently's patience. In fact, he will sometimes cut corners and even bend (or break) the law, and can be horribly bigoted and sexist. It remains to be seen whether he can live up to Gently's expectations. Where have I seen him before? You'll have seen him as Nick Huntley in Line of Duty. He has voiced Bob in Bob the Builder and has also been in Our Zoo, The A Word, The Five, The Street and Early Doors. Harry Potter fans may recognise him as Knight Bus conductor Stan Shunpike from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. He recently appeared in The Cuckoo on Channel 5. Lisa McGrillis – Rachel Coles Who does she play? Book-smart and driven, ambitious and determined, she can be a little idealistic about her role. Coles genuinely believes in justice and makes Gently question his paternalistic attitudes. Where have I seen her before? Lisa McGrillis played Kelly in the TV series Mum. She has also been in Hebburn, Much Ado About Nothing and The Pass. She has recently featured in Avoidance with Romesh Ranganathan. Anamaria Marinca – Eve Liddell Who does she play? One of the episodes focuses on an old case, which takes a new turn when a man's body is found in a chemical plant on Teesside. Gently discovers that the victim's wife was convicted of the murder and has served eight years already. DI Bacchus worked on the original investigation and strongly objects when Gently controversially decides to re-open the case. Will this expose an appalling miscarriage of justice, or make the inspector look like a fool? Where have I seen her before? Anamaria Marinca played Maria in Maigret's Dead Man. She also plays Dr Dahlin in the Ghost in the Shell remake, and was Marta Kamen in TV series Mars. Until last year, she had a recurring role in The Chelsea Detective. Victoria Bewick – Marion Liddell Who does she play? Marion plays the daughter of Eve Liddell, now grown up. Where have I seen her before? Victoria Bewick starred in a Call the Midwife Christmas special as Yvonne Bridges. She was Muriel Roberts in the Margaret Thatcher movie The Iron Lady. This was her most recent major role. Ruby McAvoy – Young Marion Who does she play? The younger Marion appears in flashback scenes. Where have I seen her before? This is Ruby McAvoy's first and only on-screen role. David Prosho – Donnelly Who does he play? David Prosho stars as Donnelly in Gently and The New Age. Where have I seen him before? Perhaps you've seen him in the TV series Scott & Bailey as DC Ian Mitchell. He has also been in Hollyoaks, Emmerdale, Doctors and Coronation Street. He appeared in an episode of Happy Valley. Richard Harrington – Michael Clements Who does he play? Richard Harrington also appears in Gently and The New Age. Where have I seen him before? Richard Harrington stars as DCI Tom Mathias in Hinterland. Oh, and he played Captain Andrew Blamey in Poldark. Since then, he has had recurring roles in Dalgliesh and Steeltown Murders. Naomi Frederick – Adele Watson Who does she play? Clements's assistant. Where have I seen her before? Better known for her stage roles in everything from Made in Dagenham to Measure for Measure to Hobson's Choice, Naomie Frederick also played Zoe in the TV movie The Trial of Tony Blair. She recently popped up in Industry. Inspector George Gently is now streaming on Netflix. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Where is The Mallorca Files filmed? All the locations for Prime Video series
Your guide to the Balearic locations seen in the cop drama.
Island-based crime drama The Mallorca Files is back for its third season, but now in the new home of Prime Video. Previously airing on BBC One as a daytime drama, the new eight-part season once again returns to the picturesque Spanish island for more sun, sea and criminal adventure. The light-hearted detective show, which stars Elen Rhys and Julian Looman as mismatched cops investigating crimes on the Spanish island, returned for a second season in February 2021 - so it's been quite a while without it on our screens. There have been plenty of exciting locations used throughout all three seasons, so scroll on to find out more. Is The Mallorca Files filmed in Mallorca? Yes! Fittingly for a drama set on the Mediterranean island, The Mallorca Files was – in fact – filmed in Mallorca. Shooting for the new third season took place on the Spanish island from March to July 2023, and featured plenty of lovely locations including Plaza Cort in Palma. Speaking about their favourite filming locations this time around, Rhys said in an interview with Express.co.uk: "The sea! Because we got to go on boats and jet skis, you know? So that was really cool. Obviously it’s scaled up a bit." Looman said: "It’s the first time we left the island. Before, we were only on the island, and now we’re on the sea - it was great fun." For more in-depth information on some of the locations used throughout the previous two seasons, scroll on to find out more. Filming at the horse ranch (series 2, episode 6) Episode six's "El Rancho Rey" was filmed at Rancho Grande Park (Son Serra de Marina) close to the north east coast, near Can Picafort. This is Mallorca's largest horse ranch, and is a popular tourist attraction. The stunning mountain terrain which features during the manhunt sequences was filmed in the Serra Tramuntara mountain range around Inca, Miranda and Max mainly follow the track around the Puig de Masanella, Mallorca’s second highest peak. Birdwatching at the wetlands (series 2, episode 5) Much of the episode is set in the "Paraiso Parque Natural". Filming took place in Es Salobrair de Campos, a wetlands area near Es Trenc in the south east of the island. We're told: "Comprising a richly diverse landscape of dunes and lagoons, the saltwater plains attract nesting wildlife like flamingos, sea eagles as well as reeds and is a magnet for migrating birds and the people who come to watch them." The episode also takes us to the opposite end of Mallorca, and to Puerto Pollensa – the relaxed fishing village at the north-eastern tip of the island. The football stadium (series 2 episode 4) The Mallorca Files pulled off quite a coup for this episode – as the team were able to film at the actual home of Real Mallorca FC, the Estadi Son Moix. This stadium, located to the north west of the capital, is the largest football ground in the Balearics. Special permission had to be requested to film the opening scenes, which were shot during half-time in the middle of a live football match (while the fans looked on). The restaurant and the steps (series 2 episode 3) This episode takes us to a Michelin-starred restaurant (where, of course, one of the diners is just about to die dramatically). Filming took place at the Gran Hotel Son Net in the town of Puigpunyent (set in the Serra Tramuntana mountain range to the west of the island). Away from the restaurant, one of the most dramatic scenes in the episode was shot in Pollensa – using the famous 365 Calvari Steps for an exhausting chase scene. Flanked by cypress trees, the steps lead up to a small church. The road (series 2 episode 2) The episode "Son of a Pig" begins with beautiful shots of Diego Gris (Alberto Maneiro) in his flash convertible, driving on a winding single-lane road in rural Mallorca. What we see on screen is the Coll de Sóller, a stretch of road to the north west of Mallorca which includes over 50 hairpin bends as it passes through the Serra Tramuntana mountain range. The Gris family's village (series 2, episode 2) To solve the mystery of a missing (and probably murdered) man, Max and Miranda visit his family home in the mountains. They quickly discover that the whole village is practically owned by the Gris family, who are extremely wealthy and have a lot of local power. To film this episode, the real-life village of Artà was used as a filming location. Artà is a picturesque town inland from the north east coast. The episode also features scenes shot outside a church – using the Parroquia de Santa María de Sine, in Sineu. You can see it in flashback scenes to the Spanish Civil War. The concert in the caves (series 2, episode 1) The opening episode of season two features the Cuevas del Drach (Caves of Drach) in Porto Cristo on the east coast of Mallorca. The caves were already known by the Middle Ages, and feature a series of remarkable rock formations as well as an internal lake – which is one of the largest underwater lakes in the world. Electric lighting was installed by 1935, and it has since become a popular tourist attraction. Visitors are offered a tour that includes a classical music concert (well, a 10-minute long concert) and a boat trip across Lake Martel. The opera house (series 2, episode 1) Much of the opening episode of season two is set in the Teatre Principal de Palma, Palma’s main theatre. The building dates back to the 17th century, but it has recently undergone a major refurbishment programme. It is located by the Placa Major, in the centre of Palma old town. The beach (series 2, episode 1) In the pre-title sequence that opens season two, we see a woman drown herself in the sea. The beach where this was filmed was the Cala Anguila in Porto Cristo Novo, on the east cost of Mallorca. This is a tranquil cove surrounded on both sides by cliffs, and spotted with stone pines and palm trees. The Soller train (series 1, episode 4) Yes! Episode four of season one, titled 'Number One Fan', follows the disappearance of a German supermodel on the famous Soller train – and filming took place on the Soller railway itself. The Tren de Sóller or Ferrocarril de Sóller runs between the towns of Sóller and Palma, stopping along the way at various smaller towns. It dates back to 1912, and nowadays its vintage trains wind through the mountains carrying passengers (and plenty of tourists) who enjoy the beautiful scenery. The church (series 1, episode 3) Series producer Dominic Barlow told Radio Times: "The church we filmed in for episode three of series one was the Església de Monti-Sión de Palma. It's in the middle of the island's capital city, Palma, and attached to the Colegio Nuestra Señora de Monte-Sión, which is actually a school. The courtyard was used in the scene unveiling the Icon, which we filmed in the corridors when Miranda was given her tour." The airport scenes (series 1, episode 1) The show filmed at the island's Palma de Mallorca Airport for several days, where the opening chase scenes were shot for the first episode of season one. Other scenes in the first episode were filmed at Ses Cases del Virrey, a hotel near the central town of Inca. The bullfighting episode (series 1, episode 8) Felanitx, a rural town in the southeast of the island, became the back drop for the bullfighting episode in season one, titled 'Death in The Morning'. The vineyard (series 1, episode 5) In episode five of season one, appropriately titled 'Sour Grapes', Miranda and Max head out into wine country to investigate the killing of a dog at one of Mallorca's most famous vineyards. This was was set in the beautiful wine region of central Mallorca amongst the vines of Bodegas Oliver Morgagues and Bodegas Ribas. Max and Miranda's cycling race (series 1, episode 2) In 'King of the Mountain', season one episode two, Max and Miranda go up against each other in a cycling race. The route they take on is Sa Calobra (the Knot) in the mountainous north. Where did they film all the luxury villas in The Mallorca Files? (Series 1) First up is a villa in Clara Blava on the east side of Palma Bay, which was used in the pilot episode. This is where the friends and family of the "murder victim" gather for the wake. Episode six of season one, 'To Kill a Stag', features an ultramodern villa in Sol de Mallorca, just south of Magaluf. The wacky home of German designer Otto Caligari in 'Number One Fan' is another filming location. This is a modern minimalist property just outside Muro in the northeast of Mallorca. The final episode features a villa (owned by the fictional Jurgen Kuhl) high up above Calvia in the southwest of the island. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website The Mallorca Files season 3 premieres on Prime Video on Thursday 8th August – try Amazon Prime Video for free for 30 days. Plus, read our guides to the best Amazon Prime series and the best movies on Amazon Prime. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Mallorca Files is back, but who stars in season 3?
The new season of The Mallorca Files is finally here after three years since season 2 premiered on BBC One. Now in the new home of Prime Video, the sun-drenched crime drama once again marks the return of uptight Brit DC Miranda Blake (Elen Rhys) and laidback German DC Max Winter (Julian Looman) as your classic "unlikely duo" of detectives. With eight more episodes full of crime under the Spanish sun, the two stars are joined by María Fernández Ache as Inés Villegas, but there's set to be an international set of guest stars for the new season. As per the synopsis for season 3: "Amid high-stakes adventures, treasure hunts, arson, kidnappings and murders, Max and Miranda’s personal tensions and odd-couple partnership are put to the test." But who are the stars? Here's everything you need to know about the cast and characters of The Mallorca Files. The Mallorca Files cast: Full list of characters and actors in season 3 The full cast list for The Mallorca Files season 3 is below, but scroll on to find out more about the characters and where you may have seen the actors before. Elen Rhys as DC Miranda Blake Julian Looman as DC Max Winter María Fernández Ache as Inés Villegas Enrique Arce Philippe Brenninkmeyer Charlie Higson Michael Jibson David Mora Elena Saurel Leonor Watling Elen Rhys plays DC Miranda Blake Who is DC Miranda Blake? Miranda Blake is a hugely capable – but somewhat uptight – British detective who usually opts to play things by the book. In the first season, Miranda arrived in Mallorca to transport a high profile criminal informant back to the UK, but (after a series of dramatic events) she ended up staying on the island. Now, in season two, she's starting to find her feet a bit more, and to bond with her partner DC Max Winter. Where have I seen Elen Rhys before? Elen Rhys is a Welsh actor, best known for her television work, which includes roles in Broadchurch, Keeping Faith, Ordinary Lies, and Silent Witness. She has also appeared in some independent films like 2011's Panic Button, and had a small role in World War Z. Julian Looman plays DC Max Winter Who is DC Max Winter? Max Winter is a roguish German police detective who gets paired with Blake after her escort job goes awry. Although his approach to police work initially rubs his tightly-wound partner up the wrong way, the two quickly form an unexpectedly strong bond. Where have I seen Julian Looman before? Probably nowhere – unless you watch German TV! The 34-year-old actor has appeared in several German-language productions over the years, including as Adam Litkowski in German-Austrian thriller Der Pass. Maria Fernández Ache plays Inés Villegas Who is Ines Villegas? The stylish chief of police in Palma, Ines Villegas is a regular character in the series, as she is tasked with reluctantly overseeing Miranda and Max's combative Anglo-German partnership. Where have I seen Maria Fernández Ache before? The Spanish actress has previously appeared in programmes including Holby City and Lost in Karastan. She also served as an acting coach on the BBC's high-budget adaptation of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. The Mallorca Files - season 2 cast Tábata Cerezo plays Carmen Lorenzo Who is Carmen Lorenzo? Carmen is Max's Spanish girlfriend. According to Cerezo, "they're a very good match. They're both free spirits and love life, wine and music. She is a woman who comes across as strong, but we will see a vulnerable side to her as well." Where have I seen Tábata Cerezo before? A Madrid native, Cerezo has worked across film, TV and theatre, and her credits include The Night Manager and Terminator: Dark Fate. Alex Hafner plays Roberto Herrero Who is Roberto Herrero? The new forensics guy for season two. He is... somewhat dramatic. Where have I seen Alex Hafner before? An Austrian-born Italian-Spanish actor whose other credits include Let It Snow, Cable Girls, Submergence, and La que se avencia. Nansi Nsue plays Luisa Rosa Who is Luisa Rosa? Luisa is another addition to the forensics lab – in fact, she's only just started. She also has a flair for the dramatic, and she is very keen to help. Where have I seen Nansi Nsue before? Nansi describes herself as "an Afro-Spanish actress with a Spanish-American accent now based in London". Her screen credits include Whiskey Cavalier, Trumped, Dear Jesus, and How To Talk To Girls At Parties. Antonio Valero plays Xisco Rey (episode 6) Who is Xisco Rey? The owner of an old, traditional ranch in Mallorca. What else has Antonio Valero been in? Credits include Servir y proteger, Cable Girls, and La forja de un rebelde. Ben Cura plays Jose Rey (episode 6) Who is Jose Rey? Xisco's grandson. He is about to inherit the ranch when Xisco retires, and he has big plans for renovations and new ventures. What else has Ben Cura been in? You might recognise him from the first season of the TV series Marcella, in which he played Matthew Neil. He's also been in Silent Witness, The Royals, and Gun Shy. José Luis García Pérez plays Javier Santos (episode 6) Who is Javier Santos? Dubbed the "horse whisperer" by Max, Javier has worked at the ranch for many years. His daughter, Belia, is marrying Jose. What else has José Luis García Pérez been in? His many credits include Buried, El Cid, Diarios de la cuarentena, and Secretos de Estado. Paulina Gálvez plays Pia Rey (episode 6) Who is Pia Rey? Xisco's daughter, and Jose's mother. What else has Paulina Gálvez been in? She played Catalina in the 2018 TV seres The Purge. Other credits include Demente Crikinal, Dueños del Paraíso, El Cartel de los Sapos, and La embajada. Lou Cosette plays Belia Santos (episode 6) Who is Belia Santos? Javier's daughter, and Jose's fiancé. What else has Lou Cosette been in? She's appeared in Vis a Vis: El Oasis, and also in La Pasión del Cocodrilo. Ana Gracia plays Anna Manera (episode 5) Who is Anna Manera? The owner of a local pet store, which sells pet birds. What else has Ana Gracia been in? Some of her many credits include HIT, The Minions of Midas, Com si fos ahir, Truman, and Camino. Alba Ribas plays Emilia Fernandez (episode 5) Who is Emilia Fernandez? Emilia is an assistant at the nature reserve. What else has Alba Ribas been in? She's been in Derecho a soñar, Cities, The Boat, and The Corpse of Anna Fritz. Anton Antoniadis plays Rico Alonso (episode 4) Who is Rico Alonso? A talented young footballer who is the shining light of the football club in Mallorca. However, he is about to be bought by a German club for a lot of money. This is his big break, but not everyone is happy to see him leave Mallorca behind. What else has Anton Antoniadis been in? Credits include The Ministry of Time and Dear Soulmate. He is also a musician. Rebecca Roldan plays Marta Alonso (episode 4) Who is Marta Alonso? Rico's mother, who had him as a teenager and raised him alone. What else has Rebecca Roldan been in? This is one of her first screen credits, other than the TV series Spanish Shame and the film Faraday. Ivan Marcos plays Jaume Borrell (episode 4) Who is Jaume Borrell? The football coach for Rico's team. What else has Ivan Marcos been in? The actor works mainly in Spanish, with credits including Jaguar, 45 rpm, and Pazo de familia. Craig Kelly plays Lee Flack (episode 4) Who is Lee Flack? Rico's manager, who is arranging for the German club to buy him. Lee is arrogant and demanding. What else has Craig Kelly been in? Craig Kelly is perhaps best known for playing Luke Strong in Coronation Street, a role he left in 2009.He's also been in Moving On, Collision, Hotel Babylon, and the Doctor Who mini-series Scream of the Shalka (voicing the character Joe). Andrew Whipp plays Oliver Barker (episode 3) Who is Oliver Barker? A famous food critic, who has the power to make or break a restauranteur's career. What else has Andrew Whipp been in? He recently appeared in Cursed, playing Nimue's father Jonah. He's also been in The White Princess (playing Richard Pole), and Outlander (as Brian Fraser). Maite Jauregui plays Ana Gutierrez (episode 3) Who is Ana Gutierrez? Ana's budding career in the restaurant industry was cut short by Oliver. She now works as a photographer. What else has Maite Jauregui been in? She played Vera in the TV series Flowers, and has also been in 18, Abuela de verano, and Amar es para siempre. Andy Lucas plays Ernesto (episode 3) Who is Ernesto? A hotelier, who is about to retire. Oliver always stays at his hotel when he visits Mallorca from mainland Spain. What else has Andy Lucas been in? He played Juan Ramirez in the 2004 movie AVP: Alien vs Predator. In recent years he's plays Mr Zabala in the Netflix "A Christmas Prince" movies, and also appeared in Gunpowder, Witless, and Da Vinci's Demons. Phil Daniels plays Frank Bottomley (episode 2) Who is Frank Bottomley? A retired British cop who's working as a private detective in Mallorca. What else has Phil Daniels been in? The actor's very familiar face has made recent appearances in Adult Material, I Hate Suzie, and Call the Midwife. He's also known for starring as Kevin in EastEnders, and for playing the lead role of Jimmy Cooper in Quadrophenia. Other credits include New Tricks, Rock & Chips, Chicken Run, The Hatton Garden Job, Outlaws, and The Pickwick Papers. Alberto Maneiro plays Diego Gris (episode 2) Who is Diego Gris? An arrogant, wealthy man who disappears from his car on a remote mountain road. What else has Alberto Maneiro been in? He's appeared in The Interceptor, River City, Back, and a variety of Spanish TV dramas. Isabel Garcia-Lorca plays Rosalía Gris (episode 2) Who is Rosalía Gris? Rosalía's late husband - who was much older than her - made the family fortune. She is the mother of Diego, who has gone missing. What else has Isabel Garcia-Lorca been in? Credits include Remember Me, The Man Who Was Thursday, The Goya Murders, and more. Gabriel Andreu plays Father García (episode 2) Who is Father García? The priest at the church. He is close to the Gris family, and believes that the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War were traitors. What else has Gabriel Andreu been in? He played Hector Jimenez in John le Carré drama The Night Manager, and also played Christopher Columbus in the Assassin's Creed movie. Celia Freijeiro plays María Himénez (episode 2) Who is María Himénez? María is presiding over a dig to excavate the remains of executed Republicans from the Spanish Civil War, and to reunite them with their families. The dig is taking place on Gris family land, but with the authorisation of the state. What else has Celia Freijeiro been in? The actress has mainly worked in Spanish, with titles including Vida perfecta, A Different View, Servir y proteger, and Homicidios. Mario De La Rosa plays Arturo Cela (episode 2) Who is Arturo Cela? A local man who passionately believes in the Republican cause, and who has nothing but negative feelings towards the Gris family. What else has Mario De La Rosa been in? He plays Suárez in hit Netflix drama Money Heist. Carlos Magnusson plays José Castana (episode 1) Who is José Castana? A popular opera singer who is murdered after the performance. Where have I seen Carlos Magnusson before? Credits include Off the Rails, and the short film La leyenda de Oriol – but he's actually a relative newcomer. Cristina Castaño plays Dominica Castana (episode 1) Who is Dominica Castana? An opera singer who performed alongside her husband, José. Where have I seen Cristina Castano before? For many years, the Spanish actress starred as Judith Becker in the comedy series La que se avecina. She's also known for playing Macerena in the TV series Toy Boy, and for playing Isa in I Can Quit Whenever I Want. Mar Sodupe plays Elvira Cortez (episode 1) Who is Elvira Cortez? José's manager, and the boss at the opera house. Where have I seen Mar Sodupe before? Mar Sodupe's credits include La caza Monteperdido, The White Crow, I Know Who You Are, Cannabis, and Interpol. Graeme Hawley plays Alan Bull (episode 1) Who is Alan Bull? A drunk percussionist. Where have I seen Graeme Hawley before? Over on ITV, you'll find him playing widower Graham in Keeley Hawes drama Finding Alice. He's also known for starring as John Stape in Coronation Street, and for shows including Peaky Blinders (as Niall Devlin), National Treasure (as Dan), Home Fires (as Nigel Hughes), and Emmerdale (as DC Martin Crowe). Josette Simon plays Anna Hammond (episode 1) Who is Anna Hammond? Lead violist in the orchestra. Anna is a straight-talker who's – understandably – pretty fed up with men. Where have I seen Josette Simon before? The British actress, who is of Antiguan descent, is a regular on the stage – including with the Royal Shakespeare Company. On TV, she's been in Small Axe (as Lydia Thomas), Riviera, The Witcher (as Eithne), The Split, Night Flyers, and Broadchurch. On the big screen, she played Grams in Pokémon Detective Pikachu, Mnemosyne in Wonder Woman, and she's set to play Zelda in The Witches. Sarah Lochlan plays Eva Reyes (episode 1) Who is Eva Reyes? A violinist who drowns herself in the opening minutes of the first episode. Where I have I seenSarah Lochlan before? She's actually more of a stunt performer, with appearances in almost 100 movies and TV shows including Wonder Woman, Doctor Who, Tenet, and Killing Eve. Nacho Aldeguer plays Federico Ramis (season 1) Who is Federico Ramis? Federico, the Palma Police pathologist, is responsible for the scientific side of the team's investigations. Where have I seen Nacho Aldeguer before? The Mallorca Files has made sure to cast plenty of Spanish actors to lend the show a sense of authenticity – and Nacho Aldeguer is a great example. The 34-year-old Madrid-born actor has previously appeared in Cuéntame cómo pasó – and has provided the Spanish vocal dubs for Andy in the Toy Story franchise, and Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website The Mallorca Files season 3 premieres on Prime Video on Thursday 8th August – try Amazon Prime Video for free for 30 days. Plus, read our guides to the best Amazon Prime series and the best movies on Amazon Prime. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
McDonald & Dodds season 4 cast: Meet the characters and guest stars
The detective drama stars Jason Watkins, Tala Gouveia and some big-name guest actors.
After two years off our screens, McDonald & Dodds is back for season 4. Tala Gouveia and Jason Watkins play the titular duo, who will have more crime to solve in the beautiful city of Bath in the three new episodes on ITV1 and ITVX. There are plenty of new and returning cast members too, with one character – played by The Crown star Victoria Hamilton – serving as a potential new love interest for Dodds. Watkins told RadioTimes.com: "Dodds fancies her a bit. He actually has a sort of dalliance, or it looks like he's heading that way, which is very unusual because he's been shut down in that respect for such a long time. There’s potential with this character." Elsewhere, guest stars in episode 1 include an actor from Gentleman Jack, a former James Bond baddie, and a coach from The Voice Kids. For more information about the McDonald & Dodds cast and who they play, read on. McDonald & Dodds season 4 cast Below are the main stars of McDonald & Dodds season 4. Read on for more information on the actors and their characters, as well as guest stars for the new run. Jason Watkins plays DS Dodds Tala Gouveia plays DCI Lauren McDonald Claire Skinner plays Chief Supt Ormond Charlie Chambers plays DC Goldie Bhavik C Pankhania plays DC Lee Jason Watkins plays DS Dodds Who is DS Dodds? Described as "shy" and "unassuming", DS Dodds has "happily languished on the shelf for most of his working life". He's been working quietly and diligently at his desk in Bath for years without anyone taking much notice, but now his boss is hoping to push him into early retirement – so he's been paired with DCI Lauren McDonald and forced out into frontline action, which is quite a shock to the system. However, instead of giving up and taking his pension, Dodds proves himself a talented detective with "a hidden talent for deciphering puzzles". What else has Jason Watkins been in? Jason Watkins has had a prolific acting career across screen and stage, winning a BAFTA and bagging an Olivier nomination. He starred alongside David Tennant in the ITV crime drama Des (as Brian Masters), while international viewers might recognise him as Prime Minister Harold Wilson in season 3 of The Crown. He's also played Roger in Hold the Sunset, Gavin in Trollied, Tim Ifield in Line of Duty, and Emlyn Hooson in A Very English Scandal, as well as starring in Channel 5 dramas Coma and The Catch. Other major roles have included William Herrick in Being Human, Simon Harwood in W1A, and the lead role in The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies, while the actor has also been in Taboo, Our Zoo and Doctor Who. Tala Gouveia plays DCI Lauren McDonald Who is DCI Lauren McDonald? A "wildly ambitious" detective chief inspector transferred from the "mean streets of South London" to the quiet streets of Bath. She is young, talented, often underestimated, and is described as "a tough, driven battering ram of a cop who cracks cases through sheer force of will". McDonald isn't initially pleased to be paired with Dodds, but the two soon form an unlikely partnership. What else has Tala Gouveia been in? She's been in Tracey Ullman's Show, Cold Feet, Go Jetters, Arrivals, EastEnders, Plebs and Scream Street. Claire Skinner plays Chief Supt Ormond Who is Chief Supt Ormond? Ormond is the chief superintendent, described as "contained", "private" and "tough". She's still ruffling a few feathers among the squad following her arrival, but they've largely grown accustomed to her ways. What else has Claire Skinner been in? Skinner is best known for her role as Sue Brockman in Outnumbered, but has also appeared in Doctor Who, Ted Lasso, Midsomer Murders and Bridget Jones's Diary, among many other roles. Charlie Chambers plays DC Goldie Who is DC Goldie? He works alongside McDonald and Dodds. What else has Charlie Chambers been in? He's best known for EastEnders. Bhavik C Pankhania plays DC Lee Who is DC Lee? The newest member of McDonald and Dodds' team. What is Bhavik C Pankhania been in? He appeared in BBC war drama World on Fire. Read more: McDonald & Dodds star rejects 'cosy crime' label: 'It's a complex show' McDonald & Dodds stars remember their first ever roles in EastEnders McDonald & Dodds season 4 guest stars Episode 3 - Wedding Fever Victoria Hamilton (The Crown) plays Dora Lang - a photo journalist Comedian Bill Bailey plays Paul Watt - a radio host Richard Harrington (Hinterland) plays Lenny Wood - his daughter is getting married Esme Coy (Bridgerton) plays Lotty Wood - her wedding day is disrupted by a murder Lucinda Dryzek (Holby City) plays Lynn Wood and Holli Dempsey (Harlots) plays Lilith Wood - Lotty's sisters Charlie Coombes (Silo) plays William Bridges - Lotty's partner Piotr Baumann (Coronation Street) plays a man with a snake tattoo Jason Hughes (Midsomer Murders) plays Clive Saunders - his sister is also getting married Isaura Barbé-Brown (Guilt) plays Sandra Blake - Clive's soon-to-be sister-in-law Joy Richardson (Silent Witness) plays Janet Blake - Sandra's mother Akshay Sharan (The Effects of Lying) plays Sahir Hassan - a groom whose wedding is also disrupted by a murder Episode 2 - Jinxy Sings the Blues Hugh Quarshie (Holby City) plays Clarence Adderly - esteemed US history professor and bluesologist Sophia Myles (Silent Witness) plays Geraldine Bridget DeVere - one half of an "eccentric" sibling duo who operates in the world of art auctions Singer Will Young plays Greg DeVere - Geraldine's sister Charley Webb (Emmerdale) plays Hilary McLean - a nurse and a witness to a murder Rilwan Abiola Owokoniran plays Nicolas Olayinka - an academic Episode 1 - The Rule of Three Singer Pixie Lott plays Lola Baker - she's accused of murdering her mother Dipo Ola (We Hunt Together) plays Cal Baker - Lola's partner Daniel Lapaine (Catastrophe) plays Brad Coleman - Lola's stepfather John Gordon Sinclair (Traces) plays Nevis McLintock - a tree surgeon Toby Stephens (James Bond) plays Mark Holgate - his sister, who went missing 30 years ago, is shot dead Lydia Leonard (Gentleman Jack) plays Lucy Holgate - Mark's wife Ace Bhatti (Line of Duty) plays George Sharma - Lucy's lawyer Rico Canadinhas (Deep Water) plays Luke Hegarty - his mother is murdered McDonald & Dodds airs on ITV1 and ITVX. Seasons 1-3 are available to watch now on ITVX. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Where was The Trouble with Maggie Cole filmed?
Dawn French's ITV drama, which is now available on Netflix, features some beautiful locations across south Devon and Cornwall.
ITV drama The Trouble with Maggie Cole first aired in 2020, but now it's got a whole new lease of life, with viewers finding the series since it has been added to Netflix. The series stars Dawn French as the titular village gossip, who gives an explosive radio interview in which she shares horrible secrets and speculation about all her friends and neighbours, leading to a massive fallout. The plot may be dramatic, but it's matched by the incredible coastlines on display. The show's locales are stunning, filled with beaches, cottages and coastal villages, as it is set in the seaside town of Thurlbury. But where is Thurlbury, is it a real place, and where was the series filmed? Read on for everything you need to know about where The Trouble with Maggie Cole was filmed. Is Thurlbury a real place? Nope! While The Trouble with Maggie Cole is set in "a picturesque small coastal town called Thurlbury", this town does not actually exist. There are two villages called Thurlby, both in Lincolnshire – but you won't find Thurlbury anywhere on Google Maps. Where was The Trouble with Maggie Cole filmed? The drama was filmed in South Devon and Cornwall. The tiny little village of Noss Mayo was used as one of the main locations for the fictional Thurlbury. Noss Mayo is located in South West Devon, about six miles from Plymouth, and it is close to Newton Creek – an arm of the estuary of the River Yealm. Across the water is the village of Newton Ferrers, which you can see on-screen in the TV drama. Dawn French, who lives in Cornwall, also revealed some of the other locations. "We’ve filmed on beaches that I went on as a kid like Mothecombe," she said. "Launceston Castle is somewhere I also spent time as a kid. We did film in a lot of places that are my manor. Of all the cast I am the one who does know this area a bit. But there are still little bits in Cargreen where I had never been down a particular road. There was a whole little village there that I had never seen. So that was exciting." Filming also took place around Burgh Island, a tidal island on the coast of South Devon, and on nearby Bigbury-on-Sea beach. Dawn French shared images from the shoot: View oEmbed on the source website Another key location in the drama is Thurlbury's local shop where Emily Dubiki (Tomi May) sells everything from milk to paperbacks to wine and loo roll. The charming little shop we see on screen is part of the 19th-century village at Morwellham Quay, an open-air museum in Devon that also includes a copper mine, farm, nature reserve, restored ship and docks and quays. It sits within a UNESCO World Heritage site and is a popular tourist attraction. The exterior of The Conqueror pub was filmed at the Crooked Spaniard in Cargreen, a small settlement near Saltash on the River Tamar. It's now permanently closed, but it was also previously used as a location for BBC drama The Coroner. The school scenes were filmed at The Erme Primary School in Ivybridge, with the help of a group of child actors from Plymkids Theatre Company. Where was Thurlbury Historic Keep filmed? Dawn French's character Maggie Cole works at a Norman keep, showing off Thurlbury's ancient heritage to schoolkids and tourists. This was filmed with the help of Launceston Castle in Cornwall. The landmark was initially an earthwork and timber castle and was the administrative centre of the earldom of Cornwall from the 11th century, though it was rebuilt in stone in the 12th century and greatly enlarged – with a keep dating from the 13th century. It later became a gaol, a Royalist garrison during the English Civil War, the site of the Duke of Northumberland's park, and then a base for US soldiers in the Second World War. These days it's run by English Heritage. The Trouble with Maggie Cole is available to stream on Netflix now. Sign up for Netflix from £4.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Trouble with Maggie Cole cast: Meet the stars of the comedy-drama
The ITV comedy drama starring Dawn French is now available to stream on Netflix.
Comedy-drama series The Trouble with Maggie Cole first aired on ITV in 2020, but now the show is available for a whole new audience to stream on Netflix. The series, which stars Dawn French, Mark Heap and Julie Hesmondhalgh, follows local historian Maggie Cole, who ends up sharing too much detail in an interview for a radio show about village life. This ill-advised interview changes everything in the village forever. Other stars who feature in the series include Ted Lasso's Phil Dunster, The Outlaws star Patrick Robinson and Bad Education's Vicki Pepperdine. Read on for everything you need to know about the cast and characters featured in The Trouble with Maggie Cole. Dawn French plays Maggie Cole Who is Maggie Cole? The definition of a village gossip. As ITV puts it, "Thurlbury village doesn’t have a mayor, but that’s never stopped Maggie Cole from acting like one. It’s fortunate that she’s blessed with a warm personality and good humour because otherwise her penchant for gossip and insistence on involving herself in the lives of everyone else in the village *might* start coming across as over-bearing! Maggie runs a heritage gift-shop at Thurlbury Keep, although she prefers to refer to her occupation as ‘local historian’." Maggie has a husband, a grown-up son and a daughter-in-law. What else has Dawn French been in? She is best-known for starring in and writing for BBC sketch comedy show French and Saunders, and for her sitcom The Vicar of Dibley. The actress has also appeared in Delicious, The Wrong Mans, Lark Rise to Candleford, and Psychoville, as well as playing the Fat Lady in the Harry Potter movies. For all of that, she's also won a BAFTA Fellowship and racked up seven BAFTA nominations. Mark Heap plays Peter Cole Who is Peter Cole? Maggie's husband, and the headmaster of the local school. He is a year away from retirement and can't wait. "Peter craves nothing more than a quiet, peaceful existence, free of stress, drama and problems – something that isn’t easy to come by when you’re married to someone who seems to attract all those things like a magnet," ITV says. "Peter has a dry wit and self-depreciating sense of humour, he frequently comes across as a lot more ‘long-suffering’ than he might appear – the truth is that he wouldn’t change who his beloved wife is for the world, no matter how much drama she brings in her wake!" What else has Mark Heap been in? He's starred as Robert Greene in Upstart Crow, Jim in Friday Night Dinner, and Malcolm in Benidorm. A little further back, he starred in Green Wing, Brass Eye, Spaced, Love Soup, Desperate Romantics, and Jam. He's also previously co-starred with Dawn French, playing Thomas Brown in Lark Rise to Candleford, and more recently appeared in Your Christmas or Mine?, Significant Other, Renegade Nell and The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin. Julie Hesmondhalgh plays Jill Wheadon Who is Jill Wheadon? Maggie's best friend, who teaches Year 3 at Peter's school and is line to become the next headteacher. She is single and unlucky in love, and Maggie would dearly love to find her a man. What else has Julie Hesmondhalgh been in? Coronation Street fans will remember her as Hayley Cropper (FKA Hayley Patterson), a role she played for 1277 episodes between 1998 and 2014. Since then, she's starred as Amanda Wadsworth in Happy Valley, Cleo Whitaker in Cucumber, and Trish Winterman in Broadchurch – a performance which earned her a BAFTA nomination. More recently she has also had roles in Inside No. 9 and Mr Bates vs The Post Office. Patrick Robinson plays Marcus Ormansby Who is Marcus Ormansby? A novelist who usually rents a cottage in Thurlbury over the summer months to get down to some writing. Marcus is shy and doesn't like to get involved with village life, but it "isn’t long before he’s being unwittingly dragged into all the unfolding drama..." What else has Patrick Robinson been in? Casualty fans will remember him as Martin 'Ash' Ashford, a role he played between 1990 and 2014. Other roles include Victor in the TV series Him, Cameron in Mount Pleasant and DC Jacob Banks in The Bill; he also competed in the 2013 season of Strictly Come Dancing and made it to the semi-final. More recently he has starred in Death in Paradise, The Last Kingdom, Shetland, Six Four, Platform 7, Granite Harbour and The Outlaws. Vicki Pepperdine plays Karen Saxton Who is Karen Saxton? Described as "prim, stern, humourless and proper", Karen is the school secretary. We're told: "Karen has a secret, unrequited crush on Peter and a general dislike of just about everyone else, especially his wife Maggie." What else has Vicki Pepperdine been in? Vicki Pepperdine is best-known as a comedy actress and writer, who co-wrote and starred in the BBC sitcom Getting On. You may also have seen her as Anne in The Windsors, Mrs Michelson in The Woman in White, Fiona in Camping, Broadbent in Wild Bill, Belinda in Sally4Ever, Susan in We Hunt Together or Hoburn in Bad Education – in short, she's been in a lot of TV shows. On the big screen, the actress has also appeared in My Cousin Rachel, Goodbye Christopher Robin, Johnny English Strikes Again and Poor Things. Phil Dunster plays Jamie Cole Who is Jamie Cole? Maggie and Peter's son Jamie. He works for a local estate agency and lives just a short walk away from his parents' house, and while he finds his mum exasperating he clearly hasn't cut the apron strings just yet. It also sounds like he's keeping something quiet: "Jamie is finally looking to the future and entertaining the idea of starting a family of his own with his wife Becka, but he’s still haunted by a dark, guilty secret from his own past that he’s never truly been able to open up about to anybody other than his Dad." What else has Phil Dunster been in? Dunster is best-known for playing Jamie Tartt in Ted Lasso, while he's also played Lance Corporal Will Jensen in Strike Back, BJ McGory in Save Me, and Tristan in Humans. He also appeared as Count Andrei Razumovsky in Catherine the Great, Quincey in Dracula and Mike in The Devil's Hour. Gwyneth Keyworth plays Becka Cole Who is Becka Cole? Jamie's wife of three years, which makes her Maggie's daughter-in-law – "a relationship that neither women particularly embrace with open arms, even if they do secretly have a begrudging respect for each other." Becka makes bespoke jewellery for a living, has a sardonic sense of humour, and is an outsider in Thurlbury. What else has Gwyneth Keyworth been in? Keyworth has played Gwen Edwards in The Crown's Aberfan episode, Danielle in Defending the Guilty, Megan Ruddock in Hidden and Becky in Lost Boys & Fairies. A little further back she had roles in Doctor Thorne (playing Lady Augusta Gresham), Game of Thrones (as Clea) and Misfits (as Marnie). Tomi May plays Emil Dubiki Who is Emil? The local shopkeeper, who is originally from Poland. What else has Tomi May been in? He's played the thug Miroslav from Line of Duty, Danny from Killing Eve and Jarl Olavsonn from Vikings, while he's also had roles in Halo, The Lazarus Project and more. Emily Reid plays Roxanna Dubiki Who is Roxanna Dubiki? Emil's daughter, who works as a teaching assistant at the school. She's also dating Alex Myer. What else has Emily Reid been in? A relative newcomer to our screens, the young actress has also starred as Sophia Trenchard in Belgravia. John Macmillan plays Jez Who is Jez? The radio journalist who interviews Maggie Cole – and discovers that her gossip would make a very good story. What else has John Macmillan been in? His screen credits include Famalam, Hang Ups, the TV movie of King Lear with Anthony Hopkins, Silk, Critical, and Chewing Gum. More recently he has starred in Back, House of the Dragon, The Burning Girls, Extraordinary, One Day and Seize Them!. Lee Boardman plays Brian Daniels Who is Brian Daniels? The landlord of the local pub, The Conqueror. What else has Lee Boardman been in? The actor has appeared in Bancroft, Outlander and Benedict Cumberbatch's Brexit: The Uncivil War. He played Timon in the TV series Rome, Hane in Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands, Jay Newman in The Five, and Amerigo Vespucci in Da Vinci's Demons. He began his career as Jez Quigley in Coronation Street, and has most recently appeared in shows including Andor and Enola Holmes 2. Hollie Edwin plays Sydney Hurst Who is Sydney Hurst? The barmaid. What else has Hollie Edwin been in? She played Jess in The Old Vic's A Christmas Carol, Jane Bennet in a UK tour of Pride & Prejudice, and Alice Fitzwarren in Dick Whittington. On TV, she's been in Holby City and Bounty Hunters. Chetna Pandya plays Dr Carol Tomlin Who is Dr Carol Tomlin? The local GP. What else has Chetna Pandya been in? The actress appeared in season 2 of Line of Duty, and in Black Mirror episode The National Anthem. She was the Chief in The Aliens, Seema in This Way Up, Liana Blackwood in The A List and Coach Singh in Heartstopper. Arthur McBain plays Alex Myer Who is Alex Myer? Roxanna's boyfriend. What else has Arthur McBain been in? Credits include Trust Me, Friday on My Mind, After the Flood and the movies Judy and Napoleon. Laurie Kynaston plays Liam Myer Who is Liam Myer? Alex's little brother, and a former pupil of Peter's. What else has Laurie Kynaston been in? The young actor has played Jonah Green in The Feed, Danny Baker in Cradle to Grave, Krissi Morrigan in How to Build a Girl, and Philip in an episode of Derry Girls. He also popped up in an episode of The Split as a recently-married drug addict, and in 2019 he won the Evening Standard theatre award for Best Emerging Talent. Most recently he has had roles in The Sandman, A Small Light, The Doll Factory and Fool Me Once. Joe Layton plays Neil Roberts Who is Neil Roberts? A Thurlbury local with a brand-new flash car, which has raised some questions. What else has Joe Layton been in? He starred as Craig Watts in the TV series Thirteen, and played Kyle Connor in Tatau. Kerry Howard plays Kelly Roberts Who is Kelly Roberts? Neil's wife, who works as a hairdresser. What else has Kerry Howard been in? She starred as Leanne in the TV comedy Witless, and also appeared as Poppy in the Four Weddings and a Funeral small-screen reboot. Howard is also known for playing Laura in Him & Her, and she played the main role in 2016's Young Hyacinth (the Keeping Up Appearances prequel). More recently she has had roles in Ted Lasso, The Outlaws, Beyond Paradise, Black Ops and Waterloo Road. Rocco Padden plays Josh Roberts Who is Josh Roberts? Neil and Kelly's son. What else has Rocco Padden been in? This is his first on-screen role. Buster the dog Who is Buster? Marcus Ormansby's dog. We didn't really need to include him in this feature, but we just thought this picture was too cute not to use. The Trouble with Maggie Cole is available to stream on Netflix now. Sign up for Netflix from £4.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. 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Where is Bridgerton season 3 filmed? Location guide for Netflix period drama
Your (very) comprehensive guide to what was filmed where.
The third season of Netflix's hit period drama Bridgerton is back on our screens with part 1, and naturally fans are already planning a trip to the show's stunning filming locations. The new season thrusts Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) into the limelight for their hotly anticipated friends-to-lovers storyline. But while season 3 may be focusing on two new leads, viewers will recognise a lot of the locations from previous instalments of the show, with many of the same Regency-style houses, costumes and balls continuing to make an appearance in the upcoming episodes. Wondering where the third season of Bridgerton is filmed and whether you can visit? Read on for everything you need to know. Where is Bridgerton season 3 filmed? The full list of filming locations for season 3 is as follows: Halton House Ranger's House Hatfield House Squerryes Court Blenheim Palace Osterley Park & House Kingston Bagpuize House Grimsthorpe Castle Painshill Park Regency Street Basildon Park RAF Halton Chatham Dockyard Luton Hoo Estate As with previous seasons of Bridgerton, season 3 uses many of the same iconic locations throughout various locations in the UK and of course including London and Bath. Speaking about where they shot season 3, locations manager Tony Hood said: "We’re trying to broaden our locations, so that we aren’t going to the same old places every season. "So we were on the hunt looking for bigger places, instead of trying to make the same old places look a little bit different." As well as recognisable locations like Halton House and Ranger's House as the Bridgerton home and Hatfield House as the Featherington abode, there's also set to be some new locations that will make "a big statement" according to Hood. Read on for everything. you need to know about the main season 3 filming locations. Basildon Park, Berkshire While also being used previously as the exterior of the Featherington's garden, Basildon Park is also being used for that once more, but is also being used for interior shots of new character Lady Tilley Arnold's home. Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire Blenheim Palace has also been used throughout season 3, having first appeared in spin-off series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. Speaking of its inclusion in Bridgerton, Hood says: ‘The history’s there – and it’s real history. It’s not us just making it up; there’s real, proper history baked into the location." Osterley Park & House, Hounslow With a new season also comes a grand ball or two, and one of them was shot outside in Osterley Park & House in Hounslow. Kingston Bagpuize House, Oxfordshire Another new location is Kingston Bagpuize House in Oxfordshire, which has been used as the new Kent estate for the Mondrich family but has also been used in other period dramas like Downton Abbey and Emma. Squerryes Court, Sevenoaks One of the new season 3 locations, which is used for one of the very first garden parties of the season in episode 1. Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincolnshire Another new season 3 location, Grimsthorpe Castle is used as the home of eccentric scientist Lord Hawkins (Deepak Verma) who hosts the Ton to showcase his latest invention. Painshill Park, Surrey Painshill Park first appeared in Bridgerton season 1, serving as the setting for a Featherington family picnic. In season 3, the hot air balloon event was also shot in the park. Regency Street, London Genevieve Delacroix’s business has certainly continued to grow since the last time we saw her and so, there's also a new exterior location used for her store which is on Regency Street in London. Hood explained: “We don't do anything small in Bridgerton so we changed the whole street. We occupied all 16 shop fronts on the whole walkway. "It's very close to Russell Square in central London, so it’s a busy area, which was challenging, but very worth it in the end. We’re really showing Genevieve's success.” Where were the Bridgerton season 2 balls filmed? The first ball of season 2 was filmed in the Great Conservatory at Syon House in west London, with the cast having to film in the middle of the night to avoid disruption from planes flying to and from Heathrow. Speaking to Radio Times magazine about shooting the scene, Jonathan Bailey (who plays Anthony Bridgerton) said: "Last year I was at the back of the shot, sipping lemonade and giggling with my on-screen brothers during the ball scenes. This time I had to focus, but when we finally stepped out onto the dance floor it did feel like a performance." Other film locations include Hampton Court, Wilton House in Salisbury and Windsor Great Park, while 50 per cent of filming takes place at a purpose-built studio in Uxbridge. Bridgerton House in London Bridgerton House is the residence of Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dyvenor), Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), their many siblings and their widowed mother Lady Violet (Ruth Gemmell). The beautiful, wisteria-draped exterior of Bridgerton House actually belongs to Ranger's House, Chesterfield Walk, Greenwich. This English Heritage property is a Georgian villa in south east London, backing on to Greenwich Park. It was formerly home to aristocrats and royals; at the time when Bridgerton is set, in 1813, the house was actually inhabited by King George III's elder sister Princess Augusta. These days it houses a world-class art collection which members of the public are able to visit. The interior of Bridgerton house was filmed at RAF Halton. This massive Royal Air Force station in Buckinghamshire has been used by the military since 1913; it is certainly not Georgian, and it looks rather unpromising from the outside – but the interior is surprisingly grand and period-appropriate. Producers used it to create Bridgerton House's grand hall, smoking room, hallway and stairs. The House's garden was filmed at Chatham Dockyard (of which, more later) and in Luton Hoo Estate, which also doubles up as the exterior of the printing press. Was Bridgerton filmed in London? Though the drama is set mainly in the capital, the streets of Bath double up for Regency London. In the show, you'll see Bath Street, Alfred Street, and Beauford Square stand in for the streets of Mayfair. Scenes set in Pall Mall were set outside 12 Trim Street, which was used as the exterior for Gunters Tea Shop. Abbey Street as used for the exterior of the Modiste's dress shop. Bath also features in a scene set outside a bar, when Simon Basset has had a bit too much to drink. Filming took place outside The Columbian Company. Bath's famous Royal Crescent doubles up as Grosvenor Square, and gives us the location for the front doors of Featherington House and Siena's London flat. Filming the streets of London Some Mayfair scenes were shot at The Queen's House in Greenwich, which also served as the exterior of Somerset House (the interior, used in Bridgerton for an exhibition of paintings, was filmed at Somerley House). The Old Royal Naval College is also a returning location that provides the backdrop to the Mayfair Market and some further shots of the busy Ton. Scenes set on the poorer streets of London were filmed at Chatham Dockyard, which is what we see when Lady Featherington takes Marina on a trip to the slums in an attempt to scare her into submission. The interior of the Foundling Hospital in the slums was filmed at Badminton House in Gloucestershire. We also see more of Chatham during a scene set outside a printing press. Chatham Dockyard is a preserved, historic dockyard which is now a visitor attraction and a popular filming location – with plenty of filming for Call the Midwife taking place here. Where did they film the London park scenes in Bridgerton? Parks and gardens feature heavily in Bridgerton. Hyde Park was created using the grounds at Wilton House, Hampstead Heath was created using the grounds of Somerley House in Hampshire, while Battersea Fields and Rotten Row were filmed with the help of Windsor Great Park. The scenes at the Botanical Gardens and at Primrose Hill were filmed at Painshill Park in Cobham, and Sunbury Park & Walled Garden was used for Kensington Gardens. Other London locations were filmed at Greenwich Park Rose Garden. Where did they film Featherington House? The Featherington Dining Room was filmed at RAF Hilton. Nicola Coughlan, who stars as Penelope Featherington, has also talked about her experience of filming at Hatfield House. She said: “We shot at Hatfield House, which was the house that they filmed The Favourite in. I did sneak upstairs because I wanted to see Olivia Colman’s room. I was trying to rub the walls so that her acting talent would rub onto me!” Where is Lady Danbury's house filmed? Danbury House is the massive mansion belonging to rich widow Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh), Simon Basset's unofficial godmother. Anyone who knows the city of Bath will recognise the exterior of her house as the Holburne Museum of Art. (Footage of nearby Great Pulteney and Bath Street is also used to add to the effect.) Several other filming locations were used for the interiors, including the aforementioned Badminton House (the hallway and bathroom) and Wilton House (the drawing room and grand hall). The Queen's residence at St James's Palace St James's Palace, where Queen Charlotte (Golda Rusheuval) holds court, is located in London – and that's also where filming took place. However, the exterior we see on screen is actually Hampton Court Palace. Interiors were shot at Lancaster House in London. Where did they film Buckingham House? King George III can be found at "Buckingham House". Exteriors and interiors were both shot at Wilton House, including the King's Chambers and parlour, and the team also made use of Lancaster House for the parlour, hallway, and bath chamber. Syon House was used for the hallway and dining room. Bridgerton season 1 and 2 locations Where did they film Simon's London house? "Hastings House" is the London residence of the Duke of Hastings, Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page), and it was created using quite a patchwork of filming locations. The exterior was filmed at Wilton House in Salisbury; the team also made use of the interior to film the portrait hall, hallway, and entrance hall. Wilton House is a country house which has been the seat of the Earls of Pembroke for over 400 years; it's currently home to the 18th Earl and his family, though they've kept a third of the house private and opened the rest up to public visitors. It has also been a popular location for films and TV shows including The Crown, The Young Victoria, Emma, and Pride and Prejudice. The parlour and morning room were shot at Badminton House in Gloucestershire. Other interiors were filmed at Syon House in London – including the room that is the former Duke's study, and Simon's own dressing room. Where did they film Clyvedon Castle? Alas, Clyvedon Castle – the residence of the Duke of Hastings – does not exist in real life. Exteriors (and some interiors) were shot at Castle Howard in York. This huge stately home has previously featured in adaptations of Brideshead Revisited. Clyvedon's dining room was filmed at Wilton House in Salisbury, while the parlour and grounds were filmed with the help of Badminton House in Gloucestershire. The nursery was filmed at North Mymms Park. The village on the Duke's estate, Clyvedon Village, was actually filmed in York, at Coneysthorpe Village. Local woman Joanna's cottage was filmed in the village at Grade-II listed property Primrose Cottage. Where did they film the ballroom scenes? Oh, there are so many balls! It's hard to keep count of how many ballrooms we see in Bridgerton. One key location for filming these scenes was Leigh Court in Bristol. This provided locations for multiple different ballrooms throughout the drama – including the Princes Ballroom, the Ingenue Ballroom, and the Crawford Ballroom. Castle Howard in York was also used as a location for various ballrooms, while Bath Guildhall stood in for the Rambury Ballroom. Scenes involving an al fresco dance floor in the garden were filmed at Dundridge Manor Farm in Bucks. Where did they film the concerts? Concerts were key locations for socialising in Regency London, and there are several featured in Bridgerton. One location was the Theatre Royal Brighton – and the Hackney Empire in London served as the interior of the Opera House. Lancaster House, already mentioned as a filming location above, also provided interiors and exteriors for a concert hall – specifically the foyer and the retiring room in a later episode. Where did they film Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens? The real-life Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens were – you guessed it – in Vauxhall, London. The pleasure garden no longer exists, but for several decades it was a leading venue for public entertainment in the capital. To recreate the Vauxhall Gardens, the production team made use of Castle Howard in York, and the grounds at Stowe Park – where they filmed the dancing scenes outside the Temple of Venus. According to the National Trust, "The Temple of Venus looks out across the Eleven Acre Lake towards Stowe House. It's dedicated to the goddess of sex and gardening." Will and Simon's boxing scenes The boxing exhibition was filmed at the Normansfield Theatre in Teddington, while the boxing saloon was filmed at Chatham Dockyard in Kent. Will and Alice's apartment, one of the only non-fancy homes we see in Bridgerton, was also filmed at Chatham Dockyard. Where was the church filmed? The interior we see on screen is St Mary's Parish Church, Twickenham, which is called "St George's Church" in the drama. The exterior was filmed at Wilton House. White's Gentleman's Club The Gentleman's Club is a vital location for male socialising in Bridgerton (and it also serves as a venue for finding sex workers, drinking, and gambling). Filming took place at Hatfield House, and also at North Mymms Park. Where did they film the Coaching Inn? A dramatic, romantic showdown between two characters takes place at a coaching inn. These scenes were filmed at Dorney Court in Bucks. Bridgerton season 3 part 1 premiered on Thursday 16th May 2024, part 2 will then be released on Thursday 13th June. Seasons 1 and 2 are streaming now on Netflix. You can buy the <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bridgerton-Collection-Inspiration-Netflix-Original/dp/0349430187?tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-1612614" target="_blank" rel="noopener sponsored" data-geniuslink="https://buy.geni.us/Proxy.ashx?TSID=114542&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2FBridgerton-Collection-Inspiration-Netflix-Original%2Fdp%2F0349430187%3Ftag%3Dradtim0b-21%26ascsubtag%3Dradiotimes-1611705&dtb=1">Bridgerton book series on Amazon. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Who was Queen Charlotte and was she Black, as seen in the Bridgerton spin-off?
India Amarteifio plays Golda Roushevel's younger counterpart in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
Bridgerton spin-off Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story arrived on Netflix a little over a year ago now, adding a whole new story to the Bridgerton universe – one that didn't feature in Julia Quinn's novels. Queen Charlotte delves into the earlier chapters of Queen Charlotte and King George III – the older versions of whom are played by by Golda Rosheuvel and James Fleet, serving as a prequel that also features their younger counterparts, played by India Amarteifio and Corey Mylchreest. The six-part series tells the story of how they met, fell in love and faced challenges together, including King George's illness. But while the character was reimagined for the Netflix period drama, Queen Charlotte is a real-life historical figure. So who was the real Queen Charlotte? With many viewers wondering how accurate the portrayal is and whether she was actually a Black queen of England, we've gathered all the key information about the true story behind Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. Who was Queen Charlotte? Queen Charlotte was born in a castle in the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (in present-day Germany) as the daughter of a Duke and a Princess. In 1761, the newly-crowned 22-year-old King George III decided that 17-year-old Charlotte would make a suitable wife. She was hurried off to London, where the marriage took place on the day of her arrival at St James's palace. (This was also the first time the bride and groom had ever met.) At the time she spoke no English – but she quickly learned the language of her new home. Less than a year later, Charlotte gave birth to her first child: the future King George IV. In all, the couple had 15 children together, 13 of whom survived into adulthood. However, their last child, Princess Amelia (aka "Emily"), tragically died aged 27. The couple appeared to have enjoyed a close and loving relationship. But then George III began to suffer from distressing bouts of mental illness (which led to delusions and mania). This led to plenty of intrigue about whether the Queen or her eldest son would serve as Regent if the King became mentally unfit to rule, and it was a time of great uncertainty. It also led to personal distress for the Queen. As her husband's condition became more severe, it strained their marriage. From 1804 she slept separately, ate separately, and avoided seeing him alone – and after Emily's death in 1810 he slipped further into so-called "insanity", to the point where his eldest son George was named Prince Regent and ruled in his place. Queen Charlotte died in 1818, and just over a year later her husband followed her to the grave. Her personality in Bridgerton has very little to do with her personality in real life, as Golda Rosheuvel explains: "Yes, she is Queen Charlotte but she is Queen Charlotte in the world of ​Bridgerton​. She is a creation of creator/showrunner Chris Van Dusen’s making... wealthy, dirty rich, addicted to snuff, devoted to her family, loves gossip and she is divinely in love with her husband who is slowly going mad." Was Queen Charlotte Black? Most historians concur that it's unlikely Queen Charlotte was considered Black or mixed-race at the time. However, it since has been suggested that Queen Charlotte did have Black African ancestry in her family, and the creators of Bridgerton have built on this idea – by making the King's wife a self-evidently Black woman. Netflix tells us: "Queen Charlotte, played by G​olda Rosheuvel​, is widely regarded to be the first mixed-race member of the British Royal family. She ​descended from Margarita de Castro y Sousa, a Black branch of the Portuguese Royal House." And Adjoa Andoh, who stars as Lady Danbury, adds: "Queen Charlotte, as some people know and some people may not know, was the descendent of Afonso III of Portugal and his African mistress, so she was mixed race. It’s very nice to see some of that history woven in." The idea that Queen Charlotte is "widely regarded" as mixed-race may seem like a bit of a stretch, but it does have some basis in fact – and it is a discussion amongst historians. The historian Mario de Valdes y Cocom has argued that Charlotte's ancestry can be traced back to 13th century ruler Alfonso III and his lover Madragana, who may have been a Moor (and therefore a black African). This connection to Madragana comes via Charlotte's 15th century ancestor Margarita de Castro e Souza, a member of the Portuguese nobility, who – some assert – may have been Black. The historian also contends that Queen Charlotte has visibly "African features" in contemporary portraits. However, this idea is also disputed, and is mired in stereotypes and racial assumptions. Other historians have pointed out that the evidence that either Madragana or Margarita was Black is pretty thin. Madragana was recorded as a Moor by one Portuguese royal chronicler, but that claim was disputed by another; it has also been suggested that she was a "Mozarab", a group with its own ethnic and cultural history in Europe. And then, even if Queen Charlotte did have one Black ancestor five centuries (15 generations) ago, some have questioned whether she would accurately be described as mixed-race. Why does Bridgerton portray Queen Charlotte as a Black Queen? Well, why not? It's a creative choice. As Golda Rosheuvel herself says, "This is really a period drama like you’ve never seen before because it sits itself right in the twenty-first century. I can grab hold of it, be engaged with it and how it relates to me. I think that having a Black Queen is really interesting and joyous and celebrates the modern world as well." Adjoa Andoh adds: "My reaction to the scripts was 'hooray' and 'about time'. I think that’s particular for actors of colour because we’ve been in the history of this country since before Roman times, in all strata of society." And as showrunner Chris Van Dusen puts it, "Bridgerton isn't a history lesson." He says: "Our show is for a modern audience, featuring modern themes and characters, so we took liberties in our re-imagining. Our take on race in the series is an example of how we mixed history within a fictional world. "Having started my career on Grey's Anatomy and knowing Shondaland has always cast its series in a way that reflects the world we live in, we felt from the beginning we’d have that similar opportunity with our casting here. ​Bridgerton is not a colourblind world. That would imply race isn't considered. "Race is considered, and there are many historians who believe that Queen Charlotte was England's first mixed-race queen. That theory resonated with us hugely. What if Queen Charlotte was recognised as being of mixed-race in 1813? What would that look like? What would happen? What if this Queen of England used her power to elevate other people of colour in that society? And that's where the fictional part came in." And producer Shonda Rhimes adds: "Chris took the sense of the world at the time, but allowed it to be as fictional as he needed it to be. There weren't really Bridgertons back then, so it wasn't like this was a docudrama. It allowed Chris to create the world that he wanted to live in. He took one possible fact, which was that Queen Charlotte was a woman of colour, he extrapolated it, and built a world from there in terms of how society ran." View Green Video on the source website Queen Charlotte is available to stream now on Netflix. 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What is the real-life story behind ITV's heist drama Hatton Garden?
Timothy Spall and Kenneth Cranham star in this four-part drama about a multi-million-pound heist.
Released in 2019, ITV's Hatton Garden is now getting a new lease of life as it's now been released on Netflix. There will undoubtedly be a new influx of people streaming the series, which stars Timothy Spall and uncovers the very real story of the April 2015 cash and jewellery heist in London’s diamond district. But how much of the new drama is based on fact versus fiction? Read on for everything you need to know about the real-life story behind the drama. Is Hatton Garden based on a true story? It is. Speaking on the release of the series back in 2019, writer and executive producer Jeff Pope said: "There is nothing in there that has come out of thin air purely because we thought that would add a bit of spice to the pot." He and director Paul Whittington have filled in the gaps where necessary – because of course, some of the details "will always remain impenetrable" – but the drama sticks closely to the real-life story of the Hatton Garden heist, down to some of the most specific details. While the Metropolitan Police were not involved in the production, Pope and his team were able to call on Peter Spindler, the senior officer who had led the investigation – now retired from the police and working as a consultant. They were also able to read the reams and reams of transcripts produced by the police's surveillance operation in the weeks leading up to the gang's arrest; some of the dialogue from those transcripts has made its way into the Hatton Garden script word-for-word. "The absolutely number one source was the transcripts, and that's where we worked co-producer Jonathan Levi," Pope reveals. "We did have a route into one of the families, a backdoor route shall we say, and I don't want to go into any more detail than that..." What happened in the real life Hatton Garden heist? It was shortly after 9pm on Thursday 2nd April 2015 when staff at the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Ltd locked the doors and headed off to enjoy the long Easter weekend. Down in the underground vault beneath their building at 88-90 Hatton Garden were hundreds of safe deposit boxes containing precious jewellery, gemstones, diamonds and large sums of cash; many belonged to the small business owners of London's diamond district, who stashed their entire livelihoods in these metal boxes guarded by thick concrete and complicated locks and alarm systems and shutters and metal bars. They trusted in the security of the storage. But by Sunday, a group of elderly men had broken their way into the vault and stolen millions of pounds worth of valuables. The men gathered outside Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Ltd soon after the staff had locked the doors and left. Ringleader Brian Reader had travelled on the bus from his home in Kent using someone else’s Oyster card; Daniel Jones, Carl Wood and Terry Perkins arrived in a white van along with John "Kenny" Collins, who would serve as lookout at 25 Hatton Garden where he had a clear view of both doors. The men were dressed as utility workers, with Reader in a yellow hard hat and a florescent jacket with the word "GAS", and immediately began unloading bags full of tools and equipment alongside multiple plastic wheelie bins for the goods. Police traced no mobile phone activity, but the men were equipped with walkie-talkies; they had come prepared. According to Detective Chief Inspector Paul Johnson of the Metropolitan Police's specialist Flying Squad, forensic experts found no sign of forced entry on the outside of the building – it appears they had a key or some other means of accessing the premises. But once inside, the thieves took a different approach. They sent the lift up to the second floor and disabled it, allowing them to use the vacant lift shaft to clip down to the basement; once underground, they forced open the heavy shutter doors using the equipment they'd brought along. The gang's alarms specialist "Basil" disabled the alarms, possibly using a jammer – though this remains one of the big mysteries as it has never conclusively been established how this was done. We do know that the telephone line cable coming out of the alarm box was cut, the GPS aerial was broken, and that the wires in the electrical box powering the outer iron gate were cut, allowing it to be pulled open. But having made their way underground to the vault, the gang's next challenge was to get inside. According to the Met, the thieves decided to bypass the ultra-secure vault door and instead used a heavy duty Hilti DD350 drill (cost, approx £3,500) to bore holes into the reinforced concrete wall, which is two metres thick. The plan was to drill three holes, which would create a gap big enough for several gang members to wriggle through. This is where the plan went awry. When the men drilled all the way through the wall, they were unable to topple the metal cabinet on the other side; it was bolted to the ceiling and floor. At 12.21am, police at Scotland Yard were informed that an alarm had been triggered, but they did not respond, missing their chance to catch the thieves red-handed. The police later apologised, saying that the “call handling system and procedures for working with the alarm monitoring companies were not followed.” A member of the family which owned the company also received the call that the intruder alarm had gone off, but was not worried because, as he later told the court, the sensitive alarm had previously been triggered by an insect. Nearly an hour later, a security guard arrived, but after examining the building's exterior he decided it was secure and left without going inside. At 8am the gang left, empty handed. But it was not over yet. While ringleader Brian Reader bailed, some of the group decided to make another attempt and – after a trip to the hardware store to buy a new pump and hose for the drill – they returned to Hatton Garden. At the last moment, Carl Wood also threw in the towel, leaving Basil, Danny and Terry to complete the job while Kenny served as lookout. Having already considered making a second attempt, one of the men had left a door slightly ajar so they could slip back in; but in the interim days it had been pulled closed by a staff member, who (luckily for the gang) had not investigated further. Still, they were able to re-enter the building and make their way down to the vault. This time they toppled the metal cabinet, and some of the men slipped through the hole; they set to work prying open the lockers and ransacking the boxes, passing them through to be emptied into large plastic wheelie bins. As they carried out the burglary, elderly Terry Perkins had a diabetic episode and collapsed – but thankfully for him, he had medication on hand to keep him going through the night. At around 6:30am, after raiding 72 or 73 boxes and taking goods worth between £14 million and £200 million (estimates vary wildly), the men took the bins and cleared out. As a temporary solution, the gang left those loot-filled bins outside Kenny’s house (on a non-collection day, of course). Just as we see in the TV drama, they then came back together and divided up the valuables, except for a few bags which were left over for later; the men took their hauls back home and hid them. The police arrived early on Tuesday morning after the bank holiday and found a scene of devastation. The Met said in a statement: "The scene is chaotic. The vault is covered in dust and debris and the floor is strewn with discarded safety deposit boxes and numerous power tools, including an angle grinder, concrete drills and crowbars. Officers are in the process of identifying the owners of the safety deposit boxes and as we do, we are contacting them to take statements and find out what has been stolen. This is a slow and ongoing process. A forensic examination of the scene for evidence is ongoing. This is a painstaking process but is essential to ensure officers can gather as much evidence and opportunities to identify the thieves." Who were the Hatton Garden burglars? Brian Reader, who was 77 by the time of his conviction, was described as "The Master"or "the Guv'nor" and was the oldest member of the gang. Judge Christopher Kinch said: "I'm satisfied that you were rightly described as one of the ringleaders and involved in regular meetings." He was present on the first night of the two-day heist, and during "at least one dry run." Reader had been involved in the notorious Brinks Mat robbery in 1983, when a gang of armed and masked robbers burst into a warehouse, beat up and poured petrol over the security guards, and took a haul of gold and diamonds; he was one of the men who handled the gold. His first-ever conviction was at the age of 11, for burglary. In the ITV drama he is played by Kenneth Cranham. Terry Perkins, played by Timothy Spall, was another experienced criminal. He had been sentenced to 22 years in jail for his involvement in a notorious 1983 robbery in which a gang with sawed-off shotguns stole millions in cash from the vaults of security firm Security Express. Another gang member was Carl Wood, played by Geoff Bell. Then there was Danny Jones (David Hayman), who had been considering how to carry out the raid since August 2012 and had spent hours researching the "perfect heist" online and in books. In fact, the core group behind the heist had been meeting on Friday nights at The Castle pub in Islington for three years by the time they carried out the Hatton Garden raid. A more mysterious addition to the heist was "Basil", later revealed to be a man named Michael Seed. He was the last gang member to be captured and jailed, and was an alarms specialist who wore a red wig during the heist. What happened to the Hatton Garden gang after they were caught? In the six weeks after the heist, police closed in. The men were identified from surveillance footage and from CCTV (while most cameras had been stolen or disabled, the gang had missed one above a fire exit). As investigations continued, police placed electronic bugs in two of the men’s cars where they picked up on their boasts about the raid and their heated discussions about disposing of the loot. During their meet-ups at the Castle pub, police used hidden cameras and lip-readers as the men argued over how to split the proceeds and launder the jewels. The net was tightening. The police finally conducted their raid when the men met at an address in Enfield to handle the stolen items. Nine suspects were arrested on 19th May 2015, and "Basil" was arrested on 28th March 2018. Ultimately, four men pleaded guilty – Brian Reader, John "Kenny" Collins, Daniel Jones, and Terry Perkins – and were convicted of conspiracy to commit burglary, receiving prison terms of around seven years each. Perkins died in jail in February 2018. Once in custody, Danny Jones offered to show the police where he had stashed his share of the loot. But even at this point he did not come clean, leading the police to a stash under the memorial stone at a cemetery in Edmonton. By this point, the police actually already knew about a larger haul in the same cemetery, where Jones had hidden two bags of jewels. After a trial, three further men were convicted: Carl Wood and William “Billy the Fish” Lincoln were found guilty of conspiracy to commit burglary, and also of conspiracy to conceal, convert or transfer criminal property, and jailed for six and seven years respectively. Another man named Hugh Doyle was found guilty of concealing, converting, transferring criminal property and given a 21-month suspended sentence. Billy Lincoln's nephew, Jon Harbinson, was found not guilty and discharged. In March 2019, Michael "Basil" Seed was found guilty of conspiracy to burgle, and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He had been the final gang member to evade capture. The stolen goods have yet to be fully recovered and many of the business owners, some of whom had not been able to afford insurance and had relied on the safe deposit boxes, had their livelihoods devastated. Is the victim Mr Cyrus a real person? Hatton Garden introduces a character called Mr Cyrus, played by Nasser Memarzia – but while this character is based on real accounts from safety deposit box-holders, he is not a real person. Writer Jeff Pope explains: “It's a very insular, very closed community, the Hatton Garden jewellery community, and so those victims that we spoke to didn't want us to use their names. “So, we took the decision to create a composite character, which was the character that you see in episodes one and two, and it plays out in three and four. He's the moral through line. Whenever you start to think, ‘Wow, weren't they clever,’ he's there to remind the audience that in fact they stole people's things. And in so doing, ruined their lives.” View Green Video on the source website Hatton Garden is now available to stream on Netflix and can also be streamed on ITVX. Sign up for Netflix from £4.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Timothy Spall and Kenneth Cranham lead the cast of this star-studded drama, which is based on a true story.
Netflix have recently been hitting it out the park with their slate of acquired dramas that have gripped new audiences and their most recent acquisition is ITV's Hatton Garden. The 2019 four-parter tells the story of the Hatton Garden Diamond Heist, which is one of the most prolific robberies in recent history. When it was released, Hatton Garden was bestowed with plenty of critical acclaim and has been penned by Jeff Pope, the producer and screenwriter known for his work on Philomena, The Lost King and Archie. This drama is full of plenty familiar faces, which is being led by Timothy Spall and also stars the likes of David Hayman, Kenneth Cranham and more. With the series now available to stream on both ITVX and Netflix, read on to find out more about the cast of Hatton Garden. Hatton Garden cast: Full list of characters and actors in ITV drama With some acting greats fronting the cast of the ITV drama, scroll on to find out more about the actors in the series as well as where you've seen them before. Timothy Spall as Terry Perkins Kenneth Cranham as Brian Reader Brían F O'Byrne as Basil Alex Norton as Kenny Collins David Hayman as Danny Jones Geoff Bell as Carl Wood Rochenda Sandall as Surveillance Officer Roberts Nasser Memarzia as Gooran Cyrus Ian Puleston-Davies as Ray Bilton Christopher Fairbank as Billy Lincoln Tom Christian as DCI Jamie Day T'Nia Miller as DC Laura McIntyre Jonah Russell as DCI Paul Johnson Timothy Spall plays Terry Perkins Who is Terry Perkins in Hatton Garden? An elderly career criminal with diabetes who is determined to pull off one last, lucrative heist before he "retires". Though he initially plays second fiddle to Brian Reader, Terry is a ringleader in his own right. In real life, Terry Perkins died behind bars in February 2018. What else has Timothy Spall been in? The British actor has been on our screens since the late 1970s, but he really caught people's attention in the TV series Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, in which he played Barry Taylor. Spall is also known for playing Peter Pettigrew/Wormtail in the Harry Potter movies, and for starring in the critically acclaimed movie Mr Turner as the famous painter himself. More recently, Spall has starred in Wicked Little Letters, The Heist Before Christmas and the critically acclaimed The Sixth Commandment. Kenneth Cranham plays Brian Reader Who is Brian Reader in Hatton Garden? In the TV drama, Brian Reader is the big boss of the Hatton Garden heist. A widower who lives a comfortable life in Kent, he is an impatient and dictatorial leader; but he has the authority born of a long criminal career. The real-life Reader is now 80 years old and was jailed for six years and three months after pleading guilty. (And in the Hatton Garden movie King of Thieves, this is the role played by Michael Caine.) What else has Kenneth Cranham been in? Scottish actor Kenneth Cranham starred as Field Marshall Wilhelm Keitel in the Tom Cruise movie Valkyrie, and played Jimmy Price in Layer Cake. In his early years as an actor he had the role of Noah Claypole in the classic 1968 Oliver! movie, and since then has starred in almost 200 films and movies including The White Princess, In The Flesh, Rome, and horror movie Hellbound: Hellraiser II. Cranham is also an Olivier award-winning stage actor. Brían F O'Byrne plays Basil Who is Basil in Hatton Garden? The man nicknamed "Basil" is a mysterious character in ITV's Hatton Garden. Basil is an expert on electronics and alarms systems and has been recruited by Brian to help with the heist, enabling the men to get in and out of the building undetected. He has since been identified and was jailed in March 2019. What else has Brían F O'Byrne been in? The Bafta-winning and Emmy-nominated Irish actor has a string of recent TV credits including Nightflyers, Little Boy Blue, Mercy Street, The Magicians, and Manhunt: Lone Wolf. He has also starred in My Salinger Year, The Wonder and Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector. Alex Norton plays Kenny Collins Who is Kenny Collins in Hatton Garden? In the ITV drama, Kenny is the getaway driver. He drives a van to and from Hatton Garden, and is posted as lookout, although he does struggle to stay awake. What else has Alex Norton been in? You may recognise Alex Norton for his role as DCI Matt Burke in Taggart. The Scottish actor is also known for his role as Eric Baird in Two Doors Down and has also starred in Waterloo Road, Good Omens and voiced characters in video games like Diablo IV, Dragon Rider and Sea of Thieves. David Hayman plays Danny Jones Who is Danny Jones in Hatton Garden? An experienced criminal with several convictions to his name, Danny is a key member of the gang. He is more sprightly than Terry and Brian and is able to handle some of the more physical elements of the plan. The real Danny Jones was considered a bit of an eccentric, known for wearing a Fez and other unusual clothing, and apparently claimed to have fortune-telling powers. What else has David Hayman been in? Hayman is known for his roles in The Paradise, Trial & Retribution and Taboo, as well as Bull, Andor and The Nest. Geoff Bell plays Carl Wood Who is Carl Wood in Hatton Garden? One of the youngsters in the gang, Carl is 58 at the time of the raid. He is friends with Danny Jones and has been brought in on the plan, but is nervous about being caught. What else has Geoff Bell been in? Geoff Bell has appeared in a ton of films and TV shows, though not always in starring roles. His credits include Kingsman: The Secret Service, The End of the F***ing World, Tin Star, Rogue One, Brighton Rock, and His Dark Materials. The English actor has more recently starred in Death in Paradise, Whitstable Pearl and Kindling. Rochenda Sandall plays Surveillance Officer Roberts Who is Surveillance Officer Roberts? A surveillance officer keeping tabs on the gang members' movements as the net closes in. What else has Rochenda Sandall been in? Surprise! It's Lisa McQueen from Line of Duty, one of the key guest stars from series five. Rochenda Sandall has also appeared in Girlfriends, Love, Lies and Records, and Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. She has more recently starred in Hijack, The Rig and Doctor Who. Nasser Memarzia plays Gooran Cyrus Who is Gooran Cyrus? A victim of the Hatton Garden heist. "Gooran Cyrus" does not actually exist in real life, but is instead a composite character who stands in for all the many people who had the contents of their safe deposit boxes taken by the gang. In the drama, Mr Cyrus is a jeweller and a small business owner whose entire livelihood is devastated by the burglary. What else has Nasser Memarzia been in? The actor starred as Draper in Knightfall, Mr Khalid in Next of Kin, and Omar Barghati in Tom Hiddleston drama The Night Manager. More recently, Memarzia has starred in Hijack, The Wheel of Time, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Ian Puleston-Davies plays Ray Bilton Who is Ray Bilton? Ray is a Hatton Garden business owner whose suspicions are raised when he finds a gate left ajar after the gang's first failed attempt. What else has Ian Puleston-Davies been in? Coronation Street fans may remember Puleston-Davies as builder Owen Armstrong. Since leaving in 2015, he has played Peter Cullen in Marcella, Lagrathorn in Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands, and Frank in Tin Star. More recently, he has starred in Pope's recent venture Archie as well as dramas like The Bay, DI Ray, The Teacher and Four Lives. Christopher Fairbank plays Billy Lincoln Who is Billy Lincoln? Nicknamed "Billy the Fish" because of his love of fish and his habit of buying and re-selling fish to friends, family members, and acquaintances, William "Billy" Lincoln was one of the gang – but did not enter the building at Hatton Garden during the raid. For his part, he was convicted of conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to conceal, convert or transfer criminal property. What else has Christopher Fairbank been in? A prolific TV and film actor, Christopher Fairbank's most recent credit includes Eastenders as evil Eddie Knight, father to George. Fairbank is of course known for his role as Albert Moxey in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. He has also starred in Grantchester, The Woman in White, Taboo and Andor. Tom Christian plays DI Jamie Day Who is DI Jamie Day? One of the cops investigating the heist. In real life, he was the first Flying Squad officer to arrive on the scene at Hatton Garden. What else has Tom Christian been in? Christian has starred in a variety of series including Silent Witness, Grace and The Walk-In. He is perhaps best known for his role as Brandon Boone in The Royals but has also featured in other shows including Harlots, Mr Selfridge and Chimerica. T'Nia Miller plays DC Laura McIntyre Who is DC Laura Mcintyre ? One of the cops investigating the heist. What else has T'Nia Miller been in? Miller is known for her roles in Years and Years and Marcella, but has more recently starred in The Haunting of Bly Manor, The Peripheral, Foundation and The Fall of the House of Usher. Jonah Russell plays DCI Paul Johnson Who is DCI Paul Johnson? Detective Chief Inspector Paul Johnson of the Metropolitan Police's Flying Squad led the investigation into the heist. On the morning the burglary was discovered, he spoke to the press and box holders outside the Hatton Garden safe deposit company. What else has Jonah Russell been in? The actor has appeared in Doctors, Dark River, and The Borgias. View Green Video on the source website Hatton Garden is now available to stream on Netflix and can also be streamed on ITVX. Sign up for Netflix from £4.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Who is Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Luba Mushtuk?
The dancer was previously the show's assistant choreographer.
Dancer Luba Mushtuk has been part of the Strictly Come Dancing family for quite some time before she joined the professional dancer line-up. Prior to the 2023 competition, Mushtuk hadn't had a celebrity partner since 2020 and now she has been making a splash with actor Adam Thomas. Thomas has been singing the praises of Mushtuk since their training sessions, saying she has "the patience of a saint". He told RadioTimes.com: "I've got a great partner as well. [She] has the patience of a saint". As the dancing duo get ready to perform a Couple's Choice to Backstreet Boys Medley by Backstreet Boys, here's everything you need to know about Strictly professional Luba Mushtuk. Who is Luba Mushtuk? Age: 33 Instagram: @lubamushtuk X/Twitter: @LubaMushtuk Luba Mushtuk was an assistant choreographer on the show for a number of years before being given celebrity partner James Cracknell in 2019. Unfortunately, they were voted out of the competition first. Luba has also been part of the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour, and has performed on both Giovanni Pernice's and Kevin and Karen Clifton's tours. Luba is a four-time winner of the Italian Dance Championship and Italian Open Latin Show Dance champion. She was ranked second in the European 10 Dance Championships and was a finalist in the Latin European Championship. Who is Luba paired with on Strictly Come Dancing 2023? Luba has been paired with Adam Thomas on Strictly Come Dancing 2023. When does Strictly Come Dancing 2023 air? The fifth Strictly Come Dancing 2023 live show will air at 6:35pm on Saturday 21st October on BBC One, the BBC has confirmed. It will be followed by the results show on Sunday 22nd October. All the celebrities will be performing, the judges will be scoring, and the public will be voting. View Green Video on the source website Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday 21st October at 6:35pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The results show will air on Sunday 22nd October at 7:15pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now and celebrate the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who with a special issue of Radio Times. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Who is Strictly Come Dancing professional Johannes Radebe?
Will this year finally see Johannes take home the Glitterball Trophy?
South African dancer Johannes Radebe has been making waves on Strictly Come Dancing ever since he joined the show in 2018. Having finished sixth last year, Radebe is hoping this year will be when he can finally take home the Glitterball Trophy with his celebrity partner Alex Kingston. As the dancing duo prepare to perform their next routine on the Strictly dance floor, here's everything you need to know about Strictly professional Johannes Radebe. Who is Johannes Radebe? Age: 38 Instagram: @johannesradebe X/Twitter: @jojo_radebe Johannes Radebe made a splash on Strictly spin-off Dancing with the Stars South Africa, where he was part of the professional line-up for two seasons – both times reaching the final. Radebe is a two-time Professional South African Latin Champion, and three-time South African Amateur Latin Champion. He is also a dancer with the Afro Arimba Dance Company. In 2018, Radebe marked his first year on the BBC ballroom show, on which he made his debut in the ensemble dances. Speaking ahead of his first stint on the show he described it as "one of the greatest achievements of my dancing career." Over the course of his Strictly journey, Radebe was given his first celebrity partner Catherine Tyldesley in 2019 but was eliminated in week six. In 2020, he was partnered with actress Caroline Quentin, but they only made it to week five in the competition. He did a lot better in 2021 when he was paired with runner-up John Whaite. 2022 saw him partnered with Ellie Taylor and 2023 with Annabel Croft. Most recently, he danced with Montell Douglas last year where they finished 6th. Who is Johannes paired with on Strictly Come Dancing 2025? The dancer is coupled up with actress Alex Kingston. When does Strictly Come Dancing 2025 air? The next Strictly Come Dancing 2025 live show will air at 6:30pm on Saturday 15th November on BBC One. All the remaining celebrities will be performing, the judges will be scoring, and the public will be voting. Grab your sequins and get ready for another epic show! View Green Video on the source website Strictly Come Dancing continues on BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday 15th November at 6:30pm. Add Strictly Come Dancing to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Entertainment 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.
Who is Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Graziano Di Prima?
This Sicilian-born Italian Latin Champion is used to putting on a performance.
Graziano Di Prima has been dancing to his hearts content with documentary maker Zara McDermott on Strictly Come Dancing 2023. The dancing duo haven't had the easiest of journeys on Strictly so far, with the pair facing the dreaded dance-off during Movie Week, but were luckily saved by the judges. As the pair get ready to perform an American Smooth to Can't Fight The Moonlight by LeAnn Rimes, read on for everything you need to know about professional dancer Graziano Di Prima. Who is Graziano Di Prima? Age: 29 Instagram: @graziano.diprima X/Twitter: @GrazianoDiPrima Sicilian-born Graziano Di Prima joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2018, before taking a year off in the following year. While he didn't have a celebrity partner in 2020, Graziano did perform as part of the professional dance routines which take place every Saturday and Sunday. In 2021, Graziano was paired with Judi Love and the pair came 10th after winning over the fans with their saucy Samba routine. The following year, Graziano was partnered with Kym Marsh and came in fifth place. Aside from Strictly, Di Prima made the top 24 at the Under-21 Latin World Championships, and also toured the world with his dance company Burn the Floor. Prior to joining Strictly, Graziano toured the world with the dance company Burn The Floor, a "high-voltage theatrical dance experience". Which Strictly celebrity is Graziano paired with this year? Graziano Di Prima is partnered with documentary maker Zara McDermott on Strictly Come Dancing 2023. When does Strictly Come Dancing 2023 air? The fifth Strictly Come Dancing 2023 live show will air at 6:35pm on Saturday 21st October on BBC One, the BBC has confirmed. It will be followed by the results show on Sunday 22nd October. All the celebrities will be performing, the judges will be scoring, and the public will be voting. View Green Video on the source website Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday 21st October at 6:35pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The results show will air on Sunday 22nd October at 7:15pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now and celebrate the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who with a special issue of Radio Times. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Good Omens season 2 cast: Meet the characters
David Tennant and Michael Sheen are back for the hit fantasy show's second season.
After four years off our screens, Good Omens has made its return to Prime Video for season 2. David Tennant and Michael Sheen have, of course, resumed their roles as Crowley and Aziraphale in the brand-new story, with plenty of other faces also returning, both as familiar and new characters. Previously speaking to The Radio Times Podcast about the dynamic between the two leads, Tennant said: "In terms of what exactly the relationship between Crowley and Aziraphale is, I think they both see it very differently, and they both interpret it in different ways. And they would certainly have different ways of describing it objectively. "But I do think they help each other to understand each other, and the series is a sort of journey of them coming ever closer, through circumstance really. I'm sort of fudging the answer because I don't want to commit to anything." View Green Video on the source website He added: "I think what's important for viewers going into series 2, is that many people have projected many things onto what that relationship is and I don't want to second guess that by defining it. Because I may be seen to have some sort of defining knowledge of what that is. And I don't know that I do. "So I think enjoy this wonderful creation that Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, these two characters that they conjured forth and just... there's a joy to them interacting. It certainly is a joy to play, and hopefully is a joy to witness. Beyond that, define us as you will!" Read on for a full list of the cast and characters announced for Good Omens season 2. Good Omens season 2 cast David Tennant plays Crowley Michael Sheen plays Aziraphale Jon Hamm plays Archangel Gabriel Doon Mackichan plays Archangel Michael Gloria Obianyo plays Uriel Miranda Richardson plays Shax Maggie Service plays Maggie Nina Sosanya plays Nina Liz Carr as Saraqael Quelin Sepulveda as Muriel Shelley Conn plays Beelzebub Derek Jacobi plays the Metatron Paul Adeyefa plays Demon Eric Elizabeth Berrington plays Dagon Abigail Lawrie plays Elspeth Tim Downie plays Mr Brown Alex Norton plays Tulloch Andi Osho plays Sitis Peter Davison plays Alistair Ty Tennant plays Ennon David Tennant plays Crowley Who is Crowley? A flame-haired demon who has lived on Earth ever since the dawn of creation. He was originally called "Crawly" when he was the snake who tempted Eve with the apple, but nowadays he's most likely to be found driving his 1926 Bentley, wearing sunglasses and inflicting evils like mobile phone network outages, VAT, and the M25 motorway. During his time on Earth, Crowley has come to enjoy the pleasures of human society and now feels that Hell could learn a lot from humans. What else has David Tennant been in? The film, television and stage actor is best known for his role as The Tenth (and now Fourteenth) Doctor in Doctor Who, but has also featured in projects including Broadchurch (as DI Alex Hardy), Deadwater Fell, Netflix's Criminal, Casanova, Jessica Jones (as Kilgrave), the film Mary Queen of Scots, Inside Man, The Sandman, Litvinenko and There She Goes. He also stars as himself alongside Sheen in Staged. Michael Sheen plays Aziraphale Who is Aziraphale? Crowley's angelic counterpart. He was Heaven's representative on Earth for thousands of years and, like Crowley, he has come to enjoy the human world. In fact, he runs a bookshop in London. What else has Michael Sheen been in? Sheen is perhaps best known for his uncanny talent at playing real-life people, whether in ITV's Quiz (as Chris Tarrant), Frost/Nixon (as David Frost), The Queen (as Tony Blair) or Channel 4 series Vardy v Rooney. He's also starred in the likes of Midnight in Paris, The Good Fight, Masters of Sex, The Sandman, Last Train to Christmas, Best Interests and Staged, where he plays himself alongside Tennant. Jon Hamm plays Archangel Gabriel Who is Archangel Gabriel? Although only mentioned once in the novel, Gabriel's role was expanded in the series, and he is the leader of the forces of Heaven. In season 2, he shows up at Aziraphale's bookshop with no memory of who he is or how he got there. What else has Jon Hamm been in? Hamm is probably best known for playing the charismatic Don Draper, an advertising executive, in AMC's Mad Men, for which he won an Emmy and Golden Globe. He has also guest starred in Black Mirror, Parks and Recreation, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and played himself in Absolutely Fabulous: the Movie. He has recently been seen in Top Gun: Maverick and will appear in the next season of Fargo. Doon Mackichan plays Archangel Michael Who is Archangel Michael? Archangel Gabriel's colleague, and Aziraphale's former boss, Michael uses a few back-channels to keep an eye on her celestial field agent. What else has Doon Mackichan been in? The acclaimed Smack the Pony actress plays Cathy in Two Doors Down and has also had roles in Plebs, Toast of London and Pure, among other series. Gloria Obianyo plays Uriel Who is Uriel? Uriel is an Archangel, along with Michael. What else has Gloria Obianyo been in? Obianyo has previously had roles in Dune, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part 1, Riches and Feel Good. Miranda Richardson plays Shax Who is Shax? Shax is a demon who is now Hell's representative in London. What else has Miranda Richardson been in? Twice nominated for an Oscar for her roles in 1990s films Damage and Tom & Viv, Richardson also played Queen Elizabeth in Blackadder and journalist Rita Skeeter in the Harry Potter film franchise. More recently, she has starred in the film Churchill and the series Fate: The Winx Saga. She also played a different character in Good Omens season 1, before returning as this new character here. Maggie Service plays Maggie Who is Maggie? Maggie is a human who runs a record shop and has a crush on Nina. What else has Maggie Service been in? Service has previously appeared in Miranda, Doctor Who, Call the Midwife, W1A, Quiz and Life, among other series. She also played a different character in Good Omens season 1, before returning as this new character here. Nina Sosanya plays Nina Who is Nina? Nina is a human who runs a coffee shop. What else has Nina Sosanya been in? Probably recognised by international audiences as Annie in Love Actually, Sosanya has since appeared in numerous TV series including Silk, Women on the Verge, Twenty Twelve, W1A, Last Tango in Halifax, Killing Eve, Staged, His Dark Materials and Screw. She also played a different character in Good Omens season 1, before returning as this new character here. Liz Carr as Saraqael Who is Saraqael? Saraqael has been described by Neil Gaiman as "an angel you do not want to mess with". What else has Liz Carr been in? Carr is best known for her role as Clarissa in Silent Witness, while she has also starred in The OA, This is Going to Hurt, Then Barbara Met Alan and The Witcher. Quelin Sepulveda as Muriel Who is Muriel? Muriel has been described by Neil Gaiman as a "nice, well-meaning angel". What else has Quelin Sepulveda been in? Sepulveda has previously appeared in The Man Who Fell to Earth. Shelley Conn plays Beelzebub Who is Beelzebub? The leader of the forces of Hell. She was played by Anna Maxwell Martin in the first season, with Shelley Conn taking over the role here. What else has Shelley Conn been in? Conn has previously starred in series including Terra Nova, Silent Witness, Death in Paradise, Liar, McDonald & Dodds, Four Lives and Bridgerton. Derek Jacobi plays the Metatron Who is the Metatron? The voice of God, but still a separate angelic entity. What else has Derek Jacobi been in? The prolific British actor has appeared in varied roles, including Probert in Gosford Park and Gracchus in Gladiator. More recently, he has had roles in Les Misérables, Last Tango in Halifax, The Crown, Vicious, Murder on the Orient Express and Inside No. 9. Paul Adeyefa plays Demon Eric Who is Demon Eric? After playing Disposable Demon in season 1, Paul Adeyefa is back playing a new demon named Eric. What else has Paul Adeyefa been in? Adeyefa has previously appeared in series including Cucumber, DCI Banks and Bancroft. Elizabeth Berrington plays Dagon Who is Dagon? Dagon is a demon who is also known as Lord of the Flies. What else has Elizabeth Berrington been in? Berrington is known for her roles in The Office, Waterloo Road, Stella, Little Boy Blue, Sanditon, The Responder, Ridley and The Pact. She has also recently appeared in Fifteen-Love on Prime Video, and has had roles in films including Last Night in Soho, Spencer and Yesterday. Abigail Lawrie plays Elspeth Who is the Elspeth? Elspeth is a Victorian gravedigger. What else has Abigail Lawrie been in? Lawrie has starred in series including The Casual Vacancy, Strike, Tin Star and No Escape. Tim Downie plays Mr Brown Who is the Mr Brown? Mr Brown is Chairman of the Whickber Street Shopkeepers and Street Traders Association. What else has Tim Downie been in? Downie is known for his appearances in shows such as Peep Show, This is Jinsy, Toast of London, Upstart Crow, Back, Outlander and Hapless, as well as in films including Paddington, War Machine and Horrible Histories: The Movie. Alex Norton plays Tulloch Who is Tulloch? Nothing is currently known about Tulloch. What else has Alex Norton been in? Norton is known for his roles in series including Two Doors Down, Silent Witness, Shetland and Waterloo Road, and in films including Braveheart, The Count of Monte Cristo and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. Andi Osho plays Sitis Who is Sitis? Nothing is currently known about Sitis. What else has Andi Osho been in? Osho is a comedian and actor known for her role in the film Shazam! and her appearances in series including Kiri, Curfew, Death in Paradise, I May Destroy You, Line of Duty, Stay Close, The Sandman and Blue Lights. She is also set to star in season 4 of Sex Education. Peter Davison plays Alistair Who is Alistair? Nothing is currently known about Alistair. What else has Peter Davison been in? Davison is best known for playing the Fifth Doctor in BBC series Doctor Who during the 1980s. More recently, he's starred in Life, Gentleman Jack, The Trial of Christine Keeler, Vera, Law and Order: UK and The Larkins. He is also the father-in-law of David Tennant and the grandfather of Ty Tennant. Ty Tennant plays Ennon Who is Ennon? Nothing is currently known about Ennon. What else has Ty Tennant been in? The son of David, Ty Tennant has previous starred in Doom Patrol, War of the Worlds, Tolkien, House of the Dragon, Staged and Consent. Good Omens season 2 will land on Prime Video on 28th July 2023 - try Amazon Prime Video for free for 30 days. Plus, read our guides to the best Amazon Prime series and the best movies on Amazon Prime. Find something to watch tonight with our TV Guide and Streaming Guide, or visit our Fantasy hub for more news and features. 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Sex/Life soundtrack: Music and songs featured in the Netflix drama
The track list for the steamy Netflix series starring Adam Demos, Sarah Shahi and Mike Vogel.
Sex/Life returns to Netflix for season 2 with Billie, Brad, Sasha and Cooper once again in the midst of their respective personal crises. And as ever, there are plenty of steamy scenes (we expected nothing less), with the characters getting hot and heavy between the sheets. Season 2 has been condensed into six episodes following season 1's eight, and there's also a shiny new soundtrack to suit every mood and occasion. From Sharon Van Etten to Moxxi, we've tracked down the track list for Sex/Life season 2 — and if you can't get enough of the season 1 soundtrack, you can also find that below. Sex/Life season 2 soundtrack Episode 1 About You - G Flip Bending Back - Art School Girlfriend Slow Down - Grae Dust - Haelos Jean-Paul Groove - Ex-Aequo Pourquoi pas - Miel De Montagne Anything - Sharon Van Etten View Green Video on the source website Episode 2 Sex To Me - Charlotte Cardin Heist on My Heart - Jordy Solena - Stevia Veski - bgl Teardrops - Modis Chrisha Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Kossisko MMM - Sabastián Episode 3 Time of the Season - Haley Reinhart (feat Casey Abrams) Revolution - Fanny Daggers Star-Crossed Christmas - Barnaby Bright We're the Lucky Ones - The Marías If We Listen - Barnaby Bright Endless Fathomless - Atonus Episode 4 Can’t Stop Your Addiction - Lucy Daydream Cheers to Poison - Ghost Suns Make It Work - Moxxi All the Things Lost - MS MR Episode 5 Chaise Lounge - Wet Leg Lies - Syence (feat H Kenneth) World of Trouble (Ivoiremix) - Kossisko & Fior 2 Bior Two Weeks - FKA Twigs Headspace - Sharon Van Etta Episode 6 Until I Fall - Lucinda Chua Darkness Fades - Sharon Van Etten Musa - Matter of Tact A Day at the Beach (Sunshine Remix) - Dream Day Alliance I Am Woman - Emmy Meli Desire - Zola Jesus Heavenly Day - Patty Griffin Sex/Life season 1 soundtrack Episode 1 Ooh La La - Goldfrapp Looking Closer - Guillermo De La Barreda & Dirk Ehlert Get Down - Bikini Machine Darling, Be Here - Bodies of Water Superficial - Kossisko Swelling - Sarah Jaffe The Way Out - Breanna Barbara Episode 2 Your Love Is Like Petrol - Client Nothing's Gonna Hurt You Baby - Cigarettes After Sex Never Let You Go - People On People Blood - Band of Skulls Stay Happy - Broken Social Scene White Noise - Exitmusic New Moon - Breanna Barbara Episode 3 Skin - Zarah Mahler Stay Low (Take Care) - Sarah Jaffe Who Knows - Beginners Big Bang Blues - Breanna Barbara Episode 4 All the Girls Get Together and Rule - Costanza Tarantula - Bob Schneider I Am Not Afraid - G Flip Music (I Like It; Part 1) - Benny Sharp & The Sharpies Wildest Moments - Jessie Ware I Feel Like I'm Drowning - Two Feet Episode 5 Skin Talk - Stuck On Planet Earth Heartbeats - José Gonzalez Skeleton Key - Love Inks It's Happening Again - Agnes Obel Happiness Does Not Wait - Ólafur Arnalds Episode 6 Rawnald Gregory Erikson the Second - STRFKR Teach Me - Nicole Simone Solo - Linda Mirada Fool's Gold - Smith James Use Me - PVRIS (feat 070 Shake) Out of Control - Lia FUBT - HAIM Episode 7 Fire For You - Cannons A Bit like Todayz - DJ Destroyer i like the devil - Purity Ring Let Me Know Now - Silver Swans He's the One - Silver Swans Episode 8 Stop This Flame - Celeste Strange - Celeste Woman - Karen O & Danger Mouse You. - Lucy Daydream Stop This Flame - Celeste (again) Sex/Life seasons 1 and 2 are available on Netflix now. Sign up for Netflix from £4.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. If you’re looking for more to watch, visit our Drama hub or check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend - the true story behind their 'forbidden love'
How accurate is The Crown's portrayal of the royal affair?
The Crown has covered significant ground across its five-season run, charting activity both within the royal family, from love affairs to in-fighting, and events beyond its tightly marshalled parameters. One of the central storylines in the earlier seasons of the Netflix drama is the relationship between Princess Margaret (played by Lesley Manville in season 5 ) and Peter Townsend (played by Timothy Dalton), which surfaces once again in the latest chapter. Margaret's appearance on long-running BBC radio series Desert Island Discs prompts Peter to write the Princess a letter, but the correspondence and subsequent meetings transport Margaret back to the heartbreak she suffered when their relationship collapsed. That leads to a heated exchange with the Queen in which Margaret blames her sister for "denying" her marriage to Peter. Elizabeth, by contrast, sits silently as the Princess airs her decades-long grievance in the series. But what role did the Queen play in their relationship? And what's the true story behind Margaret and Peter's romance? Read on for everything you need to know. Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend true story - did they really have an affair? The first the public knew of the duo's love affair was when a perceptive journalist spotted Princess Margaret picking a piece of fluff off the uniform of her late father George VI's equerry, RAF Group Captain Peter Townsend, at the Queen's Coronation in 1953. That gesture was enough to break the biggest royal scandal since the Abdication Crisis. By that point, the affair had been in full swing for quite some time, although various reports differ on the time frame. Peter had joined the royals on a three-month tour of South Africa in 1947 when Margaret was 17 and he was 37 – he was married at the time and had two children. In her 2008 book Snowdon: The Biography, which unpacks the life of Margaret's ex-husband Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowden, journalist Anne de Courcy wrote that Margaret told a confidante: "We rode together every morning in that wonderful country, with marvellous weather. That's when I really fell in love with him." In 1952, Margaret's father had died and her sister had become Queen, leaving the princess grief-stricken and lonely. Townsend was appointed Comptroller of her mother's household and the two became very… close. By 1953, Townsend had divorced his wife and proposed to the 22-year-old Princess. Margaret was inclined to accept, but it was not that simple: under the Royal Marriages Act 1772, as an under-25-year-old she would need the monarch’s consent to the match. This put the Queen in a really, really tricky situation, so she did what any true procrastinator does: she put things off and asked her sister to wait a bit. When news spread, it was the Abdication Crisis all over again: could a royal marry someone who was divorced? The Church of England said no, rather emphatically. The British Cabinet said they would refuse to approve the marriage. Winston Churchill hated the thought, and the newspapers – initially, at least – were against the "unthinkable" event. So, what next for the star-crossed lovers? Churchill arranged for Townsend to be posted to Brussels, at least until Margaret got to 25 and could marry without the Queen's consent. But even then, she would have to renounce her claim to the throne as well as her royal allowance. She faced a choice: love or duty? There was an agonising wait while Margaret tried to decide what to do, and then finally – after two years – she issued a statement. Why did Princess Margaret decide not to marry Peter Townsend? In a statement released in 1955, the Princess explained: "I would like it to be known that I have decided not to marry Group Captain Peter Townsend. I have been aware that, subject to my renouncing my rights of succession, it might have been possible for me to contract a civil marriage. "But mindful of the Church's teachings that Christian marriage is indissoluble, and conscious of my duty to the Commonwealth, I have resolved to put these considerations before others. I have reached this decision entirely alone, and in doing so I have been strengthened by the unfailing support and devotion of Group Captain Townsend." In his autobiography, Time and Chance, Group Captain Townsend wrote: "She could have married me only if she had been prepared to give up everything – her position, her prestige, her privy purse. "I simply hadn't the weight, I knew it, to counterbalance all she would have lost." Who did Princess Margaret marry? In 1960, Margaret put her first love behind her and married society photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, later Lord Snowdon. They had two children together. It was not a happy match and eventually ended in divorce, which was finalised in 1978. He later remarried to Lucy Lindsay-Hogg. Lord Snowdon died on January 13th 2017. As for Group Captain Townsend, he also remarried. During his Belgium posting he met a local, 20-year-old Marie-Luce Jamagne, and tied the knot with her in 1959. How accurate is The Crown? In dramatising the affair, The Crown has kept true to life. Margaret did indeed find out about her lover's exile to the British Embassy in Brussels while on a tour of Rhodesia – the trip on which he had been meant to accompany her. The reactions of the Cabinet, the way it divided and scandalised the press: all this comes directly from real life. But what we don't really know is how the scandal affected Margaret and Elizabeth's relationship. "At the end of the day, you have to make a dramatic choice because we're not making a documentary about the royals," said Manville. "It has to be dramatically interesting. You have to hold your audience, so your story has to have an arc." She added: "I'm not sure what he [showrunner Peter Morgan] left out, but I imagine that the agenda has to be that you're making a drama, and you have to make that drama interesting, and give it peaks and troughs, and highs and lows, and balance." It must have stretched and strained their bond to its limits as the older sister was forced to balance political concerns with her sister's happiness – and yet, throughout their lives, the two remained close. What really went on between the Windsor sisters? That may forever remain between Elizabeth and the late Princess Margaret – but The Crown writer Peter Morgan's portrayal is a believable interpretation of what might have been said behind closed doors. You can watch seasons 1-5 of The Crown right now on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £6.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Looking for something else to watch? Visit our TV Guide or Streaming Guide. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times View From My Sofa podcast.
Where is The Crown filmed? All the locations you see on screen
The royal Netflix drama has some spectacular filming locations across all five seasons.
Netflix's royal drama The Crown is back for its fifth season, with its second full cast switch-up after Olivia Colman took over from Claire Foy in season 3. This new season stars Imelda Staunton, Jonathan Pryce, Dominic West and Elizabeth Debicki, and while the cast have all changed, one aspect of the show certainly hasn't – its stunning locations. From Buckingham Palace to Balmoral Castle, the past four seasons have featured plenty of real-life royal locations, all recreated with a combination of sets and like-for-like locations made to look identical to the real deal. Season 5 also saw some new filming locations, as the cast and crew jetted off to Mallorca for a holiday sequence. This follows season 4, which previously introduced new royal backdrops such as including Prince Charles and Princess Diana's country and London residences, Highgrove and Clarence House. But where else is the series filmed currently, and which locations have been used in the past? Here's where the drama was filmed, including all the big locations from seasons 1 to 5. Where do they film Windsor Castle? Windsor castle has played a large part in all four seasons of The Crown to date, just as it played a large part in the Queen's life and continues to be an important location for the Royal Family. In season 5 the castle will take on an extra level of narrative importance, as scenes are set to depict the real-life 1992 fire which took place there, causing extensive damage to the 11th century building. For The Crown seasons 1-3 Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire was used to represent Windsor Castle, but since season 4 the show has opted to film such scenes at Burghley House in Lincolnshire. Where do they film Downing Street? The Crown has always used the backdrop of the Royal Family to explore all aspects of life during the periods it is dramatising, meaning political figures have taken a central role in the drama since its very first season. Season 5 sees Jonny Lee Miller play 90s Conservative Prime Minister John Major, who took over from Margaret Thatcher, played by Gillian Anderson in season 4 of the show. As it did in season 4, Hedsor House in Buckinghamshire will be standing in for the Downing Street interiors, after previous seasons have also seen sets built to show the famous Prime Ministerial residence's exteriors. Where was Diana and Charles' season 5 holiday filmed? At the start of season 5, Charles and Diana go off on a 'second honeymoon' along with their sons William and Harry, in an attempt to convince the public that their marriage is now back on track. Scenes on speedboat during their holiday were filmed in Sant Elmo, Mallorca, with Dominic West and Elizabeth Debicki having been spotted shooting at the beachside town of Andratx. Where do they film Highgrove? A key location introduced during The Crown season 4 was Prince Charles and Princess Diana's country estate Highgrove, which Charles still inhabits today with his second wife, the Duchess of Cornwall. The estate is located in the county of Gloucestershire and is well known for its gardens, which viewers see a preview of when Charles gives his mother the Queen a tour during the season 4 episode 'Favourites'. In both seasons 4 and 5 of the Netflix series, Somerley House stands in for Highgrove. Somerley is a large country house situated in Hampshire; it was previously used as a filming location for a TV adaptation of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park. Where do they film Clarence House? The London residence of The Prince of Wales (Prince Charles), Clarence House is positioned next to St James Palace. Previous royal occupants have included The Queen Mother, and The Queen and Prince Philip. In season 4 we saw both Charles and Diana living inside the house; it sets the backdrop for the unravelling marriage, with Charles often retreating to Highgrove to be with Camilla Parker-Bowles. Clarence House is also where Diana conducts her affair with cavalry officer James Hewitt. High Canons Borehamwood stood in for Clarence House in season 4; it's a country manor house about a 40 minute drive from London. Where do they film Gatcombe Park? Princess Anne's country residence Gatcombe Park was also introduced in The Crown season 4; in the episode 'Favourites', in which the Queen visits each of her four children, we see she and Anne enjoy a horse ride and then picnic in the grounds. The real-life house was purchased by the Queen as a gift for Anne and her first husband, Mark Philips. It's located within the country of Gloucestershire, and is only six miles away from Prince Charles' residence Highgrove. In The Crown, Hertfordshire country house Wrotham Park is used for the scenes featuring Gatcombe Park. Wrotham has been used for multiple filming projects, including the likes of Bridget Jones's Diary and Kingsman: The Secret Service. Where do they film Buckingham Palace? The Crown's producers have stitched together a patchwork of locations to make a convincing on-screen Buckingham Palace, seeing as they couldn't actually get the real-life Queen to let them take over her house for filming. Over the years many interiors have been filmed at Lancaster House, which is owned by the Foreign Office and stands very close to Buckingham Palace itself. In particular, The Crown has made use of its ornate central entranceway and staircases – as seen in season 3 when the Apollo 11 astronauts visit the Palace. Wilton House in Wiltshire is another stand-in for parts of Buckingham Palace, as is the Old Royal Naval College. Other interiors have been filmed at Waddeston Manor. In season 3, we see Lord Mountbatten (Charles Dance) breaking some bad news to Prince Charles (Josh O'Connor) in the courtyard of Buckingham Palace. The scene was filmed at the University of Greenwich. The Queen's audiences with her Prime Ministers are shot at Wrotham Park in Barnet, Hertfordshire. In real life they take place in a private Audience Room in her apartment at Buckingham Palace. Where was Winston Churchill's funeral filmed? In season 3, Winston Churchill's funeral took place at St Paul's Cathedral in London on 30th January 1965, when the wartime Prime Minister was given a State Funeral – an honour usually reserved for royals. But what we see on screen in The Crown season 3 was actually filmed at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire. Winchester is one of the largest cathedrals in Europe but is located in a city of only 45,000 or so people. It's built in the Gothic style and is exceptionally long, with a vaulted stone ceiling; it doesn't look much like St Paul's on the inside or on the outside, but it is very grand. Where was the White House filmed? Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong-Jones may have travelled to Washington DC to meet with President Lyndon B Johnson, but actors Helena Bonham Carter and Ben Daniels didn't get to make the trip for season 3. Instead, they filmed scenes as The Hylands House in Essex, which looks strikingly similar to the northern facade of the US President's HQ. This Grade II-listed neo-classical villa is owned and operated by Chelmsford City Council; it used to host the annual music festival, V Festival, and is often hired out for weddings and private events. View oEmbed on the source website Where was the Aberfan episode filmed? Because of the sensitivity of the subject matter, episode 3 of The Crown's third season – which covers the Aberfan disaster – was actually shot at Cwmaman in Wales's Cynon Valley. Cwmaman is located a handful of miles away from the site of the coal waste tip which – one morning in 1966 – catastrophically collapsed and sent a deluge of slurry down the mountain slope onto the village of Aberfan. The children of Aberfan attended Pantglas Junior School, and this is where the majority of the 144 victims died. Glynhafod Junior School in the Cynon Valley was used as a stand-in for Pantglas to film the scenes in the lead-up to the collapse, and a local street was transformed into a 1960s terrace of miners' houses – with a machine brought in to recreate the torrential rain, according to Wales Online. Where was the Welsh Investiture filmed? The Crown season 3 did actually shoot the Investiture of the Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle itself, with Josh O'Connor (Prince Charles) filming on location. Welsh filming also took place in Ferndale, Rhondda and at Big Pit National Coal Museum in Blaenavon. View oEmbed on the source website Did they film on the island of Mustique? Nope! In season 3, we see Princess Margaret partying with young Roddy Llewellyn (Harry Treadaway) at her Caribbean villa and relaxing on the beach – but these scenes were actually shot in Southern Spain. Where is Balmoral filmed? The Royals have a summer residence in Aberdeenshire, Balmoral Castle – the location of many a royal getaway, and notably the key location for The Crown season 4 episode 'The Balmoral Test', when both British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Lady Diana Spencer (the future Princess Diana) meet the extended royal family for the first time, and are supposedly subjected to a series of 'tests'. In previous seasons it's also been the site of the much-ridiculed barbecue from that 1969 documentary Royal Family. Ardverikie House in the Scottish Highlands has proved the perfect stand-in for external shots of Balmoral throughout every season of The Crown. Located near Inverness, it has classic Scottish baronial architecture and plenty of turrets just like the real thing. The distinctive garden of Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire can be seen in season 3's "Margaretology", with its carefully-clipped shrubbery. The Regency house also provides many of the interiors of Windsor Castle in the drama's first three seasons – with filming taking place in the Elizabeth Saloon and the Regent's Gallery. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2019/11/Netflix-on-Location-at-Belvoir-Castle-filming-Season-3-of-The-Crown.-©-Des-Willie_Netflix-Inc-_-9377263.jpg" width="4928" height="2772" alt="Netflix on Location at Belvoir Castle filming Season 3 of The Crown. © Des Willie_Netflix, Inc _" title="Netflix on Location at Belvoir Castle filming Season 3 of The Crown. © Des Willie_Netflix, Inc _" /> When it came to interiors, producers also headed for Audley End House in Essex. In season 3, Audley End is on display in the scene where Elizabeth and Philip stroll around the Great Hall and discuss Princess Margaret's desire to "share" the Queen's official duties. This Jacobean great house has a history dating back to a 12th century Benedictine Monastery, and was lived in by the Braybrooke family until 1948. The Great Hall is the heart of the house, with its walls lined with pistols and portraits; three grand arches open onto two flights of stone stairs. This is not the first time we've seen Audley End in The Crown. In flashbacks in the first season, the young princesses were tutored in the Great Hall, and the house's library was also the location for a scene set at Eton College as the future Queen diligently worked her way through her private lessons. Scenes featuring Elizabeth and Margaret's childhood bedrooms were filmed upstairs in the old nursery. Where was the Duke of Windsor's French mansion filmed? Season 3 of The Crown sees us say goodbye to the Duke of Windsor (Derek Jacobi), who sickens and dies in France at his mansion in Bois de Bologne with Wallis Simpson (Geraldine Chaplin) at his side. These scenes were filmed at West Wycombe House, a Palladian mansion in Buckinghamshire which is run by the National Trust. Where was Westminster Abbey filmed? Ely Cathedral stands in for Westminster Abbey in season 1 during the Queen's wedding and Coronation. For the Coronation scenes, they filled the cathedral with hundreds of extras, representing the various factions of the military, the Commonwealth, and other international dignitaries and royalty. Where do they film the airport scenes? One location used by The Crown's producers is Shoreham Airport, near Shoreham-by-Sea. It was here that Claire Foy's Elizabeth II arrived back from South Africa after her father's death. Where was Gordonstoun School filmed? In season 2, Prince Charles miserably attended Gordonstoun – the rough, tough Scottish public school that his father had loved so much. External scenes were filmed at Woodchester Mansion, an uncompleted 19th-century building. Where else has The Crown been filmed? Eltham Palace is a stylish Art Deco house in South London, and it has been used for several scenes in The Crown – including the Queen’s quarters of the Royal Yacht Britannia, the Bermuda Government House, and the HMSS Queen Mary. The Lyceum Theatre and Knebworth House have made appearances, as have Greenwich Naval College, Dundarg Castle and Hatfield House. Englefield House is used as a stand-in for Sandringham, the Queen's own private estate in Norfolk. And in season one, we also get a look at the exterior of Slains Castle, a ruined structure which stands on a clifftop overlooking the North Sea. This works as a stand-in for the Queen Mother's own personal getaway, Castle Mey. Sets were built to create the exterior of 10 Downing Street and the Cabinet Room. Find out more about Charles and Diana Did you know Prince Charles dated Diana's sister Sarah Spencer? It turns out there was a lot more to Charles and Diana's marriage than we thought. Princess Diana and Princes Charles' Australia tour went down a storm, but left a sour taste in the mouths of some... Find out more about Margaret Thatcher The Queen and Thatcher's relationship is fraught at times in The Crown, and it seems the series might not have been too far away from the truth... The Crown show's Mark Thatcher go missing during a motor rally – what's the truth behind that? Interested in learning more about Denis Thatcher? We have everything you need to know about Margaret's husband. The Crown season 5 will be released on Netflix on Wednesday 9th November 2022, while seasons 1-4 are available now. Sign up for Netflix from £6.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Looking for something else to watch? Check out our guide to the best series on Netflix and best movies on Netflix, or visit our TV Guide. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. or more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times View From My Sofa podcast.
Where is BBC crime drama Shetland filmed?
The breathtaking Scottish landscapes are a key part of the BBC One crime drama – check out our guide to some of the best locations.
BBC One crime drama Shetland is back on our screens with its seventh series, which is set to bring Douglas Henshall’s Shetland journey to an end. The new season follows Jimmy Perez (Henshall) and his team of detectives as they investigate the disappearance of a vulnerable young man who has just landed in Shetland. But it's not just the gripping plot capturing viewers’ attention in the new outing – it's also the series’s dramatic landscapes. The new season started filming back in August 2021 and the series is already confirmed to be returning for an eighth outing sans Henshall, so it looks like there's much more to come from the detective drama. Read on for all you need to know about the key locations used for filming on Shetland. Where is Shetland filmed? The majority of filming takes place in the archipelago Shetland Islands, a group of islands at the northernmost part of the British Isles. Shetland is approximately 168 km from the Scottish mainland, and the current population is estimated at under 24,000. When asked about filming this upcoming season and what makes the Shetland Isles so special as a whole, Henshall said: "After going there for nearly ten years, I’m still discovering places to go and see. There are so many nooks and crannies that are absolutely beautiful and the wildflowers in the summer are truly stunning. "I loved the pace of the place. I really loved the sea, I loved how stark it could be, I loved the weather in all its glory. I loved the drama of the Shetland Isles. I also met some really nice people there who were fabulous, kind, generous and funny. There aren’t many places like Shetland - it’s very much of itself. It’s unique and I’ll miss that. "I think that people were slightly suspicious of us at the beginning, in terms of who we were and what we were going to do, but as time has gone on they have seen we’re a force for good, they’ve really taken to us. They have been incredibly helpful and we couldn’t make the show without their help." Is Shetland filmed in Shetland? Yes, as detailed above and as the name implies, BBC crime drama Shetland is set on the Shetland Islands. But how much of the drama is actually filmed there? Producer Eric Coulter previously explained to RadioTimes.com: "Most of the exteriors will be in Shetland, and we'll have some interiors in Shetland also, but we'll do quite a lot of the interiors back in Glasgow." Out of 16 weeks of filming, the team spends six busy weeks in Shetland. Much of this is spent on the largest island, known as the Mainland. "It's a joy filming there," Coulter says. "People are genuinely supportive of the show." It is vitally important to shoot exteriors on location in Shetland, because they can rarely be replicated. The producer explained: "The landscape of Shetland is so particular that to try and match those exteriors is quite difficult. There is an area about an hour from Glasgow called Loch Thom which we do film as an exterior location for Shetland, but that's really the only area we can use. Any kind of major exterior work really has to be Shetland." As for what makes Shetland so distinctive, Coulter says, "It's got very few trees. It's very open, it's quite gentle, the hills aren't very high – and everywhere you look there is water. You're never more than three miles away from water. So that undulating landscape and the water are really particular to Shetland and that's very hard to match anywhere else." Where is Lerwick police station filmed? "We use the real police station in Lerwick," Coulter revealed. "The building itself is actually the courtroom, the procurator fiscal, and the police station." While the team uses the police station's exterior in Lerwick (Shetland's main town), the interiors are filmed on set in Glasgow. Where does Jimmy Perez live? Like the police station, Jimmy Perez's house is "really two sets" – an exterior in Lerwick, and an interior filmed on set in Glasgow. View oEmbed on the source website Previous Shetland filming locations Where is the beach where the arm is discovered in season 5? In one of the opening shots from season five, a jogger's idyllic morning run along the beach is interrupted when she discovers a young man's severed forearm washed up on the shore. This was filmed at Banna Minn beach on the island of West Burra in the Shetland Islands, a half-hour drive from the main town at Lerwick. Where was the MacBay Hotel filmed in season 5? DI Jimmy Perez stumbles across the MacBay Hotel on a drive back from where the victim's remains were discovered. Though it has an absolutely spectacular view, the venue has clearly seen better days. In reality, the property's name is the Westings Inn, and it sits near the Tingwall airstrip on Shetland and about 20 minutes' drive from Lerwick. Coulter tells us: "There was a hotel which was actually empty – it had previously been a hotel, and it had been closed for a year or two." The white-painted inn (which is sadly not expected to reopen any time soon) is located near the summit of Wormadale Hill, which explains the excellent sea views from the bar. Where was the fish factory filmed in season 5? The fishing industry is a huge part of life in Shetland, and in season five a fish factory becomes a big part of the story. "That's all shot in Shetland," Coulter says. "The exterior of the fish factory is actually an old fish factory, an unused fish factory, but the interior of the fish factory was a working fish factory in Lerwick." Exteriors were shot at a closed fish farm near Bixter on Shetland, while the interior scenes were filmed at Grieg Seafood in Lerwick – the largest salmon farmer in Shetland. Where did Shetland season 5 film in Glasgow? Part-way through the series, the investigation takes Perez (Douglas Henshall) to Glasgow – which was pretty convenient for the cast and crew considering they already shoot a chunk of the drama there. Fans familiar with the city will notice filming locations in various parts of the Scottish city, including Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Henshall also shared this anecdote from filming on St Vincent Street in central Glasgow... View oEmbed on the source website Where was the cliff-edge scene filmed? In season 5 episode 5, the "very, very spectacular" Eshaness Cliffs plays a starring role. "Eshaness Cliffs are dramatic cliffs on the mainland of Shetland – a very famous, spectacular location," Coulter said. The producer added: "We also used another beach, a beautiful beach called Spiggie Beach, in episodes five and episode six." Shetland season 7 begins on Wednesday 10th August 2022 at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Ann Cleeves's Shetland novels are available to buy now. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what's on tonight. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
The Secrets She Keeps season 2: Release date, trailer and latest news
Laura Carmichael and Jessica De Gouw star in this Australian import on BBC One.
The Secrets She Keeps season 2 is almost upon us, picking up from *that* dramatic season 1 finale. The series, which was based on the book of the same by Michael Robotham, stars Laura Carmichael as a woman who stole the baby of Jessica De Gouw's Meghan in season 1, but who was eventually brought to justice. The first season may have completed the book's story when it came to an end, but it seems the nightmare isn’t over for Meghan just yet. Read on for everything you need to know about The Secrets She Keeps season 2. When will The Secrets She Keeps season 2 be released? Coming just over two years after the Australian series first aired in the UK, the second season of The Secrets She Keeps will officially air on BBC One at 9:15pm on Saturday 13th August 2022, with the whole season then becoming available on BBC iPlayer. The full first season is also available on BBC iPlayer now, meaning if you need to catch up on everything that happened with Agatha and Meghan you can do so right now. What is The Secrets She Keeps season 2 about? The official synopsis for The Secrets She Keeps seasons 2 says that the new episodes take place "two years after Agatha kidnapped Meghan’s baby Ben" and that "it is time for Agatha to be tried in court". The synopsis continues: "Meghan, Jack and their entire family have attempted to move on as best they could, but their lives have remained deeply affected by the trauma. A young investigative journalist, hungry to report on Agatha’s side of the story, hounds Meghan for information." Who stars in the Secrets She Keeps season 2? Season 2 sees Laura Carmichael (Downton Abbey) and Jessica De Gouw (The Crown) return as Agatha Fyfle and Meghan Shaughnessy respectively. Elsewhere, Michael Dorman (For All Mankind), who played Meghan's husband Jack in season 1, has been recast and will now be played by Todd Lasance (The Flash). The Secrets She Keeps season 2 trailer You can watch the trailer for The Secrets She Keeps season 2 right here now: View oEmbed on the source website The Secrets She Keeps airs Saturday 13th August 2022 at 9:15pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what's on tonight. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Where was ITV's Jane Austen adaptation Sanditon filmed?
The ITV and BritBox adaptation of Sanditon, Jane Austen's unfinished seaside novel, filmed in various beachside locations in the UK.
ITV and BritBox period drama Sanditon has returned for a long-awaited second season, following a successful fan campaign to revive the drama after Sanditon was originally cancelled. However, while Theo James won't be returning to Sanditon season 2, the titular Regency-era seaside town stays exactly the same, with more bonnets, beaux, and beaches galore hitting ITV screens this July 2022. "Fans who are craving romance and escape will find them in abundance in the new season of Sanditon, with its intriguing characters and captivating storylines," said Masterpiece executive producer Susanne Simpson ahead of season 2. "Our partners at Red Planet Pictures have done a brilliant job capturing the magic that won viewers’ hearts in season 1," she added. Set at the fictional seaside town of Sanditon, returning filming locations for season 2 include Middle Hope Cove and Brean Beach in Somerset – and it was at Brean that a Sanditon-themed sand artwork was previously commissioned, as part of the (successful) fan campaign to save Sanditon. Read on for the full list of beautiful locations we see on screen in Sanditon seasons 1 and 2. Where is the beach used in Sanditon? Fictional Sanditon boasts a beautiful beach, with horse-drawn bathing machines and a vast expanse of sand and dunes. These scenes were mainly filmed at Brean Beach in Somerset, 20 miles from Clevedon, a location used for both seasons 1 and 2. Brean Beach is one of the longest stretches of sand in Europe at approximately seven miles long. The skyline is dominated by Brean Down, a headland which stretches out to sea. However, for the scenes where the characters are actually swimming around in the sea, the production team shifted location to nearby Weston-super-Mare's Marine Lake. "It sounds more delightful than it was," Sanditon cast member Kris Marshall said. "It's kind of, think of like an enormous tidal pool. A tidal infinity pool in many ways. But in March. Which was eight degrees. And there's a sea wall right behind it, and all the locals were standing up there – the members of the local bathing club... going, 'Oh I do this every day. I don't know why anyone's making a fuss about these actors.'" Where was the "Sanditon" seaside town filmed? Jane Austen's fictional town of Sanditon was based on the rapidly-multiplying seaside resorts of the Regency period – but these real-life 19th century pleasure towns have changed so dramatically since Austen's time that none could provide the proper visual backdrop for the entire TV series. Instead, the Sanditon we see on-screen was created with the help of full-scale sets, CGI and the town of Clevedon. "It was all filmed on the West Coast near Bristol," director Olly Blackburn explained ahead of season 1. "Because there isn't an existing seaside resort left that isn't full of Boots and car parks and stuff. "A lot of it is a set that was built by our magnificent production designer, Grant Montgomery, who did everything from Peaky Blinders to Death Comes to Pemberley. And he whole-cloth created all the houses you see close-up, and then we augmented that with those few shots that you see which are CGI which were shot in a place called Clevedon, that has a beautiful sea wall. And we then reconstructed our own regency town." A street set of the town of Sanditon was constructed at the Bottle Yard Studios' back lot in Bristol, stretching for 67 metres and reaching 10 metres high. Production designer Grant Montgomery says: “The exterior street was used for two streets in the town: the building site of Waterloo Place and Trafalgar Street. It was built full scale. Green screen was used only to extend into the beach areas. The set was also used for parts of London such as Cheapside, for which it was turned into a dock area." Where was Lady Denham's Sanditon House filmed? The exterior of Sanditon House is actually Dyrham Park, a late 17th-century mansion near Bristol and Bath which is now owned by the National Trust (and open for visits by the public). This baroque country house sits in an ancient deer park, and cast and crew spent several days filming around the property and parkland. Filming also took place in the courtyard behind the Orangery, which was transformed into one of Sanditon’s streets for a night-time scene. The sumptuous interiors we see on-screen were predominantly shot at The Bottle Yard Studios – after Montgomery and his team spent a hectic 10 weeks building five interior sets as well as the 19th-century street outside. "Five interior studio sets were built and these two were reused throughout the series," the production designer reveals. "These consisted of Trafalgar House (bedrooms, reception rooms and study), Sanditon House (dining rooms, bedrooms and reception rooms), Denham Place, Sanditon Assembly Rooms, the boarding house for young ladies, a London high class club and a London ballroom to name a few." As for the over-the-top mansion belonging to Lady Denham (Anne Reid), he says: "Sanditon House is based on the height of Chatsworth House’s main hallway and has a black marble finish inspired by the Bond film Thunderball. "It has three fully working chandeliers that were lowered and lit on each day of filming, each taking up to 300 candles of different colours which were made especially for the show. One of the main features of this giant room is the lifesize statue of a gold Neptune rising out of the waves on four horses, which was specially sculpted for the series." Look closely and you might also see that Sanditon House appears again later in the series, in season 1 – this time with different set dressings. "For the London Ball sequence shot, we converted Sanditon House and eight Apple Blossom trees were transplanted onto the set," Montgomery says. Where is Tom Parker's Trafalgar House filmed? Tom Parker (Kris Marshall, returning for season 2) is the ambitious mastermind of Sanditon, determined to make his seaside resort into a fashionable holiday spot and a roaring financial success. He lives in Trafalgar House, which Montgomery modelled on the former home of John Soane, a popular neo-classical architect of the time. His house is now open to the public as Sir John Soane's Museum at Lincoln's Inn Fields in Holborn, London. "I was encouraged by our director Olly Blackburn to go and see [the museum] and do as much research as possible," Marshall tells us. Executive producer Belinda Campbell adds: "He obviously really was an architect of the time. He was doing extraordinary things. There were lots of parallels with Tom's character." You can see the influence of the Sir John Soame's Museum in the handmade moulded columns and applied ceiling designs which the team built on the set of Trafalgar House. Where else was Sanditon filmed? Location filming also took place in Bristol at The New Rooms and The Georgian House. The village of Uphill near Weston-super-Mare was used for some scenes, as well as Sand Point in North Somerset – a scenic natural pier into the Bristol Channel north of Weston-super-Mare and Brean Down. Alex Protherough, Head of Production at Red Planet Pictures, says: "We were immediately drawn to Bristol and the South West. There is a wealth of locations in this area, perfect for period drama, and particularly the Georgian period where our story is set. The country houses, Bath and its elegant Regency architecture, even the Somerset coastline all offer a wide range of locations perfect for Sanditon." Read more: Why isn't Theo James in Sanditon season 2? Sanditon season 2 arrived on BritBox on Monday 21st March 2022, and will begin airing on ITV from 22nd July 2022. Looking for something else to watch? Check out our TV Guide or visit our dedicated Drama hub for the latest news. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Gentleman Jack true story: Anne Lister's real life and history
The real history behind BBC One's Gentleman Jack seasons 1 and 2, starring Suranne Jones and Sophie Rundle.
*Warning: contains some plot spoilers for Gentleman Jack season 1* BBC One period drama Gentleman Jack, penned by BAFTA winner Sally Wainwright, is back with a bang. Gentleman Jack season 2 follows Anne Lister and Ann Walker (played by Suranne Jones and Sophie Rundle) as the couple prepare to live together at Shibden Hall and combine their estates following their marriage (of sorts) at the end of season 1. However, it's not all plain sailing for the duo, with the dramatic return of Anne’s former lover Mariana Lawton soon putting their romance to the test in season 2. We can look to the diaries of real-life Anne Lister, upon which the series is closely based, for clues as to what will unfold in season 2. So what happened to the real-life couple and did they manage to find the happy ending they were after? Read on to find out how much Anne Lister's extraordinary life on screen in Gentleman Jack is based on real-life, and how much is fiction. Who was the real Anne Lister? Anne Lister was a Yorkshire landowner, prolific diarist and enthusiastic traveller. She was also a woman who unapologetically loved women – and is sometimes called the "first modern lesbian" thanks to her self-knowledge and acceptance of her sexual orientation. "Anne Lister is unique and fascinating," Wainwright explains in the foreword to Anne Choma's noted biography on Lister. "She is known primarily as a diarist, and as a great lesbian lover who recorded her adventures with other women in secret code, but there are a myriad other things to know about this extraordinary woman." Her journal, written partly in code (or "crypt"), details the daily life of an unconventional woman in the early 19th century, including her love affairs and eventual 'marriage' to an heiress. Anne penned more than four million words, covering everything from negotiations over the price of her coal (local businessmen would NOT be allowed to get the better of her) to the Queen of Denmark's birthday party in Copenhagen (quite fun; but no need to ever go again) to her bitter rows with younger sister Marian ("cock of the dunghill"). Born in 1791, Anne Lister was fiercely intelligent and full of boundless energy. She was very close to her Uncle James and Aunt Anne and frequently stayed with them at Shibden Hall, near Halifax in Yorkshire. This was the Lister ancestral home, and it was to their beloved niece Anne that this childless couple left ownership of Shibden Hall. Her aunt, in particular, seems to have been well aware of Anne's exclusive interest in the fairer sex – but took it in her stride, becoming one of the most important people in Anne's life. Anne Lister was a complicated character. She was considered to have a masculine appearance and stride, and stood out in Halifax thanks to her decision to dress only in black. She deviated from social norms – although she could use her charms and charisma to impress her posh friends when she wished to, working within the social framework of the late Georgian era. She had a passion for human anatomy and science and travel and mountaineering, and a huge appetite for new experiences. As a smart businesswoman, Anne was never afraid to get hands-on and establish her authority; she went up against Halifax landowner and businessman Christopher Rawson (played by Vincent Franklin) and his brother Jeremiah (Shaun Dooley) in complex negotiations over coal, taking pride in protecting her interests. But she was also a massive snob, and could be a cruel landlord. “There are so many facets to her personality," Gentleman Jack screenwriter Sally Wainwright says. "She's so extraordinary. She's this mass of contradictions. She's very bold and brilliant. She did so many fantastic extraordinary things." What happened to Anne Lister and Ann Walker? Anne Lister made it clear early in their relationship that she was after something serious: love, loyalty, and long-term commitment. She wanted Ann Walker to settle down with her, sleep with her, and travel with her. But would Ann agree? Finally, Ann gave Anne the answer she hoped for. They exchanged rings, they wrote each other into their wills, and then on Easter Sunday 1834 they 'married' by taking communion together at a church in York. Both had a strong Christian faith. While Ann Walker's lifelong bouts of mental illness had often led her into religious mania and guilt, Anne Lister's faith gave her a more positive outlook. She had reconciled the way God 'made her' with her understanding of the Bible, and Christianity was a source of comfort throughout her life. The two women may not have been legally married, but as Anne Choma writes, "To Anne Lister, their commitment had been solemnised. They had been joined together in the eyes of God." In September, Ann Walker moved in to Shibden Hall. Her fortune was used to improve the manor and its grounds, with Anne building a new Gothic tower to serve as her private library. Anne and Ann lived a happy and settled life together, with Anne ending her relationship with 'M', and Ann overcoming her anxieties in order to travel with her wife. It was during a trip to Koutais in the Russian Empire (now Georgia) that Anne Lister died of a fever in 1840, aged just 49. Ann Walker spent six months bringing her body back to Shibden. In the following years, her mental health deteriorated and she was forcibly removed by her brother-in-law from Shibden Hall, spending some time in an institution in York; she later moved back to her own estate and died in 1854. What was Anne Lister's early life like? BBC One's Gentleman Jack doesn't actually introduce Anne Lister until quite late in her life. "We start in 1832 when Anne was 41. She inherited Shibden in 1836," Wainwright explains. "It's a 'turning of life' point: the time when she really came into her own and became the woman she was destined to become." However, Anne Lister – played by Suranne Jones in the BBC drama – had already led an extremely interesting life up to this point. Military man Jeremy Lister (Timothy West) and his wife Rebecca Battle had six children, but after the deaths of all four of their sons, they were left with daughters Anne and Marian (Gemma Whelan) – two completely opposing personalities who never quite got on. Young Anne was very bright, and was sent away to school in York. It was here that she met her first love, a girl called Eliza Raine. The teenagers shared an attic bedroom where they developed an intense friendship and love affair. Together, they also devised a secret code using algebra and Ancient Greek, which Anne used for the rest of her life to disguise the most private passages in her diary. Unfortunately, Anne was asked to leave the school after two years and was only able to return once Eliza had left. At 19, she met Isabella "Tib" Norcliffe and they began a relationship, but the attraction was not to last and soon shifted to platonic friendship. In her 20s and 30s, she enjoyed a series of love affairs, sometimes arousing suspicion but flying mainly under the radar: as Anne Choma writes, "she lived in a world that had very different approaches to male and female homosexuality, with the former still being punishable by death, and the latter being left largely ignored." People considered her "odd", and in Halifax she was later nicknamed "Gentleman Jack", but the word "lesbian" was not yet used – and Anne's sexuality could not be openly discussed, even when it was tacitly acknowledged. Anne also developed a passion for travel and was keen to expand her horizons beyond Yorkshire. In 1830, while travelling in France, she became the first woman to ascend the Monte Perdido in the Pyrenees. She sought out the top scientists in Europe and studied under them, obtaining body parts for dissection; and she read and studied voraciously. But despite her desire to go abroad, Anne was deeply attached to Shibden Hall. She officially inherited the manor in 1826 after the death of her Uncle James, but she would not get full financial control until both her father Jeremy Lister and her beloved Aunt Anne died in 1836. Nevertheless, Shibden gave Anne a reasonable income (thanks to the labour and rents of her tenants) and this helped ensure her freedom to live as she wished. Who was Marianna Belcombe? At 23, Anne met 'M', or Marianna Belcombe, played on screen by Lydia Leonard. This was one of the most passionate of all Anne's affairs, and lasted 16 or 17 years – but despite Anne's early hopes that they could build a future together, 'M' bowed to convention and married a man. The newly-named Marianna Lawton continued her affair with Anne, and the two wrote frank letters to each other for many years, sharing confidences as well as sharing a bed whenever she visited. But their relationship was also fraught with the pain of their romantic history, and sometimes with jealousy. 'M' spent years hoping for her unpleasant husband's death so that she could reunite properly with Anne. But though 'M' was never far away from her thoughts, Anne was looking elsewhere for her "companion" and had also set her sights on a higher-class connection. In Gentleman Jack: The Real Anne Lister, Anne Choma writes: "Anne was as determined as she had ever been to find a female life partner. She didn't feel it was her nature to live alone – the nature which also dictated that settling for a man was never going to be part of the plan." What happened in Hastings with Vere Hobart? Gentleman Jack picks up Anne Lister's story at a difficult moment in her life, because her attempt to win the heart of the young, aristocratic Vere Hobart (played by Jodhi May) had ended in humiliation and heartbreak. Anne had spent a fruitful winter in Paris in 1829-30 socialising with her "high-ton" posh friends, and formed a friendship with Lady Stuart's great-niece, Vere. With her eye on climbing the social ladder and forming a good connection, Anne had begun a tentative flirtation with Vere, and believed Vere had become increasingly aware of her sexual interest. Two years later, after cholera prevented their travel plans to the continent, they arranged to spend the winter together in Hastings. It was a fraught winter. At times, it seemed to Anne that she was making progress; in November, she wrote: "I think the idea of being with me eventually is somehow getting more familiar to her mind. She really begins to flirt a little with me and looked very pretty when playing this evening. Well strange things happen – she may like me after all." But the situation deteriorated, and in January Vere's male suitor Captain Donald Cameron appeared. Anne got the cold shoulder and was pushed to the sidelines, writing that her time in Hastings was "chequered with mortification and pain". Cameron proposed, and was accepted. It was a bitter blow. Did Anne Lister attend Vere's wedding? Though Anne does not appear to have attended Vere's wedding, the passing of time – and perhaps Anne Lister's new relationship with Ann Walker – seems to have helped. The two formed a solid friendship, and in September 1832 Anne wrote affectionately: "My dearest Vere, I am quite happy for your sake, and know not that I have one wish concerning you unsatisfied." She thanked Vere for "her discretion" and for staying faithful to "her own very self." How did Anne Lister meet her love interest Ann Walker? In 1832, Anne Lister had an encounter with a wealthy heiress called Ann Walker. It was to change the path of her life. The two had actually met several times before this point. As a child, Ann Walker had been involved in a carriage accident on Shibden land and had been given a cup of tea at the manor, but this did not evolve into any kind of friendship. In 1822, Anne had written caustically in her diary that young Ann Walker was "a stupid, vulgar girl indeed," and while the Walker family were wealthy, they did not impress Anne who snobbishly looked down on "new money" gained from trade rather than ancient lineage. However, after Anne's return from Hastings, the two women's paths crossed again – and this time it was different. Ann Walker (played by Sophie Rundle) visited Shibden on a chance social call with her relatives, and a week later Anne Lister returned the visit; as they got to know each other over the next few weeks, they found that they got on well and were intrigued by each other. "Thought I," Anne wrote in her diary in August, "shall I try and make up to her?" Anne Lister was also attracted to Ann's large fortune. In her biography, Anne Choma writes: "Clearly, Anne's intentions towards Ann Walker were strategically inclined. She was working within a frame set by her heterosexual peers: for the middle and upper-classes in the nineteenth century a 'good match' was a marriage that made financial sense, with love a secondary consideration." Who was Ann Walker? Ann Walker and her sister had inherited the enormous Lightcliffe estate after the death of their parents and brother, following an unhappy childhood with a father who was apparently abusive. While her sister Elizabeth had married and moved to Scotland, Ann remained at Lightcliffe with very little to interest her or occupy her time, and a couple of male trustees. While she had no history of same-sex relationships, Ann Walker was drawn to Anne Lister – who was 12 years older than her – and the two quickly became inseparable. The relationship between Anne and Ann was not plain sailing. Anne Lister was constantly trying to judge Ann Walker's true feelings towards her, and even as their sexual relationship progressed, Anne was unsure whether Ann would agree to become her life-partner. Her diaries reveal torturous months of uncertainty and frustration. As for Ann, her mental health was fragile, and she also complained of physical pain. Often she did not get out of bed, or spent the day lying on the sofa, and she suffered from low self-esteem; sometimes she was very anxious and self-critical and uncertain of her own mind. Anne, whose own mental and physical health was robust (except, perhaps, for a problem with constipation), had heard about this in advance from Ann's relatives, but as their relationship progressed she became increasingly involved in helping Ann to cope. Did Anne Lister follow Ann Walker to the Lake District? In September 1832, Ann Walker went on a three-week trip to the Lake District with her friend and relative, Catherine Rawson. Anne Lister did not follow her there, and instead spent those weeks seeing to her business on the estate and coming up with plans for improving Shibden Hall. Before Ann left, Anne asked her if she'd be thinking of her while she was away. Ann said she would not forget, but Anne remained cautious about the future of the relationship. "Who knows how it may end," she wrote. "I shall be wary this time." At this point, the two women had not yet become physically affectionate, but they were becoming increasingly close. A few weeks beforehand, when Anne Lister broke an ivory book knife that had been a treasured gift to Ann from Catherine Rawson, she was apologetic, but said it would be a good excuse for giving her another as a present someday "which she hoped she would value as much as the one destroyed". Her love interest replied that she would value that gift even more than Catherine's. They spent the day together before Ann left, and reunited as soon as she returned. Did Anne Lister give Ann Walker a proposal with a six-month deadline? Anne Lister had been building a "chaumière" in the grounds of Shibden Hall, and this proved handy: Ann and Anne could use this private hut as their romantic sanctuary. One day they spent six hours here, and Anne Lister felt she had found the right time to bring up a more sold commitment. She asked Ann to give up all thought of ever leaving her, and of ever marrying a man. In response, Ann was open to the idea – but not yet ready to give a definite answer to the proposal. Realising that Ann was seriously considering the offer but that she needed more time, Anne offered her six months, setting the deadline on her own birthday on 3rd April. Did Ann Walker receive anonymous hate letters about Anne Lister? Yes! While we don't know their exact contents, we do know that Ann Walker began to receive anonymous letters which left her "much troubled". Anne had received this kind of letter for years, but it was a new experience for Ann. Had locals noted her increasingly close friendship with Anne? Or was it actually a member of her own family trying to warn her off? Did Mrs Priestley walk in on the two women? Exactly as we see in the TV series, Anne Lister's faithful servant John Booth was dispatched one evening to collect his mistress and bring her home, following a row at Shibden about Anne's recent habit of disappearing for hours and coming back late at night. Unfortunately, he accidentally went to the wrong house on the Lightcliffe family estate – and knocked on the Priestley's door instead. This alerted the Priestleys to the fact that Anne Lister had been spending her evenings with their relative Ann. Full of foreboding, Anne wrote in her diary: "They will talk us over and think something in the wind." Perhaps this was why, barely more than a week later, Mrs Priestley visited Ann and walked straight into the room without knocking. The two women had been "kissing and pressing" on the sofa in the drawing room with the blinds down and, though they jumped apart just in time, Mrs Priestley knew something was up. She threw some cross words at Anne and left in a huff. Surprisingly, Ann Walker "laughed" and seemed unbothered by the discovery. The two women went back to kissing, and as Anne wrote, "At last I got my right hand up her petticoats and after much fumbling thro' the opening of her drawers, and touched (first time) the hair and skin of queer." Did Eugenie really exist – and what about the servants of Shibden Hall? Anne Lister's French maid Eugenie Pierre did exist – but she wasn’t employed until a little later on in the story. Unlike the story we see on screen, she never crossed paths with Anne’s loyal servant George Playforth: the two of them never had an affair, and she was not pregnant with his child. Eugenie (played by Albane Courtois) was recruited after an extensive search for a “clever lady’s maid” who had to be “sufficiently fond of travelling to make the best of everything.” Unfortunately, Anne was disappointed with her new lady’s maid and they didn’t immediately get on. Anne considered Eugenie extremely rude, and was irritated to find that she was a seasick traveller. As for the Listers' coachman George Playforth, he had indeed been killed earlier in the year: he was shot in the head in June 1832 while scaring birds out of a tree for a gamekeeper to shoot. He died a few days later. Anne was upset by his death, but – being fascinated by anatomy and the brain – stayed to watch George's autopsy. The real John Booth (Thomas Howes) was Anne's trusted servant, and his son Joseph Booth (Ben Hunter) was also a servant – though at this point in 1832, he was not working at Shibden and was instead employed by a family near Langton. Elizabeth Cordingley (Rosie Cavaliero) was another trusted servant, and according to Anna Choma, she "had served for many years as Anne's lady's maid and had long-standing knowledge of her mistress's preference for women." Is the story of Sam Sowden true to life? One of Anne Lister's tenants was in fact called Samuel Sowden. But although he is played by Anthony Flanagan in the drama as a rebellious and violent man, the real Sam Sowden had great ambitions for his children; his son Sutcliffe Sowden went to Cambridge University. Young Sutcliffe went on to become a vicar and officiated at the marriage of Charlotte Brontë and Arthur Bell Nicholls in 1854. Read more: Gentleman Jack season 2 review – Suranne Jones is back with gusto Gentleman Jack season 2 airs Sundays at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Gentleman Jack season 1 is also available to stream in full on BBC iPlayer. Looking for something else to watch? Take a look at the rest of our Drama coverage or check out our TV Guide to find out what is on television this week. The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Gentleman Jack season 2 release date, cast and latest news
Writer and director Sally Wainwright tells RadioTimes.com what we can expect when Suranne Jones returns.
This week Suranne Jones reprises her role as the fourth-wall-breaking, real-life landowner and diarist Anne Lister, with the return of Gentleman Jack for season 2. The BBC One show premiered almost two years ago to critical acclaim, and a brand-new trailer has given fans a glimpse of what’s next for Anne after she exchanged vows with her lover Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle) in a private ceremony at the end of season 1 – and there certainly looks to be drama aplenty. The new clip shows the couple shacking up at Anne’s ancestral home of Shibden Hall as wife and wife, as well as finally touring Europe together. However, it seems that it won't be plain-sailing for the pair, as the trailer suggests that Ann will learn more about her wife's "fruity past" this season, adding to the mix The Larkins' Joanna Scanlan as Anne's "outrageous" (and apparently gossipy) former lover. With trouble brewing for the newlyweds, the new season will force Anne into a love triangle as her former lover Mariana Lawton (Lydia Leonard) makes a dramatic return. “I’m not the other woman. She is,” she tells Anne. Gentleman Jack creator Sally Wainwright previously teased that season 2 will put Anne and Ann’s romance to the test. "They move into Shibden together in series 2 and it's about how they negotiate their married life, conspicuously in public, and how they deal with their detractors and the effect that has on their relationship as well," she previously told Digital Spy. What’s more, the trailer teases local scandal as Anne’s business rivals circle and look to use the situation to their own advantage. Talking about season 2, director and screenwriter Sally Wainwright (Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax, Scott and Bailey) said in a statement: "I'm utterly delighted that we've been recommissioned because there are so many more big, bold stories to tell about Anne Lister and Ann Walker. "I mean, I'm quite overwhelmed to be honest," she added. "I think because it's been such an emotional reaction. That I wasn't really anticipating." She added: "Obviously it's had a big impact amongst gay women and the love for it is overwhelming, and that's so beautiful and exciting, but also so many straight women are feeling empowered by it as well. It's not just making gay women feel vindicated and empowered. "One of the big things for me that I've learned about Anne Lister, through the process of writing this, is that she just had really good mental health and she had a real healthy opinion of herself. She wasn't plagued with self doubt or lack of confidence, she was very lucky I think – she had very good, very good mental health. And that's what I find most inspiring and uplifting about her. "We've got this joke on set... If we weren't quite sure what the next step was, we would go, 'What would Anne Lister do?' And it really inspired us all. We've all got t-shirts now with it written on." And though she doesn't tell us where to buy that t-shirt, Wainwright does share some exciting details about season 2. Read on for everything you need to know. Gentleman Jack season 2 release date Gentleman Jack season 2 will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9pm on Sunday 10th April, with eight shiny new episodes for you to binge. New episodes will land weekly. Gentleman Jack star Sophie Rundle announced that filming had wrapped on season 2 back in October 2021. "Corrr it’s been a long time coming but after a year - a whole YEAR - we have FINALLY wrapped on Gentleman Jack s2! Big, enormous love to our absolutely incredible cast and crew who put in a Herculean effort to battle pandemics, loss, births, floods and plagues of locusts to bring this beautiful love story back to our screens," she penned on Instagram. "And big love to my wife, our team captain @suranne_jones who showed us all the way. And who knows how to drink cheap champagne in a trailer like a TROOPER." The initial plan was to commence filming season 2 in June 2020, but production was delayed due to COVID-19. "Reluctantly we have decided to delay the start of production of Gentleman Jack series two due to the ongoing COVID-19 emergency," the production company said in a statement. "Huge thanks to our cast and crew, and to our incredible, inspiring fans for their understanding. Sending everyone a bit of Anne Lister strength and energy at this difficult time." Gentleman Jack season 2 review: Suranne Jones is back with gusto Gentleman Jack season 2 cast Alongside Suranne Jones and Sophie Rundle, who play Anne Lister and her wife Ann in the show, other returning characters include Marian Lister (Gemma Whelan), Lady Vere Hobart (Jodhi May), Elizabeth Sutherland (Katherine Kelly) and Captain George Sutherland (Derek Riddell). In addition, Mariana Lawton (Lydia Leonard), Aunt Ann Walker (Stephanie Cole), William Priestly (Peter Davison), Eliza Priestley (Amelia Bullmore), Christopher Rawson (Vincent Franklin), Jeremiah Rawson (Shaun Dooley), Elizabeth Cordingley (Rosie Cavaliero), Samuel Washington (Joe Armstrong), Ben Sowden (Anthony Flanagan) and James Holt (George Costigan) will be returning for season 2. The Larkins' Joanna Scanlan has also joined the cast as Isabella "Tib" Norcliffe, Anne's "outrageous former lover" (above), which probably won't go down so well with Ann. Gentleman Jack season 2 trailer The BBC has released the first full-length trailer for Gentleman Jack season 2, giving fans a first look at trouble in paradise for Anne and Ann as they settle at Shibden Hall as wife and wife. The clip also shows the pair finally touring Europe together, with Ann telling Anne: “I’ve never seen you like this. So happy.” Anne’s bubble is soon burst, however, as her former lover Mariana Lawton (Lydia Leonard) makes a dramatic return and attempts to stake a claim to Anne. “I’m not the other woman. She is,” she tells her, speaking of course about Ann. "She hasn't got a clue about the vast rich tapestry of your fruity past," says BAFTA Film Awards 2022 winner Joanna Scanlan as her new character Isabella ‘Tib’ Norcliffe, another of Anne’s former lovers. Meanwhile, the trailer makes clear that Anne and Ann have become the subject of local gossip, with Anne’s business rivals looking to use the situation to their own advantage. Watch below: View oEmbed on the source website Will Anne Lister's aunt and father be in season 2? Anne's father Jeremy Lister (Timothy West) and her beloved Aunt Anne (Gemma Jones) are set to return for Gentleman Jack season 2. However, if the series continues at the same pace and follows Lister's real-life history, theoretically we would have two major deaths towards the end of season 2, given that both Jeremy and Anna died in 1836. But don't count them out just yet. "I haven't made too many choices yet, but I don't really want to lose that character," Wainwright tells us of Aunt Anne. "I think both her aunt and her father are really wonderful characters, and the dynamic around the dining table – I think that seems to work very well. There's a nice family comedy in there with those different generations and with Marion [Gemma Whelan] of course, who's wonderful. So no, I don't lose characters unless I have to." She adds: "There's even an argument that it's telly and I don't have to! Just because they die in real life it doesn't mean I have to bump them off in the drama – if they're useful characters." Gentleman Jack season 2 plot: What happened next with Anne Lister and Ann Walker's marriage? Suranne Jones is set to return as Anne Lister, with Sophie Rundle as Ann Walker. The first season covered two years of Anne Lister and Ann Walker's lives, beginning in 1832 and ended with their self-styled marriage in 1834. And with the TV drama picking up where it left of at the end of season 1, there is plenty of story to tell... The official synopsis for season two reads: "Yorkshire, 1834. "All eyes are on Anne Lister and Ann Walker as they set up home together at Shibden Hall as wife and wife, determined to combine their estates and become a power couple. "Anne Lister’s entrepreneurial spirit frightens the locals as much as her unconventional love life and, with Halifax on the brink of revolution, her refusal to keep a low profile becomes provocative and dangerous." Season 1's finale ends with a quiet – but touching – scene. Anne Lister and Ann Walker leave the church in York as 'newlyweds', having cemented their commitment to each other by taking the sacrament and privately exchanging rings; the two of them start bickering affectionately about where to go next. This is an indication of things to come. "I didn't want it to be to schmaltzy, I wanted to show that when people get married they start bickering quite quickly," Wainwright jokes, explaining her decision to end the drama on this note. "And so I thought it was very real, I thought it was very funny. "I also thought it was very true to their relationship, which was always quite dysfunctional after they made this commitment to one another. It was quite a difficult marriage to negotiate. Think of the external factors, the external forces that were always stacked against them. Nobody wanted them to be together except themselves, and that gives us lots of interesting material to explore in the second season. "As soon as people knew that they'd moved in together, there was a lot of opposition to it. And it had an effect on them – it was always going to be a difficult marriage, it was always going to be tricky." Wainwright adds: "What I think is interesting is they were quite equally matched, in an odd sort of way. So even though Anne Lister seems like this absolute powerhouse with this iron will, Ann Walker had a real streak of stubbornness – and of course she had all the money. So there was a real interesting dynamic and a real interesting power dynamic between them, which I'm really looking forward to exploring a bit more fully." But first, there will be the honeymoon. Season 1 took us to the royal court in Denmark, but season 2 will involve a trip to Europe and the Alps. Anne Lister was, after all, a keen traveller and mountaineer who was determined to share her passion with Ann Walker. "After their self-styled marriage ceremony in York, they went travelling," Wainwright says. "First they went to North Yorkshire, and then they went down to Geneva and they spent some time walking around the foothills of Mont Blanc." After weather prevented their ascent up the mountain, the duo toured France and visited Paris. Then it was back to Anne Lister's so-called "shabby Shibden" and life with the Lister family... What next for Thomas Sowden and his wife? Season 1 of Gentleman Jack ends with two weddings – and a cliffhanger for season 2. Will Thomas Sowden (Tom Lewis) get away with murder? Or will the truth about Sam Sowden's grisly fate be revealed? There are no clues in the diary, because the real Samuel Sowden was not (so far as we know) fed to the pigs by his own son. So what will happen with this storyline? "That'll come to the offing," Wainwright says. She adds: "There's some really interesting stuff in the journals, in the diaries, there was always a lot of shenanigans with the servants one way or another. So it's just choosing the right stories, really, to try and reflect a bit of what was going on in real life – but maybe taking a few liberties with them as well." What real-life historical events will we see in season 2 of Gentleman Jack? This was the time of the industrial revolution, and that's something we'll see highlighted in series two of Gentleman Jack – beyond the discussions of coal mining on Lister land. "It was happening right there on Anne Lister's doorstep in Halifax," Wainwright says. "And we're going to go into 1835. And there was a big election in 1835, and it was known as the window-breaking election, and that was because it was the rise of the working classes, and the landed interest like Anne Lister was becoming less and less powerful. "The window breaking in Yorkshire was really violent, and places like Halifax got really smashed up by the radicals who were really agitating for proper political reform. Anne Lister's class was on the receiving end of that. I think it was probably the closest the country's come to a second violent revolution, so I really want to try and weave that into the bigger backdrop. I want to show more of Halifax and the big backdrop of that world. It actually would have been a very volatile political environment – and a particularly volatile place as well." Will there be a third season of Gentleman Jack? No news yet. But Sally Wainwright is 100% up for making a third season – and future seasons after that. "Yes, yes, I would like to," she confirms. "I'd like to go all the way to the end of her life. "But it's quite a tricky thing to do, and I'm worried people might get cross if I kill her off... that's a conversation I will have to have further down the line!" If Gentleman Jack stays true to real-life events (SPOILERS!), Anne Lister would die in 1840 at the age of 49. And if – theoretically – each future series covers another two years of her life, that would place her death at the end of series four. The tragedy occurred away from Shibden Hall, when Anne and Ann were travelling through the Russian Empire. "I'd certainly like to dramatise the trip that her and Walker did in Russia and down into Georgia, it must have been a really exciting thing to do," Wainwright says. "Very dramatic as well, when Anne Lister did die and Ann Walker brought her body back. "It took her six months to bring her body back... she took her body from Georgia to Moscow where her body was embalmed and then she brought her back to be buried in Halifax parish church. "To me that's such a huge act of love and such a brave thing to do. But that's much further down the line..." And speaking to RadioTimes.com at the South Bank Show Awards, Marion actress Gemma Whelan said she was excited by the prospect of working on Gentleman Jack for years to come: "Delighted. Absolutely delighted. What a thing to be a part of." Fingers crossed for even more Gentleman Jack! Gentleman Jack will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9pm on Sunday 10th April. Season 1 is available to stream in full on BBC iPlayer. Looking for something else to watch? Take a look at the rest of our Drama coverage or check out our TV Guide to find out what is on television this week.
Who was the real Oswald Mosley? The story behind Sam Claflin's Peaky Blinders character
The notorious political figure is back for season 6.
After more than two years, Peaky Blinders finally returns for its sixth and final season tonight (Sunday 27th February) – and it's shaping up to be an epic conclusion to the beloved Birmingham gangster saga. Most of the Peaky Blinders cast – including Cillian Murphy, Sophie Rundle and Tom Hardy – are all back for the final run, in addition to a couple of new faces, most notably including Stephen Graham But one other cast member who is returning to the fold is Sam Claflin, reprising his role as real-life historical figure Oswald Mosley, who was previously introduced in season 5. Ahead of his introduction to the show back in 2019, the show's writer and creator Steven Knight called Mosley's language "chilling" as he taps into "the rise of nationalism, populism, fascism, racism – a huge sweep across the world". Read on for everything you need to know about the real Oswald Mosley. Who was Oswald Mosley? Oswald Mosley was a British politician who rose to prominence in the 1920s as an MP. In the 1930s he founded and led the British Union of Fascists. Did Oswald Mosley fight in the First World War? Born in London's Mayfair in 1869 into a wealthy family, young Oswald was raised mainly by his mother and grandparents after his parents' separation. Mosley attended prep school and Winchester College, and then joined the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst as a cadet. It was not long before war broke out. In 1914 he was commissioned into the cavalry unit the 16th The Queen's Lancers. But he was keen to see action, and – realising that horseback fighting would not be central to this war – he soon volunteered to join the newly-formed Royal Flying Corps and gain a pilot's licence. In 1915, he was showing off in front of his mother at Shoreham Airport when he crashed his plane and badly broke his ankle. Despite that injury, Lieutenant Mosley was deployed to the trenches on the Western Front with his cavalry regiment – but his leg failed to heal, and the decision was made to send him home. Mosley spent the rest of the war behind a desk in the Ministry of Munitions and the Foreign Office. Still, his experience of war had left him disenchanted (much like the fictional Tommy Shelby). Mosley later wrote of watching people celebrate Armistice Day: "Smooth, smug people, who had never fought or suffered, seemed to the eyes of youth - at that moment age-old with sadness, weariness and bitterness - to be eating, drinking, laughing on the graves of our companions. I stood aside from the delirious throng; silent and alone, ravaged by memory. Driving purpose had begun; there must be no more war. I dedicated myself to politics." Which political party did Oswald Mosley MP belong to? Mosley was just 21 years old when he was elected as MP for Harrow in the 1918 general election. In Parliament he spoke of the need to avoid any future war, and gained a reputation as an orator and political player with extreme self-confidence. Although initially elected as a Conservative MP, he soon clashed with the Party over Irish policy and quit to become an Independent MP, holding his seat through two more general elections. As his political views developed, Mosley then joined the Labour Party and decided to contest Neville Chamberlain's seat in Birmingham – only to be defeated in the 1924 election. Mosley spent the next two years working with the Independent Labour Party to develop the Birmingham Proposals, attracting support by attacking the government for forcing down workers' wages. In 1926 he managed to slip back into Parliament, winning a by-election in Smethwick. He was now a Labour MP, and had also officially become "Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley of Ancoats, Sixth Baronet" after inheriting the family title. View oEmbed on the source website Oswald Mosley was made Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in the new Labour government in 1929, and some within the party even considered him a potential Prime Minister. By 1931, Mosley had come to disagree with government policy, resigning from the Labour Party. Instead he founded the New Party just in time for the 1931 general election – in which he lost his seat. The New Party became the British Union of Fascists in 1932, and Mosley became its leader. The rise of the British Union of Fascists After his defeat in the 1931 election, Oswald Mosley was – yet again – no longer an MP. However, by this point he was a public figure, and the leader of his own political party: the British Union of Fascists (BUF). With its distinctive "flash and circle" flag and its charismatic leader, the BUF quickly built up a sizeable following as fascist ideas spread across Europe. Its official newspaper was called The Blackshirt, like Benito Mussolini's militia in fascist Italy, and its members wore black uniforms. Despite Mosley's earlier socialist views, the BUF was virulently anti-communist. It was protectionist (i.e. wanted to restrict imports from outside the British Empire) and isolationist, and proposed replacing parliamentary democracy with executives elected by specific industries and professional interest groups – a system modelled partly on the Italian fascism of Mussolini, whose ideas and leadership Mosley aped. One notable early supporter of the BUF was Lord Rothermere, a newspaper magnate and admirer of Nazi Germany whose Associated Newspapers Ltd owned the Daily Mail and Daily Mirror. In 1933, the Daily Mail ran with the notorious headline: "Hurrah for the Blackshirts!" praising the British fascist movement. However, this was not to last. In 1934, as 12,000 supporters attended the Olympia Rally, the BUF's paramilitary wing (known as the Fascist Defence Force) violently attacked and beat up anti-fascist protesters. The Daily Mail withdrew support and Lord Rothermere withdrew funding. From 1934, the British Union of Fascists increasingly embraced antisemitism and hatred of Jews. Membership dropped, but a hard core of supporters remained. At rallies and marches they gave the Hitler salute. And then, in 1936, came the famous Battle of Cable Street – when anti-fascists in London's East End prevented the BUF from marching through their neighbourhood. Flyers asked counter-protesters to turn up and "answer Mosley's provocation" and "demonstrate against fascism in Spain and Britain – the butcher General Franco and the Jew baiter Mosley," and on a Sunday in October various demonstrators clashed with the BUF and with the Metropolitan Police who had been sent to protect the fascists' march. The BUF never won any parliamentary seats, and only elected a handful of local councillors. However, as Nazism grew in Germany, the BUF once again began to pick up supporters – thanks to its "peace" campaign to prevent a second World War by backing the Nazis. Membership grew and Mosley's fascist rallies became increasingly popular. Who were Oswald Mosley's wives Lady Cynthia and Diana Mitford? Oswald Mosley married his first wife in 1920. Lady Cynthia Curzon was the daughter of the famous Viceroy of India (and later Foreign Secretary), and their wedding was a society event, with guests including King George V and Queen Mary. However, as Cynthia and Oswald's eldest son Nicholas Mosley later wrote in his biography, during the following years Oswald Mosley had numerous affairs – sleeping with his wife's youngest sister and with her stepmother and with other women. Lady Cynthia initially shared her husband's politics, and in 1929 she was elected as a Labour MP, joining Mosley at Westminster (even as they were mocked in the press for living a luxury lifestyle while campaigning for socialism). Like Mosley, she became frustrated with her party's response to high levels of unemployment, and when her husband formed the New Party in 1931 she also joined. However, she increasingly rejected Mosley's political views and did not stand for election again. In 1933, Cynthia died of peritonitis at the age of 34, and so Mosley married his mistress Diana Guinness (née Mitford). They secretly tied the knot in Germany in 1936, at the home of Nazi Propaganda leader Joseph Goebbels, with Adolf Hitler as a special guest, and only went public with the marriage in 1938 on the birth of their first child. Mosley's new wife was one of the six famous Mitford sisters. These high-profile siblings, who became celebrities of their time, were well-known for their wildly different political views – ranging between communism and fascism. Diana Mitford and her sister Unity were especially close to Hitler, while Jessica was a communist (running off to fight fascists in the Spanish Civil War) and Nancy a self-proclaimed socialist. What happened during World War Two? In 1940, the British Union of Fascists was banned by the government and Mosley was interned for much of the Second World War in Holloway Prison, alongside his wife and hundreds of other British fascists. By the time he was released, Mosley's political movement was dead. He had been politically disgraced by his association with fascism, Mussolini and Hitler, and would never again attract such support. What happened after the Second World War? After the war, Oswald Mosley formed the Union Movement, calling for a single nation-state to cover the whole continent of Europe. While many turned out at his rallies, he was also met with strong opposition and distrust. In 1951 he left the UK to live abroad – but that was not the last of it. Mosley tried to make a comeback in 1959, standing in the general election on a virulently anti-immigration platform. He called for forced repatriation of Caribbean immigrants, and a ban on mixed-race marriages. He was back in 1966, again making a bid for Parliament – but with no success. Instead he returned to France, where he worked on his autobiography and died in 1980. Who is Oswald Mosley's son Max Mosley? Oswald Mosley had five children: three with Lady Cynthia, and two with his second wife Diana Mitford. His youngest child, Max Mosley, was born in 1940 and will be a familiar name to many. He is the former president of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the governing body for Formula One and other international motorsports. Read more: Peaky Blinders director shares behind-the-scenes season 6 teaser images Peaky Blinders boss on season 6: 'Tommy's biggest enemy is himself' Peaky Blinders' Cillian Murphy teases "intense" and "gothic" final season Peaky Blinders is available to stream on BBC iPlayer and Netflix. Read our guide to the best series on Netflix, check out our Drama hub for more news, interviews and features or find something to watch with our TV guide. The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
How to watch and stream Chernobyl online
Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson and Jessie Buckley lead the cast of this five-part mini-series about the catastrophic 1986 nuclear disaster.
Sky and HBO co-production Chernobyl brings "the untold true" story of the world's worst nuclear disaster to the fore, dramatising the events surrounding what happened that fateful night. The five-part drama series also follows the Soviet government's response, and explores the terrible repercussions of the tragedy, which lasted for years. Jarred Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson and Jessie Buckley lead the cast in this nuclear disaster drama. Talking about the inspiration behind Chernobyl, writer Craig Mazin told Sky News: "Chernobyl, this series, stemmed from a simple question. How did this happen? We know what happened, but not how." He continued: "This is a story about humanity and the cost of lives; a story about the worst that humans can do, but also the best." Read on for everything you need to know about how to watch the drama series and whether it's available to watch on Netflix. How to watch Chernobyl in the UK Chernobyl is a Sky original drama made in co-production with US broadcaster HBO. For those wondering how to watch HBO in the UK, some of the channel's shows (like Game of Thrones) are accessible through Sky Atlantic and NOW TV. UK viewers can therefore watch Chernobyl on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV, but it's also available to buy on Amazon Prime Video. Find out more about how to sign up for Sky here. You can watch Chernobyl on Amazon Prime Video for £9.99. Is Chernobyl available to watch on Netflix? It's bad news for Netflix subscribers. Unfortunately, Chernobyl is not available to watch on the streaming service. However, as detailed above, there are plenty of other options: the drama series is available to watch on Sky Atlantic, NOW TV and Amazon Prime Video. What is Chernobyl about? Chernobyl is a tale of "lies and conspiracy" as well as "courage and conviction", focusing on the nuclear accident in Ukraine in 1986 which has had such far-reaching consequences for the Soviet Union, Europe and the world. Over five episodes, the drama explores how and why the accident happened, and tells "the shocking, remarkable stories" of the men and women who risked their lives (and often actually lost their lives) to limit the scale of the disaster. Written by Craig Mazin and directed by The Walking Dead’s Johan Renck, Chernobyl promises to “bring to life the true story of the unprecedented tragedy”. Who's in the cast of Chernobyl? As seen in these photos released exclusively to RadioTimes.com, The Crown and Mad Men actor Jared Harris plays Valery Legasov, a leading Soviet nuclear physicist who is one of the first to grasp the scope of the nuclear disaster. He is chosen by the Kremlin to investigate the accident, but becomes bitterly disillusioned with the failure of the authorities to face up to the design flaws in the reactors. Stellan Skarsgård (below) plays Soviet Deputy Prime Minister Boris Shcherbina, who is assigned by the Kremlin to lead the government commission on Chernobyl in the hours immediately following the accident. Apple Tree Yard actress Emily Watson portrays Ulana Khomyuk, a Soviet nuclear physicist committed to solving the mystery of what led to the Chernobyl disaster and getting to the bottom of this deadly accident. Jessie Buckley, who rose to fame in talent contest I’d Do Anything and recently starred in War and Peace and The Woman in White, will play a character called Lyudmilla Ignatenko – the wife of firefighter Vasily Ignatenko, who was one of the first on the scene when the reactor exploded. On joining the cast, she said: “It is a real honour to be part of this important piece of work and share with the world the real truth about the unbelievable bravery and sacrifice that the people of Chernobyl made in order to stop an even greater disaster. I feel incredibly humbled.” The cast also includes Adrian Rawlins (Harry Potter, Innocent, Girlfriends), Paul Ritter (Cold Feet, Friday Night Dinner) and Ralph Ineson – best known for his roles as Amycus Carrow in Harry Potter and Dagmer Cleftjaw in Game of Thrones. Watch Chernobyl on NOW TV for FREE with a 7-day free trial Chernobyl trailer Yes, there is a trailer for Sky and HBO's co-production Chernobyl. Watch below: View oEmbed on the source website Has Chernobyl won any major awards? In July 2019, Chernobyl was nominated for a staggering 19 Emmy awards. The mini-series has been hugely well-received, both by critics and viewers – in fact, the final episode was watched by an audience of 4.12 million, making it the first Sky original to reach an audience of over 4 million. Chernobyl went on to win a 10 Emmy awards including 3 from the Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special, Outstanding Limited Series and Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special. In January 2020, Chernobyl picked up the National Television Award for Best New Drama.
Meet the cast of Call the Midwife Christmas 2021 special
Helen George, Leonie Elliott and the stars of Call the Midwife return for another festive outing in 2021 and a new season in 2022.
Call the Midwife is finally returning to our screens following that dramatic season 10 finale. From the “magical” Call the Midwife Christmas special airing on Christmas Day 2021, to an “ambitious” season 11 arriving in January 2022, there’s certainly plenty to get excited about. “I always love the Christmas episodes,” Fred Buckle star Cliff Parisi recently told RadioTimes.com, teasing what to expect ahead of the festive special. “Everyone puts their best clothes on, and we all brush up nicely, we all get together and have a little Christmas mince pie and a sherry and it’s nice. “And the atmosphere goes through the cast,” he continued. “And we all really experience this lovely make-believe Christmas that’s set in the ’60s, and it’s quite magical!” Returning for the BBC drama's festive special in 2021 are all the usual suspects including Helen George, Leonie Elliott, Jenny Agutter, Judy Parfitt and Stephen McGann. Cast member Miriam Margolyes will be reprising her role as Sister Mildred in the special, following her absence from the 10th season. The star was forced to take a break from Call the Midwife earlier in 2021 after COVID-19 travel restrictions prevented her from getting back to the UK for filming. The cast of Call the Midwife recently teased a “big” mystery storyline coming up in season 11 that’s set to shake up proceedings. When asked whether this could mark the end of the road for any characters in the show, Agutter, who plays Sister Julienne, told RadioTimes.com: “I think people are on the edge. I think you might. It really does look like it.” Intriguing. Fans will have to stay tuned to find out which cast members might be on their way out in 2022. In the meantime, here are the actors you’ll see on screen in the Call the Midwife Christmas special 2021 – and the characters they play. Helen George plays Nurse Trixie Franklin Who is Nurse Trixie Franklin? Trixie is a capable and talented midwife who is now one of the most experienced members of the team. In previous series she has battled alcoholism, and we've seen her put in the work to stay sober. She is also extremely fashion-conscious and loves beautiful things. What else has Helen George been in? Helen George has been with Call the Midwife since day one. Her other TV appearances have included Red Dwarf, Nativity Rocks!, Doctors and Hotel Babylon, and in 2015 she came sixth in Strictly Come Dancing with her pro partner Aljaz Skorjanec. Helen actually also met her partner Jack Ashton when they co-starred in Call the Midwife; he played the Reverend Tom until the end of series seven and they had a daughter, Wren, in 2017. Leonie Elliott plays Nurse Lucille Anderson Who is Nurse Lucille Anderson? Originally from Jamaica, Lucille travelled alone to England in 1960 to train as a nurse. After she qualified, she became the first West Indian midwife ever to join Nonnatus House – arriving in the snowy first episode of series seven. Since then she has gained a reputation as a talented, level-headed midwife with a sense of humour and a kind heart – but she has faced racism from some of her patients and their families. Lucille has a strong Christian faith, and a fledgeling courtship with local mechanic Cyril (Zephryn Taitte). What else has Leonie Elliott been in? Call the Midwife was a breakout role for the young actress, but she's also appeared in the Black Mirror episode Hated in the Nation and TV movie Killed by My Debt. Leonie Elliott's other credits include in Casualty, Boogie Man and Damned, and Lenny Henry’s BBC comedy drama Danny and the Human Zoo. As a child actress she appeared on stage in The Lion King and Annie. Stephen McGann plays Dr Patrick Turner Who is Dr Patrick Turner? The local GP, who works closely with Nonnatus House. He is devoted to his job and works tirelessly to serve the people of Poplar. Dr Turner is married to Shelagh and has four children. What else has Stephen McGann been in? Stephen McGann is actually married to Call the Midwife creator and writer Heidi Thomas. He is also the brother of Doctor Who actor Paul McGann, and like his character Dr Turner he is a man of science – having studied for a Masters in Science Communication and written a book, Flesh and Blood, based on the personal and medical history of his family. McGann previously played Sean Reynolds in Emmerdale. Laura Main plays Shelagh Turner Who is Shelagh Turner? When we first met her, she was Sister Bernadette – but then she gave up being a nun and left the Order to marry Dr Turner. The Turners now have four children together (adopted and biological), and Shelagh continues to work closely with Nonnatus House; she often steps in to work as a midwife or lend a hand when help is needed. What else has Laura Main been in? Laura Main's acting career has mainly been in theatre, after she first starred in a production of The Sound of Music at the age of 11; recently she played Princess Fiona in the UK tour of Shrek The Musical. On TV, she's played DC Alison Bain in ITV’s Murder City and starred as Rebecca Howlett in TV mini-series The Mill. Linda Bassett plays Nurse Phyllis Crane Who is Nurse Phyllis Crane? Nurse Phyllis Crane is a bit of a battleaxe but has a dry wit. She a diligent, dedicated senior midwife who will do what it takes to protect and serve her patients. Phyllis is particularly close to Trixie, and also leads a group of Scouts. What else has Linda Bassett been in? Linda Basset was nominated for a BAFTA for her performance as Ella Khan in the 1999 film East Is East – a role she reprised in sequel West Is West. Since then, she's played Malka Rosen in Spies of Warsaw, Queenie in Lark Rise to Candleford, and Mrs Smike in The Life and Adventures of Nick Nickleby. Other credits include The Reader, Calendar Girls, and Sense & Sensibility. Jenny Agutter plays Sister Julienne Who is Sister Julienne? The big boss at Nonnatus House. She is highly-respected by her team of midwives, who trust her judgement and guidance. Mother Mildred is her superior, but within Nonnatus House she leads the nuns of the Order. What else has Jenny Agutter been in? Having begun her career as a child actress in The Railway Children and East of Sudan, Jenny Agutter won an Emmy for her performance in 1971's The Snow Goose and a BAFTA for 1977 movie Equus. She starred in Logan's Run, Amy, An American Werewolf in London, and many more – but having quit Hollywood in the 1990s, she moved home to Britain and appeared in The Railway Children again – this time as the mother in a 2000 TV adaptation. Her more recent credits have included Sometimes Always Never (alongside Bill Nighy), Queen of the Desert, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Avengers Assemble. Judy Parfitt plays Sister Monica Joan Who is Sister Monica Joan? Sister Monica Joan has been a part of Call the Midwife since she opened the doors of Nonnatus House to welcome us inside for episode one. She was one of the first women to qualify as a midwife in Britain, but is now retired and feeling the effects of dementia. Sister Monica Joan continues to live at Nonnatus House where her former colleagues care for her with love (and sometimes with exasperation). She is distressed by her limitations and by her mental confusion, and needs to feel useful. In season 10, she experiences a spiritual crisis. What else has Judy Parfitt been in? Judy Parfitt's BAFTA-nominated performances include Maria Thins in Girl With A Pearl Earring and Mildred Layton in The Jewel In The Crown. The 84-year-old's more recent credits include Up the Women, The Game, and Little Dorrit – in which she played Mrs Clennam. Megan Cusack plays Nancy Corrigan Who is Nancy Corrigan? Pupil midwife Nancy Corrigan comes to train at Nonnatus House as part of her studies. She is Irish, and has been raised by Catholic nuns in an orphanage. Nancy is friendly and chatty, but sometimes she doesn't read the room. What else has Megan Cusack been in? This is one of her first on-screen roles, after an appearance in Doctors and a role in a filmed version of Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard. If you're wondering if Megan is a member of the famous Cusack acting family, yes she is. Her aunts include Sinead and Niamh Cusack, and her uncle is Jeremy Irons. Zephryn Taitte plays Cyril Robinson Who is Cyril Robinson? In series eight, Phyllis hired a mechanic to fix her car – and while working on the car outside Nonnatus House, Cyril first laid eyes on Lucille and fell head-over-heels for her. He is an immigrant from Guyana and spends his evenings studying civil engineering, and likes to enjoy the West Indian social scene. Cyril and Lucille have been enjoying a slow courtship, and she's encouraged him to find his voice as a preacher. What else has Zephryn Taitte been in? He played Dorian in the TV series Brothers with No Game, and has also appeared in The Hour and Doctors. Zephryn Taitte’s stage work includes Nora: A Doll's House, Trust, and The Tempest. Ella Bruccoleri plays Sister Frances Who is Sister Frances? Sister Frances was a newcomer to Nonnatus House in season eight alongside Sister Hilda. At that time, this young nun had only just taken her vow of obedience and joined the Order when she was sent to serve God as a midwife in Poplar. Sister Frances was scared and uncertain of herself, but has now begun to gain confidence, and in season 10 she really came into her own. What else has Ella Bruccoleri been in? The actress has actually already played a nun, in an episode of The Last Kingdom – and she made an appearance as a maid in the TV series Genius. Fenella Woolgar plays Sister Hilda Who is Sister Hilda? A relatively recent arrival from the Order's mother house, who has been sent to Nonnatus House to work as a midwife. She was already familiar with the East End and had been in the WAAF during the war, and she had been a nurse before – so she arrived full of confidence. She had to rein in her bossy tendencies once she arrived in Poplar... nevertheless, Sister Hilda remains a practical, enthusiastic and jolly sort of person. What else has Fenella Woolgar been in? She recently played Margaret Hamilton in Renée Zellweger's Judy Garland biopic, Judy – and has appeared in the movies Victoria & Abdul and Mr Jones. Having first caught the public's attention in in Stephen Fry’s film Bright Young Things back in 2003, she has since starred in Home Fires, Harlots, Mr Turner, Scoop, Vera Drake, and War & Peace. Fenella Woolgar also took on the role of Agatha Christie in Doctor Who. Georgie Glen plays Miss Higgins Who is Miss Higgins? Miss Higgins is the receptionist at Dr Turner's surgery. She is formidable and bossy, but is also kind-hearted. She has slowly bonded with Nurse Phyllis Crane. What else has Georgie Glen been in? Georgie Glen is one of those actresses whose face has been everywhere. Recently, she's played Princess Diana's grandmother Ruth Lady Fermoy in The Crown, as well as playing Lady Grenford in Hetty Feather, Pat in Sally4Ever, Sue in Behind her Eyes, Rose Kennedy in Oscar-nominated movie Jackie, and the Abbess in Les Misérables. She also put in a long stint as Head of History Audrey McFall in Waterloo Road. Cliff Parisi plays Fred Buckle Who is Fred Buckle? A handyman-turned-shopkeeper. He is married to Violet, and they've now been joined by orphaned young man Reggie, who has Down's Syndrome. The midwives can always count on Fred for help, no matter what. What else has Cliff Parisi been in? The actor's most famous role is as Rick "Minty" Peterson in EastEnders, a role he held for eight years. Since then he's appeared in Hollyoaks, Midsomer Murders, and Shakespeare & Hathaway. He also starred in 2019's I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! (though he didn't get very far). Annabelle Apsion plays Violet Buckle Who is Violet Buckle? Back in series four, Violet – a widow without children of her own – married Fred, and in series six Reggie joined the family. Violet is a dressmaker who has her own shop and is deeply involved in the local community, organising events and festivals and always trying to help out, and now she's taken things one step further by becoming a Councillor. What else has Annabelle Apsion been in? The actress starred as Monica Gallagher in Shameless and as Joy Wilton in Soldier Soldier. For Christmas 2018 she was on TV as Betty Calloway in Torvill & Dean, and in recent years she's appeared in The Village, Holby City, The Halcyon, Father Brown, and Doc Martin. Daniel Laurie plays Reggie Jackson Who is Reggie Jackson? Reggie's first appearance in Call the Midwife came in series six. His mother had recently died, leaving him orphaned, and the nuns and the community stepped in to help him. He has Down's Syndrome, and is now the ward of Fred and Violet Buckle; together they are a loving and affectionate family. In the Christmas special 2020, he becomes fascinated by Percival's Circus. What else has Daniel Laurie been in? Recently he's played Sheemie in The Dark Tower, Adam Beecher in Vera, and Zach in Finding Alice (alongside Keeley Hawes). In the TV series Back in 2016, he played the role of Jamie in the TV series Stella, and two years before that he led the cast of the Radio 4 adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Barnaby Rudge. Miriam Margolyes plays Mother Mildred Who is Mother Mildred? Initially described as “a forthright and indefatigable sister from the Order,” Sister Mildred became Mother Mildred when she was chosen by the nuns as their new Mother Superior (leaving Sister Julienne extremely relieved to escape back to Poplar without having to take on the top job). Since arriving back from Hong Kong in the 2018 Christmas special, Mother Mildred has made sporadic and memorable appearances; she has a big personality and a sense of humour, and is also extremely chatty. She didn't appear in the Christmas special 2020, but she remains part of the show. What else has Miriam Margolyes been in? Many people will recognise her first and foremost as Professor Sprout from the Harry Potter movies – the Professor of Herbology and Head of Hufflepuff House. Miriam Margolyes won a Bafta for her role in The Age of Innocence (1993), and has also starred in Bucket, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Trollied, Rake, and Bottersnikes & Gumbles. She was also the Nurse in Romeo + Juliet (with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes). Alice Brown plays Angela Turner Who is Angela Turner? Patrick and Shelagh Turner's daughter. She was adopted as a baby in series four, gaining an older brother in Timothy Turner (Max Macmillan); since then, the family has expanded to include a new baby brother and another adopted sister, May. What else has Alice Brown been in? Alice has been playing little Angela Turner since she was only eight months old. Back on series six, Alice's dad told Radio Times how she ended up involved: "Annabel, my wife, just knew someone on the production and Alice’s arrival coincided with the storyline. It simply started from there." He added: "Do I now have any interest in her being a child actor in any other way? Zero interest. To be honest, we will simply enjoy playing the episodes back to her when she is older, and embarrassing her on her wedding day, and of course she now has quite a nice nest egg in her savings account.” April Rae Hoang plays May Who is May? May Tang first arrived in the 2018 Christmas special, in the arms of Miriam Margolyes' Mother Mildred who turned up at Nonnatus House with a group of Chinese child refugees who'd been sent to the UK for adoption. Sadly, May's placement fell through and her family weren't able to collect her – leaving Patrick and Shelagh Turner to take her in as a foster child. They then decided to adopt her as their daughter, although in series nine there was an unexpected development when her biological mother re-emerged and refused to sign away her parental rights; the adoption has yet to be finalised. May is best friends with her sister, Angela, who is about the same age. What else has April Rae Hoang been in? Call the Midwife is her first on-screen appearance. Max Macmillan plays Timothy Turner Who is Timothy Turner? The only child of Patrick Turner and his late wife. Since his father remarried Shelagh, he's gained three younger siblings: Angela, May, and Teddy. Timothy is returning for the Christmas special 2021 after heading off to university at the end of season 10. What else has Max Macmillan been in? The young actor is a long-time star of Call the Midwife, having first appeared in the 2012 Christmas special. Aside from this role, he has played Peter Stemp in 2019 movie The Song of Names. Olly Rix plays Matthew Aylward Who is Matthew Aylward? Matthew was first introduced as a guest star in season 10. In the first episode, his wife Fiona Awylward gave birth at the Lady Emily Clinic. Trixie encouraged Matthew to be more involved in the childbirth process, and to bond with his newborn son. In the second episode (spoiler alert!), Fiona was tragically diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, and died shortly afterwards. Newly-widowed Matthew returns again in episode four, when he invites Trixie to the baby's christening – and in episode five, when he calls her for help – and in episode six, when he makes an unexpected visit to Nonnatus House. Helen George recently hinted at more "obstacles to overcome" for Trixie and George in season 11, so he's definitely set to return. Interesting. What else has Olly Rix been in? Olly Rix starred as Edward Stafford in The Spanish Princess, and as Bones in Our Girl. He was DI Harry Sawyer in WPC 56, David in Of Kings and Prophets, Navas in The Musketeers and Cartwright in Death Comes to Pemberley. The Call the Midwife Christmas 2021 special will air BBC One on 25th December 2021 at 8pm. Season 11 will arrive in 2022. Call the Midwife seasons 1-10 are available on BBC iPlayer. Take a look at our TV Guide to find out what else is on.
From Honoré Police Station to the "shack" to Catherine's Bar: here's where Death in Paradise is filmed in Guadeloupe.
It’s a great time to be a Death in Paradise fan. Not only do we have the Death in Paradise Christmas special to look forward to in December 2021, but we’ve also got the hotly-anticipated season 11 coming early in 2022. Looking at the Caribbean island on which Death in Paradise is set, it’s hard to imagine how anyone works up enough anger to actually murder someone – when they could be sitting on beautiful beaches enjoying a magnificent sunset, or sipping a rum cocktail at Catherine’s Bar. But fortunately enough, Saint Marie is deadly enough to produce seven or eight new murder mysteries every season. Saint Marie does not, of course, exist in real life. The show is shot in Guadeloupe, where the Death in Paradise cast and crew head for each season, including the tenth instalment filmed during the coronavirus pandemic. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2021/02/21963964-low_res-death-in-paradise-s10-f1e81a9.jpg" width="2000" height="1334" alt="WARNING: Embargoed for publication until 00:00:01 on 09/02/2021 - Programme Name: Death in Paradise S10 - TX: 18/02/2021 - Episode: Death in Paradise - S10 - Ep8 (No. 8) - Picture Shows: JP Hooper (TOBI BAKARE), Commissioner Selwyn Patterson (DON WARRINGTON) - (C) Red Planet - Photographer: Denis Guyenon" title="Death in Paradise - S10 - Ep8" /> Talking about the filming location, cast member Ralf Little, who plays Neville Parker, recently told Express.co.uk: “There's two narratives about this show and both of them aren’t quite fair. One is that, ‘Oh it's a big old jolly because look how beautiful it is.’ “And the other narrative is the exact opposite which is, ‘Oh you wouldn't believe how tough it is, it's a nightmare, it's really difficult to be hot'," he added. “It's neither of those things and both of those things all at the same time. I'm feeling incredibly lucky to be here but it's a physically demanding show – there's no two ways about it." Executive producer Tim Key added he was grateful to the island of Guadeloupe for letting them film there in 2021 despite the coronavirus pandemic. He said: “I mean, we have nothing without Guadeloupe and without the local teams. “Not only is the island one of the characters in the show and not only is the town of Deshaies one of the main characters of the show, but about 50 per cent of our crew are from France or Guadeloupe. A lot of them are sort of family to us because we've known them for so long.” Here’s everything you need to know about where Death in Paradise is filmed, from the “shack” to the police station to the town of Honoré. Where is Death in Paradise set? Death in Paradise is set on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie, in the town of Honoré. This imaginary island is supposed to be about a 10th of the size of neighbouring Guadeloupe. Saint Marie may be a British Overseas territory, but the island's history and location means around 30 per cent of its inhabitants are French: it only came under British control in the seventies. The main religions on the island are apparently Catholicism and Voodoo, which means there are some exciting local festivals every year. Where is Death in Paradise filmed? The BBC One drama is filmed in Guadeloupe, a butterfly-shaped collection of islands in the Caribbean that stands in for the fictional Saint Marie. It is an overseas region of France, which explains all the French-speaking locals who appear as extras on the show. Bien Sur! Filming for Death in Paradise season 10 still took place in the area in 2020, despite the coronavirus pandemic. The authorities on the Caribbean island reportedly did everything in their power to ensure the shoot could happen. Executive Producer Tim Key said: "They could have said to us, 'We don't want you here this year,' but they didn't. They did want us there. And they made it possible for us to get there, they wrote us permissions that covered us for all sorts of eventualities – because everything was so up in the air in terms of what quarantine might or might not be necessary. I can't oversell our gratitude to Guadeloupe." In Death in Paradise we spend most of our time in the town of Honoré, where DI Neville Parker, played by Ralf Little, heads up Honoré Police. Much of the filming takes place in the commune of Deshaies, which doubles for the fictional Honoré. Deshaies is located on the northwest tip of Basse-Terre Island (the other "wing" of the butterfly is Grande-Terre Island). Looking back on location scouting for season one of Death in Paradise, the show's creator Robert Thorogood recalled the moment "after days of exhausting, frustrating and ultimately fruitless searching that we stepped onto the beach at Deshaies for the first time and realised we’d finally found our location for Honoré. All three of us on the trip had had a sixth sense that this was ‘the one’ before we even got out of the car." Honoré's "farmer's market" can be constructed for filming when required, and local sites are often used for key scenes – for example, Death in Paradise's first Detective Richard Poole (Ben Miller) was killed in the beautiful botanical gardens. Nearby resort Langley Fort Royal Hotel is used as a base during filming. For almost six months each year it is home to Death in Paradise's crew and guest stars and actors, although some of the core cast prefer to live in local villas with their families. Unsurprisingly, the hotel has made plenty of guest appearances, too: murder victims have tumbled from convenient balconies, and the beach and the bar have appeared in many scenes throughout the years. Where is the detective's "shack" on the beach? The beach-front shack – complete with a hungry lizard named Harry – has long featured in the show. This rickety structure is actually a full-scale set, and is assembled each year on Anse La Perle (or La Perle Beach), one of the most beautiful spots in Guadeloupe with miles of unspoiled sand and palm trees. Between shoots, the shack is taken down and put in storage so it's not washed away when the tide comes in during the winter months. These days, it also has to be fenced off during the shoot. Key explains: "We’ve had years where we’ve kind of left it to the elements, and then people were having parties in it at weekends, like tourists having parties. We were like, 'We have to secure this a little bit more now!"" For the latest news and expert tips on getting the best deals this year, take a look at our Black Friday 2021 and Cyber Monday 2021 guides. Where is Honoré police station? The production company takes over a church hall in Deshaies to use as the police station, with the priest's office becoming the "incident room". Where is Catherine's Bar? Detectives often like to grab a drink after work at Catherine's Bar, where the owner is always on hand with unusual cocktails and life advice (and, for Neville, chicken and chips). These scenes at a real bar located on the town beach at Deshaies. Show creator Robert Thorogood tells us: "It’s run by a slightly grumpy woman who, I think, resents having so many tourists come and drink there. Because the last time I was there just to have a cup of coffee, she rolled her eyes." (If you want to get on her good side, maybe order a full meal.) What is it like to film Death in Paradise in Guadeloupe? During filming for season 10, there was a lot less socialising than usual - thanks to the pandemic. But in a usual year, it sounds like the place to be. Apart from the heat, that is. "Until you're actually there and you've experienced it yourself, you really don't know," Ardal O'Hanlon previously said. "The heat and humidity can be overpowering, especially in the middle of the day: "Nothing really prepares you for that." "Sometimes people think you're on holiday because you're filming in Guadeloupe," said Tobi Bakare, who plays Sergeant JP Hooper. "But filming on a beach is not that easy – just so people know! "When you're in swimsuits and having a cocktail it's just perfect being on the beach, but when you're filming it's very hard, it's very long, it's five months away from family and friends. But the thing is we have so many beautiful beaches and the place is amazing and the crew is like a small family, you get to see year after year. So it's long, it's difficult, but it's very enjoyable." Not that it's all hard graft: there's still time for a dip in the pool or some time on the beach. Bakare added: "In Guadeloupe there's so much to do, there's a waterfalls and volcanoes and all sorts of things there that you can explore. And then on top of that there's a hotel that has a bar! With alcohol! "The people in the country are fantastic as well, they also employ a lot of Guadeloupeans, local people, so the way they will have fun or their past-time will be fishing. So you find yourself fishing in the Caribbean with a local who happens to be on the same crew as you and you think, God this is fantastic...'" Death in Paradise season 10 airs on Thursdays from 7th January 2021 at 9pm. Check out what else is on via our TV guide.
Silent Witness filming locations: Explore the settings of the BBC drama
The long-running forensic crime drama is back for its 24th series.
BBC One's long-running forensic drama Silent Witness has almost reached the end of its 24th series – and the penultimate episode ends on a huge cliffhanger. Nikki Alexander (Emilia Fox) and Jack Hodgson (David Caves) returned at the beginning of the series, solving dark and spooky cases that include the latest: a murder at a care home. It's also been a very dramatic series so far – with newcomer Adam Yeun (played by Strangers star Jason Wong) having been brutally killed off, and another new face joining this week in the shape of Simone Tyler (Genesis Lynea). One thing that doesn't change is the team's base, Lyell Centre, but over the course of the season, the show makes use of several different locations as our team investigate a variety of cases. Interestingly, Emilia Fox recently revealed that the locations used for this series were chosen specifically to make it easier to film under pandemic restrictions – with storylines changing to make this possible. "The storylines had to adapt as we were filming under COVID restrictions," she said. "The writers tackled this by containing us in certain locations, as we couldn’t do as much filming around London." Read on for everything you need to know about the locations that were used during this series. Where is the Lyell Centre filmed? The Lyell Centre is located in a warehouse at BBC Park Western in Acton, where a permanent set was built eight years ago. This is now official Silent Witness HQ with the art and props departments based in the building and ready to provide fake blood and cadavers on demand. Where was the care home filmed? The care home (where a key murder takes place in Matters of Life and Death) was filmed using various locations: the exterior was Briggens Park Hotel, Ware, while the interior was filmed at Harefield Grove, Uxbridge. Meanwhile the Halloween party that Nikki and Ollie attend was filmed at Brunel University, Uxbridge. Where was Michelle Lafferty's boxing club filmed? Foley's Boxing Gym in the Surrey town of Addlestone was used for both the exterior and interior of Michelle Lafferty's gym during the episode. Meanwhile, Ben's first legitimate boxing fight was filmed inside Greystone’s Boxing Venue, also in Addlestone, with the aftermath shot in the Boxing Bar at the same venue. Episode seven also includes a scene between Nikki and newcomer Simone inside the Natural History Museum. Where were the hospital scenes filmed? Much of the third doubleheader Reputations takes place inside a hospital called St Jude's – although no such hospital actually exists. Instead, these scenes were shot at Hemel Hempstead General Hospital, just outside of London. Other scenes in these episodes take place in the Cowley Institute – filmed at the Mistral Building in Reading. Where was the beach scene filmed? In the second part of the second doubleheader Bad Love, Jack Hodgson was forced to plunge deep into water in order to stop a suspect from drowning himself. The beach where this scene was filmed is located at the National Trust property Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters. Meanwhile, the swimming pool scene at the start of the double-header was at Charing Cross Sports Club in Hammersmith. For the latest news and expert tips on getting the best deals this year, take a look at our Black Friday 2021 and Cyber Monday 2021 guides. Where is the high-security prison filmed? The first double-header of series 24 centres around a case at a high-security prison, where Nikki and Jack are called after an inmate dies during a prison riot. In the show, the prison is called Hayworth Prison, which is not the name of a real UK prison (although could be a little nod to The Shawshank Redemption, in which a prisoner escapes his cell with help from a poster of Rita Hayworth). Parts of the episode were shot at the now-defunct Gloucester Prison on Barrack Square, with filming having taken place there in October 2020. The prison, which closed in 2013, is now used as a tourist attraction. Meanwhile, the prison's interior scenes were shot at Former HMP Holloway on Parkhurst Road in London. Silent Witness series 24 concludes on Tuesday 5th October 2021 at 9pm on BBC One. Check out what else is on with our TV Guide, or visit our Drama hub for all the latest news and features.