Radio Times
type: channel
link: https://www.radiotimes.com
date: 2026-01-14T17:01:04.000Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
items: Doctor Who icon reveals her and William Hartnell's own alternative backstory for the Doctor and Susan
items: What time will A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms be released in the UK?
items: Life on Mars co-creator confirms show's "boundary-pushing" future in new format
items: Star Trek legend teases "never-before-seen" side to iconic returning ‘90s character in new spin-off
items: Doctor Who legend Carole Ann Ford makes plea for return of missing classic story: "Let us have it back"
items: Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 dub release date speculation: When are new episodes on Crunchyroll?
items: Why Stranger Things' Conformity Gate conspiracy should be game-changing for TV
items: Will there be a Stranger Things season 5 episode 9 and what is Conformity Gate?
items: Starfleet Academy review: Star Trek's school days spin-off needs some work
items: Netflix confirms Stranger Things' One Last Adventure for fans with trailer for all-new special
items: Stranger Things season 5 finale ending explained: What really happened to Eleven?
items: Stranger Things season 5 release schedule and runtimes: What time is the finale out?
items: Stranger Things season 5 star teases “resolution” for key character in “emotional” finale
items: Stranger Things season 5 star reveals how volume 2 creates “existential” crisis for Eleven
items: Stranger Things season 5 has already stuck the landing with one monumental scene
items: Stranger Things star reacts to "devastating" reveal and "tough" Eleven scene in volume 2
items: Stranger Things season 5 volume 2 ending explained: What actually IS the Upside Down?
items: Doctor Who's Kate Lethbridge-Stewart to return for new UNIT adventures next year – and she's not alone
items: The War Between the Land and the Sea finale's overnight ratings revealed after tragic conclusion
items: Dan Da Dan confirms when fans can expect season 3 - and it's not good news
items: Stranger Things season 5 release date and latest news
items: The War Between the Land and the Sea ending explained: What is Severance?
items: Doctor Who producer reveals how classic episode narrowly avoided "alarming" hospital incident
items: Doctor Who's best 10 Christmas specials ranked – from The Christmas Invasion to The Church on Ruby Road
items: Beloved '60s sci-fi returning with new adventures as iconic British-American actress is cast
items: Doctor Who spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea praised by Greenpeace: "Shows like this have a real superpower"
items: Avatar 3: Release date, cast, trailer and latest news for Fire and Ash
items: Fallout season 2 cast: Full list of actors in Prime Video's adaptation
items: The War Between the Land and the Sea overnight ratings revealed for devastating new episodes
items: The War Between the Land and the Sea has sacrificed one key character - and here's why it's the right call

Doctor Who icon reveals her and William Hartnell's own alternative backstory for the Doctor and Susan
type: item
date: 2026-01-14T17:00:26.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Doctor Who Insiders
subject: Exclusive
subject: News
subject: Video
description: "Bill and I put our heads together and we made it up."
encoded: Doctor Who has seen countless writers across its 62-year history – but now it's been revealed that even its original stars, William Hartnell and Carole Ann Ford gave it a go! Ford, who played the first ever companion Susan Foreman, has revealed that she and Hartnell, who starred as the first incarnation of the Time Lord, invented a backstory to explain how the Doctor's travels began, before the first ever serial An Unearthly Child. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com, Ford recalled that the pair were "never given any" backstory – so felt they should fill in the gaps! "Bill and I put our heads together and we made it up," she revealed. "We thought that the most likely thing was that the TARDIS was not this year's model. It was a previous model which had been tarted up a bit, and the tarted up bits weren't quite working as smoothly as they should have done. "So Bill, my grandfather, was in a huge sort of aircraft hangar-type place with loads and loads and loads of other TARDISes, all being tinkered with. And he was tinkering away with it and making everything work more smoothly, when suddenly there was an invasion from another planet. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2008/09/15.jpg" width="1500" height="900" alt="Carole Ann Ford as Susan Foreman, Jacqueline Hill as Barbara Wright, William Russell as Ian Chesterton, and William Hartnell as The Doctor for Doctor Who." title="Carole Ann Ford as Susan Foreman, Jacqueline Hill as Barbara Wright, William Russell as Ian Chesterton, and William Hartnell as The Doctor for Doctor Who." /> "Everybody was going crazy, and he just bundled me into the TARDIS and said, 'Right, we're out of here.' So we got in with only a partially-working TARDIS, which he continued to fiddle with throughout the series, and finished up where we finished up – Totter's Lane." Speaking about the importance of having a backstory to work with, Ford added: "An actor has to have an idea of what happened before you step…

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What time will A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms be released in the UK?
type: item
date: 2026-01-14T16:55:54.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: HBO
subject: NOW
subject: Sky
description: It's almost time to join Dunk and Egg on their first adventure!
encoded: The latest Game of Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, is finally almost here – and it's set to be a very different outing to Westeros than we're used to. Peter Claffey stars as hedge knight Dunk in the new spin-off, alongside Dexter Sol Ansell as squire Egg, in the new adaptation based on George RR Martin's beloved novellas. Taking a very different approach to its predecessors, Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, the new show has been described as a mixture of comedy, emotion and “earthy” vibes by its young lead Ansell, and has already received rave reviews. So, if you're excited to return to Westeros, here's exactly when you can expect the first episode to drop. What time is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms released in the UK? The first episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will drop at 3am on Monday 19th January. It will then broadcast on Monday evening at 9pm on Sky Atlantic. New episodes will then air weekly. In the US, episodes will be released at 10pm ET/PT on Sunday nights. How to watch A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms in the UK As with other HBO shows, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will be available to watch on Sky and NOW in the UK. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms trailer You can check out the Knight of the Seven Kingdoms trailer below. View oEmbed on the source website A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres on 19th January 2026 on Sky Atlantic and NOW and airs in the US on HBO. Game of Thrones seasons 1 to 8 and House of the Dragon seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on Sky and NOW – find out more about how to sign up for Sky TV.

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Life on Mars co-creator confirms show's "boundary-pushing" future in new format
type: item
date: 2026-01-14T16:09:31.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: BBC
subject: Exclusive
subject: News
description: The show's creators have reunited to pen something new...
encoded: Amid cryptic hints about the future of beloved sci-fi Life on Mars, co-creator Matthew Graham has confirmed that the hit series will return in the form of a new stage show. The iconic series, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, followed John Simm's Sam Tyler, a Manchester police officer who wakes up after a car accident to discover that he's travelled back in time to 1973. Two decades on from the first episode, the show's original creators Graham, Ashley Pharoah, and Tony Jordan are reuniting to pen a play that will "push the boundaries" of what Life on Mars was and "reimagine" the show, teaming up with theatre director and producer Jamie Eastlake to bring their vision to life. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com, Graham confirmed that the stage show will be "nothing to do" with Life on Mars's cancelled third season Lazarus (which the writer says is unfortunately now "six feet under") and that it will be an entirely new story. "Just before Christmas, Ashley, Tony and myself had lunch together at a nice Italian restaurant in London, and we talked about it and we're starting to discuss what that would be and what it would look like," Graham told us. "It's a huge undertaking for us. Ashley has written for the stage, but I never have, nor has Tony, as far as I know. So this is going to be a big learning curve for us, but also a really exciting opportunity to reimagine the show in a theatrical context." Many details are still to come, with Graham adding: "We haven't even put pen to paper on this yet, but what I can tell you is that I'm sure that you'll get many of the characters that you love from the show. I think that would be fair to say. "We have absolutely no idea about how we would cast this. None of those conversations are happening at the moment. It is simply at the stage of us sitting down together and going, 'What does it look like? What is this play? What will it be? What's the story, and what's the reason for doing it?' and just figuring out th…

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Star Trek legend teases "never-before-seen" side to iconic returning ‘90s character in new spin-off
type: item
date: 2026-01-12T17:22:14.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Contains Trailer
subject: Exclusive
subject: News
subject: Paramount Plus
subject: Video
description: He's anxious to see what the fans think.
encoded: Star Trek legend Robert Picardo has teased what we can expect from the return of his character, the Doctor, 30 years after his first appearance. Picardo, who played the Emergency Medical Holographic program serving as chief medical officer in Star Trek: Voyager, will reprise his role for the upcoming school days spin-off Starfleet Academy, which will follow young cadets as they train to become the next generation of officers. Promising a "deeper" side to the Doctor ahead, Picardo exclusively told RadioTimes.com: "Late in the season, you'll see a side of the character that you've never seen before, as far as the emotionality. So that was a challenge to do. "There's a sort of a surprise event that happens late in the episode for my character. I'm anxious to see how longtime fans who know the character, how they respond." Starfleet Academy rockets ahead to the 32nd century, after the events of Discovery, and a whopping 800 years after we last saw Picardo's Doctor. "It's hard to say what he's been doing for the last 800 years!" Picardo added. "Now the Star Trek canon sort of acts as a whole, and there's a reference in the pilot to my having taught young cadets on Star Trek Prodigy, so the Doctor has a history of teaching... "In that respect, he has been teaching before and he's a natural teacher, if not an easy one, because he's full of himself. He likes to pontificate!" The new series, which also sees the return of Holly Hunter's Nahla Ake, who takes on a new role as chancellor of Starfleet Academy, is set to be a celebration of Star Trek's history, showrunner Noga Landau has said. She added to RadioTimes.com: "There's so much texture and there are so many Easter eggs in there for fans of the canon, for people who've been waiting to see stuff with Deep Space Nine, with the Klingons, there's so much in there that's gonna feel really familiar too." View Green Video on the source website Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is coming to Paramount+ on 15th January. Add Starfleet A…

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Doctor Who legend Carole Ann Ford makes plea for return of missing classic story: "Let us have it back"
type: item
date: 2026-01-11T08:00:52.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Contains Trailer
subject: Doctor Who Insiders
subject: Exclusive
subject: News
subject: Video
description: "Such a loss."
encoded: Doctor Who's first companion, Carole Ann Ford, has reflected on missing story Marco Polo and has issued a plea for its return. The fourth ever serial saw the first TARDIS team, William Hartnell's First Doctor, Ford's Susan, William Russell's Ian Chesterton and Jacqueline Hill's Barbara Wright, meet the historic Italian merchant-explorer in a seven-episode adventure, which first broadcast in 1964. However, after episodes were erased by the BBC in 1967, the entire serial is now missing, with just some audio surviving. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com as part of an in-depth interview about her time on Doctor Who, Ford said she's "mortified" by the idea that the story can't be watched by fans, adding: "Marco Polo! Such a beautiful one, so beautiful. Such a loss. Well, hopefully it’s not lost forever." While nothing has been proven, some fans believe the story exists in a private collection, with Ford issuing a plea if that is the case and saying: "Please, if there's somebody out there who's got Marco Polo, return it because we're suffering... please, let us have it back just for a while so we can see again what that loveliness was." A total of 97 of 253 episodes from the show's first six years are currently missing, leaving 26 stories incomplete, because the BBC erased or reused tapes in the 1960s and 1970s to save storage space and costs, before archiving policies were in place. In recent years some of these episodes have now been recreated via animation, as tapes of audio recordings have survived for every episode. However, it has long been believed that some of the episodes exist in private collections, with the organisation Film is Fabulous!, an initiative created to catalogue and preserve vulnerable film collections held privately in the UK, recently sharing a promising update with fans. During the interview, Ford also reflected on her earliest days on the BBC sci-fi, including her first impressions of iconic actor Hartnell. "I thought he was adorable!" she s…

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Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 dub release date speculation: When are new episodes on Crunchyroll?
type: item
date: 2026-01-09T13:42:41.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Anime
subject: Fantasy
subject: TV
subject: Contains Trailer
description: The wildly popular anime is back in business.
encoded: Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 is finally here, dealing with the immediate aftermath of the Shibuya Incident. Well, at least the subtitled version is here! The supernatural anime based on the manga by Gege Akutami returned in force this January - but fans who prefer their anime dubbed are holding out to watch the new episodes. As is the case with many anime releases, the dubbed versions will be released a little later than the subbed episodes. However, we do have some indication as to when they'll be hitting screens. Here's everything we know so far! Alternatively, check out our review of season 3. Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 dub release date speculation Although we don't know the exact release date for the JJK season 3 English dub, Crunchyroll has it listed as part of its winter slate, meaning it will definitely arrive before the end of March. Based on other anime patterns, we'd expect dubbed episodes to land two weeks after the subbed episodes, meaning episode 1 should be available on 22nd January. At this point, that's just a guess, though. We'll keep this page updated with more details as and when we know them. Which languages will Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 be dubbed into? According to Crunchyroll, Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 will be dubbed into: English, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Castilian Spanish, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Arabic. This should also be taken with a pinch of salt, as the streamer has said dub languages could be subject to change. View oEmbed on the source website How to watch Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 will be available to stream on Crunchyroll. Watch a clip below from 2025's Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution: View Green Video on the source website New episodes of Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 are released weekly on Crunchyroll. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

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Why Stranger Things' Conformity Gate conspiracy should be game-changing for TV
type: item
date: 2026-01-08T16:55:59.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Comment
subject: Netflix
description: Just because Conformity Gate wasn't real doesn't mean it can't have a real impact on TV.
encoded: Warning: Spoilers ahead for Stranger Things season 5 episode 8. If you've cast an eye over social media during the past few days, you'll have seen a widespread conspiracy taking over the internet by the name of Conformity Gate. But could this bizarre theory, whipped up by passionate Stranger Things fans, actually change TV for the better in the long run? On the off-chance you've managed to miss the discourse, Stranger Things finally ended with its rather anticlimactic two-hour finale, The Rightside Up, on 1st January, which saw a pretty easy death for villain Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) and an ambiguous end for Millie Bobby Brown's Eleven. After almost 10 years of investing in the show, created by the Duffer Brothers, many fans understandably weren't happy. But they made their criticisms clear in a rather creative way – by basically writing a new ending. Fans theorised, using "clues" from the finale, that the last episode wasn't actually the ending, and that a "secret" ninth episode would arrive on 7th January, revealing that episode 8's happy ending had been an illusion orchestrated by villain Vecna. Incredibly, the theory reached huge heights. According to SimilarWeb, it was Googled more than 200,000 times, and it gained a life of its own on TikTok, catching the attention of Murray actor Brett Gelman. Of course, 7th January came and went, and the theory was proven to be (respectfully) a load of nonsense. Netflix even stepped in at one point, changing its Instagram bio to sternly read: "ALL EPISODES OF STRANGER THINGS ARE NOW PLAYING." But just because Conformity Gate wasn't real doesn't mean it can't have a real impact on TV going forward. For one thing, it's proven that fandoms can use social media in a powerful way – to demand more from their favourite shows and from TV creatives. Of course, the way we consume TV has changed monumentally over the past couple of decades. For better or for worse, social media has wormed its way into our viewing habits, and that's…

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Will there be a Stranger Things season 5 episode 9 and what is Conformity Gate?
type: item
date: 2026-01-08T13:49:46.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Contains Trailer
subject: Netflix
description: A bizarre new rumour has taken over the Stranger Things fandom.
encoded: A bizarre (and recently confirmed false) rumour has taken over the Stranger Things fandom. Just days after the Stranger Things season 5 finale, fans have proven they're not ready to say goodbye to the Netflix phenomenon thanks to a bizarre conspiracy theory. Some viewers took to social media to insist that the series isn't in fact finished, and that there is a secret 'episode 9' on its way, after some were left less than impressed by how the show ended, particularly when it came to Eleven's (Millie Bobby Brown) ambiguous fate. News of the upcoming Stranger Things season 5 documentary further stoked the fires, but the latest update from the streaming service has seemingly quashed this theory. So, here's everything you need to know about the strange viral rumours and "Conformity Gate". Will there be a Stranger Things season 5 episode 9? View Green Video on the source website No, there will not be another episode of Stranger Things. Netflix has confirmed this with its latest update. The streaming service took to social media to set the record straight, updating the bio of the show’s official Instagram account to read: “ALL EPISODES OF STRANGER THINGS ARE NOW PLAYING.” Remember – friends don’t lie! The only episode that has been announced is a behind-the-scenes documentary, One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5, which debuts on Monday 12th January 2026. The show's creators, the Duffer Brothers, have not directly addressed the rumours, but have frequently referenced season 5 episode 8, titled The Rightside Up, being the final episode of the show. Speaking recently to Variety about Eleven's ambiguous ending, Matt Duffer said: "It’s been something on our mind for a really long time. "That was the original ending of the show when it was designed as a limited series, that El has to sacrifice herself in some way. I mean, the first thing we did when we were working on season 5 was to talk about the ending and specifically talk about Eleven and, it was hard. "This…

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Starfleet Academy review: Star Trek's school days spin-off needs some work
type: item
date: 2026-01-08T08:00:11.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Contains Trailer
subject: Review
subject: Star Trek (franchise)
description: Here's hoping the latter half of the season amp ups the action to improve its grade.
encoded: This review is based on episodes 1-6 of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Get your exercise books ready – it's time to head back to school in Star Trek's latest spin-off, Starfleet Academy. Set in the far-flung 32nd century, after the events of Discovery, we're introduced to a new competitive cohort of Starfleet cadets who grew up in the aftermath of The Burn (a rather on the nose comment about the world today's kids are facing), now training to become the new generation of officers. Among them is Caleb Mir (Sandro Rosta), a disillusioned youngster who joins the academy as an outsider. Haunted by a devastating event that upended his childhood completely, Caleb falls into a life of crime before a very familiar figure, Holly Hunter's Nahla Ake, stages an intervention and makes it her mission to whip him into shape as a Starfleet cadet. As for the other cadets and teachers, the show takes advantage of its school setting to throw together a wide array of characters from different species and cultures, from Kerrice Brooks's Kasqian character Sam, who's only actually a few weeks old, to Zoë Steiner's Betazoid Tarima Sadal, to Gina Yashere's Klingon/Jem'Hadar hybrid, whose existence has already baffled some fans. So, does the latest entry in Alex Kurtzman's controversial era of Star Trek actually work? Yes and no. The setup of Caleb's story, which is supported by a fabulous guest star, is intriguing, and it's not difficult to root for him after we're shown the harsh reality of what happened to him as a child, and the trauma he's having to grapple with. Plus, he has a complex shared history with Hunter's Nahla that doesn't go to waste in their interactions. But, once we get beyond that, into school rivalry, teenage pranks and angsty drama, it becomes a little difficult to care. Some episodes feel full of filler and take an age to get to the point (if they ever do). With so many new characters being introduced, it's of course important to do each of them justice, with a full epi…

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Netflix confirms Stranger Things' One Last Adventure for fans with trailer for all-new special
type: item
date: 2026-01-05T15:10:45.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Netflix
subject: News
description: Get ready to return to Hawkins one last time.
encoded: Stranger Things might have officially ended with an emotional season 5, but fans will have another chance to say goodbye to the Netflix hit, as a documentary about the show's final season is set to be released. One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 will be released on 12th January and will go behind-the-scenes of the final season. Get the tissues ready, as it's sure to be emotional. A newly-released trailer reveals that the documentary will feature interviews with the show's creators, the Duffer Brothers, footage of table reads, and a glimpse into the creative process of making the show. One moment shown in the trailer sees the duo agonising over writing their characters' final lines, while another teases a "debate over Eleven's fate". Martina Radwan, who directed the documentary, said: “I’m endlessly grateful to the Duffer Brothers for trusting me with a front-row seat to this incredible journey. "Spending a full year on set with them was a true privilege – and an absolute thrill. Being able to get close and watching them bring this beloved show to life in real time, was pure joy. I only wish I could travel back in time and document seasons 1 through 4. View oEmbed on the source website "From the cast to their long-time collaborators, everyone welcomed me with remarkable generosity, openly sharing their personal and collective experiences from a decade of creative filmmaking. The Duffers always push boundaries and inspire everyone to be better, including myself. Their process and the show represents everything I love about filmmaking.” The Duffer Brothers added: “Growing up in Durham, North Carolina, we dreamed of becoming filmmakers – but Hollywood felt impossibly far away. Everything changed when we watched the behind-the-scenes documentaries for The Lord of the Rings – on-the-ground films that showed the real nuts and bolts of how a massive production actually gets made. "We saw how stressed Peter Jackson was and thought: yep, that’s the dream. Wit…

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Stranger Things season 5 finale ending explained: What really happened to Eleven?
type: item
date: 2026-01-03T09:58:07.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Netflix
description: After nine years, the final battle for Hawkins is here.
encoded: Warning: Major spoilers ahead for the Stranger Things season 5 finale. Stranger Things is over! Netflix's sci-fi juggernaut – which ranks among the most expensive TV shows ever made – has revealed the fate of its characters in a post-Vecna world, but one is raising more questions than the others. Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) has had many a brush with death since we met her back in season 1, but this time is the closest yet as she appears to make a noble sacrifice in order to end Hawkins' connection to the Upside-Down once and for all. But is she really gone? Stranger Things co-creator Ross Duffer has chimed in on that hot topic, leaning into the deliberate ambiguity of her fate, but clarifying that she and Mike (Finn Wolfhard) won't get a 'happily ever after' ending in any event. "If she were alive, the way I would see it is no [to them reuniting]," he told Variety. "Any contact would risk bringing her back out in the open and starting the cycle again. So, in the story that Mike's telling, I don't think he sees a version where they reconnect." But what about all the other key plot points in the Stranger Things season 5 finale? Below, we answer all the biggest questions – including which unresolved plot thread is setting up a spin-off. Read more: 10 TV shows to watch after Stranger Things season 5 – including incredible hidden gems Stranger Things season 5 ending explained: Did Eleven die? Ultimately, what happened to Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) is left up to the viewer to decide, as we're given two possibilities. Just as she agreed with Kali (Linnea Berthelsen) at the end of volume 2, as the battle for Hawkins concludes, Eleven seemingly decides to sacrifice herself as the Upside Down is destroyed, in an effort to finally stop Dr Brenner's programme, which has been continued by Dr Kay - however, this might not be the full story. At the end of the episode, as Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Will (Noah Schnapp), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) and Max (Sadie S…

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Stranger Things season 5 release schedule and runtimes: What time is the finale out?
type: item
date: 2025-12-31T10:00:22.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Netflix
description: The end is almost here.
encoded: It all comes down to this - we are now just hours away from the release of the Stranger Thing series finale. The show's final ever episode comes just less than a week after season 5 volume 2 was released on Netflix, and a thrilling trailer has now been unveiled, teasing the battle ahead. It looks to be an almighty showdown with Vecna, but creators Matt and Ross Duffer have reassured fans that there won't be a "Red Wedding situation" like in Game of Thrones, where many of their favourites perish. Matt told The Hollywood Reporter: "I think some things happen in the finale that are very surprising, but we’re not trying to shock or upset anyone. I hope by the time people get to the end of the finale that it just feels like there’s something inevitable about what happens, and that it doesn’t feel painful but feels satisfying." Beyond this, plot details about the finale have been kept tightly under wraps, but the Duffer Brothers did tell RadioTimes.com recently that "there's a sense of inevitability" about the ending of the series. "When you're looking at shows that don't work, or the endings that don't work, it is when it feels like sometimes the shows are trying too hard to surprise fans or do something different," Matt said. "So we want it to feel very much in line with the show and the endings for each of the characters to feel inevitable. That's what we're striving for." If you're as excited as we are to find out how it all comes to a close, read on for everything you need to know about the Stranger Things season 5 release schedule, including all those lengthy runtimes, the finale's release time and its title. Want more from Stranger Things? Check out our season 5 review, or delve into the epic soundtrack that we'll be bopping along to for weeks to come. Stranger Things season 5 episode runtimes The Duffer Brothers have officially revealed all of the runtimes for the episodes. All of the below are now confirmed: Volume 1 Chapter One: The Crawl - 1 hour and 8 minutes …

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Stranger Things season 5 star teases “resolution” for key character in “emotional” finale
type: item
date: 2025-12-30T08:00:03.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Contains Trailer
subject: Exclusive
subject: Netflix
subject: News
description: Star Linnea Berthelsen teased what's ahead in the long-awaited finale.
encoded: Warning: This article contains major spoilers for Stranger Things season 5 volume 2. The end is near for Stranger Things season 5, with fans now awaiting the finale, which has been in the making for almost a decade. For Kali star Linnea Berthelsen, it marks the end of a unique journey, with the actress returning for season 5 after she was first introduced to viewers eight years earlier in season 2. By the end of season 5 volume 2, Kali and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) have an impossible decision ahead of them, grappling with the idea of sacrificing themselves for the greater good after the reveal that Dr Kay (Linda Hamilton) has used Kali's blood to restart Dr Brenner's programme. As for where Kali is headed in the finale? "Towards some sort of resolution," Berthelsen teased in an interview with RadioTimes.com. "I think that's the only thing I can say. There is an end to her storyline, and it's something that, for me, felt very right and very emotional." She added of the ending in general: "I think for the fans, who've been so supportive of the whole show, for the creators, for the cast, it's just going to be very emotional. "I was there for the table read. I was lucky enough to be in that room and see the whole ending, and I feel like everybody was crying in there. It was just so emotional. And every time I've read the rest of it, it's just been really emotional, really beautiful, really well done." <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/11/wvpublicitypostlaunchstill26.000001-5abd8fb-e1764675810617.jpg" width="5573" height="3720" alt="Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven and Linnea Berthelsen as Kali in Stranger Things season 2. Eleven is holding her arm out to use her powers as Kali looks on, egging her on" title="Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven and Linnea Berthelsen as Kali in Stranger Things season 2" /> Speaking previously to RadioTimes.com, Stranger Things creator the Duffer Brothers opened up about the intention behind their finale, say…

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Stranger Things season 5 star reveals how volume 2 creates “existential” crisis for Eleven
type: item
date: 2025-12-28T08:00:07.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Exclusive
subject: News
subject: Video
description: The sisters have a huge decision to make.
encoded: Warning: Major spoilers ahead for Stranger Things season 5 volume 2. Stranger Things season 5 volume 2 has left sisters Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and Kali (Linnea Berthelsen) in an impossible situation, forced to grapple with the idea of sacrificing themselves for the greater good. The new instalment of Netflix's sci-fi hit saw returning Kali discover that Dr Brenner's (Matthew Modine) programme has been restarted by Dr Kay (Linda Hamilton) who will stop at nothing in her hunt for the sisters. After realising that the cycle will just continue as long as the pair of them are alive, the end of volume 2 sees Kali tell Eleven that the pair of them must sacrifice themselves and that, when the Upside Down disappears, they must go with it. Asked where this leaves the sisters as we head into the finale, Kali actress Berthelsen exclusively told RadioTimes.com: "I think it creates a really interesting dynamic within Eleven and very existential questions about what is the right thing to do. "And what's really brilliant for Kali for this season is that, I think it's very valid what she's trying to say. Like, if we do this, not only is it going to benefit your friends, but it's actually going to benefit the rest of the world. There is a point to be made. "It's a very human question. Like, what do you do in those moments? What are you willing to sacrifice? It's an internal battle, I think, within Eleven. Can you leave everything that you've built, the relationships, the people in your life to go and do what may be right?" Eleven and Kali are coming to that conversation from very different places, with Berthelsen adding: "There is a difference between Eleven's relationship to family and just having a mother, because Kali never had a mother, and I feel like there's part of her that's still waiting for those parents to show up. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/11/wvpublicitypostlaunchstill26.000001-5abd8fb-e1764675810617.jpg" width="5573" h…

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Stranger Things season 5 has already stuck the landing with one monumental scene
type: item
date: 2025-12-26T15:00:50.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Comment
subject: Netflix
description: Will's coming out scene is a striking reflection of the fears that can haunt that process, and the power of chosen family.
encoded: *Warning: Major spoilers ahead for Stranger Things season 5 volume 2.* We might still be waiting for the Stranger Things season 5 finale, but the show has already stuck the landing in one big way, with a scene that we've been waiting for for a long time. For years, the show has teased that Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) might be gay. In the first couple of seasons, fans noticed that Will just seemed to feel a little different from his friends, something that many viewers flocking to the Netflix sci-fi hit related to. In season 4, it became pretty obvious that he was struggling with his sexuality, that he was in love with his best friend Mike (played by Finn Wolfhard) and that he was unable to tell anyone about it. Viewers were left in little doubt about what was going on with him after that heartbreaking and widely-shared scene of him attempting to open up to Mike in the car, telling him: "When you're different, sometimes you feel like a mistake," before silently crying while looking out of the window. In season 5, after being underestimated for years, the ending of volume 1 saw Will finally start to accept himself. Following a pep talk from Robin (Maya Hawke), which saw her open up about her sexuality, it was Will's acceptance of himself that allowed him to channel Vecna's powers and stop the Demogorgons in their tracks. Now, in volume 2, he's been able to go one step further, opening up about being gay in a scene that will likely go down in TV history. Will realises that, with Vecna able to see and use his secrets against him, he must open up to his actual family, as well his chosen family. But the part that hits hardest about Will coming out isn't the actual moment he tells them that he doesn't like girls – it's when he speaks about his fears and worries about that moment. "Today, Vecna showed me what would happen if I did this," he says. "He showed me a future. In this future, some of you are just worried for me, worried that things will be harder for me. It just mak…

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Stranger Things star reacts to "devastating" reveal and "tough" Eleven scene in volume 2
type: item
date: 2025-12-26T12:00:38.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Exclusive
subject: Netflix
subject: News
subject: Video
description: Kali has to have an impossible conversation with Eleven, which could change everything.
encoded: *Warning: Major spoilers ahead for Stranger Things season 5 volume 2.* With Kali's return in Stranger Things season 5 has come a devastating storyline and a chilling reveal that the terrors that haunted her and Eleven's nightmares as children are not over yet. After she's rescued from Dr Kay's lab by Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and Hopper (David Harbour), Kali (Linnea Berthelsen) recounts the horrors she saw there – Kay keeping countless pregnant women captive and infusing them with Kali's blood in an attempt to restart Dr Brenner's programme. Kali then realises she has to tell Eleven all of this, and ask something impossible of her – to sacrifice herself along with Kali so that the cycle can finally end. Breaking down that devastating moment, actress Berthelsen exclusively told RadioTimes.com: "I think there is a part of [Kali] that's just realised what happened to her, like the given circumstances of that character in particular, what she's going through, and being brought back to this place and everything that she has tried to avoid for so many years. "The other thing is like, how do you explain this to Eleven? How do you convey all of this, knowing that her circumstances are so different from hers? She's devastated. She's falling apart, I think. "And then there is this very deep love for Eleven at the same time and asking her to do something that's quite tough. It's just a really difficult conversation." At the end of volume 2, Eleven is left reeling from that conversation, and forced to grapple with what to do for the best, with the finale presumably set to show her decision and its aftermath. Kali was first introduced to fans in season 2, with viewers left stunned at her surprise return in season 5. But now, Berthelsen is relishing getting to delve deeper into Kali's character, adding: "Every time you get to develop a character and do a bit more work...it's just such a human place, like it's a very vulnerable place that she's in. "It's very rare, I think, that…

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Stranger Things season 5 volume 2 ending explained: What actually IS the Upside Down?
type: item
date: 2025-12-26T05:00:23.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Netflix
description: The end is near!
encoded: Warning: Major spoilers ahead for Stranger Things season 5 volume 2. The dramatic arrival of Stranger Things season 5 volume 2 has made a few things very clear: Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) is growing stronger, our heroes are in more danger than ever before, and the entire Wheeler family only deserves good things after this absolute nightmare. Episodes 5 to 7 of the hit Netflix sci-fi are officially here and, with just the finale left to go, the show's creators, the Duffer Brothers, have answered plenty of questions while teeing up the very last battle for Hawkins. The new episodes see Sadie Sink's Max return to her body after being imprisoned in Vecna's mind. Meanwhile, Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) nearly die in the Upside Down, Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) casually figures out exactly what the Upside Down is (a question we've been asking for nigh on a decade), and Will (Noah Schnapp) finally has his big moment. Oh, and Karen Wheeler (Cara Buono) saves the day yet again. Every single character will have a huge part to play in what comes next but, while we're waiting for the finale, here's your breakdown of exactly what happened in season 5 volume 2. Stranger Things season 5 volume 2 ending explained: What actually IS the Upside Down? Buckle up, nerds. We've got Dustin to thank for this explanation. The Upside Down is an unstable inter-dimensional bridge, or a wormhole, that rips through space and time, held together by exotic matter and connecting Hawkins to another world, the Abyss. Dustin theorises that everything they've faced in the Upside Down (the Demogorgons and the Mindflayer etc) truly originated in the Abyss. It's where Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) previously banished Henry but, since Dr Brenner (Matthew Modine) forced her to make contact with him in the Abyss, the bridge formed - and Vecna and his minions have been using it ever since to return to Hawkins. So the Upside Down is not, as we previously assumed, another dimension in itself. …

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Doctor Who's Kate Lethbridge-Stewart to return for new UNIT adventures next year – and she's not alone
type: item
date: 2025-12-22T15:37:12.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: BBC
description: The heroes of UNIT are set to be celebrated in the audio series.
encoded: If you're already missing keeping up with UNIT in The War Between the Land and the Sea, a replacement is on its way in the form of a new series of audio adventures. Big Finish's new series, UNIT Eras, which is set for release in April 2026, will highlight heroes from across the history of the Doctor Who organisation, beginning with a four-episode anthology, Hostile Universe. Jemma Redgrave (Kate Lethbridge Stewart), Ingrid Oliver (Osgood), and Bonnie Langford (Mel Bush) are among the Doctor Who stars set to reprise their roles for the new audio adventure focused on Earth's line of defence against alien threats. The series will also see the return of Sarah Jane Smith (Sadie Miller), Harry Sullivan (Christopher Naylor), and The Vlinx (Nicholas Briggs), and will mark the Big Finish debut of Colonel Mace (Rupert Holliday-Evans) from 2008 Doctor Who story The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky. Producer Heather Challands said: "UNIT has long been a reliable, exciting and ever-evolving part of the world of Doctor Who. It's one of my favourite parts, showcasing the flaws and triumphs of human nature through iconic characters such as the Brigadier, Osgood, Harry Sullivan and Kate Stewart. “I was thrilled by the opportunity to delve deeper into times when the TARDIS isn’t around and the Doctor's friends simply have to do the best that they can against impossible odds. This new range is an anthology series, with each story standing alone, going from the 1970s right up to the 2020s, to see how much UNIT has changed in its long history. “Hostile Universe features a close encounter with Daleks during The Stolen Earth, finds the Vlinx feeling a bit frosty, shows the toll UNIT takes on some of its soldiers, and answers the question of how Kate Stewart was spending her time after her house was blown up!” The upcoming box set, which may help to tide fans over until the Doctor Who Christmas special in 2026, will consist of four adventures: Rise of the Valiant by Andrew Smith, The Indi…

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The War Between the Land and the Sea finale's overnight ratings revealed after tragic conclusion
type: item
date: 2025-12-22T12:35:07.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: BBC
subject: News
description: The dramatic conclusion to the Doctor Who spin-off is here.
encoded: Warning: Spoilers ahead for The War Between the Land and the Sea. The overnight ratings for the last episode of The War Between the Land and the Sea have officially been revealed. The final episode of the Doctor Who spin-off, The End of the War, averaged 1.79 million viewers during its broadcast on BBC One on Sunday 21st December. That's very consistent with the figure from episode 4, which averaged 1.70 million viewers. The overnight figures must be taken with a pinch of salt as they do not include any viewers who watched the episodes on catch-up. The final episode of the five-part spin-off saw the devastating reveal that a faction of humans had committed genocide against Homo Aqua, killing 90% of their population, decimating the species and leaving them terrified of humanity. In a heartbreaking scene, Salt (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) faced Barclay (Russell Tovey) for a final diplomatic meeting in the Empress Hall, with the pair unable to speak freely to each other. However, a surprise came at the end of the episode, with it being revealed that Barclay's brain and body chemistry have changed, allowing him to develop gills and escape into the oceans with Salt. Meanwhile, Kate Lethbridge Stewart (Jemma Redgrave) is clearly spiralling following the death of Colonel Christofer Ibrahim (Alexander Devrient), with a credits scene showing her pointing a gun at a runner who refuses to pick up a plastic water bottle after littering. Doctor Who fans will now have a while to wait until the show is back on screens, with showrunner Russell T Davies set to pen a Christmas special for 2026. Looking for something to tide you over in the meantime? It's the perfect time to delve into Doctor Who's vast history of Christmas specials, with RadioTimes.com's team of superfans ranking our favourites! Doctor Who will return for Christmas 2026. The War Between the Land and the Sea is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to …

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Dan Da Dan confirms when fans can expect season 3 - and it's not good news
type: item
date: 2025-12-22T11:07:51.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Anime
subject: Fantasy
subject: TV
description: It's going to be a long wait for fans.
encoded: Dan Da Dan season 3 is officially on its way - but it's going to be a long time until it's on our screens. A striking new key visual for the anime confirmed that season 3 will arrive in 2027. A specific release date has not yet been set. It's going to be a long old wait for fans, after seasons 1 and 2 arrived in pretty quick succession in late 2024 and then in mid-2025. Hopefully the new instalment of the anime will be worth the wait! While we don't yet have a synopsis for season 3, the anime will continue to adapt Yukinobu Tatsu’s manga, which has sold more than 12 million copies. We'd potentially expect the show to continue with the Kaiju arc - although confirmation of this will come nearer the time. The anime follows Momo, a high school girl from a family of mediums, who believes in ghosts, and her classmate Okarun, who believes in aliens. View oEmbed on the source website After the pair become embroiled in an argument about their respective beliefs, Momo goes to explore an abandoned hospital and UFO hotspot while Okarun explores a haunted tunnel. The pair both find more than they expected, with supernatural adventures ensuing. Season 2 delved into the Cursed House and Evil Eye arcs, but there's a lot more to come from the beloved series. The series' director, Fûga Yamashiro, previously teased that he does have ideas for season 3, telling ScreenRant: "There’s an arc coming up in Dan Da Dan that’s full of aliens and new characters. Luckily, it’s not in season 2! "If I kept adding new colours for every new character, I’d run out of options really fast. But with this season, I’ve avoided that problem." Dan Da Dan season 3 will be released in 2027. Seasons 1-2 are available to stream on Crunchyroll, Netflix and Hulu. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

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Stranger Things season 5 release date and latest news
type: item
date: 2025-12-22T11:03:12.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Netflix
subject: On demand
description: Hawkins's final battle is fast approaching.
encoded: With the countdown to Stranger Things season 5 volume 2 in full swing, Netflix has treated fans to a new trailer for the upcoming instalment. The new footage shows Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) growing in strength, as well as taunting viewers with the prospect of major character deaths, as Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Steve (Joe Keery) look to be in grave danger. The cast and crew have kept tight-lipped over what we can expect from the final season, including whether any fan-favourite characters will meet their end. However, asked whether volume 2 will get "bloodier", Matt Duffer previously told Variety: "I’ve said this before: The show is not Game of Thrones. I’m hoping it surprises people. But there’s no Red Wedding, if that’s what you’re asking. That would be depressing." Meanwhile, speaking about how fans can prepare for the conclusion to the Netflix series, Dustin actor Matarazzo previously told ET: "I understand the anxiety. I hear you. We're all here for all that support for whatever happens. If your favourite is no longer with us or not, who knows?" He continued: "I don't really have any words of comfort. To do the most prep you can: Get some tissues, get some ice cream, get some friends, and some family." Are you excited to learn all the secrets that Stranger Things season 5 has in store? Fear not: we've got everything you need to know about the upcoming run, which is dropping in three epic volumes. Stranger Things season 5 release date: When is it coming out in the UK? The first four episodes of Stranger Things season 5 (aka Volume 1) landed on Wednesday 26th November in the US and on Thursday 27th November in the UK, meaning they're available to watch now. The next three episodes (aka Volume 2) will be released on Christmas Day (Thursday 25th December) in the US and on Boxing Day (Friday 26th December) in the UK. And the grand finale will cap things off on New Year's Eve (Wednesday 31st December) in the US and on New Year's Day (Thursday 1st January 2026) …

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The War Between the Land and the Sea ending explained: What is Severance?
type: item
date: 2025-12-21T21:00:04.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: BBC
description: There are no winners in war.
encoded: Warning: Major spoilers ahead for The War Between the Land and the Sea episode 5. The War Between the Land and the Sea has aired its devastating final instalment, with episode 5, The End of the War, brutally reminding us that war has no winners. The finale episode of Russell T Davies's climate-focused series shows the impact of humanity's murderous actions towards Homo Aqua, as well as Salt (Gugu Mbatha Raw) and Barclay's (Russell Tovey) bittersweet ending. Plus, after much teasing from the showrunner, that post-credits scene has finally aired, showing Jemma Redgrave's Kate Lethbridge-Stewart in crisis after the war and the loss of Christofer (Alexander Devrient). So, here's exactly what went down in the finale episode of The War Between the Land and the Sea. The War Between the Land and the Sea ending explained: What is Severance? Severance turns out to be a plot to murder 90% of Homo Aqua's population by means of biological warfare, thereby 'winning' the war for humanity by committing genocide. The plot was orchestrated by General Oscar Gunsberg (Stewart Alexander) and General Dominique Dussolier (Barbara Probst), with Prime Minister Harry Shaw (Vincent Franklin) also involved, as well as the officer stationed outside of Barclay's room, who is spying on him. The officer reports that he sees Barclay leave his apartment every night to look for Salt - but that she can't find him. Dussolier suspects that's down to the bafflers that her government has placed in the water to disrupt the Homo Aqua's communications, and orders them to be paused, meaning Salt is able to hear and get to Barclay the next night. Meanwhile, Gunsberg's agents spike Barclay's drink and inject him with the virus in his sleep, meaning he unknowingly passes it onto Salt when they kiss. Salt brings the virus back to her people, later realising what's happened when it's too late, before telling Barclay: "The virus brought fire to the world of water. And we burnt." What happened to Homo Aqua? With the…

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Doctor Who producer reveals how classic episode narrowly avoided "alarming" hospital incident
type: item
date: 2025-12-20T08:00:32.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Exclusive
subject: News
subject: Video
description: Producer Innes Lloyd oversaw a momentous time in Doctor Who history.
encoded: During his time on the early years of Doctor Who, producer Innes Lloyd witnessed the series narrowly avoid what he described as an "alarming" incident in British hospitals. Lloyd documented his thoughts about his life and work in personal notes that were found upon his death in 1991, which are the focus of new BBC Four documentary, Innes Lloyd: The Producer. In an exclusive clip shared with RadioTimes.com, one undated personal note from the 1970s sees him reflect on the violence in Doctor Who, particularly in one scene from The Underwater Menace. He said: "I think one was always aware of the violence because I had, at the time, very young children. "One incident that did alarm us at the time was in an episode where we showed one of the characters in the programme being given an injection. I've forgotten why. When it went out, a nurse rang up and said, 'Do you realise how many children will be coming into hospital and having injections today? Your programme has probably made them very afraid.'" However, as Lloyd recalled, the scenes had quite the opposite impact. "As it happened, that next day we had reports of children in hospital and doctor's surgeries, asking for injections like the ones shown in Doctor Who," the note adds. Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Lloyd's tenure on Doctor Who began in 1966 and saw him oversee iconic serials like The Celestial Toymaker and The Gunfighters. He also oversaw the first ever regeneration, which saw William Hartnell hand the baton over to Patrick Troughton. The producer stayed with Doctor Who for two years, leaving in 1968, and handing over to Peter Bryant after The Enemy of the World. In 1991, Lloyd died of cancer at the age of 65, however his legacy continues to live on. The new documentary, narrated by Jane Asher, features excerpts from his interviews over the years and from his personal notes, as well as interviews with those close to him, including his wife, Susan Lloyd, and former Doctor Who star Frazer Hine…

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Doctor Who's best 10 Christmas specials ranked – from The Christmas Invasion to The Church on Ruby Road
type: item
date: 2025-12-19T07:00:22.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: BBC
description: Missing the Doctor Who Christmas special this year? We've got you covered.
encoded: Dear reader, we have terrible news to impart. There will be no Doctor Who Christmas special this year. "Christmas won't be Christmas without Doctor Who!" we hear you shout. We agree! Luckily, there are masses of Christmas/festive specials from over the years to dive into. As a disclaimer, yes, these are technically all classed as festive specials, as they were released over the festive period. Incredibly, this year marks 20 years since the very first modern Christmas special, The Christmas Invasion (feeling old yet?). So, clearly, it's the perfect time to share what we think are the best of the best. And if you're desperate for something new? Check out all the details we have so far about the 2026 Christmas special, which will be written by showrunner Russell T Davies. Until then... 10. Spyfall (2020) Glossy, confident and unapologetically big, this James Bond-inspired opener gave Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor her most cinematic outing yet, with globe-trotting action, genuinely unsettling villains and a show-stopping cliffhanger. The episode smartly reintroduces the Doctor and her companions while making room for character moments, emotional fallout and a huge twist with the return of the Master (Sacha Dhawan) that instantly reshaped the era. Not festive, perhaps – and technically not a Christmas special at all, with Part One instead airing on New Year’s Day – but undeniably event television. - Morgan Jeffery 9. Twice Upon a Time (2017) Christmas is always a nice time to take stock and look forward with a sense of renewal. Steven Moffat certainly delivers this principle in spades with the final outing for Peter Capaldi’s contradictory and charismatic Twelfth Doctor as he comes face to face with the First Doctor, here played by the magnetic and transformative David Bradley. In an episode laced with nostalgia, Yuletide tragedy, and the emotive use of time travel, Twice Upon a Time certainly adds bittersweet final outing to Twelve’s canon. There’s also time for some final g…

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Beloved '60s sci-fi returning with new adventures as iconic British-American actress is cast
type: item
date: 2025-12-18T08:00:48.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: News
description: Prepare to return to the Time Tunnel!
encoded: The Time Tunnel is set to take us on new adventures in audio form, with a sci-fi legend being cast in the series. Actress Sandra Dickinson will guest star in Irwin Allen’s The Time Tunnel: The Dimensions of Time from Big Finish, with the boxset due for release in February 2026. Dickinson is known for roles including Trillian in the 1981 TV adaptation of Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and has also appeared in the likes of The Tomorrow People and Thunderbirds Are Go, as well as Superman III, Space Truckers, and The Batman. She also happens to have a fair few connections to Doctor Who. She was married to Fifth Doctor actor Peter Davison for 16 years, and the pair share their daughter – none other than the Doctor's Daughter, Georgia Tennant! Of course, that also makes her mother-in-law to Tenth Doctor actor David Tennant. The box set will see Lewis Haworth (Seán Carlsen), MB (Safiyya Ingar), Cole Smith (Jay Reum), and Clare MacGregor (Rachel Handshaw) continue their quest throughout history, with Dickinson guest starring in the first episode, Family and Lies. She'll play Hazel Hawkins, a landlady to a young trans woman, Lily Dovecote (Kim Tatum) in Greenwich Village, New York, with the episode following the travellers arriving in Manhattan on the day before the Stonewall uprising. “It’s a part to die for! The woman I’m playing has a rich history of being a very good human being, a loving, caring person, and is a tough cookie, so it was really fun to play, and to use the New York accent, which has been in my mind for a long time. <a id="menuraan" class="fui-Link ___1q1shib f2hkw1w f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1s184ao f1mk8lai fnbmjn9 f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1nev41a f1h8hb77 f1lqvz6u f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" title="https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=radiotimes.com" href="https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=radi…

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Doctor Who spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea praised by Greenpeace: "Shows like this have a real superpower"
type: item
date: 2025-12-17T17:00:09.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: BBC
subject: Climate - Intentional focused content
subject: Exclusive
subject: News
description: "Unlike Homo Aqua, the environment and all the magnificent life it supports do not have a voice."
encoded: The War Between the Land and the Sea has been praised by Greenpeace, with the non-profit organisation highlighting how TV has a "superpower" in being able to motivate audiences into taking action on environmental issues. The Doctor Who spin-off has explicitly tackled climate change, showing the classic Doctor Who monster, the Sea Devils (now known as Homo Aqua), emerging from the waters and confronting humanity about the state of the Earth's oceans, as well as demanding immediate action to reduce water pollution. One particularly striking shot at the end of episode 2 saw Gugu Mbatha-Raw's Salt remove all of the rubbish from the oceans and let it rain down on the streets, giving humanity a taste of their own medicine. Sharing a statement with RadioTimes.com, Greenpeace co-executive director Will McCallum said: "Shows like this have the power to visualise the unseen harm we inflict on our fragile planet. "Without special effects, it's hard to imagine the 460 million tons of plastic produced globally, or the 3.6 million hours’ worth of sewage spilled into rivers and seas in England alone last year. "Unlike Homo Aqua, the environment and all the magnificent life it supports do not have a voice. But the real superpower of shows like this is to move millions of viewers to sit up and do something about it. "When Greenpeace made a short film showing the plastic waste the UK exports to other countries falling on Downing Street, politicians took note and began calling for a Global Plastics Treaty." Russell Tovey, who stars as Barclay, has also been open about his hopes for how the series will be received - and how it could motivate viewers. <a id="menuraan" class="fui-Link ___1q1shib f2hkw1w f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1s184ao f1mk8lai fnbmjn9 f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1nev41a f1h8hb77 f1lqvz6u f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" title="https://www.google.com/prefer…

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Avatar 3: Release date, cast, trailer and latest news for Fire and Ash
type: item
date: 2025-12-17T16:20:45.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Movies
subject: Sci-fi
description: The story is set to continue!
encoded: It's a good week to be an Avatar fan – and if the staggering box office results achieved by the first two films are anything to go by, those are not in short supply. The third entry in James Cameron's epic sci-fi arrives in cinemas in just a matter of days, three years after the second film secured another mammoth hit for the world's most reliably successful commercial filmmaker, and we'd expect it to once again rake in huge amounts of cash. That's despite some rather mixed reviews for the new film. Although our own 4-star verdict was very much on the positive side, some of the write-ups in other publications have been far less enthusiastic, with the film earning just one-star from The Telegraph and the BBC and two-stars each from The Times and The Guardian. Still, if you were a fan of the previous film then you probably needn't worry too much: this latest trip to Pandora looks likely to give you more of the same, as well as some bonus treats. One of the exciting new additions comes in the shape of a new Na'vi clan known as the Ash People, who are led by Oona Chaplin's antagonist Varang, whom the star told Radio Times is a "magnificent beast of a lady." Of course, Cameron has long been vocal about making as many as five Avatar films in total, but recently he has started to manage expectations as to just how likely that plan is to come to fruition. Indeed, he even told us that this film could end the franchise – so fans should really relish this trip to Pandora as much as they can, just in case this really is their final visit. Ahead of the release, fans have been treated to a number of trailers hinting at another rich visual experience, while they've also been told to expect a personal film that taps into Cameron's own experiences with grief. Meanwhile, it's also been confirmed that the film will once again be an epic not just in scale but in length, with a runtime of more than three-hours revealed ahead of release. Read on for everything you need to know about Avat…

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Fallout season 2 cast: Full list of actors in Prime Video's adaptation
type: item
date: 2025-12-17T11:36:49.000Z
creator: David Craig
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: Amazon Prime Video
subject: On demand
description: The epic streaming series continues to be one of the best live-action video game adaptations to date.
encoded: Fallout season 2 has exploded onto Prime Video, bringing the iconic video game location of New Vegas into live-action as the post-apocalyptic odyssey of Lucy MacLean (Ella Purnell) continues. The plucky former vault dweller enters a shaky pact with seasoned mercenary The Ghoul (Walton Goggins) in season 2, as she follows the trail of her father, who isn't the plainly heroic figure she once imagined. Aaron Moten (Maximus), Kyle MacLachlan (Hank) and Frances Turner (Barb) are among the other returning faces, while Justin Theroux joins the roster as video game antagonist Robert House. He appeared in the season 2 premiere, streaming now on Prime Video, but other high-profile additions Macaulay Culkin (American Horror Story) and Kumail Nanjiani (Only Murders in the Building) are still waiting in the wings. Read on for your reintroduction to the Fallout cast as season 2 airs on Prime Video. Fallout season 2 cast: Full list of characters and actors View Green Video on the source website Here's an overview of the Fallout season 2 cast members on Prime Video – read on for more details on the key characters and the actors playing them, including where you might have seen them before. Ella Purnell plays Lucy MacLean Aaron Moten plays Maximus Walton Goggins plays The Ghoul/Cooper Howard Kyle MacLachlan plays Hank MacLean Leslie Uggams plays Betty Zach Cherry plays Woody Thomas Frances Turner as Barb Annabel O'Hagan as Steph Matt Berry plays Mr Handy Justin Theroux plays Robert House Chris Parnell plays Ben Sarita Choudhury plays Moldaver Xelia Mendes-Jones as Dane Mike Doyle as Mr Spencer Moisés Arias as Norm MacLean Johnny Pemberton as Thaddeus Cherien Dabis as Birdie Dale Dickey as Ma June Dave Register as Chet Rodrigo Luzzi as Reg McPhee Kumail Nanjiani as TBC Macaulay Culkin as TBC Ella Purnell plays Lucy MacLean Who is Lucy? Lucy is a young woman who lived in one of many underground vaults dotted around post-apocalyptic America, designed to protect inhabitants from nuclear…

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The War Between the Land and the Sea overnight ratings revealed for devastating new episodes
type: item
date: 2025-12-15T14:44:42.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: News
description: The Doctor Who spin-off aired a double bill on Sunday 14th December.
encoded: *Warning: Major spoilers ahead for The War Between the Land and the Sea episodes 3 and 4.* The latest overnight ratings for The War Between the Land and the Sea have officially been unveiled. The Doctor Who spin-off aired a devastating double bill of episodes on Sunday 14th December, which saw a major character's sudden demise. It's now been confirmed that episode 3, The Deep, averaged 2.45 million viewers, while episode 4, The Witch of the Waterfall, brought in an average of 1.7 million viewers. That shows a drop of about 370,000 viewers from last week's launch episodes. The overnight figures must be taken with a pinch of salt (if you will) as they do not include any viewers who watched the episodes on catch-up. Episode 3 saw Russell Tovey's Barclay make a descent into the land of the Homo Aqua on Salt's (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) demand, with a certain member of his party making a destructive decision that puts the entire world at risk. Meanwhile, episode 4 followed Barclay and Salt as their relationship deepened while on the run, with Jemma Redgrave's Kate Lethbridge Stewart mourning a heartbreaking loss. Fans are now awaiting the all-important finale episode, with showrunner Russell T Davies previously teasing a dramatic post-credits scene. He told RadioTimes.com: "I will say, stay tuned for the very end, keep watching, adding: “That doesn't mean... that sounds like the Doctor appears – that's not what happens! But within the story, the credits start to roll... keep watching!” The showrunner went on to say: “It's one of the most powerful endings within the most amazing performance from one of this cast you'll ever see.” Watch this space! The War Between the Land and the Sea concludes on 21st December. Add The War Between the Land and the Sea 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 Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more T…

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The War Between the Land and the Sea has sacrificed one key character - and here's why it's the right call
type: item
date: 2025-12-14T22:00:26.000Z
creator: Louise Griffin
subject: Sci-fi
subject: TV
subject: BBC
subject: Comment
description: While the events of the episode were heartbreaking, they were necessary.
encoded: Warning: Major spoilers ahead for The War Between the Land and the Sea episode 3. In mere moments, The War Between the Land and the Sea has changed everything for one Doctor Who character - and, while it may be a heartbreaking watch, it was definitely the right call. So far, the Doctor Who spin-off has massively proven its worth by finally developing the character of Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, and the devastating events of episode 3 have amped this up in a big way. First portrayed by Beverley Cressman, Kate was reimagined by Chris Chibnall in the 2012 episode The Power of Three, being played by Jemma Redgrave, and she's remained a constant in the Whoniverse ever since, becoming the commander-in-chief of UNIT. But, in those 13 years, what have we actually learnt about Kate? Despite her longevity in the Whoniverse, Kate is one of the most underdeveloped major characters, with audiences knowing little to nothing about her life outside of being UNIT's commander-in-chief and the daughter carrying on the legacy of Nicholas Courtney's Brigadier. As Redgrave herself alluded to in a recent interview with RadioTimes.com, the most we ever really learn about Kate's backstory is a passing mention of her being a divorcee and an "outstanding bridge player" in the episode Death in Heaven. For a character that's been around for over a decade, it's not exactly much to go on. It's not hard to see why Kate has often been sidelined in the main show - seasons of Doctor Who are incredibly time-limited and the priority must be developing the relationship between the Doctor and the companion, not the ins and outs of UNIT's personnel. But to finally see such a long-serving figure get her time to shine is a huge relief - even if it is at the expense of another character. While not everyone loved romance between Kate and Colonel Christofer Ibrahim (Alexander Devrient), being confirmed in episodes 1 and 2, it showed us a different side of UNIT's commander-in-chief - a woman conflicted about how h…

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