Is it worth buying the Steam Deck this Black Friday?
New Steam hardware reveals, Christmas fast approaching and Black Friday only weeks away. Is now the best time to buy a new Steam Deck?
Valve has announced a whole bunch of exciting new gaming hardware due to launch early in 2026 including the return of the Steam Machine and a new VR headset. The question is, where does the Steam Deck fit in? And should you buy one this Black Friday? Since it launched back in 2022, the Steam Deck has remained largely unchanged with the only significant update being the release of the Steam Deck OLED in 2023. That doesn't mean Valve hasn't been busy, though. Building off of the success of the Steam Deck, Valve has just announced three new pieces of hardware including the Steam Controller, Steam Frame and a new Steam Machine. None of this new hardware has a price tag yet, but looking at Valve's full line-up, it's easy to see what its new strategy is and, most importantly, where the Steam Deck fits in. The Steam Deck launched back in 2022 and has led to a revolution in handheld gaming. With an estimated 4 million Steam Deck sales as of early 2025, it's clear why Valve is doubling down on its hardware strategy with its latest product launches. 2025 has been handheld's biggest year since the Steam Deck launched, with Xbox getting in on the action with the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X and, of course, the launch of the Switch 2, which went on to become Nintendo's fastest selling console ever when it launched back in the summer. "Handheld gaming is an interesting space at the moment, a lot of companies seemed to have given up on it a few years ago but I think it traces back to the Switch being really popular," said Radio Times Gaming editor Rob Leane. All of this is to say, if you don't have a Steam Deck yet and you're thinking of buying one, now might be the perfect time to pick one up. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website Here's how to make the most of the Xbox Black Friday sale and PSVR2 Black Friday sale. Plus, check out Xbox Controller Black Friday deals and best Black Friday reMarkable deals. Jump to: Can I still buy the Steam Deck in the UK? Is the Steam Deck still worth getting? Where can I buy the Steam Deck in the UK? Do Steam Decks go on sale on Black Friday? Can I still buy the Steam Deck in the UK? Yes, the Steam Deck is available to buy from a number of retailers in the UK. You can currently get the device at Amazon from £396: Buy Steam Deck 256GB for £396 at Amazon Buy Steam Deck OLED 512GB for £549 at Amazon Buy Steam Deck OLED 1TB for £639.99 at Amazon Or, you can buy it from trusted retailers such as OnBuy and Back Market. These specialise in refurbished tech, but that doesn't mean everything they sell is second-hand, so just double check before you buy. Buy Steam Deck OLED (1TB) for £609.99 at OnBuy Buy Steam Deck OLED (1TB) from £799 at Back Market Is the Steam Deck still worth getting? View oEmbed on the source website Given the fact that Xbox, Nintendo and Asus have all introduced major new handheld consoles in the time since the Steam Deck originally launched, you're probably wondering if it's worth buying. The simple answer is yes. The Steam Deck is still a fantastic handheld gaming console thanks to its balance of power, portability and the fantastic array of Steam Deck verified games you can play. The Steam Deck OLED is probably the console we'd recommend you buy given the improved screen quality and storage bump (the LCD model has 256GB of storage while the OLED model is available in 512GB and 1TB versions). The improved screen, 90Hz refresh rate and, crucially, the improved battery life all make it worth spending the extra money on the OLED version over the LCD model. That being said, if there's a good deal on the LCD Steam Deck this Black Friday we recommend going for it as it can still play all the same games as both consoles are pretty much identical in terms of their other specs. "There are two types of people who would like it, one who is already big into PC games and wants to take their games with them, the other is people who are not big PC players but want to dip their toe into the water without having to buy a big gaming laptop or build their own PC," Rob Leane said of the Steam Deck. "If you want to get into PC gaming but laptops and giant PCs aren’t for you, the Steam Deck is definitely one to go for." There is one caveat here we need to mention and that's the Steam Deck 2. The Steam Deck 2 wasn't part of Valve's latest hardware announcements and it doesn't seem like we'll be getting one any time soon. In an interview with IGN, Valve software engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais said: "We're not interested in getting to a point where it's 20 or 30 or even 50% more performance at the same battery life. We want something a little bit more demarcated than that." So, it seems that until Valve has the technology available to give us a significant performance upgrade we can expect the wait for the Steam Deck 2 to continue. Where can I buy the Steam Deck in the UK? The Steam Deck is available from the following retailers: Steam Amazon OnBuy Back Market Do Steam Decks go on sale on Black Friday? Yes, Steam Decks do usually go on sale around Black Friday at many retailers. Last year we saw discounts on the Steam Deck at retailers like Amazon. That being said, we aren't seeing any discounts at the moment, with prices remaining pretty consistent at £396 for the 256GB LCD model, between £549 and £630 for the 512GB OLED model and £630 to £675 for the OLED model – unfortunately the pricing for the OLED has never been consistent across the different retailers. We do predict that the Steam Deck will drop in price again on Friday 21st November, or Fake Black Friday as we like to call it here on the Technology team. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website You can also take a look at the Nintendo Switch 2 Black Friday deals and the PS5 Pro Black Friday sale. We've also rounded up the best Xbox Game Pass Black Friday deals and PS5 controller Black Friday deals. Plus, Black Friday Apple Watch deals, the best genuine Black Friday deals and the Black Friday EA Sports FC 26 deal.
Best gaming advent calendars for kids and adults to buy for Christmas 2025
From Pokémon to Minecraft, there's an gaming advent calendar for every player
The days of getting the same chocolate advent calendar to countdown to Christmas are long gone, with advent calendars increasingly taking more and more exciting forms every year. They're an essential part of Christmas and a great way to give yourself a little gift every day in the run up to the big day. These days, you can find an advent calendar for pretty much any interest, and gamers will be pleased to hear that they've not been forgotten. Whether you're a Minecraft mega-fan (or the parent of one) or you're looking for some fun Pokémon collectables to display on your desk, there's an gaming advent calendar for you. We've broken our list down buy game to help make it easier to find exactly what you're looking for. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website Jump to: Minecraft advent calendars Pokémon advent calendars Five Nights at Freddy's advent calendars Mario advent calendars More gaming advent calendars If you're looking for more ways to celebrate Christmas, we've rounded up the best Christmas shows and pantomimes in London. Gaming advent calendars at a glance LEGO Minecraft Advent Calendar | £29.99 Minecraft 24 Days Keepsake Box Advent Calendar | £30 Pokémon TCG: Holiday Calendar | £54.95 Pokémon Holiday Calendar 2025 | £29.50 Funko Five Nights At Freddy's Advent Calendar | £29.99 Nintendo Super Mario Xmas Advent Calendar | £50.99 EXIT Advent Calendar - The Intergalactic Race | £40 Eight Build Your Own Electronic Games Advent Calendar | £26.99 Best gaming advent calendars to gift someone for Christmas 2025 Minecraft advent calendar LEGO Minecraft Advent Calendar LEGO have come out with the 2025 version of their super popular LEGO Minecraft advent calendar and it's packed with fun details. In the build up to Christmas, Minecraft fans can expect mini-figures of their favourite mobs including zombies, wolves, creepers and drowned as well as accessories like a bed, various weapons and more. Plus you get Steve (with some cool diamond armour), which is always a win. Buy the LEGO Minecraft Advent Calendar for £29.99 at LEGO undefined Minecraft 24 Days Keepsake Box Advent Calendar There are a few different advent calendar options for the Minecraft mega-fan in your life this year, including this fun keepsake box filled with Minecraft merch. The vibrant and festive box will last for many Christmases to come and the included surprises, everything from stickers to fn cards and makes, offer different creative and imaginative activities every day. Buy the Minecraft 24 Days Keepsake Box Advent Calendar for £30 at Menkind undefined Pokémon advent calendar Pokémon TCG: Holiday Calendar Pokémon trading card collectors will love the latest version of their Holiday Calendar. It includes 8 foil promo cards, 6 TCG booster packs, 7 TCG fun packs and more. Buy the Pokémon TCG: Holiday Calendar for £54.95 at Magic Madhouse undefined Pokémon Holiday Calendar 2025 If you're looking for some fun Pokémon figures to display in your home then this is the advent calendar for you. It includes 16 2-inch figures as well as unique accessories. There also may or may not be a Christmas-themed Pikachu included. Buy the Pokémon Holiday Calendar 2025 for £29.50 at Amazon undefined Five Nights At Freddy's advent calendar Funko Five Nights At Freddy's Advent Calendar Five Nights At Freddy's super-fans won't be disappointed with this Funko FNAF advent calendar. It includes 24 collectable mini Funko Pop Figures including Christmas themed version's of Freddy, Chica and more. Buy the Funko Five Nights At Freddy's Advent Calendar for £29.99 at Amazon undefined Mario advent calendar Nintendo Super Mario Xmas Advent Calendar Mario fans will love this adorable and super detailed advent calendar. It includes 17 different Super Mario characters including Luigi, Princess Peach and the main man Mario, alongside some fun Christmas themed accessories. Buy the Nintendo Super Mario Xmas Advent Calendar for £50.99 at Amazon undefined More gaming advent calendars EXIT Advent Calendar – The Intergalactic Race Is there a better advent calendar for a gamer than one you can play? The latest advent calendar from EXIT includes riddles, story-driven puzzles and more. This one is great for fans of escape rooms, puzzles or those just looking for something unique to do in the build-up to Christmas. Buy the EXIT Advent Calendar – The Intergalactic Race for £40 at MenKind undefined Eight Build Your Own Electronic Games Advent Calendar Speaking of advent calendars you can play, this particular advent calendar is both a fun building project for the tech obsessed and a great experience for gamers. Each day, you'll open a new game to build and play, making it a unique and interactive experience that's perfect for gamers who want a challenge. Buy the Eight Build Your Own Electronic Games Advent Calendar for £26.99 at Boots undefined Want to celebrate Christmas in style this year? Here's everything you need to know about Christmas at LEGOLAND and Christmas at Alton Towers.
Minecraft Eye of Ender: How to make one and what it does
In Minecraft, an Eye of Ender lets you open End Portals to the Ender Dragon!
If you’re trying to locate strongholds in Minecraft so that you can open End Portals and come face to face with the Ender Dragon, you’ll need to make yourself at least one Eye of Ender in order to get started on that mission. There are two crafting ingredients that you’ll need if you want to make an Eye of Ender - you’ll need one Blaze Powder and one Ender Pearl. It’s worth noting nice and early that you’ll need 12 Eyes of Ender in order to open a portal. If you’re wondering where to find those ingredients, how to turn them into an Eye of Ender, and exactly what an Eye of Ender does, read on for our handy guide! How do you get an Eye of Ender in Minecraft? If you want to make an Eye of Ender, you’ll have to do some crafting - and you’ll need two items in your inventory in order to achieve your goal. First, you’ll need to find some Blaze Powder, which is fairly easy to do - when you kill Blaze mobs, they drop Blaze Rods, which you can turn into Blaze Powder simply by dropping said rods into the middle of the crafting square. Next, you’ll need to get some Ender Pearls - when you kill an Enderman, there’s a good chance they’ll drop an Ender Pearl, so it shouldn’t take you too long to find one. And now that you’ve got those two ingredients, you can move on to the crafting recipe! View Riddle on the source website Minecraft Eye of Ender crafting recipe In your crafting square, drop the Ender Pearl into the middle square and the Blaze Powder in the square to its left. Combine those two items and you’ve made yourself an Eye of Ender! Take a look at the image below if you need some extra help. What can you do with an Eye of Ender in Minecraft? As you traverse the Overworld, your Eye of Ender will help you locate strongholds and the End Portals within them - simply hold your Eye of Ender and press the ‘use’ button, and it will show you the direction in which to travel. Alternatively, you could make an End Portal in Minecraft by following the handy instructions in the video below. Even if you do this, though, you'll still need to have some Eyes of Ender handy! View oEmbed on the source website Once you’ve found an End Portal, you’ll need to insert 12 Eyes of Ender into the End Portal frame in order to activate it - with that in mind, you’ll want to make a few of them before you head off on this particular quest. When the End Portal is activated, it will allow you to travel to The End. In this dark dimension, you’ll come face to face with the Ender Dragon - this hostile boss mob is essentially the final boss of Minecraft, so good luck with that! This article first appeared in MEGA Magazine – pick up the mag to get Minecraft awesomeness every month, and check out their YouTube channel for more! Read more on Minecraft: How to tame a fox in Minecraft | How to make a saddle in Minecraft | Is Minecraft free? | Minecraft cheat codes and commands | Best Minecraft servers | Minecraft Realms | Best Minecraft seeds | Best Minecraft Mods | Best Minecraft shaders | Best Minecraft skins | Best Minecraft texture packs | Minecraft Enchantments | Minecraft house Blueprints | Minecraft How to Train Your Dragon DLC | How to build a house in Minecraft | How to install Minecraft Forge | How to make a Minecraft map | Minecraft Villager jobs explained View Green Video on the source website Subscribe to our free Gaming Newsletter for weekly insights, and visit our Gaming hub for all the latest news. Looking for something to watch? Check out our TV Guide or Streaming Guide. Take part in the Screen Test, a project from Radio Times and the Universities of Sussex and Brighton, to explore the role of television and audio in our lives. 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.
Is It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia on Netflix?
Why you should watch it and where you can find it...
If you enjoyed Friends but thought its characters were just a little too nice and the humour was all just a little too clean, then you’ll love It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The show centres around brother and sister Dennis and Dee Reynolds and their friends Charlie and Mac who all co-own the bar Paddy’s Pub in Philadelphia. Together, along with Frank Reynolds, played by a brilliant Danny DeVito, they form a gang of the worst people in America. View oEmbed on the source website The 50 best movies to watch on Netflix The best TV shows to watch on Netflix UK The best TV shows coming to Netflix in 2018 Netflix UK TV guide: what to watch and how much it costs In one particular episode, the gang takes a flight from Philadelphia to Los Angeles with the express purpose of seeing which one can drink the most beers on the duration of the journey. What ensues is a hilarious in-flight drink-off that dredges the darkest depths of comedy to create a sitcom like no other on TV. Currently 12 seasons in, the gang are going stronger than ever and are about to become one of the longest running sitcoms American TV history. All seasons of the show are available on Netflix now.
MCU's Infinity Stones explained- what they are and what each one does
We break down the history and powers of Thanos’s prized gems
At the heart of the first three phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have been the six gems known as Infinity Stones. Each stone holds a particular power and through the last decade of Marvel movies, various characters have attempted to wield them to enact terrible destruction upon the universe. As Benicio Del Toro’s character The Collector says: “Before creation itself, there were six singularities. Then the universe exploded into existence, and the remnants of these systems were forged into concentrated ingots… Infinity Stones.” In Avengers: Infinity War big bad Thanos successfully acquired all six stones in order to assemble his Infinity Gauntlet, providing him with the ability to control all reality and finally enact his plan to wipe out half the galaxy. Yep, spoiler alert – he pulled it off. What can Captain Marvel tell us about the plot of Avengers: Endgame? Samuel L Jackson finally clears up the biggest mystery from Avengers: Infinity War Before all that, though, the stones appeared multiple times in varying ways throughout the many movies in the MCU, and it’s easy to lose track of which stone does what and where they came from. So, we thought we’d catch you up with everything you need to know about the Infinity Stones ahead of the Avengers' final attempt to wrest them back from Thanos in Avengers: Endgame. The Mind Stone View oEmbed on the source website Name: The Mind Stone AKA: Loki’s Sceptre, Vision's headstone (ironically) Colour: Yellow First seen: Avengers Assemble, though not revealed as an Infinity Stone until Avengers: Age of Ultron. Now: In Thanos's Infinity Gauntlet In the MCU: Way back in the original Avengers, Loki came to Earth to try to rule the planet. One of his weapons of choice was a sceptre given to him by Thanos which he used to control the minds of Hawkeye and Erik Selvig. It was later revealed in Avengers: Age of Ultron that the sceptre contained the Mind Stone, which was then used to bring android the Vision to life. In Avengers: Infinity War the team attempted to remove the stone to save Vision's life, but after they failed Scarlet Witch destroyed it (and Vision) in a heroic moment of sacrifice. Thanos, sadly, wasn't having it and just rewound time to bring Vision back, then tore the stone (the final one he needed) from the android's head. With all six stones, he was free to enact his final plan... What does it do? So far we’ve seen the Mind Stone used to control minds, create energy blasts and power the Vision. It has also been noted that Scarlet Witch derived her abilities from the Mind Stone back in Age of Ultron, possibly leading to her connection with Vision. The Space Stone View oEmbed on the source website Name: The Space Stone AKA: The Tesseract Colour: Blue First seen: Captain America: The First Avenger Now: In Thanos's Infinity Gauntlet In the MCU: The Space Stone made its first appearance as the Tesseract, a legendary energy cube of great power stolen by Hydra leader Red Skull, before being rediscovered by SHIELD some time later. Chronologically, the next time it turned up was in the 90s-set Captain Marvel, where it was being used to power new flight technology until it was taken into safekeeping by the Skrulls, then returned to SHIELD custody. The Tesseract was then used to open the portal to deep space to let in Loki’s invading forces in 2012's Avengers Assemble before being taken to the vaults of Asgard. In Thor: Ragnarok, Loki spotted the Tesseract in the vaults and took it for himself, eventually handing it over to Thanos in the opening scenes of Avengers: Infinity War. What does it do? The Space Stone has the power to create interstellar bridges from one end of space to the other. It is, in effect, a portal to other parts of the universe making it an incredibly useful asset to the invading Thanos. The Space Stone was used by Odin and Heimdall to build the Bifrost on Asgard, the rainbow coloured bridge that allows Asgardians access to the nine realms. It is also a powerful source of energy, used to run Hydra's weapons in Captain America: The First Avenger and Kree technology in Captain Marvel. Captain Marvel also derives her energy powers from the Stone. The Reality Stone View oEmbed on the source website Name: The Reality Stone AKA: The Aether Colour: Red First seen: Thor: The Dark World Now: In Thanos's Infinity Gauntlet In the MCU: The Aether was the object of desire for Malekith, the leader of the Dark Elves in the Thor sequel. During the film, Natalie Portman’s character was bonded with the Aether making her a target for the evil elf. By the end of the film it had been taken by the Lady Sif to the Collector on Knowhere in order to keep distance between the Aether and the Space Stone, which was in Odin’s treasure room on Asgard. Unfortunately, this made the Reality Stone a fairly easy target for Thanos, who captured it offscreen in Infinity War before using it to trick and defeat the Guardians of the Galaxy. What does it do? As the Aether the Stone turned matter into dark matter by binding with a host and absorbing their life force, while in Thanos' gauntlet it grants the bearer temporary power over reality, allowing Thanos to create impossibly convincing illusions and transform the matter of his foes. The Power Stone View oEmbed on the source website Name: The Power Stone AKA: The Orb Colour: Purple First seen: Guardians of the Galaxy Now: Thanos's Infinity Gauntlet In the MCU: The Orb forms the central focus of the first Guardians of the Galaxy film with pretty much every character seeking it out. It is then revealed that the Orb is home to the Power Stone, a purple ingot of planet-destroying power, and after a struggle for possession it's left in the custody of the Nova Corps on Xandar. Unfortunately, shortly before the beginning of Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos invades and largely destroys Xandar, gaining the Power Stone in the process and beginning his (fairly swift) collection of all six stones. What does it do? Among its other uses the Power Stone acts as a mini Death Star, allowing its wielder to destroy planets just by touching the stone to the earth. Ronan, the fanatical Kree villain of the first Guardians film, gained enhanced strength from the stone and intended to use it to destroy all living matter on Xandar, the home of the Nova Corp. In Infinity War the Power Stone was the most regularly used of all the Infinity Stones, allowing Thanos to outclass the Hulk for strength and easily swat away the other Avengers in battle. The Time Stone View oEmbed on the source website Name: The Time Stone AKA: The Eye of Agamotto Colour: Green First seen: Doctor Strange Now: In Thanos's Infinity Gauntlet In the MCU: Doctor Strange introduced the idea of ancient relics of great power chosing a sorcerer to wield them, and the famed Eye of Agamotto apparently chose Strange himself as its master. In the film we saw the stone, housed inside a pendant, being protected by the sorcerers in the New York Sanctum, and Strange was able to use its time-bending abilities to imprison the evil Dormammu. Infinity War, meanwhile, showed us the Stone in action once again. Strange attempts to use it against Thanos's henchman Ebony Maw but to little success, while Thanos himself (after receiving the Stone from Strange as a trade for Tony Stark's life) uses its power to reverse the destruction of the Vision and his accompanying Mind Stone (see above). What does it do? The Time Stone, when properly used, can reverse or accelerate time. In Doctor Strange it is used as a means of reversing the destruction of the Dark Dimension and Dormammu, while in Infinity War it brings Vision (briefly) back to life. It is suggested that Strange is also able to use it to see multiple possible future timelines. The pendant itself, created by the first Sorcerer Supreme, was a means of housing and controlling the power of the stone for use by its owner, much like Thanos's Infinity Gauntlet. The Soul Stone View oEmbed on the source website Name: The Soul Stone AKA: N/A Colour: Orange First seen: Avengers: Infinity War Now: Thanos's Gauntlet In the MCU: The location or identity of the Soul Stone remained a mystery within the MCU for many years (with many theories as to where and what it might be), but in Avengers: Infinity War it was revealed that the Soul Stone was being held on a mysterious planet called Vormir the entire time. After blackmailing Gamora into taking him there, Thanos passed the Stone's "test" (administered by the Red Skull) by sacrificing his adoptive daughter, later waking up far away with the elusive Stone in his hand. What does it do? Very little is known about the Soul Stone, though the Red Skull describes it as having "a certain wisdom" and sentience compared to the other five, and many consider it the most dangerous of the set. Notably, Thanos uses it (along with the Power Stone) to counter some of Doctor Strange's magic during a battle on Titan, suggesting it has some mystical qualities. With Thanos uniting all six stones in Avengers: Infinity War, it remains to be seen how the surviving heroes will be able to stand against their power in Endgame. If the full might of Avengers past and present couldn't take him down, what chance to the remnants of the team have? At least we now know when we'll find out... Avengers: Endgame is released in UK cinemas on Thursday 25th April
Westworld is back - but which cast members have survived and who are the new actors joining the show?
At the conclusion of Westworld season one many of the mysteries had seemingly been wrapped up, leaving the hosts in charge of the park and the employees of Delos either dead or on the run. But who survived? Who's coming to help? Everything you need to remember about Westworld ahead of season two Westworld series two spoiler-free preview: "season one only scratched the surface" View oEmbed on the source website In other words, which cast members are returning to the show and who’s new for season two? Who’s returning? Dolores Abernathy - Evan Rachel Wood Who does Evan Rachel Wood play? Original host Dolores was one of the focal points of season one, with her journey to self-awareness becoming a central storyline in the show. Her travels with William took up most of the first series, but now she has her freedom and a thirst for revenge - so what does she have planned? What else has Evan Rachel Wood been in? Rachel Wood starred in the 2008 drama The Wrestler directed by Darren Aronofsky, where she played embittered wrestler Mickey Rourke’s daughter. She also starred in the George Clooney-directed political thriller The Ides of March alongside Ryan Gosling. A child actor, Rachel Wood had her first leading role aged nine in Digging to China, and attracted critical acclaim for her role as a troubled teen in 2003's Thirteen. Maeve Millay - Thandie Newton Who does Thandie Newton play? Newton plays the sentient android Maeve, the former madam of a brothel in Sweetwater who became self-aware throughout the first season of the show. She was last seen returning to the park after deciding to track down her daughter, another host who she'd lived with during her earlier years in Westworld. What else has Thandie Newton been in? Among other roles, the British actress has starred in the fourth series of BBC drama Line of Duty where she played DCI Roz Huntley. She was also nominated for a BAFTA for her role in the 2004 Best Picture winner Crash and is set to make an appearance in the upcoming Solo: A Star Wars Story. Bernard Lowe – Jeffrey Wright Who does Jeffrey Wright play? Wright plays the character of Bernard, the head of programming at Westworld and an artificial recreation of the park's co-creator Arnold Weber. With Anthony Hopkins’ Ford now dead, Bernard is free from his control and will likely play a pivotal role in the upcoming season. What else has Jeffrey Wright been in? The actor starred in the Bond films Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace alongside Daniel Craig before starring with Jennifer Lawrence in the Hunger Games sequels. Wright also starred alongside Evan Rachel Wood in George Clooney’s Ides of March. Teddy Flood – James Marsden Who does James Marsden play? Flood is a good-guy host with a dark past, who spent most of his time searching for the missing Dolores in season one. Flood, like all the hosts, learns a lot about himself throughout the course of the first season, leading him to self-awareness going into season two. Expect him to be an important part of the revolution in season two. What else has James Marsden been in? The Oklahoma-born actor is most famous for his role as Scott Summers or Cyclops in the original X-Men movies. Marsden starred in the original trilogy of films and reprised the character for a cameo in X-Men: Days of Future Past. He has also appeared in films including Enchanted and Superman Returns. Charlotte Hale - Tessa Thompson Who does Tessa Thompson play? A large portion of season one focused on Delos, the company that owns Westworld, attempting to push out Robert Ford, the park's creator. Pivotal to this plot was Thompson’s board exec Charlotte Hale, whose attempt to remove Ford from the board led to tensions within the Westworld staff. With the hosts having risen up this season, expect Hale’s position to be particularly treacherous. What else has Tessa Thompson been in? Thompson starred in the Ava DuVernay-directed Selma before her breakout role in the Rocky sequel Creed. More recently, she was seen starring as the drunken warrior Valkyrie in last year's Thor: Ragnarok alongside Chris Hemsworth, and in Netflix sci-fi Annihilation with Natalie Portman. William - Jimmi Simpson Who does Jimmi Simpson play? Simpson stars as William, the younger version of The Man in Black. William begins his time at Westworld as a moral and conscientious visitor, but as time passes he becomes more selfish, violent and obsessed with the park's hosts. William takes a particular shine to Dolores, leading to his older self’s villainous actions. What else has Jimmi Simpson been in? Simpson is known for his recurring role in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia where he plays the strange and hilarious Liam McPoyle, and as a hacker in Netflix series House of Cards. More recently, Simpson starred in the acclaimed USS Callister episode of the satirical anthology Black Mirror on Netflix, and was nominated for a BAFTA for his performance. The Man in Black – Ed Harris Who does Ed Harris Play? Harris plays the older incarnation of William, known in the Westworld park as The Man in Black. The Man in Black has a sadistic nature, often wishing the park's "games" were more challenging, and ended season one gleefully anticipating the hosts' attack. What else has Ed Harris been in? Harris has been nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars three times for his roles in Apollo 13, The Truman Show and The Hours. He also starred in the science fiction film Snowpiercer and the 2017 thriller Mother! among many other performances. Ashley Stubbs – Luke Hemsworth Who does Luke Hemsworth play? Stubbs is the head of security at Westworld, and considering the hosts rebelled at the end of season one he'll probably be pretty busy in the new season. Stubbs was abducted by hosts in his last appearance, and it's assumed the new episodes will reveal how he escaped. What else has Luke Hemsworth been in? Before being cast in Westworld, Hemsworth starred in the Australian soap Neighbours. More recently he cameoed as the God of Thunder in Thor: Ragnarok, where he played a fictionalised version of the role his brother Chris made famous during a scene in the film. Hector Escaton – Rodrigo Santoro Who does Rodrigo Santoro play? Hector is an outlaw within Westworld who is wanted for multiple massacres within the park. The vengeful gang leader has a close relationship with Maeve and is one of the hosts bent on survival in the new season. What else has Rodrigo Santoro been in? Santoro played the role of Xerxes I in the swords and sandals epic 300, before starring as Jesus in the 2016 remake of Ben-Hur. The Brazilian actor also starred in the 2003 romantic comedy Love Actually, where he played the role of Karl opposite Laura Linney, and Lost. Lee Sizemore - Simon Quarterman Who does Simon Quarterman play? Quarterman stars as the narrative director of the park responsible for the stories or loops that the hosts are part of. His key role in the subjugation of the hosts is likely to make him a key target during the uprising. Could his days in Westworld be numbered? What else has Simon Quarterman been in? The British actor had a role in the 2012 supernatural horror film The Devil Inside and has starred in many TV shows during his career, including Midsomer Murders, Holby City and EastEnders as well as the miniseries Victoria & Albert. Angela Sarafyan - Clementine Pennyfeather Who does she play? A host formerly working in Maeve's whorehouse, Clementine was lobotomised in the last series and now acts as a zombie-like lieutenant for Dolores. Where have I seen her? The Armenian-American played one of the Egyptian coven of vampires in the Twilight movies, and also appeared in American Horror Story as Alice. Logan – Ben Barnes Who does Ben Barnes play? In season one, Logan was a veteran guest at Westworld who indulges his darker instincts in the park's more sinister storylines. Closely connected to William/The Man in Black, expect Logan to be a key player in the story going forward. What else has Ben Barnes been in? Barnes starred in the The Chronicles of Narnia films Prince Caspian and Voyage of the Dawn Treader and a 2009 adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s classic The Picture of Dorian Gray before landing his role in Westworld. More recently he has starred in the Netflix series The Punisher, where he played a key character from Frank Castle’s past. Armistice – Ingrid Bolsø Berdal Who does Ingrid Bolsø Berdal play? Berdal plays Armistice, a brutal and violent bandit and a close ally of gang member Hector. She was leading the charge on the Westworld command centre at the end of season one, but a post-credits scene suggested her survival. What else has Ingrid Bolsø Berdal been in? The Norwegian actress starred in the 2014 film Hercules alongside Dwayne Johnson and also appeared in the TV movie adaptation of Terry Pratchett’s Going Postal. Angela - Talulah Riley Who does Talulah Riley play? Back in season one Angela was a host designed to greet guests as they arrived at the park. In season two Riley has been upgraded to a main character, and so we expect Angela will break free of her loop and join the revolution. What else has Talulah Riley been in? Riley starred as Annabelle Fritton in the British comedy film St Trinians and its sequel alongside actor Rupert Everett. She has also appeared in Doctor Who, Inception, The Boat That Rocked and Thor: The Dark World. Who’s new in season two? Karl Strand - Gustaf Skarsgård Who does Gustaf Skarsgård play? The Swedish actor plays the role of Karl Strand, the laid-back and confident Head of Operations for Delos. What else has Gustaf Skarsgård been in? Skarsgård stars currently in the History channel drama Vikings where he plays the character of Floki. He also had a role in the Scandinavian drama Kon-Tiki and Peter Weir’s The Way Back with Ed Harris. Grace - Katja Herbers Who does Katja Herbers play? Herbers is set to play a seasoned guest at the park, presumably fighting for survival in the new, host controlled, world. What else has Katja Herbers been in? The Dutch actress starred in the third season of the HBO drama The Leftovers as the role of Dr. Eden. She also had a small role in the FX drama The Americans in its third season. Nicholas – Neil Jackson Who does Neil Jackson play? Deadline have reported that Jackson will play “a charming, resourceful man who finds himself in uncharted territory.” Could this mean that Jackson was a guest at the time of the hosts taking over? Or could he be a newly sentient host? What else has Neil Jackson been in? The British actor starred in the Bond film Quantum of Solace before appearing alongside Amy Adams in Nocturnal Animals in 2016. He currently stars in the show Absentia alongside former Castle actress Stana Katic. Antoine Costa - Fares Fares Who will Fares Fares play? Antoine Costa is said to be a tech expert within Westworld, and is likely to take on a pretty important role going forward in the battle against the hosts in season two. What else has Fares Fares been in? The Swedish-Lebanese actor stared in the FX drama Tyrant as freedom fighting journalist Fauzi Nadal. He also had a small role in the Star Wars spin-off Rogue One where he played the role of Senator Vaspar. Major Craddock – Jonathan Tucker Who will Jonathan Tucker play? Tucker will play a host with military leanings in the second season, who may play a part in Dolores' quest against the humans. What else has Jonathan Tucker been in? Tucker recently starred in the Amazon Prime original American Gods where he plays Low Key Lyesmith. He also had a major role in the US drama Kingdom and the film The Next Three Days staring Russell Crowe. Maling – Betty Gabriel Who does Betty Gabriel play? Gabriel plays an enforcer tasked with bringing the park back under the control of Delos. What else has Betty Gabriel been in? Gabriel starred in the 2017 smash hit horror Get Out in a performance that was lauded by critics. Looking forward, she is set to appear in the upcoming science fiction thriller Upgrade from Get Out producer Jason Blum. James Delos – Peter Mullan Who does Peter Mullan play? Mullan stars as the founder of Delos, the company who owns the Westworld park. Delos is an enigmatic figure and little is known about his motivations but a brief glimpse of him in marketing materials for the show suggests all might not be well with the CEO. What else has Peter Mullan been in? The Scottish actor featured as death eater Yaxley in the final two instalments in the Harry Potter franchise. He also delivered an acclaimed performance as reformed alcoholic Joseph in the drama Tyrannosaur from director Paddy Considine. Musashi - Hiroyuki Sanada Who does Hiroyuki Sanada play? Sanada plays a new character named Musashi, who could be a host in the recently revealed Shogunworld. The expansion of Delos’s portfolio of parks was hinted at in the first season as the hosts revolted – but could the Westworld uprising spread to the other parks? What else has Hiroyuki Sanada been in? The acclaimed Japanese actor starred in the films 47 Ronin and Sunshine as well as having a supporting role in superhero film The Wolverine. Sanada also had a recurring role in the hit drama Lost. Akane – Rinko Kikuchi Who does Rinko Kikuchi play? Kikuchi plays the character Akane, a host from Shogunworld. Marketing matrials have revealed her character’s costume to be that of a geisha, but little else is known about her role in the upcoming season. What else has Rinko Kikuchi been in? The Japanese actress received acclaim and an Oscar nomination for her role in the film Babel alongside Brad Pitt. She also starred in the epic monster movie Pacific Rim and its sequel Pacific: Rim Uprising, Akecheta - Zahn McClarnon Who does Zahn McClarnon play? McClarnon stars as the character Akecheta and was briefly seen in the hidden trailer on the website DiscoverWestworld.com. The hidden trailer showed the character with a bloody hand touching his face. Could he be connected to the mysterious Ghost Nation? What else has Zahn McClarnon been in? McClarnon is a renowned Native American actor who has had roles in the shows Fargo, Longmire and the Netflix show Frontier. He also starred in the horror-western Bone Tomahawk alongside Kurt Russell in 2015. Hanaryo – Tao Okamoto Who does Tao Okamoto play? Okamoto plays the role of Hanaryo, a mysterious new character about which little is known. It is likely that she is a host in Shogunworld and will likely play a large role in the hosts expansion and escape from their prisons. What else has Tao Okamoto been in? The actress starred alongside Hiroyuki Sanada in The Wolverine and had a brief role in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice where she played Lex Luthor’s assistant Mercy Graves. The new season of Westworld premieres on Sky Atlantic at 9pm on 23rd April
Avengers: Infinity War – what happens next?
With Infinity War set to make some seismic changes, what will happen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe after the movie?
Believe it or not, it’s been 10 years since Iron Man first introduced the idea of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to the world. What's followed in the subsequent decade has been an ambitious, interconnected franchise of films on an unprecedented scale. The MCU has less in common with huge movie franchises like Star Trek or Harry Potter and more in common with serialised TV like Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad, using the budget and the spectacle of film to create a narrative one movie or episode at a time. By that logic, new sequel Avengers: Infinity War is like the season finale to these first phases of the MCU, and will spark a seismic shift in the superhero film series that will continue beyond 2019's mysteriously untitled Avengers 4. Avengers: Infinity War directors explain how they chose Stan Lee’s cameo Avengers: Infinity War’s post-credits scene explained Avengers: Infinity War directors say that missing characters could play a bigger part in the sequel With that in mind, we thought we’d speculate on the state of the world post-Infinity War, taking a look at the characters, movies and storylines Marvel will likely look to in order to build phase 4 of their cinematic universe. View oEmbed on the source website Kevin Feige told Vanity Fair in November 2017 that “we’ve got another 20 movies on the docket that are completely different from anything that’s come before — intentionally.” So what are these 20 movies? Which ones have already been announced and which ones haven’t? For now, let's start with what we know. What films are coming after Infinity War? We know that the most immediate film set for release after Infinity War is Ant-Man and the Wasp, with the follow-up to the Paul Rudd-starring Ant-Man seeing Evangeline Lilly’s Hope Van Dyne promoted to title character. Up to this point Rudd’s Ant-Man has been conspicuously absent from the Infinity War marketing and has gone unmentioned by the directors. While it is possible that he is in fact in both the posters and the trailers in his shrunken form, it's more likely that Ant-Man’s absence is due to his story in his own solo feature. Ant-Man was last seen on team Cap at the end of Civil War and was a fugitive from the law. View oEmbed on the source website In the recently-released trailer for Ant-Man and the Wasp we can see Scott Lang wearing an ankle tag, suggesting he has decided not to live as a fugitive. How will Ant-Man's attempt to return to his life factor into his future within the MCU? We'll have to wait to find out when his second solo feature is released later this year. Following the Ant-Man sequel we know to expect Captain Marvel. After the success of last year’s Wonder Woman and this year’s Black Panther it seems studios are finally aware that diversity can lead to box office success. Casting Oscar-winner Brie Larson as Carol Danvers, Marvel has slated its first female-fronted superhero film for March 8th 2019. The film will likely see fighter pilot Danvers enter the cosmic realm as she's caught in a conflict between warring worlds, and will also star younger versions of Samuel L. Jackson and Clark Gregg's Avengers characters Nick Fury and Agent Coulson. More generally, Feige’s promise that the post-Infinity War films will be radically different seems to suggest that a new brass will be leading the Avengers. So could this fresh leadership include Captain Marvel? After her first 90s-set adventure is over we could imagine Danvers leading a new wave of Avengers films in the present day, possibly picking up the mantle of leader from Captain America as Chris Evans has confirmed he will likely retire from the MCU after Avengers 4. Speaking of Avengers 4, after Captain Marvel's release the next MCU film is the fourth Avengers outing, which is as of yet unnamed. Infinity War directors Joe and Anthony Russo have said that the reveal of the film's title would ultimately spoil the events of Infinity War which has, of course, led to rampant fan speculation. Could this film’s mystery title hint at the rule of Thanos? Potentially the fourth film could see a new team of Avengers, possibly including Danvers, attempting to save the world from Thanos' latest schemes. Could this be the radical new direction Feige has hinted at in the past? Or could this hint at the inclusion of another comic book storyline entirely? At the moment, it's hard to say. After Avengers 4 we’re getting a currently-untitled follow-up to Spider-Man: Homecoming, with a return for Tom Holland's Peter Parker - unless of course the Spider-Man sequel includes a different version of the wallcrawler. After all, for years fans have been keen to see the big-screen debut of Miles Morales, a younger Spider-Man from the comics. We know Morales exists in the MCU after a throwaway line uttered by Donald Glover’s character in Homecoming, and it would certainly be an unexpected and bold new direction for the franchise. After the runaway success of his first solo outing, Black Panther also seems set to move on past the events of Infinity War in his own recently-announced sequel. Much like Captain Marvel, T’Challa seems like a prime candidate to take over as the leader of the Avengers after the Thanos storyline wraps up, and could be an important member of the team going forward into phase 4. The last of the confirmed sequels coming out in phase 4 is James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3, which seems likely to hold on to its current team line-up – unless Karen Gillan's Nebula has a major part to play in the Avengers 4 storyline. Apart from that, we don't know too much about it – though we'd be surprised if Groot doesn't have another growth spurt. While these movies have been confirmed for the next few years, Marvel has also slated nine untitled movies for various dates between 2020 and 2022. Of these untitled sequels, we expect one to be Black Panther 2 and the other to be Guardians 3 (which has yet to land an official release date), but the other seven are open to speculation. So, what will these untitled Marvel movies be? Doctor Strange 2 View oEmbed on the source website One possible sequel not yet announced for phase 4 is Doctor Strange 2. While Benedict Cumberbatch has recently tried to downplay the idea of a sequel to the 2016 film, it seems likely that the sorcerer supreme will return. With the scope of the character's universe and the colourful array of villains in his comic-book back catalogue, Doctor Strange 2 could certainly take the MCU in a new and interesting direction. Fantastic 4 Under movie studio 20th Century Fox's control there have been three attempts at making Fantastic 4 films, but the most recent of these attempts (a reboot directed by Josh Trank) was critically derided and bombed at the box office, leaving the future of Marvel’s first family up in the air. Still, with the anticipated Fox/Disney merger expected to be confirmed later this year, it would place the Fantastic 4 in prime position for a MCU reboot. This is further supported by the recent announcement that the quartet will be returning to comics after a three-year absence. So if they are back, could Doctor Doom be the next big MCU villain? Avengers vs. X-Men This is another film that hinges on the expected Fox/Disney deal as it would require the rights to the X-Men characters. If the deal goes through as planned, an adaptation of this recent comic-book storyline would seem like a logical way to introduce the mutant world to the MCU by pitting them against the latest incarnation of the Avengers. As Hugh Jackman hangs up his claws for good, Wolverine is ripe for a recast and could be a perfect entry point for an X-Men reboot. World War Hulk Since the underwhelming Incredible Hulk movie in 2008 and the introduction of Mark Ruffalo as the character in 2012's Avengers, audiences have been asking for another solo film from the big green brute. If such a film was greenlit, fans would definitely hope to see the dramatisation of the popular World War Hulk storyline, which saw the jade giant invade Earth after being betrayed by the Avengers and trapped on a hostile world (elements of that backstory ended up being used in 2017's Thor: Ragnarok). And who knows? If Marvel do land the X-Men rights, perhaps we could expect to see Wolverine facing off in a grudge match against the Hulk to save the world. Now that's entertainment. The Eternals One of the latest adaptation rumours swirling around the internet (originating on Bleeding Cool) for the post-Infinity War world is a movie based on the Eternals, a group of people with godlike abilities given to them by powerful beings called The Celestials who first appeared in comics written and illustrated by Marvel legend Jack Kirby. MCU fans will be familiar with Celestials as the characters have popped up in the Guardians of the Galaxy series, while Thanos himself is actually an Eternal – but are they really going to be a huge part of phase 4? Well, you never know. Secret Wars Secret Wars, or more specifically the 2015 sequel to the original 1984-85 comic, centres around the various Marvel universes colliding together into one huge all-out war. The crazy scope of this multiverse-hopping storyline seems perfect for the big screen, and could even be the new direction that Feige was hinting at. After all, the multiverse involved in the Secret Wars storyline has already been hinted at in Doctor Strange, so it wouldn’t be a huge leap from the stories that Marvel have told so far. The storyline would also lend itself nicely to introducing the X-Men and Fantastic 4, explaining the absence from the MCU so far (they were in parallel universes!) before uniting them all for future films. Overall, with seven untitled movies and almost 80 years of comic book history to chose from, it seems more likely that in the future Marvel will follow the method they created for phases one to three, avoiding direct comic-book adaptations as they exist on the page in favour of cherry-picking ideas and characters in order to build their own unique stories. So with that in mind, it could be that we see a mixture of all of the above stories going forward within the MCU, or perhaps some new mixture involving characters and storylines we never could have guessed at. Still, at the moment one thing IS certain to anyone wondering at Marvel's future plans. The end of phase three will change Marvel movies forever. This article was originally published on 20th April Avengers: Infinity War is released in UK cinemas now
Who is Lost Voice Guy? Comedian Lee Ridley wows on Britain’s Got Talent 2018
Here’s everything you need to know about the innovative comedian known as the Lost Voice Guy
When Lost Voice Guy took to the Britain's Got Talent stage, he delivered one of the most hilarious stand-up routines the show has ever seen. But what made comedian Lee Ridley's performance so special is the fact that he can't speak. Everything you need to know about Britain’s Got Talent 2018 How to get tickets for Britain’s Got Talent 2018 The Newcastle-based comic performs through the use of a speech synthesiser and David Walliams said his performance was "one of the best stand-up routines I've seen – let alone on this show". Forget Walliams, though – Ridley has the rare honour of having featured two weeks running in Radio Times magazine's radio choices section, thanks to his Radio 4 comedy Ability "about a man with cerebral palsy, who finds it hard to get served in pubs because he already looks drunk and whose inner voice is pure Geordie, while his spoken voice sounds just like Stephen Hawking". So who is Lee Ridley, and what else do you need to know about him? Who is Lee Ridley? The 37 year-old is from Consett near Newcastle and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was six months old. Due to complications resulting from his disability, Ridley has been unable to speak for over 30 years. In order to perform, Ridley uses a speech synthesiser upon which he programs his material before selecting certain lines based on audience reaction. According to an interview with The Guardian, Ridley saw comedian Ross Noble performing a large majority of his set doing an impression of Stephen Hawking. After the show Ridley, through his voice synthesiser, challenged Noble asking: "Do you want to see who can do the best Stephen Hawking impersonation?" View oEmbed on the source website The joke made Noble laugh and he incorporated the story into his own routine; a thrill for Ridley who was a big fan of the comedian. Ridley soon began performing stand-up sets in Sunderland before heading to the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh in 2013. A journalism graduate, Ridley used to work as Sunderland city council’s online content manager while performing his stand-up routines during his evenings. Now, he is a full-time comedian. In 2014, Ridley was the recipient of the BBC New Comedy Award, which has previously been won by the likes of Rhod Gilbert and Alan Carr. While disability and living with cerebral palsy are central themes to his act, Ridley's stand-up covers a breadth of topics from roasting the political establishment to the country's welfare system. Is he on YouTube? Ridley’s Edinburgh Festival set from two years ago is available below - and his unique blend of self-deprecating humor and observational comedy is guaranteed to make you laugh. View oEmbed on the source website He also appeared on The One Show performing another hilarious batch of jokes. The video is available on his YouTube alongside a host of other videos starring the comedian. View oEmbed on the source website Ridley has also landed his own Radio 4 sitcom. View oEmbed on the source website Ridley's performance is a hit with both the audience and the judges on the BGT stage and he'll be hoping his act will take him further in the competition. Britain's Got Talent continues Saturdays on ITV
Britain’s Got Talent hopeful Calum Courtney is already a viral sensation
The young singer set the world alight with a viral video shot in Asda. Now he hopes to do the same on the Britain's Got Talent stage
Britain's Got Talent hopeful Calum Courtney has already racked up over two million views on a video of him singing in a supermarket that went viral last year. The ten-year-old boy warmed the hearts of the nation when he spontaneously broke into a rendition of the song Who’s Lovin’ You by Smokey Robinson while in Asda. View oEmbed on the source website According to The Independent, the video attracted the interest of an unnamed producer and writer who supposedly wanted to release a charity single this year. But now, Calum is taking his talents to the Britain’s Got Talent stage. So what else do we know about this talented ten-year-old? Who is Calum Courtney? Born in Basildon in Essex, the schoolboy is no stranger to singing. He's previously performed on the same stage as Emeli Sandé and JP Cooper at the NSPCC Winter Charity Ball in aid of the National Autistic Society: View oEmbed on the source website According to his mum, Calum – who has been diagnosed with high functioning autism – doesn’t get nervous. In an interview with the Independent, she said: “if there’s anything from one to 100 people to sing in front of, he loves it.” Talent clearly runs in the family, because both of Calum's grandparents were on the West End stage. View oEmbed on the source website More from Calum Since his first video took social media by storm, his mother has started a YouTube channel where she uploads videos of her son singing. Here he is singing This is Me from the runaway success, The Greatest Showman in his trademark style: View oEmbed on the source website And here's his version of Ed Sheeran's Perfect: View oEmbed on the source website Britain’s Got Talent airs Saturdays on ITV
Everything you need to know about the upcoming Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw drama about the Jeremy Thorpe scandal
What time is A Very English Scandal on TV? The BBC has announced the three-part series will begin airing on Sunday 20th May at 9pm on BBC1, with episode two on Sunday 27th May and episode three on Sunday 3rd June. The three-part series is an adaptation of John Preston’s novel centring on one of the biggest scandals in British politics. View oEmbed on the source website What is the series about? A Very English Scandal centres around British MP and leader of the Liberal party Jeremy Thorpe (Hugh Grant) who was tried and acquitted of plotting to murder his former lover Norman Scott. Scott had been threatening to expose his relationship with Thorpe at a time not long after homosexuality had been decriminalised in Britain. Desperate to conceal his secret in order to keep his political career intact, Thorpe set in motion a plan of deception and lies that ultimately culminated in his arrest for conspiracy to murder. “The trial of Jeremy Thorpe changed society forever,” a BBC synopsis reads, “illuminating the darkest secrets of the Establishment.” Read more about the real history of A Very English Scandal View oEmbed on the source website Who is in the cast? A Very English Scandal features a glut of British acting talent including rom-com legend Hugh Grant (Notting Hill, Bridget Jones) who plays the show's central character Jeremy Thorpe. Most recently Grant starred in the much-loved family film Paddington 2 as well as a Bafta-nominated turn alongside Meryl Streep in Florence Foster Jenkins. In the role of Norman Scott, Thorpe’s accuser, is Skyfall and Spectre star Ben Whishaw. The 37-year-old actor voiced the titular character of Paddington alongside Grant in 2017. Bafta nominee Monica Dolan stars as Thorpe’s wife Marion and is joined by veteran actors Alex Jennings (The Crown) and Jonathan Hyde (Titanic) as Peter Bessell and David Napely respectively, while Torchwood and Keeping Faith actress Eve Myles plays the role of Gwen Parry-Jones. Rounding out the cast of the BBC drama are Patricia Hodge, Jason Watkins, Adrian Scarborough, Michele Dotrice and Blake Harrison. Who is behind the camera? Bringing A Very English Scandal to the small screen are writer Russell T Davies and director Stephen Frears. Davies is best known as the former head writer of Doctor Who – the man who masterminded the successful relaunch of the show for a new generation. More recently, Davies worked on the BBC's A Midsummer Night's Dream and Channel 4 dramas Cucumber and Banana. In the director's chair sits acclaimed British filmmaker Stephen Frears. The 76-year-old actor directed Hugh Grant in Florence Foster Jenkins and released the Judy Dench starring Victoria & Abdul in 2017.
Britain’s Got Talent 2018: who is singing priest Father Ray Kelly?
Everything you need to know about Ireland's singing priest set to appear in front of the judges on ITV
In 2014, a YouTube video of a priest singing Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah at a wedding went viral. The video was viewed over 60 million times and made its subject an overnight internet star. The singing priest in question is Father Ray Kelly, who sang the Cohen song as the bride walked down the aisle on the day of her wedding – and now he's appearing on Britain's Got Talent. Britain’s Got Talent reveals sneak peek of Manchester bombing victim’s inspiring audition Everything you need to know about Britain’s Got Talent 2018 Who is the singing priest on Britain's Got Talent? View oEmbed on the source website The 65-year-old was born in the Irish town of Tyrrellspass and was ordained in 1989. In 2006, Kelly was appointed as the parish priest in Oldcastle & Moylagh, Co. Meath where he has worked ever since. While he was studying to enter the priesthood, Father Kelly was a member of the boyband Rafiki, and he and the band would go on to perform at local events, even recording a charity single. View oEmbed on the source website In the summer of 2014, he signed a contract with Universal Music Ireland, and has since made a series of TV appearances and performed all over the world on his route to the Britain’s Got Talent stage. View oEmbed on the source website
Ant McPartlin brands Sascha Williams "mad" after this death-defying Britain’s Got Talent audition
Introducing the Australian circus performer whose acrobatics will blow you away
When Sascha Williams takes to the Britain's Got Talent stage in , no-one expected what happened next. Initially, both he and fiancée Stephanie Nock seemed as if they were going to do something rather slow, mundane and a bit boring. And then this happened: View oEmbed on the source website The Australian circus performer absolutely stunned the audience, leaving Ant McPartlin calling him "mad" and Amanda Holden screaming and turning away as he performed his Rola Bola act. Never have a small metal tube, a plank of wood or skipping rope been so terrifying. Who is Sascha Williams? A veteran performer, Williams has taken his act all over the world as part of multiple circuses. The 29-year-old has performed his act as part of the Aerial Angels group on the Gold Coast of his homeland as well as more recently, in the Hippodrome Circus in Great Yarmouth. View oEmbed on the source website Can I see more from Sascha Williams? Absolutely. Here are some more videos of his performances that demonstrate just what could be in store on Britain's Got Talent: View oEmbed on the source website Under the green and red lighting of the Hippodrome Circus in Great Yarmouth, Sascha stands atop a plinth ready to blow the audience away with his balancing act. View oEmbed on the source website Britain's Got Talent airs Saturdays on ITV
Who is Britain’s Got Talent's daring escape artist Matt Johnson?
We give you the lowdown on the hair-raising escapologist whose audition is guaranteed to take your breath away
Britain's Got Talent escape artist Matt Johnson is one of the show's most breathtaking acts. Literally. The bearded daredevil escapologist leaves viewers on the edge of their seats when he entirely submerges himself in a locked tank barely big enough to fit in. He explains how he will be padlocked inside, while his hands are handcuffed outside of the box. His aim? To escape in less than a minute and a half. Ant McPartlin is moved to tears as Britain’s Got Talent returns – as breathtaking, bizarre and emotional as ever How to get tickets for Britain’s Got Talent 2018 Matt will then attempt to pick the lock in order to escape. What follows promises to be one of the most tense and shocking auditions of the night. ITV revealed a clip of his audition on Twitter leaving the outcome a secret until Saturday night's show. Before we find out whether he manages to make his daring escape, here's everything you need to know about the daredevil. View oEmbed on the source website Who is Matt Johnson? Matt’s career began in his hometown of Sheffield, where he cut his teeth as a street magician and illusionist. In his 20-year-long career leading to the Britain’s Got Talent stage, he traversed the globe performing his unique style of illusion and his daring escapes to audiences around the world. Matt auditioned with the same audacious trick for BGT in 2017. Unfortunately, the tank he was using broke leaving the stage flooded. What are some of his other tricks? During his career Matt has performed tricks all over the world for a variety of audiences. Dubbing his magic style ‘urban deception’ he has built a stage persona he hopes will win over the BGT judges. See the trailer for his stage show Nothing Up My Sleeves and look out for a mind-blowing trick with a piece of rope and this one, entitled simply Levitation. Performed using only a table, an audience volunteer and a blue sheet, this looks absolutely impossible. If Matt brings even half of the magic on show here to the BGT stage, he'll blow us away. Follow Matt on Twitter @likemattjohnson and check out his website for more of his incredible tricks. Britain’s Got Talent airs Saturdays on ITV
How to get tickets for Britain’s Got Talent 2018
We've got the lowdown on how to get into the audience for this year's Britain's Got Talent live shows
Ever wondered what it would be like to sit in the audience for Britain’s Got Talent? Well we’ve got everything you need to know about applying for tickets to be in with a chance of getting a seat for this year’s live shows. Saturday Night Takeaway’s Stephen Mulhern is getting his own series of In For a Penny on ITV Ant and Dec are missing from first Britain’s Got Talent trailer View oEmbed on the source website How do I get tickets to Britain's Got Talent? In order to be in with a chance of landing tickets you should head over to Applause Store where you can sign up to a mailing list to be notified when the tickets become available. The best part is that the tickets themselves are free and audiences are selected on a first come, first served basis so make sure you arrive early on the day to make sure you land a seat behind the judges. Applause also notes that they do over-distribute tickets to account for "no shows" so there’s no guarantee of landing a seat. But it doesn't sound like you're going to want to miss it. If Britain's Got More Talent host Stephen Mulhern is to be believed, we’re in for a great series. When are Britain's Got Talent's live shows? Although BGT returns to ITV on Saturday 14th May, these auditions have already been filmed. Unfortunately, they were recorded back in January and February in London, Blackpool and Manchester, and so tickets are now only available for the week of live semi-finals and grand final that are due to air at the end of May. View oEmbed on the source website Where are the live shows being held? In previous years the lives have taken place in a TV studio but this year, for the first time Hammersmith Apollo will be hosting the event. The lavish Apollo is no stranger to variety as it regularly hosts everything from music to stand-up comedy so the range of talent on show in BGT should be right at home. As judge Alesha Dixon explained: "I’m actually looking forward to us going to the Hammersmith Apollo. I’m looking forward to the fact we’re doing the live shows in a theatre. I think it’s going to create a different atmosphere." Britain’s Got Talent airs on Saturdays on ITV.
When does ITV’s Innocent start, who's in the cast and what’s it about?
Everything you need to know about the upcoming crime drama following a man freed from prison after he was accused of killing his wife
When is Innocent on TV? Innocent will air from Monday 14th May – Thursday 17th May at 9pm on ITV. The four-part series was described by ITV’s Controller of Drama Victoria Fea as, "a contemporary relationship drama with a thriller pulse". What is Innocent about? Innocent focuses on the character of David Collins, played by Line of Duty actor Lee Ingleby, who was convicted of the murder of his wife Tara despite protesting his innocence. View oEmbed on the source website David is hated by his Tara's family and friends and his two children are now being raised by his wife's sister Alice, played by Hemione Norris of Cold Feet fame, and her husband Rob, Harry Potter actor Adrian Rawlins. Alice is still convinced of David’s guilt when he is released on a technicality, much to his own surprise. David and his brother Phil, played by Skins actor Daniel Ryan, had campaigned for his release but when he is finally freed from prison after seven years, he finds the spectre of guilt hanging over his head. With original investigating officer DCI William Beech (Victoria actor Nigel Lindsay) concerned that his reputation might be besmirched by David’s acquittal, and junior DI Cathy Hudson (Merlin’s Angel Coulby) trying to piece together the truth, Innocent promises to be a thrilling Broadchurch-style crime drama. Can I watch a trailer? Yup. ITV has recently unveiled new footage for the drama... View oEmbed on the source website Who's in the cast of Innocent? Starring in the lead role of David is The A Word actor Lee Ingleby. Known for Inspector George Gently, The A Word, and Line of Duty, Ingleby also had a small role as the night bus conductor Stan Shunpike in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. View oEmbed on the source website Alongside Ingleby is actress Hermione Norris who plays the role of Alice, sister to David’s late wife Tara. Norris starred in the TV show Cold Feet alongside Robert Bathurst where she played Karen Marsden. She also appeared as Ros Myers in Spooks and as DI Carol Jordan in the crime drama Wire in the Blood alongside Robson Green. Starring as David’s brother Phil is Daniel Ryan, the English actor who you might know from shows Mount Pleasant and Home Fires. Playing Alice’s husband Rob is another Harry Potter actor, Adrian Rawlins, who starred in the fantasy franchise as James Potter, the titular wizard's father. Rounding out the cast as DCI William Beech is actor Nigel Lindsey. Lindsey played the role of Shrek in the stage musical adaptation of the DreamWorks animation as well as Barry in the comedy Four Lions. DI Cathy Hudson is played by actress Angel Coulby, most famous for her role as Guinevere in the BBC fantasy series Merlin and more recently for voicing the character of Kayo in the ITV reboot of Thunderbirds. Innocent is due to be released in May 2018, stay tuned for an exact date when it's announced
Everything you need to know about the new BBC divorce drama starring Nicola Walker, Anthony Head and Stephen Mangan
When is The Split airing on BBC1? The Split is on Tuesdays at 9pm on BBC1. The new drama, from writer Abi Morgan (The Hour, River), will run for six episodes with the finale on Tuesday 29th May at 9pm on BBC1. Meet the cast of BBC divorce drama The Split First look: BBC divorce drama The Split is sharp, smart and entertaining What is The Split about? The Split centres around three sisters – divorce lawyers Hannah and Nina and their youngest sibling Rose. Focused on the complex world of high profile divorce, the series will see the trio try to navigate secret affairs, family feuds and competing cases. View oEmbed on the source website When she is refused a promotion by her boss and mother Ruth, Hannah (Nicola Walker) jumps ship to work at a rival firm causing friction within her family. While Hannah and Nina fight head-to-head in the divorce proceedings of a multi-millionaire couple, the marriage of their younger sister further complicates their lives. Not to mention the arrival of their estranged father... Throughout the series the sisters will encounter a vast array of cases including big figure settlements and scandals. The Split is an effort to explore and understand the meaning of marriage in the modern world and to deconstruct divorce in the 21st century. Can I watch a trailer? The BBC has just dropped the new trailer for the series complete with drama, tension and a fair share of smouldering looks. "Divorce", as the trailer says, "is a family affair." View oEmbed on the source website Who is in the cast? Nicola Walker leads the cast as Hannah, joined by Episodes actor Stephen Mangan who plays her husband Nathan, and actor Barry Atsma as a former flame at her new firm. Britannia’s Annabel Scholey stars as Nina who works at the family law firm, competing with her sister. Rounding out the trio is Grantchester actress Fiona Button playing the youngest sibling Rose who is struggling to navigate life in the capital, while their mysterious father is portrayed by Anthony Head (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) The high-profile divorcing couple at the heart of Hannah and Nina's conflict are played by Meera Syal and Stephen Tompkinson whose split is set to make for fiery TV. Who is behind the drama? The Split was created by writer Abi Morgan who won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries for her work on the BBC show The Hour. Morgan is also an acclaimed film screenwriter having also worked on Shame, The Iron Lady and Suffragette. It’s not only in the writing department that the show has pedigree as director Jessica Hobbs has credits including Emily Watson-starring thriller Apple Tree Yard and the ITV smash hit Broadchurch. The Split is on Tuesdays at 9pm on BBC1
Everything you need to know about the new Channel 4 drama being dubbed a mixture of The Affair and Homeland
Dutch drama Flight HS13 has been a hit abroad and is now airing in the UK on Channel 4. But when is it on and what’s it about? When is Flight HS13 on TV? The show is on Tuesdays at 12.30am on Channel 4. What is Flight HS13 about? The drama series is described as a cross between The Affair and Homeland, mixing the life of a seemingly perfect family with a tantalising mystery. The show revolves around Simon, a Dutch surgeon, who has the perfect life. However, this perfect life might soon be shattered by revelations of potential adultery. When Simon boards Flight HS13 to Barcelona the plane crashes leaving all on board dead. The only problem is, Simon isn’t among the dead. The Dutch import is set to be a heady mixture of tense, espionage action and family drama. What follows is a tense, gripping drama that promises to leave the audience guessing at every turn. Can I watch a trailer? The trailer for the Dutch drama shows the heady mixture of tense, espionage action and family drama wrapped up in mystery. View oEmbed on the source website
When is The Button on BBC1? What's it about?
Everything you need to know about the new BBC1 game show
What time is The Button on TV? The Button, the new family game show from the BBC is at 8.30pm on Fridays on BBC1. The half-hour show, which comes from the creators of Taskmaster including comedian Alex Horne, promises to bring family fun to the living room on Friday nights. What’s The Button about? The Button follows five families whose living rooms are rigged up with cameras as they attempt to complete a series of tasks set by the titular Button. The Button, voiced by Alex Horne, will interrupt the banter between the family members to give instructions on the various tasks they must complete. The challenges range from reciting the alphabet backwards without vowels to bouncing a ping-pong ball into a mug as well as a unique task involving a room full of pool toys. The show promises to be a hybrid of Gogglebox and Taskmaster, taking the game show concept to a new and unique place. Can I watch a trailer? Yup, the BBC unveiled a new trailer for the game show including an interesting look at some of the hilarious tasks the families must complete to win money. View oEmbed on the source website Who’s behind the show? The show was co-created by comedian Alex Horne whose previous work includes the Dave comedy panel show, and The Button inspiration, Taskmaster. Horne provides the voice of The Button on the show giving the contestant families the instructions needed to complete the various tasks. The Button is on Fridays at 8:30pm on BBC1
Our Wildest Dreams on Channel 4 - what time is it and what's it about?
Everything you need to know about the new Channel 4 documentary series
What time is Our Wildest Dreams on TV? The new Channel 4 documentary series is on Fridays at 8pm on Channel 4 and concludes on Friday 18th May. What is Our Wildest Dreams about? Our Wildest dreams focuses on British families who make the huge leap of moving away from the UK and restarting their life somewhere remote in the world. Episode one of the documentary series focuses on the 52-year-old Mari, her husband Kurikindi and their daughter Samai, as they uproot their lives and move from south-east London to Amazon rain forest in Ecuador. David Attenborough: we must act now to protect our oceans from the deadly threat of plastic Spider crabs terrify Blue Planet II viewers Blue Planet II producer reveals the secrets of the show’s success Mari, who originally met her husband in the Amazon rain forest, is returning to his home with her family in what is set to be the biggest challenge of her life. The Brit runs her own business and is weary of the dangers and isolation of living alone in the jungle. Watch as Mari and her family begin their brave and incredible journey in the wilds of Ecuador. Our Wildest Dreams starts on Channel 4 on Friday 27th April at 8:00pm
Who are France's Eurovision 2018 entry Madame Monsieur?
Meet the French duo Jean-Karl Lucas and Emilie Satt aiming to top the leaderboard at Eurovision 2018 in Lisbon
Looking to improve on last year's 12th place finish, France has doubled up and sent duo Madame Monsieur to Eurovision 2018. Eurovision Song Contest 2018 – everything you need to know Meet the acts competing in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 Who is the UK’s Eurovision 2018 entry SuRie? View oEmbed on the source website One of the 'Big Five' countries who automatically qualify for the finals, France's 2018 hopes rest with the duo made up of musicians Jean-Karl Lucas and Emilie Satt. Meet Madame Monsieur... Who are Madame Monsieur? Musicians Jean-Karl Lucas and Emilie Satt began their journey to Eurovision in a bar ten years ago. The duo quickly formed a bond over their shared love of music and began collaborating. The vocal talents of Emilie matched perfectly with the pop infused music of Jean-Karl led the pair to work with a number of artists within France. One such collaboration took place in 2015 when the duo composed the song Smile for the French rapper Youssoupha. View oEmbed on the source website The pair then met producer Guillaume Silvestri who helped them to bring their debut EP Tandem to life. On the record they would continue to collaborate with artists such as Jok'Air and Ibrahim Maalouf as well as reuniting with Youssoupha. View oEmbed on the source website 2018 is set to be a busy year for the pair as they are not only preparing for Eurovision but also released their album Vu d’ici on 20th April. View Riddle on the source website How were they chosen for Eurovision? As France automatically qualify for Eurovision, the country held a contest to choose the entry they'd be sending to Lisbon in May. The contest, held in January 2018, was called Destination Eurovision and comprised of two semi-finals and a final. Dispite placing third with the judges at the contest, Madame Monsieur landed an overwhelming majority of the public vote and won Out of the 18 songs entered in Destination Eurovision, Mercy came out on top in order to make it to the Lisbon stage. What is France’s Eurovision 2017 song called? View oEmbed on the source website The song is called Mercy and was written and composed by Madame Monsieur themselves before being selected by the French public to be entered into Eurovision 2018. The song was inspired by the story of a migrant baby born and rescued at sea in March 2017 while aboard the humanitarian boat Aquarius. Over a year later the band are set to perform their tribute to an audience of millions in Lisbon. The Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final takes place in Lisbon, Portugal, on May 12th 2018 Meet the acts competing in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 View oEmbed on the source website
Who is Greece's Eurovision 2018 entry Yianna Terzi?
Meet the Greek artist popular in New York who is going for Eurovision glory
Greece last won Eurovision way back in 2005 but they are hoping that this years entry, Yianna Terzi, will bring in enough points to secure victory. Eurovision Song Contest 2018 – everything you need to know Meet the acts competing in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 Who is the UK’s Eurovision 2018 entry SuRie? View oEmbed on the source website After last year's disappointing 19th place finish, the Greek artist is hoping her song is enough to bring Eurovision back to Greece after a 13-year absence. Meet Yianna Terzi... Who is Yianna Terzi? Greek-born Yianna Terzi hails from a musical family and was inspired by artists like Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson from a young age. Yianna studied a degree in theory of music before signing a record deal with Universal Music and releasing her debut album Gyrna to kleidi (Turn The Key). The lead single from the album, Pou kai Pou, was a huge hit in the Greek charts. This led the multi-talented musician to receive nominations for Best New Artist at the Cyprus Music Awards and the Arion Awards. After her success in Greece with her first album, Yianna moved to New York nine years ago to launch her musical career in the US. Not long after making the move, Yianna released her first English language single called Love is Your Name which became a hit within the city's club scene. View oEmbed on the source website Can Yianna recapture that same magic at Eurovision? The popular artist is predicted a top ten finish in this year's contest. What is the Greek entry for Eurovision 2018 called? View oEmbed on the source website The Greek song is called Oniro Mou which translates in English as My Dream. It was written by Terzi alongside Greek musician Aris Kalimeris, producer Michalis Papthanasiou and renowned composer and producer Dimitris Stamatiou who has collaborated with artists like Snoop Dogg. What will Greece's Eurovision 2018 song look like on stage? Is there a rehearsal video? Yes, Yianna Terzi has already taken to the Lisbon Eurovision stage for technical rehearsals, giving us a sneak peek what to expect come finals night... View oEmbed on the source website The Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final takes place in Lisbon, Portugal, on May 12th 2018 Meet the acts competing in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018
When is Britain’s Fat Fight with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall on TV?
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall fights the nations obesity problem in the new BBC1 show
What time is it on TV? Britain's Fat Fight with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is on Wednesdays at 9pm on BBC1. The new hour long documentary series will run for three episodes on BBC1. What’s it about? “Two thirds of us are already overweight or obese,” begins a BBC press release about the show. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is attempting to understand what is already being done and what can be done to combat the nations obesity. Throughout the series, Fearnley-Whittingstall will visit various parts of the UK challenging supermarkets, brands and restaurant chains to be more vigilant and open with the products they sell. The first episode will see Hugh asking a group of toddlers to carry out a weekly shop to show that bad eating habits start young and will also be meeting with members of the government to see what is being done to fix the problem. Hugh will launch an ambitious plan to get see if he can get a whole city to lose weight in Newcastle, a task which encounters more than a few obstacles. About Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall Hugh is a famed celebrity chef and TV host known for his programs about food and conservation. His new endeavour builds off his 2015 BBC1 show Hugh’s War on Waste in which he attempted to reduce the nations waste by visting with brands, supermarkets and consumers, a similar approach to what he will be using in his new show. Hugh is best known for his Channel 4 show River Cottage, in which he documents his attempts to become a self-reliant farmer in rural England. Britains Fat Fight is on Wednesdays at 9pm on BBC1
When to watch The Woman in White on BBC1
Everything you need to know about the BBC1 period drama based on Wilkie Collins' classic novel
When is The Woman in White airing on the BBC? Five-part drama The Woman in White began on Sunday 22nd April at 9pm on BBC1, and will continue with episodes on Sundays and Mondays at 9pm. The new mystery drama is an adaptation of the 1859 novel by Wilkie Collins of the same name and is set in period England. View oEmbed on the source website What is The Woman in White about? The Woman in White centres around the character of Walter Hartright (Ben Hardy) who encounters a strange woman dressed in all white on Hampstead Heath. Walter soon discovers that the woman in question has escaped from a lunatic asylum and has returned to the town that cast her out to seek answers. Walter takes up the post of teacher in the small village of Limmeridge where he falls in love with one of his students Laura played by Olivia Vinall. The only problem is that Laura is betrothed to Sir Percival Glyde (Dougray Scott) who harbours sinister secrets about the mysterious woman in white. The Woman in White is set to be a thrilling, intense mixture of suspense and mystery when it launches later this month. Who is in the cast? Starring in the lead role of Walter is Ben Hardy who started out as Ian Beale's son Peter in EastEnders before playing the villain Archangel in 2016’s X-Men: Apocalypse. Alongside Hardy are Apple Tree Yard’s Olivia Vinall as Walters' love interest Laura and War And Peace star Jessie Buckley as her classmate Marian Halcombe. Rounding out the impressive cast are veteran actors Charles Dance of Game of Thrones and The Replacement’s Dougray Scott who play Mr Fairlie and Sir Percival Glyde respectively. Who is behind the drama? Bringing the classic novel to life are writer Fiona Seres who wrote the Nicole Kidma starring Strangerland and director Carl Tibbetts who worked on two episodes of the acclaimed sci-fi anthology Black Mirror. In a discussion with the BBC, Seres said: “The Woman in White is a powerful, poignant story and I have absolutely loved adapting it for the big screen.”
What time is Britain's Best Home Cook with Mary Berry on TV?
Everything you need to know about the new BBC cooking contest starring Mary Berry and Claudia Winkleman
When it was revealed that the BBC had lost the rights to the hit show The Great British Bake Off viewers were wondering what the channel would put in its place. We now have our answer in the form of new cooking competition Britain’s Best Home Cook. Find out everything you need to know about the new BBC1 cookery challenge starring Mary Berry below. What time is Britain’s Best Home Cook on TV? Britain's Best Home Cook is on Thursdays at 8pm on BBC1. The BBC trailer for the show features presenter Claudia Winkleman and judges Mary Berry, Dan Doherty and Chris Bavin. View oEmbed on the source website What’s the series about? Much like Mary Berry’s previous show, Britain’s Best Home Cook will take ten of the country's best cooks and put them to the test over eight weeks of gruelling competition. Cooks from all over the country will be serving up classic British dishes and feasts of all kinds. At the end of the contest one of the hopefuls will be crowned Britain’s best home cook. Mary Berry to lead the hunt for Britain’s Best Cook in new BBC1 cooking series Lee Mack had a terrible time on the Great Celebrity Bake Off Who is the host? Strictly Come Dancing’s Claudia Winkleman will present the series when it launches on the BBC. Winkleman has been a staple on the BBC for years hosting shows like The One Show and Film 2015. She told the BBC, “I’m over the moon to be a part of this show. Am slightly obsessed with Mary so will follow her around with my own moussaka for most of the filming. Apologies in advance.” Who are the judges? Returning to the BBC after stepping away from The Great British Bake Off is celebrity chef Mary Berry. Berry is the author of 75 cookery books and will serve as the lead judge on the show. Joining Berry will be Dan Doherty, one of London’s most preeminent chefs. Doherty is the Chef Director at the famed London restaurant the Duck & Waffle. Completing the judging panel is business owner Chris Bevin. Bevin is the owner of The Naked Grocer and is a regular on TV programmes like Eat Well for Less and Tomorrow’s Food.
Avengers: Infinity War release date, cast, plot and latest news – everything you need to know about Marvel’s biggest blockbuster
We break down everything you need to know about Marvel's 19 and biggest film to date
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is one of the most ambitious movie franchises in history. Beginning ten years ago with 2008’s Iron Man, each year has bought another thread in the interweaving comic book tapestry that is the MCU. The third Avengers movie and 19th film in the MCU promises to be the culmination of everything built over the past decade. As supervillain Thanos prepares to rain destruction down upon Earth, the Avengers get ready for their ultimate test. New Avengers: Infinity War behind the scenes footage contains some very intriguing team-ups Avengers villain Thanos is actually trying to SAVE the universe say Infinity War directors View oEmbed on the source website Here’s everything you need to know about Marvel’s most epic blockbuster yet. When is Avengers: Infinity War released in cinemas? Avengers: Infinity War invades UK cinemas earlier than originally billed on 26th April 2018 before releasing in the US on 27th April. The movie is predicted to take the box office by storm upon release: according to Variety, the movie has pre-sold more tickets than the last seven Marvel movies combined. Infinity War was filmed back-to-back with a fourth and as yet untitled Avengers film which is due for release on 3rd May 2019. According to the films directors, the Russo Brothers, the title for Avengers 4 is a spoiler for Infinity War and as a result won't be revealed until after the film's release. View oEmbed on the source website What about the trailer? Marvel’s hype machine is in full swing in the build-up to the Infinity War release, with a slew of trailers, TV spots and behind the scenes videos. View oEmbed on the source website Check out our full breakdown of the first trailer... View oEmbed on the source website Who's in the cast for Avengers: Infinity War? Infinity War promises to be the biggest superhero movie yet with a huge cast that brings all the MCU heroes together on screen. Not only does the film feature original Avengers Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Marvel have added a whole new bunch of heroes to the team, including Tom Holland’s Spider-Man and Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange. One of the most exciting parts of Infinity War is the prospect of seeing the Avengers finally meet the Guardians of the Galaxy. Joining Iron Man and co in their mission against Thanos are Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and Groot (Vin Diesel). After the events of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the team is also joined by new members Mantis played by Pom Klementieff and by Karen Gillan’s vengeful Nebula, whose personal vendetta against Thanos has forced her to team up with her estranged sister Gamora. Starring as the films main antagonist and legendary Marvel villain Thanos is actor Josh Brolin. Other cast members returning for this superhero opus include the Winter Solder himself Sebastian Stan, blockbuster trailblazer Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), The Vision (Paul Bettany) and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen). Even with a cast that huge, we’re still missing original Avenger Hawkeye (played by Jeremy Renner) and Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man, who have both been conspicuously missing from all movie marketing up to this point. What’s the story so far? Over the course of the past ten years of movies, Marvel has been seeding the story for Infinity War. Starting with Nick Fury’s post-credits appearance inviting Tony Stark to join the Avengers Initiative in Iron Man, Marvel has constructed the road to Infinity War one film at a time. Following the phase one introductions of Thor, Captain America, Hulk, Black Widow and Iron Man, we saw them team up in the 2012 film Avengers Assemble. Thanos's first appearance at the end of the original Avengers film became the ultimate MCU Easter egg. View oEmbed on the source website After Avengers, we saw Thor: The Dark World introduce us to the Reality Stone before the Guardians of the Galaxy assembled to obtain the Power Stone from the tyrannical Ronan. By the time we reached the sequel Avengers: Age of Ultron Marvel's superhero roster had grown to a planetary size. Age of Ultron saw the Avengers battling the titular robotic supervillain, who used the Mind Stone (taken from the sceptre of Tom Hiddleston's Loki) to create the new hero Vision. As phase three of Marvel’s masterplan began we met new heroes and new villains as the MCU began to build up to its endgame. Hero battled hero and the Avengers disbanded in Captain America: Civil War, and in the same year we saw Doctor Strange introduce the Time Stone as he saved the earth from an evil band of sorcerers. The smash-hit Black Panther unveiled the world of Wakanda, showing the vast technological wonders the African nation holds. The birthplace of the Black Panther himself and the source of the metal used to make Captain America’s shield, Wakanda is set to play a pivotal role in Infinity War. What is the plot of Avengers: Infinity War? Building off of the ten years of Easter eggs, post credit scenes and cameos, Infinity War finally sees the Avengers and Guardian’s face off against supervillain Thanos. Infinity War sees Thanos on a quest to find all six infinity stones to complete his gauntlet and balance the universe (aka, kill half of everyone alive). The films official synopsis reads: As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos. A despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artefacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment – the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain. What might happen in Infinity War? We know what the basic plot of Infinity War will be, but the surprises and reveals within the film are rife for speculation. Since the first trailer was released many theories have appeared about where that pesky missing Infinity Stone might be in Infinity War – we’ve looked at some of the best (and craziest) of the bunch. Much has been said about the inclusion of Karen Gillan’s Nebula in the movie and her potential role in the film's story. She, more than anyone, has reason to hate Thanos and could be a key part of Infinity War. Architect of the MCU Kevin Feige teased at Brazil Comic Con in December 2017 that Infinity War will begin with a bang. “Within the first five minutes of Infinity War,” Feige began, “people will understand why Thanos is the biggest and baddest villain in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.” Avengers: Infinity War is set for release in UK cinemas on 26th April 2018
The best teen movies and TV shows on Netflix
Here’s a list of our favourite teen movies and TV shows to watch online ahead of 13 Reason’s Why season two
Being a teenager is hard. Making a show about being a teenager even more so. Plenty of filmmakers have tried to commit the teenage experience to screen. Few have succeeded. Netflix drama 13 Reasons Why managed it, setting the internet alight in 2017 when its story of high school anxiety and suicide struck a chord with viewers. With season two about to drop online any time now, check out the other teen movies and TV shows that you need to watch first... New on Netflix in May 2018 The Breakfast Club When it comes to representing the teenage experience, John Hughes is the master. The late director’s films have become synonymous with being a high school kid. His movies come and go on Netflix, with Ferris Bueller's Day Off recently removed. But The Breakfast Club is still there. Arguably the director’s greatest and most loved work, its complex exploration of the drama and pressures of teenage life are timeless and there’s never been a better time to explore the film through modern eyes. One thing’s for sure, we won’t forget about this one. Watch on Netflix Riverdale When the announcement was made that a dark, brooding drama based on the Archie comics was getting made, many laughed at the idea. Riverdale turned the tables on everybody with its tale of murder and mystery. The show has the same soap-like qualities as Twin Peaks but all filtered through the lens of modern teen movies, creating something that feels fascinating, gripping and, above all, completely addictive. Watch on Netflix Dazed and Confused Richard Linklater, the director of the Oscar-nominated Boyhood, singlehandedly invented the so-called ‘hang-out’ film with Dazed and Confused. Named after the Led Zeppelin song, the film follows a group of teens on the last day of high school as they party their troubles away. Starring a young Matthew McConaughey in a role he was born to play, Linklater’s movie went on to leave an indelible mark on 90s culture with its rock and roll soundtrack and gonzo dialogue. Watch on Netflix Skins If you’re looking for something to binge watch while you wait for the new season of 13 Reasons Why, there's nothing better than Skins. The show deals with the trials and tribulations of being a teenager in Bristol, refreshing its characters every few series to explore new and more complex issues. The young cast is now a who's who of British acting talent, from Daniel Kaluuya to Dev Patel. Watch on Netflix Everybody Wants Some!! The spiritual sequel to Dazed and Confused, Linklater’s Everybody Wants Some!! is another masterpiece of teenage hedonism. The story follows a group of freshmen navigating the first week college where they party, play baseball and have summertime flings – all before classes start. It's a neon-soaked adventure filled with dancing, drinking and self-discovery all set to a soundtrack consisting of The Knack and Van Halen. Watch on Netflix Wet Hot American Summer Wet Hot American Summer is a send-up of the traditional tropes seen in the teen movies of the 90s. By casting a group of adults, including Bradley Cooper and Parks and Recreations' Amy Poehler, the film parodies the teen movie formula that films like Clueless had invented. If you love the 2001 comedy, then you can also check out the two seasons of the Netflix series which reunites the cast for more craziness and frivolity. Watch on Netflix Stranger Things Netflix has an impressive track record in discovering new talent and turning them into overnight stars. 13 Reasons Why did it with Katherine Langford and Dylan Minnette, and the Stranger Things kids are now some of the most in demand stars in Hollywood. They deserve everything they get, with their story of Dungeons and Dragons-playing teens battling real-world pain both sweet tense and terrifying in equal measure. Watch on Netflix Cruel Intentions 1999 was a strange year for teen movies. They were either raucous comedies in the vein of American Pie or they were hard hitting dramas like Boys Don’t Cry. No film balanced between comedy and drama as well as Cruel Intentions. Watch on Netflix Adventureland Adventureland is an often overlooked romantic comedy about two teens working at a local amusement park. Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart play characters in between adolescence and adulthood who fall for each other as they operate various theme park attractions in the park. From Superbad director Greg Mottola, the film is as hilarious as it is insightful with a cast of true comedy heavyweights. Watch on Netflix
What will be Arsène Wenger’s last televised match as Arsenal manager?
With the news that Wenger will be leaving Arsenal after 22 years in charge, we take a look at the match that will serve as his televised North London swan-song
Arsène Wenger is stepping down as Arsenal manager at the end of the season after 22 years in charge. In his two decades, the Frenchman has won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups including leading his ‘invincibles’ team to an unbeaten season in 2003-04. View oEmbed on the source website With Arsenal languishing in sixth place in the league after a disappointing campaign, Wenger will be hoping he can lead his team to the final of the Europa League in order to end his Arsenal career on a high note. Here’s everything you need to know about the mangers last games in charge. Arsenal have just five games remaining in their Premier League campaign, the last of which takes place away at Huddersfield Town on Sunday 13th May. Although final schedules are yet to be confirmed, this match is currently expected to feature as part of Sky Sports/ BT Sports coverage of the last day of the season where multiple Premier League ties are simultaneously aired. Although this game will serve as Wenger's last game in charge of the Gunners in the Premier League, his last home game will be two weeks earlier against Burnley on Sunday 6th May. The Emirates will see its last night of European football under the Frenchman in just under a week, with the Gunners set to face Spanish side Atlètico Madrid in their Europa League semi-final on Thursday April 26th. This game is on BT Sport 2 and kicks off at 8.05pm. Wenger will be hoping his team will rally to his cause in his final few games in charge in order to send Arsenal through to the Europa League final. Should Wenger manage to lead his team to the final of the European competition, his last game in charge will be in Lyon on the 16th May where he will bid to win one final trophy as Arsenal manager. This game will be televised on BT Sport. If he was to win the Europa League, it would be the only European trophy the Arsenal manager had won in his 22 years in charge. Recently, Wenger has come under scrutiny by fans and pundits for his teams poor performances but, in a statement on the Arsenal website, the manager urged Arsenal fans to stand behind the team to end the season on a high. “To all the Arsenal lovers take care of the values of the club,” began the Frenchman in the emotional farewell statement, “My love and support for ever.” Wenger’s first game in charge since announcing he will be stepping down as Arsenal manager will be at home against West Ham United on Sunday 22nd and it is will be televised on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event with a 1.30pm kick-off.
Barry on Sky Atlantic - what is it about, who stars in the show and when is it on TV?
Everything you need to know about the new comedy from HBO
When is Barry on TV? Barry, the new comedy from HBO, is set to premier at 10:45pm on Sky Atlantic on Thursday 26th April. View oEmbed on the source website What is Barry about? Barry is the story of the Barry Berkman (Bill Hader), a former marine turned low-rent hitman who must journey to LA in order to carry out a hit. When he arrives in LA, Barry becomes taken by the acting community within the city and decides that he will leave his current career as killer in favour of a career in performance. What follows promises to be a hilariously irreverent comedy about finding your place within the world and PTSD mixing black humour with a charming and endearing lead character. Can I watch a trailer? You can check out the trailer for the comedy series which includes a fair amount of gun shots and at least one hilariously bad audition. View oEmbed on the source website Who is behind the camera? Barry was co-created by it’s star Bill Hader who also wrote and directed the pilot of the show. Hader, famous for his stint on the US sketch show Saturday Night Live and the films Trainwreck and Paul, has directed a number of the shows episodes as well as writing alongside his co-creator Alec Berg. Berg is best known as one of the writers on the hit sitcom Seinfeld but has also wrote the movies The Cat in the Hat and The Dictator starring Sacha Baron Coen. Berg is also an executive producer on the HBO show Silicon Valley which also airs on Sky Atlantic in the UK and has directed numerous episodes of the Larry David comedy, Curb Your Enthusiasm.
When is Harold Shipman: Doctor Death on TV?
Everything you need to know about the upcoming documentary about the infamous serial killer
Harold Shipman is considered Britain’s most prolific serial killer. Dubbed ‘Doctor Death.’ This new ITV documentary offers new insight into the case through unprecedented access to those involved as well as case materials. What time is Harold Shipman: Doctor Death on TV? Harold Shipman: Doctor Death is set to premier on ITV at 9:00pm on Thursday 26 April. The one-off documentary isn’t the first time that ITV has explored the Shipman case as they had previously released a dramatisation of the events with the same name. What is Harold Shipman: Doctor Death about? The ITV documentary focuses on the case of Harold Shipman, a doctor who was convicted of poisoning his own patients. Doctor Death will focus on the case and subsequent investigation that saw Shipman convicted of 15 counts of murder and one count of forgery. A part of the documentary is testimony from the Greater Manchester Police detectives in charge with investigating Shipman’s actions who detail the gruelling process of exhuming the bodies and the impact the case had on their local community. On the 20th anniversary of his arrest, ITV are using footage showing his interrogation and interviews with the victims’ relatives to show how Shipman deceived a community and preyed on those most at risk.
FA Cup Semi-final: What time is Chelsea v Southampton on TV?
Everything you need to know ahead of this weekend’s FA cup clash at Wembley
FA Cup Semi-Final live on TV Chelsea v Southampton BT Sport 1, Sunday 22nd April Kick-off 3:00pm, live from Wembley Stadium After a season of fierce competition which has seen recently crowned Premier League champions Manchester City knocked out by League One Wigan, the FA cup semi-finals are set to start this weekend. View oEmbed on the source website After Manchester United take on Tottenham at Wembley on Saturday, all eyes will turn to Chelsea and Southampton on Sunday. Chelsea are hoping to end the season with some silverware after a disappointing campaign saw them lose their Premier League crown. The former champions are languishing in 5th place behind Tottenham in the Premier League and have been knocked out of the Champions League leaving FA cup their only hope of a trophy. If Chelsea have had a poor season then Southampton’s season has been disastrous. Having sacked their manager, the club currently sit in the relegation zone just three points off Swansea, the club above them. They’ll be hoping that an FA cup final will give the team the lift in confidence they need to get out of the relegation zone. The FA Cup Semi-Final: Chelsea v Southampton is live on BT Sport 1 at 2:30pm on Sunday 22nd April