His Dark Materials team on ending the series: “It’s sad to say goodbye”
"We've created a different world that didn't exist before, so it's a difficult thing to let go of."
With all the excitement that has built up for the third season of His Dark Materials to finally reach screens, it can be easy to forget it will also be tinged with sadness as it is in fact the final season. This is perhaps even more acute for the people who make the show, and a few of them caught up with RadioTimes.com exclusively ahead of their panel at this year's BFI & Radio Times Television Festival. When asked how she feels about the season ending, Mrs Coulter actress Ruth Wilson explained: "We said goodbye to it last year. And it was sad. It was really sad to say goodbye to monkey and [lead puppeteer] Brian [Fisher] and everyone. "But we'll work again together. I've loved this job so much because of the collaboration. And it's made it such a special experience. So I think that hopefully we'll get to work again, we might even set up a duo, just the four of us, five of us. OK, a quin-o!" Meanwhile, Russell Dodgson, VFX supervisor of the show, acknowledged that while he is actually still in the process of making the show, and is "at home sweating and crying every single say", what made the series special was that it gave "an absolutely crazy opportunity for people like myself, Brian and Caroline to be so involved in the process. And it's such a rewarding experience to go through." Costume designer Caroline McCall agreed, saying: "We've created a different world that didn't exist before. And we've all been part of that and played our part in that. So it's a difficult thing to let go of because we've had ownership of it. And now we've said goodbye." Elsewhere in their chat with RadioTimes.com, Wilson said that working on the series was "the first time that I've worked so closely with so many different departments in a job" and the chance to acknowledge those crew members was what particularly drew her to taking part in the show's BFI & Radio Times Television Festival panel. She said she wanted to "express and to show people how much it takes to put not only Mrs Coulter on the screen, but also the monkey. And it takes more than just one person, it's a lot of collaborators. So this is why we're doing this really is to show people how much work it takes and who's involved." The team also teased that the new season will be the "most ambitious" yet, making that wait to see it all the more difficult. Additional reporting by Huw Fullerton. His Dark Materials returns to BBC One and HBO this autumn. For more, check out our dedicated Fantasy page or our full TV Guide. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Call the Midwife's Helen George teases Trixie's "lovely" Christmas storyline
George spoke exclusively with RadioTimes.com at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival.
We may still only be halfway through the year but the cast of Call the Midwife have already been getting in the festive spirit as they've been filming their Christmas special. The plot of the new episode remains tightly under wraps, but we've now got our first hints about what to expect as Helen George's character Trixie returns to Nonnatus House. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival, George revealed that she knows little about Trixie's upcoming storylines before she shoots them, but that her role in this year's Christmas special is "lovely". George revealed: "We get the scripts a couple of weeks before we film them, so honestly I don't really know. Christmas is lovely for Trixie, there's some lovely stuff going on. Heidi [Thomas, the series's creator] just writes so well for the character. "And there's always a surprise – every series I go, 'Oh my God, you're kidding me, that's going to happen to Trixie?' So I think that's what keeps the character kind of stretched." George also explained that she likes how her character is "constantly underestimated", saying that "people always underestimate Trixie and it's lovely being able to sort of push her to extremities all the time". At the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival the show's creator Heidi Thomas also revealed that "something interesting and rather wonderful will happen for Trixie this series, so she has big news coming up". However, Thomas stopped short of revealing just what this news is and whether it has anything to do with her relationship with Matthew, so it seems that fans will just have to wait and find out when the series airs next year, likely soon after this year's Christmas special. Additional reporting by Huw Fullerton. Call the Midwife will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Seasons 1-11 are available on BBC iPlayer now. Looking for something else to watch? Check out the rest of our Drama coverage or take a look at our TV Guide. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Stephen Fry joins the BFI and Radio Times Festival Podcast Bonus Special!
Stephen Fry, Martin Freeman, Rose Matafeo and Professor Brian Cox in conversation with Kelly-Anne Taylor.
The TV event of the year returned to London’s Southbank on the weekend of 20 to 22 May after a two year hiatus – The BFI and Radio Times Television Festival. In more than 20 sessions, we had a world premiere of Sir David Attenborough’s new dinosaur epic Prehistoric Planet, Ruth Wilson in conversations about BBC’s adaptation of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials and Sir Bob Geldof revealing how, against impossible odds, he created Live Aid. Amongst the hubbub of the festival, celebrities stole away to a makeshift podcast studio (the pod cupboard) where they spoke to Radio Times staff writer Kelly-Anne Taylor. When it comes to television, it’s fair to say that Stephen Fry is a master of the medium. The writer, actor and comedian chatted with Kelly-Anne Taylor about imposter syndrome, getting arrested in his youth and what he’s currently watching on the telly. Taylor picks the brilliant brains of the science professor (every student wishes they had) Brian Cox, chats to Martin Freeman about The Responder and Stephen Merchant about series 2 of The Outlaws. Rose Matafeo discusses what rom-com she’d be and the realities of filming all-day in a lake. Plus, It’s a Sin’s Omari Douglas talks about how the series has revolutionised and disrupted the British drama scene – especially through the lens of LGBTQ+ representation. You can listen to all the stars in conversation with Kelly-Anne Taylor below: View oEmbed on the source website If you’re looking for something to watch tonight, check out our TV Guide. This edition of The Big RT Interview originally appeared in the Radio Times magazine. For the biggest interviews and the best TV listings subscribe to Radio Times now and never miss a copy.
All Creatures Great and Small star teases "lovely" season 3 wedding
Rachel Shenton spoke with RadioTimes.com at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival.
Ever since James Herriot and Helen got engaged in season 2 of All Creatures Great and Small, fans have been eagerly anticipating the episode in which they will finally tie the knot. The Christmas special found no weddings in sight, but viewers needn't worry, as Helen actress Rachel Shenton spoke exclusively with RadioTimes.com at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival, where Shenton teased that all important moment. When asked what fans can expect going into season 3 of the Channel 5 drama, Shenton said: "There may or may not be a wedding..." While Shenton wasn't able to divulge too much more, she did say that while things "might not always be plain sailing", she thinks the wedding is "really beautiful actually and Ben Vanstone's done a fantastic job of capturing all the things that make All Creatures Great and Small so lovely and warm and full of community and stuff. And the wedding's no exception." Asked if the wedding might be set to include the animals in some way, Shenton simply said: "I think that's a fair assumption!" The popular series was recommissioned for a third and fourth season back in January, as well as for two further Christmas Specials. The third season is expected to air later this year, and will see the drama enter the Second World War period in 1939, with the cast teasing the new episodes will therefore be "bittersweet". Showrunner Ben Vanstone previously told press that he originally planned the series as a four-season drama, but now thinks it could continue beyond that. He said: "I think that when we started the show, we had in mind arcs for these characters that took them across a number of series and initially, it was kind of four series. But everything in this show plays out slower than you think it would." Additional reporting by Huw Fullerton. You can order James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small from Amazon. All Creatures Great and Small airs on PBS Masterpiece in the US and Channel 5 in the UK. Take a look at the rest of our Drama coverage, or check out what else is on with our TV Guide. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Kit Connor hopes Heartstopper fans tune in for His Dark Materials role
Plus, the team behind the Philip Pullman adaptation explain why Connor is their secret weapon and "a star in the making".
Kit Connor has melted hearts around the world with his turn in Netflix romance Heartstopper – but it’s not the only high-profile show he’s been working on for the last few years. You see, since 2019 Connor has played a major role in the BBC’s Philip Pullman adaptation His Dark Materials – but you might not have noticed him, as he’s never on screen. Instead, he provides a vocal role as Lyra’s (Dafne Keen) dæmon companion Pan, appearing in every episode but with less recognition than the live-action stars. Still, with the third and final season of His Dark Materials now just a few months away, Connor says that he hopes some of his new fans check the series out, and not just for his performance. “I have definitely started [season 3],” Connor told RadioTimes.com at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival, where he also united with His Dark Materials co-star Ruth Wilson. “I'm not quite finished. But we've done a good chunk of it and it looks amazing. “I think [Heartstopper fans] should absolutely tune into His Dark Materials, yeah. “I think that they should not even [to hear me], but just because it's a great show.” But perhaps he’s being too modest. Behind-the-scenes, the crew of His Dark Materials say that Connor is a significant part of what makes the show work, noting that the relationship between Lyra and Pan (and his performance in the role) is central to the story. “Though you never get to see Kit Connor in His Dark Materials, as the captivating voice of Pan, he and Dafne Keen’s Lyra form one of TV's classic screen duos,” director Euros Lyn, who worked on both His Dark Materials and Heartstopper, told RadioTimes.com. View Green Video on the source website “Kit now stars in Heartstopper, his performance capturing the audience's hearts as half of another stellar screen couple, Nick and Charlie. In every role he plays, Kit finds emotional depth in his acting, he sings, he dances, and is genuinely one of the nicest people I’ve worked with... A star in the making.” "Over three seasons of making His Dark Materials there has been a hidden process that is central to bringing the CGI characters to life, the CDR (Creature Dialogue Recording) sessions,” VFX Supervisor Russell Dodgson, who worked closely with Connor during recording sessions, told us. “The team and I had the pleasure of working with some truly great talents, from David Suchet to Phoebe Waller-Bridge and the forever missed Helen McCrory. “Of all the creature cast, none have been on more of a journey than the amazing Kit Connor. Over the last 4 years we have spent hours with Kit working with him to find the amazing tone and maturity that he has imbued Pan with. “Our artists love animating to Kit's voice, he has breathed so much light and shade into the character and gives us endless opportunities to find the emotional truth to Lyra’s daemon. “Seeing the character grow up along with Kit has been a real pleasure. We couldn't have made Pan without him.” So as Heartstopper fans wait it out to see seasons 2 AND 3 return to Netflix, they could probably do worse than check out Kit Connor’s other big TV role. Sure, there are fewer quirky dialogue scenes and a lot more snarling armoured bears – but they’re definitely both shows with a lot of heart. Heartstopper is streaming now on Netflix, and His Dark Materials returns to BBC One and HBO this autumn for its third and final season. For more, check out our dedicated Fantasy page or our full TV Guide. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
His Dark Materials season 3 is the “most ambitious” yet
Mrs Coulter star Ruth Wilson spoke exclusively with RadioTimes.com at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival.
We're fast approaching the end of His Dark Materials, with the third and final season expected to air this Autumn – and it sounds as though it will be quite the climax. VFX supervisor on the show Russell Dodgson and Mrs Coulter star Ruth Wilson both spoke exclusively with RadioTimes.com at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival last week, where they highlighted the scale of the upcoming season. Dodgson said: "If you've read the book, it's sort of one of those books where there's lots of many different things in it where someone jokingly says to you before you film it, good luck with the ___. So for example, there's so many creatures and so many characters that we have to visualise. And I think just getting your head around the concept of it." Wilson agreed, calling the third season "definitely sort of the most ambitious, I think of the three." "You have Mulefas and you've got so many different worlds to explore," she continued. "And you've got to complete all these storylines. So you've got to kind of complete the stories for Lyra, for Mrs Coulter, for Asriel. It's a huge, actually undertaking and you're in the midst of doing that." Dodgson said that while the team has always talked about the series as a "grounded fantasy", it "definitely takes a leap when you get into the third season". Meanwhile, Wilson called the third season "quite philosophical", explaining that "it's Philip’s sort of attempt, it's him discussing what the whole book is about really, and human consciousness. It's huge themes and big ideas. So I think a lot of that comes in the third season. That's quite ambitious for all of us to deal with and to sort of put out there." Will Parry actor Amir Wilson previously told RadioTimes.com that the new season is "a lot darker, a lot sadder" and "definitely more emotional". Additional reporting by Huw Fullerton. His Dark Materials returns to BBC One and HBO this autumn. For more, check out our dedicated Fantasy page or our full TV Guide. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
All Creatures Great and Small cast tease “bittersweet” season 3 as they enter WWII
The cast teased that "the shadow of war" will hang over their characters next season.
The cast of All Creatures Great and Small are currently in production on the upcoming third season of the Channel 5 show, but they took time out this weekend to stop by the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival. Ahead of their Q&A, RadioTimes.com spoke exclusively with the cast, to get a sense of just how the next season will play out, with all of them highlighting the impact that the Second World War will have on the characters. Anna Madeley, who plays Audrey Hall, noted that as the season moves into 1939 it will explore "how each character responds to the idea that war could be coming" and acts as "an exploration of the generations, of how it affects them differently." Helen Alderson actress Rachel Shenton meanwhile hinted that there's a "realness" to season 3 and said that "it definitely feels there’s a shift. Particularly towards the end of the series there’s a definite shift and sort of the stakes are higher and things feel a big more serious than we’ve perhaps experienced before." Meanwhile, Tristan Farnon star Callum Woodhouse said that "the shadow of war is going to be sort of cast over the whole season" but added that "It's still all these guys who were trying to sort of keep themselves going and keep themselves happy in the way that they do, you know heading to the pub and things like that. "We're still helping animals and saving animals, there’s still a very human part to the show." James Herriot actor Nicholas Ralph said that the season would still be "full of love, laughter, all the good things that people enjoy and a lot of a warmth as well. So it will be kind of bittersweet perhaps." "We can’t ignore the war at all, you know that is a massive thing looming over all these characters," Ralph continued. "And it will affect them all in various different ways as something like that would even kind of beneath the surface in some cases, which is really interesting. Of course lots of lovely, warm moments as well. And really funny, it's really funny this season as well." The series was renewed for seasons 3 and 4 as well as two more Christmas specials in January, with season 3 set to arrive on our screens this year. Additional reporting by Huw Fullerton. You can order James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small from Amazon. All Creatures Great and Small airs on PBS Masterpiece in the US and Channel 5 in the UK. Take a look at the rest of our Drama coverage, or check out what else is on with our TV Guide. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Call the Midwife star explains why Turner marriage resonates with fans
Stephen McGann was speaking at a panel discussion as part of the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival.
For more than a decade, Call the Midwife has been one of the most reliably popular series on British television – and star Stephen McGann has outlined one of the reasons he thinks the show has such enduring appeal. Speaking at a panel celebrating the show as part of the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival, McGann pointed to the depiction of his character Patrick Turner's marriage as a key factor in the show's success. View oEmbed on the source website "One of the most simple things about the relationship with the Turners – and one of the most enduringly successful things – is actually that they are a functioning marriage," he explained. "Very often in drama – and this is a TV festival – drama is predicated on tension. And everyone says, you know, 'Drama is conflict', well that's a kind of a truism, but often it's negative conflict – marriages break, people betray, people do this." He added: "But actually a lived experience through the Turners is very many marriages out there are full of basically decent people, to whom things happen – bad things, good things, normal life. "And one of the secrets of the Turners is actually, why not have a functioning marriage long term on television? And then you can feel their pains and their joys, but actually they're not taking chunks out of each other. "Because not all drama is about negative projection of conflict in story. Sometimes it's about people being nice to each other, because out there people are also nice to each other." McGann's comments were greeted with enthusiastic applause from the audience before series creator Heidi Thomas added: "We made a whole episode out of you two going to see The Sound of Music!" Call the Midwife will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Seasons 1-11 are available on BBC iPlayer now. Looking for something else to watch? Check out the rest of our Drama coverage or take a look at our TV Guide. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
His Dark Materials' Mulefa design will 'disappoint some, please others'
The iconic, bizarre creatures play a big part in the original Philip Pullman novel – but why have they been such a challenge for the team behind the BBC adaptation?
The team behind BBC One and HBO's terrific adaptation of His Dark Materials have faced all sorts of challenges in bringing Philip Pullman's beloved novels to the screen – and it sounds like one of the trickiest tasks of all was saved for the upcoming third and final season. The third novel in Pullman's trilogy introduces a species of rather bizarre creatures known as Mulefa – who play a crucial role in the events of the book – and speaking at a panel as part of the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival, the creative team explained why translating them to TV had been no easy feat. "It's going alright," VFX supervisor Russell Dodgson said. "I mean, it's tricky. If you ever want to get stitched, up, read the description of the Mulefa in the book, and then go, 'Cool, let's have a go!'" He continued: "It's going well. I mean, everything is about adaptation when you're doing this, and taking the essence of what something is. If we did exactly what is described in the book, you probably wouldn't want to watch it. Because it would be too weird. "And there's a certain grace and elegance about them that we need to try and find. And that's what we're currently doing, day in day out until October." "It was a bit of a process working out how they would move," added costume designer Caroline McCall. "And I was somewhat concerned at one point that [there would be] broken limbs." <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2022/05/his-dark-materials-radio-times-television-festival-9d9a1bf.jpg" width="6556" height="4371" alt="Brian Fisher, Ruth Wilson, Caroline McCall and Russel Dodgson at the His Dark Materials BFI & Radio Times Television Festival panel" title="Brian Fisher, Ruth Wilson, Caroline McCall and Russel Dodgson at the His Dark Materials BFI & Radio Times Television Festival panel" /> "For those who don't know, they're like kind of a giant trunked horse animal that has a diamond-shaped skeleton," Dodgson explained further. "And also rolls around on wheels. So there's no problem with that! "At one point, one of our puppeteering team turned up with a Mulefa puppet head on the end of a bike, and went, 'What do you reckon?' And I'd be like, 'It's a cool idea but someone's gonna die.' So we didn't do that. "But it's going fine. It's a cool challenge, and we'll disappoint some people and make some other people really happy, I guess." His Dark Materials returns to BBC One and HBO this autumn. For more, check out our dedicated Fantasy page or our full TV Guide. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
It's A Sin star reveals Russell T Davies' advice ahead of harrowing scene
Callum Scott Howells was speaking during a panel celebrating the show at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival.
Callum Scott Howells has spoken about the advice he received from Russell T Davies ahead of shooting the devastating It's A Sin hospital scene that saw his character Colin learn of his AIDS diagnosis. Speaking after the clip had been shown during a panel celebrating the show at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival, Howells revealed that Davies had offered him some simple but inspirational words of wisdom. "I remember seeing Russell like a week before this scene and I said, 'Oh that scene is coming up' and I probably swore a bit as well," he explained. "But I said, you know, what do you think – basically is there any advice? And Russell was like, 'Just go for it. Really go for it.' And it's the best piece of advice I've ever had. "It's quite amazing actually that Russell said that because, you know, for someone like Russell to say that, is so generous to give someone who – it's my first job – the sort of allowance to go there really." View oEmbed on the source website "It's the 'Mammy', isn't it?" Davies added, commenting on what made the scene so effective. "It's when he says 'Mammy' – it's such a triumph. That's the best. It's just you saying that word, everything's gone, there are no defences, there's no logic, it's just emotions." "Yeah, exactly," Howells agreed. "And then as an actor, when you say that word and these lines, you know – it does half of the work for you really. "Saying 'Mammy' – it brings up things, you know, and I think that's what it was for me. It was just having that allowance and being able to say those lines. I was very grateful, and yeah, it was really hard." Read more: Russell T Davies explains why he almost cut 'La!' from the It's A Sin script Russell T Davies reveals It's A Sin script detail that couldn't be shown on screen It’s A Sin was almost a Queer As Folk prequel It's A Sin is available to stream on All 4. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what's on tonight. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Call the Midwife's Trixie has "big news" coming up next season
The show's creator Heidi Thomas spoke to RadioTimes.com at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival.
Call the Midwife is now deep in production on its 12th season, and fans are desperate to know how things will unfold at Nonnatus House in the new episodes. One character who is of particular interest going into the new season is Trixie Franklin, who left after season 11 episode 5 in order to care for her ill godmother, and didn't return for the rest of the season. This storyline was factored in because of Trixie actress Helen George's real-life pregnancy, but the series' creator Heidi Thomas has now reassured fans that Trixie will be back with a big storyline in season 12. While at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival, Thomas spoke exclusively with RadioTimes.com and said: "Trixie rejoins us. And something interesting and rather wonderful will happen for Trixie this series, so she has big news coming up - which we probably won't unveil just yet." Fans were already aware that Trixie was returning to Call the Midwife, after an image of Helen George on set for this year's Christmas special was posted to the show's official social media accounts. The show's Facebook post asked: "What will 1968 bring for Trixie? Will her relationship with Matthew continue to blossom? All will be revealed as Series 12 unfolds..." View oEmbed on the source website It seems fans will have to wait for the answers to these questions, as well as to find out what her "big news" is, until nearer the time. Season 12 will once again features eight episodes alongside the regular Christmas special and will air in 2023. Nancy actress Megan Cusack previously told RadioTimes.com that she hopes and expects her character to have "more of a fight to have her daughter" in season 12. Additional reporting by Huw Fullerton. Call the Midwife will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Seasons 1-11 are available on BBC iPlayer now. Looking for something else to watch? Check out the rest of our Drama coverage or take a look at our TV Guide. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Prehistoric Planet team on further seasons: "We've only touched the surface"
The team behind the groundbreaking natural history series spoke exclusively to RadioTimes.com at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival.
The team behind Apple TV+'s groundbreaking natural history series Prehistoric Planet have revealed they hope to be able to return with future episodes following the first five part-instalment. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival, producer Mike Gunton, series producer/showrunner Tim Walker, and lead scientific consultant Darren Naish all outlined what might lie in store in the future. "I think the answer to that is this is a Planet Earth format," Gunton explained. "There are five habitats [explored in the first season] and there are a lot more habitats on planet Earth than just five. And there's this incredibly rich fauna of creatures, we've only touched the surface. So read into that." "I'll add in as well that like Mike says there's a lot of different habitats to explore," Walker added. "Prehistoric Planet as a whole was a big place, you know, and the period of dinosaurs and prehistoric life that we show is a very, very small one – we only show about 6 million years of the whole evolution period and it extends almost 160 million." "We all desperately want to get in that time machine and go back and see what else is out there," said Gunton. "So yeah, we're gonna do it if we can." Asked if there was anything particular – in terms of species or specific time periods – that he'd like to see in future seasons, Naish said it was hard to single anything out. "There's so many," he said. "I mean, my comments will echo what my colleagues have said, even for specific species we've probably only shown a tiny portion of their lives. "We've shown the T-Rex doing two or three things, and it did so many other things in its life. And then there are all these other species. So even just for the Maastrichtian, just for that last 6 million years of the late Cretaceous, we've scratched the surface." View oEmbed on the source website "And another thing to say is he's discovering new stuff," Gunton added. "So there are things out there that we haven't even seen yet. "So you know, we're desperate to go and... when you're a wildlife filmmaker, the pressure for contemporary stuff is, where are the most recent discoveries? And it's exactly the same here. But the joy of this is if you find something, we know nobody else has ever seen it before." Naish revealed: "I've got a new dinosaur coming out next week!" Prehistoric Planet airs across five nights on Apple TV+ from Monday 23rd May. Find out how to sign up for Apple TV+ here or find something to watch with our TV Guide. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Martin Freeman distinguishes The Responder from "clichéd" police dramas
Freeman spoke about the hit BBC series at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival.
Martin Freeman's BBC drama The Responder won praise earlier this year for its complex and unflinching look at modern policing, with RadioTimes.com saying that while "the concept might seem familiar, the material is approached from an angle that feels fresh, raw and utterly compelling". Now Freeman has explained what he thinks sets the series apart from other police dramas, saying it's "the lack of cliché" which makes the show uniquely compelling Speaking at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival, as part of a Q&A which also featured writer Tony Schumacher and executive producer Laurence Bowen, and was hosted by Jane Garvey, Freeman explained: "It’s not procedural, it’s not a kind of case of the week sort of thing. "It didn’t feel clichéd to me, it didn’t feel like a lot of guys standing around saying police TV writing sort of stuff." View oEmbed on the source website "This felt more personal, it felt more like the writer, whoever this person was - I didn’t know it was Tony, we hadn’t met yet - I thought, whoever this writer is has got something to say," Freeman continued. "Not just about wider police culture or wider English society or anything like that, but just about the inner stuff that we all go through, you certainly don’t have to be a copper to relate to a lot of this stuff." Freeman also said that he "wasn’t at all surprised to find out that Tony had been a copper for a long time" and that he thought "someone else who hadn’t been through that would find it very, very difficult to write this sort of detail". The Responder is already confirmed to be getting a second season, with Schumacher once again writing the scripts and filming taking place in Liverpool. The Responder is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what's on tonight. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
His Dark Materials season 3 to delve into Mrs Coulter’s backstory
Ruth Wilson has revealed that the final season of the Philip Pullman adaptation will lift the lid on her villainous character’s family.
The BBC/HBO adaptation of His Dark Materials has been known for adding to and lightly altering Philip Pullman’s source material, with the hit fantasy series sometimes even delving into Pullman’s later trilogy The Book of Dust for extra material. And now it seems the creative team will be expanding the world again in the upcoming third (and final) season, with actor Ruth Wilson revealing that the show will delve into the family backstory of her character Mrs Coulter in an upcoming episode. “It’s quite interesting, because this season we make a reference to her mother,” Wilson told the crowd at the BFI and Radio Times Television Festival during the His Dark Materials: Creating Mrs Coulter panel. “We actually have some sort of outfits that are her mother’s, that are sent to Mrs Coulter. In my head, [she’s] linked up to the Magisterium, the Church. “Mrs Coulter’s mother was very much part of the Church. So that actually represents, for her, rules and patriarchy. And I think that Mrs Coulter was always a disappointment to her mother in that way.” “I think her mother is meant to be incredibly religious, but also I think very much about appearance,” costume designer Caroline McCall added. “So I think this whole façade of appearance comes from her mother. There’s a moment where this outfit’s meant to encompass a lot of what we’ve seen before. View oEmbed on the source website “You’ll see that my reaction to those outfits is not necessarily very nice,” Wilson said. “Being reminded of my mother again, and her power, and her influence.” While Mrs Coulter’s family aren’t included within the original His Dark Materials trilogy, they – including her mother, Madame Delamare – do make an appearance in Pullman’s 2019 novel The Secret Commonwealth, suggesting that His Dark Materials season three may be drawing inspiration from that later work. Previously, scenes from Pullman's 2017 book La Belle Sauvage (which takes place before the main His Dark Materials trilogy) were adapted for His Dark Materials' first season, with an opening flashback taken from the close of the more recent novel. Clearly, even hardcore fans can still expect a few surprises as the adaptation continues. During the panel, Wilson and McCall were also joined by creature FX designer (and Golden Monkey puppeteer) Brian Fisher and VFX supervisor Russell Dodgson, with the quartet lifting the lid on how they collaborated to bring Mrs Coulter – and her simian dæmon – to life over the course of the show. In practice, this meant Fisher being on set at all times to play the scenes with Wilson, as well as hundreds of days of work behind-the-scenes for Dodgson’s VFX team to bring the onscreen version of Mrs Coulter’s monkey inner self to life. View oEmbed on the source website “The biggest and most exciting challenge of the show, which I found out very quickly when starting, is the duty of care that we have to the cast,” Dogson told the crowd. “If you have Ruth Wilson, who just brings her A game constantly, and is incredible and doing a lot of really emotive work, and your job is to stick a monkey in the shot with them […] you can undermine Ruth’s work. “But then what I have to do is I have to sit down and I have to remind what everybody's goals are in a scene, what's missing and what Mrs Coulter’s trying to get out of other people.” “Monkey is a part of me now,” Fisher said. “So I feel quite protective over him and I really care about all the animators and the people that have put Monkey to the place that he is on screen. It's so many ideas coming together.” His Dark Materials returns to BBC One and HBO this autumn. For more, check out our dedicated Fantasy page or our full TV Guide. The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Russell T Davies explains why he almost cut 'La!' from the It's a Sin script
The writer also revealed the other catchphrase he almost used instead.
One of the many memorable things from Russell T Davies' award-winning Channel 4 drama It's A Sin was the characters' frequent use of the exclamation 'La!' – but according to Davies, it almost never made it into the series. Davies made the comments during a panel discussion celebrating the show as part of the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival, when he was asked if he'd ever imagined how much the catchphrase would take off. "Never in a million years did I expect that," was his response. "I almost cut it in the edit. I literally was thinking, does that work? Does it? Because that was our catchphrase." "Yeah, totally," added Jill Nalder, Davies long's term friend and the real-life inspiration for the character Jill (Lydia West). "And again, that's another thing – we talked about the Pink Palace – you never know do you? I was amazed people come and say 'La!' to you, and I love it." And Davies went on to reveal that he was caught in two minds for a while about whether to use La! or another phrase that was commonly used among his friend group. "I never knew which one to use, because the other one we always used to say was 'What love?" he explained. "So I wasn't sure which one, and La! was just funnier in the end, and reminded me of that lovely friend of ours... it reminded me of someone very specifically. "But no, I would never have guessed that, never. You just can't guess these things at all. And that was actually one of the little signifiers that said, Oh my God, this show is taking off – and actually it's since raised over £500,000 for charities. It's nuts. "I wish I'd copyrighted that ba***rd!" he joked. It's A Sin is available to stream on All 4. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what's on tonight. The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Russell T Davies reveals It's A Sin script detail that couldn't be shown on screen
Davies was speaking at a panel discussion as part of the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival.
Russell T Davies has revealed a surprising detail from his script for the groundbreaking drama It's A Sin that couldn't be shown on screen. Speaking during a panel discussion celebrating the show as part of the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival, Davies explained how the memorable scene that sees Omari Douglas' character Roscoe leave home was deliberately written to take place on a specific date. "There's a nice detail in the script that we could never put on screen," he explained. "There was no way of doing it. But the scene where Roscoe leaves home, where he faces his parents and tells them to find him at 23 P**s Off Avenue London W F**k and he walks out into the rain – that is the day that Beyonce was born. There's no way of saying that on screen, but it was the fourth of September 1981." "Roscoe was doing the groundwork for Beyonce basically," Douglas added. Speaking more specifically about that scene, Douglas explained why he thought the character's choice of language when addressing his family worked so well in the script. "It felt like that kind of thing, I don't know why I just sort of was reminded of when you're young and you just suddenly feel like that you've got this urge to –even though you shouldn't – to kind of like stand up to your elders," he said. "And something comes out, and it might not necessarily be the most eloquent thing, but you just say it anyway. It could be a bit awkward and horrible, it sort of felt like that." View oEmbed on the source website "That's why 23 P**s Off Avenue London W F**k is important," added Davies. "Because all he's done is watch television, and that's the Blue Peter address – that's the BBC address that every day you send your letters to, London W12 8QT. "So he's had 18 years of that, so he turns that on its head and turns it into a swear word. So he's owning everything, that's what he's doing." It's A Sin is available to stream on All 4. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what's on tonight. The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
The Outlaws season 2 release date confirmed
Stephen Merchant's comedy-drama is coming back very soon.
The Outlaws season 2 air date has been confirmed. Stephen Merchant's comedy-drama following a group of strangers who meet on community service will be back for its second season on BBC One on 5th June 2022, with all episodes arriving on BBC iPlayer then too. The news was exclusively announced at a special preview of the opening episode at the BFI IMAX as part of the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival. The Outlaws was a big hit when it was released last year, becoming the BBC’s biggest comedy launch of 2021 with 11 million streams on iPlayer. Read more: The Outlaws shares first look at season 2 of Stephen Merchant comedy As well as writer-director Merchant, the cast includes Eleanor Tomlinson, Gamba Cole, Darren Boyd, Clare Perkins and Jessica Gunning, all of whom took part in a cast Q&A at today's season 2 premiere. Elsewhere, Academy Award winner Christopher Walken, Rhianne Barreto, Charles Babalola, Nina Wadia, Dolly Wells and Ian McElhinney also return for the second instalment, along with Dracula star Claes Bang, who promises to play a key role in the new episodes as the mysterious and menacing Dean. The new episodes were filmed back-to-back with the first season due to the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking about the unusual filming conditions at today's Q&A, Merchant joked: "Well it turns out that shooting two series of a show under a pandemic is a nightmare, and I would suggests no one ever does it. "Particularly if one of your key cast members is 79-year-old Oscar winner Christopher Walken, because every day you're on a knife edge hoping he doesn't get COVID. If anyone even looks like they're going to sneeze near him, you jump in front of him like you're taking a bullet for the president." Gamba Cole joins Episode 39 of The Radio Times Podcast - listen now! The official synopsis for The Outlaws season 2 reads: "Following on directly from the first series, the Outlaws still have time to serve on their sentences - but now they must face the fallout from their actions. If they thought the criminal underworld or the local police were done with them, they are sorely mistaken. "The Outlaws must depend on one another while working with unlikely allies to atone for their sins - but can they save themselves without sacrificing their souls?" The BFI & Radio Times Television Festival concludes on 22nd May and you can book the last remaining tickets here. The Outlaws season 2 will air on BBC One on 5th June, with all episodes arriving on BBC iPlayer. Season 1 is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what’s on tonight. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Heartstopper's Kit Connor joins Radio Times Podcast Live! – buy tickets
The actor plays Nick in the LGBTQ+ coming-of-age drama Heartstopper.
Heartstopper's Kit Connor will guest on Radio Times' weekly podcast for a special live interview at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival. Hosted by Jane Garvey with TV critic Rhianna Dhillon, the podcast is swapping the recording studio for the BFI Southbank for the one-off festival special live on stage – and you can book tickets to be there too. Based on Alice Oseman's graphic novel of the same name, Netflix series Heartstopper has captured the hearts of viewers worldwide, focusing on a blossoming romance between two British schoolboys. Kit Connor plays one of the two leads, Nick Nelson, a popular rugby player grappling with his sexuality and growing attraction to classmate Charlie Spring (Joe Locke). One of the most emotional scenes of the series occurred when Nick came out as bisexual to his mother (Olivia Colman) just as the final credits rolled in Heartstopper season 1. The series has been praised by fans for its positive depiction of LGBTQ+ relationships (read our Heartstopper review here). Ticket-holders will be able to watch the interview with Connor live on Sunday 22nd May from 3:15pm. Tickets are on sale now, priced at £18 per full-price ticket and £14 for concessions. The podcast's past guests have included Ricky Gervais, Jodie Whittaker and Gillian Anderson. The BFI & Radio Times Television Festival will be held at both the BFI's Southbank base and also in its nearby IMAX cinema. Other events in the festival line-up include a panel and Q&A with the cast and creatives behind the BBC's new Sally Rooney adaptation Conversations with Friends; a Q&A from the cast and creator of hit BBC series The Outlaws; and a panel featuring the cast of Channel 4's brilliant drama It’s A Sin. View oEmbed on the source website The BFI & Radio Times Television Festival runs from 20th to 22nd May 2022 and you can book your tickets here. Looking for something else to watch? Check out our TV Guide or visit our dedicated Drama hub for the latest news. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Join Starstruck's Rose Matafeo for an exclusive panel and Q&A
The comedian and actress joins a stacked line-up at the festival this weekend.
The BFI and Radio Times Television Festival returns to London's Southbank this Friday, and amongst a packed schedule of panels, Q&As and exclusive screenings is a real treat for comedy fans. Award-winning comedian Rose Matafeo will be taking part in a panel and Q&A for her hit romantic comedy series Starstruck, the second season of which debuted on BBC Three and HBO Max earlier this year. The panel, which also includes Nic Sampson, one of the show's writers and actors, is set to run for 75 minutes and will see the pair discuss what's next for Matafeo's character Jessie, her friends and her complex love life. You can book your tickets here. The show finds Jessie dealing with the fallout from learning that her one-night stand is actually an internationally famous movie star, and explores the complications and dilemmas posed by such a relationship. Matafeo told Radio Times magazine earlier this year that she had always thought the show would end after two seasons, calling it "the British way". However, she then acknowledged that "Stath Lets Flats had an amazing third series", and so said she will "go wherever I can make work that I’m proud of". The panel will take place on Sunday 22nd May at 8pm in NFT1 at the BFI Southbank, and is one of several taking place as part of the festival this weekend. The line-up also includes Hall of Fame events for Stephen Fry and Mary Berry, exclusive screenings for The Outlaws and Horrible Histories, and Q&As with the casts of It's A Sin and Call the Midwife. Other stars in attendance at panels include Martin Freeman for The Responder, Matt Berry for A Toast to Toast (a fond tribute to Toast of London) and Sir Bob Geldof, who will revisit Live Aid in a special event. The BFI & Radio Times Television Festival runs from 20th to 22nd May 2022 and you can get tickets here. Looking for something else to watch? Check out our TV Guide or visit our dedicated Drama hub for the latest news. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Join Bob Geldof to relive Live Aid at BFI & Radio Times Television Festival
Sir Bob Geldof and the BBC's Alan Yentob will discuss the world-famous fundraising initiative and its TV broadcast.
The BFI & Radio Times Television Festival will revisit Live Aid in a special event featuring Sir Bob Geldof, who organised the 1985 musical phenomenon that raised £110 million for famine relief. Geldof will appear in conversation with Alan Yentob, who helped to commission the live broadcast for the BBC, as the pair discuss the legendary concert and celebrate a momentous landmark in British broadcasting. It promises to be a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes at the barriers they encountered trying to put on such an epic show, and how it went on to change both music and television for good. BBC 100 Live Aid: Sir Bob Geldof in conversation with Alan Yentob, will take place on Friday 20th May 2022 at 8:15pm. Tickets are on sale now, priced at £20 per full-price ticket and £16 for concessions. The festival will be held at both the BFI's Southbank base and also in its nearby IMAX cinema. In addition to the retrospective on Live Aid, the festival will also host an event looking back on the Queen's coronation. Other events in the festival line-up include a panel and Q&A with the cast and creatives behind Sally Rooney's next TV adaptation, Conversations with Friends; a Q&A from the cast and creator of hit BBC series The Outlaws; and a panel featuring the cast of Channel 4's brilliant drama It’s A Sin. View oEmbed on the source website The BFI & Radio Times Television Festival runs from 20th to 22nd May 2022 and you can book your tickets here. Looking for something else to watch? Check out our TV Guide or visit our dedicated Drama hub for the latest news. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Mary Berry to lift lid on her lengthy career at BFI & Radio Times Television Festival
Berry will be in conversation with Winkleman at the BFI Southbank.
We're now mere days away from the highly-anticipated BFI & Radio Times Television Festival 2022, which runs from 20th to 22nd May, and with tickets still on sale there's never been a better time to snap them up ready for the big weekend. If you're a fan of cooking shows, or just fancy seeing a national treasure live in person, then look no further - Mary Berry will be appearing at a Radio Times Hall of Fame event, where she will be in conversation with Claudia Winkleman to tell all about her long and storied career. The 75-minute event will chart the Queen of the Kitchen's life since the early 1970s, when she first hit our screens and became a champion of home cooking. The conversation will of course cover Berry's time as a judge on The Great British Bake Off, as well as recent hit shows such as Best Home Cook and Mary Berry: Love to Cook. Berry will be joined by her friend and Strictly Come Dancing favourite Claudia Winkleman, who will engage her in a conversation about her life on the small screen, in a tribute to one of the nation’s favourite cooks. The event will be held in the NFT1 venue at BFI Southbank on 20th May at 6:30pm, as part of the three-day festival – pick up tickets here. Elsewhere at this year's festival, TV fans can enjoy a whole host of star-studded Q&As and exclusive previews, including a Hall of Fame event with Stephen Fry, panels for His Dark Materials and Martin Freeman: The Responder, previews for Prehistoric Planet and The Essex Serpent and many, many more. The BFI & Radio Times Television Festival runs from 20th to 22nd May 2022 and you can get tickets here. Looking for something else to watch? Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what's on tonight. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Stephen Fry joins star-studded BFI & Radio Times Television Festival
Britain's wittiest TV polymath joins the stacked festival line-up.
The much-anticipated BFI & Radio Times Television Festival 2022 is coming to the Southbank in just a matter of weeks, and the schedule is filling up fast with some brilliant panels and previews. Now, joining the list of stars from the TV world who will be making an appearance, acclaimed actor, comedian and writer Stephen Fry will be taking to the stage for Hall of Fame: Stephen Fry in conversation with Alan Yentob. A celebration of his career from his screen debut in the early 1980s right through to today, the TV polymath will talk us through his years in entertainment, including his comedy partnership with Hugh Laurie, his scene-stealing turns as Melchett in Blackadder, his definitive portrayal of Bertie Wooster’s valet Jeeves, and his more recent success as the former host of QI. Hosted by Alan Yentob, it's a panel that's not to be missed, taking place on 22nd May at 8:15pm at the BFI IMAX. Tickets go on sale today at 11:30am for BFI champions and patrons, 12:30pm for BFI members, 3:30pm for Radio Times subscribers, and at 4:30pm they will be available to all. This event joins a star-studded roster of panels and previews that have been previously confirmed, including the likes of His Dark Materials, Prehistoric Planet and The Outlaws, as well as a first look at upcoming Apple TV+ series The Essex Serpent and a panel and Q&A for Martin Freeman: The Responder. Another Hall of Fame event will feature beloved queen of the kitchen Mary Berry, who will also be celebrated live in person. The festival will be held at both the BFI's Southbank base and also in its nearby IMAX cinema. The BFI & Radio Times Television Festival runs from 20th to 22nd May 2022 and you can get tickets here. Looking for something else to watch? Check out our TV Guide or visit our dedicated Drama hub for the latest news. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
BFI & Radio Times Television Festival to relive Queen's coronation
Jonathan Dimbleby – whose father Richard oversaw the 1953 broadcast – will host the exclusive event.
The BFI & Radio Times Television Festival will revisit the Queen's 1953 coronation in a special event hosted by Jonathan Dimbleby, whose father Richard oversaw the original broadcast. The event will take place on the eve of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, with a screening that promises a "new edit of the BBC’s coverage of the day". A synopsis for the event teases: "Broadcast live, the events of 2nd June 1953 were a defining moment of the 20th century, not least for television as cameras brought the new medium into millions of British homes for the first time. "For the most ambitious and technically difficult broadcast the BBC had ever tackled, the corporation turned to its senior broadcaster, Richard Dimbleby, to tell the story of the Coronation to 27 million viewers in the UK." Jonathan Dimbleby will introduce "this new edit of the BBC’s coverage of the day," and revisit "his father’s epic achievement in creating television history". Tickets for the event are on sale now, priced at £20 per full-price ticket and £16 for concessions. The festival will be held at both the BFI's Southbank base and also in its nearby IMAX cinema. Other events in the festival line-up include a panel and Q&A with the cast and creatives behind Sally Rooney's next TV adaptation, Conversations with Friends; a Q&A from the cast and creator of BBC series The Outlaws; and a panel featuring the cast of It’s A Sin. There will also be a preview for the new season of BBC series Malory Towers, featuring a panel and Q&A with Ella Bright, Danya Griver, Sienna Arif-Knights and Beth Bradfield. The BFI & Radio Times Television Festival runs from 20th to 22nd May 2022 and you can get tickets here. Radio Times subscribers can book tickets from 12th April, and they will be on general sale from 13th April. Looking for something else to watch? Check out our TV Guide or visit our dedicated Drama hub for the latest news. The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now – subscribe now and get the next 12 issues for only £1. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
BFI & Radio Times Television Festival announces His Dark Materials: Creating Mrs Coulter
Ruth Wilson herself will be joined by creature FX supervisor Brian Fisher, series VFX supervisor Russell Dodgson and costume designer Caroline McCall.
Ahead of the release of the final season later this year, a special His Dark Materials panel has been confirmed as part of the lineup for the 2022 BFI & Radio Times Television Festival. The discussion – titled His Dark Materials: Creating Mrs Coulter – will reveal some of the secrets behind bringing the show to our screens, with a special focus on the character of Mrs. Coulter played by Ruth Wilson. Wilson herself will be taking part in the 75-minute panel, alongside creature FX supervisor Brian Fisher, series VFX supervisor Russell Dodgson and costume designer Caroline McCall. The event will also include unseen footage of how Wilson collaborates with the puppeteers to bring the daemons and the character to life, in addition to a costume display of some of the character's most distinctive and memorable looks. And she'll even be joined by the Golden Monkey himself – so it looks like something His Dark Materials fans certainly won't want to miss. The event will take place at the BFI IMAX at 4:15pm on Sunday 22nd May. We're still awaiting a specific airdate for His Dark Materials' autumn return, but we were given our first glimpses at the new season in an HBO trailer late last year, including the full return of James McAvoy’s Lord Asriel. The BFI & Radio Times Television Festival runs from 20th to 22nd May 2022 and you can get tickets here. His Dark Materials comes to BBC One and HBO this autumn, and you can catch up on seasons 1 and 2 on BBC iPlayer. For more, check out our dedicated Fantasy page or our full TV Guide. The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Join Conversations with Friends stars at BFI & Radio Times Television Festival 2022
The cast and crew behind the Sally Rooney adaptation will be appearing at the special event next month – and tickets are now available.
Fans of Normal People have been excitedly waiting for BBC Three's adaptation of Conversations with Friends – Sally Rooney's debut novel – to hit our screens for months and while there are still a few weeks to go, you can hear from the show's stars yourself at this year's BFI & Radio Times Television Festival. The festival, which takes place over three days between 20th May and 22nd May, will preview some of the most hotly-anticipated shows of the year as well as reunite some of the series' cast and crews through panels and Q&As. Appearing at the festival on Sunday will be the Conversations with Friends cast Alison Oliver (Frances) and Joe Alwyn (Nick), who'll be joined by the show's director Lenny Abrahamson and executive producer Emma Norton. During the panel, the team will be discussing Conversation with Friends' exploration of relationships whilst offering behind-the-scenes insights into how they adapted the best-selling novel for the screen. Get tickets for the Conversations with Friends BFI & Radio Times Television Festival panel here. The series, which is developed by BBC Three and Hulu in association with RTÉ, follows best friends and former lovers Frances and Bobbi (Sasha Lane) as they befriend a couple in their 30s – Nick and Melissa (Jemima Kirke) – and start to grow close with them. While Bobbi is openly flirting with Melissa, Frances and Nick find themselves drawn to each other and begin a secret affair. View oEmbed on the source website The BFI & Radio Times Television Festival runs from 20th to 22nd May 2022 and you can get tickets here. Conversations with Friends is set to air on BBC Three on 15th May 2022. You can order the novel on Amazon. Looking for something to watch in the meantime? Check out our TV Guide or visit our dedicated Drama hub for the latest news. The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Call the Midwife stars join BFI & Radio Times Television Festival 2022
The BBC One drama will have a star-studded panel and Q&A as part of this year's line-up.
In anticipation of the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival 2022, which is coming to London's Southbank in May, more details have now been announced regarding a real highlight of the line-up - a panel and Q&A for Call the Midwife. Creator and writer Heidi Thomas and executive producer Pippa Harris were previously announced to be joining the panel, where they will discuss the secrets of the Sunday-night favourite's success. However, it has now been revealed that cast members Helen George (Trixie Franklin), Laura Main (Shelagh Turner) and Stephen McGann (Dr Turner) will also be in attendance. In appearing at the festival, George Main and McGann will join the likes of Martin Freeman, Mary Berry and Sir Bob Geldof, all of whom have been confirmed to take part in one of the many panels, Q&As and exclusive screenings. Find out more about the full BFI & Radio Times Television Festival 2022 line-up and ticket information here. It follows the news that filming has now started on Call the Midwife season 12, with Jenny Agutter and Linda Bassett appearing in the traditional clapperboard shot to mark the beginning of the first scene this year. George and Main previously spoke exclusively to RadioTimes.com at the Radio Times Covers Party, and explained that this year's season will be the "first time in a few years" that the show is filmed without COVID restrictions. View Green Video on the source website Main said: "There will be no perspex. We can kiss, we can touch and do what we do." Meanwhile Nancy and Sister Frances actors Megan Cusack and Ella Bruccoleri spoke about the show's longevity saying "it could go on for years" and that there would be "uproar if it didn't". The BFI & Radio Times Television Festival runs from 20th to 22nd May 2022 and you can get tickets here. Call The Midwife will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Seasons 1-11 are available on BBC iPlayer now. Looking for something else to watch? Check out the rest of our Drama coverage or take a look at our TV Guide. The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
BFI & Radio Times Television Festival 2022 adds The Responder and more to line-up
This year's event just got even more star-studded.
It's now less than a month until the highly-anticipated BFI & Radio Times Television Festival 2022 and new announcements are coming in thick and fast. A list of panels and previews were previously confirmed featuring the likes of His Dark Materials, Prehistoric Planet and The Outlaws, and now the festival has announced even more additions to the line-up. In our Martin Freeman: The Responder panel, the star of BBC One's acclaimed crime police drama will hold a Q&A about the show with writer Tony Schumacher and executive producer Laurence Bowen also in attendance. Attendees will also have the opportunity to get a first look at upcoming Apple TV+ series The Essex Serpent, starring Tom Hiddleston and Claire Danes, with a whole episode screening, plus discussion from the author of the original book Sarah Perry, director Clio Barnard and cast members. Mary Berry fans will be in for a treat too, as the queen of the kitchen is celebrated live in person in Hall of Fame: Mary Berry In Conversation with Claudia Winkleman, while beloved professor of particle physics Brian Cox will discuss his career and beyond at a special In Conversation event. Sir Bob Geldof will be joining Alan Yentob to relive 1985 musical phenomenon Live Aid, and as the BFI and Radio Times celebrate the BBC’s centenary, the cast and crew of Horrible Histories will be exclusively previewing a special episode looking back on the history of the beloved broadcaster. Missing Believed Wiped: Impossible Comedies will see old treasures in TV history unearthed - including a recording of a 1956 BBC Terry-Thomas show and lost footage from the earliest episode of The Morecambe and Wise Show that Eric and Ernie recorded for the BBC. And last but certainly not least, The Radio Times Podcast will be recording live, with hosts Jane Garvey and Rhianna Dhillon previewing the week's new shows with one of the biggest names in TV. The jam-packed festival will be held at both the BFI's Southbank base and also in its nearby IMAX cinema. The BFI & Radio Times Television Festival runs from 20th to 22nd May 2022 and you can get tickets here. Looking for something else to watch? Check out our TV Guide or visit our dedicated Drama hub for the latest news. The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
The BFI & Radio Times Television Festival announces star-studded line-up
The festival returns to the Southbank with a host of panels and special guests.
The BFI & Radio Times Television Festival is returning to London's Southbank this year, and the first raft of exciting events, screenings and panels has been announced. Sally Rooney fans are in for a treat, as they'll have a chance to nab tickets to a panel and Q&A with the cast and creatives behind the Normal People writer's next TV adaptation, Conversations with Friends. Joining the panel for the highly-anticipated series are Alison Oliver, Joe Alwyn, Lenny Abrahamson and Emma Norton, who will congregate at the BFI IMAX. There is also the thrilling opportunity for festival-goers to be among the first in the world to see the premiere of Prehistoric Planet, an Apple TV+ series from Jon Favreau in which Sir David Attenborough and other leading natural history film-makers re-create the last days of the dinosaurs. The epic series will be screened right where it belongs, on the giant BFI IMAX screen. Another exciting Q&A comes from the cast and creator of BBC series The Outlaws, which is gearing up for its second season. Fans will have a chance to see an early screening of the first episode, before the Q&A featuring Stephen Merchant, Eleanor Tomlinson, Gamba Cole, Clare Perkins, Darren Boyd, Jessica Gunning and director John Butler. Meanwhile, some of the cast and creatives for one of last year's biggest TV hits, It’s A Sin, will gather for a panel and Q&A to celebrate the extraordinary series. The panel will be made up of writer and executive producer Russell T Davies, executive producer Nicola Shindler and cast Omari Douglas and Callum Scott Howells. If you're desperately waiting for the next season of Call the Midwife, the festival has got you covered, with a panel and Q&A exploring the show's success with creator and writer Heidi Thomas, executive producer Pippa Harris and key cast members. Before His Dark Materials returns for its third and final season, the cast and creatives will be taking part in a panel & Q&A all about how they brought the thrilling fantasy drama to life - featuring exclusive footage and a few surprises for fans. Other panels and Q&As are set for All Creatures Great and Small, with Anna Madeley, Nicholas Ralph, Callum Woodhouse, Rachel Shenton, and Melissa Gallant, and for Starstruck with Rose Matafeo, Emma Sidi and Nic Sampson. The festival will also play host to A Toast to Toast, a fond tribute to Toast of London and Toast of Tinseltown with Matt Berry, Arthur Mathews, Michael Cumming, Doon Mackichan and Harry Peacock. Meanwhile, there will be a preview for the new season of BBC series Malory Towers, featuring a panel and Q&A with Ella Bright, Danya Griver, Sienna Arif-Knights and Beth Bradfield, and a screening of Prince: Purple Passion and Pomp, a bespoke compilation of the musical super-star on the small screen. The festival will be held at both the BFI's Southbank base and also in its nearby IMAX cinema. More exciting panels, exclusive premieres and special guests for The BFI & Radio Times Television Festival will be announced soon. The BFI & Radio Times Television Festival runs from 20th to 22nd May 2022 and you can get tickets here. Radio Times subscribers can book tickets from 12th April, and they will be on general sale from 13th April. Looking for something else to watch? Check out our TV Guide or visit our dedicated Drama hub for the latest news. The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.