Tom Fletcher made McFly bandmates cry with Paddington Musical songs
If there was any doubt in your mind that Paddington the Musical is an emotional rollercoaster, you should know it's already brought many a tear in the rehearsal room – to noughties boyband members no less! In the build up to the show's world premiere at the West End, composer and lyricist Tom Fletcher revealed his McFly bandmates were some of the first to succumb to the show's soppiest moments. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com he said: "Dougie (Poynter) and Harry (Judd) came to one of the workshops early on, they've heard all the songs because wanted to test to see if they’d cry – they did." He continued: "Honestly, McFly have been so supportive of this, as we all are with our separate projects. But I think they know how special this one is and they're really excited to come along with their kids." The Voice judge added that his bandmates weren't the only ones who had supported him throughout the song writing process. "When I needed to write something for the Browns family, all I had to do was ask my wife, my sister and my son – my kids have heard the songs so many times and they've been recording all the demos with me." Fletcher's sister is of course Carrie Hope Fletcher, a legend of the West End who has starred in the likes of Les Misérables, Elf the Musical and Heathers, while his wife Giovanna has also appeared on stage in 2:22 A Ghost Story and The Girl on The Train. His son was recently the latest to join the musical pack, starring for a limited time in Andrew Lloyd-Webber's Starlight Express. "Theatre has just changed me and my family," he said: "I went to full time theatre school from eight to 16 and I was in Oliver when I was nine, so as a kid the West End really defined who I was. I always thought when I left school it would end up being a part of me. "Even in McFly musicals had a massive influence on the songs I was writing, if you go back, a lot of the songs in our first two albums tell one story, and there’s a few that are really orchestral." Even as Paddington begins, Fletcher is still in the midst of the McFly vs Busted arena tour, which wraps up in Sheffield on 6th November, making his schedule less than ideal. "It's bonkers, I don’t get much sleep at the moment," he laughed, "I did the first week of Paddington rehearsals then I was literally going from there to McFly vs Busted rehearsals. I can't even make the first Paddington preview because we're playing the O2 that night, so it's such a juggle. "But I mean, I also just have to pinch myself because I can't believe I get to play a sold-out O2 show on the same night the musical I've written is showing at the West End – it’s ridiculous!" Paddington the Musical will kick off with previews from 1st November 2025, although official opening night won't be until 30th November. It is currently scheduled to run until May 2026. You can buy tickets at LOVEtheatre and you can still get McFly vs Busted tickets at Ticketmaster and Seat Unique. Make sure you also check out the best West End shows and best Christmas shows London.
Balvinder Sopal reveals importance of EastEnders co-stars' support on Strictly Come Dancing
We can expect to see more of her co-stars as the series continues.
Each year like clockwork, Strictly Come Dancing welcomes 15 celebrities from all corners of the entertainment world, and without fail, someone from EastEnders often stars on the show. This year is no different, as Balvinder Sopal swaps Albert Square for Elstree, though it isn't the worst commute in the world! Balvinder along with her professional dance partner Julian Caillon have wowed audiences over the last five weeks and despite finding themselves in a dance-off, they're back raring to go, and are looking forward to the support. Last weekend, EastEnders fans were delighted to spot Balvinder's co-stars, Navin Chowdhry and Shiv Jalota, in the audience cheering her on – which meant an awful lot to the Suki Panesar actress. "It was just lovely, because obviously they play my on-screen family, and we are a family off-screen as well," Balvinder told RadioTimes.com in an exclusive interview. "So it meant so much to have their support in the audience. My own family have come and that's been really lovely, and I actually thought I'd feel a little bit nervous having people I knew in the audience, but it's been the opposite. "It's like they're an anchor. The kind of anchor you go, 'Great, I've got my people in the audience, somebody genuinely loves me. I'm just going to go out there and perform and feel strong and just have a nice time.'" It was during Icons Week that Balvinder and Julian found themselves safe and avoided the dance-off, with Balvinder sharing that her former co-star Navin joked he was her lucky charm. She continued: "[On] Saturday our names were called out first, so Navin's like, 'I'm your lucky mascot. I've got to come every week!'" Julian echoed his partner's sentiments, noting that when his fiancé is in the audience, he always blows her kiss before the start of a performance. "I just feel like it kind of settles and grounds you," he told RadioTimes.com. "I used to do it on tour as well, she would always come to see me when I was performing in theatres. "She would tell me if she was sitting in the audience and when I'd start the show, I'd always look for her and then try and blow her a kiss. "It's a real grounding kind of experience." Balvinder and Julian are performing a Rumba for Halloween, with the actress admitting it's been the most difficult dance she's had to learn so far. She told RadioTimes.com: "It all fell apart for me because we're learning the rumba, which is a very technically hard dance. You have to be very specific and I just wasn't getting it. It just felt really hard, it felt like a really tall task. "The dances we've had in the past have been quite fun, bouncy, sort of lots of energy. And this is still energy, but it's very still and sort of strong still, kind of moves, and it just all fell apart for me. And actually, the dance only clicked yesterday afternoon. Literally, I just got it yesterday (29th October) afternoon." The dancing duo will be performing to Stay by Shakespears Sister, which Sopal has described as a "dance with death". "It's quite passionate actually and very different from anything you've seen from Jules and I," she said. Strictly Come Dancing continues on BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday 1st November at 6:35pm. Add Strictly Come Dancing to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Doctor Who's Bonnie Langford and Carole Ann Ford recall season 15 finale changes after "quite different" original ending
The Doctor Who legends open up about some changes that were made.
Doctor Who legends Bonnie Langford and Carole Ann Ford have reflected on the season 15 finale – and how the final cut differed from what was originally scripted. Sitting down with RadioTimes.com for in-depth interviews about their time on Doctor Who, Langford and Ford both looked back at their recent returns to their classic companions. Airing in May, The Reality War stunned fans by ending with Ncuti Gatwa's departure as the Fifteenth Doctor, as he regenerated into fellow Doctor Who star Billie Piper, who previously played companion Rose Tyler. The reveal was very much kept under wraps, with Melanie Bush actress Langford admitting she "didn't have a scooby" about Piper's role in the episode. While she stayed tight-lipped on the specifics, the actress added: "It was quite different to how we had filmed it. We'd filmed it the year before, and I had to pop back and do some extra filming, which I couldn't do with everybody else, which I was really disappointed about – I was in America at the time." Want more Doctor Who? We've got you covered. Register now for Radio Times' Doctor Who Insiders. Every month you can expect: A new in-depth interview with a Doctor Who legend Downloadable bookazines showcasing unseen Doctor Who gems from the Radio Times archive Doctor Who columns and videos from our team of Doctor Who experts Allons-y! Ford, who starred as Susan Foreman in the first ever episodes of Doctor Who, also made her long-awaited return to Doctor Who in season 15 – but some fans have argued her story felt unfinished. Going some way to explain that, she told RadioTimes.com: "I think enough people out there know by now that something extra was filmed and wasn't shown. "So yes, of course there were a couple more [scenes] which, because of some changes that had to be made, didn't make sense once the changes have been made. So they obviously had to film something else that went with those changes. "[It's a] shame though – I'd love to have done it, and the bit I did do, I really enjoy doing, and I love seeing it. I sort of looked as if I was floating in space. And you've still got to find me, grandfather! I'm waiting for that!" This week, it was confirmed that Doctor Who will return to screens for a 2026 Christmas special, with the show's deal with Disney coming to an end. Before that, though, fans can look forward to spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea. As for whether Mel will make an appearance? Langford's not giving anything away, laughing: "I can't tell you! I can't tell you anything. I'm sworn to secrecy on everything." Bonnie Langford's full interview will be available on RadioTimes.com on 18th November. Stay tuned for Carole Ann Ford's full interview. Missing Doctor Who? Register now for Radio Times' Doctor Who Insiders club for exclusive interviews with Doctor Who legends every month. Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Emmerdale confirms aftermath of April Windsor's fatal act as Celia Daniels tightens her grip
This article contains references to child sexual exploitation that some readers may find distressing. April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan) has become further entwined in Celia Daniels's (Jaye Griffiths) sickening county lines plot in Emmerdale. In yesterday's episode, she was sent out to meet yet another 'client', who had paid Celia and her son Ray Walters (Joe Absolom) a sum of cash in exchange for sex with the 16-year-old. April voiced her worries to the paedophile Callum (Max Lohan), who seemed to take a sympathetic approach towards her. He reassured her that she could leave at any time, but as he'd booked her for the whole night he wanted to get what he paid for. She was horrified, and after some drinks, decided against sleeping with him. But Callum wouldn't take no for an answer and launched himself towards her. In a panic, April grabbed a bottle of vodka and whacked it across his head, killing him instantly. In today's instalment she feared for her future and had nobody she could contact for help. Boyfriend Dylan Penders (Fred Kettle) has seemingly disappeared after a run-in with Ray, and there was no way she could explain the situation to dad Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) or grandfather Bob Hope (Tony Audenshaw). With nowhere left to turn, she summoned Celia and Ray. She was on a date with Bob and made her excuses to attend a 'farm emergency'. April explained that she had no choice to attack him, and Celia was furious that she'd caused yet another issue with a client. The youngster begged her groomers for help, and Ray headed off to deal with the grizzly crime scene. Callum was very much dead - still lay lifeless on the bed. Ray ordered someone to come to his house and get rid of his body, while Celia instructed April to take her clothes off so they could get rid of the evidence. There was no way this was coming back onto her - and as a result, April was off the hook. Ray made it clear that should she think about telling the police, he'd be first to dob her in. Later, after the mess was 'cleared up', Celia told April that her debt still hadn't been paid off. If she thought about causing another issue, she'd play her version of 'Snog, Marry, Avoid' with the three most important men in her life - Bob, Marlon and Dylan. Her version? 'Burn, Stab, Drown.' Will April find the courage to come clean to Marlon in next week's special episode? Read more: Emmerdale confirms three special episodes - including Robert Sugden prison revelations and Bear mystery solved Emmerdale's Ryan Hawley teases Aaron's "explosive" reaction to Robert's secret husband – and backs surprise Kev story Chris Coghill reveals previous Emmerdale role and confirms true nature of new character Kev Emmerdale's Jaye Griffiths reveals future for Celia after shocking twist Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1. Stream on ITVX. Add Emmerdale to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Brassic alternate ending revealed by star as closing scenes sparked big debate
Tommo star Ryan Sampson talks to RadioTimes.com about the Brassic finale.**CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE BRASSIC FINALE**
**Warning: Major Brassic finale spoilers ahead.** Sky TV’s hugely popular comedy series Brassic has ended with a literal bang, but actor Ryan Sampson, who plays Tommo, has revealed the final scene could have been very different. Episode 6 of Brassic’s final season has Vinnie (Joe Gilgun), Tommo and the gang meeting rival criminals Davey MacDonagh (Neil Ashton) and Joey Kittens (Dylan Baldwin) for lunch at a remote countryside pub in the snow. Before they arrived, Davey removed the staff and placed his own cousins behind the bar. He also shot Joey, and once everyone is settled in for the meal, he holds them all hostage. Trying to save his friends, Vinnie goes with an unhinged (and armed) Davey into the woods, and after the rest of the gang overpower Davey’s cousins, they head off to find him. Unfortunately, Joey’s niece Fay, who also has a rifle, finds her uncle’s body in the snow and blames Vinnie, aiming the gun at him and then at Davey. Vinnie pulls out the vintage gun he found in the pub, and a stand-off follows when Davey refuses to put his gun down. The search party then hear a gunshot echo through the trees, and viewers see Vinnie lying in the snow, with blood by his side. As the camera draws close, we see flashbacks to Vinnie’s life with his friends, and his love for Erin (Michelle Keegan) and their son Tyler, before he sits up and the end credits roll. “There was a lot of debate over what the exact last second should be,” Sampson confessed in an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com. “Should he sit up? Should he have the flashbacks? Should someone else? Was it someone else who was going to get shot at one point? It went round in the drafts we had," he explained. "There were so many, and I think they wanted to leave it open, just in case they want to do more Brassic later. So that's why Vinnie opens his eyes and stuff and sits up.” Read more: Brassic future teased by star Ryan Sampson as series comes to a close Farewell to Brassic – one of the funniest and rudest shows on TV “I think at one point he was meant to get shot in the head, and then he didn't and I seem to remember Joe [Gilgun] being like, ‘I don't want to be dying in last scene,’” Sampson added. “So obviously, he's got an idea about maybe we don't want it to end, but to be honest, there's no concrete plan yet. It just feels like it's definitely ended. But now there's a door being left open, you know?” Sampson also noted that Danny Brocklehurst, who co-created the show with Joe Gilgun, may have his own plans for Brassic in the future, which meant that Vinnie had to survive the shooting. “I think there's a sneaky idea that Danny’s mentioned that he'd kind of like to write a film of it at some point. So who knows if that will happen? I don't know, but it's obviously in the back of his head.” View oEmbed on the source website The final episode, entitled The Carvery (the remote pub is chosen as a meeting place because it has a good carvery) is already pretty cinematic. It pays homage to Quentin Tarantino’s 2015 movie The Hateful Eight, which starred Samuel L Jackson, Kurt Russell and Jennifer Jason Leigh as a group of strangers who seek refuge in a stagecoach inn during a blizzard a few years after the American Civil War. “Episode 6, I think is one of the most cinematic episodes we've done,” Sampson said. “The CGI budget, apparently, is just through the roof with the snow. So I'm really proud of that. I think it looks really amazing. "But also there's all these little Easter eggs in it. The whole episode is meant to be like The Hateful Eight. So Darren [Finch], the costume designer, has snuck in all these little references in the costumes. Kurt Russell wears this huge bear skin coat in the movie, and so I'm wearing this big, like fur number, just to like echo it. I thought it was really clever.” The wintry effects in the episode had to be added using computer imagery as there was no snow when the cast and crew were filming. “The really mad thing is, at the beginning of the series, we had loads of snow and we were fighting to film stuff that didn't have any snow in it,” Sampson said. “For the bit where the second half of the bus is going over the cliff [in the first episode], there was snow all around. So they had to melt all the snow, and then we had to come back when it wasn't there to film. And then when they were doing the snow scenes in the final episode, they had to just put all this snow in. So this is the nonsense of making TV.” Sampson's next project post-Brassic is the third season of the comedy series Mr Bigstuff, which he is currently writing and stars in with Danny Dyer. While both series are known for being rude and adventurous on screen, he said there are big differences behind the scenes between Brassic and Mr Bigstuff. “Every set has got its own different flavour,” he explained. “It's like every workplace you go into, it's got its own sort of set of rules and so on. On Brassic, it's very much led by Joe [Gilgun] so it's raucous and sweary and a bit chaotic sort of thing. Mr Big Stuff is mainly led by Danny, who is like, ‘We're a fucking team’. And it's a big loving sort of thing.” While Sampson doesn’t always enjoy writing the show — “I'm meant to be writing it right now, but I'm enjoying not doing it and talking to you instead, coming up with the outline and getting it all right is just a bloody nightmare” — he loves the series and hopes for more Mr Bigstuff in the future. “In my head, there's an overall story where we're going to in Mr Bigstuff. I would say it is a five-series arc, but we'll see if we get there.” Brassic seasons 1-7 are available to stream now on Sky. Find out more about how to sign up for Sky TV. Add Brassic to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" class="x_OWAAutoLink" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Yellowstone boss revealed to be working on epic Call of Duty movie adaptation – full details here
Taylor Sheridan will be co-writing the film alongside director Peter Berg.
One of the busiest men in TV, Yellowstone and Lioness creator Taylor Sheridan, is about to get even busier, as he is reportedly working on an adaptation of video game series Call of Duty. The news was first reported by Deadline, with the publication noting that the project is a surprise, given that it sees Sheridan working again with Paramount. It was only just recently revealed that Sheridan would be leaving Paramount, where he has been behind a huge number of shows in recent years such as Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King, and Landman, for a five-year deal with NBCUniversal. The new live action film is said to be designed to "thrill its massive global fan base by delivering on the hallmarks of what players love about the games", while also "expanding the franchise to entirely new audiences". Sheridan will be co-writing the film with lifelong friend and collaborator on previous projects Hell or High Water and Wind River, Peter Berg. Sheridan, Berg and his team, and David Glasser will all act as producers, while Berg will direct. There have been plans for Call of Duty film adaptations since as far back as 2015, and while a script was written and plans were at one time put in place, the movie was delayed indefinitely in 2020. Berg and Sheridan's project will be a new one, although details around plot and casting are currently unknown. Beyond his work with Sheridan, Berg has directed films including Spenser Confidential, Mile 22, Patriots Day and Deepwater Horizon – all of which starred Mark Wahlberg. Meanwhile, Sheridan's next film project, FAST, will be released in 2027 and is an action thriller movie starring Brandon Sklenar, Juliana Canfield, LaKeith Stanfield, Jason Clarke, Sam Claflin, and Trevante Rhodes. Sheridan's new deal with NBCUniveral will begin on 1st January 2029, after his overall TV deal with Paramount ends. Any of his Paramount shows will remain on Paramount+, but anything new he develops will be with the rival company. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Steven Moffat breaks down Doctor Who's scariest and silliest monsters
The former showrunner chats Daleks, Weeping Angels and the Empty Child for our Halloween special of 60 Days of Doctor Who.
Picture the scene: it's Saturday night, it's dark outside, and a Steven Moffat-penned episode of Doctor Who is about to start on BBC One. The chances are you're going to end up with plenty of fuel for your nightmares. The former showrunner, who helmed Doctor Who from 2010 to 2017, has been terrifying us as far back as season 1 with The Empty Child and is the brain behind some of the series' scariest villains. Speaking to RadioTimes.com, the show's monster-maker broke down some of its most iconic creatures – and the one flaw they all share. Ready to revisit your worst nightmares? "It's something of the nursery somehow, there's something rather domestic about a Doctor Who monster," Moffat explains. "They're not, if you look at the famously scary ones, tremendously convincing in the combat zone. The Weeping Angels, which are the my most successful ones, I mean, they can't move if someone sees them! "What kind of invasion force is that?! They're kind of nuts but children are scared of statues – I remember being scared of statues and, in particular, shop dummies but Robert Holmes had already done that one. "The Daleks, he's the greatest genius in the world, apparently, Davros. Is he? Is he? What do you think of that design?" he jokes. "I mean, seriously, I don't think that was a brilliant design. It's a brilliant design for a monster on TV, but as a machine, I've got notes Davros! I really do. It's silly, isn't it? What's that arm supposed to be?! "How did the scientific elite of Skaro let that one pass when Davros – a week before he unveiled the Dalek gun, he must have unveiled the Dalek arm. "Did they stand around in confusion or did they applaud and say 'Yeah, great idea. Let's not have fingers. Let's have a sink plunger.' Awesome, Davros, well done you. Storming genius. "So there's something fundamentally silly about a great Doctor Who monster and something of the nursery. Kids have a strange relationship with the Daleks because they're sort of frightened of them, but they're like their favourite toys. There's something loveable about a Dalek, and frightening. "So I think embracing the fairytale nursery absurdity that goes along with a certain kind of creepiness, a kind of harmless creepiness. We don't go in for a lot of gore in Doctor Who. People don't get their heads ripped off or anything nasty. It's all a bit children's ghost story – and quite right too." So what about his first Doctor Who monster, the iconic Empty Child? "The brief was a World War Two setting," he recalls. "Some kind of child monster, I think was the idea, hiding among the craters of the Blitz and, and to introduce Captain Jack [Harkness, played by John Barrowman] of course. But I remember thinking, the moment I introduce a monster, no one's gonna pay any attention to the setting. "By introducing the clanking robot, you forget where it's put, that becomes irrelevant. So I thought we should really – and this is a good way of approaching Doctor Who – fashion the monster out of the iconography of the era. "So I went and looked at all the pictures of the Blitz and, of course, the thing that really strikes you is all the ruddy gas masks. Gas masks are a Doctor Who monster, they've got blank eyes. That's kind of all you need really, blank eyes. "So I wanted to make a monster out of the iconography of World War Two and the gas masks were the obvious one to go for. I think Russell wanted it to be a child monster, and for there to be children – which was true by the way – living in the Blitz, stealing from houses during air raids. That all happened. That was real." Doctor Who's top 10 scariest monsters 10. The Beast Appearing in 2006 episodes The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit, The Beast may have been the devil, or some other ancient god, or the inspiration for them all – but his penchant for possessing other beings and scary calligraphy have certainly lingered in fans’ minds. 9. Mondasian Cybermen The original take on the Doctor’s cyborg foes returned to Doctor Who in 2017, where the truth behind their unusual look – essentially, their transformation was more surgical than mechanical – was revealed in some seriously creepy scenes. 8. Cybermen An unstoppable metal army, accrued from the violated bodies of men and determined to spread their vision across the galaxy? In Doctor Who, it’s not even top five material. 7. The Silence These creepy, grey-headed aliens are hard to forget – unless of course you’re one of their victims, in which case they’re impossible to remember. Time to scratch a few more marks on your arm and just hope there’s not still one lurking behind you. 6. The Flood Constantly dripping and flowing with water and with gaping, crack-mouthed grins to go with their white eyes, the “water zombies” of the episode are definitely one of the scariest-looking Doctor Who monsters in the modern series. 5. Vashta Nerada In 2008’s Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead, Steven Moffat created a truly unstoppable foe – living shadows, called the Vashta Nerada, who feasted on the flesh of the living and who raged through a deserted library in space. 4. Gas mask zombies Gas-masked, unstoppable and constantly crying for his mummy in a sing-song voice, this particular Doctor Who threat was liable to give you shivers for days – and that was even before you could see how his affliction was passed on to others, most notably One Foot in the Grave’s Richard Wilson. 3. The Midnight Creature Beginning with simple knocks on the outside of the Doctor and his co-passengers’ vessel, before possessing Sky Silvestry (Lesley Sharp) and mimicking the speech of others, the Midnight Creature (which is never named) is as much a psychological threat as a physical one. Soon, the passengers are their own worst enemies as they turn on each other out of fear, including considering throwing the Doctor out of the vessel at one point, and when the monster is eventually thrown out it still leaves some major damage in its wake. 2. The Daleks The original monster to send audiences scurrying behind the sofa, the Daleks have appeared in more episodes than any other monster, become design icons, been parodied, mocked and riffed on in countless ways. Despite so many appearances over the years, they've still got Doctor Who fans hiding behind cushions. Credit to Davros, because that’s some good brand awareness. Though not quite good enough to unseat our winner... 1. The Weeping Angels Accessing a primal fear that many of us may not have even known we had, the living statue angels – who can only move, and strike, when you’re not looking at them – are genuinely disturbing, their jerky, stop-motion-like attacks between blinks and flashes of light (usually accompanied by loud music cues) making from some terrifying TV. While they've returned various times, they’ve never been more effective than they were in that spine-chilling first outing and plenty of us have never quite recovered. For Moffat, the Doctor Who fear factor also comes from the show being inherently different to other sci-fis. "It takes place under your bed, and in the back of your cupboard. That's where it belongs. It doesn't take you to outer space. It brings outer space behind your sofa and frightens you with it. Even when Doctor Who is at its most epic, it always becomes a little bit domestic as well. "It's living room scale menace, it's quite important to Doctor Who. I suppose that was originally a budgetary constraint that it had to be like that. The show no longer has quite the same budgetary restraints – it's hardly over-funded, but it doesn't have the same budgetary restraints – the style of show should evolve to cope with that. "The slight homeliness of it all is a really good way of connecting with your audience. If you think the monsters are in outer space in metal corridors, well, that's not so frightening. But if you think the monsters are of the right size and type to creep into your living room, then that's frightening – frightening in a in a proper, kid friendly way, in a nice way. "Kids love ghost stories, not in a disturbing, harrowing way – we leave that to Newsnight." Doctor Who is available to watch on BBC iPlayer. Add Doctor Who to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" class="x_OWAAutoLink" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The greatest James Bond theme song of all time revealed – by the fans themselves
The Wings classic Live and Let Die defeated Carly Simon's Nobody Does It Better from The Spy Who Loved Me in the grand final.
It's fair to say that James Bond has boasted some stellar theme tunes in the years since 007 was first seen on the big screen in 1962 – with Shirley Bassey, Duran Duran and Adele just some of the iconic artists who have put their musical stamp on the series. But which song is the greatest of them all? That was a question RadioTimes.com put to Bond fans back in 2023, when we ran a Twitter poll tournament to determine the best ever Bond theme, split into several rounds before a grand final. In the end it was Live and Let Die which was voted as the best of the bunch. The song was written by Paul and Linda McCartney and recorded by their band Wings as the theme for the 1973 film of the same name, which was the first to star Roger Moore as the iconic spy. It beat another song from Moore's tenure in the final round of voting, with Carly Simon's Nobody Does It Better from the 1977 flick The Spy Who Loved Me coming in second place with 32.8 per cent of the vote, compared to 67.2 per cent for Live and Let Die. Several other classic Bond anthems exited the tournament at the Semi-Final stage, with Shirley Bassey's Diamonds Are Forever, Nancy Sinatra's You Only Live Twice, Adele's Skyfall, and Duran Duran's A View to a Kill all missing out on a place in the final. Perhaps surprisingly, Bassey's Goldfinger theme had fallen in the previous round – although it did have the misfortunate of coming up against eventual winner Live and Let Die at that stage. Still, Goldfinger's absence from the final did not go down well with some voters, with one Twitter user writing: "This is nonsense. Goldfinger is by far the best. Anyone not voting this way is just wrong." In total, 24 theme songs were included in the poll, with Louis Armstrong's We Have All the Time in the World from On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Tom Jones's Thunderball and Billie Eilish's No Time to Die among those not to make it to the semi-final stage. No Time to Die is available to stream on Prime Video. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Return to Paradise star explains how Death in Paradise favourite factors into season 2: “There’s something almost a bit magic”
"There's a kind of magic fairy godfather thing to what he's doing with that character.
When Death in Paradise spin-off Return to Paradise was first announced, it was initially unclear how the series would be linked to the original show – unlike, for instance, other spin-off Beyond Paradise, which had established character Humphrey Goodman front and centre. However, that all changed after the first episode aired, as it revealed that central detective Mackenzie Clarke (Anna Samson) used to work for Ardal O'Hanlon's Death in Paradise character Jack Mooney now that he's back in London after his time in Saint Marie. O'Hanlon has only ever been seen in London speaking on the phone with Mackenzie, but he's back for more scenes in season 2, helping to once again link Return to Paradise to its predecessor. Speaking with RadioTimes.com exclusively about O'Hanlon's role in the new season, Mackenzie star Samson said that he is "our very beloved link" to Death in Paradise. "What's interesting is, his scenes are quite brief," she continued. "There's these brief moments of coming back to London, but I'm noticing that even his character is developing and is on this journey as well, how he feels about Mackenzie." Samson explained: "And there's something almost a bit magic about his character in our show, that he's weirdly looking after her at a distance, and there's a kind of magic fairy godfather thing to what he's doing with that character. And basically, he's nudging her in the direction of her own happiness without her knowing. "It's not quite written in the script obviously, it's just this, like, shimmery otherness to him and how he obviously really cares about Mackenzie. That's really clear, even in those small scenes." Joining Samson and O'Hanlon in the cast for the new season of the Australia-based series are Tai Hara, Lloyd Griffith, Catherine McClements, Celia Ireland, Aaron L McGrath and Andrea Demetriades. Season 2 will see the team contending with what has been described as "even more perplexing cases this series, including the chemical poisoning of a man alone at sea, alongside having to deal with larger-than-life characters like a troublesome rock band who fall under suspicion when one of their members turns up dead". Return to Paradise season 2 will start airing at 8pm on Friday 31st October on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Add Return to Paradise to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" class="x_OWAAutoLink" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
All Creatures Great and Small season 6 finale finally answers Tristan mystery
The period drama's latest outing wrapped up on an emotional note.
It wouldn't be an All Creatures Great and Small season finale if you weren't reaching for the Kleenex (other brands are available) – this time prompted by what happened with Tristan. Following his return to Darrowby from the front line, he hadn't quite been himself, however hard he tried to convince those around him that all was just dandy. Mrs Hall was quick to pick up on it, while Siegfried — wrapped up in his own crisis, brought on by the beloved housekeeper's absence — remained oblivious. But it all came to a head in the final episode of season 6, when Tristan's mask didn't so much slip as disintegrate entirely, as the horrors of what he'd witnessed were laid bare and his emotions rushed to the surface. Just as he had on numerous other occasions since returning, Tristan accompanied his brother to examine a shire horse that was having a problem with one of its hooves. But the visit proved anything but routine. Shortly after entering the stable, Tristan faltered. When Siegfried instructed him to "go to its head," he hesitated before slowly approaching the horse. After a few steps, he froze, a look of sheer terror spreading across his face, which had turned ghostly pale. Tears welled in his eyes as Siegfried asked him once more to attend to the horse, unaware of what was happening to his brother. But Tristan's feet were rooted to the spot, and moments later he bolted from the stable, jumped into the car, and drove off. Read more: All Creatures Great and Small's Anna Madeley on Mrs Hall's secret talent – and *that* Siegfried speculation All Creatures Great and Small spin-off show confirmed with beloved special guest Ahead of season 6, Callum Woodhouse teased trouble for his character, discussing how Tristan spends the series "trying to push a lot of things down and make everyone think that he's absolutely fine". "He's the usual Tristan that we all know and expect, but we're sort of drip-fed… that things aren't all OK," he added. "There's stuff he's probably not fully talked about, not fully expressed yet, which he was masking throughout this series with drink and with jokes — which is obviously always Tristan's way — but I'm sure more of that will get unpacked over time." And in the finale, we finally learned the extent of what he’d experienced — and why he had been awarded the Military Cross, something he hadn’t wanted to discuss when Siegfried and Mrs Hall first asked, excitedly. During a heartfelt conversation with Siegfried in the church, where he'd been since the early hours, Tristan spoke of his friend Billy, with whom he'd been inseparable since training. They were moving camp when they came under fire. "Suddenly there was this noise," he said, unable to fight back his tears. Billy had been hit. "He was in a bad way." "I didn't fully grasp what had happened, so I went to help him — and he screamed at me not to move an inch." The whole field they were standing on was covered in land mines. "Someone moved over there — another bang; someone here — another," he recalled, which is when the horse pulling their equipment began to panic. "You weren't afraid of the horse. What you couldn't bear was his fear," noted Siegfried astutely of his brother's panic in the stable the previous day. With no medic on the scene, Tristan did what he could to help, but he was unable to save his friend. "There was a mine right next to me, and if Billy hadn't screamed, I would have been killed," he said. "I got a medal because I managed to save a few chaps, but Billy wasn't one of them. He saved me, but I couldn't save him. The Cross should be his, not mine." Tristan added that he had tried to push the thoughts out of his head, "but then you see something or you hear something," as was the case with the horse. "No one wants it to be over more than me, but if all it takes is some scared horse to wrench me back, then maybe it never will — in here." Tristan then thumped his chest before breaking down, as Siegfried held him. In the aftermath of Japan’s surrender, the "last of Britain's enemies to be "laid low," a new dawn is heralded once again. But for Tristan, and the other fortunate ones who survived, a different kind of war has begun. Coming to terms with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder — a term that wouldn't be coined until 1980 — and learning to live with its daily demands, as we see with both Tristan and Tom, another Darrowby resident recently returned from front-line service, will be an ongoing battle that touches every part of their lives — and one that may have no end in sight. All Creatures Great and Small seasons 1-6 are available to watch on 5. You can order James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small from Amazon. Add All Creatures Great and Small to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. If you're looking for something else to watch, visit our TV Guide or take a look at the rest of our Drama coverage. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
British acting royalty confirmed to join King Charles III's 'landmark' new documentary project
Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision will launch on Prime Video in over 240 countries and territories worldwide next year.
Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet will narrate Prime Video’s upcoming documentary about King Charles III. The feature-length TV film Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision, which was announced earlier in October, will explore the King’s lifelong commitment to promoting a more balanced and sustainable world. It will feature the King’s own reflections and archival footage, chronicling the origins and evolution of the Monarch’s ‘Harmony’ philosophy. Harmony, for those unaware, is a philosophy that encourages us to see ourselves as “part of nature, not apart from nature”, and was first explored in the King's 2010 book Harmony: A New Way of Looking at Our World. The King has expressed his hope that the film will “encourage a new audience to learn about the philosophy of harmony – and perhaps inspire the same sense of determination it has given me to help build a more sustainable future". The film will also showcase the practical application of the harmony philosophy by highlighting the work of The King’s Foundation across the UK and overseas, with a particular focus on the charity’s headquarters, Dumfries House. Winslet, who became an ambassador for The King’s Foundation earlier this year, said on being announced as the narrator of the documentary: “It is both a pleasure and a privilege to be a part of this film, which is a fascinating insight into the King’s work as an environmentalist." She continued: "I share His Majesty’s passion for protecting our planet and building sustainable communities, so it's been really rewarding to work with The King’s Foundation on this exciting project. I know audiences will learn, laugh and feel inspired by what’s featured in the film, and I hope the impact of Harmony will be felt in years to come.” Kristina Murrin, chief executive of The King’s Foundation, said: “This documentary is incredibly important to The King’s Foundation, and we are delighted to have the support of our ambassador Kate Winslet in helping to bring the film to life. “Through the film we hope that viewers will gain a better understanding of His Majesty’s Philosophy of Harmony, which is so central to our work at The King’s Foundation. We are thrilled that Kate is a part of this journey with us and look forward to sharing the film with the world next year.” Scroll through King Charles III's Radio Times covers through the years below: View Gallery on the source website Check out more of our Documentaries coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Emmerdale airs shocking murder scenes as April Windsor fears for her safety
Shocking scenes in tonight's instalment.
This article contains references to sexual abuse that some readers may find distressing. April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan) has seemingly murdered one of her vile clients in Emmerdale. As viewers of the ITV soap have seen, the teenager and her boyfriend Dylan Penders (Fred Kettle) have been groomed into a life of drug and sex trafficking by Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths) and Ray Walters (Joe Absolom). The two reached breaking point earlier this week, with Dylan pocketing a wad of Ray's cash and plotting to escape their clutches forever. Unfortunately, as they reached the outskirts of Leeds City Centre, Ray sent a video message warning that their loved ones would be in extreme danger if they didn't share their location. In today's instalment, Ray was nursing a bloody hand and April hadn't heard from Dylan since they decided to bow to Ray's demands. Has he been injured? A subdued April was shocked to have a run-in with Celia, who was heading out on a Halloween date with her grandad Bob Hope (Tony Audenshaw). She told the youngster that she had lined up another client to sleep with, and this time she had no option but to go through with the disgusting act. Celia's 'reputation' was at risk, and there would be consequences if she palmed off this customer in the same way she did the last. April's dad Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) hoped that his daughter would attend Paddy Dingle's (Dominic Brunt) festivities at Tenants Cottage with her family, though as we know, she had to be elsewhere. Her client, Callum (Max Lohan), could see that she felt uneasy about the ordeal and questioned whether it was her first time. It seemed for a moment like he was going to back out of the agreement – even telling her she could leave if she wanted to. However, matters quickly turned sour when he began to force himself onto April. He said the small talk was finished and it was time for them to "get to know one another properly". Callum then reminded her that the door was locked and she would be with him all night. Panicking, April picked up a bottle of vodka and smacked it across his head. She watched in horror as blood began to pour out. Has April murdered Callum? Read more: Emmerdale confirms three special episodes - including Robert Sugden prison revelations and Bear mystery solved Emmerdale's Ryan Hawley teases Aaron's "explosive" reaction to Robert's secret husband – and backs surprise Kev story Chris Coghill reveals previous Emmerdale role and confirms true nature of new character Kev Emmerdale star Olivia Bromley teases “difficult” special episode for Dawn and April Emmerdale's Jaye Griffiths reveals future for Celia after shocking twist Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1. Stream on ITVX. Add Emmerdale to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Celebrity Traitors star confirmed with other British comedy legends for Lenny Rush's vampiric new BBC sitcom
The Reluctant Vampire is the latest project from Alan Partridge writers Neil and Rob Gibbons.
Rising star Lenny Rush is set to be joined by an all-star cast in forthcoming BBC sitcom The Reluctant Vampire, which is promised to follow "in the dead funny footsteps of Ghosts". The young actor, who broke out in Am I Being Unreasonable?, will play Val in the new series; a teenager raised in a family of vampires, who discovers by chance that he's not actually a vampire himself. That would explain why "bloodthirsty rites of passage" have never been his strong suit. His mother, Valeeta (Fleabag's Sian Clifford), had kept his true nature a secret from him to ensure that he wouldn't be at risk, but now they'll have to work together to keep him undetected from his highly traditional vampire dad, Victor (King Gary's Tom Davis). In addition to Clifford and Davis, The Reluctant Vampire also reunites Rush with Ellie-May Sheridan, who he previously appeared alongside in CBBC's Dodger, and here plays a local girl whom Val befriends after learning of his humanity. Rounding out the supporting cast are a slew of big names, including Charlie Cooper (This Country), Asim Chaudhry (People Just Do Nothing), Joe Wilkinson (Celebrity Traitors) and Kiell Smith-Bynoe (Ghosts). You can also expect to see Esther Smith (Trying), Bill Bailey (Black Books) and Ray Fearon (Not Going Out), plus screen newcomer Gabriel Nagy as Val's suspicious brother. "Val can never let his secret be known to the locals," says the BBC synopsis. "Yet by night there's a coffin-load of expectations... Val must navigate both worlds without letting his cover be staked." In response to the casting announcement, Rush commented: "I couldn’t be more thrilled to be surrounded by this bunch of comedy legends. If vampires had a dream team, this would be it." The Reluctant Vampire has two big names behind the camera too, with Alan Partridge writers Neil and Rob Gibbons (of Mid Morning Matters, This Time and How Are You?, among other projects) co-creating the series. Executive producer Shane Allen added: "This is a world of vampires, invisible ghosts, werewolves and gargoyles following in the dead funny footsteps of Ghosts to deliver high-spirited hilarity for all the family. "The response to Neil and Rob's scripts has sent shivers up our spines with the cream of British comedy signing up." The Reluctant Vampire will consist of six half-hour episodes, but does not yet have a confirmed premiere date. The Reluctant Vampire is coming soon to BBC One and iPlayer. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add The Reluctant Vampire to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Doctor Who spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea has release window confirmed with new-look images
The BBC has confirmed launch details for Doctor Who spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea – and revealed striking new images.
The BBC has confirmed that Doctor Who spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea will arrive on BBC iPlayer and BBC One this December – and has released new images offering a first look at the epic drama. The upcoming five-part series will explore how humanity responds when an ancient and terrifying species rises from the ocean, sparking a global crisis. New stills show Russell Tovey’s character Barclay as well as Jemma Redgrave’s returning UNIT leader Kate Lethbridge-Stewart and her crew. The series features an all-star cast, with Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Salt, Ruth Madeley as Shirley Anne Bingham, Alexander Devrient as Colonel Ibrahim, and Colin McFarlane as General Austin Pierce. Other previously announced cast members include Adrian Lukis, Patrick Baladi, Francesca Corney, Mei Mac, Vincent Franklin, Waleed Hammad, Iestyn Arwel, Hannah Donaldson, Manpreet Bachu and Ann Akinjirin. Showrunner Russell T Davies said: "This is a huge, spectacular Christmas treat, with heroes and monsters and battles and romance, in a world on the edge of disaster. And remember. Watch the seas!" Produced by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for the BBC and Disney, The War Between the Land and the Sea will debut in the UK on BBC iPlayer and BBC One this December, before streaming exclusively on Disney+ outside the UK (where available) in 2026. The series was created by Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies, who co-wrote the series with executive producer Pete McTighe, with Dylan Holmes Williams directing and Lorne Balfe composing the score. The BBC also recently confirmed the future of Doctor Who, announcing that its global partnership with Disney will not continue beyond The War Between the Land and the Sea. However, the beloved sci-fi series will return in 2026 with a brand new Christmas special written by Russell T Davies. The show’s future has been the subject of much speculation, with Disney’s exit marking a major change in Doctor Who’s global strategy. BBC Chief Content Officer Kate Phillips recently reassured fans that the franchise remains in safe hands, saying: "With or without Disney, Doctor Who will still be on the BBC." The most recent episode of Doctor Who aired in May, ending with Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor regenerating into Billie Piper in a twist that shocked fans. Doctor Who is available to watch on BBC iPlayer. Add Doctor Who to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" class="x_OWAAutoLink" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Pokémon Legends Z-A confirms "known issues" with "planned fixes" coming soon
Players have had a couple of weeks to get to grips with Pokémon Legends Z-A, and now the developers have announced their intentions to fix a few "known issues" with the game. Of course, Pokémon Legends Z-A marked something of a departure for the iconic critter catching series from Game Freak, Nintendo, Creatures Inc and The Pokémon Company. Ditching the turn-based battle system that we've been using since the 1990s, Pokémon Legends Z-A switches to real-time combat, allowing you to run and roll about whilst your best moves charge up again. Even though the game returned to a familiar location, Lumiose City from Pokémon X and Y, it did redevelop the city with new battle zones and wild areas full of critters. It's no surprise that all of this change has brought with it some teething problems. And now, the team behind Pokémon Legends Z-A have admitted to a couple of clangers that they're planning to fix very soon. "We have confirmed the following issues and plan to fix them in a future update," a statement reads on the official Pokémon website. You might be surprised to learn that only two "known issues" are listed on the webpage. View oEmbed on the source website The first of them is described like so: "If your Pokémon Boxes become full before the first Rogue Mega Evolution battle and the Boxes menu had not been opened at any point prior to being filled, Pokémon catch attempts will always fail. "Additionally, if a side mission that allows you to receive Pokémon is attempted under these conditions, the mission will be completed without granting the Pokémon." And this is how the second known issue is summed up: "In certain side missions, if the time of day switches between daytime and nighttime at the exact moment that a move hits its target, it will become impossible to hit the target afterward, rendering the side mission incapable of being progressed further." The developers aren't waiting around when it comes to these two glitchy situations. The statement says in closing, "These issues are scheduled to be fixed in the update planned for release in November." While you wait for this November update to drop, why not try our quiz below and see if you're truly a Pokémon master? View Riddle on the source website Read more on Pokémon: Best Pokémon gifts - the greatest merch Best Pokémon games on Switch - our ranking Best shiny Pokémon - the coolest creatures Best Dragon-type Pokémon - who's your fave? All cat Pokémon - the felines to catch Pokémon natures guide - all you need to know Pokémon type chart - strengths and weaknesses explained Legendary Pokémon - the full list Pokémon Emerald cheats - what you need to know Pokémon Fire Red cheats - all codes Pokémon Go friend codes - and how to find them Pokémon games in order - where to start Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Stranger Things 5 trailer analysis: 5 theories as fans fear major deaths
Who will still be standing when the series reaches its epic conclusion?
Stranger Things 5 has been in development for so long that it's hard to believe we're now mere weeks away from the season premiere, but today's action-packed trailer confirms that this is no hoax! Set to Queen's 1986 banger Who Wants to Live Forever?, this astonishing three-minute teaser showcases exactly why the final chapter has taken so long to arrive. What began as an eerie horror story in a small town has exploded into an otherworldly action epic, with visceral sequences and stellar visual effects being front and centre in this first look. View oEmbed on the source website The plot, however, remains shrouded in mystery, with Netflix and the Duffer brothers seemingly more concerned with re-introducing these beloved characters (as opposed to shedding light on what they are actually facing off against). Fortunately, that leaves plenty of room for fan speculation – and RadioTimes.com is getting in on the action. Here are five theories we have about Stranger Things 5 based on today's epic trailer. Hawkins is under quarantine Stranger Things 4 ended with the boundary between our world and the Upside-Down definitively rupturing, with the heroes of Hawkins looking out as the parallel dimension contaminated their once quaint and homely town. From this trailer, it seems that the US government has responded by placing Hawkins and its residents under quarantine, with no one allowed in or out and military stations guarding any roads connecting it to the outside world (as above). Mike (Finn Wolfhard) remarks to Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) that the gang are "starting to lose it" after being "stuck" in Hawkins for an unspecified period of time, with no end in sight – unless they can seize control of their dire situation. Later, we see several characters navigating underground tunnels, which could be how the team manage to evade detection as they investigate the escalating conspiracy at the heart of their town. Eleven is finally in full control Eleven has certainly performed incredible feats of strength in the past, but usually, they have occurred with the caveat that she isn't reliably in control of her powers – and can be exhausted by them. If that's still the case, you certainly couldn't tell by this trailer, where Eleven is consistently using her telekinetic abilities in action sequences, including a notable shot (above) where she stealthily glides over a barbed wire fence in the dead of night. Presumably, this is one of the military bases that have been set up in Hawkins in response to the town's monster problem, with a later sequence showing a gang of Demogorgons laying waste to the facility and its troops. Lucas rescues Max – but will she wake up? Sadie Sink stole season 4 as troubled teen Max Mayfield, who became a key target of Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) while battling her own demons and poor mental health following the horrific death of her older brother. In a shocking climax, Vecna finally ensnared Max; blinding her, breaking her bones and sending her into a deep coma, with Eleven fearing she would never recover as she could no longer locate her mind telepathically. After this trailer, we're still none the wiser as to whether Max will wake up, but one notable moment sees her friend and love interest Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) rescue her from hospital as monsters from the Upside-Down close in. Carrying a comatose Max in his arms, Lucas also holds her tape cassette player, which is presumably still playing Kate Bush. If so, maybe it's time to try a different tune? Dustin is bruised, beaten – and grieving? Notably, fan favourite Hawkins kid Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) is looking rather worse for wear in this trailer; in multiple shots we see him visibly wounded, with two black eyes along with other cuts and bruises to his face. In this injured state, we see him crying as he embraces best pal Steve Harrington (Joe Keery), who looks deeply concerned and sympathetic over whatever has just occurred – or is about to. Of course, it may well be that Dustin is in tears because he's had a close brush with death and is simply feeling emotionally overwhelmed. Who could blame him? However, amid speculation that not every character will make it out of this season alive, we have to wonder whether these scenes are a foreboding hint towards an imminent loss. Will is key – but who will die? As Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp has previously said: "The story started with Will, and it'll end with Will." That statement is thoroughly supported by this trailer, as the connection between Will Byers and the Upside-Down looks set to be exploited by Vecna once again to achieve his malevolent ambitions. The teaser ends on a dramatic note as Will is telekinetically dragged towards his monstrous rival, who eerily informs him: "You are going to help me, one last time." But would the Duffer brothers really kill off Will Byers? It seems a little unlikely. After all, we've watched these characters – and the actors playing them – grow up on screen, enduring enormous hardships and powering through in the spirit of friendship and mutual understanding. It would be a bit of a downer if one of these youngsters bit the dust at the very last moment. The older characters, however, are fair game – as the show has proven in the past. And that's why fans are worried about Hopper (David Harbour), Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Steve, who feature minimally in this trailer. Additionally, Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) also seem to be at the centre of the action this time, with several trailer moments placing them in harm's way. On the bright side, Nancy looks pretty cool with a machine gun. Stranger Things 5 part 1 premieres on Netflix on Wednesday 26th November 2025. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add Stranger Things to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Daniel Craig's Layer Cake character set to return in all-new Guy Ritchie film – and played by very familiar face
Jason Statham will take on the part made famous by Daniel Craig in Matthew Vaughn’s 2004 cult hit, Layer Cake, in a new film by Guy Ritchie. Titled Viva La Madness, the new movie will be based on JJ Connolly’s 2011 novel of the same name, the follow-up to Layer Cake, but is being billed as a stand-alone, original feature that is completely unrelated to Layer Cake or anything Connolly has written, according to Variety. The first film largely stuck to its source material, revolving around an anonymous London-based dealer, known as X, who’s planning to retire when he’s pulled into a dangerous drug deal. The movie was led by Craig, in a role that reportedly led to his casting as James Bond in 2005. The plot of Ritchie’s film is yet to be confirmed, but its source material continues the story of X (Statham), who’s now left his criminal activities behind and moved to the Caribbean. His peaceful existence soon comes under threat, however, when two British gangsters show up on his paradise island. Statham is currently the only actor attached to Viva La Madness, while Ritchie is listed as the writer and director. The film’s producers include Ritchie and Ivan Atkinson (Toff Guy Films), Statham (Punch Palace), Thomas Benski (Lumina Studios) and John Friedberg (Black Bear). Production is set to kick off in January 2026. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Wicked: For Good director reveals why he made bold decision for Dorothy's role in new film
Viewers won't see Dorothy's face in the new film.
Wicked: For Good director Jon M Chu has explained why Dorothy won’t take up much space visually in the second film. The sequel, which is set to arrive in cinemas in December, will continue from Wicked: Part One, with Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) now on the run after being labelled as the Wicked Witch, and Glinda (Ariana Grande) a public figure controlled by the wizard, and will also feature the iconic Wizard of Oz characters Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Lion and the Scarecrow. But while there will be some overlap with the events of the Wizard of Oz, Wicked: For Good "is still Elphaba and Glinda’s journey", Chu recently explained to People. And because of this, audiences will never actually see Dorothy's face. “I didn’t want to step on who you think Dorothy is in whatever story that you came into this with,” Chu added. "She is a pawn in the middle of all of it.” This approach will see Dorothy given a slightly bigger role than she has in the Broadway musical, in which the closest she gets to appearing is when the silhouette of a girl is shown as water is tossed onto the Wicked Witch of the West. The trailer for Wicked: For Good also recently hinted at a bigger part for Dorothy than she gets in the musical, with the character standing side-by-side (from behind) with the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion. Talking about the decision to have Dorothy seen only from a distance in the movie, Erivo recently told Empire: “I think that’s such a wonderful thing to do, because then everyone gets to keep the Dorothy that they know.” Speaking about the significance of Dorothy’s existence, she added: “I love the little bit of shadiness that Glinda has towards Dorothy." She continued: “There’s a lot going on, and she doesn’t really have time to deal with this. She could have told her to take the Emerald City train! But she didn’t. That’s a little shady, Glinda! "So I leaned all the way into Glinda sort of having an eye roll for Dorothy whenever she has to deal with her." Wicked: For Good is scheduled for release in UK cinemas on 21st November 2025. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Tom Fletcher calls Paddington Musical songs the best he's ever written: "For Paddington, they had to be"
McFly may be on tour, but this November, it's all about Paddington.
Paddington is pulling into the Savoy Theatre as we speak, as the world premiere of the Paddington Musical begins previews this Saturday. The beloved, marmalade-gobbling bear will be appearing on the London stage alongside a stacked cast of musical theatre stars including Doctor Who's Bonnie Langford as Mrs Bird, Adrian Der Gregorian as Mr Brown and Amy Ellen Richardson as Mrs Brown. Just a few days out and much of the show is still very unknown, including what the leading bear will look and sound like. Also a mystery? The contents of the soundtrack written and composed by McFly's Tom Fletcher. So far, snippets have been released from two of the songs: The Explorer and the Bear and Pretty Little Dead Things sung by the villainous Millicent Clyde (played by Victoria Hamilton-Barritt), but the rest has been kept under wraps. View oEmbed on the source website However, Fletcher assures us it will be worth the wait. In an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com, he said they were "some of the best songs I'd ever written". He said: "Paddington is so timeless, he feels like he's been in our lives forever, and he will be in our lives forever, so I really wanted the music to do the same. "I knew I wanted the show to feel like it can hold its own with contemporary musicals and not feel dated, but at the same time I didn’t want it to be so contemporary it would feel old in three years' time. "It's hard for me to judge if I've pulled that off, but I mean these songs had to be the best songs I've ever written because Paddington deserves it to be." The boyband star and children's book writer first started working on the project five years ago, recalling that he'd said yes instantly. "I had a mild panic afterwards of not knowing whether I could do it or not," he said, "But then I just focused on the actual material and started taking inspiration from the books and movies, and it just never felt hard really and I never had a moment where I didn't know what to do musically because the source material is that good." He did confess one little hiccup in the writing process however: "Well, at one point I was writing and this big film crew started setting up in the field that's about 20 metres away from my house – it was only Paddington 3. "They were filming the marmalade machine in Peru minutes from where I was writing the musical, I got a bit flustered that Paddington and Aunt Lucy were right there." <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/08/Introducing-the-principal-cast-of-PADDINGTON-the-Musical--enjoying-a-perfectly-proper-tea-photo-by-Jay-Brooks-667fa92.jpg" width="2953" height="2034" alt="Introducing the principal cast of PADDINGTON the Musical — enjoying a perfectly proper tea…” - photo by Jay Brooks" title="Introducing the principal cast of PADDINGTON the Musical — enjoying a perfectly proper tea…” - photo by Jay Brooks" /> As for how he feels about the show now, the singer has hardly had time to breathe as he and the other members of McFly are currently gigging for the McFly vs Busted arena tour, but: "I can't even begin to tell you how exciting it is," he said, grinning, "I’ve seen it on posters on cabs driving around London, and it’s so weird now everybody is talking about it. We've all been working on it for so long and it means so much to all of us. "We were tasked with looking after this bear, you know, that was on his tag around his neck. And, I feel like that's what we've all tried to do over the last five years, just take care as best we can of this amazing story and character. "So we're very very excited for everyone else to to see what we've done." How to get Paddington the Musical West End tickets Paddington tickets are now live at LOVEtheatre starting from £29. The show is running at London's Savoy Theatre from 1st November to May 2026. Buy Paddington the Musical tickets at LOVEtheatre Make sure you also check out the best West End shows and our list of 40 Les Misérables backstage secrets. Also, here's how to get cheap Cadbury World tickets.
Adolescence director teams up with Hollywood favourite for a very different thriller series on Netflix
The new series marks a return to Netflix for the Adolescence director.
While director Philip Barantini can rest easy in the fact that he directed one of the most talked-about Netflix series of the year with Adolescence, his next exciting project has been unveiled and he's set to team up with the streamer once more for a very different kind of show. It's now been announced that Barantini will direct upcoming drama Rabbit, Rabbit with Hollywood star Adam Driver set to lead the cast. The Marriage Story star will take on the leading role as "an escaped convict who finds himself in a volatile hostage situation – with nowhere to go but deeper into trouble", according to the synopsis. It continues: "When an escaped convict is cornered by law enforcement at a truck stop, he takes hostages in an effort to bargain for his freedom. But the standoff soon escalates into an unmanageable social experiment with his captives – and an emotional poker match with a veteran FBI Crisis Negotiator trained in 'tactical empathy.'" The series comes from Top Gun: Maverick's Peter Craig, who will be penning the scripts for Rabbit, Rabbit. Before Adolescence, Barantini was also best known for directing the feature film Boiling Point and its resulting BBC series which both featured his now signature one-shot style. It's currently unclear if Rabbit, Rabbit will employ a similar style. He's also set to direct the third Enola Holmes film and a Netflix special entitled One Shot With Ed Sheeran, which is set to be released next month. Since its release on the streamer earlier this year in March, Adolescence has continued to be the talk of TV due to its handling of topical issues, stellar cast and production. It has since cleaned up at the 2025 Emmy Awards and the National Television Awards. Read more: Stephen Graham stars in gripping first look at the explosive A Thousand Blows season 2 Slow Horses star reveals how season 5 finale cliffhanger will impact season 6 Previously speaking about the powerful effect the one-shot filming technique has on storytelling, Barantini told Radio Times during an interview about Adolescence: "Personally, I find myself watching things, and it could be brilliant but I’ve got one eye on my phone, so you have to really grab me." He added: "I think what the one-shot does is makes you sit up and you can’t take your eyes off it, because if you do blink for a second you miss something. It draws the audience in. "It’s like going to a play. If you go to a play, you can’t be on your phone, yeah? And so you’ve got to pay attention to everything." As for Rabbit, Rabbit, further details remain thin on the ground for the moment but we do know that Driver will also serve as an executive producer on the series alongside Craig and Barantini. Other executive producers include Samantha Beddoe (through her and Barantini’s It’s All Made Up Productions) and Bryan Unkeless (I, Tonya), for his and Craig’s Night Owl banner. Rabbit, Rabbit will be coming to Netflix. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The White Lotus season 4 locations 'revealed' as hit show undergoes major change from first three seasons
Mike White's series looks set to head back to Europe.
The White Lotus is closing in on shooting locations for its much-anticipated fourth season, which sees the hit drama break away from the luxury hotel chain it has partnered with from the beginning. Created by Mike White, the anthology series takes place at a different branch of the fictional White Lotus resort chain in each season, introducing us to a different cohort of privileged and oblivious holidaymakers every time. Following earlier trips to Hawaii and Sicily, this year's third season whisked us away to Koh Samui, Thailand, and seemingly wrapped up some lingering plot threads relating to Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge), Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) and Greg (Jon Gries). It leaves the door wide open for speculation as to what could happen in season 4, but Variety reports that the setting for the next chapter looks almost certain to be the French Riviera. In a surprise twist, however, the industry trade states that HBO has not renewed its partnership with The Four Seasons, which had provided its properties as White Lotus resorts in all three previous seasons. It could mean that the next chapter in the show has a slightly different look to it, although there's no doubt that it will be just as lavish and opulent as it ever has been. It isn't yet clear where exactly on the French Riviera these latest episodes will shoot, but the show will reportedly split its time between the coastal region and Paris – mirroring how season 3 jumped between Koh Samui and Bangkok. The production has scouted two prestigious venues in the French capital city, although it isn't yet confirmed which – if any – will get the highly sought after gig. The properties looked at, according to Variety, are the five-star hotels Le Lutetia (in Saint-Germain des Pres), and the Ritz Paris (in the 1st arrondissement), which is considered one of the fanciest hotels on the planet. Both venues have a rich history and a long list of famous guests, ranging from Charlie Chaplin and Ernest Hemingway (at Le Lutetia) to Coco Chanel and F Scott Fitzgerald (at the Ritz). Expect concrete details to emerge in the near future as The White Lotus season 4 eyes a filming start date next year, with casting to be announced in due course too. The White Lotus seasons 1-3 are available on Sky and NOW. Add The White Lotus to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
EastEnders advance spoilers reveal old feud reignited for departing Junior Knight following Nicola Mitchell admission
Things are heating up ahead of Junior's exit.
New advance spoilers for EastEnders have been revealed by the BBC - and they hint at a dramatic time for the Knight clan. It was confirmed earlier this week that Micah Balfour will be bowing out of his Junior Knight role after 18 months, and the drama is set to ramp up in his final weeks. The character burst onto the Walford scene in an underground boxing match with dad George (Colin Salmon), and he only made their estrangement worse by engaging in a steamy affair with former step-mum Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins). Their secret relationship was exposed last Christmas, and Junior quickly became a prime suspect in Cindy's subsequent attack. As viewers will recall, she was whacked with a snow shovel – by none other than mother-in-law Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth). More recently, Junior decided to tell George's wife Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) that his dad had spent the festive evening in the company of his first wife Sabrina. This led to the Knights divorcing, and the sale of The Queen Vic. Things haven't been the same between father and son ever since – and it seems that in upcoming scenes, it's about to get a whole lot worse. And Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) is the catalyst! Monday 10th November Priya Nandra-Hart (Sophie Khan-Levy) is on the hunt for the truth – could this concern Ravi Gulati's (Aaron Thiara) drug dealing? Meanwhile, Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) awaits a verdict after accidentally knocking Gina Knight (Francesca Henry) and Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness) over in his 1957 Morris Minor. Elsewhere, Jean Slater's (Gillian Wright) patience is wearing thin. We've seen her struggling to care for granddaughter Lily (Lillia Turner) and great-granddaughter Charli, could it be that she's reached breaking point? Tuesday 11th November A situation escalates for Harry Mitchell (Elijah Holloway), Kojo Asare (Dayo Koleosho) and Ravi, while Nicola makes an admission. What is she confessing? Wednesday 12th November Tensions rise between Junior and George as their feud is reborn. Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig) learns a truth – is she about to be betrayed by partner Ross Marshall (Alex Walkinshaw) again? Thursday 13th November George is keen to make amends and extends an olive branch. In the wake of Vicki's troubles, Kathy and Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) do their best to cheer her up. There's a lot to look forward to in November, but what could it all entail? Will Junior make a decision about his future in Albert Square following another bust-up with George? Time will tell... Read more: EastEnders airs Slater flashbacks as Kat Moon opens up to Tommy in BBC iPlayer release Mysterious EastEnders newcomer Jasmine Fisher closes in on Cindy Beale in BBC iPlayer release EastEnders confirms unexpected exit for legendary character in the wake of Zoe Slater's lies in BBC iPlayer release 5 EastEnders spoilers next week: Zoe Slater targeted as Eve Panesar-Unwin's estranged mother arrives Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app– download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Taskmaster confirms New Year special episodes amid announcement for Champion of Champions return
While season 20 of Taskmaster may be coming to an end in a couple of weeks, there is plenty more Task-based cheer in store with festive specials! The annual special Taskmaster's New Year Treat will return with two episodes over the festive period, offering fans double the trouble for the first time. The festive special will gather an eclectic mix of five famous faces from all corners of the entertainment world, with Alex Horne and Greg Davies set to put them through their paces. The famous faces taking part will be announced soon. Champion of Champions is also set to return with a fierce battle for the ultimate title. This year, Sam Campbell, John Robins, Andy Zaltzman, and Mathew Baynton will return to the scene of the greatest triumph of heir lives and battle once more. They will be joined by the winner of season 20, who will be unveiled on Thursday 13th November at 9pm on Channel 4. Fans will get the chance to be in the studio audiences of these shows by signing up to the mailing list for first access to audience tickets. In order to make the tickets fairer for fans, Taskmaster are now selling guaranteed entry tickets, with all proceeds going to three charities handpicked by Alex and Greg. The festive fun doesn't stop there, with the creation of Taskmaster Advent Calendar. This will feature 24 days of tasks, puzzles, festive joy and a dash of delightful chaos. The calendars were so popular that they sold out after only three weeks of being on sale, being purchased from fans all around the world, from the USA to the Philippines. Taskmaster continues on Thursday 30th October at 9pm on Channel 4. Add Taskmaster to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Hollyoaks to air new issue-based storyline for Cleo McQueen after traumatic childbirth
It follows a worrying week for the character.
Hollyoaks have partnered with charity Action on Postpartum Psychosis for a new storyline concerning Cleo McQueen (Nadine Mulkerrin). The character – who was carrying ex-boyfriend Joel Dexter's (Rory Douglas-Speed) baby – went into early labour this week after finding out about lover Dodger Savage's (Danny Mac) sexual assault. She was rushed into hospital and gave birth to baby Joseph shortly after, though when Sienna Blake (Anna Passey) went to hand the child to her, she took a turn for the worse and began to haemorrhage. In the meantime, Joel's mum Marie Fielding (Rita Simons) planned to steal Joseph from the hospital and start a new life in Brookside Close. She'd told legendary Brookie residents Sheila and Billy Corkhill (Sue Johnston and John McArdle) that she was expecting a child with Tony Hutchinson (Nick Pickard), though she was actually wearing a fake bump. After some wise words from Tony's wife Diane (Alex Fletcher), she decided against her plot and climbed into Billy's car for a new life in the famous cul de sac – admitting that she had a lot to tell him, including the fact she was never pregnant in the first place. With Cleo conscious again, Sienna took her to see Joseph, but she failed to recognise him as her son. In upcoming scenes, with the infant receiving specialist care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit due to being premature, Cleo is discharged, but soon begins to lose track of time and worries that she's unable to produce milk. When Sienna, Dodger and the McQueen clan realise her concerning patterns of behaviour, she is admitted to a general psychiatric ward. Speaking of the new storyline, actress Mulkerrin said: “It’s been a new challenge taking on the role of motherhood and the difficulties that being a new mum can bring, especially the strain it can have on your mental health. "We had a consultation with APP [Action on Postpartum Psychosis] whilst filming this storyline, and it was helpful to hear other people’s experiences – my heart breaks for poor Cleo.” Dr Jess Heron, CEO, Action on Postpartum Psychosis added: “Responsible portrayals of PP on popular TV shows such as Hollyoaks are invaluable. "With greater public awareness, partners, friends, family members and frontline health professionals will be more able to quickly spot the signs and seek specialist emergency help as soon as possible." She continued: "We’re grateful to Hollyoaks for playing a part in awareness raising and for their diligent approach to producing a sensitive and accurate storyline.” Read more: 5 Hollyoaks spoilers next week: Dodger Savage reports sexual assault as Donny Clark makes a shocking realisation Yasmin Davies cast as legacy character Esme for Hollyoaks Later spin-off and Brookside crossover Louis Emerick on his Hollyoaks future after Brookside crossover twist Hollyoaks is available to watch on catch-up on Channel 4. Visit our dedicated Soaps page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Brassic future teased by star Ryan Sampson as series comes to a close
The Mr Bigstuff creator and star has played Tommo since 2019. ***Major Brassic finale spoilers ahead***
**Warning: Major Brassic finale spoilers ahead.** After seven seasons of friendship, mad heists, exploding bodies and the bonkers monologues of Farmer Jim, Sky’s hit comedy series Brassic has come to an end. The final episode leaves the fate of Vinnie (Joe Gilgun), Ash (Aaron Heffernan), Tommo (Ryan Sampson) and the rest of the Hawley band of amateur thieves up in the air. All of the main cast survive a trip to a remote pub, despite a few fraught moments and a gunshot heard before the end credits. In an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com, Ryan Sampson told us that while the finale is definitely the end of the series, it may not be the last we see of the Brassic gang. “I would have been a fan of killing us all off, because I just think, if you're gonna do it, do it,” he said. “But I think there's a sneaky idea that Danny’s [writer Danny Brocklehurst] mentioned that he'd kind of like to write a film of it at some point. So who knows if that will happen? I don't know, but it's obviously in the back of his head.” “Would I want it to happen? I can't really add anything, because we've done a lot, you know? I don't think there's any stones that we haven't turned, so I'm kind of happy with it.” However, Sampson doesn’t rule out returning to the role of Rat & Cutter pub manager Tommo, although he wouldn’t want to leave it too long. “Maybe we’ll see Tommo again, but maybe not. I don't know. I think sometimes it's quite good to leave everything when they're quite youthful characters. I can't really see them in their fifties. Tommo with mortgages and gambling debts. Yeah, that might be a bit sad.” The 39-year-old star, who is currently writing the third season of his comedy series Mr Bigstuff, revealed that he’s really going to miss filming the Yorkshire-set series and hanging out with the cast, who have all become close friends during Brassic’s six-year run. “I sort of wish Tommo was real because I'm gonna miss this character that we've made over the years,” he said. “It's weird, and it's sad that I'm not going to see the cast as much. I will see them, but it's really weird that I won't ever see those characters again. Because we improvise a bit in character, and because we hang out for so long, I feel like I know those people [the characters] as well, and I won't ever get to see them again, obviously.” View oEmbed on the source website “Like, I'm gonna miss Carol so much for her insane outfits, her just saying the weirdest things. Bronagh Gallagher's improvisation as Carol is just mad. For one whole series, she was obsessed with mentioning in all her improvs this black fox. And I don't know, it's just funny to think that I'm never gonna see those people again.” Sampson also shared the one thing he won’t miss about filming Brassic now the series is over. “I don't know if you noticed, but Tommo always gets doused in like, oil or s**t or petrol, or whatever it is. Every single episode, there's always something. So I'm really not gonna miss that. "I'm not gonna miss filming in the most stupid locations, spending six months a year up a mountain with it pissing rain. It is always raining when we film it, and you have to just work it in, and it looks great on camera. So we're not gonna miss that.” Brassic seasons 1-7 are available to stream now on Sky. Find out more about how to sign up for Sky TV. Add Brassic to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" class="x_OWAAutoLink" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
EastEnders airs Slater flashbacks as Kat Moon opens up to Tommy in BBC iPlayer release
Warning: Contains spoilers for Thursday's episode of EastEnders, which airs on BBC One at 7.30pm or can be streamed now on BBC iPlayer.
This article contains references to sexual abuse that some readers may find distressing. EastEnders has flashed back to Halloween 1988, as the Moon family sat down to watch a disturbing VHS tape. Earlier this week, Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) found the home video in a box of belongings that had been abandoned in the barrel store. Ross Marshall (Alex Walkinshaw) tracked down a player, and Alf planned to take his family on a trip down memory lane during a spooky screening at The Queen Vic. As per most kind gestures in soapland, they didn't have the desired effect. Wife Kat (Jessie Wallace) was concerned that her daughter Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) would be emotional seeing her parents again, and the tape was put to one side. Later, while everyone was enjoying the festivities, the shaky footage began to play on the big screen. Someone had loaded the video. Zoe immediately caught sight of her vile 'uncle' Harry, who fathered her after sexually abusing Kat as a teenager. She kicked up a fuss and everyone was ordered out of the boozer. Just who was responsible for playing the VHS? In today's instalment, which can be streamed now, Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey) emerged from the toilets to find The Vic completely empty. Zoe immediately accused him of being the person who has seemingly placed a target on her back and defaced family photos with fake blood. He suggested to Kat that her daughter needed a psychological assessment before leaving. With Anthony gone, Zoe decided it was time to watch the video and put her past behind her. Young brother Tommy (Sonny Kendall) helped her to work the outdated tech and then sat down on the sofa to take in memories of his mum's childhood. For Kat, however, Halloween 1988 wasn't a day she wanted to remember. Harry had returned from his home in Spain to surprise the clan and pushed himself onto Kat and her younger sisters. She ordered Zoe to turn the TV off, but Tommy wanted answers. Kat knew that the time had come for him to learn the truth about Zoe's parentage. In the wake of their conversation, he began to worry how people would perceive him following Joel Marshall's (Max Murray) attack on Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig) – something he was entwined in. Kat welled up as she reassured her son, and felt she'd made a breakthrough when he said he wished he had a Time Machine to be able to right the Slater family's wrongs in the past. Will this be a turning point for Tommy? Read more: Mysterious EastEnders newcomer Jasmine Fisher closes in on Cindy Beale in BBC iPlayer release EastEnders confirms unexpected exit for legendary character in the wake of Zoe Slater's lies in BBC iPlayer release 5 EastEnders spoilers next week: Zoe Slater targeted as Eve Panesar-Unwin's estranged mother arrives EastEnders airs Nigel Bates's big confession in BBC iPlayer release – and biggest Jasmine clue yet Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app– download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guideto find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Emmerdale's Kev Townsend issues menacing threat to Mackenzie Boyd amid Robron drama
Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb) has waded in on the latest Robron drama in Emmerdale, and in turn has crossed the wrong man, devious convict Kev Townsend (Chris Coghill). It comes after Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) made a public display of affection for his husband in The Woolpack, right in front of ex-hubby Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller). It was a bizarre feeling for Aaron. Prior to Kev's arrival, the two seemed to be on the right track to a full-scale reunion, but that's now been blown out of the water. To make matters worse, the criminal delivered a seriously low blow when he referenced Aaron's childhood sexual abuse – something which only Robert could've told him. Returning home, Aaron was shocked to find Kev in the flat. He warned that if Aaron was to meddle in his marriage again, he'd kill him. Let's face it, Kev doesn't seem like the sort of fella to beat around the bush. In tonight's episode, Mack clocked that Aaron was down in the dumps and urged him to open up about what had happened. He explained that he'd had a run in with Kev, and any hopes of the #Robron love story continuing had been quashed. After watching his best pal wander off with his tail between his legs, Mack headed to Woodbine Cottage to stage a confrontation. He introduced himself to Kev – who was donning a pinafore and baking a lemon drizzle cake – and asked about what had happened. Menacing Kev made it clear that he doesn't dish out threats without truly meaning them, and told Mackenzie that if he wanted to "keep those pretty looks" he'd keep out of other people's business. This information was then relaid to Aaron, who said he's come to terms with the fact that he doesn't love Robert anymore and that the feeling is mutual. Mack clearly didn't believe him, and wondered whether the only reason Robert had shacked up with Kev in the first place was because they were both behind bars and had fallen onto one another's arms for company. After branding Kev a "psycho cake baker" (good one, Mack), it seemed like he wasn't willing to let the matter drop. A new feud has begun. But will Mackenzie regret crossing Kev's path? Read more 5 Emmerdale spoilers next week: Charity Dingle's secret 'exposed' as Aaron Dingle gives Robert Sugden an ultimatum Emmerdale airs tense scenes for Robert Sugden and secret husband Kev in ITVX release Joe Absolom reveals Emmerdale villain Ray's truth behind Laurel connection amid "subservient" dynamic with Celia 5 Emmerdale spoilers next week: Kev Townsend threatens Aaron Dingle after Robert Sugden reveal Emmerdale's Ryan Hawley teases Aaron's "explosive" reaction to Robert's secret husband – and backs surprise Kev story Chris Coghill reveals previous Emmerdale role and confirms true nature of new character Kev Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1. Stream on ITVX. Add Emmerdale to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guideto find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman's "fun" film confirms UK streaming date
Two months on from its release in cinemas, a streaming release date has been confirmed for the comedy film The Roses, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman. The film, which hit cinemas in August, will be available to watch on Disney Plus from 3rd December this year – so not too long to wait at all. The Roses is a savage and star-filled reimagining of the 1989 classic The War of the Roses, itself based on the novel of the same name by Warren Adler. It starred Cumberbatch and Colman as the seemingly perfect couple, Ivy and Theo, both of whom appear successful and happy in their day-to-day lives. However, their relationship suddenly goes into freefall after Theo’s career nosedives and Ivy’s own ambitions take off, in what has been described as “a story of real life gone spectacularly wrong". Directed by Jay Roach, the film also boasted a starry supporting cast including Andy Samberg, Ncuti Gatwa, Kate McKinnon, Zoë Chao, Hala Finley, Jamie Demetriou and Sunita Mani. It has largely been well received by critics, with the Hollywood Reporter stating that "Cumberbatch and Coleman are terrific" and has been certified as Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, with 65 per cent of 187 critics' reviews being positive. In our own review, we gave the film three stars out of five, finding it to be fun but toothless, arguing that its two leads perhaps failed to fully portray the bitterness that comes to the fore as the film progresses. Described as a satirical black comedy, it will hitting the streaming service just in time for Christmas. The Roses will be available to stream on Disney+ from 3rd December. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
28 Years sequel director explains why her film was unaffected by reactions to the ending
Nia DaCosta's 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple will arrive in UK cinemas in January. **CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR 28 YEARS LATER**
*WARNING: Contains spoilers for 28 Years later* Nia DaCosta's new film Hedda has only just arrived on Prime Video, but there's not long to go until the director's next movie comes to UK cinemas – and it's safe to say it's a big one. DaCosta has helmed the sequel to Danny Boyle's 28 Years Later – which is subtitled The Bone Temple and is intended as the middle part of a trilogy, which Boyle is hoping to cap off with a third film that has not yet been given the official green light. Of course, anyone who's seen the previous film will know that it sets up this upcoming entry in spectacular – if somewhat divisive – style. Asked by RadioTimes.com what she'd made of that response, DaCosta explained why it had had little impact on her own film. "I mean, because I shot [my] movie right after [Boyle] finished his, there was no like recalibrating because of the response to Danny's movie," she said during an exclusive interview. "It was just he made his movie. I made mine. "And we all just felt really strongly that we were making great films – and so it was just wonderful for people to respond to Danny's film so, so positively because I really want them to come see mine. But Danny's brilliant, and I'm just a huge fan of it, so I kind of knew that everyone would love it." As the title suggests, Boyle's film picked up 28 years on from the onset of the Rage Virus previously seen in 2002's 28 Days Later, and introduced us to a group of new characters living on the island of Lindisfarne (aka Holy Island) who have managed to carve out a community for themselves away from the hordes of infected. One of those islanders was 12-year-old Spike (Alfie Williams), the son of Jodie Comer's Isla and Aaron Taylor-Johnson's Jamie, who by the end of the film was fending for himself on the mainland after a dramatic series of events that saw him encounter an eccentric doctor (Ralph Fiennes) and witness the death of his mother. In the final moments, he comes across a cult headed up by Jack O'Connell's Sir Jimmy Crystal – who appeared to be modelled on Jimmy Savile – and sees them violently dispatch a whole host of infected in a scene which adopted a very different tone than the rest of the film. Last month, the first trailer for the sequel was released and seemed to set up two central storylines: following Dr Kelson's (Fiennes) life more closely, while also focusing in on O'Connell's character and his gang of Jimmies. The official synopsis reads: "In a continuation of the epic story, Dr Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) finds himself in a shocking new relationship – with consequences that could change the world as they know it – and Spike's (Alfie Williams) encounter with Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell) becomes a nightmare he can't escape. "In the world of The Bone Temple, the infected are no longer the greatest threat to survival – the inhumanity of the survivors can be stranger and more terrifying." 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is coming to UK cinemas on 6th January 2026. If you're looking for something to watch tonight, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide or visit our Film hub for all the latest news. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Stephen Graham stars in gripping first look at the explosive A Thousand Blows season 2
The new six-part series is set to drop in January 2026.
Disney Plus has released a teaser trailer for A Thousand Blows season 2 – and it teases tense times ahead for Stephen Graham’s Sugar Goodson. Inspired by the true tales of a group of characters battling for survival in London's East End during the 1880s, the upcoming series picks up Sugar, Hezekiah Moscow (portrayed by Malachi Kirby) and Mary Carr (Erin Doherty) twelve months after the events of the first season. And the new trailer shows Sugar addressing the duo, as he says: “You’re probably wondering why I’ve gathered you all here." He continues: "I understand that some of you wish me dead. And I don’t blame you. We’re in danger and we can’t afford to doubt each other." Afterwards, Hezekiah tells him: "You fight your way and I'll fight mine". Watch the teaser for yourself below: View oEmbed on the source website Other scenes from the trailer show Mary striding along a street alongside Alice (Darci Shaw), while she’s back to her old tricks in another as she fires a gun. Season 2 will see boxer Hezekiah [Kirby] “a shadow of the man he once was", while boxing boss Sugar "is estranged from his family and drinking himself to death,” according to the official synopsis. "Just as Wapping is about to sigh its last breath, Mary Carr [Doherty] bursts back into town with her loyal second, Alice Diamond [Darci Shaw], to reassemble her gang and reclaim her crown," it continues. "As always, Mary has a plan; one which will involve all those she holds dearest. And this time it's riskier than ever." Alongside Graham, Kirby and Doherty, other returning cast members for season 2 include James Nelson-Joyce, Hannah Walters, Nadia Albina, Morgan Hilaire, Jemma Carlton, Caoilfhionn Dunne, Jason Tobin, Susan Lynch, Daniel Mays, Gary Lewis, Aliyah Odoffin and Robert Glenister. New additions to the cast include Ned Dennehy (Peaky Blinders), who’s set to play a character called Bull Jeremy, as well as Catherine McCormack (Slow Horses), who’s joined the cast as Sophie Lyons. A Thousand Blows season 2 will premiere on 9th January 2026 on Disney+. Season 1 is available to stream on Disney Plus now. You can sign up to Disney Plus from £4.99 a month now. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.