Call the Midwife writer teases "more contemporary" project after show ends
"My main preoccupation at the moment is the Call the Midwife prequel and film, but it will be nice to have something different in the mix."
Aside from a couple of other projects, Call the Midwife has been Heidi Thomas's life since 2012 when it first debuted on the BBC – but also long before that, when she first began immersing herself in the memoirs of nurse and midwife Jennifer Worth. But while there's a prequel and a movie on the way, plus a 16th season beyond that (although it'll be quite some before its premiere), the end is now within sight as times change in Poplar. So naturally, Thomas has allowed her mind to meander elsewhere. "I am working on something more contemporary later this year," she said at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026. "My main preoccupation at the moment is the Call the Midwife prequel and film, but it will be nice to have something different in the mix." Still, Thomas said she "passionately enjoy[s] historic storytelling" – though, she added wryly, the latest season of Call the Midwife is set in the 1970s, "which I remember". Read more: Call the Midwife cast look back on show's 15-year run ahead of the show's hiatus Call the Midwife creator talks series hiatus: "All of a sudden everybody was really sobbing" "So it's actually quite painful thinking that is also history," she added. "But going back to 1939 because the prequel is set in the Blitz, it's been really educational. It's made me think a great deal about my mother's experience as a child in the Blitz, and my grandmother's experience as a young mother. "So deeply thought provoking and very energising, very energising for me, definitely." View Green Video on the source website The prequel, which is a three-part mini-series, will debut this Christmas, although the BBC hasn't yet confirmed that. Younger versions of Sister Julienne, Sister Evangelina and Sister Monica Joan, who died in the season 15 finale, will lead the charge alongside "three young midwives, all completely new, relatively new to the East End, and they really do get thrown in at the deep end". Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. "I think the interesting thing for me is it's a world where women are not in charge when war breaks out, but very rapidly, they are in charge of everything because the men are called away, either to home front-based war work or they go overseas," she expanded. "So you'll see a lot of women coming into their own... it's a programme that is going to be about strong women above all else." Call the Midwife seasons 1-15 are available to stream now on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Add Call the Midwife 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.
Call the Midwife's Helen George teases emotional season 15 finale: 'I sobbed like a baby'
Call the Midwife fans will need to brace themselves ahead of the season 15 finale, which Helen George has described as "really emotional". "There's this scene, I won't really go into detail, but it sort of encompasses all of the characters that we've had on the show over the last 15 years," said the Trixie actor at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026. "And when I walked onto the set, I just sobbed, I sobbed like a baby. It was really emotional. So if I was a mess – and I'm heart of steel – then the audience will be a mess as well." Renee Bailey, who plays Joyce, went on to say that it's Call the Midwife "at its whole," adding: "It makes you laugh, it makes you cry. It's a hug and it's also heartbreaking. It's a mix of everything, but I think audiences are going to love it." "I've been thinking about it more and more as we get into the spring", said Rosalind actor Natalie Quarry. "I think it really will, hopefully, stay with people." View Green Video on the source website Fans of Call the Midwife were already gearing themselves up for maximum emotional impact after show creator Heidi Thomas told Radio Times that season 15 brings an era to an end, and that the finale was "hard" to write. Read more: Call the Midwife boss teases prequel cast – including new and original favourites Call the Midwife boss teases "three options” for movie - to be revealed in the season 15 finale And it's since been confirmed that Sister Monica Joan has chronic kidney disease, for which there is no cure – with the show's viewership now poised to say goodbye to Judy Parfitt's iconic character, who is a firm fan favourite and part of the Call the Midwife furniture. "In these episodes, I'm playing scenes there's no way I can leave behind," the actor told Radio Times. "It's been horrendous, on occasion. For an actor, a vivid imagination is wonderful to have – and hell to live with. "So having all that to play was wonderful. I don't know what I'll do without her, actually." Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. Nonnatus House is also staring down the barrel of oblivion after receiving a letter from the council informing them that the maternity home will close. "And assuming that we, too, will now cease operations," added Sister Julienne. "Do we have any say in this?" asked Trixie, on the verge of tears. "At present, it seems not," she responded – and in the teaser for the penultimate episode, Sister Julienne reiterated that the council has ceased all funding. But you will have to wait an extra week to find out what happens next following a schedule change – with the show set to return on Sunday 1 March in its usual time slot of 8pm. Call the Midwife season 15 will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday 1 March. 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.
Call the Midwife boss teases "three options” for movie - to be revealed in the season 15 finale
The cast and location for the Call the Midwife movie, which will be set overseas, have yet to be confirmed.
While we have some details about the Call the Midwife movie, two key elements have yet to be confirmed: the cast and the location. "As the classic Call the Midwife series moves further into the 1970s, it also seems the perfect time for our much-loved regulars to take a short break from Poplar and test themselves in an unfamiliar landscape," said creator Heidi Thomas when it was first announced in May last year. "The rise in hospital births, and changes in the NHS, have clipped their wings, and this is their chance to take flight and work out what really matters... it is going to look absolutely fantastic on the big screen!" Thomas has kept her lips firmly sealed as to which faces we'll be seeing in the feature, while revealing Australia is a strong contender for the setting. However, during an interview at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026, she revealed that two other options are also under consideration. "It's not so much doubts [about Australia], but there are three options. One is Australia, and there are another two." "I'll keep under wraps for now," Thomas added, going on to say that in the season 15 finale, "Sister Julienne names them all, so we won't keep people in suspense for very long." As well as a Call the Midwife movie, fans will also have season 16 of the BBC period drama to look forward to, along with a Call the Midwife prequel series set during World War Two, which is due to debut this Christmas. View Green Video on the source website The action will follow younger versions of Sister Julienne, Sister Evangelina and Sister Monica Joan, "who actually isn't that young when we did the maths, but she's very much in her prime," explained Thomas. Viewers will also meet "three young midwives, all completely new, relatively new to the East End, and they really do get thrown in at the deep end". Read more: Call the Midwife's Trixie makes painful admission about her marriage to Matthew Call the Midwife's Heidi Thomas reveals season 15 "brings era to an end" – and why it was "hard" to write "I think the interesting thing for me is it's a world where women are not in charge when war breaks out, but very rapidly, they are in charge of everything because the men are called away, either to Home Front-based war work or they go overseas," she expanded. "So you'll see a lot of women coming into their own... it's a programme that is going to be about strong women above all else." "Everything changes and nothing changes," said Thomas when acknowledging that shared trait with the current series. With the main Call the Midwife series set to draw to a close sooner rather than later, it remains to be seen whether Thomas will continue the prequel for multiple seasons or move on to another project entirely. Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. Call the Midwife season 15 airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sundays at 8pm. 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.
David Mitchell teases Ludwig season 2 developments for James mystery
Mitchell was speaking at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026.
There are many reasons fans are desperate to see the second season of BBC show Ludwig. There's the show's mystery-of-the-week format, there's the comedy, the loveable characters and so much more. Then, there's the hope that we will find out more about what happened to James, the twin brother of the show's central character, John. In the first season, James disappeared, which was the initial reason for John to take his place and start working with the police to find out what happened to him. At the end of the first season, it became clear that James had gone into hiding after storing away the contents of Sinclair, a conspiracy theorist who had seemingly happened on something true — and dangerous enough to get him killed. Beyond this, there are still plenty of question marks around what James has been doing since his disappearance, and exactly what happened in the lead up to it. Now, it seems we may get answers to some of these questions, as David Mitchell has teased further developments in the crucial storyline. Speaking exclusively with RadioTimes.com at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026, Mitchell said when asked if we would find out more about James's disappearance: "A little bit yeah, that's still carrying on. "They're still trying to get their heads around what he's doing and why he's gone, and a little bit more of that mystery will be revealed." View Green Video on the source website While at the Radio Times Covers Party, Mitchell also teased that John's new official role as a consultant with the police doesn't mean he'll be able to operate with complete freedom. When asked how his official role on the police team would shake things up in the new episodes, Mitchell said: "When you watch the second series, you realise there's still quite a lot of obfuscation involved in his role, because not everyone in the police force is entirely on side with his appointment. "And of course, he's still got to cover up the fact that for a long time he was solving cases while impersonating a police officer. And if that ever gets out, well, five murderers will walk free, and he won't walk free himself." Ludwig season 1 is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Check out more of our Comedy 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.
EastEnders' Kellie Bright recalls almost being cast as different iconic character in the soap – and screen testing in the Queen Vic for it
Kellie Bright has recalled almost winning the part of an iconic EastEnders character long before playing Linda Carter. The actress joined the BBC One soap in 2013 as the future Queen Vic landlady, Linda, and has been a beloved mainstay in the show ever since and at the centre of some of its biggest plotlines. However, long before she became the iconic Linda Carter, Kellie Bright had previously auditioned to play the role of Tanya Branning, the second wife of Max Branning (Jake Wood). The role would ultimately be played by Jo Joyner, who played the character from her arrival in 2006 until her exit as a regular character in 2013. Joyner later reprised the role for guest stints around the 30th anniversary in 2015, and from late 2017 until early 2018 as part of the exit storylines of her on-screen daughters. Now, while speaking to us at The Radio Times Covers Party 2026, Bright was asked about her previous audition to play Tanya. Bright responded: "This is very good, good, good research! I did audition. It actually was between myself and Jo Joyner for that part, and I actually screen tested with Jake in the Vic." A fantastic bit of lore there! Of course, Linda herself has gone on to have an affair with Max and even share a child with him, daughter Annie Carter (now played by Lois Hawkins). Linda has since become one of multiple potential brides for Max in the recent New Year's Day 2026 flash-forward episode, which shows Max set to marry a mystery woman in 2027. So would it be a full circle moment for Kellie Bright to now play Mrs Branning, two decades after auditioning to play one? "I don't know," she stated, continuing, "at the moment, where I'm at with her, I can't imagine it. But who knows what will happen this year?" Given the wedding is on New Year's Day – Linda's wedding anniversary to late soulmate Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) – that would certainly be a choice for Linda – and one Bright can't currently see happening. Yet, stranger things have happened on Albert Square! Meanwhile, Jo Joyner herself has poured cold water on the prospect of returning as Tanya anytime soon – despite the revitalisation of the Branning clan with Max's recent return and the arrival of her now-adult son Oscar Branning, played by the brilliant Pierre Counihan-Moullier. We'll have to see if this remains the case in 2026 – the year of the Brannings... Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. Read more: 5 EastEnders spoilers next week: Jake Moon reunites with Alfie plus shock passion for ex-lovers EastEnders airs deadly cliffhanger for fan-favourite character in upsetting early BBC iPlayer release EastEnders icon teases Cindy Beale and Max Branning's potential for "rollercoaster" romance after flash-forward episode 10 EastEnders characters who need to have a huge 2026 – from Chelsea Fox to Oscar Branning 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.
EastEnders icon teases upcoming Cindy Beale scenes in three tantalising words
"They're always at each other, aren't they?"
Michelle Collins has teased what lies ahead for Cindy Beale in the coming months on EastEnders. The actress made her explosive comeback to the BBC One soap in 2023, over two decades after her character died off-screen – now revealed to have been faked as Cindy went into witness protection under a new identity. With her return being a key centrepoint of executive producer Chris Clenshaw's acclaimed era on the soap, Cindy Beale had no shortage of big storylines, including her affair with her former step-son Junior Knight (Micah Balfour), which was exposed on Christmas Day 2024. Cindy was then the victim in a big whodunnit storyline, which ultimately saw her former mother-in-law and nemesis, Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth), revealed as her attacker. Since then, Cindy has been focused on business, having bought The Albert, and also on grandchildren. However, a new development has occurred in the form of a new enemy (and lover): Max Branning, played by Jake Wood. While attending The Radio Times Covers Party 2026, we asked Michelle to describe the coming months of Cindy in three words. View Green Video on the source website Thinking carefully, Collins answered: "Exciting. Unpredictable. Irrational." Sounds like we can expect more extreme scenes from the resident schemer. However, does this mean more clashing on the way with old sparring partner, Kathy? "Actually, we did do a fun scene the other day," teased Michelle. "They're always at each other, aren't they? All those kinds of, you know, mother-in-law, you know, and, and she kind of hates Cindy, and Cindy kind of hates her as well. So I think we just live with that, really, don't we? "And, yeah, they always throw a slap in there occasionally, don't they? I think everyone loved it when I came back, and the first scene was, 'You're dead!' and then there was a kind of slap. They do love a slap in EastEnders, don't they?" Additionally, while Michelle was disappointed to not be in the live episode of the 40th anniversary, she was delighted by the scenes between Cindy and Kathy – both of whom played major roles in the 40th anniversary week – and quite right, too! "I love doing scenes with Gill," noted Michelle. "It was great to be part of it." May Cindy and Kathy's feud never end... and given that both starred in the flash-forward episode to 2027, we have them sparring for some time yet, at least! Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. Read more: 5 EastEnders spoilers next week: Jake Moon reunites with Alfie plus shock passion for ex-lovers EastEnders airs deadly cliffhanger for fan-favourite character in upsetting early BBC iPlayer release EastEnders icon teases Cindy Beale and Max Branning's potential for "rollercoaster" romance after flash-forward episode 10 EastEnders characters who need to have a huge 2026 – from Chelsea Fox to Oscar Branning 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.
Call the Midwife's Helen George explains Trixie's "frustration" with Sister Julienne
"She understands it, she just doesn't like it."
In Call the Midwife season 15, crunch time is fast approaching for Nonnatus House. The institution, which has played a vital role in Poplar's welfare for decades, could soon be forced to close its doors for good if the sisters don't fall in line with the NHS, which will stop their funding from the end of the year if they don't ditch their religious clothing. While Jenny Agutter previously noted that making such a demand is "fine in itself", it raises a "bigger question," explaining: "It's not just a matter of identification, it's a matter of knowing what one's role is and what they're meant to be doing, and feeling that one’s no longer wanted." First the habit, and then what? The ceasing of Nonnatus House altogether? As a result, Sister Julienne has spent the past few weeks deep in thought, weighing up whether the sisters should comply or go on their not-so-merry way, ahead of 31st August – also known as the feast day of Saint Raymond Nonnatus – when she will submit her response. But during that time, some of those around her have become increasingly desperate for answers, notably Trixie, who has hinted on more than one occasion that they can no longer wait – and has also been doing some thinking of her own. Read more: Call the Midwife boss teases prequel cast – including new and original favourites Call the Midwife star talks Rosalind's exciting new chapter with Cyril after huge development Now that she's taken on a more managerial role alongside her midwifery duties, Trixie took it upon herself to speak to The Lady Emily, a private clinic, to explore how they are financed – news which was not well received by Sister Julienne. "They are for the benefit of the rich, not the needy," she snapped — the air thick with tension. Speaking recently at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026, Helen George addressed the friction between the pair, who are united by their work and have always had a positive relationship, but diverge in a very profound way. "[Creator] Heidi [Thomas] has always been so clever, showing the differences between the midwives and the nuns, and the absence of religion in Trixie's life, and how that affects her and how she just can't understand," she explained. "She's so passionate about Nonnatus House and keeping the family, and it's such an important part of her life. And I think she'd be personally, utterly lost without it. "So the idea that that Sister Julienne won't get rid of the habit, just to keep it going, to help, to help all of these women, to help the community, she just doesn't comprehend. She finds it entirely frustrating." "She understands it," added George. "She just doesn't like it." View Green Video on the source website Regardless of the outcome for Nonnatus House and the people that power it, this chapter of Call the Midwife "very much brings an era to an end", teased Thomas, who has always found "change" a useful tool when crafting her storylines. "I've had a lot of these stories in mind for a long time, and change has generated so many of our stories over the past few years," she told RadioTimes.com. "I'm not quite sure what I would do if things weren't changing. The whole point is, it's about change and challenge." But while constantly "looking to the future" feels "organic" for the writer, she admitted that it can also be "emotional". "I think we've all cried our eyes out at different times because things never will be the same again," she added. "But the whole thing with Call the Midwife, like life itself, it's a process of constant evolution for our characters and also for the stories." Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. Call the Midwife season 15 continues on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday at 8pm. 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 star reveals glee at Suki Panesar-Unwin’s dark side being explored again in new stories
There's a long road ahead for Suki and Eve's journey together.
Actress Balvinder Sopal has revealed her delight that her EastEnders character Suki Panesar-Unwin is seeing her dark side re-emerge. Initially arriving as a full-blown villain in 2020, Sopal's Suki has been on quite the journey since, with the character's layers peeled away as she has embraced her authentic self, found love with her now-wife Eve Panesar-Unwin (Heather Peace), and escaped the clutches of her evil ex-husband, the late Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry). However, the BBC One soap has seen her old scheming and toxic ways re-emerge after a rather uncomfortable attempt by Suki to get a child from her pregnant teenage step-granddaughter, Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James), last year, and now her past bad behaviour towards employee Honey Mitchell (Emma Barton) is also being revisited in a storyline with new employee Bea Pollard (Ronni Ancona). Are we losing the redemptive aspects of Suki, or is this who she has always been? Speaking at The Radio Times Covers Party 2026, when asked about the re-emergence of Suki's darker side, Balvinder says she's only pleased we're seeing shades of Suki's nastier self. View Green Video on the source website "Oh, I love a Dark Suki," revealed Balvinder. "I mean, that's one of the reasons I took the role on, you know, because you don't ever see that... Asian women tend to be meek and mild and compliant and all of that kind of stuff. "So no, it's really brilliant to go back there, but I think what's really interesting is that you can't ignore the journey she's been on with Eve and coming out and knowing who her true self is." Balvinder also compared Suki's journey to that of Walford icon Phil Mitchell (played by Steve McFadden), who has undergone significant character development in recent years. She continued: "And I think it's a little bit like Phil, you know, with his mental health man storyline, like... he would still pull out a baseball bat if he needed to, but he's had an evolution of sorts, and I think that's what's happened with Suki. But, yeah, she'll always be a bad girl." Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. The actress previously revealed that a big inspiration for her when playing Suki was the iconic Aunt Polly Gray from Peaky Blinders, played by the late Helen McCrory. When asked if we can expect more Aunt Polly moments in the future for Suki, Balvinder answered: "Please, yes, please! More Peaky Blinders, actually!" Read more: 5 EastEnders spoilers next week: Shock proposal amid wedding drama for Nigel and Julie Bates EastEnders reveals shock outcome of Joel Marshall's trial in early BBC iPlayer release EastEnders reveals Mark Fowler Jr's secret and surprise connection to Walford local in BBC iPlayer release EastEnders airs dark Ravi Gulati scenes amid revenge story in early BBC iPlayer release 10 EastEnders characters who need to have a huge 2026 – from Chelsea Fox to Oscar Branning 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.
Coronation Street newcomer confirms there will be answers on Jodie Ramsey’s mysterious connection to Emmerdale’s Graham
"She's definitely not a one-dimensional character."
Actress Olivia Frances Brown has teased what the future holds for her mysterious Coronation Street character Jodie Ramsey. The ITV soap introduced Jodie during the epic Corriedale crossover event with Emmerdale in January, and she was later revealed to be the estranged half-sister of cobbles favourite Shona Platt (Julia Goulding). However, Jodie has so far shown herself to be deceptive, manipulative, and full of resentment towards her sister – and that's not to mention hooking up with resident badboy Carl Webster (Jonathan Howard). Now, speaking in her first press interview since joining the ITV soap while in attendance with partner James Nelson Joyce at The Radio Times Covers Party 2026, actress Olivia Frances Brown spoke about the layers to the mysterious Jodie. Describing her character, Frances Brown said of Jodie: "She's a mixed bag. She's definitely not a one-dimensional character. She's a multi-multi-dimensional character. She's troubled, she's very hurt. I think deep inside she's quite a lot going on. She feels quite wronged. "Now that she's found Shona, she's come to kind of get her own back, in a way, but I don't think she even knows that. I think she just wants to come and see what she can get from the cobbles." View Green Video on the source website The character certainly arrived in style when she first appeared bound and gagged in the back of a van driven by Emmerdale returnee Graham Foster in the explosive ITV soap crossover event Corriedale. However, since escaping Graham’s grasp, we have yet to find out why Jodie was in his van in the first place. When asked if viewers will find out soon, a cryptic Frances Brown commented: "Eventually, you will, can't give away too much right now, but it will all become clear in time. "I can't say how long, how much time, but eventually, if you keep watching, you'll find out why." Away from Jodie's dark stories, however, it's only been positive for Frances Brown's time in Weatherfield. When asked what it's like to see herself on the sets of iconic locations such as the Rovers Return and Roy's Rolls, Olivia said: "It really, truly has been a dream come true for us." She continued: "I watched it since I was a little girl, since I was a baby, and my Mum watched it since she was little as well, and this was back in the '60s. I mean, it's always been massive for my family, and to see myself in and amongst those sets has just been unbelievable. "To see that my mum has been so proud as well, because it's a big deal to her. "I don't think there was a show that I could have done that would have made her prouder, because it means so much to her." Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. Read more: 5 Coronation Street spoilers next week: Huge Debbie Webster secret exposed ahead of her sentencing Coronation Street abuser Megan Walsh issues menacing threat to one of her pupils in ITVX release Coronation Street villain Carl Webster eyes up vulnerable local in ITVX release Coronation Street's Summer Spellman attacks innocent local amid her grief for Billy Mayhew in ITVX release Coronation Street airs game-changing Debbie and Carl Webster twist after court appearance in ITVX release Coronation Street airs weeknights at 8.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX. Visit our dedicated Corrie page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add Coronation Street 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.
Outrageous stars have "fingers crossed" for second season after BBC iPlayer release – as UKTV responds to renewal question
"I think definitely things are still filtering down."
The stars of Outrageous have revealed their hopes for a second season as fans await news on the show's potential renewal for a second run. The drama series depicting the lives of the scandalous and politically-charged lives of the 'bright young things', the Mitford Sisters, first aired on U&Drama last year to positive reviews. The series has since been added to BBC iPlayer and is now available to watch in its entirety. However, many events in the historical figures' lives have yet to be portrayed in the show. When asked at The Radio Times Covers Party 2026, actress Isobel Jesper Jones, who plays Pamela Mitford, revealed that they're still waiting to hear whether the series will return for a second run. "I think definitely things are still filtering down," commented Jesper Jones. "It's really nice, though, because at the moment it's on iPlayer, which is really exciting, because as soon as it landed there, just so many more people have been able to see it, which has been lovely. So yeah, I mean, fingers crossed!" When approached by Radio Times, UKTV revealed that there was no news on the future of Outrageous to share at this time. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2024/08/a-a0ee4fd.jpg" width="8143" height="5461" alt="Bessie Carter as Nancy Mitford, Joanna Vanderham as Diana Mitford, Toby Regbo as Tom Mitford, James Purefoy as Farve, Anna Chancellor as Muv, Shannon Watson as Unity Mitford, Zoe Brough as Jessica Mitford, Isobel Jesper Jones as Pam Mitford and Orla Hill as Debo Mitford in Outrageous, stood and sat on the stairs" title="Outrageous" /> Whether it happens or not, however, the cast certainly knows which stories from the Mitford Sisters' lives they would like to portray. Actress Orla Hill, who plays Deborah 'Debo' Mitford, said: "Oh, well...everything heats up a bit. I think Debo starts partying with the Kennedys, so that would be quite fun. I'd like to wear some fancy clothes, not just the horse gear, which was fun as well." "There was a lot of horse gear," added Jesper Jones, "It's quite uncomfortable, the horse gear. A lot of leather...not much give." However, of the future stories, Jesper Jones added, "Especially Debo's storyline, like it's incredible going on to become Duchess." "It would be fun," Hill reiterated. "It would be fun." When the pair were asked if their favourite Mitford Sister matched the one they portrayed, there was some loyalty to their characters, but not completely. "I think my favourite is probably mine," admitted Hill. "She wrote a lot of books about chicken, which I think is... big respect." Meanwhile, Jesper Jones answered: "'I'm a big fan of mine. Pam was an icon, but I've got to say I'm also a big fan of Jessica. Jessica's a whole new level of cool. She ended up starting a jazz club in San Francisco. She's just cool!" Of course, despite it being a century on from the heyday of the Mitford Sisters, one can't help but wonder why the group of rich young women continue to fascinate to this day. When questioned on this, Hill said of their lives: "I think it's just crazy." Jesper Jones expanded: "I think you could take one of them and make, like, seven series out of one of them, and the fact that there were six of them is insane. "It's amazing all the things they did, and also just how different they all are. I think it's incredible. To think, you know, they were all sat around the same dinner table growing up in the same family, and they're the most unique independent women. So, yeah, it's incredible." Outrageous is available to watch now on U and BBC iPlayer. 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' Kellie Bright delivers her verdict on Linda Carter and Max Branning's romantic future
"It's been a real pleasure doing scenes with him again."
Kellie Bright has discussed the prospects of her character, Linda Carter, and Max Branning (played by Jake Wood) going the distance in EastEnders. The pair have a complicated history in the BBC One soap, having had a short-lived affair six years ago while Linda had marital issues with husband Mick Carter (Danny Dyer). Linda ultimately chose to reconcile with Mick and rejected Max, leading to his exit from Walford in 2021. However, Linda later discovered she was pregnant with Max's daughter, Annie (now played by Lois Hawkins), whom Mick raised as his own until his apparent death in 2022. When Max returned to Walford last December, Linda came clean about Annie to Max, and the pair have struck up a friendship, despite a misguided attempt by Max to kiss Linda while he was drunk. View Green Video on the source website The soap has also positioned Linda as one of multiple potential brides for Max in the recent New Year's Day 2026 flash-forward episode set in 2027. So, can Kellie Bright see Linda eventually marrying Max? Speaking at The Radio Times Covers Party 2026, Kellie naturally kept her cards close to her chest. "I don't know," she noted, continuing, "At the moment, where I'm at with her, I can't imagine it. But who knows what will happen this year?" Discussing working with Jake Wood this time around, she noted: "It's really interesting. You know, when I worked with Max last time, when Linda and Max were together, it was [during the COVID-19 pandemic], and so actually, Jake and I worked together for a really short period of time and at a distance. "So actually, it's really nice working with him properly. You know, he's a fantastic actor, so I'm really enjoying working with him. It's been a real pleasure doing scenes with him again. So yeah, who knows? You know as much as I do about where it's going, by the way!" Of course, Linda was also at the centre of the now-iconic flash-forward in 2023 with The Six – with Linda later revealed to be the killer of Keanu Taylor on Christmas Day 2026. So, the recent flash-forward episode isn't Kellie's first flash-forward rodeo! Kellie joked: "Well, basically, I won't do it anymore unless I'm in a flash-forward – I'm joking. Well, it's exciting, isn't it? It's really exciting to be part of that. I'm thrilled that I'm part of it." Of course, there continues to be no shortage of drama at the moment for Linda, with son Ollie Carter (Harry Farr) dealing with school bullying, along with the recent arrival of Linda's old school peer, the chaotic Bea Pollard (played by comedy legend Ronni Ancona). "I absolutely adore Ronni," Kellie said. "She is, for me, growing up, one of those incredible women that I looked up to on the telly and thought was amazing. So to actually work alongside her, and she is so funny and so brilliant, and she's just a joy to have around. "I love doing scenes with her. I'm loving that she's on board." We'll have to wait and see if Bea will end up being a thorn in Linda's side, however... Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. Read more: 5 EastEnders spoilers next week: Jake Moon reunites with Alfie plus shock passion for ex-lovers EastEnders airs deadly cliffhanger for fan-favourite character in upsetting early BBC iPlayer release EastEnders icon teases Cindy Beale and Max Branning's potential for "rollercoaster" romance after flash-forward episode 10 EastEnders characters who need to have a huge 2026 – from Chelsea Fox to Oscar Branning 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.
Death in Paradise star gives season 16 update – says season 15 "might be one of the best"
Death in Paradise first premiered in 2011, but the BBC murder mystery is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Speaking recently at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026, Shaquille Ali-Yebuah confirmed that filming on season 16 is set to begin at the end of April. "Everything commences again," said the Sebastian Rose star. "Back out to Guadeloupe, hurry up and get our tan back. I'm looking like Bart Simpson right now. It's going to be exciting." Turning back to season 15, he said: "I'm really excited for everyone to see this new season," promising a "new energy", a "new dynamic to the cast", and an “amazing "guest cast". "I'm not being biased, but it might be one of the best seasons yet," he added. View Green Video on the source website The latest instalment sees the team once again faced with a string of perplexing cases as Selwyn settles back into the role of commissioner – and attempts to "win back the trust of the island", who felt betrayed when he initially decided to leave. Elsewhere, Mervin is dismayed to learn that his half-brother Solomon isn't the man he hoped he would be – and will surely have to spend much of the next episode tracking down his belongings after Solomon cleared out his beach hut. "They couldn't be more opposite," Gilet told the BBC. "There’s Mervin and then there’s this guy who is on the opposite side of the tracks, potentially the opposite side of the law too... " Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. Plus, Naomi and Seb are busy helping their new team member Sergeant Mattie Fletcher – who comes with her own "baggage" – settle into the team. "She has something to prove to herself and to others and sometimes she can do that to her detriment, but it comes from a place of passion," Catherine Garton said of her character. "They will see ups, downs and lots of sass!" The character joined as a replacement for Ginny Holder's Darlene Curtis, news which initially came as a "surprise" to Ali-Yebuah. Read more: Death in Paradise cast: Who stars in season 15 of the BBC murder mystery? Death in Paradise's Don Warrington says fans should "assume nothing" about Selwyn's future following turbulent developments "We miss her," he said of Holder's absence. "I actually did my first audition with her, and that was my partner in crime in my first season. She's going to be missed." Warrington, who's known Holder "for years", went on to say that it was "sad, it's always sad when you lose somebody". "But these things happen. It's the nature of the business." Holder described playing Darlene as "an absolute gift" in an Instagram post, adding: "Saying goodbye has been far more emotional than I ever expected…" Death in Paradise season 15 airs on Fridays at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Add Death in Paradise 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.
Call the Midwife boss teases prequel cast – including new and original favourites
"You'll see a lot of women coming into their own..."
Change is in the air in Call the Midwife, with creator Heidi Thomas teasing the end of an era when the door closes on season 15. "I think we've all cried our eyes out at different times because things never will be the same again," she said at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026. "But the whole thing with Call the Midwife, like life itself... it's a process of constant evolution for our characters and also for the stories." That is also evident in the expansion of the world of Call the Midwife, which is set to include a movie and prequel series. The former will be set in an overseas location – Australia is looking likely – and will feature members of the current cast. The prequel, set to debut this Christmas, unfolds during World War II and will follow younger versions of Sister Julienne, Sister Evangelina and Sister Monica Joan, "who actually isn't that young when we did the maths, but she's very much in her prime," explained Thomas. Fans will also be introduced to "three young midwives, all completely new, relatively new to the East End, and they really do get thrown in at the deep end". View Green Video on the source website "I think the interesting thing for me is it's a world where women are not in charge when war breaks out, but very rapidly, they are in charge of everything because the men are called away, either to Home Front-based war work or they go overseas," she expanded. "So you'll see a lot of women coming into their own... it's a programme that is going to be about strong women above all else." "Everything changes and nothing changes," said Thomas when acknowledging that shared trait with the current series. Season 15 of Call the Midwife has seen the midwives and nuns grapple with an array of challenges, from harrowing cases involving rabies and slavery to adjusting to major social change, including the growing influence of the Women's Liberation Movement. There's been no shortage of upheaval in their personal lives either, with Rosalind keeping her distance from her parents to safeguard her relationship with Cyril, while Sister Veronica has admitted she longs to have a child of her own – raising questions about her future in the convent. And this Sunday's episode is just as eventful. A woman picks up food from Violet for a family celebration, but later that night, everyone in attendance is suddenly struck down with a mysterious illness. Meanwhile, Fred finds himself supervising plumbers as they battle with crumbling lead pipes in Cyril’s flat. Elsewhere, an expectant mother requests a home birth in an effort to honour both her own traditions and those of her husband, while Timothy celebrates passing his medical exams – but remains torn between training as a GP or pursuing a future in surgery. Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. Read more: Call the Midwife's Nonnatus House jeopardy storyline has lost its edge – and here's why Call the Midwife star talks Rosalind's exciting new chapter with Cyril after huge development Call the Midwife season 15 continues on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday at 8pm. 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 icon teases Cindy Beale and Max Branning's potential for "rollercoaster" romance after flash-forward episode
"You know what, are they both as bad as each other? I don't know."
Michelle Collins has spoken about the prospects of a true romance between Cindy Beale and Max Branning (Jake Wood) in EastEnders. The BBC One soap has positioned Cindy as one of multiple potential brides for Max in the recent New Year's Day 2026 flash-forward episode set in 2027. This followed the pair having a passionate encounter as strangers on Christmas Day 2025, before their fling was explosively revealed during their shared grandson Jimmy Beale's christening. Cindy detests Max following his actions towards her children, with Max having slept with her daughter Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater) and also being responsible for the death of her eldest son, Steven Beale (Aaron Sidwell). However, the pair recently found themselves as allies against their shared enemy, the scheming killer Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness). While attending The Radio Times Covers Party 2026, we asked Michelle Collins about Cindy's complicated relationship with Max, and simply had to question: are they a match made in heaven or in hell? Michelle answered: "You know what, are they both as bad as each other? I don't know. I would like to think Cindy has a bit more of a heart than Max does, but I think they're interesting together. I think they're interesting together because I think Cindy needs somebody kind of like him, rather than, possibly, someone, a bit more like Ian." Despite this, Collins didn't give their potential future romance much of a long life expectancy. "I can't imagine it lasting forever," suggested Collins, "but I can imagine it being kind of a bumpy ride and quite exciting, kind of up and down, 'Will they/won't they?' kind of thing, you know, absolutely." View Green Video on the source website Of course, Cindy has never had a quiet love life - from her adulterous affairs with Simon (Nick Berry) and David Wicks (Michael French), to her recent affair with Junior Knight (Micah Balfour), despite being in a relationship with Ian again and being in love with Junior's dad, her ex-husband, George Knight (Colin Salmon). Yet, in recent months, despite George divorcing his most recent wife, Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe), he is now expecting a baby with Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington), and any hope of a romantic reunion for Cindy and George seems dead in the water. Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. Questioning whether George had seemingly moved on, Michelle answered that he did so "very quickly". However, she noted of Cindy and George: "I mean, I don't think it was ever going to really work anyway." She continued, "I kind of can see why they didn't put them back together again. He's now with Nicola, isn't he? It's weird, because everything is so intense, and then you spend so much time with this person, and then you've kind of moved on, and then you say, 'Well, you know, should I not? Oh no, that's finished. That's gone out the window'." Michelle also said, "I haven't had a scene with Colin in about six months. It's quite weird, yeah. Well, that's continuing drama for you, isn't it?" Well, thanks to that flash-forward episode, we know that Cindy and George are both still in Walford in 2027, so anything could happen... Read more: 5 EastEnders spoilers next week: Shock proposal amid wedding drama for Nigel and Julie Bates EastEnders reveals shock outcome of Joel Marshall's trial in early BBC iPlayer release EastEnders reveals Mark Fowler Jr's secret and surprise connection to Walford local in BBC iPlayer release EastEnders airs dark Ravi Gulati scenes amid revenge story in early BBC iPlayer release 10 EastEnders characters who need to have a huge 2026 – from Chelsea Fox to Oscar Branning 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.
Doctor Who writer addresses show's future after Disney deal: "It's never going to be Star Wars"
"When it tries to be like something else, it's not Doctor Who."
Doctor Who legend Mark Gatiss has opened up about the show's future following the end of the deal with Disney. In October 2025, it was confirmed that, after a 26-episode deal (which resulted in two seasons of Doctor Who and spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea), Disney would not partner on any more future seasons. However, Doctor Who will continue on the BBC, with showrunner Russell T Davies returning to pen a Christmas special this year. Gatiss, who wrote Doctor Who episodes across multiple eras of the show, including The Unquiet Dead, The Idiot's Lantern, The Crimson Horror and Robot of Sherwood, spoke to Radio Times at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026 about what the end of the deal might mean for the show. Watch Mark Gatiss talk to RT below: View Green Video on the source website "It's never going to be Star Wars," he pointed out. "I mean, it's been a thing since Michael Grade took it off in 1985. It's like, 'Audiences are used to Star Wars' and you go, well they are, but it's never gonna be Star Wars. What it is, is Doctor Who, and I think that's the key." He added of the recent seasons: "It looked great. The Disney money obviously did something, but in the end, it's essentially a spooky show. It's a weird show. And that's what I've always adored about it. It's not like anything else. And actually when it tries to be like something else, it's not Doctor Who. "I think, in the end, the thing to absolutely cherish and cling onto is that it's very much its own thing and that's why we've always loved it." The writer also recently spoke out about the shock regeneration twist, which saw Ncuti Gatwa's Time Lord regenerate into returning star Billie Piper. "Russell [T Davies] does chutzpah like no one else," he said. "I don't know much about what happened, if Ncuti Gatwa was going to do three years, but only did two – it was certainly a surprise that he was going, wasn't it? So I think if you have this sort of... it's like the ultimate cliffhanger, isn't it? "It's like Sherlock in The Reichenbach Fall. It's like, 'Well, this is a big one'. And I mean, in a funny kind of way, it absolutely bookends the 2005 new show onwards - it's all about Billie! And then guess what?! "So I haven't a clue. I know there's a Christmas special this year. And after that, who knows?" Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. Doctor Who will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this Christmas. 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.
EastEnders’ Balvinder Sopal teases "long" Suki and Eve Panesar-Unwin adoption storyline as couple’s pasts explored
Actress Balvinder Sopal has confirmed that her current EastEnders storyline is set to be quite the long-running arc. The BBC One soap has seen the complicated matriarch Suki Panesar-Unwin (Sopal) pursuing an adoption with her wife and soulmate, Eve Panesar-Unwin (Heather Peace), as they hope to become parents together after a rather troubling attempt by Suki to get a child from her pregnant teenage step-granddaughter Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James) last year. However, now heading down a much more ethical (and legal) route, it seems a rollercoaster lies ahead for the pairing known as 'Sukeve'. Speaking at The Radio Times Covers Party 2026, Balvinder was asked about the storyline and working with co-star Heather Peace for so long now. Balvinder said, "I mean, look, Heather and I have a brilliant relationship. We've worked together for, I think, three years now, three and a bit years. And each time, you know, we come on set, I think we find little moments that deepen the relationship between Suki and Eve, and that's really important, because I think sometimes relationships can get a bit boring or a bit samey, samey. So, we're trying to find the light and shade between the two of them, and what better way to do that than to throw in an adoption story? (laughs)." On what fans can expect from the coming months, Sopal added: "That's going to be a nice long arc, and we're going to delve quite deep, hopefully, into both of their backgrounds and lives, and just see the effects of what it means and what it takes to actually go ahead and adopt. We want to be as truthful as we possibly can. It's not easy. We know that. The team at EastEnders have done their background research, so you're in for a treat." Given we know very little about Suki's own family life growing up, could this be an opportunity to discover more about her upbringing? View Green Video on the source website Balvinder commented: "I mean, currently I can't say too much, but I think we will be seeing a lot of their pasts come to the forefront, which should happen, really, shouldn't it? Because you want to know what sort of parents they're going to be. I know everybody's like, 'Suki is a bad mum.' She is! (laughs). But it's nice to kind of delve into why, potentially. "And I think also, you know, we've only ever seen Suki through the eyes of lots of other people... so Nish, her children, Eve, the neighbour's wife [Ayesha, played by Laila Rouass], you know? It's nice, hopefully, to introduce other people...who knows?" Suki flashback episode, anyone? Read more: 5 EastEnders spoilers next week: Shock proposal amid wedding drama for Nigel and Julie Bates EastEnders reveals shock outcome of Joel Marshall's trial in early BBC iPlayer release EastEnders reveals Mark Fowler Jr's secret and surprise connection to Walford local in BBC iPlayer release EastEnders airs dark Ravi Gulati scenes amid revenge story in early BBC iPlayer release 10 EastEnders characters who need to have a huge 2026 – from Chelsea Fox to Oscar Branning 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.
Call the Midwife star talks Rosalind's exciting new chapter with Cyril after huge development
Things are heating up between Cyril and Rosalind!
Cyril and Rosalind's blossoming relationship has not been without its challenges in Call the Midwife. From being subjected to racist abuse in the street to Rosalind's parents trying – and failing – to hide their disapproval about the man their daughter had chosen, the fact that they are still going strong proves they are firmly committed to one another. And that was once again cemented in tonight's episode (Sunday 1st January). While enjoying a picnic together, Cyril had some exciting news: his divorce was on the verge of going through, meaning he would soon officially be a single man – and free to marry again, if he wished to. "If you meet the right person," Rosalind said coyly, bowing her head, which he echoed with a smile. He then asked her if she would like to join him in York for a work conference, which they could turn into a long weekend – marking their first trip away together as a couple. Read more: Call the Midwife's Nonnatus House jeopardy storyline has lost its edge – and here's why Call the Midwife's Heidi Thomas reveals season 15 "brings era to an end" – and why it was "hard" to write Naturally, Rosalind was thrilled, and not just because she was excited to spend some quality time with her partner, but also because she believed they were finally about to sleep together. "I think it's finally going to happen!" she confided in Joyce. But her enthusiasm was swiftly dampened when Cyril told her that he'd managed to book the last two rooms at the hotel they'd be staying at. "Two rooms? Cyril!" she snapped. "It’s been more than a year and you're almost divorced and when you ask a woman – not a girl, an independent, modern woman – who loves you to go away for the weekend, and then you book two rooms, how do you think it's going to make her feel?!" When Cyril said that he didn't want to "assume anything", she urged him to do exactly that. "Assume. Assume! If you don't start assuming soon, I think I'm going to blow up," she exclaimed, before Cyril kissed her, as good as confirming they would only require one room after all. "I think it's amazing," Natalie Quarry said of her character being so open and assertive about her sexual needs at the Radio Times Covers Party. "Especially with Rosalind coming into the show as quite a naive young character. "We really get to see her grow up, and with the women's lib march and meeting, it’s really hit home for Rosalind about deciding the kind of woman that she wants to be and trying to see that to fruition in her life." "That really comes into play with her relationship with Cyril," Quarry continued. "She's asking for what she needs, which I think is a really amazing thing. That's something that's very hard to do. I don't know if I'm that good at doing it, so it's amazing to play a character who is so strong and so sure of herself." View Green Video on the source website But Quarry went on to say that Rosalind still has "a lot of growing up" to do. "I am excited to see what people think of her development," she added. Call the Midwife season 15 continues on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday at 8pm. 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 Traitors’ Harriet Tyce says her experience could inspire a new book "in time"
Her latest novel is set to be released next month.
The Traitors season 4 pulled out all the stops, from new twists in the form of a secret Traitor to allowing the Faithful to ask the Traitors questions, hoping to unearth their identities. The latter twist involved Harriet Tyce, who was absolutely sure that Rachel Duffy was a Faithful, though due to a lack of evidence beyond a gut feeling, her fellow players weren't convinced. Despite revealing herself to be a Faithful after being banished, Harriet had been keeping a handful of secrets from her fellow players.... Not only did she hide that she was a former barrister, but also that she was a successful crime writer, who has published four gripping crime novels, with a fifth to be released next month. But could another story be on the way, perhaps inspired by her turn in The Traitors castle? The question was posed to Harriet at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026, and there is hope yet! View Green Video on the source website "Maybe in time. The psychology of all of it fascinates me. I mean, I can't tell you how much the immersive experience, how different people react to that," Harriet told RadioTimes.com. "Whether you believe it [or] you don't believe it, it's real and I think that there's something in that. "But in terms of some sort of roundtable, picking them off one by one? No, that that won't be happening. But I think in a while maybe." Harriet certainly has her hands full with the release of her new book, Witch Trial, on Thursday 26th February. The synopsis for the story reads: "When 18-year-old Christian Shaw is found dead in an Edinburgh park, the city reels - and the shock only deepens when police charge her best friends, Eliza Lawson and Isobel Smyth, with her murder. "As social media explodes and headlines scream for justice, rumours of bullying spiral into something darker: whispers of rituals, obsession, and a teenage pact gone wrong." It continues: "Matthew Phillips, a respected heart surgeon, is reluctantly called for jury duty on the case. But as the trial unfolds - and the girls reveal a chilling defence no one saw coming - he begins to question everything: the motives, the evidence, even his own judgement. "Who's telling the truth? Who can be trusted? And what really happened to Christian Shaw? Let the Witch Trial begin..." You can find out more about Harriet's other novels here. The Traitors season 1-4 are available to watch on BBC iPlayer now. 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.
Taskmaster's Alex Horne teases new series with intriguing format change: "We've got something up our sleeve"
Watch this space – your time starts now!
Taskmaster fans – we could be in for a treat soon! Little Alex Horne himself has teased that the team behind the show have got ideas for a tweaked series in the "near-ish future" that would somewhat change the format of the show. While he kept quiet on the details, when asked about if he's planning to make any format changes in future, Horne told RadioTimes.com at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026: " People ask us about adding a Champion of Champion of Champions. "I think, instead of that, we have got something up our sleeves in the near-ish future, of doing a slightly interesting series. It's just some tweaks, but I can't say any more than that. So [we have got] something. We've got something up our sleeve." Horne declined to share any more on that, but also opened up about how long he sees the show running, with season 21 on the horizon. "Greg and I have always said we'll stop when we're not having fun anymore. We're having a lot of fun at the moment, but also, there's a bit of leave them wanting more," he explained. View Green Video on the source website However, before all that, we've got season 21 to enjoy, with the host also teasing a moment from the upcoming instalment that he thinks could go down in Taskmaster history. Asked if there are any moments that could become "classic" Taskmaster moments (for instance, like our personal favourites – Joe Wilkinson's potato mishap and Mike Wozniak's, erm, casserole), Horne teased: "There is a moment involving Kumail Nanjiani. I don't want to give much away, but he gives a lot away about what he does by himself in his hotel room. So that's what you've got to tune in for. "He surprised himself by what he revealed, and I was sat next to him, and it's a big moment. It's a never-before-seen Taskmaster moment." While we don't have a release date just yet for Taskmaster season 21, the starry cast - Armando Iannucci, Kumail Nanjiani, Joel Dommett, Amy Gledhill and Joanna Page - was recently announced. So, watch this space – your time starts now! Taskmaster season 21 will air later this year on Channel 4 and on the official Taskmaster YouTube channel elsewhere globally. 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.
Bookish creator Mark Gatiss shares major season 3 update
Season 2 is expected to debut later this year - but will the show go beyond that?
This year, Bookish will be returning for a second season, one which was confirmed before season 1 even debuted. Now, it seems that that confidence in the show's future is continuing, as creator and star Mark Gatiss has revealed work has already started on a season 3. Gatiss spoke with us while he was at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026, and when asked whether Bookish was a series that could run and run with multiple future seasons, he said: "I bloody well hope so!" "Yes! I'm writing series 3 now," he revealed. "That might be an exclusive, I don't know!" Indeed it is. This is the first we've heard of season 3 being in the works, and while the show hasn't yet been officially renewed by U&Alibi, it does seem hopeful that we could hear positive news sooner rather than later. View Green Video on the source website Gatiss also jokingly teased what the future of the series would hold beyond season 2, saying: "It would involve books. And murder - never theft." While fans will no doubt be thrilled to hear that Gatiss is already thinking about the long-term future of the series, in the meantime we still have season 2 to get excited about. Teasing those upcoming storylines, Gatiss told us: "The first story is set in the world of spiritualism. The second story is about a murder in a tailor shop, and the third story is set in Germany where Book and Jack go to find out what happened to Jack's father, Felix." Teasing later episodes, when we'll find out more about Book's past with Felix, he said: "Episode 5 [and] 6, that's what it's about. So we will find out what happened, who Felix was, what happened to him, the whole shebang!" Bookish airs on U&Alibi. The series is available to stream on demand on Sky, Virgin, BT and TalkTalk. Add Bookish 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 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.
Slow Horses star says there's “more to uncover” about Gary Oldman’s Jackson Lamb after shocking season 5 revelation
Christopher Chung spoke with us at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026.
The fifth season of Slow Horses ended on a dramatic, poignant note for Gary Oldman's Jackson Lamb, as more of his was revealed to the audience. Earlier in the season, Lamb had told a story about an an agent who had withstood brutal torture, alongside his pregnant lover, for information he ultimately never knew in the first place. In the final moments of the finale, it was revealed that Lamb was, in fact, that agent. Given this, and the fact that previous seasons have also dropped hints about Lamb's past, it seems there is still plenty more to learn about the enigmatic character - and that's something Roddy Ho star Christopher Chung has affirmed. Chung was in attendance at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026, when he was asked about what was in store for Oldman's character in the upcoming season 6. While Chung admitted that it had been a long time since he filmed it, as production on season 7 is now underway, he did tease: "I think what's really great about the show is that we unpeel a layer every season of every character. So you learn a little bit more as the audience and you also get a little bit more character detail. "So I think, with Gary's character in particular, there's so much more to uncover about him and we are just showing you a little bit at a time - keep you engaged." View Green Video on the source website Elsewhere in his chat, Chung revealed that Roddy is "a little bit more spiritual" in season 6 - and we're very excited to see exactly how that will play out. The star also previously teased how the ending of season 5, which saw Diana Taverner finally become first desk, will impact on the season ahead. "Going into the next season with Taverner in first desk, you've kind of got her in a position now where she's got everything that she's wanted, everything that she's plotted and schemed for," he said. "So it'll be interesting to see if absolute power corrupts. I think that's a really good cliffhanger for the audience to see, now that she's got her hands on the steering wheel, where’s she gonna steer it?" Slow Horses season 6 will arrive later this year. Seasons 1-5 are available to stream on Apple TV+ – sign up to Apple TV+ now. Add Slow Horses 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 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.
Doctor Who writer shares verdict on Billie Piper regeneration twist: “It’s the ultimate cliffhanger"
"Russell does chutzpah like no one else."
Doctor Who legend Mark Gatiss has given his verdict on the Billie Piper regeneration twist at the end of last season, describing it as the "ultimate cliffhanger". The Reality War, which aired in May, saw Ncuti Gatwa exit the show, with the Time Lord regenerating into returning star Piper, who previously played companion Rose Tyler. Speaking to RadioTimes.com at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026, Gatiss, who has written Doctor Who episodes including The Unquiet Dead, The Idiot's Lantern, The Crimson Horror and Robot of Sherwood, said: "Russell [T Davies] does chutzpah like no one else. "I don't know much about what happened, if Ncuti Gatwa was going to do three years, but only did two - it was certainly a surprise that he was going, wasn't it? So I think if you have this sort of... it's like the ultimate cliffhanger, isn't it? "It's like Sherlock in The Reichenbach Fall. It's like, well, this is a big one. And I mean, in a funny kind of way, it absolutely bookends the 2005 new show onwards - it's all about Billie! And then guess what?! So I haven't a clue. I know there's a Christmas special this year, isn't there? And after that, who knows?" View Green Video on the source website Also chatting to Radio Times, Alex Kingston, who played River Song in the BBC sci-fi gave her take on twist, saying she's "not buying" that Piper will be playing the next Doctor. "I didn't see the Billie Piper twist coming at all. To be perfectly honest, I still don't quite believe it because she's not a Gallifreyan, she's a human," she pointed out. "I think there's some playing going on here. But I don't buy that she's the next Doctor, and if she is, they're gonna have to work hard to convince me, because she's not a Gallifreyan!" Notably, when she returned to the show, Piper was not listed as 'The Doctor' in the episode's credits - leading fans to believe, like Kingston, that there's more going on than meets the eye. Speaking at the time of her return, Piper said: "It's no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return to the Whoniverse as I have some of my best memories there, so to be given the opportunity to step back on that TARDIS one more time was just something I couldn't refuse, but who, how, why and when, you'll just have to wait and see." View Green Video on the source website Doctor Who will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this Christmas. 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 Traitors’ Fiona reveals moment Claudia Winkleman chose her to be the secret Traitor
The Traitors kicked the new year off in spectacular fashion, not just for launching yet another stellar new series but also for the introduction of a twist that certainly paid off. The launch episode, which has already been watched by over 12.1 million viewers and continues to grow, saw Claudia Winkleman introduce a secret Traitor. This new role meant that one player had more power than ever in the game, with their identity being a secret from the other Traitors and viewers tuning in at home. This was until Hugo was banished from the castle and the secret Traitor made their debut in the turret. And that secret Traitor was none other than Fiona! Fiona has since gone down as a rather iconic character in The Traitors and she has lifted the lid on the very moment Winkleman gave her the red cloak... View Green Video on the source website Speaking exclusively at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026, Fiona shared that the moment she was chosen was "absolutely magical". "All the endorphins and nerve endings in my body just exploded," she told RadioTimes.com. "And I didn't know what to expect what my role was going to be. But I just had enormous fun and that's how I played the game." Fiona made quite her mark in the castle after an outburst led to her declaring war on her fellow Traitors, as she told the group she believed that Rachel was a Traitor, after thinking Rachel had lied about a piece of information Amanda had told her in confidence. Though this ultimately backfired, as the castle all sided with Rachel and were sure that Fiona was a Traitor. As a result, she was banished from the castle and the Faithful subsequently got rid of a conspiring Traitor. But that hasn't dimmed the light on her time on the show, as Fiona said: "It's been wonderful. People have been so generous and kind, and it's been a pleasure when they've come up and asked for selfies, and it's just joyous." The Traitors season 1-4 are available to watch on BBC iPlayer now. 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.
Death in Paradise's Don Warrington says fans should "assume nothing" about Selwyn's future following turbulent developments
"There will be many twists and turns to come..."
Selwyn Patterson has endured his fair share of challenges of late in long-running BBC series Death in Paradise. From his brush with death in season 13 after he was shot, to being cruelly replaced last season — and by someone who wasn’t a patch on him — it’s been as far from smooth sailing as one can get. But according to actor Don Warrington, fans shouldn't anticipate calmer waters for the commissioner. "I wouldn't think so," he said at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026 when asked if we can expect a calmer period for him. "I wouldn't think so at all. He can't settle, that's the nature of Selwyn." On a more profound note, does the commissioner feel different to Warrington after such a turbulent, life-changing period? "Well, I would think so," he nodded. "He's come back with renewed energy, and he’s going to deal with the island in a slightly different way. "I think he's going to be a new man, remade." In season 15 of the murder mystery, the Saint Marie locals are still reeling over the fact that they campaigned to get Selwyn his job back, only for him to initially reject it and leave the island. But following some advice from Catherine, he "sets out to rebuild trust — though winning back Saint Marie may prove easier said than done", teases the synopsis. "She helps the team to understand that they must do something to regain the islanders' trust in them as a police force," Élizabeth Bourgine said (via the BBC). "Throughout the series, there's a running thread of the people of Saint Marie learning to rely on one another and count on one another, so when Selwyn left, it felt like a betrayal to the people of Saint Marie. "Catherine helps the team to understand how the island is feeling, and what they need to do moving forward." Given that there's much work to be done, and that a potential Selwyn exit has been an ongoing storyline for much of the show recently, can we all rest easy, with Warrington planning to remain indefinitely? "My advice is assume nothing," Warrington also told RadioTimes.com. "There will be many twists and turns to come and I think that's what's exciting about the series — to follow the characters and see where they go, and whether you approve or not." View Green Video on the source website One thing's for certain – if he was to actually leave the show, the Death in Paradise faithful simply wouldn’t stand for it. "Apparently there has been an outcry," Don Warrington previously said of the reaction to his departure. "It's flattering, and I would be dishonest if I said it wasn't. But it came as a surprise to realise how deeply the characters had got into the consciousness of the public." Of his future, he echoed the same sentiment, adding: "It's a year at a time. That's how it has always been and how it will continue." Read more: Death in Paradise star says Ginny Holder's exit was a "surprise" – but "these things happen" Death in Paradise season 14 teased an exciting Catherine development – but season 15 won't deliver But for now, he's officially back — and in his rightful role as commissioner – as his team are tasked with solving "a myriad of baffling cases". There's also a new sergeant, Mattie Fletcher, who has replaced Ginny Holder's Darlene Curtis, while Mervin is set to meet his half-brother Solomon for the first time – which doesn't pan out as he'd hoped. With a whirlwind of drama still to come, Selwyn's unflappable nature feels more essential than ever. Welcome back, sir. Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. Death in Paradise season 15 premieres on 30th January at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Add Death in Paradise 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.
Bookish creator Mark Gatiss teases key revelation about Book’s past in "ambitious" season 2
"It's really rich, this new season, and much more ambitious."
With Bookish season 2 on the horizon, creator Mark Gatiss has teased that the new instalment of the detective series will delve further into Gabriel Book's past. The crime drama, which follows the eccentric book shop owner and unlikely detective, gave us a dramatic revelation at the end of season 2 – that Book was in love with Jack's father, a man named Felix. Now, Gatiss has confirmed that season 2 will give us much more detail on what happened between the pair. Explaining what's to come in season 2 at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026, Gatiss revealed: "The first story is set in the world of spiritualism. The second story is about a murder in a tailor shop, and the third story is set in Germany where Book and Jack go to find out what happened to Jack's father, Felix." Also teasing what's to come in the later episodes, when we'll find out more about Book's past with Felix, he revealed: "Episode 5 [and] 6, that's what it's about. So we will find out what happened, who Felix was, what happened to him, the whole shebang!" View Green Video on the source website Season 1 proved wildly popular with fans, and Gatiss admitted he's been relishing the chance to write more of the series. "It's a real passion project," he explained. "The idea of a gay detective in a dangerous world, but also in the post-war world, which is something I've always been really interested in. "I love murder mysteries. I've always wanted to be a period detective, so to have that as a vehicle for all kinds of stories, is very, very exciting. "We've got some amazing people on series 2 coming: Miranda Richardson, Simon Callow, Claire Skinner, Alan Corduner. "It's really rich, this new season, and much more ambitious, having established, as it were, the precinct of the lane and without it stretching credulity, having murders quite close to home, we've sort of opened it up a bit, so I'm really excited about it." First-look images of season 2 were recently unveiled, with the show set to reunite us with Polly Walker as Trottie Book, Connor Finch as Jack Blunt, Elliot Levey as Inspector Bliss, Blake Harrison as Sergeant Morris, Buket Kömür as Nora and Nadia Albina as Dr Calder. Rosie Cavaliero, Gerard Horan and Jonas Nay will also be back in the new season, while they will be joined by a host of beloved guest stars - including Sherlock's Rupert Graves. Bookish airs on U&Alibi. The series is available to stream on demand on Sky, Virgin, BT and TalkTalk. Add Bookish 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 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.
David Mitchell teases Ludwig season 2 with character's new role and "brilliant" new cast members
One of the biggest breakout series from 2024 was undoubtedly Ludwig, the BBC's comedy-drama detective series starring David Mitchell. Naturally, the series was renewed for a second season, which is set to pick up following the end of season 1, which saw Mitchell's character John becoming an official crime consultant with the police team, after his secret – that he'd been impersonating his missing police officer brother, was uncovered by them, but swept under the rug. As we wait for season 2, Mitchell spoke with RadioTimes.com exclusively at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026, where he revealed that John isn't quite out of the woods yet. When asked how his official role on the police team would shake things up in the new episodes, Mitchell said: "When you watch the second series, you realise there's still quite a lot of obfuscation involved in his role, because not everyone in the police force is entirely on side with his appointment. "And of course, he's still got to cover up the fact that for a long time he was solving cases while impersonating a police officer. And if that ever gets out, well, five murderers will walk free, and he won't walk free himself." View Green Video on the source website Ludwig season 2 will also introduce a selection of new characters, including two new members of the police team, played by Ben Ashenden and Rumi Sutton. Mitchell said of these new additions: "They were brilliant, very funny. They're new characters, they're very funny characters. They've got a great dynamic with each other, but overall the situation remains the same." Meanwhile, Mark Bonnar and Sian Clifford are also joining the cast, with the former playing a newspaper editor, Gareth Fisher, and the latter playing local MP Joanne Kemper. Mitchell said that the duo are "both brilliant" and that "Mark Bonnar's sort of hilarious, hapless newspaper editor, which is a terrific role". "And Sian, well, I don't want to reveal too much about Sian's role," he said. "But it's intriguing and it was brilliant to work with her, because I've admired her stuff for years." The synopsis for season 2 says of John in season 2: "No longer having to masquerade as his brother, he’s openly more ‘Ludwig’ than ever – brilliant at solving puzzles but hopeless at everything else. "But John’s identical twin brother, James, is still missing, and now that he’s an official employee of the station, John is forbidden from using any police resources to look for his brother or uncover exactly what he was investigating. "Of course, John won’t stop and neither will Lucy (Anna Maxwell Martin), John’s sister-in-law and wife of his missing brother James – a puzzle needs solving and a husband and father needs bringing home. One masquerade may have ended, but a new one has just begun." Watch a trailer for Ludwig below. View Green Video on the source website Ludwig season 1 is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Check out more of our Comedy 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.
Why everyone in TV wants an invitation to the glamorous and exclusive Radio Times Covers Party
Come behind the scenes of the prestigious party that actors, writers, directors and executives all look forward to.
The lavish Art Deco ballroom at London's esteemed Claridge's hotel is packed. No, really. Weaving your way across the floor to snag another glass of bubbly from a sharply-attired waiter means quite literally coming face-to-face with Dame Harriet Walter, rubbing shoulders with a Gladiator and taking in the fine details of The Traitors winner Stephen Libby's tailored look up close. Queen star Roger Taylor comments on how bustling it is. A scattering of glass tables play host to the milling guests' (A-list acting talent, agents, TV executives and more) champagne flues – and a few small signs politely reminding attendees not to bother stars for selfies. The request is futile. The Traitors stars are here and there isn't a person in the room who doesn't want to meet them. Glitzy as it is, the annual Radio Times Covers Party isn't just a star-studded, celebratory affair; it's also where some of the most powerful names in the world of TV connect, shaping the shows – partnerships, castings, scripts – you watch at home in the coming months and years. The fizz, the canapés, the upscale Mayfair location and the extravagantly glamorous outfits alone would be enough to cause a clamour for invitations – but in the organic flow of conversations throughout the night, there's a subtler value to be found too. Spotted: Radio Times publisher's CEO making a beeline for Fiona Hughes, Jack Butler and Stephen, freshly of Traitors fame. He quickly breaks the no photo requests rule. And you'd better believe it's invitation-only. The unenviable task of wrangling the guest list into shape is overseen by Radio Times planning editor Maria Fyfe – the backbone of an extensive team of staff who pull off this spectacular bash every year. "The guest list is a tough balancing act," says Fyfe, who for weeks leading up to tonight could be seen juggling requests from agents, talent and colleagues alike. "So much cover talent, so many great people to invite, not enough space. But it's the plus one requests that tip me over the edge and I always need a lie down in a dark room to recover." Back in the room, the ballroom itself is a grand space but not overwhelmingly large, like stepping into a preserved slide of old-world glamour but with an intimacy that makes for a curated event which doesn't feel impersonal. There are chandeliers, huge floral displays and, off to the right, a generous anteroom aptly named the Mirror Room. Plus, of course, many bars to supplement the waiting staff circulating ceaselessly through the crowd with silver trays of beverages. Glitz & glamour <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/01/260127RTCoversParty-201-246185a.jpg" width="3000" height="2001" alt="Five stars of Call the Midwife posing playfully in a dressing-room–style space, some wearing nurse hats and party dresses; one person sits in front while others stand behind smiling, holding drinks and a stethoscope, with privacy screens and hanging white garments in the background." title="The Radio Times Covers 2026 at Claridge's, London. Tuesday 28th January 2026." /> The women of Call the Midwife can be spied in their finery – a far cry from their Nonnatus House uniforms. Dame Mary Berry is thrilled to see them relaxing, off the clock. "It's a very glamorous, sparkling event, and I'm already completely over-awed because the Traitors and Faithfuls are here," says the BAFTA-winning Monica Dolan. "I really hope that I get to talk to them." "I've only been here 10 minutes. I've met Mark Chapman, who I'm told, looks like me. I think he looks like me, or I look like him. It depends," quips comedian and The 1% Club host Lee Mack. "And Kelly Cates. I know them anyway, but it's nice to catch up and talk about football." He's also spotted long-time Would I Lie to You? co-star David Mitchell, who is in attendance with his wife and queen of Only Connect, Victoria Coren Mitchell. "We've run out of things to say to each other, so we just sort of awkwardly nodded at each other," he jokes. Mitchell, meanwhile, dubs the night "a very swanky do". Everywhere you turn, there's a soap star. Even the majority of the EastEnders' Six showed up, dressed to the nines. It's Suki actress Balvinder Sopal's first time at a Radio Times Covers Party but she looks effortlessly comfortable as she poses for celeb photographer Ray Burmiston in the Mirror Room, where portraits of the guests are being snapped throughout the first half of the evening. EastEnders' iconic Cindy (Michelle Collins) speaks for everyone when she summarises: "Well, it's at Claridge's, so it's great fun." Strictly Come Dancing 2025 winner Carlos Gu echoes that sentiment: "I mean, we're in Claridge's and with Radio Times. I think it's the best you could have in January 2026!" Slow Horses' Christopher Chung sidles past Jessie Wallace, Michael Burke can be found a few metres from Armando Iannucci – there's nowhere to turn without star-spotting. But it's certainly not just Mr Bates vs The Post Office actress Dolan who's got her eye on the prize of grabbing a few minutes with The Traitors. "I've seen all of The Traitors cast and I'm just kind of overwhelmed," Olivia Frances Brown (Coronation Street) gushes. "Especially Stephen, the winner." Darling Faithful Harriet Tyce, who fell spectacularly on her own sword, earning herself an army of fans during her all-too-short tenure on the latest series says it's lovely to be able to reunite with her fellow Traitors contestants, while Stephen, inundated with requests for pictures or nuggets of gossip from the series, admits: "This is a far cry from what I'm used to!" Influence & sway In amongst the celebrities and the cocktails, influential connections are being made. "The Covers Party is one of those nights that really matters to us," says Radio Times' deputy digital editor Helen Daly. "It brings together some of the most influential people in television for a genuine celebration of the industry – but it’s also where conversations begin that often grow into something much bigger. Ideas are shared, relationships are formed and we see the early sparks of projects that shape what we cover next." Case in point: at last year's party, a chat between Radio Times brand editor Shem Law and Aardman's Nick Park led to a handshake deal: the much-coveted Christmas issue cover would be Gromit and the equally iconic Shaun the Sheep. Park is back again this year, wearing a green sequinned bow tie we're told he made himself. Sir Lenny Henry returns to host the evening. "People like to be acknowledged," he says, after handing the cover stars of the past 12 months framed copies of those very covers. "If you're a production company or an actor or a producer or a writer, it's really nice when people say your work was good. And I think the cover says, 'Your work was good and deserves this.' "People treat [the Radio Times Covers Party] as a place to meet their heroes, hustle for work, fall in love if they love somebody. Like I'm a big fan of Victoria Coren, so David Mitchell's always standing behind me," Henry jokes. "But it's a chance to meet your heroes and the people you love watching on the telly. So it's a really great night, and it's at Claridge's, you know – what could be better?!" Among the TV execs present is Lifted Entertainment's creative director Diego Rincón, attending for the first time. "I can't believe what I've been missing out on!" he says, admiring the "buzzy and collegiate atmosphere". "Judging by the breadth of on- and off-camera talent in attendance, it's also a coveted hot ticket and a fantastic opportunity to catch up with peers and make new important connections as well." "The Covers Party is where the industry loosens its tie a little," adds deputy head of production at Lifted Entertainment, ITV Studios, Helen Houston. "It’s social, buzzy and you always leave having had at least one conversation that turns into something interesting later." Call the Midwife's Stephen McGann has a different take: the party is like a "cheese dream". "One of the particularly special things about the party is everybody just gets thrown into the same room, like a sort of psychological experiment of British television," he says. "You walk past somebody like the wonderful David Attenborough, who'll be handing out peanuts to somebody who's in EastEnders. It's like a cheese dream. It's wonderful!" The enduring power of a magazine cover "I get the Radio Times every week," says Brian & Maggie's Dame Harriet Walter, when asked how it feels to receive her RT cover, frame and all. "I'm a subscriber, and it's actually not the first time I've been on the Radio Times cover, but it was some 30, 40 years ago." The Gladiators graced a recent cover of the magazine in all their muscle-bound, Lycra-clad glory. "It is unreal, especially because the shots were so powerful, and they represent who we are as people and the show and what we represent in terms of our values: the power, the strength, the confidence, also the vulnerability in each individual," says Fire, AKA Montell Douglas, here tonight as herself, not a hint of spandex in sight. Meanwhile, TV baker extraordinaire Dame Mary Berry's framed cover will go in her office – a popular choice as Call the Midwife writer Heidi Thomas notes the same fate awaits hers. Thomas has 23 framed Radio Times covers to date and is running out of room, however. "But I'm married to Dr Turner in the show (McGann)," she says. "He's surprisingly handy with a drill and a step ladder, so I'll get him to put the next ones up for me." <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/01/260127RTCoversParty-186-25412e2.jpg" width="3000" height="2001" alt="The Traitors stars Fiona and Stephen with Richard Arnold, chatting closely at a formal indoor event, holding champagne glasses and smiling, with other guests mingling in the softly lit background." title="The Radio Times Covers 2026 at Claridge's, London. Tuesday 28th January 2026." /> "My mum's really elderly now, and for her to see me on the cover of the Radio Times..." Dolan says. "Now I can go, 'Here you go, Mum.' But also it's really nice for her to talk about, and it makes her really proud. It's just a great honour." Carriages: 11:15pm As the evening winds down, the crowd is merry. Feet are sore from dancing (led by on-stage entertainment Alex Horne and The Horne Section) and specially ordered cars are beckoning. It's been another joyous and glittering celebration of the top TV talent and many a story will be told – some might even make it to screen. Did you know you can now order a previous edition of Radio Times magazine with our new back issues service? 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.
What's it like to go to the Radio Times Covers Party?
The lavish Art Deco ballroom at London's esteemed Claridge's hotel is packed. No, really. Weaving your way across the floor to snag another glass of bubbly from a sharply-attired waiter means quite literally coming face-to-face with Dame Harriet Walter, rubbing shoulders with a Gladiator and taking in the fine details of The Traitors winner Stephen Libby's tailored look up close. Queen star Roger Taylor comments on how bustling it is. A scattering of glass tables play host to the milling guests' (A-list acting talent, agents, TV executives and more) champagne flues – and a few small signs politely reminding attendees not to bother stars for selfies. The request is futile. The Traitors stars are here and there isn't a person in the room who doesn't want to meet them. Glitzy as it is, the annual Radio Times Covers Party isn't just a star-studded, celebratory affair; it's also where some of the most powerful names in the world of TV connect, shaping the shows – partnerships, castings, scripts – you watch at home in the coming months and years. The fizz, the canapés, the upscale Mayfair location and the extravagantly glamorous outfits alone would be enough to cause a clamour for invitations – but in the organic flow of conversations throughout the night, there's a subtler value to be found too. And you'd better believe it's invitation-only. The unenviable task of wrangling the guest list into shape is overseen by RT planning editor Maria Fyfe – the backbone of an extensive team of staff who pull off this spectacular bash every year. "The guest list is a tough balancing act," says Fyfe, who for weeks leading up to tonight could be seen juggling requests from agents, talent and colleagues alike. "So much cover talent, so many great people to invite, not enough space. But it's the plus one requests that tip me over the edge and I always need a lie down in a dark room to recover." Back in the room, the ballroom itself is a grand space but not overwhelmingly large, like stepping into a preserved slide of old-world glamour but with an intimacy that makes for a curated event which doesn't feel impersonal. There are chandeliers, huge floral displays and, off to the right, a generous anteroom aptly named the Mirror Room. Plus, of course, many bars to supplement the waiting staff circulating ceaselessly through the crowd with silver trays of beverages. Glitz & glamour <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/01/260127RTCoversParty-201-246185a.jpg" width="3000" height="2001" alt="Five stars of Call the Midwife posing playfully in a dressing-room–style space, some wearing nurse hats and party dresses; one person sits in front while others stand behind smiling, holding drinks and a stethoscope, with privacy screens and hanging white garments in the background." title="The Radio Times Covers 2026 at Claridge's, London. Tuesday 28th January 2026." /> The women of Call the Midwife can be spied in their finery – a far cry from their Nonnatus House uniforms. Dame Mary Berry is thrilled to see them relaxing, off the clock. "It's a very glamorous, sparkling event, and I'm already completely over-awed because the Traitors and Faithfuls are here," says the BAFTA-winning Monica Dolan. "I really hope that I get to talk to them." "I've only been here 10 minutes. I've met Mark Chapman, who I'm told, looks like me. I think he looks like me, or I look like him. It depends," quips comedian and The 1% Club host Lee Mack. "And Kelly Cates. I know them anyway, but it's nice to catch up and talk about football." He's also spotted long-time Would I Lie to You? co-star David Mitchell, who is in attendance with his wife and queen of Only Connect, Victoria Coren Mitchell. "We've run out of things to say to each other, so we just sort of awkwardly nodded at each other," he jokes. Mitchell, meanwhile, dubs the night "a very swanky do". Everywhere you turn, there's a soap star. Even the majority of the EastEnders' Six showed up, dressed to the nines. It's Suki actress Balvinder Sopal's first time at a Radio Times Covers Party but she looks effortlessly comfortable as she poses for celeb photographer Ray Burmiston in the Mirror Room, where portraits of the guests are being snapped throughout the first half of the evening. EastEnders' iconic Cindy (Michelle Collins) speaks for everyone when she summarises: "Well, it's at Claridge's, so it's great fun." Strictly Come Dancing 2025 winner Carlos Gu echoes that sentiment: "I mean, we're in Claridge's and with Radio Times. I think it's the best you could have in January 2026!" Slow Horses' Christopher Chung sidles past Jessie Wallace, Michael Burke can be found a few metres from Armando Iannucci – there's nowhere to turn without star-spotting. But it's certainly not just Mr Bates vs The Post Office actress Dolan who's got her eye on the prize of grabbing a few minutes with The Traitors. "I've seen all of The Traitors cast and I'm just kind of overwhelmed," Olivia Frances Brown (Coronation Street) gushes. "Especially Stephen, the winner." Darling Faithful Harriet Tyce, who fell spectacularly on her own sword, earning herself an army of fans during her all-too-short tenure on the latest series says it's lovely to be able to reunite with her fellow Traitors contestants, while Stephen, inundated with requests for pictures or nuggets of gossip from the series, admits: "This is a far cry from what I'm used to!" Influence & sway In amongst the celebrities and the cocktails, influential connections are being made. "The Covers Party is one of those nights that really matters to us," says Radio Times' deputy digital editor Helen Daly. "It brings together some of the most influential people in television for a genuine celebration of the industry – but it’s also where conversations begin that often grow into something much bigger. Ideas are shared, relationships are formed and we see the early sparks of projects that shape what we cover next." Case in point: at last year's party, a chat between Radio Times brand editor Shem Law and Aardman's Nick Park led to a handshake deal: the much-coveted Christmas issue cover would be Gromit and the equally iconic Shaun the Sheep. Park is back again this year, wearing a green sequinned bow tie we're told he made himself. Sir Lenny Henry returns to host the evening. "People like to be acknowledged," he says, after handing the cover stars of the past 12 months framed copies of those very covers. "If you're a production company or an actor or a producer or a writer, it's really nice when people say your work was good. And I think the cover says, 'Your work was good and deserves this.' "People treat [the Radio Times Covers Party] as a place to meet their heroes, hustle for work, fall in love if they love somebody. Like I'm a big fan of Victoria Coren, so David Mitchell's always standing behind me," Henry jokes. "But it's a chance to meet your heroes and the people you love watching on the telly. So it's a really great night, and it's at Claridge's, you know – what could be better?!" Among the TV execs present is Lifted Entertainment's creative director Diego Rincón, attending for the first time. "I can't believe what I've been missing out on!" he says, admiring the "buzzy and collegiate atmosphere". "Judging by the breadth of on- and off-camera talent in attendance, it's also a coveted hot ticket and a fantastic opportunity to catch up with peers and make new important connections as well." "The Covers Party is where the industry loosens its tie a little," adds deputy head of production at Lifted Entertainment, ITV Studios, Helen Houston. "It’s social, buzzy and you always leave having had at least one conversation that turns into something interesting later." Call the Midwife's Stephen McGann has a different take: the party is like a "cheese dream". "One of the particularly special things about the party is everybody just gets thrown into the same room, like a sort of psychological experiment of British television," he says. "You walk past somebody like the wonderful David Attenborough, who'll be handing out peanuts to somebody who's in EastEnders. It's like a cheese dream. It's wonderful!" The enduring power of a magazine cover "I get Radio Times every week," says Brian & Maggie's Dame Harriet Walter, when asked how it feels to receive her RT cover, frame and all. "I'm a subscriber, and it's actually not the first time I've been on the Radio Times cover, but it was some 30, 40 years ago." The Gladiators graced a recent cover of the magazine in all their muscle-bound, Lycra-clad glory. "It is unreal, especially because the shots were so powerful, and they represent who we are as people and the show and what we represent in terms of our values: the power, the strength, the confidence, also the vulnerability in each individual," says Fire, AKA Montell Douglas, here tonight as herself, not a hint of spandex in sight. Meanwhile, TV baker extraordinaire Dame Mary Berry's framed cover will go in her office – a popular choice as Call the Midwife writer Heidi Thomas notes the same fate awaits hers. Thomas has 23 framed Radio Times covers to date and is running out of room, however. "But I'm married to Dr Turner in the show (McGann)," she says. "He's surprisingly handy with a drill and a step ladder, so I'll get him to put the next ones up for me." <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/01/260127RTCoversParty-186-25412e2.jpg" width="3000" height="2001" alt="The Traitors stars Fiona and Stephen with Richard Arnold, chatting closely at a formal indoor event, holding champagne glasses and smiling, with other guests mingling in the softly lit background." title="The Radio Times Covers 2026 at Claridge's, London. Tuesday 28th January 2026." /> "My mum's really elderly now, and for her to see me on the cover of the Radio Times..." Dolan says. "Now I can go, 'Here you go, Mum.' But also it's really nice for her to talk about, and it makes her really proud. It's just a great honour." Carriages: 11:15pm As the evening winds down, the crowd is merry. Feet are sore from dancing (led by on-stage entertainment Alex Horne and The Horne Section) and specially ordered cars are beckoning. It's been another joyous and glittering celebration of the top TV talent and many a story will be told – some might even make it to screen.
The Traitors winner Stephen Libby confirms he has left his job as he teases what’s in his future
Since its debut in 2022, The Traitors has produced a handful of deserving winners, from Faithfuls who managed to sniff out the Traitors at the very last point to Traitors who pulled the wool over the eyes of their fellow players. And this year was no different. After weeks of brutal banishments and shocking murders, Stephen Libby and Rachel Duffy were crowned the winners and took home £47,875 each. As a result, Stephen has been the talk of the nation, whether it be about his striking outfit choices or his decision to remain faithful to his fellow Traitor. Such has got many people thinking, 'what will he do next?'. Speaking exclusively at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026, Stephen revealed he has left his role as a cyber security consultant and is keen to dive "into something that I'm more passionate about". View Green Video on the source website "It's been very good to me over the years, which is great, but I'm taking a break from work at the moment, just going to put my feet up see what happens," he said. Stephen added: "And then if, in the future, an opportunity presents itself to me that's more exciting than cyber security, I'll grab it with both hands." Fans can only hope that Stephen will move into the fashion world after his iconic outfits kept the nation talking during each and every episode. But, this certainly wasn't something that he had expected while filming the series. "The reaction has been overwhelming, because this is like my day-to-day wardrobe, and so I didn't curate a wardrobe specifically for The Traitors," he told RadioTimes.com. "But I'm just so happy that the response has been positive and the memes have been hilarious. I mean, people are quick with their memes as well, like an episode would finish, and it'd be hundreds of new memes about my jumpsuit or a pink jumper, a green jumper. "And I think what it's shown me is that the bar for men's fashion is quite low because, to me, that's just like my normal clothing. So I'm just really happy that I had a positive response." The Traitors season 1-4 are available to watch on BBC iPlayer now. 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.
The Traitors star Faraaz reveals he was left in tears after billionaire's touching gift
Faraaz Noor may not have won The Traitors prize money to take his family on a pilgrimage to Hajj, but the opportunity to do so may come sooner than he thinks. Faraaz was a fan favourite on this year's series, often for his quiet and sometimes incorrect contributions to the roundtable. He made it to the final episode but was ultimately banished by Traitors Stephen and Rachel. Ahead of the final, Faraaz said if he were to win the prize he would "love to be able to spend it on me and my family to make a religious pilgrimage". "To go to Umrah, to go to Hajj, would be really nice. For me to do that for my family would be great. If there's a bit of left over, I wouldn't mind putting a bit away for a new car but treating my family is my main goal." Following the whirlwind of The Traitors, Umar Kamani, the CEO of PrettyLittleThing, shared on X (formerly known as Twitter), that he "would love to send Faraaz from Traitors and his family to Hajj". View oEmbed on the source website Reacting to the news at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026, Faraaz shared that he was "in tears" after seeing the post. "I came back and I was talking to my mum and I was like, I just can't... to Umar, I'm so grateful, Alhamdulillah, I was literally crying my eyes out honestly. I couldn't believe it." View Green Video on the source website While details on whether Faraaz and Umar are in touch are not known, the breakout Traitors star is keen to still make the pilgrimage. He told BBC News: "The love and support I've been getting is unbelievable... Inshallah, one day I'll be able to hopefully take them to Hajj or even complete Umrah. I'm looking forward to that." The Traitors season 1-4 are available to watch on BBC iPlayer now. 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.