Is this the end for Call the Midwife’s Nonnatus House?
The nuns and midwives' home and HQ is under threat of demolition
"Nonnatus House: Urban demolition," said the letter from Greater London Council in bright red capital letters, followed by some ominous words: "This is a notice to inform you that Nonnatus House is currently included within the designated demolition area for Poplar." After the letter arrived at the start of series nine, Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) kept this news a secret from everyone except Sister Hilda (Fenella Woolgar), warning her to "tell no one". But now she has finally admitted the truth to her team: Nonnatus is on course to be pulled down in the next two years. So is this really the end of Nonnatus House? View Green Video on the source website "Well, no spoilers but it's very much a part of the journey that Nonnatus House is going on," Heidi Thomas told RadioTimes.com at the Radio Times Covers Party. "And it reflects what was going on in the East End at that time, and indeed what happened to the original order of nuns who were based there and whose work inspired our series. "I think it would not feel very realistic if they weren't under some sort of threat. Their premises are rented, we know they've already had to move once before because of an unexploded bomb that then exploded. "And now everything is being torn down around them. We see that on screen, and it would be very strange if it didn't impact on them, physically and emotionally." The nuns and midwives were previously forced to move at the start of series three, when the original Nonnatus House was earmarked for demolition – a process sped up by the discovery (and controlled detonation) of a World War Two bomb. But they've been in their present HQ ever since. Call the Midwife is currently based at Longcross Film Studios in Surrey, where the production team have built a massive set including the exterior of Nonnatus House, the square, shops, bridge, and Hendy Street allotments. Various Nonnatus interiors are also filmed on set here. So does the on-screen threat to Nonnatus mean that Call the Midwife is moving to a new set? "Trick question, so I can't say," Thomas told us. "Because we do have, we're about to start filming series ten and then there's series 11. So who knows what will happen before the end!" As for the prospect of Nonnatus being demolished, "I think all of the midwives are feeling unsettled by it," Nurse Trixie actress Helen George said. "It's their sense of community, it's their workplace, but it's their family as well. And a lot of these women have found themselves there with - and they're there for a reason as well, you know, they've gone to find a new family outside of their own biological family. There's a reason for that, perhaps. So it's emotionally a massive thing to feel that that sense of community amongst themselves is going to potentially crumble. "Should fans be worried? I mean you don't know! Let's just wait and see. It might be intense next year!" Fortunately for fans, whatever the outcome for Nonnatus House, Call the Midwife itself is already commissioned for another two series. Bring on series 10 and 11... Call the Midwife continues on Sundays on BBC One at 8pm
Heidi Thomas reveals where the 2020 Call the Midwife Christmas special will be set
The BBC show's creator told RadioTimes.com she is already writing this year's festive episode
Previous Call the Midwife Christmas specials have taken us to such exotic locations as the Outer Hebrides, West Sussex and South Africa – and now creator Heidi Thomas has revealed where she's setting the next festive episode. And it's somewhere that will be very familiar to fans... "We are staying in Poplar," Thomas told RadioTimes.com at the Radio Times Covers Party. View Green Video on the source website "We are not going anywhere cold, we are not going anywhere wet, we're not going anywhere far away. It's very much Poplar-based, I'm writing it at the moment. "And there will be snow and there will be tinsel and there will be trees and there will be Christmas dinner at Nonnatus House. And beyond that it's a secret!" The last time all the characters stayed in Poplar for the entire Christmas special was in the 2017 episode, which was set during the exceptionally snowy and cold winter of 1962-3. That was followed by a Christmas episode where several nuns and midwives were summoned to the Mother House in West Sussex (where they enjoyed wintery walks on the beach). And last year, the majority of the characters packed their bags and headed for the remote Outer Hebrides. But this time around, everyone's staying at home – though Thomas is keeping quiet about what's in store for the midwives, other than the obvious: yes, there will be babies. "I think the baby count when I left my desk this morning was running at two," she said. "But we'll see how I get on, because I haven't finished writing it yet!" Call the Midwife continues on Sundays at 8pm on BBC One
Call the Midwife’s Stephen McGann: ‘I'm a great crier'
Laura Main and Stephen McGann, who play Shelagh and Patrick Turner, aren't afraid to embrace their emotions...
"People like seeing a man be emotional," says Laura Main. She's referring to her on-screen husband, Dr Patrick Turner, played by Stephen McGann – and he's definitely shed some tears in this series of Call the Midwife. Patrick and his wife, Shelagh Turner, were blindsided when their 'orphaned' foster daughter May's biological mother turned up out of the blue, threatening to derail the adoption. View Green Video on the source website The doctor has also faced some heartbreaking medical cases in series nine, with the death of a newborn baby from congenital rubella syndrome leaving him sobbing privately in his car. McGann told RadioTimes.com at the Radio Times Covers Party: "The most touching thing about me crying on screen, for me, [was to be] contacted by medics saying, 'Thank you for that. We do that, we go off' – and I found that incredibly moving. I said, well thanks, because it's genuine. Because you've got to find somewhere to have your cry. "Can you imagine what these guys deal with all the time? We're just playing 'let's pretend', but these guys really do it." View oEmbed on the source website The actor is no stranger to letting his emotions out. "I'm a great crier and I think I'm lucky because I grew up in a family who could go and watch a movie, and shed a tear, and that was okay," he explained. "My father wasn't like that, but the boys were, and I think that's very healthy... it's a great catharsis." McGann's brothers are, of course, the actors Joe McGann (currently on Hollyoaks), Paul McGann (of Doctor Who fame), and Mark McGann. Laura Main also found it emotional to film the scenes with little May in this series, having bonded with child actor April Rae Hoang since she arrived in the 2018 Christmas special. "It's easy to feel the emotions because there is a genuine – you're not totally acting," she said. "You do love these kids, you know, and I love little April and it makes it easier to tap into it because she's just a terrific little girl." View oEmbed on the source website The storyline touched on some painful truths about adoption, which isn't always emotionally (or legally) simple. It's clear that the Turner family loves this little girl, and that May also loves her new parents and siblings – especially her sister Angela. She is distressed to be reunited with her birth mother Esther (Yennis Cheung) and is clearly thriving in Poplar where the Turners can offer her a bright future. But Esther also still loves her daughter. From her perspective, May belongs with her; and she's distressed at the idea of May losing her original language and not being connected to her Chinese heritage. "There's no easy answer," McGann said. "Like with any of the themes in Call the Midwife, that it's painful – and with the story unfolding as it did, by episode six, there's some real heartache there – and there's no one simple side to be taken. Of course, we wouldn't do that." He added: "We've been contacted on the show by adopted children... they've written in and said, 'it was nice that it was complex. Because it's not easy, and there are a lot of things that are not simple - and thanks for making it not simple.' Because it isn't." The Call the Midwife finale airs on Sunday 23rd February 2020 at 8pm on BBC One
Neil Dudgeon on his Midsomer Murders future – and whether he'd ever quit the show
The actor stars as DCI John Barnaby in the much-loved ITV crime drama
Neil Dudgeon says he has "no intention" of leaving Midsomer Murders and will "go on and on doing it for as long as it's fun" – even if "sooner or later all good things come to an end." The actor has already spent a decade playing DCI John Barnaby in the ITV crime drama, after replacing John Nettles in the lead role. Original star Nettles had played DCI Tom Barnaby since the show's launch in 1997. "I've got no intention of stopping doing it. I don't know what else I'd do!" Dudgeon told RadioTimes.com at the Radio Times Covers Party. View Green Video on the source website "I'm in a very fortunate position. I think it's such a great show that, one always assumes - when you're an actor you always think, whatever job I'm doing, it's going to end next week and that'll be it, I won't work again. "But no, I think that as long as ITV want to make it and people want to keep commissioning it, as long as people want to keep watching it, it's a great show to do. So I can't imagine why I would – I think if I stopped doing Midsomer, I'd kind of stop doing things entirely. It's like Dr Johnson said about London: when a man is tired of London he's tired of life. I think when an actor's tired of doing Midsomer he's tired of acting." Reflecting on his love of the show, explained: "I've been doing Midsomer Murders for... it'll be 10 years this year. I started in 2010. I started wanting to do it because I've always loved Midsomer Murders, and I've gone on doing it because - I suppose I still love Midsomer Murders, really. "I love the – having a two-hour show to do and having the scripts that we have, the quality of guests that we get, the locations that we film in. The thing that I always loved about watching the show is the same as I still love about making the show, is that I think it's kind of fun and I think it was very high production values, so it looks great and it's kind of fun and entertaining, and I get to work with a lot of brilliant people, so there's a lot of great reasons for carrying on doing it." The drama is now in its 21st series, with Dudgeon joined by Fiona Dolman as his wife Sarah Barnaby and Nick Hendrix as DS Jamie Winter. Recent episodes have starred actors including Katy Brand, Jason Watkins, Annette Badland, Nigel Havers, Danny Mac, and Natalie Gumede. "I can't say why I would leave," Dudgeon told us. "I can only think that, sooner or later, all good things come to an end. Somebody's going to say, 'it's been great but now it's time to stop.'" He added: "When I started I would never, ever have thought it could go on so long. And now I'm looking at ten years, I'm thinking, well, you know, John Nettles did it for 13 years, maybe I would like to sort of catch up with John Nettles. I don't know. "As I say, I can't imagine why I would choose to leave unless somebody else chooses for me to leave, and then I won't have a choice. But no, I think I'll go on and on doing it for as long as it's fun and it goes on being fun. It's a great show, you know, it's a great show to do. Great writers, great scripts, directors, wonderful guests come in, great locations. If you're an actor working in television, it's got everything that you want to have in a job really." Dudgeon is also hopeful about the show's future. "As long as people love the show and watch the show, I guess that's a good reason to keep on doing it," he said. "The recent episodes that have gone out, I gather, have done very well in the ratings and have had lots of people watching them, so hopefully that will persuade ITV to keep investing in the show and putting money into the show and letting us come up with great, nutty scripts of murder and mayhem in the English counties, and we'll go on doing it and entertaining people for a little while to come." Meet the cast of Midsomer Murders Where is Midsomer Murders filmed? The actor also addressed the major delay in showing Midsomer Murders on British TV – a delay which meant that many episodes aired abroad before UK fans were able to watch on ITV. "I know that there are fans of the show, UK fans of the show aren't very happy hearing from fans in Sweden and Germany and Australia and America saying, 'Oh yeah we saw all that series last year!' – and obviously British fans think it's a British show, and we're only just seeing it now," Dudgeon said. "I don't really know why that is, other than obviously ITV, it's up to the schedulers at ITV. We make the show and deliver the show, I gather, and then the schedulers at ITV decide when they're going to broadcast those shows." Series 20 of the long-running crime drama began in March 2019 with the first two episodes, but then there was a long gap until the next pair of episodes aired in May. The final two episodes only aired in January 2020. We're now two episodes into series 21, but fans are still waiting for the rest. "There was a bit of a hiatus when they weren't showing shows on British television, and then I think foreign distributers were saying, 'Our audiences are clamouring for Midsomer, please can we show it'," Dudgeon explained. "Because it used to be, I think, that it had to be shown in this country before it could be shown abroad. And then I think because of this hiatus in this country, foreign distributors and broadcasters were saying, 'We need more Midsomer! You've got to let us show it!' And then ITV said, OK, you can show it. So then it went out in various territories, I think around Europe, Australia, and I think some broadcasters in America could show it. View oEmbed on the source website "So then of course lots of people around the world have seen it and British viewers haven't seen it. So when they got wind via social media that other people were seeing it and they were waiting another year or two years to see it, the fans were not very happy." He added: "Why ITV held onto it for so long, I don't know. That's way above my pay grade, I don't really know why that would happen. "I think the only solution is that we film more episodes and we broadcast them more speedily to everybody in the world who wants to see them... People love it all over the world and they just want more of it. So I think that's what we should give them."
Claude Littner felt 'very strongly' The Apprentice would end in 2020
Claude Littner has revealed his surprise that The Apprentice will continue beyond the next series
Claude Littner was left shocked to discover this year's series of The Apprentice is unlikely to be the last following a revelation from Alan Sugar. Littner has been involved in all 15 series' of the show at the infamous interview stage, while he stepped up to fill Nick Hewer's shoes as Lord Sugar's right-hand man in series 11. The 70-year-old businessman knew the show had one more year to run on its contract and fully believed it was set to be the final year of boardroom action. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com at the Radio Times Covers Party, Littner said: "I got a bit of a shock because we've got one more year to do on the contract. "I felt very strongly that this was going to be the last year. "But when a journalist asked him the question, he said 'oh no, I'm carrying on for at least four or five more years' so I can see myself wandering around after these candidates with my zimmer frame shuffling around in a few years time." View Green Video on the source website However, Littner does still believe that when Lord Sugar decides to call it a day, the show will have to end. He said: "My personal feeling is that he's such a character, he's the glue that sticks the whole thing together, that I do believe when he stops, I think the show would have to be retired. "I can't imagine someone coming along and really taking it on. "Maybe in some years somebody may try to revive it, but I think he's made it his own. "We're all getting a bit old – apart from Karren [Brady] who is still a spring chicken – so I don't know how many years of life I've got, but if Alan wants to carry on, then I'm happy to carry on with him certainly." Littner loves his role on the hit BBC show, and despite being aware of the often strenuous nature of the process, he takes great pride in featuring alongside Lord Sugar and will hope to keep going for years to come. "It's very pleasurable being on the show, being with Alan and Karren is fun," he said. "The actual process itself is pretty arduous so I'm looking forward to doing it but with trepidation. "Getting up early in the morning, working til late at night, wandering around with the candidates is not great fun but the process is fantastic. "I'm very, very lucky to have been involved for all these years on The Apprentice." The Apprentice Series 16 is expected to return to screens in October 2020
Ruth Jones gives update on Gavin and Stacey season 4: "I wish I could say we would do it"
Following on from the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special fans are desperate to know whether there will be any more episodes. We all screamed at our TVs in unison on Christmas Day when Nessa (Ruth Jones) got down on one knee to propose to Smithy (James Corden) and the episode ended before we could hear his answer. However, according to Ruth Jones, there might not be any chance of Gavin and Stacey coming back at all. View Green Video on the source website Jones exclusively spoke to RadioTimes.com at the Radio Times Covers Party about whether or not we'll have a long wait for more episodes, saying: "I wish I could answer that question, but I just can't. "At the moment there are no plans but then we didn't have plans for years. I wish I could say that we would do it but genuinely there are no plans at the moment." But does she know how she would continue the series if it was going to run? "I think because there are so many characters in the show it could go in a number of directions and that's what's lovely about it. "So to say, 'Do I know?'... No, I don't. I don't know anything!" Jones went on to discuss how she felt about bringing Gavin and Stacey back at all, explaining there was a huge element of worry behind it. "I think you have to worry about bringing something back," she revealed. "You can't be 100 per cent convinced that it's the right thing to do - that's why it probably took us 10 years to do it. "Yes, it was a risk, and there were many hurdles. Would the cast be available? Would they want to do it? Will Barry let us come and film there? All of these sorts of things, but luckily it all fell into place." Gavin & Stacey special's final ratings see it become biggest scripted show of the decade Speaking about the success of the special, Jones added: "It couldn't have really gone better for us because we wanted to keep it a secret and we managed to do that. "We got to the point where families were sitting down together watching it, which doesn't happen very often. So yeah, that was lovely." You can buy the entire Gavin and Stacey DVD collection on Amazon.
Strictly Come Dancing star hints Jamie Laing will return to 2020 line-up
Strictly Come Dancing fans are keen to see Jamie Laing return for the 2020 line-up following on from his injury last year. The Made In Chelsea star sadly had to withdraw from the competition when he landed awkwardly on his foot during the first show in which he was partnered with Oti Mabuse. All eyes are on whether Jamie will return to Strictly Come Dancing, but as the line-up remains a tightly-held secret, the former stars of the show have been calling for him to be given another chance. RadioTimes.com exclusively caught up with Saffron Barker at the Radio Times Covers Party where she said she thinks he has the chance to return. The 2019 dancer said: "I would love to see Jamie go back again. "I reckon he does have the chance to go back on - I hope he does and I'm rooting for it." View Green Video on the source website Saffron also opened up on what it was like having a new judge on the panel in the form of Motsi Mabuse. "I absolutely love Motsi, I think she has a strong personality and character," Saffron explained. "She was so much fun to be around, not just on the show but in person. "I think absolutely she should come back - I think she adds something to the show so hopefully fingers crossed she does come back." Saffron just finished up on the Strictly Come Dancing tour and revealed one of the best bits about it was getting chance to spend time with her fellow celebrities. "It was like a big family reunion which was so lovely," she explained. It was so nice because there was no pressure - we didn't have to worry about one of us going home each week which is obviously the pressure you have on the show. "It was so much fun because we came even closer - because we're training with our partners every day, you don't actually see the other celebs until Saturday on the show. So it was nice because I feel like I've made some friends for life." Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One in 2020
Strictly Come Dancing stars call for same sex couples in 2020 line-up
Strictly Come Dancing stars Saffron Barker and Emma Barton have called out for the first same-sex celebrity pairing in the 2020 series. The line-up is a closely guarded secret at the moment and while it's being finalised, two 2019 alumni think it's about time for a same-sex pairing. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com at the Radio Times Covers Party, Strictly Come Dancing star Saffron was keen to see history being made. "I would be all about them having a same sex couple - yeah they should," she said. Saffron continued: "Absolutely, if someone wants to be in a same sex couple I don't know why you wouldn't." Her Strictly 2020 colleague, Emma agreed, sharing: "I love it, it's just fantastic and I don't understand why not. View Green Video on the source website "I think it would be amazing, and Johannes and Graziano did it themselves in that routine and proved how beautifully it could be done." She added: "Male or female... why not be two women? "They are just fierce those dancers, they will work to your advantage whether they're the same sex as you or not. "They will bring out the best in you." Emma and Saffron are fresh off the Strictly Come Dancing tour, where they travelled across the UK performing their most popular routines for fans. For Emma, it's been a confidence-building experience getting to dance in front of thousands every night. She said: "I impressed myself that I got through the fear. I'm a bit of a worrier and a perfectionist in my job. I like to make sure everything is clean, right and correct, whether it's learning lines or singing or dancing. "I learnt to overcome and the further I got through, confidence was building. "On the back of doing the tour, doing arenas - places my idols have performed - to the amount of people, the scale of that... I really believe now you should face your fears!" Speaking about her Strictly experience, Saffron added: "It was amazing, it was a dream come true. It's actually just ended because I also had the tour as well, so I feel like I had eight months of Strictly, but it's a pretty good eight months. "It was like a big family reunion which was so lovely. It was so nice because there was no pressure - it was like Strictly but with no pressure." Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One in 2020
Emma Barton calls for Honey and Billy reunion as she returns to EastEnders
"I think they belong together," says the star
Honey Mitchell has been absent from Albert Square since mid-January, when Emma Barton was temporarily written out of EastEnders to accommodate her Strictly Come Dancing commitments, but we can reveal she's back on set soon. The actress made it to the Strictly final with partner Anton du Beke, beaten to the glitterball trophy by Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse, and recently finished the tour. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com at the 2020 Radio Times Covers Party, Barton teased details of her imminent Walford return. EastEnders: who is joining, leaving and returning to the soap? EastEnders 35th anniversary week: 24 characters in danger EastEnders 35th anniversary: day-by-day guide to all the drama "I've been off for a bit but I'm back there in a few weeks. Back behind the Minute Mart counter! Honey's gone to visit Auntie Caroline, who was in it a few times played by Una Stubbs. I still love saying Una Stubbs is my auntie!" Her alter ego had a heartbreaking exit storyline that saw her battle an eating disorder as a reaction to her toxic relationship with lothario Adam Bateman, whose coercive abuse and infidelity sent her mental health spiralling. Eventually, Honey opened up about her bulimia and left to get help for her condition. "Poor Honey really had a battering at the end of last year," continues Barton. "It was right that she had to go and find herself. It will be interesting to see where they take that storyline when she returns, I haven't seen any scripts or discussed anything as yet but they can't ignore why Honey went away." With Barton being twirled around the ballroom these last few months it sadly meant she wasn't able to be a part of the special 35th anniversary episodes, with most of the ensemble boarding a Thames river boat cruise that ends in a tragic death. The identity of the deceased remains a closely-guarded secret, even to her! "I don't know anything about the 35th! So I'll be avidly watching it as a fan again, I can't wait." With evil Adam gone, fans may be hoping Honey ends up back in the arms of estranged husband Billy, who helped his wife fight her demons and encouraged her to take control. Barton, it seems, couldn't agree more: "I'm not going to lie, speaking as Emma I do think Honey and Billy belong together," she smiles. "They write so brilliantly and truthfully for them so it's not like they will just simply pick up, there is always a journey with those characters and I love that. Let's see where her and Billy's relationship goes…" Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers
Dracula will be “the hero of his own story” in radical reinterpretation by Sherlock creators
Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss says the switch-up was their main pitch to Netflix and the BBC – but it’s been giving them some problems…
While Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss’s new Dracula TV series won’t be bringing the iconic vampire to the present day (as the duo did with a certain Baker Street sleuth for Sherlock), the pair have revealed they are making one big change to previous adaptations of Bram Stoker’s original novel. Speaking exclusively at the Radio Times Covers Party, the pair revealed that their big pitch to the BBC and Netflix has been to finally make Dracula “the hero of his own story” – the central focus of the narrative rather than a shadowy villain for more traditional heroes to overcome. Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss have finished writing Dracula with filming to start “very soon” When is Dracula coming to TV? Who’s writing it? And who’s in the cast? Mark Gatiss reveals the part he wants to play in his new Dracula TV series “There’s lots of things that are challenging about Dracula,” Moffat said. “Having an evil lead character is actually really difficult. That’s been the main challenge I think. But how we’ve handled, that you’ll have to wait and see.” View oEmbed on the source website “It’s been very exciting though,” Gatiss added. “Because we sort of made a promise to ourselves and the people who are making it, paying for it, that we’d make Dracula the hero of his own story, and less of a shadowy presence. “And that’s a really clever idea, but we had to make good on it!” In Bram Stoker’s original epistolary novel of 1897, Dracula is only ever seen through the eyes of humans trying to escape him or bring him to heel, with the Count representing a malevolent threat to humanity without any real sense of his inner life or perspective. According to Moffat and Gatiss, their new Dracula – played by Danish actor Claes Bang – will bring that interiority on screen. Though, as noted above, it’s not been quite as easy as they anticipated when they first pitched the reinterpretation… “We quickly found out why he’s often kept a shadowy presence!” joked Moffat. “So it’s hard work, but I think it’s worked. It’s worked well I think, so far.” Considering the duo have just written the final words of the three-part series’ last episode, fingers crossed they worked out the kinks in the end. Dracula will begin shooting later this year
Writer Heidi Thomas on plans for a possible Call the Midwife movie
"We would never rule out a feature film because it's an opportunity to expand that world"
Call the Midwife creator Heidi Thomas has revealed she would be interested in bringing the BBC drama to the big screen for a "gorgeous" feature film. "Over the years – and we've been doing the show for eight years now – I think we've become more and more confident in our remit," she explained at the Radio Times Covers Party, as she confirmed that storylining for series nine has already begun. How did Call the Midwife film the cleft lip and palate baby? Call the Midwife episode 'prompts 46% spike in blood donor registration' Stay up to date with the RadioTimes.com newsletter Asked if she would be up for writing a Call the Midwife movie, she said: "Oh gosh, wouldn't it be gorgeous?" The TV screenwriter added: "The thing is, at the moment Call the Midwife still feels as though it has so much potential in television. But we would never rule out something like a feature film because it's an opportunity to expand that world and maybe look at it from a different angle. "And above all else, we love that world and we want to keep making drama set in that world. So who knows?" And while the Call the Midwife movie hasn't yet been "formally" discussed, it is definitely a topic of conversation. "Sometimes we sit there with a cup of tea and we say 'Oh wouldn't it be lovely if,' – but we say lots of things when we're having a cup of tea and they don't always come to fruition," Thomas said. "So no formal discussions at all, but I think it's nice to think that the possibility would be there some day..." View oEmbed on the source website This article was originally published in January 2019
Call the Midwife creator reveals when the BBC drama might have to end
"I don't know how far into the 1970s we could go," Heidi Thomas says – but there's still so much to explore in the hit BBC series before then
Call the Midwife may have a natural endpoint, creator Heidi Thomas has revealed – but it won't be for some time yet. Currently in its eighth series, the BBC drama has now reached 1964 and times are changing in Poplar as greater prosperity, increased immigration and medical innovations arrive in the East End. A ninth series set in 1965 is already in the works. "We're commissioned up to series nine by the BBC, and we may well continue," Thomas told RadioTimes.com at the Radio Times Covers Party. "And, if we did, there seems to be no limit to the interest and excitement of the world in the 1960s." However, beyond the 1960s the future of Call the Midwife is more uncertain. How did Call the Midwife film the cleft lip and palate baby? Meet the cast of Call the Midwife series 8 Stay up to date with the RadioTimes.com newsletter View oEmbed on the source website "I do know that the original nuns on whom the original books were based left Poplar in 1976, because the social and the medical climate had changed," Thomas said. "They relocated to Birmingham and focused more on spiritual work. So I don't know how far into the 1970s we could go." Still, she added, that moment won't arrive any time soon: "Because every series has a new year attached to it, I think we could go on for a few years to come. But who knows? We aren't bored yet!" Thomas also revealed she would be happy to write some of our old favourites back into the story – if any of them wanted to return to Call the Midwife. That does not, of course, include the late Nurse Barbara Hereward (Charlotte Ritchie). But Sister Winifred (Victoria Yeates), Nurse Patsy Mount (Emerald Fennell) and even original Midwife character Chummy (Miranda Hart) could make a comeback. "I think anybody who leaves is always welcome back," the screenwriter said. But, she added, "Call the Midwife has a momentum of its own and what we find is, particularly when it's a matter of an actor wanting to move on, very quickly they're replaced by new characters that the audience take to their heart. "And I think that's what keeps Call the Midwife going, is the idea that we constantly move forward. There's always something refreshing happening and a new face on the horizon, and I just love the way people have embraced Sister Hilda and Sister Frances, and of course the magnificent Miriam as Mother Mildred." Speaking of Miriam Margolyes, Thomas confirmed that fans can look forward to seeing much more of the Mother House's exuberant new Mother Superior, who is going to be Call the Midwife's "extra-special regular guest star." "Miriam is going to pop up from time to time," Thomas explained. "She's Mother Superior, so as a character she's based down on the south coast, but she will be appearing in episodes six and seven of this series, which is lovely for us – it was great to have her back." This article was originally published in January 2019 Sign up for the free RadioTimes.com newsletter
We "wasted" Olivia Colman in Doctor Who says former showrunner
Steven Moffat says he wishes they’d used the now Oscar-nominated actor more when she appeared in the sci-fi series
These days Olivia Colman is the toast of Hollywood, winning plaudits and awards for her performance in Oscar-nominated film The Favourite and soon to take over the central role in hit Netflix series The Crown. It’s all a long way from her fondly remembered guest role in a 2010 episode of Doctor Who – and looking back, then-series showrunner Steven Moffat admits he feels they “wasted” the now Oscar-nominated actor in such a small role. “Well in my first series, [Eleventh Doctor] Matt Smith’s first one, there was Olivia Colman,” Moffat told RadioTimes.com at the Radio Times Covers Party. “Olivia Colman, just a heartbeat before she was stratospheric.” View oEmbed on the source website In the episode (Matt Smith's debut The Eleventh Hour), Colman played one of the hosts for the episode’s villain Prisoner Zero, a shapeshifting alien prisoner who used Colman’s form to taunt the Doctor (while also showing off some pretty terrifying teeth) at the end of the episode. In hindsight, Moffat said, he wishes he’d used the actor more. The Favourite leads the Bafta Film nominations with star Olivia Colman up for leading actress Olivia Colman and Richard Madden lead British winners at Golden Globe Awards “I think, ‘Oh we wasted that, didn’t we!’” Moffat said. “Bloody hell.” View oEmbed on the source website Fellow Doctor Who writer Mark Gatiss, meanwhile, had fond memories of a few other future stars he cast in 2013 episode Cold War, including two of Colman’s co-stars in the next series of The Crown (Josh O’Connor and Tobias Menzies) along with Grantchester’s James Norton. “There are some funny ones aren’t there, like in Cold War, my story on a submarine,” he said. “Peter, who’s killed in the opening titles, is Josh O’Connor from God’s Own Country: he’s a big star now. And James Norton is one of the sailors, and Tobias Menzies. It’s an amazing submarine of stars now!” Nowadays, with new boss Chris Chibnall in charge, both men are watching Doctor Who from the sidelines after over a decade at its heart – so do they miss being part of the sci-fi series? “I’m sort of used to watching Doctor Who I’ve got nothing to do with,” Moffat pointed out. “That’s alright – I don’t mind that at all. I’m thoroughly enjoying it. “I do still have the impulse to do Doctor Who ideas. And I quite like the luxury of saying, ‘Well, that’s a good idea. I’ll just leave it in my head, it’s fine there.'” “It’s lovely to know nothing at all,” added Gatiss. “I used to come in occasionally and write an episode – but you end up finding out bits about the two before and the two after. “So to know nothing at all has been really lovely, refreshing and fun.” And who knows? If they watch closely, they may see even more stars of tomorrow wandering in to Jodie Whittaker’s adventures. Doctor Who returns to BBC1 in 2020 This article was originally published on 1 February 2019
Keeley Hawes reveals final series of The Durrells will get “dark”
The Second World War is looming in the final chapter of the Durrells in Corfu
The final series of The Durrells will get "dark" as the family's idyllic life on Corfu is interrupted by the outbreak of World War Two, Keeley Hawes has revealed. While series three of the ITV drama was set in 1937, the fourth and final series will speed through the Durrells' remaining time on the island and take us all the way to 1939. "It gets a little bit dark for the Durrells, which has always been a light and lovely show," Hawes told us at the Radio Times Covers Party. "The war is approaching, and they have to deal with that – as indeed the Durrells themselves did." Bodyguard star Keeley Hawes says Richard Madden would make a "phenomenal" James Bond When is the final series of The Durrells on TV? Who’s in the cast, where is it filmed and what will happen? Stay up to date with the RadioTimes.com newsletter View oEmbed on the source website In real life, the Durrells arrived in Corfu in 1935 and remained there until the Second World War began, when most of the family returned to England for safety. Larry stayed behind and later escaped to Egypt, while Margo made her way to South Africa. Bringing the story all the way to the end of the Durrells' stay in Corfu has created a sense of completeness, Hawes said – even though she will miss playing Louisa Durrell. "We had an amazing time and we were so lucky that we were able to tell their story and to finish it off and to round it off in the way that we did, and it feels very complete, and we loved it," she explained. "And I think this series – I really think it's the best yet. Everything was thrown at it because we knew it would be the last, so I'm really excited for everyone to see it." As for the romance storyline between Spiro (Alexis Georgoulis) and Louisa, which came to a head at the end of last series with a short-lived love affair and then heartbreak? "Spiro and Mrs Durrell, yeah – their friendship has to – well we'll have to wait and see what happens at the end of the series," Hawes teased. This article was originally published on 5 February 2019 Sign up for the free RadioTimes.com newsletter
Christopher Dean speaks out on Gemma Collins’ Dancing on Ice fall
Whether you’re a fan of the Essex diva or not, there’s no doubt that Gemma Collins has dominated this series of Dancing on Ice. Dancing on Ice contestants: Who is Gemma Collins? Meet the TOWIE star taking to the rink Jason Gardiner's bitchiest Dancing on Ice put-downs Gemma Collins "embarrassed" and "in pain" after dramatic Dancing on Ice fall The 37-year-old TOWIE star, who insisted she was going to “take over, not take part” in the ITV dance show, caused a stir two weeks ago when she falsely accused judge Jason Gardiner of “selling stories” about her – live on air. And last week, Collins set Twitter ablaze after tumbling onto the ice at the very end of her routine. While she looked genuinely upset to have fallen face first at the end of her performance, some viewers were left weary as to whether the star may have faked her accident – although Dancing on Ice head judge Christopher Dean has backed Gemma's version of events. Speaking at the Radio Times Covers Party, the 60-year-old Olympic gold medallist explained, “[Gemma’s fall] was definitely not deliberate. “It was all genuine.” View oEmbed on the source website Dancing on Ice head coach Karen Barber added, “I coached Gemma throughout the week. And it was an out of the blue…Nothing was predicted about that. It was a really bad fall. “We were all shocked and upset.” Who has left Dancing on Ice 2019? Full list of eliminated celebrities While Collins has been spotted in a wheelchair since her fall, Dean added that she had been back training on the ice again, insisting we should be seeing her again on Sunday night. Collins has not been the only controversial character on this year’s Dancing on Ice, with former Strictly star James Jordan facing backlash from fans who claim his previous experience as a professional dancer makes him “too good” for the show. “He’s not ‘too good’ for the show,” said Dean. “He had to work really hard in order to get good.” “The leaderboard has changed every week,” said Barber. “It’s not that he has an advantage, there’s lots of really good skaters. And James works as hard as anybody. He’s a hard worker.” However, the pair both agreed the controversy around the latest series has made it the most watchable yet. “It’s got drama and fantastic skating and great characters, so I think its one of the best series,” said Dean. Dancing on Ice continues Sunday at 6pm on ITV Sign up to the RadioTimes.com email newsletter
Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss have finished writing Dracula with filming to start “very soon”
The writers are still keeping quiet about who else will star alongside the Count himself – Claes Bang
For the last year, Sherlock creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss have been hard at work writing their eagerly-awaited Dracula adaptation – and now, according to the pair they’re finally finished. “We just finished the third script today, a couple of hours ago,” Moffat revealed at the Radio Times Covers Party in an exclusive interview (below). When is Dracula coming to TV? Who’s writing it? And who’s in the cast? Mark Gatiss reveals the part he wants to play in his new Dracula TV series Steven Moffat’s Dracula drama WON'T be set in the modern day “That’s why we’re here!” said co-writer Gatiss. “It’s going well.” View oEmbed on the source website “Well I mean I say finished – we’ve written the last scene,” Moffat added. “It has an ending. I’m sure we will be doing more work on it.” Starring Danish actor Claes Bang, the duo's Dracula series is set to return the iconic literary vampire to his 19th-century origins, and is a co-production between the BBC and streaming service Netflix (who will air the drama’s three feature-length episodes outside the UK). And with the scripts now done and a read-through coming up, the pair confirmed that shooting is imminent, though they wouldn’t confirm exactly when or where the new Prince of Darkness will begin his journey, or which other actors will be joining Bang in the story. “Yes, we are shooting soon – but obviously, we’re not telling you when,” Moffat said. “Very soon.” “We’re not telling you where OR when,” agreed Gatiss. “It’s the usual game. You will be learning about [other cast members].” “Yes, you will in the future – but not now,” Moffat said. For the moment, anyway, the pair seem more than happy with their only announced cast member, singing the praises of Claes Bang and joking that he brings “tallness, Danishness, handsomeness, blood-drinking and vampirism” to the central role. “He’s a fantastic choice, you know,” Gatiss told us. “In a very similar way to Sherlock he’s the only person we considered. It was just like 'Well – there he is!' We watched this film he was in, called the Square, and you’ve just got to go ‘Look – he’s Dracula.’ “He read, and he was fantastic. He’s got incredible presence, brilliant looks, height, everything you want. And a sort of other-ness. “And he does look genuinely like Christopher Lee and Bela Lugosi had a child. And it was Claes.” Accordingly, the pair even joked that from now on they’d be working exclusively with Danish actors in honour of their leading man. “Homegrown talent? No, it’s strictly Danes from now on,” Moffat said. “We’re only casting out of Denmark. I don’t think Denmark has been sufficiently represented, and so we’re going to go all Dane. “It worked for Hamlet! We’re hoping to get some of that energy.” Frankly, it still wouldn’t be the biggest surprise these two have pulled off over the years – we'll be looking out for a particularly Scandi-flavoured shoot over the next few weeks. Dracula begins shooting later this year
Bodyguard star Keeley Hawes says Richard Madden would make a "phenomenal" James Bond
Hit BBC drama Bodyguard has made Golden Globe winner Richard Madden one of the favourites to take over from Daniel Craig
Bodyguard star Keeley Hawes has thrown her support behind Richard Madden becoming the next James Bond, telling RadioTimes.com that he would make a "phenomenal" 007. The Bodyguard actor has become one of the favourites to take over the role from Daniel Craig thanks to his Golden Globe-winning performance as David Budd in the BBC series. "I said to Richard while we were shooting, 'This is like James Bond!'" Hawes, who played Home Secretary Julia Montague in the drama, said at the Radio Times Covers Party. "I would love to see Richard playing James Bond; I would love that," she added. Giving a thumbs up and crossing her fingers, she said, "I think he would be phenomenal." Watch the video below for the full interview. View oEmbed on the source website 32-year-old actor Madden has previously said he was "more than flattered to be mentioned", and that a James Bond film is "a brilliant thing to be in" – but that he doesn't want to spoil his chances and "curse anything by saying anything." Bodyguard star Keeley Hawes and former home secretary Amber Rudd meet at last Bodyguard's US success 'helps' Richard Madden's chances of being the next Bond Stay up to date with the RadioTimes.com newsletter Hawes, 42, also told RadioTimes.com that she had been surprised – Bodyguard spoiler alert – by how many fans still refuse to believe that her character Julia Montague is really, truly, and definitively dead. Writer Jed Mercurio killed the character off in a bomb explosion halfway through the series, but that didn't stop viewers speculating that she had somehow survived the blast. Even now, many fans still insist Julia is alive and will return in series two. "Every day I'm surprised by how many people ask me if I'm still alive!" she said. "It's extraordinary, and completely unexpected." Hawes added, "I tweeted, 'Thanks very much, I had a great time on the show,' and Jed gave an interview to Radio Times and explained why my character had been killed off, so it wasn't really a case of keeping my mouth shut as it was with Line of Duty, when we were having fun playing the game. It wasn't at all. "We'd been quite frank and honest and open about it, but it seemed to be something that people – people wanted the character to be alive. Which is very flattering, thank you very much!" Sign up for the free RadioTimes.com newsletter
Strictly's Katya and Neil Jones to embark on show charting the "ups and downs" of their romance
The Strictly Come Dancing stars will detail the inside story of their careers and marriage in new dance show Somnium
Strictly Come Dancing may not be back on our screens until autumn, but fans have the chance to see far more of professional dancers Katya and Neil Jones in the meantime. When does Strictly Come Dancing 2019 start? Who are the contestants? Strictly Come Dancing: Kevin Clifton finally honours Susan Calman promise by getting "I love Glasgow" tattoo Who is Katya Jones? Strictly Come Dancing 2018 professional dancer guide As well as featuring in P&O Ferry’s Strictly-themed cruises, the pair are set to perform in London’s Sadler’s Wells studio in their very own dance show. Titled Somnium: A Dancer’s Dream, the show will lift the lid on the couple’s four-year marriage, hinting at the "ups and downs" they have faced. The show's website says Somnium depicts "a complicated modern love story, exploring how the path of love doesn’t always run smoothly" and the couple told RadioTimes.com that it will chart their personal story. View oEmbed on the source website Speaking at the Radio Times cover party, Neil, 36, explained, “It’s basically a story about myself and Katya, how we met when we were younger and all the way until we became world champions and the struggles of a dancer to get to the top.” When quizzed about whether it would be a romantic watch, 29-year-old Katya replied, “Yeah, definitely. There’s ups and downs of how we met and our wedding day. Everything’s in it. It’s going to be really exciting.” Last year, Katya was photographed kissing Strictly Come Dancing celebrity dance partner Seann Walsh after a night out. At the time, she wrote on Twitter, “I’m so sorry about any offence or hurt I may have caused with my actions. I wasn’t thinking and it was a one-off mistake after some drinks. I love my husband and we are very happy together, this is not a reflection on our relationship.” Neil and Katya added they “were not sad” that they will not be joining some of the other dancers on the Strictly Come Dancing tour. “We’ve got so much to do to plan for our own show,” Katya explained. “We’re going around the country for the professional tour in May, which is much better as you don’t have to deal with the celebrities,” she laughed. “But we are going to go up to Glasgow and watch them on Friday,” Neil added. The pair attended the Radio Times covers party along with last year’s Strictly stars Vick Hope, Kate Silverton and Danny John-Jules, with the cohort awarded a framed version of their September cover of the magazine. “It’s really, really nice to have the memory, especially for celebrities it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to do something like Strictly Come Dancing,” Katya said. “It’s a great idea as well to just go through the year and it brings back everything that happened during that year. It’s a great thing by Radio Times.” Strictly Come Dancing is set to return to BBC1 in autumn Tickets for Somnium: A Dancer’s Dream are available now Sign up to the RadioTimes.com email newsletter
Presenter Vick Hope "expected" Shipwrecked backlash: "People don’t like change"
Viewers criticised the revamped reality show for being too 'tame' compared to the original, but presenter Vick said some of the reaction was unfair
Shipwrecked returned after seven years away this week – but not everyone was pleased to see the once-castaway show back on TV. Some fans of the original series were left unimpressed by how much tamer the E4 revamp seemed to be, lambasting the show for giving the contestants electricity and ready-made places to sleep, with some fans comparing it to ITV2 hit Love Island. But host Vick Hope has hit back at the criticism, telling RadioTimes.com that she was expecting some complaints but did not feel the backlash was justified. "Why have they changed Shipwrecked?" Viewers are not happy with E4's series makeover Vick Hope: I’m proud that Shipwrecked is more diverse than Love Island View oEmbed on the source website Speaking at the Radio Times Cover Party, the former Strictly star said, “If you change anything that someone loved 10 years ago, you’re going to get a little bit of a reaction. “A lot of people were up in arms because they had some electricity and they didn’t make their own house – completely to be expected. “People don’t like change, they don’t like things being what they don’t know," she continued. "Some of the comments were really savage but they didn’t stop watching and that’s what entertainment television is all about.” View oEmbed on the source website However, the 29-year-old was pleased that Shipwrecked had elicited a huge response. “Oh my God, it was exactly what I was expecting, if not bigger,” she said. “Everyone was talking about it, it was trending at number one on Twitter. “The storylines are already quite intense and the audience already seem really involved in it, so long may it last.” Shipwrecked continues weeknights at 9pm on E4 Sign up to the RadioTimes.com email newsletter
Aidan Turner teases "tempestuous" and political Poldark series four
The Irish actor reveals what's in store for Ross and Demelza after that dramatic series three finale and hints at what's to come when Poldark heads for parliament
When last we saw Aidan Turner’s Ross Poldark on screen his marriage was on the rocks and he had his sights set on a new role in Westminster. Ross and Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson) had a rather stormy series three. A charming young man by the name of Hugh Armitage (Josh Whitehouse) – who had been held captive with Doctor Dwight Enys (Luke Norris) in France – wooed the captain’s wife while her husband’s attentions were focused elsewhere. Demelza gave into temptation with Armitage in the series finale, which ended with a bittersweet scene of Mr and Mrs Poldark in bed together contemplating their future. So, where will we find them in series four? First behind-the-scenes sneak peek at Poldark series 4 Poldark series four air date confirmed Poldark commissioned for a fifth – and probably final – series View oEmbed on the source website “They might start off a bit rocky and they might try to figure things out,” Aidan Turner told RadioTimes.com at the Radio Times Covers Party. “It’s a very real relationship, these things can happen in a marriage.” Turner is hopeful that his and Tomlinson's portrayal of the troubled couple’s attempt to get back on track in the “tempestuous” fourth series will resonate with viewers. “I think we tackle it in a very real way,” he said. “It’s something an audience will understand.” The series finale also saw Ross nearly come to blows with his friends, as the people of Cornwall protested against cruel MP George Warleggan’s high grain prices. As an angry mob – including Demelza’s brother, Sam (Tom Yorke), and old Poldark family friend Tholly Tregirls (Sean Gilder) – descended on George’s grain stores, Ross and his militia held the line and when he finally realised just how much suffering George’s policies were causing, Ross agreed to stand for parliament himself. Will Ross make a good politician? “You’re going to tell me when you see the speeches in the House of Commons!” Turner laughed, joking that there’s “not much room for the horse” in Captain Poldark’s new haunt. He’s rather excited to take the character to a new setting, which he believes is an inevitable next step. “It’s great, for Ross to do something different, to take it to London, to get involved, it’s where he was always headed I think.” View oEmbed on the source website As the newly appointed man of the people, could Ross prove to be something of an 18th century Jeremy Corbyn? “I don’t know. What would Jeremy Corbyn be like in a tricorn hat? That’s what I want to see!” The actor seemed confident that Ross had found his new calling in the political sphere, though. “It’s where his passion lies, it’s what he’s interested in, and that’s where he needs to fight George Warleggan (Jack Farthing), not in Cornwall any more but in the House of Commons. That’s where it’s at.” Speaking of George, who enjoyed a number of deliciously terse exchanges with Ross in series three, Turner promised we’ll see a few more spats between the pair when the drama returns. “When they’re around we’re never too far away from some sort of scrap so there’s a little bit of that this year.” But when will Poldark actually be back on our TV screens? We know that it’s probably due to air later this summer, but can Mr Turner shed any more light? “Sooner rather than later, I imagine” said Turner. “I think it’s probably a different time to last year, it’s probably earlier from what I can gather. They need to finish post production and all of those sorts of things so that’s when I step out.” Filming on series four has only wrapped this month, but everyone is eager to find out just how much more of Turner’s Cornish captain we’ll get to see on screen. Series four is said to draw on the final third of Winston Graham’s sixth Poldark book The Four Swans and all of book seven, The Angry Tide, after which there's a 10-year time shift. “Definitely we’re going to do season five, we’re going to shoot the fifth one. After that, I don’t know,” said Turner. “We’ll have to see how it all goes, but definitely for five. It’s kind of one step at a time.” Poldark season four starts on Sunday September 30 at 9/8c, Masterpiece on PBS This article was originally published on 31 January 2018 View oEmbed on the source website
Lee Ingleby on new drama Innocent and the future of The A Word
The BBC1 drama aired its second series last year and Ingleby "hopes" it will go on "for ever and ever"
Lee Ingleby is a busy man. Last year saw him co-star with Thandie Newton in Line of Duty, before he appeared in series two of The A Word and the explosive final two-parter of Inspector George Gently. Fast-forward to 2018 and he's due back on screens in new ITV drama Innocent – this time as the baddie. Starring alongside Hermione Norris, Ingleby plays David Collier, who has served seven years in prison for murdering his wife. Released on a technicality after three trials, the question remains – did he do it? Fans pay tribute to The A Word after "moving" and "emotional" series finale From Tony Gates to Roz Huntley: how are all four series of Line of Duty linked together? Martin Shaw on THAT shock Inspector George Gently ending View oEmbed on the source website Either way, Ingleby is relishing the challenge: "It's always great to play a villain." View oEmbed on the source website Of course, he's better known for portraying the nice guy – in Inspector George Gently he was trusty sidekick John Bacchus to Martin Shaw's George Gently, and in The A Word he's known as family man Paul – father to Joe, who is diagnosed with autism. The BBC1 drama aired its second series in 2017 to great acclaim. With such a loyal fanbase, surely The A Word will return for more episodes? "I hope there will be more," said Ingleby. "We've always planned on doing it every two years... Time's changed, Joe's grown up and it's a special one because it's such a lovely job. As a cast and crew we adore it and because Pete Bowker is such a brilliant writer, we hope it will go on forever and ever. "I think as far as Pete's concerned it'll be like Boyhood – we'll go into [Joe's] mid twenties, if we could."
Louise Brealey WON’T be back for Clique series two
But the Sherlock star would like to make her Doctor Who debut as a villain…
It was recently revealed that BBC3 thriller Clique was returning for a second series, with lead character Holly McStay (Synnøve Karlsen) set to get involved with a whole new shadowy group of popular types. However, the new storyline means that many of the first series’ cast wont be returning for the second run – and now RadioTimes.com has confirmed that star Louise Brealey will be among those leaving the drama, after playing Holly’s mentor Jude McDermid in the first run. Victoria star Leo Suter joins Clique series 2 cast as filming begins “We won’t be seeing Jude again,” Brealey told us last week at the Radio Times Covers Party. “No, the story has moved into a different part of Holly’s life, so a lot of the characters from the first series aren’t back. “But I’m delighted that it’s come back, because it looks very good, right, that people liked the show and want to see another one? And I’m very proud of what we did in the first one.” And it sounds like a return to Sherlock isn’t on the cards any time soon either, with the actor – who played doctor Molly Hooper in the BBC drama – confirming that new episodes were a long time off after catching up with series creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss at the Covers Party. View oEmbed on the source website “We’ve just been talking about the old Sherlocks,” Brealey said. “I hope we get to do another one one day! But I don’t think it’s going to be THIS Spring.” Still, it’s not like fans of Brealey’s work have nothing to look forward to in the coming months, with the actor recently completing filming on Sky1 fantasy adaptation A Discovery of Witches which stars Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode as a witch and vampire who fall in love against the wishes of their respective supernatural societies. “I can tell you that Teresa Palmer, who plays the lead, is the nicest Hollywood actress I’ve ever met, and I’ve met a few in my capacity as a journalist and actor,” Brealey said. “She’s awesome. “It’s just a really good story. I get to be a witch, which is a life ambition, and Matthew Goode’s in it. He’s a lot of fun. It’s about prejudice and love and vampires.” And who knows? With a new Doctor in the Tardis, Brealey’s longheld desire to appear in Doctor Who could also come true – perhaps even as a villain opposite new Doctor Jodie Whittaker. “Oh my God, how great would being a baddie in Doctor Who be?” she said. “That would be amazing. I’d settle for a Dalek!” So there you have it – even if we don’t see Louise Brealey in Clique or Sherlock any time soon, we can keep our eyes peeled for her behind the eyestalks of a Dalek in an upcoming series of Doctor Who. Seems a fair trade.
Will Victoria's Francatelli and Skerrett live happily ever after? "It's all to play for"
Nell Hudson and Ferdinand Kingsley tell RadioTimes.com what the future could hold for the secret lovers
It was a long time coming, but Francatelli and Skerrett FINALLY gave in to their romantic feelings in the Christmas special – sneaking secret snogs in the servants' quarters. So what does the future look like for Victoria's below-stairs lovers? "It's definitely optimistic," actress Nell Hudson tells RadioTimes.com. Still, their relationship is far from certain: as the Queen's dresser, Skerrett (Hudson) is married to her job and cannot tie the knot with the Queen's cook Francatelli (Ferdinand Kingsley) without being forced to leave the palace. A conundrum. And with series three on the way, there's still room for things to go wrong. The course of true love never did run smooth. "We're not going to give anything away, but [series creator] Daisy [Goodwin] can put a spanner in any spokes, can't she?" Kingsley jokes at the Radio Times Covers Party. "Is that a phrase? A stick in some spokes?" He adds: "She could ruin anything at any time. Anyone who's happy can be sad within about five seconds, so all to play for." "It's up in the air," Hudson tells us, cryptically. "They definitely love each other, that's for sure. But they're just figuring out what to do."
Gareth Malone on the future of cancelled Pitch Battle: "The BBC haven't shot it in the back of the head"
Although the singing contest was axed last year, the choirmaster says it could return in 2019
Gareth Malone has said that despite choral singing competition Pitch Battle being axed by the BBC, it could make a return next year. Speaking to RadioTimes.com, the choirmaster explained that the BBC haven't "shot it in the back of the head" and that they are "talking about" the show coming back in 2019. Why so many Saturday entertainment shows fail How does BBC1's choir show Pitch Battle actually work? View oEmbed on the source website He did, however, admit there were some issues with the six-part talent show which was presented by Mel Giedroyc and starred Kelis as a judge. "I thought it was good," Gareth explained. "It was on in the summer months and I think it should've been a winter show, maybe, and we were up against The Voice [it was The Voice Kids] which was interesting. "It's quite a hard thing to get right, any new big entertainment format," he added. Gareth also stated that he wants to do another big project, similar to The Choir: Military Wives - the large-scale singing project for the BBC which he said took over 11 months of his life. "I want to get my hands a bit dirtier," he added. "I've got an appetite for something with a bit more depth and more longevity."
Call the Midwife's Heidi Thomas: "I have been in a state of mild rage for seven years"
The screenwriter is fed up with people dismissing Call the Midwife because it's about women – but luckily the conversation is beginning to change
"I've been in a state of mild rage for about seven years now," Call the Midwife creator and screenwriter Heidi Thomas tells us, with a smile. "Because Call the Midwife – certainly in its early days – was often dismissed as being lightweight, fluffy. It was called TV Horlicks because it was about women." The BBC drama can certainly be heartwarming and funny, but it's far from lightweight. Call the Midwife fans know from experience to have the tissues ready as the nuns and midwives of Nonnatus House guide us through storylines including domestic violence, poverty, bereavement, disability, love and loss. After all: pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood are not for the faint of heart. Meet the cast of Call the Midwife series seven Who were the real West Indian nurses of the 1960s? Why the NHS used sock puppets to teach breastfeeding Thomas tells RadioTimes.com: "I think that over the last couple of years a far broader sweep of people have come to terms with what we're about, they understand that we deal with some quite hard hitting issues as well, and the fact that the drama is about women does not mean it should be dismissed. "I do think we get more understanding and more appreciation now and I'm very happy about that." View oEmbed on the source website Thomas has been working in theatre and TV for three decades, adapting classic novels including Little Women, I Capture the Castle, Ballet Shoes and Cranford – and she has noticed a shift in the conversations we're having about women in the industry and on screen in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal and all that has followed. "I do think things are changing for the better," she says. "I think as a society and as an industry, both television and film, over the past 12 months we've had reason to have some really hard conversations about the way people conduct themselves and the attitudes we have towards each other. "And I wish we hadn't been through this period, this phase as an industry, but I'm really glad things are being spoken about more openly." Call the Midwife airs on Sundays at 8pm on BBC1
Call the Midwife star Stephen McGann is Doctor Who’s brother – but he was “too nervous” to speak to Jodie Whittaker
Stephen McGann's brother is fellow actor Paul McGann, who played the Eighth Doctor in 1996
Is there a doctor in the house? At the NTAs there were plenty – and Call the Midwife's Stephen McGann (who stars as Doctor Turner and also happens to be the Eighth Doctor's brother) managed to find the perfect shot of him with the Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) and Doctor Who's former showrunner Steven Moffat. But despite his glee, the actor found himself too nervous to introduce himself to Paul McGann's successor. View oEmbed on the source website "How great a picture was that?" he told RadioTimes.com. "You're not supposed to talk about just how cool it is to be the Eighth Doctor's brother as well, and the fact is, when you looked at – hang on a minute, that's the Thirteenth! But my favourite bit is still Moffat with this glorious light shining behind him, and I couldn't resist it. "What's always wonderful about Doctor Who is, it went right around the world, far more than my normal witterings do, you know, and it went right around, and you get reminded every now and again that the worldwide love for that show is just so universal. "And just, there's a little bit of a thrill having her in the front, and him behind. Still after all these years you just go..." And then he pulled this face. So did he calm himself down and introduce himself to Jodie Whittaker as "the Doctor's brother"? Absolutely not. "I'm way too nervous. WAY too nervous," he explained. Sometimes even the stars get starstruck... View oEmbed on the source website
Call the Midwife newcomer Leonie Elliott was “apprehensive” about how the public would respond to Lucille
Leonie Elliott stars as Nonnatus House's first-ever West Indian midwife
There has been an outpouring of love for Nonnatus House's first-ever West Indian midwife Nurse Lucille Anderson since she made her debut in Call the Midwife's series seven premiere – but actress Leonie Elliott has admitted she was nervous about how the public would react to her arrival. "I think I was a little bit apprehensive at first," she tells RadioTimes.com. "But the public have been so lovely and really sweet and they seem to have taken Lucille into their hearts." Call the Midwife: Who were the real West Indian nurses of the 1960s? Who is Leonie Elliott? Meet the star playing Call the Midwife's new nurse Lucille Anderson In episode two, viewers were horrified to see Lucille under attack from her patient's mother who abused her with racist comments and refused to let the midwife touch her grandchildren. Lucille dealt with the situation calmly and with her head held high, and later had a heart-to-heart with Nurse Valerie Dyer (Jennifer Kirby) about the bullying and discrimination since arriving in Britain. View oEmbed on the source website "I was actually really impressed with the public's reaction," Elliott says. " A lot of the audience said they couldn't believe what Lucille had gone through, and then other people came forward and said that they had had similar experiences. "So it's really humbling to know that people would come over from abroad, and look after people, or deliver babies and have to face such prejudice. But I feel like Lucille overcomes it and I feel like she'll be very popular in Poplar." Nurse Anderson's arrival in Poplar mirrors real-life events, as many young women arrived from the Caribbean in the late 50s and 60s to train and work as midwives in Britain. And incredibly, one Call the Midwife fan has shared an image of her West Indian grandmother – also called Nurse Anderson: View oEmbed on the source website "Well I actually had someone who tweeted a picture of their [grandmother], who actually was a midwife during that time in Poplar, and it was lovely," Elliott says. "And she put a little caption next to Lucille and said that her mum and Lucille are twins." And Call the Midwife screenwriter Heidi Thomas could not be happier with the response. "I think Leonie Elliott was an instant hit as the character, I think people immediately warmed to Lucille," she tells us. "And we have had a lovely postbag from often younger women, saying, this is my grandmother's story, this is my aunt's story, this is my mother's story, and I think sometimes to remind young women of the legacy of their forebears is a fantastic thing to do." Call the Midwife airs on Sundays at 8pm on BBC1 View oEmbed on the source website
Misha Glenny: McMafia is “not glamour for glamour's sake"
The author of McMafia says he hopes the BBC1 drama will raise awareness around organised crime
In the sumptuous world of McMafia, criminals jet around the world and hang out on luxury yachts, leading some to criticise the drama for glamourising organised crime. But Misha Glenny, the author of the book which inspired the series, argues that McMafia is “not glamour for glamour's sake". Glenny’s 2008 non-fiction book of the same name is a forensic account of international organised crime and how it has spread since the end of the Cold War. Speaking at the Radio Times Covers Party on Tuesday night, Glenny explained that the series shows two sides of the coin: not just the glitz, but the “low life” too. “What we’re doing is showing that the glamour is actually connected to really significant suffering for victims on the ground,” he said. “It’s glamour to expose the really terrible things that are going on in this world.” James Norton on McMafia, death threats and acting with his dad Where is McMafia filmed? Meet the cast of McMafia From the trafficking of young women to brutal attacks on the innocent loved ones of criminals, like we saw in episode six, McMafia certainly doesn't shy away from the gritty reality of the criminal underworld. View oEmbed on the source website Glenny, who worked with filmmakers to ensure the authenticity of his book was transferred to the screen, is thrilled with the series. Every Sunday when the show airs, he invites friends over for a McMafia party and serves fake caviar and vodka in honour of the drama. The author also said that although his book had a significant impact on policy makers and was enjoyed by many criminals, what the show has succeeded in doing is to provoke a wider debate. Effectively, series star James Norton has made money laundering a hot topic. “Just yesterday I was in Parliament talking to a select committee about anti-corruption issues… the place was packed out, obviously because everyone had come to see James Norton. “But the fact is that everyone is now interested in hearing about this issue which is really fundamental to how we live our lives – and how we get ripped off, frankly, by people who want to evade tax or launder money through London.” Time to dig out your caviar and vodka, because McMafia’s penultimate episode airs this Sunday.
Call the Midwife's Heidi Thomas: We've got a few more series in us – but "nothing lasts forever"
Series eight and nine have already been commissioned, but will there be more Call the Midwife after that?
Treasure the next couple of series, Call the Midwife fans – because they could be the last. The BBC1 drama is now on its seventh series, and its creator and writer Heidi Thomas has already signed up to make eight and nine (Christmas specials and all). But after this we may have to say goodbye to the nuns and midwives of Nonnatus House. Call the Midwife: Who were the real West Indian nurses of the 1960s? Who is Leonie Elliott? Meet the star playing Call the Midwife's new nurse Lucille Anderson Thomas told RadioTimes.com: "We definitely know we're making series eight this year, and series nine next year. That may be the last, I don't know. Ultimately it's up to the BBC and to our audience as well. "So I think we've got a few years left in us, but nothing lasts forever. So I'm always determined to enjoy every series as much as I can." If Call the Midwife does come to an end, keep an eye out for an unfamiliar nun in the final episode – because you might just catch a glimpse of Thomas herself in a nun's habit. "Dame Pippa Harris, who is my co executive producer, and I have occasionally joked that we might turn up in the very very last episode of Call the Midwife, probably dressed as nuns," she said. "But it's not something – I don't think I'd be any good, to be honest." Watch the full interview from the Radio Times Covers Party below: View oEmbed on the source website Call the Midwife airs on Sundays at 8pm on BBC
Olivia Colman starts work on The Crown in July – and she's already speaking to Claire Foy
The actress – who is taking over from Foy as Her Majesty – will begin filming on the Netflix series later this year
When it was announced that Olivia Colman would succeed Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth in Netflix series The Crown, we knew we were in safe hands. The award-winning drama is overhauling its entire cast as it time-jumps for series three, but – besides Colman's casting – news of its return has been scarce. And she's as much in the dark as we are, confirming at the Radio Times Covers Party: "I don't start until July so I know nothing about it yet apart from they said I could do it so I'm holding them to that." Olivia Colman: I would go back to Broadchurch in 10 years Discover the real history behind Netflix's The Crown Vanessa Kirby drops MASSIVE hint that Helena Bonham Carter will be replacing her in The Crown With six months still to go before shooting begins, Colman is the only actor to be confirmed – although Helena Bonham Carter has been heavily rumoured to play Princess Margaret, a role she would inherit from Vanessa Kirby. "I've heard that, I am so excited about that!" said Colman. In the meantime, she's been in touch with Foy, who won a Golden Globe for the role. "They – the people, the grown ups – put us in touch so I could ask her about it and she was just lovely – she's one of the sweetest people ever and she's brilliant. "She's f***ing amazing and it's a very hard act to follow." But Colman isn't the only one enamoured by Foy – it turns out her husband, Ed Sinclair, is also a big fan. "We are completely obsessed with The Crown anyway but whenever Claire Foy comes on he goes, 'Oh, she's amazing'. "Watching the first series was blissful because I had no idea. With the second series I now know I've got to follow in her footsteps." View oEmbed on the source website