Why you should watch DTF St Louis: The super weird crime show with a soft underbelly
Jason Bateman, David Harbour and Linda Cardellini are embroiled in a love triangle that turns deadly in Steve Conrad’s deliciously dark comedy, where people let their freak flags fly.
Add DTF St Louis to your watchlist **Contains spoilers from episode 1 of DTF St Louis.** More often than not, new shows have a habit of feeling like a version of something you've seen before. Even if it's not a prequel or a sequel, a reboot or a reimagining, there's a flavour, so to speak, that evokes something else. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the crime genre, where it's increasingly rare to find originality – although tried and tested formulas can still deliver satisfying results if executed well. Case in point: Mare of Easttown. But DTF St Louis, a darkly comic murder-mystery airing on HBO in the US and Sky Atlantic in the UK, feels fresh and uninhibited by what has come before. Created, written and directed by Steve Conrad (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Pursuit of Happyness), the limited series stars Ozark's Jason Bateman ("I appreciate Jason’s commitment to showing the rest of the world how strange the state of Missouri truly is at its core," reads one YouTube comment) and David Harbour as colleagues Clark Forrest, a local weatherman, and Floyd Smernitch, a sign language interpreter. It's not your average crime series dynamic, that's for sure. The pair strike up a friendship after Floyd narrowly stops Clark from being decapitated by a stop sign while reporting on an incoming tornado and they grow close – so close, in fact, that Clark, who's married and has two kids, feels comfortable enough to share a dark secret with Floyd. He's downloaded a hook-up app: DTF St Louis (that's 'down to f**k', for the uninitiated. Fans of Jersey Shore, of which this writer was regrettably one, will already be well acquainted with the term). And he gently encourages Floyd, who's also married (Linda Cardellini plays his wife Carol) to do the same. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/0104DTF-StLouisS01-770c68f.jpg" width="6000" height="4000" alt="Two men wearing matching green waterproof jackets with the hoods up and protective goggles stand out in heavy wind and rain during what appears to be a live weather report. One holds a microphone branded “News 10,” speaking into it while bracing against the storm, as the other gestures emphatically toward something off-camera. Sheets of rain slash across the frame, and a third person in a dark rain poncho stands with their back to the camera in the foreground, adding to the sense of chaotic, on-the-ground reporting in extreme conditions." title="DTF St Louis" /> After some hesitation, Floyd follows Clark's lead (a Duane Reade bag has yet to make an appearance) – and then he winds up dead, his body uncovered in a pool house propped up next to a Bloody Mary in a can and, interestingly, some gay porn. Curiouser and curiouser. DTF St Louis constantly finds ways to surprise you. While it doesn't come as a shock that Clark and Carol were having an affair (it was right there in the way they greeted each other at his cornhole party), you certainly don't anticipate that Floyd knows. He's an easy man to underestimate, and the show also enjoys playing with timeline and perspective, which makes the moment he drops that bomb – delivered so calmly, and in sign language of all things – truly delicious television. Deploying needle drops is an art form and Ozzy Osbourne's spiky rendition of Sunshine of Your Love works exquisitely here, capturing both the sexual charge between Clark and Carol and the huge "Oh, f**k" rattling around Clark's head after he's been arrested for murder live on air. And people say the weather is boring. But is he really capable of murdering his friend? Even if all signs points to Clark being guilty – his recumbent bike captured on CCTV, the affair – DTF St Louis has set out its stall as a show that doesn't play by the rules, so perhaps not. And that doesn't just extend to the central mystery. Eyebrow-raising moments and absurd dialogue are par for the course across the four episodes made available for review. Unusual professions are standard practice – Floyd used to be married to a fortune teller; in one scene, he encounters a roller dancer and hypnotist. It's certainly not every day you meet a porn positive detective, and Floyd's passion for hip-hop dance is an inspired turn. Plus, who knew Harbour could pop it and lock it quite so gracefully? <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/0103DTF-StLouisS01-53820ad.jpg" width="5616" height="3744" alt="A man with a thick moustache and short, slightly tousled hair stands inside what appears to be a convenience store or supermarket. He wears a green jacket and looks off to the side with a small, knowing smile. In the blurred foreground, colourful packaged goods line a shelf, while behind him are glass-fronted refrigerators stocked with drinks. The wall above the fridges features a blue mural-style graphic of a city skyline." title="DTF St Louis" /> Then there's Clark and Carol, who refer to their hook-ups at the Quality Garden Suites as "dream meetings", granting each other's niche sexual desires, such as Clark being unpacked from a cardboard box as he pretends to be a sex robot, or Carol sitting on his face while she "goes about her tasks", like ringing FedEx. Two birds, one stone. When she first tells him, "You can do anything with me. You never have to have any fears about sharing anything with me," it reads like a cheap male fantasy. Having sex with your friend's hot wife – and she's game for anything? Yup, we've seen this film before. Except we haven't. DTF St Louis makes no bones about its weirdness, or how disappointing or cruel life can be, but it has a soft underbelly. As per Conrad's earlier work, he is clearly drawn to stories about people who have done an inventory of their lives and decided they want more – or just different. That often surfaces in the quieter moments: Floyd's clothes don't fit properly, so he's trying to "lose a few"; he attempts to connect with his socially reclusive, rock-throwing stepson by going to therapy with him. That desire for more might also manifest as an affair with someone who understands you more than your partner, and who doesn't judge your kinks — there's a distinct lack of judgement in this series — or embracing hip-hop dance as an out of shape, middle-aged white man. Putting aside the salacious, scandalous aspects of DTF St Louis, the series threads grounded, human concerns through the eccentricity, like, what comes first: midlife malaise or a marriage in decline? Or does the decline of a marriage facilitate midlife malaise? The show's preoccupation with connection, meaning, reinvention and self-growth is deceptively confronting, and never once dulled by the many off-kilter things people say and do in this glum-looking Midwestern suburb that appears entirely normal from the outside. But as one gentleman puts it: "Nobody's normal, they just look that way from across the street."
The Gilded Age season 4 confirms major cast promotion and adds House of Cards star and more newcomers
House of Cards star Elizabeth Marvel is among four new guest stars.
HBO has confirmed four new additions and one major cast promotion for The Gilded Age season 4. The streamer has upped existing cast member Kelly Curran, who has played Enid “Turner” Winterton since season 1, to a series regular for the upcoming fourth season. Four new guest stars have also been announced, with House of Cards star Elizabeth Marvel among the new additions. Marvel will appear as Nurse Virginia Saville, a nurse who works at the Neighbourhood Settlement House in the Lower East Side. She’ll be joined by Jim Gaffigan (Chappaquiddick), Dallas Roberts (Walk the Line) and Andrew Burnap (Snow White). Gaffigan will play Grover Cleveland, the 22nd President of the United States, Roberts will portray Daniel Manning, Secretary of the Treasury under President Grover Cleveland, and Burnap will appear as Porter, a young gentleman looking to invest in new adventures. They join the returning cast of Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Louisa Jacobson, Denee Benton, Cynthia Nixon, Christine Baranski, Harry Richardson, Blake Ritson, Taissa Farmiga and Audra McDonald. Set during the titular era of economic boom, the HBO series follows the clash between New York City's old and new monied elite. The previously released synopsis for season 4 hints at a small time jump, but that’s yet to be confirmed by HBO, and also suggest there's trouble on the horizon for Bertha and the Russells. It reads: “Bertha Russell (Coon) changed Society at a cost. Now, her family must reckon with the consequences as Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) seizes an opportunity to regain her position." It continues: “Meanwhile, Marian (Louisa Jacobson) forges a new path for herself and Peggy (Denée Benton) works to be accepted by her future in-laws. In this new era, you must be careful what you wish for.” Revisit season 3 of The Gilded Age with the trailer below. View Green Video on the source website Add The Gilded Age 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.
DTF St Louis is a super weird crime show with a soft underbelly
**Contains spoilers from episode 1 of DTF St Louis.** More often than not, new shows have a habit of feeling like a version of something you've seen before. Even if it's not a prequel or a sequel, a reboot or a reimagining, there's a flavour, so to speak, that evokes something else. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the crime genre, where it's increasingly rare to find originality – although tried and tested formulas can still deliver satisfying results if executed well. Case in point: Mare of Easttown. But DTF St Louis, a darkly comic murder-mystery airing on HBO in the US and Sky Atlantic in the UK, feels fresh and uninhibited by what has come before. Created, written and directed by Steve Conrad (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Pursuit of Happyness), the limited series stars Ozark's Jason Bateman ("I appreciate Jason’s commitment to showing the rest of the world how strange the state of Missouri truly is at its core," reads one YouTube comment) and David Harbour as colleagues Clark Forrest, a local weatherman, and Floyd Smernitch, a sign language interpreter. It's not your average crime series dynamic, that's for sure. The pair strike up a friendship after Floyd narrowly stops Clark from being decapitated by a stop sign while reporting on an incoming tornado and they grow close – so close, in fact, that Clark, who's married and has two kids, feels comfortable enough to share a dark secret with Floyd. He's downloaded a hook-up app: DTF St Louis (that's 'down to f**k', for the uninitiated. Fans of Jersey Shore, of which this writer was regrettably one, will already be well acquainted with the term). And he gently encourages Floyd, who's also married (Linda Cardellini plays his wife Carol) to do the same. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/0104DTF-StLouisS01-770c68f.jpg" width="6000" height="4000" alt="Two men wearing matching green waterproof jackets with the hoods up and protective goggles stand out in heavy wind and rain during what appears to be a live weather report. One holds a microphone branded “News 10,” speaking into it while bracing against the storm, as the other gestures emphatically toward something off-camera. Sheets of rain slash across the frame, and a third person in a dark rain poncho stands with their back to the camera in the foreground, adding to the sense of chaotic, on-the-ground reporting in extreme conditions." title="DTF St Louis" /> After some hesitation, Floyd follows Clark's lead (a Duane Reade bag has yet to make an appearance) – and then he winds up dead, his body uncovered in a pool house propped up next to a Bloody Mary in a can and, interestingly, some gay porn. Curiouser and curiouser. DTF St Louis constantly finds ways to surprise you. While it doesn't come as a shock that Clark and Carol were having an affair (it was right there in the way they greeted each other at his cornhole party), you certainly don't anticipate that Floyd knows. He's an easy man to underestimate, and the show also enjoys playing with timeline and perspective, which makes the moment he drops that bomb – delivered so calmly, and in sign language of all things – truly delicious television. Deploying needle drops is an art form and Ozzy Osbourne's spiky rendition of Sunshine of Your Love works exquisitely here, capturing both the sexual charge between Clark and Carol and the huge "Oh, f**k" rattling around Clark's head after he's been arrested for murder live on air. And people say the weather is boring. But is he really capable of murdering his friend? Even if all signs points to Clark being guilty – his recumbent bike captured on CCTV, the affair – DTF St Louis has set out its stall as a show that doesn't play by the rules, so perhaps not. And that doesn't just extend to the central mystery. Eyebrow-raising moments and absurd dialogue are par for the course across the four episodes made available for review. Unusual professions are standard practice – Floyd used to be married to a fortune teller; in one scene, he encounters a roller dancer and hypnotist. It's certainly not every day you meet a porn positive detective, and Floyd's passion for hip-hop dance is an inspired turn. Plus, who knew Harbour could pop it and lock it quite so gracefully? <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/0103DTF-StLouisS01-53820ad.jpg" width="5616" height="3744" alt="A man with a thick moustache and short, slightly tousled hair stands inside what appears to be a convenience store or supermarket. He wears a green jacket and looks off to the side with a small, knowing smile. In the blurred foreground, colourful packaged goods line a shelf, while behind him are glass-fronted refrigerators stocked with drinks. The wall above the fridges features a blue mural-style graphic of a city skyline." title="DTF St Louis" /> Then there's Clark and Carol, who refer to their hook-ups at the Quality Garden Suites as "dream meetings", granting each other's niche sexual desires, such as Clark being unpacked from a cardboard box as he pretends to be a sex robot, or Carol sitting on his face while she "goes about her tasks", like ringing FedEx. Two birds, one stone. When she first tells him, "You can do anything with me. You never have to have any fears about sharing anything with me," it reads like a cheap male fantasy. Having sex with your friend's hot wife – and she's game for anything? Yup, we've seen this film before. Except we haven't. DTF St Louis makes no bones about its weirdness, or how disappointing or cruel life can be, but it has a soft underbelly. As per Conrad's earlier work, he is clearly drawn to stories about people who have done an inventory of their lives and decided they want more – or just different. That often surfaces in the quieter moments: Floyd's clothes don't fit properly, so he's trying to "lose a few"; he attempts to connect with his socially reclusive, rock-throwing stepson by going to therapy with him. That desire for more might also manifest as an affair with someone who understands you more than your partner, and who doesn't judge your kinks — there's a distinct lack of judgement in this series — or embracing hip-hop dance as an out of shape, middle-aged white man. Putting aside the salacious, scandalous aspects of DTF St Louis, the series threads grounded, human concerns through the eccentricity, like, what comes first: midlife malaise or a marriage in decline? Or does the decline of a marriage facilitate midlife malaise? The show's preoccupation with connection, meaning, reinvention and self-growth is deceptively confronting, and never once dulled by the many off-kilter things people say and do in this glum-looking Midwestern suburb that appears entirely normal from the outside. But as one gentleman puts it: "Nobody's normal, they just look that way from across the street." DTF St Louis will debut in the US on March 1 on HBO Max and in UK on Sky and NOW from 2 March. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Check out more of our Fantasy 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.
Under Salt Marsh’s production designer explains how to flood a set
Here’s how the show’s town was built in a giant water tank.
In Sky Atlantic’s Under Salt Marsh, which is set in the fictional Welsh town of Morfa Halen, an impending, catastrophic storm threatens to upend an investigation into a shocking crime. Former detective-turned-teacher Jackie Ellis (Kelly Reilly, Yellowstone) discovers the body of her eight-year-old student, Cefin, who appears to have been drowned. Ellis’s former partner, Detective Eric Bull (Rafe Spall, Trying), is leading the investigation, but they fell out three years previously, when Ellis’s niece Nessa disappeared and Bull accused Ellis’s sister. Time is of the essence to find out what happened to Cefin, with a storm that’s been brewing throughout the entire series threatening to wipe any potential evidence from the crime scene and cause general widespread chaos. While you can use pop-up water tanks, production designer Stevie Herbert and her team built their own unique tank for the huge, weighty build. As she explained to Radio Times: "It’s quite nerve-wracking building a tank. It’s not an ordinary thing to do and it was very difficult. You obviously can't flood real towns in north Wales and control it and not damage things, so we built an exterior set, a backlot, of Morfa Halen’s central hub of shops just outside Dragon Studios in Bridgend." The tank was 50 x 50 metres and made of steel walls that were 1.2 metres tall. They used timber, glue and expanding foam to seal it, with tarmac wrapping a seal around the tank. The flood scenes took a week to film. "Dragon Studios dealt with the license for the water, which turned up in these enormous bowsers that pumped water over the side with huge hoses," she says. "The water filled very slowly and shooting was scheduled around the different water levels – from 20 centimetres to almost a metre – and stunt sequences with vehicles and cast. It's a lot of weight. We had to do a bit of sandbagging and resealing. "Rain rigs went above the whole set. In a flood, you get a current, so special effects created the current in the tank with pumps, so there were a lot of things moving around. We also had rooms that sunk down on hydraulic jacks, where the floor was made of metal mesh, so the water came through to flood it slowly." Water is, of course, very difficult to work with, especially when it’s deep, as Herbert mentions that some items sink, while others become trip hazards. "I was dressing the set at different stages, so I had full waders on with my props team. You're working with dive teams. "You can let some stuff float upside down, like plastic chairs, bowls and pots. We removed anything that was a problem or was going to explode. We stripped out units so there were no moving parts inside. We can cheat a lot with spray paint effects to look as if things are covered in mud." The sets had to sit in water for a week, meaning there could be no toxicity in it. "Afterwards, the water is dispersed slowly back within the normal water system," Herbert explains. "The steels were clean, we used natural materials to build walls, which were all timber and ply-based, and the paint treatments had to be water-based." In episode five of Under Salt Marsh, rising floods cut Morfa Halen off from the world and another body is discovered. As residents evacuate and attempt to get to safety, the killer still hasn’t been identified. Hopefully it’s not too late as the devastating storm hits at full force in the finale. "It's not easy to imitate nature," says Herbert. "The storm and the flooding being believable was the biggest challenge. You've got to feel the fear, but you've also got to feel the potential loss of all these people." The final episode of Under Salt Marsh will premiere on February 27 on Sky Atlantic and NOW at 9pm. Add Under Salt Marsh 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.
Under Salt Marsh star was "shocked" by killer reveal: 'It caught me by surprise, but I was like, ah, I see it'
The Sky Atlantic crime drama delivered a dramatic and emotional conclusion.***CONTAINS MAJOR SPOILERS***
**Warning: Major Under Salt Marsh spoilers ahead.** Under Salt Marsh's Naomi Yang said she was "shocked" by the identity of Cefin and Nessa's killer, but that the reveal "makes sense". The Sky Atlantic crime thriller is set in the fictional Welsh town of Morfa Halen, where the body of nine-year-old Cefin is found in a drainage ditch by former detective turned teacher Jackie Ellis (Kelly Reilly). No stranger to loss herself following the disappearance of her young niece Nessa several years ago, Jackie is confident that the two tragedies are linked – something Detective Eric Bull, her former work partner and friend, initially refuses to entertain. But as the facts of the case come to light, that connection is undeniable as the grisly truth is laid bare. "I think it's always a sign of really good writing when you're shocked, but then immediately you're like, ah, it makes sense," added Yang, who plays Bull's current partner DC Jess Deng. "Sometimes you're shocked because they've pulled it out of nowhere, but this makes sense, and it's really impactful." For a full breakdown of Under Salt Marsh's ending, read on. Under Salt Marsh ending explained <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/Under-Salt-Marsh-1-221d5e2.jpg" width="8256" height="5504" alt="A close-up, side-profile image of a man indoors, looking downward with a serious, contemplative expression. He has very short hair and is wearing thin, wire-framed glasses with visible water droplets on the lenses. His skin appears slightly damp, with beads of moisture on his forehead. He is dressed in a dark jacket layered over a deep red garment. The background is softly blurred in warm, muted tones, creating an intimate and moody atmosphere." title="Under Salt Marsh" /> It was Mac (Brian Gleeson) who killed Cefin and Nessa – his own niece. He is married to Nisha, who is the sister of Nessa's mother. With Dylan's help, Mac had been covertly recycling toxic waste at Sunnyside amusements, which was undergoing a big regeneration project, crushing it down and using it to construct the sea wall built to protect Morfa Halen from the elements. Both Nessa and Cefin accidentally stumbled across the illegal waste site, years apart, and were injured after coming into contact with the hazardous materials. But rather than call for backup or an ambulance, Mac, who was the one who found them on both occasions, felt he had "no choice" but to murder them. They had seen "everything", which would have been enough to put him behind bars, and they were already hurt by the waste – I had no choice, Nessa would have died from her injuries" – which would only have aggravated the situation. Nessa's body was subsequently found on the Bevan farm – some of the family found her body during their own illegal waste operation, but chose not to report it to protect their own interests, instead burying her - while Cefin was moved to a drainage ditch. Had they reported Nessa's body, Cefin might still be alive. "You knew there was someone in the community, and throughout the series you’re like maybe it's Dylan [his hair was found on Cefin's body, via his nephew James], maybe it's this person, so it caught me by surprise, but also I was like ah, I see it. "Gossip Girl, there was no clue there, but with Mac, it makes sense." Yang went on to say that while Mac's actions are unforgivable, his initial actions were motivated by his love for his family and the town. "The lengths people are willing to go to, he's trying to protect the town," she expanded. "It's coming from this place of–he could have obviously gone about it a different way, but it's coming from a place of love for his home and wanting to raise his family there. "[And at the end, when he's confronted by Jackie] you can see he's desperate, he doesn't want to face what he's done because there's too much. "But that wasn't his intention. He's trying to, in his own weird way, do a good thing for him and his family and the town. But he got lost somewhere on the way." But while Mac lost himself, Deng and Bull came away from Morfa Halen investigation having gained something. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/01/Jess-951fca3.jpg" width="8256" height="5504" alt="A woman stands outdoors near a wooden building at sunset. She is wearing a long maroon coat over a blazer and light shirt, with her hands in her pockets. The background shows grassy fields and distant hills, softly blurred, with warm backlighting creating a calm, reflective mood." title="Under Salt Marsh" /> "At the start, the dynamic is, you [Bull] are my superior, and I will listen to you and do what you say," explained Yang. "But it quite quickly transpires that he's personally involved and too close given what happened before, especially with Jackie Ellis. And so then Deng can't help but get herself involved with the dynamics of the community, and Bull and Jackie's relationship. "And I think by the end, it's so beautiful when they have that last scene, because he's sort of meeting her where she is, of like, okay, you do your report [ignoring protocol and involving Jackie], you were right. The truth needs to come out. And for her, she's meeting him halfway. She's like, I get it. It's personal." Yang went on to say that she "never expected her to meet him there". "They're both quite strong willed, which is why they don't really work at the beginning. But that moment where they meet in the middle, that's huge growth for both of them. "I might not agree with it, I might not think it's right, but I can meet you halfway." Under Salt Marsh airs on Sky Atlantic and NOW. Add Under Salt Marsh 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.
The White Lotus season 4 release date speculation, cast and latest news
The hotel from hell is getting ready for more check-ins.
The White Lotus is ramping up to its fourth season, with anticipation bubbling up for what unpredictable saga awaits the next cohort of unsuspecting holidaymakers. After a third entry that seemed to wrap up the life and untimely death of Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge) in a neat little bow, it's anybody's guess as to where the story could go next. What we do know, however, is that the plot will once again tap into "relevant" cultural themes (according to producer David Bernad), with a star-studded cast at its disposal. Confirmed names include Steve Coogan (Saipan), Helena Bonham Carter (Enola Holmes) and Chris Messina (Based on a True Story), but we're not discounting the possibility of secret members too (in the style of season 3's Jon Gries and Sam Rockwell). If the trickle of updates have you eagerly anticipating The White Lotus season 4, here's everything we know so far from filming dates to confirmed cast members and that all-important location. The White Lotus season 4 release date speculation The White Lotus season 4 does not yet have a confirmed release date, although at the pace things are going we'd expect it to arrive sometime in summer 2027. Although showrunner Mike White had pitched an outline for the plot while on the set of season 3, it hasn't stopped this follow-up from coming together rather slowly. Now though, after many months of speculation, The White Lotus season 4 has its confirmed cast, location and filming date locked in, with cameras expected to roll from April to October 2026 (via Variety). Of course, then follows the post-production process, which can be lengthy on a show as ambitious and artistic as The White Lotus, so fans shouldn't expect the episodes to appear until well into next year. The White Lotus season 4 cast: Confirmed and rumoured The White Lotus season 4 cast is shaping up to be another mix of big-name talent, such as Helena Bonham Carter (Agatha Christie's Seven Dials) and Steve Coogan (How Are You?), plus some complete unknowns. Details on all characters are being kept firmly under lock and key, although Coogan's hiring was announced alongside newcomer Caleb Jonte Edwards, prompting speculation that they could be playing another father-son duo. All three seasons have featured dysfunctional parenting dynamics, so it's a plausible guess. But can anything top the unsettling behaviour of the Ratliff family, which dominated headlines throughout the third chapter? We dread to think. Other recognisable faces joining The White Lotus season 4 include Chris Messina (Birds of Prey, Air), Sandra Bernhard (Marty Supreme, American Horror Story) and Ari Graynor (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, Mrs America). Alexander Ludwig (Vikings) and AJ Michalka (The Goldbergs) will also feature, alongside newcomers Marissa Long and Dylan Ennis (who will be seen in Channel 4's upcoming drama Pierre, starring David Harewood). Long said (via Instagram): "I’m unbelievably honoured to be joining this with such incredible people... I want to thank [my] family and so many friends for being so encouraging and giving me such solid ground to always stand on." The lesser known names on the line-up could well be future A-listers according to series creator Mike White, who points out that several The White Lotus actors have become "huge, huge stars" since appearing in the hit drama. "A lot of these kids that are easy to get are suddenly not so easy to get," he lamented (via The Hollywood Reporter), when grilled on the prospect of an 'all-star' reunion season of The White Lotus. "But hopefully they'd come back." Season 2's Haley Lu Richardson, who played Tanya McQuoid's personal assistant Portia, is one person who would do so eagerly – and she believes she's in the vast majority. She told Deadline: "Obviously [I'd come back]! I don't think there's a single one of us that probably wouldn't. Mike is a genius. I really trust him. Portia has her moments, but I have empathy for her, and I'd play her again... I hope she's in therapy." Likewise, season 3 favourite Carrie Coon, who was Emmy-nominated for her turn as lawyer Laurie Duffy, said she would be "open" to reprising the role – on the condition of a cooler setting than Thailand's tropical Koh Samui. "I would prefer to work in the snow," she said (via Deadline), describing her earlier The White Lotus filming experience as "the hottest I've ever been in my life – and it's only getting hotter". The White Lotus season 4 confirmed locations <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/04/Chateau-de-La-Messardiere--e0134cb.jpg" width="3000" height="2000" alt="The swimming pool area of a French hotel named Château de La Messardière, which will be a filming location for The White Lotus season 4. The photo shows a large swimming pool surrounded by sunbeds and parasols, with a clear blue sky and coastal view in the background" title="Château de La Messardière" /> The White Lotus season 4 is confirmed to be filming in France, with locations to include Paris and Saint-Tropez. The drama had previously maintained a relationship with luxury hotel chain The Four Seasons, which played host to the show in its first three seasons, but it has looked elsewhere for its primary venue. Five-star hotel Château de La Messardière, located in Saint-Tropez, will double as the French Riviera's branch of The White Lotus, with scenes also expected to be shot in the country's capital city. The split mirrors season 3's narrative, which was based principally in coastal Koh Samui, but also flew over to the Thai capital of Bangkok for one particular plot thread involving troubled loner Rick (Walton Goggins). Earlier seasons set up camp in Maui, Hawaii and Sicily, Italy, with the picturesque portrayals generating a major tourism boom for both areas after the episodes aired. The White Lotus season 4 plot speculation: What could happen? The White Lotus season 4 has no official plot synopsis yet, but could mark the turning over of a new leaf for the anthology series. The third season was weighed down by its own continuity, as it had to wrap up an ongoing storyline involving recurring character Greg (Jon Gries), the sinister widow of the late Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge). Bringing back Tanya's (almost) business partner Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) allowed White to bring viewers some closure, but the loose ends in Greg's scheme seemed to be tied up following her daring plan for a payoff. One could argue that it would be better for the long-term health of the series to start planting fresh seeds for new continuing plot threads, rather than going back to toil this depleted ground. Nevertheless, Gries himself hasn't ruled out reprising his villainous role, telling Variety: "When Greg is telling Belinda that he loves Thailand and wants to die there, I think that's a bit of a story, to make it all sound so picturesque. This guy can't sit still." The White Lotus producer David Bernad gave little away about what showrunner Mike White has up his sleeve this time, saying only that "it's going to speak to culture in a way that is going to be relevant" (via The Hollywood Reporter). "I don't want to say too much [other than] I know what it is and where it’s going, and it's really exciting and I think people will be happy about the direction of season 4," he added. The White Lotus season 4 theme song: What could it sound like? The White Lotus season 4 theme song and score could be a departure from what we're used to, following news that original composer Cristóbal Tapia de Veer is parting ways with the production. The musician was dissatisfied with the version of his theme that was used over the season 3 opening credits, which some viewers felt was a downgrade from the season 2 track. Regarding the backlash, Tapia de Veer told The New York Times: "When [season 3] came out, I had TMZ calling me, even people from England and from France, because they wanted some kind of statement about the theme. "People are furious about the change of the theme, and I thought that was interesting." Tapia de Veer seemed frustrated that his longer and preferred version of the song, which contained nods to the previous scores, went unused in the TV series, although it may have been more pleasing to longtime viewers. View oEmbed on the source website Later, Mike White appeared on Howard Stern's radio show, where he offered an opposing view. "We never really even fought," claimed the screenwriter. "He says we feuded. I don't think I ever had a fight with him – except for maybe some emails. "It was basically me giving him notes. I don't think he liked to go through the process of getting notes from me, or wanting revisions, because he didn't respect me." De Veer responded (via BBC News): "Every comment regarding the role of the composer and the music at the Stern show simply proves my point that he doesn't understand or fully appreciate the importance and the power of the music in The White Lotus. "I wasn't given the trust about musical decisions, which you would imagine come with the success of the score. Which is also why I'm not returning." The White Lotus season 4 is yet to announce which composer will be replacing Tapia de Veer, but it's quite possible that they may want to depart from his style in order to put their own stamp on the series. Watch this space. Is there a The White Lotus season 4 trailer? Nothing yet! We'll update this page when any teasers for season 4 drop. The White Lotus is available on Sky Atlantic and NOW. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. 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Small Prophets and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms have one lovely thing in common
The best friendships are the ones you least expect.
On the face of it, similarities between Small Prophets and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms are few and far between. Mackenzie Crook's BBC Two series is a modern day, suburban-set sitcom about a man growing homunculi (miniature humanoid creatures with the ability to predict the future) in his garden shed. The Game of Thrones spin-off, in stark contrast, is set in 209 AC (roughly a century before the first season of Thrones) in the greens of Ashford, where a lowly hedge knight crosses paths with a young boy concealing his noble dynasty. No, there aren't many comparisons to speak of, aside from some well-deployed tonal acrobatics, a handful of quirky characters and a touch of the absurd. But they do have one notable thing in common, and it warms the cockles of one's heart in these most divided of times: their celebration of unexpected friendships. In both series, we find two people – Michael Sleep and Ser Duncan the Tall, also known as Dunk – who are, when we first meet them incredibly lonely. The former is still grieving the departure of his girlfriend Clea, who disappeared nearly seven years ago, and on Christmas Eve, of all days. While he interacts with the public during his shifts at a DIY shop and visits his lovely dad Brian at a care home, he has no friends to speak of. And save for his three horses, the latter is completely alone in the world after his mentor, former hedge knight Ser Arlan of Pennytree, drops down dead. But eventually, companionship seeks them both out from the unlikeliest of sources. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/02/546988-830faa8.jpg" width="4285" height="2851" alt="Two people walk side by side along a residential street. They are both wearing navy blue work uniforms with matching blue cargo trousers; the uniforms have a visible “TOOL” logo on the chest. The person on the left is a young woman with dark hair tied back, wearing a dark plaid jacket over her uniform and looking slightly concerned or thoughtful. The person on the right is an older man with long grey hair and a full grey beard, wearing a tan jacket over his blue coveralls. They appear to be in conversation or walking with purpose. In the background, there is a low brick wall, green grass, and trees, suggesting a suburban or industrial area." title="Small Prophets" /> Michael's first interaction with his colleague Kacey is him thinking she’s calling him a 'wanker'. The gesture is meant for their boss Gordon, who's needling Michael about something or other, but he gets the wrong end of the stick. A solid start. Later, in the staff room, they strike up a conversation after she asks him if his beard is itchy (a fair question, given its demeanour) before moving onto the subject of underwater welders after he playfully fibs about being one in a past life. It doesn't exactly sound like the makings of a solid friendship, does it? People either think Michael's a massive weirdo or taking the mick, which sends them scuttling off in the opposite direction – his very own defence mechanism, if you will. But Kacey, by contrast, leans in, and it unlocks something really rather special between them. "I love the way that she sort of pursues him, because she's very tenacious and she wants to know more," Peace Quigley, who plays Michael, told Radio Times. "She wants to know who he is. And then ultimately, she wants to know, actually, what is he doing [in his shed]? It's a lovely relationship." View Green Video on the source website Then there's Egg – first name: Aegon. Second name: Targaryen – who also pursues Dunk. Of course initially, Dunk could be anyone, really. As long as they offered him a ticket away from his family, who he desperately wants to escape, and a route to adventure, Egg would squire any old schmuck. But that all changes after camping out under the stars together and munching on some hefty-looking sandwiches while sitting shoulder to shoulder, talking about everything, and nothing. The cadence of their conversations is one of the show's great joys. Egg quickly grasps that Dunk is kind – his threats to give him a clout around the ear lack all commitment – which is a rarity in the world of Thrones, and certainly in the world of a family of high status, where internal and external threats and expectations create a pressure cooker environment. He also addresses Egg without insult and agenda, unlike members of his own family – Prince Aerion, we're looking at you – or without fear or rigidity, as any small folk addressing a Targaryen would. Granted, Dunk doesn't know who Egg is initially, but for the little Targaryen, it's time enough to get to know his new companion and before long, there's simply no doubt in his little bald head: Dunk is the man for him – which isn't something Dunk himself is used to. Unlike Egg, most people don't want to know Dunk. He is insignificant, a nobody, often met with ridicule or dismissal. But not from Egg, never from Egg. "You best be here when I get back," Dunk says to him before the Trial of Seven commences – and not for any other reason than to comfort him in a particularly difficult moment. He would be forgiven for only thinking about himself given what he was about to face, but instead, his mind turns to Egg. Yet as mentioned, Egg is a Targaryen, which means this incredibly sweet and brotherly bond they share – or even father-son dynamic, as Dexter Sol Ansell, who plays Egg, has said he sees it – has no right to exist. It simply isn't befitting of someone who is lowly born, such as Dunk, and one Egg of House Targaryen, who will one day sit upon the Iron Throne. It shouldn’t happen. It cannot happen – and yet. But they don't just stand on opposite sides of the divide when it comes to status and life experience. They also have divergent personalities – naturally, Egg speaks with an authority and conviction that Dunk just doesn't have. Egg is also a little weirdo, while there's a perfect simplicity to Dunk – not to mention the significant age gap, which would also be a barrier to forming a friendship for many others. But that hasn't proven insurmountable for Dunk and Egg, nor for Michael and Kacey, who are also decades apart in age, yet are tuned into the same frequency. When the other pub-goers look at Michael like he's losing the plot as he drunkenly announces he's growing homunculi, Kacey only has questions. She engages with him in a way the rest of the world doesn't – and not to ridicule or judge him, or to make herself feel better. Whatever he has to say is met with genuine curiosity and – as she learns more of his story – compassion, along with the hope that he'll see Clea again. It's Kacey, after all, who encourages him to ask the small prophets about Clea – whether she still loves him, and if she's ever coming home. His anxiety initially proves too much to overcome, just as time is running out, but she spurs him on, just as Egg demands that Dunk haul himself back to his feet after taking the mother of all beatings in combat, courtesy of Aerion's flail. Others might have used Michael and his prophets entirely to their own advantage, but there’s no malice or manipulation in Kacey's interest in him. She likes him for who he is, and he takes a shine to her. It's as simple as that. And there's a beautiful simplicity to the bare bones relationship between Dunk and Egg – despite the complex circumstances they find themselves in – which stands in delightfully stark contrast to the politicking and scheming synonymous with Thrones. In a world which often feels distinctly devoid of magic and hope at the moment, the unexpected friendships that blossom between Michael and Kacey, and Dunk and Egg – and exactly when they need each other most – are just the tonic. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms airs on Sky Atlantic and NOW – find out more about how to sign up for Sky TV. Small Prophets is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Check out more of our Comedy and Fantasy 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 Sky Atlantic crime thriller, starring Kelly Reilly and Rafe Spall, follows a close-knit Welsh community rocked by the discovery of a young boy’s body.
When the body of a nine-year-old boy is uncovered in a drainage ditch in Under Salt Marsh, local teacher Jackie Ellis (played by Kelly Reilly, best known as Yellowstone's Beth Dutton) believes it may be connected to the disappearance of her niece, who hasn't been seen for three years. Jackie was a detective when Nessa went missing – a case which cost her her career and destroyed her friendship with former partner Detective Eric Bull, who returns to the remote Welsh town after failing to solve what happened. "Jackie feels like she’s hiding, like she doesn’t want to take up space," Reilly told Radio Times. "I was working on the last season of Yellowstone when I read [Under Salt Marsh] and I was really in the throes of Beth's violence and revenge. "Jackie feels like she’s hiding, like she doesn’t want to take up space,” she explained, adding that the more contained Jackie is "more aligned to myself and easier to access than Beth”. Under Salt Marsh sees Jackie and Detective Bull forced to put their differences aside in the hope of uncovering what's really going on in this tight-knit community – with a once-in-a-generation storm en route, threatening to wipe out any evidence they find. Read more: Under Salt Marsh's Jonathan Pryce explains why thriller is "much deeper" than your average murder mystery "With the onslaught of the weather and the epic storm that comes at the end, in the final episode, those environmental forces become huge in the story," creator, writer and director Claire Oakley told RadioTimes.com. "They're inescapable, and there's a lot of focus of, 'What are we going to do?' And how is this community going to survive and help each other through such an onslaught. "They've got this dual pressure: there's the investigation and the sense that somebody amongst them has killed a child, and then there's this onslaught from the sea and from the weather and these outside forces." The town where Under Salt Marsh is set is called Morfa Halen, which is fictional. But the cast and crew did film on location in Wales, in landscapes where the elements play a powerful role in shaping daily life. So, where was it filmed in reality? Find out below. Where was Under Salt Marsh filmed? The series was largely filmed in Barmouth and Fairbourne, in north-west Wales, with the Mawddach Estuary standing in for the fictional Morfa Halen. The cast and crew also spent time in Anglesey – filming at the Newborough Forest, Niwbwrch and the Menai Bridge – and Cardiff, where the team "built a marsh on a set for the big finale," Oakley explained. "But we did shoot out on a lot of real marshes." Other key locations included: the coastal village of Fairbourne in Gwynedd, Rhigos Primary School in Rhondda Cynon Taf, the village of Llanbedr and Shell Island. Spider Island as featured on the show is not a real location, but was custom-built in studio. Harry Lawtey (Dylan Rees, whose nephew James is best friends with murder victim Cefin), added that while "the town in the show is fictional, it was definitely modelled on the place we actually were." "We shot largely on historic marshland – a magnificent place, breathtakingly stunning and kind of mighty really – and it's difficult to be there and not get a sense of nature around you and that playing a part in people's daily lives. "It's part of the fabric of what these communities are and that was something we spoke about a lot with Claire. Everyone in the show has a relationship to the town, and it's a character in their lives, undeniably." View Green Video on the source website "The location is so important to the storyline," continued Naomi Yang (DC Jess Deng), who knew as soon as she read the scripts that "visually, it was going to be so stunning". "So much of it is just drone shots of the area," she said. "It's such a key part of it, it's almost like another character in the series." Because of the distance between Yang's home in London and where they were based – "it was quite remote, about a seven, eight hour journey, door to door" – she decided to stay in Wales for the full five-week block. "And you feel so small because... it's so vast," she said. "You open the door and you've got the sea and the mountains, and there's such an atmosphere and energy about the place. "And we were also filming in winter, so you can't escape your environment, your dynamic with the environment is so much stronger than when I'm living in London. You can kind of just go about your day not really think about that, but you can't help but have a dynamic with where you're living in that place. "It's definitely the most remote place that I've filmed in, and it really seeps into you in a way that it must do for the people of Morfa Halen." It was the salt marshes of north Wales that initially inspired Claire Oakley to write Under Salt Marsh. "They're such amazing places," she told Radio Times. "I just really wanted to find a story that allowed me to look at these places. I've always liked how the Americans mythologise their landscapes and bring this sense of greatness, or they make them feel heroic, in a way. "And I wanted to do that around the landscapes in north Wales, and... that's where the idea of this police investigation came from, that it was going to be really entwined with the landscape so we could look at the plants, at the water, how salty the levels are, to forensically look at this landscape and be in it." Shell Island, in north Wales, near Porthmadog, also provided a key part of the inspiration. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/01/Jess-951fca3.jpg" width="8256" height="5504" alt="A woman stands outdoors near a wooden building at sunset. She is wearing a long maroon coat over a blazer and light shirt, with her hands in her pockets. The background shows grassy fields and distant hills, softly blurred, with warm backlighting creating a calm, reflective mood." title="Under Salt Marsh" /> "I had this idea of setting a community way out on the end of a causeway," she explained, referencing Shell Island. "There's a campsite at the end of a long causeway. You can only get there on low tide, and it gave me the idea of setting it in a town and to have this long causeway that would cross the salt marsh. "It's a space where, really, we shouldn't be building, we shouldn't have built towns. These salt marshes protect our island from the sea, and they absorb a lot of water. They absorb a lot of carbon, like 10 times more carbon than a forest. And they're very precious environments. But a lot of them have been drained for farming or to build on. And then we make ourselves very vulnerable on the edge of the coast there. "And I love the idea of this community that was precarious and vulnerable. And I love the idea that they have to solve the crime before the evidence might get washed away." Read more: Who's in the cast of Under Salt Marsh? Under Salt Marsh review: Flood-stricken crime drama continues the rise of Welsh noir Under Salt Marsh airs Sky Atlantic and NOW on January 30th with new episodes every Friday. Add Under Salt Marsh 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.
Yellowstone star Kelly Reilly reveals why she was ready for Under Salt Marsh after "violence and revenge" of Beth Dutton
"I love Beth to bits – but Beth is quite far removed from who I am and how I live my life."
Yellowstone star Kelly Reilly has said that she was “definitely ready” to play the lead in Sky Atlantic’s new thriller Under Salt Marsh after six years playing the mad, bad and dangerous to know Beth Dutton in the hit US show. “I was working on the last season of Yellowstone when I read [Under Salt Marsh] and I was really in the throes of Beth's violence and revenge. It's quite an interesting vibe to hold in yourself and it's not something that's particularly comfortable.” Reilly told Radio Times that getting into the right headspace to play Beth takes a psychological “boot camp” and exploring the psychology of Under Salt Marsh’s protagonist, Jackie Ellis, felt like a change of gear. "Jackie feels like she’s hiding, like she doesn’t want to take up space,” she explained of the character who, upon discovering the body of a murdered child three years after her own niece disappeared, starts her own covert investigation into the deaths. According to Reilly, the more contained Jackie is "more aligned to myself and easier to access than Beth”. “I love Beth to bits – I’m playing her now [in Yellowstone spin-off The Dutton Ranch, due 2027] – but Beth is quite far removed from who I am and how I live my life,” she says. “I love leaning into that aspect of myself, but I could never speak like Beth or do what Beth does.” Read more: Where was Under Salt Marsh filmed? Under Salt Marsh's Jonathan Pryce explains why thriller is "much deeper" than your average murder mystery Slow Horses' Jonathan Pryce on returning to his Welsh roots with new drama: "I left it physically, but emotionally, I've never left" As for Beth’s appeal, and her transformation from a character in a TV show into something of an iconic cultural figure complete with her own merch – you too can own a Don’t Make Me Go All Beth Dutton On Your Ass t-shirt if there’s a dearth in your wardrobe – Reilly is reflective: “I think people loved Beth's audacity. There was something about her in full ownership of herself that felt refreshing. She was unapologetic about her own inner violence, which is kind of scary to see in a woman, and her ferociousness tapped into some sort of zeitgeist.” Under Salt Marsh airs on Fridays on Sky Atlantic and NOW. Add Under Salt Marsh 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.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 4 set for early release in the UK following US schedule shake-up
Viewers will be heading back to Westeros sooner than expected…
HBO has confirmed that this week’s episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will be dropping earlier than expected to avoid clashing with Super Bowl Sunday. The fourth episode of the show will still air on HBO on Sunday 8th February in its usual 10pm time slot, but will be released on the streaming site at 12:01am PT on Friday 6th February. This will come as good news to fans of the series who can't wait for future instalments following episode 3’s game-changing reveal, which finally solved one of the show's biggest mysteries. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is the third series in the A Song of Ice and Fire franchise and is based on the Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas. Set 100 years before Game of Thrones, and 72 years after House of the Dragon, the six-part series follows Dunk and his resourceful squire “Egg” as they head on a big adventure through the Seven Kingdoms. The 60th Super Bowl will see the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks fight for the Lombardi Trophy at Levi's Stadium on Sunday. It will air on NBC and Peacock. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2 is already in production, with the instalment expected to premiere before the end of next year. And it looks like there could be further seasons on the horizon, despite the fact that George RR Martin has only published three Dunk and Egg novellas so far. Showrunner Ira Parker recently revealed that there are 12 outlines from the author to form the basis of future seasons. He told Radio Times magazine: "George has laid out… He has a document of everything that happens, basically, for 13, 14, 15 of these novellas. He just has to get to writing these." He continued: "The nice thing is, we know what the ending is. We know the journeys that they go no. We would never be left making anything up. We would just have a looser road map than what we have right now. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is available to watch on Sky Atlantic and NOW. Add A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms 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 Fantasy 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.
Under Salt Marsh's Jonathan Pryce explains why thriller is "much deeper" than your average murder mystery
"It's weird, I didn't feel like I was reading a murder mystery..."
When the body of a nine-year-old boy is found in a drainage ditch in the remote Welsh town of Morfa Halen, the community is rocked by the harrowing possibility that there's more to Cefin's death than a horrible accident – and that one of their own is probably responsible. And it's a feeling they know all too well following the disappearance of another child, Nessa, who went missing three years ago, the details of which remain unknown. Yet, while Sky Atlantic's Under Salt Marsh is a murder mystery, Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes, The Crown) who plays Cefin's grandfather Solomon, the patriarch of a local farming family, believes it goes beyond what we anticipate from crime thrillers on the whole. "It's weird, I didn't feel like I was reading a murder mystery. I felt I was reading about a community that was under threat from the environment," he told RadioTimes.com, referencing the once-in-a-generation-storm that's rapidly heading towards the town, putting the investigation, headed up by Detective Eric Bull (Trying's Rafe Spall), at serious risk. "But also, [there's] this ongoing unrest within the community because some of the murders are historical, and the community is already split, and then rent asunder again," added Pryce. "So it's a much deeper story than an obvious murder mystery." Another feather in its cap, according to Pryce, is "the reveal of the murderer... is not straightforward". "I think that's a very good, strong feature of the script. There are no obvious culprits for a long time, and I found that interesting." Starring alongside Pryce and Spall is Yellowstone's Kelly Reilly, who plays detective turned teacher Jackie Ellis, who finds Cefin's body, and is also Nessa's aunt – a case which ultimately cost her her job and her friendship with Bull. "These two characters have so much history, they've gone through something deeply traumatic together," Reilly said of that central dynamic."And I think Jackie, quite honestly, would love to never see him again because it's just too painful. She's not ready to." "He's probably the worst person she could see in this moment because it just brings back all of the trauma of this case that they didn't solve together," she continued. "And so him suddenly showing up at her house after finding the body of this child is like a horror film." That detail was the "most attractive aspect" for Spall, who described their relationship – or lack thereof when we first meet them – as "unconventional". "There isn't that risk of them getting together, but they've got a lot to work out," he expanded. "They have a lot of love for each other and a lot of anger, and as we know there's a very fine line between those two emotions. It makes for a pretty original central duo." Read more: Where was Under Salt Marsh filmed? Who's in the cast of Under Salt Marsh? Under Salt Marsh review: Flood-stricken crime drama continues the rise of Welsh noir The first two episodes of Under Salt Marsh will premiere on Sky Atlantic and NOW on January 30th with a new episode following the next four Fridays. Add Under Salt Marsh 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.
Under Salt Marsh cast: Who stars in the Sky Atlantic crime thriller?
Everything you need to know about the main characters in Under Salt Marsh.
Crime thriller Under Salt Marsh unfolds in the fictional Welsh town of Morfa Halen, where residents are bracing for a once-in-a-generation storm when teacher Jackie Ellis (Yellowstone's Kelly Reilly) finds the body of a nine-year-old boy from her school. Was it a horrible accident – or something far more sinister? The discovery may even be linked to the disappearance of Jackie's niece, Nessa, who went missing a few years earlier while Jackie was working as a detective. Detective Eric Bull (Rafe Spall), who once worked alongside Jackie and investigated Nessa's case, returns to the community he previously failed. But if he's to succeed this time, "Jackie and Bull must reconcile and race to uncover long-buried secrets inside Morfa, before the storm breaks and all the evidence is gone for good". "These two characters have so much history, they've gone through something deeply traumatic together," said Reilly of Jackie and Bull. "And I think Jackie, quite honestly, would love to never see him again because it's just too painful. She's not ready to. Bull is probably the worst person she could see in this moment because it just brings back all of the trauma of this case that they didn't solve together. "And so him suddenly showing up at her house after finding this body of this child is like a horror film." Spall went on to say that the "unconventional" relationship between Jackie and Bull was what attracted him to the role. "There isn't that risk of them getting together, but they've got a lot to work out," he added. "They have a lot of love for each other and a lot of anger, and as we know, there's a very fine line between those two emotions. It makes, I think, for a pretty original central duo." Alongside Reilly and Spall, a number of well-known faces crop up, plus some you might not be familiar with. Read on for a rundown of the main players in Under Salt Marsh. Under Salt Marsh cast Kelly Reilly as Jackie Ellis Rafe Spall as Detective Eric Bull Jonathan Pryce as Solomon Bevan Naomi Yang as DC Jess Deng Harry Lawtey as Dylan Rees Dinita Gohil as Nisha Jones Brian Gleeson as Mac Jones Kimberley Nixon as Shell Hill Mark Stanley as Danny Hill Dino Fetscher as Gareth Evans Rhodri Meilir as Ned Bevan Julian Lewis Jones as Osian Northam Morgan Watkins as Kieran Benbow William Thomas as Owen Ellis Amara Atwal as Nessa Jack Thomas-Humphreys as Cefin Hill Osian Emlyn as James Rees India Mullen as Lydia Taman Janeks Babidorics as August Antonov Dritan Kastrati as Victor Antonov Lizzie Annis as Cara Rees Gwïon Morris Jones as Eddie Bevan Jonah James as Harry Bevan Eiry Thomas as Irene Hassan Marilyn Cutts as Carys Northam Martyn Ellis as Jim For more information about the characters and where you've seen the cast before, read on. Kelly Reilly plays Jackie Ellis Who is Jackie Ellis? A former detective turned teacher, Jackie is haunted by the disappearance of her niece Nessa, who went missing three years ago while Jackie was still in the police – a case that ultimately cost her her job. She believes the death of Cefin, the young boy she finds dead, is connected. Where have I seen Kelly Reilly before? She's best known for Yellowstone. Other credits include Flight, Sherlock Holmes (2009), Pride & Prejudice (2005), Brittania, True Detective and Above Suspicion. Rafe Spall plays Eric Bull Who is Eric Bull? A detective leading the investigation into the death of nine-year-old Cefin, Bull also previously worked on Nessa's case. Jackie was once his partner and friend, but the two are no longer on speaking terms. Where have I seen Rafe Spall before? You might have watched him in The Big Short, Life of Pi, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, The Salisbury Poisonings, Trying, Black Mirror and The Ritual. Jonathan Pryce plays Solomon Bevan Who is Solomon Bevan? Cefin's grandfather. Soloman is the patriarch of a big farming family in Morfa Halen. Where have I seen Jonathan Pryce before? His credits include The Two Popes, The Crown, Wolf Hall, Slow Horses, Game of Thrones, Pirates of the Caribbean, Brazil, Evita and Taboo. Naomi Yang plays Jess Deng <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/01/Jess-951fca3.jpg" width="8256" height="5504" alt="A woman stands outdoors near a wooden building at sunset. She is wearing a long maroon coat over a blazer and light shirt, with her hands in her pockets. The background shows grassy fields and distant hills, softly blurred, with warm backlighting creating a calm, reflective mood." title="Under Salt Marsh" /> Who is Jess Deng? A DC working alongside Bull, Jess clashes with him during the investigation as she questions whether Jackie should be involved at all. Where have I seen Naomi Yang before? You might recognise her from DI Ray, Wolfe, Nightsleeper, Maternal and Liaison. Harry Lawtey plays Dylan Rees <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/01/Dylan-9096f12.jpg" width="7728" height="5152" alt="A young man is seen through a rain-streaked window, looking slightly downward with a serious expression. He is wearing a blue hoodie layered under a brown jacket. The background is blurred, showing a steep rocky hillside and greenery, giving the scene a cool, moody atmosphere." title="Under Salt Marsh" /> Who is Dylan Rees? A construction worker whose nephew is best friends with Cefin. Dylan and Jackie are also hooking up. Where have I seen Harry Lawtey before? He's best known for Industry, Mr Burton and Joker: Folie à Deux. he's also appeared in Magpie Murders and You & Me. Dinita Gohil plays Nisha Jones <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/01/nish-40b818d.jpg" width="8256" height="5504" alt="Two women stand outdoors in a cold, rural setting with misty hills in the background. One woman wears a green hooded coat and looks worried as she holds her hood. The other woman wears a dark beanie and a mustard-colored jacket while carrying a baby in a light blue snowsuit secured in a front carrier. The scene feels tense and somber." title="Under Salt Marsh" /> Who is Nisha Jones? Nisha is Jackie's sister-in-law and Nessa's aunt. A fellow teacher, she helped Jackie secure a job at the school after she left the police. Where have I seen Dinita Gohil before? She has appeared in The Sandman, Clink, DI Ray, The Road Trip and Treason, among others. Brian Gleeson plays Mac Jones <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/01/Mac-ded3d6f.jpg" width="5823" height="3882" alt="A group of people stand closely together outdoors near a body of water, looking concerned and focused on something off-camera. In the center, a man with glasses wears a dark jacket and has a serious expression. Beside him, a woman in a knit hat holds a baby dressed in a light blue snowsuit in a front carrier. The scene feels tense, with other faces partially visible around them in the foreground and background." title="Under Salt Marsh" /> Who is Mac Jones? Nisha's husband, who is overseeing a major construction project in Morfa Halen. He’s vocal about his love for the town. Where have I seen Brian Gleeson before? Love/Hate, Peaky Blinders, Bad Sisters, Snow White and the Huntsman, Logan Lucky and Assassin's Creed are some of the titles he's appeared in. Kimberley Nixon plays Shell Hill <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/01/Shel-5a89c31.jpg" width="8256" height="5504" alt="A young woman sits on an indoor staircase, leaning forward with her hands clasped together. She wears a striped green sweater and jeans, and her expression appears thoughtful and troubled. The hallway is softly lit with warm tones, and the wallpaper beside her has a delicate floral pattern, creating an intimate, quiet atmosphere." title="Under Salt Marsh" /> Who is Shell Hill? Cefin's mum and a member of the Bevan family. Shell doesn’t live on the farm, but in town with her husband and children. Where have I seen Kimberley Nixon before? You might have watched her in Fresh Meat, Cranford, Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging and Wild Child. Mark Stanley plays Danny Hill <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/01/Mark-Stanley-0fb7a6f.png" width="1665" height="1110" alt="A close-up shows a man wearing thin-framed glasses, looking off to the side with a concerned or thoughtful expression. He has short, curly dark hair and light facial stubble. The background is softly blurred, suggesting an indoor setting with warm, muted lighting." title="Mark Stanley" /> Who is Danny Hill? Shell's husband and Cefin's dad, he runs the local butchers. Where have I seen Mark Stanley before? His CV includes Happy Valley, Game of Thrones, Trigger Point, Dickensian, White House Farm and more. Dino Fetscher plays Gareth Evans <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/01/usm-0be809f.jpg" width="7183" height="4789" alt="A man wearing a dark cap and a rain-soaked jacket stands outside at night during heavy rainfall, speaking intensely to another man whose back is turned to the camera. The scene is dark and dramatic, with water streaming down and a tense atmosphere between the two figures." title="Under Salt Marsh" /> Who is Gareth Evans? He works for the environmental agency and is in town to carry out an assessment. He also has history with Bull. Where have I seen Dino Fetscher before? You might know him from Fool Me Once, Foundation, Gentleman Jack, Humans and Paranoid. Rhodri Meilir plays Ned Bevan <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/01/Bevan-78da0f1.jpg" width="6107" height="4071" alt="A man in a worn jacket stands in the middle of a crowd outdoors on a cold day, looking anxious and distracted. People around him wear winter coats and hats, and the blurred background shows a rural road and houses, suggesting a tense gathering in a small community." title="Under Salt Marsh" /> Who is Ned Bevan? One of Solomon's adult sons. He works on the farm. Where have I seen Rhodri Meilir before? In My Skin, Living a Lie and My Family are some of the titles he's appeared in. Julian Lewis Jones plays Osian Northam <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/01/Oison-d3ed077.jpg" width="7272" height="4848" alt="An older man with long grey hair and a thick beard sits indoors under warm lighting, wearing a green jacket and looking alarmed or tense. He holds a small object and a cloth in his hands, while a blurred figure stands in the foreground, adding to the scene’s sense of unease and confrontation." title="Under Salt Marsh" /> Who is Osian Northam? He's very passionate about the environment, which can sometimes tip into concerning behaviour. The community considers him a bit odd. Where have I seen Julian Lewis Jones before? His credits include Stella, Where the Heart Is, The Guest and Bregus. Morgan Watkins plays Kieran Benbow <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/01/Kieran-070a4af.jpg" width="5834" height="3890" alt="A man with shoulder-length hair wearing a denim jacket sits at a kitchen table, looking tense and confused as he faces another man in the foreground. The setting has bright red tiled walls and cupboards, creating a stark backdrop for the serious conversation." title="Under Salt Marsh" /> Who is Kieran Benbow? He was a suspect when Nessa first disappeared, but the evidence came up short. Where have I seen Morgan Watkins before? Watkins played Norman Pike in BBC drama The Hour and Rottweiler in Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014). William Thomas plays Owen Ellis <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/01/dad-22f4762.jpg" width="6090" height="4060" alt="An older man with grey hair, a beard, and round glasses stands indoors, looking off to the side with a worried expression. He wears a brown jacket over a checked shirt and dark sweater. The room is softly lit, with patterned wallpaper and a wall-mounted candle sconce in the background." title="Under Salt Marsh" /> Who is Owen Ellis? Jackie's dad. Where have I seen William Thomas before? You might know him from Mammoth, The One That Got Away, Tree on a Hill, Alys and Torchwood. Additional Under Salt Marsh cast includes: Amara Atwal (Coldwater) plays Nessa - Jackie's niece. Her disappearance remains a mystery. Jack Thomas-Humphreys (Bariau) plays Cefin Hill - Jackie finds his body in a drainage ditch. Osian Emlyn plays James Rees - Cefin's best friend. India Mullen (Red Rock, Normal People) plays Lydia Taman - Jackie's sister and Nessa's mum. The two no longer have a relationship following events that unfolded during the investigation into her daughter's disappearance. Janeks Babidorics (Brassic) plays August Antonov - he works on the Bevan farm and lives in a caravan on site. Dritan Kastrati (MobLand) plays Victor Antonov - August's cousin. Lizzie Annis (The Witcher: Blood Origin) plays Cara Rees - James's mum and Dylan's sister. Gwïon Morris Jones plays Eddie Bevan and Jonah James plays Harry Bevan - younger members of the Bevan clan. Eiry Thomas (Keeping Faith, Out There, The Pact, The Bench) plays Irene Hassan - a pathologist. Marilyn Cutts (Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale) plays Carys Northam - she runs the local pub and guest house. Martyn Ellis (The New Adventures of Robin Hood) plays Jim - he runs the local chippy. Read more: Where was Under Salt Marsh filmed? Under Salt Marsh review: Flood-stricken crime drama continues the rise of Welsh noir Under Salt Marsh's Jonathan Pryce explains why thriller is "much deeper" than your average murder mystery Slow Horses' Jonathan Pryce on returning to his Welsh roots with new drama: "I left it physically, but emotionally, I've never left" The first two episodes of Under Salt Marsh will premiere on Sky Atlantic and NOW on January 30th with a new episode following the next four Fridays. Add Under Salt Marsh 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.
Under Salt Marsh review: Flood-stricken crime drama continues the rise of Welsh noir
A top-tier largely native cast, weather-beaten setting and sense of local community brings a Cymru sensibility to the murder mystery.
Following on from Mudtown, The One That Got Away and Keeping Faith, Under Salt Marsh is the latest Welsh crime drama to take its cues from the woolly jumpers and windswept landscapes of Scandi noir. And it might well be the most noirish of the lot. The original miniseries certainly isn’t the kind of escapist Harlan Coben-esque potboiler you watch to banish the winter blues, that’s for sure. From its 'every parents' worst nightmare' mystery to its flood-drenched, eternally grey aesthetics, this is a whodunit which revels in the bleak. Had its fictional town of Morfa Halen (the Welsh for ‘salt marsh’) been real, then its tourist board would undoubtedly have had cause for complaint. Having made her name with 2019’s Make Up, a blend of kitchen sink realism and psychological horror set entirely within an out-of-season Cornish caravan park, creator Claire Oakley is no stranger to such darkness. But here, she proves she can maintain a palpable sense of unease across six hour-long episodes of TV. Although very much a slow burner, Under Salt Marsh doesn’t waste any time establishing its ominous tone. In fact, distraught primary school teacher Jackie Ellis (Kelly Reilly with a steeliness similar to her display in Yellowstone) discovers the lifeless body of eight-year-old pupil Cefin (Jack Thomas-Humphreys) amid pitch-black marshlands in the opening shot. Is this simply a tragic accident? Or, as one would suspect, is there something more nefarious at play? And why, as revealed in a chilling flashback to earlier that same day, did the young victim continually dream of being chased into water and drowning? As a former detective, Jackie takes it upon herself to find the answers, immediately ingratiating herself further into the case by breaking the news to Cefin’s parents Shell (Kimberley Nixon) and Danny (Mark Stanley) before the police get the chance: it’s one of several harrowing scenes – see the family’s uncontrollable wails while visiting Cefin’s final resting place or Danny’s sudden breakdown at his butcher’s shop – which pack a truly emotional gut punch. Jackie’s interference isn’t appreciated, however, by Eric Bull (Rafe Spall, for some reason adopting a wayward Black Country accent), her former partner-in-crime who’s returned to his old stomping ground to help piece the puzzle together. Things appear to have ended acrimoniously judging by how she deliberately hides from him on first sight. And a heated tete-a-tete later confirms their still-unsolved last case together three years earlier – the disappearance of Jackie’s nine-year-old niece which may or may not be connected to Cefin’s death – left their working relationship damaged beyond repair. “Still no apology,” she queries in disbelief about a betrayal from the man she "trusted with my entire life". As the story patiently unfolds, it becomes clear both parties have other skeletons in their closet too. When not potentially tampering with official police business, Jackie is arranging clandestine meetings with tattooed bad boy Dylan (Harry Lawtey, worlds apart from his disillusioned posh boy in Industry) behind sheds like a naughty schoolgirl. Then there’s the fact she’s encouraged by various locals, including her dad, for “doing so well,” hinting at another problem from her past. Eric, on the other hand, is more of an enigma, although the hostile reception he receives from much of the tight-knit community (“You’ve already destroyed one family”) suggests he left on bad terms. The awkward conversations with slightly familiar face Gareth (Dino Fetscher), an environmental researcher whose knowledge of the area’s rising waters proves invaluable to the investigation, raises questions about his personal life too. Indeed, there’s much more to Under Salt Marsh than its murder. Like recent ITV returnee After the Flood, it reflects upon the small-town impact of climate change, whether Gareth’s attempts to evacuate the area (“you cannot win a war against water”) ahead of a great storm to the stubborn response from the long-time residents determined to stay put. There’s also a paternity dispute which very nearly leads to another tragedy. And while hardly a laugh-a-minute affair, it’s not entirely without a sense of humour either. On heading back to his pub lodgings in waterlogged clothes, Eric is only allowed access by his houseproud landlady when he strips to his vest and pants. Come for the whodunit, stay for the sight of Spall nearly auditioning for Magic Mike. Of course, Under Salt Marsh most compels when it focuses on its two possibly interlinked cases, drawing up an intriguing suspect list which includes everyone from the local conspiracy theorist to the mysterious beekeeper figure sketched by both ill-fated kids. Don’t expect obvious answers: the why, who and how is still as much of a mystery at the end of the second of the two episodes available for review as it is the lengthy cold open. Yet thanks to a first-class cast (Welsh royalty Jonathan Pryce also shows up as Cefin's grieving grandfather), some immersive, if resolutely desolate, cinematography and a script which allows the characters to feel entirely lived-in, you’ll remain hooked no matter your skills as an amateur armchair sleuth. It might not always look it, but the future of Cymru noir is bright. Read more: Where was Under Salt Marsh filmed? Who is in the cast of Under Salt Marsh? Under Salt Marsh's Jonathan Pryce explains why thriller is "much deeper" than your average murder mystery Slow Horses' Jonathan Pryce on returning to his Welsh roots with new drama: "I left it physically, but emotionally, I've never left" The first two episodes of Under Salt Marsh will premiere on Sky Atlantic and NOW on January 30th with a new episode following the next four Fridays. Add Under Salt Marsh 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.
House of the Dragon season 3: Release date speculation, cast and plot news
Keep up with the Targaryens with our House of Dragon season 3 guide.
*Warning: Spoilers ahead for all episodes of House of the Dragon season 2.* House of the Dragon season 3 is on its way this year! The spin-off to Game of Thrones, which tackles the Targaryen civil war, the Dance of Dragons, hundreds of years before the arrival of Queen Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), has been away from our screens for two years but will soon be back for new episodes. The last season ended with a brutal battle being prepared for as the forces of the Blacks, allied to Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy), and the Greens, allied to her wounded younger half-brother King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney). So, if you're waiting for House of the Dragon season 3 and the future of the Targaryen dynasty, and, most importantly, make sure to check back regularly as we'll be updating this guide with more information as it gets revealed. House of the Dragon season 3 release date speculation House of the Dragon season 3 is due to be released in Summer 2026. Actor Matt Smith suggested that the episodes would be released in August 2026, but this has yet to be confirmed by HBO. House of the Dragon was renewed for season 3 in June 2024, before season 2 had even been released, demonstrating tremendous faith in the Thrones spin-off. The series is set to return for a fourth and final season, too. In the meantime, the new spin-off series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has begun airing on HBO in the US and on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK. Who will be in the cast of House of the Dragon season 3? Currently, the following cast members are confirmed for House of the Dragon season 3. Matt Smith as King Consort Daemon Targaryen Emma D'Arcy as Queen Rhaenyra I Targaryen Olivia Cooke as Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria Matthew Needham as Lord Larys Strong Tom Glynn-Carney as King Aegon II Targaryen Ewan Mitchell as Prince Aemond Targaryen Phia Saban as Queen Helaena Targaryen Harry Collett as Prince Jacaerys Velaryon Bethany Antonia as Lady Baela Targaryen Phoebe Campbell as Lady Rhaena Targaryen Jefferson Hall as Lord Jason Lannister and Ser Tyland Lannister Kurt Egyiawan as Grand Maester Orwyle Kieran Bew as Hugh Hammer Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers Tom Bennett as Ulf White TBC as Prince Daeron Targaryen James Norton as Lord Ormund Hightower Tommy Flanagan as Lord Roderick Dustin Dan Fogler as Ser Torrhen Manderly Tom Cullen as Ser Luthor Largent Joplin Sibtain as Ser Jon Roxton Barry Sloane as Ser Adrian Redfort Annie Shapero as Lady Alysanne Blackwood In terms of new arrivals, it's been revealed that James Norton will be joining the cast as Lord Ormund Hightower, the cousin of Queen Dowager Alicent Hightower, and the Lord of Highgarden and Lord Paramount of the Reach. Elsewhere, Tommy Flanagan will play Lord Roderick Dustin, a Northern lord and ally to Rhaenyra, and Tom Cullen will portray Ser Luthor Largent, the Commander of the City Watch who is loyal to Daemon. Meanwhile, Dan Fogler will portray Ser Torrhen Manderly, another Northern ally to Rhaenyra, while Joplin Sibtain will portray Ser Jon Roxton, the head of House Roxton and an ally to the Greens. Finally, Barry Sloane will play Ser Adrian Redfort, a member of Rhaenyra's Queensguard, and Annie Shapero will portray the Northern warrior woman and ally to Rhaenyra, Lady Alysanne Blackwood. One character we do know for sure that we're going to meet in season 3 is the long-awaited Daeron Targaryen, Aegon and Aemond's brother! Asked in a recent press conference whether we would finally meet him, Condal confirmed with a "yes" – although the actor to play him has not yet been cast, to our knowledge. He also referenced the Targaryen brothers when speaking about Helaena's storyline, adding: "The decision to expand Helaena’s character was that we, were fascinated by Alicent’s family and Aegon and Aemond, and certainly at some point in the story, even Daeron – the beloved, anticipated Daeron – get a lot of the screen time and the storytelling time because they're the males, they're the dragon riding warriors. "But Helena was always fascinating to us because she was a bit of a tabula rasa, as described in the book." Elsewhere, many viewers were excited at the prospect of seeing Nettles, a fan-favourite character from the books who claims the dragon Sheepstealer, appear in season 2. For now, though, her story has been conflated with that of Princess Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell), which has left many fans disappointed. However, during a press conference, Condal hinted that we might still see her in future. When asked about whether Nettles has been fully written out of the show, he responded: "I think that's a, ‘Please stay tuned and keep watching the story.’ I will say that we love Rhaena as a character, and we've really done a lot of legwork to set her up from the beginning as somebody in this Targaryen household who does not have a dragon." View Affiliate Playlist on the source website He added: "I think the Rhaena story, as we're seeing it unfold, is potentially one of those interesting interpretations that we have to offer. And I would just say that we don't do any stuff lightly or without thought. Many of these things we've planned many seasons in advance. So I would just say, you know, buckle up and take the ride with us. And hopefully you like the destination it's going to." Meanwhile, in the final episode, we met a new character in the form of a gender-swapped Admiral Lohar, played by Abigail Thorn. We'd certainly expect her and other characters introduced this season to return for more. As for returning faces, we'd certainly expect most of the Targaryen clan to be back in business as we head towards season 3. The final episodes of the season have also placed greater emphasis on the dragonseeds, or the Targaryen bastards, including Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew) and Ulf White (Tom Bennett), so we'd expect them to take on a bigger role going forward. In the finale, we also saw Joshua Ben-Tovim appear in a vision to Daemon Targaryen as Ser Brynden Rivers, AKA Lord Bloodraven. Could we see more from him in the future? One character we're not expecting to see back, however, is the Queen Who Never Was, Rhaenys Targaryen (played by Eve Best). In a shocking and brutal episode 4, the beloved character was killed off in a fiery clash with Prince Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell), who also left his own brother, King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), badly wounded. While fans were also excited to see the appearance of Blood and Cheese, played by Sam C Wilson and Mark Stobbart, we're certainly not expecting to see them back for any more either. Similarly, episode 1 saw the brutal death of a young Jaehaerys Targaryen, the eldest son of Aegon Targaryen. That said, we're also not ruling out flashback scenes – especially after the shock returns of season 2. Fans were stunned to see the return of Milly Alcock as young Rhaenyra and Paddy Considine as the late King Viserys as part of Daemon Targaryen's visions. Could old cast members be back for more? We could also see the arrival of even more Targaryen children, as some of them haven't been born yet, including Aegon's younger son, Prince Maelor, who, in the book, had a role to play in the Blood and Cheese storyline. In the show, however, Condal reasoned that, due to shortened timelines, Maelor couldn't be born yet. Condal explained to RadioTimes.com: "In our writing of season 1, we had to compress time a bit to get through 30 years of history, essentially, in what ended up being 20 years, just so that we didn't have to recast every character. "I think as time marches on longer and longer, it becomes more challenging to tell all that story in one season, and season 1 was a challenge in and of itself. "So, essentially, we made 30 years happen in 20 years, and that just meant some of the youngest kids in the story weren't around, or were younger than they are in the books – Rhaenyra and Daemon's children, for one, and then certainly Helaena and Aegon. Maelor is not yet in the narrative in this, in the story, so that was a change." That might suggest the new generation of Targaryen children is on the way in season 3, but take this with a pinch of salt until it's officially confirmed. What could House of the Dragon season 3 be about? We don't know all the specifics of the plot of season 3 just yet, but we'd expect it to continue to follow Martin's book Fire & Blood – albeit with some deviations along the way, as we've seen in season 1 and season 2. However, there are certain book events we're expecting to see. Look away now if you don't want to see any book spoilers! Speaking in the post-episode featurette, Condal said: "While this season was very much about the fits and starts of an early medieval war, season three is clearly going to be about total war." We're expecting to see the highly anticipated Battle of the Gullet, a brutal and bloody sea battle that many fans had been anticipating in season 2. Asked about why he postponed showing it, Condal said it's down to balancing the number of big events we have in each season. He said: "We were trying to give the Gullet, which is maybe the second most anticipated event of Fire and Blood, the time and the space that it deserves. And obviously, as anybody that's seen the finale knows, we're building to that, that event will happen very shortly in terms of the storytelling of House of the Dragon. "Based on what we know now, it should be the biggest thing to date that we’ve pulled off. And we just wanted to have the time, the space to do that at a level that is going to excite and satisfy the fans and in the way it’s deserved." Judging from where we leave off in season 2, we're also expecting Rhaenyra to take her rightful place on the Iron Throne in season 3. Showrunner Ryan Condal previously told RadioTimes.com of future seasons: "There's a history that marches on for decades after this. So it's not about ending the Targaryen history. It's just finding the place to close the curtain on this particular time… "We're trying to find the satisfying television ending or the conclusion where we can leave everybody knowing that time marches on from here, but we've brought this dramatic story to a close. "So, I think that's become very clear as we've just gotten farther down the timeline. But I'm not ready to yet talk about how many episodes or seasons are left. "But I think the nice thing is we know where we're going, we have all the material that we need, because the book is written and hopefully we can bring this to a satisfying conclusion." Meanwhile, Emma D'Arcy told IGN: "Oh my God, by the end of season 2, I was a f**king shell of myself. "I was a husk. I could not form a sentence. I was so tired. I need to implement some way of getting through season 3, if there’s a season 3, to really harness as much energy as possible. It is a behemoth." How many episodes could House of the Dragon season 3 consist of? House of the Dragon season 3 will consist of eight episodes. When asked about season 3's episode count at a press conference, the showrunner said: "Without saying anything, because I haven't had discussions with HBO about it, I would just anticipate the cadence of the show from a dramatic storytelling perspective will continue to be the same from season 2 on." Season 1 consisted of 10 episodes, while season 2 consisted of eight episodes. In terms of episode length, we'd again expect the episodes to range from 50 to 70 minutes, depending on how much needs to be covered in one particular episode. Season 2 episode 8 was the show's longest episode yet, with the finale clocking in at 73 minutes. How many seasons of House of the Dragon will there be? House of the Dragon will have four seasons before concluding, as Condal mentioned at the recent press conference. That means we're currently halfway through the show's run. Is there a trailer for House of the Dragon season 3? Not yet! We'll keep this page updated with any footage that comes our way. However, some footage is available in this 2026 preview for HBO. View oEmbed on the source website House of the Dragon seasons 1 to 2 are available on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK – find out more about how to sign up for Sky TV. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what's on tonight. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Who is Peter Claffey? Meet the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms star playing Duncan the Tall
Peter Claffey is the star of the new Game of Thrones spin-off.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new hero from Westeros in 2026. The new Game of Thrones prequel/spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, is based on The Tales of Dunk and Egg by author George RR Martin and focuses on the adventures of an unlikely duo. The first of this duo is Dunk AKA Ser Duncan the Tall, a roaming hedge knight who is keen to do his late master proud and in the show, he heads off to a tourney to chase glory. The second is his precocious young squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). However, Dunk is soon drawn into danger and even encounters members of the legendary House Targaryen. But who is actor Peter Claffey, who plays Ser Duncan the Tall? Here's everything you need to know. Who is Peter Claffey? Peter Claffey is an Irish actor and former rugby union player. Claffey was a rugby union player for Galwegians RFC, going on to have a professional contract with Connacht Rugby. He went on to train in acting and made his professional stage debut in 2022 - meaning he has only been a jobbing actor for a few years. Outside of his casting as Ser Duncan the Tall in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Claffey is probably best known for his role in Bad Sisters season 2 as Joe Walsh, the boyfriend of Becka (Eve Hewson). How old is Peter Claffey? Peter Claffey is 29-years-old. He was born on 28th July 1996. What nationality is Peter Claffey? Peter Claffey is Irish and hails from Portumna, County Galway. He went to Garbally College and then the University of Galway. What has Peter Claffey previously starred in? Following small roles in the TV shows Harry Wild and a guest part in the first season of Bad Sisters, Claffey starred as Cormac Kelly in the BBC Three comedy in the role of Cormac Kelly. He later starred in four episodes of Vikings: Valhalla before starring opposite Cillian Murphy in the film Small Things Like These, based on the novel of the same name by Claire Keegan. Claffey returned to Bad Sisters for a larger role in the second season as the partner of Eve Hewson's Becka, before two episodes of the MGM+ series Borderline. However, his big career moment came about when he was cast by HBO for their new Game of Thrones prequel series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. What has Peter Claffey said about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms? Yes, Claffey has been doing the rounds with the press, as one would expect, to promote the series. Claffey said of his character 'Dunk' to ComicBook.com: "If you were to tell Dunk at that time that he’ll potentially be the head of the Kingsguard, and security guard of the king basically, he wouldn’t believe what you’re saying. All he wants to do is potentially earn some work like Ser Arlan did, live by a decent code; he doesn’t see himself ever coming to that greatness." However, how does Dunk compare with Game of Thrones' legendary knights Ser Barristan Selmy and Ser Jaime Lannister? He added, “He does, as the lore goes, become one of the great knights. I think he touches the top 10; he loses to a young Barristan Selmy in a tourney later down the line. "I don’t know how he’d get on against that old Stark from House of the Dragon; he was a badass, or even Jaime Lannister. Actually, no, he’d kick the s**t out of Jaime Lannister." Read More: Where was A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms filmed? Game of Thrones's next sequel idea risks falling into a major TV trap – this is what it should do instead George RR Martin says his relations with House of the Dragon showrunner are "abysmal" amid changes from the book A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms showrunner confirms show's fate after adapting published Dunk and Egg novellas Kit Harington "angered" by Game of Thrones fans who petitioned for season 8 remake A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres on Sky Atlantic and NOW on Monday 19th January 2026 – find out more about how to sign up for Sky TV. Add A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms 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 Fantasy 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.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms cast: Full list of stars in Game of Thrones spin-off
The tales of Dunk and Egg have made it to the screen at last!
Another chapter in the Game of Thrones mythos is about to unfurl on the small screen, as A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms introduces viewers to two much-loved characters from the works of George RR Martin. Ser Duncan the Tall (played by Peter Claffey) and his squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) are the subject of three novellas by Martin, which serve as the basis for this latest spin-off. The first season of the show, with a second run already confirmed, is based on the first novella from George RR Martin, titled The Hedge Knight. Fans of the franchise can expect to see the lighter side of life in Westeros, with the Tales of Dunk and Egg breaking away from the ruthless scheming and gut-wrenching betrayals that characterise earlier adaptations. That isn't to say that there won't be formidable villains or a fair share of brutal moments; however, True Detective: Night Country breakout star Finn Bennett is cast as the particularly loathsome Prince Aerion Targaryen in the new series. House Targaryen also puts in further appearances, too, with the additions of Aerion's father, Prince Maekar Targaryen, and uncle, Crown Prince Baelor Targaryen, the heir to the Iron Throne. If you're as excited as we are, read on for your introduction to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' cast, ahead of the show's premiere on Sky Atlantic and NOW from 18th/19th January 2026. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms cast: Full list of stars in Game of Thrones spin-off Here's an overview of the confirmed cast members in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – read on for more detailed profiles on each character and the actor playing them, including where you might have seen them before. Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall/'Dunk' Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg Finn Bennett as Prince Aerion Targaryen Bertie Carvel as Crown Prince Baelor 'Breakspear' Targaryen Tanzyn Crawford as Tanselle Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Baratheon Sam Spruell as Prince Maekar Targaryen Edward Ashley as Ser Steffon Fossoway Youssef Kerkour as Steely Pate Daniel Monks as Ser Manfred Dondarrion Shaun Thomas as Raymun Fossoway Tom Vaughan-Lawlor as Plummer Danny Webb as Ser Arlan of Pennytree Henry Ashton plays TBC Peter Claffey plays Ser Duncan the Tall AKA 'Dunk' Who is Ser Duncan the Tall? A hedge knight of humble origins, Duncan sets off to do his late master, Ser Arlan of Pennytree, proud and finds himself entering the Ashfour tourney. However, Duncan soon ends up drawn into further drama and also acquires a precocious squire of his own. Where else have you seen Peter Claffey? An Irish actor and former professional rugby player, Claffey has starred in Bad Sisters, as Cormac Kelly in Wreck, and as Dunstan in Vikings: Valhalla. Dexter Sol Ansell plays Egg Who is Egg? A resourceful and precocious young boy who becomes the trusted squire of Ser Duncan the Tall. In a recent interview with Radio Times, showrunner Ira Parker revealed that Ansell was the first person he saw for the role of Egg – and he was instantly fighting for him to be cast. "I watched his audition, and was just like, 'This is perfect. This is easy. This is the guy'," he recalled. "I told that to our casting director, and she's just like, 'Hold on one second here! Let's see some other people first before we pull the trigger'." Parker added, "He's the best child actor on planet Earth. It feels unfair to call him a child actor; he's professional; he can riff; he takes notes; he's very thoughtful in his process... I think he's going to be very successful in whatever he chooses to do in his life." Where else have you seen Dexter Sol Ansell? Ansell previously played Lucas Taylor in Emmerdale, starred as David Saunders in The Midwich Cuckoos, Finlay in Hullraisers, and portrayed a young Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Finn Bennett as Prince Aerion 'Brightflame' Targaryen Who is Prince Aerion Targaryen? Prince Aerion is notorious as one of the most sadistic and villainous members of the Targaryen family. Aerion is the son of Prince Maekar Targaryen, the younger brother of the heir to the throne, Crown Prince Baelor Targaryen. On how he identified with his nasty new character, Bennett told Radio Times and others: "I think actually it's sadly easy – it's his need to impress. I think he feels a responsibility or duty to be impressive, and maybe that's something [we] share its actors." Where else have you seen Finn Bennett? The Irish-British actor is best known for his role in True Detective: Night Country, but has also starred in Liar, Kiri and Domina. Bertie Carvel as Crown Prince Baelor 'Breakspear' Targaryen Who is Crown Prince Baelor 'Breakspear' Targaryen? The heir to the Iron Throne, the Prince of Dragonstone, and the Hand of the King to his father King Daeron II Targaryen. Known for his skill as a warrior and merciful nature, named after Baelor the Blessed, Baelor is also nicknamed 'Breakspear'. Baelor is the paternal uncle of Prince Aerion. On his character, Carvel explained to Radio Times and other press: "I think that he's a realist and a pragmatist and knows that to be good in a world that does not value kindness is a very, very difficult thing. It's an unstable world. It's very like our world. I mean, if I knew I was going to become the head of state one day... oh God, you'd never sleep, would you? So he has the weight of the world on his shoulders." Where else have you seen Bertie Carvel? The Tony Award-winning thespian is known for his work on the stage, but also starred in Jonathan Strange & Norell, Doctor Foster, Dalgleish, The Sister, and recently played Tony Blair in The Crown. Tanzyn Crawford as Tanselle Who is Tanselle? Tanselle is a puppeteer from Dorne who encounters Dunk and Egg on their adventures - and is a potential love interest for Dunk. On joining the Game of Thrones universe, Crawford told Radio Times and others, "I feel like I had quite free rein with Tanselle, because there's not a lot of information about her that delves into her personality. "So I got to kind of create what I saw on the page... She's obviously a very creative person, and I admire that in somebody. I feel like I'm that myself. I loved that she has a small kind of confidence, rather than something large." Where else have you seen Tanzyn Crawford? The Australian actor has also starred in Servant, Tiny Beautiful Things and Swift Street. Daniel Ings plays Ser Lyonel Baratheon Who is Ser Lyonel Baratheon? A tall, swaggering warrior, Ser Lyonel Baratheon is the heir to the Baratheon ancestral seat of Storm's End and is known as 'The Laughing Storm'. On his role, Ings told Radio Times and other press: "He's called the Laughing Storm because of his habit of laughing on the battlefield, which is a pretty dark thing to contemplate – somebody who finds joy in violence and death. "In that sense, [I was] offered an opportunity to try and play with light and shade, and just push the parameters and see if I find... where are the boundaries of what we can get away with?" Where else have you seen Daniel Ings? The English actor is best known for his work in Psychoville, Lovesick, The Crown, Instinct, The English Game, I Hate Suzie, Sex Education, The Gold, and the Netflix series The Gentlemen. Sam Spruell plays Prince Maekar Targaryen Who is Prince Maekar Targaryen? The Prince of Summerhall, Maekar, is the younger brother of Crown Prince Baelor and is the father of Prince Aerion. A stern and strict figure, Maekar is known for being unforgiving and is not the kindest father in Westeros. Spruell told Radio Times and other press: "I felt very lucky to be playing the less successful brother, the brother who was second in line to the throne, who was less loved by his mother, who was not a good father... I really enjoyed kind of exploring Maekar's failure as a prince, as a father, and as a human. And those are always the really interesting characters to play." Where else have you seen Sam Sprurell? The British actor is best known for his villainous roles, appearing in films such as To Kill a King, London to Brighton, The Hurt Locker and Legend, along with television roles including Spooks, Mayday, Luther, Doctor Who and Fargo season 5. Edward Ashley as Ser Steffon Fossoway Who is Ser Steffon Fossoway? An anointed knight who is competing in the Ahsford tourney and crosses paths with Dunk and Egg. What else has Edward Ashley been in? You might recognise him from historical dramas including In The Heart of the Sea, The Lost City of Z, The King and, most recently, Masters of the Air. He also played William in Sally Wainwright's Last Tango in Halifax. Youssef Kerkour as Steely Pate Who is Steely Pate? A blacksmith who Dunk encounters once he arrives in Ashford for the tourney. Could Steely Pate be a good ally? What else has Youssef Kerkour been in? Since his breakout role in Channel 4's Home, Kerkour has gone on to appear in Baghdad Central, Worzel Gummidge, Stay Close, Man Like Mobeen and Significant Other. His film projects include Ridley Scott productions House of Gucci and Napoleon. Daniel Monks as Ser Manfred Dondarrion Who is Ser Manfred Dondarrion? A knight who Dunk hopes to find an ally in when he arrives at Ashford. What else has Daniel Monks been in? Monks has recently appeared in the mystery series Dead Hot and the John Cena/Zac Efron comedy film Ricky Stanicky. Shaun Thomas as Raymun Fossoway Who is Raymun Fossoway? The cousin and squire of Ser Steffon, Raymun, becomes a friend and ally to Dunk after he arrives in Ashford. Teasing his role, Thomas told Radio Times and other press: "I really like Raymun's light-heartedness and his ability to stand up for what's right when he needs to. It didn't take me too long to understand him... He's got a great level of like humanity in him." What else has Shaun Thomas been in? Thomas played Gerry Roberts for a stint on Emmerdale between 2017 and 2019. He went on to roles in BBC Three comedy Ladhood, true crime drama Four Lives and acclaimed indie film How to Have Sex. Most recently, he appeared in ITV's The Long Shadow. Tom Vaughan-Lawlor as Plummer Who is Plummer? The Steward of Ashford, who also acts as Master of the Games during a local tourney. What else has Tom Vaughan-Lawlor been in? Vaughan-Lawlor provided the voice and motion capture for Marvel villain Ebony Maw in Avengers: Infinity War, Endgame and animated series What If...?. He is also known for Dublin Murders, The Ipcress Files and The Beautiful Game. Danny Webb as Ser Arlan of Pennytree Who is Ser Arlan of Pennytree? The hedge knight for whom Dunk was a squire and who he is mourning throughout the series. What else has Danny Webb been in? Webb's career dates back decades, but recent work includes HBO's The Regime, BBC One's Beyond Paradise and The Trial of Christine Keeler. He appeared in Doctor Who's terrifying two-parter The Impossible Planet and The Satan Pit. Henry Ashton plays TBC What else has Henry Ashton been in? Ashton has had a busy year, taking roles in both My Lady Jane and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. Previously, he had appeared in Outlander as Sandy Hammond. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres on Sky Atlantic and NOW on Monday 19th January 2026 – find out more about how to sign up for Sky TV. Add A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms 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 Fantasy 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.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms release date, trailer and latest news
Another era in Westeros history is set to be explored on screen.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms bursts onto the screen this month, showing viewers the lighter side of life in Westeros after many years of bleak and bloody storytelling. Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell lead the cast as mismatched duo Ser Duncan the Tall and his young squire, nicknamed Egg, who became fan favourites in a trilogy of novellas by Game of Thrones author George RR Martin. The novelist has been vocally enthusiastic about this latest TV spin-off, which should come as relief to anyone troubled by his criticisms of House of the Dragon – which have not softened during the show's hiatus. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is headed up by producer Ira Parker, whose past work includes the divisive Thrones prequel, plus action drama The Last Ship, dark comedy Better Things and spy miniseries The Sympathizer. So far, he seems to have done a good job, with our own A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review calling it the "best visit to Westeros in nearly a decade". If you're as excited as we are about the new series, read on for everything you need to know about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – including its premiere date on Sky Atlantic and NOW. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms release date A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will premiere on Sky Atlantic and NOW on Monday 19th January 2026 in the UK, airing first at 3am (to coincide with the US debut) and again at 9pm that same day. In the US, the show will air on HBO and HBO Max on Sundays, starting from 18th January. The finale will drop six weeks later both here and across the pond – but that won't be the end of Dunk and Egg's journey! A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms scored an early renewal for season 2, which is filming right now (as of December 2025), and HBO executive Francesca Orci has expressed hope for a trilogy. She told Deadline last year: "You're going to be so impressed by Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell as Dunk and Egg... So much so that we're already planning on how we build this for three seasons in total. "We're looking at it as a holistic piece, seasons 2 and 3, because there's three novellas." View Affiliate Playlist on the source website When is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms set? Game of Thrones connection explained A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set almost a century before the events of Game of Thrones, meaning it's unlikely that we'll be seeing any cameos from stars of the original series. This also puts it considerably further up the timeline than hit prequel House of the Dragon, which unfolds approximately seven decades before the Tales of Dunk and Egg. What is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms about? A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms chronicles the formative experiences of Ser Duncan 'Dunk' the Tall and his young squire, known as Egg. Their adventures take place during a tumultuous period for Westeros, when the land is still recovering from a schism in House Targaryen that led to a period of brutal conflict, from which King Daeron II Targaryen emerged victorious. The story of Dunk and Egg was first told in a George RR Martin-penned novella titled The Hedge Knight, with the author calling A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms "as faithful [an] adaptation as a reasonable man could hope for". He wrote on his blog: "Viewers who are looking for action, and more action, and only action… well, this one may not satisfy you. "There's a huge fight scene here, as exciting as anyone could ask for, but there are no dragons this time around, no huge battles, no white walkers… this is a character piece, and its focus is on duty and honour, on chivalry and all it means." The comments are reassuring after Martin's vocal disapproval of House of the Dragon season 2, which also provoked the ire of fans with a finale that many deemed anticlimactic. Previously, HBO boss Casey Bloys had teased (via THR) that the show has a "lighter tone" than both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, which helps to make it a "very different" series. On the performance of child actor Ansell, who has previously appeared in Emmerdale, showrunner Ira Parker told TVLine: "I remember seeing Egg standing outside the stables as Dunk was riding in, and the way that it was lit, he seemed otherworldly. "It was like this alien entering. If you haven't read the books, you don't know where their stories are going to take you, but for some reason, you feel that this character is special." Is there A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms trailer? Yes, HBO and Sky both released the final trailer for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms last month, teasing knightly heroics, jousting tournaments and skirmishes – with a much lighter tone than its predecessors. Check out A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms trailer below: View oEmbed on the source website A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms debuts on Sky and NOW from Monday 19th January 2026. Add A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms 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 Fantasy 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.
George RR Martin says his relations with House of the Dragon showrunner are "abysmal" amid changes from the book
George RR Martin has opened up about the breakdown of his relationship with House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal, describing its current state as "abysmal". The fantasy author previously criticised the second season of the Game of Thrones prequel show, which is based on his book Fire & Blood, over plot changes that he said he "argued against" in a since-deleted blog post. Asked about his relationship with Condal in a new interview in The Hollywood Reporter, Martin said: "It’s worse than rocky. It’s abysmal." He continued: "I hired Ryan. I thought Ryan and I were partners. And we were all through the first season. I would read early drafts of the scripts. I would give notes. He would change some things. It was working really well — I thought." Condal’s co-showrunner, Miguel Sapochnik, exited the series following unknown disagreements with HBO after the first season. "Then we got into season two, and he basically stopped listening to me," Martin said, before adding: "I would give notes, and nothing would happen. Sometimes he would explain why he wasn’t doing it. Other times, he would tell me, 'Oh, OK, yeah, I’ll think about that.' "It got worse and worse, and I began to get more and more annoyed. Finally, it got to a point where I was told by HBO that I should submit all my notes to them and they would give Ryan our combined notes." When asked why Martin had agreed to work on season 3 after clashing with Condal, he said: "I can’t talk about it." The third season of the Game of Thrones spin-off is set to debut later in 2026, which is shaping up to be a big year for the fantasy franchise, as new spin-off A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is also set to be released later in January. House of the Dragon seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on Sky and NOW – find out more about how to sign up for Sky TV. Add House of the Dragon 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 Fantasy 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.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms showrunner confirms show's fate after adapting published Dunk and Egg novellas
“George has laid out… He has a document of everything that happens, basically, for 13, 14, 15 of these novellas.”
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms showrunner Ira Parker has revealed that George RR Martin has outlined ideas for many more unwritten novellas that could form the basis of future seasons. The fantasy author has only published three Dunk and Egg Novellas so far, with 1998’s The Hedge Knight serving as inspiration for the upcoming first season, 2003’s The Sworn Sword set to form the basis of season 2, which is currently in production, and 2010’s The Mystery Knight expected to inspire a potential third season. Asked whether there’s a possibility of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms going beyond the three novellas, as Game of Thrones did with Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Parker told Radio Times magazine: “I would love – and I’ve pitched to HBO a couple of times to sort of well-intentioned half-smiles or eye rolls." He continued: "I want to do three or four now with Egg, the boy, and come back in like five or 10 years and do three or four more with Egg, the young man. And then come back in five or 10 years, and do three or four more with Egg, the – well, the spoiler. “I don’t think that’s necessarily how TV gets made unless you’re… Lisa Kudrow gets to do that. You know, The Comeback comes back every 10 years, and that’s OK. Or Linklater. "But this is… There’s so many interesting things that happen throughout their lives. But I don’t want to focus the whole thing right at the beginning. It’s telling that whole journey that is very exciting to me." He continued: "George has laid out… He has a document of everything that happens, basically, for 13, 14, 15 of these novellas. He just has to get to writing these. "The nice thing is, we know what the ending is. We know the journeys that they go no. We would never be left making anything up. We would just have a looser road map than what we have right now. "Look, we’ll see. There’s a really decent chance that we’ll hopefully do three of those, and that’s it, and people can enjoy it. And that’ll be the experience that they have within this world, within Dunk and Egg. "But if George writes more, you know, we’ll discuss it. I certainly would write these forever. I love these characters. I love this world." Set approximately 90 to 100 years before the events of Game of Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms follows a knight called Dunk and his resourceful squire “Egg”, who is actually the young Prince Aegon Targaryen, as they journey through the Seven Kingdoms. Martin previously said in a blog post that the spin-off show is “as faithful an adaptation as a reasonable man could hope for". Ira Parker's full interview will be available in the next issue of Radio Times magazine, out on 20th January. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres on 19th January 2026 on Sky Atlantic and NOW and airs in the US on HBO. Game of Thrones seasons 1 to 8 and House of the Dragon seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on Sky and NOW – find out more about how to sign up for Sky TV. If you’re looking for something else to watch in the meantime, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide, or visit our dedicated Fantasy hub. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Euphoria season 3 first look trailer finally arrives with Jacob Elordi and Sydney Sweeney's wedding scenes - as UK release date confirmed
The long-awaited third outing is finally coming this April.
HBO has unveiled the first trailer for Euphoria season 3 as well as revealing when fans can expect the long-awaited next instalment of the multi-Emmy-award-winning show. The third outing, which will see the return of cast members including Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, and Hunter Schafer, is coming to our screens on 13th April, 2026 on Sky Atlantic and NOW. Season 3 will pick up five years after the ending of season 2, which saw Rue falling into debt to drug lord Laurie (Martha Kelly) and Nate (Elordi) getting his dad arrested, amongst other events. The new trailer follows Rue as she goes about her life after high school. "A few years after high school, I don’t know if life was exactly how I wished," we hear her saying in the footage. "Somehow for the first time, I was beginning to have faith." But that all soon comes to an end when Laurie shows up, reminding her that she owes her money. Meanwhile, Cassie (Sweeney) and Nate, whose relationship was exposed last season, are shown tying the knot. But there’s trouble in paradise as the "content" Cassie is filming seems to irritate Nate. “I work all day and my bride-to-be is spreadeagled on the internet”, he says. You can watch the trailer for yourself below: View oEmbed on the source website Showrunner Sam Levinson previously told The Hollywood Reporter that the new season is about "being out of the safety net of school". "The one thing we all agreed on is we can’t go back to high school — although many, many shows have had 30-year-old high school students, we’re not," he said. He added: "Five years felt like a natural place [to jump] because if they had gone to college they’d be out of college at that time." Also returning in season 3 are cast members Eric Dane, Chloe Cherry, Dominic Fike, Nika King and Colman Domingo, while new additions include Danielle Deadwyler, Eli Roth, Natasha Lyonne, Rosalía, Marshawn Lynch, Sam Trammell and Asante Blackk. Euphoria’s long-awaited third season comes more than four years after season two premiered on HBO, with the long hiatus due to many factors including the in-demand cast’s complex schedules and the dual writer-actor strikes in 2023. Euphoria seasons 1 and 2 are available to watch on Sky Atlantic and NOW with an Entertainment Membership. 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.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 review: Game of Thrones spin-off is best visit to Westeros in nearly a decade
It's time to return to Westeros for a rather different adventure.
Game of Thrones fans have long been used to mixed fortunes - even more so if you’re a book reader. Arguably the biggest show of the 21st century, Game of Thrones took the world by storm in 2011 with its adaptation of George R.R. Martin's game-changing fantasy book series. With dramatic backstabbing, bloody battles and political intrigue, it gripped pop-culture in its first six seasons, providing absolutely exhilarating television. Sadly, when the show truly ran out of source material to adapt, the writing quality took a nosedive. Indeed, the final two truncated seasons often worked with strange logic (don’t talk about the episode Beyond the Wall) and what resembled a rushed summary of events without proper build up to make the bolder plot swings work. Thankfully, fans were soon treated to a strong prequel series, House of the Dragon, which adapted Martin’s history book of the Targaryen Dynasty, Fire and Blood. A truly Shakespearean series with an excellent cast of characters and amazing dialogue, the first season was great television, and despite some inconsistent pacing, it gave a strong conclusion. However, the much-anticipated second season proved even stranger with sluggish pacing in its second half and something of a damp squib finale. There were also some questionable adaptational choices which neutered some of Martin’s most explosive work, including some which the author himself was unhappy with. So, anticipation has lessened somewhat for its return. So, it is in this context that HBO delivers A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, based on Martin’s prequel novella series of the Tales of Dunk and Egg. Set 90 years before the events of Game of Thrones, this lean six-episode season is based on the first novella, The Hedge Knight, and begins with the hulking squire "Dunk"(Peter Clauffey) mourning his late master Ser Arlan of Pennytree (Danny Webb). Dunk decides to honour his mentor by heading to compete for glory in a tourney, along the way acquiring a squire of his own in the enigmatic bald child "Egg" (Dexter Sol Ansell). Thus begins a truly wonderful pairing in a tale of violence, family rivalries, and an exploration of what true honour means. The show very clearly sets out its stall with a lighter comedic tone in episode one, with the much-recognised Game of Thrones theme tune swelling as Dunk buries his master before heading off on his journey - but this abruptly cuts away to the much less glamorous toilet humour of Dunk defecating by a tree. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is very funny, and Dunk makes for a sweet but dim hero for the series, with Bad Sisters’ Peter Claffey offering immense likability, strong timing, and, of course, the imposing frame of a former professional rugby player. Despite the initial toilet humour, the majority of the laughs lie in the central partnership, with Dunk and Egg bouncing off each other in a hilarious and, often, moving manner resembling the best of the original series' odd couples. Child star Dexter Sol Ansell is a true young talent too, as Egg, providing precociousness, sensitivity and whip-smart instincts. The series peels away at Egg’s layers over the episodes, providing a truly textured figure among the best in the Westeros canon. The show very much belongs to this duo, but we are offered some wonderful supporting performances from the cast, most notably from those portraying members of the royal House Targaryen. The Crown’s Bertie Carvel is regal, serene and a truly believable leader as Prince Baelor Targaryen, while Sam Spurell makes the perfect gruff and gritty brother to Baelor, Prince Maekar Targaryen. True Detective: Night Country star Finn Bennett, however, shines as the utterly loathsome villain of the piece, Maekar’s sadistic son, Prince Aerion Targaryen. Other standouts include I Hate Suzie’s Daniel Ings as the boisterous reveller Ser Lyonel Baratheon and former Emmerdale actor Shaun Thomas as the loyal but opinionated Raymun Fossoway. If there is one area where the series falls, it is in the lack of textured female characters, which is something no one could accuse Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon of. However, the series very faithfully follows its source material, and future instalments shall hopefully offer us better representation in season 2. Speaking of faithfulness to the source material, the season makes very few changes to the novella and honours the characters and events on the page, with additions providing further texture to characters, just as it did in Game of Thrones’ superior early seasons. It’s clear that the HBO adaptations truly thrive when they stick to honouring or expanding on what Martin’s words provide. A buddy comedy. A medieval smash-up. A much lighter touch on fantasy elements. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is charming, disarming, and - sometimes - even calming, particularly with its folksy score from Dan Romer. This is truly the best visit to Westeros in nearly a decade - certainly since Cersei blew up the Great Sept of Baelor anyway. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres on 19th January 2026 on Sky Atlantic and NOW and airs in the US on HBO. Game of Thrones seasons 1 to 8 and House of the Dragon seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on Sky and NOW – find out more about how to sign up for Sky TV. If you’re looking for something else to watch in the meantime, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide, or visit our dedicated Fantasy hub. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Night Manager's Tom Hollander and co-star Niamh Algar take us inside your next TV adventure
Sky’s new thriller sees Tom Hollander and Niamh Algar tearing through Italy’s most glamorous locations on a quest to crack a code – and save the world.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. Tom Hollander may be many things: vulnerable (Rev); literary (Capote vs the Swans); ruthless (The Night Manager); dangerously louche (The White Lotus), but one thing he is not, is an action hero. He’s an Honorary Fellow of Selwyn College, Cambridge for goodness’ sake. He writes for The Spectator. He’s too learned, too urbane. Hence when Neil Cross, award-winning screenwriter and the man behind Luther, originally envisaged him starring in his new thriller The Iris Affair, it was more as a behind-the-desk mastermind than a fist-swinging, tweed-coat-donning anti-hero. More a fraught middleman. In a cardie. However, what the 58-year-old Hollander does find himself in is a semi-James Bond, semi-Severance eight-part hi-tech escapade around Italy and Slovakia. It’s great fun in a witty British way. Hollander plays Cameron Beck, a maverick genius whose job it is to unlock the secrets contained in a giant computer and save the world. To do this, he enlists the help of Iris (Niamh Algar), a brainy Lara Croft type who loves unlocking codes and cracking puzzles. She’s also pretty handy with her fists, guns and syringes and at one point emerges from the waves like a modern-day Ursula Andress. Iris has all the fun. Whereas Hollander? He uses middle-class phrases such as “swapsies” and “thinking cap” and spends a lot of time drinking whisky. We meet on set during the shoot at the legendary Cinecitta Studios in Rome. “Cameron Beck is someone who is an enthusiast for brilliant people,” Hollander explains. “He’s financed the building of this brilliant computer, and he loves games. Now he needs to find someone to break a code that will solve all his problems.” Because if Beck doesn’t unlock the computer with the help of Iris, he will be killed. Hence all the car chases and derring-do? “Yes, there is a very long car chase, interspersed with some very clever philosophical speculation. But I don’t do very much of the former. Although we did go up in a helicopter the other day… It’s a bit like a live action Wacky Races with a bit of intellectual texture to it, and with Niamh as Penelope Pitstop,” he continues, referring to the classic 1970s Hanna-Barbera cartoon series. Does that make him the evil mastermind Dick Dastardly? “For bits of it. At other times I’m Muttley.” [Dastardly’s canine sidekick who takes all the blame]. Casting directors seem to like sending Hollander off to work in Italy, I say, referring to his role as Quentin, the lavish gay Brit who seeks to trap, and murder Jennifer Coolidge’s Tanya McQuoid in the second season of The White Lotus. “Yes, it’s a nice feeling to be back in Italy again,” he says. “There is a lot of pasta. Which is offered and mostly rejected because of the need to stay in shape. Even though I notice Italians are in very good shape, despite the fact they have cake for breakfast and pasta for lunch.” “In many ways, Tom’s got the qualities of an old-style Hollywood leading man,” explains Neil Cross, who says he watches a minimum of eight classic movies every weekend in order to keep his eye on what makes a good story and a great script. “He can get inside the material and deliver elaborate dialogue – which, if it was delivered by a less able actor could spill over into camp. Cameron Beck has to be capable of charm and ferocious intelligence. “In Cameron and Iris, I wanted people who were massively attracted to how the other thinks. It’s the primary driver behind most of Hitchcock’s thrillers, but also old-fashioned comedies like It Happened One Night or Bringing Up Baby. Films with scripts that are quick, and witty. And both Tom and Niamh can do that. “My primary intention was to make a TV show without being arch, and without being post-modern – something refreshingly old-fashioned. I wanted to apply the kind of storytelling that was used by directors who were unfashionable by 1973. I also wanted the show to look unapologetically, unironically glamorous. When I was pitching it to Sky, I said Iris must never drive a car with a roof, like Grace Kelly. And the sky is always blue, and the mountains are beautiful, and she needs to be beautiful.” Iris may be beautiful but she also has to be able to get dusty, fight in the street, leap on and off motorbikes and push cars over cliffs. “I had to learn how to ride a Vespa and one of those little Italian three-wheelers,” says Niamh Algar. “And a Ferrari! I’m also about to film a huge fight sequence, which is going to be gruesome…” The grittier the better for Algar, it seems. “I started boxing years ago. It has come in handy, because if you’re taking hits and punching people, you need to be able to work seamlessly with the stunt team.” Amongst the car chases and fight scenes is there actually an Iris ‘affair’? “Iris is infatuated by Cameron, his mind and drive,” says Niamh. “But also, these two are constantly trying to kill one another!” That sounds like a nicely deflected no… But how was it working with Hollander? “I’m such a huge fan! Any time you see his name on the credits, you think, OK, this guy is about to steal the scene. There’s this emotional depth he brings to the character, which is fascinating because that changes as you play the character. Particularly with TV because you don’t get much rehearsal time. And Terry doesn’t like to over-rehearse.” Terry is the director Terry McDonough, whose CV includes Breaking Bad and its prequel Better Call Saul. Like those two series, this show makes you root for the baddies, the script is clever, it keeps you on your toes and saves the story from being gratuitously drowned in violence. Hollander is as carefully nuanced as was his star turn in The White Lotus. Is he a baddie? Is he a goodie? Cameron Beck seems very cunning, and you fear for the vulnerable people in his command. But then all of a sudden, he stops talking about cutting people’s limbs off and comes out with a homely British phrase like “Blimey”. The overall effect is to make you feel comforted and reassured, as if he’s going to offer you Marmite on toast and a cup of tea. This acting see-saw is Hollander’s special skill. “Yes, I’ve done a few of those roles where the audience thinks: ‘Oh, he’s quite nice! Oh no, he’s a villain!’” Take his role in The White Lotus – spoiler alert – “We didn’t know that Quentin was necessarily going to kill Tanya,” he says, “but the game was ‘Is he? Isn’t he? Is he? Isn’t he?’” Why does he think he’s cast in such roles? “Because if you do it, and do it reasonably well, then you get asked again.” Dick Dastardly or Muttley? Heartless provocateur or cosy delight? Tom Hollander has a fabulous ability to deploy both. The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. The Iris Affair begins on Sky and NOW on 16th October 2025. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The White Lotus season 4 location finally confirmed by HBO boss – with more details to come
HBO boss Casey Bloys has confirmed that The White Lotus will be going to France for its upcoming fourth season. France has long been rumoured to be the destination for the next instalment of Mike White’s hit series, which has previously transported viewers to Hawaii, Italy and, most recently, Thailand. Speaking to Deadline while at the Emmys on Sunday (14th September), Bloys confirmed the speculation, revealing: “France for sure, but details and location TBD." Asked whether The White Lotus creator/executive producer Mike White, who was absent from the Emmy ceremony, was in France writing the new season, Casey responded: “I believe that is the case." Deadline previously reported that the show would be heading to France for its fourth season, with HBO declining to comment when approached by the publication. The report speculated that the upcoming season could be shot at the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, which is found on the tip of the Cap-Ferrat peninsula on the French Riviera. However, sources also noted that no hotel has been locked in, and that the series could end up using multiple resorts in one season, as was the case with season 3, which used the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui in Thailand as its primary setting, along with three other non-Four Seasons hotels. It’s yet to be confirmed whether a French Four Seasons resort would be the primary location for season 4, but there are three in France: one in Paris, one in Megève and one on the Côte d’Azur. Further fuelling speculation that Cap-Ferrat is likely to be the chosen location for the upcoming season is the fact it is not directly on the beach. White previously said he didn’t want season 4 to have the same crashing waves aesthetic as previous instalments, explaining: "For the fourth season, I want to get a little bit out of the crashing waves of rocks vernacular, but there’s always more room for more murders at the White Lotus hotels." The White Lotus seasons 1-3 are available on Sky Atlantic and NOW. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guideto see what's on tonight. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Euphoria season 3 release window confirmed by HBO boss as he comments on show's future with A-list Hollywood cast
HBO head Casey Bloys has confirmed that Euphoria’s hotly-anticipated third season will return in spring 2026. Bloys didn’t reveal an exact release date, but told Deadline while at the Emmys on Sunday (14th September) that fans can expect the upcoming instalment in the spring months of next year (2026). Speaking about the future of the show after season 3, which has been rumoured to be the last chapter, Bloys added: "We always leave it up to producers, you never know.” He continued: “I’ve never had a show with that many legitimate movie stars. So as you can imagine, the scheduling is hard enough with actors having multiple jobs, but these are probably three or four of the biggest movie stars working of their generation, so we’ll see. But I’m excited to have the third season coming." The release date window is sooner than some fans might expect, given that season 3 has been plagued by various delays since it was announced in 2022. Various factors contributed to these delays, including the Hollywood strikes, the cast’s busy schedules, and the tragic and unexpected death of Angus Cloud, who played Fez in the show. In March 2024, Deadline reported that season 3 had been delayed again, this time due to Levinson’s scripts being unfinished. The publication said that filming was supposed to start “within the next couple of months,” but, with the indefinite delay, the cast had been allowed to take on other acting jobs in the interim. Filming finally began on the upcoming season in January 2025, with HBO sharing a first photo from the season, which shows Zendaya’s Rue peering over her shoulder in a dimly lit room. While we don't know much about what to expect about season 3, Zendaya previously confirmed that there will be a time jump after the events of season 2, which took place with the characters still at school. Speaking on Entertainment Weekly's <a href="https://apple.sjv.io/c/1236178/435298/7615?i=1000671660941&subId1=radiotimes-2118338&u=https%3A%2F%2Fpodcasts.apple.com%2Fus%2Fpodcast%2Fchallengers-star-zendaya-fall-festival-recap-and%2Fid1375036030%3Fi%3D1000671660941" target="_blank" rel="noopener sponsored" data-id="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/challengers-star-zendaya-fall-festival-recap-and/id1375036030?i=1000671660941" data-type="link">The Awards, Zendaya said she approved of this decision because "there's only so much high school drama you can deal with", before she joked: "And then she cheats on her boyfriend again!" "I don't actually know much about what is happening," she said. "I don't quite know exactly what the season is going to look like, but I do know that the time jump is happening." She continued: "It will be fascinating to see and understand these characters outside of the context of high school and how all the stuff that we saw when they were kids and they were in high school affects the adulthood they have and who they become in a much bigger world. I’ll be interested to see what happens too." Alongside Zendaya, other returning cast members for season 3 include Jacob Elordi as Nate Jacobs, Eric Dane as Cal Jacobs, Sydney Sweeney as Cassie Howard, Maude Apatow as Lexi Howard and Colman Domingo as Ali Muhammed. Euphoria is available to watch on Sky Atlantic and NOW with an Entertainment Membership. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guideto see what's on tonight. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How to watch The Walking Dead in order: Every series and spin-off
When and how to watch every single series.
At this point there are so many Walking Dead spin-offs that even seasoned fans run the risk of getting slightly confused. New instalments are arriving all the time, from Dead City (which just aired its second season) to The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (whose third season is about to begin). In theory, the simplest way to watch The Walking Dead franchise is in release order. But even that can get confusing, thanks to all the crossovers between the main Walking Dead series and Fear the Walking Dead. To help you keep everything straight, including release information for new seasons of the current spin-offs – this is our guide to watching all of The Walking Dead in order. How to watch The Walking Dead in release order Starting out with seasons 1-5 of The Walking Dead, which began in 2010, our first guide covers how to watch this franchise in release order: The Walking Dead seasons 1 – 5 Fear the Walking Dead season 1 The Walking Dead season 6 Fear the Walking Dead season 2 The Walking Dead season 7 Fear the Walking Dead season 3 The Walking Dead season 8 Fear the Walking Dead season 4 The Walking Dead season 9 Fear the Walking Dead season 5 The Walking Dead season 10 episodes 1 – 16 The Walking Dead: World Beyond season 1 Fear the Walking Dead season 6 The Walking Dead season 10 episodes 17 – 22 The Walking Dead season 11 episodes 1 – 8 The Walking Dead: World Beyond season 2 Fear the Walking Dead season 7 episodes 1 – 8 The Walking Dead season 11 episodes 9 – 16 Fear the Walking Dead season 7 episodes 9 – 16 Tales of the Walking Dead season 1 The Walking Dead season 11 episodes 17 – 24 Fear the Walking Dead season 8 episodes 1 – 6 The Walking Dead: Dead City The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Fear the Walking Dead season 8 episodes 7 – 12 The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 2 - The Book of Carol The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2 The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3 (upcoming) <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2024/07/Walking-Dead-Ones-Who-Live-Danai-Gurira-Michonne-Andrew-Lincoln-Rick-Grimes-bb3970b-2.jpg" width="4500" height="3000" alt="Danai Gurira as Michonne and Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. They are standing in a forest armed with swords and there are people in the immediate foreground looking at them, who we can't see." title="Danai Gurira as Michonne and Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live" /> How to watch The Walking Dead in chronological order However, if you want to watch in purely chronological order, that's a whole different story. The first three seasons of Fear the Walking Dead act as a prequel, meaning they should be watched first. From then on, the later shows are pretty straightforward to follow. Fear the Walking Dead seasons 1 – 3 The Walking Dead seasons 1 – 8 Fear the Walking Dead season 4 Tales of the Walking Dead season 1 The Walking Dead season 9 Fear the Walking Dead season 5 The Walking Dead season 10 The Walking Dead: The World Beyond seasons 1 – 2 The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live The Walking Dead season 11 Fear the Walking Dead seasons 6 – 8 The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 2 The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3 (upcoming) The Walking Dead: Dead City The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2 Alternatively, you're well within your rights to just watch the series one by one! If you need more information before you commit, we've got you covered. How to watch The Walking Dead by series The Walking Dead (11 seasons – 2010 to 2022) There's a good reason the original season of The Walking Dead ran for so long and led to so many spin-offs – it just can't be beaten. Initially starring Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, the series became renowned worldwide for its grotesque depiction of 'walkers' and its array of complex characters. A quick fan favourite was Norman Reedus's Daryl Dixon, who got his own spin-off in 2023. The Walking Dead became AMC's flagship show and ran for 12 years, finally ending in 2022. Where to watch: Disney Plus in the UK. Fear the Walking Dead (eight seasons – 2015 to 2023) Fear the Walking Dead was the first spin-off, with the first three seasons acting as a prequel to The Walking Dead. From then on, the series has run concurrently to the original show, with Lennie James's Morgan Jones crossing over from the original series into the spin-off to lead the show from season 4 onwards. Fear the Walking Dead became a hit in its own right, and ended after eight seasons in 2023. Where to watch: Sky and NOW in the UK. The Walking Dead: World Beyond (two seasons – 2020 to 2021) World Beyond wasn't quite as well-received, with the series only running for two seasons. The series is set 10 years after the apocalypse, focusing on the first kids to come of age in the new world. The Walking Dead writer Matthew Negrete served as showrunner, with the series starring Aliyah Royale as Iris Bennett. Where to watch: Prime Video. Tales of The Walking Dead (one season – 2022) The fourth spin-off series, Tales of the Walking Dead, was an anthology series set in the Walking Dead world. Terry Crews, Parker Posey, Jessie T Usher, and Daniella Pineda are among the stars. It's set to be followed up by More Tales from the TWDU, which we don't have a release date for just yet. Where to watch: Tales of the Walking Dead is not currently available to watch in the UK. The Walking Dead: Dead City (two seasons at least – 2023 to present) <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/05/KA02TWD-DeadCityS02-Cropped-69f9f25.jpg" width="3240" height="2160" alt="Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan and Lauren Cohan as Maggie in The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2 key art. Maggie stands in the foreground, holding a knife at her waist, dressed in dark tactical gear, with a determined expression and shoulder-length tousled hair. Behind her, a large, semi-transparent image of Negan looms, with a serious gaze and grey-streaked beard, holding his iconic barbed-wire-wrapped baseball bat. The background features a dark, abandoned city street illuminated by red neon signs reading “HOTEL” and “RADIO CITY.”" title="Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan and Lauren Cohan as Maggie in The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2" /> A new era of The Walking Dead spin-offs focused on characters from the original series and, in Dead City, it was Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). The series follows the pair as they search for Maggie's kidnapped son, Hershel. In 2023, Dead City was renewed for a second season, which is now available to watch. It hasn't so far been renewed for a third season, but we wouldn't rule out the possibility in future. Where to watch: Sky and NOW in the UK. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (four seasons in total, 2023-present) As one of the Walking Dead franchise's most iconic characters, it naturally made sense to give Daryl Dixon his own series! The self-titled Daryl Dixon spin-off begins after the events of the original show, with Daryl arriving (against his will) in France. Pairing up with Carol (Melissa McBride) in season 2, his goal is to find a way back across the ocean to America. Season 3 is set to begin in September 2025, bringing Daryl and Carol to England (where they'll meet a new character played by Stephen Merchant), and then to Spain, where the bulk of this season will take place. Season 3 will introduce a supporting cast of Spanish characters, as Daryl and Carol encounter a thriving community of survivors. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon has already been renewed for a fourth and final season, filming at several different locations in Spain. But will this actually mark the end of Daryl's role in the franchise? Somehow, we doubt it. Where to watch: Sky and NOW in the UK. The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live (one season – 2024) The Ones Who Live finally caught up with Rick and Michonne after the events of the original series. The series was set up by the finale to The Walking Dead, which featured a return for Lincoln and Gurira. However, it's yet to be renewed for a season 2. Where to watch: Sky and NOW in the UK. How many The Walking Dead shows are there? There are seven live-action shows in the Walking Dead universe. They are: The Walking Dead Fear the Walking Dead World Beyond Tales of the Walking Dead Dead City Daryl Dixon The Ones Who Live There are also eight web series. What's the next The Walking Dead show to be released? In the US, fans are now awaiting Daryl Dixon season 3, which will premiere on Sunday 7th September. Fans in the UK can likely expect this season to arrive here soon after, although the UK release date hasn't been confirmed yet. You can check out a teaser for Daryl Dixon season 3 below: View oEmbed on the source website What's the best The Walking Dead spin-off? Of course, this one is completely down to personal opinion. We'd argue that The Ones Who Live, which continued Rick and Michonne's story, is the best spin-off. It continued the tale of two of the most iconic characters in The Walking Dead history – and there's no beating that chemistry between Lincoln and Gurira. However, an honourable mention has to go to Daryl Dixon, which brings the zombie action to Europe, and offers a new perspective on The Walking Dead's post-apocalyptic setting. After 15 years in the role, Norman Reedus remains a fan favourite, especially when paired up with Carol. And with a fourth season already confirmed, the people behind the Walking Dead franchise clearly agree. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website The Walking Dead is available to watch on Sky Atlantic and NOW – find out more about how to sign up for Sky TV. Check out more of our Sci-Fi 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.
Game of Thrones star Alfie Allen reveals why it's hard to tell good from bad characters in his new show
From Game of Thrones to SAS Rogue Heroes, Alfie Allen is no stranger to roles that push his characters to the limit – and Sky Atlantic's Atomic is no exception. The five-part action series, adapted from the non-fiction book Atomic Bazaar, follows drug smuggler Max (Allen) and "enigmatic outsider" JJ (Shazad Latif) as they're pulled into a "chaotic, high-stakes mission they never signed up for: trafficking highly enriched uranium across North Africa and the Middle East". But their every move is shadowed by undercover CIA officer Cassie Elliott (Samira Wiley), who "is convinced the pair are in league with violent extremists". "Her relentless pursuit puts them all on a collision course, revealing that nothing is what it seems and everyone has an ulterior motive," teases the official synopsis. Speaking to RadioTimes.com about those "ulterior motives", Allen said: "The idea of government trying to get that kind of power into their own hands, and then that potentially transitioning to an organisation – how can you tell the difference between the two sometimes? Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys? "And with the characters we play, they're two anti-heroes. I think it's always very interesting to present that choice to audiences, which Atomic really does. On top of all the great action, there are also morally ambiguous characters – and that's interesting too." Of course, the subject matter also meant the cast had to be in peak physical condition. "We both did training, especially with the stunt team," Latif explained. "There was an hour of boxing, an hour of gun training, an hour of working out. You've got to be fit for these days, you've got to be ready." Read more: Alfie Allen says sister Lily's song Alfie didn’t motivate him: "I always wanted to be an actor" Game of Thrones' Alfie Allen recalls "isolating" and "tough times" working on series as he reunites with showrunners for new role The regime was so demanding that Allen leaned on sweet treats to help him get through it. "The workouts were a lot for me to get used to at the start," he admitted. "They really drilled us. But three weeks into the shoot, I made the excuse that I needed desserts on set because we were running around so much. So as I'm eating tiramisu, I don't care." Latif started with good intentions, but eventually gave in too. "It was lamb kebabs, cans of Coke… anything," he laughed. "Chocolate, whatever anyone gave me – because I was so exhausted. But it was great." Atomic launched on Sky and NOW on Thursday 28th August 2025. Get one month free Sky Stream, Sky TV and Netflix. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website 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.
Atomic cast: Who stars in the explosive Sky Atlantic action series?
Alfie Allen and Shazad Latif head the cast.
Sky Atlantic's Atomic follows Alfie Allen and Shazad Latif as Max and JJ, who unexpectedly meet on a smuggling route in the Sahara dessert and are "swept into a chaotic, high-stakes mission they never signed up for: trafficking highly enriched uranium across North Africa and the Middle East". But with "the CIA, MI6 and a global web of opposing forces closing in fast", the pair must work together if they want to survive. Atomic was originally pitched as "the two worst people in the world have to save the world", said writer Gregory Burke. "When the path of Max collides with JJ, an unlikely friendship is formed. Together, they are tricked into transporting uranium across North Africa. On the run from a powerful cartel and the CIA, they face a choice: to get out and save themselves, or do what it takes to prevent a nuclear bomb getting into the wrong hands." Speaking about where the idea came from, Burke said: "The project began based on a book by the late journalist William Langewiesche, published in 2006, called The Atomic Bazaar. "The book warned about the possibility of non-state actors or terrorist groups obtaining enough nuclear material to make a crude atomic bomb. It detailed the processes and people involved, including terrorists and drug cartels. "We used the book as the basis for the story but fictionalised everything else. We chose characters from the two major security threats at the time: terrorists and drug dealers. "The story also incorporates themes of nuclear science and quantum theory, reflecting the idea that any atom can be in any state, which applies to our characters as well." Alongside Allen and Latif, a number of other recognisable faces feature in the cast, plus some you might not be familiar with. Find the rundown of the major players below. Atomic cast Alfie Allen as Max Shazad Latif as JJ Samira Wiley as Cassie Bryce Brian Gleeson as Mark Ellis Franklin Virgüez as Antonio Alam Avital Lvova as Oksana Shirokova Stuart Martin as Robert "Rab" Mackintosh Vahid Gold as Khaled Awad Charlie Murphy as Laetitia For more information about the main characters and where you've seen the actors who play them before, read on. Alfie Allen plays Max Who is Max? A drug smuggler who is in the middle of a job when he meets JJ and comes into the possession of some black market uranium. Max is described as "free-spirited". What else has Alfie Allen been in? He's known for Game of Thrones and SAS Rogue Heroes. Shazad Latif plays JJ Who is JJ? JJ (short for Jihadi John, a nickname given to him by Max) is on the run, but we don't initially know why. He's described as an "enigmatic outsider". What else has Shazad Latif been in? His credits include Star Trek: Discovery, Nautilus, The Pursuit of Love, Penny Dreadful, Toast of London and Spooks. Samira Wiley plays Cassie Bryce Who is Cassie Bryce? A "skilled scientist" who is also an undercover officer for the CIA. Cassie believes Max and JJ are "in league with violent extremists". What else has Samira Wiley been in? You probably know her from The Handmaid's Tale and Orange Is the New Black. Brian Gleeson plays Mark Ellis Who is Mark Ellis? He used to work for the CIA. Mark heads to Syria to help Cassie capture Max and JJ. What else has Brian Gleeson been in? He has also appeared in Bad Sisters, The Lazarus Project, Frank of Ireland and The Bisexual. Franklin Virgüez plays Antonio Alam Who is Antonio Alam? The head of the cartel. He is expecting a shipment of uranium, but it goes missing. What else has Franklin Virgüez been in? His extensive CV includes Papá a toda madre, The Two Lives of Estela Carril, The Lord of the Skies, Cosita Linda, Rosario, Natalia del Mar, Eva Luna and Por estas calles, among many, many others. Avital Lvova plays Oksana Shirokova Who is Oksana Shirokova? A Russian woman who "appears to be a London socialite", but "is involved in nefarious activities on behalf of Russia", explained writer Gregory Burke. What else has Avital Lvova been in? You might recognise her from The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Power and Trackers. Stuart Martin plays Robert "Rab" Mackintosh Who is Rab Mackintosh? A soldier who has history with JJ. What else has Stuart Martin been in? His CV includes In Flight, Miss Scarlet and the Duke, Jamestown and Rebel Moon. Vahid Gold plays Khaled Awad Who is Khaled Awad? He's with the drug enforcement agency in Beirut. Khaled seeks out Cassie for her "nuclear expertise". What else has Vahid Gold been in? His most notable role was in World's End. Charlie Murphy plays Laetitia Who is Laetitia? Max's girlfriend. She is kidnapped by the cartel, who will kill her if Max doesn't successfully deliver the uranium to them. What else has Charlie Murphy been in? You might know her from Peaky Blinders, Happy Valley, Obsession, The Capture and Halo, among others. Atomic is available now on Sky and NOW. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website 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.
Atomic: Release date, schedule, cast, true story and trailer for Sky series
Everything you need to know about the explosive series starring Game of Thrones and The Handmaid's Tale stars.
It's unlikely you've spent much time thinking about uranium trafficking, but it's all you'll be able to think about after watching Sky's explosive new series Atomic. Alfie Allen and Shazad Latif play a duo who are thrown together by circumstance when they wind up transporting "highly enriched uranium across North Africa and the Middle East". But with the "CIA, MI6, and a global web of opposing forces closing in fast", time is running out for the pair, who are forced to confront "covert operatives, an internationally funded cartel, and ultimately their own pasts". "What starts as a bid for survival slowly becomes something more: a reluctant partnership, a shot at redemption, and one hell of a ride," continues the official synopsis. But when can you watch it? And just how accurate is the subject matter? Read on for everything you need to know about Atomic. Atomic release date: When will it air? The series premieres on Thursday 28th August on Sky Atlantic and NOW. There are five episodes in total. Atomic release schedule: When will new episodes drop? Following the launch of the first two episodes on 28th August, the remaining three episodes will then air weekly. Atomic cast: Who stars? The cast is lead by: Alfie Allen (SAS: Rogue Heroes, Game of Thrones) as drug smuggler Max. Shazad Latif (Star Trek: Discovery, What’s Love Got to Do with It) as "enigmatic outsider on the run" JJ. Samira Wiley (The Handmaid’s Tale, Orange is the New Black) as Cassie Bryce, a "skilled scientist" who is also an undercover officer for the CIA. The rest of the cast includes Charlie Murphy (Peaky Blinders), Brian Gleeson (Bad Sisters) and Stuart Martin (Miss Scarlet and the Duke). Atomic plot: Is it based on a true story? The series is inspired by journalist William Langewiesche's non-fiction book Atomic Bazaar, which explores how nuclear weapons have "gone wholesale" after becoming "easier and cheaper to acquire and make than ever before" – with poor nations and non-state terror groups vying to get their hands on them. "When the path of free-spirited drug smuggler Max collides with JJ, an enigmatic outsider on the run, an unlikely friendship is formed," reads the show's official synopsis. "They're swept into a chaotic, high-stakes mission they never signed up for— trafficking highly enriched uranium across North Africa and the Middle East, with the CIA, MI6, and a global web of opposing forces closing in fast." They are being trailed by undercover CIA officer Cassie Elliott, who is "convinced Max and JJ are in league with violent extremists". "Her relentless pursuit puts them all on a collision course revealing that nothing is what it seems, and everyone has an ulterior motive." Atomic trailer: Is it available to watch? Yes – you can enjoy the high-octane trailer right now. Watch it below. View oEmbed on the source website Atomic will launch on Sky and NOW on Thursday 28th August 2025. Get one month free Sky Stream, Sky TV and Netflix. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website 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.
From star confirms season 4 filming has started
Elizabeth Saunders has confirmed that production has now kicked off.
Things are kicking off in the realm of From season 4, with star Elizabeth Saunders confirming as much on her Instagram. Sharing a selfie of herself on the social media platform, she wrote: "Heading to Town for a while!!" On the image itself, Saunders also wrote: "Overpacked, underslept and ready to go!!" Fans were quick to respond to the news, with many flocking to the comments to express their excitement at the prospect of From returning to screens once again. One fan wrote: "OMG I absolutely cannot wait for season 4. Donna you had better not die we need you til the end." Similarly, another wrote: "Can’t wait for the next season!!" Saunders obviously plays Donna Raines in the series, previously teasing what was to come for her character in the previous season. At the time of its release, the actress revealed: "What I love about this show is love – there's a lot, actually, a lot of places of love in the show amongst characters. "And I think John [Griffin] and Jeff [Pinkner] have brought that discussion into it – different kinds of love. Lost love, found love, love that's not working, and how that helps us as humans survive, and how it breaks us when we don't have connections." Read more: Mark Gatiss stars in quirky first trailer for new detective drama Bookish Rosamund Pike says goodbye to The Wheel of Time in emotional series of BTS pics It's already been confirmed that season 4 will be on our screens in 2026, with production kicking off in Nova Scotia, where the previous seasons have been filmed. Season 4 will boast 10 new episodes and, clearly, Saunders will be back – but we don't yet have a confirmed cast list. At the time of its renewal, From creator John Griffin dropped some hints about what's coming down the pipeline for our long-suffering characters. He said: "With the culmination of season 3 we have, in many ways, reached the end of the beginning. In season 4, a new journey begins. The question is whether it will lead our characters home, or deeper into this unrelenting nightmare." Griffin also told The Hollywood Reporter of the future direction of the show: "The mythology is our road map. But we’ve left ourselves very open to the organic nature of surprise. "I won’t go into the whole metaphor, but I often think about this as a road trip where you know where you’re starting, you know where you’re ending, but you get to wander, get lost, get surprised, because you know what the structure of the trip looks like.” View Affiliate Playlist on the source website From is available on Sky Sci-Fi and NOW – sign up for Sky TV here. Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what's on tonight. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Last of Us season 2 episode 6 finally gives fans the closure we've needed
Fans can officially say goodbye to Joel.
Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Last of Us season 2 episode 6. Gifting fans with some much-needed closure, The Last of Us season 2 took a break from the bloodshed and brutality of Ellie’s (Bella Ramsey) quest for justice, with episode 6 recalling her five years with Joel (Pedro Pascal) in Wyoming and – even more poignantly – their final conversation. There’s no doubt about it, the heart and soul of The Last of Us is and always will be the unshakeable bond between Joel and Ellie, and in the latest instalment, the TV adaptation honoured their father-daughter dynamic with an ill-fated flicker of hope. At the start of season 2, we were thrown a red herring, with the series suggesting that Ellie’s final exchange with Joel was at the town’s disastrous New Year’s Eve party. As it turned out, however, there was more to the story. After glimpsing Joel on the front porch with her guitar that same night, Ellie appeared to head into the garage, before changing her mind and confronting him about Salt Lake City. In a raw and Emmy-worthy performance from Pascal, a distraught Joel admitted to killing the Fireflies and preventing the development of a cure in order to save Ellie. "I’ll pay the price, because you’re going to turn away from me," he says, tears streaming down his face. "But if, somehow, I had a second chance at that moment, I would do it all over again." "Because you’re selfish," Ellie fires back. "Because I love you," Joel cries out. "In a way you can’t understand. Maybe you never will, but if that day should come, if you should ever have one of your own, well then, I hope you do a little better than me." "I don’t think I can forgive you for this, but I would like to try," Ellie tells him. It’s a brief, albeit doomed, moment of optimism, and one last shot at redemption for Joel, who, though well-intentioned, is better described as an unapologetic anti-hero. The fact that Joel had died the next day with the knowledge that Ellie still loved him, and that they could survive the damage he had done, however, is a hero’s send-off in its own right. For Joel, his life began and ended with Ellie – she was everything to him in this cruel, post-apocalyptic world – and their conversation gave him a sense of closure as a father. That’s something that no one, not even Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), could ever take away from him. Losing Ellie would have been the ultimate price; not death. While she doesn’t know it then, Joel’s sentiments about the unconditional love of a parent couldn’t be more fitting, either, given that Ellie learns of Dina’s (Isabela Merced) pregnancy months later, and agrees to raise the baby with her in episode 5. Thanks to this subtle foreshadowing, it feels like Joel has handed the torch to Ellie, and when her own child arrives, she’ll finally be able to understand the kind of love he had for her. It’s that love which serves as Joel’s real legacy. Finding the bright side in Joel’s tragic death isn’t easy, considering the horrific pain that Abby put him through, and the idea of what could have been will always hang in the air, but episode 6 is a fitting final tribute to a character who was unashamedly flawed and fierce till the bitter end. Just as it is in the game, Joel’s return in this flashback is a major highlight thanks to its emotional resonance, and his reappearance in episode 6 solves many of the season’s biggest mysteries. We now know that Ellie and Joel’s nine-month rift was ultimately catalysed by his decision to kill Eugene, but after taking responsibility for his actions in Salt Lake City and supporting Ellie’s relationship with Dina in that final conversation on the porch, things were beginning to look up for Joel. Sure, he may be gone now, but Ellie will always have the guitar he played that night, she’ll always cherish the memories of her many birthdays with Joel, and she’ll always have the knowledge that whenever he did wrong, he was trying to do right by her. Joel’s arc has been given a semblance of closure, which is hauntingly beautiful, but as Ellie continues to embark on a merciless killing spree in his very name, it seems unlikely that she’ll find peace - at least, not yet. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website The Last of Us airs on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK and on HBO in the US. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on this week. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.