Mila Kunis says that no one will be able to guess the ending of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
The cast of Rian Johnson's murder mystery reckon any viewer who claims to have worked out the ending isn't to be trusted...
If you're a fan of murder mysteries, it's likely that one of the things you'll enjoy most about the experience is trying to solve along as you watch – seeing if you can figure out the culprit (or culprits) before everything is neatly laid out in the denouement. But if that's your hope when it comes to watching new Knives Out film Wake Up Dead Man, you might want to think again. At least, that's according to some of the films stars – with Mila Kunis, Kerry Washington and Cailee Spaeny predicting that no one will be able to get to the bottom of this case. Asked if she'd made her own stab at guessing the killer when she'd first got her hand on the script, Kunis replied: "Yes, and failed" while Washington revealed that she had to read the script several times before she'd truly pieced everything together. "I could barely even follow the story in its own right, never mind the murder mystery," she said. "It's so complicated in a wonderful way. But yes, I never in a million years would have seen this ending coming." For her part, Spaeny mentioned that she "can guarantee that no one's gonna guess" exactly where the mystery goes, to which Kunis added: "If they say they did, they're lying." Meanwhile, another member of the ensemble cast – Andrew Scott – revealed that he didn't even try to figure out the ending, explaining that he knew he "would fail at that task." "Rian's got a better mind for murder mystery than I do," he said. "You get the script, and you have to kind of concentrate. It's a really interesting and intricate movie to watch, so it makes it kind of a challenging read because you're trying to keep up with characters that you don't have a particularly strong recognition of. So yeah I didn't guess it." Daryl McCormack added that he tried his best to follow the "intricate" script, but, like Washington, he had to read it a couple of times. "It's the kind of genius of his writing as well," he said. "And I think that's the joy as well. Even as you're reading it, you can't really anticipate what will happen and who it will be." Read more: Wake Up Dead Man cast reveal Knives Out film's relevance to "scary times" we live in – and who has pitched a return for a sequel Daniel Craig reveals why he thinks the Knives Out films are not "whodunnits" at all The film is the third entry in Johnson's Knives Out series and sees Daniel Craig's Benoit Blanc tasked with figuring out who was behind the extremely curious murder of Josh Brolin's intimidating priest Monsignor Jefferson Wicks. In addition to the aforementioned actors, other members of the incredibly starry ensemble cast include Josh O'Connor, Jeremy Renner and Glenn Close – with just about everyone falling under suspicion as Johnson slowly teases out the mystery. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is now streaming on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Line of Duty's Martin Compston hints season 7 will answer unresolved questions
Jed Mercurio's BBC juggernaut will begin filming in the new year.
Naturally, Martin Compston is sworn to secrecy when it comes to Line of Duty, which will begin filming in spring 2026 for its long-awaited seventh season. "Everything is so under wraps," he told RadioTimes.com of reprising the role of Steve Arnott alongside Vicky McClure as Kate Fleming and Adrian Dunbar as Ted Hastings. They are now working for the Inspectorate of Police Standards after AC-12 was disbanded – but "anticorruption work has never been more difficult" as they are "assigned their most sensitive case so far". "Detective Inspector Dominic Gough, a charismatic officer winning plaudits for a string of takedowns of organised crime, is accused of abusing his position of trust to act as a sexual predator," reads the official synopsis. "But is Gough’s case a deliberate distraction from a bigger threat still operating in the shadows?" Compston did say, however, that questions left hanging after the season 6 finale – which drew an astonishing 12.8 million viewers on the night (a 56.2 per cent share) – will likely be addressed. "There's a new, strong storyline with new characters, and then... there will be things getting answered from other series," he added. But Compston remained tight-lipped on which plot points have been revisited by creator, writer and executive producer Jed Mercurio, who "couldn’t be more delighted to be returning". "Corruption in this country is supposed to have come to an end while Line of Duty was off air so I’ve been forced to use my imagination," he joked following the season 7 renewal announcement. We've broken down all of the major remaining questions here, including why Hastings really misspelled "definitely" as "definately", which was key in unmasking Buckells – a reveal actor Nigel Boyle was initially "gobsmacked" by, assuming the now former detective superintendent was just a "useful idiot". But "a rotten apple needn’t always be a mastermind", he said at the time. "You don’t have to be a criminal genius to be bent. It can just be gross incompetence and people turning a blind eye. "I always saw Buckells as the comic relief, so it’s clever that it was him all along. When you reflect and rewatch, I think it's a stroke of genius. Looking back, it all fits" – although many remain unconvinced that Buckells is actually H, with the real mastermind still at large. So, a shiny new narrative awaits – but if Line of Duty is to be a roaring success, Mercurio must revisit those key loose ends, lest the whole thing unravels. Read more: So, what should we expect from Line of Duty season 7? I have some questions Line of Duty could be entering its #MeToo era – but let's hope it doesn't waste the opportunity Read our guide to the best Christmas TV for 2025. Line of Duty seasons 1-6 are available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Knives Out 3's Andrew Scott explains why Catholic Church is the perfect backdrop for a murder mystery
The cast of Wake Up Dead man speak exclusively to RadioTimes.com about the ways in which faith intersects with the whodunnit genre.
After his previous murder mysteries took viewers inside a cosy mansion and onto a lavish private island, Rian Johnson's latest Knives Out film Wake Up Dead Man opts for a rather different backdrop: a Catholic church. The film finds Daniel Craig's sleuth Benoit Blanc called in to solve the killing of the foreboding Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), with the rather more modern clergyman Jud Duplenticy (Josh O'Connor) serving as the maverick detective's closest confidant. Of course, Johnson has always peppered a dash of social commentary into his whodunnits, and that's no different this time around. Throughout the film, he makes interesting points about modern interpretations of faith – and the way it has sometimes been weaponised for political ends – while also making cinematic use of religious imagery and iconography. This made starring in the film an especially tantalising prospect for many of the cast, with Andrew Scott explaining during an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com why he felt that murder mysteries and Catholicism make for such a perfect match. "It's a great premise for a film," he explained. "Because there's a murder mystery, but there's also mysteries [of the church] that we recognise. Both [me and co-star Daryl McCormack] come from Catholic Ireland, so it's something I think we're familiar with." He continued that being on set was "incredibly beautiful", adding that something about religious iconography and the questions it throws up are "just innately dramatic". "[The] question of what happens to us when we're no longer on the earth... it's the thing that faith is based on and so there's just an innate, well, mystery is the best word for it," he said. "And that marries with the subject matter of a whodunnit really beautifully.” McCormack – who plays aspiring politician turned internet conspiracy theorist Cy Draven in the film – added that he loved "how personal" the film was for Johnson, and the way in which it explored "the different iterations of faith". "My character is someone who has really politicised his faith, and even begs you to ask whether he has a genuine faith," he added. "[He's] very much driven by a kind of fear and power and greed and all these things that tend to be un-Christ-like ironically. So I thought it was a beautiful kind of composition to explore. "I just love that faith – which is almost like the unanswerable question in itself – is also part of the mix in this third film." Scott and McCormack weren't the only stars who were intrigued by the religious angle. For example, while Mila Kunis – who stars as local police chief Geraldine Scott – would have been keen to star in a Knives Out film whatever the topic, this particular setting especially captivated her. "When Rian and I met for breakfast, before I knew what this movie was about, I sat down, and I was like, 'Listen, I'll just do it,'" she recalled. "And he's like, 'You should really read the script!' "But I was like, 'Can you just... give me a little bit, give me the setting, the world, anything.' And he goes, 'Well, it's gonna be about the Catholic Church.' And I went, 'I'm so in! Whatever it is...' I was, like, double down on how in I am. I thought it was fascinating." Read more: Wake Up Dead Man cast reveal Knives Out film's relevance to "scary times" we live in – and who has pitched a return for a sequel Daniel Craig reveals why he thinks the Knives Out films are not "whodunnits" at all Meanwhile, Cailee Spaeny explained it was very easy to understand how her character – the former concert cellist Simone Vivane – had chosen to turn to God and more specifically to the fire and brimstone version of Christianity served up by Monsignor Wicks. "It was a very easy thing to fall into for me," she said. "Growing up religious, I had a similar path as Rian, and so I just knew her. I understood her conflicts and why she joined this congregation, what she was getting from it, and her doubts, and it all made sense. "And I just thought how impressive that Rian Johnson is gonna make another murder mystery and drop something like this right in the middle of it. I just think it's so Rian, and there's so much heart and humanity. "I think this movie really is about grace and sort of hearing one another and connecting, which I think is really refreshing." Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is currently showing in select UK cinemas and comes to Netflix on 12th December. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Doctor Who star Jemma Redgrave shuts down theories about Kate’s sexuality: “That’s never been a discussion"
The War Between the Land and the Sea has given us a glimpse into the life of Doctor Who legend Kate Lethbridge Stewart (Jemma Redgrave), beyond her work at UNIT, confirming her relationship with Colonel Christofer Ibrahim (Alexander Devrient). It's the first time we've seen Kate in a romantic relationship — although, for years, fans have speculated about her sexuality. However, actress Redgrave has cleared things up, revealing that, while she once speculated about Kate perhaps being married to a woman in the years before we met her on screen, there has "never been a discussion" with showrunner Russell T Davies, or anyone on the show, about her sexuality. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com, Redgrave explained: "I think maybe where it came from was a question that I was asked about how she's a divorcee. "I learned a great deal about her in an earlier episode [Death in Heaven] just from a few lines - she arrives at work in gardening clothes, she's just come off either the allotment or her garden, and wasn't expecting to be called in, and describes herself as a mother, as a divorcee, a mother of two, and an outstanding bridge player. "So I knew that she was divorced, and I think I speculated that maybe she was in the same sex relationship. But it wasn't any discussion that I ever had with anybody else. It was just things that I was mulling around about where she was in her life at that particular point." Redgrave and Devrient also recently opened up about the romance between Kate and Colonel Ibrahim being confirmed. "I think the conflict for her is the thing that struck me about the relationship…. I don't believe that she thinks [the relationship] has a future because of the age difference, because of the power imbalance – but mainly for the age difference," Redgrave pointed out. "What we discussed was how differently they both felt about it and that being interesting. It's there in the script, it's there in the episodes that Pete [McTighe] and Russell [T Davies] wrote, the deep differences between the way they feel about this relationship and what the future is for both of them." Meanwhile, Devrient added: "There were a lot of little moments that were placed throughout the seasons [of Doctor Who]. And to be honest with you, we weren't even sure, me and Jemma, whether this was going to go any further or not. Initially, we held back a little bit. "Obviously, there is the hierarchy element, when you work in a sort of context that we work in within UNIT, that's quite important. There's an important age gap. There are various different factors that meant that this is quite a tricky and risky potential relationship. "But, in the end, I think also with what Russell wrote and how he wrote it, we just thought, 'Okay, we're going to go for it.' These two, there is something behind that element of stoicism and respect and loyalty and discipline, something really pure and beautiful, a connection that they can't really fight against. Let's just go with that and explore what that looks like when you're in the midst of yet another catastrophe." The War Between the Land and the Sea continues on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on 14th December. Add The War Between the Land and the Sea 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 Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The War Between the Land and the Sea stars break down "risky" romance reveal in new Doctor Who spin-off
*Warning: Spoilers ahead for The War Between the Land and the Sea episodes 1-2.* Already, Doctor Who spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea has offered up multiple twists and turns, including the reveal of a relationship that has been a long time coming. After some chemistry-filled moments in Doctor Who season 15, the first episodes of The War Between confirm Kate Stewart (Jemma Redgrave) and Colonel Ibrahim's (Alexander Devrient) relationship and give a glimpse into the pair's home life together – with all of its complications. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com, Redgrave gave her insight into that reveal, explaining that the two characters feel very differently about the relationship. "I think the conflict for her is the thing that struck me about the relationship…. I don't believe that she thinks [the relationship] has a future because of the age difference, because of the power imbalance – but mainly for the age difference," she pointed out. "What we discussed was how differently they both felt about it and that being interesting. It's there in the script, it's there in the episodes that Pete [McTighe] and Russell [T Davies] wrote, the deep differences between the way they feel about this relationship and what the future is for both of them. "I think there's a very key line in episode 2 about [Colonel Ibrahim's] father. [Kate] says ‘He sounds very wise,’ and he says, ‘You should meet him.’ And I think in her mind, that seems impossible. But also she has no time at this minute, there's no time to talk about it. There's no time, really, for their relationship. And I think that's the other difficulty, is that she's so driven, and her work is so important. It's the most important thing that runs through her life." Meanwhile, Devrient added: "There were a lot of little moments that were placed throughout the seasons [of Doctor Who]. And to be honest with you, we weren't even sure, me and Jemma, whether this was going to go any further or not. Initially, we held back a little bit. "Obviously, there is the hierarchy element, when you work in a sort of context that we work in within UNIT, that's quite important. There's an important age gap. There are various different factors that meant that this is quite a tricky and risky potential relationship. "But, in the end, I think also with with what Russell wrote and how he wrote it, we just thought, 'Okay, we're going to go for it.' These two, there is something behind that element of stoicism and respect and loyalty and discipline, something really pure and beautiful, a connection that they can't really fight against. Let's just go with that and explore what that looks like when you're in the midst of yet another catastrophe." As Devrient points out, the relationship is revealed as humanity is faced with a crisis, with classic Who monster the Sea Devils (also known as Homo Aqua in the spin-off), emerge from the oceans and reveal their presence to the entire world. Their leader, Salt (played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw) appoints Russell Tovey's Barclay as ambassador for humanity (despite his lacking experience), and the pair are charged with preventing a world-ending war on Earth. As for what's next? "[Humanity] is going to try everything," Devrient teased. "And I think that's what's really interesting is, when your backs are against the wall, you see how different players react, and what the points of interest are for each of these players. "Maybe that works perfectly in unison to be one voice, or, potentially, there is conflict there as well – and what does that conflict look like? It's tense. It's not a nice environment to be in." He added: "There are still lots of thrills, and lots of twists and turns to come, epic stunts, massive production design. They've really sort of pulled out all the stops for this one, and it looks great." The War Between the Land and the Sea continues on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on 14th December. Add The War Between the Land and the Sea 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 Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple releases new trailer with twisted cult leader Jimmy Crystal at centre
Finally something to look forward to in the new year!
A new trailer for the highly anticipated 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has dropped, finally providing fans with something to look forward to in the new year. Released today (3rd December), the trailer not only gives a glimpse at the stellar cast, some of whom are returning from 28 Years Later, but also at the chilling storyline to come. The two-minute clip starts with Ralph Fiennes's character Dr Kelson wearing a dirty vest and covered head to toe in dried blood – quite the look. We see him in his familiar tower of bones, where he gently interacts with one of the infected while his voice speaks over the footage about his theories on the infection. Accompanied by eerie harmonious music, the trailer then cuts to twisted cult leader Jimmy Crystal played by Sinners star Jack O'Connell and his blonde wig-wearing followers with their captive, Spike (Alfie Williams). The cult infiltrates another group of survivors who are living in a cottage akin to that in the ending of 28 Days Later. The viewer is then fed flash clips of the torture the survivors face at the hands of the cult along with the tag line "fear is the new faith". The trailer closes with Dr Kelson and Jimmy Crystal seemingly joining forces, with O'Connell's character expressing that they're both "in a bit of a bind". You can watch the full trailer above. Scheduled for release in cinemas on 14th January and directed by The Marvels' Nia DaCosta, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple expands upon the world created by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland in 28 Years Later in a continuation of the story from 2002's 28 Days Later. Speaking with Rolling Stone about making The Bone Temple, director DaCosta revealed how she wanted to separate the sequel from its predecessors. "The thing that connects the two is that they’re both bonkers, idiosyncratic, and very artistically personal works," she shared. "My big pitch when I was talking to the producers, including Danny and Alex, before I came on was, ‘I’m going to make this my own. I’m not going to try to make a Danny Boyle movie.’ Because that’s impossible to make. He’s so special. And it didn’t really interest me." She added: "It’s so hard to describe the tone of the movie that I actually won’t even attempt to. But it keeps the same unique, off-the-wall, surprising energy." While it has been confirmed that Cillian Murphy will reprise his role as Jim in the upcoming instalment in a coda scene at the very end of the film, he is not shown in the trailer at all, so we'll have to keep our eyes peeled when the movie arrives. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is coming to UK cinemas on 14th January 2026. If you're looking for something to watch tonight, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide or visit our Film hub for all the latest news. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Is Batman Returns a Christmas movie? Michelle Pfeiffer gives definitive response
The iconic actress was speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com about her new Christmas film Oh. What. Fun.
Every Christmas, film fans will inevitably debate whether a couple of iconic movies can really be counted as a Christmas films. Die Hard is, of course, the most obvious example, but another film that can lead to some contentious debate is Batman Returns. Tim Burton's superhero sequel starring Michael Keaton as The Caped Crusader is set over the festive period, with plenty of snow and Yuletide decorations in sight, but some claim that the setting alone is not enough for it to warrant Christmas movie status. So when RadioTimes.com exclusively spoke to the film's iconic Catwoman star Michelle Pfeiffer about her new Prime Video movie Oh. What. Fun – which most definitely is a Christmas film – we had to ask her if she felt the superhero flick qualified. Read more: Back to the Future's Michael J Fox reveals his casting for classic film may have cost one actor a key role Avatar: Fire and Ash first reactions are in as critics single out "unimaginable" and "bold" sequel filmmaking Her initial response was one of slight bafflement, to put it mildly, but she eventually reached a definitive conclusion. " Hmm," she said after a long pause. "I don't really think of it as a Christmas film." After pausing further she added: "Um, no... I don't really.... Yeah I really wouldn't consider it that." At that point, her Oh. What. Fun co-star Denis Leary cut in to say that he was a big Batman fan and so, "If we can call that a Christmas film. I'm in". Pfeiffer then added: " Well, it's the Tim Burton version of Christmas. Well, I'd say Nightmare before Christmas is... yeah," before tapering off. So it seems Catwoman is very much not in the 'Batman Returns is a Christmas movie' camp. In Oh. What. Fun – which also stars Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz and Jason Schwartzman among its star-studded cast – Pfeiffer plays Claire Clauster, a woman whose hard work over the festive period goes unnoticed by her children and grandchildren until they suddenly realise she is missing. The film opens by explaining that while there are countless Christmas movies about fathers, there are relatively few about mothers – and Pfeiffer hopes this will strike a chord with viewers. "I just think this is really going to resonate with with everyone," she said. "I think everyone will see a little bit of themselves in this film." She continued: "Being a mum, I really could and can relate to how much work and effort goes into these holidays. Ut's not just Christmas, it's Thanksgiving, and really, just about any holiday and it's months of preparation, you know? And it's just all that behind the scenes stuff that moms just don't get the credit for." Oh. What. Fun. is now streaming on Prime Video. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Harlan Coben's new Netflix thriller starring Gavin & Stacey icon releases chilling first look trailer
It's almost that time of year for another Harlan Coben thriller to binge-watch.
It's almost become streaming tradition now that upon the dawn of a new year also means we get a brand new Harlan Coben thriller to get obsessed with. This time round, we have Run Away – and at long last, we have a trailer for the gripping new series. Released today, the trailer not only gives us a glimpse at the leading cast of Run Away but also gives us a window into the drama to come. As we see in the trailer, things were pretty much picture perfect for Simon (James Nesbitt) and his close-knit family. The trailer kicks off as they drop off their daughter Paige (Ellie de Lange) to university, with Simon being the typically embarrassing father and Minnie Driver starring as Paige's mother Ingrid, excitedly taking pictures of her daughter as they embark on this new chapter of her life. However, as we soon see, things don't quite go as expected as we get brief snapshots of what's to come: Paige trying to push past her father to leave the house, lots of shouting and the police getting involved. We're then introduced to Gavin & Stacey co-creator Ruth Jones in the role of private investigator Elena Ravenscroft, who attends a crime scene and reveals she's working alongside the police on a case. That's when we realise the crossover between the two lead characters, as Elena seems intent on finding Paige for her case, something that Simon obviously can't really help her with as he doesn't know the whereabouts of his daughter. You can watch the trailer for yourself below. View oEmbed on the source website As the chilling trailer reveals, it's quite a convoluted web of secrets and crime, as Paige's boyfriend is soon found dead, with Simon intent on still finding his daughter. As well as first looks at Nesbitt and Jones in their leading roles, the trailer also gives us glimpses into the character of Detective Isaac Fagbenle, who is played by Alfred Enoch, and also Jon Pointing (Big Boys). The official synopsis for the series reads: "Simon (Nesbitt) had the perfect life: loving wife and kids, great job, beautiful home. But then his eldest daughter Paige ran away and everything fell apart. "So now when he finds her, vulnerable and strung out on drugs in a city park, he finally has the chance to bring his little girl home. But it turns out she’s not alone, and an argument escalates into shocking violence. "In the aftermath, Simon loses his daughter all over again, and his search to find her will take him into a dangerous underworld, revealing deep secrets that could tear his family apart forever." The rest of the Run Away cast includes Gangs of London alum Lucian Msamati, Tracy Ann-Oberman (Code 404), Annette Badland (Ted Lasso), Finty Williams (The A List), Joe McGann (Kaos) and Ingrid Oliver (Sweetpea), as well as Adrian Greensmith (of Coben's Prime Video series Shelter), Ellie Henry (Hollyoaks), Maeve Courtier-Lilley (Silent Witness) and Amy Gledhill (Alma's Not Normal). Run Away is coming to Netflix on 1st January 2026. 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.
Doctor Who star hints Kate Lethbridge-Stewart might not survive The War Between the Land and the Sea
Jemma Redgrave is back in action in The War Between the Land and the Sea.
Whovians considering skipping the upcoming spinoff series The War Between the Land and the Sea may have to think again following the latest tease from a major fan favourite Doctor Who star. In the Doctor’s absence, UNIT’s Commander-in-Chief Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (Jemma Redgrave) steps up to try to halt an impending attack from the Sea Devils in this five-part standalone story. Likened to Independence Day, The War Between the Land and the Sea explores a growing conflict between humanity and the ocean dwellers, who are enraged by the state of the sea due to the pollution and the climate crisis. To try and avert the looming international conflict, Lethbridge-Stewart and her team - in particular, low-level UNIT operative and unlikely ambassador Barclay Pierre-DuPont (Russell Tovey) - attempt to reason with the Classic era villains. But will everyone make it out alive? Star Jemma Redgrave isn’t so sure, as she exclusively told RadioTimes.com: “If she survives this series, I don't know where she can go next…” The Doctor Who star continued: “But I've had a most extraordinary time and journey with this character and through different series of Doctor Who and now through this series.” “And every time I get the call, it feels like another gift. Long may it last.” Writer Pete McTighe added: “The character of Kate Lethbridge-Stewart... I think if you're a huge fan of Doctor Who and you know that legacy character and you love that character like I do, I think you'll be very surprised about the journey that she goes on through the show. Her character arc, in particular for Doctor Who fans, is probably the most surprising.” The fan favourite character was first portrayed by Beverley Cressman back in 1995, before Jemma Redgrave debuted in the reintroduced role in the 2012 episode "The Power of Three". She’ll also be joined by fellow UNIT colleagues Colonel Christofer Ibrahim (Alexander Devrient) and Scientific Advisor Shirley Anne Bingham (Ruth Madeley), along with General Austin Pierce, with Colin McFarlane reprising his role from Torchwood: Children of Earth. We have no idea what the Doctor - and any of their many companions - would do without the help of the illustrious UNIT leader, (her double-bluff against the Zygons remains a real highlight) so we’ll be crossing our fingers that she makes it through the events of the upcoming miniseries! Stay tuned for more about The War Between the Land and the Sea, including news, interviews, features and more. The War Between the Land and the Sea is coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 7th December. Add The War Between the Land and the Sea 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 Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The War Between the Land and the Sea writer promises Easter Eggs for fans of classic Doctor Who
Fans of the Whoniverse will no doubt be keeping their eyes peeled for any familiar faces and nods to the wider Doctor Who franchise when spinoff The War Between the Land and the Sea debuts on the BBC next week. The Earth-based drama explores an impending conflict between mankind and returning foes the Sea Devils, as the Unified Intelligence Taskforce (UNIT) are forced to step up in the Doctor’s absence. The series features the return of a whole host of characters, including Jemma Redgrave, Alexander Devrient and Ruth Madeley reprising their UNIT roles, along with Colin McFarlane returning as General Austin Pierce from Torchwood: Children of Earth. And with the focus on the Sea Devils - who were last seen clashing with Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor in the 2022 special Legend of the Sea Devils - fans are finally set to discover more about this formidable but somewhat mysterious foe. When asked about ties to the wider Doctor Who universe, writer Pete McTighe revealed: “There are absolutely Easter eggs to be seen – if you get the pause button ready, you'll be seeing plenty of stuff.” <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/11/541153-8570b41.jpg" width="5197" height="3465" alt="Russell Tovey as Barclay Pierre-Dupont and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Salt in The War Between the Land and the Sea. He is in front of an orange, firey background on the left and she is in front of a blue, sea background on the right. Their hands are touching in the middle." title="541153" /> “What's great about the Sea Devils as a civilisation is we didn't really know much about them before,” Davies explains. “Essentially, they were monsters on a beach in Portsmouth, or in Sea Base, we didn't really delve into their culture and their society, and that's what we're able to do a lot more of here.” And it looks like Whovians will finally get a glimpse at their home world. “We spend a lot more time with them, we actually go to their world in episode 3, which is incredible,” he continues. “You get to see how they live and their environment and all the different species, so that's been a huge amount of fun to expand the backstory.” First debuting in the 1972 serial The Sea Devils alongside Jon Pertwee’s Third Doctor, the species has certainly had quite the makeover since its original appearance. They’ve dwelled in the Earth’s oceans for millions of years, but upon awakening to find that mankind has polluted the seas, they soon take action. Stay tuned for more about The War Between the Land and the Sea, including news, interviews, features, and more. The War Between the Land and the Sea is coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 7th December. Add The War Between the Land and the Sea 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 Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
What to watch on TV this week: 29th November - 5th December
The Abandons and The Marvellous Miniature Workshop are among our picks for what to watch on TV this week.
As we head into the final month of the year, it's a big week for unscripted shows, whether they be hard-hitting documentaries or fun-filled reality shows. Documentaries including What's the Monarchy For? and Tommy: The Good. The Bad. The Fury season 2 are both on the schedule, as is a companion piece to the factual drama Prisoner 951, called Prisoner 951: The Hostages' Story. Meanwhile, on the reality side, Sara Cox hosts new daytime show The Marvellous Miniature Workshop and high-end property series Owning Manhattan is back for season 2 on Netflix. However, that's not all - there are still a number of big scripted offerings lined up for this week, including the second season of BBC sitcom Mammoth, starry new Netflix Western series The Abandons and hard-hitting drama Say Nothing, which tells the story of The Troubles in Northern Ireland and is coming to Channel 4, having originally been released on Disney Plus. Here, you'll find our top picks for this week – read on for our full guide of what to watch. The Marvellous Miniature Workshop Release date: Monday 1st December, 2pm, BBC One Small is beautiful: that’s the message of a sweet new show hosted by Sara Cox. Your heart will be warmed and your eyes dampened as the craft of miniature modelmaking reaches into the past and brings it back to tiny teeny life. The idea is simple: crafts-folk recreate places, people and life moments via ingenious little models. For the first episode, retired social worker Leah recalls how much a now-derelict public library in Manchester meant to her as a child. Modelmaker Hannah sets about recreating the old reading room — its parquet flooring, stained glass window, rumpled newspapers and, amazingly, 3,000 micro-books for its shelves. The precision and skill are astonishing. If this doesn’t bring back happy memories for Leah, nothing will… Continues daily, until Thursday. David Butcher Say Nothing Release date: Monday 1st December, 9pm, Channel 4 When it was shown on Disney+ a year ago, this ambitious drama inevitably attracted debate and controversy with its effort to avoid moral absolutes in a depiction of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. It opens in Belfast in 1972, with the shocking abduction of Jean McConville (Judith Roddy), a widowed mother of 10 who is snatched from her home, in front of her children, by masked gunmen. McConville, whom the IRA suspected of passing information to the British Army, was never returned to her family; her remains were finally found in 2003. The early 21st Century is also where we meet Dolours Price, who was an active IRA volunteer in 1972 and is now contributing to an oral history of the Troubles. With Maxine Peake and Lola Petticrew both excellent as the older and younger versions of Price, the series explores the human cost of the conflict, and the power of political convictions that are so strongly held they obscure everything else in the lives of individuals, but which don’t always survive the passage of time: while we cannot help but sympathise with the younger Delours, the elder woman’s recollections are tinged with regret. Jack Seale Mammoth season 2 Release date: Monday 1st December, 10pm, BBC Two Season 2 finds glacier-preserved 1970s PE teacher Tony Mammoth (Mike Bubbins) still finding his feet in the 21st century. After a stressful clash with modern technology sends him into a faint, a doctor suggests some lifestyle changes — but Mammoth’s of the opinion that if a ton of ice couldn’t kill him, his usual 30 pints a week won’t do it, either. The success of this show rests on the performance of creator/star Bubbins, and in Tony Mammoth he has created a brilliant sitcom character; an awful man with an unbeatable comedy charisma. And, with co-writer Paul Doolan, Bubbins wisely gives himself all the best lines. Huw Fullerton What’s the Monarchy for? Release date: Tuesday 2nd December, 9pm, BBC One The title asks what a king or queen is for, but we might also ask – what are royal documentaries like this for? Channel 5 has a deep shelf of programmes to track each cough and spit of every royal storyline, and it does very well out of them. But this is seasoned veteran David Dimbleby offering more of an expansive essay on a subject he knows better than most. He interviews former courtiers and cabinet ministers on what the limits of royal power are or should be, but he doesn’t look as if he believes any of them. He just fixes them with a patrician glare as if they were young whippersnappers trying to pull the wool over his eyes. The gravitas is dented when author Ash Sarkar teases Dimbleby that with his surname he should know all about the hereditary principle… The episode ranges around, exploring the letters that King Charles used to write to ministers when he was “a meddlesome prince”; the 2019 prorogation of parliament; and whether a monarch’s real purpose is soft power – and endless small talk. David Butcher Tommy: The Good. The Bad. The Fury season 2 Release date: Tuesday 2nd December, 9pm, BBC Three We’re back in the world of Tommy Fury, boxer, influencer and brother of Tyson. His rehabilitation from a damaged hand is hampered by the need to rest – not something that always comes comfortably to a recovering alcoholic, so long-suffering manager Jake tries to keep him busy with trips to Marbella (to meet and learn from bodybuilding legend Dorian Yates), the farm (to hang out with his adorable daughter Bambi) and to Bovingdon Airfield (where Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel is filmed). Fury is as frank as ever – “I just wing everything,” he admits while confessing he has no idea what The Wheel is, minutes before filming starts – and the insights into life on the fringes of boxing and celebrity are candid and sometimes inadvertently revealing. Gabriel Tate Prisoner 951: The Hostages' Story Release date: Wednesday 3rd December, 9pm, BBC Two British Iranian citizen Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was held hostage for six years by the Iranian government, supposedly on spying charges but really because of a decades-old military debt owed to them by the British government. Shockingly, this wasn’t unusual and people are still being used as political pawns. We hear from other British dual nationals: Anoosheh Ashoori, also released after the tanks debt was paid; Jason Rezaian, an American reporter, who was released when international sanctions were lifted against the country and a US debt was paid; and academic Kylie Moore Gilbert released in a prisoner exchange. Moore Gilbert says Iran arrests foreigners on spurious charges to leverage a diplomatic advantage – they use hostage-taking as a business model. They all agree with Ashoori when he explains “the wounds … never go away.” The personal stories are horrendous and heart-breaking, but we also hear from Foreign Office officials at the time – including Jeremy Hunt but not Boris Johnson – and hear more about the complicated behind-the scenes issues of diplomacy. However, it doesn’t take away from the disgust and anger you will feel about this inhumane situation. Jane Rackham The Abandons Release date: Thursday 4th December, Netflix Created by Kurt Sutter, the writer behind Sons of Anarchy and Mayans MC - although Sutter left the project just before the end of shooting season 1 - a gruff drama tells a tale of two matriarchs at war in the semi-lawless flux of the American Northwest in the 1850s. Gillian Anderson is icy villain Constance Van Ness, whose plan to buy up an entire valley meets two obstacles: her spoiled grown-up children don't help her already negative reputation in the local community, but her chief adversary is Fiona Nolan (Lena Headey), the Irish leader of an adopted family. When Nolan and her neighbours refuse to buckle in the face of threats, intimidation and violence, an old-fashioned tussle between right and wrong breaks out, with some blurring of the moral boundaries and of loyalties as a final showdown looms. Jack Seale Owning Manhattan season 2 Release date: Friday 5th December, Netflix Roughly a New York version of Selling Sunset, this property reality doc has less focus on its ultra-competitive team of realtors - although they are extremely competitive with each other, regularly hurling accusations of betrayal and incompetence as they tussle over multi-million-dollar sales - and more on the boss of the outfit. In season two, the charismatic but somehow faintly disturbing Ryan Serhant continues his quest to build the world's swankiest real-estate brokerage. Could getting in on the ground floor of new-build luxury flats constitute a big step up the ladder? As ever with a show like this, if you don’t like the people you can always just gawp at the incredible houses and apartments. Jack Seale Visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what's on tonight. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Doctor Who spin-off confirms alternative pop music icon for soundtrack as release date revealed
The soundtrack will feature a cover of David Bowie’s Heroes by Alison Goldfrapp and Lorne Balfe.
The release date for The War Between the Land and the Sea’s soundtrack has been confirmed, with the BBC revealing it will feature a cover track by pop icon Alison Goldfrapp. The soundtrack for the upcoming Doctor Who spin-off, which will feature an original score by Lorne Balfe, will be available on digital platforms on 5th December. The album will also feature a cover of David Bowie’s Heroes by Goldfrapp and Balfe, which is set to be released on 12th December. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com about the cover, composer Balfe recently said that he’s “working on a great song with Alison Goldfrapp which is going to be very special, story-wise, but also musically-wise… it’s a musical moment." Goldfrapp said in a statement: "Covering ‘Heroes’ felt deeply connected to the spirit of the series which is about resilience and unity in the face of overwhelming forces. Working with Lorne was a wonderful experience, his ability to weave emotion and cinematic vision into orchestral textures brought a new dimension to Heroes.” Balfe added: “Creating the score for The War Between Land and Sea felt like composing at the boundary of two worlds – where the modern day meets the ancient sea. I wanted to draw the audience into a journey of mystery, wonder, and conflict, and I hope every note echoes humanity’s struggle to find balance with forces beyond their understanding.” Russell T Davies added: “Lorne’s music soars from the land to the sea and then high into the skies, it’s so beautiful.” Set in the Whonuiverse, The War Between the Land and the Sea will revolve around the military organisation UNIT as they are forced to deal with the arrival of an ancient species, the Sea Devils. The series will star Russell Tovey and Gugu Mbatha-Raw alongside numerous recurring Doctor Who actors. The War Between the Land and the Sea is coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 7th December. Add The War Between the Land and the Sea 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 Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Celebrity Traitors fan favourite makes surprise entrance in exclusive look at epic TV event with comedy legends
Warning: the clip below contains strong language.
Cult comedy wrestling event Clash of the Comics is set to be broadcast on TV for the first time ever – and RadioTimes.com has an exclusive look at Celebrity Traitors star Joe Marler’s surprise cameo. The live show, which has been a staple at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe under the title The Wrestling, pits stand-up comedians against each other in the wrestling ring – with some pro wrestlers getting involved too. In this sneak peek at the show, which was filmed at the Eventim Apollo last month and is now available to stream on U, Ed Gamble introduces James Acaster’s mystery opponent – and it’s none other than former England rugby player turned fan-favourite Faithful, Marler. However, Joe Lycett soon appears and protests: "James said he challenged somebody from the world of comedy or wrestling. This is very clearly a beautiful former rugby player." Ed says: "That’s where you’re wrong. I’ve been training him up." Watch the clip above to find out how Marler's comedy training has paid off. Good luck, Acaster... Other comedians taking part in the event include a number of Taskmaster alumni, such as Maisie Adam, Rosie Jones and Phil Wang. Meanwhile, Lycett serves as event CEO, Ivo Graham as host and Greg James, Sara Pascoe and Nish Kumar are on commentary. Clash of the Comics is now available to stream on U, and will air on U& Dave at 9pm on 5th December. Add Clash of the Comics 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 Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc is one of "most iconic" performances of our time, argue Wake Up Dead Man cast
The stars of the latest Knives Out film – including Kerry Washington, Cailee Spaeny and Andrew Scott – have lavished praise on the former James Bond star.
Given his incredibly popular turn as James Bond across five films and 15 years, few cinemagoers would ever have guessed there might one day be a debate as to who Daniel Craig's most iconic big screen character is. But three films into Rian Johnson's Knives Out series, the former 007 star has added another truly beloved character to his repertoire: sharp Southern sleuth Benoit Blanc. In Wake Up Dead Man, which arrives in select UK cinemas today ahead of a Netflix release next month, the detective has another tantalising case on his hands, this time against the backdrop of a small Catholic parish in upstate New York. As ever, the suspect list comprises a who's who of Hollywood talent – with Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close and Jeremy Renner among the potential culprits this time around – and it seems that all of those who took part greatly enjoyed watching Craig disappear into his role for a third time. "We had front row seats to one of the most iconic performances of our time, right?" said Kerry Washington, who stars as a church-going lawyer in the movie. "He's playing this character that has become his own universe. And so it was really fun to get to see it up close." She added that Craig worked the hardest of the whole cast – with the possible exception of O'Connor – and that he always showed up for every scene more prepared than anybody else in the ensemble. "And with more grace and kindness and goodwill than anybody else," she continued. "He's such a generous, kind, leader – and it made for an environment where we all wanted to do our best and be our best. "We knew we were on a championship team and we didn't want to drop the ball, so it was fun to have somebody like Daniel as your creative leader, your team captain." View oEmbed on the source website Meanwhile, Priscilla and Alien: Romulus star Cailee Spaeny, who plays a former concert cellist, laughed that it was "quite jarring" watching him go from embodying Blanc to "snap[ping] right back into being Daniel Craig". "And there was a moment where we're all sitting in the church watching him do this incredible monologue, and it really felt like I was watching a play," she recalled. Not everyone in the cast was working with Craig for the first time, and for Andrew Scott – who plays a best-selling author on a downward spiral – the film served as a reunion of sorts after they had previously worked together on 2015 Bond flick Spectre. "He's just a spectacular human being," he said of his co-star. "He's really good, because in an ensemble film, it's great to have an ensemble, but of course, he's at the centre of it. And you know, he establishes alongside Rian [Johnson], this really beautiful atmosphere to work in, because there's a lot of intimidating people on the first day!" Read more: Benedict Cumberbatch reveals how his new film hopes to change the ways we think about grief Joel Edgerton reveals how new Netflix film could get close to answering the meaning of life Daryl McCormack – who plays an aspiring politician-turned-online conspiracy nut – agreed with Scott's assessment. "My biggest takeaway from Daniel is just like his humility as a person and as an actor," he said. "And I think they have not failed to set a tone that has been the most welcoming. "I think, in turn, that really does just create an atmosphere for you as an actor, to come in and feel free and a part of the process in a real, genuine way. And then just to witness him portray this iconic character in person is really something." Reviews have once again been firmly on the positive side – with our own 4-star verdict suggesting that it could even be the best of the bunch – and both Johnson and Craig have already expressed a willingness to give Blanc some further cases to solve in the future. Only two more to go until he equals his output as 007... Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is released in cinemas on 26th November and coming to Netflix on 12th December. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Best films released in the UK this month: December 2025
Highlights include Sentimental Value, Marty Supreme and The Housemaid.
As 2025 comes to a close, there's a chance you've already started compiling your list of the best films of the year – but you might want to hold of finalising that list just yet. That's because there are still some pretty major films set to arrive in UK cinemas throughout December, from long-awaited blockbusters like Avatar: Fire and Ash to major awards hopefuls like Sentimental Value and Marty Supreme. There's also fantasy romcom Eternity, video game horror sequel Five Nights at Freddy's 2, and horror comedy reboot Anaconda, while those who have read Freida McFadden's 2022 best-seller The Housemaid will be very excited about the starry adaptation led by Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney. Meanwhile, two A-list stars are stepping behind the camera for the first time, with Scarlett Johansson's Eleanor the Great and Kate Winslet's Goodbye June among the more intriguing new releases of the month. To help you pick out the highlights, we've put together a selection of some of the best films to watch this month – check out the video above or read on for our choices. Best films released in the UK this month: December 2025 Eternity Release date: Friday 5th December in cinemas Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller and Callum Turner star in this afterlife-set love triangle romcom from director David Freyne. The plot sees the soul of a recently deceased woman named Joan (Olsen) given one week to decide where to spend eternity, as she finds herself "torn between the man she spent her life with, and her first love, who died young and has waited decades for her to arrive". It Was Just an Accident Release date: Friday 5th December in cinemas This thriller from legendary Iranian director Jafar Panahi won the prestigious Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival. It follows a man after he bumps into the man he firmly believes to be his former torturer, although the latter strenuously denies this having been the case – which leads to some major doubt creeping in. Five Nights at Freddy's 2 Release date: Friday 5th December in cinemas Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail and Matthew Lillard return in this sequel to the hit video-game adaptation, which once again sees some terrifying animatronic creatures wreaking havoc. According to the official synopsis, it sees 11-year-old Abby (Piper Rubio) sneaking out to reconnect with the animatronics, which "sets into motion a terrifying series of events that reveal dark secrets about the true origin of Freddy's". Fackham Hall Release date: Friday 12th December in cinemas Comedian Jimmy Carr co-wrote the script for this period drama spoof which boasts a starry cast including Damian Lewis, Katherine Waterston, Tom Felton and Thomasin McKenzie. Set in the 1930s – and clearly designed to ape the likes of Downton Abbey – the official synopsis teases that it sees a "new porter form an odd bond with the youngest daughter of a well-known UK family" at the same time as that family deals with "the epic disaster of the wedding of their eldest daughter to her caddish cousin". Eleanor the Great Release date: Friday 12th December in cinemas Scarlett Johansson makes her directorial debut with a drama about a 94-year-old Holocaust survivor played by June Squibb. It follows her when she moves from Florida to New York after the death of her dearest friend, as she attends a support group for Holocaust survivors and "tells a tale that takes on a dangerous life of its own". Goodbye June Release date: Friday 12th December in cinemas (24th December on Netflix) Another directorial debut from an A-lister – this time Kate Winslet steps behind the camera for an all-star Christmas-set drama. According to the synopsis, it sees a man and his four adult children navigate messy family dynamics when his wife's health takes a turn for the worse during Christmastime. Silent Night, Deadly Night Release date: Friday 12th December in cinemas Halloween Ends star Rohan Campbell has the lead role in this remake of the classic festive slasher about a killer Santa. Campbell is Billy, a man who – after a scarring incident in his youth – "dons the red suit and embarks on a blood-soaked massacre to feed his twisted sense of justice" every Christmas. Ella McCay Release date: Friday 12th December in cinemas Emma Mackey stars as an idealistic politician in this comedy-drama from iconic writer/director James L Brooks – his first film in 15 years. It follows her as she navigates difficulties in both her personal and professional life, with the starry supporting cast including Jamie Lee Curtis, Woody Harrelson, Alfred Brooks, Jack Lowden and Ayo Edebiri. Avatar: Fire and Ash Release date: Friday 19th December in cinemas The third adventure in James Cameron's mega-successful sci-fi franchise explores another new frontier in the land of Pandora. The synopsis doesn't give too much away, but teases that, "Jake and Neytiri's family encounter a new, aggressive Na'vi tribe". Sentimental Value Release date: Friday 26th December in cinemas Norwegian auteur Joachim Trier follows up his 2021 hit The Worst Person in the World with this moving family drama, which looks set to be a big awards player. The cast includes Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Elle Fanning, with the film exploring events after a renowned director (Skarsgård) tries to cast his actress daughter (Reinsve) in his next film after years of estrangement. Marty Supreme Release date: Friday 26th December in cinemas Timothée Chalamet is Oscar-tipped for his role in this '50s set comedy-drama from Josh Safdie, a fictionalised tale loosely based on the life of champion table-tennis player Marty Reisman. The incredibly eclectic supporting cast includes Gwyneth Paltrow – in her first on-screen role in more than five years – in addition to Odessa A'zion, Kevin O'Leary, Tyler Okonma (aka Tyler the Creator), Abel Ferrara and Fran Drescher. The Housemaid Release date: Friday 26th December in cinemas Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried have the lead roles in this adaptation of Freida McFadden's best-selling novel of the same name. It follows events after young woman (Sweeney) is hired to become the live-in maid for a wealthy couple only to learn that they harbour some sinister secrets – with plenty of twists and turns along the way. Anaconda Release date: Friday 26th December in cinemas This sequel to the 1997 horror-comedy of the same name – which is billed as a meta reboot – stars Jack Black and Paul Rudd in the lead roles. The synopsis teases that "a midlife crisis inspires Doug (Black) and Griff (Rudd) to head into the Amazon rainforest to remake their favourite film from their youth" with but everything changing when "a real giant anaconda shows up, turning the comically chaotic set into a deadly situation". Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Sydney Sweeney and Ben Foster reveal how one Christy scene was "ruined" while filming
Sydney Sweeney and Ben Foster shared how one particular tiny cast member derailed a moment on set.
Christy Martin's self-titled biopic Christy is now available to watch in UK cinemas several weeks after its US release, telling the inspiring and, at times, deeply harrowing story of Martin, who rose to boxing stardom in the '90s and early '00s – and does not shy away from depicting the most intense parts of Martin's life. Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney leads the cast, and gives a career-best performance as the titular boxer. She is joined by actor Ben Foster, who plays Christy's ex-husband James V Martin – who was convicted of the attempted second-degree murder of his wife in 2010. Among the film's gentler presences are Christy Martin's Pomeranian dogs – one first named Casey, and now, one named Champ – the latter of whom is often pictured with Martin at premieres and other public events. And it appears that the canine certainly made his presence known behind-the-scenes of Christy, as Sweeney and Foster shared in an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com. Foster recalled: "Christy and I didn't speak on set, and that's very appropriate. But I'll say that a beautiful backwards compliment was that she was nearby in a scene holding Champ, the real dog. "And when I walked in, the dog ruined the take by barking over [Sweeney's] dialogue. "And I was like, 'Oh okay, good. It's making people uncomfortable in the right ways'." Smiling, Sweeney added: "The dog knew." Sweeney herself also shared some of her memories working with the dog actor in the film and who, as it seems, had very little interest in stardom. "The dog did not wanna bond with anyone," Sweeney laughed. "This dog was not aware that the dog was in a movie. "Honestly, the shot when I'm like shadowboxing outside the trailer. We got so lucky that Casey stayed in frame, because the dog did not want to be in any scene, unfortunately. "Casey thought she was just there for more friends and just wanted to hang out." She also added: "I think the dog was the wrong gender. I can't pinpoint exactly, but I want to say the dog was the wrong gender for the film, but it was the only dog who looked like [her]." Read more: Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney gives update on season 3 Sydney Sweeney stars in first look trailer for "sexy, seductive" film based on mammoth best-seller Sweeney further shared that Christy Martin "visited set a lot" throughout the making of Christy, and the two of them became "real good friends" as filming went on. Martin herself has lavished praise on Sweeney's performance in the film, telling Flickering Myth: "She did a great job." She continued: "What's interesting that maybe a lot of people don't know is that [Sweeney] actually has an MMA background from when she was a teenager. So she already has that competitive spirit. The boxing, she enjoyed." Christy is out now in UK cinemas. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Doctor Who boss reveals how new spin-off is linked to Torchwood: Children of Earth
There's one big link between the two spin-offs.
As Doctor Who fans prepare to dive head-first into a brand new spin-off with the forthcoming five-part series The War Between the Land and the Sea, the show’s creator and franchise stalwart – has opened up about any further Whoniverse connections. The mini series features UNIT (Unified Intelligence Taskforce) commander-in-chief Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (Jemma Redgrave), Colonel Christofer Ibrahim (Alexander Devrient) and newcomer Barclay (Russell Tovey), as they attempt to halt the growing international crisis between mankind and the Doctor’s old enemy, The Sea Devils. Along with spotlighting the iconic ancient foes – who first faced off against Jon Pertwee’s Third Doctor back in 1972 – the new chapter has direct links to early noughties spin-off Torchwood, particularly its third season, Children of Earth, most prominently, the return of Colin McFarlane's General Austin Pierce. When asked about potential ties, showrunner and writer Russell T Davies exclusively told RadioTimes.com: “I think you’ll have fun if you watch this and Children of Earth together, because they’re both about alien species – or otherworldly species – encountering the human race in an ambassadorial context.” Eagle-eyed Torchwood fans will undoubtedly want to move this to the top of their watchlist, as Davies confirmed: “We use a lot of the same sets as we used in Children of Earth… you’ll see a lot of the same staircases appear, a lot of the same corridors… It’s in the same world.” In one of the spin-off show’s darkest arcs, the hugely popular third instalment saw the alien race known as 456 return to Earth, demanding the British government hand over 10 per cent of the world's children – or they would destroy the human race. As a result, the government ordered the assassination of all Torchwood members in an attempt to cover up their past involvement with the aliens dating back to 1965, with disastrous consequences for the covert team. The upcoming UNIT-centric spin-off features a similarly tense showdown between mankind and another species, with Davies noting: “It is how I think we would approach an alien species, as ambassadors, for formal talks, so [it’s a] very different show, very different things happening, but I hope someone splices together the scenes that take place in the same corridors.” We can’t wait to see the inevitable fan edit of the crossover when The War Between the Land and the Sea splash-lands on our screens this December! Stay tuned for more about The War Between the Land and the Sea, including news, interviews, features, and more. The War Between the Land and the Sea is coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 7th December. Add The War Between the Land and the Sea 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 Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The 5 films that influenced Vecna's chilling transformation in Stranger Things season 5 – revealed by star Jamie Campbell Bower
*Warning: Major spoilers for Stranger Things season 5 episodes 1-4 ahead.* With the arrival of Stranger Things season 5 comes the return of the villainous Vecna, played by Jamie Campbell Bower – only, this time, he's got a very different air about him. Now, Vecna is targeting the children of Hawkins, starting with Holly Wheeler (now played by new cast member Nell Fisher). It's giving major Child Catcher vibes, with Bower opening up about some of the major films that influenced him and the Duffer Brothers when creating the Vecna/Henry Creel of season 5. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com, Bower teased that Vecna has "unfinished business" with Noah Schnapp's Will Byers. He added: "For this season, I think it's important for me to remember and to talk about the idea that this is a presentation. This is not Henry in real life, because there is no Henry in real life now. So this is very much like, how much of myself can I show you, and be nice with you, in order to win? "[That] is a terrifying thing to be playing as an actor, because [usually] you want to be handing over that truth as much as possible, but obviously you have to be burying that, and hopefully the person opposite you doesn't see that you're burying that as well. "Matt and Ross [Duffer] have a a huge pool of reference to pull from, and I found myself pulling from that reference as well, and I had a great time doing it." So, if you want to fully understand Vecna's chilling transformation for the final season of Stranger Things, here's every film you need to watch. If you've already raced through the season, check out our ending explained, or relive the music of the season 5 soundtrack! 1. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) Bower explained that he used both the real version of Mister Rogers, and the film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, to as a reference for season 5's Henry Creel. 2019 movie A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is a biographical drama, which sees Hanks star as the iconic host of the preschool TV show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. It's not hard to see how Mister Rogers influenced the actor for the early episodes of season 5, with Henry becoming a trusted figure to various children in Hawkins. 2. The Pied Piper of Hamelin (1957) Bower also revealed that he was influenced by the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, which is brought to life in the 1957 musical film – among other adaptations. The legend follows a piper who, after being hired to rid the town of Hamelin of a rat infestation, instead lures all of the children away. The parallels with Henry Creel in Stranger Things season 5 are clear, as he begins to target all of the children in Hawkins, branding them "weak of body and mind", and declaring them easy to control, after using Schnapp's Will Byers as a spy. 3. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)/Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) The figure of Willy Wonka, played by Gene Wilder in the 1971 musical film, and by Johnny Depp in the 2005 remake, also acted as the basis for Vecna's season 5 transformation. Again, the parallels between the maniac chocolatier and the Henry we see in season 5 are clear, with Henry luring young Holly Wheeler to his house which, at first glance, seems to be a paradise for girl of her age, full of music, new outfits, games, and presents. However, when you look beneath the surface, it soon becomes clear that it's all a facade – and there are more nefarious things really happening. 4. The Shining (1980) Bower also listed Jack Nicholson's Jack Torrance in The Shining as a big influence for Vecna/Henry in season 5. Considered one of the greatest film villains of all time, Jack slowly descends into madness thanks to the supernatural forces at play in the hotel, that take advantage of his vulnerabilities and past trauma – something that Vecna/Henry understands all too well. 5. Dark City (1998) View oEmbed on the source website The Duffer Brothers suggested Bower watch neo-noir science fiction Dark City in his preparation to return to Vecna/Henry for season 5. The film follows a man with amnesia, played by Rufus Sewell, who finds himself suspected of murder, and attempts to clear his name while on the run from the police and a mysterious group known as the Strangers. Along the way, it's revealed that the Strangers aren't quite what they seem, and are experimenting on humans – a clear parallel with Stranger Things and Vecna/Henry's backstory. Bonus influences from the Duffer Brothers The show's creators, the Duffer Brothers, also revealed to RadioTimes.com that they studied various successful TV finales to ensure theirs would hit the mark with fans. "We were looking mostly at the ones that were successful," Ross Duffer explained. "There are probably more whiffs and misses than there are people that have stuck the landing, because I think it's hard when you've been running for a long time – there are so many expectations. "But we looked at Six Feet Under, which is one of the great finales that I've ever seen. We looked at Breaking Bad, we looked at Friday Night Lights, so there was definitely a handful of them that we looked and studied. Not for the plot specifically, but just like, why did that work for us and other fans of those shows?" Matt Duffer added of the Stranger Things finale: "There's a sense of inevitability. When you're looking at shows that don't work, or the endings that don't work, it is when it feels like sometimes the shows are trying too hard to surprise fans or do something different. "So we want it to feel very much in line with the show and the endings for each of the characters to feel inevitable. That's what we're striving for." Stranger Things season 5 volume 1 is available on Netflix now. Further episodes follow on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin TV. Add Stranger Things to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Doctor Who boss reveals future of new spin-off – and promises "powerful" credits scene
"Stay tuned for the very end, keep watching.”
As Doctor Who fans count down the days to spin-off series The War Between the Land and the Sea, the show’s creator and stars have shared an intriguing new teaser about the five-part BBC drama. Billed as a miniseries launching on BBC One and iPlayer, the upcoming UNIT-centric (Unified Intelligence Taskforce) show – starring Russell Tovey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Jemma Redgrave – will feature a “powerful” end-credits scene that is sure to excite Whovians. Asked whether The War Between the Land and the Sea is strictly a standalone series, showrunner and writer Russell T Davies exclusively told RadioTimes.com: "It's a complete story – it absolutely ends... and I will say, stay tuned for the very end, keep watching.” While the Doctor Who stalwart is keeping quiet on the exact specifics, he confirmed that fans should temper their expectations regarding a potential cameo from the Time Lord, clarifying: “That doesn't mean... that sounds like the Doctor appears – that's not what happens! But within the story, the credits start to roll... keep watching!” As we await the next slice of timey-wimey adventure following that huge Billie Piper-shaped cliffhanger ahead of the 2026 Christmas special, it’s encouraging to see the BBC continue to expand the franchise with another spin-off, joining beloved shows Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures and Class. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/11/541153-8570b41.jpg" width="5197" height="3465" alt="Russell Tovey as Barclay Pierre-Dupont and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Salt in The War Between the Land and the Sea. He is in front of an orange, firey background on the left and she is in front of a blue, sea background on the right. Their hands are touching in the middle." title="541153" /> With a powerful geopolitical eco-thriller plot spotlighting the effects of pollution and the climate crisis within the iconic Sea Devils’ (aka Homo Aqua) realm, fans can look forward to a compelling drama set within the beloved universe and driven by a star-studded cast. The relationship between Tovey’s UNIT worker Barclay and Mbatha-Raw’s Sea Devil, Salt, is set to form the emotional core of the series – with the pair “changing each other forever”. And Davies is certainly full of praise for the performances, teasing: “It's one of the most powerful endings within the most amazing performance from one of this cast you'll ever see.” We’re sold! Star Mbatha-Raw also opened up about her experience on the show, telling RadioTimes.com “it's been an amazing journey”. When asked about the future of the spin-off, the Loki star added: “I think this particular chapter of the story feels fully-formed as its own thing, but there's a whole world out there under the sea, so who knows what Russell has in mind?” Stay tuned for more about The War Between the Land and the Sea, including news, interviews, features and more. The War Between the Land and the Sea is coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 7th December. Add The War Between the Land and the Sea 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 Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Doctor Who 2026 Christmas special gets fresh update from Russell T Davies after BBC confirms future
There's a long wait ahead for the festive special – but Davies knows exactly what will happen in it.
As the upcoming Doctor Who spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea swiftly approaches, Russell T Davies has shared a fresh update on the 2026 Christmas special. The BBC recently confirmed that, while the deal with Disney is now over, the Doctor will return next Christmas for a festive special written by the showrunner. Asked whether he's started writing the special, Davies exclusively told RadioTimes.com: "Not at the moment because I'm busy on [The War Between the Land and the Sea]. I'm also shooting a show in Manchester, so next year my plate clears and we'll get to work on that." While he's keeping quiet on the details of the special, Davies also confirmed he's got the plot all worked out, saying: "I know exactly what happens in it, don't worry about that." Thankfully, we've got a new offering in the Whoniverse to tide us over until then, with spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea coming our way on 7th December. The five-part series is set to follow everyman Barclay (played by Russell Tovey), who is unexpectedly drawn into efforts to prevent a world-threatening conflict as iconic Who monsters the Sea Devils return. Along the way, he'll forge an unlikely connection with Gugu Mbatha-Raw's Salt, with the pair changing each other forever. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/11/541153-8570b41.jpg" width="5197" height="3465" alt="Russell Tovey as Barclay Pierre-Dupont and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Salt in The War Between the Land and the Sea. He is in front of an orange, firey background on the left and she is in front of a blue, sea background on the right. Their hands are touching in the middle." title="541153" /> Davies previously opened up to Radio Times about how the series is set to tackle the climate crisis, explaining: "I think every writer in the world is thinking, how do you write about the climate crisis? We’re already in a climate war. This just dramatises it. "When they first approached me about coming back to Doctor Who in 2021, this was the first bit of my pitch," he added. "I had this idea separately first. "But weirdly, it needs the Doctor Who setting. If I just go and pitch this cold, saying, ‘There is a race of creatures that live in the sea…' They’d say, 'Really? You sure?' The pre-existence of the Sea Devils takes all the problems out of it." Meanwhile, Tovey previously offered some insight on his character at the Edinburgh TV Festival, saying: "It's this narrative of this guy who, basically... he's someone who works in the offices and books people's taxis, but by some series of events, he ends up becoming a very important figure in the world, and having to understand that role and what that entails. "And, in true Doctor Who [fashion, he's] saving the planet. It was just a total joy to play this everyman who's the sort of guy that's drifted into his late 30s, early 40s and, unbeknownst to him, just thought, 'This is what life was going to be.' "I love that. Hopefully, it's inspiring and people feel like it's not over, that things can shift any moment. I'm really proud of it, and I'm terrified of it and excited by it – all of those things. But working on it was brilliant, and the scripts were fab." Stay tuned for more about The War Between the Land and the Sea, including news, interviews, features, and more. The War Between the Land and the Sea is coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 7th December. Add The War Between the Land and the Sea to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" class="x_OWAAutoLink" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Erika Ishii wants to make a Dropout video game: "The sky's the limit for the things they're doing"
Unable to choose between their two loves of video games and Dropout TV, Erika Ishii would love to direct their very own Dropout video game. Ishii, who was nominated for their performance as Atsu in Ghost of Yōtei at last week's Golden Joystick Awards, has been prolific in games acting since 2017. Many will likely know them best, however, from web series such as Critical Role, LA by Night, and of course, the likes of Dimension 20, Game Changer and Dirty Laundry – courtesy of Dropout. At the Golden Joysticks red carpet, we asked Ishii to choose between games acting and their beloved web series – something they were very much not willing to do. "See, the nice part about being fluid in all areas is I don't have to choose anything," they exclaimed. "I'm greedy, I get what I want! I can get all the things, all the genders, all the partners, all of the games! "I don't have to choose – it's the best! But I guess that's kind of like a fence-riding answer for you. Ideally, I would get to make games with Dropout folks. "I think that the sky's the limit for the things that they're doing. They hinted that they're getting back into scripted and into animation, so why not games?" Founded in 2018, Dropout is the successor to internet comedy company CollegeHumor, most widely known for its sketches. Since being acquired by then-CollegeHumor CCO Sam Reich, the company has shifted towards creating original shows including live TTRPG campaigns, improv shows and game shows like Game Changer, and stars a rotating cast of comedians and performers including Ishii. While the contents of Ishii's Dropout game are yet to be determined, that did not stop them from issuing their demands of Reich live on the red carpet: "Sam Reich, let me direct a Dropout video game!" Your move, Sam. Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Ghosts favourite leads new comedy thriller Hostages – watch first-look trailer
Charlotte Ritchie has the lead role in the feature debut film from writer/director Jim Owen.
Charlotte Ritchie is best known for her leading roles on the small screen, starring across a host of hugely popular TV shows – from Ghosts to Feel Good – but now she's landed the lead role in an upcoming movie. Hostages, which is the feature debut of writer/director Jim Owen, is billed as a comedy thriller, following five people who are "caught in an unfolding terrorism situation" – and RadioTimes.com can exclusively launch the first-look trailer ahead of its release on digital platforms on Monday 22nd December. The film also includes Tanya Moodie (Motherland), Nicholas Asbury (37 Days), Raj Ghatak (Dead Set), Luke McQueen, Nick Helm, Rachel Stubbings, Jack Barry, Georgie Jones and Simon McCoy, and you can get a good flavour of what to expect by viewing the teaser below. View oEmbed on the source website "Mariah Carey once said she just wanted a day to go swimming, to eat ice cream, to look at rainbows," Ritchie's character says into a phone camera at the start of the trailer, before we see some footage of a very dramatic explosion. The character's documentation of these events on social media then appears to see her number of followers skyrocket – even getting a retweet from Rita Ora – but it also has terrible repercussions for her and the people she is hiding out with, with their location now given away to the people behind the bombing. The official synopsis for the film reads: "After a terrifying explosion in a hotel in London, three strangers escape together and hide out in a room. "Hostages is a fresh take on the 24-hour news cycle and whether or not social media is more important than people's lives." Hostages will be available on digital platforms from 22nd December. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 developers will continue to "make games that we want to play" following Golden Joysticks sweep
"It's just the right way to make games."
Following a stellar evening at the Golden Joysticks 2025 in which Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won all seven awards it was nominated for, its developers have confirmed that they have no plans to change their approach to making games. Despite being the very first game from French developer Sandfall Interactive, Expedition 33 has garnered fervent support among its fans for its story, gameplay, acting and more. Speaking to Sandfall Interactive CEO and creative director Guillaume Broche, trophy in hand, we asked if all the awards and acclaim have placed any extra pressure on the developers' shoulders. "Originally, yes," he said, "When the game came out, we were like, 'Okay, okay. Now we have a duty, responsibility.' But I feel that after some time has passed, what we think now is basically like we made a game we wanted to make. "We didn't think about anything else. And I think it's just the right way to make games – for us, at least. We are lucky enough that it worked; it doesn't always work. "Picking a game is always very, very tough, and we are lucky enough that we're in a position where we can just make games that we want to play and some things that feel honest and true to who we are as a studio. "So, I think we're just going to keep making that and try to ignore all the noise, you know? Because it's very easy to get lost in the noise after a successful release." Broche then passed the microphone to art director Nicholas Maxson-Francome – "Nicholas, maybe you have something else?" "No, yeah. What Guillaume said," Maxson-Francome replied. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won all seven Golden Joystick Awards that it was nominated for, including Ultimate Game of the Year, Best Lead Performer, Best Supporting Performer, Best Storytelling, and a Studio of the Year Award for developer Sandfall Interactive. Check out the rest of this interview on the Radio Times Gaming YouTube channel. Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Stranger Things creators reveal how they’re avoiding fate of terrible TV finales with "inevitable" season 5 ending
The Duffer brothers are all too aware that we as viewers have all been burnt by plenty of terrible TV finales before – and they've done everything in their power to avoid that fate with Stranger Things season 5. The final battle for Hawkins is nearly here, with Netflix's flagship sci-fi about to end after almost a decade, but the creators of the show have countless threads to tie up and characters to do justice in the space of eight episodes (albeit long ones!). Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com, the Duffers revealed that they studied their favourite finales and tried to figure out what worked well, with Ross Duffer explaining: "We were looking mostly at the ones that were successful. "There are probably more whiffs and misses than there are people that have stuck the landing, because I think it's hard when you've been running for a long time – there are so many expectations. "But we looked at Six Feet Under, which is one of the great finales that I've ever seen. We looked at Breaking Bad, we looked at Friday Night Lights, so there was definitely a handful of them that we looked and studied. Not for the plot specifically, but just like, why did that work for us and other fans of those shows?" Matt Duffer added of the Stranger Things finale: "There's a sense of inevitability. When you're looking at shows that don't work, or the endings that don't work, it is when it feels like sometimes the shows are trying too hard to surprise fans or do something different. "So we want it to feel very much in line with the show and the endings for each of the characters to feel inevitable. That's what we're striving for." Every fan has got their theories about what's to come in the highly-anticipated final season, with speculation ranging from who might meet their demise, to whether certain characters might make a miraculous return (we're looking at you, Eddie Munson). For now, we've been dissecting the recent trailer and reading into the tidbits the actors have shared, with Gaten Matarazzo, who plays Dustin, opening up about how Eddie's memory is kept alive in season 5, while Joe Keery teased the return of Jonathan and Steve's rivalry. Season 5 will also see a new character in the form of Linda Hamilton's Dr Kay. We're also expecting the youngest member of the Wheeler family, Holly, to have a bigger role as she's been recast, with Nell Fisher taking over this time around. The first five minutes of season 5 have also been released, showing what exactly happened to Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) when he went missing way back in season 1. In many ways, it seems like season 5 is about to bring us full circle as we return to the Upside Down one last time. Stranger Things is available to stream on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Add Stranger Things to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 team "shell-shocked" after clean sweep at the Golden Joysticks
Une grande soirée for Sandfall Interactive.
When Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 launched in April, the team behind it could scarcely have dreamed of the reception it would get. Now, seven months on from its release, the game has begun raking in the first of undoubtedly many awards to come, with Expedition 33 taking home all seven Golden Joystick Awards it was nominated for, including Ultimate Game of the Year and both Best Lead and Supporting Performer for Jennifer English (Maelle) and Ben Starr (Verso) respectively. Speaking to Sandfall Interactive CEO Guillaume Broche, art director Nicholas Maxson-Francombe, and actors Jennifer English, Ben Starr, Rich Keeble (Monoco, François), Devora Wilde (Clea) and Aliona Baranova (Marie), their shock was evident. "I don’t know what's happening," said Broche. "No, same," echoed Maxson-Francome. After passing the microphone around to thank the fans, Wilde aptly chimed in, saying: "We're all shell-shocked. Everyone's like, blank faces." <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/11/clair-obscur-expedition-33-golden-joysticks-win-6764274.jpg" width="4096" height="2160" alt="Guillaume Broche, Nicholas Maxson-Francome, Ben Starr, Jennifer English, Devora Wilde, Aliona Baranova, Rich Keeble and the team from Kepler Interactive celebrating their Golden Joysticks wins." title="clair-obscur-expedition-33-golden-joysticks-win" /> Considering the rampant fan support online, RadioTimes.com asked the team if they had any inkling that the game would perform so well on the night. "For sure, like, we did see all the nominations, but I mean, now that it's kind of come to reality, it's just kind of a bit weird for all of us," Maxson-Francome explained. Broche continued: "I think people don't really realise that now, it's become big, but before the launch, it was not supposed to be big, and I think we all felt the same thing. It's like, 'It's going to be cool. It's not going to be big; it's going to be cool'. And what's happening today is, as we said, nobody understands what's really happening. "But it's a weird feeling, you know, when you put your heart out into the world and the world embraces it and gives you so much love back. "We get so much love from the players – all the messages, and the fan art and the covers. It's so touching and incredible that it's very hard to explain. "But we are shell-shocked, we can say that for sure." Ben Starr, charming as ever, built on Broche's words, saying: "People, I think at the end of 2025, are going to forget that this game is a small game. It was never as big as it is [now]. It's turned into this kind of cultural moment, phenomenon, but that's just because the game is very honest, and a lot of people have bought into that." After a short intermission in which the trophies were brought in – "I just won Best Soundtrack, that's wild!" Starr said – he returns to his "such an important speech". "I don't think anyone expected this, because it's just that it's a small game, and it's become this thing because the people who've played it have really appreciated it. Seeing the word of mouth was wild, seeing more and more people play it and want to play it. "No one expected those numbers, and we've all just been messaging each other, thinking 'Well, this is just silly. This is just silly. Now, everyone just stop. It's a silly joke'. But yeah, it's been very cool." Check out the rest of this interview on the Radio Times Gaming YouTube channel. Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
We played Squid Game: The Challenge – and learned how brutal it really is
As season 2 comes to a dramatic end, a pair of intrepid Radio Times reporters recount their gruelling experiences on the set of Squid Game: The Challenge.
Many people have watched a reality competition on the telly and thought to themselves, 'I could do that.' Radio Times writers David Craig and Laura Rutkowski are not among that group. Nevertheless, they were sent to Reading's Shinfield Studios to see the real sets of Squid Game: The Challenge and take part in two devious game demos, which were nothing if not humbling. Dragging their aching bodies home at the end of a long day, it was clear that the tournament is physically draining – and that's to say nothing of the psychological stress added by that eye-popping $4.56 million jackpot. As immersive as it was, David and Laura didn't have any cash on the line during their grand day out, but the risk of humiliation in front of one's peers did loom large – and quickly became a reality. This is their story. Welcome to Squid Game Laura Rutkowski: Nothing really could have prepared me for walking into the dorm, and my mouth falls open in shock. It’s as massive as you would imagine to accommodate 456 beds for 456 players. I quickly claim a bottom bunk, thinking it’s easier to hop out of in a hurry! I'm player 255, kitted out with my tracksuit (which was in fact made in Korea – I checked) and thermals on underneath; white slip-ons; a water bottle and a black bag (with a toothbrush and toothpaste labelled 255 inside). There's a gigantic red 'X' and blue 'O' on the ground, which was used in the drama for players to indicate whether they wanted to stop or continue the games. Very quickly, I can see cliques forming into little groups dotted around the dorm, alliances already developing from the offset. Before our games begin, I'm served curry and rice by the intimidating guards in pink. I thank them, in case politeness is rewarded. Naturally, they don't respond, and it makes me question my relationship to authority figures. My inclination is very much to obey them and stay on their good side, but it probably won't make a difference in Squid Game. Just keep a low profile, I think! It's surreal walking up and down the pastel-coloured staircases that are meant to lead to the games, but these ones lead... nowhere, but that is, of course, where the TV magic comes in. David Craig: Entering the Squid Game dorm as my all-time favourite player Thanos (Choi Seung-hyun), my initial plan is to embody the loveably deranged rapper for the duration of our visit. But after an hour of spouting egomaniacal nonsense to anyone that would listen, I realise that – for better or worse – the unpredictable 'alpha' qualities of the pill-popping performer don't exactly come naturally to me. Overwhelmed by the scale of my surroundings – not to mention, a flood of influencers and reality stars eagerly (read: loudly) putting on a show for the cameras – I realise that spray-on hair dye is not a substitute for a personality. It strikes me that, were we competing in the deadly version, these would be the true Thanos-style figures, and I would probably be one of their grovelling followers. Oh well. Game 1: Six-Legged Pentathlon Laura: If I ever thought that reality TV series were easy to compete in, I don't think that anymore after this game. For the six-legged pentathlon, taken from Squid Game season 2, five players have their legs tied together and must complete five different minigames within five minutes, competing against another team of five. These include: Ball in a Cup, Flying Stone, Gonggi, House of Cards, and Jegi, and we receive a demonstration of each one. My team are very supportive, but I choose one of the harder games, Gonggi (Korean jacks). Full disclosure – I have never played this before, nor had I practised beforehand, but I can imagine that the players in The Challenge would have smartly thought to try it out before competing in the reality series. I'm sweating and feeling the pressure – especially with my team relying on me and cameras in my face. In the end, all that matters is beating the other team, which we manage to do, crossing that rainbow finish line for VICTORY! David: "Purple hair, do care (a lot, actually)." This is my ethos going into our first game, Six Legs, where I am determined to wow my fellow players with a never-before-realised aptitude for Korean playground games. True to the drama series, I am chained by the ankles to four random participants (a lovely way to get to know someone, FYI), and we nervously prepare to march to our fate. Of the five stations, each with a different challenge assigned to a single player, I leap at the chance to play Gonggi; an intricate game of throwing and catching that looks mesmerising on screen. Very quickly, I realise I've made a huge mistake. Seven excruciating minutes later, the producer tells me to stop and move on. I am shaking and feel as if I have been playing for hours. Set visit: Mingle Laura: Mingle is a seriously impressive set that looks identical to the one in the drama. It's a joyous, warm, colourful, bow-ridden space with a giant carousel platform in the middle. It lurches into action, spinning us all around. In Squid Game season 2, when the carousel stops, a number is called out and the players must form groups of that number and enter the surrounding rooms, then close the door. As soon as the catchy Korean children's song, 'Round and Round', starts playing, it's impossible not to think of the 'Mingle dance,' made famous by the character Thanos (played by K-pop star T.O.P aka Choi Seung-hyun). David is obviously a great stand-in for him, so there's only one thing left to do, and that's link arms and twirl around, exactly as Thanos (RIP) would have wanted! David: From the pentathlon chamber, we are thrust immediately onto the Mingle set – not to play the game (a health and safety nightmare, I assume), but to observe. This is why I studied journalism. Truthfully, I feel unable to muster the same enthusiasm as the real Thanos once did, not because it doesn't look the part – it certainly does – but because I am, to use the clinical term, f**king knackered. My brave RT comrade Laura initiates the customary arm-in-arm dance – made iconic by Thanos and his (even more) disturbed accomplice Nam-gyu (Roh Jae-won) – but my heart isn't in it. I want to sit down, or better yet, curl up in the foetal position. May the real players of Squid Game: The Challenge be blessed with stronger stamina than I. Game 2: Slides and Ladders Laura: While Slides and Ladders is new for The Challenge, it's still an innocent game with a sinister twist – which is what makes it inherently Squid Game. Players are put in pairs and roll a die to progress on the board. If they land on a ladder, they go up, and if they land on the dual slide, one transports them further down the board, while the other eliminates them. There are also 'twist' cards to choose from that reveal either an advantage or a disadvantage, with only six teams able to progress. I'm on the purple team with my teammate Ayo and we start strong. David and his teammate pick a card where they can bring up one team to where they are, which is almost at the finish line at the top, and they choose us! We're feeling incredibly smug... for a brief moment. Ayo and I then have to choose a card and it says to move forward one space where we're faced with the double slide. Ayo takes one for the team and chooses one at random after I win a game of rock, paper, scissors (in an ode to Squid Game), but it shoots him out of the game! I go down the other giant metal slide, which is surprisingly high and fast, and let out a warbled scream as I come out much further down the board back to where I started. Oh, it's a cruel game… David: Still lamenting my failure to seize glory in Six Legs, we begin our final game of this Squid Game: The Challenge set visit – an extravagant new spin on snakes and ladders. Change is in the air. You see, it soon becomes clear that what I indisputably lack in skill, I can make up for here in random luck (the great equaliser!). Stepping onto an industrial-sized expansion of the quintessential children's board game, my partner (People's Gabrielle Rockson) and I have no choice but to leave our destinies to dice rolls and card draws. Fate smiles kindly upon us. In a slightly anticlimactic fashion, we speed to the top in a matter of minutes, finishing first and basking in… well, not much, as we aren't playing for money. But still, it's glorious to end the day on a positive note, after some considerable ego bruising at the start. (Quietly, I am disappointed to be deprived of a go on one of the slides.) Death Comes for Us All Laura: Nothing prepares me for when the 'squib', as it's called, actually goes off. There's a quick spurt and then a pooling of black ink on my chest, which has a very distinct and sickly sweet smell. I fall immediately to the floor, milking this moment as much as I can. Despite my fake death, which is all part of the experience, I manage to make it out alive, exhilarated, but utterly convinced I would not last long on The Challenge. I have actually seen a few of my fellow players since, and we're now forever bonded (trauma bonded?) as Squid Game survivors. David: I witness my teammates experience 'death' one-by-one. That is, the triggering of an inky explosion from the squibs strapped across their chests. I count my blessings that I am last in line for eruption, feeling this is my chance to launch the acting career that, deep down, I always thought of as my true calling. I anxiously brace for my moment, and when it comes, I emit a shrieking wail that seems fittingly dramatic for the moment. "Yes! Surely I will not regret this when the footage is shared with me nine months from now," I think to myself. Moments later, the rancid scent of the fake blood hits my nostrils, and brings me firmly back to reality. The Academy Award slips from my fingers. Squid Game: The Challenge is available to stream on Netflix. Add Squid Game: The Challenge 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 Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Cooper & Fry first look with Doctor Who, Downton Abbey stars sees a thrilling chase and a dark discovery
It's time for your first look at 5's new crime drama.
It's almost time for 5's latest detective series, Cooper & Fry, to land on our screens – with RadioTimes.com having an exclusive first look clip of the drama. The series is led by former Doctor Who companion Mandip Gill and Downton Abbey's Rob James-Collier, who play the show's leading mismatched detective duo DC Diane Fry and DC Ben Cooper respectively. Premiering tonight, the sneak peek of Cooper & Fry shows that there's plenty of drama set to come as an action-packed chase sequence unfolds. In the clip, we see the detectives wearing their protective gear as they start unearthing potential clues in an empty house. Or at least, so they think. As is quickly realised, the house is in fact not empty, as they start to look in cabinets and through discarded document folders. "That'll be just the wind," James-Collier's Cooper says but the small disturbances they've heard soon turn into full-on scraping. Just as they venture into a strange bedroom that's been adorned with bird feathers, they find an image that points to the fact that their person of interest clearly has a brother. But where is he? Just as Fry poses the question to Cooper, someone appears out of the shadows and bolts down the stairs. Fry runs off in pursuit and the mysterious girl starts sprinting through the building site of the home, tearing down a ladder to distract Fry. She manages to lose Fry after climbing over a big gate, with Fry having no choice but to stare after the unnamed girl. She takes one last glance at Fry, subtly smiling in the process before running off once more. You can watch the clip for yourself above. Read more: Doctor Foster season 3 with Suranne Jones 'in the works' after 8 years Death in Paradise and Beyond Paradise reveal guest cast for Christmas specials – including Doctor Who and Ted Lasso stars Cooper & Fry is based on the bestselling novels by author Stephen Booth. The series will be made up of four two-hour episodes, each based on a different novel in the series: Black Dog, Dying to Sin, Blind to the Bones and Dancing with the Virgins. The official synopsis for the series reveals: "Set in the mystery-shrouded Peak District, DC Ben Cooper, an affable local, is thrown together with guarded newcomer DC Diane Fry, to investigate a string of mysterious deaths." It continues: "They must learn to work together to get results. As their personal lives begin to intertwine, a unique friendship begins to form... but it won't always be easy." Cooper & Fry begins on Tuesday 18th November at 8pm on 5. Add Cooper & Fry to your watchlist when it arrives 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.
Bonnie Langford: "I wasn't proud of my work on Doctor Who - until I came back"
After years of facing brutal opinions, Bonnie Langford is having the last laugh.
Bonnie Langford begins our interview with an absolute power move. When she's quizzed about her first TV memories, she immediately asks: "Shows I watched, or shows I appeared on?" It's the sort of clarification only a born performer can make. As a toddler, Langford was at home in the theatre. At six, she made her first TV appearance on Opportunity Knocks with Hughie Green. At 12, she landed her breakout role in ITV's Just William. "I don't know that I ever [fell in love with performing], because I don't think I ever understood anything other than that," Langford tells Radio Times. "My mum passed away recently and we were going through some of her boxes of things. I found a very old picture of me as a baby. I had a nappy on underneath a tutu, and I was kicking my leg and holding hands with my two sisters, who were looking after me. I think that represented what it meant to me – it was always a safe place for me. "I think that has always been why I've continued for so long, because I didn't want to lose that environment. What goes on around it can be pretty awful and sometimes that's quite challenging. But I didn't want to give up that safe place." It's nothing short of astonishing that Langford, now 61, still sees performing as a safe space considering how she was cruelly torn down in her younger years by the press, the public and even some of her peers. It's not hard to see the impact that still has on her, but also how she's classily risen above it. While she's painfully self-critical at times, she's also just as joyful, effervescent and funny as she's ever been. She's also booked and busy, fresh from reprising her role as Melanie Bush in Doctor Who and returning to the stage in Paddington The Musical. In short? She's having the last laugh. Langford never watched Doctor Who as a child ("It was too terrifying!") so her first real experience with it was when she ran into legendary producer John Nathan-Turner, who would later offer her the role of computer programmer Melanie Bush, alongside Colin Baker's and Sylvester McCoy's Sixth and Seventh Doctors. "I just went into the show very blindly," Langford admits. "I enjoyed it tremendously. I had a good time doing it. But, were I to take it on now, I would probably focus on it slightly differently. I had no idea of the impact. "It was interesting as well, because most of the time people who played the assistants, it was very early on in their careers, and certainly in their TV careers. So it was unusual to have a companion who had a profile. "But at that point, the show was going through a lot of difficulty. John adored it and was fighting for its survival, and I have a feeling that I was brought into it because I was getting a lot of column inches at that time with publicity, and he knew that it would have an impact on that side of it." Langford adds: "I have my views about my own performance in it... I was in a very different place in my life, but I was very earnest and very keen to do 100 per cent of my job, even if it didn't feel comfortable to me." Looking back, she's incredibly critical of her own performance, insisting she would have done "hundreds" of things differently, adding: "I was just far too perky, far too big a performance... I think it was far too bouncy. [Mel] was very irritating." In fairness, there were a lot of factors that contributed to Mel's characterisation. One was an outrageous character description that Langford was given when she was cast – and has recently rediscovered – that expressly described Mel as "irritating". Another was a cast and crew visit to Alton Towers that resulted in Nathan-Turner hearing Langford's impressive scream and including it in almost every episode. Unbeknownst to her at first, Langford also joined Doctor Who in the midst of quite the tricky patch, with her first appearance coming in 1986's The Trial of a Time Lord, when Baker's Sixth Doctor was tried by the High Council of Time Lords for breaking the laws of Gallifrey. "It was very serious, much more serious than I had expected," she recalls. "And I knew that I came into this difficult situation. Colin was fighting for the show as well as John, and there was a lot of angst, and a lot of notes." "He loved the show," Langford says of Baker. "He was very loyal to it, and so I think he was used as a scapegoat a bit. If you stick your head above the parapet, it can be quite a dark place to be. But he found that the show had not been treated well, and I think he was upset about that." Baker's exit came immediately after The Trial of a Time Lord, with the actor being replaced by McCoy, who Langford had previously worked with on stage. "It was almost like a fresh start for both of us," she recalled. But, after working on one more season, it was time for Langford to leave Doctor Who behind – or so she thought at the time. "It's very strange when you're in shows like this, because you agree to do something for a set amount of time, and then nobody says anything about whether that's going to go on. It's the nature of our business. We don't know whether things are going to continue forever or whether they're going to be cancelled," she points out. "These days, things get cancelled mid-scene. Somebody was telling me the other day that they were filming something in America and the suits walked on the set in the middle of a scene and said, 'That's it. We're not doing any more.' It's terrifying. Or you can be in something for years and years." As McCoy previously revealed in an interview with Radio Times, it also took some convincing for Langford to actually get a proper exit scene. "Yeah, they hadn't really accommodated at the end of the series that there would be a leaving!" Langford recalls. "Sylv said, 'We need a better scene,' so they came up with this new scene. "I think I made it a bit schmaltzy, actually, myself, but it was fine. I would have done that differently now as well, but it was nice to at least have some kind of completion. But it did seem funny that she went off with Sabalom Glitz on a shopping ship!" "I agreed to do it for two years. I didn't expect to stay. I didn't feel very proud of what I was doing. I had another job to go to, and that was that," she recalls of her exit. Except, that wasn't quite that. In 2021, then-showrunner Chris Chibnall was planning The Power of the Doctor, Jodie Whittaker's final episode, which features a tear-jerking scene showing past companions meeting up to chat about their adventures. Naturally, he gave Langford a call – and she jumped at the chance. "At that point I thought, 'Well, I wonder what Mel would be,'" she reflects. "A lot calmer. A lot calmer, and much more into her computers, yet very discreet about the work that she does. "She had such a loyalty to the Doctor. It was really great that I had been able to still be in touch with [Mel], to think, 'I wonder where she's been and what she's done, and how she has kept her connection with the Doctor.' So then when I came to do it in the new TV series, it felt really comfortable to be with her." With Russell T Davies returning to Doctor Who for the 60th anniversary series and Ncuti Gatwa's run, he also invited Langford back, first to take part in the specials and then as a regular for seasons 14 and 15. Now, Langford says, it was time to do right by Mel. "I'm really honoured that he thought Mel was worth bringing back, and that she got totally and utterly involved with the bi-generation," she reflects. "It was a thrill. I was very taken with the fact that I was able to correct all those mistakes that I felt I had made first time round and, for Mel's sake, that she was able to return as a much more rounded character with vulnerabilities." Langford adds: "One of the things I loved about coming back as Mel as well was being in a different place for myself in my own life. When I first went into the show, everything had to be nice, it had to be pretty, it had to be nice outfits and looking good and all that sort of thing. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2024/06/Ncuti-Gatwa-Bonnie-Langford-e356f9b.jpg" width="4285" height="2857" alt="Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor and Bonnie Langford as Mel Bush in Doctor Who's Empire of Death. They're sat on an orange Vespa and are wearing white helmets, looking worried at something off camera." title="Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor and Bonnie Langford as Mel Bush in Doctor Who's Empire of Death." /> "When I came back and Russell wrote [Empire of Death], where I had to have all the prosthetics on, if that had been first-time Mel, I would have balked at that... I was just so pleased that Mel had that whole storyline of her realising that she was being taken over by Sutekh and trying to fight it, and then the scene before, where she was trying to communicate as much of herself as possible to the Doctor. "I loved all that, and I would never have embraced that in the '80s. I was really grateful for that opportunity to turn her around, and also to have turned myself around as an actor, to have embraced something like that." Now, fans are looking to the future after The Reality War, Ncuti Gatwa's final episode, which saw the departing Doctor regenerate into returning star Billie Piper in a shock twist. "It was quite different to how we had filmed it," Langford explains. "We'd filmed it the year before, and I had to pop back and do some extra filming, which I couldn't do with everybody else, which I was really disappointed about. I was in America at the time, and but I was really, really grateful that they included Mel being busy somewhere else." "Ncuti is a darling," she adds. "He has such charisma. He walks onto a set and there is joy and laughter and presence. He's such a sweetheart, and he had a lot on his plate. It was very intensive. "We had a long time to shoot, and it was very technical, a lot of it, but we would laugh a lot. I don't think he had any idea what he was letting himself in for. Nobody does, particularly these days, when there's such a lot riding on it. "It comes with such a history and a legacy, and that can be a burden as well as a joy. There has to be that element of eccentricity, of genius mind, which also has a darkness... I think it's a wonderful job to take on, but it comes with a certain amount of responsibility and irresponsibility to be able to wear that cloak." Next up, Russell Tovey and Gugu Mbatha-Raw will lead the six-episode spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea, with various returning Doctor Who stars already being confirmed to appear. When asked if she'll be making an appearance, Langford refuses to answer, saying: "I can't tell you. I can't tell you anything. I'm sworn to secrecy on everything." Looking back at her career so far, Langford ultimately seems very grateful – for the experiences she's had, and the people she shared them with. Thinking back to her early days on stage, she recalls her bond with the late Dame Angela Lansbury, who she performed with on Broadway, in the 1974 revival of Gypsy. "She had a great impact on me, on how to behave, and I would look up to her and emulate her. She was a very genuine, wonderful actress, but also a wonderful human being, and that had a very, very important impact on me," Langford recalls. She hasn't forgotten the tough times – but is conscious actors nowadays might have it even tougher: "I'm quite glad that I wasn't part of what is now social media immediacy and the way that people can communicate with you very quickly and, sometimes, being in that veil of anonymity, can say things that can be very hurtful. "I felt that I had a certain amount of protection. Funny enough, seeing boxes of publicity from my mother's collection, it was quite a tough transition [from child star to adult actress]. It was quite a tough world, and I think I chose to ignore a lot of it. But I loved doing what I did. I loved the job, and that kept me going." As for any words of advice for actresses – particularly Doctor Who companions – who might follow in her footsteps? Rather aptly, Langford's words are simply a perfect mantra for life in general. "Embrace it, enjoy it and find your version. There is no right or wrong." Radio Times' Doctor Who Insiders continues next month – register now to make sure you don't miss a thing. Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Add Doctor Who to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" class="x_OWAAutoLink" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Maggie Robertson says "hell yeah" to playing Lady Dimitrescu in a Resident Evil movie ahead of hosting Golden Joysticks 2025
We're now merely days away from The Golden Joystick Awards 2025, and one of the most hotly contested categories this year is Best Adaptation. The likes of Arcane, The Last of Us and Minecraft will do battle to see which one did the best job of bringing their respective games to film and TV. And spurred on by the quality of 2025's adaptations, the host of this year's event, Maggie Robertson, told Radio Times Gaming about her own aspirations to play some of her own characters in film and TV. "Hell yeah, of course I would!", she exclaimed, upon being asked about her interest in reprising one of her roles. "Those are characters that I deeply love now – even though they're problematic, we'll say what we will about them. But for me, as the actor, I love them. I love playing them. "They've also changed my life in so many different ways, so of course I would absolutely sign up immediately to do an adaptation of some kind for those. I never want to let them die, so here we are." While well known for roles such as Orin in Baldur's Gate 3, her most prominent role is undoubtedly as Lady Dimitrescu in Resident Evil Village, for which she earned her own Golden Joystick for Performance of the Year in 2021. And when it comes to any future film and TV adaptations, Robertson has her eyes on a particular medium. "For Resident Evil, we've seen so many live action adaptations – which would certainly be cool, and I think that would translate really well into live action – [but] we haven't seen any animation, and so that could be a very cool thing too. "We've got so many cool shows out now that are animated with very distinctive styles, I think, and it could be really cool to do something like that. Baldur's Gate as well, I definitely think would be so cool in animation. They've already kind of done it with their little animated shorts that are so fun. "And I think animation, because you're not grounded in what's real, you can really play and add a lot of comedy, especially for Baldur's Gate where these characters are all 'characters'." View Green Video on the source website Considering this apparent love for animation, Robertson's personal choice for this year's best adaptation is hardly a surprise. "Alright, I'm just gonna say it – I'm obsessed with Arcane," she began, "I'm obsessed with Arcane. Obsessed with Arcane. I'm obsessed with Arcane. I think about it all the time. "All the performances in that are amazing. The animation style is amazing. The music is amazing. The storytelling is amazing. I love that there are so many different, fully-fleshed-out narrative lines for each of the different characters. "And unlike with other things, where you're hopping between different characters' perspectives, I never get bored. I think each and every character in that game-slash-TV show adaptation is so cool and amazing, and I want to learn everything about them." Check out the rest of this interview on the Radio Times Gaming YouTube channel. The Golden Joystick Awards 2025 take place on 20th November 2025 and will be streamed live on the GamesRadar YouTube channel. Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Stranger Things star Joe Keery teases season 5’s Steve and Jonathan rivalry: “We’re fighting!”
Things aren't smooth sailing between Steve and Jonathan this season.
For the first time since Stranger Things season 1, Joe Keery's Steve Harrington and Charlie Heaton's Jonathan Byers have been thrown together in season 5 - and it's about to cause chaos. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com about the dynamic between the pair this time around, Keery and Natalia Dyer, who plays Nancy Wheeler, opened up about how things are getting a little competitive. "Yeah, there is a little something going on with these guys," Dyer admitted. "We find everyone's thrown together, working together really closely, or more closely than other seasons, and therefore these two are also thrown together." "We're fighting!" Keery added. "It's really fun to work together because we haven't worked together since season 1." Keery also opened up about the much-loved dynamic between Steve and Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), which is also very different this time, with Dustin left in a darker mindset following the death of Joseph Quinn's Eddie Munson. "I think it's a cool what they've done with the characters here," he explained. "You always hope, when you're playing a role, that there's some sort of arc involved. And I feel like this season really starts in a different place. Gaten's character is mourning the death of this important figure his life, Eddie, and it kind of puts Steve in this... he's kind of this protector character and is looking out for him. "It sort of puts him in a self-righteous position, almost where he feels like he knows what [Dustin] should be doing with how he feels. But that's not really the way that you can support somebody. "Sometimes you just have to be a shoulder for them. It takes him on a different path this year, and I think, although it is a little bit more tumultuous, maybe they end up in a better place for it." Stranger Things season 5 will see our heroes face the final battle for Hawkins, with Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) having mysteriously disappeared and Hawkins under military quarantine. The Duffer Brothers have confirmed that all the answers we've been waiting for are coming our way - so buckle in! Stranger Things is available to stream on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Add Stranger Things to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.