Michael Palin talks returning to acting in new comedy from The Office legend – and how he approaches old age
Sir Michael Palin couldn’t resist Small Prophets.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. You don’t act much these days. What made you want to play Michael’s dad Brian in Small Prophets? Travelling and writing books take up most of my time. I really enjoy acting. I’ve done A Fish Called Wanda, The Death of Stalin and GBH, which were wonderful, but they don’t come along often. What Mackenzie writes is very special. I enjoy his humour, his understanding of people. There was no question of saying, “No, I can’t do this, I’m busy travelling.” Brian lives in a care home and is the first elderly person you’ve played. Did you have any reservations? I found playing this part fine. He’s old and forgetful but able to interpret extraordinary text and put old bits of machinery together again. He’s definitely not the archetype in a care home. I wouldn’t like to just be in a chair, dribbling away, and then you die. As you get older, you do forget the most obvious things — names, places — I sometimes find that tricky. But if I’m going filming in Venezuela, say, I’ll know everything about Venezuela for a bit. My children keep saying, “Careful, careful,” but they’re being overcautious. In the show, Brian is not cautious and likes doing mad things, like trying to ride a motorbike aged nearly 90. Do you think that’s quite true for a lot of people of your generation? I was lucky to grow up in a period where being young was great — which my parents’ generation couldn’t because they’d been embroiled in two world wars. After university in the 60s, it was the Beatles, Mary Quant, Pete and Dud, and Spike Milligan. You could do anything. There was no real censorship, not to the degree there is now. In Monty Python we could write what we wanted. Now you’d have to be more careful. We just thought, let’s be silly. The way that Mackenzie writes is quite Pythonic because it’s understated. The best humour is done without a smile. When people take themselves absolutely seriously, that makes me laugh more. That’s what Python was all about: the absurd things that we all do. The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
I'm Mackenzie Crook, and this is the 16th-century inspiration for my new comedy Small Prophets – and how we brought it to life
Supernatural homunculi grown in jars… Crook reveals the recipe behind his quirky new comedy.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. When I wrote the first series of Detectorists in 2013, I was unaware I had been sitting on the idea for the show for years, until I discovered an outline written in an old notebook from 1998. For all that time it had been slowly percolating in the back of my mind until it was ready to bubble up to the surface. My new six-part series on BBC Two had been about the same length of time in the procrastination phase, until I finally realised what the story was and how to tell it. Small Prophets is the tale of a suburban alchemist who attempts to grow supernatural beings in his shed from instructions given to him by his elderly father. It’s a strange idea, but let me try to break down how several elements eventually came together to provide the recipe… The Ingredients: 1. An ancient text The seed of the idea came from a footnote in an old book about Paracelsus, a 16th-century Swiss philosopher and alchemist. Why I was reading this book I can’t really remember or explain, but I’m glad I did. The passage intrigued me and I squirrelled it away for future use. It told of a mystic who had grown eight homunculi, magical spirits able to predict the future, in glass jars full of water. It described the process of how these creatures were generated (including a step where the jars were buried in a steaming heap of horse manure) and went into such precise detail that you could start to believe it might actually be true. 2. A comic master I first met Pearce Quigley when we were both cast in a play at the Royal Court Theatre in London, which then transferred to Broadway. You might recognise Pearce as the slightly creepy, bearded Russell from Detectorists. He is about the funniest person I know but I’d never seen him in a lead role, and it was when I realised this that the whole story started to crystallise in my mind. Pearce plays Michael Sleep, the central character in Small Prophets, who I think audiences will fall instantly in love with. 3. A puppeteer Ainslie Henderson is an animator I’ve known for over 20 years. He specialises in stop-motion animation and the films he makes are works of art. When I started to think about these mysterious creatures growing in the shed, I knew that Ainslie and his long-time collaborator, Will Anderson, were the ones I wanted to work with. I made some sketches of how I imagined the homunculi might look and we brought them to Mackinnon & Saunders, an animation studio based in Manchester. You may know their work from films like Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks!, Corpse Bride and Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr Fox. The team at M&S took my drawings, improved and developed them and built a set of incredible stop-motion puppets, breathtaking in their intricate detail. Ainslie and Will then took these puppets and, at a rate of eight seconds of footage per day, painstakingly brought them to life. 4. A musician I love music but I don’t understand how it’s made, so I’ve always been in awe of musicians. To me they seem like alchemists, conjuring magic with their mystical instruments. One of the things audiences loved most about Detectorists was Johnny Flynn’s soundtrack – many couples have had his beautiful theme tune played as they’ve walked down the aisle. With Small Prophets I approached another favourite artist, Cinder Well, whose music has bewitched me for years. I think her specially composed theme tune, The Wise Man’s Song, will become a heartbreaking classic. All mixed together in... the laboratory They say, “write about what you know”. Well, this time I’ve written about where I write. Since lockdown, all my scripts have been written in a shed at the bottom of my garden. It has a desk, a work bench, tools, books, plants, an aquarium and everything I need to be comfortable and focused. It’s not a “man-cave”, there’s no calendar of saucy ladies or beer cooler (although I do have a fridge where my tortoises hibernate in the colder months), but it’s where I can concentrate on my work surrounded by all the things that inspire me, collected treasures that may have a story gestating within. It’s also a laboratory where I cook up ideas and make props, and I decided that Michael Sleep should have a similar space to work in Small Prophets. When I took the idea to the BBC, they commissioned a short “taster”, a couple of scenes to see how the show might look and to try out the animation. In the summer of 2023, a small camera crew came to my house and we spent an enjoyable day filming in my shed. When we came to start shooting the full series last year, the art department built a replica of my shed in a film studio in Manchester with walls that could be removed to make space for the cameras and crew. One of the only differences was that Michael has an old armchair in which he occasionally takes a nap. I couldn’t have a comfy chair in my own shed – the temptation would be too great… The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
David Mitchell teases Ludwig season 2 with character's new role and "brilliant" new cast members
Mitchell was speaking at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026.
One of the biggest breakout series from 2024 was undoubtedly Ludwig, the BBC's comedy-drama detective series starring David Mitchell. Naturally, the series was renewed for a second season, which is set to pick up following the end of season 1, which saw Mitchell's character John becoming an official crime consultant with the police team, after his secret – that he'd been impersonating his missing police officer brother, was uncovered by them, but swept under the rug. As we wait for season 2, Mitchell spoke with RadioTimes.com exclusively at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026, where he revealed that John isn't quite out of the woods yet. When asked how his official role on the police team would shake things up in the new episodes, Mitchell said: "When you watch the second series, you realise there's still quite a lot of obfuscation involved in his role, because not everyone in the police force is entirely on side with his appointment. "And of course, he's still got to cover up the fact that for a long time he was solving cases while impersonating a police officer. And if that ever gets out, well, five murderers will walk free, and he won't walk free himself." View Green Video on the source website Ludwig season 2 will also introduce a selection of new characters, including two new members of the police team, played by Ben Ashenden and Rumi Sutton. Mitchell said of these new additions: "They were brilliant, very funny. They're new characters, they're very funny characters. They've got a great dynamic with each other, but overall the situation remains the same." Meanwhile, Mark Bonnar and Sian Clifford are also joining the cast, with the former playing a newspaper editor, Gareth Fisher, and the latter playing local MP Joanne Kemper. Mitchell said that the duo are "both brilliant" and that "Mark Bonnar's sort of hilarious, hapless newspaper editor, which is a terrific role". "And Sian, well, I don't want to reveal too much about Sian's role," he said. "But it's intriguing and it was brilliant to work with her, because I've admired her stuff for years." The synopsis for season 2 says of John in season 2: "No longer having to masquerade as his brother, he’s openly more ‘Ludwig’ than ever – brilliant at solving puzzles but hopeless at everything else. "But John’s identical twin brother, James, is still missing, and now that he’s an official employee of the station, John is forbidden from using any police resources to look for his brother or uncover exactly what he was investigating. "Of course, John won’t stop and neither will Lucy (Anna Maxwell Martin), John’s sister-in-law and wife of his missing brother James – a puzzle needs solving and a husband and father needs bringing home. One masquerade may have ended, but a new one has just begun." Watch a trailer for Ludwig below. View Green Video on the source website Ludwig season 1 is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Apple TV's Shrinking might be the last sadcom – here's why TV comedy is going through major changes
For years, the so-called 'sadcom' was taking up all the energy in the realm of TV comedy. Now, something's changed.
A day before Apple TV's Shrinking returned to screens for its third season this week, a fourth run of the comedy-drama was announced – a real show of the faith the streamer has in the series. While co-creator Bill Lawrence had long stated that the series was pitched with a three-season arc, it's perhaps unsurprising that it's now going beyond this. Not only has Lawrence already proven his willingness to do so with Ted Lasso's upcoming continuation, but the series has been a monumental success. It's a show that's both remarkably funny and knows how to tug at the heartstrings. It also surely has escaped the notice of few that it's one of two comedies to have been released in recent years specifically centred around the grief of a protagonist following the death of his wife. The first of these was After Life, Ricky Gervais's Netflix hit. In another era, viewers might have balked at the idea that laughs could be found in such a tragic set-up - but not in the era of the 'sadcom'. A sub-genre seemingly birthed in the late 2000s and which dominated the 2010s, the sadcom takes the idea of comedy-drama to extremes. Rather than simply combining moments of pathos and drama with a healthy dose of humour, it specifically centres a story that deals with difficult subject matter, heartache and trauma, and punctuates it with jokes. It's notable that Jason Segel should front a show which as much an example of the form as Shrinking. I would argue that the show which shot him into the fame stratosphere, How I Met Your Mother, was dabbling around in the sadcom waters early. It was never a full-blown sadcom per-se, but with episodes such as Last Words, Symphony of Illumination and The Time Travellers tackling grief, infertility and loneliness, it certainly leaned into the emotion more than most sitcoms that preceded it, and knew how to bring out the waterworks among viewers. And who can forget that divisive final episode, in which the mother the entire series had nominally been about had died prior to the protagonist, Ted, telling his long, protracted story. Since then, sadcoms have been everywhere - series such as The End of the F***ing World, Fleabag, Flowers, This is Going to Hurt, Rain Dogs, Barry, Catastrophe, Undone, Bad Sisters, The Bear, I May Destroy You, Back to Life and my personal favourite, BoJack Horseman, have all tackled difficult, often distressing topics, and hit viewers hard when they're least expecting it, right after a big laugh. In fact, back in 2023, I was close to writing an article on the dominance of the sadcom, how it had displaced the traditional sitcom in a way which felt fairly irreversible. However, even then it felt like something about that diagnosis wasn't quite right, and like a change was just starting to brew. Now, in 2026, I feel confidant to say that that change is here – a trend back towards sitcom and straight comedy seems to be taking place. Shows like The Studio, The Paper and Abbott Elementary are dominating in the US, while British sitcoms like Amandaland and Mandy are riding high. Sadcoms are still around, for sure, but they no longer feel like they're in the ascendancy, while laugh-out-loud comedies are all the rage. All of this means that Shrinking may be one of the last true examples of the sadcom, at least in its dominant era. But why? First, we probably have to look at why sadcoms became so popular and so prevalent in the first place. From a commissioning standpoint, Jon Petrie, Director of BBC Comedy Commissioning, who has now told producers to 'focus on the funny' when pitching, puts it down to the advent of another massive change in the entertainment industry - the arrival of the streaming age. "There was a period where the streamers were in town, and there was lots of talk of co-production," Petrie says, speaking exclusively with Radio Times. "There were lots of co-productions happening. And it was like, 'How can we make our shows feel glossier?' After Fleabag especially, there was a real interest in what was going on in British TV and comedy." So was it a specifically American influence that brought the sadcom to audiences all across the globe, including in the UK? "I think that's definitely got a lot to do with it," Petrie says. "I think also, people always say, 'Write about what you know and talk about those experiences'. And it became this kind of, 'This person on a personal journey and following their experiences with cancer or experiences with adoption' or whatever the story might be, and focus solely on that, rather than a family of characters. "It sort of needed to have a bit more meat to it. And I suppose that's probably the influence of going back all the way to shows like Sopranos and Breaking Bad. "There’s an appetite for comedy drama as globally it’s seen as a safer bet. Sitcom and laugh-out-loud comedy is riskier - it's easier to give a sitcom one star. "You never see a comedy-drama get less that three stars, if you don’t like it you just shrug and switch over. When something announces itself as a sitcom you immediately judge it alongside stuff that has taken a few seasons to establish itself. If you watch a bad comedy you want to throw a brick at the screen!" Comedy-drama is one thing, but sadcoms are often directly attempting to move the audience - to make them think, to make them cry, to switch dramatically from one tone and tempo to another. So why did audiences embrace them so wholeheartedly for a time? For a psychological perspective, I turned to Dr Luke Hodson, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Warwick. "People like to watch sad films," Hodson notes. The research on this goes back decades, actually. There was some work that was done right in the early '90s which they called the 'sad film paradox' of, why do people like to watch things that essentially make them emotional? "Not so long ago, that was investigated again, and the research seems to indicate it's because people like to be moved. So it's not so much the feeling of the emotion. I think that people are certainly attracted to that feeling of, 'I want to feel like I've been moved', and whatever meaning that gives them. So I think when things started to trend towards this mixed media, it's maybe people were craving that." Hodson notes that, particularly in the case of a TV comedy, which often have shorter runtimes than dramas, it's "a nice, controlled way of feeling those things". "If it's in a 30 minute programme where I get to see these things or feel them, it's like a nice parcelled-out way of processing or thinking about those things, and it perhaps stops having to have those bigger questions about how this might be impacting you, he says. "It's quite attractive to have this small block of time that's dedicated to processing these things." So, why might that be changing now? "I think that from a broad level, it seems to reflect the state of the world," Hodson suggests. "So, when things are kind of okay, people are trying to get that sense of movement, and then when the world goes a little bit the opposite way, they don't need that from there anymore - or they're getting that sense of a wider connection to the world from other sources, so they're craving something a bit simpler." This is something Petrie recognises too. While he notes that a big driver of the move away from sadcoms, at least from the BBC's perspective, is that "those days of co-producing feel like they're coming to an end", and that the industry is therefore "returning back to our roots," the mood of the nation, and of the world generally, could be a factor. "Most comedies take two or three years to actually come to fruition from the start of development. I think it's probably fair to say, generally, since the financial crash, and then subsequently, like with Brexit and then Covid, the mood of the national has gradually just got worse, and people generally are feeling less positive with their outlook on life. "I think it's very important for us to carve out a space for laugh out loud, stupid comedy." Of course, even with the built-in delay for development, it doesn't seem that the mood of the nation can account for this move away from sadcoms entirely. Some of the most popular examples of the form, such as Shrinking, were thought up during Covid, one of the most traumatic and disruptive moments in most of our lifetimes. They have also arrived post-then, when the global instability and general social malaise that Hodson and Petrie both mention seems to have particularly taken hold. Petrie suggests that, from an audience perspective, it could just be the case that viewers are becoming skeptical of a phenomenon which has long been the bugbear of those operating in the comedy sector. "Ultimately, I do think audiences get wise to things like The Bear getting nominated and winning the Best Comedy," he says. "I think audiences have started to go, 'Hang on a second. All these things are being called comedies, but they're not funny.' "It always annoys me, personally, as a comedy person. I think comedy is one of the hardest things to do, and people just put comedy on the end of their drama, and then everyone just calls their comedy and tells them they're amazing. I think it sort of degrades how hard it is to make an amazing comedy." Trends in comedy, and in entertainment in general, tend to move with generations. Could there be a generational element towards viewers turning away from the sadcom, particularly the ever-evasive Gen Alpha? Gen Alpha is generally considered to consist of those born in the early to mid 2010s, meaning that all of the global disruption already referenced, and in particular the Covid pandemic, aligned with their most formative years. Could it be that many of them have experienced enough emotional upheaval already, and aren't looking for it in their media? "There's three main reasons, essentially, why humour is part of how humans interact," Hodson says, reflecting on the research surrounding the topic. "The first one is relief – essentially, that we use it to relieve some form of tension, like a steam valve going off. I think from the perspective of, millennial or like Gen Z, maybe humour still has a place there as a relief thing. So kind of intertwining that sadness and happiness or humour and sadness together is to relieve something. "If you're Gen alpha, if you’ve grown up in a world that is very different and very chaotic, and we don't have these periods of calm that we used to have. Maybe they don't need to have that relief anymore, maybe they're seeking it elsewhere? "Another way that we use humour is to process incongruity. We all have an understanding of the way the world should work, and we use humour to make sense of it. There's that old adage of people laughing at a funeral because they don't know how to make sense of it - something has changed, so they use humour to try and make sense of how what they expect from the world is different from what they're getting. "Again, from a Gen Alpha perspective, it seems logical to me that their world isn't as stable. Things have changed so often, so repeatedly, that they don't have that incongruity anymore. They don't need to make sense of it." Of course, Gen Alpha is also made up of true digital natives – they have never experiences a world without social media, and without smart phones and tablets. As TikTok and YouTube vie for individual's attention more and more, that has changed how both they, and indeed we of older generations, have consumed 'content'. "I'm not a developmental psychologist," Hodson notes. "but I keep hearing it in the news, about the TikTok generation, where you're constantly getting this hit of dopamine. And I think that makes sense, at least logically to me, that if you're used to only watching things for 20 seconds, if your attention span’s different, a 30 minute comedy where you need 25 minutes for the laugh to pay off, that's a really different experience, isn't it? So maybe they're not trained for it." It's something Petrie also points to, referring to the 'second screen' phenomenon. It's no secret that broadcasters and streamers are adapting to reflect this behaviour change, which has seen audiences watch a programme while also looking at their phone, laptop or tablet, doing something else. In 2023, writer, director and producer Justine Bateman told The Hollywood Reporter: "I’ve heard from showrunners who are given notes from the streamers that 'This isn’t second screen enough.' Meaning, the viewer’s primary screen is their phone and the laptop and they don’t want anything on your show to distract them from their primary screen because if they get distracted, they might look up, be confused, and go turn it off." Now, Petrie says: "More and more now that we're second screening and we're on devices, and your attention is in demand everywhere you look, I think it's probably harder to keep people's attention with those slower paced comedy-dramas that are sort of dealing with one particular issue. "If you're not really fully focused – sadly, this is the world we live in - if you've got something that's got a high joke rate, then as long as there's a joke coming along every few seconds, you're more likely to probably to stay attuned to it. "I think there’s probably an element where they’re spending a lot more time on YouTube and TikTok, and they're used to swiping the minute they get bored and they want that dopamine hit. "I think another reason it might be swinging back is that when we look at the clips and the shows that do really well for us online, it'll be stuff like Cunk or Amandaland or Motherland or Things You Should Have Done or Smoggie Queens - it's shows where there are just stupid, silly moments that can clip up really well. "Cunk has been an absolutely huge success on TikTok. It hasn't necessarily translated to millions and millions of views on iPlayer, but people just enjoy it in a different way. It's still good for the BBC, and it's still good for BBC comedy and the brand, but I think with a sadcom, you're a bit more limited as to what you can do and where that can go." So if these are all the push factors, explaining why viewers may be turning away from sadcoms, what are some of the pull factors drawing them back to more traditional comedies and sitcoms? In actuality, Petrie notes that the appetite for comedy never really went away, it's just that viewers often need to feel familiar with the characters and the set-up before they really engage with them. This can be difficult to pre-empt when it comes time for renewals, if a show has not performed well in its first outing. "The audience data now is so good and so advanced that you can really get into the weeds of it, and the stuff that people return to again and again are shows like Ghosts and This Country and Amandaland and Motherland, and those shows that you can just watch over and over," he says. "You can watch the same episode again, you can watch your favourite episode, you can dip in and out, and it's just comfort viewing. Obviously, it's the same in the case of Netflix, with the American Office and with Friends and The Big Bang Theory. People return to those shows. We've said for years, that's sort of where we wanted to kind of steer back towards.” Petrie notes that a series like Here We Go, which is approaching its fourth season, needed time to bed in, and is becoming more widely recognised over time. It has always been well-reviewed, but "isn't a must-see show right now at this moment, water cooler type thing". <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/07/here-we-go-cast-2-7baa4cf.jpg" width="3000" height="2000" alt="The cast of Here We Go pose in the kitchen of the Jessop household – they are crowded around the counter and smiling for the camera (L-R) Katherine Parkinson, Jim Howick, Tori Allen-Martin, Tom Basden, Alison Steadman, Mica Ricketts, Freya Parks and Jude Collie" title="here-we-go-cast-2" /> "It's just harder to get those shows press," he says. "And I totally understand why, because from a journalist’s point of view, it's so much easier to write about a story that's led by a particular issue or that sort of feels very pressy. When you're just making a family sitcom, it's hard to know what's the way in, other than talent and someone famous in it. "And that's where we really had to trust that Tom Basden’s a brilliant writer, it has an amazing cast, and that when people find it, and the data backs us up, they keep watching it. When we look at all our audience measurements, we can see what the awareness is within the country and with Here We Go, it just had a very low awareness. So we knew there was plenty of room for it to grow." He also says that from his and the BBC's perspective, they are definitely looking to commission sadcoms less than they were. "That's not to say that we wouldn't ever do one of those sorts of shows, but that would have to sit firmly in the, 'this is to make you laugh more than to make you think' camp," he clarifies. When it comes to harder-hitting, heartbreaking moments, they can still be a beneficial feature, but "you need to earn those moments - they hit hardest when the characters have become loved by the audience and they feel like family". What the BBC are looking for instead is "laugh-out-loud, story of the week, character driven, relatable sitcom", as Petrie believes that people are "craving that sort of comedy where it's people they recognise in worlds they recognise, and just something where you can just switch off and you're not being challenged in any way. "Everything is so grim at the moment that I think our duty is to try and just give people a bit of relief." Interestingly, comedy-drama doesn't seem to have actually gone away at all, but it has changed. As less sadcoms are being produced, more shows which I'm going to uninventively coin drama-comedys have emerged - series which have the format and structure of a drama (one-hour, ongoing storylines), but the lightness of a comedy and a slightly preposterous set-up. Think Ludwig and Death Valley. It's a trend which Petrie is well-aware of, and something he is looking to lean in to more in the coming years. "I think a lot of that is the thinking about the binge-ability," he says of this new trend. "I think basically you want two things. You either want someone to binge watch a whole series and be intrigued by the story and drawn through that, or you want a show with longevity and that quietly goes along, like Here We Go. "We want to make a Ludwig type show or a Death Valley type show, because we believe that the DNA within that means that it can only really come from the comedy side. Because it's a ridiculous premise that if you investigate it too much, it starts to break up, but that's actually not the point of it - the point of it is to serve as a comic vehicle." Where these trends go next, it's hard to say. Petrie believes the next frontier will see comedy commissioners looking more to TikTok and YouTube stars, although only where there is a natural transition to be made to TV. "I think we have to remember what makes us special is that we make television and I think one of the reasons people want to work with us is because they want to make a comedy TV show. "If we are going to move someone across into Telly, it's sort of making sure we do it in a way that feels like we're not just doing it because they're big on YouTube. It’s got to work as a TV show. "I think keeping more of an eye on that, and not abandoning things like the Edinburgh Fringe, but I think it's certainly quite a meritocratic way of finding talent." However, whether sadcom goes away entirely, comes back in force or is reinvented some way is difficult to know. But for now, it seems there are a multitude of reasons why it is somewhat in retreat, whether they be social and contemporaneous, generational, financial or simply an audience losing interest in shedding tears, unless through laughter. Shrinking is set to continue, and long may it do so. But in 2026, the era of the sadcom appears to be coming to a close. Shrinking season 3 will debut on Wednesday 28th January 2026. Seasons 1-2 are available to stream now on Apple TV+. You can sign up to Apple TV+ now. Add Shrinking 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 TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Office icon's new comedy series Small Prophets finally confirms release date with exclusive first look trailer
Get ready for Mackenzie Crook's first series since the end of Detectorists.
The Office icon Mackenzie Crook's highly anticipated return to comedy is almost here, with the air date for Small Prophets having been confirmed alongside the release of a first-look trailer. The six-part series, which Crook has created and stars in alongside Pearce Quigley, Lauren Patel, Sir Michael Palin, Sophie Willan, Jon Pointing and Paul Kaye, will start airing on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer from Monday 9th February, with further episodes arriving each Monday night. The newly released trailer, which you can watch exclusively on RadioTimes.com below, sees Palin's character Brian sharing a recipe with his son, Michael, to create Homunculi - magical prophesying spirits that can predict the future. Michael turns to help from his work mate Kacey, played by Lauren Patel, but the duo have to fend off Willan's nosy neighbour and their manager Gordon, played by Crook. At the end of the trailer, a small hand is seen emerging from a jar - suggesting Brian's recipe has worked. You can watch the trailer right here now. View Green Video on the source website The comedy series is the first to be created by Crook since the end of his hit show Detectorists, and it will incorporate animation elements, as it tells a story of friendships and hope, the magical and the mundane, and where secrets and lies lurk in a suburban cul-de-sac. When the project was first announced, Crook said in a statement: "Like all my best ideas, this one has been percolating for nearly a decade and is finally ready to see the light of day. It’s wonderful to be working again with my friends Gill Isles and Pearce Quigley and to realise a long-term ambition of collaborating with animators Ainslie Henderson and Will Anderson." Meanwhile, Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy, added: "BBC viewers are in for a treat with BAFTA winner Mackenzie Crook’s Small Prophets. "This magical comedy series brims with wit and wonder - from Mackenzie himself and Sir Michael Palin to Sophie Willan, Pearce Quigley, Lauren Patel and Jon Pointing - and is backed by a top-tier creative team and stunning animation. It’s British comedy at its finest." Small Prophets will air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer on Monday nights from 9th February 2026. Add Small Prophets 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 Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Ted Lasso star Nick Mohammed reveals hope for Nate amid speculation of a return for season 4
"I feel like some demons never fully go away."
With it just having been confirmed that Ted Lasso season 4 will be arriving on Apple TV this summer, fans are excited to reunite with their favourite characters such as Jason Sudeikis's Ted and Hannah Waddingham's Rebecca. However, several characters have yet to be confirmed, including Nick Mohammed's Nate. This week, Mohammed attended the Radio Times Covers Party 2026, and didn't let anything slip as to whether his character will be back. When asked exclusively by RadioTimes.com how long he knew that the show would be returning before the recent announcement, he said: "I knew for a while that it was coming back, that Jason was keen to do something focusing on the women's football team, and just delighted, because it's such a nice show. Just lovely people, lovely cast, lovely crew. "It's all speculative as to whether Nate will be back, but this is a show that's focusing on the women's football team. But yes, really exciting it’s back." Mohammed was also asked what he would like to see for Nate if he were to return, to which he said: "I like to think that seasons 1 to 3, he had a nice journey there where he ultimately has a forgiveness arc. And so I'd like to think that he's back to being a little bit more like old Nate, rather than the slightly Darth Vadery Nate that came in season end of season 2, beginning of season 3." On his hopes for the character more generally, Mohammed added: "I feel like Nate is, or was, a troubled soul, and I don't know if that stuff ever really goes away. He obviously did have insecurities. And I'm sort of talking generally now, but with the right support network and so on, people can get through stuff and are able to cope a lot better. "But I feel like some demons never fully go away, maybe. But we’ll have to wait and see if and when the writers write that or not." Other returning cast members who are confirmed to be back for season 4 include Juno Temple, Jeremy Swift, Brett Goldstein and Brendan Hunt, while newcomers for season 4 include Tanya Reynolds (Sex Education), Jude Mack (Prime Target), Faye Marsay (Andor), Rex Hayes (The Pact), Aisling Sharkey (Jurassic World: Dominion) and Abbie Hern (My Lady Jane). Ted Lasso season 4 is coming soon to Apple TV. Start your seven-day free Apple TV trial at Apple. Add Ted Lasso 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 Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Ted Lasso season 4 first-look images revealed as release window finally confirmed for beloved comedy's return
Fans have patiently waited for more episodes – and they're on the home straight now.
Ted Lasso season 4 has dropped first-look images as the wholesome sports comedy readies itself for a comeback worthy of the underdogs at AFC Richmond. The acclaimed series, which has a whopping 61 Emmy nominations to its name, has been away from our screens for more than two-and-a-half years, with fans briefly fearing that they might have seen the last of Jason Sudeikis's wholesome coach. Fortunately, its return was confirmed last year, with a new challenge for Ted to take on, as he leaves behind the players he'd won over to his side, and turns his attention to Richmond's women's team. According to the official synopsis, the change represents his "biggest challenge yet" as he again hopes to turn around their fortunes, lifting them out of the second division and propelling them towards glory. "Throughout the course of the season, Ted and the team learn to leap before they look, taking chances they never thought they would," it continues. Several favourites from the Ted Lasso cast are returning for this new season (albeit not everyone), with Apple TV confirming a release window of summer 2026. At last, the wait is almost over! Sudeikis is joined by Hannah Waddingham as AFC Richmond owner Rebecca Welton, seen above greeting him on a runway, next to a club-branded private jet. She's handing him a small box, which could be a welcome gift as he starts his next chapter. Two images (directly above and top of page) show Ted with an as-yet-unnamed character played by Sex Education and The Decameron star Tanya Reynolds, who appears to be another coach for the women's team. That might also be Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) stood next to him, although it's hard to be sure as he's facing away from the camera. It remains to be seen whether the duo's return will be welcomed or resisted by the existing team. Lastly, we get a look at another welcome returnee, as Silent Witness and Big Boys star Annette Badland reprises the role of pub landlady Mae, who is seen here waiting on Ted and his son, Henry (Grant Feely). Child actor Feely, known for playing a young Luke Skywalker in Obi-Wan Kenobi, is taking over the role of Henry from Gus Turner, who recurred as the character across the first three seasons of Ted Lasso. Not pictured, but confirmed as returning for Ted Lasso season 4, are Brett Goldstein (Roy Kent), Jeremy Swift (Leslie Higgins) and Juno Temple (Keeley Jones). Ted Lasso season 4 is coming soon to Apple TV. Start your seven-day free Apple TV trial at Apple. Add Ted Lasso 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 Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Kim Kardashian stars in first look at all-new Netflix comedy - which also stars British comedy favourite
The Fifth Wheel will be coming to Netflix later this year.
Kim Kardashian continues her pursuit of an acting career in the all-new Netflix comedy The Fifth Wheel, which also sees British comedy favourite Jack Whitehall as part of the cast. The series, which is being directed by Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria, follows a friendship group who embark on a trip to Las Vegas which ultimately ends in disaster, with fresh new images from the set giving us our very first glimpse at what's to come. The group of three friends go on the the trip to Sin City to try and reconnect after growing distant since high school. Their girls weekend is then crashed by Kim Kardashian's character, a stranger to the group who immediately upends their trip. Her presence ultimately forces the friends to deal with things they were trying to bury - their messy lives, bad decisions, and unraveling friendships. Alongside Kardashian, Nikki Glaser also features, who previously starred in Amy Schumer's Trainwreck, alongside FUBAR's Fortune Feimster, and Brenda Song of Disney Channel fame. British comedian Jack Whitehall, Gone Girl's Casey Wilson and Scott MacArthur, known for Running Point and The Righteous Gemstones, will also be joining the cast. Kim Kardashian rose to fame after reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashian's but has previously dipped into the world of acting. She had a main role in 2023's American Horror Story: Delicate, and last year played one of the leads in the new Hulu drama comedy All's Fair which follows high-skilled female divorce attorneys who depart a male-dominated law firm. The Fifth Wheel will be coming to Netflix in 2026. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Add The Fifth Wheel 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 Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Things You Should Have Done star admits she sometimes goes too far with dark comedy about "awful things”
"I just think the best, most awful things in life are the best to get through with laughing and taking the piss out of them."
Lucia Keskin is not your average 24-year-old. By 23, the YouTube sensation had already amassed an impressive online following, landed her first BBC Three series, Things You Should Have Done, and went onto win a BAFTA for Best Rising Star for her performance. All from her childhood bedroom. Keskin is now back demonstrating her signature deadpan humour as her alter-ego, Lucia (or Chi) in season 2, as a recently bereaved stay-at-home-daughter who is an adult-in-progress as she works through a list of tasks her dead parents have left her to accomplish. The premise is desperately sad: both of Chi’s parents die in a car crash in the first episode, leaving her the sole owner (and grown up) of the house. But she has no life skills whatsoever, every task from finding a job to learning to drive leads to woefully inappropriate scenarios, all while her vulture of an aunty, Karen (played tremendously by Selin Hizli), circles around her to try and inherit the house. With a “face like depression” (as noted in the series), the multi-hyphenate talent admits that it’s often hard to strike the balance between the tragedy and comedy, as she has a tendency to take the dark humour to extremes. “That's where I have to have people tell me because I will just go as dark as possible and I see no issue, and they're like, ‘no, not that, you can’t do that,” Keskin tells RadioTimes.com. “But I just think the best, most awful things in life are the best to get through with laughing and taking the piss out of them. I’ve always viewed it that way.” “I’ll just say ‘Yeah, let’s joke about that’ and they’re like ‘No, actually, we can’t.’ I did get away with quite a lot, but I was trying to push it.” <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/01/BBC-comedy-96ee4bd.jpg" width="4241" height="2827" alt="A young woman stands outdoors beside a black-and-white horse, which is close to the camera and slightly out of focus in the foreground. She wears a colourful padded jacket and a scarf, with a mildly unimpressed expression, while trees and greenery fill the background." title="Things You Should Have Done Series 2" /> Season 2 opens with a sense of deja vu as the same two police officers turn up to break the news that there has been another untimely death. This time Chi’s aunty has died, after tripping over a hoover cord and falling down a flight of 86 stairs. “I just thought it would be so ridiculous if it happened to her again,” Keskin says, “Even though she doesn't grieve in a normal – well, not that there is a normal way – but in a stereotypical way, I thought it was like, now she has to at least address the fact that she's grieving after the second death because it's so unrealistic that that would happen again. “I definitely found grieving is just – there’s no right or wrong way to grieve. I felt it was fun to get to explore what we didn’t do much of in series one, which is talking much about [grief].” Across the six episodes, Chi starts counselling with the most unprofessional therapist, Ruth (Bridget Christie), who capitalises and thrives on her grief, believes Karen is reincarnated as a cordless hoover at a local Bingo, and grapples with the growing anxiety that someone else in her life will die too. Alongside Christie, there’s a whole host of new roster of guest stars this season from Marc Wootton to Juliet Cowen and Sarah Kendall. “I love working with new people and adding funny people that I love watching,” she says, “Bridget was one of them, just being so hilarious. It was lovely and an amazing, incredible, hysterical time working with her and getting to see what she does and even in real life. They're all so funny.” Keskin admits it was a “treat to come back” and she was “so grateful” to return for a second season, especially as it was a chance to take the biggest lessons from last season and lean into what resonated with audiences. “I think it's more just what I thought worked in series one, what didn't as much,” she says about this season’s scripts, “There were some green screen things we've changed focusing on tiny celebrities and TV stuff for the surreal bits.” Read more: The Office icon's new comedy series finally gets BBC release window confirmed Riz Ahmed auditions for James Bond 007 role in first look at new comedy - as release date confirmed Keskin’s signature-style sketches which she found fame with on YouTube – with parodies of the likes of Friends and Gemma Collins – are also woven into the show, including a meta version of Chi watching herself in the show she’s in on Gogglebox. “I was eager to do Charli xcx,” she says, “That was definitely my favourite one, saving the day at the end, but all of them were so fun.” Keskin was keen to include more of this style of surrealism as it seemed to translate with the style of comedy her audience had already grown to expect. She continues: “I think focusing on that more and trying to make it more what I did on more online, which was the TV parodies and things like that, which I think works better than just random cut offs of me on someone's balls.” Working on the series has been the most she’s “ever learnt, more than school” as she moved from being a one-woman-production – scripting, filming, lighting, costumes and editing all of her own videos – to having a full team on set to collaborate with. “You learn as you go, and it's so fun doing it,” Keskin says, “I've really enjoyed doing it with, obviously, on a larger scale because you get to not have to worry about doing everything from lighting to catering yourself. “So, even though you have that lack of control a little bit, you get so much help and It's lovely working as a team and trusting people, learning to take other people's opinions and things like that. I love it.” Though Chi shares her name, Keskin is playing an exaggerated version of an amalgamation of her childhood and teenage self, but admits there’s “probably more of [her] than [she’d] like to admit” in the character. “It’s very much based on just how I felt and I suppose not really growing up,” she says, “It’s based on myself, but in a very wide, extravagant sense, because I feel like, luckily, I know how to cook something now and things like that.” Writing and starring in two seasons has also changed how Keskin approaches her short-form content too, as she used to “make it up” as she went along, but now she’s much more structured (and efficient) about the process. “It's so much easier now knowing how to plan, even just doing green screen videos and stuff, because I've had a team and I've worked with a director and make up and costume,” she continues. “It's a much easier ways of planning things and writing.” Did she ever think writing sketches in her bedroom would lead to her own TV show? “I was always a bit delusional and had big dreams, but for them to actually happen is crazy and unbelievable,” Keskin replies. “But it's just such a dream come true to get to write your own show.” In contrast to her character, Keskin is a self-starter having created her own path into the industry by writing and shooting her own sketches online, all of which demonstrated the breadth of her acting and comedic abilities. “I think [doing social media] is showing what you can do, whereas it's really hard to do that I know traditionally,” she says, “obviously people had to do it with the stand-up route or go to drama school or finding an agent. So, I think it's just a way of showing, here's what I can do and it's an easy presentation.” If the series does come back for a third outing, Keskin is conscious she doesn’t want to “overkill, quite literally” with the gag of someone dying in the first episode again. And we’re honestly not sure whether Chi could take much more. “I'd love to do a series 3,” she continues, “There’s more to explore within the world, but also just looking to see what else I can come up with... I always want to make it unexpected, whether or not you do it. "I don't want to overkill, quite literally, but also don't want to just be basic and boring. Who knows? Maybe it'll be Chi [who dies]." Things You Should Have Done is now streaming 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.
Riz Ahmed reveals his new James Bond audition show got the approval of former franchise boss Barbara Broccoli
The show follows an actor whose life is thrown into chaos by Bond rumours.
Riz Ahmed reveals that former James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli gave her "blessing" to his new comedy-drama, where he portrays an actor being considered for the iconic spy role. Bait is a six-part comedy-drama coming to Prime Video in March, following "struggling actor" Shah Latif (Ahmed) over "four wild days" after viral reports emerge that he is in the running for 007. As "the entire world" voices their opinions on his potential casting, viewers will see how Shah's personal life "spirals out of control" as he's faced with "his last chance to hit it big". The series comes at a very appropriate time, given that the James Bond franchise is currently missing a leading man, and has been since Daniel Craig's definitive send-off in 2021's No Time to Die. View oEmbed on the source website If that wasn't enough, the Bond machine had to weather more fundamental change, when historic film studio MGM was purchased by Amazon, and longtime franchise producers Broccoli and Michael G Wilson later relinquished their control. Prior to that shock move, Ahmed told Deadline at the Sundance Film Festival that he had spoken to Broccoli about Bait, even though it isn't strictly a 'James Bond show' (the likes of which have been expected since Amazon took over). Rather, the Rogue One and Phoenician Scheme star considers Bait to be "about that crazy distance between our public and our private selves". He explained: "On the outside, it's like, 'Wow, you're killing it man. You're doing great...' [But in reality,] you're broke. These things happen, these contradictions between how we're perceived, how we want to be perceived, and how we are. "That's what the show is really about. It was through discussing with my co-showrunner Ben Karlin, we were talking about our lives, our experiences, funny anecdotes, and the Bond thing came up." Ahmed continued: "And I was like, 'Actually, that's the perfect aspirational symbol that can help drive the story of someone who aspires to be someone else'. "That's not where the show grew out of, but it was a conversation with Barbara Broccoli, who understood that and understood the show's not really about that. And yet, gave her blessing, she really loved the script." Broccoli sold her controlling stake over Bond (inherited from her father's production company EON) in February 2025, prompting shock from fans and the industry after decades of protective stewardship. Since then, work on the next James Bond film has ramped up, with Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight writing the script, and Dune director Denis Villeneuve set to lead the project. As for that all-important casting, it remains a mystery. Bait is coming to Prime Video on Wednesday 25th March 2026. Sign up for a 30-day free trial of Prime Video and pay £8.99 a month after that. Add Bait to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Shrinking season 3: Release date and latest news
Co-creator Bill Lawrence has teased a three-season arc for the comedy-drama.
Bill Lawrence has a lot on his plate right now. Not only is the writer and producer executive producing a Scrubs reboot, but he is also behind the upcoming fourth season of Ted Lasso. Before either of those, we've got the release of Shrinking, the Apple TV comedy-drama he created with Brett Goldstein and Jason Segel. He has long stated that this season will be about moving forward, and finally fans are about to find out exactly what that means. On this topic, Lawrence recently told TVLine: "We always joke on the set that if this show hit the fourth season and Jimmy was still like, 'I've been thinking about [dating] and I'm still really sad about my wife,' people would be like, 'They gotta come up with something else.' "I hope we've earned people kind of rooting for these [characters] to move forward in their lives, whether that means Jimmy embracing the idea of having a love in his life again or his daughter feeling confident about going off to college. We like to do these themes you can almost attach to every character. "Sean, Luke Tennie's character... I don't think it'd be a victory if that guy lived in the pool house behind his therapist's house his whole life." All of the main cast are returning, including Harrison Ford's Paul and Jessica Williams's Gaby, while there are also a couple of big names joining for the new season, in the form of Jeff Daniels and Michael J Fox. But what else do we know about the new season thus far? Read on for everything you need to know about Shrinking season 3. Will there be a Shrinking season 3? There will! Just one day after the first two episodes of Shrinking season 2 arrived on Apple TV+, the show was officially renewed for a third season. In many ways, the renewal is unsurprising, as ever since the start of the show co-creator Bill Lawrence has said that it was pitched with a three-season arc. However, the speed at which the renewal came through did show a real sign of confidence in the series from Apple. In an interview with Variety in 2023, Lawrence said: "The second year is about forgiveness, and the third year is about moving forward." Ahead of the renewal, speaking with TV Insider, Lawrence also revealed that he and the team were already writing the third season. He said: "I think whenever anybody undergoes a true catastrophic stick in the spokes in their life, like the characters in the show did, what you’re really talking about the first two years is what it means to survive and then kind of bury the hatchet and mend fences. "But that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to be able to move forward in your life and start over again. I think that’s what people will probably be watching the third year. "And when you say moving forward, even off the top of my head, so it’s not a spoiler, I think people are aware that we’ve intentionally made a young woman who’s a senior in high school. "We’ve potentially gotten some people in serious relationships. We’ve intentionally been looking at Harrison Ford’s character and how much longer can he do this with the condition he has. "And so I think it’s going to be a rich third year too. I say that because we’re already writing it." When will Shrinking season 3 be released? Shrinking season 3 will be released on Wednesday 28th January, with the first episode being a one-hour premiere. Standard-length episodes will then follow on weekly from that point, being released on Wednesdays. The second season took a long time to come to screens, arriving almost two years after season 1. However, season 2 was notably delayed by the 2023 writers' and actors' strikes. Season 3 has arrived just over a year after season 2, which debuted in October 2025. Who will return to star in a Shrinking season 3? We know that all of the central cast from Shrinking seasons 1 and 2 are expected to return, led by Jason Segel and Harrison Ford as Jimmy and Paul. Beyond that, Jessica Williams, Lukita Maxwell, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Christa Miller, Ted McGinley, Damon Wayans Jr and Brett Goldstein are all also expected to be back. Meanwhile, it seems likely that Damon Wayans Jr will be back as Derrick #2, and that Brett Goldstein will make more appearances as Louis after his key role in season 2. Lawrence previously told Deadline of the need for Goldstein to return, saying: "Yeah, I gotta leverage that dude. I think the ending was satisfying. I hope it was for people. But I think I’ve been public about saying the first year is about grief, the second year was about forgiveness and third year’s about moving forward. "I don’t think you can do this show about moving forward without knowing how that guy’s life moves forward, at least for an episode or two. So now I just got to leverage Brett into doing what I want him to do. He’s a very busy man. It’s very frustrating." He also told TVLine: "I find it annoying that I have to tell Brett how good he was and maybe ask him to do another episode or two. But I think we told a deep enough story that even if it’s not a huge part of the third season, people are going to want to know what moving forward means for that character, and that he’s gonna be OK. "I think it would be fake to imply that at the end of the finale, that dude’s OK. So, yeah, I’m going to strong-arm Brett into showing his face, hopefully, at least a couple more times." Another character returning for season 3 is Cobie Smulders's Sofi, who only appeared in one episode of season 2, but was shown to have a strong chemistry with Jimmy. Additionally, there has been a number of new confirmed castings for season 3, with Jeff Daniels joining the show as Jimmy's father, alongside Sherry Cola, Isabella Gomez, Michael J Fox and Candice Bergen as currently undisclosed characters. Segel told Variety of Daniels's role in the series: "Jimmy has a complicated relationship with his parents. I think you will find out this season why Jimmy projects so much onto Paul, why it is so important that Harrison Ford gives him validation. "It’s not lost on me that [Jeff] is the last version of me — either Jeff Daniels or Judge Reinhold. We’re doing these scenes next to each other, and our mannerisms are kind of the same, and neither of us are doing a bit. We’re making the same choices, so it’s perfect casting." Here are the cast members confirmed for Shrinking season 3: Jason Segel as Jimmy Harrison Ford as Paul Jessica Williams as Gaby Lukita Maxwell as Alice Luke Tennie as Sean Michael Urie as Brian Christa Miller as Liz Ted McGinley as Derek Damon Wayans Jr as Derrick #2 Brett Goldstein as Louis Cobie Smulders as Sofi Jeff Daniels as Jimmy's father Sherry Cola as TBC Isabella Gomez as TBC Michael J Fox as TBC Candice Bergen as TBC Is there a trailer for a Shrinking season 3? There is! You can watch the full-length trailer for season 3 right here. View oEmbed on the source website Shrinking season 3 will debut on Wednesday 28th January 2026. Seasons 1-2 are available to stream now on Apple TV+. You can sign up to Apple TV+ now. Add Shrinking 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 TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Riz Ahmed auditions for James Bond 007 role in first look at new comedy - as release date confirmed
Bait will release on Prime Video later this year.
The race to be the next James Bond star is well and truly on, so much so that a new comedy series has been made about exactly that topic. Bait, a new six-part series for Prime Video, stars Riz Ahmed as Shah Latif, a struggling actor who gets a last chance to hit it big when the audition of a lifetime – for the role of Bond – comes his way. The synopsis for the series says that it follows him "over the course of four wild days as his life spirals out of control and his family, ex-lover and the entire world weigh in on whether he is the right man for the job". It has now been confirmed that all six episodes of the series will be released on Prime Video on Wednesday 25th March, with a first-look clip having also been unveiled. View oEmbed on the source website The clip sees Shah's family finding a news story revealing his audition for the role, and getting a little bit ahead of themselves about just what this means. Starring alongside Ahmed in the series will be Guz Khan (Stuffed) as Zulfi, Sheeba Chaddha (Hamlet) as Tahira, Sajid Hasan (Hum Sub) as Parvez, Aasiya Shah (Unforgotten) as Q, Weruche Opia (The Jetty) as Felicia and Ritu Arya (The Umbrella Academy) as Yasmin. Ahmed not only stars in the series, but also acts as co-showrunner alongside Ben Karlin who has previously written for shows such as Modern Family, Future Man and Minx. Ahmed will next be seen on our screens taking on a different iconic role to Bond - that of Hamlet, in a new film take on William Shakespeare's masterpiece. The film, which has been reimagined in a contemporary London setting, has been directed by Aneil Karia and also stars Morfydd Clark, Joe Alwyn, Sheeba Chaddha, Avijit Dutt, Art Malik and Timothy Spall. Bait will premiere on Prime Video on Wednesday 25th March 2026 – try Amazon Prime Video for free for 30 days. Plus, read our guides to the best Amazon Prime series and the best movies on Amazon Prime. Add Bait to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
What Lisa Kudrow really thought about fame and success before Friends defined her
Before Phoebe became stratospherically iconic, Lisa Kudrow was navigating motherhood, money and a fame she never actively pursued. This rarely candid, unearthed interview gives a strikingly unfiltered look at ambition, insecurity and the pressure of the public eye.
It's 1999 and Friends is in its fifth season. Lisa Kudrow has shot to stardom as Phoebe Buffay and is making her first foray into the world of film. But she's reluctant to let the success of Friends define her career – or her marriage. With disarming frankness, she opens up to Radio Times about balancing fame with family life. This interview was originally published in Radio Times magazine in 1999. OK, she’s a 35-year-old blonde actress who plays Phoebe, the ditzy, aspiring but tuneless folk singer with new-age pretensions in one of the world’s most popular sitcoms, but when she studied biology at the prestigious east-coast college, Vassar, she had only one ambition: to meet a bright, rich man. “That’s how superficial I was,” she sighs. “The whole point was to marry good merchandise, so we could have genetically appropriate children. I thought everything was figured and mapped out, that my husband would be intellectually superior to me and successful so I could pursue whatever career I wanted. A lot of women go about their lives like that.” So what happened? “Well,” she says, playing with her hair and smiling to reveal traditionally impeccable Hollywood orthodontistry, “I went into acting.” Not that she wanted to at first. She planned to follow her father, Lee, a renowned headache specialist, into medicine. “Actors seemed idiots and so phoney. I’d seen them on talk shows discussing their troubled personal lives. Of course, we all have problems to some extent – no one is living in a fifties sitcom – but actors examine them more. I assumed they were dumb and the profession might change me into someone who isn’t the best parent or spouse.” But after joining an improvisation company in Los Angeles, the Groundlings, her views changed. “I realised everything has value and finally asked myself the question, ‘Why?’ which puts life into perspective. ‘Why does my husband have to be intellectually superior? What if I just love him, you know.’” Reasonable enough. Then what? “Oh, I married a man who is intellectually superior to me. The things you want come to you anyway.” And they have a son, Julian, born last May (her pregnancy was explained in Friends by making her a surrogate mother for her brother and his wife). This, so far, is a happy-ever-after story. Now she is bursting again from the mould of sitcoms into a film, The Opposite of Sex, in which she plays Lucia, the sexually repressed sister of a dead gay man who befriends and tries to protect her brother’s wealthy lover, Bill (Martin Donovan). “Lucia would hate Phoebe. She’s entirely different, which is great, but a double-edged sword. You’re not sure the public will accept you as someone else. I’ve done it myself, got used to someone in a certain part and when I see them in a new role I look to see where that other person is – which distracts from what they’re trying to accomplish. But I enjoyed playing an uptight woman. I know how that feels. I used to be like it.” She started life in Tarzana, a suburb of Los Angeles that sends “Valley girls”, a disparaging description roughly equivalent to “Essex girls”, clickety-clicking, gimlet-eyed on to the marriage and career circuit. “They don’t use vowels when they speak and are very judgemental and condescending: ‘Oh my God, that’s so stupid.’ I grew up in a Jap-y [Jewish American princess] environment. I like room service. Is there anything sexier and more fun?” Although her mother was a travel agent who could arrange good deals on hotels, she didn’t take advantage and indulge in exciting trysts because she was, she says, unusually prim. "I was a thousand times more conservative than my parents – their battle cry was ‘lighten up’. I didn’t because I was terrified of being wrong, at any time, over anything. “Even in high school, hanging around kids doing something dangerous made me nervous because I couldn’t bear the idea that I only had myself to blame. I’d lecture everyone: ‘Why are you getting into a car when the driver’s had two beers?’ ‘Why are you smoking?’ Even my dad became irritated with me. He was like, ‘Why don’t you sneak around like other teenagers?’ He thought I was weird and too hard on myself.” She helped him with research, but in spite of such inside knowledge never resorted to the “headache” excuse with men. Too honest. She’d say, “I had no intention of sleeping with you, so I won’t.” In her twenties, therapy was useful (“I learned you can make a mistake and the world doesn’t come to an end”), but it was the magic of hair colouring that finally caused an evanescent awakening. She went blonde, gradually, one summer. “That really helped. Being blonde lightens your personality. People’s attitudes change. I was treated like a little girl and flirted with more, which I enjoyed. Possibly they thought I was dumb. I assumed blondes were dumb too. “There are a lot of prejudices we should try to overcome. We’ve got to stop thinking that if someone isn’t the same as us they must be wrong.” She loved studying biology at Vassar, about half an hour’s drive from New York, but felt out of place among the preppy east-coast debs. “I was so happy to be there I couldn’t stop smiling. They thought I was kind of an idiot.” Naturally she studied hard – eight hours a day on calculus – and learned to be non-judgemental. “Scientific methods mean you’re not allowed to judge your results. You just report them and they are what they are, neither good nor bad.” After graduating in 1985 she saw a childhood friend of her brother on Saturday Night Live, and thought if he could do it, she could. Acting class was less successful than the Groundlings. “It looked more like a cult to me, with the teacher as guru. There’s a lot of pretension in acting. It’s emotional, not intellectual, so it’s hard to discuss. You have to learn to cope with reality and you need a very strong mind-set not to take rejection so personally it paralyses you.” There was rejection, but then came Friends, and immense success. “I realise I should be surprised, but I’m not. You know when you’re on a roller coaster and you’re just holding on, anxious and excited to see where it goes? Friends had an influence, as any trend does for a time – haircuts, internet chat, involvement with the characters – but people no longer try to analyse it. “It’s there for entertainment and that’s it. People like to have something to talk about at work or in school, but they don’t let Friends replace their social life.” <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/01/GettyImages-143479396-2997f4b.jpg" width="3000" height="2692" alt="Friends actors sit by a fountain. From left is Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller, Courteney Cox as Monica Geller, Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani, Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay and Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing." title="'Friends' Group Portrait" /> Originally, she’d have preferred to play either of the other girls. “I thought it would be more interesting to be Rachel [Jennifer Anniston] – concerned with superficial things and kind of materialistic. I’m not materialistic but I could be. “Or Monica [Courteney Cox], who has a good sense of humour. So when I auditioned for Phoebe my agent asked if I could be one of them. The producers laughed and said, ‘No,’ because they’d seen me do those ‘out there’ girls. “I like Phoebe and some of the best parts of me are in her. She gets frustrated, but overall seems desperately clinging to a cheery attitude. I strive to take an optimistic view. Sure I get insecure and worried, but you begin to understand what’s important and that most of the things that bothered you when young aren’t worth the stress. “Sometimes when I’m playing Phoebe properly I do become her, and think, ‘I know how that feels.’ But when the camera’s off – that’s it.” Friends is now in its fifth season, and they are committed to a sixth, assuming, it is said, the six main actors, who insist on being paid the same, can double their $100,000-per-show salaries. “OK, it's an outrageous amount, but I remind myself the studios wouldn't pay so much if they couldn't well afford to.” The actors are chums in real life, she insists. “Most of those who’ve been working together for a long time don’t get on after a while. They’re competitive, and as everyone’s careers take them to different places people begrudge them. We don’t, and we're also an ensemble. We’re not allowed even to think one of us is better than anyone else." “I don’t know how long it can continue; that depends on the writing. Some weeks the script isn’t in as good a shape at the beginning as the end. It’s stressful because you wonder if it’s going to get better and think, ‘How can I help? Am I making it worse and confusing the issue?’ It will be weird when it ends, and I don’t know what to expect, but it’s always going to be part of me, for better or worse. It’s changed my life, but not too much. I’m still with the same man.” She met her French husband, Michel Stem, who is in advertising, in 1987 when he was the boyfriend of her roommate. “He’d pick her up and I thought, ‘Just perfect, but unavailable.’ I didn't look at him or talk. He thought I was cute but odd, and then I met him again by chance five years ago at a picnic. He hates Paris, which is sad. I’d like to spend time there with him, but we fly in, have dinner, sleep over and move on.” She worried she might not work after Julian was born. “I have friends who gave up after they had a child, and then I realised they weren’t passionate about what they were doing. I still love it and three weeks after I had Julian I filmed a small part in Analyse This with Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal. How could I turn that down? “I felt guilty taking my three-week-old baby on a plane to New York so Mommy can do a movie, but soon realised it doesn’t matter. I'm seeing him, and the only time he's unhappy is when I'm feeling guilty. It interferes with our communication. They pick up on anything. I'd like to have more children, and there'll obviously be compromises. I'll have to work in LA; I can't see myself going off to Bulgaria to make a film, especially if it's during school term.” The many tyrannies of fame seem to have passed her by, and she copes with gawpers by pretending they don't exist. “I live in denial. I don't make eye contact with anyone, so I'm not aware of staring. They have to come up and tap me on the shoulder to get my attention. “I've had more notice taken when I walk down the street with a bodyguard or escort. We're given a lot of privileges and some actors let it get out of hand. They become irresponsible and self-important. When you're working, you're waited on hand and foot, and the attitude is, 'Just make sure she's happy.' That's fine if you can keep it where it belongs. But it does not belong at home. “My husband isn't bothered he earns less than me. He couldn't possibly. Actors earn a lot. Sometimes I feel guilty. I don't need more than one car – it's a good one, but I'd rather not say what make. Financial security is important to me – a lot of marriages are in trouble because of lack of money – so I'm grateful I don't have to worry about that right now. I say right now because nothing lasts for ever. The greatest part of having money is being able to make the lives of those around you a little easier. That's joyous rather than embarrassing.” The Opposite of Sex deals with sexual complications caused by a teenage girl [Christina Ricci] who runs away from home to live with Bill and lures his new boyfriend into a relationship. It's all very nineties. “I don't know if men and women are confused about sexuality. Young people experiment, and in the late eighties they decided it was OK to question sexual orientation. A lot of girls at Vassar seemed to be gay, but then they found a guy, fell in love, and married. I thought, 'Oh, yeah, it's just so cutting edge to be a lesbian.' I assumed it was another big-city affectation. “Did I ever do that? No. Remember I was growing up in a Myrna Loy movie. We're coming out of any confusion over sexuality. I encounter a lot of men who are comfortable with women in positions of power. “The games the sexes play will always be the same, though. Men are more commitment-phobic, which is a pity because if you commit it will be over sooner.” Sounds like toothache, I say. “It's true, though. If you commit you'll know sooner if something is working. It's practical common sense. What's changed is when a woman says something she is heard as an equal, rather than, 'Oh, not bad, for a girl' – even if she is blonde and an actress. So that’s OK.” Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Stephen Merchant responds to whether he'd work with Ricky Gervais again - and which classic comedy they would never revive
Merchant last collaborated with Gervais on the final episode of Life's Too Short back in 2013.
Stephen Merchant has opened up about whether he’d work with Ricky Gervais again. Merchant and Gervais co-created acclaimed BBC sitcom The Office in the early 2000s and went on to bring hit comedies Extras and Life’s Too Short to our screens. They also hosted The Ricky Gervais Show together alongside Karl Pilkington, with the trio working on travel series An Idiot Abroad too. But speaking to The Times in a new interview, Merchant revealed that he and Gervais rarely talk nowadays. He said: "Would we work together again? Well, never say never, but we wouldn’t revive The Office. "We’re not in touch a great deal these days but even at our closest we were living quite separate lives. Ricky used to joke that he was 13 or 14 years older than me and so, just as I was discovering my favourite nightclub, he was discovering his favourite comfortable chair." Merchant and Gervais's last collaboration was the final episode of Life’s Too Short back in 2013. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/01/Merchant-Gervais-ccccbb7.jpg" width="3002" height="2005" alt="LONDON - MARCH 11: Ricky Gervais's very own special 'appeal film' starred Bono, Sir Bob Geldof, Stephen Merchant, Jamie Oliver and Andi Peters - not the traditional appeal film footage that people are used to seeing from Comic Relief. The sketch was a massive send up of celebrity charity appeals, in the best possible taste of course, and showed what good sports these celebrities are… Jamie was even seen munching on McDonalds! (Photo by Comic Relief/Getty Images)" title="Red Nose Day 2007" /> Since then, Merchant has gone on to star in films such as Logan, Jojo Rabbit and Fighting with My Family, the latter of which he also wrote and directed. Meanwhile, Gervais has created, directed and starred in Netflix’s hit series After Life, and released stand-up specials Armageddon, SuperNature and Mortality on the streamer. The comedian is also bringing a new Netflix animated comedy series, titled Alley Cats, to our screens in 2026. Back in 2018, Merchant said he would be open to working with Gervais again, saying "there was no reason not to" but also admitting that they were going in "different directions, creatively". He added: “If the right idea was there, it’d be good to do something. But at the moment, there’s nothing on the horizon.” He continued: “We worked together for pretty much cheek-by-jowl for over 10 years and I think it’s that feeling of being pulled in different directions creatively.” Read more: The Office icon's new comedy series finally gets BBC release window confirmed Peep Show star says a revival was planned 10 years after finale – and could still happen Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Will there be a Can You Keep a Secret? season 2?
Dawn French's latest comedy leaves the stage set for more stories... *MAJOR SPOILERS FOR SEASON 1*
Dawn French's brand new comedy series Can You Keep a Secret? has only just premiered on BBC One, but through the magic of iPlayer some viewers may already have binged through all six episodes. The show follows Debbie Fendon (French) as she attempts to cash in on her husband's life insurance policy, after he was mistakenly declared dead in a bizarre chain of events. Alas, keeping William (Mark Heap) hidden from her family and neighbours proves harder than initially imagined, as he becomes understandably restless after months spent tucked away in the loft. Over six chaotic episodes, the Fendons – including son Harry (Craig Roberts) and daughter-in-law Neha (Mandip Gill) – attempt to keep a grip on their poorly planned scheme. But things end on a rather disastrous note, which might well leave you wondering if there will be any more episodes. Here's what we know so far about the future of Can You Keep a Secret? on BBC One and iPlayer. Will there be a Can You Keep a Secret? season 2? The BBC is yet to announce whether Can You Keep a Secret? will be renewed for a second season or cancelled, with the verdict likely to rest largely on its viewership figures. At the time of writing, it's not yet clear how well the show is performing – or whether it will grow substantially across its run – but Broadcast reports that overnight ratings for its premiere were "shy" of Amandaland (1.9 million). Of course, the Motherland spin-off more than doubled that number across its first seven days, as people who missed the initial broadcast caught up via BBC iPlayer or recording devices. For this reason, we won't have a reliable picture of Can You Keep a Secret?'s full audience size until at least a month from now. In the meantime, fans should keep their fingers crossed it connects – and spread the word however they can! What could happen in a potential Can You Keep a Secret? season 2? If Can You Keep a Secret? is renewed for a second season, it will have to resolve that shock cliffhanger that the first chapter ended on, as yet another local stumbled upon the Fendon family secret. This time, it was Dr Harper (Mona Goodwin) who discovered that William (Mark Heap) is still alive, which is particularly notable as she was the one who mistakenly declared him dead months ago. Perhaps this embarrassing fact could be used as leverage for the Fendons to keep Dr Harper quiet, as it could prove damaging to her professional reputation if made public. For now, though, we can only speculate as to how the Fendons will wriggle their way out of this latest bind. Who could star in a potential Can You Keep a Secret? season 2? If Can You Keep a Secret? does return for season 2, we'd expect the principal cast members to return as the highly dysfunctional Fendon family, led by Dawn French (Debbie) and Mark Heap (William). It seems likely that Craig Roberts and Mandip Gill would also reprise their roles as the couple's son, Harry, and daughter-in-law, Neha, respectively, along with most of their eccentric neighbours. One exception is former 'widow club' member Jean (played by Heather Seymour), who was exposed as the sinister architect of both the Fendons' stress and Pamela's sudden illness. Fortunately, she was apprehended by authorities in the finale. Here's a reminder of the key players in Can You Keep a Secret?, who could return for a potential second season: Dawn French as Debbie Fendon Mark Heap as William Fendon Craig Roberts as Harold 'Harry' Fendon Mandip Gill as Neha Fendon Paul Chahidi as Clive Geraldine McNulty as Pamela Shola Adewusi as Billie Gregory Gudgeon as Pigfish Sam Battersea as PC Susan Mona Goodwin as Dr Harper Is there a trailer for a potential Can You Keep a Secret? season 2? Alas, there's no additional footage to share at this time – but we'll update this page when that changes. Can You Keep a Secret is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Add Can You Keep a Secret? 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 Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How to watch What We Do in the Shadows in the UK
All episodes are readily available now – on two streaming services!
All good things must come to an end, and sadly for comedy fans, that includes What We Do in the Shadows! The hit sitcom delighted viewers with its quirky and macabre take on vampire life in the modern day, introducing us to undead housemates Nandor (Kayvan Novak), Laszlo (Matt Berry), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou) and Colin (Mark Proksch). Over six hysterical seasons, the world of the show expanded in unexpected and exciting ways, adding more comical spins on the various ghouls and monsters that have helped to define gothic horror as a genre. In the process, it attracted a number of high-profile guest stars, with the final season boasting the likes of Steve Coogan (How Are You?), Alexander Skarsgård (Pillion) and Zach Woods (Silicon Valley), among others. Now, at long last, What We Do in the Shadows season 6 is airing on BBC Two from tonight (Thursday 8th January 2026), although you may have caught it earlier courtesy of another major streaming platform. Wherever you choose to tune in, read on for details on how to watch What We Do in the Shadows in full from the UK. How to watch What We Do in the Shadows in the UK All episodes of What We Do in the Shadows are now available on BBC iPlayer. The sixth and final season landed on the streaming platform on Thursday 8th January 2026, coinciding with its broadcast premiere on BBC Two (for anyone who prefers to tune in the traditional way. What We Do in the Shadows will be available on iPlayer for "over a year" from season 6's release date, so you don't need to worry about rushing through – although binge watching may come naturally, regardless! Alternatively, you can also stream all seasons of What We Do in the Shadows on Disney Plus, which is home to various other FX television shows. Sign up to Disney Plus from £5.99 per month to gain access to the streamer's catalogue. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website What is What We Do in the Shadows about? What We Do in the Shadows is a mockumentary-style sitcom about four vampires who share a house in New York City. The series explores their relationships with one another and the broader supernatural community, including fellow vampires and other dangerous beings, such as werewolves. In addition to revealing how the monstrous underworld functions, the show also features some fish-out-of-water comedy as the centuries-old vampires attempt to navigate and understand an ever-changing modern world. What We Do in the Shadows cast The key characters in What We Do in the Shadows are Ottoman Empire warrior Nandor the Relentless (Kayvan Novak), British nobleman Laszlo Cravensworth (Matt Berry), his Greek Romani wife Nadja of Antipaxos (Natasia Demetriou) and "energy vampire" Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch). Nandor is frequently accompanied by his long-suffering familiar Guillermo de la Cruz, played by Harvey Guillén, who wants nothing more than to join the immortal ranks of the undead. Kristen Schaal (Bojack Horseman) is a later addition to What We Do in the Shadows, with her recurring character of The Guide – an envoy of the Vampiric Council – eventually joining the main cast for seasons 5 and 6. The show has had plenty of other big-name cameos over its run too, including Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy), Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange), Mark Hamill (Star Wars) and Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld). What We Do in the Shadows seasons 1-6 are available to stream on Disney Plus and BBC iPlayer in the UK. Sign up to Disney Plus from £5.99 per month. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add What We Do in the Shadows 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.
Can You Keep a Secret? cast: Full list of actors in new BBC sitcom
Dawn French and Mark Heap lead the cast of new BBC sitcom Can You Keep a Secret?
Dawn French is back on BBC One and iPlayer with a brand new sitcom, where she plays a strong-willed woman in the middle of a risky criminal scheme. Can You Keep a Secret? follows alleged widow Debbie Fendon (French), who is secretly hiding her very-much-alive husband William (Mark Heap) in the attic. Her intention is to claim on his life insurance and give them the carefree lifestyle that they've yet to experience, but pulling off the con proves a lot more difficult than imagined. In the first episode, their anxious son Harry (Craig Roberts) is let into the big secret, forcing him to decide whether or not to tip off his wife, police officer Neha (Mandip Gill). If you're interested in the high-concept premise, read on for your full introduction to the Can You Keep a Secret? cast right here (and check out our review for the verdict on whether it's worth watching). Can You Keep a Secret? cast: Full list of actors in new BBC sitcom Here's an overview of the key players in Can You Keep a Secret? – read on for more detailed profiles on each character and actor, including where you might have seen them before. Dawn French as Debbie Fendon Mark Heap as William Fendon Craig Roberts as Harold 'Harry' Fendon Mandip Gill as Neha Fendon Paul Chahidi as Clive Heather Seymour as Jean Geraldine McNulty as Pamela Shola Adewusi as Billie Gregory Gudgeon as Pigfish Sam Battersea as PC Susan Dawn French plays Debbie Fendon Who is Debbie Fendon? Debbie is a woman who has recently been widowed – at least, that's what she's telling people. The truth is that her husband, William, was mistakenly declared dead, but she is keeping up the ruse in order to claim on his life insurance. She sees herself as something of a Robin Hood-figure, somewhat radicalised by seeing William's health cover stripped away after his diagnosis with Parkinson's disease. However, she sometimes pushes her behaviour to the very edge of excusability. Speaking of her latest role, French said: "I could see that she's one of those people that absolutely believes she's always right. I don’t think I’ve ever done that in my life, been sat firmly in that righteous place the way Debbie is. I may have often imagined that I could be right, but I’ll err on the side of thinking, 'I'm probably wrong about this'. Debbie just doesn't have that anxiety or filter. "She's made a split decision in a mad moment, and once the decision is made, unless she's prepared to go to prison, she knows she'd better man up and deal with it." What else has Dawn French been in? One of the most recognisable faces in British comedy, French rose to stardom in a comedy partnership with Jennifer Saunders, with whom she currently presents the Audible podcast Titting About. She went on to star in all-time great sitcom The Vicar of Dibley, with other credits including Psychoville, Roger & Val Have Just Got In, and The Trouble with Maggie Cole. On the big screen, French and Saunders appeared together in Kenneth Branagh's Death on the Nile. Mark Heap plays William Fendon Who is William Fendon? William is Debbie's husband of many years. Together, they have one son – Harold – who genuinely believed his father to have died weeks earlier. In reality, he has been hiding away in the loft, allowing Debbie to claim on his life insurance. Unfortunately, he may not be willing to do so in perpetuity, which raises serious questions about the long-term viability of the scam. William also lives with Parkinson's disease, which is an added complication to their stressful situation. What else has Mark Heap been in? Heap is a prolific name in the world of British comedy, with credits including Brass Eye, Big Train, Spaced, Green Wing and Lark Rise to Candleford. In 2011, he originated one of his most popular characters, playing intrusive and eccentric neighbour Jim Bell in Channel 4's Friday Night Dinner. More recently, he's been seen in Upstart Crow, The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin and ITV1's Piglets. Craig Roberts plays Harold 'Harry' Fendon Who is Harry Fendon? Harry is the son of Debbie and William. His mental health has recently taken a turn for the worse, as he spent a significant period grieving for his father. Imagine his shock, then, when he discovers that dear old dad never died at all – and his mother was in on the deception! It would be a lot for anyone to handle, but particularly the highly-strung Harry, who needs to decide whether to become complicit in his parents' con. "His mum Debbie doesn't give him a chance to breathe, really," said Roberts of his latest role. "She's constantly on his back about stuff, and I think that's where a lot of the comedy comes from. Even when he makes a joke, he's making the wrong joke. I think the relationship throughout the series is him getting to know them a lot more, really, when their backs are up against it, and then them all rallying together to fix it." What else has Craig Roberts been in? Roberts' career started as a child actor, when he bagged early roles in CBBC favourites The Story of Tracy Beaker and Young Dracula. He went on to star in Richard Ayoade's directorial debut Submarine, which earned him a BAFTA Cymru award, before a stint across the pond working on the likes of Bad Neighbours, 22 Jump Street and Prime Video's Red Oaks. Most recently, he co-starred in Apple TV comedy series Still Up. Roberts has also taken the director's chair for British films Just Jim, Eternal Beauty and The Phantom of the Open. Mandip Gill plays Neha Fendon Who is Neha Fendon? Neha is Harry's wife and a police officer. Her occupation makes her a serious danger to Debbie and William, who have so far managed to carry out their scam under her nose. Can they keep it up? On her new character, Gill said: "I think she has a lot of humility, and she sees a lot of good in people, whether they are doing weird and wonderful things. She doesn't just want to go around arresting people. That's not really how she works. She's in with the community and she can see the good in everyone." What else has Mandip Gill been in? Gill's breakout role came on Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, where she played Phoebe McQueen over a period of about three years. She later bagged the role of Yasmin 'Yaz' Khan on Doctor Who, a companion and later love interest to the Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whittaker), which proved to be another long-running gig. Since departing the sci-fi drama, Gill has been seen in Apple TV's Suspicion as well as 5 dramas Curfew and Cooper & Fry. Paul Chahidi plays Clive Who is Clive? Clive is the manager of the local bowls club. What else has Paul Chahidi been in? Chahidi previously worked with Can You Keep a Secret? creator Simon Mayhew-Archer on This Country, where he played Reverend Francis Seaton – who looked out for the hapless Mucklowes. He is currently starring in the long-awaited second season of The Night Manager as Basil, an ally to intelligence agent Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston). Heather Seymour plays Jean Who is Jean? Jean is a neighbour to the Fendons and a member of the so-called 'widow club', which Debbie has fraudulently joined. She is also blind. Geraldine McNulty plays Pamela Who is Pamela? Another of the Fendons' nosey neighbours, who could well pose a threat to their con. What else has Geraldine McNulty been in? McNulty played the villainous Mrs Raven in BBC One's superhero sitcom My Hero. Shola Adewusi plays Billie Who is Billie? Another member of the 'widow club', Billie is a friend to Debbie, who tends to fall asleep during her visits due to narcolepsy. What else has Shola Adewusi been in? Adewusi's past credits include Sky's In The Long Run, Channel 4's Chewing Gum, and acclaimed family film Paddington 2. Gregory Gudgeon plays Pigfish Who is Pigfish? Pigfish is the nickname given to a troubled local man, who has a habit of being picked up by police due to his outlandish behaviour. What else has Gregory Gudgeon been in? Gudgeon has recently appeared in Prime Video's The Wheel of Time and Disney Plus drama A Small Light, as well as acclaimed films Nosferatu and All Quiet on the Western Front. Sam Battersea plays PC Susan Who is PC Susan? She is Neha's colleague on the local police force. What else has Sam Battersea been in? You may recognise her from recent appearances in Bridgerton, where she played Lady Barragan. Can You Keep a Secret? premieres on BBC One and iPlayer on Wednesday 7th January 2026. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add Can You Keep a Secret? 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.
Can You Keep a Secret? review: A sitcom with plenty to like, except good jokes
A talented cast, including comedy icons Dawn French and Mark Heap, can't salvage the gags – but there are other reasons to tune in...
It's very difficult for me to write this review, since I recently joked with Dawn French that anyone who doesn't like Can You Keep a Secret? should be "ashamed" (see video, above). But also, because I genuinely want to like it, more so than I actually do. Undoubtedly, French is a national treasure, teamed here with a charming cast that includes comedy veteran Mark Heap (Friday Night Dinner), Doctor Who star Mandip Gill and ex-CBBC staple turned indie filmmaker Craig Roberts (Still Up). What's more, the series takes poignant inspiration from the real life of creator Simon Mayhew-Archer, whose father (The Vicar of Dibley co-writer Paul) lives with Parkinson's disease – as does Heap's character, William Fendon. This underlying condition, combined with the handiwork of a farcically ineffective doctor, leads to his mistakenly being declared dead in the sitcom's prologue, allowing widow wife Debbie (French) to claim fraudulently on his life insurance. While the tone of Can You Keep a Secret? is pretty daft, its nonchalant handling of living with serious illness provides a sturdy emotional anchor that keeps you on the side of the Fendons – even in moments of moral ambiguity. Mayhew-Archer maintains a genuine sense of danger too, as Debbie and William risk a lengthy prison sentence should their scheme be detected by even their own daughter-in-law, Neha (Gill), who just so happens to be a police officer. Each episode builds up to a last-minute twist, setting up another storm for the family to weather next time, with the whole thing playing a bit like a quaint British spin on Disney Plus phenomenon Only Murders in the Building. So what's the problem? Well, to be frank, it's just not very funny. For as much potential as there is in the premise and cast, it's largely squandered in scripts that rely heavily on basic gags, whether that's a broad range of bodily functions, a few recurring naughty words, or Debbie and William's meandering banter. By virtue of being a genre hybrid, incorporating elements of mystery and thriller, there are more reasons to tune in than just the jokes – but French and Heap are such strong comedic talents that this is a tough pill to swallow. Conversely, Can You Keep a Secret? is a comedy first and foremost, which spends a lot of time trying to make you laugh, so the relatively low hit rate is a problem that can't be entirely ignored. If the show finds an audience, there's enough potential on display here to warrant another go at making it work – but for now, I'm afraid ashamed to say, this insurance fraud sitcom is yet to pay out. Can You Keep a Secret? premieres on BBC One and iPlayer on Wednesday 7th January 2026. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add Can You Keep a Secret? 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.
How Dawn French sitcom Can You Keep a Secret? tackles illness stories in a very different way
Living with a long-term illness isn't all "doom and gloom" – as the new BBC series demonstrates.
The cast of Can You Keep a Secret? have praised the value of the sitcom's distinctly light-hearted depiction of living with illness, explaining why it's just as "truthful" as darker approaches to the topic. The high-concept sitcom follows longtime married couple Debbie (Dawn French) and William Fendon (Mark Heap), who attempt to pull off lucrative life insurance fraud after the latter is mistakenly declared dead. A key motivator in this risky decision is William's Parkinson's disease, which the family has struggled to cope with after their health insurance provider declined to cover the condition. The latter part of the story hits close to home for creator Simon Mayhew-Archer, whose father Paul (a fellow screenwriter known for The Vicar of Dibley) is currently living with Parkinson's – but keeping a comical outlook on his experience. In an interview with RadioTimes.com, Heap explained: "Paul makes light of it himself as a way of coping and just because he's a nice bloke and finds the humour in things. "It's a strange thing to have in a comedy," he acknowledged, "but it's not the main thing. It's incidental. I suppose, comedically, the good thing about it is that William does use [his illness] for emotional blackmail." Can You Keep a Secret? co-star French interjected: "[But] Debbie doesn't let him get away with much of it." In her eyes, the "brutal" candidness Debbie reserves for William is a result of being "comfortably married for a long time", but Heap suggests that it's also a truthful reflection of Simon's relationship with his father. Co-star Mandip Gill, who plays daughter-in-law Neha, added: "He's telling it in a really truthful way for what he sees happening at home... There's so many layers to these health conditions that it would be unfair to say it's all doom and gloom." In addition to Parkinson's, Can You Keep a Secret? also touches lightly on mental health through the character of Harold (Craig Roberts), the long-suffering son of Debbie and William, who is diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Similarly, Roberts praised the show for depicting mental health issues in a realistic way that acknowledges how life can still be "fun" (as well as mundane). "Comedy is just a great vehicle to get into more serious issues, which we are more accustomed to now – talking about stuff like anxiety and mental health," he explained. "If we can have that layer in there, while also having a bloody good time, then I guess it's important." Can You Keep a Secret? premieres on BBC One and iPlayer on Wednesday 7th January 2026. Add Can You Keep a Secret? 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 Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Emily in Paris future confirmed after Gabriel cliffhanger left show eyeing move to new location
Less than three weeks after the fifth season of hit Netflix series Emily in Paris debuted, the show's future has now been confirmed, with Lily Collins and the rest of the cast set to return for season 6. The new was announced with a short video, which sees Collins walking towards a phone camera, before a zoom out reveals it is on a tripod behind a croissant. That croissant has a number six candle sticking out of it. Fans will no doubt be delighted that the series is returning, not least because it will have a lot of cliffhangers to pick up on from the end of season 5. The show's most recent finale, saw Emily break up with Marcello, before receiving a postcard from Gabriel asking her to join him in Greece. Whether she takes him up on the offer, and the show moves to Greece for season 6, remains to be seen. Collins said in an interview with Deadline: "The thing that’s interesting about [Season 5] is, instead of it being open-ended for Emily, Emily is cool. She is fine. She is actually more concerned at work with what Princess Jane is bringing to the table. "She’s great with how she handled things with Gabriel and Marcello. It’s Gabriel that’s unsure, and I love that there’s a shift there." Other cliffhangers saw Ashley Park's Mindy get engaged to Nico, despite her feelings for Alfie, and the continuing financial troubles of Agence Grateau. View oEmbed on the source website Emily in Paris has been a huge success since it debuted in 2020, and creator Darren Star was recently awarded the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour), France’s highest civilian honour from French President Emmanuel Macron. Speaking at the ceremony, Macron said: "I know, dear Darren, that this achievement means a lot to you, as you have made this series your love letter to France. "The way you view our country inspires millions to visit France, to return time and time again... And for those who already live here, Emily in Paris is an opportunity to see the beauty of our country with fresh eyes. For all this, I warmly thank you." Emily in Paris seasons 1-5 are streaming now on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Add Emily in Paris to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Dawn French and Mark Heap reveal emotional true story that inspired Can You Keep a Secret?
Heap's character shares similarities with a legend of British comedy.
Dawn French's new BBC sitcom Can You Keep a Secret? might be jam-packed full of jokes, but the story has its roots in a difficult reality for series creator Simon Mayhew-Archer. The story follows Debbie Fenton (French) and her husband, William (Mark Heap), as they attempt to pull off a life insurance scam after the latter is mistakenly declared dead. An added complication is that William is living with Parkinson's disease and, at points, the show addresses specific symptoms that he suffers as a result, with this aspect of the character reflecting the experiences of Mayhew-Archer's own father. A fellow TV writer, Paul Mayhew-Archer previously worked with French as a writer on The Vicar of Dibley, and has been a strong campaigner for Parkinson's awareness since his diagnosis in 2011 – earning an MBE for his work in that area. In an interview with RadioTimes.com, Heap acknowledged that Paul suffers some "horrible" effects of the disease, but "makes light of it himself, just because he's a nice bloke and finds the humour in things". That lightness is reflected in the character of William, but Can You Keep a Secret? also addresses a major issue of Parkinson's disease beyond the symptoms themselves – that health insurance usually doesn't cover it. This lack of financial support becomes a motivating factor for Debbie and William's scam, with French finding some sympathy in her character's quandary, even if she believes Debbie has a "skewed moral centre". "I think, in Debbie's head, she feels a bit like Robin Hood," she explained. "That she's stealing from the baddies and giving to the goodies, which is their own family – and others! She has definitely given money away [too]." Their scheme doesn't seem entirely selfish, French argued, "especially when you've been shafted, like people are when they've got Parkinson's disease, which is something that Simon knows a lot about with his dad". Parkinson's UK offers information on a few specialist insurance providers who may be able to help, but the charity acknowledges it can be "difficult" to find a suitable policy for the illness. Paul is continuing to work with the condition, recently writing a romcom for the BBC titled But When We Dance, following two people living with Parkinson's who meet at a dance class. Laura Linney (Ozark) and Rhys Ifans (House of the Dragon) will star. Discussing the project, he said: "In 2011, when I was 58 years old, I was told I had Parkinson's. It's incurable and it makes many of the things I do – walking, talking, smiling – increasingly difficult. "But though I have reasons to hate Parkinson's, it has also brought me opportunities I wouldn't have missed for the world. The latest of these is the chance to work with the brilliant director John Madden and wonderful actors on bringing this story to life. Paul added: "So, thank you Parkinson's. My fingers may fumble, my mouth may mumble and each step I take may result in a stumble. But I cannot grumble." Can You Keep a Secret? premieres on BBC One and iPlayer on Wednesday 7th January 2026. Add Can You Keep a Secret? 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 Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Dawn French reveals why she had to star in new comedy Can You Keep a Secret and talks sitcom's emotive real-life inspiration
Dawn French and Mark Heap team up for a sitcom that deals with Parkinson’s disease, insurance fraud and intimacy in later life…
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. Dawn French was adamant she didn’t want to star in another sitcom. Adamant. So, when her old friend Paul Mayhew-Archer, the co-writer of The Vicar of Dibley, asked her to star in his son Simon’s first sitcom, her heart sank. “Good sitcoms are as rare as hen’s teeth,” she says. “I honestly didn’t even want to read it, but Paul is very charming and he’s unsung in many ways. All the credit seems to go to Richard Curtis, but they definitely co-wrote Vicar and he was a very valuable part of it. So, I thought I’d have to reply and be kind about declining this script.” It may not have helped that French first met Simon as an 11-year-old who’d accompanied his dad to a Vicar read-through. But since then Simon has become a producer, making the award-winning This Country starring Charlie and Daisy May Cooper. Meanwhile, Paul has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. That diagnosis was the inspiration for Simon’s first script, Can You Keep a Secret?, a sitcom about a Parkinson’s sufferer called William who – through a set of farcical circumstances – is accidentally declared dead. His wife Debbie decides to keep up the pretence to claim money on their life insurance, and what unfolds is a six-part comedy about the family battling to keep their secret from a set of eccentric neighbours in the cosy village where they live. View oEmbed on the source website “I read it and I thought, actually, this is fantastic,” French says. “It’s about an oddball family who pull off a massive crime, but that’s almost by-the-by. Simon’s largely writing about his dad, who is cheerful and funny about having Parkinson’s, which is a devastating disease. “I loved how small Simon’s script was. It’s about this little family, and I could see Simon’s heart in it, all the love for his mum and dad, and the craziness of what real families are like, how ugly and awkward they can be.” So she agreed to play Debbie, and was thrilled when Friday Night Dinner and Green Wing star Mark Heap was cast as William, alongside Craig Roberts as their son Harry and Doctor Who’s Mandip Gill as Harry’s wife, Neha. Heap says that part of the role’s appeal was reuniting with French: the pair had already played a married couple in ITV’s 2020 comedy drama, The Trouble with Maggie Cole, and remained friends ever since. “I really felt I could do something with it,” says Heap. “I loved Simon’s humour. People might ask, ‘Should you be making light of Parkinson’s? It’s not funny, is it?’ But anything can be funny. I did some research and it does become a ghastly disease in later years, and if I had to play that, that would have been a hell of a lot more challenging, not just physically, but it would be harder to make humour out of it. But Paul made a very good documentary about living with Parkinson’s in the early days, and it was sweet and humorous.” He adds with a smile, “Also, taking the job meant living with Dawn as husband and wife for three months. This is a show about people who have tragic flaws, and I knew Dawn had lots of flaws she could bring to set.” French says she was never concerned about making light of Parkinson’s, adding, “There’s a sort of permission, because Paul’s involved. He came to read-throughs and absolutely approves of it. Simon and Paul are a family that survives through humour, and they’ve had a lot to survive.” Still, Can You Keep a Secret? has a big moral quandary at its heart: will audiences root for this family who are committing a crime and lying to their friends? The case is not clear-cut. Firstly, the family haven’t been allowed to claim for William’s treatment on their health insurance, as happens to many in real life, and so they feel ripped off and let down. Secondly, they give some of the pay-out to good causes. “People can easily persuade themselves, ‘Insurance companies are all trying to rip us off, so it’s ultimate justice that we keep the money’,” says Heap. “Or, ‘I pay too much tax anyway, so why can’t I have a bit extra?’ It’s moral weakness, but you often root for [William and Debbie] because they’re so charming and because they’re giving money to charity. That’ll be my excuse when I do a bank heist.” “Also, they want the money for their kids, like every set of parents,” adds French. “You want to make sure they’re left with a bit of a cushion, don’t you? But William and Debbie are also tempted along the way with little treats for themselves, like a patio pressure washer and an LED face mask.” French is, of course, best known for her sketch shows with Jennifer Saunders and The Vicar of Dibley, and has reached national treasure status with her twinkly, kind persona. So, I can’t help wondering if she had any reservations about taking on the role of Debbie, who often isn’t an entirely likeable character. “I accept that I do have a reputation as a trustworthy, cardigan-wearing decent human,” she says. “It’s part of the baggage I carry – happy baggage that people imagine I’m a very decent vicar. But even that vicar was greedy, selfish, very rude sometimes and susceptible to weakness with lust and sins: it was just wrapped up with a lovely bow. It was a show where we talked about bestiality, a show where quite shocking things happened: more shocking and edgy than almost anything else I did. “I’ve done dramas where I’ve played murdering nurses and lots of other edgy sketches with Jennifer, but I do accept I have that ‘decent’ reputation. That doesn’t mean I can’t explore this, though.” Another point of humour in the new series comes from William and Debbie talking openly about their sex life, which is mortifying for their son Harry. I tell French I find it refreshing to see an older couple having a healthy sex life, and she agrees. “I’m an older person and I might not talk about it much, but I’m certainly still trying to do it,” she says. “Why would it be off the table? It’s on the table for ever, I hope, unless something prevents it. Perhaps less on the table, more on a comfy horizontal bed at the correct height, these days!” The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Can You Keep a Secret? begins at 9.30pm on Wednesday 7 January on BBC One and iPlayer. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Office icon's new comedy series finally gets BBC release window confirmed
Small Prophets will air on BBC Two and iPlayer.
It's been eight months since Small Prophets, a brand-new BBC comedy written, directed by and starring Mackenzie Crook, was first announced, and since then fans have been on tenterhooks waiting to see the series. Now, finally, it appears we're getting to close to the show's release, with the series set to launch on BBC Two and iPlayer in early February 2026. Small Prophets will be the first series created by Mackenzie since the end of Detectorists, the BBC comedy which ran from 2014 to 2022 and in which he starred opposite Toby Jones. The six-part series, which also stars Pearce Quigley, Lauren Patel, Sir Michael Palin, Sophie Willan, Jon Pointing and Paul Kaye, follows Quigley's character Michael Sleep, an eccentric widower who works in a DIY store. The synopsis for the series says: "One day Brian shares an old recipe involving rainwater, horse manure and more than a little alchemy. With recipe in hand, Sleep sets out (albeit with some scepticism) to create Homunculi – magical prophesying spirits that can predict the future. "The series incorporates visually stunning animation elements throughout as we tell a story of friendships and hope, the magical and the mundane, and where secrets and lies lurk in a suburban cul-de-sac." Crook said in a statement: "Like all my best ideas, this one has been percolating for nearly a decade and is finally ready to see the light of day. "It’s wonderful to be working again with my friends [producer] Gill Isles and Pearce Quigley and to realise a long-term ambition of collaborating with animators Ainslie Henderson and Will Anderson." Meanwhile, Isles added: "I’m absolute thrilled to be working with Mackenzie again on such a funny, beautiful and unique show." Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy, said: "BBC Two viewers are in for a treat with BAFTA winner Mackenzie Crook’s Small Prophets. "This magical comedy series brims with wit and wonder – from Mackenzie himself and Sir Michael Palin to Sophie Willan, Pearce Quigley, Lauren Patel and Jon Pointing – and is backed by a top-tier creative team and stunning animation. "It’s British comedy at its finest." Small Prophets will air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer in February 2026. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Jennifer Aniston raw, unfiltered and as you've never seen her before: "It's irksome to be called beautiful"
This is the one where Jennifer Aniston gave one of her most candid interviews.
It's the summer of 1997. Friends has been airing for almost three years and its popularity is almost unprecedented. Jennifer Aniston, along with her five co-leads, is one of the most famous actors in the world. Still relatively early in her Hollywood career, she sits down with Radio Times to talk life, love and fame – and proceeds to give one of her rawest interviews to date. This interview was originally published in Radio Times magazine in July 1997. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2030/12/GettyImages-138427197-39b7d1b.jpg" width="2407" height="3000" alt="Jennifer Aniston with shoulder-length layered hair and subtle highlights crouches on the floor, resting her chin lightly on her hand. She wears a sleeveless grey vest, dark wide-leg pants, and black lace-up shoes. She looks directly at the camera with a calm, confident expression against a plain light background." title="Friends star Jennifer Aniston" /> She is known the world over as rich-kid Rachel from Friends, instantly recognisable on account of that haircut. But, unlike her screen counterpart, Jennifer Aniston hasn’t had it easy. Cultural phenomena come in all shapes and sizes, and America’s First Haircut must be one of the most enchanting as she curls herself foetally, knees tucked insouciantly under her chin, in a London hotel suite previously “cased” by her minder, to discuss life and other imponderables, such as success. “It’s a bit of a shock for anyone,” says Aniston, who plays Rachel, the rich girl turned waitress in Friends. “I don’t think it’s changed me, although others assume it has, and treat me differently. I’m still the same person – but a bit happier because I’m doing what I love, and have a healthier bank balance. "Some actors strive for fame, but I find it surreal and silly. When I see myself on a magazine cover I don’t think it’s me – just someone doing a job, who’s all glammed-up. I find it boring having to talk about myself. It’s amazing that all of a sudden people think you must be interesting when, in reality, you’re just like everyone else on the street.” She smokes a lot, fiddles with her hair, clutching strands and rolling them through her fingers. I’d resolved it was too naff to mention “the Rachel” – her shaggy, oval makeover, which became a worldwide craze – but her tonsorial activity prompts me to mutter how embarrassed I am to ask, but… “The hair? You want to talk about that? Let’s move on. It only happened because Chris, my brilliant hairdresser, cut it too short one day by accident. He then turned it into the same sort of cut I’d seen before, but suddenly it was this ‘thing’ which caused a frenzy. Very flattering, but it went too far, don’t you think? Hair is hair.” And Friends is Friends, a $500-million-a-year milch cow (in syndication fees) for its producers, watched by thirty million Americans and by up to five million British viewers, a sitcom whose six stereotyped flatmates – one for all prejudices and aspirations – you either love or hate. It’s very politically correct (although there are no Black actors in it yet) and either a sassy commentary on aspirational twenty-something urban life or a pathetic fantasy land of slick one-liners and well-rehearsed double-take facial expressions. Rachel is the ditsy, sexy one in short skirts and bare midriff, having an iffy relationship with Ross (David Schwimmer), a shy palaeontologist whose ex-wife lives with a lesbian. “It’s only recently I’ve been able to watch the show and not run away screaming at the sight of myself. I’m not so whiny as Rachel, and I didn’t grow up rich. Our values are different, but there are certain similarities – love of clothes. I don’t always wear short skirts and although I’ve bared my midriff once or twice I’m always conscious about not wanting to. It seems unnecessary. "This sex symbol bit is hysterical. It’s so ironic, because I grew up not very confident about my beauty. I was typically Greek with a big ass and boobs. I’ve offended Greeks by talking like that but, my gosh, let’s be frank – all those I know have that sort of figure, and there’s nothing wrong with big boobs and a big bum. But it’s irksome to be called beautiful. Sometimes I feel awful and don’t want to go to the gym ever again in my life. Keeping healthy is so boring.” <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2030/12/GettyImages-143479360-f16e96e.jpg" width="2408" height="3000" alt="Jennifer Aniston with wavy, shoulder-length light brown hair sits on the edge of a fountain, smiling softly toward the camera. She wears a dark sleeveless top and a long, patterned red wrap skirt. Water splashes in the background, and greenery surrounds the fountain, creating a calm outdoor setting." title="Friends star Jennifer Aniston" /> Maybe, now she’s 28, she’d just like to be a Greek housewife? “I’d like to be a fit housewife who can eat whatever she wants and doesn’t have to work out – a sort of miracle.” She has had several well-publicised relationships, but has now settled down with an actor, Tate Donovan, Sandra Bullock’s ex. The couple recently announced their engagement. “We gave each other ‘claddagh’ rings on our first anniversary, with neither of us knowing the other was going to. Very romantic.” She shows me the silver ring, embossed with a heart. “If it faces out, you’re available; if it faces in, it means you’re taken. I’d love to be married, but my generation takes these things slowly, to make sure it’s a good match. That’s smart. I know living in sin is such a thing but, my gosh, how would you ever marry someone without living with them first? It seems insane.” So is she living with him? She giggles. “No. Not yet. I’m frightened of infidelity. I watched my mother dealing with it, and saw the pain. I have yet to experience it myself. I’ll leave them before they do that. It’s like getting sick – something you don’t want to have to deal with, and wouldn’t wish on anyone.” Her father, John, is an actor, and her mother, Nancy, gave up acting and modelling when she had children. The late Telly Savalas (Kojak) was her godfather. Early life, growing up in Manhattan, was blissful until, at nine, her parents separated. “And so began the tragic life of an actor,” she says, ruefully ironic. “I was unhappy because the people I loved were unhappy. I behaved badly in school and, only later, realised I became the class clown so that I’d be sent to the principal’s office. My parents would be told, and that guaranteed I’d get them both in the same room. I enjoyed the attention and created a lot of drama. “Dad told me I wasn’t interesting, which wasn’t great for my confidence. He was as good a father as he could have been – leave it at that. We’re better friends as adults. That’s often the way, which is a shame, isn’t it? I wouldn’t change anything, though. "If you have to deal with traumatic events at a young age your emotions are opened up. They become ‘buttons’ you tap into, and it helps with the job, but I do know creative people who are very dramatic and tragic, and you feel they don’t want to come out of it in case they lose their talent. That’s a trap.” Despite having had a painting shown in the Metropolitan Museum of Art when she was 11, Aniston’s ambition was always to act. “Dad didn’t want me to, but knew if he told me that I’d be even more determined. He warned I wouldn’t make any money and the rejection would rip out my heart. I didn’t believe it. I wanted to find out for myself and prove something to him. "I guess I’m ambitious. I definitely wanted more money than when I was growing up. I couldn’t order a Diet Coke if we went to lunch, nor invite friends. I don’t like the word ‘no’. But the money we earn in Hollywood still blows me away. It’s insane. I suppose, though, we supply a great source of entertainment and escape, and a whole part of our lives is taken away and given out. "I have to worry about security. Some people know where I live, and I wish they didn’t. I didn’t realise that sort of attention came with the dinner, and it almost makes the whole thing not worthwhile. I don’t know what price you put on it.” <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2030/12/GettyImages-138424481-e3cea44.jpg" width="2312" height="3000" alt="Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer stand back-to-back, leaning slightly against each other and smiling at the camera. She has shoulder-length light brown hair and wears a striped long-sleeve top with a shiny silver skirt and dark tights. He has dark, slicked-back hair and is dressed in a brown jacket over dark pants. Both pose confidently against a plain light background." title="Friends stars Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer" /> A hundred thousand dollars an episode? “No. We’re paid less than that. We all earn the same. People would love to hear that we row about money, but it’s awfully boring. We get on so well, have the same sense of humour and there’s a chemistry between us, which is very rare. Sure the show is unreal and you have to suspend your disbelief a tad, but we try to make the stories and characters as dead-on as we can. It could be timeless and continue until we’re all married and living in our own apartments. That would cost a lot of money, because they’d need more sets.” Her path to riches was strewn with failure. “There were many at first,” she recalls. “I did lots of jobs. I was a waitress (a bad one, but I loved it), a receptionist in an advertising agency, and I worked in a skincare centre, an ice-cream parlour – and in telephone marketing. That was awful. I’m the most unaggressive person when it comes to selling, so I phoned friends and quit after a week.” Acting jobs weren’t much better. “There were some awful films and sitcoms. I didn’t know any better, but they devalue your art. Most of them were so bad I don’t remember anything about them.” She was a bit too voluptuously Greek, so she lost 30lb and then the big break came in 1994. “It just sort of happened. I did an audition for Friends, read the script, laughed, went home and, an hour later, had the part.” She’d moved to Los Angeles when she was 20, and lived in a commune in the Hollywood hills. “I didn’t like LA at first. I was a bit of a New York snob. I thought it was all bubblegum, fake boobs and fluff. I assumed they had no culture. Well, they don’t, but I love living there now.” Maybe she’s become fluffy herself? “No, I don’t think that will ever happen.” What about the goddesses? “You might think that’s crazy,” she says, pulling her knees even tighter into her chin, smiling, and lighting another cigarette. At summer and winter solstices, and other significant astrological moments, a group of between seven and twenty of her women friends, who call themselves “the goddesses”, meet in the hills, form a circle which they light with candles and into which they throw personal belongings. “We sit round, play music, talk about what’s happening to us, bang drums, sing songs, eat a big dinner. It’s really wonderful to get a group of women together for an evening to celebrate womanhood. Women are not great to each other a lot of the time – I don’t know why. Insecurity, competition. There’s definitely a lot of jealousy among actresses, because of the limited number of roles and the drive for success. "I’ve been jealous of others, in the sense of, ‘I really wanted that part,’ not ‘I hate them.’ It’s not their fault. Gosh, it might be they just had the right hair colour. It shouldn’t be like that, so we do our circle to make women feel comfortable with women. It’s a mind-blowing experience. There’s so much pressure on women in terms of beauty and status. Although they’re now emerging, they still worry about what’s attractive, and how to keep a man. Men don’t bitch about each other nearly so much.” Basically, I jest, women are still the inferior sex. “Yeah,” she agrees. “I think they are. They shouldn’t be, but so many feel inferior to men. They’re coming out of it, which is why they’re fighting so hard. Shows like Friends can help. We have a sort of ‘circle’ storyline about women burning things belonging to old boyfriends, standing up to them, clearing our closets. That’s part of what viewers enjoy.” <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2011/10/GettyImages-138425601-57dbdc1.jpg" width="3000" height="2408" alt="FRIENDS -- Pictured: (l-r) Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing, Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller, Courteney Cox as Monica Geller, Matt Le Blanc as Joey Tribbiani, Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay (Photo by NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images, TG)" title="Friends" /> It has become so successful there is the obvious pitfall of typecasting. “I don’t think it will happen. It’s all in my control and depends on the choices I make. I couldn’t ever top Friends on TV, so I don’t know if I want to do any more after this. I’d like to make some wonderful films.” At present, she is filming The Object of My Affection with Alan Alda and Nigel Hawthorne, in which she plays a young woman who falls in love with a gay man. “Women often do that, because they can actually communicate with them. I had a big crush on one in high school, and was so sad he wouldn’t give me the time of day. I didn’t realise he was gay until later.” She is often described as the '90s version of Farrah Fawcett, star of the seventies hit Charlie’s Angels – an ominous comparison, as Fawcett had relatively little subsequent success. “Maybe she made incorrect choices. It’s so hard. I realise people wait to watch you fail. They build you up and slash you down. Steven Spielberg told me it’s fascinating how fame and success are followed by demolition. Even if you’re just an actor in a movie, you’re nervous. If you’re in a big, successful show the pressure is magnified. I worry I could be demolished.” Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Amandaland cast: Who stars in the Christmas special?
It’s Christmas, and Amanda is determined to relive the magical Christmases of her childhood — but it proves to be anything but.
This Christmas, Amandaland makes its festive debut – and to mark the occasion, Jennifer Saunders joins the cast as Amanda's Aunt Joan, who is hosting this year. "Amanda and the family head to Aunt Joan’s country house, but the plans change when Mal and Anne tag along and she struggles to recreate the magical Christmases she spent there as a child," the official synopsis reads. "Felicity is increasingly irritated by her sister's constant high spirits", while Anne is "in despair at being separated from her family". Elsewhere, "Mal sees a hidden photo that seems to reveal a deep family secret…" Find a full rundown of the Amandaland Christmas special cast below. Read more: Amandaland's Joanna Lumley teases Jennifer Saunders reunion: 'As far from Edina and Patsy as you can imagine' Amandaland star teases Christmas special reunion for Absolutely Fabulous icons as Jennifer Saunders joins cast Amandaland cast Lucy Punch as Amanda Joanna Lumley as Felicity Philippa Dunne as Anne Samuel Anderson as Mal Jennifer Saunders as Joan Miley Locke as Georgie Alexander Shaw as Manus For more information on the characters and where you've seen the actors who play them before, read on. Lucy Punch plays Amanda <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/02/Amandaland-fb48ab7.jpg" width="4285" height="2857" alt="A man and a woman sit close together on a sofa in an elegant, Christmas-decorated living room, exchanging warm, knowing looks. Festive garlands, framed paintings, and ornaments surround them, with bookshelves and softly lit lamps in the background." title="Amandaland Christmas Special 2025" /> Who is Amanda? Following the events of Motherland, which saw Amanda's marriage break down, she's since moved from Chiswick to a flat in South Harlesdon and is trying to rebuild her life. "The kids are now in high school, and Amanda is starting over," said Punch. "She's probably had a quiet breakdown or meltdown along the way. She's disintegrated somewhat but has galvanised herself, got a blowout, done her nails, bought a new outfit, and is bringing her full Amanda energy to South Harlesden to whip up a storm. "She's trying to recreate what she had but realises it’s impossible without the house, clothes or husband. Despite this, she’s doing her best and doing a pretty good job." What else has Lucy Punch been in? You might have watched her in Bloods, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Ben and Kate, Into the Woods, Bad Teacher and Ella Enchanted. Joanna Lumley plays Felicity Who is Felicity? Amanda's catty mother. "I think it's slightly scratchy, but underneath, it’s very tender," said Lumley of the relationship between Felicity and her daughter. "They do adore each other even though they exasperate one another." What else has Joanna Lumley been in? She's best known for Absolutely Fabulous and The New Avengers. You might also have watched Lumley in Fool Me Once and Finding Alice. Philippa Dunne plays Anne Who is Anne? Amanda's long-suffering "friend" and biggest cheerleader. "When we first see Anne, she's living her best life," said Dunne. "She's had a few years of freedom and things are going really well. She's gone back to work, her kids have grown up, and she’s had the chance to spread her wings, be her own woman, and do her own thing. "She’s just in a really good place. Then Amanda comes back into the picture..." What else has Philippa Dunne been in? You might have watched her in The Woman in the Wall, Derry Girls and This Is Going to Hurt. Samuel Anderson plays Mal Who is Mal? A landscaper who lives below Amanda, which is exactly how it should be (her words, not ours). He has a teenage son with his ex-wife, who is now in another relationship. Could there be romance brewing between Mal and Amanda? What else has Samuel Anderson been in? His credits include Gavin & Stacey, Emmerdale, The History Boys, Another Life, Trollied, Witless and Doctor Who. Jennifer Saunders plays Joan Who is Joan? Amanda's aunt, who is seemingly despised by her sister Felicity. Joan is hosting Christmas this year at her Cotswolds manor, which promises to be a complete disaster. What else has Jennifer Saunders been in? She’s best known for Absolutely Fabulous alongside Joanna Lumley, and for her comedy work with Dawn French. Additional cast includes: Amanda's children Georgie and Manus are played by Miley Locke (There She Goes) and Alexander Shaw (Odd Squad). Amandaland season 2 will arrive on BBC One and iPlayer in 2026. 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.
Finding Father Christmas review: Wait, is this for kids or not?
Riddle me this: Finding Father Christmas is a family-friendly comedy special, airing pre-watershed on Christmas Eve, but I would argue is too risky for some kids to sit through. So, who is it for then? The feature-length one-off stars Lenny Rush (Am I Being Unreasonable?) as 16-year-old Chris, who still believes in Father Christmas, despite his father, Nick (James Buckley), feeling that he should have grown out of such festive whimsy. When his dad sits him down to finally tell the 'truth', it sets Chris off on an adventure to prove him wrong, tapping into the expertise of TV's intelligentsia, including Stephen Fry, Professor Hannah Fry and Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock. In a nutshell, Finding Father Christmas is everything you expect it to be – the jokes are a bit lame, the schmaltz is off the charts and the celebrity cameos are forced. But come on, I'd have to be a real Scrooge to give it less than three stars! At the very least, Rush remains on track to achieve 'national treasure' status before the end of his teenage years and holds this hastily assembled ship together with another charismatic turn. The emphasis is on 'hasty', though: this whole feature was filmed in two weeks and, as a result, often has the look and feel of a Comic Relief sketch, i.e. good enough to serve a short-term purpose, but not exactly built with a vision to last. We can look past these shortcomings in the spirit of the season, or perhaps even in a mulled wine-induced stupor, but the misgiving that persists is my general confusion over who this is for. Its early time slot on Christmas Eve and all-ages tone would suggest 'everyone', but surely that changes if you have any kids for whom the Father Christmas question hasn't yet come up or been definitively settled. Finding Father Christmas sits in a strange place where it alludes to the idea that Father Christmas could – or maybe does – exist, even getting its guest experts to explain how in educational monologues (that I struggled to grasp, to be honest). However, down-on-his-luck dad Nick readily denies the existence of Father Christmas throughout, so surely that could be confusing for any kids who are yet to even start broaching this topic. My conclusion is that families with children can probably watch this together, so long as the children are too young to really know what's going on, old enough to be confronted with these questions, or have never believed in Father Christmas at any point. But maybe I'm overthinking it. After all, virtually inescapable festive films like Elf and Miracle on 34th Street have addressed the topic of disbelief in Father Christmas, so I suppose the ideas are out there and probably ignored, to some extent, by younger kids. Ultimately, I trust that parents (a group that I am not a member of) will be able to judge for themselves whether Finding Father Christmas is the right viewing option for their child. For Channel 4's sake, I hope my doubts are merely the ravings of a lunatic, because there isn't much reason to watch this simplistic special unless you have kids to entertain – and therein lies the real paradox that needs explaining. Finding Father Christmas premieres on Channel 4 at 7:30pm on Christmas Eve. Add Finding Father Christmas 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 Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Finding Father Christmas cast: Full list of actors in Channel 4 special
Lenny Rush and James Buckley lead the cast of a brand new festive feature.
Channel 4 is marking the festive season with a brand new feature-length comedy special, which brings together a number of comedy icons as well as experts to assemble a unique answer to the Father Christmas question. Lenny Rush (Am I Being Unreasonable?) leads the cast as Chris, a 16-year-old boy who still believes in Father Christmas, despite his own dad feeling that it's about time he left such notions behind. But Chris's belief runs too deep to be shattered by a few naysayers, so he sets off on a fast-paced adventure to prove his dad wrong, relying on insight from academic minds including Stephen Fry, Professor Hannah Fry, and Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock. Together, will they discover that there's more to the closely-guarded story of Father Christmas than meets the eye? Read on for your introduction to the key characters in Finding Father Christmas, which premieres tonight at 7:30pm on Channel 4. Read more: What's worth watching on Christmas Eve? Finding Father Christmas cast: Full list of actors in Channel 4 special Here's an overview of the key players in Finding Father Christmas – read on for more details on each character and the actor playing them, including where you might have seen them before. Lenny Rush plays Chris James Buckley plays Chris's dad Ele McKenzie plays Holly Stephen Fry as Himself Rochenda Sandall as Georgina Professor Hannah Fry as Herself Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock as Herself Jason Fox as Himself Greg Davies as Father Christmas Lenny Rush plays Chris Who is Chris? Chris is a 16-year-old boy, who still believes in Father Christmas. He is distraught when his father tries to tell him that Father Christmas isn't real, so he sets about proving him wrong by reaching out to a series of famous experts. What else has Lenny Rush been in? Rush is best known for his roles in BBC comedy-drama Am I Being Unreasonable?, for which he earned a BAFTA TV Award, and sci-fi favourite Doctor Who (appearing in seasons 14 and 15). He has also served as presenter for Children in Need, among other television appearances as himself. James Buckley plays Chris's dad Who is Chris's dad? Chris's dad is a postman who has been raising his son alone, following the death of his wife a couple of years earlier. She is still dearly missed, but Chris has encouraged him to get back on the dating scene. "Nick's at a point where everything's gone wrong for him, and he's probably the least Christmassy person on the planet," said Buckley. "But it's fine, because his son is probably the most Christmassy person on the planet. "And I would genuinely say, if Christmas was a person, it would be Lenny Rush. He's the happiest fellow I've ever met in my life, and brilliant at what he does." What else has James Buckley been in? Buckley broke out in the cast of Channel 4 sitcom The Inbetweeners. He went on to bad further roles in Only Fools and Horses prequel Rock & Chips, White Gold and, most recently, 5's Finders Keepers. Ele McKenzie plays Holly Who is Holly? Holly is Chris's cousin, who is quick to be convinced by conspiracy theories. What else has Ele McKenzie been in? McKenzie has previously appeared in comedies Funboys and Everyone Else Burns. Stephen Fry as Himself Who is Stephen Fry? Stephen Fry appears as a version of himself in the special. He applies his academic knowledge to a working theory of how Father Christmas operates. What else has Stephen Fry been in? Fry recently appeared as a contestant on The Celebrity Traitors, where he was considered a 'big dog' by his fellow participants. Previously, he has acted in the likes of Gosford Park, Alice in Wonderland, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, and the final two movies in The Hobbit trilogy. Fry is also known as an author and for his 13-year stint hosting panel show QI. Rochenda Sandall as Georgina Who is Georgina? Georgina is a neighbour of Chris and his dad. She is also one of Chris's school teachers. What else has Rochenda Sandall been in? Sandall currently stars in BBC One comedy Amandaland, where she plays Fi. Previously, she has taken roles in Line of Duty, Small Axe, Doctor Who: Flux and Apple TV thriller Hijack, among other credits. Professor Hannah Fry as Herself Who is Professor Hannah Fry? Hannah appears as herself, a prominent mathematician (and podcast fanatic). What else has Professor Hannah Fry been in? Fry has presented various factual television shows, and recently became the co-host of Goalhanger podcast The Rest is Science. Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock as Herself Who is Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock? Dame Maggie appears as herself, helping Chris in her role as an esteemed scientist and educator. "I was a little out of my depth," said Dame Aderin-Pocock, of working on the feature-length special. "I am used to filming documentaries but dramas are on a different level. "Although I was playing myself, some acting was involved. I have always loved acting but doing it professionally was a bit nerve wracking. Also, as a dyslexic, remembering exact lines in a script is hard for me. "But everyone was brilliant, making me feel relaxed and supported, [and] letting me put things into my own words. So 10/10, would love to do again." What else has Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock been in? The academic has made television appearances on CBBC and CBeebies as well as guest spots on the likes of Would I Lie to You?, Richard Osman's House of Games and QI. Jason Fox as Himself Who is Jason Fox? Fox also appears as himself, with guidance for Chris on his search for the truth. What else has Jason Fox been in? Fox is best known for Channel 4 competition series SAS: Who Dares Wins. Asim Chaudhry as Garden Centre Father Christmas <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/12/finding-father-christmas-asim-chaudhry-a5c3a9b.jpg" width="2401" height="1600" alt="Asim Chaudhry stars in Finding Father Christmas; in this scene, his character is seen in a partial Father Christmas costume, missing a hat and with the white beard pulled down, while sitting at a table and talking to people sat on either side" title="finding-father-christmas-asim-chaudhry" /> Who is Garden Centre Father Christmas? A Father Christmas impersonator, who has grown tired of Chris's questions. "He's hungover and doesn't have time for people," said Chaudhry of his brief role. What else has Asim Chaudhry been in? Chaudhry broke through in the cast of BBC sitcom People Just Do Nothing, where he played self-described entrepreneur Chabuddy G. More recent credits include The Cleaner, The Sandman, Industry, Black Mirror and Apple TV's The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin. Greg Davies as Father Christmas Who is Father Christmas? The man at the centre of this mystery. What else has Greg Davies been in? Davies starred alongside Buckley in The Inbetweeners, where he played intimidating headteacher Mr Gilbert. More recently, he's become best known as the Taskmaster in Channel 4's comedy game show of the same name, which he co-presents alongside Alex Horne. Other notable works include Cuckoo, Man Down and The Cleaner. Finding Father Christmas premieres on Channel 4 at 7:30pm on Christmas Eve. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add Finding Father Christmas 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.
Who was Diego Borella? Emily in Paris tribute explained
Creator Darren Star said Borella would "live on with the show and in all of our hearts because he was part of the Emily in Paris family".
Emily in Paris is back with season 5, with all 10 episodes available to watch now on Netflix. The new instalment sees our titular American heroine (Lilly Collins) heading up the Rome office for Agence Grateau, while also settling into domestic life with her new beau, Marcello. However, in typical Emily in Paris fashion, the honeymoon phase doesn’t last long and chaos soon ensues for everyone, with the season ending with loads of cliffhangers. And the plot isn’t the only thing that’s left fans with questions. Just before the credits rolled at the end of episode 10, a dedication appeared that read: "In memory of Diego Borella." So, who is Diego Borella? And why did Emily in Paris pay tribute to him?Read on for everything you need to know about Borella. Who was Diego Borella? Diego Borella was a third assistant director on Emily in Paris, who passed away in August while filming season 5 in Italy. Borella also worked on the Italian medical drama Doc – Nelle tue mani (In Your Hands). What happened to Diego Borella? Borella died on the set of Emily in Paris season 5 in August this year. He was 47. According to La Repubblica, on-site medics attempted to resuscitate him at Venice's Hotel Danieli, where a scene was due to be filmed, but he died at the scene after "a sudden heart attack". Filming was temporarily suspended, with Paramount Television Studios — which produces the show for Netflix — sharing the following statement with multiple outlets: "We are deeply saddened to confirm the sudden passing of a member of the Emily in Paris production family. Our hearts go out to the individual’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time." Speaking about the tragedy at a recent press conference, creator Darren Star said: "We were all there when it happened. We were filming that day — it came at the very, very end of our filming. And I think it hit us very hard because it was tragic and shocking and sad. And he was part of our Italian crew, and he was part of our family of the show." He continued: "And we really, I think, pride ourselves that we feel like a family. So it was a real loss." Star added that Borella's memory would "live on with the show and in all of our hearts because he was part of the Emily in Paris family." View Green Video on the source website Read more: Has Emily in Paris been renewed for season 6? Emily in Paris creator reveals why key character hasn't returned for season 5 - and why "fun Gabriel" is now back Emily in Paris season 5 is available to watch now on Netflix. 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.
Peep Show star says a revival was planned 10 years after finale – and could still happen
Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show might be due for a one-off revival, according to one of its stars. The sleeper hit series followed feuding flatmates Mark (David Mitchell) and Jeremy (Robert Webb), exploring their love-hate 'friendship', marked by generally selfish or self-destructive behaviour, plus a string of shambolic romances. The ninth and final season arrived in 2015, following a three-year break, and appeared to say farewell to the characters – but they could be ripe for a return according to actor Matt King, who played Jeremy's unpredictable pal Super Hans. In a new interview with The Sun, he said: "When it ended in 2015, Sam [Bain] and Jesse [Armstrong, creators] said to us, 'We'll see you in ten years. We're going to write a one-off.'" King continued: "I did ask them six months ago [for an update]. They said, 'We still would be interested, but we're just so busy, we can't do a ten-year one'. I feel like it will happen." Of course, Armstrong went on to create acclaimed HBO drama Succession, following an egomaniacal media family, and recently wrote and directed Mountainhead – another darkly comic business satire. Meanwhile, Bain has collaborated with Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement on the Apple TV family series Time Bandits, which reimagines the Terry Gilliam film of the same name. In the same interview, the stars of Peep Show were split on the prospect of a revival, with Isy Suttie (who played Mark's girlfriend, Dobby) saying she would reprise her role if the opportunity came up – but advocated for waiting a while longer. "We'd almost have to do it in 20 years with Mark and Jez in an old people's home and us in the flats next door," she suggested. On the other hand, Sophie Winkleman (who played Jeremy's beloved 'Big Suze') was not quite so convinced, suggesting it might be better to "preserve it as it is," given that belated revivals don't always work out well. Mitchell, King, Suttie and Winkleman reunite with former co-star Olivia Colman for this week's Peep Show-themed episode of The Great British Bake Off, which airs on Channel 4 at 8pm on Christmas Day. Notably absent is Webb, who told RadioTimes.com that he regrettably had to miss out due to a schedule clash, but assured that he probably wouldn't have been in contention for the top prize in the contest. "I couldn't do it, I was working," he shared with us at the recent Rose d'Or Awards. "I do a kids' show called High Hoops, which is about a girls' basketball team for CBBC, and I was in Yorkshire doing that. "I was sad to miss out, it would have been great. [But] I've never baked a thing in my life!" Suttie previously revealed to RadioTimes.com that another Peep Show project to never see the light of day was a feature film pitched after the eighth season, which would have sent Mark and Jeremy to New York City in a bid to track down Dobby. Peep Show is available to stream on Channel 4 and 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 Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add Peep Show 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.
Diane Morgan's Mandy 2025 Christmas special pulled from schedules next week
The special was set to follow Mandy as she "dabbles in global diplomacy".
The BBC has pulled the Mandy 2025 Christmas special from its schedules just days before it was set to hit screens. Titled The Mandy Who Knew Too Much, the festive episode had been advertised by the BBC as one of its flagship Christmas specials and was due to air on BBC Two and iPlayer on Monday 22nd December at 10:25pm, but it has now suddenly been removed from the schedules. A BBC spokesperson confirmed to RadioTimes.com that the episode has been moved to 2026. The unexpected postponement of the special, which was shot in January 2025, is believed to be due to last-minute updates to parts of the episode. The official synopsis for The Mandy Who Knew Too Much reads: "Mandy rarely dabbles in global diplomacy, especially over Christmas when it's so cold out and there's good telly on, but when she does, you can bet that she makes a real difference to the balance of power in the world." RadioTimes.com also understands that the decision is not connected to US President Donald Trump's threats to sue the BBC over an episode of Panorama, with Trump neither mentioned nor featured in the Christmas edition of Mandy. BBC Two will now instead air the 1998 comedy Beetlejuice in the 10:30pm slot, which was previously scheduled to air at 10:45pm. Mandy first aired back in 2019, following Diane Morgan’s eponymous and hapless heroine as she embarks on various daft adventures, and soon garnered praise amongst viewers and critics alike for its subversive and absurd humour. Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google The hit series returned to our screens earlier this year for a fourth season, which saw Mandy cooking up more dodgy jobs and side hustles and featured a number of famous cameos including Martin Lewis, Paddy McGuinness, Sian Gibson and Cheryl Fergison. Read more: Amandaland's Joanna Lumley teases Jennifer Saunders reunion: 'As far from Edina and Patsy as you can imagine' Robert Webb reveals his verdict on whether Peep Show will get a film or could return for a revival series Read our guide to the best Christmas TV for 2025. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.