News

Arise, Sir Gary Oldman! The Oscar-winning Darkest Hour and Slow Horses actor has been knighted by King Charles III in the monarch’s birthday honors.

Oldman has been knighted for his services to drama — the first time he has received a royal accolade for his body of distinguished work. He joins contemporaries including Sir Kenneth Branagh and Sir Daniel Day-Lewis in receiving recognition from Buckingham Palace.

Oldman was last year asked about why he had not been previously honored, telling BBC News that he had not turned down an accolade. “You should ask them. No nod from the royals, but there we are,” he said. “Maybe it’s in my future.”

Oldman was one of 1,215 people to receive recognition from King Charles, with many names from the world of film, TV, and theater making the list. Also knighted was Rufus Norris, the outgoing director of the National Theatre, for his services to stage.

Update: The BBC has acknowledged “serious flaws” in the production of its controversial documentary “Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone” and initiated a further review following revelations about its narrator’s family connections to Hamas.

“BBC News has conducted an initial review on the program ‘Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone.’ Today the BBC Board was updated on that work. It has identified serious flaws in the making of this program. Some of these were made by the production company, and some by the BBC; all of them are unacceptable. BBC News takes full responsibility for these and the impact that these have had on the Corporation’s reputation. We apologize for this,” a spokesperson said in a statement that detailed multiple breakdowns in the production process.

The documentary, which features 13-year-old Abdullah Al-Yazouri narrating life in Gaza during the conflict, became the center of controversy when it emerged that the boy’s father,...

Update: In the wake of the BBC acknowledging “serious flaws” in the production of its controversial documentary “Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone” and initiating a further review, Artists for Palestine UK, which had published a letter condemning the broadcaster’s decision to remove the film, have issued a statement.

Artists for Palestine UK said: “We are appalled that the BBC has chosen to give credence to a politicized campaign that sought to discredit a documentary about children’s experiences of unspeakable Israeli military violence, because one child’s father was deputy agriculture minister in Gaza. This disgraceful decision comes despite nearly 900 media figures having warned the BBC of the dangers of such an approach.

“Reports over the last week have detailed Israel’s detention and torture of hundreds of Gaza’s medical workers. The world has seen images of traumatized and emaciated Palestinian captives emerging from Israeli jails, some with limbs amputated.

Harlan Coben has become a key creator of Netflix shows, and it’s not going to stop anytime soon! Here’s a look at what other shows based on the author’s works are coming to the streamer.

Since 1990, Harlan Coben has become a bestselling author known for twisty crime thrillers and dramas that often involve exploring the secrets buried behind seemingly idyllic families and neighborhoods. That includes the Myron Bolitar series and scores of stand-alone novels.

Not surprisingly, there have been some adaptations of Coben’s works, such as Prime Video’s short-lived Shelter. However, in 2018, Coben signed a deal with Netflix which has since produced eight limited series based on his various novels. The latest, Missing You, debuted on January 1, 2025.

However, that’s far from the last project coming to the streamer. Here’s 6 Harlan Coben shows that are in the works and coming to Netflix (and actually...

For the first time in a long time, Richard Armitage will not be starring in the next Harlan Coben Netflix show.

Netflix just revealed the cast of Run Away, the next of the Harlan Coben Netflix shows. While there are a few who have starred in other Harlan Coben Netflix shows, including James Nesbitt, in the cast, it's notably missing a key player from many of those shows: Armitage.

According to Netflix, Armitage will not be in Run Away. Instead, Minnie Driver, Alfred Enoch, and Ruth Jones will star in the upcoming thriller based on Coben's book of the same name.

Regarding Armitage's absence in Run Away, Coben told Netflix: “I'm sure we'll work together again in the future.”

In addition to Nesbitt, Driver, Enoch, and Jones, the rest of the cast includes Jon Pointing, Lucian Msamati, Ellie de Lange, Adrian Greensmith, Ellie Henry, Joe McGann, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Amy Gledhill,...

Harlan Coben's next series on Netflix will be Run Away. The eight-episode series will be based on Coben's book from 2019. And just like with everything else Coben, you know you are going to want to see it. The recently announced cast will certainly make that a possibility.

The plot involves a father, Simon, whose eldest daughter, Paige, runs away. Simon searches for her (of course!) but finds her high on drugs in a city park. The story does not end there, though. Simon thinks Paige is alone, but she isn't, and violence ensues. He loses his daughter all over again, and his new search for her sends him into an underworld that could tear their family apart.

But who is playing Simon and who is playing Paige? That is what you really want to know, right? Good news! We now know all that information.

New Harlan Coben series, Run Away,...

Thriller author Harlan Coben signed a multi-million-dollar deal with streaming service Netflix in August 2018, which would grant the giant the rights to 14 of its novels over the course of five years. Since then, the deal has been extended as the adaptations, which were turned into limited series, have proven to be major successes.

Following the recent success of the latest addition, Missing You, Netflix has announced the cast for the latest adaptation. Run Away was announced in January 2024 alongside Missing You, and it will feature a cast filled with famous names. Per Tudum, Good Will Hunting's Minnie Driver will be joined by 15 other familiar names.

Related “I’m the Emptiest of Vessels”: Missing You's Harlan Coben Fears He’ll Never Have Another Idea After Netflix Success

Harlan Coben has admitted he worries he’ll never have another idea for a novel.

Aside from Driver, who will play Ingrid Greene,...

Netflix‘s next Harlan Coben adaptation has set its cast with James Nesbitt, Ruth Jones, Minnie Driver and Alfred Enoch leading the ensemble.

The eight-episode series Run Away follows Simon (Nesbitt), who seemingly had the perfect life. But then, his eldest daughter Paige ran away and everything fell apart. When he finds her, vulnerable and strung out on drugs in a city park, he finally has the chance to bring his little girl home.

“But it turns out she’s not alone, and an argument escalates into shocking violence,” a plot synopsis reads. “In the aftermath, Simon loses his daughter all over again, and his search to find her will take him into a dangerous underworld, revealing deep secrets that could tear his family apart forever.”

In keeping with previous Coben adaptations Fool Me Once and Missing You, Run Away will relocate the story from the U.S. to the U.

Minnie Driver, Gavin and Stacey co-creator Ruth Jones and James Nesbitt are leading cast on Run Away, Harlan Coben’s next Netflix series.

The pair join another 10 in the latest from Coben, as his current series, Missing You, dominates top-10s around the world and a year after Fool Me Once drew millions and millions of viewers.

Driver is playing Ingrid Greene, Jones is Elena Ravenscroft and Nesbitt is Green’s husband Simon.

Synopsis reads: “Simon had the perfect life: loving wife and kids, great job, beautiful home. But then his eldest daughter Paige ran away and everything fell apart. So now when he finds her, vulnerable and strung out on drugs in a city park, he finally has the chance to bring his little girl home. But it turns out she’s not alone, and an argument escalates into shocking violence. In the aftermath, Simon loses his daughter all over again,...

Harlan Coben’s next Netflix series “Run Away” has announced its sprawling cast, including James Nesbitt, Ruth Jones and Minnie Driver.

Alfred Enoch, Lucian Msamati, Jon Pointing, Ellie de Lange, Adrian Greensmith, Ellie Henry, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Annette Badland, Ingrid Oliver, Maeve Courtier-Lilley, Finty Williams, Joe McGann and Amy Gledhill round out the cast.

The eight-episode series follows Simon (Nesbitt), whose life falls apart when his daughter Paige (de Lange) runs away. When he finds her, strung out on drugs in a city park, she isn’t alone. An argument escalates into shocking violence, and Simon loses his little girl all over again. Per the logline, “his search to find her will take him into a dangerous underworld, revealing deep secrets that could tear his family apart forever.”

Production on the series will commence in the U.K. in January. “Jimmy Nesbitt, Ruth Jones, Alfred Enoch, Lucian Msamati and Minnie Driver...

EastEnders spoilers and updates for the week of November 18 tease a return, a discovery, a pregnancy and more! Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton) returns, Martin Fowler (James Bye) reels at an unexpected discovery, and Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) is pregnant!

EastEnders Spoilers – Ruby Allen Returns, Martin’s Shocking Discovery

Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) is caught in a dilemma about when to reveal to Martin that Ruby has given birth to his child, especially since Martin is preoccupied with the market’s closure.

Eventually, Sharon musters the courage to share the news, thanks to Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman), who had been Ruby’s cellmate until Ruby went into labor.

Martin is left in shock and turns to his former partner, Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), who questions the validity of the news.

To prove her point, Sharon presents a birth certificate, prompting Martin to ask Sharon for Ruby’s address-just then, Ruby arrives,...

On Saturday 16 November 2024, BBC One broadcasts Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel!

Season 5 Episode 6 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel” promises to be another exciting installment of the popular game show. Michael McIntyre will take center stage once again, bringing his signature humor and charm to the show. The format remains the same, featuring a giant spinning wheel that adds an element of surprise to the game. Contestants will have the chance to answer questions and potentially win big prizes.

This episode will showcase a lineup of well-known celebrities. Ed Gamble, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Big Narstie, Oti Mabuse, Jordan North, and Maisie Adam will each bring their own flair to the show. The Double Chair will feature the dynamic duo of Danny and Dani Dyer, adding an extra layer of fun and excitement to the proceedings.

Fans can expect plenty of laughs and unexpected moments as contestants try...

Exclusive: British agency Host Talent Group has signed singer-actress Lulu, Strictly Come Dancing professional Michelle Tsiakkas and Peleton instructor Bradley Rose.

British entertainment icon Lulu is know for a six-decade career in which she has worked with everyone from The Beatles to Take That, and released hits such as “Shout” and “To Sir With Love.” On the acting front, her recent projects include the Diane Keaton-starring Arthur’s Whisky, which Arclight Films shopped in Cannes last year before it premiered on Sky in January. She has also appeared in To Sir With Love and performed the title song for The Man with the Golden Gun in 1974.

Host said she is gearing up for more acting roles, live performances and media ventures.

Tsiakkas is known as a dancer on BBC entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing, which returned to screens over the week amid several ongoing controversies relating to former stars of the program.

EastEnders spoilers and updates for the week of September 9 tease an unexpected pregnancy, a runaway family member, a controversial return and more!

Anna Knight (Molly Rainford) finds herself pregnant, Kojo Asare (Dayo Koleosho) runs away and Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman) returns under mysterious circumstances.

EastEnders Spoilers – Baby Bombshell For Anna Knight

Anna finds herself facing an unexpected surprise, but her romantic life is already tangled. She confides in her boyfriend, Bobby Beale, (Clay Milner Russell) about her struggles, prompting him to try and lift her spirits.

However, Bobby soon has to focus on his responsibilities at Beale’s Eels, leading him to ask his friend Freddie Slater (Bobby Brazier) to step in and support Anna.

Unbeknownst to Bobby, Freddie harbors feelings for Anna and is so anxious about being alone with her that he concocts a weak excuse to avoid the situation, leaving Anna feeling rejected.

Later, Anna musters the...

Exclusive: Labour Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is being urged to amend existing diversity monitoring to include age in the UK.

Nicky Clark’s Acting Your Age Campaign (Ayac) has today released a film calling for the amendment to mandatory monitoring, which it says is a major challenge to women over 45 in UK broadcasting.

A list of British actresses including Julie Graham, Hermione Norris, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Sarah Parish, Amanda Redman, Juliet Stevenson and Indira Varma have backed the call and appear in the film, along with actors such as John Simm, Adrian Dunbar and Martin Clunes.

Campaigner and Ayac founder Clark said the film is an “open letter” to Nandy, claiming that without women’s age representation being monitored, it cannot be measured and the real picture behind equality in the industry “is vague to the point of obfuscation and can’t be challenged and ultimately changed.”

Journalist and actress Clark...

Nearly two decades after her departure, Tracy-Ann Oberman is set to reprise her role as the infamous Chrissie Watts on BBC’s EastEnders. The character, who was last seen in December 2005, will make a brief return to our screens this autumn. For those who need a reminder, Chrissie Watts’ original stint on Albert Square was […]

EastEnders: Chrissie Watts Returns...

Exclusive: Emerging Irish comedian Kyla Cobbler has signed with UK agency Host Talent Group.

The comedian is set to embark on a year-long live-show tour in Ireland, Europe, Australia, Canada and the U.S., and is working on television project, according to Host.

Born in Cork, Ireland, she now lives in Barcelona, where a bustling stand-up comedy scene has emerged. Cobbler is known for her social media videos, including her ‘Irish wink’ clip that has amassed millions of views on Instagram.

London-based Host represents the likes of Ferne McCann, Paul Burrell, Tracy-Ann Oberman and Sherrie Hewson, and is active on the theater front with a suite of emerging stage and screen talent.

The company launched in 2023 under bosses former Fire PR & Management exec Leisa Maloney and Northbridge Talent exec Tom Gribby.

‘The Big Bang Theory’ star Kunal Nayyar has joined the cast of Gurnder Chadha’s festive offering ‘Christmas Karma’ from True Brit Entertainment, Bend It Films, Maven Screen Media and Civic Studios.

Inspired by Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol, Nayyar will lead the cast as Scrooge with a further cast including Eva Longoria, Boy George, Billy Porter, Hugh Bonneville, Leo Suter, Charithra Chandran, Pixie Lott, Danny Dyer, Bilal Hasna, Allan Corduner, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Rufus Jones, Eve, Nitin Ganatra.

On his casting Nayyar stated; “To explore a beloved holiday tale through the eyes of an immigrant story (much like my own) is exactly the kind of movie that I believe will resonate with so many of us who are searching for the meaning of home. It takes a visionary like Gurinder to take a chance on a story like this, and I am humbled to be a part of it.”

Also in...

‘Bend It Like Beckham’ helmer Gurinder Chadha is all set to start shooting for her next production, ‘Christmas Karma’, a Bollywood musical set in contemporary London and inspired by Charles Dickens’s ‘A Christmas Carol’.

Kunal Nayyar, who is best known for his role in the popular sitcom ‘The Big Bang Theory’, is the lead actor in a star-studded global cast, which includes Eva Longoria, Boy George, Billy Porter, Hugh Bonneville, Leo Suter, Charithra Chandran, Pixie Lott, Danny Dyer, Allan Corduner, Bilal Hasna, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Rufus Jones, Eve and Nitin Ganatra.

Chadha, a BAFTA-nominated director, is also the producer and writer, and the music is by the six-time Ivor Novello award-winning singer and songwriter Gary Barlow, apart from Shaznay Lewis and Nitin Sawhney. Shooting for the film will start on April 22.

‘Christmas Karma’ sees Chadha’s return to the big screen following her time working on the Indian historical television...

BAFTA Circles Calendar

The British Academy has confirmed the date of the 2025 BAFTA Film Awards, which will now be held on Sunday February. 16.

As per recent scheduling arrangements, the awards — arguably the biggest film awards outside the U.S. — takes place two weeks before the Oscars on March 2, 2025. Regular film festival attendees may note that the BAFTA awards will, once again, be held during the Berlinale, set to run February 13-23, with there likely to be a spike in industry professionals flying back to London on the morning of Feb. 16.

The full timeline and eligibility details for the 2025 BAFTA Film Awards will be announced in due course. Voting will take place over three rounds: longlisting, nominations and winners, by the academy’s global voting film membership which comprises more than 7,800 industry creatives.

The 2024 BAFTA Film Awards, which saw “Oppenheimer” dominate with wins for best film, director and actor, were watched...

Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham) is pushing forward with Christmas Karma, a contemporary Bollywood musical set in London and inspired by Charles Dickens’ seminal A Christmas Carol, with Kunal Nayyar (The Big Bang Theory) signed on to lead an ensemble cast.

Nayyar will star as Scrooge in pic alongside an expansive cast, including Eva Longoria, Boy George, Billy Porter, Hugh Bonneville, Leo Suter, Charithra Chandran, Pixie Lott, Danny Dyer, Bilal Hasna, Allan Corduner, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Rufus Jones, Eve, and Nitin Ganatra.

Chadha wrote the pic and is producing alongside directing, with music by Take That alum Gary Barlow alongside Shaznay Lewis and Nitin Sawhney. Financing for Christmas Karma is from Civic Studios. Gurinder Chadha, Celine Rattray, Trudie Styler, and Amory Leader will produce. Zygi Kamasa, Anushka Shah, Paul Mayeda Berges, Sophia Pedlow, and Hannah Leader will serve as executive producers.

Christmas Karma is the fifth scripted project from British distributor True Brit Entertainment,...

Kunal Nayyar, Eva Longoria, Hugh Bonneville and Danny Dyer head the ensemble cast of Gurinder Chadha’s Christmas Karma for which Zygi Kamasa’s True Brit Entertainment has UK and Ireland rights.

Filming is set to start on April 22. It is being produced by Chadha’s Bend It Films, Celine Rattray and Trudie Styler for Maven Screen Media and Amory Leader. Executive producers are Kamasa, Paul Mayeda Berges, Sophia Pedlow and Hannah Leader.

Further financing is coming from Anushka Shah’s Mumbai and London-based Civic Studios.

The Bollywood musical retelling of A Christmas Carol will also star musicians Boy George,...

The Big Bang Theory’s Kunal Nayyar will star in Gurinder Chadha’s next film, Christmas Karma. It’s due out this December.

News has emerged about Gurinder Chadha’s next project, confirmed to be an adaptation of A Christmas Carol.

Titled Christmas Karma, the film will star Kunal Nayyar as Scrooge. He’ll be joined by an ensemble cast that includes Eva Longoria, Boy George, Billy Porter, Hugh Bonneville, Leo Suter, Charithra Chandran, Pixie Lott, Danny Dyer, Bilal Hasna, Allan Corduner, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Rufus Jones, Eve, and Nitin Ganatra.

We can’t say we expected to see Danny Dyer, Boy George and Billy Porter in the same film, but there we are. We also reported earlier this year that the film’s Scrooge would be an “Indian Tory who hates refugees”.

Christmas Karma will also be a Bollywood-style musical; Gary Barlow is in charge of music alongside Shaznay Lewis and Nitin Sawhney.

Friday Night Dinner knows the truth about families. Not that they bicker, mock and childishly compete – sitcom’s known about that since Steptoe & Son. No, Friday Night Dinner knows that families aren’t made up of people; they’re made up of odd habits.

Did you ever invite a friend home from school and pray that none of your family’s Weird Stuff would leak out into the playground the next day? That your mum’s special word for a fart wouldn’t follow you down the corridor into Maths, and the dinner hall wouldn’t echo with the high-pitched voice in which you all talk to the dog? Perhaps you hoped against hope that your brother wouldn’t be wearing his comedy Viz Buster Gonad t-shirt, that no-one would see the wooden clothes peg holding open the choke on your dad’s car, and that nobody would call...

Get ready for a night of wit, strategy, and quick thinking as “The Weakest Link” returns with Season 3 Episode 7, hosted by the hilarious Romesh Ranganathan. Airing at 7:40 Pm on Saturday, December 30, 2023, exclusively on BBC One, this iconic quiz show features a star-studded lineup of celebrity contestants.

The competitive roster includes Joe Pasquale, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Charlotte Crosby, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Sandro Farmhouse, Helen McGinn, Russell Watson, and Beth Tweddle. Each contestant brings their unique charm and knowledge to the table, adding an extra layer of excitement to the game.

As Romesh Ranganathan takes charge, viewers can expect sharp banter, unexpected twists, and the thrill of seeing which celebrity will be declared the “weakest link.” The episode promises a perfect blend of entertainment and brainpower, making it a must-watch for fans of the classic quiz show.

Tune in at 7:40 Pm on BBC One for an evening of laughter and tension as...

Stephen Fry will use next week’s Channel 4 Alternative Christmas Message to call for British Jews to “stand upright and proud in who they are” in the face of “the greatest rise in anti-Jewish racism since records began.”

Fry, who will say he “never thought for a single second” he would have to worry about being Jewish in the UK, will deliver an intensely personal speech in the wake of the huge rise in antisemitism following Hamas’ brutal October 7 attack on Israel.

He will point to the 1350% rise in antisemitic attacks in Britain over the past two-and-a-half months – working out at roughly 50 per day – citing “shop windows smashed, Stars of David and swastikas daubed on walls of Jewish properties, synagogues, and cemeteries, and Jewish schools being forced to close.”

“My Jewish grandparents loved Britain, believing that Jews were more welcome here than in most countries,” Fry will say, in...

A string of high-profile figures from the entertainment world attended a march against antisemitism on the streets of London yesterday, in what is thought to be the biggest rally of its kind for nearly 90 years.

The likes of Maureen Lipman, Eddie Marsan and It’s a Sin star Tracy Ann-Oberman were at the march, which is reported to have attracted more than 100,000 people. Others who attended included former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson, Countdown host Rachel Riley and comedian David Baddiel. Marsan, Baddiel and Riley were amongst those who addressed the crowds.

Organized by the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), the rally took place to counter heightened concerns over antisemitism among Jewish communities in multiple European countries since the attack on October 7 by Hamas on Israel – which saw the kidnap of 200 civilians and killing of around 1,400 – and the war that has followed.

There was a 1,300% increase in antisemitic...

Updated with campaign launch: Many of the Hollywood A-listers who earlier this month signed a letter calling for the release of Israeli hostages taken during an attack by Hamas have launched a campaign, #ReleaseTheHostagesNow, to raise awareness of the urgent issue.

The coalition, spearheaded by letter organizer Creative Community For Peace, former CBS boss Nina Tassler and Sipur Studios CEO Emilio Schenker, used their social media platforms to raise the profile of the 239 hostages still being held.

Participants included Helen Mirren, Michael Douglas, Billy Crystal, Amy Schumer, Debra Messing, Julianna Margulies, Mayim Bialik, Mandy Moore, Chelsea Handler, Sharon Osbourne, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Zooey Deschanel, Elizabeth Banks, Jerry O’Connell, Joshua Malina, Alyssa Milano, Chuck Norris, Phil Rosenthal, Dr. Phil, Dean Cain, Kristin Chenoweth, Josh Peck, Juliette Lewis, Howie Mandel, Marg Helgenberger, Brooklyn and Nicola Peltz Beckham, and Constance Zimmer.

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The...

Gal Gadot, Jerry Seinfeld, Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Pine, Mayim Bialik, Liev Schreiber, Amy Schumer and Michael Douglas are among more than 700 celebrities and entertainment executives who are standing in support of Israel.

They signed an open letter, created by the nonprofit organization Creative Community for Peace, condemning the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas’ attack on Israel and calling for the return of hostages.

The letter also called on the entertainment community to refrain from sharing misinformation about the war.

On Saturday morning, the terrorist organization Hamas launched attacks on southern Israel. The escalating conflict has led to a rising death toll that has surpassed 2,700 victims on both sides as of Thursday, according to the Associated Press.

“My heart is aching for the lives lost and families shattered,” Gadot shared in a statement. “I’m praying for everyone who has been affected by Hamas’ terrorism and brutality. And I hope that...

In a strong sign of support of Israel from Hollywood, more than 700 figures from the entertainment industry have signed an open letter to condemn Hamas and demand the safe return of hostages being held in Gaza.

The letter is the first major move from the entertainment industry, as Israel has been under attack.

Released by the nonprofit Creative Community for Peace, the letter has been signed by celebrities and Hollywood leaders including Gal Gadot, Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Pine, Mayim Bialik, Liev Schreiber, Amy Schumer, Michael Douglas, Jerry Seinfeld, Debra Messing, Ryan Murphy, Greg Berlanti, Haim Saban, Irving Azoff, Ynon Kreiz, Mark Hamill, Howie Mandel, Bella Thorne, Antoine Fuqua and more.

The open letter calls on the entertainment community at large to speak out forcefully against Hamas, to support Israel, to refrain from sharing misinformation about the war and to do whatever is in their power to urge Hamas terrorists...

Exclusive: The UK Jewish Film Festival (November 9 – 22) has revealed its lineup of 2023 gala screenings and premieres, including special presentations of the Anthony Hopkins pic One Life and Mario Bellochi’s Cannes competition title Kidnapped.

One Life, directed by James Hawes, will open the festival. The pic tells the true-life story of Nicholas Winton, a British stockbroker and son of German-Jewish parents, who, after being horrified by tales of refugees fleeing Nazi-occupied Sudetenland, sets off for Prague and begins to find ways to bring out as many refugee children as possible. Aided by his formidable mother, Barbara (Helena Bonham Carter), and a coterie of dedicated activists, their seemingly impossible mission faces daunting obstacles in this inspiring true story of hope and determination. James Hawes will be present on the night to introduce his film.

Mario Bellochi’s Kidnapped will screen at the festival’s centerpiece gala. The film tells the true...

After Netflix released the first trailer for Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro,” a biographical romance about Leonard Bernstein and his wife Felicia Montealegre, many viewers took issue with Cooper’s large prosthetic nose, deeming it the latest example of Hollywood’s stereotypical or inauthentic portrayal of Jewish people, known as “Jewface.”

But in a statement posted to Bernstein’s Twitter account, the late conductor’s children defended Cooper’s decision to “use makeup to amplify his resemblance” to their father. Cooper directed “Maestro” and stars as Bernstein opposite Carey Mulligan as Montealegre.

“Bradley Cooper included the three of us along every step of his amazing journey as he made his film about our father,” wrote Jamie, Alexander and Nina Bernstein. “We were touched to the core to witness the depth of his commitment, his loving embrace of our father’s music, and the sheer open-hearted joy he brought to his exploration.

The Guardian has deleted and apologized for a Martin Rowson cartoon of outgoing BBC Chairman Richard Sharp after the image was accused of evoking anti-Semitic tropes.

The British broadsheet newspaper removed the cartoon from its website on Saturday following a social media backlash, in which figures from the Jewish community voiced their shock.

Sharp resigned as the BBC’s Chairman on Friday after he failed to properly declare his role in facilitating an £800,000 ($1M) loan guarantee for former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Rowson’s illustration pictured a grinning caricature of Sharp, who is Jewish. He has an enlarged nose and is carrying a Goldman Sachs office box, apparently stuffed with gold and a squid.

The Goldman Sachs box is a reference to Sharp’s former employer, which was famously described by Rolling Stone as “a great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity, relentlessly jamming its blood funnel...

British television is brutal. The job security of actors, even in leading roles, is perilous. From the urtext, Spooks, where everyone from Keeley Hawes to Matthew Macfadyen cut their teeth, through to ITV’s returning Monday night drama, Unforgotten, writers have always been willing to throw their characters under the bus (sometimes literally). The challenge, then, is reacclimating audiences, once the dust settles, to a very different version of the same old show.

Back for its fifth season, Unforgotten is still reeling from the death of Nicola Walker’s Cassie Stuart. Di Sunny Khan (Sanjeev Bhaskar) is grieving, while incoming Dci Jessie James (Sinéad Keenan) is met by a rather cold shoulder. She doesn’t help herself: at home, her family life is falling apart, and the new gig couldn’t come at a worse time. Both she and Sunny are thinking of chucking it all in: Sunny is interrupted...

British television is brutal. The job security of actors, even in leading roles, is perilous. From the urtext, Spooks, where everyone from Keeley Hawes to Matthew Macfadyen cut their teeth, through to ITV’s returning Monday night drama, Unforgotten, writers have always been willing to throw their characters under the bus (sometimes literally). The challenge, then, is reacclimating audiences, once the dust settles, to a very different version of the same old show.

Back for its fifth season, Unforgotten is still reeling from the death of Nicola Walker’s Cassie Stuart. Di Sunny Khan (Sanjeev Bhaskar) is grieving, while incoming Dci Jessie James (Sinéad Keenan) is met by a rather cold shoulder. She doesn’t help herself: at home, her family life is falling apart, and the new gig couldn’t come at a worse time. Both she and Sunny are thinking of chucking it all in: Sunny is interrupted...

Harry Landis, known for his appearances in Friday Night Dinner and EastEnders, has died at the age of 90.

The star, who played Mr Morris – the bad-tempered boyfriend of Frances Cuka’s Grandma Nellie – in the Channel 4 comedy Friday Night Dinner from 2012 to 2014, died on Monday (12 September), his agent confirmed.

A statement on social media read: “Sad news. Our lovely client Harry Landis has passed to spirit.

“Harry had an amazing career and gained a new following in later life as Mr Morris in Friday Night Dinner. It was a privilege to have worked with him as a client. Harry you will be sadly missed. Rip.”

Landis’s Friday Night Dinner co-star Tracy-Ann Oberman, who played Auntie Val in the show, reacted to the news on Twitter, writing: “Bloody loved #HarryLandis. I am so sorry to hear of his passing.”

The sitcom’s creator Robert Popper wrote: “He was a brilliantly funny,...

Format

“Stranger Things” star Nikola Djuricko has been tapped to present the Serbian edition of NBCUniversal Formats’ entertainment series “Hollywood Game Night.” This is the 24th international edition of the series, joining adaptations in the U.K., France, Greece, Hungary and Thailand, among others. The show pairs celebrities with contestants as they compete in a variety of party games. The U.S. original was created by Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner and fronted by Jane Lynch. The Serbian version will be known locally as “Holivudiranje” and is a co-production between TV Una and NBCUniversal Formats, which is part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group.

Office

Ampere Analysis, which provides data, analytics and insight for the global entertainment business, has opened its first office in North America, in Culver City, Los Angeles. “It’s the ideal location for serving the firm’s growing roster of broadcast and...

Lukas Nathrath’s One Last Evening Wins Locarno Pro’s First Look Prize

German filmmaker Lukas Nathrath’s debut feature One Last Evening, about a young couple who host a doomed farewell dinner for friends before moving to a new city, has won Locarno Pro’s First Look Award. The prize comes with €50,000 in post-production services from Swiss and Germany-based production house Cinegrell. This year’s First Look line-up showcased six upcoming movies from Germany. In further prizes, Le Film Français Award, offering advertising services worth €5,600, went to Arthur & Diana by Sara Summa. And the Kaiju Cinema Diffusion Prize, an award of €5,000 for the design of an international poster, went to Elaha by Milena Aboyan. The awards jury was made of BFI London Film Festival director Tricia Tuttle, International Film Festival Rotterdam artistic director Vanja Kaludjercic, and Busan International Film Festival festival director Huh Moonyung.

UKTV Seeks Comedy Scripts By Women,...

Sky has released the official trailer for the third series of ‘Code 404’, a Sky Original coming to Sky Comedy and streaming service Now from 4 August.

Our favourite crime-fighting duo of the future are back!

On limited duties pending an investigation into their last case, Detective Inspectors Major and Carver find themselves at an all-time low. So, when one of their own within Siu is murdered, Major and Carver become hellbent on solving the case and proving their worth. But it’s bigger than they thought… They discover they’re dealing with a twisted serial killer whose sights are now set on them. With lives at stake, they need to work together, but tensions run high and fractures in their partnership begin to worsen. Can they hunt them down before it’s too late?

Series three welcomes back Daniel Mays and Stephen Graham as the AI-enhanced “supercop” Di John Major and...

In upcoming biopic “Golda,” Helen Mirren plays former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir during the 1973 Yom Kippur war, when Israel was invaded by a coalition of Arab states on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

While Mirren is not Jewish, “Golda” is directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Guy Nattiv (“Skin”), who is both Jewish and Israeli, and written by British screenwriter Nicholas Martin (“Florence Foster Jenkins”), who has previously worked with the organization U.K. Jewish Film.

But in the U.K., where production wrapped last month, Mirren’s casting as one of history’s most heroic Jewish women has caused some disquiet. Actor Maureen Lipman (“The Pianist”) highlighted the discussion about what has been termed “Jewface” when she told a newspaper she “disagreed” with Mirren’s casting “because the Jewishness of the character is so integral. I’m sure she will be marvellous, but it would never be...

Following his live-action/animation hybrid The Congress in 2013, Waltz with Bashir director Ari Folman is finally returning this year with his long-awaited project Where Is Anne Frank. Now set to premiere at Cannes Film Festival, the first trailer has arrived for the adaptation of Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl. Notably, the film features music from Karen O and Mgmt’s Ben Goldwasser, which can be heard in the trailer.

The film, which takes place in the near future follows Kitty, Anne Frank’s imaginary friend and the one that Anne devoted her entire diary to, who magically comes to life at the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam. She believes that if she’s alive, Anne must be alive as well. She sets out on a relentless quest to find Anne.

Watch the trailer below for the film featuring the voices of Emily Carey, Ruby Stokes, Sebastian Croft,...

Starzplay has swooped for Russell T. Davies’ hit drama “It’s a Sin” in Germany and Italy.

The Lionsgate-backed platform, which has been steadily expanding its global footprint in the last year, has bought the five-part series from All3Media International.

Produced by Red and commissioned by U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 with HBO Max, the limited series is written and executive produced by BAFTA-winning writer Davies with Nicola Shindler also executive producing.

Premiering in Germany at the Berlinale this week, where Davies will be in conversation with Variety, “It’s A Sin” follows a group of friends living in London through the 1980s and forced to navigate the pain and isolation of the AIDS epidemic.

The drama explores the lives of gay youth Ritchie (Olly Alexander), Roscoe (Omari Douglas) and Colin (Callum Scott Howells) as they embark on a new life in the city. The group and their best friend Jill...

For anyone else who spotted a familiar face on It's a Sin, you're not alone. Tracy Ann Oberman, otherwise known as Aunty Val from Friday Night Dinner, does indeed make an appearance on the show. Formerly known for playing Jackie (Tamsin Greig)'s best friend, and aunty to boys Adam (Simon Bird) and Jonny (Tom Rosenthal), she became a familiar favorite throughout the zany sitcom's six seasons. Oberman is known for her starring role on EastEnders, while she's also made appearances in Ricky Gervais's hilariously sad After Life, Toast of London, and Doctor Who, marking the first time she's worked with with It's a Sin producer Russell T Davies.

On It's a Sin, Oberman plays Carol Carter, a talent agent who seeks to help Ritchie (played by Olly Alexander) get his big break. Set in the 1980s, the show explores the effect of HIV and AIDS on London's West End performers,...

Fremantle sells Luca Guadagnino series; Wattpad, Nl Film team for Muslim young adult romance; and All3Media sells AIDS crisis drama.

Fremantle has closed a raft of global deals on “Call Me By Your Name” director Luca Guadagnino‘s television debut “We Are Who We Are.”

The eight-part series has travelled to 133 territories worldwide, including M-Net (South Africa), HBO Europe, HBO Latin America (Latin America and Caribbean), Starzplay, Vodafone (Greece), more.tv (Russia), Go Plc (Malta), BluTV (Turkey), Sbs (Australia), Bell Media’s Super Écran and Crave (French Canada) and Watcha (South Korea). Fremantle has also sold the series to BBC Three (U.K.), where it will launch Nov. 22.

A HBO-Sky series, produced by Lorenzo Mieli for The Apartment and Mario Gianani for Wildside, both Fremantle companies, with Small Forward, “We Are Who We Are” follows two American teenagers who live on a U.S. military base in Italy.

The cast includes Chloë Sevigny,...

In today’s Global Bulletin, Channel 4 releases a first look trailer and still for Russell T Davies’ “It’s a Sin,” Acorn TV commissions a “Whitstable Pearl” series adaptation, “Two Buddies and a Badger 2 – The Great Big Beast” posts Norway’s best opening weekend box office, and Jackson Wild announces 2020 award winners.

First Look

Channel 4 in the U.K. has dropped a first-look teaser and still image for Russell T Davies’ highly anticipated upcoming series “It’s a Sin.”

A fictionalized look bat at the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, the series features a superstar cast led by Olly Alexander (“God Help the Girl”) and featuring Keeley Hawes, Stephen Fry, Neil Patrick Harris, Tracy Ann Oberman, Shaun Dooley, Omari Douglas, Callum Scott Howells, Nathaniel Curtis and Lydia West.

Starting at the beginning of the decade, “It’s a Sin” follows Ritchie, Roscoe and Colin, three new arrivals to London looking to start a new life.

Channel 4 has debuted a teaser trailer for the upcoming drama fro Russell T. Davies ‘It’s A Sin’.

The new 5-part drama for Channel 4 follows the story of the 1980s, the story of AIDS, and charts the joy and heartbreak of a group of friends across a decade in which everything changed.

Set in 1981, the start of a new decade and Ritchie, Roscoe and Colin begin a new life in London. Strangers at first, these young gay lads, and their best friend Jill, find themselves thrown together, and soon share each other’s adventures. But a new virus is on the rise, and soon their lives will be tested in ways they never imagined. As the decade passes, and they grow up in the shadow of AIDS, they’re determined to live and love more fiercely than ever.

Olly Alexander leads a cast which also features Keeley Hawes, Stephen Fry,...

Russell T Davies wrote, serves as executive producer.

In the streamer’s second international drama series deal in a week, HBO Max has boarded Boys (working title), Russell T Davies’ five-part drama being produced by Red Production Company for the UK’s Channel 4.

The WarnerMedia-owned streaming service, set to launch in the Us next spring, will be the exclusive Us outlet for the series about five London friends in the 1980s and the rise of AIDS. Davies, who most recently created HBO cable series Years And Years and wrote A Very English Scandal, is writer and executive producer of the series,...

HBO Max has picked up U.S. streaming rights to the 1980s-set AIDS drama “Boys” from Russell T. Davies, the streamer announced on Tuesday.

The five-part period drama “charts the emotional journey of five friends during the 1980s, a decade in which everything changed, most notably with the rise of AIDS,” according to HBO Max. The show’s cast includes Olly Alexander, Nathaniel Curtis, Shaun Dooley, Omari Douglas, Stephen Fry, Neil Patrick Harris, Keeley Hawes, Callum Scott Howells, Tracy Ann Oberman, and Lydia West.

Filming on the project is currently underway, with the series set to debut in the U.K.’s Channel 4 in 2020.

Also Read: Kristen Bell to Narrate HBO Max's 'Gossip Girl' Sequel Series

Davies serves as writer and executive producer on “Boys,” which hails from Red Production Company. Peter Hoar is directing and Phil Collinson serves as producer. Red’s Nicola Shindler also...

HBO Max, in partnership with Britain’s Channel 4, has landed exclusive U.S. streaming rights to upcoming period drama Boys (working title). Principal photography on the five-part series began in October and is scheduled to air in the UK in 2020.

The series, which hails from multi-BAFTA-winning writer-producer Russell T. Davies, charts the emotional journey of five friends during the 1980s, a decade in which everything changed, most notably with the rise of AIDS. Olly Alexander, Nathaniel Curtis, Shaun Dooley, Omari Douglas, Stephen Fry, Neil Patrick Harris, Keeley Hawes, Callum Scott Howells, Tracy Ann Oberman, and Lydia West star in the London-set drama.

“It is our delight to be collaborating with the talented Russell T Davies” said Jeniffer Kim, senior vice president of international originals, HBO Max. “He has crafted a beautiful coming of age story, exploring the excitement of new friendships and self-discovery during a period when there were so many unknowns.

Neil Patrick Harris is to star in Russell T Davies’ 1980s-set Channel 4 drama Boys.

The How I Met Your Mother star is cast alongside Olly Alexander (Penny Dreadful), who leads the cast, Bodyguard’s Keeley Hawes, Stephen Fry, Tracy Ann Oberman, Shaun Dooley, Omari Douglas, Callum Scott Howells and Lydia West.

The five-part series, which was announced at the Edinburgh International TV Festival in 2018, charts the joy and heartbreak of four friends during a decade in which everything changed including the rise of AIDs.

The Doctor Who writer created the show, which is produced by Studiocanal-owned Red Production Company, which recently made Netflix’s Michael C Hall-fronted thriller Safe.

Boys follows the story of the 1980s, the story of AIDS, and the story of three boys, Ritchie, played by Alexander, Roscoe and Colin, across the decade. The young trio, strangers at first, leave home at 18 and head off...