absolutely

Jane Austen’s most famous novels have been adapted numerous times, but one film adaptation is widely praised as one of the best.

Period drama fans need to clear their diaries this weekend for a Jane Austen classic.

Devotees of period dramas and Jane Austen classics are being urged to set aside time as a “simply excellent” Austen reimagining is being broadcast free-to-air. Pride & Prejudice stands as one of Austen’s most celebrated novels and the 1813 masterpiece has been brought to screen on countless occasions.

The narrative charts the tempestuous relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy and the ramifications of rash judgements.

In 2005, a period romance film featuring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen in the principal roles was released and it garnered widespread critical acclaim from audiences at home. The 2005 Pride & Prejudice film is being shown on BBC Two this Sunday, July 12, having recently departed Netflix.

Screenwriter Deborah Moggach dedicated more than two years to crafting the script, creating approximately 10 different drafts.

Actress Knightley also disclosed on The Graham Norton Show that she hadn’t been an obvious contender for the leading role, as director Joe Wright believed she was “too pretty”.

Despite considerable uncertainties surrounding the film and some criticism from reviewers, Austen devotees have proclaimed it among the finest adaptations to date.

In July 2025, the film appeared in the Readers’ Choice edition of The New York Times’ list of The 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century.

Enthusiasts turned to IMDb reviews to voice their opinions, with one declaring it an “emotional masterpiece”, stating: “Pride and Prejudice was the best movie I’ve seen in a very long time, if not the best I’ve ever seen.

“It captured the very essence of Jane Austen’s brilliant novel. In fact, I enjoyed the movie more than the book itself. Everything about the movie was perfect.

“This movie is a work of art, an emotional masterpiece. Watching this movie was actually a life-changing experience.”

Another viewer described it as “absolutely perfect”, sharing: “This Pride and Prejudice adaptation perfectly captured the wit, the intelligence, the passion and the romance of Jane Austen’s classic.

“The 1995 mini is fabulous, and I have watched it many times, but I have always been frustrated that while it got so much of the dialogue and the detail right, it somehow fell flat on some of the more subtle dynamics of the novel. But this movie adaptation has captured what has before been missing!”.

A final fan labelled it “simply excellent”, sharing: “Loved this movie. It’s simplicity that empowered every possibility for imagination. The music, the natural scenes, the arts, and every honest soul in the movie made this film alive.”

Pride & Prejudice is being broadcast on BBC Two this Sunday, July 12, at 4.25pm.

Fans can’t get enough of the series even after watching multiple times

Fans claim that the prequel series is even better than the movie it is based on.

An ‘absolutely genius’ show that has just been added to Netflix has been labelled as the ‘funniest show ever’. Containing eight episodes in total viewers should be able to binge watch the title in record time.

The first season of Ted is now available on the platform as of today (July 1). It serves as a prequel for the film of the same name written and directed by Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane.

McFarlane returns to voice the titular character Ted as well as serving as one of the show’s writers. He also directs every episode of the show.

According to its synopsis, the comedic prequel event series to the films begins in 1993. Ted the bear’s moment of fame has passed.

He’s now living back home in Framingham, Massachusetts with his best friend, 16-year-old John Bennett, along with John’s parents, Matty and Susan and cousin Blaire. Ted may be a lousy influence on John, but at the end of the day, he’s a loyal pal who’s always willing to go out on a limb for friendship.

MaxBurkholder takes over the role of John, which was previously played by Mark Wahlberg in the films. Meanwhile, Euphoria’s Alanna Ubach plays John’s mother and The Punisher’s Giorgia Whigham plays his cousin.

Scott Grimes, who has appeared in multiple MacFarlane projects including American Dad, The Orville plays John’s dad.

A second season released earlier this year but the future of the show is up in the air. McFarlane has said there aren’t any plans for a third season saying its production costs might be too high, although he’s also hinted there could be a film in the future with the series cast.

For now Netflix users can enjoy all episodes of the first season. The second is currently only available via Sky or NOW streaming platform.

Fans are full of praise for the series that boasts a rating of 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is higher than the original film. One person labelled it a “hilarious masterpiece.”

They added: “The CGI for the bear is insanely good, you almost forget he isn’t real. Seth MacFarlane does an incredible job bringing Ted to life, and the chemistry between the entire cast makes the show feel effortless. The cast bounce off the absurdity perfectly, and the dialogue never stops being funny. It’s one of those comedies that’s just pure fun to watch from start to finish.”

Someone else claimed they still love it just as much after multiple watches. They said: “I’ve watched Ted at least 10 times, and it still makes me laugh every single time. The jokes are sharp, the timing is perfect, and the cast is just amazing. it’s absurd, honest, and perfectly delivered. Shows like this don’t come around often, and it’s my ultimate rewatchable series.”

While one person posted: “It’s absurd, a little bit chaotic, and somehow still incredibly charming, much like the bear himself. The show cleverly balances raunchy humour with an oddly heartfelt coming-of-age story, proving that even a foul-mouthed, beer-loving teddy bear can provide surprisingly good life advice—albeit sandwiched between jokes that would make your grandmother faint.”

The go on to say: “Seth MacFarlane’s voice work is as sharp as ever, delivering laugh-out-loud moments with the kind of deadpan brilliance usually reserved for grumpy old men at the pub. In the end, Ted Season 1 is exactly what you’d expect: hilarious, ridiculous, and strangely heartwarming.”

Others warned that as soon as you watch one episode, you will quickly find yourself breezing through the whole series. They said: “Seth is a comedy genius and this project is no different after putting it on with the intention of watching one at 12.30am at night I binge watched it and was left wanting more.”

Ted is streaming on Netflix and NOW

Netflix’s period drama set in 19th-century Sicily is being hailed as a ‘masterpiece’

Fans who are missing Downton Abbey and The Gilded Age ought to give this sumptuous Netflix period drama a go.

Adapted from Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s 1958 novel of the same name, The Leopard is a lavish period drama set in 19th century Sicily, reports the Express.

The six-part Italian series charts the fortunes of the Prince of Salina and his aristocratic family during a turbulent era of great change.

The Leopard unfolds against the backdrop of the Risorgimento, or the unification of Italy, as various states across the Italian peninsula were brought together to form the Kingdom of Italy.

During this momentous period, widespread political and social upheaval, along with rebellions and revolutions, preceded the formation of the Kingdom of Italy.

A synopsis of the show from Netflix reads: “Based on what many consider to be one of the greatest Italian novels of all time, The Leopard is a dazzlingly sensuous epic, set against the backdrop of revolution in 1860s Sicily.

“At its heart is Don Fabrizio Corbera, the Prince of Salina, who leads a life surrounded by beauty and privilege. But as Italy moves towards unification and the old aristocratic order is threatened, he realizes that his family’s future is in jeopardy.

“New allegiances must be made, each one a threat to his principles. Eventually Don Fabrizio is faced with an impossible choice.

“He has the power to engineer a marriage, between the rich and beautiful Angelica and his nephew Tancredi, that could secure his family’s legacy, but doing so he would break his favorite daughter, Concetta’s heart.

“The series will be a modern exploration of timeless themes – power, love, and the cost of progress.”

The Leopard boasts an outstanding ensemble cast, including Everybody Loves Diamonds star Kim Rossi Stuart as Don Fabrizio Corbera, Prince of Salina, Benedetta Porcaroli from Netflix’s Baby as Concetta Corbera di Salina, Love & Gelato’s Saul Nanni as Tancredi Falconeri, and The Beautiful Summer star Deva Cassel as Angelica Sedara.

Further cast members include Astrid Meloni, Paolo Calabresi, Gaetano Bruno, Francesco Di Leva, Alessandro Sperduti, Jozef Gjura, and Romano Reggiani.

One viewer posted in their 10/10 review: “Cinematography is absolutely stunning. What a beautiful period piece ; costumes magical, This is a stunningly visually crafted masterpiece of a series.”

A second glowing review proclaimed it a “masterpiece”, with the critic stating: “This is an absolute must-see series! It could have actually been a cinema film, this is the perfection of its film making. An epic construction of story telling, acting, costumes, scenery and music offers an utter delight to watch.”

Get Netflix free with Sky

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

£5.99

£0

Sky

Get the deal here

Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan.

This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Stranger Things and The Last of Us.

A third top-rated review described it as an “absolute masterpiece”, elaborating: “The journey is beautiful, poignant, and brutally honest.”

Yet another awarded it 10/10 and celebrated it as a “masterpiece”, writing: “I wish there were MORE series like this: based on literature, ravishingly beautiful and (99%) aesthetically accurate.”

They went on to draw a comparison with Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes’ other notable series, remarking: “The Gilded Age could learn a lesson from “The Leopard’s” creative team.”

The Leopard is available to stream on Netflix now.

The California Science Center (CSC) in Los Angeles gave a sneak peek today of its long-awaited, much anticipated attraction — the towering Space Shuttle Endeavour in its ‘full stack’ configuration. The spacecraft was the last of five orbiters ever built and the most advanced. After a long wait, the public will soon be able to view it in all its glory inside its purpose-built permanent display building.

Endeavour is the centerpiece of The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center. It is a 200,000-square-foot expansion of the museum and will be “the only place in the world to see a complete, authentic space shuttle system, displayed in a 20-story launch position,” CSC said in a media release on Wednesday.

The exhibit is set to open on Nov. 13, 2026.

Endeavor was born out of the tragic loss of Challenger on January 28, 1986.  NASA had to figure out how to replace the doomed orbiter. It looked at several options.

Feb. 1, 2003: Space shuttle Columbia disaster

The first shuttle, Enterprise, was built as a developmental test vehicle and made its first independent flight from the back of the converted 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) on Aug. 12, 1977. Enterprise was also used for fit checks on the launch pad and many other engineering and testing activities, but it was not built to fly into space. Although it was available for modification and could feasibly be altered for full duty, NASA decided converting it for orbital work was not the best move. Instead, the all new orbiter that would be named Endeavor was authorized for construction in 1987.

Endeavour lifted off on its maiden voyage on May 7, 1992, and flew 25 times, with its final flight coming in May 2011. As the last of its breed, it incorporated new features and upgrades, including being the first shuttle to carry a Station-Shuttle Power Transfer System (SSPTS), according to Space.com. Endeavour also had “the first fully activated Advanced Health Management System to watch over the shuttle’s three main engines during launch, as well as a three-string global positioning system (GPS) for pinpoint navigation during landings,” the publication added. In addition, the last of the orbiters was built with the most advanced avionics, with glass displays, when it entered service.

Space Shuttle Enterprise – Free flight Test – ABC News – 8/12/1977

During its time in space, Endeavour performed a variety of tasks, including helping to construct and sustain the International Space Station. Throughout its career, it spent 299 days in space, orbiting the Earth nearly 4,700 times and logging close to 123 million miles, according to NASA.

“Among Endeavour’s missions was the first to include four spacewalks, and then the first to include five,” the space agency added. “Its STS-67 mission set a length record almost two full days longer than any shuttle mission before it. Its airlock is the only one to have seen three spacewalkers exit through it for a single spacewalk. And in its cargo bay, the first two pieces of the International Space Station were joined together.”

It also flew the first mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope.

During an 11-day mission in 2000, the astronauts “used the radar instruments in Endeavour’s payload bay to obtain elevation data on a near global scale,” NASA noted about the mission with a military connection. “The data produced the most complete, high-resolution digital elevation model of the Earth. The SRTM comprised a cooperative effort among NASA with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, managing the project, the Department of Defense’s National Imagery and Mapping Agency [now the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency], the German space agency, and the Italian space agency. Prior to SRTM, scientists had a more detailed topographic map of Venus than of the Earth, thanks to the Magellan radar mapping mission.”

Endeavour, like the rest of the orbiters, always captured the public’s imagination. In December 2008 the spacecraft made its voyage back to Kennedy Space Center in Florida after landing at Edwards AFB. A photo of that trip, taken from an F/A-18B Hornet flying overhead, was once described by TWZ as “Arguably The Most Spectacular Photo Of NASA’s Shuttle Carrier Aircraft Ever.” You can read more about that picture and the flight in our story from the time here.

On September 21^st, 2012, NASA delivered Endeavour to Los Angeles, noted AmericaSpace.com. “Over the course of four days in October, the orbiter gradually crept her way through the city’s narrow streets.” The move captured a huge amount of attention.

While plans had been in the works for a while to house Endeavour in a purpose-built exhibit, a major issue developed.

“An earthquake-resistant building large enough to house a 184-foot-tall Shuttle stack had a staggering cost estimate of $400 million,” AmericaSpace.com explained. “The California Science Center was unable to raise enough money to build the facility prior to Endeavour’s arrival. The museum still needed to protect the orbiter from the elements, so it built a metal hangar to temporarily house the spacecraft. The more aspirational exhibit would be conducted at a later date.”

That later date will be in November, as we noted earlier. 

Space shuttle Endeavour’s trek across LA: Timelapse

The CSC is one of four locations where the surviving shuttle fleet is being displayed.

Shuttle Atlantis is located at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex; Discovery at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center and Enterprise at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. While each display is unique, and Kennedy Space Center’s is very dramatic, showing the orbiter as it would look in orbit, nothing compares to how CSC is displaying the full Shuttle Launch System (SLS) with its boosters and fuel tank in the vertical orientation, looking like it’s about to blast off one more time.

Contact the author: howard@twz.com

British crime drama fans won’t want to miss this gripping murder mystery series set in Scotland

Crime drama fans will be hooked on this “addictive” series packed with twists and turns.

Shetland is a cherished British programme adapted from Ann Cleeves’ novels by David Kane. The show centres on police detectives investigating murders across the remote, tight-knit Shetland islands.

Douglas Henshall portrayed DI Jimmy Perez throughout the first seven series, before Ashley Jensen assumed the lead role as DI Ruth Calder from series eight onwards.

The murder mysteries unfold primarily on the eponymous archipelago, though certain scenes are filmed on mainland Scotland. Last month, the BBC announced that production has commenced on Shetland’s 11th series, with Ashley reprising her role as DI Calder alongside Alison O’Donnell as DI Alison ‘Tosh’ McIntosh.

The upcoming instalment will shoot at various Scottish locations and across the Shetland Isles throughout the coming months, with fresh episodes scheduled to debut on BBC One and iPlayer later this year. This comes just months after series 10 wrapped up, reports the Express.

The new six-part series welcomes Christine Bottomley, Kevin Harvey, Stella Gonet, Gregor Fisher, Gavin Mitchell, John Wark, Jude Bain, Robin Weaver, Beth Marshall, Daniel Boyd, Charlene Boyd, and Helen Mackay to the cast.

Returning favourites include Steven Robertson, Lewis Howden, Samuel Anderson, Steven Miller, Anne Kidd, Angus Miller, Connor McCarry, and Eubha Akilade.

The forthcoming series will focus on a historical killing destined to “forever change the lives of all those connected in the present day”.

The official synopsis reveals: “When a car is pulled from the water, a grim discovery is made – crammed in the boot are the decomposed, skeletal remains of an unknown male. The team’s search to uncover the victim’s identity begins with a hunt for the vehicle’s owner – a respected, local GP who left the Isles under a cloud of troubled rumours nine years ago.

“As Calder and Tosh dig deeper into the enigmatic GP’s state-of-mind and the lives of the loved ones he left behind, the investigation takes them to dark and dangerous places in their quest for the truth.”

Before the fresh episodes arrive, viewers can delve into numerous Scottish murder cases as the first ten series of Shetland are currently available on BBC iPlayer.

Shetland has won over millions of devoted followers, ranking amongst the top five most-watched BBC drama programmes of 2025. Furthermore, it held its position as Scotland’s leading BBC drama, with numerous fans drawing comparisons to other BBC favourites including Line of Duty and Blue Lights.

When a Reddit user sought recommendations similar to Line of Duty, one fan responded: “Shetland is a fantastic show. Was a bit slow at first but really gets going quickly and is addictive.”

An IMDb reviewer commented: “Stunning, gripping, dynamic noir series. Beautiful scenery, laid back pace but still a gripping series with great characters.” Another viewer chimed in: “We just started this series and absolutely love it. It gets better as you go, we’re just now on Season 3 and can’t wait to see what’s next. Incredible actors, strong storyline. Worth the watch, just be patient as you start!”

A third enthusiast declared: “This is a superb series that never disappoints. The writing is great and well thought-out, something that is missing in most shows today. The pace is excellent. This series could go on for dozens of seasons and would still hold my interest. Add this to your must-have watch list,” while another echoed the sentiment: “Outstanding mystery series. Absolutely perfect. The characters are likeable, the stories are compelling, the cinematography is stunning.”

Shetland is available to stream on BBC iPlayer

This hidden gem provides the perfect no-crowds experience for summer 2026.

Summer is just around the corner and many of us are already dreaming about our next sunny escape. With so many destinations to pick from, settling on the perfect spot can feel like quite the challenge.

Many of the world’s most coveted holiday hotspots are now bursting at the seams, which can turn a much-needed break into something of a headache. If you’re after a getaway unspoilt by hordes of tourists, it pays to explore the roads less travelled.

Travel specialists at Solmar Villas have scrutinised more than 160 destinations worldwide to reveal the most tranquil spots for a laid-back summer holiday in 2026 – and Greece has taken the top spot.

Greece boasts more than 6,000 islands to explore and while some are overrun with visitors, others remain blissfully peaceful.

Each location in the top 10 was rated across eight key factors: crowd density, climate, nature and scenery, pace of life, affordability, safety and ease of access.

Remarkably, eight of the top 10 destinations were found in Greece.

Topping the list is Alonissos – a tiny, serene island nestled in the northern Sporades – an archipelago in the Aegean Sea.

To reach it, travellers can fly from the UK to the neighbouring island of Skianthos before hopping on a high-speed ferry across to Alonissos.

The island feels worlds apart from everyday life.

Verdant hills blanketed in pine trees cascade down towards crystalline waters, ideal for a summer dip. Life moves at a leisurely pace, with traditional villages dotted across the hillsides.

The island also houses the National Marine Park of Alonnisos and Northern Sporades, one of the largest protected marine areas in Europe, reports the Express.

This transforms it into a haven for divers and snorkellers.

A boat trip around the island reveals caves, reefs and colourful marine life thriving beneath the sea’s surface.

It’s also home to the rare Mediterranean monk seal – fewer than 700 of them survive in three or four isolated subpopulations in the Mediterranean.

On her blog Asinglewomantraveling, travel blogger Melissa said that Alonissos is “absolutely stunning and peaceful”. She added that the island is “quiet, a little wild, totally underrated”.

The top 10 most peaceful holiday destinations

1. Alonissos, Greece
2. Kefalonia, Greece
3. Peloponnese, Greece
4. Skopelos, Greece
5. Lefkada, Greece
6. Mani Peninsula, Greece
7. El Hierro, Spain
8. Naxos, Greece
9. Koh Yao Noi, Thailand
10. Paxos, Greece

Jack Whitehall revealed his father’s true reaction to discovering a surprising connection to an ITV legend after spotting him at a funeral

Jack Whitehall has revealed his father, Michael Whitehall, was left “mortified” to discover their connection to antiques expert David Dickinson. Uncovered in an awkward circumstance – Jack recalled spotting the former Bargain Hunt at a family funeral.

Appearing on Alan Carr’s Life’s A Beach, the 37-year-old said of the surprising link: “You know I’m related to David Dickinson? This is my bizarre fact… not by blood, but he’s married to a cousin of my mum’s.

“We found this out because we went to a funeral and David Dickinson was stood on the other side of the grave,” he continued.

When quizzed about whether David’s famously bronzed complexion is as striking in person as it appears on television, Jack quipped that “he was glowing”.

He described the antiques expert as “more impressive up close,” before revealing how his father took the news of their family tie.

“My dad was absolutely mortified,” he recalled. “He was like, ‘We will never speak of this again’. And obviously, I now want to get it out there as much as I can, far and wide.”

David, 84, has been married to Lorne Lesley since 1968. The couple are understood to have first crossed paths in Manchester, and their romance blossomed from there.

They went on to welcome two children together, while he also adopted her son and daughter from an earlier relationship, Robert and Katrina.

Previously discussing their relationship, the Dickinson’s Real Deal star told The Mirror: “Lorne lets me think I’m the master of my own home. Any woman who knows what she’s doing lets her man think he’s in charge – but we know we’re not really.”

He also sang his wife’s praises, adding: “Lorne is half African and half Welsh and hails from Tiger Bay, just like Shirley Bassey.

“She’s very glamorous – a lovely, striking lady – and she has more talent in her little finger than I have in my whole body.

“When I met Lorne, I was working in the textile industry but ready for a change of career. As I got to know her better, we decided I should become her manager. Together we travelled the world, and it was during this time that my interest in antiques began to flourish,” he added.

Meanwhile, Jack married Roxy Horner his partner of six years at Euridge Manor, a 17th-century estate in the Cotswolds, last weekend.

The stunning venue, sprawled across 450 acres, boasts a boating lake, an orangery, a helicopter pad, a pergola draped in wisteria and a ballroom.

Reportedly costing £250,000, the couple’s ceremony was attended by a host of celebrity guests, including James Corden, Jamie Redknapp and Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff.