BBC The Split Up heated up in the final few moments tonight with fans having to wait until the weekend to find out how it plays out.
Hayley Anderson Screen Time TV Reporter
22:46, 28 Sep 2026
BBC’s The Split Up hid a tribute that many fans will have missed(Image: BBC)
BBC The Split Up fans may have missed the quiet tribute that the show paid to one of its biggest stars.
Legal drama The Split Up aired its fourth episode this evening, Monday, September 28, and Aria Kishan (played by Ritu Arya) once again had her hands full both personally and professionally.
After not being able to get hold of Uncle Rick (Ramon Tikaram), Dhruv Kishan (Sanjeev Bhaskar) asked Aria and Luke (Dimitri Leonidas) to visit him at the farm he was on the brink of losing.
When they arrived, Uncle Rick insisted there was a will that confirmed the farm had been handed to him and so all three of them searched the house. It was during this hunt that the BBC drama made a cute gesture for their Split Up co-star and Unforgotten legend Sanjeev Bhaskar.
Luke returned to the living room carrying a cardboard box and told Aria and Uncle Rick: “OK there’s not much in there except old books and about 30 VHS tape recordings of Goodness Gracious Me.” Uncle Rick instantly had a big grin on his face as he simply replied: “Still cracks me up.”
Goodness Gracious Me is a 1990s comedy sketch show that ran for three years and starred former EastEnders icon Nina Wadia and The Split Up’s very own Sanjeev Bhaskar.
The award-winning sitcom also starred Bhaskar’s wife Meera Syal who was also one of the creative minds behind Goodness Gracious Me.
Prior to Luke telling everyone about the VHS tapes he found, Uncle Rick told Aria that she shouldn’t “settle” as he sensed chemistry between his niece and her colleague.
It was at her “Fox Do” with husband-to-be Neal (Danny Ashok) that he revealed he knew her father was going to make him joint manager of Kishan Law long before it was announced.
Feeling betrayed, Aria went to Luke’s flat and admitted her feelings which led to a passionate kiss but how is their love story going to play out?
The Split Up is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Netflix viewers have hailed this latest ITV release as an “utterly absorbing” watch.
Hayley Anderson Screen Time TV Reporter
21:19, 28 Sep 2026
Helen McCrory stars in this “utterly absorbing” drama. (Image: ITV)
ITV viewers can’t get enough of this forgotten “brilliant” drama from a Peaky Blinders legend.
Peaky Blinders might be over but fans are still discovering some of its stars’ best work years before they even stepped foot into Tommy Shelby’s (played by Cillian Murphy) chaotic world.
One series that’s just started to grab fans’ attention is three-part ITV drama Leaving which originally made its debut 13 years ago.
Leading the cast is none other than actress Helen McCrory who portrayed Polly Gray, the dangerous matriarch of the Shelby family in Peaky Blinders’ first five seasons.
She isn’t the only recognisable face though in Leaving as McCrory is joined by Masters of the Air star Callum Turner who married singer Dua Lipa earlier this year.
Leaving revolves around 45-year-old wife Julie Ranmore (Helen McCrory) whose job as a hotel events manager keeps her from thinking too much about her loveless marriage. But things quickly change when she is introduced to unemployed 21-year-old Aaron (Callum Turner) who is still living with his parents.
They start working at the same hotel and what starts off as a flirtationship quickly escalates into a full-blown affair with the couple having to deal with the consequences.
Taking to IMdB to sing the show’s praises, someone simply described it as a “little gem”.
A fellow viewer said it was “utterly absorbing”, adding: “Brilliantly acted, often tense and heartbreaking, this is an outstanding drama…the late Helen McCrory gives an unforgettable performance.”
Another labelled it as “maddening all the right ways” and others hailing it as perfect for a “little binge on a rainy afternoon”.
McCrory sadly died of breast cancer in 2021 at the age of 52, keeping her illness private and only telling those closest to her.
She died ahead of the sixth series of Peaky Blinders being filmed which was postponed during the coronavirus pandemic.
Her husband and Homeland star Damian Lewis said at the time she had a “heroic battle with cancer”, stating that she was a “beautiful and mighty woman”.
He added: “She died as she lived. Fearlessly. God we love her and we know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives.”
The BBC has made the decision to edit episodes of Horrible Histories, which featured sketches including child workers and slavery, after they failed to meet strict guidelines.
18:13, 28 Sep 2026Updated 18:14, 28 Sep 2026
Episodes of Horrible Histories have been removed or edited by the BBC(Image: BBC)
The BBC has edited and removed sketches from Horrible Histories. The broadcaster decided to edit the programme after it failed to meet guidelines for children’s programmes.
The broadcaster has also removed an entire episode of the show featuring slavery, Victorian child workers and chimney sweeps. Horrible Histories is based on the bestselling book series of the same name by Terry Deary, which was intended to pique children’s interest in history.
The show, produced for CBBC, debuted in 2009 and aired 11 series before ending in 2014. At least seven sketches or scenes have been removed from the show, including one showing Madame Tussaud making wax masks from severed heads, according to The Times.
Another sketch, no longer available on BBCiPlayer, depicted white actors using darker makeup to portray ancient Egyptians or Incas.
Actor Mathew Baynton, who played characters including William Shakespeare and Guy Fawkes on the programme, previously said it could be argued the show did “blackface” in its depiction of Egyptians.
Speaking to The Telegraph in 2022, he said: “We didn’t do blackface, for example, but you could argue that we did. Because I played Egyptians, you know, for example, where you’d get a spray tan, essentially, and stand in your pants.”
The episode, which has been removed, is said to have featured a sketch teaching children about slavery in ancient Rome by depicting a Roman galley as an airline flight, with enslaved rowers chained to their oars and told they will not be allowed to escape if the ship sinks.
Another sketch showcased how children in the Victorian era were sent into dangerous and narrow chimneys, with one young boy being sent into the chimney and being told: “Try not to die.”
A spokesperson for the BBC said: “The edits to Horrible Histories were made seven years ago, in consultation with the programme makers, to ensure the series meets our editorial guidelines for children’s programmes.”
The news comes after the BBC removed several sketches from That Mitchell and Webb Look when the show aired on iPlayer, having decided that some of the material “no longer works today”.
To celebrate the sketch comedy programme’s 20th anniversary, the national broadcaster added four seasons of the smash-hit show onto iPlayer for fans to enjoy – but with a few notable omissions.
A total of 11 sketches had been edited out amid fears of racism and ethnic stereotyping. “That Mitchell and Webb Look has been made available on BBC iPlayer,” the broadcaster said in a statement. “This is a 20-year-old sketch show; in consultation with the programme makers, we have included the ones that still work today and not the ones that don’t.”
As per The Times, material removed from the programme included scenes featuring war re-enactors in blackface, a joke about Jimmy Savile, and an indigenous tribe living in a garden centre.
One now-deleted sketch shows Mitchell playing a woman in a burka in a scene that sends up reality TV programming. The sketch then cuts to the pair – as themselves – discussing whether or not the sketch itself is actually offensive.
The Mirror has approached Horrible Histories author Terry Deary for comment.
Appearing at an RHS event, Monty Don admitted he will have to find a new way to finance the maintenance of his two-acre garden at Longmeadow following his Gardeners’ World exit
Monty Don has admitted he may have to make a major change next year (Image: Dave Benett, Dave Benett/Getty Images for Killik & Co)
Television legend Monty Don has admitted he may be forced into making a major change at Longmeadow following his departure from Gardeners’ World. Monty, 71, is leaving the show after over 20 years of leading the programme.
However, during a talk at the RHS Malvern autumn show, Monty revealed his soon-to-be former employer, the BBC, had been contributing to the salaries of two gardeners who have worked at Longmeadow since 2011.
Speaking at the RHS event, Monty said the reason for having the team was so the garden could always look “camera ready” if he was away filming in another country, or working on another project.
With his Gardeners’ World exit in mind, Monty, who has lived at Longmeadow in Herefordshire with his wife Sarah since 1991, has said there will come a moment where he will need an alternative plan to keep Longmeadow in shape.
He said: “The BBC pays a contribution towards their wages. Not enough, but they do pay something, which is great. Obviously that contribution is going to go.
“I will have to think of ways – I can’t afford it unless we earn money from it – so I am going to think of ways of earning something from the garden, but I can’t do that until the middle of next year at the earliest.”
Monty, who announced his intention to leave Gardeners’ World in an Instagram video, said he had decided to step away from the renowned show as he felt it was “the right time for a change”.
As well as paying tribute to the “superlative BBC team”, he added: “I look forward to continuing to work with and for the BBC on other projects, as well as following new avenues. And of course, I will still be gardening, dog by side, here at Longmeadow.”
Monty’s exit has subsequently led to speculation about who would replace him, with plenty of candidates from the existing Gardeners’ World team.
Months prior to Monty’s announcement, as questions continued to be asked about how long he would stay on the show, Frances Tophill, 36, was asked how she would feel about potentially replacing him.
Although she has been part of the team for over a decade, Frances ruled herself out of following in Monty’s footsteps, with the latter taking over from Alan Titchmarsh in 2003.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, Frances admitted to having little interest as she saw her main job as being a gardener rather than a presenter.
She said: “I have a huge respect for Monty – it is such a generous thing to give your garden space to the nation and he does it so well. I hope he never leaves….Broadcasting is not my day job, my day job is being a gardener.”
Frances’ comments came after she got a taste of what life as the main presenter would be like when she found herself surrounded by people in a garden centre after deputising for Monty during one episode in 2023. She added: “That’s when I got a glimpse of what being Monty must be like… I don’t want that.”
Ross Kemp wants to prove he’s more than just a tough guy while Richard E Grant hopes being ‘geriatric’ will excuse him from the money-making missions
Ross Kemp wants people to know he’s got a sense of humour under that tough exterior(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Studio Lambert/Cody Burridge/BBC Creative)
There’s just three days to go until the new series of Celebrity Traitors hits the screens and some of its biggest stars have revealed what drove them to sign up for the hit BBC1 show.
Former EastEnders star turned documentary maker Ross Kemp says he is a huge fan of the series, and of host Claudia Winkleman, and wants to show people that there’s more to him than just playing, or being, a tough guy.
“I think if I’m able to stay or survive for a period of time, it would give people an opportunity to see that I’m not just Grant Mitchell or a man that goes around the world confronting people with guns,” he says. “I think obviously there will be people that will only know me as Grant, and then people may have seen the documentaries, which are often quite brutal. I think people probably think that I don’t have any kind of sense of humour whatsoever, which hopefully will come out.”
That said, the 62-year-old admits that being a real-life hard man might actually be his biggest asset when it comes to The Traitors. “My strength hopefully would be some of the physical challenges. I’m a qualified HSE diver, so anything with water I should be able to do. I don’t mind heights too much, I don’t mind cold weather, I’ve completed hostile environment training and I don’t mind being uncomfortable, so I should be able to make a good contribution to Missions.”
But ahead of filming, he admitted he did have a few nerves. “There’s an element of: A, I don’t have control over this; B, I don’t want to let the side down; and C, I don’t want to let my family down by making myself look an idiot.”
Unlike Ross, actor Richard E Grant is hoping to pretty much swerve the Missions altogether – using his age as an excuse. The 69-year-old says: “Jerry Hall and I are the geriatrics of the great group. So, I’m rather hoping there will be some leeway about whether we’re expected to bungee jump off the castle’s wall.”
Richard, whose wife Joan Washington died five years ago, openly admits he is desperate to be picked as a Traitor because he feels they hold all the power. “Absolutely! I would love to be a Traitor,” he laughs. “You have no control in real life over anything. Any chance for that would be welcome – and a little bit of mischief is always welcome.”
He feels he’d be good in the role because he is “definitely” better at telling lies than spotting them and believes that a competitive nature is a pre-requisite for actors. “You can’t survive the profession without being so. It’s too brutal.”
But he doesn’t think his award-winning acting skills will actually help him much. “I think it’ll make people more suspicious because they assume that you’re a natural-born liar. I’ve played so many villains that I assume people will think that I’m a bad egg.”
Whatever happens, he’s hoping his positive attitude will help him to thrive at the Round Tables. “My weakness will be trying to hide what I feel about somebody, and my strength is that I’m a glass three-quarters full person.”
Jerry, 70, says she’s “completely obsessed” with the TV game and was thrilled when she learned that pal Richard was also taking part. “Richard was my neighbour for 30 years and we did a movie together called Tooth, where we played Tooth Fairies, and it was ridiculous,” she says. “We had such a laugh, and I went on holiday with him earlier this year, just after Christmas, to Africa with some friends. And we danced all night and had so much fun! Little did we know back then that we’d both be here.”
Unlike Richard, she is embracing the Missions and believes she can contribute to the effort to win the £100,000 prize pot despite being the oldest in the game. “I am quite an active person,” she explains. “I don’t sit down much. I have a lot of animals – two dogs, a cat, three horses, eight chickens. I do a lot of gardening. I’m very, very busy, and then I babysit my three grandchildren a lot.”
And she has revealed certain secret skills that might come in useful. “I was a girls’ leg wrestling champion in my school district growing up which is very popular in Texas. I come from a very athletic family. My sister Cindy was a girls’ champion bull rider and my sister Rosie was a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. We all used to train horses too and you just get bucked off all the time.”
She says the whole of her immediate family is behind her, including former husband Mick Jagger and their four grown-up kids. “I’m very competitive, as are Mick and our children. My competitive nature will always override any fear. I’m going to try to behave myself on the show. I’m going to try and be a good sport.”
She would like to be a Traitor, even though she thinks she has Faithful-style sleuthing in her genes. “All the men in my family have been law enforcement officers and in the military. My father was General Patton’s staff sergeant on all his campaigns, so I think I get my organisational skills from him. All my uncles, even my nephews, have been policemen.”
Maya Jama was advised to take part by her Masked Singer pal Jonathan Ross – the first Traitor to be outed last year – having decided she wanted to take part in something “where people get to see more of my personality”.
The Love Island host reckons: “I can be warm, but I can also be quite direct when I need to be, so maybe people won’t quite know what to expect.” Laughing that she’s “not massively” competitive, she says her gameplan is to not overthink things, reasoning: “Sometimes you actually do better when you’re relaxed.”
But she also fears her naturally jolly nature might not go down well with those playing the game in earnest. “I’m not naturally very serious, and obviously this is a very serious game. It’ll be interesting to see whether I can keep a straight face.”
Maya, 32, has prepared by watching old episodes to remember deflection techniques if she finds herself accused of being a Traitor. In reality, she’s not actually sure which role she’s aiming for. “At first, I thought I’d rather be a Faithful, but then I started thinking, if I’m doing this experience, why not go all in?”
– The Celebrity Traitors starts on Thursday 1st October at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Joe Marler has revealed that he put on a stone during filming for Celebrity Traitors after overindulging in the extravagant breakfasts that are on offer for players
21:04, 27 Sep 2026Updated 21:04, 27 Sep 2026
Joe Marler has revealed that he put on a stone during filming for Celebrity Traitors(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Studio Lambert/Paul Chappells)
Joe Marler has revealed that he put on a stone during filming for Celebrity Traitors. The rugby star, 36, was one of several famous faces to enter the famous castle last year before comedian Alan Carr walked off with the top prize.
“I was in the room, you put a card under the door, your food gets brought to you, you can have as much as you like. “There’s no interaction with anyone, any other contestants and then you’re taken to the castle.
“For the first bit of enjoying yourself, just watch what you’re eating, to go in there and put on eight kilos. Some people engage in a second breakfast, some people it would be their first breakfast. Some people it might be a third breakfast.”
During his time on the programme, Joe, a Faithful, reached the final and correctly sussed that Alan, along with Cat Burns, were Traitors. But in a shock move, he was banished in the final at the last minute, meaning that Alan could walk away from the show victorious.
Viewers are just days away from the new series of Celebrity Traitors, which will launch on October 1 and feature will feature a stellar line-up of names including Coronation Street legend Julie Hesmondhalgh, Little Mix star Leigh Anne Pinnock and singer James Blunt.
Maya Jama, best known for fronting Love Island, as well as best friends and comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan will be seen taking part as well, amongst a host of others.
Before the official release date was confirmed, Joe appeared alongside Pointless star Richard at an event and it seemed as if the pair had accidentally revealed the launch date, although this turned out not to be the case.
It’s reported that he asked Joe if he had any advice for the upcoming group of contestants, and he said: “What is it, September 23, the next series?”
Then, Richard replied: “By the way, to point out, it’s absolutely embargoed that it starts on September 23. Let’s talk about what we call the events of September 23 this year … the cat’s out of the bag, isn’t it? Not to repeat it.” A BBC spokesperson declined to comment.
KATHERINE Ryan has been spotted out and about for the first time since issuing an apology to Victoria Beckham.
The star used the C-word when talking about Posh Spice last year during an episode of Have I Got News For You, and recently apologised for it online after facing backlash.
Katherine Ryan has been spotted for the first time since apologising to Victoria BeckhamCredit: GettyShe dazzled in a green dress for a Wicked eventCredit: Getty
Katherine got dolled up in a stunning green sparkly dress to embrace her inner Elphaba on the green carpet for Wicked’s West End 20th Anniversary Gala Performance.
The dress featured sequins all over as well as dangling tassels across the shoulders.
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The comedian held her hands in front of her and smiled for the camera while a buzzing crowd was forming behind her for the event.
Speaking in an episode that aired on November 7, Katherine made reference to a 2013 private email sent byDavid Beckham, where he allegedly used the word ‘c****’.
Katherine apologised for using the C-word when talking about Victoria last yearCredit: Instagram/kathbumKatherine also claimed she has always loved the starCredit: Getty
She said on the show: “I don’t know that we are allowed to broadcast the C-word, but you did referenceVictoria Beckhamearlier and we’ll allow that.”
TheBBC‘s Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) have issued it’s ruling on the matter and have revealed there was no justification for Victoria being labelled with the offensive word.
In a reel chatting to the camera, she began: “Hi I’m comedian Katherine Ryan and today the BBC announced their decision to uphold a complaint made by two very influential viewers about a joke that I tried to make on an episode of Have I Got News For You eleven months ago.
“At that time, though there is no defence, I was suffering from a condition called matrescence.
“I was in that building with a 10-day old baby. Should I have left the house?
“This is gonna be a tough one for the feminists because I was a woman going to work but I did call another woman a c***.
“[…] “The trouble is now that section’s been taken off iPlayer so the incident only exists in printed media, online media and then you lost the context because on the day, if you watched it, it was clearly a joke and the whole audience went ‘huhhhh’ and I said ‘whoaaaa’.”
An edited version of the episode has replaced the original on the BBC’s streaming service.
The Graham Norton Show returns tonight and Hollywood actor Tom Cruise addresses Prince William and Kate Middleton attending the premiere of his new movie, Digger
The Prince and Princess of Wales attended the world premiere of Tom Cruise’s movie Differ earlier this week(Image: Getty Images for Warner Bros.)
Tom Cruise has opened up about being joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales on the red carpet at his movie premiere.
Prince William and Kate Middleton attended Tuesday’s (September 22) premiere of Digger, which stars the 64-year-old Hollywood actor. The trio were snapped at the star-studded event with Tom pictured holding Kate’s hand as her husband William wove to fans in the crowd.
Tom is one of the guests of The Graham Norton Show which returned tonight (Friday, September 25) for a new series alongside Oscar-nominated actor Florence Pugh, comedian and actor Lolly Adefope, top comic John Bishop and singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé.
When asked by host Graham about the Royal couple attending the premiere, Tom gushed: “They are amazing – very charismatic. I had such a good time.”
The Mission Impossible star also explained the extensive transformation he had to undergo using prosthetics for Digger, saying: “The makeup was taking so long that I decided to get it down from six hours to one – it was like a ballet getting everything in place. It was just like Formula 1.” Adding jokingly: “I had someone else hold the stopwatch!”
Tom stars opposite Riz Ahmed, Sandra Huller and Jesse Plemons in the film, in which he plays an oil tycoon whose company sets off an ecological disaster before being tasked with a mission to save humanity from his own mess.
He told Graham: “My character is outrageous and unpredictable. He says things that others may be thinking and never say. It’s a timeless story about power, greed, and ego framed in a very timely manner by Alejandro G Inarritu – one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.
“I’ve never read a script like it, and I have never seen a character like Digger.” He also shared his childhood dream to have an “adventurous life”.
Tom explained: “I am always doing something, learning something new which I can add to characters. I want to push every artform. I love the challenge of doing one thing while working on another. To create is life.”
Elsewhere on the show, Don’t Worry Darling actress Florence chatted about starring in the new adaptation of the Steinbeck classic East of Eden, saying, “It is a sweeping epic, and my character is also epic in every way. It has been the most amazing journey working with Zoe (director Zoe Kazan).
“It has been so special and it’s like releasing our baby. I am very protective of it, and really excited.” When asked about playing a character over seven episodes, Florence said, “Because I play a character that goes across several decades the thrill for me was figuring her out as she aged.
“It really was amazing and I had a brilliant time. Creating the series was a dream and I will be talking about this role for the rest of my career.”
The Graham Norton Show continues Friday, October 2 at 10.40pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
KATHERINE Ryan has issued a public apology to Victoria Beckham after the BBC upheld complaints over a rude slur that was taken off of iPlayer.
The comedian, 43, made the offensive joke about Posh Spice while hosting an episode of Have I Got News For You last year.
Katherine Ryan has apologised to Victoria BeckhamCredit: GettyViewers complained about an offensive remark made about Victoria by Katherine on an episode of Have I Got News For You last yearCredit: Getty
Speaking in an episode that aired on November 7, Katherine made reference to a 2013 private email sent by David Beckham, where he allegedly used the word ‘c****’.
She said on the show: “I don’t know that we are allowed to broadcast the c-word, but you did reference Victoria Beckham earlier and we’ll allow that.”
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The BBC‘s Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) have issued it’s ruling on the matter and have revealed there was no justification for Victoria being labelled with the offensive word.
Now Katherine has taken to Instagram in a new reel to apologise for the comment.
She began: “Hi I’m comedian Katherine Ryan and today the BBC announced their decision to uphold a complaint made by two very influential viewers about a joke that I tried to make on an episode of Have I Got News For You eleven months ago.
“At that time, though there is no defence, I was suffering from a condition called matrescence.
“I was in that building with a 10-day old baby. Should I have left the house?
“This is gonna be a tough one for the feminists because I was a woman going to work but I did call another woman a c***.
Katherine shared a video after the BBC’s ruling was revealedCredit: Instagram/kathbumShe posted a screengrab of an apology she sent to VictoriaCredit: Instagram/kathbum
“Sometimes I forget that celebrities are not my friends. If I had called Jimmy Carr a c***, he wouldn’t have minded.
“Joanne McNally, c***, she wouldn’t have minded but this was described by the BBC as a slur.
“As though c**** are part of a protected group,” Katherine said in her trademark sarcastic way.
“The trouble is now that section’s been taken off iPlayer so the incident only exists in printed media, online media and then you lost the context because on the day, if you watched it, it was clearly a joke and the whole audience went ‘huhhhh’ and I said ‘whoaaaa’.”
She then plugged her new book before adding: “I love Victoria Beckham so much that I actually included her in one of my celebrity firstborn daughter chapters.
“I’d like to read you that now whilst remaining very sorry.”
Katherine went on to read the specific chapter about Victoria as she praised her for her work over the years.
She continued: “Yes, I sort of jokingly called her a c*** in the BBC and she messaged me afterwards.
“I apologised unreservedly because though she is a c***, Victoria Beckham couldn’t be further from a c***.”
Katherine shared a screengrab of the apology she sent to Victoria via an Instagram DM.
The BBC’s Executive Complaints Unit said today: “There was no such justification for a comment which presented Victoria Beckham as equivalent to a particularly offensive word.”
They stated that the word was justified in relation to David’s alleged use of it, but not in reference to his wife.
It added: “The relevant BBC editorial guidelines do not require programmes to avoid giving offence but do require that any offence should be editorially justified.”
According to the ruling, two viewers had complained about the remark, which was “gratuitously offensive”.
Now an edited version of the episode has replaced the original on the BBC’s streaming service.
The Damned United tells an unbelievable true story that’s perfect for Ted Lasso fans.
Hayley Anderson Screen Time TV Reporter
10:10, 25 Sep 2026
Inside The Damned United cast on Netflix. (Image: BBC FILMs)
Netflix’s The Damned United stars legends from the worlds of Harry Potter, The Good Omens and Adolescence.
After dropping on Netflix at the weekend, sports drama The Damned United has soared into the streamer’s Top 10 most-watched list and continues to rise in the charts.
Originally released in 2009 and based on a novel by David Peace three years prior, The Damned United tells the turbulent tale of Brian Clough and his disastrous run as the manager of Leeds United in 1974. Only lasting 44 days in the job, Clough was quickly able to alienate the players and the board, leading to the collapse of his professional football career.
As Netflix subscribers continue to discover the classic sports film, here’s everything there is to know about The Damned United cast.
The Damned United cast in full
Brian Clough – Michael Sheen
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Arrogant and fiercely outspoken Brian Clough wasn’t quiet when it came to criticising Leeds United’s former manager Don Revie.
So it took Clough by surprise when he was asked by the team’s board to take over managing the reigning champions.
Actor Michael Sheen has starred in an abundance of hit shows and films throughout his career including The Queen, Good Omens, Masters of Sex, The Twilight Saga and Frost/Nixon.
Peter Taylor – Timothy Spall
Peter Taylor is Clough’s loyal assistant manager and best friend who helps ground the fiery manager when needed.
He is portrayed by actor Timothy Spall who is best remembered for his work in Mr Turner, The King’s Speech and in the Harry Potter franchise as the villainous Peter Pettigrew.
Billy Bremner – Stephen Graham
Billy Bremner is the hard-working captain of Leeds United who is Clough’s main antagonist, leading the resistance that brings about the manager’s infamously short 44-day run at the club.
Bremner is brought to life in The Damned United by Emmy Award-winning actor Stephen Graham, renowned for his work in Netflix’s Adolescence, This is England, A Thousand Blows and Boardwalk Empire.
John O’Hare – Martin Compston
John O’Hare is the team’s striker, known for his aggressive team spirit while playing under Clough.
He is portrayed by none other than Martin Compston, famed for starring as DI Steve Arnott in the unforgettable Line of Duty.
Before becoming a household name in the BBC crime drama, Compston was a professional footballer in Scotland and made a couple of appearances playing for Greenock Morton.
Don Revie – Colm Meaney
Don Revie is the legendary, formidable Leeds United manager who leaves to manage the England national team. It is his exit from the team that leads his rival Clough to begin his chaotic short stint at Leeds.
Don is played by actor Colm Meaney who stars in Remarkably Bright Creatures, In the Land of Saints and Sinners and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Sam Longson – Jim Broadbent
Prior to Clough joining Leeds United, he was the manager of Derby County with Sam Longson acting as its chairman.
Actor Jim Broadbent is recognised for starring in the Harry Potter and Bridget Jones franchises, as well as Game of Thrones and Only Fools and Horses.
The Damned United is available to watch on Netflix.
