The Split Up is a spin-off from the hit BBC drama The Split and will follow another family’s law firm.
A spin-off from the hit BBC drama The Split has received a significant update.
Fans were gutted when the legal series starring Nicola Walker and Stephen Mangan wrapped up after three seasons in 2022, followed by a two-part special last year. Now, fresh information about the upcoming show The Split Up has emerged, including casting announcements.
The original programme featured Annika star Nicola as Hannah, grappling with the breakdown of her marriage to Nathan (Stephen) whilst juggling affairs, romance and complicated relationships, all while managing her family’s law practice alongside the chaos created by her two sisters and mother.
The Split Up will now centre on a different family law practice, this time based in Manchester and focusing on the British-Asian elite Kishan family.
The six-episode series will explore “the high-stakes world of Manchester’s divorce law circuit, where one family of lawyers, the Kishans, reigns supreme,” according to the previous announcement, reports Wales Online.
It adds: “Kishan Law is a British-Asian high net worth family law firm in Manchester, noted for its clientele and its reputation.
“They are the ‘go to firm’ for Manchester’s elite who come to them for their excellence, integrity, and discretion.
“But the future and legacy of Kishan Law hangs in the balance when a family secret from the past comes to light, throwing their professional and personal lives into turmoil.”
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The line-up for the series has already been unveiled, and it’s now been confirmed that The Good Place star Jameela Jamil is coming on board.
When the announcement was posted on social media featuring a photo of Jameela with leading lady Ritu Arya, the She-Hulk actress responded: “I love her.”
“My two favourites together,” one supporter wrote, whilst another added: “OMG can’t wait. Love you both!!!”
“Very excited for this,” a third person commented.
Jameela is joining The Umbrella Academy’s Ritu Arya, Unforgotten’s Sanjeev Bhaskar, alongside Aysha Kala (Virdee), Arian Nik (Film Club), Danny Ashok (Dinosaur), Dimitri Leonidas (Those About To Die), Mawaan Rizwan (Juice), Sindhu Vee (Matilda the Musical), Shalini Peiris (The White Lotus) and Tom Forbes (Queenie).
Celebrity guest appearances will also feature Lenny Henry and Jane Horrocks.
The BBC revealed: “The fast-rising star of Kishan Law is Aria Kishan (Ritu Arya), poised to step up and take the mantle from her father Dhruv (Sanjeev Bhaskar). However, the death of her mother has cast a new light over these plans for Dhruv, who has begun to wonder if his daughter can, or should, take on this responsibility single-handedly.
“Aria’s relationship is placed under scrutiny too with the wedding for long-term partner Neal (Danny Ashok) on the horizon, but with their personal and professional so entwined it’s unclear if their relationship can withstand any more pressure – a problem further compounded when a former secret flame (Dimitri Leonidas) arrives in Manchester unexpectedly.
“Alongside her siblings Maya (Aysha Kala) and Kav (Arian Nik), Aria must navigate the splits that divide family and those we love – and ask herself: who should you live your life for?”
Creator Ursula Rani Sarma expressed: “Having admired The Split and Abi Morgan for years, I was honoured to be asked to bring The Split Up to life. As a writer passionate about representation, it’s a dream come true to place a contemporary British South Asian family centre stage. Diversity deepens our understanding, enriches our stories, and reflects the true fabric of our society.
“It’s thrilling to watch our amazing cast led by Ritu and Sanjeev bring the Kishan family to life. I can’t wait for audiences to meet them and to witness the drama as it unfolds.”
Abi Morgan chimed in: “The chance to take all that was loved about The Split and use it to inspire the next generation of British South Asian talent, to create a new family of dynamic lawyers spilling over with all the messiness of life, both personally and professionally, has been a brilliant challenge, beautifully realised by lead writer Ursula Rani Sama. I hope audiences will take it to their hearts.”
The limited series Get Millie Black was crafted for television with a screenplay penned by Booker Prize-winning author Marlon James, who wrote A Brief History of Seven Killings.
This crime thriller marks Marlon’s screenwriting debut and first premiered on HBO in the United States on November 25, 2024. It then made its UK premiere on Channel 4 on March 5, 2025.
Get Millie Black has been steered by Tanya Hamilton – the show’s lead director – while Annetta Laufer directed two episodes and Jean Luc Herbulot directed one. The series was penned by writers Theresa Ikoko and Lydia Adetunji.
The plot revolves around the unparalleled Millie-Jean Black, a Jamaican-born police detective who is forced to leave Scotland Yard and her troubled life in London and return home to Jamaica, where she joins the Jamaican Police Force.
Once back in Kingston, Millie and her partner Curtis start investigating a missing persons case which intersects with another — bringing Scotland Yard detective Luke Holborn to Millie’s doorstep. The show grapples with complex themes and delves into the painful and troubled legacy of slavery, racism, classism, sexuality, and generational cycles of trauma in the post-colonial Jamaican and British landscape.
Get Millie Black features the brilliant Tamara Lawrance in the starring role, alongside Joe Dempsie, Anjli Mohindra, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr, Chyna McQueen, Nestor Aaron Absera, and Peter John Thwaites.
The five-part mini series is available to watch without charge on Channel 4, with episodes running for an hour on average, reports the Express.
Discussing Get Millie Black and how Millie’s character came to life, Marlon revealed: “My mother was one of the first policewomen in Jamaica to make detective. Storytelling has always struck me first and foremost as a mystery to be solved – which I’m sure I got from her. Millie, from the second she appeared in my imagination, was a brilliant, mercurial, hilarious, unpredictable force of nature; someone who was always there, just waiting for her story to be told. I didn’t create her, I found her.”
Boasting a perfect 100% score on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, Get Millie Black has received endless praise from critics, with one penning: “Get Millie Black lives and breathes. This might be a crime thriller, but it isn’t just a crime thriller. In the right hands, a crime thriller can contain multitudes.”
Meanwhile, another reviewer commented: “We got more story in the first 300 seconds than some series manage in an hour-long episode.”
In another glowing review of the series, a third critic remarked: “Crime shows, especially missing girl shows, often feel barren, or at least frozen in their Scandinavian snowscapes. Millie, on the other hand, feels abundant.”
And yet another impressed reviewer said: “Get Millie Black works well as a gory whodunit (with a genuinely unnerving twist at the centre). But the outstanding performances and the crimes in this setting make the show unique.”
Audience reviews follow in a similar vein, with one viewer writing: “All I’m going to say is wow. Watched all episodes in one sitting. Terrific detective series.”
While another audience member commented: “Worth a good watch if you’re interested in crime dramas. Especially if you want something original like this one, which takes place in Jamaica. Matter of fact, you don’t see many Jamaican movies/tv shows nowadays, and I’m glad that I’d checked it out. Great acting, good writing, and pacing that makes the series sort and simple since this is a limited series.”
Get Millie Black is available to stream for free on Channel 4.
Did you forget to register to vote in California’s special election on Tuesday? There is still time.
California allows same day registration. Eligible citizens are allowed to cast a conditional ballot and once their eligibility to vote is verified, the vote will be counted.
Tuesday is the last day to vote on Proposition 50, a measure that would approve new congressional district lines designed to favor Democrats in the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections, overriding the map drawn by the state’s nonpartisan, independent redistricting commission.
Prospective voters can visit a polling place on Tuesday to register and then cast a ballot.
Ariana Grande has been confirmed to star in the 13th season of American Horror Story alongside a host of franchise regulars
American Horror Story season 13 has revealed its star-studded line-up will feature pop sensation Ariana Grande alongside a roster of franchise favourites.
The two-time Grammy Award winner, currently portraying Glinda in the musical films Wicked and its forthcoming sequel, will lead the series with an ensemble cast.
Whilst she’s never featured in the acclaimed horror anthology previously, she has collaborated with its creator Ryan Murphy on the cult favourite series Scream Queens, which launched a decade ago and spanned two seasons.
Grande is joined by several cast members unveiled this Halloween, including Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Gabourey Sidibe and Leslie Grossman.
The official line-up was revealed on Murphy’s Instagram account through a mysterious video featuring Vera Lynn’s rendition of I’ll Be Seeing You, reports the Express.
American Horror Story’s forthcoming season will follow the Kim Kardashian -fronted Delicate, which broadcast from September 2023 through April 2024.
Fans have since started theorising that the 13th instalment could be its final chapter and revisit a previous narrative.
It’s scheduled to premiere on FX in precisely one year’s time, 31st October, 2026.
Numerous fans have already flocked to social media to express their enthusiasm, with one X user writing: “Ariana Grande will be in AHS season 13!!! What a Halloween treat!”
Another declared: “ariana in AHS alongside all the iconic actresses that carried the series… y’all IM GAGGING-“
One particularly enthusiastic Ariana fan commented: “Ariana Grande is about to be that girl yet again in the next 12 months.
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“She can essentially win an Emmy (Wicked TV special, AHS 13), an Oscar (Wicked), and another Grammy (Brighter Days Ahead MV, any ES deluxe nomination).
“She would only need the Tony to become an EGOT. She’s been that girl and I will be seated for each of her projects.”
Have you already marked the 13th season of American Horror Story in your diary?
American Horror Story season 13 premieres 31st October 2026 on FX.
The five-part thriller is inspired by the real-life story of two children abducted by their father after discovering his wife’s infidelity.
This sets off a relentless quest by a mother to reclaim her son and daughter, aided by an ex-Mossad agent who has become a private investigator.
The conflict intensifies – not only between Leo and Valeria – but also within their influential families as Isaac and Tamara are whisked away to different parts of Europe to keep them from their mother.
The drama draws inspiration from Tamara Trottner’s 2020 memoir No One Saw Us Leave, or its Spanish title Nadie nos vio partir, in which she narrates how she and her brother Isaac were taken during the 1960s.
The narrative provides a glimpse into the Jewish-Mexican community of that era, according to Netflix’s Tudum, as Tamara’s mother faced condemnation from the tight-knit community.
Many viewers are curious about the cast – here’s where you might have seen the actors before.
Heading the cast is actress Tessa la, portraying the desperate mother Valeria Goldberg.
The star is renowned for her roles in Narcos: Mexico, Unstoppable, The House of Flowers: The Movie, and Something Blue.
As per IMDb, she’s next set to appear in TV shows La Banda, Yellow, and De brutas, nada.
Leo Saltzman – Emiliano Zurita
Actor and producer Emiliano Zurita takes on the role of Leo Saltzman, a father pressured by his parents to take his children away from Valeria.
Zurita has previously appeared in TV series such as Zorro, Dance of the 41, Natural Born Narco, and The Head of Joaquin Murrieta.
Samuel Saltzman – Juan Manuel Bernal
Juan Manuel Bernal portrays Samuel Saltzman, with previous credits including Lazos de amor, Confessions, Perfect Obedience, The Blue Room, Monarca, and he also starred in The Head of Joaquin Murrieta alongside Zurita.
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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.
Carlos – Gustavo Bassani
Gustavo Bassani plays Carlos, Valeria’s lover whom she ultimately leaves her husband Leo for.
Bassani’s past roles include appearances in Transmitzvah, Yosi, the Regretful Spy, Maledictions and Papeles.
Elías – Ari Brickman
Ari Brickman, an actor, director, composer and writer, takes on the role of Elías. He has had roles in Like Water for Chocolate, Nora’s Will, Technoboys, All That Is Invisible Más alla de ti, and directed several episodes of Netflix’s sci-fi epic Sense8.
Isaac Saltzman – Alexander Varela
Child star Alexander Varela plays Isaac Saltzman, Leo and Valeria’s son. His previous roles include parts in Luis Miguel: The Series and Who Killed Him?, but No One Saw Us Leave is his most significant project to date.
Tamara Saltzman – Marion Siro
Marion Siro, another child star, plays Tamara Saltzman, who is taken along with her brother.
The cast also includes Flavio Medina, Juan Manuel Bernal, Caro Darman and Natasha Dupeyrón.
The five-episode drama is being adapted from Liz Jensen’s best-selling novel and is said to be “a high-stakes thriller which crackles with danger”.
According to the synopsis, the series – which is being produced by Mammoth Screen, part of ITV studios – follows a forensic psychologist named Gabs Fox (Madeley) who meets teen Bethany Krall (India) at a psychiatric hospital.
Bethany, who is the daughter of the leader of a religious movement (played by Sam Hazeldine), was convicted of killing her mum but she insists she didn’t do it.
Adding another twist is the fact that the 17-year-old claims to be able to predict the future. But can she convince Gabs she is telling the truth?
“I’m over the moon to be getting started on this production and cannot wait to bring Bethany onto tellies,” India, 24, said as her casting was announced.
“It will be a massive challenge for me professionally, which I’m very much welcoming and feel incredibly safe to do so in the hands of Mammoth and Ruth!”
Madeley added that it was “a total joy to lead such a powerful and vibrant series”, which she said was “an incredibly special project” to her.
The series, which is shooting in Wales, will also star Stephen Campbell Moore, Lisa Palfrey, Siena Kelly, Naby Dakhli, Richard Elis, Dean Rehman and Robert Rhodes.
Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, added: “This thriller brings Liz Jensen’s compelling novel to life with a truly talented cast led by the brilliant Ruth Madeley and India Amarteifio.
“The Rapture features two complicated and captivating characters, blended with a story of climate change, to create a gripping narrative and I can’t wait for BBC viewers to see it.”
The Rapture is set to air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
There’s a brand-new crime-drama airing on Channel 5 this week as Murder Before Evensong is set to be filled with twists and turns.
Murder Before Evensong will air on Channel 5 this week(Image: Robert Viglasky/AcornTV)
On Tuesday night, Channel 5 viewers will tune in for the first instalment of Murder Before Evensong.
The six-part murder mystery is based on the novel by I’m A Celeb fan-favourite, Reverend Richard Coles, the first in his best-selling series, the Canon Clement Mysteries.
Set in 1980s England, the series is set to keep audiences on the edge of their seat as bodies keep piling up in a village, which results in the main protagonist finding himself unexpectedly entangled in a murder case.
With the first episode airing this week, here’s everything you need to know about the Channel 5 drama
When does Murder Before Evensong start and how can you watch it?
The Channel 5 series will launch on Tuesday, 7th October at 9pm. The second episode will air the following Tuesday (October 14)
An overview for the first episode reads: “Canon Daniel Clement, introverted Rector of Champton, has his life turned upside-down when his difficult mother Audrey arrives unannounced. And Daniel upsets the apple cart himself by proposing the installation of a lavatory in the church, to widespread consternation.
“But a more serious challenge lies in wait for Daniel when he stumbles upon the body of his parishioner, Anthony Bowness, cousin of Lord de Floures, who was researching Champton’s history during the war.
“Daniel is forced to delve under the veneer of village life, questioning who he can trust, and, when threats are made against him, whether he himself was the intended murder victim.”
How many episodes are in Murder Before Evensong and what is it about?
The crime drama will consist of six episodes, with the first one airing on Tuesday, October 7.
Throughout the six episodes, Channel 5 fans will watch Canon Daniel Clement, the Rector of Champton, caught in the middle of a murder case when a body is uncovered at the church.
A synopsis for the series reads: “Canon Daniel Clement shares Champton rectory with his widowed mother – opinionated, fearless, ever-so-slightly annoying Audrey – and his two dachshunds, Cosmo and Hilda.
“When Daniel announces a plan to install a lavatory in the church, the parish is suddenly (and unexpectedly) divided: as lines are drawn, long-buried secrets come dangerously close to destroying the apparent calm of the village. And then a body is found dead at the back of the church, stabbed in the neck with a pair of secateurs.
“As the police move in and the bodies start piling up, Daniel is the only one who can try and keep his fractured community together… and catch a killer.
Who stars in the show?
Actor Matthew Lewis will star in the Channel 5 drama as Canon Daniel Clement, the Rector of Champton. He’s best known for his roles in Harry Potter and All Creatures Great and Small.
His mother, called Audrey in the show, will be played by Amanda Redman, seen in the likes of New Tricks and At Home with the Braithwaites.
The cast also consists of Amit Shah from Happy Valley as DS Neil Vanloo, Adam James, who is seen in The Day of the Jackal as Bernard De Floures, and Meghan Treadway, who features in One Day as Honour De Floures.
The likes of Alexander Delamain will also appear in the show as Alex De Floures alongside The Crown’s Marion Bailey as Kath, Amanda Hadingue as Dora and Tamzin Outhwaite as Stella Harper.
Other famous faces in Murder Before Evensong include Francis Magee as Edgy and Nina Toussaint-White as Jane Thwaite.
The Channel 5 drama has been adapted by Nick Hicks-Beach (Lewis, DCI Banks, Midsomer Murders) and has been directed by David Moore (Fool Me Once, Outlander, Shetland, Marple).
Murder Before Evensong is available to watch on Channel 5 from 9pm on October 7.
The BBC has announced the new cast for the third series of Vigil, which will see Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie return as DCI Amy Silva and DI Kirsten Longacre
16:56, 29 Sep 2025Updated 16:57, 29 Sep 2025
The production for the third series is now underway in Svalbard and Scotland
The BBC has revealed the additional cast members joining Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie for the comeback of acclaimed drama Vigil, and amongst the recognisable faces is a beloved Shetland star.
Shetland performers Steven Miller, Killian Coyle and Dawn Sievewright have secured fresh roles on Vigil, with filming for the third series currently taking place in Svalbard and Scotland.
As previously confirmed, Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie are back as DCI Amy Silva and DI Kirsten Longacre.
The six-episode series will witness the pair tackling a fresh investigation at an isolated Arctic research facility, where a member of a secretive British special forces operation has been fatally shot.
The plot summary continues: “Amy and Kirsten will need to catch the killer and diffuse a potential international confrontation, driven by a land-grab for energy and resources in the changing polar climate, with both their careers and relationship on the line.”
In the first-look photograph, Jones and Leslie can be seen on set, bundled up and prepared for action. The snowy setting certainly provides an atmospheric backdrop for an unsettling new tale, reports the Daily Record.
Gary Lewis is back reprising his character as Detective Superintendent Robertson, who has featured throughout every series of Vigil to date.
Dominic Mafham also makes his return as Sir Ian Downing, whilst Orla Russell comes back as Poppy, Amy and Kirsten’s daughter.
The fresh cast for the third series additionally features Jeppe Beck Laursen, Tornike Gogrichiani, Benjamin Wainwright, Artur Zai Barrera, Jordan Duvigneau and Kaisa Hammarlund. As well as Adam Fidusiewicz, Naomi Yang, Eric Godon, Conor Berry, Amy Manson, Jason Tobin, Steven Cree, Derek Riddell, Alma Prelec and Shereen Cutkelvin.
Specifics surrounding their individual characters are being kept secret, though we can expect they’ll all become embroiled in the fresh mystery and potentially find themselves under scrutiny.
Following the announcement that filming had commenced alongside the new ensemble, writer Tom Edge commented: “I’m grateful to the BBC and World Productions for backing the ambition of a story that takes Vigil to the Arctic.
“This series grapples with the issues that will define tomorrow’s world: melting ice caps, conflict over resources, energy wars, and lives put at risk in pursuit of peace and profits.”
Jake Lushington, executive producer for World Productions, remarked: “We are thrilled to be kicking off filming series three of Vigil with Suranne and Rose in the epic arctic landscapes of Svalbard and welcome our most multinational cast to date, as well as featuring new and established Scottish talent.”
Vigil seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.
When the cast and crew of “Bob’s Burgers” gathered to celebrate the show’s milestone 300th episode earlier this month, two key figures were missing.
Creator Loren Bouchard and actor H. Jon Benjamin — who voices the “Bob” of the title — were unexpectedly waylaid by illness and travel troubles, respectively. It was a scenario that could have been an episode of the long-running adult animated series, down to the celebration’s setting, which took place in a room resembling the inside of the show’s titular hamburger joint.
The only thing missing was a musical interlude.
Centering a family that runs a restaurant, “Bob’s Burgers” kicks off its 16th season Sunday on Fox with its 300th episode titled “Grand Pre-Pre-Pre-Opening.” The milestone episode will take things back to before the Belcher’s opened their family eatery.
According to Bouchard, one of the questions the writers wanted to explore in this episode was “Why is Linda doing this?”
“Bob’s Burgers [the restaurant], it’s got his name in it, but we sense that he can’t do it without her,” Bouchard says. “[Bob] says that in the show, but what do we mean when we say that?”
The look to the past also shows Bob (Benjamin) and Linda (John Roberts) preparing to welcome their first child, Tina (Dan Mintz). The Belcher clan also includes Tina’s younger siblings Gene (Eugene Mirman) and Louise (Kristen Schaal).
“Grand Pre-Pre-Pre-Opening” is the 300th episode of “Bob’s Burgers.”
(20th Television / Fox)
Bouchard admits he is usually not one for celebrating episode counts — “It starts to feel a little bit like bulk pricing,” he jokes — but he recognizes that the longevity of the series is something special. “Bob’s Burgers” premiered in 2011.
“What you get with a show that lasts this long and has this many episodes is a different relationship with the fans,” Bouchard says. “You get to have a 15-year relationship. That’s like family. There are marriages that don’t last that long.”
Over the years, the show’s dedicated audience has seen “Bob’s Burgers” expand beyond television with the release of “The Bob’s Burgers Movie” in 2022 as well as a touring live show of comedy and music.
Bouchard explains that the show’s approach to these milestone episodes have been to “go small and deep” to avoid overstuffing them with fan service. They’ve treated the 100th, 200th and 300th episodes like a new pilot that centers the restaurant and family “in a very basic way” as if it were someone’s introduction to the series.
The 300th episode, written by Bouchard and Nora Smith, digs into the show’s core premise to reveal how Bob and Linda came to juggle a restaurant and a family at the same time.
“I started my family when I started ‘Bob’s,’ so it’s very personal to me,” Bouchard says. “I like the chaos and just audacious optimism that you could have children and start a doomed-to-fail, Hail Mary of a creative project at the same time. It’s why I like this family, that they did this too.”
To commemorate the milestone, Bouchard and the cast discussed, in their own words edited for clarity and length, “Bob’s Burgers’” status as a “comfort show,” the Belcher family dynamics, memorable episodes and more.
A comfort food
“Bob’s Burgers” cast members Larry Murphy, left, Dan Mintz, Kristen Schaal, Eugene Mirman and John Roberts at the Bento Box offices.
(Frank Micelotta / Fox)
It’s not rare for “Bob’s Burgers” to be described as a “comfort show” — something fans can turn on to unwind or fall asleep to. The cast attributes this to the show having real emotions that come from the heart.
“The sweetness of [their affection] being genuine, that’s the thing,” Mirman says. “It’s just a mix of warmhearted and funny and sort of grounded.”
“The jokes aren’t taking people down a notch,” Schaal says. “The show has always been in a lane that people are realizing they should come over to — the kind lane.”
Bouchard says that “it’s very touching and affecting” that audiences turn to the show for comfort but acknowledges it’s something he can’t focus on while the show’s in production.
Bouchard: I definitely don’t take it lightly. I don’t want to think about it while we’re making “Bob’s.” If I thought about it while we’re making it, I would I feel like there’s a scenario where I could mess it up. You don’t want to shoot for comfort show, you want to shoot for edgy, attention-grabbing. [Episodes with] act breaks and big closing numbers. I know people don’t mean, “I fall asleep when I see it for the first time.” They mean, “I put on episodes I’ve seen before and it’s comforting in a profoundly, sleepy way.” I think being an adult by definition means at the end of the day you need something to just transition so that you can fall asleep. I’m glad that “Bob’s” does that for people.
Roberts: We love how much comfort this brings to the world. We like being light and having a job in entertainment that makes people feel good — it makes the world a better place. That’s rare and we’re blessed and we’re grateful.
Dinner (musical) theater
Tina, left, Louise and Gene in an episode of “Bob’s Burgers.”
(20th Television / Fox)
According to Bouchard, the music on the show was ”a ’dare we dream’ type thing in the beginning.” But the reception to the show’s catchy ukelele-driven theme song made him feel like there was room to push the musical elements further, like having a unique end credits and outro song for each episode.
“This sort of flea market find, slightly childlike music felt to us like of the show, but the audience had to give us permission,” Bouchard says. “We had to go slowly to get that.”
Once they saw the audience was on board, he felt like the show had the go ahead to hit the ground running from putting musical moments within the stories to eventually having musical episodes. While it’s still something they take “moment by moment,” Bouchard says he’s “so glad that [the music is] part of what people seem to want from the show.”
Roberts: I think in the earlier seasons, we were more improvising and things like that. But now it’s very professional big songs. It’s fun. I’m impressed by everybody.
Mirman: I’m truly incapable of singing. So the way we do it for me is that the person who’s in charge of the music will sing one line and I will mimic it like nine times to the best of my ability. [Then] they splice together a child singing poorly that is still much better than me in real life. But it’s still very fun. It’s very fun to be challenged.
Mintz: I’m kind of in Eugene’s boat. I can’t remember pitch for very long after I hear it, so I do have to immediately hear it and immediately repeat it. But I’ve been surprised at how much I do enjoy it. You do it again and again, and then the final ones are like, “Now do it and don’t hold back.” And you feel a real singer for, like, one line. There’s also the no pressure of it because I’m singing as a person, as a character, who’s not a professional singer, so it doesn’t have to be that good.
Where’s the beef? Belcher family dynamics
The Belchers inside their restaurant.
(20th Television / Fox)
One thing that comes through in every episode of “Bob’s Burgers” is just how much the Belchers love each other.
“[Linda] is a mom that pays attention and is present and shows up for her children,” says Roberts, who draws from his own mother for his performance. “There’s a realness there and it’s very grounding for the show. … Linda’s gone a little crazy sometimes, but for the most part, it’s all very much stuff that you can relate to.”
Perpetually in the Belchers’ orbit is Teddy — handyman, loyal customer and Bob’s best friend.
“I think of Teddy as constantly trying to inject himself into the lives of the family that he doesn’t have,” says Larry Murphy, who voices Teddy. “The best part about that is that they might shake their heads [at him], but they always rise to the occasion and are supportive of the character.”
And as much as the Belcher children can tease or annoy each other at times, there is no doubt that they all genuinely care for one another too.
“There’s a sibling camaraderie that is really lovely,” Mirman says. “It reminds me of the camaraderie on TV and movies in the ‘80s. That era of the stuff I grew up watching.”
Schaal: I love how they enjoy each other’s company. They’re usually not trying to lose the other one. I mean, in some episodes, Louise is bothering Tina and we explore that. But in general, they hang out together, they play together. They’re not on their f— iPads, separate in their own worlds. They’re going on adventures. And at the end of the day, Louise has their back like no one else and she’ll fight for them.
Mintz: I think it’s great for Tina to be pulled out of her comfort zone by her siblings, even though she’s supposed to be the leader as the oldest. Those are some of the most fun episodes for me when Gene and Louise want to do something dangerous or against the rules or whatever. Tina’s anxious for some reason and keeps being like, “Well, we shouldn’t,” but she gets dragged along. There’s always some moment in every one of those where it’s like, ‘Wait, Jimmy Jr. will be there. OK, maybe I’m fine with this.’ I think Tina’s life would be a lot more boring if she didn’t have someone make her break the rules all the time.
Favorite flavors
Tina and Linda in “Bob’s Burgers.”
(20th Television/Fox)
Over the years, “Bob’s Burgers” has come to be known for its various holiday episodes for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas that often rank among viewers’ favorites.
“I love on Thanksgiving when they play the marathon of stuff,” Roberts says.
But holidays aren’t the only flavor of memorable episodes. And even after 16 seasons, the cast says they are just as excited to flip through new scripts and record episodes together as they were when they started.
As for their favorites, Mintz says he enjoys “all the fantasy ones.” Murphy agrees.
Murphy: I like those episodes where the kids are each telling their own story — and it might not have happened. It just gets to not exist in the world of “Bob’s Burgers,” but it’s someone’s point of view telling a story, like when they built that giant robot [“The Handyman Can”]. Kind of a “Rashomon”-type idea.
Schaal: I like anything that’s emotional. If Louise ever gets to be emotional, I get excited. Even like the one where they’re looking for Bob’s mom’s grave [“Show Mama From the Grave”]. They’re going for something that is really sad, but doing it so well. I love those episodes.
Roberts: I think what’s really awesome is that there’s an individual episode for each character that’s genius. For me, I think “Lindapendent Woman” was an incredible episode. I just did an episode Holly Schlesinger wrote where it’s more about Linda and her past. We all got our turn at having incredible episodes.
Mirman: I agree with Kristen about the ones that have an emotional arc. There is a Christmas one [“The Plight Before Christmas”], where all three kids have an event and the parents understand they can’t make it to everything. Eventually Tina makes it to Louise’s poetry reading where she wrote two poems and one is really sweet and about the family. I’ve watched that episode a bunch.
Schaal: Going back to the story ones. The one about the chores [“Fight at the Not Okay Chore-ral”], where Louise is butting heads with Linda about doing chores and then they tell stories about being in a wild west town. That one I love because it was about this real conflict. And the funny thing is, my daughter has requested to watch that one several times. I think it’s because Linda breaks down and says, “I’m wrong, I give up,” and my kid is thrilled to see the mom say that.
We’re here, we’re gruyere, get used it
Teddy and Linda in an episode of “Bob’s Burgers.”
(20th Television / Fox)
“Bob’s Burgers” has often been hailed for its inclusivity. As a series living in “the kind lane,” the characters are accepted for who they are — even if there’s gentle ribbing at times.
“Nobody’s trying to change anyone,” Roberts says. “They’re just trying to make them better human beings.”
“And they don’t have to defend who they are,” adds Schaal. “There’s complete acceptance.”
At a time when trans and queer people are increasingly targeted by ring-wing politicians and activists through legislation and dehumanizing rhetoric — LGBTQ+-friendly shows such as “Bob’s Burgers” can, for some, feel like a refuge. Bouchard explains how the show’s approach to being inclusive is intentional.
Bouchard: One of the simple tricks that we do is you just do it. You don’t have to shine a light on it. What I think is interesting about acceptance and tolerance and inclusivity — all those things have become capitalized words, and they almost lose their value when they’re not just part of your daily life. Your storytelling has to be about something other than that. That’s not going to be as satisfying as just put it in the character and let it be their daily. They get up feeling accepting and inclusive and normalizing, and they go to bed that way. They don’t learn that f— lesson in the middle of a half-hour show. That’s fine that it exists. Maybe sometimes, as a culture, we need to all come together and learn a lesson. [But] “Bob’s” is in the business of not writing those episodes. We’re in the business of writing those characters without fanfare.
And I give credit to my parents. I think my sister and I were weird in the normal weird way — weird kids are normal. A lot of parents make room for that, and love their kids no matter how they express themselves as little kids. I guess some don’t, but I am glad to have come up in that. To me, it feels natural. To me, it’s not a stretch. The way to do it is to just live it, just be it, and assume that when it’s on paper and it seems normal to you, hopefully it’ll feel reassuring and comforting to other folks too.
Big Brother has officially returned for another season with 12 housemates ready to wreak havoc on ITV’s most famous house, but this year, the line-up appears more fresh-faced than ever.
In fact, only two of the housemates are not in their twenties, with the rest of the group ranging from 18 to 27; Pizza Shop Manager Gani, 39, and PR company owner Caroline, 56, are the exception. The latter decided to go on the show after struggling to know which direction to take her career in, and says she’d like a pair of new patio doors if she won the show’s prize pot, which is often £100,000.
While Gani is hoping for both fame and fortune, as he says: “I’d like to be known by millions. I see this as an opportunity not only for my personal growth, but also to help build the future of my personal brand.” He might get some tips from his fellow housemates, as one is already known online as an influencer and content creator.
21-year-old Elsa Rae is known for being an influencer and has already amassed over 120,000 followers on TikTok and is known for her relationship with social media personality Ed Matthews.
And with hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best recently admitting they get invested in the show’s relationships, this series could be one to rival Love Island with it’s young and beautiful cast.
Alongside Essex girl Elsa, 18-year-old Teja was another one to enter the Big Brother house during the live launch show, and is this year’s youngest contestant this year. With a goal of winning the show and buying her own house, Teja says she might have some crossed words in the house.
“I think I’m alright to live with, but I can be a bit loud. I do also say what’s on my mind. If I have a problem I will say. Sopeople might take that the wrong way and see it as me being rude. But I do like to just get things off my chest; people might not like the directness of it,” says Teja, who describes herself as “loud”.
Farmer Cameron and Mechanical Engineer Marcus are both 22, but couldn’t be more different. The former is hoping his genuine charm will win the house over and says he’s looking forward to “a new experience”, while Marcus has been advised to “play the game”.
27-year-old Zumba Instructor Sam is hoping to bring energy to the house with plenty of early morning workout classes, and says: “I’m looking forward to making new friends, hopefully learning some new life skills and seeing what things come out of this experience.”
Political Events Manager Emily, 25, is hoping her unassuming exterior will help her play the game in the house, and perhaps fool her counterparts. “I haven’t really thought about a strategy, although I do think people look at me and think I’m very ditzy because I’ve got blonde hair and fake nails.
“So,I think that could definitely play to my advantage, because they better watch out! I’m actually a lot cleverer,” she says. Emily shot to fame when she was falsely accused of flinging a milkshake at Nigel Farage.
Jenny, 20, from Derry says she wants to provide the house with “plenty of craic”, something she’ll no doubt bond with 22-year-old Glasweigen Nancy over. Tate, 27, is this year’s second Scottish housemate, and says his experience as a “buff butler” means he will be entertaining, with plenty of other skills up his sleeve.
Personal Trainer Tate, 27, is just looking to make “one good friend” in the house, and says he doesn’t mind about anything else. “I can be quite opinionated but I’d like to think that wouldn’t necessarily be a reason to nominate me.
“My strategy for those situations is to talk it out. I think also maybe food (or lack of) might beanother reason for me being nominated. I can get very hangry. That might get to people,” said the South London native.
Big Brother continues nightly on ITV2 and ITVX at 9pm.
All Creatures Great and Small is back on Channel 5 and will see the return of all the fan-favourites including Nicholas Ralph as James Herriot and Samuel West as Siegfried Farnon
The first episode, dubbed Gathering the Flock, showcases James and Tristan (portrayed by Callum Woodhouse) taking drastic measures after witnessing Siegfried’s wild and disorderly conduct, with some touching behind-the-scenes moments.
Anna Madeley reprises her role as Mrs Hall, alongside Rachel Shenton as James’s wife Helen. Tony Pitts and Imogen Clawson also make a comeback as Helen’s father and sister, Richard and Jenny.
The sixth series will also welcome back Patricia Hodge as Mrs Pumphrey and Mollie Winnard as Maggie.
Here’s everything you need to know about the guest stars for the first episode of the sixth series.
All Creatures Great and Small series 6 episode 1 cast
Archie Tredwell – Wayne Foskett
Wayne Foskett joins the cast for the opening episode. The 61 year old English actor is renowned for his roles in Merlin, Silent Witness and Midsomer Murders.
He’s also an avid artist and has showcased his works at the Jardiniere art exhibition.
Fans might also recognise him as Richard Stark from Game of Thrones or as Tom in Lightfields.
Jimmy Herriot – Thomas Riches
James’s son Jimmy is portrayed by Thomas Riches, but little is known about the young star at this point.
Susan – Lucy-Jo Hudson
Susan, an acquaintance of Siegfried’s, is played by Lucy-Jo Hudson, a 42 year old actress hailing from Leeds.
She’s the sister of rugby league player Ryan Hudson and was previously married to Coronation Street actor Alan Halsall, who portrays Tyrone Dobbs, until 2018.
The mum-of-two is recognised for her roles as Katy Harris in Coronation Street, Rosie Trevanion in Wild at Heart and Donna-Marie Quinn in Hollyoaks.
Rosie Herriot – Arlie and Autumn Doyle
Arlie and Autumn Doyle join the cast as James and Helen’s daughter Rosie, but little is known about these young twins.
Mary – Siena Marsden
Siena Marsden joins the cast as Mary, Edward’s daughter, although not much is known about this young actress yet.
Edward Hall – Conor Deane
Conor Deane returns as Mrs Hall’s son Edward, and he is also known for his roles as Fred Holdsworth in The Hardacres and Kyre Branson in Sherwood.
His other credits include Ridley, Happy Valley and What It Feels Like for a Girl.
All Creatures Great and Small airs on Channel 5 on September 25 at 9pm
Apparently, love is blind to a healthy work environment. That’s what’s alleged in a new class-action lawsuit filed this week.
Stephen Richardson, a contestant on Season 7 of the Netflix dating show “Love Is Blind,” is suing the streaming service and the production companies behind the series, alleging they failed to pay overtime and minimum wages and didn’t provide accurate and itemized wage statements and uninterrupted meal periods. The class action was filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Richardson alleges in the lawsuit that producers wrongly classified him and the rest of the cast, who he says regularly worked 20-hour shifts, in order to pay them less. The lawsuit lists Kinetic Content, Delirium TV and Netflix as defendants.
Producers exerted “complete domination over [participants’] time, schedule, and their ability to eat, drink, and sleep, and communicate with the outside world during the period of employment” and further restricted participants’ actions after the show wrapped, the complaint says. The conditions were “unsafe and inhumane,” the lawsuit says.
“Love Is Blind” follows a group of single men and women searching for love the old-fashioned way, by communicating blindly through a wall. Couples are kept from each other until they establish an engagement, which pays off with unexpected facial reactions that express emotions including great dissatisfaction, confusion or a sigh of relief.
In recent years, the show has been hit with similar lawsuits from other former cast members. Last year, Season 5 participant Renee Poche and Season 2 veteran Nick Thompson filed a lawsuit against the production companies after she was penalized for breaching her contract by publicly discussing her experience on the show.
“I am now being sued for $4 million despite earning $8,000 for my participation on the show,” Poche told USA Today.
Poche alleged the production companies were retaliating against her for speaking about the working conditions she endured. After feeling “like a prisoner” while working on the show, she says, she was cut from the final version of the series.
Season 2 cast member Jeremy Hartwell sued Kinetic Content and Netflix in 2022 for allegedly violating labor laws and creating an “unsafe and inhumane” work environment. Then a number of unnamed former cast members spoke to Insider in April 2023, alleging producers subjected them to 20-hour production days, rarely allowed them to go outside, failed to provide adequate food and mental-health services and ignored their pleas for help.
Throughout the years, reality TV has tried to protect itself from real-life lawyers with nondisclosure agreements and provisions requiring disputes be taken to arbitration. The new complaint has Richardson as the named defendant along with “all others similarly situated.”
The accuser is looking for unspecified damages. Richardson, Netflix, Kinetic Content and Delirium TV did not immediately respond Wednesday to The Times’ request for comment.
NCIS: Tony & Ziva has been a hit with fans and a second season is yet to be confirmed, but star Michael Weatherly has spoken out about the possibility of a crossover
NCIS Tony and Ziva airs weekly (Image: PARAMOUNT+)
NCIS: Tony & Ziva has already got viewers completely captivated and fresh episodes are being released each week on Paramount+.
The offshoot of the enduring crime drama NCIS features Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo returning to their beloved characters Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David.
The fresh series represents their first joint appearance in 12 years following NCIS season 11, and the original reveal drove supporters absolutely wild.
Weatherly, who additionally served as executive producer on the programme, chatted exclusively to Reach publications regarding a possible collaboration with the main cast.
When questioned about whether any character from the original NCIS might feature, he responded: “I think that’s a great question for everybody, whether that’s feasible.”
“For me the answer is of course, I would love to see that and really it’s just about making it the most quality appearance.
“You don’t want to just stunt cast, somebody with Mark Harmon’s haircut who walks by in the background and they are like ‘Oh, is that Gibbs?'”
“Or somebody with black pigtails with a spiderweb tattoo on her neck – that would have to be Abby.
“I think that would have to be heavily negotiated by all the powers that be, of which I am just a little micro contributor.”
The debut season comprises 10 episodes and is anticipated to wrap up on October 23.
Lead actor Michael Weatherly and lead actress Cote de Pablo(Image: Getty Images for Paramount+)
Regarding the possibility of a second season, showrunner John McNamara revealed to TV Insider: “I try never to count my chickens before they’re hatched.
“I’m just focused on finishing this season and trying to make it as good as possible.
“And honestly, it is going to be entirely up to the fans and the subscribers to Paramount+ and ultimately to Paramount and CBS. It’s their property and it’s their money.”
The programme has received glowing feedback from both audiences and critics, with IMDb describing it as “both a nostalgia trip and a compelling continuation”.
Given this reception, supporters can stay optimistic about a second series and potentially even a crossover episode.
NCIS: Tony & Ziva airs on Thursdays on Paramount+.
MARRIED At First Sight star JJ Slater has revealed who he still speaks to from his series’ cast.
Currently recovering from his and hers surgeries with his girlfriend Katie Price after they jetted out to Turkey together, JJ has lifted the lid on his MAFS experience and unveiled the two people he still speaks to.
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JJ shot to fame on MAFS in 2023 when he was paired with Bianca PetronziCredit: Channel 4
4
He then struck up a romance with Ella MorganCredit: Channel 4
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He is now in a relationship with Katie PriceCredit: Getty
Speaking to The Sun on behalf ofCasino.org, JJ opened up about whether or not he speaks to people from his series of MAFS.
JJ appeared on Married At First Sight UK in 2023, firstly marrying Bianca Petronzi before striking up a romance with co-star Ella Morgan.
When asked if he is still in touch with anyone, he said: “Not on a basis where we would message and check in with each other, apart from with Luke and with Terence.
“There is a boys’ group chat with all the boys in there. It’s pretty quiet now.
Read More about JJ Slater
“It was lively at first, but now it’s just like, happy birthdays.
“Or if someone’s going out, they’ll be like, I’m here, if anyone fancies a beer, stuff like that. But on a day-to-day basis, no.”
JJ’s comments on Married At First Sight UK come after he and his girlfriend Katie Price underwent his and hers surgeries.
The former glamour model, 47, and JJ had planned to go under the knife together, but he was banned from having an op.
JJ was forced to change his plans due to his Type 1 diabetes.
Katie Price reveals boyfriend JJ Slater got ‘hair transplant’ in Turkey after initially being denied surgery
She filmed her beau and shared the video on Snapchat as he underwent a Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) procedure.
He had the work done at the last minute after his plan to have his eye bags removed couldn’t go ahead.
“I went to Turkey to have the bags under my eyes done, but I couldn’t have it done,” he explained in our exclusive earlier this week.
JJ went on: “I was all in the gown, wearing the knee-high socks, ready to go down. But my blood sugars were flagged.
“I got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after the show, actually.
“So yeah, my blood sugars, there was a reading in my blood that they weren’t happy with, so they didn’t do the procedure. So recovery was fine, as it didn’t happen.”
Speaking about his diabetes diagnosis, JJ said it “was definitely one of the biggest life-changing things since the show”.
He went on: “Type 1 is an autoimmune disease, so I’ve done a lot of research into it.
“One of the potential triggers can be stress – not scientifically proven, but it does make you wonder, given everything going on around that time.”
He added: “I was 31, had never had any issues before, and suddenly I was really ill for about two months. But being a typical bloke, I just ignored it, thinking it would go away.
“But then, when I did get really ill, my dad was like, mate, you’ve got to get yourself to the hospital.”
Recalling when he was diagnosed, JJ said that he lost nearly two stone and was really thirsty.
“It’s a bit disgusting, but I was also passing blood in my urine,” he explained.
“That was the biggest trigger for me – that was when I told myself I had to get myself to get checked out.
“But since then, it has helped me. Now I’m more focused on what I eat because I have to, and I try to be a lot healthier.”
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He recently underwent a procedure in TurkeyCredit: BackGrid
Saturday Night Live returns next month for its new season but ahead of the launch several cast members have announced their departures, now including Ego Nwodim
Ancestry has uncovered which Downton Abbey actors’ real-life family stories mirror their characters ahead of the hit ITV show’s upcoming third and final film
The Downton Abbey cast have all collaborated for a third and final movie(Image: Getty Images)
New research shows some of the cast of Downton Abbey have real life similarities in their families compared to their on screen roles
With a new third and final film about the ITV period drama released into cinemas this week on September 12, the results from family history site Ancestry uncover which actors’ real-life family stories mirror their characters and which tell a very different story.
Michael Fox who plays butler Andy Parker has a three-times-great-grandfather who was a butler and great-great-grandfather a chauffeur. It seems he was almost destined to play a loyal footman. This was uncovered using marriage and census records.
Downton Abbey is back for a third film(Image: TV Grab)
Allen Leech is well known as Chauffeur turned Estate Manager Tom Branson. Like Branson, Allen comes from a family of principled public servants. Using an obituary from the Drogheda Independent in 1962 it can be revealed his great-grandfather Thomas Leech was an Irish peace commissioner known for his honesty and integrity, and may well have inspired one of Branson’s iconic speeches.
Lesley Nichol’s character Mrs Patmore had a loveable role in the Downton kitchen, in real life her ancestors were shepherds, butchers and wine merchants showing a real-life passion for food and drink that mirrors Mrs Patmore.
The 1911 Census of England and Wales record shows Henry Thomas Isaac, butcher.
Harry Hadden-Paton was Bertie Pelham in the ITV series and Bertie is an expert at estate management.
This is similar to Harry’s three-times-great-grandfather, a banker called Henry G Marquand involved in major railroad interests who might have been able to save the Crawleys from financial ruin. This was discovered via a report in a copy of a Chicago Tribune newspaper from 1902.
Laura House, DNA and Family History Expert at Ancestry, said: “Downton Abbey has captivated audiences with its stories of class, conflict, and connection.
“These real-life discoveries show just how closely some of the cast’s personal histories align with the roles they play. From wartime heroes to world-travelling diplomats and hardworking cooks, it’s a reminder that fascinating stories lie in all of our family trees waiting to be discovered.”
The new third film follows the much-loved Crawley family and their staff as they enter the 1930s.
Lady Mary finds herself at the centre of a public scandal going through divorce, the family faces financial trouble, and the entire household grapples with the threat of social disgrace.
The Crawleys must embrace change as the staff prepares for a new chapter with the next generation leading Downton Abbey into the future and off into the sunset.
TORONTO — Welcome to a special daily edition of the Envelope at TIFF, a newsletter collecting the latest developments out of Canada’s annual film showcase. Sign up here to get it in your inbox.
Christina House, our staff photojournalist, continues to kill it with her portraits out of the Toronto International Film Festival. In the last day alone, she’s seen Angelina Jolie, Jacob Elordi and the cast of “Frankenstein,” Jodie Foster and more.
‘Blood will be shed. Possibly even a tear’: Our critic on Rian Johnson’s new ‘Knives Out’ mystery
Josh O’Connor, left, and Daniel Craig in Rian Johnson’s “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.”
(Netflix)
Amy Nicholson had fun with “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.”
She’s also noticing a fair amount of Canadian pride at her screenings. It’s been an unusually loaded moment for foreign relations with our neighbors to the north.
Amy weighs in on the scene from the first four days, her favorite (and less-than-favorite) movies at TIFF and a few surprises.
The day’s buzziest premieres
‘The Smashing Machine’
Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson in the movie “The Smashing Machine.”
(Ken Hirama / A24)
Sunday saw the TIFF schedule loosen up its restrictions regarding films that premiered at other festivals and audiences started to see more major titles from competing fests.
Take for example the Monday night premiere of “The Smashing Machine,” which just won the directing prize at Venice for Benny Safdie.
Making his solo debut apart from brother Josh — their most recent collaboration was “Uncut Gems” — Benny turns in a surprisingly heartfelt sports story based on mixed marital arts fighter Mark Kerr.
Taking the leading role is none other than wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne Johnson, in a part seemingly tailor-made to play off his own career arc and give him a prestige boost he has never had before.
Add Emily Blunt to the mix, as Kerr’s supportive partner, along with boutique studio A24 and the film seems like it should land the right combinations. — Mark Olsen
‘Exit 8’
A scene from the movie “Exit 8.”
(TIFF)
Ever fear that you’re racing around but going nowhere — that you’re in such a rush to make your way through the world that you’re barely seeing it?
Japan turned that feeling into a best-selling video game in which commuters are condemned to roam an underground subway station until they learn to pay attention to their surroundings.
Now Genki Kawamura has transformed that game into a movie. In Kawamura’s emboldened adaptation, our main player, the Lost Man (Kazunari Ninomiya of the pop band Arashi) is an aimless young slacker who is stuck both physically and emotionally.
If he ever wises up and escapes, he’s got to make better choices.
I’ve got a few quibbles with the film’s mechanics, but “Exit 8” is a moving metaphor for the art of giving things a close, appreciative watch. On day five of a film festival, we could all use a reminder to look sharp. — Amy Nicholson
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TORONTO — Welcome to a special daily edition of the Envelope at TIFF, a newsletter collecting the latest developments out of Canada’s annual film showcase. Sign up here to get it in your inbox.
Have you seen the images from our photo gallery? Staff photographer Christina House and her crew are truly capturing the best of the fest.
There are wonderful shots up now, including Elle Fanning, Ethan Hawke, Channing Tatum and more, but this link will be updated periodically with others.
Expect Cillian Murphy, the cast of Rian Johnson’s ‘Wake Up Dead Man,’ Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Cillian Murphy and more surprises!
The day’s buzziest premieres
‘Good Fortune’
Aziz Ansari, left, and Keanu Reeves in the movie “Good Fortune.”
(Eddy Chen/Lionsgate/Eddy Chen / Lionsgate)
A low-level guardian angel righting a wrong feels like the set-up to a classic comedy. But amid a premise motivated by income inequality, there’s a distinctly current edge to “Good Fortune,” the debut feature of writer-director-star Aziz Ansari.
A struggling film editor who makes ends meet as a food delivery driver, Arj (Ansari) is at the end of his rope when said angel Gabriel (Keanu Reeves) switches his life with Jeff (Seth Rogen), a wealthy, self-important tech investor.
Except, instead of realizing things are tough all over, Arj decides he likes Jeff’s life better and doesn’t want to switch back. Which is only the beginning of the complications for these three lost souls.
Looking for hope in an out-of-balance world while laced with a righteously indignant anger (and set against distinctly L.A. locations), “Good Fortune” is social satire with a big heart. — Mark Olsen
‘Canceled: The Paula Deen Story’
Paula Deen in the documentary “Canceled: The Paula Deen Story.”
(TIFF)
Hungry for a brisk, witty documentary that’s as easy to enjoy as a plate of hot biscuits? Filmmaker Billy Corben analyzes the tabloid feeding frenzy that chewed up celebrity TV chef Paula Deen when she admitted to using a racial slur.
Going in, I only knew two things about Deen: the 2013 scandal and her staunch devotion to butter. Her full story is fascinating, especially buttressed by contemporary interviews with Deen and her two sons, Bobby and Jamie, who all specialize in Southern-fried zingers: “It came on like a snowball full of chainsaws,” says Jamie of the media blitz.
A complex schematic of the cancelation machine, “Canceled” argues that Deen was punished double that summer because Trayvon Martin’s killer wasn’t punished at all. The great archival footage makes you get why audiences once loved Deen — and it’s evident how much her family and friends still do, even if Corben greases her mea culpa to the point that you feel a little queasy. — Amy Nicholson
‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’
Josh O’Connor, left, and Daniel Craig in Rian Johnson’s movie “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery,” having its world premiere as part of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.
(Netflix)
One of the real pleasures of the witty, surprising films made by writer-director Rian Johnson starring Daniel Craig as Southern gentleman detective Benoit Blanc is that, within the confines of the murder mystery, they could take place just about anywhere: a patriarch’s creaky mansion, a billionaire’s private island and now a small town’s historic church.
Or at least that’s the best we know from the scant details made public about the new “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” ahead of its TIFF world premiere tonight. Craig returns as Blanc but joining the cast this time are Josh O’Connor, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Kerry Washington, Jeremy Renner, Daryl McCormack, Cailee Spaeny, Thomas Haden Church, Andrew Scott and Glenn Close.
The festival has been a good luck charm so far, with the previous two “Knives Out” movies premiering at TIFF in the same theater, day and time slot and both going on to Oscar nominations for their screenplays. — Mark Olsen
They couldn’t stop talking, even before the cameras for ‘Poetic License’ were rolling
Andrew Barth Feldman, left, Cooper Hoffman and Leslie Mann in “Poetic License,” having its world premiere as part of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.
(TIFF)
Mark Olsen has a fun interview with the banter-ific Andrew Barth Feldman and Cooper Hoffman, costars of Maude Apatow’s new movie “Poetic Licence.” They were friends before they shot the film and their verbal mutual affection — honed to a crazy degree of anticipation — is something to behold. They’ve raised bromance to an art form.
His apocalyptic art film ‘Sirât’ dances in the face of oblivion. That’s why people love it
Director Oliver Laxe, photographed in the Los Angeles Times Studios at RBC House during the Toronto International Film Festival.
(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Director Oliver Laxe has made a truly unique art film about a restless group of ravers who drive out in the the desert on the eve of what could be the end of the world. Since its debut at Cannes, “Sirât” is acquiring superfans — critics and audiences alike — wherever it plays. On the occasion of his first TIFF screening, Laxe spoke to me about his commitment to risk.
I Fought The Law has had viewers in tears and as Sheridan Smith’s triumphant return to the screen plays out, she is joined by a host of other familiar faces
14:03, 02 Sep 2025Updated 14:04, 02 Sep 2025
Sheridan Smith has had I Fought The Law viewers in tears in recent days(Image: ITV)
Julie Hogg, aged 22, was a mother to three-year-old son Kevin and wife to husband Andrew. She vanished after working a late shift at a local pizza parlour.
Heartbreakingly, Ann found Julie’s body hidden in the bathroom of her home in January 1990. 80 days earlier, the murderer had concealed Julie’s body behind the bath panel.
TV favourite Sheridan Smith has starred in a number of true crime dramas over the years (Image: ITV)
Jake Davies has appeared in Screw and Cyber Bully but now plays Matthew in I Fought The Law(Image: ITV)
During the show’s lengthy run throughout the 2000s, she also appeared on Fat Friends opposite Emmerdale star Lisa Riley as well as sunny sitcom Benidorm and BBC favourite Gavin & Stacey. She then turned to musical theatre, winning an Olivier Award for her portrayal of Elle Woods, the character made famous by Reese Witherspoon, in the West End production of Legally Blonde.
Further stage credits in Funny Girl and, more recently, Shirley Valentine and Opening Night followed.
But it’s gritty dramas that Sheridan has really made her mark. In 2014, she starred as Cilla Black in Cilla, played a cleaner with a gambling addiction in Cleaning Up and also starred in a number of true crime dramas with her the mother of a young gay man killed by Stephen Port in Four Lives, and as Karen Matthews’ friend Julie Bushby in the BBC drama The Moorside.
Daniel York Loh stars as Sheridan’s on-screen husband but has been seen before in Strangers and the short-lived sitcom Scarborough(Image: ITV)
But Sheridan is not the only famous face to be starring in the much-anticipated drama. She is joined by Enzo Cilenti as DS Mark Braithwaite. He previously starred in Jekyll & Hyde for ITV alongside Hollywood star Richard E. Grant and Strictly Come Dancing’s Natalie Gumede. He also had a main role as Aubrey Hackett in The Last Tycoon opposite Lily Collins, Matt Bomer and Kelsey Grammar and can also be seen alongside Olivia Colman and Dominic West in the 2019 BBC version of Les Miserables.
Esteemed actor Andrew Lancel makes an appearance as Guy Whitburn QC in I Fought The Law, but soap fans are likely to remember him as the villainous Frank Foster on Coronation Street. He appeared as the business associate of Underworld manager Carla Connor (Alison King), and subjected the factory boss to a horrific act of rape.
He was later found dead on the factory floor and it turned out that he had been murdered by his own mother Anne, who was played by Heartbeat favourite Gwen Taylor, after she discovered what he had done. Prior to his stint on the cobbles, he had appeared on Bad Girls and Queer as Folk and has also carved out an illustrious career in theatre having starred in tours of The Sound of Music and Cilla.
Andrew Lancel is known to Coronation Street fans as the villainous Frank Foster (Image: Liverpool Echo)
The cast is rounded out by Victoria Wyant, who plays the victim in question, as well as Rivals star as Rufus Jones. The actor recently starred as Paul Stratton in the hit Disney+ series and has also starred in The Casual Vacancy and appeared in the likes of Inside No. 9, Beyond Paradise and Black Ops over the years. Fans of Hollyoaks might also recognise Kent Riley, who played Zak Ramsey in the Channel 4 soap.
CBBC fans might also recognise Aimee Kelly, who plays Judith Morden in the drama series. The actress first found fame as a teenager when she played Maddy Smith in the hit supernatural series Wolfblood opposite Bobby Lockwood.
Since she quit the supernatural series more than a decade ago, she has appeared in episodes of Call The Midwife, Grantchester and Holby City. In 2024, she played Sasha in the psychological thriller Platform 7. Others set to appear in the programme, which finishes its run on September 8, are Jack James Riley, Bryony Corrigan, and Buddy Wignall-Ho.
Ann, unhappy with the Cleveland Constabulary’s investigation, took it upon herself to challenge senior officers in a bid to uncover the truth about her daughter Julie’s murder and bring the culprit to justice.
William Dunlop was twice put on trial for Julie’s murder, each time denying his guilt. On both occasions, the jury failed to reach a verdict, leading to his formal acquittal and release.
In 1999, while serving a seven-year sentence for violent offences, Dunlop confessed to a prison officer that he had murdered Julie. At the time, due to the double jeopardy rule, he could not be retried for the murder following his acquittal.
Ann, who also serves as a consultant on I Fought the Law, expressed her support for the ITV series and shared her delight that actress Sheridan would be portraying her, stating she was “overwhelmed”.
“I am very pleased that Hera Pictures will tell the story of my campaign to overturn the Double Jeopardy Law. My daughter’s killer was wrongfully acquitted, and a number of years later confessed to her murder, for which he could only be prosecuted for perjury due to the 800-year-old Double Jeopardy Law. I wasn’t going to let this stand in my way of getting justice for Julie.
I Fought The Law is a new ITV drama based on the true story of Ann Ming’s long campaign to overturn the 800-year-old British double jeopardy law following the murder of her daughter
Sheridan Smith in ITV’s I Fought the Law(Image: ITV)
The upcoming ITV drama, I Fought The Law, tells the gripping story of Ann Ming’s relentless 17-year campaign to overturn Britain’s ancient double jeopardy law after her daughter’s murder.
Ann and her husband Charlie tirelessly fought to change the law that prohibited individuals from being tried twice for the same crime, following the tragic death of their daughter Julie in 1989.
Julie’s mutilated body was discovered by Ann hidden beneath the bath in her Billingham home, sparking her unwavering determination to bring the murderer to justice.
In 2006, Billy Dunlop was finally sentenced to life imprisonment for Julie’s murder. He had previously faced trial twice in 1991, but due to two juries failing to reach verdicts, he had been set free.
Here’s everything you need to know about the series, including its release date, cast, and number of episodes.
The four-part drama airs at the end of August(Image: ITV/Hera Pictures)
When does I Fought The Law premiere?
I Fought The Law is set to air on ITV on Sunday, 31 August at 9pm.
Each episode will run for an hour, ending at 10pm, and will also be available for viewing on ITVX.
The episodes will be broadcast on Sundays and Mondays.
How many episodes does I Fought The Law have?
The series consists of four episodes, which will air on the following dates:.
Episode 1 – 31 August.
Episode 2 – 1 September.
Episode 3 – 7 September.
Episode 4 – 8 September.
The first episode’s synopsis reads: “In 1989, Ann Ming is distraught when her 22-year-old daughter Julie Hogg goes missing, but the police shrug off her concerns, suggesting that she must have fled to London to reunite with her estranged husband.
“Knowing in her heart that Julie would never leave her brother Kevin behind, Ann uncovers a mother’s worst nightmare.”
Sheridan Smith as Ann Ming, Daniel York Loh as Charlie Ming & Buddy Wingnall-Ho as Kevin Hogg(Image: ITV)
Who is in the cast of I Fought The Law?
Sheridan Smith stars as Ann Ming, and she is a 44 year old English actress and singer known for her roles in The Royle Family and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.
Daniel York Loh plays Charlie Ming, with the actor having previously starred in Jade Dragon and Strangers.
Victoria Wyant stars as Julie Hogg, and the up-and-coming actress has previously starred in Foundation.
Enzo Cilenti plays DS Mark Braithwaite and he is known for his roles in The Last Tycoon, Domina and The Serpent Queen.
Other stars include Marlowe Chan-Reeves, Olivia Ng, Jake Davies, Kent Riley, Jack James Ryan, Andrew Lancel, Rufus Jones, Aimée Kelly, Bryony Corrigan and Buddy Wignall-Ho.
