The Netflix rom-com Office Romance stars Jennifer Lopez and Ted Lasso’s Brett Goldstein and audiences have already hailed it as “an absolute blast”
Office Romance cast as Netflix rom-com hits #1(Image: NETFLIX)
Everything you need to know about Netflix’s number one rom-com, Office Romance
Netflix’s latest rom-com Office Romance has already won over viewers with its charming workplace love story starring Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein. It’s currently the number one title on the streamer’s film chart.
Ted Lasso star Goldstein teams up with global icon JLo in this cheeky portrayal of romance between a CEO and her new British solicitor. Lopez plays AirCruz CEO Jackie Cruz, who finds herself in legal trouble with rival airline Falcon Air. When her usual lawyer is indisposed after a food truck burrito incident, enter Daniel Blanchflower (Goldstein) to save the day.
Romantic tension quickly develops between the pair, with a passionate work trip to the Dominican Republic blurring professional boundaries. One IMDB user gushed: “Well, I absolutely loved it. Romantic comedies are a dying breed, but I enjoyed this very much.”
Directed by Ol Parker of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again fame, the film also features an impressive supporting cast including Betty Gilpin (GLOW), Tony Hale (Toy Story 4), Bradley Whitford (The Handmaid’s Tale) and former Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker.
Also in the main cast are comedy icon Amy Sedaris as Julie Schatz and Blade Runner’s Edward James Olmos as Captain Jack Cruz, Jackie’s father.
The Fortune sees a woman mysteriously inherit £2 million and a country estate from a stranger.
Hayley Anderson Screen Time TV Reporter
21:15, 02 Jun 2026Updated 21:16, 02 Jun 2026
The Fortune – Channel 5 trailer
The Fortune has landed on Channel 5, with audiences eager to discover everything about the drama.
Following the unexpected inheritance of a substantial fortune from a stranger, mother and wife Amanda (portrayed by Eleanor Tomlinson) finds herself in conflict with the deceased man’s relatives.
She simultaneously starts uncovering the truth regarding her own family’s sinister history, which may shed light on why she’s been selected as the beneficiary of the enigmatic man’s estate.
Where was The Fortune on Channel 5 filmed?
Filming for Channel 5’s The Fortune occurred during autumn 2025 across Hartlepool, Northumberland, Newcastle and North Yorkshire.
The bulk of shooting took place in Hartlepool, with the historic Headland district serving as a crucial location.
Another significant filming venue was Hartlepool Marina, where the exterior alongside local establishments and eateries were utilised to depict Amanda’s everyday existence.
The programme’s principal production headquarters was also situated in Hartlepool at The Northern Studios on Lynn Street.
Certain scenes were additionally captured in Newcastle, with the drama produced by Newcastle-based Lonesome Pine Productions.
The cast and crew travelled to Great Ayton, North Yorkshire, where the mid-Victorian country residence Cleveland Lodge served as the Worrall family estate in the Channel 5 series.
The Grade II listed building was constructed between 1848 and 1851 and sits within approximately 35 acres of private parkland, featuring paddocks and a tennis court. Meanwhile, the more rural and coastal scenes were shot in and around the Northumberland region.
All Creatures Great and Small star Callum Woodhouse, who plays vengeful son Anthony Worrall in the series, hails originally from Stockton in the North East.
The Hartlepool Mail reported Woodhouse describing the experience of filming The Fortune as something of “a homecoming”.
He said: “Obviously, staying with my parents and filming in places I grew up visiting was a huge draw, but also being able to do something set in the modern day was really exciting.
“We were filming just over the road from where my mum works, so we’d meet up for lunch sometimes.”
In a typical midterm year, Donna Layne casts her ballot long before election day.
But this time around was different for the 75-year-old Democrat. Late-cycle controversies and fear of a “wasted vote” leading to a lockout for Democrats in the race for California governor meant she didn’t make her final decision until Friday.
California Democrats have been wringing their hands for weeks about who would emerge as front-runners in the crowded race to replace termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom. The sudden departure of high-profile candidate Eric Swalwell amid sexual assault allegations and California’s jungle primary system, which sends the top two vote-getters to the November general election regardless of their party affiliation, added pressure for Democrats to coalesce around candidates who had the best chance of advancing.
“I was concerned,” Layne said as she slid her ballot into a drop box. “I wanted to make my ballot count and I was afraid that there might be two Republicans because they had been polling pretty high, so I wanted to be strategic about it.”
On Friday morning, voters — predominately Democrats like Layne — trickled into the Orange County Registrar of Voters in Santa Ana to turn in their ballots. A few told The Times they frequently wait to vote until the days leading up to the election so they can watch all the debates and get the most up-to-date information about the candidates.
But most said they hung onto their ballots this year for far longer than usual.
As of Friday, 19% of California Republicans had already cast their ballot, compared with roughly 16% by the same time in the 2022 primary cycle, according to data from Political Data Inc.
An election worker separates ballots from vote by mail envelopes to be tallied at the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Ballot Processing Center on Thursday in City of Industry.
(Gary Coronado/For The Times)
Meanwhile, only 14% of the state’s far-more-numerous registered Democrats have returned their ballots, down from 17% at this point in 2022. Only 29% of Democrats age 65 years and older — generally enthusiastic voters — had returned their ballots, down from 33% in 2022, data show.
But that doesn’t mean that Democrats will stay on the sidelines. Data show Democrats have started returning their ballots in earnest over the past several days, a trend that’s likely to continue through election day, said Paul Mitchell, the vice president of Political Data Inc.
“It’s the predominance of this fear that they’ve heard in the media — and that’s largely abated — that a Democrat won’t make it to the runoff,” Mitchell said. “In fact, there’s a growing sense that we could have two Democrats make the runoff, so that fear has — for the political class — gone away, but voters are still clinging to it.”
Democrat Xavier Becerra, the former Health and Human Services secretary, has risen steadily in recent polls, positioning him well to potentially advance to November. He was the leading candidate in a poll released Thursday by UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies that was co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times, garnering support from 25% of likely California voters.
Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra, a front-runner in the race for governor, shares a light moment with supporters at the UFCW Local 1167 Union Hall in Bloomington, on Friday.
(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
Slightly behind with support from 21% of likely state voters was Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News commentator whom President Trump has endorsed. In third place with 19% support was another Democrat: Tom Steyer, a hedge fund founder and environmental activist.
With support increasing for Becerra, Hilton and Steyer since the last Berkeley IGS/Times poll in March, the survey provided the clearest indication yet that those candidates have separated themselves from the rest of the field.
Support for Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, the only other major Republican candidate in the race, dropped 5 percentage points from the March poll to last week’s, putting him in a distant fourth at 11%. Former Democratic Rep. Katie Porter saw her support drop by almost half to 7%. Other prominent Democrats — San José Mayor Matt Mahan, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and state Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond — were all in the low single digits, the poll found.
Republican candidate Steve Hilton speaks at a news conference outside the CIF State Track Championship in Clovis, where transgender athlete AB Hernandez will be was to compete Friday.
(Tomas Ovalle/For The Times)
Roughly a dozen registered Democrats interviewed by The Times said they cast their ballots last week for the person they thought would have the best chance of making it through the state’s jungle primary, even if it wasn’t their ideal candidate.
“I love Katie Porter,” said Connie Wadsley, 78. “I really do, but I just didn’t see her as being able to pull it off. I just don’t think society is ready for a woman governor as much as that pains me to say.”
In the end, Wadsley and her husband, Victor, cast their ballots for Steyer. Becerra, she said, is too much of a career politician for her liking, but Steyer impressed her with his promise not to take corporate money and his position on social justice issues.
“I think we need to shake things up in this state — in this nation,” she said. “Yeah, [Steyer] is a billionaire and I’m not really excited about that, but he truly seems to be spending his money on things that I feel are important.”
For some voters, the sheer volume of gubernatorial candidates — 61 in all — was off-putting. Some even organized gatherings with politically like-minded friends to discuss the best course of action.
“I think it was really overwhelming for a lot of people, especially when they got their ballot and saw all of those names,” said Linda Verraster, co-president of the Democratic Women of South Orange County. “There was this fear of making a mistake — air quotes — that would lead to two Republicans in the runoff.”
Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger, left, and Gov. Gray Davis joke with each other as Davis shows Schwarzenegger the governor’s private office at the Capitol in Sacramento on Oct. 23, 2003.
(Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press )
The race seems somewhat reminiscent of the 2003 recall election when 135 candidates vied to replace then-Gov. Gray Davis amid the state’s energy crisis. Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, won decisively with roughly 48% of the vote.
But this race differs in a few key ways, experts say.
Mainly, while all of the top candidates have impressive resumes, there’s a lack of star power that could help propel someone to the forefront. Instead, Democrats “have an option of like moderate Dem to slightly less-moderate Dem,” said Matt Lesenyie, an assistant professor of political science at Cal State Long Beach.
“There’s a lot of people, but they occupy a very similar lane and I think that’s been a lot of the problem,” he said. “They’re loathe to really critique some of the foundational problems like a real ideological opponent would.”
Verraster put it even more simply: “There’s no unicorn.”
Still, she’ll be happy if either of the two Democratic front-runners — or both — make the ballot.
Anna Maxwell Martin takes on an intimidating new role that’s miles away from Motherland in this gripping Apple TV drama
Motherland’s Anna Maxwell Martin as KGB surveillance head Lyudmilla Raskova (Image: APPLE TV)
The new Cold War thriller features some very recognisable names.
Apple TV’s highly anticipated For All Mankind spin-off Star City is finally here and has received rave reviews across the board.
Taking viewers back to the 1970s in this alternate version of history in which the Soviet Union won the space-race, the series picks up with the Russian politicians, engineers, cosmonauts, and KGB agents overseeing more missions to the Moon.
While the USSR is still basking in the victory of becoming the first nation to put a man on the Moon in 1969, tensions are running high as the threat of the US still looms large during the Cold War.
The series begins today (Friday, 29th May) with six more episodes coming each Friday until a riveting finale on 10th July.
But who is in the cast of Star City? From a major sitcom star to actors from some of the most acclaimed dramas of the past few years, let’s take a closer look at where you’ve seen them before.
Star City’s main cast
Rhys Ifans – Chief Designer
Welsh film and TV icon Rhys Ifans portrays the secretive figure at the head of the Star City program, known only as the chief designer.
You’ll have seen him recently as Otto Hightower in House of the Dragon, HBO’s popular Game of Thrones spin-off, as well as portraying Xenophilius Lovegood in the Harry Potter franchise and as Curt Connors/The Lizard in The Amazing Spider-Man, a role he reprised in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
His performance as comedy legend Peter Cook in Channel 4’s Not Only But Always won him a BAFTA TV award, and he is also well-known for his role as Spike in Notting Hill opposite Hugh Grant.
Anna Maxwell Martin – Lyudmilla Raskova
Anna Maxwell Martin plays the head of Star City’s KGB surveillance department, Lyudmilla Raskova, in a performance the Guardian has described as “terrifying”.
Martin has appeared in a huge range of popular British dramas, including Line of Duty, Ludwig, and ITV’s Until I Kill You, which won her an International Emmy Award.
She has also won BAFTA TV Awards for her roles in Bleak House and Poppy Shakespeare and is well-known among comedy fans for playing Julia Johnstone in the hit BBC sitcom Motherland.
Agnes O’Casey – Irina Morozova
Irina Morozova, a recent KGB recruit at Star City, is portrayed by English and Irish actress Agnes O’Casey.
O’Casey has landed supporting roles in major dramas in the 2020s, including Dangerous Liaisons, Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, and Netflix’s Black Doves.
On the big screen she has appeared in Small Things Like These with Cillian Murphy and in The Miracle Club, Dame Maggie Smith’s final film.
Alice Englert – Anastasia Belikova
Anastasia Belikova is an untested female cosmonaut in the Soviet space program and portrayed by Australian actress Alice Englert.
Previously best known for her film roles, she has appeared in Ginger & Rosa with Elle Fanning, Beautiful Creatures with Alden Ehrenreich, and Netflix’s The Power of the Dog with Benedict Cumberbatch, which was directed by her mother Jane Campion.
Englert also appeared with O’Casey in Dangerous Liaisons, as well as BBC’s The Serpent and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and made her directorial debut with the 2023 film Bad Behaviour starring Jennifer Connelly.
Solly McLeod – Sasha Polivanov
Sasha Polivanov is described as “a reckless cosmonaut who has yet to live up to his potential” and is portrayed by Solly McLeod.
McLeod is a British actor known for playing the title role in ITV’s adaptation of Tom Jones, and has also played Ser Joffrey Lonmouth in two episode of House of the Dragon with Star City co-star Ifans.
He is also set to appear in the major upcoming films Practical Magic 2 and Anxious People, adapted from the bestselling novel by Fredrik Backman.
Adam Nagaitis – Valya Mironov
In contrast to Sasha, Valya is a respected cosmonaut in the Star City program brought to life by British actor Adam Nagaitis. Nagaitis previously portrayed a Russian firefighter in HBO’s acclaimed miniseries Chernobyl.
He has also appeared in the film The Last Duel with Matt Damon and Adam Driver, as well as TV series The Responder, The Agency and A Thousand Blows.
Ruby Ashbourne Serkis – Tanya Mironova
Ruby Ashbourne Serkis is the actress daughter of The Lord of the Rings star Andy Serkis and will be portraying Tanya, the wife of one of Star City’s cosmonauts.
She has previously appeared in TV series Shardlake and I, Jack Wright, as well as two recent Cillian Murphy films; Netflix’s Steve and the Peaky Blinders movie, The Immortal Man.
Josef Davies – Sergei Nikulov
Josef Davies portrays Sergei Nikulov, a young engineering prodigy working at Soviet Ground Control. Davies is best known as Sören in Young Wallander and he has also appeared in Andor, Grace, and Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials, as well as the hit WWI film 1917.
Supporting cast and guest stars
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The deadpan comedian sailed through to the Season 2 finale, outlasting the show’s returning champion, Bob Mortimer. He went toe-to-toe with David Mitchell in the final episode, with neither comedian breaking as they fed each other buffet food.
It resulted in an unprecedented tie-breaker in which the person who made the most people laugh over the course of the series was awarded the crown, meaning David scooped the win while Sam was awarded the runner-up title.
Sam is set to return to TV screens again in just a few days with his brand new comedy series, but what is it about, when is it released, and who is in it? Here’s everything you need to know.
What is Make That Movie about?
The six-part Channel 4 comedy series follows a director called Sam (played by Sam Campbell) who attempts to make feature films based on the weird and wonderful ideas of everyday people. He goes on a trip around the country seeking out people to share their ideas with him, before attempting to make their movies in just three days.
While Sam appears to play himself, the series is a scripted comedy show and not real life. Alongside Sam in the cast are Michell and Webb Are Not Helping star Lara Ricote as runner Jess, and Am I Being Unreasonable’s Helen Bauer, who plays sound engineer Pat.
Meanwhile Aaron Chen (Fisk) plays intimacy coordinator Sebastian and This Country’s David Hargreaves takes on the role of cinematographer Winnie.
The series is directed and co-written by Joe Pelling who may already be known to some as the director of nightmarish comedy-horror puppet show, Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared.
Make That Movie’s release date and time
The very first 30-minute episode will air on Channel 4 on Thursday, May 28 at 10pm. The second episode will be broadcast immediately after at 10.30pm.
Announcing its release date, Sam posted: “This show is on channel 4. 28th of May ~ so pretty soon in fact. We hope it wets so many people’s whistles. Hopefully not a dry whistle left in the whole world. Hopefully. Please watch.”
A flurry of excited fans were quick to comment, with one penning: “I don’t understand any of this but that’s okay, I trust Sam,” in reference to Sam’s surreal comedy style.
“Nathan Fielder has been real quite since this dropped,” joked another. “Can’t wait for this dynamite series!” a third fan remarked.
Make That Movie begins on Channel 4 on May 28 at 10pm.
Los Angeles voters will cast ballots in eight City Council district elections next week, including for two open seats where incumbents are leaving because of term limits.
The contests for the seats being vacated by Councilmembers Bob Blumenfield and Curren Price have drawn large fields of candidates, but the biggest spending has been in the Westside’s District 11, where incumbent Traci Park is facing challenger Faizah Malik, a public interest attorney and one of four council candidates backed by the local chapter of Democratic Socialists of America.
Park has raised $1.3 million, according to the latest campaign finance reports filed Friday, while challenger Faizah Malik reported about $520,000 in contributions. In addition, more than $3 million has been spent in the race by so-called independent expenditure committees that spend money to elect or defeat candidates but which are barred from coordinating their activities with the campaigns.
The district includes Venice, Mar Vista, Brentwood and Pacific Palisades, which was devastated by wildfire in January 2025.
Malik said Friday she is confident heading into the primary election, saying most of her donations are under $100 each, and that she hasn’t taken money from corporations.
Los Angeles City Council candidate Faizah Malik attends a canvassing event March 15 in Westchester.
(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
“This is what it means to be a grassroots candidate, and it is just more evidence that the people of CD11 believe in our vision for a Westside that is affordable for everyday people,” Malik said.
A Park campaign aide said Park’s haul is indicative of the councilmember’s record of getting results.
“But no one is taking anything for granted,” the aide said in a statement. “We’re working until the final vote is cast because this election will determine whether the Westside keeps moving forward or gets pulled backward into the same failed ideological politics Angelenos are exhausted by.”
Los Angeles City Councilmember Traci Park, center, with members of United Firefighters of Los Angeles City on May 12.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Park has emphasized her advocacy for fire recovery efforts, including pushing for permit fee waivers for residents wanting to rebuild. Malik has said Park has been too focused on single-family homeowners and said she would focus more energy on renters.
They have contrasting views on policing: Malik said she opposes expanding the size of the Los Angeles Police Department and instead supports shifting more resources to the city’s unarmed crisis response program. Park said the Police Department should have about 10,000 sworn officers, up from about 8,700 currently. She voted in favor of a 2023 LAPD contract that gave raises to officers and increased salaries to new hires.
They stand in contrast of each other on the Venice Dell housing development project, which would turn a city lot into 120 housing units for low-income and homeless people. Park opposed the completion and instead wants to turn it into a “mobility hub” and move the housing project to an adjacent lot. Malik, who represented the developer that filed a suit against the city claiming Park and others sought to kill the project, said the project was a motivating factor for her campaign.
District 9
Six candidates are vying to replace Councilman Curren Price, who hit the 12-year limit, in District 9. The district includes the Convention Center, USC and communities along the Harbor Freeway.
The candidates vary on key issues, including policing and housing. Estuardo Mazariegos, co-director of the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment Los Angeles, is backed by the Democratic Socialists of America. He has called for reducing the LAPD budget and redirecting funds to other city departments.
Two other candidates — Jorge Hernandez Rosas, an educator, and Jose Ugarte, who previously worked for Price — said they support hiring more police officers. Another hopeful, Elmer Roldan, executive director of Communities in Schools of Los Angeles, said he believes in keeping the LAPD at its current size.
Ugarte, Roldan, Rosas and Martha Sánchez, a therapist, all support enforcing Municipal Code 41.18, which bars homeless encampments near schools and daycare centers. Mazariegos and Jorge Nuño, an entrepreneur, say the code doesn’t solve homelessness and instead just moves people around.
Ugarte has raised the most in contributions of any candidate and has been endorsed by the Los Angeles County Democratic Party in the nonpartisan race.
District 3
Three candidates are competing for an open seat in District 3, where Councilmember Bob Blumenfield has termed out of office. The district encompasses Woodland Hills, Canoga Park, Reseda, Winnetka and Tarzana.
The candidates are Tim Gaspar, who founded an insurance company, Barri Worth Girvan, district director for Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, and Christopher Robert “C.R.” Celona, a tech entrepreneur.
The three candidates are similarly positioned on public safety, backing Mayor Karen Bass’ long-term goal to increase the LAPD ranks to at least 9,500 officers. All three also support enforcing Municipal Code section 41.18.
Gaspar and Worth Girvan have both scored key endorsements. Gaspar is backed by Blumenfield, billionaire developer Rick Caruso and Councilmembers Monica Rodriguez, Tim McOsker and John Lee and billionaire developer Rick Caruso. Worth Girvan has endorsements from a long list of state Democratic lawmakers, the county Democratic Party, the Sierra Club and labor unions.
Gaspar leads in campaign contributions, followed by Worth Girvan. Celona, who has promised to resuscitate the city’s entertainment industry by fast-tracking film permits and cutting red tape, trails far behind.
District 1
Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez faces four challengers in District 1, which stretches from Highland Park on the northeast to University Park on the southwest. She is backed by the local Democratic Socialists of America, and her challengers claim the district has suffered under under her leadership, pointing to MacArthur Park as emblematic of the homelessness and drug addiction crisis plaguing the city.
Hernandez counters with a list of accomplishments, including helping secure a $6.3-million state grant to house homeless individuals near the Arroyo Seco riverbed and advocating for a citywide network of unarmed crisis response teams.
She faces challenges from Maria Lou Calanche, a former Los Angeles police commissioner and founder of the nonprofit Legacy LA; Nelson Grande, an executive consultant and former president of Avenida Entertainment Group; Raul Claros, founder of California Rising; and Sylvia Robledo, a small-business owner and former council aide.
Incumbent Katy Yaroslavsky faces two challengers for her District 5 seat, both of whom oppose her stance on housing and public safety spending. The district includes some of the city’s wealthiest neighborhoods, including Bel-Air, Westwood, Cheviot Hills and Hancock Park.
Challengers Henry Mantel, a tenants’ rights lawyer, and Morgan Oyler, an accountant, say Yaroslavsky hasn’t done enough to increase the district’s housing supply. Yaroslavsky, who holds a wide lead in fundraising, has said she supports increasing housing density near transit centers but cautioned against building more than the city can sustain.
District 13
Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez, who is also backed by the Democratic Socialists of America’s L.A. chapter, faces three challengers in District 13, which includes Atwater Village, Glassell Park, Elysian Valley, Echo Park, Silver Lake and East Hollywood.
The list of challengers includes Colter Carlisle, vice president of the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council, Dylan Kendall, who runs Grow Hollywood, and Rich Sarian, vice president of strategic initiatives for downtown’s South Park Social District.
While Soto-Martínez supports expanding the city’s unarmed personnel program, Carlisle and Kendall would like to expand the police force. Sarian has said he supports the unarmed personnel program and wants to examine the LAPD’s current size and resources.
District 15
Incumbent Tim McOsker is facing off against community organizer Jordan River in District 15, which covers Harbor City, Harbor Gateway, San Pedro, Watts and Wilmington. McOsker has decades of experience in the political world, having worked in the mayor’s office, and the city attorney’s office before joining the City Council in 2022. Rivers, who is unemployed, is a member of the Green Party.
District 7
Monica Rodriguez is running unopposed for the District 7 seat in the northeast San Fernando Valley.
Times staff writers David Zahniser, Noah Goldberg and Sandra McDonald contributed to this report.
After 10 days of crazed moviegoing at the Cannes Film Festival, Times film critic Amy Nicholson and Times film editor Joshua Rothkopf are all but spent. They leave with 10 recommendations (listed below in alphabetical order), including several titles you’ll be hearing about during awards season, but also, admittedly, more reservations than usual.
Amy Nicholson: There are worse ways to spend your life than watching four movies a day in the south of France. For a week and half, we ran in and out of the dark theaters, blinking at the shock of the sun and bickering about what we just saw with the highest concentration of film lovers anywhere — most of us jacked up on espresso or rosé. Yet, we’re flying home miffed that the movies themselves were mediocre. Cannes is meant to launch ambitious, prickly works by grandmasters and next-generation talents. This year, the programming looked like a party with an impressive invite list — Nicolas Winding Refn, Asghar Farhadi, Hirokazu Kore-eda — but upon arrival, all the guests felt like old acquaintances tapped out of anything interesting to say.
I’m being harsh. Cannes had good movies, too. But I needed this year’s Cannes to be great. Audiences trickling back into theaters deserve to see something fantastic. Instead, too many filmmakers took the crowd’s attention span for granted; even the strongest films in competition could delete a half-hour of dead air. Fittingly, the majority of my favorites came from Cannes’ kookier programming sections, Directors’ Fortnight and Un Certain Regard — and I suspect many of yours did, too, oui?
Joshua Rothkopf: I did find a handful of films from the main competition that impressed me, but point taken: Nobody is served if we can’t admit that this year’s edition was weaker than others. We could blame screenwriting or pacing (though paradoxically I was impressed by both the longest and the shortest movies in competition). Maybe it’s an overall lack of boldness. When a restored version of Ken Russell’s salacious 55-year-old “The Devils” eclipses virtually everything else shown at the festival, a certain timidity is hard to deny. There were too many “nice” films: perfectly respectable but not what I want Cannes to be.
Fortunately, we saw enough to sharpen up a list of favorites. Here’s what stirred us.
‘All of a Sudden’
I’m not convinced that the utopian vision of end-of-life care presented in Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s drama has a fighting chance in America, but we deserve the opportunity to grapple with its compassionate turns and have that discussion. The director of “Drive My Car” continues his process-centric exploration of workplace relationships in this quietly revelatory movie, one with a centerpiece conversation that merits comparison to the long walks of Richard Linklater’s “Before” movies. Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto let a day’s stroll linger into profundity, the twilight dimming and human connection brewing in all its possibilities. Is it too late for them? It doesn’t need to be. — Joshua Rothkopf
‘The Beloved’
Esteban (Javier Bardem), a renowned bad boy Spanish filmmaker, returns to his homeland from New York to shoot a period picture in the desert. Off-screen, he’s gifted one of the four leading roles to his estranged daughter (Victoria Luengo), an aspiring actor who hasn’t seen her father in 13 years. Esteban failed as Emilia’s dad. Can he succeed as her director, especially when her big break packs this much pressure? Not likely, especially as Emilia has inherited his disastrous boozing habits. “The Beloved’s” actual director, Rodrigo Sorogoyen, unleashes his leads to become a tag team of destruction, each blaming the other for what’s going wrong on set. They’re both mired in clashing narratives of their relationship. Sorogoyen shows us the truth, as well as the visible frustrations of the film-within-a-film’s cast and crew that risk shutting down this too-passionate passion project. — Amy Nicholson
‘Bitter Christmas’
(Iglesias Mas / Sony Pictures Classics)
Pedro Almodóvar’s self-flagellating film about his artistic process has a Charlie Kaufman-lite structure that I’d rather let audiences discover on their own. In brief: Almodovar’s avatar, a filmmaker named Raúl (Leonardo Sbaraglia), gets dragged over the artistic coals by the dramatic female characters he’s been writing for decades, one of whom dares him to simply coast on his legacy. Too many veteran filmmakers in his year’s Cannes competition seem to have accepted that bargain, so when Raúl got to the end of a new script and decided it wasn’t up to his standards, I nearly shouted “Bravo!” Navel-gazing cinema about the creative process isn’t usually my bag, but Almodóvar doesn’t take his own misery that seriously, even inserting a manic pixie dream hunk, a male stripper-slash-firefighter played by Patrick Criado, for a little bump and grind. — Amy Nicholson
‘Clarissa’
It’s been 101 years since Virginia Woolf first published “Mrs Dalloway,” a novel about persnickety party hostess Clarissa Dalloway colliding with her former lovers, one male and one female. The plot seems simple, but every glare and sigh tells a whole story about modernization, capitulation, cynicism and violence. Twin brothers Arie and Chuko Esiri have transplanted the tale to present-day Nigeria and stacked the cast with Sophie Okonedo, Ayo Edebiri, Nikki Amuka-Bird, David Oyelowo and the staggeringly talented India Amarteifio as the diva in her captivating youth before she married a tedious oilman and started bullying the help. “Clarissa” makes several smart adjustments, swapping in a traumatized Boko Haram soldier for a shell-shocked veteran of the Great War, and cocking an eyebrow at the shiny new yoga studios and coffee shops littering Lagos’ once-lush waterfront. Better still, it’s sexy as heck — the flashbacks are one swimsuit party after another. — Amy Nicholson
‘Club Kid’
The one-sentence pitch of Jordan Firstman’s debut dramedy — a gay nightclub promoter sobers up when he discovers he has a 10-year-old boy — sounded as fun as snorting a line of aspartame. I stand corrected. “Club Kid” is a blast: a spicy, surprising and irreverent comedy that rarely peddles the audience anything artificially sweet. Firstman stars as Peter, a debauched millennial aging out of a New York scene that never cared about him as a person in the first place. His business partner Sophie (Cara Delevingne) is a horror; his selfish squatter-roommate Nicky (Eldar Isgandarov) is even worse and so hilarious I’d watch a spin-off sequel just about him. Peter’s shock son Arlo (Reggie Absolom) has a casual charm that pickpockets your heart, but it’s the script’s sour quips that will have you urging people to get past the treacly set-up and go see “Club Kid” themselves. — Amy Nicholson
‘The Diary of a Chambermaid’
Art punk Radu Jude’s latest satire is about a Romanian immigrant with a burlesque double life. By day, Gianina (Ana Dumitrașcu, fantastic) is the live-in housemaid of a daft Parisian family; by night, she’s an actress in a turn-of-the-20th century slapstick farce about a housemaid whose master suckles her patent leather boots. In neither world can she openly say what she thinks (although in her native tongue, she curses her employers and their young son plenty). Fast, crisp and snide, “The Diary of a Chambermaid” gives equal weight to the monotony and the absurdity of Gianina’s grind. And Jude isn’t above including a mocking slow-motion shot of a spoiled French boy totally whiffing a soccer kick. — Amy Nicholson
‘Fatherland’
The tension at the heart of Paweł Pawlikowski’s period piece, set in a ravaged, fallen Germany after the end of World War II, is one that goes unresolved. All that’s left are defensive denials, evasions of Nazi collaboration and the faint hope that something higher has survived. I could watch this kind of guilt-ridden post-apocalyptic movie for hours; instead, this lasts a scant 82 minutes. The conclusion, a wordless moment between father and daughter set to the strains of Bach played on a broken pipe organ, was the most devastating passage of the entire festival. “Fatherland” shows off Pawlikowski’s exquisite way with black-and-white evocations of European tragedy, but he’s never summed them up as poetically. — Joshua Rothkopf
‘Fjord’
People at the festival called this one complex; I found myself disagreeing. It’s actually a fairly straightforward story about a religious but mostly level-headed family flung into conflict with an overly sensitive branch of child protection services — and maybe with the whole of agnostic Norwegian progressivism. As reactionary as that sounds, I was totally rapt. Partly that’s due to a beautifully plotted courtroom scenario and the immersive performances of Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve, reuniting after “A Different Man,” as parents increasingly out of their depths. But mainly, I credit Romanian director Cristian Mungiu, who knows a good story when he sees one, crystallizing its potency with every camera choice. — Joshua Rothkopf
‘Minotaur’
The ice-chilled return of Russian filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev (after a multiyear battle with long COVID) is worth the wait: a condensation of everything he does well into something so purely distilled, it should come with a proof warning. The movie kicks off as a casual portrait of the vacant nouveau riche lifestyles of the mini-oligarchs: fancy dinners, divorces, bathroom gossip. Then it becomes an erotic thriller (it’s based on Claude Chabrol’s 1969 “The Unfaithful Wife,” as was Diane Lane’s “Unfaithful”). But the best comes last, as the situation gets fixed in broad daylight with breathtaking brutality. The war in Ukraine? Someone else’s problem. “Minotaur” takes on the whole of Putin’s dissociative society and puts its winners above the blackened clouds, looking down at the rest of us. — Joshua Rothkopf
‘Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma’
I am growing to love Jane Schoenbrun’s exfoliation of ’80s horror obsessions, especially for the movie’s nonjudgmental embrace: Let these movies be free in all their “problematic” badness and let them work on you. The fact that “Teenage Sex” sometimes plays like a bottle episode of “Hacks” doesn’t hurt. Hannah Einbinder brings vulnerability to a project that needs her brand of self-excoriating fearlessness. Points, too, for not turning this into yet another celebration of some forgotten male director reclaimed as a genius. Rather, the opposite: It’s about an abused scream queen (Gillian Anderson, gamely campy), a liminal, wintry campground and the exhilaration of running in the woods in your pajamas. — Joshua Rothkopf
Two Weeks in August made its debut tonight with a star-studded cast
The Two Weeks in August cast have shared the significance over a hidden detail in the show’s opening scenes(Image: Various Artists Ltd/BBC/Robert Viglasky)
The Two Weeks in August cast have shared the significance over a hidden detail in the show’s opening scenes.
Written and created by Sally4Ever’s Catherine Shepherd, the new ‘witty and painfully relatable’ series follows a group of friends reuniting for a summer holiday. However, the idyllic getaway is soon thrown into chaos thanks to an illicit kiss.
In episode one, viewers are introduced to each of the friends with married couple Zoe and Dan, played by Jessica Raine and Damien Molony, clearly struggling as they attempt to put past events behind them.
The family of four, who have brought their children on the trip, are also struggling with money as is highlighted when Jess, played by Antonia Thomas, suggests they all put €200 each in the kitty.
Things go from bad to worse when Zoe and Dan are tasked with preparing food that evening with their lavish friends wanting seafood, which provides another tense expense for the struggling couple as they opt for store bought fish as opposed to fresh market produce.
Talking about the scenes with the Mirror, Jessica Raine and Damien Molony, who play Zoe and Dan, pointed out a significant hidden detail in the opening moments of the show.
Damien, 42, said: “We had a great opportunity to rehearse before we went out with Tom George, our director. We talked a lot about their past and about their relationship and the fact that, you know, they probably hadn’t had sex in about a year.
“That was a really kind of good starting point to go: ‘Oh, something’s really not right here.’ We would do some improvisations about the journey to the airport in England and what that must have been like.
“Jess had this incredible line in the improv about having to pack pasta in our luggage because we knew we wouldn’t be able to afford food on the island. So much so that they actually put it in the scene.
“So when Jessica opens her suitcase in that first scene on packing, there is pasta in the bag” to which Jessica, 44, added: “Three bags!”
Damien continued: “It was kind of those little details that started to kind of… because in TV, you don’t get that opportunity to rehearse or to really explore the world around the scenes.
“So that was really, really thrilling, and it really informed the rest of the kind of scenes that we shared together because this couple goes on a huge journey.”
Meanwhile, Jess said: “The journey of the fish is really good and I think that’s also a really good point to make about our show is the financial differences in the couples. I don’t think we see that very much.
“We often see a lot of very rich people going on holiday, but I love the reality. I mean, a lot of people are in that position where you’re like, I can’t afford €200 for the kitty and the look that we give each other, we’re just like: ‘Holy moly, this is, we’re way out of our depth’ and they don’t feel able to say.”
The drama is only going to get more intense for the couple and their friends as a synopsis teases: “Set in Greece, Two Weeks in August tells the story of a woman who goes on holiday with her family and friends to rediscover joy in her life. But, here in paradise, what starts with an illicit kiss quickly turns the dream vacation into a nightmare.
“Zoe begins to act on her deepest desires and the holiday she hoped for becomes a reckoning for a group of adults who refuse to grow up. When they discover they are trapped on the island, and become faced with real life-or-death situations, the group soon turn on each other to find out who is to blame.
“Is Zoe responsible for the drama and destruction around her or, as heaven turns to hell, are bigger forces at play? We are in Greece after all, the land of the ancient Gods…”
Two Weeks In August airs Saturday nights on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The beloved Disney+ show recently returned to screens with a super-sized season two and a total of 12 episodes for audiences to get their teeth stuck into.
The new series of Rivals picked up straight off the back of the last outing as Tony Baddingham (played by David Tennant) planned to exact revenge on his Venturer TV rivals Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and Declan O’ Hara (Aidan Turner).
Season two also brought into the fold some new faces in the form of Maxim Ays from The Larkins and Sanditon as Sebbie Carlisle and Wolfblood actor Bobby Lockwood portraying Dommie Carlisle.
Meanwhile, Marvel’s Agent Carter and Heartstopper star Hayley Atwell took on the part of the MP’s ex-wife and mother to his two children, Helen Gordon.
But what about her husband Malise Gordon, who was also Campbell-Black’s former show-jumping coach and mentor?
Here’s the lowdown on the star playing Malise in Rivals season two.
Who plays Malise in Rivals?
Malise is played by Hollywood star Rupert Everett, who is perhaps best known for 90s romcom My Best Friend’s Wedding alongside Julia Roberts and period drama An Ideal Husband.
With a career dating back to the 80s, Everett has had roles across film and TV and various genres.
Some of his previous projects include BBC ’s The Musketeers in which he starred opposite Rivals star Luke Pasqualino, The Happy Prince, Parade’s End, My Policeman, Everybody Loves Diamond, and The Serpent Queen.
Some of his more recent roles have included appearing in Nicola Coughlan ’s Channel 4 series Big Mood, Netflix ’s Emily in Paris and Madfabulous.
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According to IMDb, Everett will be appeared in The Liar, The Resurrection of the Christ parts 2 and two and Out Late.
Speaking to the Radio Times about the dynamic between Campbell-Black and the Gordons, star Hassell teased that the couple had “really strong, fairly negative feelings” about the amorous politician and former Olympian.
Despite this, the pair were also “protective” towards Campbell-Black even though he had “really really hurt” them endlessly and they were “at the end of their tether”.
WASHINGTON — A teen-ager who shocked a congressional committee with her accounts of Iraqi atrocities in Kuwait was revealed Monday to be the daughter of the Kuwaiti ambassador to the United States–a fact concealed when she appeared at the late 1990 hearing, conducted as a vote loomed on America’s use of force in the Gulf.
Confirming an opinion article in Monday’s New York Times, California Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Burlingame) said Monday he knew that the 15-year-old girl, publicly identified only as Nayirah, was, in fact, the daughter of Kuwaiti envoy Sheik Saud al Nasir al Sabah.
Her identity was kept secret at her father’s request, Lantos said, because Saud feared that other family members still in Kuwait could become victims of Iraqi reprisals.
The girl’s testimony before the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, which Lantos chairs, had a major impact on lawmakers sharply divided over authorizing President Bush to use force to liberate Kuwait.
Appearing before Lantos’ panel Oct. 10, 1990, the girl testified that she had recently escaped from Kuwait, where she had seen Iraqi soldiers storm into Al Adnan hospital and remove 15 babies from their incubators, leaving them “on the cold floor to die.”
Her account, which was similar to atrocity reports provided by a Kuwaiti doctor and other medical personnel, was later cited by several lawmakers in the speeches they gave in support of their decision to authorize the use of force against Iraq.
The testimony was later called into question, however, by Amnesty International and other human rights groups. After an Amnesty International investigation in Kuwait in April of the following year, an Amnesty spokesman said: “We became convinced . . . that the story about babies dying in this way did not happen on the scale that was initially reported, if, indeed, it happened at all.”
While Lantos knew the girl’s identity at the time of her testimony before his panel, other Congress members, including the Republican co-chairman of the caucus, Rep. John E. Porter of Illinois, said they did not.
Both congressmen defended the decision to have her testify and heatedly denied the suggestion, implicit in the New York Times opinion page piece by Harper’s magazine publisher John R. MacArthur, that lawmakers may have been duped into voting to go to war against Iraq by artful propaganda.
Times staff writers William Eaton and Don Shannon contributed to this report.
Disney+’s Rivals is back for a second series, with a string of new faces joining the cast of the hit British comedy-drama
Rivals Season 2 official trailer on Hulu
Rutshire is set to welcome fresh faces for Rivals season two, with some recognisable stars joining the fray.
Disney+ is set to launch the second instalment of its hugely successful British comedy drama Rivals tomorrow (Friday, May 15), reports Somerset Live.
The streaming service will release the opening three episodes simultaneously, plunging viewers back into the flamboyant realm of 1980s regional television, complete with its big hair and eye-watering fashion choices.
Disney+ has teased the upcoming series with this synopsis: “In the second season, the battle for the Central South West television franchise reaches fever pitch as the war between Corinium and Venturer enters a dangerous new phase.
“More ruthless than ever, Tony Baddingham is determined to dismantle his rivals piece-by-piece, weaponising scandal and manipulating those closest to him to maintain his grip on power.”
“Amidst the hedonistic glamour of 80s excess, the personal lives of our Rutshire heroes spiral into chaos. Marriages fracture under the weight of ambition, illicit affairs threaten to shatter families, and long-buried secrets ignite with explosive consequences.
“As rivalries push everyone to the brink, loyalties are tested and hearts are broken in the pursuit of victory. But what is the true cost of war?”
Alongside the new plot developments, several fresh performers are entering the mix. Here’s your guide to the latest additions and their previous work.
Who is in the cast of Rivals season 2?
Helen Gordon – Hayley Atwell
English-American star Hayley Atwell portrays Rupert Campbell-Black’s (Alex Hassell) former wife and mother to his two children.
Atwell has made her mark playing Peggy Carter in Marvel’s Agent Carter series and various Marvel blockbusters, alongside appearances in the Mission: Impossible franchise with Tom Cruise and Netflix’s Heartstopper.
Malise Gordon – Rupert Everett
Acclaimed actor Rupert Everett takes on the part of Helen’s new husband Malise Gordon, who previously served as Campbell-Black’s show-jumping coach and mentor.
Everett boasts an extensive career dating back to the 1980s, with memorable performances in My Best Friend’s Wedding alongside Julia Roberts, An Ideal Husband, Napoleon, My Policeman, and The Serpent Queen.
Sebbie Carlisle – Maxim Ays
Emerging talent Maxim Ays brings Sebbie Carlisle to life in the latest series, having previously appeared in The Larkins, Sanditon, Boarders and Still So Awkward.
His television credits also include Doctor Who, Grantchester and Truth and Treason.
Dommie Carlisle – Bobby Lockwood
Completing the fresh additions is Bobby Lockwood as Dommie Carlisle, with the actor’s previous work including Wolfblood, Here We Go, Casualty, The Tower and Tell Me Everything.
He’s also shared screen time with Rivals colleague Emily Atack on The Emily Atack Show, while making brief appearances in The Diplomat, Grantchester, ITV’s Grace, and Dunkirk.
Rivals season 2 returning cast in full The second series of Rivals will welcome back its expansive ensemble, with Good Omens’ David Tennant reprising his role as the scheming Lord Tony Baddingham, His Dark Materials’ Alex Hassell as former Olympian-turned-Tory MP Rupert Campbell-Black, and Poldark’s Aidan Turner as ex-BBC journalist Declan O’Hara.
Bloodlands’ Victoria Smurfit will return as Declan’s actress wife Maud O’Hara, joined by Black Lightning’s Nafessa Williams as TV executive Cameron Cook, and The IT Crowd’s Katherine Parkinson as Rutshire’s romance novelist Lizzie Vereker.
Additional cast members include Sex Education’s Bella Maclean as Taggie O’Hara, EastEnders legend Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones, Sherwood’s Claire Rushbrook as Lady Monica Baddingham, The Crown’s Oliver Chris as James Vereker, ITV’s Maternal’s Lisa McGrillis as Valerie Jones, The Inbetweeners’ Emily Atack as Sarah Stratton, and W1A’s Rufus Jones as her husband Paul Stratton.
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Completing the impressive roster are The Musketeers’ Luca Pasqualino as Basil ‘Bas’ Baddingham, Wild Cherry’s Catriona Chandler as Caitlin O’Hara, The Split’s Annabel Scholey as Beattie Johnson, Outlander’s Gary Lamont as Charles Fairburn, Wolf Hall’s Hubert Burton as Gerald Middleton, The Winter King’s Gabriel Tierney as Patrick O’Hara, How To Have Sex’s Lara Peake as Daysee Butler, and Call The Midwife’s Bryony Hannah as Dierdre Kilpatrick.
Rivals season 2 launches on Disney+ tomorrow and airs weekly on Fridays
The cast and sex experts of Virgin Island spoke at the BAFTA TV Awards after the Channel 4 show was hit with criticism
Virgin Island aired for the first time last year(Image: Channel 4)
The Virgin Island cast made a huge splash when the series first aired last year and instantly became a watercooler TV show, with many left questioning whether it was groundbreaking or exploitative.
The premise of the Channel 4 programme followed 12 adult virgins as they explored intimacy in a pressure-free environment, surrounded by experts helping to guide them towards breaking down barriers.
It led to emotional breakthroughs for the brave contestants, and sparked conversations across the UK, resulting in a BAFTA TV nomination in the reality category – which was eventually won by the Celebrity Traitors.
Speaking to the Mirror and other press on the red carpet at the annual ceremony, the cast and experts took the opportunity to hit back at the critics. Addressing the backlash, sex and relationship coach Celeste Hirschman told us: “The proof is in the pudding! The transformations are unbelievable, and in the second season as well!
Dr Danielle Harel agreed: “Exactly! There’s a little bit of a discomfort to see the methods, but honestly, when people see how it helps, they’ll really fall into it, they’ll love it. They’ll really understand why it’s so important.”
“I think they were much more ready in season two, so they dove in the deep end right away. And we had a little more time, which was nice,” Celeste continued. “And we have play time! We have a BDSM specialist coming in for episode five, so watch out!”
Dr Danielle interjected: “I think people came in more ready for the show, so they were ready to move faster.”
The contestants themselves also couldn’t rave about the series enough. Emma was met with cheers when she shared: “Well, I lost my virginity, so that’s an update, I think!
“Ever since, I’ve been exploring more with intimacy and getting more comfortable with it. Finding out what I like and don’t like. I’ve built so much more confidence and I’ve opened up so many more doors! It’s incredible!
“The pros taught us how it was done, I’m a free woman now thanks to these girls! I didn’t realise that would happen on a two week retreat but these are experts, so they know what they’re doing!”
Emma revealed that she first became intimate “about six months after” filming, during a “self-love journey” in Australia.
“That’s when I started to meet people and try it a bit more. I took away a lot of skills these girls gave me and I did my own learning in my own time, and then I blossomed in the outside world.”
Jason Thompson, who was also a guest at the sex retreat, proudly flashed a bejewelled cherry pin on his suit as he added:“I’m still a virgin, cherry is still in tact. I love myself again, a whole other level of confidence, I’m just all-round happier. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made.”
Ben Miles has landed a part in ITV’s upcoming six-part space thriller First Woman
Ben Miles is to star in a new ITV series(Image: BBC screengrab)
The Crown’s Ben Miles is set to appear in ITV‘s “suspenseful” new space thriller centred on a woman who goes missing during a lunar mission.
The actor, known for portraying British Royal Air Force officer Peter Townsend in the royal drama, joins Adolescence star Ashley Walters in six-part series First Woman, reports Wales Online.
Ashley takes on the role of Ben Reith, who awakens one morning to find his wife Claire (Andrea Riseborough) has vanished. This sparks a global media sensation “because Claire is an astronaut crewing the UK’s first moonbase and she’s disappeared into the long lunar night”, the broadcaster’s synopsis reveals.
It continues: “Claire is the first woman to set foot on the moon.
“A biologist taking part in a groundbreaking research project, her disappearance throws suspicion on her fellow astronauts and China’s rival base.
“With hundreds of thousands of miles between them, can Ben uncover the truth behind his wife’s disappearance?”
The ensemble also features Pride and Prejudice star Jennifer Ehle and Alex Hassell, who will shortly return as Rupert Campbell-Black in the second series of racy Disney+ sensation Rivals.
Ben, who also starred in conspiracy thriller The Capture, joins First Woman’s cast alongside The Tower’s Jimmy Akingbola, Fra Fee from Unchosen, You’s Kathryn Gallagher, Nautilus’ Shazad Latif and Neuromancer’s Christian Ochoa Lavernia.
Teasing the casting news on Instagram, ITV revealed: “A groundbreaking project. A missing biologist. A mystery that reaches across the stars.”
Polly Hill, ITV’s director of drama, promised the series would transport audiences on “an incredible journey”, saying: “I wanted ITV to make this the moment I read it.
“The team that has come on board on and off screen is incredible, and a testament to the wonderful and original scripts.”
When the project was first unveiled, creator Lydia Yeoman explained: “Set in the exciting (and as-yet-unexplored) world of private space travel, First Woman is a thriller unlike anything else we’ve seen.
“This is the story of a marriage put through the ultimate test. It’s rare that you get given the opportunity to tell a story with such ambition and scope, and we’re eternally grateful to Polly at ITV and Alcon for allowing us to do that.”
Here’s where you’ve seen the cast of British spy thriller Legends on Netflix before.
Legends official Netflix trailer
Netflix’s Legends will be dropping this week – and the show has some very familiar faces in its star-studded cast.
Six-part series Legends arrives on Netflix today (May 7) and is based on the remarkable true story of a group of ordinary men and women who risked everything for their country.
The show follows several customs employees, who go undercover and adopt ‘legends’ to infiltrate Britain’s most dangerous drug gangs as they take on the war against drugs in the 1990s.
The British crime drama has an impressive cast list, who have been in some big projects previously.
Who is in the cast of Netflix’s Legends?
Guy – Tom Burke
Tom Burke stars as real-life legend Guy, who trades in his mundane job in customs to become a legend.
Burke has appeared in The Musketeers, War & Peace, Blade Runner 2099, BBC’s Strike, and The Lazarus Project.
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Don – Steve Coogan
Steve Coogan is Don, who oversees the legends. The actor, writer and producer is best known for his comedic alter-ego Alan Partridge, Philomena, The Sandman, and 24 Hour Party People.
Kate – Hayley Squires
The Night Manager, Great Expectations and Adult Material star Hayley Squires plays legend Kate.
Carter – Tom Hughes
Tom Hughes, best known for ITV’s Victoria, The Gold and Malpractice, takes on the role of drug kingpin Carter.
Bailey – Aml Ameen
Actor, director and producer Aml Ameen from The Porter, Rustin and Kidulthood, plays legend Bailey.
Erin – Jasmine Blackborow
Jasmine Blackborow, who has appeared in Netflix’s The Gentlemen, Marie Antoinette and Shadow and Bone, plays legends’ secretary Erin.
Blake – Douglas Hodge
Acclaimed actor, composer, director and writer Douglas Hodge from The Night Manager, The Great and Black Mirror stars as senior civil servant Blake, who oversees Don.
Eddie – Johnny Harris
Johnny Harris plays drug dealer Eddie after starring in This Is England ’86, Great Expectations, and A Gentleman in Moscow.
Mylonas – Gerald Kyd
Gerald Kyd, who has appeared in Casualty, Malory Towers, and The Assassin on Prime Video, plays Guy’s fixer Mylonas.
Hakan – Numan Acar
Numan Acar of Homeland, Jack Ryan and Young Sherlock fame plays Turkish drug dealer Hakan.
Sophie – Charlotte Ritchie
Ghosts, Call the Midwife and Netflix’s You star Charlotte Ritchie portrays Guy’s wife and fellow customs officer Sophie.
Zeki – Joshua Samuels
Joshua Samuels from The Gold, Saltburn and Nate & Jamie plays Kurdish drug dealer Zeki, who is working with Hakan.
Aziz – Kem Hassan
Actor and writer Kem Hassan stars as Hakan’s son Aziz. Legends marks his biggest role to date after appearing in The Sandman, Beyond Paradise and Grace.
Shaun – Thomas Coombes
Thomas Coombes stars as Shaun, who helps the Legends, and has featured in ITV crime drama Grace, Sky’s Save Me, Luther: The Fallen Sun, Miss Austen and Baby Reindeer.
Legends will be released on Netflix on Thursday, May 7
For the next week or so, in homes all over California, ballots will be arriving for the June 2 primary.
Since 2020, a ballot has been mailed to every active registered voter in the state — more than 23 million, by last count. The time to choose is drawing nigh.
In addition to the race for governor, Californians will vote in contests for seven other statewide offices, the Board of Equalization — which oversees the property tax system — and a great many congressional, legislative and local races, including the primary for Los Angeles mayor.
What’s a voter to do?
If you’ve waited your entire life for a candidate like Republican Chad Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff running for governor, or you’ve been jonesing to cast a gubernatorial ballot for Democrat Katie Porter from the moment she whipped out her famous whiteboard, the choice is easy. Fill out that ballot and toss it in the mail, stat! No postage needed.
“Don’t mess around,” said Paul Maslin, a veteran Democratic campaign strategist. (His candidate for governor, Betty Yee, quit the race late last month, so he’s a neutral observer at this point.)
“If you have pretty good inkling what you want to do,” Maslin urged, “vote.”
But if, like many, you’re not wed to a particular candidate, what then? If you’re worried about mailing in your ballot and then having some awful, Eric Swalwell-like revelations surface, or if you fret about wasting your vote by supporting someone who drops out before June 2, then what?
There are no do-overs in a California election. Once you’ve cast your ballot, you’ve made your choice. That’s it, however sorry you may be.
Which is why Republican strategist Rob Stutzman, who’s worked in California politics for decades, urged voters not to mail their ballot too soon. Like Maslin, he’s unaffiliated with any of the gubernatorial campaigns.
“It’s a slow-developing race,” Stutzman said of the contest for governor, the marquee attraction on the June ballot. “These are still relatively little-known candidates. There’s going to be a lot more campaigning to go in the weeks ahead. [So] unless you feel really strongly about somebody, I’d hang on to that ballot and see what happens over the next several weeks.”
Then again, with all the talk of clamping down on mail-in ballots and concerns about processing delays by a stretched-thin Postal Service, is there a danger of waiting too long to vote? What if your ballot arrives past the deadline to be tallied?
In March, the U.S. Supreme Court strongly signaled a likelihood it would require mail ballots to be received by election day if they are to be counted as legal. As it stands, California accepts mail-in ballots that were cast before the end of election day, so long as they arrive no later than seven days after.
The court seems unlikely to issue its ruling before the June primary — but that’s not guaranteed.
So is there a sweet spot, somewhere between voting in haste and having your ballot go to waste?
The Official Voter Information Guide, produced by California’s secretary of state, urges those voting by mail to “return your ballot … as soon as you receive it.”
But Kim Alexander, head of the nonpartisan California Voter Foundation, falls into the wait-a-bit camp. “Don’t vote too early,” she counseled, “because this is a very dynamic election.”
Once you’ve made up your mind, her best advice is to mail your ballot at least a full week before election day, which is May 26, to ensure it arrives on time to be processed and counted. If someone wants to drop their ballot off in person, either at a vote center or secure drop box, Alexander suggests doing so by May 30, which is three days before the election.
“The good news,” she said, “is that under a new state law … all county election offices will be open at least six hours on Saturday, May 30, for voters to come vote in person or to turn in their vote-by-mail ballots.”
Voting in person is an option right up until 8 p.m. on election day, even if you received a ballot in the mail. That applies everywhere in California, save for three sparsely populated, rural counties — Alpine, Plumas and Sierra — which conduct their elections entirely by mail. Bring your unused vote-by-mail ballot to your local polling place and swap it for a polling-place ballot you can use instead.
For procrastinators or those wanting to wait until election day to mail their ballot, they run the risk that it won’t be postmarked until after June 2. That means it won’t be counted, regardless of when it arrives at their county elections office.
“Voters who want to hold out as long as possible … ought to be planning to turn their ballot into a drop box or a voting site and not use the mail at all,” Alexander said.
Her suggestion is to find other ways to mark the occasion.
“Help somebody else go and vote,” Alexander suggested, “or volunteer to help with an organization” running a get-out-the-vote operation.
“If you want to help election officials get ahead on the vote count” — a source of repeated upset as the country awaits California’s lagging results — “you can be part of the solution by getting your own ballot in just a little bit earlier.”
All of which sound like fine ideas. That way you can celebrate election day and make sure your ballot isn’t cast for naught.
Eleven years have gone by since British crime thriller Prey was last airing on ITV and now fans can re-live both epic seasons which sees DS Susan Reinhart (played by Rosie Cavaliero) investigate criminal cases around Manchester.
While the first outing revolved around a police officer trying to clear his name after the murder of his family, series two sees a prison officer forced to help an inmate escape after his pregnant daughter is kidnapped.
As fans start binge-watching Prey, here’s everything there is to know about the cast of Prey season two.
Inside Prey season 2 cast
DS Susan Reinhardt – Rosie Cavaliero
DS Susan Reinhardt connects both seasons of Prey as she struggles to deal with her inner demons while investigating officers at the heart of each series.
She is brought to life by actress Rosie Cavaliero who was Marion Kelsey in ITV’s Unforgotten season two, Elizabeth Cordingley in Gentleman Jack and Edwina, Countess of Dunvale in Channel 5’s A Woman of Substance.
David Murdoch – Philip Glenister
David is a widowed prison officer whose life is turned upside down when his pregnant daughter is kidnapped and he is blackmailed into helping an inmate escape.
He is brought to life by actor Philip Glenister who is famed for starring in Life on Mars, its spin-off Ashes to Ashes, Belgravia, After the Flood and, most recently, ITV’s The Lady.
Jules Hope – MyAnna Buring
Actress MyAnna Buring will be best remembered for playing Tissaia in Netflix ’s The Witcher, but also starred in The Twilight Saga as Tanya and Unforgotten season six as Melinda Ricci.
She is behind Jules Hope, the prisoner that David is forced to help escape.
DC Richard Iddon – Nathan Stewart-Jarrett
Quick-witted rookie police officer DC Richard Iddon is partnered up with DS Reinhardt to try and track down David Murdoch.
He is played by actor Nathan Stewart-Jarrett who was Curtis Donovan in E4’s Misfits and Ian in the Channel 4 series Utopia.
Lucy Murdoch – Sammy Winward
Taking on the role of David’s kidnapped pregnant daughter Lucy Murdoch is actress Sammy Winward.
She is by far best known for starring as Katie Sugden, a role she took on as a teenager, in ITV’s iconic soap Emmerdale.
She has also had smaller roles in shows such as Fearless, The Long Shadow and Brassic.
DCI Mike Ward – Ralph Ineson
Rounding off the main cast of Prey season two is actor Ralph Ineson who plays Amycus Carrow in the Harry Potter franchise, Professor Krempe in Netflix’s Frankenstein and General Tarakanov in Chernobyl.
Ineson portrays DCI Mike Ward who is DS Susan Reindhardt’s superior officer.
The Neighbourhood has arrived and a new family has already moved into the area.
Hayley Anderson Screen Time TV Reporter
16:12, 25 Apr 2026
ITV The Neighbourhood cast welcomes the Campbell Grahams household. (Image: ITV)
The Neighbourhood welcomes another household after one family was kicked out of the cul-de-sac in an unexpected exit.
After all of the drama that went down in I’m A Celebrity last night, Friday, April 24, a new show has landed on ITV to fill that void.
Graham Norton’s The Neighbourhood has debuted with its second episode airing this evening, Saturday, April 25, introducing a new household with big plans.
Who are the Campbell Grahams?
Moving into The Neighbourhood with the remaining five families are the Campbell Grahams, made up of Donna, Ken and Thai.
Mum Donna, 43, is a firefighter with her 20-year-old daughter Thai working in hospitality and catering.
Donna is married to 43-year-old youth mentor and sports coach Ken and they’ve got major plans for the cash prize even before stepping into “KeepYourEnemies Close”.
“We are looking to move to Thailand, so that would help”, Donna told ITV when asked about the £250,000 prize pot.
Ken agreed: “I want to retire in Thailand and open my own chip shop in Thailand.”
However, not everyone seems to be on board with this plan as Thai jokingly exclaimed: “Oh my God – no one is going there, I’ll tell you that for free! It’s going to have one star on the food rating.”
Describing themselves as “happy, funny, genuine and competitive”, the Campbell Grahams shared that they don’t have a game plan.
Ken said: “We just want to enjoy the experience”, with Donna adding: “And be ourselves.
“That’s our strategy, to go in and be ourselves.”
Although Thai might not entirely agree it’s all about having fun as she admits she “can’t stand losing”.
Last night, one household’s journey in the Peak District came to an abrupt end.
The Kandolas and Samra house received the most votes and were eliminated from the show, forcing them to move out of the idyllic cul-de-sac for good.
So how will the Campbell Grahams fare when they move into the area tonight?
The Neighbourhood is available to watch on ITV and ITVX.
Ciara Miller and Maura Higgins will be among the stars competing for the Mirrorball Trophy.
“Summer House’s” Miller and “The Traitors” contestant Higgins — both publicly betrayed by men they trusted on their shows — are the first celebrities joining Season 35 of “Dancing With the Stars.” Disney announced the new season Wednesday during Hulu’s Get Real House event in Los Angeles.
Miller joins the cast less than a month after it was revealed that her “Summer House” castmate and ex-boyfriend, West Wilson, was dating her friend on the show, Amanda Batula. She teased her “DWTS” news with an Instagram video in which she wrote out her “Next Chapter 2026” to-do list, which included “prioritizing” herself, “taking risks” and “Dancing With the Stars.”
Higgins, who lost Season 4 of “The Traitors” in the finale after being blindsided by her friend and co-star Rob Rausch, rose to prominence on “Love Island” in 2019. Higgins shared her excitement in a video on Instagram, saying, “Please pray for me.”
“Get me on that dance floor. I want to win the trophy,” Higgins said. “I’ve manifested this.”
Higgins told reporters at the Get Real House event that Mark Ballas is her dream partner.
The announcement comes after a landmark season of “DWTS,” which saw a record-breaking number of fan votes. In November, The Times spoke with “DWTS” showrunner Conrad Green, who attributed the ratings spike to reviving “communal viewing experiences.”
“It’s been largely a question of keeping our existing audience and then finding a new audience of 18- to 30-year-olds. That’s partly fed by social media. It’s partly fed by a desire to have communal TV viewing experiences,” Green said. “That was something everyone had with ‘American Idol’ and ‘Dancing With the Stars’ 20 years ago, but TV doesn’t lend itself to that so much anymore.”
During the event, Disney also announced a new spinoff series, “Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro.” “DWTS” Season 34 winner Robert Irwin will host the show. According to the synopsis, it “features 12 exceptional up-and-coming dancers who move into one house and compete in a grueling audition process, all vying for a coveted spot as a pro dancer on Season 35 of ‘Dancing with the Stars.’”
“DWTS” pro and three-time Mirrorball champion Ballas will host the show alongside his mother, former ballroom dancer Shirley Ballas. The series will premiere July 13 on ABC.
