Castle Combe in Wiltshire is often called “the prettiest village in England” – a title it has held onto for decades thanks to its honey-coloured cottages, winding streets and setting beside the By Brook
Castle Combe had a registered population of 356 at the 2021 census(Image: Getty)
A Wiltshire village is frequently dubbed “the prettiest village in England” – a accolade it has maintained for generations thanks to its golden-hued cottages, twisting lanes and location alongside the By Brook.
Castle Combe, roughly 10 miles north-east of Bath, appears precisely as one might envision a quintessential English hamlet to look.
It boasts a population of merely 356, according to the 2021 census, and astonishingly, no fresh properties have been constructed in the historic heart since approximately 1600.
Consequently, the street scene today remains virtually identical to how it appeared centuries ago.
Two further factors – or more accurately, their lack – contribute to maintaining that fantasy, reports the Express.
In Castle Combe there are no TV aerials and no street lights.
These absent features might seem trivial, but without contemporary mess cluttering rooftops and no glaring illumination disturbing the darkness, the location preserves an appearance that could effortlessly belong to a different era.
The settlement derives its name from the 12th-century castle that formerly dominated the north.
Only earthworks survive, but during medieval times Castle Combe developed into a thriving community.
The wool industry proved crucial, and by the 14th century a market was operating here – the 14th-century Market Cross still stands where the village’s three main streets meet. Just a stone’s throw away is St Andrew’s Church, with parts dating back to the 13th century.
Inside, visitors can marvel at one of the country’s oldest working clocks, believed to have been crafted in the 15th century. This unique timepiece lacks a face and instead marks the hours with a bell.
The unspoilt charm of Castle Combe has made it a darling of film and telly producers over the years. Its first brush with Hollywood came in 1967 when crews descended on the village to film the musical Doctor Dolittle.
Despite weather-related delays and local objections to set changes, the film firmly established Castle Combe as a prime filming location.
Since then, directors have flocked back repeatedly. In 2007, Matthew Vaughn’s fantasy flick Stardust transformed the quaint village into the fictional town of Wall.
The charming streets served as the backdrop for the start of the magical journey featuring Claire Danes, Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro.
In 2010, the village made its way onto the silver screen again in The Wolfman, a gothic horror starring Benicio Del Toro and Anthony Hopkins. The medieval character and narrow lanes of Castle Combe perfectly complemented the film’s 19th-century setting.
Perhaps its most notable appearance was in 2011 when Steven Spielberg selected Castle Combe for pivotal scenes in War Horse. The World War I drama, adapted from Michael Morpurgo’s novel, used the picturesque village to depict early-20th-century Devon.
More recently, Castle Combe has appeared in the Apple TV+ espionage thriller Slow Horses, with producers rechristening the village “Upshott” for the Gary Oldman-starring series.
Despite its tranquil facade, Castle Combe is also the location of one of the West Country’s most celebrated motorsport destinations. Castle Combe Circuit, constructed on the grounds of a former RAF base, has been welcoming racers and spectators since 1950.
The circuit now plays host to a diverse range of activities from motor and motorcycle competitions to rally championships and driving experiences, drawing enthusiasts from throughout the UK.
Most visitors start their journey at the hilltop car park before making their way down into the settlement. The bridge spanning the By Brook provides the quintessential picture-perfect vista – terraced stone dwellings cascading towards the water’s edge, framed by forested slopes in the distance.
This remains amongst the most captured locations throughout the Cotswolds.
At the heart of the village stands the Market Cross, St Andrew’s Church and two traditional drinking establishments. The Manor House Hotel, an impressive countryside estate boasting 365 acres of grounds and an 18-hole course, provides upmarket accommodation for overnight guests.
Castle Combe remains compact, with much of its appeal stemming from its resistance to commercial development. High street brands and major tourist shops are nowhere to be found.
Rather, villagers occasionally offer homemade treats, blooms and confectionery from their doorsteps, relying on trust-based payment systems. The village’s reputation as the “prettiest in England” is supported by numerous reviews from visitors.
One tourist described it as “a place that feels as though it has stepped straight out of a postcard,” whilst another said: “Every corner looks like it’s waiting for a film crew.”
Welcome to Screen Gab, the newsletter for everyone who feels as cantankerous as Jackson Lamb by the end of the workweek.
The fifth season of “Slow Horses” premiered this week. And everyone’s favorite team of disgraced British spies are back to connect the dots of a new mysterious threat. Once an underrated gem, the spy thriller’s move into the awards spotlight has brought more attention to the critical darling. But in following the very British model of releasing six-episode seasons, the entertaining ride can feel fleeting — luckily, two more seasons are already in the works. Will Smith, the show’s head writer, who is stepping down after this current season, stopped by Guest Spot to talk about the sleeper hit.
Also in this week’s Screen Gab, our streaming recommendations include an Italian-set action-drama about a fixer at a luxury resort and a beloved baking competition series that always serves up a refreshing dose of wholesome goodness and showstopping sweet treats.
P.S.: Last week’s newsletter incorrectly stated that new episodes of ABC’s “High Potential” air on Wednesdays. They air on Tuesdays, and are available to stream on Hulu and Disney+ the next day. Don’t tell Morgan or she’ll add us to the murder board!
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Jordan Alexandra as Genny and Jesse Williams as Daniel De Luca in a scene from “Hotel Costeria.”
(Virginia Bettoja / Prime)
“Hotel Costiera” (Prime Video)
A charming Jesse Williams, the “Grey’s Anatomy” alum, plays Daniel De Luca, a sort of action concierge at a high-end boutique hotel on the Amalfi Coast in this easygoing mix of “The White Lotus” and a midcentury Continental adventure show, like “The Saint” or “The Protectors.” A long-arc plot involving the missing daughter (Amanda Campana) of Daniel’s hotelier boss (Tommaso Ragno) runs alongside episodic stories — the search for a missing guest, sourcing a flight-worthy coffin, stealing an important bracelet from a local crime figure — mixing mysteries with human interest and a lot of local color. (Williams speaks Italian with persuasive fluency.) Assisting Daniel in his investigations is a team of classic types — a beautiful yet brainy woman (Jordan Alexandra); a comical aristocrat (Sam Haygarth), like Bertie Wooster by way of Mr. Bean; and a rotund restaurateur Bigné (Antonio Gerardi), at whose trattoria they all hang out, plotting whatever needs to be plotted. It’s saying nothing against the rest of this pleasantly diverting series that these scenes are the heart of the show, and, yes, I would like a cappuccino, grazie. — Robert Lloyd
Paul Hollywood, left, Alison Hammond, Prue Leith and Noah Fielding in a promotional still from “The Great British Baking Show.”
(Mark Bourdillon / Channel 5 / Netflix)
“Great British Baking Show,” Collection 13 (Netflix)
September means the arrival of fall and another season of the best baking show on TV. Over the years, the series has stuck to a simple yet effective recipe of beautiful bakes, friendly competition and soothing voiceovers (thanks to Noel Fielding). This season’s contestants are just as talented and endearing as previous ones, but now that we’re three episodes in — and past the dreaded Bread Week — we’re down to nine bakers. Among them are Nataliia, a Ukrainian immigrant living in East Yorkshire; Iain, a short king and self-proclaimed “yeastie boy” from Belfast; and Jasmine, an ever-smiling 23-year-old medical student. In this week’s back-to-school-themed episode, the bakers’ challenges include making flapjacks (in the U.K., they’re like a granola bar) and school cake (a sponge with icing and sprinkles). They sound simple, but no recipe is what it seems on this show. And those low-stakes surprises and competition are precisely what makes “Baking Show” a balm for the soul right now. — Maira Garcia
Guest spot
A weekly chat with actors, writers, directors and more about what they’re working on — and what they’re watching
Rosalind Eleazar, left, Christopher Chung, Saskia Reeves, Aimee-Ffion Edwards and Jack Lowden in “Slow Horses.”
(Jack English / Apple TV+)
Do you ever look at your boss and feel both deep gratitude and disappointment because they’re not Jackson Lamb? There’s at least a new season of “Slow Horses” to vicariously experience the walking HR nightmare and his joyously rumpled, smelly and messy leadership style, as expertly portrayed by Gary Oldman. Based on Mick Herron’s “Slough House” novels, the espionage thriller/workplace dramedy centers on a misfit crew of MI5 outcasts — led by Lamb — who’ve blown their careers and now find themselves banished to Slough House, a dumping ground where the agency hopes they’ll be forgotten. The Apple TV+ series returned this week with its eponymous group of spies investigating a series of coordinated terror attacks that have struck London. A new episode will be released every Wednesday until the season finale on Oct. 29. In his last season as head writer, Will Smith stopped by Guest Spot to discuss his creative collaboration with Oldman, his pick for most the competent agent and the best show he’s seen in years. — Yvonne Villarreal
This once–sleeper hit has become such a force with critics and fans. Knowing Season 5 would be your last as head writer, did it feel any different writing this first episode? What was the most important decision you made in this season opener?
You just always want to make it the best it can be and you don’t want to repeat. You need to give the audience enough of what drew them to the show in the first place without making them think, “I’ve seen this,” and you need to give them enough that’s new without them going, “This isn’t the show any more.” The same goes for the cast, by the way; they have to feel their characters are moving on but in an organic way, that you’re acknowledging what went before and building on it. Luckily, that’s Mick’s approach with the books too. And it really helps having the same crew and returning director Saul Metzstein (from Season 3) — Saul and the camera team know what’s gone before and are continually finding new ways to shoot in our existing locations. A really obvious example of how we try to move things on but keep it all connected is Slough House itself. I know it’s a cliche, but it really is a character in the series; to me, it’s an embodiment of Lamb, it reflects so much about him, but it’s never the same. We establish it in Season 1, in Season 2 it’s a discomforting sweatbox, in Season 3 it’s full of boxes of files, which completely changes how people move around it. In Season 4 it’s shot to pieces, and in Season 5 we see the cheap repairs have been started and left. So I hope we’ve hit that same sweet spot with this series, that it gives you exactly what you want and then some things you didn’t know you wanted but feel totally in keeping with the show.
The episode opens with both a mass shooting and a fatal sniper shot in London. While it’s a sequence in the books and was written months ago, it could feel all too timely and provoking depending on the news cycle in which it’s being viewed. How do you decide what to show, how much is enough, what will engage and what will overwhelm?
This weighed quite heavily on us as we sadly knew that some horrific event could happen around the launch of the show that could affect how it was viewed. We actually had a version that cut out after he first opened fire, but felt that that didn’t go far enough. So we went and filmed a pickup where we stayed with the shooter and see his victims fall in the distance. We didn’t want the horror to be overwhelming, although being with him and his blank detachment in this version is disturbingly chilling. And then we took it as far as the assassin himself being killed out of nowhere. Which is a shock and a twist — what the hell is going on? The audience are confused in a good way. I hope by now they trust that all will be explained.
How involved is Gary in terms of script and character development? Can you give an example of a detail or moment over the run of the series that he advocated for or against that proved valuable to the story?
Gary is an incredibly generous and deferential collaborator. As I’ve said before, he’s not just one of the greatest actors of his generation, he’s also a hugely talented writer and director, and he’s completely respectful of myself and Saul Metzstein and the other directors. I think it helps that we’re very in tune creatively. Gary and I both have a love and respect for the source material, so he knows I’m not going to junk the book — we’re going to work on it and bring a version of it to life. The other brilliant thing about Gary is that he’s not intimidated by the fact that Lamb’s arc is all in the backstory. He absorbs and plays that, even if he doesn’t know the specifics. You just get the sense that Lamb has been through some bad stuff. Lamb is a cautionary tale, a smoking ruin; he’s not going to change now. The changes come to our perspective when we learn a little bit more about him and what he’s been through. The moment he was most involved in I can’t talk about in detail because it’s a spoiler. But it came from an idea his wife, Gisele, had. Gary and I then discussed the best version of it in story terms, and then we shot it twice as Saul had an even better idea as to how to make it land. We put an awful lot of thought into it, and actually it’s the one area where we do depart from the book (with Mick’s blessing). I’m very excited about it and what it can lead to in future series that I’m looking forward to watching as a fan.
If you were running the spies, who would you say is the most competent agent? And what have you learned about how to walk the line between keeping the “misfits and losers” bit believable but also allowing the Slow Horses to actually triumph in the end?
After Lamb, Catherine is the smartest agent in the building, although River is the most effective field agent. Catherine is not trained as a spy but has been around them most of her adult life. She’s incredibly bright and perceptive but lacks confidence. She’s often the person putting the pieces together but never gets the credit. I think Lamb wants her around for that reason, as well as the twisted mix of protecting her and goading her and having her as a living reminder of his own fallibility — they were both betrayed by Charles Partner (Catherine’s boss, Lamb’s friend and mentor) and Lamb had to execute him. I’m not saying Lamb was sunshine and light before that, I think he’s always been a hard-living cynic, but that really did break something in him. And yes, it’s a delicate balance maintaining the premise of the show — these people are useless yet every season they save the day but are still not allowed out of exile. I think the compromise and unfairness is what makes it believable. Although at some point I feel they either have to redeem themselves or accept that it’s fruitless and move on. But again, usually Mick will kill them off before they reach that crossroads.
In “Clown Town,” Herron’s latest installment in the book series, he references the language of the show. There’s a line — “It’s like explaining Denmark to a cat”— that feels like a direct reference to the Season 1 line, “It’s like explaining Norway to a dog.” As a writer, what’s it like to see the way he has acknowledged and tipped his hat to the show?
One of the things I’m proudest of is how much Mick and his readers love the show. Sometimes I think a line is Mick’s and it turns out to be mine or vice versa, and Mick has the same confusion. He’s also read out the opening scene of Season 4 at events and said he didn’t write it, but he would have done [it] if he’d thought of it. Knowing I’m in tune with him and his characters and stories has been absolutely wonderful because I started this and finish it as a huge fan of his work.
What have you watched recently that you are recommending to everyone you know?
“Lost Boys and Fairies” by Daf James on the BBC [available to stream on Britbox] is the best show I’ve seen in years. It’s about a gay couple going through the adoption process and is charming, tragic, playful, sad and uplifting. It’s so deftly written by Daf and wonderfully directed by James Kent and stars one of my favorite actors, Sion Daniel Young, whom “Slow Horses fans” will know as Douglas from Season 3.
What’s your go-to “comfort watch,” the movie or TV show you go back to again and again?
I will always watch Michael Mann’s “Heat” [Prime Video] whenever I chance upon it, and watch it by choice at least one a year. It’s perfect. But for true comfort, I return again and again to the Hal Roach-era comedies of Laurel and Hardy, which have brought me unlimited joy throughout my life.
All Creatures Great and Small’s Siegfried Farnon actor Samuel West has opened up about his role and feeling ‘slightly jealous’ of his co-star
Samuel West and his co-star Callum Woodhouse, who plays Tristan Farnon(Image: Channel 5)
The sixth series of All Creatures Great and Small is set to grace Channel 5 on Thursday 25 September at 9pm.
In anticipation of the new series, Samuel West, who portrays Siegfried Farnon, has shared insights into the upcoming season. The 59 year old actor has been bringing Siegfried to life since 2020.
Siegfried, the quirky proprietor of Skeldale House veterinary practice, shines in Channel 5’s rendition of All Creatures Great and Small.
This beloved family drama is inspired by the treasured writings of Yorkshire vet Alf Wight, who wrote about his experiences as a rural veterinarian under the pen name James Herriot.
The colourful personalities that inhabit the All Creatures books and their screen adaptations are drawn from real people, with Siegfried being based on Alf’s actual employer, Donald Sinclair, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Samuel, the actor behind Siegfried, has divulged details about series six and the animal escapades his character encounters.
He revealed: “We have our first Shire horse. That’s an amazing animal. I don’t know how it took us that long to get round to a Shire, but it was a beautiful, beautiful creature, and very well looked after. I had to get good at pulling up the hoof to look at it from the side.”
Samuel also confessed feeling ‘slightly jealous’ of his fellow cast member Callum Woodhouse, who plays Tristan Farnon.
He confessed: “I wish I had more to do with horses. When they said that Tristan was going to start looking at horses with me, it was the first time I felt slightly jealous.
“‘Let it be me! Siegfried is the one who’s good at horses! I’m the one who they asked for by name!’ But of course, you shouldn’t let me be comfortable in that – there are always new things to learn.”
He went on to say: “And there is such a thing as an aura around people. You meet it, and you can almost see it in people who are very calm or very disturbed – and animals certainly know it. Horses pick up on it immediately.
“So, working with them, I don’t know… I remember realising that our crew was so concentrated and so still and so talented that if I was doing a two-handed scene with a horse, and it was just me looking at the horse and waiting for a reaction, almost waiting for eye contact, or just sharing something that didn’t take words, I could probably wait there for a minute and nobody would say cut.
“And that’s an extraordinary feeling. It’s really good, because you’re filming something that’s invisible – something that’s happening between an animal that can’t speak and somebody else who is trying to read their thoughts, their feelings.
“But when we get it, we get it. We can see it. It’s like magnetism. It may not be visible, but we can sense that it’s there. I find that really exciting.
“It works with horses mostly, but you also get it with cows and obviously dogs and cats as well – but mostly with the larger animals.”
All Creatures Great and Small returns on Thursday 25 September at 9pm on Channel 5.
The trailer for the fifth season of Slow Horses has been released by Apple TV+ and sees the return of Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb
Gary Oldman returns in the trailer (Image: APPLE)
The fifth season of Slow Horses is just around the bend, and Apple TV+ has just given us a sneak peek with the release of the trailer for the BAFTA Award-winning spy drama.
This six-episode series is based on London Rules, the subsequent novel in Mick Herron’s popular book series.
The trailer sees Sir Gary Oldman reprising his role as Jackson Lamb, the genius yet grumpy leader of the espionage team.
In this new instalment, eyebrows are raised when resident tech whizz Roddy Ho (Christopher Chung) brings a stunning new girlfriend into the picture.
As a string of peculiar incidents unfold across the city, it’s up to the Slow Horses to connect the dots, reports the Express.
Roddy Ho (Christopher Chung) introduces a glamorous new girlfriend(Image: APPLE)
The trailer features Diana Taverner (Kristin Scott Thomas) detailing how eleven individuals were fatally shot, an incident they suspect Ho might be involved in.
Jackson immediately doubts his new flame as it emerges that “sinister forces” are attempting to destabilise the nation.
With the clock ticking, the Slow Horses have just sixty minutes to prevent the perpetrators from executing their next violent act, potentially endangering over 5,000 lives.
To make matters worse, it seems the Slow Horses have been duped by one of their own following a suspected breach in their system.
Slow Horses season 5 will air on Apple TV+(Image: APPLE)
Viewers have already rushed to the comments section to express their excitement about the captivating trailer, which features Emmy Award nominee Jack Lowden, Saskia Reeves, Rosalind Eleazar, Christopher Chung, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Ruth Bradley, James Callis, Tom Brooke, and Academy Award nominee Jonathan Pryce.
One viewer gushed: “One of the best shows ever created,” whilst another enthused: “Oh that’s cheered me up.”
A third remarked: “I have to watch this,” and a fourth declared: “This show made me fall in love with the quality of Apple Tv. Never gonna leave Apple TV.”
The fifth series will also feature Ted Lasso star Nick Mohammed making a special guest appearance.
Reviewers praised it as “undoubtedly the best spy series on television,” describing it as a “truly epic espionage thriller” that is “utterly brilliant”.
Slow Horses launches in September with the opening episode, then continues with weekly instalments until October 29.
The sixth and seventh series of the darkly comic espionage drama have already been confirmed.
Slow Horses season 5 will debut on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, September 24.
AN ‘unbelievable’ horse and serial Cheltenham winner has made a shock stable switch from Paul Nicholls to Nicky Henderson.
Ginny’s Destiny, owned by Gordan and Su Hall, was second in the 2024 Turners Novices’ Chase won by Grey Dawning.
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Paul Nicholls had a successful working relationship with Gordon and Su Hall, who have now decided to send some of their horses to Nicky Henderson insteadCredit: PA
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Ginny’s Destiny loved Cheltenham and almost won a Grade 1 Festival chase there – but now he is trained by Nicky Henderson having left Paul Nicholls’ Ditcheat baseCredit: Getty
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Gordon and Su Hall have decided to switch some of their horses aroundCredit: Alamy
Prior to that he had won three times in a row at the home of jumps, rocketing up the ratings from 133 to 155.
With more than £150,000 in career earnings, the nine-year-old has more than paid his way for his popular owners.
But the Halls have decided now is the time to move on and have sent him to Henderson instead.
The horse’s updated page on the BHA showed he moved to the Seven Barrows handler earlier this week.
Ginny’s Destiny had been with 14-time champion trainer Nicholls since July 2023, having previously been with Tom Lacey for just shy of three years before that.
Promising bumper winner Act Of Innocence is another of the Hall horses on his way to Henderson.
The five-year-old gelding looks like he could be set for a season novice hurdling after winning at Taunton when last seen in March.
Don’t Tell Su, a 118-rated hurdler and novice chaser has also gone to Henderson.
While £100,000 Old Park Star, who Nicholls bought alongside Tom Malone in June 2023, will now be trained by Henderson too.
Gordon, who runs a construction company, and Su have been labelled the ‘luckiest owners in racing’.
Their first horse together was Truckers Lodge, an eight-time winner who finished second in the 2019 Grand National and won the 2023 London National under Nicholls’ expert care.
Owners Neil and Alfie Smith have moved Scottish Champion Hurdle runner-up Kabral Du Mathan to Dan Skelton from Nicholls.
While the Ditcheat boss has been busy stocking up his squad with some eyecatching purchases, including the hugely promising £260,000 Gold Cast.
Henderson is starting to welcome some of his horses back from their summer break.
He recently posted a photo of Constitution Hill alongside Sir Gino.
Both stars will be on recovery missions in the new season.
Constitution Hill looked nothing like the breathtaking Champion Hurdle winner when falling twice last season.
While Sir Gino was forced to miss Cheltenham after one of his legs suffered a nasty infection.
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