Paradise

Call the Midwife star Natalie Quarry has taken on a brand new role away from the BBC period drama

A Call the Midwife star is set to appear in another period drama.

The BBC has confirmed Natalie Quarry, who played Rosalind Clifford in beloved series, will star in the forthcoming six-part series, Hercule.

The exciting drama, which has commenced filming in Liverpool, will centre around three of Agatha Christie’s early stories, while also introducing Hercule Poirot to future friends and allies and one particular nemesis.

The show, from Mammoth Screen and Agatha Christie Limited, has been described as “an intimate study of Hercule Poirot, the man, and an epic portrait of Britain between the wars.”

Actor Edward Bluemel takes on the lead role of Hercule Poirot, and is best known for his roles in Killing Eve and A Discovery of Witches. He is the youngest to take on the role created by Agatha Christie back in 1916.

Also starring in the drama is Death in Paradise star Ralf Little who joins the star-studded cast alongside Emily in Paris star Paul Forman, It’s a Sin star Omari Douglas, The Beauty’s Jessica Alexander, and The Souvenir’s Honor Swinton Byrne.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest detectives in fiction, Hercule Poirot has sold over 750 million copies, captivating readers and audiences for more than a century.

Sharing excitement for the new Agatha Christie series, James Prichard, the great-grandson of the famous author, and executive producer for Agatha Christie Limited, said: “My father had the privilege of working with David Suchet for nearly 25 years, and I now have the good fortune of being able to share my great-grandmother’s brilliant stories with a new generation of viewers.”

He added: “Edward Bluemel is an extremely talented performer and will make a great addition to the long line of actors that have played this celebrated character, aided and abetted by Benji Walters’ thoughtful scripts. I cannot wait to see Edward on screen as Hercule Poirot.”

Who is Natalie Quarry?

Actress Natalie Quarry joined the Call the Midwife cast in its 13th season as a student midwife, Rosalind Clifford, and has since become a fully-fledged practitioner among the nuns and nurses at Nonnatus House.

In the most recent series, which concluded earlier this year, she became involved with the Women’s Liberation Movement and found love with local social worker Cyril Robinson (Zephryn Taitte), but their relationship has been a topic of discussion among the locals.

Away from the BBC period drama, Natalie has also starred in Doctors, Atlanta, and Blitz.

Call the Midwife can be streamed on BBC iPlayer

OUR Spotlight On column gives you the lowdown on what to see and do in your favourite holiday hotspots – as well as lesser known gems.

This week we shine a light on a Florida favourite perfect for an autumn or winter break – Boca Raton.

Close to the bright lights of Miami, it offers a more relaxed experience in a stunning coastal setting.

As the Head of Travel at the Sun, I recently visited Florida’s secret paradise, with with pristine beaches, surprisingly lush parks and Japanese gardens and a laid back vibe.

But with the new Brightline that speeds holidaymakers from Orlando to Miami on Eurostar-style trains stopping off in Boca, it’s easier than ever for us Brits to discover the delights of this upscale city that offers all the best of Miami without the crowds and frenetic city pace.

With jetlag waking me early, I took a stroll on the beachfront near Spanish River Park where the sun breaks over the water painting the sky in vibrant amber and violet tones.

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Settling onto the sands, I had the beach almost to myself as pelicans flew low over the gentle surf and watched as the sun rose high.

So here are some of my other tips on exploring the lesser known US city.

MUST SEE / DO

A beloved local institution, Gumbo Limbo Nature Center invites visitors to explore Boca Raton’s coastal ecosystem through nature trails, butterfly gardens and marine conservation exhibits.

It is famous for its sea turtle rehabilitation facility, where visitors can see rescued loggerhead and green sea turtles getting nursed back to health.

Visit during turtle nesting season from March through October, when the centre hosts guided night-time turtle walks and seasonal hatchling releases.

HIDDEN GEM

The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens offer a serene escape that feels worlds away from the buzz of the coastline.

Spanning 16 acres, the gardens celebrate centuries of Japanese design through tranquil ponds, bonsai collections and carefully curated pathways.

BEST VIEW

Set between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, the Blue Flag designated Spanish River Park offers spectacular sunrise views over the beach and equally beautiful sunset scenes along its shaded walking trails and waterfront areas.

RATED RESTAURANT

Mizner Park, an open-air shopping and dining complex, is all pink-stucco Mediterranean Revival architecture and towering palm trees.

Here, Tryst blends classic French bistro charm with an inventive American menu under Chef Daniel Dore, featuring dishes from steak frites to a vegan mushroom lasagna topped with oat milk béchamel.

For more relaxed, value dining, Tomasso’s Pizza and Subs is a neighbourhood institution, serving up New York-style slices and massive sandwiches for decades.

A couple of slices or hot sub is from £7.33.

BEST BAR

American Social in Mizner Park is a fun sports bar bringing Modern American cuisine with a twist.

It is the perfect place not only if you want to catch a game, but also for an intimate dinner or a night with friends.

Beer lovers should head to Biergarten Boca Raton.

Tucked into Royal Palm Place, this indoor/outdoor spot stocks more than 24 beers on taps and has dozens of craft bottles as well.

With live music and generous happy hour deals, it’s a relaxed place to kick back.

HOTEL PICK

Fresh from a £5.4million renovation, the Boca Raton Marriott at Boca Center is close to Mizner Park in the city centre and an ideal base for discovering the area.

There’s a gorgeous outdoor pool with plenty of shade from towering palms and you can pick up a cocktail or two at the outdoor Drift bar.

End the day at Sonrisa, with its bold Caribbean-American flavours.

Rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows to make the most of the views and a calm, neutral palette with splashes of marine blue.

Rooms from £125 a night. See marriott.com.

ITV have confirmed that gripping new six-part drama Winter starring Richard Armitage will replace Professor T in its schedule as the final episode of the fourth series airs

The fourth series of Professor T comes to an end tonight.

ITV airs the sixth and final episode of the latest season titled The Warrior Gene on Thursday (September 24) evening as Professor Jasper Tempest (Death in Paradise’s Ben Miller) wrestles with his feelings for Dr Helena Goldberg (Bend It Like Beckhams star Juliet Stevenson).

The synopsis reads: “In the run up to Wilfred and Zelda’s wedding, Jasper is wrestling with his feelings for Helena. Dan is stunned by a new case where he sees a dying man admit he killed someone.

“Whilst Dan and Chloe try to track down who’s been killed, Maiya thinks they are going on a wild goose chase, concerned this is about Dan’s grief over Lisa.

“Zelda has second thoughts about the wedding but when Jasper explains to her that ‘love is enough’, he realises his feelings for Helena and invites her to Zelda’s wedding.”

It continues: “Ms. Snares takes Jasper to Lyndon Collins’ lecture on the warrior gene and Jasper is intrigued by something Collins says about the case Dan is investigating.

“On the day of the wedding and Lisa’s memorial event, Jasper uses the case to get Dan to open up about Lisa and gain the strength to attend her memorial.

“After helping Dan, Jasper returns to Zelda and Wilfred’s wedding and is thrilled when Helena appears. Helena spots Jasper has finally removed his gloves. It’s clear he’s come a long way.”

ITV will fill the Professor T shaped gap in the schedule next week by airing Richard Armitage’s new drama Winter as the actor takes on the role of an unconventional forensic pathologist whose unique approach to murder investigations puts him at the heart of a series of complex cases.

Winter kicks off on ITV1 on Wednesday (September 30) at 9pm with each episode featuring a self-contained murder investigation alongside an ongoing personal storyline for Armitage’s character.

The synopsis for the new six-part series reads: “Although Winter does not always follow the expected rules, he has an exceptional ability to examine the evidence and uncover clues that others might miss.

“His skills bring him together with DI Lauren Bell, played by Annabel Scholey, a meticulous and no-nonsense detective who is equally determined when it comes to solving a case.

“Together, Winter and Bell form a formidable investigative partnership as they attempt to solve some of the most challenging murder cases.”

Professor X is available to stream on ITVX

Death in Paradise has announced that a beloved detective will be returning as the BBC airs some classic repeat episodes

Death in Paradise has confirmed that DI Humphrey Goodman will be back on screens very soon.

In an Instagram post that has sent fans into a meltdown, the popular BBC series confirmed it would air two repeat episodes featuring Kris Marshall as DI Humphrey Goodman.

Sharing a picture of Kris and his former co-star Josephine Jobert, who played DS Florence Cassell, the show’s Instagram wrote, “Time to reveal what we’re watching next Thursday! Yep, it’s the London episodes: #DeathInParadise series 6 episodes 5 and 6. Watch along with us from 7pm on 24 September on BBC iPlayer, BritBox, or on DVD!”

Fans were thrilled by the announcement, with one writing, “Humphrey was truly the best. I adore them all, but he was really the best and I’m so glad he got his own show. Kris Marshall is a great actor! Hopefully, the entire franchise, all three shows, will continue for quite a long time because they are all phenomenal!”

Another shared, “Florence, JP, Dwayne, and Mooney/Humphrey were the best time,” while a third added, “Yessssss one of the best two parters!!”

The plot for series six episode five reads, ” DI Humphrey Goodman and his team investigate the death of a sailing boat captain who was supposedly killed by the boat’s boom. Humphrey suspects foul play, and the clues lead them to a group of suspects who quickly catch a flight back to London.”

This leads them to London, where they continue the investigation on UK soil, marking a major change of scenery for the Caribbean-set show. It also introduces Humphrey Goodman’s replacement, DI Jack Mooney, who was played by Ardal O’Hanlon.

Episode six continues the story, “Working against the clock in a chilly and unfamiliar London, the team tries to solve the case, only to find their prime suspect murdered. They must solve two interconnected murders.”

Not only will fans see the return of Humphrey and Florence, but other characters include Danny John-Jules’ Dwayne Myers and Sally Bretton’s character, Martha Lloyd.

The episodes also see the exit of Di Humphrey Goodman after he decides to stay in London to be with his love, Martha. Despite the heartbreaking exit, fans can watch Humphrey and Martha’s love story unfold in the Death in Paradise spin-off, Beyond Paradise.

The cast, who are currently filming the upcoming series, have been spotted in Devon and Cornwall, where the show is set.

Death in Paradise returns on Thursday at 7pm on BBC One.