The Split Up is a spin-off from the hit BBC drama The Split and will follow another family’s law firm.
A spin-off from the hit BBC drama The Split has received a significant update.
Fans were gutted when the legal series starring Nicola Walker and Stephen Mangan wrapped up after three seasons in 2022, followed by a two-part special last year. Now, fresh information about the upcoming show The Split Up has emerged, including casting announcements.
The original programme featured Annika star Nicola as Hannah, grappling with the breakdown of her marriage to Nathan (Stephen) whilst juggling affairs, romance and complicated relationships, all while managing her family’s law practice alongside the chaos created by her two sisters and mother.
The Split Up will now centre on a different family law practice, this time based in Manchester and focusing on the British-Asian elite Kishan family.
The six-episode series will explore “the high-stakes world of Manchester’s divorce law circuit, where one family of lawyers, the Kishans, reigns supreme,” according to the previous announcement, reports Wales Online.
It adds: “Kishan Law is a British-Asian high net worth family law firm in Manchester, noted for its clientele and its reputation.
“They are the ‘go to firm’ for Manchester’s elite who come to them for their excellence, integrity, and discretion.
“But the future and legacy of Kishan Law hangs in the balance when a family secret from the past comes to light, throwing their professional and personal lives into turmoil.”
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The line-up for the series has already been unveiled, and it’s now been confirmed that The Good Place star Jameela Jamil is coming on board.
When the announcement was posted on social media featuring a photo of Jameela with leading lady Ritu Arya, the She-Hulk actress responded: “I love her.”
“My two favourites together,” one supporter wrote, whilst another added: “OMG can’t wait. Love you both!!!”
“Very excited for this,” a third person commented.
Jameela is joining The Umbrella Academy’s Ritu Arya, Unforgotten’s Sanjeev Bhaskar, alongside Aysha Kala (Virdee), Arian Nik (Film Club), Danny Ashok (Dinosaur), Dimitri Leonidas (Those About To Die), Mawaan Rizwan (Juice), Sindhu Vee (Matilda the Musical), Shalini Peiris (The White Lotus) and Tom Forbes (Queenie).
Celebrity guest appearances will also feature Lenny Henry and Jane Horrocks.
The BBC revealed: “The fast-rising star of Kishan Law is Aria Kishan (Ritu Arya), poised to step up and take the mantle from her father Dhruv (Sanjeev Bhaskar). However, the death of her mother has cast a new light over these plans for Dhruv, who has begun to wonder if his daughter can, or should, take on this responsibility single-handedly.
“Aria’s relationship is placed under scrutiny too with the wedding for long-term partner Neal (Danny Ashok) on the horizon, but with their personal and professional so entwined it’s unclear if their relationship can withstand any more pressure – a problem further compounded when a former secret flame (Dimitri Leonidas) arrives in Manchester unexpectedly.
“Alongside her siblings Maya (Aysha Kala) and Kav (Arian Nik), Aria must navigate the splits that divide family and those we love – and ask herself: who should you live your life for?”
Creator Ursula Rani Sarma expressed: “Having admired The Split and Abi Morgan for years, I was honoured to be asked to bring The Split Up to life. As a writer passionate about representation, it’s a dream come true to place a contemporary British South Asian family centre stage. Diversity deepens our understanding, enriches our stories, and reflects the true fabric of our society.
“It’s thrilling to watch our amazing cast led by Ritu and Sanjeev bring the Kishan family to life. I can’t wait for audiences to meet them and to witness the drama as it unfolds.”
Abi Morgan chimed in: “The chance to take all that was loved about The Split and use it to inspire the next generation of British South Asian talent, to create a new family of dynamic lawyers spilling over with all the messiness of life, both personally and professionally, has been a brilliant challenge, beautifully realised by lead writer Ursula Rani Sama. I hope audiences will take it to their hearts.”
A nostalgic follow-up to one of Nickelodeon’s most beloved comedies is in the works at Netflix
Netflix confirms long-awaited spin-off to hit Nickelodeon series(Image: NICKELODEON)
Netflix has just announced a highly anticipated spin-off to one of the most popular classic Nickelodeon shows over a decade after it came to an end.
The original series ran for four smash-hit seasons and introduced young fans to several major stars, including one of the world’s biggest pop icons.
Now, filming is currently underway in Vancouver for Hollywood Arts, which will return fans to the world of Victorious.
Starring the likes of Victoria Justice, Elizabeth Gillies and Wicked’s Ariana Grande, the original series took place at an elite performing arts high school where ambitious teens learn the ropes of showbiz.
Original star Daniella Monet, who starred as Trina Vega, the older sister of Justice’s Tori, will reprise her role for the long-awaited follow-up.
Several years after the events of the series, Trina still hasn’t gotten her big break, so she heads back to her alma mater to teach a new generation of fame-hungry students.
Monet shared via Tudum: “Coming back as Trina alongside such a dynamic, powerful cast of newcomers is something I feel very lucky and grateful to do.
“Victorious was in a lot of ways life-changing for all of us. Our cast is forever bonded by that experience, and to think that I have an opportunity to steward anything close to that is a feeling I can’t begin to describe.”
A synopsis reads: “Trina is back at Hollywood Arts High School, and this time she’s stepping behind the desk.
“The struggling performer finds herself filling in as a substitute teacher at the prestigious school, where she surprises herself by inspiring a group of ambitious teens.”
Joining Monet is a talented crop of up-and-coming stars, including Alyssa Miles (Hanging out with Alyssa and Xavier), Emmy Liu-Wang (Raven’s Home), Peyton Jackson (Woman in the Yard), Erika Swayze (Workin’ Moms) and Martin Kamm (Unsung Hero).
Plus, Community’s Yvette Nicole Brown will also be making a guest appearance as Principal Helen, having appeared during Victorious’ original run as well as Nickelodeon’s equally beloved teen comedy, Drake and Josh.
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This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like House of Guinness.
Jake Farrow (Victorious, iCarly) and Samantha Martin (Henry Danger, Danger Force) will be showrunning and executive producing, and Monet is also on board as an exec. producer.
An exact release date has yet to be revealed, but Netflix has confirmed Hollywood Arts will be dropping its first season in 2026.
In the meantime, streamers can currently catch up with every episode of the original series while they wait for the sequel.
You don’t have to be afraid to put your dream in action, because you’ll never fade, Trina Vega, you’ll be the main attraction — in a “Victorious” spinoff.
Netflix announced Friday that “Hollywood Arts,” a spinoff of the Nickelodeon teen sitcom following a group of students attending a performing arts high school, is now in production. The new show will see Daniella Monet reprise her Trina role from the original series, which aired for four seasons on the kid-centric network.
“Coming back as Trina alongside such a dynamic, powerful cast of newcomers is something I feel very lucky and grateful to do,” Monet said in a news release, which announced the “Hollywood Arts” cast will also include young actors Alyssa Miles, Emmy Liu-Wang, Peyton Jackson, Martin Kamm and Erika Swayze.
“‘Victorious’ was in a lot of ways life changing for all of us, our cast is forever bonded by that experience, and to think that I have an opportunity to steward anything close to that is a feeling I can’t begin to describe,” Monet continued. “As an actress, producer, and mom, I am so eager to create something we can all be proud to share with the world.”
According to the logline, “Hollywood Arts” will see Trina return to her alma mater as “an unqualified substitute teacher” after struggling to make it as an actress. There, she will both clash and “unexpectedly” inspire the next generation of ambitious and talented performing arts school students.
In “Victorious,” which originally ran from 2010 to 2013, Trina was the untalented but overly confident older sister of Tori Vega, played by Victoria Justice. The cast of the hit teen series also included Ariana Grande, Avan Jogia, Elizabeth Gillies, Leon Thomas III and Matt Bennett.
The spinoff will also feature Yvette Nicole Brown as a guest star. Brown briefly appeared in “Victorious” as school principal Helen Dubois — a character who originated on Nickelodeon’s “Drake & Josh,” which ran from 2004 to 2007.
In addition to starring on “Hollywood Arts,” Monet will serve as an executive producer alongside showrunners Jake Farrow and Samantha Martin and director Jonathan Judge. (Dan Schneider, who created “Victorious” and whose alleged misconduct was at the center of the 2024 docuseries “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV,” is not involved.)
The 26-episode first season is expected to debut on Netflix in 2026 before hitting Nickelodeon and Paramount+. The series is currently in production in Ontario, Canada.
NCIS: Tony & Ziva has been a hit with fans and a second season is yet to be confirmed, but star Michael Weatherly has spoken out about the possibility of a crossover
NCIS Tony and Ziva airs weekly (Image: PARAMOUNT+)
NCIS: Tony & Ziva has already got viewers completely captivated and fresh episodes are being released each week on Paramount+.
The offshoot of the enduring crime drama NCIS features Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo returning to their beloved characters Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David.
The fresh series represents their first joint appearance in 12 years following NCIS season 11, and the original reveal drove supporters absolutely wild.
Weatherly, who additionally served as executive producer on the programme, chatted exclusively to Reach publications regarding a possible collaboration with the main cast.
When questioned about whether any character from the original NCIS might feature, he responded: “I think that’s a great question for everybody, whether that’s feasible.”
“For me the answer is of course, I would love to see that and really it’s just about making it the most quality appearance.
“You don’t want to just stunt cast, somebody with Mark Harmon’s haircut who walks by in the background and they are like ‘Oh, is that Gibbs?'”
“Or somebody with black pigtails with a spiderweb tattoo on her neck – that would have to be Abby.
“I think that would have to be heavily negotiated by all the powers that be, of which I am just a little micro contributor.”
The debut season comprises 10 episodes and is anticipated to wrap up on October 23.
Lead actor Michael Weatherly and lead actress Cote de Pablo(Image: Getty Images for Paramount+)
Regarding the possibility of a second season, showrunner John McNamara revealed to TV Insider: “I try never to count my chickens before they’re hatched.
“I’m just focused on finishing this season and trying to make it as good as possible.
“And honestly, it is going to be entirely up to the fans and the subscribers to Paramount+ and ultimately to Paramount and CBS. It’s their property and it’s their money.”
The programme has received glowing feedback from both audiences and critics, with IMDb describing it as “both a nostalgia trip and a compelling continuation”.
Given this reception, supporters can stay optimistic about a second series and potentially even a crossover episode.
NCIS: Tony & Ziva airs on Thursdays on Paramount+.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is being released this week and despite the subtitle of the film, it’s already been teased that the story may not be over for fans just yet
Downton Abbey star Allen Leech has teased that a prequel could be released in the future(Image: Focus Features LLC/ Rory Mulvey. All Rights Reserved)
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale fans are expecting to bid farewell to characters from the beloved franchise when it’s released on Friday. The third film in the series, it follows on from Downton Abbey (2019) and A New Era (2022).
Focusing on the Crawley family and their staff as they navigate how to lead Downton Abbey into the future, the film sees the story enter the 1930s. It’s previously been teased that it will “close off” the stories that began on the ITV show, which ran for six seasons from 2010 to 2015.
Despite being billed as the “grand finale,” it’s been suggested that fans may not have to say goodbye just yet. There’s been hints about potential spin-offs already and it’s now teased that a prequel series could be underway in the future.
It’s been teased that a potential Downton Abbey spin-off could explore the backstory of Violet Crawley, played by the late Maggie Smith (right), pictured beside Penelope Wilton (left)(Image: PA Photo/Focus Features, LLC/Ben Blackall)
Allen Leech, known for his role as former chauffeur Tom Branson, has teased that the story may not be over despite the marketing of the film. He’s suggested that a future prequel could delve into the backstory of Violet Crawley, played by the late Dame Maggie Smith.
Violet, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, was a matriarchal figure in the franchise but was killed off in the second film, released three years ago. Cast member Maggie then herself died, aged 89, just last year.
Allen, 44, said on Virgin Radio this week that Violet’s history could be explored in a prequel project. He shared that it could be in the pipeline moving forward, following rumours last year of a spin-off about Violet’s younger years.
Speaking on the Ryan Tubridy Show, he said: “I was chatting to the director, yesterday, Simon [Curtis], over lunch and he was saying there is a great poignancy about this movie, not just for Downton fans but for anyone. It’s about letting go and it’s about moving on.”
Asked about the potential for more stories, he said: “From what I hear, the plan is if they’re ever gonna do anything with it, they’re either gonna go back in time and [do a] prequel [about Violet] in her younger years, which would be very interesting.”
Allen added that a project set in the 1970s at the property could be on the cards instead. He said: “Or they’re gonna go seventies [and] all the debauched madness that happened in the house then. I think it’d be kind of interesting.”
The upcoming film has previously been described as a “last tributing” to Maggie. Speaking on the radio station last year, her on-screen son Hugh Bonneville, 61, said about the latest film: “It’s very much set in the house and saying goodbye to all these characters and we obviously say goodbye to Dame Maggie, which was very poignant on screen and now in real life. She’ll be sorely missed. But the final film will obviously be a great lasting tribute to her.”
Maggie had been among the cast when Downton Abbey first aired in the UK in 2010. It later proved popular in the US and its six seasons have been followed by the film continuations. As well as receiving critical acclaim, the show is said to have boosted tourism to villages like Bampton in Oxfordshire and Highclere Castle in Hampshire.
Speaking ahead of the third film’s release, creator Julian Fellowes, 76, told the Writing Studio: “It feels quite complete. I’m not saying we’ll never see Downton Abbey in any other form – one should never say never, but I think it feels natural and right that we have made the journey with the original concept and the original cast, so I’m rather pleased about that.”
Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes has previously suggested that he wouldn’t rule out spin-offs in the future(Image: Getty Images)
The new film is being released alongside the ITV special Downton Abbey Celebrates The Grand Finale later this week(Image: ITV)
He has however suggested that several characters could be worthy of spin-offs. Discussing the prospect of one centred on Thomas Barrow, played by Rob James-Collier, Julian told RadioTimes: “I think you could make a case for many of them.”
Fans eager for more Downton Abbey don’t have long to wait as ITV will also be releasing a special about the franchise on the day of the film’s release. It’s teased that the doors to the iconic property will be “opening one last time” for Downton Abbey Celebrates The Grand Finale as the cast reunite to share memories and secrets from the last 15 years.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is released on Friday in the UK. Downton Abbey Celebrates The Grand Finale will be available on ITVX then too and the special will later air on ITV3 on Saturday at 9pm.
This article contains spoilers from the first season of “The Paper.”
The journey to spin off the U.S. version of “The Office” has, until now, been long and slow. (That’s what she said.)
While the unconventional workplace comedy about a humdrum band of paper company employees, adapted from a beloved British series of the same name, famously got off to a sluggish start on NBC with a low-rated six-episode first season, it became a rare case study of how a risky gamble can become a pop culture phenomenon and one of the most popular sitcoms in TV history. Talks of expanding “The Office” universe began as early as Season 3, when another office branch was introduced. “Parks and Recreation” was initially conceived as a spinoff but morphed into a standalone series. Another centered on socially awkward Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) would get dropped. The series eventually ended its nine-season run in 2013 with no offshoot. But it still managed to have an afterlife without one, as fans obsessively continued to watch it in syndication or on streaming platforms.
Once “The Office” began making headlines in 2020 for the being the most streamed show in America, Greg Daniels, who captained the U.S. adaptation and was initially concerned about tarnishing its legacy with offshoots, was coming around to the idea that it was safely insulated enough to withstand any attempt to find a way to build out its kooky world.
Finally, more than a decade after “The Office” went off the air, Peacock is hoping the spinoff series “The Paper” can recycle some of that show’s success while finding its own path.
In “The Paper,” Domhnall Gleeson, left, stars as editor in chief Ned Sampson, and Tim Key plays executive Ken Davies.
(Aaron Epstein / Peacock)
This series shifts its focus to the staff at the Toledo Truth Teller, a struggling local newspaper in Ohio, which is being filmed by the same documentary crew that followed bumbling boss Michael Scott (Steve Carell) and his Scranton, Pa.-based Dunder Mifflin employees. (It’s a believable documentary subject when you consider the U.S. has lost more than one-third of its newspapers since 2005.) Daniels created the series with Michael Koman (“Nathan For You,” “How to With John Wilson”).
All 10 episodes of the first season were released Thursday on Peacock, and the show has been picked up for a second season. Daniels and Koman visited The Times earlier this month — and spoke in follow-up video calls — to discuss the comedy potential of a beleaguered industry, why Oscar is the obvious choice to be the crossover character in the spinoff and whether they plan to reference the president’s comments about the press. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.
The series was originally going to launch with four episodes, then switch to a weekly drop. But it was recently announced that the full season is dropping at once. What happened? And do you have strong feelings about release models?
Daniels: Every company is different. I do know that they’re [NBCUniversal] being incredibly supportive and there’s a giant team gaming out every move. I trust that they have the best of intentions and have a lot of good strategy. My inclination was always to sneak on the air without any fanfare whatsoever, and then maybe advertise after — that is very naive, apparently. One possible nice thing about it being handled this way is our superfans will be able to watch at their own convenience, and maybe before they’ve seen too many promos. I’ve always felt like the show was cut to be the introduction to the show itself. And the more you know jokes you see from later in the seasons, the more you’re coming at it with an unintended awareness of what’s to come. It may play better, just clean for all the superfans. Actually, I thought at first, the pace-out model would be good because that was how “The Office” was on NBC. But they did point out to me that probably the majority of “The Office” fans have watched it on streaming, where they could binge the whole thing.
Koman: It’s not really my area, but that’s how I like to watch things. I’m always happy when it’s up to me — I can make my own schedule, and I tend to watch things quickly.
The crisis facing local journalism doesn’t feel like an obvious backdrop for comedy — and if you’re in it, it’s more of a can’t-help-but-laugh–to-keep-from-crying vibe. How did you arrive at a newsroom as your backdrop and what was the pitch?
Daniels: You wouldn’t think that selling stationary was a particularly hilarious or glamorous place to set a show. I think that there are some intentional differences with this show, and in the sense that we didn’t want to repeat aspects of “The Office.” For me, I was incredibly protective of the original show and the cast. I just waited a long time to do something like this. The original “Office” cast was very supportive by the time it came about. Since it’s a documentary, if you’re going to really commit to that device, you have to think all the time about [how] there’s really camerapeople in the room; they’re trying to cover something; they wouldn’t be there to just cover what they thought was a funny workplace. They’re there to cover an actual story. And the hollowing out of local newspapers is an interesting story that you could imagine a documentary crew from PBS being like, “Oh, this is a good story.” Of course, since it’s a comedy show, the stuff that’s happening in the background is really the point of the show — all the funny interactions with people as they try to do stuff. Another way that we wanted it to be different was the whole interaction between Michael Scott and his staff — he was not a very inspirational boss, and Ned Sampson, played by Domhnall Gleeson, comes in and he does manage to inspire the people working there. And the question is more: Is he biting off way more than he can chew and his staff can chew? Or should they be right and believing in him?
Koman: I just think reality always makes the best backdrop. And it’s good if your characters are facing a challenge and you have something to root for.
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1.Clockwise from top left: Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute, Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesly, John Krasinksi as Jim Halpert, BJ Novak as Ryan Howard and Steve Carell as Michael Scott in “The Office.”2.Carell, Krasinksi and Wilson in a scene from the NBC comedy.(Justin Lubin / NBC Universal)
How did you land on Toledo?
Daniels: That was really about the alliteration of the Toledo Truth Teller. There’s something about the Cleveland Plain Dealer that I think is a super interesting thing. The name of it, I thought, has always been very intriguing. It kind of reminds you of the independence of these big Midwestern newspapers, which is different from now. It really feels like the big newspapers are L.A., New York, Washington, Dallas. I know the Cleveland Plain Dealer is still quite healthy, which is great. But there is something about the Midwest that feels nostalgic.
Koman: If I think of the heyday of print journalism, Ohio is just a place that comes to mind. They had so many really important newspapers and great journalists that came out of there, so it just seemed like … if somebody was going to try to revive something, that’s a state, and Toledo itself, is a place where you can see it happening.
Daniels: Toledo also has a certain “Office-y,” Scranton thing to it. There was a time where we were looking at where the other locations that Dunder Mifflin has offices. And the list is very funny. It’s like Yonkers and Nashua, New Hampshire. It’s all these words that are just kind of fun to roll off your tongue.
Greg, you had been resistant to the idea of expanding “The Office” universe. “Parks and Recreation” was originally meant to be a spinoff, but it eventually evolved away from that. Why now? What changed?
Daniels: There’s two questions. One is, why now? And part of that is that “Upload” [Daniels’ Prime Video series] is wrapping up. When we first started discussing it, I didn’t know what was going to happen with “Upload.” I had sold it and I was committed to being the showrunner and it kept getting picked up, so I kept having to put off thinking about any kind of [“The Office”] spinoff. But [the final season of] “Upload” is dropping Aug. 25. The other part of your your question — over the years, since the finale, the show had this enormous blow-up on Netflix. It just felt like this show is pretty bulletproof at this point. Even if we did a s— job with a spinoff, it’s not going to go back in time and mess up “The Office,” which was my concern. “The Office” was such a beautiful and rare confluence of the cast and the time and the format and the writers and everything — it seemed very arrogant to think you could pull that off again. But then after a while, it’s like, “Well, you got to try.” You can’t be intimidated out of ever doing anything.
Greg Daniels says the staff of a struggling newspaper is as relatable as their Dunder Mifflin predecessors: “That quality of morale being low is very ‘Office’-like. The tone is intended to be similar without having the characters be similar.”
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
How did you arrive at former Dunder Mifflin accountant Oscar Martinez (Oscar Núñez) being the connecting character between the two shows?
Daniels: When you look at the finale of “The Office,” everybody was going off in their own direction that had a lot of, in my view, meaningful wrap-up of their story. Jim and Pam were moving to Boston with Darrell; Toby was in England. But Oscar didn’t really have a big arc. He was pretty much Oscar the whole way through, and it didn’t feel like it was going to undo anything with “The Office” to keep Oscar involved.
Koman: It made sense, just on a business level, that if one company was acquired by another, that some people would move over into that company. He was the one person who, I think, would have stayed.
Daniels: He was maybe the most self-possessed. He had the most dignity, I think, of most of the characters. The idea that the crew has found him again just seemed appropriate. He did run for elective office at the end of “The Office,” so I feel like he is susceptible to being inspired and do something for his community, so he seems like a person who could buy into what Ned is selling.
Koman: Also, he has kind of a cosmopolitan personality. The city is like a third larger than Scranton.
Greg, you gave us one of the great will–they/won’t–they relationships in TV history with Jim and Pam. There are a couple of office romances brewing on “The Paper.” The season ends with Ned and Mare (Chelsea Frei) kissing. Is there a specific challenge with crafting a slow burn in the streaming era? How did you want to approach things this time around?
Daniels: You need to have stakes in stories. If you’re going to be very realistic and relatable, the stakes in people’s stories are mostly romantic because most people don’t battle aliens to save the world or whatever. So, the highest stakes a normal person usually has is who they’re going to marry or who they’re seeing, or what drama they’re in in their personal lives. There’s a column the New York Times does about people who are getting married, how-they-met kind of thing, which I love, and you realize that there’s hundreds and hundreds of stories of how people meet. It’s not all Sam and Diane or Pam and Jim. My aim would be to not have the audience be like, “Who’s the next Pam and Jim? Is that Pam and Jim?” That’s their relationship. Those two actors were brilliant. You can’t replicate it, but it doesn’t mean that other characters aren’t going to be romantically interested in each other.
Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer) and Jim Halpert (John Kraskinski), the friends-to-lovers duo affectionately known as JAM, in a scene from “The Office.” (Paul Drinkwater/NBC)
“The Paper” features characters like interim managing editor Esmeralda (Sabrina Impacciatore), compositor turned reporter Mare (Chelsea Frei) and new boss Ned (Domhnall Gleeson). Mare and Ned have a will-they/won’t-they dynamic in the sitcom. (Aaron Epstein/Peacock)
We had a sense, at least through Kelly Kapoor and her pop culture references, that “The Office” took place in our shared reality, but it didn’t directly comment on real world matters. But considering the show’s setting and Ned’s idealism about the profession, with President Trump’s ongoing remarks about the press, can you see a day where those remarks or ideas are more directly referenced in some form? Or do you want to stay clear of that?
Daniels: I think there’s so many voices that [are] constantly talking about that, just from a comedy standpoint; I’m very tired of it. There’s also so many opinions that are so strong. My inclination is to do the fundamentals — it’s a character comedy. These are characters. They’re in a world of journalism [and it] has a lot of bumping between human beings and ethics, and to tell those stories is valuable. No matter what side you’re on, you can look at it and, hopefully, if there’s truth in what’s being presented, you can take something valuable away.
Koman: It’s important to think of this as a local paper. Their struggle is to credibly tell local stories, which is what I think the city needs, more than anything — a voice to just tell people what’s going on. Beyond that, I think the way that a culture will seep into a show like this — you should always have a sense of reality and that this is taking place in the present. I think of their minds as being focused on: How can we be a good news source for Toledo?
Michael Koman, who previously worked on docu-comedies “Nathan For You” and “How To With John Wilson,” on capturing the state of journalism realistically in “The Paper”: “What makes newspapers different than other businesses or other jobs is that people do arrive with a sense of enthusiasm for what they’re going to do. It seemed important that many of these people could have started their jobs like this, but now we’re meeting them at a point where that’s been tamped down enormously.”
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
The impulse when you hear about a spin-off or a reboot is to compare and to see who fits into what archetypes. Tell me about the types of characters you wanted to fill out in this newsroom.
Daniels: We tried to avoid that. What’s the point of doing something where everybody can go, “Oh, that’s the new Dwight”? They’re working in journalism and they have a very romantic, idealistic boss. He’s extremely interested in getting to the bottom of stories and being super rigorous and ethical, but he’s come in and replaced the temporary managing editor, Esmeralda, played by Sabrina Impacciatore, who has a very different view. She doesn’t really drill down that hard. She’s more about getting eyeballs.
Koman: What makes newspapers different than other businesses or other jobs is that people do arrive with a sense of enthusiasm for what they’re going to do. It seemed important that many of these people could have started their jobs like this, but now we’re meeting them at a point where that’s been tamped down enormously. Morale is low. In terms of who this group of people was, you could feel like that’s been dampened enormously and somebody new can come in who, either out of naivety or just optimism, thinks that he can revive it.
Daniels: That quality of morale being low is very “Office”-like. The tone is intended to be similar without having the characters be similar.
The title sequence is a montage of the various ways people make use of newspapers — rather than reading it. How would you describe your relationship to print journalism?
Daniels: When I first moved out here, I had a subscription to the L.A. Times, and the volume of papers was so gigantic, and it would come with these white ties to hold it all together. I built furniture in my apartment out of stacks of L.A. Times because they were so big. So it’d be like two weeks of them, I could make a stool and make a table with a full week’s worth stacked up.
Koman: Yes, I would say that digital media is all well and good until you need to pack glasses, then you hunt for a newspaper.
Daniels: One of my earliest memories is my parents trying to read the newspaper on their bed, and I wanted their attention, so I would roll onto the newspapers and look up at them, which would really irritate them. They were a big newspaper household.
Much like the news media, your industry is confronting budget constraints and technological disruption that is forcing changes to business models and programming strategies. What are your concerns about your industry right now?
Daniels: One of the big themes is the return to advertising. The streamers have all added ad tiers and that naturally is going to change the programming a bit. I don’t think, necessarily, [that] it’s bad. When you look at the heyday of Netflix, a lot of their biggest stuff had been developed under the old advertising model. I sometimes think about the French movie business, where it seems like they don’t care if something makes money or not. It’s just, if you’re in the club, you get to make movies over and over again. I’ve always felt like that there’s something more democratic about: You actually have to get people to watch your thing somehow.
Koman: The strangest thing about this industry is that it might change a lot, [but] the thing you’re making is a timeless product. You’re telling a story. There’s the part of it that is like, “Well, this will eventually be finished and will be presented somewhere” — and you have no control over how that’s going to change. But what you’re actually trying to make would have to hold up under any conditions.
He wrote on Instagram: “And just like that… I’m officially out of the love island villa. What a mad, unforgettable ride.
“First off, thank you to every single one of you who’s supported me—whether you were backing me to find love, keeping up with the show, or just curious from what you’ve seen online—I’m genuinely grateful.
“My journey might’ve been shorter than expected, but I walked in as me and walked out as me. No regrets,” he continued.
Dumped Love Island star Remell confirms he’s dating villa girl he wasn’t coupled up with as they ‘soft launch’ romance
“I got to meet some incredible people, make real bonds and live out something most only dream about.
“Seeing my name in headlines has been surreal to say the least—but trust, this is just the beginning.”
“I’m walking out with my head high and my heart full. Can’t wait to show you lot what’s next.”
Upcoming spin-off Y: Marshals has added three stars from the original drama to the cast
Yellowstone’s forthcoming spin-off, focusing on Kayce Dutton (played by Luke Grimes), is set to feature at least three more big names from the original series.
Y: Marshals will follow the son of ranch owner John Dutton (Kevin Costner) in the aftermath of his father’s death as he leaves the ranch to combat crime across Montana.
Deadline has now revealed that Yellowstone veterans Gil Birmingham, Brecken Merrill and Mo Brings Plenty will be reprising their roles from the main show.
Birmingham played Chief Thomas Rainwater, who had a feud with the Duttons over disputed land, while Brings Plenty played Rainwater’s driver and right-hand man, Mo.
Meanwhile, Merrill played Kayce’s son Tate alongside Kelsey Asbille as wife and mother Monica Dutton.
Thomas Rainwater and his right-hand man Mo will both return(Image: PARAMOUNT)
It’s not yet known if Asbille will be returning, though Deadline suggests her absence may be explained within the series.
In addition to these three Yellowstone favourites, Y: Marshals has confirmed four more cast members joining Grimes and the previously announced Logan Marshall-Green.
Arielle Kebbel (Rescue: HI-Surf), Ash Santos (Pulse) and Tatanka Means (Reservation Dogs) are on board as series regulars.
They’ll be playing members of the US Marshals Belle, Andrea and Miles, respectively. Finally, The West Wing and Lost star Brett Cullen will take on a recurring role as Montana’s head of US Marshals, Harry Gifford, reports the Express.
The exact storyline for the upcoming Yellowstone spin-off is being kept under wraps, but a series synopsis has given fans a taste of what’s to come.
Brecken Merrill is back as Tate – but Kelsey Asbille’s Monica may not return(Image: PARAMOUNT)
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According to Deadline, it states: “In Y: Marshals, with the Yellowstone Ranch behind him, Kayce Dutton (Grimes) joins an elite unit of U.S. Marshals, combining his skills as a cowboy and Navy SEAL to bring range justice to Montana, where he and his teammates must balance family, duty and the high psychological cost that comes with serving as the last line of defense in the region’s war on violence.”
In other news, Oscar-nominated actress Annette Bening has been confirmed to join another Yellowstone spin-off.
She’ll be taking on the role of Beulah Jackson, the boss of a competing ranch, in the tentatively named The Dutton Ranch, which will carry on the tale of Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser).
Y: Marshals will premiere in late 2025 – early 2026 on CBS. Yellowstone is available to stream on Paramount+.
Jeremy Clarkson is set to return for a brand new series of Who Wants to be a Millionaire as well as a spin-off series of the popular quiz show named Millionaire Hot Seat
Jeremy Clarkson will return for more episodes of ITV’s Who Wants to be a Millionaire along with a brand new spin-off show.
It has been confirmed by executives that the star of Clarkson’s Farm will host the UK premiere of Millionaire Hot Seat, in addition to an extended run of Who Wants to be a Millionaire and Celebrity Who Wants to be a Millionaire.
Millionaire Hot Seat is a high-speed variant of the worldwide Millionaire format, demanding players to think strategically and respond under pressure as they race against the clock and each other.
The show has enjoyed long-standing ratings success in Australia, with over 2,500 episodes broadcasted.
Offering a twist on the traditional Millionaire format, it features six contestants competing for a chance to win big, but there’s no room for hesitation, reports Gloucestershire Live.
Jeremy Clarkson will return for more episodes of ITV’s Who Wants to be a Millionaire
The rules are straightforward, but the gameplay is relentless. Contestants sit in a queue around the eponymous Hot Seat, but only the individual in the Hot Seat can face Jeremy and answer questions on the Million Pound Money Ladder.
The contestant must answer correctly to ascend the ladder, but if they answer incorrectly, they’re out and the top prize decreases.
If they pass, they remain in the game, but move to the back of the line and may not get another turn.
If a passed question goes to the next player, the contestant must answer. If they answer correctly, they stay.
If they answer incorrectly, they’re out.
Only the top prize remaining on the ladder can be won, and the player facing that question must answer it correctly to take home the cash.
The TV star will also spin-off show Millionaire Hot Seat(Image: ITV)
The UK is gearing up for the filming of a new version set to commence this November, with eyes on a 2026 launch.
ITV has also announced an exciting line-up of 19 fresh episodes of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, featuring seven celebrity editions.
Katie Rawcliffe, ITV’s Director of Entertainment and Daytime Commissioning, expressed her enthusiasm: “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire has reached 18 million viewers on ITV so far this year alone.”
Millionaire Hot Seat will start filming later this year(Image: ITV)
She further justified the decision for a new series, stating: “Commissioning a new spin-off format to further capitalise on the brand’s success and popularity was a no brainer, especially with Millionaire Hot Seat already doing so well in other territories also.”
Matthew Worthy, Co-CEO of Stellify Media, shared his pride in the project: “It is an honour to produce Millionaire for ITV.”
He described the upcoming Millionaire Hot Seat as “Millionaire Hot Seat is the main show’s cheeky younger sibling, and gives us more Jeremy, enjoying more money-ladder moments – but with a whole new tone, pace, and feel.”
Who Wants to be a Millionaire is available to stream on ITVX
The new season of what some fans consider the ‘best Walking Dead spin-off’ is finally streaming.
Fans can finally binge all episodes of Dead City season two from today (July 10). Viewers just need access to Sky Max or an entertainment pass on NOW streaming platform.
Fans over in the UK have had to wait a considerable amount of more time than those in the US for its release. However, all eight episodes have been released at once.
Here is everything you need to know about The Walking Dead: Dead City season two, including plot, cast and reviews so far.
Season two of the spin-off is finally streaming in the UK(Image: AMC)
What is second season of The Walking Dead: Dead City all about?
The series follows two of the most popular characters from the main and original Walking Dead series in Maggie and Negan. Audiences are used to seeing them on opposite sides but the first season saw them traveling together into a post-apocalyptic Manhattan cut off from the mainland .
They were in search of Maggie’s kidnapped son, Hershel. The crumbling city is filled with the dead and denizens who have made New York City their own world full of chaos, danger, beauty, and terror.
Season two picks up a year after Maggie infiltrated New York to save her son. Her group, The Brocks have been forced to join the New Babylon Federation while Maggie has been trying to move on with her life with teen son Hershel and Ginny.
However, those now in charge want to conscript the residents for a mission to finally take over the city. Meanwhile, Negan attempts to bring together the gangs that control Manhattan, knowing an invasion is inevitable.
Who stars in The Walking Dead: Dead City season two?
Lauren Cohan reprises her roles as Maggie Greene: formerly a part of Rick Grimes’ group on The Walking Dead. She is the leader of the Bricks, a community of survivors that relocated to New York from Virginia, where it was known as the Hilltop Colony.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan also returns as Negan: The reformed former leader of the Saviors who left the Commonwealth with his pregnant wife to build a life together at the end of The Walking Dead.
Gaius Charles as Perlie Armstrong: A marshal for the New Babylon Federation, a network of survivor communities in New York, who is tasked with hunting down Negan.
Željko Ivanek as Mile Jurkovic / The Croat: from Croatia, hence his name, he is a sadistic former member of the Saviors who kidnapped Maggie’s son in season one. He is also the leader of the Burazi (Brothers), a group of hostile survivors who have taken control of Manhattan.
Mahina Napoleon as Ginny: A young girl under Negan’s care who is selectively mute following the traumatic death of her father.
Lisa Emery as The Dama: The Croat’s mysterious ally.
Logan Kim takes over the part of Hershel Rhee, Maggie’s teenage son in season two.
Orange is the New Black’s Dascha Polanco plays Lucia Narvaez: A high-ranking marshal for New Babylon who takes part in their mission to control Manhattan.
Keir Gilchrist as Benjamin Pierce: New Babylon’s historian who documents the rebuilding of society and is fascinated by New York City.
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What have The Walking Dead: Dead City reviews been like for season two?
The second season’s final has now aired in the US and as a result, full series reviews have started to be shared online. The first season received some high praise from fans, with one even claiming: “It’s definitely the best of the three spin off shows. I had low expectations going into this as the Daryl spin off was a big disappointment. But I was pleasantly surprised by how good this was and really enjoyed it.”
Unfortunately, it seems the second season hasn’t wowed the critics as much. It only has a 63% rating on Rotten Tomatoes while season one managed 80%.
However, one reviewer claimed the leads make it worth a watch. They said: “Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Lauren Cohen make the writer’s job easy as they consistently deliver within Negan and Maggie, making Season 2 well worthy of a watch.”
Another added: “The Walking Dead: Dead City goes weirder in season 2, with more eccentric groups, all the while continuing its introspective look at Maggie and Negan.”
Maggie and Negan reunite once again
Have the stars of Dead City said anything?
While Lauren Cohan reprised her role as Maggie, a character she has played since 2011, the star also directed an episode of Dead City for its second season.
Speaking about the new role, she said: “Being able to direct on a creative level is so satisfying because you collaborate with everyone and you get to you get to go into their world. You go into the production designers’ world you go into the costume designers’ world.”
She continued: “I felt like the responsibility to the fans is baked in because we know it, we love it. We just don’t want to get in the way of the thing we love. And the responsibility to my co-stars, working with the actors is the best part of the whole thing because we speak the language.”
The Walking Dead: Dead City is streaming on Sky and NOW.
The Big Bang Theory fans are set to be reintroduced to some characters in the upcoming spin-off Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, which will be released by HBO Max
Details about a spin-off to the Big Bang Theory have been announced this week(Image: The New Day/Channel 4)
Writers are said to be putting a “completely fresh twist” on the Big Bang Theory for a spin-off. Details about the show have been announced this week, including its title and whether fans can expect to see their favourite characters.
It was previously reported that a spin-off of the CBS sitcom, which ran for twelve seasons from 2007 to 2019, was in the works. HBO Max has now announced that it has given a series order to the show, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.
The show will see Kevin Sussman reprise his role as comic book store owner Stuart Bloom. The character was first introduced in the second season of the Big Bang Theory and made numerous appearances prior to its final episode.
The Big Bang Theory, which starred (from left to right) Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Melissa Rauch, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik and Simon Helberg, is getting a new spin-off (Image: Getty Images North America)
Stuart won’t be the only returning character. He will be joined on a “quest” by his partner Denise (played by Lauren Lapkus), geologist Bert Kibbler (Brian Posehn) and quantum physicist Barry Kripke (John Ross Bowie) in the new show.
It’s yet to be revealed whether any other former cast members will reprise their roles in the upcoming spin-off. It’s been confirmed that “alternate-universe versions” of some characters from the Big Bang Theory will feature in it though.
A synopsis for Stuart Fails to Save the Universe teases that the title character is tasked with restoring reality after he breaks a device built by Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) and Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki). He’s said to accidentally bring about a multiverse Armageddon as a result.
He’s aided by Denise, Bert and Barry in his quest. According to HBO Max, along the way, the group meet “alternate-universe versions of characters we’ve come to know and love” from the original show. It adds: “As the title implies, things don’t go well.”
The comedy series is being executive produced by Chuck Lorre, Zak Penn, and Bill Prady. Chuck said in a statement: “I wanted to do something radical that would take me out of my comfort zone. Something the characters on The Big Bang Theory would have loved, hated, and argued about.”
Bill added: “The process of writing this show with Chuck and Zak has been damn fun, and I’m certain that joy will come through the screen. Putting characters we loved from The Big Bang Theory into a complex science fiction story with the kind of mythology that those characters love while maintaining the comedic elements is incredibly satisfying.”
Zak said: “I was on a vision quest in the most remote parts of the Amazon Rainforest when a carrier pigeon arrived with a note from Chuck Lorre asking if I wanted to help make a show that the characters from Big Bang Theory would watch. I couldn’t resist that idea, so I packed up my yurt and hailed the next dirigible out.
“At the same time, Chuck sent an expedition to locate Bill Prady, who had been frozen with his shield across his chest in a block of arctic ice. The team assembled, we set out to make this insane show, which lives in a universe created by Chuck and Bill. I couldn’t be more honored to be working with these amazing people.”
Channing Dungey, Chairman and CEO, Warner Bros. Television Group and WBD US Networks, said: “Chuck and Bill have given us one of the most enduring comedies of our time with The Big Bang Theory, and we can’t wait to see the universe continue with this new series. With the help of Zak – a masterful storyteller – this next iteration promises to capture the essence of what fans loved about the original series, but with a completely fresh twist. We thank our partners HBO Max for joining us on this next adventure.”
Alongside Sheldon and Leonard, the Big Bang Theory focused on Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg), Rajesh Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar) and Penny Hofstadter (Kaley Cuoco) among other characters. It has already been followed by prequel series Young Sheldon, which launched back in 2017.
The trio of women let the cameras follow them again as they try to find (or keep) love, look after their kids and build businesses
18:00, 03 Jul 2025Updated 18:23, 03 Jul 2025
Binky, Lucy and Rosie are back for more action on E4 later this year(Image: PA)
Made in Chelsea breakout stars Binky Felstead, Lucy Watson and Rosie Fortescue are returning to E4 for a second series of Beyond Chelsea.
And this time around viewers will follow the three women, now in their mid-thirties, as they balance motherhood, family life and relationships, while running businesses and navigating life in the public eye.
The two-part fly on the wall spin-off, to air on E4 later this year, will give viewers more information about Binky’s mum’s challenges with MS (multiple sclerosis). The audience will also find out whether Rosie has had any success with finding a partner, after last time around she decided she was ready to welcome romance back into her life, with Binky acting as wing woman.
Binky, Lucy, Rosie will return to our television screens with the return of one of Made in Chelsea’s 11 spin-offs(Image: Channel 4 / Rob Parfitt)
The cameras also follow as Lucy moves into her new home mid-development while Binky takes on yet another new business venture, with all three trying to balance motherhood, family life and relationships.
Production boss Helen Kruger Bratt told the Mirror that other Made in Chelsea favourites would also pop up. “The love for Made in Chelsea, and the franchise as a whole, just keeps growing,” she told the Mirror. “Every series brings in new fans, while longtime viewers stay closely connected to the lives of our brilliant cast.
“With Beyond Chelsea, we’ve loved reconnecting with some of MIC’s most iconic OGs in a way we’ve never done before. Featuring these three amazing women, and guest appearances from other ex-MIC favourites, this second series promises to be even more revealing, emotional, and hilarious.”
Binky, seen here with Ollie, was seen in tears last year after finding out Alex had cheated(Image: Monkey Kingdom)
Channel 4 Senior Commissioning Editor Clemency Green added: “Binky, Lucy and Rosie’s lives are chaotic and yet they still find time to allow the cameras back in. The Made in Chelsea fans are going to love seeing what they have been up to this past year, catching up on the gang as they share the ups and downs of their lives.”
Main series Made in Chelsea will also be back on E4 for a 29th run. The BAFTA award-winning show, which first launched in 201, has since notched up a staggering 332 episodes. This time some of the cast head off to a luxury resort in Thailand – where they are joined by a new faces who are “set to cause a stir”.
In January, Binky hinted the show would be back with more appearances from some of the original cast from when the show started 14 years ago. “We only had time to do two episodes last year and to test people’s interest… which was off the charts and overwhelmingly positive,” she said. “Since then we’ve had 3/4 of the OG’s reach out who want to be part of the next phase – all very exciting.”
The Whoniverse is set to expand with an animated Doctor Who series on CBeebies in the future and Loose Women’s Denise Welch has addressed speculation that she could be involved
20:06, 22 Jun 2025Updated 20:07, 22 Jun 2025
The Doctor Who franchise, most recently led by Ncuti Gatwa, is set to expand with a new animated show for CBeebies(Image: BBC Studios/Lara Cornell)
A former soap star has addressed speculation that she’s being considered to voice the title role in a Doctor Who spin-off. The upcoming project is in development at the moment but no casting has been unveiled for it yet.
It was announced recently that there are plans to launch a pre-school animation series about the Doctor on CBeebies. The BBC said that the Doctor Who spin-off for a younger audience will “run independently” from the main show.
There’s been speculation about the project, with a thread on Reddit last week naming actors who could voice the Doctor. It claimed that the broadcaster’s shortlist includes Justin Fletcher, Richard E. Grant and Denise Welch.
Denise, 67 – whose acting career has included roles on shows like Coronation Street and Waterloo Road – has since addressed the speculation. She reacted to being named in the thread in a post on Instagram this afternoon.
Denise Welch has addressed speculation that she’s being considered to voice the Doctor in a Doctor Who spin-off series(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Alongside a photo showing part of the thread, she wrote in the post: “I definitely think this job should be mine.” Denise, who tagged Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies, 62, then used two thumbs up and the ‘flushed face’ emoji.
Although they don’t appear to have previously worked together, Denise and Russell are both patrons of the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester. They both took on the role in 2019, joining Tracie Bennett, who became a patron in 2016.
Loose Women panelist Denise has appeared in numerous TV shows over the course of her career, including having played Natalie Barnes on Corrie. Her other credits include Waterloo Road, Benidorm and more recently Hollyoaks.
The BBC announced the CBeebies spin-off of Doctor Who on June 12. It shared that the animated show will see the Doctor travelling through time and space, solving mysteries and problems alongside companions and other friends.
She reacted to being named amid the speculation for the upcoming CBeebies animated show in a post on Instagram earlier today(Image: Instagram/denise_welch)
In a statement issued at the time, Patricia Hidalgo, Director of Children’s and Education, said: “Everyone is welcome at CBeebies, including the Doctor!” Patricia went on to describe the upcoming series as an “exciting opportunity”.
Patricia said: “This much-loved franchise entertains millions around the world, so it is only right that our younger audience get to experience the wonder and the magic of the Doctor in a brand new format. This is an extremely exciting opportunity, and we are looking forward to welcoming companies to pitch for this new project, as we continue our commitment and investment in the UK’s animation industry.”
The news comes just weeks after the latest series of Doctor Who concluded last month. The season finale, the Reality War, which aired on May 31, marked the departure of lead Ncuti Gatwa, who had played the Doctor since 2023.
At the end of the episode, viewers saw Ncuti’s Fifteenth Doctor regenerate – with Billie Piper then shown in his place – in a bid to save Poppy (played by Sienna-Robyn Mavanga-Phipps). In one reality, Poppy was the child of the Doctor and his companion Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu).
Channel 4 hit show Celebrity Celebrity left fans unimpressed just minutes into the first episode as new famous duos took to the sofa to share their views on the latest telly
Viewers were left feeling unimpressed just moments into the new season of Gogglebox, criticising the show’s format change.
The Channel 4 favourite, known for featuring regular mates and households commenting on the week’s prime telly offerings and movies, took a different turn on Friday (June 6) night with the reappearance of a star-studded version.
Celebrity Gogglebox made its comeback with fresh high-profile names settling in to view a selection of well-liked shows, including telly legends Paddy McGuinness, Vernon Kay and broadcasting duo Clare Balding with Alice Arnold joining the series.
Fan-favourites like television host Rylan Clark alongside his mum Linda and broadcast journalist Nick Grimshaw with his niece Liv came back for more sofa critiques.
TV personality Vicky Pattison and The Only Way Is Essex star Pete Wicks joined the cast for the new series
Highlights for the celebs included programmes like Race Across the World, Faking It, Celebrity Bridge of Lies, Silence Is Golden, Big Zuu and AJ Tracey’s Rich Flavours, Canal Boat Diaries, and ITV News – Trump and Musk.
Nonetheless, viewers at home didn’t reserve their comments on the celebrity take of the show, stating that this edition seemed a bit too ‘forced’.
Disgruntled opinions quickly poured in via X, previously known as Twitter, with one individual posting: “Not the dreaded celebrities again, so many of them are so annoying #Celebritygogglebox.”
Paddy McGuinness and Vernon Kay were among the long list of stars to appear on Celebrity Gogglebox
One viewer ranted: “We watch normal #Gogglebox because it’s hilarious and we love all the families. #celebritygogglebox is not funny and we couldn’t care less about the celebs. It’s just people watching telly.”
Another added their two pence, saying: “Celebrity Gogglebox just isn’t funny like the original, it feels forced! #gogglebox #Celebritygogglebox.”
Yet, not everyone was against the concept as a fan expressed enthusiasm: “#Celebritygogglebox #Gogglebox 1st minute and we see Alex Scott and Jess Glynn. I’m already into this series, I hope we get to see the Eubanks too, TV gold are Chris and Junior.”
Rylan recently opened up about his mums TV future
Meanwhile, Rylan has recently spilled the beans on his mum’s TV future amid calls from fans for the mother-son pair to star in their own show.
Chatting with the Daily Star, he revealed: “We’ve been offered hundreds of things. We got asked to do a travel show and the chance to go here and go there.”
He continued, explaining his mum’s situation: “It would be hilarious, but she’s just not well enough to do it. Gogglebox is enough for us. She feels comfortable doing that show because we’re just sat in my kitchen.”
Celebrity Gogglebox is available to watch and stream on Channel 4
MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace has delivered some sharp criticism of President Trump since she became a host on the progressive-leaning cable news network in 2017.
So it’s surprising that her new podcast shares its name with one of Trump’s regular boasts about his team: “The Best People.”
“I thought he had abandoned it,” Wallace, 53, told The Times. “But I actually think ‘the best people’ was one of his best messages in 2016.”
“He abandoned it officially when he picked Matt Gaetz,” she added, referring to Trump’s first choice for attorney general.
Each week on “The Best People,” starting Monday, Wallace will have lengthy conversations with actors, musicians, thought leaders and other figures outside of politics. The guest on the first episode is actor and fellow podcaster Jason Bateman, followed by Sarah Jessica Parker, music producer Jimmy Jam, folk singer Joan Baez and Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers in coming weeks.
The jump into podcasting comes as the network looks for more ways to reach the growing number of consumers who are no longer watching cable TV.
The network says its existing audio podcasts, which include series from hosts Rachel Maddow, Chris Hayes and Jen Psaki, will top 10 million downloads in May.
“Our goal is to meet our audience where they are and to bring the talent of our hosts and anchors to them in those spaces,” said Madeleine Haeringer, MSNBC’s senior vice president of digital, audio and longform. “It’s not a one-size-fits-all formula — but instead, tailoring each project to both the host and the platform.”
Wallace said she was ready to expand her role at MSNBC before the corporate changes. Podcasting appealed to her because, as a working mom, she knows many women aren’t available to watch her daily program in the afternoon.
Her branching out into less overtly political territory is somewhat unexpected.
The former Bush White House communications director’s tenure on the ABC talk show “The View” was brief, partly due to her lack of pop culture expertise.
That’s not a concern this time around, she said. The guests she solicited for “The Best People” are coming to the table to discuss their own advocacy issues apart from the kind of instant political analysis presented on her MSNBC program “Deadline: White House.”
Wallace connected with Jimmy Jam when they discussed creating a “We Are the World” type of musical production to aid Ukraine. She knew Rivers through his social justice activism (as coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, he had to guide the players through the scandal over former owner Donald Sterling’s racist comments) and Parker for her devotion to literacy programs.
The podcast format allows them to open up in a way that doesn’t always happen on live TV.
“For some reason, people sitting in front of their computer screens on the Zoom are even more candid and forthcoming about how they feel,” Wallace said.
Wallace is wading into digital media at a time when MSNBC is in transition. The channel, along with other NBCUniversal cable outlets, is being spun off from current owner Comcast into a new company called Versant.
Comcast is getting out of the cable channel business, with the exception of its potent reality brand Bravo, out of concern about the steady decline of the pay TV audience. Over the last 10 years, cord-cutting has reduced the number of cable homes MSNBC reaches by 33%.
MSNBC also saw a mass exodus of viewers just after the presidential election, as its loyal left-leaning audience tuned out after Trump’s victory.
The ratings have gradually climbed back up, with MSNBC maintaining its second place position behind perennial cable leader Fox News but well ahead of third place CNN. In May, the network was up 24% from the lows it hit in November and December, but is still down 35% compared to the presidential campaign-elevated levels of a year ago, according to Nielsen.
But leadership at Versant has it made clear that MSNBC will continue to cater to a politically progressive audience.
Wallace believes the commitment to the network’s point of view has only deepened under new management. “It’s a culture that really rewards deep wonky coverage of politics,” she said. “[MSNBC President] Rebecca Kutler has come in and tripled down on all of that.”
The spinoff requires separating MSNBC from NBC News, where some journalists were uneasy with the intensity of partisan commentary on the cable network. Versant is hiring its own newsgathering team — as many as 100 journalists — including justice and intelligence correspondent Ken Dilanian, who is moving over from NBC.
“To work for someone who is hiring reporters at a time when we’re looking at an administration that seems a little meh about the Constitution is pretty forward leaning,” Wallace said.
She was inspired to try something new by the extracurricular activities of her husband, the New York Times’ Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Michael S. Schmidt, who co-created the Netflix thriller series “Zero Day” with former NBC News President Noah Oppenheim.
“Michael enjoyed it so much it gave me the idea to add something that is a little outside my comfort zone,” Wallace said.
Wallace met Schmidt, 41, at MSNBC, where he is a contributor. They married in 2022 and a year later had their first child via surrogate. Wallace also has a 13-year-old son, Liam, from her first marriage.
While Wallace and Schmidt have a business-like dynamic when they appear together on the program, family matters creep in off-camera.
“When we are both on set, my son is texting us about dinner,” Wallace said. “During the breaks, we’re never talking about the rule of law. We’re talking about logistics.”
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