Thrones

Upcoming series The Rapture is described as “a high-stakes thriller which crackles with danger”

Bridgerton star India Amarteifio has bagged a role in upcoming BBC drama The Rapture and has said she is looking forward to the “massive challenge”.

The actress, who is best known for playing the starring role in Bridgerton spin-off Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, joins the likes of Doctor Who‘s Ruth Madeley, Gavin and Stacey star Ruth Jones, Game of Thrones‘ Iwan Rheon and Jack Farthing from Poldark in the series.

The five-episode drama is being adapted from Liz Jensen’s best-selling novel and is said to be “a high-stakes thriller which crackles with danger”.

According to the synopsis, the series – which is being produced by Mammoth Screen, part of ITV studios – follows a forensic psychologist named Gabs Fox (Madeley) who meets teen Bethany Krall (India) at a psychiatric hospital.

Bethany, who is the daughter of the leader of a religious movement (played by Sam Hazeldine), was convicted of killing her mum but she insists she didn’t do it.

Adding another twist is the fact that the 17-year-old claims to be able to predict the future. But can she convince Gabs she is telling the truth?

“I’m over the moon to be getting started on this production and cannot wait to bring Bethany onto tellies,” India, 24, said as her casting was announced.

“It will be a massive challenge for me professionally, which I’m very much welcoming and feel incredibly safe to do so in the hands of Mammoth and Ruth!”

Madeley added that it was “a total joy to lead such a powerful and vibrant series”, which she said was “an incredibly special project” to her.

The series, which is shooting in Wales, will also star Stephen Campbell Moore, Lisa Palfrey, Siena Kelly, Naby Dakhli, Richard Elis, Dean Rehman and Robert Rhodes.

Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, added: “This thriller brings Liz Jensen’s compelling novel to life with a truly talented cast led by the brilliant Ruth Madeley and India Amarteifio.

“The Rapture features two complicated and captivating characters, blended with a story of climate change, to create a gripping narrative and I can’t wait for BBC viewers to see it.”

The Rapture is set to air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer

DARREN TILL goes head-to-head with ex-UFC champion Luke Rockhold in a colossal fight for the MFB Bridgerweight title THIS WEEKEND.

Manchester’s AO Arena hosts the high-stakes bout with professional MMA fighter Till taking on former UFC Middleweight champion Rockhold.

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Till boasted a UFC record of 18-5-1 and has since transferred his skill to the Misfits ring.

The Liverpool born fighter, 32, has won his first two fights since making his Misfits boxing debut, convincingly defeating Anthony Taylor by TKO and Darren Stewart by unaminous decision.

“The Gorilla” will be eager to continue his form with a win over Rockhold and is favourite for the bout.

American retired MMA star Rockhold makes his much anticipated boxing debut on August 30.

The 40-year-old star is most remembered for becoming the seventh UFC Middleweight champion in UFC history just over a decade ago.

It will be a tough challenge for Rockhold as he makes the transition into boxing, but he will be hoping for a strong underdog victory against the in-form Till.

When is Till vs Rockhold?

• Till vs Rockhold will take place on Saturday, August 30.
• Streaming for the event begins at 7pm BST.
• The ring-walks for the main event will be approximately at 10pm BST.
• The bout will take place in Manchester at the AO Arena.

What TV channel is Till vs Rockhold on and can it be live streamed?

• Till vs Rockhold will be broadcast live on DAZN.
• The whole fight card will stream live on DAZN in over 200 countries across the globe via a DAZN subscription.
• If you are not currently a DAZN member, then monthly and annual subscription options are available to watch over 185 fights a year across boxing, bare knuckle boxing, MMA and kickboxing.
• An Annual Super Saver subscription is a one-off payment of £119.99 / $224.99 for 12-months access (£14.99 / $19.99 per month if paying in monthly instalments).
• A Monthly Flexible pass, which can be cancelled at any time, is £24.99 / $29.99 per month.
• Alternatively, SunSport’s live blog will bring you round-by-round updates from the huge card.

Who else is on the card?

Here are all the bouts taking place in Manchester:

Subject to change

• Darren Till vs Luke Rockhold; Bridgerweight
• Tony Ferguson vs Salt Papi; Middleweight
• Dillon Danis vs Warren Spencer; Light heavyweight
• Joey Essex vs Numeiro; Middleweight
• Ty Mitchell vs Sean Hemphill; Super middleweight

BBC

Getty Images

Medical check

‘Taking it easy’

Alfie Allen stars as a drug trafficker being chased by the CIA in Sky’s new fast-paced thriller series Atomic, and the actor says his character believes in ‘the power of love’

He’s conquered Westeros as Theon Greyjoy in Game of Thrones – now Alfie Allen is embarking on an even more perilous mission.

In Atomic, Sky’s new high-octane thriller, he plays Max, a free-spirited drug trafficker making runs through the Middle East. “He’s a big believer in the power of love and connection between people,” Alfie says.

“But this is interrupted by a crazy stunt that happens in the first 30 seconds of the show.” Thrown into danger from the get-go, Max is ambushed by militants while crossing the Libyan desert – until one spares him.

“The first stunt in the series is a massive car crash, which was actually the first day of shooting for me,” he says. “The car flips over, and that’s where I meet the man I call JJ as he won’t tell me his name.”

JJ, played by Shazad Latif, is a mysterious figure hiding out in the desert with a warlord. “We meet him just as he’s being chased by a guy called Rab,” Shazad says. “He decides to kick it into gear and make a move. That’s where he meets Max, who’s just had a car crash.”

JJ takes Max hostage, sparking a tense, unpredictable road trip across Libya, Algeria and Beirut. Their trail soon reaches deep-cover CIA agent Cassie Elliott, played by The Handmaid’s Tale star Samira Wiley. “She is a Non-Official Cover (NOC) officer with the CIA,” Samira says.

“Her deep cover job is a professor at the American University of Beirut. She’s been there for about four years. When she is pulled back into the game, she is in pursuit of Max and JJ because they happen to be in possession of the HEU, (Highly Enriched Uranium).”

Yet JJ’s motives may not be entirely criminal. “JJ is on a journey to reconcile with his complex past, his relationship with faith and his own fate,” Shazad says. “He thinks Max might be a sign of a way out and a way to find a path to redemption.”

The unlikely pairing fuels the series’ tension. “Max is constantly trying to get answers from JJ about who he is, and where he is in his life,” Alfie says. “With Max, you see what you get – JJ is much more secretive and Max is determined to work him out.”

Off-screen, however, there was no hostility between Alfie and Shazad. In fact, the pair managed to bond during filming of Atomic with Alfie showering his co-star with praises.

“Working with Shazad has been amazing,” Alfie says. “We’ve been very, very fortunate to be able to have a buddy journey project where you get along with your co-star.”

Five part series Atomic begins on Sky Showcase and NOW at 9pm on Thursday 28 August.

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