Huge crime thriller axed after just one series despite rave reviews and 4million viewers

The Sun

3 days ago

HIT crime thriller Joan has been canned – because star Sophie Turner is too busy.
ITV's brilliant drama team has spent months trying to find a window in the Game of Thrones star's schedule to film a second series — but have had to admit defeat.
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A spokesman told me: 'ITV and Snowed-In Productions would love to produce another series of Joan.
'However, as a consequence of cast availability, and following co-production discussions, a second series isn't possible.'
The glossy series told the true story of glamorous Joan Hannington, a jewel thief who stole more than £3million of gems in London in the 1980s and earned herself the nickname The Godmother in the city's criminal underworld.
ITV's six-part series about her life was shown in autumn last year and attracted more than four million viewers per episode.
It ended on several cliffhangers, with Joan vowing revenge on her two-timing criminal ally Albie and promising to build herself a new business empire after spending four years in jail for armed robbery.
At the time the series was shown, director Richard Laxton said: 'There is definitely potential for the story to go on.'
Sophie, who has two daughters from her marriage to American singer Joe Jonas and is now dating aristocrat Peregrine Pearson, is tied up on several projects.
She will play video game adventurer Lara Croft in a Tomb Raider TV series as well as appearing in sci-fi movie Cloud One and horror flick The Dreadful, in which she will co-star with Game of Thrones co-star Kit Harington.
Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow both made attempts to bring Joan's story to the big screen in the 2000s but failed — so at least ITV managed to get off the starting blocks.
Isle's Cot a lot
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Stretch your minds back to 2007, and you may recall Fearne Cotton making her first trip to Ibiza to host The X Factor's spin-off show where she shacked up with Dannii Minogue for Judges' Houses.
Four years later she met ex-husband Jesse Wood on the white isle during a girls' trip with celeb pals, including TV host Amanda Byram – and now she has a wellness retreat there.
Fearne, who has set up her Ibiza: Unplugged experience with travel booking platform GetYourGuide, said: 'I first visited Ibiza 20 years ago and fell in love with the island's energy and people.
'I've discovered the best secret spots for sunrise hikes, chilly dips and soulful yoga sessions. I've curated the perfect way to unplug and spend a chilled day in Ibiza, guided by true experts.'
Sounds like the opposite of a stressful day shooting The X Factor.
Suranne is a sure thing
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A thrilling new trailer has dropped for Suranne Jones ' crime drama Hostage and it's edge-of-your-seat stuff.
The former Corrie star plays the British PM who is fighting political pressure from the French president (Julie Delpy) when her husband Alex is abducted and held hostage.
Shocking scenes show Alex (Ashley Thomas) at gunpoint as he is forced to make an appeal video.
The drama plays out against the backdrop of tense discussion over policing the English Channel.
In one scene an aide pleads with Suranne's character Abigail: 'You have to resign.'
And she barks: 'We don't give in to terrorists.'
The five-parter lands on August 21.
I hear more about the hottest TV shows and latest binge-watches each week on our free online show, Showbiz Fix.
On the latest episode we delve into Netflix saga Amy Bradley Is Missing, chat about Love Island, and remember Ozzy Osbourne.
Matt pal on drug taking
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Shocking new information on the death of Friends star Matthew Perry will feature in an ITV documentary.
The one-off film includes the devastating details of the murder trial that followed his demise in October 2023.
Dr Salvador Plasencia has now been charged with giving the actor ketamine.
As part of the documentary, which first streamed on Peacock in the US but has since been updated, Matt's on-screen mother from Friends Morgan Fairchild speaks candidly about his drug addiction.
ITV boss Sasha Breslau said: 'The film tells the story of Matthew's untimely passing with updated developments not seen before.'
Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy will air on ITV1 at 9pm on August 18.
The beat goes on for Kay
If you thought Love Island 's raunchy heart-rate challenge was tense, may I remind you of Vernon Kay 's gameshow 1,000 Heartbeats?
Contestants were kitted out with a heart monitor and had to stay calm while answering questions to win money.
But if their heart beat more than a thousand times during gameplay, they immediately lost and left empty handed.
Now I can reveal the unusual ITV show, which ran for two series from 2015, could be returning to screens as Hungry Bear Media wants to trademark the name ahead of a possible reboot.
The production company, which is run by Holly Willoughby's husband Dan Baldwin, is behind some of telly's biggest hits including the BBC One reboot of Gladiators and Michael McIntyre's The Wheel.
If anyone can revive Vernon's show, it's Hungry Bear.
Jodie Whittaker, Nicole da Silva and Yael Stone star in drama One Night for ITV.
The six-parter follows the fallout after one of a close-knit trio of friends writes a bestselling novel about a traumatic event, one night 20 years ago.
The mystery drama lands on ITVX next month.
Freddie's secrets unveiled
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The incredible story of Freddie Mercury 's secret daughter will be told in a Channel 5 documentary.
The 90-minute special uses the Queen legend's private journals following an investigation and book by journalist Lesley-Ann Jones.
According to her work, Freddie sustained a close relationship with the woman, referred to as 'B', for 14 years before his death in 1991. Lesley-Ann said: 'I thought I knew virtually all there was to know about Freddie. I was wrong.
'Working with his only child to tell his true story in his and his daughter's own words has been the greatest privilege of my professional life.'
The documentary will air later this year.