The Stolen Girl, Disney+, review: the TV equivalent of an airport read
From which you'll gather that The Stolen Girl, a new thriller about a missing child, is quite hard to take seriously. It doesn't help that the story as it first appears is rather familiar: when nine-year-old Lucia begs her mummy Elisa (Denise Gough) for an overnight playdate with her new best friend Josie, Elisa agrees. Whoops. Josie's mum Rebecca (Holliday Grainger) is not at all what she seems, as Elisa discovers the next day when Elisa doesn't come home and Rebecca's posh house turns out to have been an Airbnb. So unfolds The Missing but in Cheshire. Faultlines in Elisa and Fred's (Sturgess) marriage quickly emerge, no one is who they seem and did I mention how cool the wallpaper is?
Anyway, The Stolen Girl is the TV equivalent of an airport read, schlocky trash that moves at a breakneck pace. The idea is that with such dizzying haste, you won't have time to pause for thought and ask testing questions such as, 'How come journalist Ambika Mod is able to find out things about both dodgy mums the police can't, using only her phone?' And, 'What must the current crop of TV scripts be like if actors of this calibre are taking jobs like this?' Or, more pointedly, 'How much must Disney be paying?'
Because, make no mistake, the cast of The Stolen Girl is its ace in the hole. It elevates another 'The Girl on the Train who Peaked from Behind the Net Curtain'-style psych thriller to a level of robust watchability. Denise Gough, Holliday Grainger and Ambika Mod (rocking a vintage Ford Cortina that marks the return of the impractical statement vehicle to crime dramas) are a superb central trio. Gough in particular is one of those performers who can turn a stage direction like 'she starts crying' into something epiphanic.
Grainger, meanwhile, plants her flag in that moral no man's land where her Rebecca, who initially appears to be the villain of the piece, nibbles at your sympathy and lodges in your brain. The tension in The Stolen Girl – and whatever else it is, it grips like duct tape – comes as much from these performances as from the plot. If only they could give the actors a little more to work with.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
42 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside Gino D'Acampo's ‘mastermind plan' to be uncancelled as axed ITV star goes on ‘apology tour' after allegations
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FIVE months after being sacked by ITV over his 'inappropriate and intimidating' behaviour, celebrity chef Gino G'Acampo has embarked on an 'apology tour' in a desperate bid to be 'uncancelled'. As The Sun revealed last week that Gino, 48, is planning to embark on some new business ventures in Australia, insiders tell us he is also masterminding a secret plan to save his career in the UK. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 7 Celebrity chef Gino D'Acampo is planning to launch a comeback Credit: Rex 7 Gino was known for his cheeky antics on This Morning Credit: Enterprise Those in the know tell us that the Italian TV chef has hatched a strategy to use his social media platforms, a place where he feels he can control his image and narrative, to win back the public. 'The power of persuasion' A source familiar with the situation explains: "TV bosses can refuse to put him on air but no one can stop him from having a voice on social media. "He can use that platform to stay connected with those who have stuck by him, reform his image for those who have turned their back on him and, he hopes, win over a new fanbase." But already it looks like Gino's endeavours on his social channels are landing badly. Just this month, Gino made a painfully transparent attempt to challenge claims he created an uncomfortable working environment. Posting footage of him hugging, kissing and holding hands with some of his restaurant staff during a recent visit to his Italian chain in Newcastle, Gino said: 'Another fantastic day with my team. 'I've always said… A happy kitchen creates fantastic food.' He chose Mark Ambor's song 'Belong Together' to play over the video. Our source continues: "The happy cheery corporate videos on Instagram are always part and parcel of any apology tour. Gino wants to maintain a united front and thinks the power of persuasion goes a long way. "Gino hopes people will see it and think 'he's such a nice, down to earth guy, not too high and mighty to work in his own restaurant and look at everyone getting on with him, having laughs and banter'." Gino D'Acampo slammed for 'highly inappropriate' cooking video as fans say 'that's disturbing and upsetting' However, amid his increase in social media content, Gino came under fire for posting a 'highly inappropriate' video involving two live quails that was described as 'disturbing and upsetting'. The unapologetic chef was seen kissing the two birds in one shot before dangling their corpses in another - choosing Bob Marley's hit Three Little Birds as the accompanying music. It comes after more than 40 people described "unacceptable", "distressing" and "horrendous" experiences while working with Gino over a 12-year period. Despite ITV yanking his shows off air, including a brand new series of Family Fortunes, the TV chef - who denies any wrongdoing - is refusing to accept his television career is over. Allegations against Gino D'Acampo One woman claimed Gino told her he would "like to turn me over and f*** me up the a*** against the kitchen counter" in 2011. Another woman alleged he opened the door only wearing his boxer shorts and said "Oh, don't worry, it's only small" while pointing towards his penis. In 2018 while on set for the filming of Gordon, Gino and Fred's Road Trip, Gino allegedly said he "felt like f******" one morning. The same year Gino is alleged to have made a comment about another young female colleague who claimed he said: "Shouldn't we be talking about her t***, they're perfect, they're like a mouthful." Another alleged he told a young staff member: "When are we all going to get drunk and have sex together." A woman told ITV she saw Gino appearing to threaten a young colleague over an ice cream in 2019, he allegedly said "if you don't get me a Cornetto I will f*** your girlfriend". Soft rebrand As well as ramping up his presence on content creation online, last month, Gino announced he's filming a new cooking show, An Italian in Malta. It's not known which production company it's been picked up by or when it will air. An insider told The Sun: "Gino knows he's persona non grata at ITV, so the plan now is to rebuild his reputation elsewhere quietly and carefully. "He's been telling people this new travel series is about food and culture, but really it's a soft rebrand. If it lands well internationally, he can turn around and say, 'look, I've still got it'. "Gino thinks he's being smart about not throwing himself straight back into the UK spotlight. The idea is to go away, be seen working, stay visible, but not too visible and then come back once the dust has settled." 7 Gino has attempted to show a different side to his working environment on social media Credit: Instagram 7 Gino cuddles his staff working at one of his Italian restaurants Credit: Instagram 7 He put on a united front with his team following the scandal Credit: Instagram 7 Gino angered fans with his video showing of live quails Credit: Instagram 'A welcome distraction' It is understood that Gino is secretly relieved that other presenters are copping the heat in the public eye too. "With Gregg Wallace's scandal exploding, as well as John Torode's recent sacking, there's a sense that the spotlight might shift and the focus will be on him. He's hoping by using the distraction, he can quietly edge back into the fold. "He's not naive, he knows he's not getting a primetime ITV slot anytime soon. But if he proves he can behave and audiences abroad respond well, the UK execs might just look twice. "It's early days, but there's talk of him expanding the format to other countries if Malta and Ireland go well. He's already been in touch with producers in southern Europe about spin-offs." It's believed Gino is also pinning hopes on his upcoming ventures in Australia paving the way for him to get back into good graces in Blighty too. Gino is set to split his time between the UK and Down Under over the next few years, as he is planning to launch two new restaurants and a cookware line in Oz. 'He's been inundated with offers Down Under following a really successful tour there," a source told us. 'He spent some time in Australia a few years ago, and loved it. He still has a large social media following and plans to capitalise on that in the next stage of his career.' It's thought that Gino hopes he'll land more TV work in Australia, which might then encourage British telly bosses to take another chance on him. "Gino knows it won't be easy, but he's confident he can rebuild his reputation and one day, he's convinced he will be back on UK screens." 7 His behaviour on set has been called into question Credit: Rex Features Gino was a regular chef on This Morning from 2009 - forming a close friendship with then-hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield. But when an ITV News report in February first revealed the allegations against Gino on set, Holly distanced herself publicly from her once firm friend. His former ITV co-stars Gordon Ramsay and Fred Sirieix also appear to have stepped back from their friendship. In 2022 an internal investigation into Gino was launched at production company Betty TV in relation to alleged inappropriate behaviour and language on the set of Gino's Italy – Like Mamma Used to Make. The production company Objective Media Group said in an email seen by ITV in 2024 that issues also arose in 2023 on the Emission Impossible set. Gino told ITV News at the time: "I would not do anything that I thought would upset or distress anyone. This is simply not in my nature. I do not recognise the version of events being put to me. "Not only have these allegations never been raised with me before, I have been repeatedly supported by executives at the highest level and was commissioned on prime-time programmes during the period in which it is now suggested I was acting inappropriately. "I am a father, husband and have worked with well over 1,500 people on around 80 productions in my career, which I have been so proud of. I take such matters extremely seriously and the suggestion that I have acted in an improper way against is deeply upsetting." The Sun has approached Gino for comment.
The Sun
42 minutes ago
- The Sun
Inside Gino D'Acampo's ‘mastermind plan' to be uncancelled as axed ITV star goes on ‘apology tour' after allegations
FIVE months after being sacked by ITV over his 'inappropriate and intimidating' behaviour, celebrity chef Gino G'Acampo has embarked on an 'apology tour' in a desperate bid to be 'uncancelled'. As The Sun revealed last week that Gino, 48, is planning to embark on some new business ventures in Australia, insiders tell us he is also masterminding a secret plan to save his career in the UK. 7 Those in the know tell us that the Italian TV chef has hatched a strategy to use his social media platforms, a place where he feels he can control his image and narrative, to win back the public. 'The power of persuasion' A source familiar with the situation explains: "TV bosses can refuse to put him on air but no one can stop him from having a voice on social media. "He can use that platform to stay connected with those who have stuck by him, reform his image for those who have turned their back on him and, he hopes, win over a new fanbase." But already it looks like Gino's endeavours on his social channels are landing badly. Just this month, Gino made a painfully transparent attempt to challenge claims he created an uncomfortable working environment. Posting footage of him hugging, kissing and holding hands with some of his restaurant staff during a recent visit to his Italian chain in Newcastle, Gino said: 'Another fantastic day with my team. 'I've always said… A happy kitchen creates fantastic food.' He chose Mark Ambor's song 'Belong Together' to play over the video. Our source continues: "The happy cheery corporate videos on Instagram are always part and parcel of any apology tour. Gino wants to maintain a united front and thinks the power of persuasion goes a long way. "Gino hopes people will see it and think 'he's such a nice, down to earth guy, not too high and mighty to work in his own restaurant and look at everyone getting on with him, having laughs and banter'." Gino D'Acampo slammed for 'highly inappropriate' cooking video as fans say 'that's disturbing and upsetting' However, amid his increase in social media content, Gino came under fire for posting a 'highly inappropriate' video involving two live quails that was described as 'disturbing and upsetting'. The unapologetic chef was seen kissing the two birds in one shot before dangling their corpses in another - choosing Bob Marley's hit Three Little Birds as the accompanying music. It comes after more than 40 people described "unacceptable", "distressing" and "horrendous" experiences while working with Gino over a 12-year period. Despite ITV yanking his shows off air, including a brand new series of Family Fortunes, the TV chef - who denies any wrongdoing - is refusing to accept his television career is over. Soft rebrand As well as ramping up his presence on content creation online, last month, Gino announced he's filming a new cooking show, An Italian in Malta. It's not known which production company it's been picked up by or when it will air. An insider told The Sun: "Gino knows he's persona non grata at ITV, so the plan now is to rebuild his reputation elsewhere quietly and carefully. "He's been telling people this new travel series is about food and culture, but really it's a soft rebrand. If it lands well internationally, he can turn around and say, 'look, I've still got it'. "Gino thinks he's being smart about not throwing himself straight back into the UK spotlight. The idea is to go away, be seen working, stay visible, but not too visible and then come back once the dust has settled." 7 7 7 'A welcome distraction' It is understood that Gino is secretly relieved that other presenters are copping the heat in the public eye too. "With Gregg Wallace's scandal exploding, as well as John Torode's recent sacking, there's a sense that the spotlight might shift and the focus will be on him. He's hoping by using the distraction, he can quietly edge back into the fold. "He's not naive, he knows he's not getting a primetime ITV slot anytime soon. But if he proves he can behave and audiences abroad respond well, the UK execs might just look twice. "It's early days, but there's talk of him expanding the format to other countries if Malta and Ireland go well. He's already been in touch with producers in southern Europe about spin-offs." It's believed Gino is also pinning hopes on his upcoming ventures in Australia paving the way for him to get back into good graces in Blighty too. Gino is set to split his time between the UK and Down Under over the next few years, as he is planning to launch two new restaurants and a cookware line in Oz. 'He's been inundated with offers Down Under following a really successful tour there," a source told us. 'He spent some time in Australia a few years ago, and loved it. He still has a large social media following and plans to capitalise on that in the next stage of his career.' It's thought that Gino hopes he'll land more TV work in Australia, which might then encourage British telly bosses to take another chance on him. "Gino knows it won't be easy, but he's confident he can rebuild his reputation and one day, he's convinced he will be back on UK screens." Gino was a regular chef on This Morning from 2009 - forming a close friendship with then-hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield. But when an ITV News report in February first revealed the allegations against Gino on set, Holly distanced herself publicly from her once firm friend. His former ITV co-stars Gordon Ramsay and Fred Sirieix also appear to have stepped back from their friendship. In 2022 an internal investigation into Gino was launched at production company Betty TV in relation to alleged inappropriate behaviour and language on the set of Gino's Italy – Like Mamma Used to Make. The production company Objective Media Group said in an email seen by ITV in 2024 that issues also arose in 2023 on the Emission Impossible set. Gino told ITV News at the time: "I would not do anything that I thought would upset or distress anyone. This is simply not in my nature. I do not recognise the version of events being put to me. "Not only have these allegations never been raised with me before, I have been repeatedly supported by executives at the highest level and was commissioned on prime-time programmes during the period in which it is now suggested I was acting inappropriately. "I am a father, husband and have worked with well over 1,500 people on around 80 productions in my career, which I have been so proud of. I take such matters extremely seriously and the suggestion that I have acted in an improper way against is deeply upsetting." The Sun has approached Gino for comment.
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Is ITV's crime thriller Karen Pirie based on a true story?
ITV's crime thriller series Karen Pirie is returning to living rooms across the UK on Sunday night for a second season after three years away. The drama series follows detective sergeant Karen Pirie (Lauren Lyle), who gets thrown into the investigation of an unsolved murder case 25 years on after the crime becomes the subject of a popular true crime podcast. Scottish investigator Karen is young and fearless and regularly shows that she isn't afraid to speak her mind if it gets her closer to discovering the truth. The first season was subtitled The Distant Echo and came in three parts during the autumn of 2022, while season two will be subtitled A Darker Domain. While The Distant Echo focused on the unsolved murder of a barmaid, A Darker Domain – also a three-parter – will focus on a kidnapping case from 1984. So, let's dig deeper… While its storylines don't seem all that far fetched compared to the crime stories we hear in the news every day, Karen Pirie is not actually based on a true story. The ITV drama was adapted for television by actress and screenwriter, Emer Kenny – who also stars in the three-part series as Karen's best friend and flatmate River. Writer Emer and lead star Lauren have previously spoken about the intense research that went into crafting the show and building the characters, even though they are fictional. 'It was really interesting when we were filming, we started at St Andrews Cathedral and one night we had police escorts with us,' said Lauren. 'One of them was a 20-something blonde woman, and it turns out she was a detective from Methil, the same tiny town Karen is from! To me, she was the real Karen Pirie. 'So we exchanged numbers and we stayed in touch, it was like looking into a mirror for Karen.' While the murder drama might be fictional, it is, in fact, based on a popular series of crime novels. The character of Karen Pirie was created by best-selling Scottish writer Val McDermid in her book The Distant Echo. But fans of the books shouldn't worry, as the producers of the drama had Val's full blessing to create a TV adaptation – the author herself was brought in to consult on the show's direction. EastEnders writer Emer has also promised that the series does end with a resolution to the murder case they are currently solving. More Trending But, Val has six books altogether and there's a seventh in the works for this series, so there is a possibility we could be seeing more of Karen on our screens in the future. 'There is a resolution to this particular story, but there's absolutely scope for Karen to continue solving crimes,' writer Emer said. 'There are six books and Val is writing a seventh, so there are all the possibilities there.' View More » Karen Pirie airs on Sunday, July 20, at 8pm . Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: 'A shark ate my arm and leg – I wouldn't change a thing' MORE: Two I'm A Celebrity legends 'set to return' for epic All Stars series MORE: 'One of the most important British dramas ever made' joins major streamer
