The week in TV: Get Millie Black; With Love, Meghan; A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story; Towards Zero
Well, here's something. New five-part Channel 4 detective drama Get Millie Black, mainly set in Kingston, Jamaica, is the first TV show created and written by Booker-winning Jamaican author Marlon James (A Brief History 0f Seven Killings), and its literary bent is evident from the off.
Each episode showcases the internal narrative of a different character. First, the titular heroine (Tamara Lawrance), a study in dualism, one moment speaking in measured English tones (Millie was sent to the UK in her teens), the next in fluent patois. Returning to work as a Kingston police detective after the death of her mother, she must deal with the rage of her transgender sister, Hibiscus (a raw debut from Chyna McQueen), and a case that takes in drugs, violence, homophobia, lingering colonialism, corruption and missing children.
This is a drama rich in complexities. In a virtuoso performance, Lawrance holds the centre as the bold, uncompromising Millie Black. White people barely feature, apart from Joe Dempsie's Scotland Yard detective, whom Black dismisses and teases ('He's only a white man, darling. All balls, no cock'). Pretty much every time you meet a new character, they come fully loaded with traits and backstory. When James set out to write this series, he really wrote it.
Kingston itself is presented as a volatile contradiction of staggering beauty (blue waters, sandy beaches), bleak reality (poverty, criminality, brutality) and vibrant culture (if you're interested, Get Millie Black's brilliant theme tune is Ring the Alarm by Shanique Marie). There are some energy dips and missteps, not least an untidy tangling of plotlines towards the end, but in the main it's an impressive and original screenplay from James and a star-making turn from Lawrance.
Meghan Markle's new eight-part lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, landed on Netflix in a fragrant detonation of essential oils, edible flowers and homemade beeswax candles. In what may be the last chance for the Sussexes to hang on to their $100m Netflix deal, as well as a curtain-raiser on Meghan's Desperate Trad-Wife merch flogging via her new company, As Ever, the stage was set for lifestyle greatness. Or something.
Filmed in radiant Montecito, California, but not at the couple's actual home, the setup involves Meghan receiving different guests each episode (friends, chefs, etc). Thus positioned, she bestows her upcycled Martha Stewart hostess worldview (there's no royal gossip like there was in those documentaries) while wearing stealth-wealth clothes, serving mountainous platters of crudites and banging on about how everything is 'amazing!' and 'exciting!'
Despite being postponed from its original release date because of the California fires, with the outside world darkening by the moment and the bulk of Meghan's enthusiasms costing more than most weekly household budgets, With Love, Meghan is TV tone deafness in extremis. The format ('Guests stand at kitchen island making stilted small talk and praising Meghan') could also do with a rethink.
The first guest, a makeup artist called Daniel, obligingly turbo-gushes: 'Why does no one present peas like this? They're like little pearls.' However, the next guest, The Office's Mindy Kaling, addresses her hostess as 'Meghan Markle'. 'You know I'm Sussex now,' says the duchess a little sharply (does she give Kaling the stink eye?), quickly adding that it's her children's surname. It's so awful (and brilliant), I'm impressed that Netflix (and Meghan) didn't cut the scene.
Elsewhere, her cooking isn't at all bad, and she's not that stiff (she's not above day drinking cocktails with her guests). For some, With Love, Meghan may hit the spot as an escapist irony watch. Others may balk at the interminable lifestyle churn (homemade bath salts, herb picking with trugs). Harry is only briefly wheeled on at the end, like a confused child who's about to be put to bed.
A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, a four-part drama by Kelly Jones, based on Carol Ann Lee's book A Fine Day for Hanging, marks 70 years since the 1955 execution of 28-year-old Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in Britain.
Ellis, played by Lucy Boynton, never denied shooting her lover, racing car driver David Blakely (Laurie Davidson), but the drama addresses the myriad injustices of her case: Blakely's psychological and physical abuse (he punched Ellis in the stomach, making her miscarry); how the trial was 'rigged' to protect others (including a sleazy type played by Mark Stanley); the fact that Ellis's peroxide-blond hair, nonconformist ways and class ('common little tart') were as much in the dock as the single mum of two.
Initially, it's hard to warm to Boynton's chilly, unsympathetic Ellis, whose faux-clipped tones Blakely mocks ('What is your real voice?'). Ellis is too proud – and disturbed – to let her lawyer (Toby Jones) make a proper case for clemency until it's too late. Incidentally, Nigel Havers plays his real-life grandfather, Sir Cecil Havers, the judge who presided over the trial; upset by the death sentence, Havers wrote to the home secretary asking for a reprieve for Ellis, and after her death sent money for her son's upkeep every year.
A Cruel Love is marred by crass melodrama, including preparation for the hanging (dangling nooses et al), though arguably the barbarity of capital punishment should be shown. In later episodes, Boynton brings Ellis's humanity and vulnerability to the fore (sitting in her cell doing jigsaws; nervously eating her last breakfast) and it's very powerful.
Over on BBC One, Rachel Bennette's adaptation of Agatha Christie's Towards Zero kicked off. It's set at the windswept fictional Gull's Point, where Hollywood royalty Anjelica Huston camps it up as a wealthy aristo. Languishing in a vast posh bed, tinkling servant bells, she resembles a haughty pin cushion. Elsewhere, the cast includes Clarke Peters (The Wire) as a lawyer and Anjana Vasan (We Are Lady Parts) as a lady's companion, while Matthew Rhys plays a moody sleuth, staggering around clifftops, coat-tails flapping.
This three-parter is enjoyable enough (I'm always up for a Christie) but is too febrile, and at one point (spoiler alert) there are highly sexed-up shenanigans atop a staircase involving (don't look, Miss Marple!) heads up skirts. Whatever your thoughts on Agatha Christie, never mistake her for Bridgerton.
Star ratings (out of five)
Get Millie Black ★★★★With Love, Meghan ★★A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story ★★★Towards Zero ★★★
Pauline Boty: I Am the Sixties(BBC Four)
A poignant, revelatory documentary about the 1960s British artist Pauline Boty, who blazed a trail for feminist art and died of cancer at 28, refusing treatment while she was pregnant.
The Leopard(Netflix)
Intense Italian-language period drama based on Giuseppe Tomasi Di Lampedusa's 1958 novel, which also inspired Visconti's 1963 film, about Sicilian aristocrats in the 1860s.
Imagine: The Academy of Armando(BBC One)The Thick of It, The Day Today, Alan Partridge, Veep… an in-depth profile of the influential Scottish comedy writer-director Armando Iannucci. Interviewees include Chris Morris, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Peter Capaldi and Jesse Armstrong.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
12 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Jaw-dropping TV documentary series on romance frauds and cheats back for a second series
Plus, read on to learn about Stephen Fry and Alan Carr's time on Celebrity Traitors ROM CON Jaw-dropping TV documentary series on romance frauds and cheats back for a second series CHANNEL 4 is playing dirty once again by lining up a fresh batch of adulterous scandals for viewers to shake their heads disapprovingly at. I can reveal bosses have commissioned a second instalment of docu- series Love Cheats following its debut run last autumn. Advertisement 8 Fake aristocrat Lord Bertie Underwood — real name Robert Madejski — was jailed for fraud offences Credit: facebook 8 Megan Clarke was scammed by Madejski leaving her £30,000 in debt Credit: Channel 4 And the broadcaster is on the hunt for more real-life victims of relationship scams and lying partners. The original run hit the headlines courtesy of a fake aristocrat called Lord Bertie Underwood — real name Robert Madejski — who set the scumbag bar spectacularly high. He scammed his unsuspecting loving fiancee Megan Clarke by secretly taking out credit in her name, leaving her £30,000 in debt — while he was also sleeping with men on the side. He was later jailed for fraud offences involving another victim. Advertisement A TV insider said: 'The first series made such a big impact Channel 4 chiefs couldn't wait to green light a follow-up.' Research teams are collating more extreme cases to feature and cast their net far and wide. The source added: 'It's shocking so many people's lives have been destroyed by these con artists but there is some consolation that the culprits' actions can be outed in such public fashion.' Other big storylines from series one included a man falling in love with a mum of one who faked having cancer to con him out of almost £10,000, plus twin sisters who were defrauded by a scammer posing as a firefighter. Advertisement Plus, across the pond, a comic-loving man fell for the charms of an equally geeky girl with Multiple Sclerosis. He paid for her medical care, as well as rent, before digging deeper into his pockets to fund the 'life-changing treatment' she desperately needed. I was scammed by fake 'lord' who left me £30K in debt In all, he paid out £80,000 of money he didn't have. And when he realised his dream girlfriend was a scammer, she falsely accused him of domestic abuse, fled to Japan, and targeted more victims. Advertisement Not a very likeable bunch . . . A GRAVE ERROR ON TRAITORS STEPHEN FRY and Alan Carr are staying tight-lipped about their time on Celebrity Traitors – and the rumour mill has started filling in the gaps. Stephen joined the Chatty Man on his Life's A Beach podcast – and the topic turned to the BBC1 show, which was filmed in Scoland and will air this autumn. 8 Stephen Fry is staying tight-lipped about his time on Celebrity Traitors Credit: Alamy Advertisement Alan said: 'We holidayed recently near Inverness in a castle. But we can't say anything.' Stephen replied: 'Not a word.' Alan continued: 'Nothing. And there's already clickbaity things happening. Apparently there's a funeral. There's no bloody funeral. 'We are obviously talking about Celebrity Traitors, which was a wonderful experience. I had to mention it but our lives wouldn't be worth living if we start giving out spoilers.' Advertisement Ok, we get it . . . PERFECT MATCH, ENGLAND IT'S a line up of look-a-likes almost as impressive as the team they're impersonating. The cast of Dear England, the BBC adaptation of the West end play about Gareth Southgate's career, came together to start filming last week. 8 Joseph Fiennes as Gareth Southgate in Dear England Credit: CLICK NEWS - SPLASH Advertisement 8 Michael Watson as Kieran Trippier in the BBC adaptation Credit: Click News and Media 8 Francis Lovehall as Raheem Sterling Credit: Click News and Media 8 Edem-Ita Duke as Marcus Rashford Credit: Click News and Media And it was incredible just how much like the England players who feature in the show, which was using posh public school Harrow to double up as the squad's Stafordshire training ground. Advertisement Former Shakespeare in Love star Joseph Fiennes was arguably the most uncanny doppelganger as the manager Gareth. But the rest of the 'players' were just as convincing - right down to some of the ball skills they were showing off too. We can all witness for ourselves when it airs next year on BBC One. CHANNEL 5 has unveiled a raft of new dramas. Advertisement They include Imposter, starring ex Corrie actress Kym Marsh and Neighbours' Jackie Woodburne. While detective mystery Cooper and Fry, from Stephen Booth's novels, features Downton Abbey's Robert James-Collier. FANS ARE BROWN'S BUOYS MRS Brown's Boys star Brendan O'Carroll says the comedy would be nothing without its studio audience. The Irishman says having a live reaction to the gags brings something extra special in an age where hardly any sitcoms are filmed in front of fans. Advertisement 8 Brendan O'Carroll says Mrs Browns Boys would be nothing without its studio audience Credit: BBC Brendan, who also co-writes the hit series, will be back as matriarch Agnes Brown as the show returns to BBC One for a new four-part mini series, on August 1. Agreeing with Lee Mack, who writes and stars in fellow BBC hit Not Going Out, Brendan said: 'Filming in front of a live audience is essential to the show. 'So many times, at the end of rehearsals, our director, Ben Kellett will say, 'All this needs now is the audience' and he is so right. Advertisement 'They follow every move, every line and add so much to our performances. We would be lost without them.' Sadly, it's a dying art.
The Sun
13 minutes ago
- The Sun
Jaw-dropping TV documentary series on romance frauds and cheats back for a second series
CHANNEL 4 is playing dirty once again by lining up a fresh batch of adulterous scandals for viewers to shake their heads disapprovingly at. I can reveal bosses have commissioned a second instalment of docu- series Love Cheats following its debut run last autumn. 8 8 And the broadcaster is on the hunt for more real-life victims of relationship scams and lying partners. The original run hit the headlines courtesy of a fake aristocrat called Lord Bertie Underwood — real name Robert Madejski — who set the scumbag bar spectacularly high. He scammed his unsuspecting loving fiancee Megan Clarke by secretly taking out credit in her name, leaving her £30,000 in debt — while he was also sleeping with men on the side. He was later jailed for fraud offences involving another victim. A TV insider said: 'The first series made such a big impact Channel 4 chiefs couldn't wait to green light a follow-up.' Research teams are collating more extreme cases to feature and cast their net far and wide. The source added: 'It's shocking so many people's lives have been destroyed by these con artists but there is some consolation that the culprits' actions can be outed in such public fashion.' Other big storylines from series one included a man falling in love with a mum of one who faked having cancer to con him out of almost £10,000, plus twin sisters who were defrauded by a scammer posing as a firefighter. Plus, across the pond, a comic-loving man fell for the charms of an equally geeky girl with Multiple Sclerosis. He paid for her medical care, as well as rent, before digging deeper into his pockets to fund the 'life-changing treatment' she desperately needed. I was scammed by fake 'lord' who left me £30K in debt In all, he paid out £80,000 of money he didn't have. And when he realised his dream girlfriend was a scammer, she falsely accused him of domestic abuse, fled to Japan, and targeted more victims. Not a very likeable bunch . . . A GRAVE ERROR ON TRAITORS STEPHEN FRY and Alan Carr are staying tight-lipped about their time on Celebrity Traitors – and the rumour mill has started filling in the gaps. Stephen joined the Chatty Man on his Life's A Beach podcast – and the topic turned to the BBC1 show, which was filmed in Scoland and will air this autumn. 8 Alan said: 'We holidayed recently near Inverness in a castle. But we can't say anything.' Stephen replied: 'Not a word.' Alan continued: 'Nothing. And there's already clickbaity things happening. Apparently there's a funeral. There's no bloody funeral. 'We are obviously talking about Celebrity Traitors, which was a wonderful experience. I had to mention it but our lives wouldn't be worth living if we start giving out spoilers.' Ok, we get it . . . PERFECT MATCH, ENGLAND IT'S a line up of look-a-likes almost as impressive as the team they're impersonating. The cast of Dear England, the BBC adaptation of the West end play about Gareth Southgate's career, came together to start filming last week. 8 8 8 8 And it was incredible just how much like the England players who feature in the show, which was using posh public school Harrow to double up as the squad's Stafordshire training ground. Former Shakespeare in Love star Joseph Fiennes was arguably the most uncanny doppelganger as the manager Gareth. But the rest of the 'players' were just as convincing - right down to some of the ball skills they were showing off too. We can all witness for ourselves when it airs next year on BBC One. CHANNEL 5 has unveiled a raft of new dramas. They include Imposter, starring ex Corrie actress Kym Marsh and Neighbours' Jackie Woodburne. While detective mystery Cooper and Fry, from Stephen Booth's novels, features Downton Abbey's Robert James-Collier. FANS ARE BROWN'S BUOYS MRS Brown's Boys star Brendan O'Carroll says the comedy would be nothing without its studio audience. The Irishman says having a live reaction to the gags brings something extra special in an age where hardly any sitcoms are filmed in front of fans. 8 Brendan, who also co-writes the hit series, will be back as matriarch Agnes Brown as the show returns to BBC One for a new four-part mini series, on August 1. Agreeing with Lee Mack, who writes and stars in fellow BBC hit Not Going Out, Brendan said: 'Filming in front of a live audience is essential to the show. 'So many times, at the end of rehearsals, our director, Ben Kellett will say, 'All this needs now is the audience' and he is so right. 'They follow every move, every line and add so much to our performances. We would be lost without them.'
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Red Riding Trilogy cast: who is in the movies on Netflix?
Red Riding Trilogy has become a hit since being released on Netflix this month 📺 Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Red Riding Trilogy arrived on Netflix this month. The trio of movies have become a surprise hit again on the streaming service. But who is in the cast - and where do you know them from? An acclaimed British TV classic has become a surprise hit on Netflix after landing on the streaming service this month. The Red Riding trilogy has found a new audience more than 15 years after it was first released on television. Set against the backdrop of the Peter Sutcliffe killings, the three movies are based on novels and feature fictional characters. Originally released by Channel 4, all three have been picked up by the streaming service and are available to watch right now. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dubbed 'Yorkshire Noir' by some, the trilogy boasts an incredible cast of British actors - including a future Marvel star, TV icons and more. Here's all you need to know: Who is in the cast of the Red Riding trilogy? Sean Bean in the Red Riding Trilogy | Channel 4 The films cover almost a decade between them and feature a huge range of actors. Andrew Garfield and Sean Bean are among the most recognisable names as of 2025, but there are plenty of other memorable faces. Red Riding 1974 Eddie Dunford - Andrew Garfield John Dawson - Sean Bean DI Dick Alderman - Shaun Dooley Bet - Lynn Roden BJ (older) - Robert Sheehan Paul Booker - Ian Mercer Leonard Cole - Gerard Kearns Mary Cole - Cara Seymour Sgt/DSupt Bob Craven - Sean Harris Marjorie Dawson - Cathryn Bradshaw PC Tommy Douglas - Tony Mooney Susan Dunford - Rachel Jane Allen Uncle Eric - Graham Walker Sgt Bob Fraser - Steven Robertson Barry Gannon - Anthony Flanagan Paula Garland - Rebecca Hall Gaz - Danny Cunningham George Greaves - Berwick Kaler Bill Hadley - John Henshaw DSupt/DCS Maurice Jobson - David Morrissey Mr Kemplay - Stewart Ross Mrs Kemplay - Jennifer Hennessy Rev Martin Laws - Peter Mullan DCS/ACC Bill Molloy - Warren Clarke Michael Myshkin - Daniel Mays DI Jim Prentice - Chris Walker Clare Strachan - Kelly Freemantle Kathryn Tyler - Michelle Dockery Steph - Katherine Vasey Jack Whitehead - Eddie Marsan Aunt Win - Rita May Red Riding 1980 Eddie Dunford - Andrew Garfield DI Dick Alderman - Shaun Dooley CC Harold Angus - Jim Carter BJ (older) - Robert Sheehan Sgt/DSupt Bob Craven - Sean Harris PC Tommy Douglas - Tony Mooney HMIC Philip Evans - James Fox Elizabeth Hall - Julia Ford Joan Hunter - Lesley Sharp ACC Peter Hunter - Paddy Considine DSupt/DCS Maurice Jobson - David Morrissey Rev Martin Laws - Peter Mullan HMCIC Sir John Marsden - David Calder DC Helen Marshall - Maxine Peake DCS/ACC Bill Molloy - Warren Clarke DCS John Nolan - Tony Pitts DI Jim Prentice - Chris Walker CC Clement Smith - Ron Cook Clare Strachan - Kelly Freemantle Peter Sutcliffe - Joseph Mawle Michael Warren - Nicholas Woodeson Jack Whitehead - Eddie Marsan Red Riding 1983 Eddie Dunford - Andrew Garfield John Dawson - Sean Bean CC Harold Angus - Jim Carter Hazel Atkins - Tamsin Mitchell Mr Atkins - Andrew Cryer DI Dick Alderman - Shaun Dooley BJ (older) - Robert Sheehan BJ (younger) - James Ainsworth Paul Booker - Ian Mercer Leonard Cole - Gerard Kearns Mary Cole - Cara Seymour Sgt/DSupt Bob Craven - Sean Harris PC Tommy Douglas - Tony Mooney Sgt Bob Fraser - Steven Robertson Bill Hadley - John Henshaw Judith Jobson - Lisa Howard DSupt/DCS Maurice Jobson - David Morrissey Jim Kelly - Gary Whittaker Rev Martin Laws - Peter Mullan DCS/ACC Bill Molloy - Warren Clarke Michael Myshkin - Daniel Mays Mrs Myshkin - Beatrice Kelley DCS John Nolan - Tony Pitts John Piggott - Mark Addy DI Jim Prentice - Chris Walker Susan Ridyard - Emily Millicent Mott Kathryn Tyler - Michelle Dockery Tessa - Catherine Tyldesley Mandy Wymer - Saskia Reeves It is impossible to deeply dive into every member of the cast across the three films, but it is truly an incredible line-up. Even back in 2009, Sean Bean was a very recognisable name from his turn as Sharpe in the ITV series - which had concluded the previous year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He had also had a starring turn in the Lord of the Rings films as Boromir at the turn of the millennium. Bean would go on to appear in shows like Game of Thrones and the award winning BBC drama Time. Andrew Garfield might be best known to audiences now as Spider-Man/ Peter Parker - playing the character across three films including the 2022 blockbuster Spider-Man: No Way Home. A year after Red Riding he went on to star in The Social Network as Eduardo Saverin. Viewers now may recognise Michelle Dockery best from her role as Lady Mary Crawley in Downton Abbey. She played the character across its original run on ITV from 2010 to 2015 as well as in the recent big screen movies - and she is set to reprise it in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale later this year. When was Red Riding trilogy released on Netflix? The trio of films originally debuted on Channel 4 back in March 2009. They were released weekly and featured an incredible cast full of actors - including some future stars as well as established names. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The three episodes had a theatrical release in 2010 in the United States. More than a decade later it has now landed on Netflix and it has already proved a hit since its arrival on the streaming service last week. Red Riding 1974 - the first in the trilogy - has shot up the charts on Netflix in the UK. It is currently the 2nd most watched film on the platform as of July 21. Have you watched Red Riding since it arrived on Netflix, or do you remember it from back on Channel 4? Let me know your thoughts on the films by email: . If you love TV, check out our Screen Babble podcast to get the latest in TV and film.
