Deirdre Reynolds: Sex and the City spin-off is just toe-curlingly bad
It's nothing to do with the fact that the remaining three ladies, shown as being in their fifties on the show and ranging from 59 to 60 in reality, aren't exactly spring chickens any more
Kim Cattrall
Airing here on Sky Comedy, the Sex and the City spin-off limped towards the halfway point this week, and I'm no longer mad that it's so toe-curlingly bad - worse than that, I'm sad.
When the HBO 'dramedy' first tottered onto TV screens back in 1998, following the lives of four single friends living in New York, it shattered taboos around everything from female pleasure to boardroom gender politics, and paved the way for a new brand of feminist television from Girls to The Mindy Project.
Back then, we were all clamouring to identify as one of the fab four: be it fashionable Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), whipsmart Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon), picture perfect Charlotte York (Kristin Davis) or sexually liberated Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall).
Kim Cattrall
Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 6th
As a newly qualified journalist, catching up on Darren Star's creation during the heady early noughties, there are no prizes for guessing which one in my friend group I fancied myself as, though it's taken a decade or two to figure out that, unlike writer Carrie, tragically you can't live off penning a single newspaper column per week, no matter how sassy it is.
Fast forward to 2025, and now, the only one any of us aspire to be is Samantha, after Cattrall had the good sense to leap from the sinking ship that was Sex and the City 2 in 2010, while trousering a rumoured $1m for a minutes-long cameo in the season two finale of And Just Like That in 2023.
It's nothing to do with the fact that the remaining three ladies, shown as being in their fifties on the show and ranging from 59 to 60 in reality, aren't exactly spring chickens any more.
There are plenty of top tier shows such as Hacks (starring 73 year-old Jean Smart) and Somebody Somewhere (starring 53 year-old Bridget Everett) with older female protagonists.
It's that the beloved characters appear to have been lobotomised since the original series, based on Candace Bushnell's 1997 book of the same name.
Take, most egregiously, Miranda, one the sarcastic rock of sense on Sex and the City, who has been reduced to an embarrassing meme in the latest installment of And Just Like That, and whose ex-husband Steve (played by David Eigenberg), a series regular, has apparently just dropped off a cliff. Read more
Or Aidan (John Corbett), the once swoony furniture designer, who has been rewritten into such an insufferable drip of a divorced dad, that you wonder why Carrie would wait five minutes for him, let alone five years, as the excuse of a storyline demands.
Now, in the grand scheme of things, I understand that a disappointing TV show is the least of the world's worries right now.
On the other hand, what's airing round the clock over on the news channels is also part of the reason why good quality escapism has never been more essential.
And Just Like That hasn't just jumped the shark - it's backflipped clean over it.
For us Millennials who bought the box sets, coffee table books and movie premiere tickets, before streaming was ever a thing, it's a betrayal made only worse by Carrie retroactively branding the show's anti-hero Mr Big (Chris Noth), who also had the foresight to drop dead on an exercise bike in episode one of the revival, as 'a big mistake'.
Honestly, these writers aren't making it any easier to defend the erstwhile singles poster girl, who has been recast by the TikTok generation as a red flag magnet, not to mention a toxic friend, who even as a fifty-something widow is still lambasting Miranda for eating her last yogurt.
Still, like all SATC devotees, I'll Carrie on in the hope that Shoe the cat can save the franchise - and drown my sorrows with a large glass of Sarah Jessica Parker's Invivo X wine if not.
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The Irish Sun
a day ago
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Star of Emmy-winning TV series reveals she's now working in restaurant kitchen after axe from show
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The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
We swapped cocktails in Ibiza for summer holiday in Afghanistan… why it's become unlikely tourist hotspot for Brit women
STROLLING along a pristine street adorned with shrines glittering in the sunshine and cafes offering tasty local delicacies, Carrie Patsalis snaps a photo for her holiday album. But this isn't a city break in the Advertisement 21 Carrie Patsalis swapped cocktails in Ibiza for a holiday to Afghanistan Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 21 Unlike local women who aren't allowed out of their homes, Carrie was able to soak up the culture and enjoy local delicacies Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 21 Carrie visited cultural monuments and shrines during her trip to the country, which is under strict Taliban rule Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Despite its oppressive regime and appalling human rights record - and an advisory against all travel to the country from the UK government - Carrie is one of a growing number of British women who have swapped cocktails in Ibiza for a holiday in one of the world's top terror hotspots. Only 691 tourists are believed to have visited the country in 2021, but this rose to an estimated 5,200 in 2023 as the government is trying to encourage more tourism. Earlier this month the Taliban launched a warped campaign to lure more visitors, complete with a bizarre video showing spoof hostages and gunmen in the back of pick-up trucks and frolicking in lakes amid stunning mountain scenery. Ever since Afghanistan - which doesn't have a British embassy - was seized by Taliban authorities in 2021, its citizens have experienced Advertisement READ MORE FEATURES In August last year women's voices were banned from being heard outside of the house and they are not allowed to visit public parks, gyms or use transport without a male chaperone. Authorities dictate how they dress, and Afghan women do not have access to education beyond primary school level. Anyone who is critical of the Taliban regime faces being tortured. However, it is slowly becoming an unlikely destination for brave travellers looking for a true culture shock. Advertisement Most read in News Travel Home-stays are not allowed and tourists can only stay in hotels verified by the Taliban. Carrie, a media producer from Wanstead, London, travelled by herself to Afghanistan for 10 days, accompanied by a male tour guide. Taliban launches warped Afghan TOURISM campaign with vid of brutes posing beside 'hostage' in ISIS-style mock execution Just six days after she left, a terrorist attack saw three Spanish tourists killed in the Bamiyan province, the largest in the Central region. A tour guide Carrie met during a trip to neighbouring Pakistan encouraged her to visit Afghanistan, insisting it would 'blow her mind'. Advertisement But it took two years before she even considered it as she didn't want to support the controversial Taliban regime. She eventually decided she wanted to see for herself what local life was like for Afghan people. After extensive research she found a local guide she felt comfortable with who helped her book the trip and answered questions over FaceTime. Carrie told The Sun: "He said, 'You've got to come, it'll blow your mind, it's not what you think.' Advertisement 'I was like, 'No way, absolutely not.' I felt like if I went I was supporting something I don't agree with. The first thing that struck me was how super clean the streets were. Everything was very quiet and calm. You'd imagine it would be carnage and it wasn't Carrie Patsalis 'It took me a lot of time and consideration, and then I just thought, 'Maybe if I go, I can see how local life is and we can talk about it on social media.' "It was a risk but I felt I'd done enough research." Carrie only told her husband and 16-year-old twin sons about the trip to avoid scaring the rest of her family. Advertisement It cost her just over £1,100 for a return flight to Afghanistan, and she stopped off for two days in Dubai to collect her visa which cost around £220. Landing at Kabul International Airport on May 2 last year, she was surprised to be greeted by 'massive smiles'. She recalled: "I was nervous flying in as there is no British embassy. Hospitals are not well-equipped at all. I took my own medical supplies in and I went in very, very steady. "The first thing that struck me was how super clean the streets were. Everything was very quiet and calm. You'd imagine it would be carnage and it wasn't. Advertisement "Afghan people are very kind, sweet and shy. You notice immediately there are no women on the streets." Unpleasant encounter 21 Carrie visited 'White Flag Hill', home to a large white flag raised by the Taliban that features the Islamic declaration of faith in black writing Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 21 Carrie was shocked when a local man asked her for a picture, only to be escorted away by Taliban guards Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media During her stay in Kabul, the capital, she visited stunning shrines, reflected on the impact of War at Babur Garden and tasted local delicacies. Advertisement One day she visited 'White Flag Hill', home to a large white flag raised by the Taliban that features the Islamic declaration of faith in black writing. Feeling out of place as the only woman up the hill, she was shocked to witness a local man be punished simply for asking to take a photo with her. Carrie said: "I noticed that the men up there were intrigued [by me] but also backing away from me. "One young guy came up to me and was like, 'It's amazing to see you here' and we had a chat. 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Trailed by Taliban guard s 21 In Kandahar, Carrie's tour guide drove her through the lively city for a day of visiting the beautiful mosques and historic landmarks Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 21 Carrie was trailed the whole day by a man on a motorbike, seemingly a Taliban guard keeping an eye on her Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 21 Carrie captured the man on the bike on her camera Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Advertisement 21 Local Afghan women are denied an education past primary school age Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media In Kandahar, Carrie's tour guide drove her through the lively city for a day of visiting the beautiful mosques and historic landmarks such as the Friday Mosque, known for housing the cloak of the Prophet Muhammad. During the six-hour trip, the tour guide parked up the car to allow Carrie to admire the historical shrines. 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Foreign privilege 21 Throughout her travels Carrie couldn't forget her 'foreign privilege' as unlike local women, she could visit public places Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 21 Carrie said her trip to Afghanistan was incredibly rewarding and she wants to go back Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Advertisement 21 Carrie recommends anyone interested in travelling to Afghanistan does their research beforehand Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Throughout her travels Carrie couldn't forget her 'foreign privilege' as unlike local women, she could visit public places, which she admitted 'didn't sit right'. While she encourages others to experience the country's 'beautiful culture', she urges people to be 'completely aware of the risks' before travelling there. Carrie said: "My trip to Afghanistan was incredibly rewarding and I do want to go back. Advertisement 'What I wouldn't do is say, 'Sure, go and book your flight now.' 'It is a regime that is not recognised politically by many governments around the world. If you go you must be completely aware of the risks and it must be a risk you are willing to take. "But when we only talk about the Taliban and women we lose the opportunity to celebrate what is a beautiful culture." 'No more dangerous than UK night out' 21 Zoe Stephens has visited Afghanistan three times between August last year and June 2025 Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Advertisement 21 Zoe travels with a group of up to eight women and with local female tour guides to get a glimpse into the daily lives of women and girls living there Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 21 Zoe sticks to following cultural norms to avoid unwanted attention Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Zoe Stephens, 31, who works for Koryo Tours and lives in Crosby, Liverpool, has visited Afghanistan three times between August 2024 and June 2025. She travels with a group of up to eight women and with local female tour guides to get a glimpse into the daily lives of women and girls living there. Advertisement It took a year of researching and planning, which included a research trip in August 2024, before she was able to safely take her first tour group there. Zoe said: "Everything is a risk in life. For me, the risk of going to Afghanistan is no more dangerous than walking the streets of a bustling city centre on a dark night. "People always think they know better. They always warn you against going to these places. "I'm confident in myself to go to these places because of my ability to handle any tricky situation, and if I didn't then I wouldn't go. Advertisement Everything is a risk in life. For me, the risk of going to Afghanistan is no more dangerous than walking the streets of a bustling city centre on a dark night Zoe Stephens 'I had chatted to other travellers who'd been there and done my research. I wanted to see what it's really like." Zoe doesn't let any of her group walk around alone and sticks to cultural norms to avoid unwanted attention. Recounting her first-hand experiences with the 'morality police' - a law enforcement body which implements strict interpretation of Islamic morality - she said: 'They're the ones you have to watch out for. "It's not allowed for women to go into public parks. There are a couple of instances where they very politely enforce these laws. Advertisement 'If you're a woman and you're there then they may come up to you and politely ask you to leave. "It's a very brief insight into the daily life of what the women there have to deal with. "The biggest rule is how you're dressed. I always go on respecting and trying to blend in rather than sticking out and challenging any cultural norms. 'That would be to wear clothing down to your wrists and ankles and having your hair covered at all times. Advertisement "The main thing is modesty, not just in clothing but in behaviour as well. I wouldn't recommend going around singing and dancing." Pro-tourism 21 Zoe saw first-hand how the Taliban are trying to encourage more tourism Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 21 Zoe says visitors must be wary of the 'morality police' Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 21 Zoe said the Afghan women she came into contact with were ' so similar to us' Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Advertisement Zoe and her group took part in traditional embroidery and cooking classes with local women and visited a women's retreat centre. She said it allowed her to see a different side to the lives of Afghan women. "When all we see in the media is Afghan women as shapes behind cloth, that's all we see them as,' she said. 'The Afghan women that I know and have seen and danced with, gossiped with and laughed with, are women who have great ambition and are so similar to us. Advertisement "But the reality for some people is they're not allowed to leave their house. It's about seeing these different dimensions." The traveller says she saw first-hand how the Taliban are trying to encourage more tourism. The Afghan women that I know and have seen and danced with, gossiped with and laughed with, are women who have great ambition and are so similar to us. But the reality for some people is they're not allowed to leave their house Zoe Stephens During her stay in Kandahar, a government minister decided to film her group as part of a 'propaganda video' by the Taliban for its X account. But she wasn't allowed to be part of it because she is a woman. Advertisement Zoe said: "At the moment, for a traveller, the authorities are on your side. It's in your favour to cooperate with them. It was a surprise during my first visit. "When you speak to them you realise there are varying levels and not everyone subscribes to certain ideologies. "The minister wanted to get us on camera and make films, literal propaganda videos. They're very pro-tourism.' Zoe would recommend Afghanistan as a travel destination to Brits to better understand the culture and people - but she advises caution. Advertisement 'Afghanistan has quickly become one of my favourite countries. You need to experience it to believe it,' she said. "The amount of things the Afghans have been through compared to their warmth, resilience and friendliness, they're just incredible people. "Do your research beforehand, and if you're not willing to follow the cultural norms and be respectful, then don't go.' 21 Zoe and her group took part in traditional embroidery and cooking classes with local women Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Advertisement 21 Zoe says Afghanistan is one of her favourite countries to visit Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 21 Zoe would recommend Afghanistan as a travel destination to Brits to better understand the culture and people - but she advises caution Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Six TV series to inspire your next getaway from European wine villages to exotic islands
ARE you struggling to think of where to go on your next holiday? How about getting inspired from your favourite TV show? Advertisement 14 Emily in Paris has given every fan a number of TV hot spots to find in the French capital Credit: GIULIA PARMIGIANI/NETFLIX 14 White Lotus season three was filmed on Koh Samui Credit: HBO Whether you're a fan of the sun or want more of an active holiday, there are TV shows that have seen it all. Here are the top six TV shows that have us wanting to book a getaway ASAP, from tiny villages in Portugal to beautiful vineyards. White Lotus Aside from the murder, weird goings on and strange guests at the White Lotus resort, it's an incredibly enviable holiday destination. The very first season starring Advertisement Read More on TV stays For season two, they moved production to the Four Seasons San Domenico Hotel in Taormina, As for season three, it returns with eight episodes on February 16, 2025, where they filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui is a small island off the east coast of mainland Thailand making it the best place for diving and snorkelling. The stunning desert paradise offers hillside villas, pools overlooking the ocean and personal residential assistants to help guests with whatever they need. Advertisement Most read in News Travel The fastest way to get to Koh Samui is by flying to Samui International Airport (USM). You can fly from There are lots of attractions on the island, from a sunset cruise to visiting the Big Buddha Temple. You can stay in these six holiday homes from TV & Film 14 The fastest way to get to Koh Samui is by flying to Samui International Airport Credit: HBO 14 The series is set in the luxurious Four Seasons Resort Advertisement The Good Ship Murder Much of the filming for this Channel 5 drama took place on the MSC Virtuosa, a cruise ship operating out of Southampton. The ship is used for all the location shots while still carrying fee-paying passengers. While there are a few murders, much of the show has a stunning backdrop because the majority is filmed in Malta. The island country in the Med is the perfect place for a getaway and there are plenty of filming hot spots to hit if you're a fan of the series too. Advertisement Filming has previously taken place in the church in the village of Mellieha, Imġiebaħ Bay, St Christopher's Street, the Upper Barrakka Gardens, Victoria Gate which are all in Valletta, the country's capital. 14 The Good Ship Murder films on an actually cruise ship that goes out of Southampton Credit: Channel 5 14 The majority of filming in series one took place in Malta's capital city, Valletta Credit: Alamy Love Island: All Stars Reality fans are glued to the current Love Island series, but we're obsessed with the villa from Love Island: All Stars on ITV2. Advertisement In the backdrop of the Franschhoek winelands is the beautiful villa, If you don't need a resort, there are lots of apartments for rent around Franschhoek, which is an hour drive outside of South Africa's capital of Franschhoek is known for being one of the most beautiful wine villages in the world and stands out as the premier wine and food region of South Africa. There are lots of opportunities to explore the winelands and the neighbouring mountains by horse or tram. Advertisement 14 The Ludus Magnus villa is in the Franschhoek winelands of South Africa Credit: ITV 14 Franschhoek is an hour drive outside of South Africa's capital, Cape Town Credit: Getty Emily in Paris Luckily for us, a trip to Paris is pretty easy thanks to the Eurostar. Emily and her French pals have given us plenty of places to check out. From the Bistro Terra Nera which doubles as Gabriel's Restaurant. Emily's go-to bakery is La Boulangerie Moderne, and her famous apartment is just around the corner on Place de l'Estrapade. Advertisement As fans know, in season four, the characters ventured out of Paris and went to the French Alps. They stayed in the Haute-Savoie town of Megève which is the perfect place for a skiing break. 14 You can visit Emily's favourite haunts in Paris like the Bistro Terra Nera which doubles as Gabriel's Restaurant Credit: © 2024 Netflix, Inc. 14 The French town of Megève, Haute-Savoie is perfect for a skiing holiday Advertisement The Split: Barcelona The Split spin-off in The characters are reunited at a wedding that takes place in a vineyard - one you can go to. The Torre del Veguer vineyard is in Sant Pere de Ribes. The vineyard is located about an hour and a half's drive from Barcelona. The vineyard offers lots of activities from yoga and wine sessions, wine pairing experiences and a tours of the vineyard which come before a wine tasting. Advertisement 14 The Torre del Veguer vineyard is in Sant Pere de Ribes Credit: BBC 14 The vineyard offers lots of activities like yoga and wine sessions Credit: PA House of the Dragon The Game of Thrones spin-off used so many locations to create the other world of Westeros. A lot of the backdrop you see is actually filmed in Wales and Cornwall, but there are a few of locations outside of the UK too. Advertisement Monsanto in Portugal doubles for Dragonstone, the ancestral home for House Targaryen, one of the forty dragonlord families, in the first season. The village is perched on top of a hill is famous for its ancient castle, boulders and is considered one of the most picturesque villages in Portugal. If you fancy a stay in the village, there are some charming Airbnb's available to rent for as little as £80 per night. 14 Monsanto in Portugal doubles for Dragonstone, the ancestral home for House Targaryen Credit: Home Box Office Advertisement 14 The village is perched on top of a hill is famous for its ancient castle and boulders Credit: Alamy
