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ITV viewers rave over police drama dubbed 'the new Line Of Duty' - as they binge through episodes and gush 'I've been waiting a lifetime for this!'
ITV viewers rave over police drama dubbed 'the new Line Of Duty' - as they binge through episodes and gush 'I've been waiting a lifetime for this!'

Daily Mail​

time3 hours ago

  • Entertainment
  • Daily Mail​

ITV viewers rave over police drama dubbed 'the new Line Of Duty' - as they binge through episodes and gush 'I've been waiting a lifetime for this!'

ITV viewers have raved over a police drama dubbed 'the new Line Of Duty ' and binged through episodes. The popular show, titled Karen Pirie, first hit screens in 2022 and the second series launched on Sunday evening. Following Scottish DI Karen Pirie, played by Lauren Lyle, as she tackles cold cases, the programme based on Val McDermid's novels. The show is produced by World Productions, the same company behind other hits including Bodyguard and Line Of Duty. Sunday's episode saw Detective Karen investigate a challenging kidnapping case when a man's body is found. The remaining episodes of the new season will air each Sunday evening on ITV1, and will be available to stream on ITVX. The new season of Karen Pirie was well-received by some fans who took to social media to rave. One posted on X: 'Enjoyable first episode of the new series, so intriguing I immediately binge-watched the other two on ITVX!' Another chimed in: 'I thought #KarenPirie was excellent TV, looking forward to next Sunday.' Someone else said: '35 minutes in and I'm hooked. This is brilliant #KarenPirie.' 'Feel like I've been waiting a lifetime for this new series of #KarenPirie,' one fan posted. 'The new Line of Duty I think!' someone else said, according to WalesOnline. Another reportedly added: 'Watched the first three episodes already! So good.' 'Tried watching #KarenPirie but really don't care about any character past or present. Boring drama by numbers.' The new season of Karen Pirie was well-received by some fans who took to social media to rave, though not everyone was so impressed The Mail's Christoper Stevens rated the drama an impressive five out of five stars. He described the story line and various 'plots as deep and dark as a coal mine shaft'. 'The characters aren't merely well drawn — they're alive, constantly seeking to understand and learn more about each other,' the critic gushed.

Popular Strictly pro set to have their inspiring life story told on BBC in ‘pinch me' moment
Popular Strictly pro set to have their inspiring life story told on BBC in ‘pinch me' moment

The Sun

time13-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • The Sun

Popular Strictly pro set to have their inspiring life story told on BBC in ‘pinch me' moment

HE rose from humble origins in South Africa and endured years of homophobic bullying in school before becoming a Strictly Come Dancing favourite. Now Johannes Radebe will likely have his life story air on the BBC. 5 5 5 The South African pro was persuaded to stay on the show this year despite a busy schedule that saw him making his biopic and touring the nation with musical Kinky Boots. I exclusively revealed two years ago how Johannes' life story, based on his autobiography, Jojo: Finally Home, was under way. This week, he said: 'It's a 'pinch me' moment. "The beginning stages are happening now and BBC Films have just jumped on board too. 'It simply means that my people, who helped me get where I am, are worthy and they can dream because I know where they come from. "There are a lack of role models and they feel like they can't achieve anything but I hope this is like a beacon of light for them to say all of you contributed to me and my success is your success.' Johannes joined Strictly in 2018. In 2021 he reached the final with chef John Whaite, where they lost out to ex-EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice. Strictly's Johannes Radebe heartbroken as family are BANNED from entering country and miss his big opening night of show NEW TAKE ON PUB BOMBING THE team behind BBC's Line Of Duty are planning a drama about the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings. Simon Heath, who heads up World Productions, believes it's time viewers learnt more about the 21 victims of the IRA attack. Six men from Northern Ireland served 16 years in prison after being wrongly convicted for the bombing in 1975. They became known as the Birmingham Six. The new drama will focus on the lives of the victims and their loved ones who have campaigned for justice. Brummie Simon said: 'Everyone knows about the Birmingham Six, but the families of the 21 victims still don't know who planted the bombs. 'They don't get the publicity they deserve. But there's a script and we're going to try. 'I just want to support the city. 'I don't think it has had a fair crack of the whip.' LARRY LAMB says his turn as Mick Shipman in Gavin & Stacey: The Finale will likely be his last on the box. The actor said he would consider taking on small stage parts 'to keep my face in' but insisted that he's happy to let others perform the 'bigger roles' and head into retirement. NATURE'S CALLING DOUGIE SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters ended up being far more than just another TV job for Dougie Poynter. The ITV series, which starts tonight at 9pm, follows celebs as they take to treacherous waters off Bimini in the Bahamas. Facing the beasts has changed the McFly and I'm A Celeb winner forever. He said: 'I came back and it hit me so hard that I'm not still out there doing it. I think I want to do nature stuff for the rest of my life, in any sort of capacity. 'Any trip I do or TV show, I hope it has a nature element in it, because that's what I'm happy doing. 'I feel connected to what we actually are, just creatures of Earth, without sounding cheesy. 'I'm sharing the planet with all these other things that are way more fascinating than myself.' CILLIAN'S DREAM CILLIAN MURPHY swapped the brutality of Peaky Blinders for a children's animation, so his kids have the chance to enjoy his work. The actor, best known as Tommy Shelby in the gritty saga, lends his voice to play Dad in Kensuke's Kingdom. Cillian said: 'I had read Kensuke's Kingdom to my boys when they were little and they were enthralled by it. 'I wanted to be involved in the film version so they could see it, and also because I don't really make that many films for kids.' An adaptation of Michael Morpugo's book, follows a young boy who is shipwrecked on a remote island after falling overboard during a family sailing trip. He discovers he's not alone when he encounters Kensuke, a former Japanese soldier who has lived there since World War Two. It lands on the BBC next month. LONG-RUNNING Aussie soap Neighbours filmed its last ever scenes on Friday after being scrapped for a second time.

Netflix adds all 4 episodes of 'gripping' spy thriller with Line of Duty star
Netflix adds all 4 episodes of 'gripping' spy thriller with Line of Duty star

Metro

time23-06-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Metro

Netflix adds all 4 episodes of 'gripping' spy thriller with Line of Duty star

The cast is a real who's who of British acting talent (Picture: BBC/World Productions/Matt Burlem) If you're in the mood for political intrigue, Netflix has just added a dark tale of espionage, terrorism and betrayal set in Victorian London. Based on Joseph Conrad's terrorism satire novel, The Secret Agent originally aired on the BBC back in 2016. Film critic Roger Ebert once labelled Conrad's novel of the same name 'perhaps the least filmable novel he ever wrote' – alongside a one-star review of the 1996 film adaptation. However this four-part adaptation adds plenty of plot goings-ons to the novel's character study to make it pop on the 1886-set screen. The drama centres around Verloc, the owner of a smutty Soho sex shop, who has a side hustle on the go as an informer for the Russian embassy, keeping tabs on a group of anarchists in the capital – whose aims are to 'attack the rich!' But when the Russians make new demands on Verloc, involving a bomb plot, his identity is put at risk – all the more so because his wife keeps inviting the anarchists to their home for revolutionary meetings. Get personalised updates on all things Netflix Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. The cast is a real who's who of British acting talent, with Toby Jones heading up the show as Verloc and Vicky McClure playing his wife Winnie. The Secret Agent is based on Joseph Conrad's terrorism satire novel (Picture: BBC/World Productions/Des Willie) The show taps into the hotbed of European radicalism at the time (Picture: BBC/World Productions/Mark Mainz) To round out the top of the call sheet, Stephen Graham joins them as the police Chief Inspector Heat – naturally, a very cool name for the eternally cool actor. The show taps into the hotbed of European radicalism at the time, with the central terrorist attack inspired by a real-life plot to blow up the Greenwich Observatory. Jones said it's no mistake we're drawn to spy stories, telling The Times in 2016: 'We know we live in a surveillance society, we're being watched, we're watching, we've always said we don't fully trust what politicians say, but now we know not to trust them. Conrad had the original spy story.' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page Toby Jones said he was 'gripped' by the show's storytelling (Picture: BBC/World Productions/Des Willie) Jones went on to say he was 'gripped' by the show's storytelling and the performances of his fellow actors, but then added: 'I don't like anything I do. All I see is what I don't do.' When the show was first released, the Radio Times hailed it as a 'gripping period tale exploring urgent modern anxieties', while The Telegraph described it as 'one of the bleakest, murkiest and most disturbing dramas this year'. However, the reviews were a mixed bag, with the Guardian dismayed at what had been lost from the original novel, while The New York Times described the show as a family soap opera that didn't get at the character's psychologies. The Secret Agent is available to stream on Netflix. 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. Arrow MORE: How to stream Sleeper Cell TV series that left viewers 'in constant state of suspense' Arrow MORE: 'Chilling' crime thriller enters Netflix top 10 with all five episodes available to stream Arrow MORE: Netflix's new racy Spanish drama has fans 'bingeing it in one go'

ITV AND WORLD PRODUCTIONS REVEAL THRILLING FIRST LOOK AT THE SECOND SERIES OF AWARD-WINNING AUDIENCE FAVOURITE, KAREN PIRIE
ITV AND WORLD PRODUCTIONS REVEAL THRILLING FIRST LOOK AT THE SECOND SERIES OF AWARD-WINNING AUDIENCE FAVOURITE, KAREN PIRIE

ITV News

time11-06-2025

  • Entertainment
  • ITV News

ITV AND WORLD PRODUCTIONS REVEAL THRILLING FIRST LOOK AT THE SECOND SERIES OF AWARD-WINNING AUDIENCE FAVOURITE, KAREN PIRIE

ITV AND WORLD PRODUCTIONS REVEAL THRILLING FIRST LOOK AT THE SECOND SERIES OF AWARD-WINNING AUDIENCE FAVOURITE, KAREN PIRIE COLD-CASE DRAMA TO RETURN TO UK SCREENS IN JULY AND OCTOBER ON BRITBOX IN THE U.S. AND CANADA WITH 2 X BAFTA SCOTLAND WINNER LAUREN LYLE, JAMES COSMO AND MORE 'THIS FEMALE-LED CRIME DRAMA ABSOLUTELY SINGS' – THE GUARDIAN 'ITV HAS A NEW JEWEL IN ITS CROWN' – THE IPAPER KAREN PIRIE 2025 © ITV/World Productions/Photographer: Mark Mainz Link to imagery here Wednesday 11th June: ITV and World Productions (Line of Duty, Malpractice) have revealed the first look at the return of the critically-acclaimed cold-case drama Karen Pirie. Double BAFTA Scotland winner Lauren Lyle reprises her role as audience-favourite Detective Inspector Karen Pirie, with a riveting new case to solve. After thrilling audiences as one of ITV's most-watched dramas, the 3 x120' drama, based on celebrated author Val McDermid's A Darker Domain and adapted by Emer Kenny (The Curse, Save Me Too) will return for a second series to ITV, STV, ITVX and STV Player in July and on BritBox in the U.S. and Canada in October. The first look pictures offer a glimpse into the thrilling 'must-watch' (Stylist) new series, hailed as 'a refreshing take on the detective-genre'. After her bittersweet success in series one, Karen has been promoted to Detective Inspector and seemingly given the authority she has long been fighting for. Just as she's getting into the swing of her powerful new role, she is assigned an infamous unsolved case that will put her under intense scrutiny; from her boss, from the media, and ultimately, from sinister forces that would rather the past stayed in the past. The 1984 case of Catriona and Adam Grant has confounded investigators and intrigued the public like no other. Catriona, the charming young heiress to a vast oil fortune, and her two year old son Adam, were brutally kidnapped at gunpoint outside a fish and chip shop in Fife. The ransom notes that followed stirred up an uncontrollable press storm, but when the culprits fell silent, the police faltered, and Catriona and Adam were never seen again. Now, a man's body has been discovered, with indisputable links to the original kidnap. With the first piece of evidence in decades, Karen must assemble an unbeatable team alongside her sincere and lovable sidekick DC Jason 'Mint' Murray (Chris Jenks) and the brilliant – but romantically complicated – DS Phil Parhatka (Zach Wyatt). With the international renown of the kidnap and the constant pressure from Catriona's father, Sir Broderick Grant (James Cosmo), the team take on the biggest challenge of their careers to date. As Karen delves deeper into what happened in the autumn of 1984, political grudges and painful secrets reveal themselves, and it soon becomes clear… the past is far from dead. Lauren Lyle (Outlander, The Outrun) appears alongside series one regulars Chris Jenks (Sex Education, Vigil), Zach Wyatt (Timestalker, The Witcher: Blood Origin), Steve John Shepherd (Harry Potter), Emer Kenny (The Curse), and Rakhee Thakrar (Wonka). Joining the returning cast are Saskia Ashdown (Six Four), James Cosmo (Braveheart), Frances Tomelty (Unforgotten), and John Michie (Holby City). Bringing the 1980s to life are previously announced cast members Julia Brown (World on Fire), Mark Rowley (One Day), Kat Ronney (Dinosaur), Conor Berry (Schemers), Stuart Campbell (The Winter King), Jamie Michie (Back to Life), Madeleine Worrall (The Legend of Tarzan), Jack Stewart (Outlander), Thoren Ferguson (Rebus), and Helen Katamba (The Nest). New additions to the present-day storyline include James Fleet (Bridgerton), Tom Mannion (Mr Selfridge), and Tommaso Basili (Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints). As one of ITV's most-watched new dramas of 2022, the first series premiered with 6.6 million viewers, and averaged 5.9m across each episode. Praised for its compelling twists and humour, the star-making turn saw the series win both Best Actress Television and the Audience Award for Favourite Scot on Screen at BAFTA Scotland for Lauren Lyle, Best Drama at the Celtic Media Festival and a Best Mini-Series nomination at the British Press Guild Awards. The series earnt critical acclaim as 'modern and fresh' (The Times) and 'a truly exceptional example of the TV crime genre' (Heat). Karen Pirie is written by Emer Kenny and is executive produced by Simon Heath and Emma Luffingham at World Productions, Emer Kenny and Val McDermid. The series is directed by Gareth Bryn with Amanda Blue directing episode three, and produced by Marcus Wilson. It is produced in association with ITV Studios, which handles global distribution. Filming took place in Scotland and Malta. The series has been commissioned by Polly Hill, Director of Drama for ITV, and Drama Commissioner Huw Kennair-Jones. Huw has overseen production on behalf of the broadcaster. Karen Pirie will air on ITV1 and STV and be available for streaming on ITVX and STV Player and BritBox in the U.S. and Canada. World Productions are part of ITV Studios.

The Bombing of Pan Am 103 is poignant and fascinating
The Bombing of Pan Am 103 is poignant and fascinating

New Statesman​

time22-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • New Statesman​

The Bombing of Pan Am 103 is poignant and fascinating

Photo by BBC/World Productions It is a strange thing, to be moved by luggage; to be brought almost to tears by the sight of an unwieldy suitcase or a bulging holdall. But in The Bombing of Pan Am 103, the BBC's new drama about the Lockerbie air disaster, baggage does a lot of work, emotional and otherwise. Obviously, in the first instance it's a metaphor for lives cut brutally short at 31,000 feet. The crime scene on the ground below covered some 850 square miles, a radiating map of horror comprising bodies, fuselage and intimate possessions. Ten thousand pieces of evidence would eventually be gathered by investigators, among them the charred fragments of the suitcase that had contained the bomb that brought the plane down. Perhaps, though, there's more to it than this. So many were killed that night: 243 passengers and 16 crew; 11 souls in the small Scottish town of Lockerbie. How might a television series deal with such a number? In the first episode, we see people boarding the plane. They're excited. It's Christmas, and they're on their way to celebrate with those they love. But we don't get to know them, or to care about them: the demands of drama, as well as the complexity of this particular story, means there's too little time. It's here, then, that luggage steps in. Oh, the tenderness of packing! Clothes carefully folded, more precious things layered in-between. In 1988, the wheeled bag was not yet ubiquitous. These suitcases, brown and ugly, are made of nylon and pleather, and as a result, tear all the harder at the heart. People travelled less then, and they took more with them. In their sateen-lined compartments is the whole of ordinary life, precious and sweet. It smells of toothpaste and aftershave and home. I hadn't expected much of Jonathan Lee's series, maybe because Sky Atlantic's Lockerbie drama earlier this year – Colin Firth played Dr Jim Swire, who spent decades fighting for justice for his daughter, Flora, who was killed in the bombing – was so disappointing, bogged down in detail and oddly flavourless. But it turns out I was wrong: this is a superior telling of the story, poignant and fascinating in equal measure. Lee, it's clear, did a lot of research. His screenplay is attentive to the small things, as well as the big (for instance, to the determination of a group of Lockerbie women to return the victims' possessions to their families, a job for which the Dumfries and Galloway Police have no time). But it benefits, too, from being an ensemble piece rather than a star vehicle. The lens is wide-angle, and all the better for it. I'm not sure about the accent wielded by Tom Thurman (Eddie Marsan), an FBI explosives expert who lends his knowhow to the investigation; his vowels appear to be on a long-distance flight of their own, from Texas to Somerset and back again. The loaf-like wig worn by Moira Shearer (Phyllis Logan), who serves tea and pies to exhausted servicemen and women in a Lockerbie school hall, looks like it was filched from the wardrobe of a Seventies impressionist. But otherwise, I'm all in. If Peter Mullan is reliably proficient as DCS John Orr, the senior investigating officer at Lockerbie, Connor Swindells (yes, from SAS: Rogue Heroes) is even more dexterous as Ed McCusker, a sergeant who's one of the first on the scene. Partly, it's physiological: that magnificent forehead of his, deployed here to signal kindness and concentration. But you have the sense, too, of an actor who's always listening to his co-stars, responding to them rather than merely anticipating his own lines. He is pale, low key, entirely convincing. On the night of the bomb, he finds a Lockerbie boy, Stephen (Archie McCormack), desperately combing the rubble of his home. Later, he visits him, taking with him one of his jackets for a forthcoming memorial service, and a bag of old comics. It's such a delicate scene. What good are cartoons, or even a good jacket, in the face of such loss? Somehow, though, Swindells pulls it off, triteness dodged. The boy, understanding that this policeman is only doing his best, gives him a pass, and in that moment McCusker's sudden shame becomes a gratitude you see in his shoulders as well as in his smile. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe The Bombing of Pan Am 103 BBC One [See also: Are the Blairites still the future?] Related

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