News

Dalgliesh has its premiere date. Season three of the British detective series will arrive in December, and Acorn TV has released a trailer teasing the show's return.

Bertie Carvel, Carlyss Peer, and Alistair Brammer star in the Dalgliesh series, which is based on the novels by P.D. James. Set in the mid-1970s, the crime drama follows Commander Adam Dalgliesh (Carvel) and his team as they investigate crimes.

Anton Lesser, Lloyd Owen, Claire Goose, Liz White, Adam James, Richard Lintern, Ellora Torchia, Parth Thakerar, Soni Razdan, and Josie Walker will be guest stars this season.

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Exclusive: A third season of Acorn TV and Channel 5 detective drama Dalgliesh has begun filming in Northern Ireland.

Produced by New Pictures (The Long Shadow) for Acorn and C5 in association with All3Media International, the third run will include lead actor Bertie Carvel making his directorial debut.

Another three P.D. James novels will be adapted for the season over two hour-long episodes each, in which Commander Dalgliesh is seen with Margaret Thatcher on the cusp of power in the UK. In the first book, Death in Holy Orders, Dalgliesh travels to a remote seminary overlooking a windswept lake, where a body has been found gruesomely murdered. Nearly everyone in the seminary has reason to resent the victim, and Dalgliesh and DS Tarrant must unpick a complicated set of motives to find their killer.

In the second, Cover Her Face, Dalgliesh investigates a murder in the Essex home of the Mehtas,...

Death In Paradise returns to our screens in February, and the BBC have released plot and cast details.

Death In Paradise has been one of the BBC’s most successful dramas in recent years. Created by Robert Thorogood in 2011, the show’s thirteenth series is about to hit our screens. It has seen Ben Miller, Kris Marshall, Ardal O’Hanlon and current detective Ralf Little solve a remarkably high number of murders for such a small Caribbean island.

Last year, Marshall’s character Humphrey Goodman starred in spin-off Beyond Paradise, which paired him with Not Going Out star Sally Bretton and relocated the action to Cornwall. Proving popular with viewers, it recently returned for a Christmas special and a second series will be broadcast this year.

A further spin off, entitled Return to Paradise was announced last year, with action taking place in Australia.

Death In Paradise itself is back for a new series,...

The Morning Show star Augustus Prew and Sherlock’s Mark Gatiss have boarded Russell T Davies’ ITV drama Nolly starring Helena Bonham Carter.

A first-look image has been unveiled of Harry Potter star Carter playing Noele Gordon, nicknamed Nolly, the star of former British soap Crossroads who was one of the most famous people in Britain before being axed from the show without warning. With the boss’s words “all good things must come to an end” ringing in her ears, Noele found herself thrown out of the show that was her life for over 18 years.

Prew will play Tony Adams, Nolly’s Crossroads co-star, with Gatiss starring as entertainer Larry Grayson.

Others to have boarded include Richard Lintern (Young Wallander), Antonia Bernath (Downton Abbey), Clare Foster (The Crown), Chloe Harris (Sherwood) and Lloyd Griffith (Ted Lasso).

The show was the debut commission for It’s a Sin exec Nicola Shindler...

After being snubbed for the first season of Netflix’s “The Crown” in Best Drama Actor, Matt Smith was able to reap a nomination in Best Drama Supporting Actor this year, making it his inaugural Emmy bid. This will be the last chance to reward Smith for playing Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as Tobias Menzies will be taking over his role when the show jumps forward in time in its upcoming third season.

The episode Smith has chosen to submit for consideration is the second season finale, “Mystery Man,” his very last episode on the show. It opens on Prince Philip, who visits London osteopath Stephen Ward (Richard Lintern) after injuring his neck. One year later, 1963, the government finds itself in the midst of a crisis as the infamous Profumo Affair becomes public. Princess Margaret (Vanessa Kirby) and her husband Antony Armstrong-Jones (Matthew Goode) approach Philip when they suspect...

Silent Witness: BBC One, 9pm

Emilia Fox, Richard Lintern and David Caves star in the long-running, gripping drama about a team of forensic pathologists.

Two-part story 'Squaring The Circle' sees the team investigating a violent shootout at a city hotel, which leaves the nanny of a Russian oligarch and an unknown hitman dead. Nikki (Fox) and Jack (Caves) must work to discover the hitman's identity - and track down the killer.

Broadchurch: ITV, 9pm

We reach the series halfway point of the mystery drama starring Olivia Colman and David Tennant, who received the coveted Special Recognition Award at last week's NTAs.

Following the dramatic events of last week, Ellie Miller (Colman) is struggling with family troubles, Alec Hardy (Tennant) faces up to his demons and Mark Latimer (Andrew Buchan) has a tough decision to make.

South Side Story: BBC Three, 9.30pm

A new reality show hits BBC Three,...

Emilia Fox has hinted that the next Silent Witness two-partner contains "the hardest scenes" she has ever shot for the series.

Fox has played Dr. Nikki Alexander on the BBC One crime drama since 2004, but told Digital Spy that the next two episodes, which involve the death of a suspected paedophile and the case of a missing young girl, were the toughest ever to shoot.

"It's quite a hard-hitting one," she revealed. "I hope it's dealt with authentically because I felt very invested in it. There were some scenes... I think they were the hardest scenes I've had to do in Silent Witness."

The 18th series of Silent Witness will continue with two more two-parters, with the first concerning the Russian mafia and the second described by Fox as "a really good thriller in Essex nightclubs, dealing with criminal drug dealers".

"It's quite an energetic, raw one," she said of the finale.

Foyle’s War The Eternity Ring

Filming has begun on the ninth season of Foyle’s War. Michael Kitchen returns to play the stoical title character in Anthony Horowitz’s British TV classic. The three new films also feature returning cast members such as Honeysuckle Weeks, Ellie Haddington and Daniel Weyman. Big name guest stars include John Mahoney (Frasier, Hot In Cleveland), Richard Lintern (Silent Witness), Nigel Lindsay (Four Lions), Jaime Winstone (Mad Dogs) and William Postlethwaite (Midsomer Murders). As with season eight, the new series centers around events at the outset of the Cold War. These include the creation of the state of Israel and the hunt for those who allied themselves with the Nazis. Foyle’s War season nine will air in both the UK and USA in early 2015.

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Frasier star John Mahoney and Jaime Winstone are to appear in the new series of Foyle's War.

Michael Kitchen will reprise the title role of Christopher Foyle in three new two-hour films, set to air on ITV in 2015.

Richard Lintern (Silent Witness), Nigel Lindsay (Four Lions) and William Postlethwaite (The Suspicions of Mr Whicher) will also appear in the new episodes from writer Anthony Horowitz.

Inspired by real events in the early Cold War, the new series will see Foyle (Kitchen) immersed in the dangerous world of espionage in his role as a Senior Intelligence Officer for MI5.

"We are delighted to see the return of Foyle's War to ITV," said ITV's Head of Drama Series, Jane Hudson. "Anthony Horowitz has written three outstanding episodes and the audience are in for a real treat."

The new series of Foyle's War will shoot in Liverpool, doubling for post-war London, until April.

Silent Witness was last night's (January 10) highest-rated show outside of soaps.

An average of 5.5 million viewers (23.1%) tuned in to see the fourth episode of the BBC One drama at 9pm. The show, which stars Emilia Fox, David Caves and Richard Lintern, peaked with 5.6m viewers.

On Channel 5, Celebrity Big Brother's first eviction was watched by an average 2.06 million people (9.7%) at 9pm, down by more than 1 million on last week's average figures.

The show, which saw Evander Holyfield evicted by Lee Ryan and Casey Batchelor, hit a peak of 2.47 million, while a further 131k tuned in an hour later on +1.

Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side attracted 931k viewers (7%), with a further 758k sticking around for the live feed at 11.30pm.

Back on BBC One, a Miranda repeat was viewed by 3.45 million people (15%) at 8.30pm, while 3.74 million (24.3%) tuned in to watch Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro on The Graham Norton Show at 10.35pm.

Richard Lintern has joined the cast of Silent Witness.

The Spies of Warsaw actor will play new lead character Dr Thomas Chamberlain in the BBC One drama.

Chamberlain is an experienced forensic pathologist with a renowned reputation in toxicology. He is described as a "charismatic and shrewd social player".

The character will lead the Lyell Centre following the death of Leo Dalton (William Gaminara) in the previous series.

Richard Lintern said: "I am delighted to be joining the cast of Silent Witness. My character Thomas Chamberlain seems destined to ruffle a few feathers, and I very much look forward to seeing how his story develops.

"I have enjoyed watching the show for some time now, so it is a real pleasure to be joining the production team."

Kate Harwood, head of drama, added: "I am very happy to welcome Richard Lintern to the Lyell Centre - I feel certain that...

BBC America has come on board to co-produce the new British mini-series The Spies of Warsaw starring Doctor Who‘s David Tennant and Janet Montgomery (Black Swan), which was announced by the BBC last week as commissioned for pubcaster’s BBC Four channel. Adapted by Emmy-winning writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais from Alan Furst’s novel, Spies Of Warsaw is set in Poland, Paris, London and Berlin in the years leading up to the Second World War. Production begins next month in Poland. In the Us, the mini-series will air as part of BBC America’s Dramaville programming block. BBC America joins existing co-producers Fresh Pictures, Apple Film for TV Poland in association with Arte France and BBC Worldwide. The cast of the mini also includes Anton Lesser, Burn Gorman, Richard Lintern, Dan Fredenburgh, Ludger Pistor, Ann Eleonora Jørgensen and Jan Pohl.

Screened

Toronto International Film Festival Review

While controversy swirls around Mel Gibson's as-yet largely unseen "The Passion", another film, "The Gospel of John", is likely going to do a certain amount of flame-fanning of its own in regard to where the burden of responsibility falls for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

A word-for-word adaptation (by John Goldsmith) from the American Bible Society's Good News Bible, this well-made epic boasts carefully researched production values and the talents of classically trained actors, but by literally playing it by the book, the picture loses something dramatic in the translation.

At a very noticeable three hours, it feels like a month of Sunday school classes.

The educational DVD market will still be its ultimate destination, but given that it's probably going to spur debate in certain religious quarters, the resulting publicity could also generate some better than normally expected theatrical business.

Intended as the first in a series of films under the Visual Bible banner, "The Gospel of John" dispenses with Nativity scenes, introducing the adult Jesus Henry Ian Cusick) in full Messiah mode, bringing his ministry to the people of a land controlled by the Roman Empire.

Not everyone greets him with open arms -- specifically the Jewish authorities as personified by the Leading Pharisee (played with a notably dark undercurrent by Richard Lintern), who remains unconvinced by his performance of miracles.

According to the film, on more than one occasion he presses Pilate (Stephen Russell) to sentence Jesus to death, even though the reluctant Roman can't find sufficient reason to do so.

But in an effort to downplay potential controversy, a crawl inserted before the start of the film makes note that crucifixion was a Roman punishment that wasn't sanctioned by Jewish law.

In the hands of veteran British film and TV director Philip Saville, the handsome production (shot in Spain and Toronto) is graced by cinematographer Miroslaw Baszak's stirring images and an authoritative cast which takes its cue from Cusick's performance -- one that seems to be more outgoing and charismatic than past portrayals.

Still, one has to wonder about those impeccably manicured fingernails.

Saville delivers the pageantry with all seven signs intact, but those various miracles are performed with a lot less fanfare and razzle-dazzle than in many old Hollywood spectacles.

That more straightforward approach also applies to narrator Christopher Plummer's commanding yet warm tones, though there are times when even he is unable to interject sufficient life into some of those extended passages of word-for-wordiness.

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

Visual Bible International Inc. in association with Garth H. Drabinsky and Joel B. Michaels present a Philip Saville film

Credits:

Director: Philip Saville

Screenwriter: John Goldsmith

Producers: Garth H. Drabinsky, Chris Chrisafis

Executive producer: Sandy Pearl, Joel B. Michaels, Myron I. Gottlieb, Martin Katz

Director of photography: Miroslaw Baszak

Production designer: Don Taylor

Editor: Michel Archand

Costume designer: Debra Hanson

Music: Jeff Danna

Cast:

Jesus: Henry Ian Cusick

Peter: Daniel Kash

Leading Pharisee: Richard Lintern

Pilate: Stephen Russell

John the Baptist: Scott Handy

John: Stuart Bunce

Mary Magdalene: Lynsey Baxter

Narrator: Christopher Plummer

Running time -- 175 minutes

No MPAA rating...

Screened

Toronto International Film Festival Review

While controversy swirls around Mel Gibson's as-yet largely unseen "The Passion", another film, "The Gospel of John", is likely going to do a certain amount of flame-fanning of its own in regard to where the burden of responsibility falls for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

A word-for-word adaptation (by John Goldsmith) from the American Bible Society's Good News Bible, this well-made epic boasts carefully researched production values and the talents of classically trained actors, but by literally playing it by the book, the picture loses something dramatic in the translation.

At a very noticeable three hours, it feels like a month of Sunday school classes.

The educational DVD market will still be its ultimate destination, but given that it's probably going to spur debate in certain religious quarters, the resulting publicity could also generate some better than normally expected theatrical business.

Intended as the first in a series of films under the Visual Bible banner, "The Gospel of John" dispenses with Nativity scenes, introducing the adult Jesus Henry Ian Cusick) in full Messiah mode, bringing his ministry to the people of a land controlled by the Roman Empire.

Not everyone greets him with open arms -- specifically the Jewish authorities as personified by the Leading Pharisee (played with a notably dark undercurrent by Richard Lintern), who remains unconvinced by his performance of miracles.

According to the film, on more than one occasion he presses Pilate (Stephen Russell) to sentence Jesus to death, even though the reluctant Roman can't find sufficient reason to do so.

But in an effort to downplay potential controversy, a crawl inserted before the start of the film makes note that crucifixion was a Roman punishment that wasn't sanctioned by Jewish law.

In the hands of veteran British film and TV director Philip Saville, the handsome production (shot in Spain and Toronto) is graced by cinematographer Miroslaw Baszak's stirring images and an authoritative cast which takes its cue from Cusick's performance -- one that seems to be more outgoing and charismatic than past portrayals.

Still, one has to wonder about those impeccably manicured fingernails.

Saville delivers the pageantry with all seven signs intact, but those various miracles are performed with a lot less fanfare and razzle-dazzle than in many old Hollywood spectacles.

That more straightforward approach also applies to narrator Christopher Plummer's commanding yet warm tones, though there are times when even he is unable to interject sufficient life into some of those extended passages of word-for-wordiness.

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

Visual Bible International Inc. in association with Garth H. Drabinsky and Joel B. Michaels present a Philip Saville film

Credits:

Director: Philip Saville

Screenwriter: John Goldsmith

Producers: Garth H. Drabinsky, Chris Chrisafis

Executive producer: Sandy Pearl, Joel B. Michaels, Myron I. Gottlieb, Martin Katz

Director of photography: Miroslaw Baszak

Production designer: Don Taylor

Editor: Michel Archand

Costume designer: Debra Hanson

Music: Jeff Danna

Cast:

Jesus: Henry Ian Cusick

Peter: Daniel Kash

Leading Pharisee: Richard Lintern

Pilate: Stephen Russell

John the Baptist: Scott Handy

John: Stuart Bunce

Mary Magdalene: Lynsey Baxter

Narrator: Christopher Plummer

Running time -- 175 minutes

No MPAA rating...