News

Veteran TV actor Barbara Marten is the standout in another uneven Dune: Prophecy chapter. Our review of episode 5:

Nb: In line with Film Stories policy, the following review is certified spoiler-free for Dune: Prophecy episode 4, but does contain spoilers for earlier instalments.

In a series so far heavy on serious faces and whispered rumours of doom, one of its unexpected delights is actor Barbara Marten. A veteran of such British TV shows as Brookside, Casualty and The Bill, she’s quietly bustled and swished through Dune: Prophecy as the captivatingly severe Sister Avila.

A voice of reason among the increasingly fractious sisterhood, Avila’s one of those characters who doesn’t drive the plot, but instead becomes a welcome presence who you’re always pleased to see whenever they show up.

In episode five, Avila stumbles on a secret Tula (Olivia Williams) has kept secret for a few days...

John Ashton, the actor best known as detective John Taggart in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise, has died. He was 76.

Ashton died in his Colorado home on Friday after a battle with cancer, his rep confirmed to TMZ on Sunday.

More from TVLineBeverly Hills Cop Series Was Casualty of Exec 'Pissing Contest,' Casting Issues, Says Director Barry SonnenfeldRon Hale, General Hospital and Ryan's Hope Veteran, Dead at 78Days of Our Lives' Deidre Hall Remembers TV Husband Drake Hogestyn: 'He Will Be Missed Beyond Measure'

Ashton cut his acting teeth in 1973 with an appearance in the film An Eye for an Eye,...

John Ashton, known for his role as John Taggart in the “Beverly Hills Cop” films, died Thursday in Fort Collins, Colo., his manager Alan Somers confirmed to Variety. He was 76.

Ashton played Detective Sergeant John Taggart in the first two installments of the “Beverly Hills Cop” series, released in 1984 and 1987, alongside Eddie Murphy and Judge Reinhold. He reprised his role in 2024’s “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F,” in which his character is now a police chief.

Ashton’s acting career spanned more than 50 years. His early film credits include “An Eye for an Eye” (1973), “So Evil, My Sister” (1974), “Cat Murkil and the Silks” (1976), “Breaking Away” (1979), “Borderline” (1980) and “Honky Tonk Freeway” (1981). He also guest starred on several television series during the ’70s, including “Emergency!,” “Columbo,” “Police Story,” “Barnaby Jones,” “Police Woman,” “Mash,” “Starsky and Hutch” and “Dallas.”

Ashton portrayed Cliff Nelson, father of Eric Stoltz’s Keith Nelson, in the 1987 teen rom-com “Some Kind of Wonderful,...

Writer Jimmy McGovern has penned an original 90 minute drama for the BBC, and details have been released. More here.

The BBC has announced that a new, feature-length drama written by Jimmy McGovern is in production. Currently untitled, the new film is “set and filmed in Liverpool. The fictional drama centres around the Mitchell family who are dealing with the devastating aftermath of an act of abuse, and the knowledge that it was perpetrated by a member of their own family who, after serving his sentence, has just been released from prison”.

Anna Friel, who was BAFTA-nominated for her previous work with Jimmy McGovern in Broken, leads the cast alongside Bobby Schofield, Anna Maxwell Martin, David Threlfall and Mark Womack.

Julia Ford is directing.

McGovern said “I can’t believe the cast and crew that have been assembled for this production. It’s a challenging film, yes, but I can’t...

British royal family news shows that Diana, the People’s Princess had good taste in television, according to her hairdresser. At Fotografiska New York, on May 21, 2024, the Styling Princess Diana panel took place, featuring Richard Dalton, Diana’s hairdresser who talked about styling her hair and her television viewing habits.

British Royal Family News – Dalton Reminisced About Diana’s Favorite Show

Dalton had first met her a couple of years before Diana’s wedding to King Charles III (then Prince Charles).

For more than a decade, Dalton styled Diana’s hair daily, reminiscing, “It was a daily routine, sometimes even twice a day for tiaras.” Dalton also revealed that one of the princess’s favorite TV shows was “Dynasty.”

“She would say, ‘Richard, you can’t go out tonight because ‘Dynasty’ is on!’ I had to watch it closely for her.” The popular soap opera aired from 1981 to 1989, focusing on the fictional,...

Actress Hannah Waddingham was told she didn’t have a face for television by a childhood drama teacher. The ‘Ted Lasso’ actress, who started her career with small roles in British soaps like ‘Doctors’ and ‘Brookside’ as well as working on the West End, can still recall her teacher mocking her appearance in front of the entire class, reports Female First UK.

Speaking on BBC Radio 2 podcast ‘Rule Beakers’, the actress said: “I had one drama teacher that said to the whole class ‘Oh Hannah will never work on screen because she looks like one side of her face has had a stroke’.”

“I thought, ‘I will do. Come hell or high water, I will work on screen’,” she added.

As per Female First UK, the ‘My Family’ star admitted even her headmistress tried to stop her from pursuing a career in acting.

Hannah continued, “My headmistress said, ‘You...

Exclusive: Sir Phil Redmond is moving forward with his Grange Hill film adaption and filmmaker Sara Sugarman (Save the Cinema) has signed on to direct a story in part based on the character she played in the hit BBC kids show.

The film will be written by original series creator Redmond, with Sean Marley (The Almond and the Seahorse) and Celyn Jones (Six Minutes to Midnight) producing for Mad As Birds alongside Redmond’s production company Mersey Film. Phil and Alexis Redmond will EP. Redmond originally planned for the movie to launch this year and he said scripts are “pretty close.”

Plot is being largely kept under wraps, but Redmond told Deadline that the story will, in part, be based on the character Jessica Samuels, who was the rebellious head of the Grange Hill student action group in the TV series. The idea was inspired by Sugarman, who played Samuels...

Alison Steadman has reflected on filming the first lesbian kiss on British television in the 1974 BBC drama, Girl.

The scene saw Steadman and Myra Frances’s military officers share an intimate moment in the then-controversial drama about gay women in the army.

Speaking in a new reader interview in The Guardian, Steadman, 76, said: “I remember being very nervous about the whole thing. Then I got over it. Then I was worried about how my parents, who lived in a quiet suburban area of Liverpool, would cope.

“I thought, ‘My poor mum! The neighbours will be whispering, “Did you see your daughter on television?”’ By the time we came to record, this great director [Peter Gill] didn’t make a fuss and said, ‘So this is the bit where they kiss … All right, quick kiss, let’s carry on.’

“I was just nervous about people’s reactions. But my mum was great,...

In the time it takes you to reach the end of this paragraph, 15 million emails will have been sent. Thirty-thousand tweets will have been published. Three million Facebook updates will have been made. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of blogs, Instagram posts and news articles will have been added to a running total measured in billions. During the biblical flood, the world was supposedly overflowing with water; today we are drowning in gigabytes.

Technology has transformed every facet of our life – and there are few places where that is more evident than how we watch and consume TV.

Our entertainment landscape is unrecognisable from even a decade ago. Today, figures from the UK media regulator Ofcom showed that young adults spend more time scrolling on TikTok than watching broadcast television. Instead, young people have flocked to streaming services – with deep-pocketed giants like Apple TV +, Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video providing an all-you-can-eat television service.

In Clive Barker's original short story "The Forbidden," published in Volume Five of his "Books of Blood" (called "In the Flesh" in the United States), the character of Helen is studying graffiti patterns in Liverpool as part of her college thesis research into urban legends. A lot of language in the original short story is devoted to the horrors of big city blight, and Helen aims to write a paper on "the semiotics of urban despair." As she delves further into Liverpool, she encounters repeated painted representations of the Candyman, a yellow-skinned ghoul with sharpened teeth and a hook hand, who is said to have committed many horrendous acts of violence in the neighborhood. In true Barker fashion, the protagonist's obsessions get the better of her, and she continues to probe until she encounters the actual Candyman. 

Bernard Rose's 1992 film adaptation, "Candyman," transposes the action from Liverpool to Chicago's Cabrini-Green housing projects,...

Warning: this article contains some explicit language.

In 1999, Channel 4 premiered a short-lived comedy drama chronicling the lives of three young gay men in Manchester. Queer as Folk, in typical Channel 4 fashion, wasn’t a show that teetered on the edge of social acceptability, it hit screens with all the subtlety of a queen’s grand entrance on RuPaul’s Drag Race and a resounding chant of ‘we’re here, we’re queer, get used to it’. Even gay people switched on the TV and were shocked. Nobody had seen such a candid and explicit expression of homosexuality on television. As i journalist Hugh Montgomery recalls “Having just turned 16, and back from school for half-term, I sat in the family living room, remote control in hand, ready to flick the channel at any moment should my parents walk in.” And numerous others can attest, no doubt, that the titillating no-holds-barred look...

“Never waste your pain”

Experience the terrifying film that Esquire calls “a mesmerizing horror masterpiece” when Saint Maud arrives on Blu-ray (plus Digital) and DVD November 30 from Lionsgate.

xperience the terrifying film that Esquire calls “a mesmerizing horror masterpiece” when Saint Maud arrives on Blu-ray (plus Digital) and DVD November 30 from Lionsgate. Saint Maud stars Morfydd Clark and Jennifer Ehle. Saint Maud will be available on Blu-ray + Digital and DVD for the suggested retail price of $17.99 and $14.98, respectively.

The debut film from writer-director Rose Glass, Saint Maud is a chilling and boldly original vision of faith, madness, and salvation in a fallen world. Maud, a newly devout hospice nurse, becomes obsessed with saving her dying patient’s soul — but sinister forces, and her own sinful past, threaten to put an end to her holy calling.

Blu-ray / DVD Special Features

Audio Commentary with Writer-Director Rose GlassA Higher Calling: The Rapture of...

1964: Primetime soap opera Peyton Place premiered on ABC.

1988: Santa Barbara's Eden Capwell was raped.

2009: Guiding Light's Alan Spaulding died.

2010: As the World Turns' Carly and Jack married one last time."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1964: Primetime soap opera Peyton Place premiered on ABC. Based upon the 1956 novel of the same name by Grace Metalious, the series was preceded by a 1957 film adaptation. Peyton Place ran for 514 total episodes with the series finale airing on June 2, 1969.

In the first episode, Dr. Michael Rossi...

Welcome to this week’s review of Nxt: UK, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have a big main event with Walter defending the Nxt: UK Championship against Travis Banks. Okay, before Kenny Omega yaois us to death (The Wrestlers is explaining that on the Ddt episode), let’s get to the action.

Match #1: Mark Andrews def. Joseph Conners The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

The vicious Joseph Conners looked to use the full force of his brutal nature to ground Mark Andrews in the opening Nxt UK contest from the Download Festival, but his high-flying opponent triumphed by hitting Stundog Millionaire into Fall to Pieces for the victory.

My Opinion: 2.5 out of 5 – This was a fun burst of action that gave Andrews more TV time to show how talented he is and for Conners to continue to improve.

Match #2: Xia Brookside def.

Welcome to this week’s Nxt:uk review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have a great night of wrestling to get to, so let’s do so before Paul Hollywood realizes that sports car he drives might be compensating for some-thing.

Match #1: El Ligero beat Mark Andrews The following is courtesy of WWE.com:

In an explosive opening matchup between two of Nxt UK’s elite high-flyers, Ligero and Mark Andrews each unleashed a barrage of high-impact offense that took both competitors to the limit. The Leodensian Luchador claimed the huge victory when he lifted his knees to block his opponent’s Shooting Star Press attempt and quickly followed up with the C4L off the ropes.

My Take: 3.5 out of 5 – This was some wild stuff and it is a great spectacle. I’m giving a lot of matches great reviews this week, but that...

Mal Young is leaving “The Young and the Restless” as head writer and executive producer, an individual with knowledge tells TheWrap.

Young, whose departure was first reported by Daytime Confidential, has been with CBS’ long-running soap opera since 2016. He was named head writer and executive producer in 2017 after the the departure of Sally Sussman and Kay Alden. Young’s prior credits include British series “EastEnders” and “Brookside,” and he co-created “And The Beat Goes On” for Channel 4 in the U.K..

No replacement has been named.

Also Read: 'The Young and the Restless': Hunter King's Role Temporarily Recast

Young’s departure is not the only to befall the long-running daytime series. In October, star Doug Davidson said he’ll exit the CBS soap after 40 years.

When asked by a fan if he’d been let go from the daytime soap, the actor replied, “It seems so.

Mal Young has exited The Young and The Restless as head writer and executive producer, Deadline has confirmed. No replacement has been named as of yet.

Young told ShowBiz 411, he “felt it was a good time to move on.” He added he has his own project that he’s been developing and wants to pursue, and also would like to “get a bit of my life back”, noting that running a show like Y&R is “all consuming.”

Young has been with Y&R since 2016. He was named head writer and Ep last year following the departure of Sally Sussman and Kay Alden. He was formerly a producer for British series EastEnders, as well as a producer on drama Brookside, and he co-created And The Beat Goes On for UK’s Channel 4. He previously served as BBC’s controller of continuing drama, where he oversaw EastEnders, along with other serials, and co-created BBC’s drama,...

1977: Ryan's Hope's Jack and Mary were locked in a storeroom.

1979: As the World Turns' Lisa wanted Hester to be fired.

1990: Guiding Light's Holly revisited the past with Roger.

2009: One Live to Live's Kyle called off his wedding to Nick."The best prophet of the future is the past."

― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1931: Myrt and Marge premiered as a primetime soap opera that followed the lives and escapades of two chorus girls. Creator Myrtle Vail (Damerel) pitched the idea to the Wrigley chewing gum makers, naming her lead characters Myrtle Spear and Marge Minter. Myrt and Marge became the first radio series Wrigley sponsored.

1964: Primetime soap opera Peyton Place premiered on ABC.

1988: Santa Barbara's Eden Capwell was raped.

2009: Guiding Light's Alan Spaulding died.

2010: As the World Turns' Carly and Jack married one last time."The best prophet of the future is the past."

― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1964: Primetime soap opera Peyton Place premiered on ABC. Based upon the 1956 novel of the same name by Grace Metalious, the series was preceded by a 1957 film adaptation. Peyton Place ran for 514 total episodes with the series finale airing on June 2, 1969.

In the first episode, Dr. Michael Rossi (Ed Nelson) arrived from New York City to set up practice in town.

Damon Lindelof, Jimmy McGovern and Julianna Margulies also attending TV event which has revealed its competition line-up.

Actor Justin Theroux will debut new episodes of The Leftovers at this year’s Series Mania (which runs April 13-23).

The Paris-based international TV showcase will host the world premiere of the first two episodes of the series, created by Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta.

Lindelof and Theroux will be in attendance and judge the official competition, with the former jury president.

The drama event’s competition will include Jim Carrey’s Showtime comedy I’m Dying Up Here, Jill Soloway’s Amazon show I Love Dick as well as UK duo Broken and Born To Kill.

Other attendees at the event include Borgen creator Adam Price, who will introduce the world premiere of Ride Upon The Storm, and Brookside creator Jimmy McGovern, who is screening his latest series Broken.

Julianna Margulies, as previously announced, will host a...

Damon Lindelof, Jimmy McGovern and Julianna Margulies also attending TV festival which has revealed its competition line-up.

Actor Justin Theroux will debut new episodes of The Leftovers at this year’s Series Mania (which runs April 13-23).

The Paris-based international TV festival will host the world premiere of the first two episodes of the series, created by Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta.

Lindelof and Theroux will be in attendance and judge the official competition, with the former jury president.

Other attendees at the event include Borgen creator Adam Price, who will introduce the world premiere of Ride Upon The Storm, and Brookside creator Jimmy McGovern, who is screening his latest series Broken.

Julianna Margulies, as previously announced, will host a masterclass.

The shows competing in the official competition are:

4 Blocks (Germany)Monster (Norway)Born Io Kill (UK)Kim Kong (France)I’m Dying Up Here (USA)Seven Types Of Ambiguity (Australia)I Love Dick (America)Broken (UK)Ride...

At the fourth installment of the BAFTA BFI Screenwriters' Lecture Series held in London this week, British television writer Jimmy McGovern spoke about how he was able to tackle social and political issues on the small screen. British screenwriter Jeremy Brock, who introduced McGovern, noted: "I can think of no single British screenwriter who has subjected his own culture to such an extraordinary and dramatic scrutiny as has Jimmy McGovern. His work is always fiercely honest, incredibly funny, deeply moving, and above all substantive." Few soap opera writers can claim to have such a warm reception. Ironically, McGovern attributes his success in the industry as part fluke. He was in his thirties when he began writing for Channel 4’s hit soap opera "Brookside" and, at the time, he claimed that he was flat out immature and out of his league in many ways. "I think I was so lucky...

Claire Sweeney says becoming a mother has ''completely changed'' her life. The 44-year-old star welcomed her first child, son Jaxon, with ex-boyfriend Daniel Reilly 10 months ago and admits her priorities have changed completely since his arrival. She said: ''He's one in September ... It's gone so fast! But I'm loving it, it's completely changed my life. It's like my life was so vacuous before, it's just brilliant ... He stood up for the first time this weekend!'' The former 'Brookside' actress split from Jaxon's father while she was pregnant and although they rekindled their relationship after he was born they called time...

Learn more about some of your favorite British celebrity couples with “Seven Days With,” which can now be see online on ITVBe’s FilmOn channel. “Seven Days With” gives viewers a voyeuristic look at how some of the mover-and-shakers in Britain live and go about their lives. Here’s a look at one of the episodes airing on ITVBe, which is the last part of the series. “The final part of the series joins all-singing, all-dancing former Brookside star Jennifer Ellison and her husband Rob Tickle as they prepare for the birth of their third child. After previously suffering from postnatal depression, Jen shares her concerns as the birth approaches. With such [ Read More ]

The post Watch Seven Days With on ITVBe’s FilmOn Channel appeared first on Shockya.com.

Brookside will not be revived, Channel 4 has said.

The broadcaster's chief creative officer Jay Hunt told the Belfast Media Festival that the Liverpool-based soap was not coming back, but teased the launch of a new soap-like drama.

"I would love to tell you something about that now, but I can't," Hunt was quoted by Broadcast as saying.

"We're not bringing back Brookside, but we... will have a drama announcement next week."

Brookside ran from 1982 to 2003 on Channel 4 and attracted over 8 million viewers at its peak.

The show celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2012 with an exhibit at the Museum of Liverpool and Most Memorable Moments DVD release.

A Digital Spy poll held at that time attracted 7,000 votes, with 83.9% wanting the show to return and only 16.1% against a revival.

Lindsey Corkhill actress Claire Sweeney told DS that Brookside should never have been cancelled.

"It was groundbreaking drama," Sweeney said shortly before the anniversary.

Sue Johnston has spoken out about gender equality in acting.

The Royle Family and Brookside star - currently playing Denker in Downton Abbey - said that although things have improved, there is still work to do to address gender equality in the profession.

"It's certainly improved," Johnston said during an appearance on ITV's morning show Lorraine. "[Downton creator] Julian Fellowes obviously writes great parts for women.

"He's fond of a matriarch and he's very good at writing for women... it has got better... [but] the majority of work is for men.

"I went to the theatre the other night. There was one girl in the cast of about 20 men and you think it still hasn't rocked back properly, but it certainly has improved.

"There's still a lot of room for improvement for women. There really is."

Johnston also recalled the buoyant mood on the Downton Abbey set when it was announced that George Clooney...

Jennifer Ellison is ''heartbroken'' over Lynda Bellingham's death. The former 'Brookside' actress - who appeared with the late star in the stage adaptation of 'Calendar Girls' from 2010 to 2011 - confessed she was left devastated when Lynda passed away last week at the age of 63 after losing her battle with cancer. The blonde beauty - who also starred alongside the late singer Bernie Nolan in the production - added that the former 'Loose Women' star had been like a mother to her and offered her condolences to Lynda's husband Michael Pattemore. She told Ok! magazine: ''Lynda was like a...

Claire Sweeney has given birth to a baby boy. The 42-year-old presenter and her former fiancé Daniel Riley welcomed their son into the world on Monday (29.09.14) and though the former 'Brookside' star isn't getting much sleep, she is thrilled with the new arrival. Her representative told MailOnline: ''Claire has given birth to a baby boy via C-section at the Catherine Suite in Liverpool Women's Hospital. He was born at 1.58pm on September 29th.'' And Claire added: ''My baby is beautiful and has me awake every hour breast-feeding.'' Claire - who split from Daniel late last year a few weeks before finding out...

Casualty star Sunetra Sarker is the fourth female celebrity confirmed for the lineup of Strictly Come Dancing 2014.

The actress, Zoe Hanna in the medical drama, joins previously announced female stars including The Saturdays' Frankie Bridge, Andy Murray's mum Judy Murray and This Morning showbiz presenter Alison Hammond.

Our doctor has landed: Sunetra Sarker @Sarker from @BBCCasualty welcome to Strictly! @BBCOne pic.twitter.com/bXAR0v00fJ

— BBC Strictly (@bbcstrictly) August 23, 2014

Sarker, who has also appeared in Doctor Who and Brookside, commented: "I don't quite know what I've let myself in for... I'm in total denial! But the chance to swap my stethoscope for sequins was just too tempting. I am very excited to be part of the Strictly team!"

Casualty producer Erika Hossington previously told Digital Spy that the actress would take a break from the long-running BBC One show. She will make her temporary on-screen exit in tonight's episode (August 23).

Last night,...

The lineup for this year's Pointless Celebrities series has been announced by BBC One.

Beginning with an August 9 comedy special, the upcoming series will feature different themes each week.

Four teams of two from the world of music, TV, soaps, sport, food and drink, journalism, radio and theatre will compete for charity in weekly specials to air on Saturday evenings on BBC One.

The first show pits Lesley Joseph and Linda Robson from Birds of a Feather against Ronni Ancona and Phil Cornwell, Su Pollard and Ruth Madoc, and Josh Widdicombe and his partner Sara Pascoe.

Standout teams from the series include Stefan Dennis and fellow Neighbours star Rebekah Elmaloglou, who will square off against Ray Quinn and Louis Emerick from Brookside.

Antony Costa from Blue will team with 5ive's Scott Robinson in the music special, while TV stars Louie Spence and Carol McGiffin will face off against the likes...

EastEnders actress Charlie Brooks will guest star in Channel 5's Suspects.

The network's original crime drama - which stars Fay Ripley, Damien Molony and Clare-Hope Ashitey - will return to screens with two hour-long specials in the autumn.

Emmerdale's Dominic Power, who played serial killer Cameron Murray, will also guest star in the new episodes.

In The Flesh actor Luke Newberry has also been cast, alongside Claire Cooper (Hollyoaks) and Katie Jarvis (Fish Tank).

Other guest stars for future episodes of the new season are Emmett Scanlan (The Fall, In The Flesh, Hollyoaks), Ben Peel (The Fall), Gillian Kearney (Casualty, Brookside) and Carley Stenson (Hollyoaks).

Devised by Paul Marquess (The Bill, Footballers' Wives), the series was Channel 5's first original drama for eight years. Working without a traditional script, the cast improvise their dialogue and actions based on a detailed plot synopsis.

The second series of Suspects will be comprised of five additional episodes,...

It's being reported that 24 Hour Party People's Frank Cottrell Boyce has written an episode of Doctor Who series 8...

News

All but one of the writing slots for Doctor Who series eight have already been announced, with Steven Moffat joined by Phil Ford, Mark Gatiss, Steve Thompson, Gareth Roberts, Peter Harness and Jamie Mathieson for the new run. It now looks as though the last remaining place - for episode ten in the series - has gone to a particularly interesting writer: Frank Cottrell Boyce.

The Liverpool Echo reports that native son Boyce (24 Hour Party People, Tristram Shandy: A Cock And Bull Story, The Railway Man) has provided a script for series eight. The screenwriter is quoted as saying "It’s like joining a family. It’s a great thing to be involved with. I grew up loving Doctor Who, and my teenage son was a big fan of it too.

London Lgbt+ Community Pride's annual Pride Festival kicked off on Sunday (June 22) and runs through til June 29.

To mark the festival and today's Pride in London Parade - travelling from Baker Street to Whitehall, between 1pm and 4pm - Digital Spy presents 13 landmark Lgbt moments in UK and Us television.

1. February 1971 - Us sitcom All in the Family breaks new ground, featuring Us television's first ever openly homosexual character in ex-pro football player Steve (Philip Carey).

2. January 1989 - BBC One's EastEnders becomes the first UK soap to screen a kiss between two gay men - middle-class yuppie Colin Russell (Michael Cashman) and Guido Smith (Nicholas Donovan).

3. February 1991 - A little over two years later, NBC becomes the first Us network to air a lesbian kiss in primetime on its Emmy-winning legal drama L.A. Law - Abby Perkins (Michele Greene) and Cj Lamb (Amanda Donohoe) shared an intimate moment in season...

English actress Sue Johnston, known for roles in U.K. soap operas Coronation Street and Brookside, is joining the upcoming fifth season of ITV and PBS hit drama Downton Abbey in a guest role. Production firm Carnival Films, part of NBCUniversal International Television Production, and U.K. broadcaster ITV said she would play Denker, Lady’s Maid to Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham, portrayed by Maggie Smith. Johnston also starred in BBC comedy The Royle Family and played a psychological profiler in BBC drama Waking the Dead. Photos: 'Downton Abbey': Hugh Bonneville, Joanne Froggatt Celebrate Season 3's U.S. Premiere Other guest actors

read more...

Ray Quinn was crowned the winner of the final ever series of ITV's Dancing on Ice with professional skating partner Maria Filippov last night (March 9).

The 25-year-old star beat Coronation Street's Hayley Tamaddon and her skating partner Dan Whiston to win the All-Stars trophy, while gymnast Beth Tweddle ranked in third place.

To commemorate Quinn's victory, Digital Spy celebrates the plucky star's career to date - from his award-winning role in Brookside to his second Dancing on Ice triumph.

Young Raymond

Ray Quinn, then known as Raymond, weeps with joy as he wins a British Soap Award for his role as traumatised teenager Anthony Murray in Channel 4 soap Brookside.

Ray's sweet style

Young Raymond later poses with his gong backstage. And his suit reminds us a bit of Tom Hanks in Big.

A moment like this

Ray Quinn larks around with Leona Lewis in London during a photoshoot for The X Factor.

Stage and screen actor who excelled in playing authority figures and appeared in TV shows such as Brookside and Lovejoy

Malcolm Tierney, who has died aged 75 of pulmonary fibrosis, was a reliable and versatile supporting actor for 50 years, familiar to television audiences as the cigar-smoking, bullying villain Tommy McArdle in Brookside, nasty Charlie Gimbert in Lovejoy and smoothie Geoffrey Ellsworth-Smythe in David Nobbs's A Bit of a Do, a Yorkshire small-town comedy chronicle starring David Jason and Gwen Taylor.

Always serious and quietly spoken offstage, with glinting blue eyes and a steady, cruel gaze that served him well as authority figures on screen, Tierney was a working-class Mancunian who became a core member of the Workers' Revolutionary party in the 1970s. He never wavered in his socialist beliefs, even when the Wrp imploded ("That's all in my past now," he said), and always opposed restricted entry to the actors' union,...

Actor Malcolm Tierney has died, aged 75.

The British actor was known for his variety of roles in TV, film and theatre, including Braveheart and Lovejoy.

Tierney played Tommy McArdle in the Channel 4 soap Brookside from 1983 to 1987, and was also known for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company back in the 1970s.

In 2012, he starred as Sorin in Chekhov's The Seagull at London's Southwark Playhouse.

Tierney was perhaps best known for playing Lovejoy's antique dealer rival Charlie Gimbert in the BBC drama.

He also had roles in Doctor Who's 'The Trial of a Time Lord' in 1986, and Star Wars in 1977.

Tierney also played the English sheriff who executes the wife of William Wallace in Mel Gibson's Braveheart in 1995.

Further appearances included A Bit of a Do, the original House of Cards series and Dalziel and Pascoe.

Several actors have paid tribute to the late star, with...

Actor Malcolm Tierney has died, aged 75.

The British actor was known for his variety of roles in TV, film and theatre, including Braveheart and Lovejoy.

Tierney played Tommy McArdle in the Channel 4 soap Brookside from 1983 to 1987, and was also known for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company back in the 1970s.

In 2012, he starred as Sorin in Chekhov's The Seagull at London's Southwark Playhouse.

Tierney was perhaps best known for playing Lovejoy's antique dealer rival Charlie Gimbert in the BBC drama.

He also had roles in Doctor Who's 'The Trial of a Time Lord' in 1986, and Star Wars in 1977.

Tierney also played the English sheriff who executes the wife of William Wallace in Mel Gibson's Braveheart in 1995.

Further appearances included A Bit of a Do, the original House of Cards series and Dalziel and Pascoe.

Several actors have paid tribute to the late star, with...

Les Dennis isn't exactly in our day-to-day thoughts, truth be told, but the news yesterday (January 23) that the light entertainment legend would be joining Coronation Street still managed to put a massive smile on our face. Les on the cobbles! Amazing!

To celebrate Les's biggest gig in quite some time, we look back at the celebrity good egg's life and career in order, and come up with eight reasons why we absolutely love him...

He's a talent show king!

Way back before Britain's Got Talent, The X Factor et al, there was New Faces, a notoriously tough competition where a panel of judges - including a youthful Noel Edmonds - marked variety acts on their "star quality", usually without chucking water over each other or trying to get into the papers with a particularly daring dress, as all that palaver is a modern talent show invention.

After doing the rounds...

A new trailer for Benidorm's sixth series has been released by ITV.

The clip teases the arrival of the Dyke family, played by Perry Benson, Hannah Waddingham, Bel Powley and Danny Walters, who will join the regular cast at the Solana resort.

Steve Pemberton, Siobhan Finneran, Sheila Reid, Oliver Stokes, Sherrie Hewson, Kenny Ireland, Tim Healey and Jake Canuso all return to the ITV comedy for the new series.

Meanwhile, Matthew Kelly is back as Cyril Babcock and former Brookside actor Philip Olivier will star as a "sexy new barman".

Joan Collins will play Crystal Hennesy-Vas, the CEO of the Solana Hotel Group, while former Coronation Street star Ken Morley also appears.

Benidorm returns to ITV on Thursday, January 2 at 9pm.

Catch up on all the latest TV and Movies releases in Digital Spy's Screen Time:...

News Louisa Mellor 29 Nov 2013 - 07:01

Here's what we know (or think we know) so far about next year's series of Doctor Who...

We're leap-frogging Christmas Special, The Time Of The Doctor, somewhat to round up what we know so far about the forthcoming new series of Doctor Who. 

It's news to no-one who hasn't kept their head in a bucket of fish fingers and custard for the last six months that Peter Capaldi will be taking over from Matt Smith in The Time Of The Doctor. Filming with Capaldi in the Tardis, as far as we know, is still due to start in January 2014 with Jenna Coleman back as companion Clara, and return appearances from the Paternoster Gang of Madame Vastra, Jenny and Strax. Alex Kingston has also teased a potential return for River Song, announcing on a BBC America video "I look forward to sharing more of [River] with you in future,...

We all know the X Factor is a well-oiled money machine, so it comes as no surprise that the show will release a celebratory Greatest Hits collection to get us buying all of those songs we probably already own.

And it got us thinking: wouldn't it be better value for money to have some songs on the collection that we probably don't already own?

The X Factor has produced some forgotten gems and stellar novelty tracks over the years, so we've listed 10 of the best that didn't make the final tracklist below.

Chico: 'It's Chico Time'

Long before Lucy Spraggan and Ella Henderson wowed audiences with their songwriting efforts, we had Chico and his wristwatch. The track shot straight to number one to become one of the UK's finest novelty blow-outs, so we're a bit miffed it didn't make the compilation. Bonus track, maybe?

Leon Jackson: 'Creative'

The...

London — Bernadette Nolan, a member of singing sister act The Nolans, has died of cancer aged 52.

The singer's management agency, Urban Associates, said in a statement that Nolan died Thursday surrounded by her family.

Universally known as Bernie, Nolan was raised in Blackpool, northwestern England, and began performing with her family when she was a child.

The Nolans had a worldwide hit in 1979 with "I'm In the Mood For Dancing" and gained large followings from Britain to Japan.

Nolan left in 1994 to focus on an acting career that included a role on soap opera "Brookside" and parts in stage musicals including "Blood Brothers" and "Chicago."

In 2010 she was diagnosed with breast cancer, which later spread.

Nolan is survived by her husband, Steve Doneathy, and their daughter, Erin.

Joan Collins has signed up for ITV's Benidorm.

The Dynasty actress will portray a hotel high-roller in the comedy's upcoming sixth series.

Collins will play a character named Crystal who becomes an enemy of Joyce Temple-Savage (Sherrie Hewson).

Yesterday (May 28), Collins tweeted: "Looking forward to going to Spain to be in Benidorm.

"And I'm playing 'Crystal' - yes I am - but not the Dynasty one."

Collins previously played Alexis Carrington in the 1980s soap. Alexis's ex-husband Blake (John Forsythe) was married to her nemesis Krystle Carrington (Linda Evans).

Coronation Street's Ken Morley and former Brookside star Philip Olivier have also signed up for guest roles, with Matthew Kelly confirmed to return as Cyril Babcock in series six.

Show creator Derren Litten - who has written all seven episodes of the new series - said: "I'm so excited about series six of Benidorm, probably more excited than all previous series.

Ken Morley has joined the cast of 'Benidorm'. The 70-year-old star - who portrayed supermarket manager Reg Holdsworth from 1989 to 1995 - will star in the ITV comedy series, which will return for a sixth series, alongside former 'Brookside' actor Philip Olivier, who will also make a guest appearance. Derren Litten - who created the show and has written all seven episodes of the new series - explained: ''I'm so excited about series six of 'Benidorm', probably more excited than all previous series. Apart from 'Dynasty' series five of course - what could possibly top the Moldavian Massacre?'' Several stars will...

Ken Morley has joined the cast of 'Benidorm'. The 70-year-old star - who portrayed supermarket manager Reg Holdsworth from 1989 to 1995 - will star in the ITV comedy series, which will return for a sixth series, alongside former 'Brookside' actor Philip Olivier, who will also make a guest appearance. Derren Litten - who created the show and has written all seven episodes of the new series - explained: ''I'm so excited about series six of 'Benidorm', probably more excited than all previous series. Apart from 'Dynasty' series five of course - what could possibly top the Moldavian Massacre?'' Several stars will...

ITV has ordered a sixth and seventh series of Benidorm.

The comedy's sixth run is currently shooting on location, with stars Steve Pemberton, Siobhan Finneran, Sherrie Hewson and Tim Healy all confirmed to return.

The new series will also introduce a new family - the Dykes, composed of father Clive (Perry Benson), mother Tonya (Hannah Waddingham) and their children Bianca (Bel Powley) and Tiger (Danny Walters).

The character of Martin Weedon (Nicholas Burns) - last seen in Benidorm's third series - will also return for the new run.

Coronation Street's Ken Morley and former Brookside star Philip Olivier have signed up for guest roles, with Matthew Kelly confirmed to return as Cyril Babcock.

Show creator Derren Litten - who has written all seven episodes of the new series - said: "I'm so excited about series six of Benidorm, probably more excited than all previous series. Apart from Dynasty...

Jennifer Ellison is pregnant with her second child. The former 'Brookside' actress - who already has three-year-old son Bobby with husband Robbie Tickle - is five months along and admits it's her miracle baby because she was told it was unlikely she would ever conceive again as she has ovarian cysts. She said: ''I didn't even know I was pregnant until four weeks ago, and I'm almost five months now. I can't believe I'm having another baby in July - it's been a massive shock. ''We'd both just come to terms with the fact that we probably weren't going to be having another...

From Casablanca to The Killing – the elements of a great script are essentially the same. John Yorke – who is responsible for some of the most popular recent British TV dramas – reveals how and why the best screenwriting works

Once upon a time, in such and such a place, something happened." In basic terms that's about it – the very best definition of a story. What an archetypal story does is introduce you to a central character – the protagonist – and invite you to identify with them; effectively they become your avatar in the drama. So you have a central character, you empathise with them, and something then happens to them, and that something is the genesis of the story. Jack discovers a beanstalk; Bond learns Blofeld plans to take over the world. The "something" is almost always a problem, sometimes a problem disguised as an opportunity. It's usually something that throws your...

'What does love feel like? I can't remember'

Sue Johnston, 69, grew up on Merseyside and had various jobs before training as an actor. Between 1982 and 1990, she played Sheila Grant in the TV soap Brookside. More recently, she has starred in BBC1's Waking The Dead and The Royle Family. Her films include Brassed Off. Johnston's new comedy, Lapland, begins on 1 February on BBC1.

When were you happiest?

At the birth of my son, Joel, and then equally, last June, when my first grandchild, Rory, was born.

What is your earliest memory?

When I was two and on holiday with my parents at Butlins in Filey. Two girls were playing with me one day and swinging me round by my arms. One came out of the socket and I had to go to hospital to have it put back in.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

Wetting my knickers in junior school laughing at a joke.