Monster Energy Supercross - The Official Videogame 2 - The Compound Area Gameplay | PS4

All the action, all the fight and all the feeling of the 2018 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship are waiting for you with the MONSTER ENERGY SUPERCROSS - THE OFFICIAL VIDEOGAME 2!

Live like a champion with the renewed Career Mode. Train hard in the Compound area across 4 different layouts and join different activities following your own agenda - from Monday till the race weekend you'll always have challenges to face, sponsors to attract, fans to meet and prizes to gain!

Face the competition as a hero; competing on the official tracks and with more than 80 official riders from 250SX and 450SX, including the superstars Jason Anderson and Marvin Musquin and the most awaited rider by the Supercross fans: Eli Tomac!

Your face. Your style. Your own personality. A brand-new level of customization offers more than 3.000 items to create the bike of your dreams. Make your avatar your twin and celebrate your victory as you please - after all, everyone has their own superstitious gesture!

An enhanced track editor with brand-new features is now even easier to use thanks to the in-game tutorial and the renewed UI graphics. Create your track, jump in it and share it online with the community!


Buy from Amazon here

Interview with Tony Timpone - By David Kempf

When did you first become interested in writing and film?

I was interested in film pretty much since I was born. My parents liked taking the kids to drive-ins and movie houses fairly regularly, and we loved watching old movies together at home too. I was lucky that Mom and Dad never took me to a Disney film. Instead, we went to Hammer and American International Pictures movies. Then studio fare like the original PLANET OF THE APES films, JAWS, THE OMEN, THE SENTINEL, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS, STAR WARS, etc. Soon I started writing about the movies I enjoyed and began cutting up my valuable back issues of FAMOUS MONSTERS to create my own “Monster Book.”


How did you get involved in fantasy/horror?

During high school, I became more serious about writing about genre films. Inspired by magazines like FAMOUS MONSTERS, STARLOG and FANGORIA, I dreamed of being published someday. I created a fanzine in high school while president of the Sci-Fi Club called FANTAZINE, where I penned articles and interviews. The first one I did was with Tom Savini! As I teenager, I would attend horror and sci-fi conventions and meet celebrities. Various STAR WARS and STAR TREK actors would also let me interview them, and before I even graduated from New York University, a STARLOG knockoff called ENTERPRISE INCIDENTS bought my Anthony (“C-3PO”) Daniels interview. Legendary editor Forry Ackerman had helped me land the sale.


How did you begin your career with Fangoria?

I first joined the FANGORIA staff in July of 1985. It was my first job out of college. I had been freelancing to Fango’s sister publication STARLOG during my last year at NYU, so I got an early foot in the door. I networked my way into the job. I began as an Editorial Assistant, but within a month on the job, editor David Everitt decided to move on. Since I was fresh out of college and this was my first job in publishing, I was a little too green to take over the job myself. So I served as Managing Editor to Dave McDonnell (STARLOG’s chief), who took over as Editor until I got my wings. The following year I was promoted to Editor in Chief. Back then I thought that I would be with the company three years and move on. But since this was always my dream job, I never wanted to leave. I actually enjoyed getting up in the morning to go to work.


Why do you think horror and fantasy books and movies remain so popular?

In such a grim world, we need an escape. Horror films are a way of conquering our fears, and fantasy and sci-fi are wish-fulfillment mind trips.


Why do you think horror is so criticized and censored?

Horror is the “bad boy” of cinema. Just like parents warned their kids about rock and roll in its early days, horror was always a forbidden. Moral guardians feel they have to protect us from these films, but they only make them more desirable to their fan base.


What do you think the difference between American horror and British horror is?

British horror has always excelled in the Gothic and quiet horror. Period pieces and the like. Brit horror has been less mainstream and cookie-cutter than US studio horror. Though the recent wave of British horror hits, like THE DESCENT, 28 DAYS LATER, EDEN LAKE, the Ben Wheatley films, etc., seem to capture the flavor of the best of 1970s independent American horror. The differences are a lot subtler now, as British filmmakers aim to capture the American audience.


What are your favorite horror books?

Early Stephen King (THE STAND, ’SALEM’S LOT, THE SHINING, IT, etc.), Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN, the stories of H.P. Lovecraft, Thomas Harris’ Hannibal Lecter books, several Ramsey Campbell novels like NAZARETH HILL, Clive Barker’s BOOKS OF BLOOD, etc.


What are some of your favorite horror movies?

All the usual suspects. I love all kinds of horror movies from classic monster pictures, to the Hammer greats, to the AIP Cycle, to slasher films, to the diabolical devil movies (ROSEMARY’S BABY, THE EXORCIST and THE OMEN). There is a rich tradition and variety of horror films and I am open minded enough to embrace them all. As the new century began, I was most impressed with the horror films that began pouring out of Japan (RINGU), South Korea (recently TRAIN TO BUSAN), and Spain (THE NAMELESS).


What do you consider your greatest accomplishment during the Fangoria years?

I made FANGORIA a household name. Took it out of the underground and made it mainstream, but without losing its edgy voice and attitude. The mag became slicker, more professional. At the same time, I supervised the brand’s expansion into movies, conventions, DVD, VOD, books, TV, etc.


What was your favorite part of Weekend of Horrors?

It was always a huge thrill to welcome horror’s greatest on our stages. I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would meet such childhood heroes as Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Jack Nicholson, George Romero, Anthony Perkins and countless others who appeared with us. I have always found horror celebrities to be the most friendly and normal people out there. Same goes with the fans. I am always touched when I meet fans who tell me how important the conventions were to them. My work with Monsterpalooza captures that Fango con magic and has taken it to a whole new level, in terms of presentation and scale.


What is your favorite haunted attraction?

Universal Horror Nights in Orlando is the ultimate scream. You need at least two visits to experience it all.


Tell us briefly about Fangoria Radio. 

That was one of the highlights of my career. Every Friday night, from 10 pm to 1 am, hosts Dee Snider, Debbie Rochon and myself interviewed the best in horror. Right in the heart of NYC. We had bands in the studio, amazing guests (Mel Brooks, Bruce Campbell, Robert Englund, Rob Zombie, Quentin Tarantino… the excitement never stopped!), fans calling in, crazy contests… Alas, our satellite radio show became too expensive to produce, so after four successful years, we went off the air.


Do you have any advice for new filmmakers?

Just do it. The technology to make movies is cheaper and more accessible than ever, and horror is more popular than ever. So many outlets to get your work out there, so make your dreams and our nightmares happen.


What is your opinion of the new crop of independent films?

Great stuff out there. HEREDITARY, for example, was one of the best and scariest movies in years. I also loved indie hits like THE WITCH and IT FOLLOWS. So much great work is being done these days.


What is it like to meet your heroes?

A dream come true. They are so approachable and friendly. I truly am blessed to have made a career in horror.


What are your current projects?

Consulting and writing for the relaunched FANGORIA magazine. Hosting and assembling panels for the two California Monsterpalooza conventions. Programming movies for #1 genre festival Fantasia in Montreal. Hosting horror movies screenings in NYC. Hope to be producing a few horror movies in 2019, like ZOMBIE WEDDING, as well as two- non-horror movies, PUMPING UP and GRAND AVENUE.


Please in your own words, write a paragraph about yourself & your work. 

This is my recent bio.

Tony Timpone served as Fangoria editor-in-chief from 1987-2010 before moving on to manage the company’s Video on Demand and DVD divisions. As a co-host/producer, Timpone worked on Fangoria Radio for Sirius XM Satellite Radio for four years. In the 1990s he helped guide the first three FANGORIA feature films to the screen: Mindwarp, Children of the Night and Severed Ties. In 2004 Timpone served as associate producer to Bravo’s 100 Scariest Movie Moments and was a producer on the syndicated 1990s special The Horror Hall of Fame. For 2018’s 7-part cable documentary series AMC Visionaries: Eli Roth’s History of Horror, Timpone worked behind the scenes as a writer and researcher and in front of the camera as a commentator for each episode.

Timpone has been a frequent media spokesman for the horror industry, making appearances on over 100 TV and radio shows, DVD supplements and documentaries. Since 1998, he has been the Co-director of International Programming for Montreal’s Fantasia Film Festival. Currently he moderates and programs panels for LA’s gargantuan Monsterpalooza conventions; produces Blu-ray disc extras; serves as a programmer and consultant to the NYC Horror Film Festival; and runs Dread Central’s screening series Dread Vision. Timpone was also hired as Vice President to the emerging Horror Equity Fund (www.horrorequityfund.com). You can follow him here: @tonytimpone1

Official Film Chart 27th December 2018 | Official Charts

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is the biggest selling film on disc and download for a fourth consecutive week and is crowned the first ever Christmas Number 1 on the Official Film Chart.  It faced tough competition from The Greatest Showman which once again climbs 3 places to Number 2. 

Jason Statham’s monster shark-fest The Meg, slips down one place to 3 and Christopher Robin holds fast at 4.  At number 5 is the highest ranking festive favourite, Jim Carrey’s The Grinch which was recently revealed to be one of the top 5 biggest selling seasonal films on disc of all time. 

The Equalizer 2 slides three places to Number 6, followed by Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible – Fallout which spends a fifth week in the Top 10 at 7.  Ant-Man And The Wasp is at 8 and a second festive film lands at 9 as Will Ferrell helps restore Christmas spirit in Elf.  Rounding off the Top 10 is Elastigirl and family in former chart topper Incredibles 2.

The Official Film Chart is unveiled each Wednesday and counts down the top 10 biggest selling movies on disc and download of the week.

Official Film Chart 27th December 2018 | Official Charts

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is the first Christmas Number 1 on the Official Film Chart pic.twitter.com/bpFYPqopGT

— BeenToTheMovies 💙 (@beentothemovies) December 28, 2018

Joe Cornish's The Kid Who Would Be King - Second Trailer

Old school magic meets the modern world in the epic adventure THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING. Alex (Ashbourne Serkis) thinks he's just another nobody, until he stumbles upon the mythical Sword in the Stone, Excalibur. Now, he must unite his friends and enemies into a band of knights and, together with the legendary wizard Merlin (Stewart), take on the wicked enchantress Morgana (Ferguson). With the future at stake, Alex must become the great leader he never dreamed he could be.

Starring Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Dean Chaumoo, Tom Taylor, Rhianna Dorris, Angus Imrie, Patrick Stewart and Rebecca Ferguson, THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING arrives in UK cinemas February 15, 2019.

The 6th Friend out January 11, 2019 - Poster and Trailer

Directed by and co-written by Letia Clouston, and starring Bernadette, Chantelle Albers, Dominique Swain, Jessica Morris, Tania Nolan and Monique Rosario, the slasher film with a supernatural twist tells of six college best friends that throw their own private graduation only to see it go terribly wrong when an uninvited guest arrives. Five years later, the girls gather once again and endure a night of far more horror and bloodshed.

Grantchester - Returns 11th January

Grantchester starring Robson Green and James Norton, and new cast member Tom Brittney, returns to ITV for a fourth series in a co-production from Kudos and MASTERPIECE on PBS.

 

James Norton, who plays the charismatic, jazz-loving clergyman, Sidney Chambers, will make his final appearance during the series. Clergyman Will Davenport, played by Tom Brittney, becomes DI Geordie Keating's new crime-solving partner in 1950s Grantchester.

 

Episode 1

 

It's 1956 and with Amanda long gone, Sidney's life now revolves around the church services and the interminable meetings of the Parochial Council and their plans for a village fete. He yearns for some excitement, and Geordie has noticed that Sidney's devil-may-care attitude feels increasingly like a death wish.

 

In need of spiritual sustenance, Sidney and Leonard go to hear inspirational civil rights activist Reverend Nathaniel Todd talk in Cambridge as part of a fundraising tour. Todd is accompanied by his son Charles, daughter Violet, and fellow activist Robert DeVeaux. Professor Barkley and his wife Madhia host their stay, and while at their house, Leonard introduces Sidney to an old friend, Will Davenport. Will is the current Chaplain at Corpus Christi, following in Sidney's footsteps. Sidney strikes up a conversation with beautiful, vibrant Violet Todd and sparks soon fly.

 

At the talk, Nathaniel's impassioned speech invigorates Sidney until he is interrupted by a racist young student, Gregory Jones, who verbally attacks the pastor. Chaos then erupts and what sound like gunshots ring through the church as fireworks are thrown by protestors. Sidney, Leonard, Will, the Barkleys and the Todds are all almost crushed by the crowd trying to escape. Finally, Will breaks open the door and they spill out of the church... but Charles Todd staggers forward, stabbed by an unseen assailant, and dies in his father's arms.

As Geordie and Sidney set about finding the killer, Reverend Todd wrestles with his grief, Violet steels herself to speak out, Sidney wrestles with his growing feelings for her – and Leonard has a poem prepared for the village fete...

 

Cast

 

Sidney Chambers - JAMES NORTON

Geordie Keating - ROBSON GREEN

Will Davenport - TOM BRITTNEY

Leonard Finch - AL WEAVER

Mrs Chapman - TESSA PEAKE-JONES

Cathy Keating - KACEY AINSWORTH

Jack Chapman - NICK BRIMBLE

Daniel Marlowe - OLIVER DIMSDALE

Violet Todd - SIMONA BROWN

Reverend Nathaniel Todd - PATERSON JOSEPH

Professor Henry Barkley - SAMUEL WEST

Robert Deveaux - ANTONY ACHEAMPONG

Madhia Barkley - SANDRA TELES

Charles Todd - TOK STEPHEN

Gregory Jones - DOMINIC HERMAN-DAY

Larry Peters - BRADLEY HALL

Mrs Bennett - SARAH CROWDEN

Esme Keating - SKYE LUCIA DEGRUTTOLA

 

BBC Two’s Masterchef: The Professionals 2018 winner revealed

Laurence Henry, 26, has become MasterChef: The Professionals Champion 2018, it has been announced.
The youngest of this year’s finalists, Laurence is the twelfth winner to be awarded the prestigious title, and become part of Professional MasterChef history, along with outstanding past champions: Gary Maclean; Derek Johnstone; Steve Groves; Claire Lara; Ash Mair, joint winners Keri Moss and Anton Piotrowski; Steven Edwards; Jamie Scott; Mark Stinchcombe and last year’s winner, Craig Johnston.

Taking on 47 fellow professional chefs in the pursuit of culinary perfection, Laurence battled through seven weeks of fierce competition and extraordinary cooking in the demanding challenges. As well as impressing Michelin-starred chef Marcus Wareing, renowned chef Monica Galetti and MasterChef’s seasoned judge Gregg Wallace, Laurence also received critical acclaim throughout the series. Bringing food critic Jay Rayner to a stunned halt when he said, “I have absolutely nothing critical to say” whilst critiquing his lamb dish during The Critic’s round. Further acclaim came from Paul Ainsworth in Knockout Week, who titled Laurence 'man of the match' when the contestants cooked at his restaurant in Cornwall. Whilst during The Chefs’ Table, after Laurence’s lobster and dumpling dish was served, Lisa Goodwin-Allen said, “It puts a smile on your face…it is beautiful”, Michael Wignall called the dish “stunning” and Glynn Purnell was reduced to just one word, “wow”.

Reacting to his win, Laurence says: “It has been a really long journey, I have certainly learnt a lot about myself and found my feet. With this kind of ending who knows what the future holds; it is just so exciting. Hopefully though this is the first step in the long road to the chef I want to be one day.”

Monica Galetti says: “Laurence is a chef who cooks from the heart. He is such a talented chef and the world is his to conquer. He has confidence and a true understanding of flavour. What a future this young chef has.”

Marcus Wareing says: “The food Laurence has cooked for us during the competition has been outstanding. He is inventive, creative and he leaves nothing behind in the kitchen. He gave it his all and his work ethic and professionalism is fantastic, as a chef you couldn’t ask for more in the kitchen. In my opinion he is the next generation.”

Gregg Wallace says: “For a chef so young he is an immense talent. He has a hunger for knowledge and he is willing to push himself until he accomplishes greatness.”

The gruelling Final Week saw Laurence up against exceptionally tough competition in fellow finalists Dean Banks, 30, and Oli Martin, 30. Laurence fought to prove his passion, grit, imagination and technical ability beyond that of his competitors throughout increasingly demanding tasks, which pushed all their culinary skills to their upmost limits.

The challenges included: designing and preparing a menu for the heavyweights of modern gastronomy from around the world with 24 Michelin-stars between them; travelling to Valence, in France, to cook at one of the world’s most exciting and innovative restaurants and learn from Anne Sophie Pic, one of the world’s leading chefs with three Michelin-stars and the fourth generation of one of the greatest cooking dynasties the world has ever seen.

The ultimate, final task was to create an exceptional three-course meal for judges Marcus Wareing, Monica Galetti and Gregg Wallace in three hours. Laurence, who pushed himself to the max with his winning menu, which he said reflected “the most accurate representation of the food he wants to be cooking”, started with a Hand-dived scallop, marinated cherry tomatoes (inspired by his time with Anne Sophie Pic), roast tomato dashi, strawberries and coriander oil seasoned with sansho pepper. His main was Loin and belly of suckling pig, kimchi glaze, braised fermented hispi cabbage hearts, Nashi pear puree and sliced pears. Dessert was Aerated mint white chocolate, lemongrass and coconut ice cream, passion fruit ripple and caramelised white chocolate crumb.

Marcus Wareing, commenting on Laurence’s main pork course said: “Every now and again in a competition we all eat a dish that we will never forget. That is absolutely outstanding.”

Laurence, who grew up in Nottingham, has always been interested in food from a young age. His love for cooking led him to train as a chef at the Ashburton Chefs Academy in Devon.

On his MasterChef experience, Laurence says: “I had thought about entering the competition for a few years but this year I felt my knowledge, skills and confidence were finally at a level that could see me through. The Chefs’ Table was my most challenging moment of the competition. I have always pushed myself and given myself a lot of work to do, but during this challenge I pushed too hard, and almost didn’t make it!

“Winning the show is a dream come true. It has been the goal from day one and I’m ecstatic I’ve managed to get all the way to the end.”

Speaking about his plans for the future, Laurence says: “I still have a lot to learn in my current role so I don’t plan on moving on any time soon. I am exploring the possibility of opening my own restaurant in the future, however before all this I plan on having a bit of time off and travelling.”

Please note that applications for MasterChef: The Professionals, 2019 are now open.

Sky original production Urban Myths returns to Sky Arts with a third series

The International Emmy Awards nominated Urban Myths has been greenlit for a third series on Sky Arts. The next episode of the anthology series to be announced sees students from the National Film and Television School (NFTS) taking over the creative reigns. The series three instalment, Bleak House Guest, stars Stephen Mangan as Charles Dickens and will air in spring 2019.

The NFTS have been commissioned to make the episode as part of the school’s Bridges to Industry scheme. A first glimpse can be seen in Sky’s upcoming highlights promo which will air over the Christmas period.

Morwenna Gordon, commissioning editor for Sky said: “We’re incredibly proud of Bleak House Guest and thoroughly enjoyed the process of working with SLAM and the NFTS on this project. With Stephen Mangan, Ian Hart and Monica Dolan in front of the camera, and a talented crew of NFTS alumni, It will make a world class addition to our next series of Urban Myths.”

Jon Wardle, NFTS director said: “We are extremely grateful to Sky Arts for giving our graduates and students this opportunity to create an episode for such a high-profile series. Our Bridges to Industry scheme is such an important aspect of what we do at NFTS, and we couldn’t give our students and graduates this career enhancing experience without the continued support of our industry champions like Sky.”

Louise Delamere, producer for Slam Films said: “SLAM is delighted to have worked together with Sky and the NFTS on the Bridges to Industry initiative. This unique endeavour resulted in an Urban Myth which SLAM are incredibly proud of – not just for the quality of the programme itself but for the opportunities we were able to offer young, emerging talent.”

Bleak House Guest will join the already announced Mick and Margaret, which charts Princess Margaret’s 30-year friendship with Mick Jagger. Further details of series 3 will be announced in the new year. Previous episodes of Urban Myths have starred Gemma Arterton as Marilyn Monroe, Noel Clarke as Muhammad Ali, Anna Maxwell Martin as Agatha Christie, David Suchet as Salvador Dali and Noel Fielding as Alice Cooper.

Christmas University Challenge alumni line-up announced

Christmas University Challenge is returning to BBC Two, with the 2018 line-up featuring over 50 prominent alumni from 14 universities and university colleges.

Each team will compete in one of seven first round matches, after which the four teams with the highest winning scores will face each other in two semi-finals. The winners of each of those ties will then face each other for the series crown.

Produced by ITV Studios, the series begins on BBC Two on Monday 24 December, at 8.30pm, with the first of this year’s clashes between Brasenose, Oxford and Bristol.


Line-up

Brasenose, Oxford
Jessie Burton, Captain (novelist - The Miniaturist; The Muse); Andrea Brand (Professor of Molecular Biology, Cambridge; winner of the Royal Society Rosalind Franklin Award); Tim Harford (economist and journalist - The Financial Times; presenter of BBC Radio 4’s More or Less); Kate Bliss (antiques expert – Bargain Hunt; Flog It!; The Antiques Road Trip)

Bristol
Misha Glenny, Captain (journalist and author - McMafia); Philip Ball (science writer - Critical Mass; How One Thing Leads to Another); Laura Wade (award-winning playwright - Posh; Breathing Corpses); Iain Stewart (professor and presenter of TV’s Rise of the Continents)

Westminster
Danny Wallace, Captain (filmmaker, comedian, writer and presenter); Stuart Roy Clarke (documentary photographer specialising in football - Homes of Football); Torsten Schmiedeknecht (architect; Deputy Head of School of Architecture, University of Liverpool); Sophie Scott (neuroscientist and science communicator; presenter of 2017 Royal Institution Christmas Lecture)

University of East Anglia
Arthur Smith, Captain (comedian and writer); Zeb Soanes (BBC Radio 4 news presenter and children’s writer); Vicki Pepperdine (actor; Bafta-nominated writer and co-writer of BBC Four’s Getting On); Darren Bett (BBC weather forecaster)

Pembroke, Cambridge
Rick Edwards, Captain (television presenter - Impossible; Tool Academy; Podcast - Science ish); Dan Jones (historian and television presenter - Secrets of Great British Castles; columnist - London Evening Standard); Cath Bishop (rower - World Champion 2003 and Olympic silver medallist 2004 - and diplomat); Emma Johnson (clarinettist - former BBC Young Musician of the Year)

King’s London
Anita Anand, Captain (journalist, author and presenter - Any Answers?); Zoe Laughlin (artist, materials expert and science broadcaster - presenter of BBC Four’s The Secret Story of Stuff); Angela Saini (award-winning science journalist, broadcaster and author - Greek Nation; Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong); Anne Dudley (Oscar-winning composer and musician - Art of Noise)

St. Catherine’s, Oxford
Peter Knowles, Captain (controller of BBC Parliament channel, editor of Today in Parliament); Susie Boyt (novelist and a director at the Hampstead Theatre); Michael Billington (drama critic for The Guardian); Tim Webber (Emmy, Bafta and Oscar-winning visual effects specialist - Gravity)

Peterhouse, Cambridge
Michael Howard, Captain (Conservative peer, former Home Secretary and former leader of the Conservative Party); Dan Mazer (Academy award-nominated screenwriter, director and writer - Ali G; Borat); Mark Horton (archaeologist and presenter - Coast); Michael Axworthy (academic and author, specialising in Middle Eastern Studies; former Head of the Iran section of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office)

Exeter
Paul Jackson, Captain (TV director and producer - The Two Ronnies; The Generation Game; Blankety Blank; Red Dwarf); Jon Kay (BBC TV news presenter and journalist); Deborah Ashby (Director of the School of Public Health, Imperial College, London; from 2019 she will be President of the Royal Statistical Society); Jessica Swale (Olivier award-winning playwright)

Birmingham
Chris Addison, Captain (Emmy award-winning and Perrier-nominated comedian, writer, actor - The Thick of It, Veep ); Nicola Spence (Chief Plant Health Officer at DEFRA); Lizo Mzimba (BBC entertainment correspondent); Nigel Lindsay (British Comedy Award-nominated actor - Shrek The Musical; Four Lions; Victoria)

Sheffield
Paul Mason, Captain (journalist and broadcaster; former Newsnight economics editor); Bryony Page (Olympic medal-winning trampoline gymnast); David Blunkett (Labour peer; former Home Secretary); Liz Watts (Kathleen Ferrier Award-winning operatic soprano)

Manchester
David Aaronovitch, Captain (Journalist - currently Times columnist, former Guardian and Independent - and writer); Simon Brodkin (comedian and prankster - Lee Nelson’s Well Good Show); David Edgar (writer and playwright and cultural commentator); Matt Allwright (television presenter - Watchdog; Rogue Traders)

Edinburgh
Mitch Benn, Captain (comedian - BBC Radio 4’s The Now Show - and writer); JJ Chalmers (TV presenter and Invictus Games athlete); Joanna Cherry (SNP MP, Edinburgh South West); Gavin Francis (GP and award-winning author - Scottish Book of the Year)

LSE
Ekow Eshun, Captain (Orwell Prize-winning writer, journalist and broadcaster); Jagjit S. Chadha (economist, former Specialist Advisor to Commons Treasury Committee); Maya Jaggi (critic, writer and literary judge); Simon Garfield (Somerset Maugham Prize-winning author and journalist)

Still Open All Hours will return to BBC One in 2019 for a sixth series

David Jason returns as Granville, the grocer with the gift of the gab, as he opens the door of Britain's favourite corner shop for a sixth series of Still Open All Hours.

There is in-tents excitement in the new series for Eric (Johnny Vegas) and Cyril (Kulvinder Ghir) when they get a little too close to nature trying to impress their wives on a camping trip. Gastric (Tim Healy) may be ready to die for love of Madge (Brigit Forsythe) but is he ready to diet? Mr Newbold (Geoffrey Whitehead)'s love life begins a new chapter after meeting Mrs Rossi (Sue Holderness) in the library, but will Mrs Featherstone (Stephanie Cole) throw the book at him if she ever finds out? Madge (Maggie Ollerenshaw) finally stands up for herself, but will anybody notice? And Kath (Sally Lindsay) stages a jumble sale starring Eric's favourite clothes. Meanwhile Leroy (James Baxter) is still longing for Beth (Katie Redford) almost as much as he's longing for a lie in. Plus there's the driving lesson of doom, a dog whispering sweet nothings, a bicycle ride full of surprises, all sorts of interesting new uses for a mangle, and the snapping drawer of that famous till.

On the forthcoming series Sir David Jason says: “It always gives me great pleasure to look forward to working with such a wonderful and talented cast and crew, kick-started by the creation of such a surreal and silly world courtesy of Roy Clarke. I am delighted that we will start filming again next year as I know we will all have fun recording each episode and that the viewers get the chance to enjoy the fun on their screens.”

BBC Commissioning Editor, Gregor Sharp, says: “There are few shows which can claim to be one of UK comedy’s crown jewels but Still Open All Hours comfortably falls into that bracket with its glittering cast and amazing heritage and we can’t wait to kneel before the new series.”

Gareth Edwards, Executive Producer, says "It's going to be an absolute joy to be back in Arkwright's, spending more time with our cast of national comic treasures and Roy Clarke's uniquely daft and delightful scripts."

Written by Roy Clarke, Still Open All Hours is a BBC Studios production, commissioned by Gregor Sharp, BBC Comedy Commissioning Editor. It is produced by Sarah Hitchcock and directed by Dewi Humphreys.

Danny Dyer to deliver Channel 4's Alternative Christmas Message

Actor and broadcaster Danny Dyer, the unofficial man of the people, is to deliver this year’s Channel 4 Alternative Christmas Message.

Picture the scene, the post-Christmas Day kitchen carnage, rubbish everywhere, everyone fighting to be heard and nowhere to sit down and relax. Enter Danny Dyer.

Sipping tea out of a Prince Harry & Meghan Markle Royal Wedding mug, Danny reflects on a “pretty full on” year. He goes on to give his view candidly about the lack of leadership in this country.

"That shambles down in Westminster, what a palava that is. I mean where are our leaders? Where are they? There’s been more backstabbing than we have in Albert Square.”

Donald Trump doesn’t get off lightly where Danny is concerned either – he gets both barrels for both not turning up to the Armistice memorial as it was raining and for cancelling his trip to Britain.

“It ain't any better for the Yanks though is it, you know, what an absolute melt they've got there. He don't want to turn up to memorials because it's raining. He don't fancy a little trip to Britain because there's people here that just don't like him. Leave off.”

On a more positive note, Danny raises a glass to both to the heroes of 1918 to mark both 100 years since the Armistice of World War I and the victory in the fight for the women’s vote.

In the Alternative Christmas Message, which will be broadcast on Christmas Day at 3.50pm on Channel 4, Danny calls for more heroes and role models, citing his mum, Nan – and in later years, Harold Pinter, as his.

“That’s what I think we need more of, heroes, role models. If we need anything for 2019, it’s for each of us to find who we look up to. Could be your mum, could be your dad, your stepdad, your Nan, teacher, social worker. Maybe even a handsome roguish actor off your favourite soap.”

He talks of Pinter, “a father figure I didn’t even know I needed,” teaching him “that where I came from didn’t dictate where I went to” and he’s tried to pass this message on.

“I teach my girls they can be who they want to be, and I try and teach my boy to be a good man. Now don’t get me wrong, I ain’t no saint, you know, I can do better. I think we can all do better. And as dads, we can’t stop trying to do better until there’s no need for hashtags to remind us that no means no.”

He signs off with a thoughtful reflection, “Life can get a little stressful and we might get on each other’s nerves a bit, but remember how much there is to be proud of, to be grateful of, and get yourself a Harold, you know, if you can …. Merry Christmas, my loves.”

The Death of Superman and Reign of the Supermen - In UK cinemas January 14

On January 14, 2019, Superman returns to the big screen for one night only in a spectacular animated double feature. The action-packed event will include two features; audiences will first see The Death of Superman followed by the brand-new release of Reign of the Supermen.

The two-part film is an animated adaptation of "The Death of Superman," DC's' landmark 1992-93 comic phenomenon, and features an all-star voice cast led by Jerry O'Connell (Carter, Bravo's Play by play, Stand By Me), Rebecca Romijn (X-Men, The Librarians) and Rainn Wilson (The Office, The Meg) as the voices of Superman, Lois Lane and Lex Luthor, respectively.

The potent trio is joined by the DC Universe Movies’ returning voices of the Justice League: Jason O’Mara (The Man in High Castle, Terra Nova) as Batman, Rosario Dawson (Sin City, Rent, Daredevil) as Wonder Woman, Shemar Moore (S.W.A.T., Criminal Minds) as Cyborg, Nathan Fillion (Castle, ABC’s upcoming The Rookie) as Green Lantern/Hal Jordan, and Christopher Gorham (Covert Affairs, Ugly Betty) as The Flash.

The Death of Superman
An Asteroid hurtles through our atmosphere and with it arrives an unstoppable force known only as Doomsday. With innocent lives threatened and Metropolis under attack, the Justice League rally to meet this otherwordly menace. But when the dust settles, only an epic showdown between superman and Doomsday can decide the fate of the Metropolis and ultimately, planet Earth!

Reign of the Supermen
It's been months since the unfathomable death of Superman, and the world is still shaken when four Super Heroes arrive in Metropolis, all battling to be the reincarnation of the Man of Steel. Even Metropolis isn't big enough for these brawlers, it's only a matter of time until dark forces make their moves from the shadows...

Top Movie Remakes of All Time

Most Hollywood remakes completely miss the mark of the original. They remind audiences of Hollywood’s tendency to completely wring out every penny they can from anything that works. But once in a blue moon comes the exception to that rule. Those select few breathe new life into timeless classics and reintroduce those stories to a brand new audience. To celebrate the release of Papillon, a heart wrenching tale of love, loyalty, and redemption in cinemas 21st December 2018 courtesy of Signature Entertainment, below is the list of the top movie remakes of all time:

Papillon
Based on the autobiography of Henri Charrière, from screener writer Aaron Guzikowski (Prisoners) and executive producer Danny Dimbort (The Wolf of Wall Street), comes Danish Director Michael Noer’s international feature debut Papillon, an eponymous modern take of one of the greatest escape films of all time. The original Papillon stars Dustin Hoffman and Steve McQueen as they attempt to break free from a French Penal colony in South America. The 2018 remake finds Charlie Hunnam (Son’s of Anarchy; Pacific Rim) and Emmy Award Winning - and strong contender this year’s Best Actor Oscar - Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody; Mr. Robot) in the exact same situation after they too are wrongfully convicted of murder and forgery – what are the odds?! These challenging characters gave Malek and Hunnam the chance to deliver two unforgettable performances that will surely blow audiences away when it hits cinemas this Friday.

A Star is Born
Who could forget the chemistry between Barbara Streisand and Kris Kristopherson in the 1976 version of A Star is Born? Having been remade 4 times, we wouldn’t blame you if you did. The original original dates back to 1954, starring Judy Garland and James Manson - big shoes to fill but who else than Bradley Cooper and idol, legend, and star Lady Gaga to take this on? Critics raved about the film, marking Gaga’s transformation into a fully fledged big screen icon.

The Ring
No one does horror better than Japan, but what would the early 2000s have been without Naomi Watts and her particularly well spoken son. As the turn of the millennia came, VCRs weren’t going down without taking a few poor souls with them. I haven’t answered the phone in years solely because of this movie.

Ghost Busters
Kids these days wouldn’t have known who to call had Kristen Wiig and her band of merry Saturday Night Live all stars not geared up to save New York in the 2016 remake of your dad’s favourite movie. Though the reception of the film was split pretty 50/50, those who loved it loved it and those who didn’t probably also voted remain.

Planet of the Apes
Franklin J. Schaffner smashed it the first time around with the original Planet of the Apes, but in 2011 came The Rise of the Planet of The Apes franchise. Ditching the fully body prosthetics for CGI maybe took away some of the lovable campiness of the original but made audiences actually believe that James Franco was right there in their living room – amazing!

Casino Royale
It’s hard to compare apples and oranges, or in this case apples and grenades. These two films couldn’t be more different that calling it a remake is a bit of a stretch. They’re both brilliant in their own right but the 2006 version cemented Daniel Craig’s position as one of the best Bonds of all time – for slow motion ocean exits alone. You have not lived until you’ve cried blood in a casino so let this film be a guide on how to live your best life.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Daniel Craig is just brilliant, isn’t he? Though the original has the benefit of being an authentic Swedish thriller based in Sweden, in Swedish, the remake holds its own and delivers powerful performances from the two leads Daniel Craig and a heavily pierced Rooney Mara. I’ve also heard the books are good too but why would you do that when you have 2 perfectly good adoptions at your fingertips/

Freaky Friday
A cinematic masterpiece, though I doubt the target audience of this film at the time would have known that it was a remake of a 1977 version starring Jodie Foster and Barbara Harris, let alone would even know who Barbara Harris is. This mother / daughter body switching classic reminds audiences of a simpler time when the worst thing that Lindsay Lohan could do was wear a studded belt and pick up an electric guitar.

PAPILLON IS IN CINEMAS FROM 21ST DECEMBER 2018

Where'd You Go Bernadette - First Trailer and Poster

Based on the international bestselling novel by Maria Semple, and directed by Richard Linklater, Where’d You Go, Bernadette stars Cate Blanchett as the title character, the notoriously idiosyncratic Bernadette Fox. An agoraphobic architect, Bernadette is fearlessly opinionated and revolutionary. To her 15-year-old daughter Bee, she is a best friend and, simply, mum. When Bernadette disappears prior to a trip to Antarctica, the family are forced to re-evaluate their priorities in order to bring them close again. A compulsively watchable and touching film about misplaced genius and a mother and daughter’s role in an absurd world.

Director: Richard Linklater
Writers: Richard Linklater, Holly Gent Palmo, Vincent Palmo Jr. 

Cast: Cate Blanchett, Kristen Wiig, Billy Crudup, Laurence Fishburne, Judy Greer

MEN IN BLACK™: INTERNATIONAL - Official Trailer & Poster

The Men in Black have always protected the Earth from the scum of the universe. In this new adventure, they tackle their biggest, most global threat to date: a mole in the Men in Black organisation.

Executive Produced by Steven Spielberg, E. Bennett Walsh and Barry Sonnenfeld, MEN IN BLACK™: INTERNATIONAL boasts an all-star cast featuring Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Rebecca Ferguson, Kumail Nanjiani, Rafe Spall, Laurent Bourgeois, Larry Bourgeois with Emma Thompson and Liam Neeson.

MEN IN BLACK™: INTERNATIONAL will open at cinemas across the UK and Ireland June 14, 2019.

OPERATION: LIVE - Heart-stopping Australian TV first coming to Seven

Landmark TV event on Seven in 2019 - surgery broadcast live

Coming to Channel Seven in 2019, OPERATION: LIVE is a unique TV event broadcasting life-changing operations live in their entirety from Australia’s leading hospitals.

During the two-night event, audiences will witness open-heart surgery and the birth of a baby, both in real time with a multi-camera set up capturing every compelling moment from the first incision to the very last stitch with the patient’s life in the surgeon’s hands.

Commenting on the upcoming TV event, Seven’s Director of Programming, Angus Ross, said OPERATION: LIVE would demystify exactly what unfolds during surgery and underline the brilliant work that takes place in our hospitals.

“This event will give audiences a front row seat to a fascinating world that’s normally off limits,” he said. “When the format aired in the UK, social media was flooded with questions and overwhelming praise for the medical teams involved with people completely in awe of what they had seen.

“Working with ITV Studios Australia and some of Australia’s top-tier hospitals and their elite surgeons, we’re privileged to present this innovative experience for Australian audiences.”   

OPERATION: LIVE will feature expert commentary from Australian trained cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Nikki Stamp FRACS. Dr Stamp will explain the stages of the operation as they happen, working with the surgeon performing the operation.

One of only 11 female cardiothoracic surgeons in Australia and a leading advocate for heart health, Dr Stamp’s research has been published in numerous leading medical journals including the ANZ Journal of Surgery and the British Medical Journal.  She also teaches medical students and surgical trainees.

Alongside the drama and intricate theatre process, audiences will share the nerve-wracking wait with the patient’s closest family as they sit outside the theatre while their loved one undergoes surgery.

OPERATION: LIVE is an ITV Studios Australia production for Channel Seven.


About Seven West Media 
Seven West Media (ASX: SWM) is one of Australia’s leading integrated media companies, with a market-leading presence in broadcast television, magazine and newspaper publishing and online. 

 The company is the home to many of Australia’s leading media businesses – Seven, 7TWO and 7mate, 7flix, Pacific Magazines, The West Australian, The Sunday Times and Yahoo7, and the biggest content brands including My Kitchen Rules, House Rules, Home and Away, Sunrise, the Australian Football League, Cricket Australia, the Olympic Games, Better Homes and Gardens, marie claire, Who, PerthNow, racing.com and 7plus.

Les Misérables - Andrew Davies' six-part adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic 19th century novel, for BBC One

Produced by Lookout Point and BBC Studios, Les Misérables is a brand new six-part adaptation of the classic 19th century book by Victor Hugo.

Adapted by the award-winning screenwriter Andrew Davies (Pride And Prejudice, War And Peace), this landmark drama airing on BBC One has gone back to the novel and delved deep into the many layers of Hugo’s story, revelling in Jean Valjean and Javert’s cat-and-mouse relationship, against the epic backdrop of France at a time of civil unrest.

Les Misérables has a distinguished British cast with Dominic West (The Affair, Tomb Raider, Appropriate Adult) as Jean Valjean, David Oyelowo (Selma, Gringo, Spooks) as Javert and Lily Collins (Rules Don’t Apply, Tolkien, Love Rosie) as Fantine.

The cast also includes Adeel Akhtar (The Night Manager, Murdered By My Father, Utopia) and Olivia Colman (Murder On The Orient Express, The Night Manager, Broadchurch) as Monsieur and Madame Thénardier, Ellie Bamber (Nocturnal Animals, Pride and Prejudice And Zombies, The Nutcracker and The Four Realms) as Cosette, Josh O’Connor (The Durrells, God’s Own Country, Ripper Street) as Marius and Erin Kellyman (Raised By Wolves, Uncle, The Coopers Vs The Rest) as Éponine.

A Lookout Point and BBC Studios production for BBC One, Les Misérables is co-produced with Masterpiece. Executive Producers are Andrew Davies, Faith Penhale (War And Peace, Doctor Who) for Lookout Point, Bethan Jones for BBC Studios (War And Peace, Sherlock). David Oyelowo and Dominic West also executive produce.

Mona Qureshi is executive producer for BBC One, Rebecca Eaton for Masterpiece.

Delegate producer for Czar Film and TV is Eurydice Gysel, and the series is produced with the support of Screen Flanders and Screen Brussels.

Produced by Chris Carey (Apple Tree Yard) and directed by Tom Shankland (The Missing), the drama was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content.

Filming took place in Belgium and Northern France and it will begin on BBC One on Sunday 30 December at 9pm.

Cast
Jean Valjean - Dominic West
Javert - David Oyelowo
Fantine - Lily Collins
Madame Thénardier - Olivia Colman
Monsieur Thénardier - Adeel Akhtar
Cosette - Ellie Bamber
Marius - Josh O’Connor
Éponine - Erin Kellyman

BBC launches Congo VR, a new virtual reality documentary series

A new virtual reality documentary series from the BBC takes viewers into the heart of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, one of Africa’s most dangerous and beautiful countries.

Produced by BBC VR Hub and BBC News, the new three-part series, Congo VR, is now available for free on the BBC VR app, the BBC News YouTube channel and at bbc.co.uk/virtualreality.

Congo VR is a sequel to Damming the Nile VR, the Rose D’Or-winning series that took viewers to Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt to explore the water politics surrounding the world’s most famous river. This time, viewers are back on assignment with BBC Africa correspondent Alastair Leithead in the DRC as he explores this conflicted country.

The first episode, titled A Troubled Past, sees viewers board a train to the nation’s vibrant capital Kinshasa, where they meet the stylish Sapeurs, who embody the capital’s energy and brash confidence. They’ll take a journey up the Congo river to join pygmies on a forest hunt, while hearing about the abuses suffered during colonial times. In the far north, viewers will visit the home of former President Mobutu Sese Seko, the dictator whose luxury palace was once frequented by the rich and famous, including boxer Mohammed Ali, but now lies in ruins, lost to the jungle.

In the second episode, War and Disease, viewers join the Wagenia fishing community in Kisangani as they fish from rapids in the Congo river. That’s the last safe stop before a journey into war-torn Eastern Congo, where UN peacekeepers are attempting to deal with both terrible violence from a dangerous militant group and an Ebola outbreak. Viewers also get a glimpse of the difficult life faced by the hundreds of thousands of people in temporary camps who have been driven from their homes by violence, where everyone lives on edge.

The third and final episode, Great Riches, has viewers journey deep into the rainforest, where they come face-to-face with Eastern Lowland Gorillas, which offers a privileged close-up look at this beautiful and critically endangered animal. They’ll also visit the Congo’s mining heartland, Katanga, and consider why a country that sits on top of extraordinary mineral wealth – with cobalt, copper, gold and diamonds just below the surface – is actually one of Africa’s poorest.

Alastair Leithead, BBC Africa correspondent, says: “To take viewers on an immersive journey up the Congo River is a great opportunity for them to experience just how much more there is to this vast country than the stereotypes of war and disease. The DRC has been haunted by the image of Conrad’s novella the Heart of Darkness for more than a century, but it’s a beautiful, rich and vibrant place. Hopefully, by going on an expedition with us on the river, viewers will get a deeper understanding of the history, the challenges, and the great potential of the DRC.”

Zillah Watson, head of BBC VR Hub, says: “This wonderful follow up to the award-winning Damming the Nile VR takes you right into the heart of this dangerous but beautiful country, somewhere the vast majority of us are never likely to visit. Riding along in the UN’s armoured vehicles you can feel the very palpable sense of danger, and getting so close to the Eastern Lowland gorillas in such an immersive way is an extraordinary thing to see. That’s the beauty of VR, it can give you experiences you could never get anywhere else.”

Congo VR is now available to view for free on the BBC VR app and at bbc.co.uk/virtualreality. It can be viewed in VR on the Oculus Go and Samsung Gear VR.

The Dead Room - A ghost story for Christmas

Mark Gatiss brings the Christmas ghost story tradition back to life with The Dead Room, a chilling new tale for BBC Four.

Written and directed by Gatiss, the 30 minute film tells the tale of a long-running radio horror series of the same name. Simon Callow (Victoria & Abdul, Shakespeare in Love, Four Weddings and a Funeral) plays Aubrey Judd, the radio series’ veteran presenter and national treasure, who finds that he must adapt to changing times and tastes… But whatever happened to the classic ghost stories? The good old days?

Aubrey soon discovers that all is not quiet in the eerie radio studio - and that elements of his own past are not as dead and buried as he perhaps hoped…

Mark Gatiss says: "The Christmas Ghost Story is a wonderful and vital TV tradition and one which has found its natural place on BBC Four. A Merry Christmas to all of you at home. Pleasant dreams!”

Simon is joined by Anjli Mohindra (Bodyguard, The Boy with the Topknot, The Sarah Jane Adventures), Susan Penhaligon (Count Dracula, Doctor Who) and Joshua Oakes-Rogers (Little Crackers).

The Dead Room is a 1x30’ drama written and directed by Mark Gatiss. The Executive Producer is Ben Irving for BBC Four and Mark Gatiss for Can Do Productions. Isibeal Ballance is the Producer.

The Dead Room will air at 10pm on BBC Four on Christmas Eve.

First look: Catch 22

Coming to Channel 4 in 2019

Based on Joseph Heller’s seminal novel of the same name, Catch-22 is the story of the incomparable, artful dodger, Yossarian (Christopher Abbott), a US Air Force bombardier in World War II who is furious because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him. But his real problem is not the enemy, but rather his own army which keeps increasing the number of missions the men must fly to complete their service. Yet if Yossarian makes any attempt to avoid his military assignments, he’ll be in violation of Catch-22, a hilariously sinister bureaucratic rule which specifies that a concern for one’s own safety in the face of dangers which are real and immediate is the process of a rational mind; a man is considered insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, but a request to be removed from duty is evidence of sanity and therefore makes him ineligible to be relieved from duty.

The cast includes Christopher Abbott (Yossarian), Kyle Chandler (Colonel Cathcart), George Clooney (Scheisskopf), Hugh Laurie (Major de Coverley), Giancarlo Giannini (Marcello), Daniel David Stewart (Milo), Rafi Gavron (Aarfy), Austin Stowell (Nately), Graham Patrick Martin (Orr), Gerran Howell (Kid Sampson), Jon Rudnitsky (McWatt), Kevin J. O'Connor (Korn), Pico Alexander (Clevinger), Tessa Ferrer (Nurse Duckett), Lewis Pullman (Major Major), Josh Bolt (Dunbar), Jay Paulson (Chaplain) and Julie Ann Emery (Marion).

Catch-22 is executive produced by George Clooney and Grant Heslov on behalf of Smokehouse Pictures, along with Richard Brown and Steve Golin on behalf of Anonymous Content. Luke Davies and David Michôd are co-writers and executive producers for the series.

The 6-part limited series from Paramount Television and Anonymous Content is directed by Clooney, Heslov and Ellen Kuras, who also serves as producer. Each directed two episodes. Catch-22 will air on Channel 4 in 2019.

Chris Evans Breakfast Show announces groundbreaking partnership with Sky

The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio will launch on 21 January 2019 and instantly redefine commercial radio at breakfast with a show completely free of ad breaks, in partnership with Sky.

In a ground-breaking partnership between Virgin Radio UK and Sky, Chris Evans will broadcast his Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio without any traditional ad breaks. Sky’s sponsorship will provide investment to create branded content, competitions and events which will take the Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio to a whole new level.

Chris Evans said: “So much has changed in broadcasting since I was last at Virgin Radio that now, thanks to Sky, we can do the show without ad breaks. I’m even more excited about starting in the New Year!”

Stephen van Rooyen, CEO UK & Ireland, Sky, said: “The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio will bring audiences something completely new, bold and fresh – everything we love at Sky. We’re excited to create an innovative radio first with Chris and Virgin Radio, and bring Sky customers even more of the entertainment they love when Virgin Radio launches across Sky from 7 January.”

The partnership between Virgin Radio UK and Sky means listeners will have the same uninterrupted audio experience they’ve come to expect from Chris Evans’s award-winning BBC Radio 2 show. Boosted by Sky’s investment in creativity, Chris and the team, including Vassos and Rachel, will have more license than ever before to let their creative juices flow.

The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio will be available online, on mobile via the Virgin Radio app and on DAB digital radio. Virgin Radio will launch on Sky+ and Sky Q on 7 January 2019.

Sky Sports launches a new home for American sports – Sky Sports USA

Love the NFL? Need to know what’s going on in the NBA? You’re in the right place. This January, Sky Sports is launching a new home for American sports - Sky Sports USA.

The channel, on air from 3 January to 5 February, will be home to some of the biggest superstars in sport. In a huge month for sport stateside, Sky Sports USA will show 40 live games from across the NFL and NBA.

As the race continues to Super Bowl LIII, Sky Sports USA will have every game from the NFL play-offs live, as well as the spectacular finale itself from Atlanta.

Out on the hardwood, UK fans await the NBA’s annual London game, as the Washington Wizards face the New York Knicks at The O2 arena. Then, on the 21st January, the league marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day with four games, headlined by the Memphis Grizzlies’ traditional celebration of the civil rights icon’s life.

Highlights from Sky Sports USA include:

• 40 live games from across both sports

• Every game from the NFL play-offs, including Super Bowl LIII from Atlanta

• The NBA London Game 2019 on 17 January between the Washington Wizards and New York Knicks

• All four games from the NBA’s celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

• A huge range of programming across both sports, including episodes of NBA Classic Games, NBA Champions, A Football Life, SFX and America’s Game

Barney Francis, Sky Sports Managing Director, said “Every year, the NFL and NBA London games sell out in a matter of minutes and every year the following for both sports in the UK gets bigger. It’s a big month for both, with the road to the Super Bowl in NFL and the London and Martin Luther King games in the NBA – it’s a perfect time to launch a channel to make sure our customers get the very best of American sports.”

In addition to the live action, fans can watch a huge amount of support programming. From the NBA, there will be more classic games and more must-see documentaries, including Thierry Henry & Larry Bird - The Conversation and Players Only: Isiah & Magic. There’s also a host of content from NFL Films, including A Football Life, SFX and America’s Game, alongside exclusive interviews and masterclasses from Sky Sports’ NFL team.

Sky Sports USA, normally Sky Sports Action, joins Sky Sports’ line-up of 10 dedicated sports channels offering 126 live Premier League games, EFL, England cricket, the Solheim Cup and Golf’s Majors, every race of the 2019 F1 World Championship, World Championship Boxing, Netball’s Super League and much more.

Karl Pilkington’s Sick of It recommissioned for a second series

The Sky original production Sick of It is set to return to our screens as a second series of the scripted comedy gets greenlit. The scripted series, written by Karl Pilkington and Richard Yee, his long-time producer and director, will air late 2019 on Sky One and NOW TV.

The launch of Sick of It was part of a record-breaking year of comedy on Sky One. Karl and his grumpy alter ego return with more helpings of humorous philosophising in a second instalment of the critically acclaimed comedy drama. After Aunt Norma replaces Karl with a young sparky care worker, it triggers a bout of soul searching about how little he’s achieved in his life. As Karl attempts to get a new job, earn enough money to move out of Norma’s house, and start dating again, he has to contend with the new carer who not only looks after Norma but begins to take over his life too.

Karl Pilkington said: “I should be chuffed that people liked it enough that Sky want a second series, but just like in Sick of It, my inner voice is reminding me of the sleepless nights and stress I went through when doing the first series. I can never enjoy anything.”

Richard Yee said: “There’s no one able to express the anxiety and confusion of the modern world with as much wit and humanity as Karl, so it’s a joy to be bringing him and his miserable alter ego back for a second series of Sick of It.”

Jon Mountague, Sky’s head of comedy said: “The ‘real’ Special One is coming back to Sky One and so is his inner self. We couldn’t be more thrilled.”

From the Emmy Award winning team behind An Idiot Abroad and The Moaning of Life, the second series of Sick of It will be produced by Me+You Productions and Alrite Productions. Richard Yee directs.  Co-creators Karl Pilkington and Richard Yee also executive produce along with Krishnendu Majumdar. The second series was commissioned by Jon Mountague from Sky.

Blast Off With The New LEGO Movie 2 International Trailer

“The LEGO® Movie 2” reunites the heroes of Bricksburg in an all new action-packed adventure to save their beloved city. It’s been five years since everything was awesome and the citizens are facing a huge new threat: LEGO DUPLO® invaders from outer space, wrecking everything faster than they can rebuild. The battle to defeat them and restore harmony to the LEGO universe will take Emmet, Lucy, Batman and their friends to faraway, unexplored worlds, including a strange galaxy where everything is a musical. It will test their courage, creativity and Master Building skills, and reveal just how special they really are.

The Official Film Chart - Mamma Mia! 2 at number 1 for 3rd week - and XMAS All-time best-sellers announced

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again returns for a third week atop the Official Film Chart after once again dancing ahead of the competition. Last week’s highest new entry The Meg swims up four places to follow at Number 2, following its release on disc.

This week’s highest new entry at Number 3 is The Equalizer 2, the action-packed Denzel Washington sequel which sees him reprise his role as a retired CIA operative now working a regular day job, while moonlighting as a vigilante. After a long-time friend is murdered, he sets off across the globe on a mission to avenge her.

Debuting at Number 4 this week is heart-warming family film Christopher Robin, starring Ewan McGregor as the titular character. Robin returns to the Hundred-Acre Wood as an adult after bumping into his old friend Winnie The Pooh.

The biggest film of the year so far, The Greatest Showman, is at Number 5, Mission: Impossible – Fallout drops to Number 6, Ant-Man And The Wasp settles at Number 7, and The Grinch steals the Number 8 position.

Finally, previous Film Chart Number 1 Incredibles 2 swoops down one place to Number 9, ahead of the third new entry on this week’s chart, WWI documentary They Shall Not Grow Old, at Number 10.

The Official Film Chart is unveiled each Wednesday and is the subject of a Top 10 Official Film Chart online show, published on OfficialCharts.com and available for media syndication. The show counts down the top 10 biggest selling movies on disc and download of the week and also includes bonus “coming soon” content for film lovers.

This week’s Official Film Chart online show features an exclusive deleted scene from Idris Elba’s Yardie which is available on DVD and Blu-ray on Boxing Day.

1. MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN
2. THE MEG
3. THE EQUALIZER 2
4. CHRISTOPHER ROBIN
5. THE GREATEST SHOWMAN
6. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT
7. ANT-MAN AND THE WASP
8. THE GRINCH
9. INCREDIBLES 2
10. THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD

MONSTERS AND MEN - In Cinemas 18th January / Poster & Trailer

MONSTERS AND MEN tells a ripple-effect narrative: from an eye-witness (Ramos) who captures a shooting on his phone, an African-American police officer (Washington) battling with his conscience to stand up against his fellow officers, to a local high school student (Harrison Jr) who transforms from passive bystander to vehement activist. With fluid cinematography that's alert and expressive, the film explores the ramifications of such an event in a terrifying and poetic way.

Shot in Brooklyn, NY, Monsters And Men features John David Washington (BLACKKKLANSMAN, BALLERS), up-and-coming actor Kelvin Harrison Jr. (MUDBOUND, IT COMES AT NIGHT, THE WOLF HOUR) and star of Broadway’s HAMILTON Anthony Ramos.

In Cinemas and on Digital 18th January 2019
Certificate 15 / Running time 95 Minutes

David Schwimmer stars in Nick Mohammed’s new comedy series for Sky One

Intelligence is a new Sky original production set in the UK’s Government Communications Headquarters, a weedier, geekier, more bureaucratic version of MI5 and MI6.

The six-part series is a workplace comedy series based in Cheltenham and set in the UK’s highly regarded Government Communications Headquarters. When a power-hungry, maverick NSA agent (Schwimmer) comes over to join an inept and tactless computer analyst (Mohammed) and a newly-formed team tackling cybercrime, everything they know is shaken up.

Jon Mountague, Head of Comedy, Sky Entertainment, said: “Nick Mohammed has written a brilliantly funny comedy series in Intelligence. David & Nick are hilarious together and so perfectly represent the special relationship between our two great nations. I can’t wait.”

David Schwimmer said: “I have no idea what this show is about but if it’s called Intelligence, naturally I’m going to be part of it.”

Nick Mohammed said: “Getting to work with David has been an absolute dream come true. He’s collaborative, honest and exquisitely funny and I couldn’t be more delighted and flattered by his involvement. On saying that, we did initially offer the part to the local shoplifter from Blackpool, but he wasn’t available sadly. Either way, we hope that everyone at GCHQ is as excited about this series as we are. I presume they were aware of this series being green-lit way before we ever were…”

Nerys Evans, Expectation’s Creative Director, Comedy, said: “Even though the stakes are really high for the team, fighting cyber-crime, our six-part comedy series reveals the reality is not dissimilar to any other office environment, from temperamental photocopiers to meeting rooms being double booked. David Schwimmer and Nick Mohammed have a fantastic ‘odd couple’ chemistry and the scripts are brilliantly funny, we can’t wait to see the world of Intelligence come to life.”

Mohammed (The Martian and Christopher Robin) will write, star and executive produce the six-part series. Schwimmer (Friends and American Crime Story: The People v. OJ Simpson) will also star and executive produce.

Intelligence is a co-production with Expectation and Dark Harbor Stories. Executive producer is Nerys Evans for Expectation. Commissioned by Jon Mountague, Sky’s Head of Comedy and Zai Bennett, Director of Programming for Sky Entertainment UK & Ireland. The commissioning editor is Morwenna Gordon for Sky.

Intelligence will be internationally distributed by Sky Vision.

Almost Never A group of young hopefuls try to make it in the music business in CBBC’s new comedy drama

A story of family, friendship, loyalty and embracing your dreams in a brand new CBBC comedy drama.
It’s the final of the nation's top TV talent show The Spotlight, and boy band The Wonderland are pitted against all-girl band Girls Here First.

It’s a tense moment as host Tess Daly is about to announce the winners, a prize that both bands so desperately crave. When the boys don’t win, what happens next? They came so close to achieving their dreams and now they’re left adrift with no backing and no plan.

CBBC’s brand new comedy drama Almost Never charts the ups and downs of The Wonderland as they juggle home life, school and relationships, alongside their dreams of pop stardom. It’s a story of family and friendship, loyalty and dreaming big. The Wonderland strive to embrace their dreams whilst dealing with everything that teenage life throws at them.

Almost Never is coming soon on CBBC.

Pictured: Mya (Mya-Lecia Naylor), Lill (Lilly Stanion), Lola (Lola Moxom), Miri (Miriam Nyarko), Sasha (Kimberly Wyatt), Oakley (Oakley Orchard), Nate (Nathaniel Dass), Harry (Harry Still)

Interview with James Buckley for The Inbetweeners: Fwends Reunited

It’s ten years since The Inbetweeners first appeared on TV. How did it change your life?

I don’t know really. I got paid, and I was in this successful show, but I’m not really sure how much it’s changed my life other than that. I feel like I’m the same person. It was good fun doing it!

What had you done before The Inbetweeners?

I was in a TV show called ‘Orrible with Johnny Vaughan, I did the last series of Teachers, I did two or three different characters on The Bill. Just stuff like that. The Inbetweeners was the first thing that really took off.

What do you remember of the audition process?

I remember it was quite long. It felt like pretty much everyone I knew who was my age and was also an actor read for it. I know that they were doing auditions in Edinburgh as well, up at the Fringe. It was just a really long process; I didn’t know what was going on or what they were really looking for.

How was it meeting your fellow cast mates for the first time? What were your first impressions of them?

It was really weird meeting the other boys for the first time. That was pretty much the last audition, where they had the four of us together, and we read, and it was just quite weird. The way we are now was exactly how we were the first time we met. We we were just all very comfortable taking the piss out of each other straight away.

Was the show actually fun to film, or was it just a job with antisocial hours and lots of lines to learn?

It was the best fun. It was the best job you could ever have. It was just hanging out with your mates, mucking about, having fun, making each other laugh, and maybe we might film some stuff that could be put on television. It doesn’t really get any better than that. To be paid to do that! I still, to this day, can’t believe how lucky I was.

What sort of a teenager were you?

I was still a teenager when we filmed this – I think I was 18 when we shot the pilot and 19 when we did the first full series. I think I was a pretty ordinary teenager, boring, just played video games with my mates and went to the pub, stuff like that. Just very normal.

Did you like Jay?

I liked playing Jay. I don’t think I could be around someone like that for too long, for any extended period of time. I think I’d get wound up. It’s good fun to play a character like that, to do stuff, to behave in a way that you’d probably feel too embarrassed or ashamed to in real life. It’s like a purge. It was really great to be able to get away with the things I said and did. And Jay’s a really funny character; he makes a lot of people laugh, so I loved playing him.

Did you have any input into how the character developed?

No. And this is another reason why the job was so good! I didn’t have to think about anything. Iain and Damon [the creators] had it all there. It just needed someone to read it, and I happened to be the lucky person to do that. It meant I could spend most of my energy just winding up Joe Thomas. It was all Iain and Damon.

When did you first realise the show was going to be a hit?

I can’t really remember. It was a really slow process. It took a while to catch on, and there wasn’t a time where I suddenly realised that the show was popular and people liked it. It just slowly happened, and more and more people were watching it on TV and stuff. I can’t remember a time where we all sat down together and popped a bottle of champagne and patted each other on the back to say “It’s a hit.” That never really happened, it was just a real slow-burner before people started to get into it.

Did the first film take it to a whole new level?

It’s in hindsight, really, that I appreciate what we did. No-one made TV shows into movies at that point, because that had a famous history of going badly – no-one had done it for 30 years or whatever. That was very much a possibility with doing the movie for The Inbetweeners. We didn’t know if it was going to work or if people were going to like it. I think we all felt like if we just kept doing what people liked us doing, then maybe other people would get it, but there was still this stigma around TV shows adapted for movies, and we had to overcome that. And we did. I haven’t really ever thought about it until now, but it was pretty good to have a couple of hit movies off the back of the show.

On the night, you’ll be reunited with the boys – do you ever manage to all get together?

We do sometimes, but we mostly communicate through text or email. We’ve got a weird relationship, it’s genuinely like family. You can have your brother move away and you don’t see them for a year, but you have that bond and you pick up straight where you left off. We are like family, and any excuse to get together we’ll take. That’s why we’re doing this show – it’s just an excuse to meet up. It’s difficult with kids and work and stuff like that, and we don’t live near each other, so it’s not like we can just pop round and see each other. So this is a nice excuse to spend a few days together.

Have you any idea what we can expect on the night?

I’m just going to turn up, and I get to see Joe and Simon and Blake, and Ian and Damon, and my attitude will be the same as it was with the series and the movies – if we make a TV show at the end of it then great, but I just really want to see those guys.

Do you have any favourite scenes from the show?

I haven’t really watched it. I would rather watch Blackadder thousands of times. I’m sure there are people who probably watch The Inbetweeners that much. It’s probably, like, if I ask Rowan Atkinson what his favourite Blackadder episode was, and he’s like “I can’t really remember, because it was a while ago and I never really watched them back…”

“… and I spend all my time watching The Inbetweeners.”

[Laughs] That would be the greatest!

The Inbetweeners: Fwends Reunited airs New Years Day at 9pm on Channel 4

Interview with Simon Bird for The Inbetweeners: Fwends Reunited

It’s ten years since The Inbetweeners first appeared on TV. How has it changed your life?

In lots of ways. I always wanted to perform comedy and be an actor. Before The Inbetweeners I assumed that was a pipe dream. As we were making The Inbetweeners I thought it was a pipe dream as well to be honest! We all thought it was such a tiny show and no one would watch it.

What had you done before The Inbetweeners?

I’d done a lot of live comedy. I met Joe at university and with him and some of my other friends we did lots of sketch shows and stand up. We did that at the Edinburgh Festival and in London. We had sort of odd jobs, me and Joe, writing sketches and jokes, including for Iain Morris and Damon Beesley (who wrote The Inbetweeners). That’s how we got to know them and eventually how we got the part. So just pure nepotism! Old-school nepotism.

What do you remember of the audition process?

Well I remember not being allowed to audition for about a year because Iain and Damon said I was a) too old and b) too camp. They said there wasn’t a part in the show for me or Joe. This was around the time when Skins had just come out and that was obviously a huge success. They’d cast fifteen and sixteen year olds to play fifteen and sixteen year olds which makes sense. So Iain and Damon were trying to do that. And Blake and James are slightly younger than me and Joe, so they sort of achieved that with them. But with Will and Simon, those are the characters that are based on them – Will is Iain and Simon is Damon. I think they were just very protective and didn’t really like the idea of giving those parts up to anyone. But Joe and I hung on in there and eventually Iain and Damon ran out of time, as we knew they would. They realised about three days before filming that they had to cast someone. I think it was out of desperation really that me and Joe got cast.

I can’t imagine anyone else playing them, though

Yeah it’s weird isn’t it?

What sort of teenager were you?

I mean I was essentially Will, obviously, sad to say. I didn’t have a briefcase but I had a pretty structured backpack.

When did you first realise the show was going to be a hit?

Really late, to be honest. Genuinely after series three came out. The viewing figures for series one were tiny and it got terribly reviewed so we assumed it was dead in the water. Then for some reason they commissioned a second series and we thought that was just foolhardy commissioners. The viewing figures for the second series were slightly better but not in any way noteworthy. It was really only after the third series when the viewing figures really took off and people were saying, “OK this is getting weird now.”

Do you think the first film took it to a whole new level?

Yeah I think so. I admired the pure cojones of Iain and Damon to think we deserved to make a film. Lots of TV shows have done that since but at that time it wasn’t a standard thing to do. Back then the idea of turning this pretty lo-fi low-budget sitcom about four underachieving losers into a film felt totally audacious. It felt like we were just taking the piss, to be honest.

What do you get shouted at most by fans of the show?

Oh, all the ones you’d expect. ‘Briefcase Wanker’ is obviously a classic. ‘Bumder’ is a bit of a go-to. All the old favourites.

On the night you’ll be reunited with the others – do you manage to get together a lot?

We do. Not as much as we’d all like to but we met up a couple of months ago and went out for dinner. I see Joe quite a lot. But Blake and James don’t live in London anymore so it’s a bit trickier to see them.

Tell us about your upcoming projects

For the last six months I’ve been working on a film which I have directed called ‘Days of the Bagnold Summer’. Coming to cinemas soon hopefully.

The Inbetweeners: Fwends Reunited airs New Years Day at 9pm on Channel 4