FIRST LOOK: JAMES NESBITT AND RICHARD E. GRANT IN SUSPECT – CHANNEL 4’S THRILLING NEW DRAMA

When veteran detective, Danny Frater (James Nesbitt), turns up at a hospital mortuary for what he thinks is a routine ID check on a young woman's body, he gets a devastating shock; the corpse turns out to be his estranged daughter, Christina (Imogen King). He sets out on a mission for the truth, retracing her last days and hours, in an agonising crusade to discover what really happened to his only child.

SUSPECT (W/T) also stars Joely Richardson, Anne-Marie Duff, Antonia Thomas, Niamh Algar, Sacha Dhawan, Sam Heughan and Ben Miller and will premiere on Channel 4.

Queens of Mystery Season 2 - Official Trailer

Monday, 29th November 2021 heralds the arrival of QUEENS OF MYSTERY SERIES 2 EPISODES 1 & 2 the ACORN TV ORIGINAL UK PREMIERE  STREAMING EXCLUSIVE

Then two episodes per week follow on subsequent Mondays.

Roll out the red-carpet. The Emmy Award-nominated Queens of Mystery is back for a second series of the brilliant, bold and thrilling homegrown hit mystery drama. Making its World Premiere exclusively on Acorn TV, this Acorn Original series created by writer Julian Unthank (Doc Martin, New Tricks) is wickedly offbeat, with bold visuals, quirky characters, and darkly comic murders.

Series two sees the return of British acting favourites Julie Graham (The Bletchley Circle, Shetland, Penance), Siobhan Redmond (Unforgotten, The Replacement, Taggart), and Sarah Woodward (The Pale Horse, Quiz, The Politician's Husband) as the eponymous queens. Florence Hall (Jonathan Creek) joins the cast as detective niece Matilda, who is 'helped' by her mystery-writing aunts who believe their knowledge of crime fiction makes them perfectly qualified to help her solve whodunit-style murders. Now in the swing of things in her hometown of Wildemarsh, Matilda lives happily above her Aunt Jane's 'Murder Ink' bookshop, but it's not long before the town has a killer in its midst, and as always, Aunts Beth, Cat and Jane are on hand to assist in the investigations.

Watch Trailer at

http://www.jonn.co.uk/2021/11/queens-of-mystery-season-2-official.html

Nightmare Alley - Poster and Trailer - Starring Bradley Cooper & Toni Collette - Directed by Guillermo del Toro

 

When charismatic but down-on-his-luck Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) endears himself to clairvoyant Zeena (Toni Collette) and her has-been mentalist husband Pete (David Strathairn) at a traveling carnival, he crafts a golden ticket to success, using this newly acquired knowledge to grift the wealthy elite of 1940s New York society. With the virtuous Molly (Rooney Mara) loyally by his side, Stanton plots to con a dangerous tycoon (Richard Jenkins) with the aid of a mysterious psychiatrist (Cate Blanchett) who might be his most formidable opponent yet.

In UK and Irish cinemas on Friday 21st January

Directed by Guillermo del Toro

Starring Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Toni Collette, David Strathairn, Willem Dafoe, Ron Perlman and Richard Jenkins 

It’s back to the classroom as Ackley Bridge returns for a fifth series

Ashley Walters (Top Boy, Bulletproof) will make his directing debut

Award-winning Ackley Bridge will return to Channel 4 and All4 for a fifth series in 2022, with 10x30 new episodes commissioned from The Forge.

Ackley's back for more high-jinx plans, scams, and mad-cap adventures in school and on the estate. We'll pick up with our trio – Johnny (Ryan Dean - The Gentleman, Penny on M.A.R.S.), Kayla (Robyn Cara -Life, Hounslow Diaries) and Fizza (Yasmin Al Khudhairi - Hilda)  - as they try to navigate the second half of the school year. Elsewhere, life gets complicated for Marina (Megan Morgan - Hollyoaks), Kayla's popular Queen Bee sister, just as her younger brother Kyle (Adam Little – Years and Years), Ackley's newest pupil and troublemaker, turns up at school, fresh out of juvie. It's been a year already jam-packed with love triangles, catfishing, compulsive liars and one utterly joyous (albeit failed) gypsy wedding. But it's not over until the last school bell rings and there's still plenty of time before the sun breaks on the summer holidays…

And for the adults, life is just as chaotic. Martin (Rob James Collier – Downton Abbey) finds his role as Head under the spotlight as Ken (George Potts - Brassic) - true to form – continues to be a raging pain in the proverbial. Things get trickier still for Martin when Asma (Laila Zaidi – Benidorm, Holby City), Ackley's new hotshot teacher joins the staff to immediately ruffle some feathers. Kaneez (Sunetra Sarker – Informer, The Bay) is back at the beating heart of the school and is presented with her biggest challenge yet, in the form of new boy Kyle. Sue (Charlie Hardwick - Emmerdale) does her best to impress Ken which could lead to a change in career.

Rebecca Holdsworth, Channel 4 Commissioning Editor said: "I'm thrilled to be revisiting Ackley Bridge to see what is in store for our pupils and teachers. Series 5 promises the same trademark mix of funny, heartfelt and hard-hitting stories."

George Ormond, Executive Producer, The Forge, added: "We're delighted to be back for another series in our rowdy school and our left-behind town.  It's been a lot of fun coming up with series 5 and we can't wait to share it."

REVIEW: Mage Drops on PC (Steam)

Mage Drops is a Golf/Platform/Puzzle game from the good people at Orchid of Redemption.

In recent times we have seen quite a few of these Golf/Platform/Puzzle type games, but how does Mage Drops stack up against some of the previous releases in this ever-expanding genre.

As always when reviewing an "Early Access" game, it is worth pointing out that the game is not the finished article yet, the developers are still tweaking the game, listening to player feedback, adding or removing features to try and get the game as good as possible.

When loading up the game, the first thing you will notice is how pretty everything looks. And when things look really good, you instantly know that the developers have spent a lot of time and love on crafting a game, and with Mage Drops that is very apparent from the start.

Each course/level has the basics of golf, you start at the tee, and you need to get the ball in the cup. Aiming is done with a simple dotted line, which you can lengthen, lower, and so on until you get the desired shot. The cup itself is quite large, this instantly tells you that the platforming or puzzle elements are going to be more important than a millimetre precision shot.

Read Full Review

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2021/11/review-mage-drops-on-pc-steam.html

Nida Manzoor’s award-winning, bold music comedy We Are Lady Parts recommissioned for a second series

We Are Lady Parts has been recommissioned for a second series for Channel 4. Series two will also launch on Peacock in the US.

Series one explored the highs and lows of the band, named Lady Parts, as seen through the eyes of Amina Hussain (played by Anjana Vasan) – a geeky microbiology PhD student, on the lookout for love. Amina is recruited to be the bands' unlikely lead guitarist. Lady Parts' fierce and enigmatic frontwoman Saira (Sarah Kameela Impey) sees something in Amina and uses her desperation to find a husband as leverage, offering to set her up with potential matches if she agreed to join the band. Amina soon gets swept up in their joyful, anarchic energy and punk spirit. But she's caught between two different worlds – her more strait-laced uni friends and the band, who urge her to find her voice. Series one ended with the band reuniting on stage, following an exposing interview, for a kick-ass performance. With the support of her fellow band members, Amina manages to overcome her vomit-inducing stage fright and takes her place on centre stage, where she belongs - much to the delight of their newly found adoring fans!

Nida Manzoor, Writer, Creator and Director: "I feel so incredibly lucky and excited to have the opportunity to make a second series of We Are Lady Parts. I can't wait to delve back into the world of the band and go deeper into their lives. Expect more high jinks, more music, and more flights of fancy. SPARTA!"

REVIEW: Hyperball Tachyon on PC (Steam)

From Rendah Games comes Hyperball Tachyon, a fast-moving 2D platform game, where you control a ball as you bounce and jump through increasingly difficult levels.

The basic idea of the game is to get from the start point to the finish line in as fast a time as possible.

At first things start out pretty simple, but soon you will face various obstacles including sand traps, water, spikes and so on.

Your ball can do a basic extra jump, but in the differing levels you will find things that help you and things that hinder you.

For example, a collectable that will allow you an extra jump, or columns of wind that will either push you along, or hold you down. This game is all about learning the physics of the ball, and using it to your advantage.

Read Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2021/11/review-hyperball-tachyon-on-pc-steam.html

Samson Kayo & Jane Horrocks return to Sky in an all new bigger and bolder series of BLOODS

Katherine Kelly and Nathan Foad join the cast of the comedy including Lucy Punch, Julian Barratt, Adrian Scarborough, Kevin Garry, Sam Campbell and Aasiya Shah.

Filming has started on a new series of Sky Original Bloods, Sky's critically acclaimed paramedic comedy starring BAFTA nominated Samson Kayo and Golden Globe nominated Jane Horrocks. The bigger 10-episode deal will be made for Sky by BAFTA award-winning Roughcut TV (Stath Lets Flats, People Just Do Nothing, Cuckoo) in association with Sky Studios. It will air on Sky Comedy and streaming service NOW in two viewing drops coming in 2022.

Bloods follows tough-acting loner Maleek (Kayo) and over-friendly divorcee Wendy (Horrocks), a pair of mismatched paramedics and their fellow ambulance station colleagues through the life-saving world of a south London emergency service. Katherine Kelly (Innocent, Liar) joins the cast in the two new series as the ambulance stations acting counsellor and listening ear and Nathan Foad (Our Flag Means Death) will play Wendy's son Spencer.

The shows returning cast include; Lucy Punch (Motherland) as boisterous station boss Jo and Julian Barratt (Mighty Boosh) as grieving widower Lawrence. Adrian Scarborough (Gavin and Stacey) and Aasiya Shah (Raised By Wolves) reprise their roles as Gary and Kareshma, paramedics with diametrically opposing career outlooks, and Kevin Garry (Ted Lasso) and Sam Campbell (Melbourne International Comedy Festival Barry Award winner) as the glued-to-the-hip duo of paramedics Darrell and Darryl.

The news comes as it is revealed that US streaming service Hulu has acquired the series in a multi-season deal. The first series of Bloods is set to debut on the streamer next month on December 9.  

The hit first series has been described as "A magnificent paramedic comedy full of gallows humour ★★★★★" by The Independent and containing "lovable characters and an impressive high hit rate of gags" by TV Times, while Radio Times described Kayo and Horrocks as "an unexpectedly dazzling comedy duo." The 10x30min episodes will be shot at North London Studios and in various locations in South London and will continue to bring humorous relief to the world and characters of the paramedic service while recognising the talent of those who put their own lives at risk in an emergency to help keep us safe and healthy.

Samson Kayo said: "I'm so excited the BLOODS team are back together again for this new bigger and bolder series. With ten episodes, there is going to be loads more laughs, friendship and fun for fans to enjoy. Maleek is reunited with his miss-matched paramedic partner Wendy and he can't wait to hit the roads again in their ambulance!"

Jane Horrocks said: "I am very much looking forward to getting back to Bloods for series 2. The scripts are already banging and Wendy is getting more naughty!"

COMPETITION! Win Faraday Protocol on Nintendo Switch or PS4

We have 2 codes to give away each for Switch and PS4.

To enter just click the link below to go to Twitter and Like and Retweet, and give us a follow @GamingCouchSpud

We will DM winners on Twitter after 2 weeks

https://twitter.com/GamingCouchSpud/status/1460198513191628803

Faraday Protocol is a first-person puzzle game that will test your wits and intelligence, challenging your critical thinking. You are Raug Zeekon: interstellar archeologist from planet Cunor. You have been sent by your company to investigate the source of a mysterious signal coming from an unexplored star.

The Bia Tool, an ancient relic of an alien civilization, is the first mystery you uncover when arriving in OPIS. Unsure of its true purpose you start wielding it to solve the challenges on your path. With its ability to absorb energy and the option to redistribute it to different machinery, you start digging deeper and deeper into the temples, encountering even harder puzzles that will test your savvy and abilities in problem solving. Are you smart enough to solve every challenge thrown at you?

You encounter a mysterious robotic voice. Her name is IRIS, an A.I. created to guard the ancient structures of OPIS. The complex seems to have been abandoned for aeons, but what was its purpose? Rooms filled with puzzles, getting more and more sophisticated and challenging as you progress through them. Who built them? Why would someone build a training facility like this on an otherwise abandoned planet?

Features:

Puzzle your way through the mysterious space station OPIS

Use the Bia-Tool to absorb and redistribute energy

Unravel the many mysteries of the station and its governing A.I. IRIS

Find hidden collectibles that reward especially attentive players

Experience a unique blend of retrofuturism

REVIEW: BitMaster on Nintendo Switch

BitMaster seems like it should be a game made for Nintendo Switch, it is a twin stick shooter, you shoot at enemies while skating around on a hoverboard.

The game is described as being inspired by such classics as Geometry Wars, Crimson Land and Satellite Reign, but does it measure up?

There are 100 waves of enemies to face (20 different kinds of enemy), after 20 waves you will face a boss, and then another 20 waves and so on.

You can collect new guns and unlock new characters to play with, the environment changes colours, and different areas will benefit or harm your character.

For example, in one area your shield will regenerate faster, in another, your weapon may fire slower rounds.

Read Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2021/11/review-bitmaster-on-nintendo-switch.html

REVIEW: Too Many Humans on PC (Steam)

Too Many Humans is a Real Time Strategy game, but instead of controlling the army, or a private security force as is often the case in such games, this time you are controlling zombies! Sounds good right!

Let's take a quick look at the official story.

"You are Phthisis, the God of pestilence, decay and death. Humanity has degraded too far into greed and is causing irreversible damage to Gaia; your dear sister, and their planet. Something has to be done. But like every god, you have rules (omnipotence gets boring otherwise): you are not allowed to directly kill humans. But you *can* raise them back from the dead. And if the living ones die because of this... Eh *shrug*.

Rise, mutate and unleash your Zombies into frantic battles against the treacherous humans. Fight every battle to break one by one the chains of avarice humanity has binded itself with."

Read Full Review

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2021/11/review-too-many-humans-on-pc-steam.html

REVIEW: Faraday Protocol on Nintendo Switch

Faraday Protocol is a first-person perspective puzzle game and walking simulator. I am playing this on a Nintendo Switch Lite.

Let's take a look at the official story of the game.

"You are Raug Zeekon: interstellar archeologist from planet Cunor. You have been sent by your company to investigate the source of a mysterious signal coming from an unexplored star.

The Bia Tool, an ancient relic of an alien civilization, is the first mystery you uncover when arriving in OPIS. Unsure of its true purpose you start wielding it to solve the challenges on your path. With its ability to absorb energy and the option to redistribute it to different machinery, you start digging deeper and deeper into the temples, encountering even harder puzzles that will test your savvy and abilities in problem solving. Are you smart enough to solve every challenge thrown at you?"

Read Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2021/11/review-faraday-protocol-on-nintendo.html

La! It’s A Sin cast reunite for a festive special of The Great British Bake Off

The cast of Channel 4's award-winning hit show It's A Sin will be reuniting this Christmas for a seasonal special of The Great British Bake Off.

Swapping the Pink Palace for an equally iconic erection, Olly Alexander; Lydia West; Nathaniel Curtis; and Shaun Dooley will enter the Bake Off tent to try their hand at some festive themed bakes.

Judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood and hosts Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas will preside over the hotly contested competition to see who on the cast knows their sieves from their spatulas in the first of two festive episodes airing on Channel 4 over the holiday period.

Celebrating the new year with another special episode is The Great Festive Bake Off. Four former bakers will return to the tent to go head to head in three seasonal challenges. Series nine bakers Kim-Joy and Jon and series 11's Hermine and Rowan will face three favourite festive challenges and find out who tops the tree as Star Baker.

The Great Christmas Bake Off and The Great Festive Bake Off will be on Channel 4 during the festive season (dates and times to be confirmed).