SKY/NOW, BRITBOX, AMAZON, NETFLIX & STARZPLAY
Boiling Point
Thanks to shows such as Hell’s Kitchen, we probably think we know what life as a chef is all about.
However, this ingenious, multi-award-winning drama – shot as one continuous, 90-minute take by director Philip Barantini – really shows it how it is, warts and all.
Stephen Graham heads the cast as Andy, the top man at one of London’s hottest restaurants.
Stephen Graham (above) heads the cast of Boiling Point as Andy, the top man at one of London’s hottest restaurants
On the busiest night of the year, he must juggle personal crises with professional issues – all under the watchful eye of an unexpected guest who happens to be a health-and-safety inspector.
Graham is amazing and supported well by Alice Feetham (Vinette Robinson). Amazon, Sky TV-BT, Virgin Media, Apple TV+ and BT.
A Quiet Place Part II
This is the second installment in a string of post-apocalyptic thrillers that stars Emily Blunt (and John Krasinski), and features a Hollywood couple, John Krasinski and Emily Blunt.
Evelyn Abbott, below, who was grieving after the attack on Earth by aliens, remains optimistic that she will find survivors more than one year later.
Evelyn Abbott (Blunt), still grieving from the attack on Earth, remains optimistic that she will find survivors more than one year later.
However, when monsters are hunting by sound can her and her children (including her infant) keep silent as they travel hostile terrain in search for civilisation?
Blunt keeps proving her versatility by delivering a gritty performance. Cillian Murphy is also starring. Sky/NOW, starting Friday
The Saint
Simon Templar (Roger Moore), a charismatic, intelligent, and confident character, who is nicknamed The Saint, acts out crime he considers necessary for the greater good.
Simon Templar, a charming, intelligent, and confident figure (Roger Moore) who is a Robin Hood-type Robin Hood character that commits the crimes he considers necessary for the greater good
Based on Leslie Charteris’ stories, the show ran from 1962 through 1969. These two series, five and six, were the last and first color-shot.
Although it started out as a simple mystery series, Templar broke the fourth wall and spoke directly to viewers. But by the end of the show Moore was experimenting with the supernatural. Moore did some eyebrow-raising stunts in the beginning, which he used as 007.
BritBox is available starting Thursday
Shatner in Space
In October, Star Trek icon William Shatner finally got to see space, the final frontier, when he accepted billionaire Jeff Bezos’s offer of a seat in his spaceship.
His journey was made at 90 years old.
Some have described the whole thing as Bezos’s ego trip but, as viewers will get to see, it’s a rather more profound experience for Shatner. Amazon, now Available
Harvey met Bob
A fascinating look at the relationship of Bob Geldof to Harvey Goldsmith, a tough rock promoter who joined forces in 1985 to make Live Aid possible.
In this TV film from 2010, Domhnall Gleeson and Ian Hart are inspired casting as the duo; Paul Rhys also appears as Paul McCartney and Lesley-Ann Halvey pops up as Geldof’s then other half, Paula Yates. BritBox is available starting Thursday
Babies
A look at Barbara Windsor’s rollercoaster ride of a career, from her early years to her iconic spell in EastEnders.
A look at Barbara Windsor’s rollercoaster ride of a career, from her early years to her iconic spell in EastEnders, starring Samantha Spiro (above)
In between there’s an insight into the Carry On films that helped make her name, as well as her often tumultuous love life and the barren spell she endured before her sojourn in Walford.
Samantha Spiro, Jaime Winstone are bubbly Babs in different phases of her life. BritBox is available starting Thursday
Mother/Android
In the near future, heavily pregnant Georgia (Chloë Grace Moretz) and her boyfriend Sam (Algee Smith) are fleeing an android uprising – our robot servants having finally got fed up with us – and trying to reach a relatively safe human enclave where she can give birth.
In the near future, heavily pregnant Georgia (Chloë Grace Moretz above) and her boyfriend Sam (Algee Smith) are fleeing an android uprising
Although the film is a good dystopian thriller in its early stages, it works well visually and is very accomplished. However, the second half of the movie is slightly weighed down by a poor execution. Netflix Available Starting Friday
Tender Bar
Nine-year-old J. R. and his much disappointed single mother (Daniel Ranieri and Lily Rabe) are forced to return to her parents’ home.
But the young boy finds solace and sanctuary, not just in the domestic chaos of his grumpy grandfather’s crowded house but also in the wisdom of his Uncle Charlie (Ben Affleck) and the kindness and generosity of the customers at his uncle’s book-lined bar.
George Clooney stars as Clooney, while Affleck is nominated in the Golden Globes for his performance. Christopher Lloyd, who plays the grandpa with the odd behavior, directs. Amazon, starting Friday
Film collection
The latest eclectic collection of films to arrive on Britbox includes The Mercy, starring Colin Firth and Rachel Weisz and based on a true story about an amateur yachtsman’s disastrous attempt at a round-the-world challenge.
And the Sense Of An Ending (an adaptation of Julian Barnes’ novel) is about a senior citizen (Jim Broadbent), coming to terms and accepting his past. Charlotte Rampling also stars in this film. BritBox is available starting Thursday
Nest
Ambitious entrepreneur Rory O’Hara (Jude Law) moves his wife and children from suburban America to a manor house in Surrey in search of a new business venture.
Jude Law is a convincing, narcissist character in the dark and romantic drama The Nest. Carrie Coon is a co-star with Law
But a family breakdown appears to be on the horizon when wife Allison (Carrie Coon) struggles with the move, the uncertainty of 1980s Britain and O’Hara’s unsustainable drive to grow his status.
Law is a convincing narcissist during this romantic, dark drama. Netflix, starting Monday
The Machines vs The Mitchells
A hilarious comedy with Maya Rudolph and Olivia Colman.
A quirky family’s road trip is upended when they find themselves in the midst of a robot apocalypse and suddenly become humanity’s unlikeliest last hope
A quirky family’s road trip is upended when they find themselves in the midst of a robot apocalypse and suddenly become humanity’s unlikeliest last hope. Available now: Netflix, Sky Store and Amazon, as well as iTunes
The Gentlemen
If you enjoy Guy Ritchie’s crime capers – Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch – then you’ll love this.
Mickey Pearson, Matthew McConaughey is a marijuana mogul and finds his plans for retirement in danger due to the intricate machinations by Chinese and Russian criminal gangsters as well as a corrupt private investigator.
The plot is preposterous, the characters are caricatures and it’s comedy gold. Charlie Hunnam, Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant, Michelle Dockery and Succession’s Jeremy Strong are among the cast.Netflix, starting Monday
Landscapers
Olivia Colman and David Thewlis deliver compelling performances in a black comedy written by Colman’s husband, Ed Sinclair.
It’s inspired by the true story of Susan and Christopher Edwards, a mild-mannered couple from Mansfield who, in 2014, were found guilty of murdering Patricia and William Wycherley, Susan’s parents.
They had kept the crime a secret for a staggering 15 years, siphoning off money from the Wycherleys’ estate to fund a passion for celebrity memorabilia. Sky/NOW, available now
The Great
Tony McNamara is the creator of The Favourite, a highly comical take on historic figures.
Elle Fanning (above, with Gillian Anderson) plays Catherine in this ‘occasionally true story’ (very occasionally – if it’s historical accuracy you’re after, look elsewhere)
The Great is Catherine the Great of Russia, brilliantly played by Elle Fanning in this ‘occasionally true story’ (very occasionally – if it’s historical accuracy you’re after, look elsewhere). Peter is Nicholas Hoult, her barking-mad husband.
The two seasons chart the modernising Catherine’s rise to, and consolidation of, power. It’s rude, irreverent and very funny. StarzPlay, available now
Why are there so many people talking about..
Yellowjackets (Sky/NOW)
Mix a large amount of The Lord Of The Flies with a little bit of Desperate Housewives, Lost and a few drops of Big Little Lies to create a hit that will transcend genre boundaries.
In the first episode of this ten-part drama, we’re introduced to various members of a New Jersey high school girls’ soccer team, the Yellowjackets, in 1996.
Be on the lookout for Christina Ricci’s great work in Yellowjackets
They’re thrilled to make ‘the nationals’ but the plane taking them to the tournament comes down in the remote Canadian wilderness.
In the meantime, Shauna (a reporter and housewife) wants to hear from Shauna about what actually happened.
‘The plane crashed. The plane crashed killing a lot of my friends. The rest of us starved and scavenged and prayed for 19 months until they finally found us, and that’s the end of the story,’ Shauna insists.
But that’s definitely not the end of the story – we know from the beginning that terrible things happened after the crash.
This show switches between timelines. It mixes horror, mystery and comedy with teen drama to create a highly entertaining and enjoyable experience.
The cast are excellent and include Melanie Lynskey and Sophie Nélisse as adult and teenage Shauna, and Juliette Lewis and Sophie Thatcher as Natalie, but watch out especially for great work from Christina Ricci and Sammi Hanratty, who play the oddball Misty.
Neil Armstrong
iPLAYER, ALL4, ITV HUB & TALKING PICTURES TV
The Defence
For its second season, the slick Polish drama is back.
Magdalena Cielecka plays the hotshot Joanna Chylka again. She’s called in to defend businessman Piotr Langer Sr’s son, who has been accused of murdering two people.
It looks like an open and-shut case – the corpses were found in Jr’s apartment, where he had seemingly lived alongside them for ten days.
Magdalena Cielecka (above), reprises the role of hotshot Joanna Chylka, in Polish drama The Defence
However, Chylka’s instincts tell her there’s more to the matter than meets the eye and she’s determined to get to the truth, despite her client’s refusal to discuss it. Miroslaw Baka. All4, starting Friday
Maigret
Nostalgia channel Talking Pictures is repeating the sci-fi classic The Outer Limits (see below), but if you prefer your nostalgia a little more down-to-earth, fret not – here’s an opportunity to see the 1960s series featuring Georges Simenon’s most famous creation.
Rupert Davies stars (above), as Jules Maigret the French detective Commissaire Jules Maigret. He is a determined man who never loses his man
Rupert Davies is the star of Commissaire Jules Maigret (a French detective who is determined to get his man).Talking Pictures TV, starting Saturday
The Outer Limits
Not to be confused with that other eerie 1960s science-fiction fantasy series, The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits was as famous for its opening line (‘There is nothing wrong with your television set. You should not try to alter the image. We are controlling transmission’) as it was for its frankly disappointing rubbery monsters.
You can expect to see stars such as Donald Pleasence (Bruce Dern), Gloria Grahame and Leonard Nimoy among them. Talking Pictures TV starting Friday
Happy Valley
Sarah Lancashire has never been better than playing hard-bitten police sergeant Catherine Cawood in Sally Wainwright’s outstanding drama.
Across the course of two series – both of which are now available to stream – it follows her efforts to bring up her grandson while maintaining law and order in West Yorkshire’s Calder Valley and keeping the lad’s evil criminal father Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton) out of the picture.
It is great to know that there is a final and third series in the works. BBC iPlayer, available now
Testimonial
When the body of Hannah Ellis (Abra Thompson) is found, posh, privileged and hugely dislikable fellow student Talitha (played by Céline Buckens), with whom she’d fallen out, is suspected of her murder and the court case generates worldwide media coverage.
Talitha (Céline Buckens, above) is suspected of murder when the body of Hannah Ellis (Abra Thompson) is found
Everyone hates Talitha – but is she guilty? The five-part dramatic drama is a twist on the usual legal story and leaves viewers wondering what happened. BBC iPlayer, available now
Young Adult
Following their Juno collaboration, Diablo Cody the writer and Jason Reitman directed this dark comedy drama.
Charlize theron is Charlize, a character who plays an alcoholic writer and returns to her hometown in order to take her high school sweetheart from her wife.
Charlize Theron is Charlize, a character who plays an alcoholic writer. BBC iPlayer, starting Friday
Teachers
Kate Mara stars alongside Nick Robinson in this American drama that explores the complications and consequences of forbidden love between an 18-year old student and a teacher.
Claire Wilson (Kate Mara) is unhappy with her husband, but feels attracted to Eric.
Claire Wilson, dissatisfied in her marriage, falls for Eric, one of her former students. He offers to help her, leading them both closer together, and putting them on a path that could lead them into ruin, destruction, and shame.
BBC iPlayer, available now
Toast of London
This cult comedy stars Matt Berry as the evil actor Steven Toast. It was created by Berry and Father Ted creator Arthur Mathews. Surrealism, humor and funny running gags are all present. Robert Bathurst stars with Doon Mackichan, Tracy-Ann Oberman and Tracy-Ann Oberman.
Three series are available here, and Toast Of Tinseltown begins Tuesday of this week. BBC iPlayer, available now
Peaky Blinders
The show that arguably launched a thousand teenage boys’ haircuts, to judge by any town-centre nightclub queue.
Cillian Murphy is the leader of a razor-blade-toting gang that lives in post-First World War Birmingham. Helen McCrory also appears in the highly successful series. BBC iPlayer, available now
Piers Morgan’s Life Stories
After 12 years of face-to-face celebrity interviews that owe more to In The Psychiatrist’s Chair than This Is Your Life, Piers Morgan bows out with a final tear-jerker chat.
But here’s the thing: it’s with the woman who will now take over the show: Kate Garraway. ITV Hub, available now