Downton Abbey Sequel Confirmed, As Producers Announce Four New Cast Members

Downton Abbey bosses have finally confirmed a second film is now in the works, and is scheduled to hit cinemas around Christmas.

The first Downton Abbey film was released in 2019, and proved popular with fans of the original period drama, which began on ITV and went on to become a global success.

On Monday afternoon, it was revealed that the wheels had been put in motion for a long rumoured sequel, with all of the show’s original cast returning.

This includes Hugh Bonneville, who tweeted shortly after the announcement, and his on-screen wife Elizabeth McGovern.

Dame Maggie Smith is also expected to return, after her iconic Downton character confided in her granddaughter that she was dying at the end of the first film.

New cast members for the sequel have also been revealed, including Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye and Dominic West, the latter of whom has been heavily rumoured to be playing Prince Charles in the forthcoming fifth series of The Crown.

Isa Foltin via Getty Images

Dominic West

Filmmaker Simon Curtis – whose recent credits include the films My Week With Marilyn and Goodbye Christopher Robin – will direct the second Downton Abbey film.

Executive producer Gareth Neame said: “After a very challenging year with so many of us separated from family and friends, it is a huge comfort to think that better times are ahead and that next Christmas we will be reunited with the much beloved characters of Downton Abbey.” 

Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski agreed: “There’s no place like home for the holidays, and we can’t imagine a better gift than getting to reunite with Julian, Gareth, and the entire Downton family in 2021 to bring the Crawley’s back home for their fans.”

Downton Abbey 2 is slated to hit UK cinemas on 22 December 2021. All six series of Downton Abbey are available to stream now on BritBox.

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BBC Issues Response After Coverage Of Prince Philip’s Death Sparks Record Number Of Complaints

The BBC has issued a response after receiving a record number of complaints about its coverage of Prince Philip’s death.

Last week, both BBC One and BBC Two cleared their schedules in the wake of the Duke Of Edinburgh’s death to devote the airtime to reports about the news, and reflections on his life.

Since then, it was reported that more than 100,000 people had complained to the corporation’s Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) – a record for complaints in British television history.

The BBC has now confirmed this to be the case, stating on Thursday the overall number of complaints stood at 109,741.

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Prince Philip photographed in 2016

Responding to these complaints, a spokesperson said: “The passing of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh was a significant event which generated a lot of interest both nationally and internationally.

“We acknowledge some viewers were unhappy with the level of coverage given and impact this had on the billed TV and radio schedules.

“We do not make such changes without careful consideration and the decisions made reflect the role the BBC plays as the national broadcaster during moments of national significance.

“We are grateful for all feedback and we always listen to the response from our audiences.”

It has now been confirmed that the BBC plans to devote around six hours of coverage to the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral this weekend, with broadcaster Huw Edwards leading most of it.

Mark Cuthbert via Getty Images

Prince Philip pictured with Queen Elizabeth II during her 90th birthday celebrations

The number of complaints about the coverage of Prince Philip’s death beats the previous high of 63,000 sparked by the BBC’s screening of Jerry Springer: The Musical in 2005.

Three years later, Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross’ prank call to actor Andrew Sachs on the former’s Radio 2 show, drew 42,000 complaints.

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Prime Suspect Creator Lynda La Plante Is No Fan Of ‘Preposterous’ Line Of Duty

Line Of Duty is undoubtedly the biggest thing on TV right now, but one person who isn’t tuning in is Prime Suspect creator Lynda La Plante

The telly writer has called the hit BBC drama and others like it “preposterous”. 

Lynda, who won three Baftas for her work on Prime Suspect, admitted she doesn’t watch Line Of Duty or hit ITV series Unforgotten, which stars Nicola Walker and Sanjeev Bhaskar.

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Lynda La Plante 

In an interview with The Independent, she said: “I find the dramatic licence preposterous. So I’m not interested.

“I watch a lot of true crime because for me that is far more informative.” 

However, she stated she was a fan of BBC cop drama Happy Valley, which starred Sarah Lancashire. 

Lynda’s Prime Suspect – starring Helen Mirren as DCI Jane Tennison – first debuted in 1991, running until 2006. 

While Lynda is no fan of Line Of Duty, the show has had its second highest ratings ever for its new series. 

The opening episode has now been watched by over 13 million people – a figure only beaten by the series five finale, which saw 13.67m tune in. 

BBC

Line Of Duty stars Vicky McClure, Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar

Martin Compston, who plays DI Steve Arnott, has teased that the upcoming fourth episode is “one of the best ever” and has the potential to be considered a “classic” among fans, describing it as “the big one” on Twitter on Saturday. 

While all major spoilers are under lock and key, the BBC has shared a cryptic synopsis of the episode, which reveals there will be some “major breakthroughs” as AC-12 continue their investigation into Operation Lighthouse. 

DCI Jo Davidson, played by Kelly Macdonald, also faces “increasing pressure from all sides” while AC-12 are also stunned by the results of a forensic report from PC Farida Jatri’s house.

Line Of Duty continues on Sunday at 9pm on BBC One.  

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Tom Hanks’ Character In Big Almost Went To Robert De Niro, Co-Star Elizabeth Perkins Reveals

Oscar-winning actor and international treasure Tom Hanks had a huge breakthrough moment in the 1980s thanks to the success of films like Splash and Big.

However, it turns out that one of his most prolific performances of that era almost went to a completely different actor.

His former co-star Elizabeth Perkins has revealed that not only was Robert De Niro originally cast in the lead role of Big, the whole film completely changed in tone when Tom signed on.

Speaking to Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live, Elizabeth explained that while De Niro had to drop out due to a scheduling conflict, she actually auditioned with him when she auditioned for her part.

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Robert De Niro at last year’s Ocsars

[De Niro’s interpretation of the character] was more moody,” she explained. “It was a little more of a horror movie… Robert De Niro wandering around the streets of New York. 

“What Tom Hanks brought to it was so much lighter.”

Big went on to give Tom Hanks his first Golden Globe win and Oscar nomination in 1989.

While he didn’t win the Oscar that year, he eventually scooped two consecutive Academy Awards in 1994 and 1995, for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, respectively.

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Tom Hanks and Elizabeth Perkins in Big

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Ryan Reynolds Expertly Trolls Conspiracy Theorists As He Receives Covid-19 Vaccine

Ryan Reynolds had some fun at anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists’ expense as he received his jab against Covid-19.

The Canadian actor posted a picture of himself receiving the vaccine on Wednesday, along with a cheeky message referencing a certain debunked conspiracy theory that began circulating in the early days of the pandemic.

“Finally got 5G,” the Deadpool actor wrote alongside a photo of himself getting the jab while sporting a face covering and, we have to say, a rather fetching pink hat.

The tweet quickly sparked some brilliant responses on social media – with the exception of mobile phone network Vodafone, who commented: “Please don’t encourage them, Ryan.”

Since the vaccine roll-out began last year, a number of high-profile stars have spoken out about receiving the jab.

Among those to receive it in the early stages were Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith and veteran actors Sir Ian McKellen and Brian Blessed.

More recently, Dolly Parton made quite the literal song and dance when she had hers earlier this month, delivering a rewritten version of her classic Jolene while she had the injection.

“Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, I’m begging of you, please don’t hesitate,” she sang. Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, because once you’re dead, then that’s a bit too late.”

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Seth Rogen Clarifies Rumours About Emma Watson Walking Off Set Of This Is The End

Seth Rogen has clarified reports about Emma Watson walking off the set of This Is The End, due to the outrageous content of one of its scenes.

In 2013, Seth co-directed and co-wrote the star-studded disaster comedy, which sees a number of celebrities playing themselves as they deal with the end of the world.

The Harry Potter star was supposed to have been involved in a scene that featured Channing Tatum being led around on a dog leash while sporting a thong, while Danny McBride led a group of cannibals.

Reports after the film was released claimed the sequence proved too much for Emma, who decided she couldn’t be involved and walked off set, although she did appear in other scenes and helped promote the film when it was released.

Danielle Levitt/British GQ

Seth Rogen in his GQ photo-shoot

Asked about the rumours during an interview with GQ magazine, Seth said: “I don’t look back on that and think: ‘How dare she do that?’ You know? I think sometimes when you read something, when it comes to life it doesn’t seem to be what you thought it was.

“But it was not some terrible ending to our relationship. She came back the next day to say goodbye. She helped promote the film.

“No hard feelings, and I couldn’t be happier with how the film turned out in the end.”

“She was probably right,” Seth added. “It was probably funnier the way we ended up doing it.”

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Emma Watson at the premiere of Little Women in 2019

HuffPost UK has contacted Emma Watson’s publicist for comment.

Although he didn’t name anyone directly, actor James Franco previously alluded to the incident in Interview magazine.

He said: “The movie is a comedy, but it’s kind of an outrageous one, and this actress—I won’t say who, but she had a smaller role in the film—walked off the movie in the middle of a scene.”

James continued: “I’ll admit that the scene we were doing was pretty crazy. There’s not any nudity, but it is pretty outrageous. It’s not as if the scene wasn’t in the script, though.

“In any case, I didn’t see any of this go down, but I guess she basically went up to the directors, Seth and Evan [Goldberg], and said, ‘I don’t think I can do this’. She, by the way, didn’t have to do anything crazy in the scene. But what was going on around her was, I guess, too extreme for her.

“So Seth was like, ‘Well, what can we do to fix it?’. And she said, ‘There’s nothing you can do to fix it. It’s just everything’. And he said, ‘Well, let’s just shoot it and I promise you can come to the editing room, and, if you don’t like what we’ve cut together, then we will not put it in the movie’. And she said, ‘No, that’s still not good. I just can’t do this. I can’t be here’. And he said, ‘Do you want to leave?’. And she said, ‘Yeah, I’ve got to leave’.”

Read Seth’s interview in full in the May issue of British GQ available via digital download and on newsstands Thursday 1st April.

Danielle Levitt/British GQ

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Miriam Margolyes Talking About Her Past Sex Tapes Is Even More Outrageous Than You Think

An appearance from Miriam Margolyes on This Morning usually means something outrageous is afoot, and we’re pleased to say she didn’t let us down during Thursday’s show.

Throughout her interview with presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, Miriam made it clear that she was deliberately acting on her best behaviour, while she promoted the new family film H Is For Happiness.

“What’s happened to you and where is Miriam Margolyes?” Phillip joked early on, to which the former Harry Potter star responded: “Well, bursting to get out, actually.”

As it turned out, it didn’t take long, and when the conversation turned to the actor’s past voiceover work, the Miriam we know and love soon crept out.

ITV

Miriam Margolyes speaking from her home in Tuscany

When asked how she’s been whiling away her hours during lockdown in Tuscany, Miriam explained: “I’m doing voice work. I’ve got a little studio rigged up in the back stable, out of five Ikea curtain rails and five Ikea duvets, and I’m crouching under the duvet and doing Wallace And Gromit, so I’ve got something on my mind.”

She then disclosed that she can currently be heard in an ad for “a haemorrhoid suppository”, at which point Phillip asked about her past work with Cadbury.

“I was the original Cadbury Caramel bunny,” Miriam recalled. “I remember they kept saying ‘make it sexier’, ‘make it sexier’. And, you know, first thing in the morning, it’s not what’s on your mind, really.”

A mischievous Phillip then asked: “Didn’t you possibly get that job out of a couple of other tapes that you might have done before that were slightly less family orientated?”

“I thought I was supposed to very careful this morning on this show, your chap told me, now don’t say anything nasty,” Miriam claimed, with Holly joking that her co-host was “poking you with a big stick” and trying to lead her astray.

ITV

As always, Miriam had the This Morning team howling with her revelations.

It didn’t take much for her to spill the beans, though, with Miriam then declaring: “I did a couple of sex tapes. Sexy Sonia: Leaves From My Schoolgirl Diary, that was one of them.

“But I have to stress, they were audio tapes. They were not visual. And they were very exhausting, because when you’re simulating orgasm, as all of you out there know, it’s tiring, and you get a headache. It’s not a question of having a headache at the beginning, you get a headache at the end.

“So I haven’t done them again. I did the Cadbury bunny instead, and made a lot more money – because I only got paid £300 in those days.”

“It was at the Ann Summers sex shop,” she told the pair. “I expect you know it well. That’s where I auditioned.”

Oh, Miriam. Please never change.

This Morning airs every weekday from 10am on ITV.

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Simon McCoy Lands GB News Role After Leaving BBC

Simon McCoy has been revealed as the newest addition to GB News, following his departure from the BBC.

On Thursday morning, it was announced that Simon was celebrating his final day at BBC News after almost 18 years with the broadcaster.

Following the news of his departure, GB News chair Andrew Neil – another former BBC journalist, who stepped down from the corporation last year – revealed that Simon would be joining him at GB News later in the year.

Responding to the news of Simon’s BBC exit, Andrew tweeted: “Oh yes. @BBCSimonMcCoy is joining @GBNEWS… another great hire!!”

A GB News press release revealed that Simon will be hosting an afternoon show on the station.

The forthcoming station’s director of news and programmes John McAndrew said: “Simon’s journalistic integrity, warmth and personality is a perfect for what we’re doing at GB News.

“He’s a brilliant journalist with an exceptional ability to relate to people in an upbeat way so we’re keen to get him our from behind a desk and talking to people from all parts of the United Kingdom.”

BBC

Simon McCoy

HuffPost UK has contacted Simon McCoy’s agent for additional comment.

GB News is a new 24-hour news channel which is launching later this year, which bosses have said is aimed at the “vast number of British people who feel underserved and unheard by their media”.

As Andrew Neil wrote recently in the Sunday Express: “I believe the direction of news debate in Britain is increasingly woke and out of touch with the majority of its people. I believe our national conversation has become too metropolitan, too southern and too middle-class.

“Some journalists and commentators seem too confident that their liberal-left assumptions must surely be shared by every sensible person in the land. But many of those same sensible people are fed up. They feel left out and unheard.

“There’s a restlessness, a sense that they’re being talked down to; that much of the media no longer reflects their values or shares their concerns. GB News is aimed squarely at those people.”

Matt Crossick – PA Images via Getty Images

Andrew Neil pictured in 2008

Other recruits so far include The Sun’s executive editor Dan Wootton, journalist and political commentator Inaya Folarin Iman, former Brexit Party member Alexandra Phillips and former Apprentice contestant Michelle Dewberry. 

It’s also been heavily rumoured that Piers Morgan will be joining the station, following his much-publicised exit from Good Morning Britain earlier this month.

Andrew Neil recently said he’d be “delighted” to set up a meeting with Piers, stating: “[He] would be a huge asset to GB News and we’ll definitely look at that… we haven’t started any negotiations yet but we would certainly be delighted to talk to him if he’s up for it.”

GB News is expected to launch later this year.

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RuPaul’s Drag Race UK: 18 Tweets About The Final That Are ‘Not A Joke, Just A Fact’

Warning! This article contains spoilers for the finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK series two. 

It’s fair to say that Thursday nights are not going to be the same for the foreseeable future following the conclusion of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK

The show that has kept so many of us going through the third national lockdown came to an end with a final that was full of shade, serves and surprises. 

Guy LevyBBC/World of Wonder/Guy Levy

Tayce, Ellie Diamond, Bimini Bon Boulash, Lawrence Chaney in the Drag Race UK final

The four finalists – Bimini Bon Boulash, Lawrence Chaney, Tayce and Ellie Diamond – each laid down their own verse for RuPaul’s track A Little Bit Of Love before putting on a popstar-worthy performance for Ru, Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton.

For many, it topped off what has been a magnificent series that has firmly cemented the franchise’s place in the UK TV landscape… 

1. PREACH.

2. We’ve not been able to stop thinking about this tbh

3. Similarly hilarious

4. In fact, everything about Ginny’s return to the Drag Race stage was a serve

5. Including this reference to her infamous walk-off

6. Here’s the explanation behind that picture btw

7. Tia Kofi really took on Ru’s critiques and ran with them

8. We see no lies here

9. We’ll admit we let out a little cry

10. Alan Carr appreciation moment

11. Our life motto from now until 21 June 2021

12. That lip sync was properly iconic

13. Lawrence Chaney is now one step closer to making Morning Glory a real life actuality 

14. Real queens do not tear each other down

15. Understood?

16. Because it was clear to see there were actually four winners stood on that stage

17. Honestly, we don’t know what we did to deserve all of this

18. The London Mayor tweeting about Drag Race UK? We love to see it. 

The complete boxset of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. 

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Line Of Duty’s Thrilling New Trailer Ominously Points Finger Of Suspicion At Kate Fleming

Line Of Duty’s long-awaited sixth series has just got a thrilling new trailer, which hints DI Kate Fleming could suspected of corruption.

The minute-long clip gives fans of the hit BBC police drama their first full look at the upcoming episodes, which are set to debut later this month. 

In one ominous scene, we see the finger of suspicion pointed at Vicky McClure’s character, as DS Steve Arnott and AC-12 newcomer DC Chloe Bishop discuss who the fourth officer in league with organised crime could be. 

BBC

DI Kate Fleming looks to be under suspicion

“Do you still believe there’s a fourth man out there?” Bishop asks. 

“Man? Or woman?” Arnott replies, before the camera cuts to shot of Fleming.

The end of series five revealed that the mysterious “H” figure was not actually a person, but a clue pointing at another high-profile police officer working with the organised crime group.  

BBC

There is a fourth officer in league with organised crime

Fans are also given the first look at the case serving at the backdrop to AC-12′s investigation into Detective Chief Inspector Joanne Davidson, who has previously been described as the “most enigmatic adversary” the team has faced so far. 

BBC

Kelly Macdonald as new AC-12 adversary DCI Davidson

She is leading the investigation into the murder of journalist Gail Vella, with AC-12 tasked with establishing whether police corruption is the reason the case has gone unsolved. 

It is then revealed Gail has previously reported on the police corruption – could this be the reason for her murder?

BBC

Journalist Gail Vella is murdered having previously reported on police corruption 

There are also dramatic scenes including road accidents, police stand offs and shootings, as well as Superintendent Ted Hastings cracking under the pressure. 

A title card then menacingly warns: “Lies cost lives.”

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Hastings is seen cracking under the pressure

The new series of Line Of Duty, which was delayed from last year due to the pandemic, sees Kelly Macdonald join the cast as DCI Davidson, along with Shalom Brune-Franklin as DC Bishop. 

Adrian Dunbar, who plays Hastings, previously revealed the first episode would be a “head wreck” for viewers as the action has moved on 18 months since the last series and many things have changed. 

“The landscape has completely changed,” Adrian told The Graham Norton Show. “We are starting from a place that the audience will probably find a bit shocking at first. 

“Things and people have been moved around so the first episode is going to be one of those ‘head-wrecks’ for the audience.”

Line Of Duty returns on Sunday 21 March at 9pm on BBC One, with the new season including an additional episode, with seven instalments instead of the usual six. 

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