News

Hulu has revealed a new teaser trailer and more photos for the eight-part series Rivals, based on the celebrated novel by Dame Jilly Cooper and produced by Happy Prince, part of ITV Studios. The series is set to debut on Hulu in the U.S. and on Disney+ in other countries later this year.

Set against the backdrop of the drama, excess, and shocking antics of the power-grabbing social elite of 1980s England, Rivals delves headfirst into the ruthless world of independent television in 1986.

This second wave of images (view the first wave of images here) introduces nine more iconic characters from the drama: Sarah Stratton, Caitlin O’Hara, James Vereker, and Freddie Jones.

There’s also Paul Stratton, Valerie Jones, Bas Baddingham, Lady Monica Baddingham, and Maud O’Hara.

The first looks are accompanied by a teaser trailer showcasing the ’80s set saga, which also stars Alex Hassell, Bella Maclean,...

Disney+ has unveiled a teaser trailer alongside more first-look images of the eight-part series, ‘Rivals’, based on the celebrated novel by Dame Jilly Cooper and produced by Happy Prince, part of ITV Studios.

Set against the backdrop of the drama, excess, and shocking antics of the power-grabbing social elite of 1980s England, the show delves headfirst into the ruthless world of independent television in 1986. Part of Cooper’s Rutshire Chronicles series it is packed full of romantic entanglements, dastardly deals, sex and wit.

The first-looks feature alongside a teaser trailer showcasing the ’80s set saga which also stars Alex Hassell, Bella Maclean, Katherine Parkinson, David Tennant, Aidan Turner and Nafessa Williams.

Nine more iconic characters from the drama have been unveiled in this second wave of images, introducing Sarah Stratton, Caitlin O’Hara (Catriona Chandler – ‘Pistol’, ‘Enola Holmes 2’), James Vereker (Oliver Chris – ‘The Crown’, ‘Trying’), Freddie Jones (Danny Dyer – ‘EastEnders,...

Actor, comedian and activist Emily Atack has signed with Curtis Brown for representation, Variety has learned exclusively. She will be repped by the agency in all areas.

Atack shot to public attention as the break-out star of award-winning sitcom “The Inbetweeners” and has since appeared in projects including “Dad’s Army” with Catherine Zeta Jones and Bill Nighy, “Lies We Tell” alongside Gabriel Byrne and Harvey Keitel and “Alright Now” starring Cobie Smulders.

She wrote and starred in her own sketch/comedy series “The Emily Atack Show” for ITV, which has run for three seasons, and has also appeared on other comedy and panel shows including “The Keith Lemon Sketch Show,” “Tracey Ullman’s Show” and “Celebrity Juice.”

Atack will next be seen in Disney+ adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s best-selling novel “Rivals,” which drops this fall. She plays ambitious politician’s wife Sarah Stratton opposite “W1A’s” Rufus Jones as deputy Prime Minister Paul Stratton.

Death In Paradise spin-off Beyond Paradise is back for a second series, and here’s the trailer.

As Death In Paradise nears the end of its 13th series, the BBC is preparing to launch the second series of successful spin-off Beyond Paradise, the most watched new drama of last year

The new series will see the return of Kris Marshall as Di Humphrey Goodman, Sally Bretton as Martha Lloyd, Zahra Ahmadi as DS Esther Williams, Dylan Llewellyn PC Kelby Hartford, Barbara Flynn as Anne Lloyd, Felicity Montagu as Margo Martins, Jade Harison as Cs Charlie Woods, Melina Sinadinou as Zoe, Eva Feiler as Lucy, Isaac Vincent-Norgate as Ryan, Amelia Vitale as Hannah. Also returning is Selwyn the Duck.

The official synopsis reads as follows:

Shipton Abbott continues to keep Di Humphrey Goodman and his team busy, with a baffling new crime each episode. From a death on a steam train to a missing teacher,...

British actor and campaigner Maddy Anholt has died, her family has said. She was 35.

Anholt died of a “rare and aggressive form of brain cancer” yesterday, according to a post on her GoFundMe page.

“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the death of Maddy Anholt, our beloved daughter, sister, twin, friend, wife and mother, who left this world on Wednesday 13th September, aged 35,” said the post, which was signed Cathy, Laurence, Claire, Tom and Ben.

“You may know that shortly after the birth of her incredible daughter Opal last year, Maddy was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer. She handled the ensuing surgery and treatment with astonishing grace and courage, accompanied every step of the way by her family and devoted husband, Ben. She spent her final weeks at her parents’ home, Sunflower House, bathed in love and calm, and with the sounds of nature all around.

The co-founders of “Made in Chelsea” producers Monkey are stepping down after 23 years with the company.

Sources tell Variety that David Granger and Will Macdonald announced their decision to exit as creative directors of Monkey on Friday afternoon. It’s not yet clear why they’re leaving, but it’s believed they may set up another production shingle in the future.

Granger and Macdonald founded Monkey in 2000 and joined Universal International Studios in 2010 when the company was acquired by NBCUniversal. Since that period, Monkey has grown into a reality behemoth in the U.K., best known for the long-running unscripted show “Made in Chelsea” — now on Season 25 on digital channel E4 and also airing on Peacock in the U.S. — as well as “The Real Housewives of Cheshire,” which is on Season 16 for ITVBe.

The company’s other credits include the BBC adaptation of NBC’s “That’s My Jam,” fronted...

Appointment

Lifted Entertainment, the ITV Studios label behind “I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!,” “Dancing on Ice and “Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway,” has promoted Richard Cowles to managing director, following the appointment of previous MD Angela Jain as ITV Studios’ first director of unscripted in the U.K.

Cowles joined Lifted in 2012 as creative director, overseeing I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!,” led on the relaunch of “Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway” after a five-year hiatus and also led on the development of global hit “Love Island.” He was elevated to director of unscripted in 2019, during which time the label secured a commission with ITV for Simon Cowell’s “Walk The Line.”

Applications are now open for the new season of “Love Island,” which will be filmed in a villa in Mallorca.

Meanwhile, “The Emily Atack Show,” produced by Universal International Studios’ Monkey,...

NBCUniversal-backed “Made in Chelsea” producer Monkey may have had to cancel its 20th anniversary celebrations this year, but that didn’t stop the London and Los Angeles-based outfit from getting seven shows over the line during the pandemic.

Formed by David Granger and Will Macdonald in 2000 and acquired by NBCUniversal International Studios (part of the Universal Studios Group) in 2010, the company is best known for reality hits like “The Real Housewives of Cheshire” and juggernaut “Made in Chelsea,” as well as quiz show “The Question Jury” and variety series “The Charlotte Church Show.”

Like much of the industry, the pandemic has tested the business to its limits, particularly when all production — including season 19 of “Made in Chelsea” — came to a crashing halt in March. But the minute the company saw a “glimmer of light” in easing lockdown restrictions over the summer, it leapt at the opportunity to get cameras rolling,...