News

Charming British comic Jack Whitehall, known for making funny out of awkward situations, starts a new journey of personal growth in Netflix’s “Fatherhood with My Father.” Whitehall faces the fact that he will have his first child, which excites and scares him, with his usual mix of self-deprecating humor and fortunate charm.

Following the successful comedic pattern set by “Travels with My Father,” this four-part series brings Jack back together with his famous 80-year-old father, Michael. The idea is delightfully simple and full of comedic possibilities: a man-child comedian getting ready to become a parent with the help of his sarcastic, old-fashioned parent who is always confused by modern life.

As Jack and his partner Roxy get closer to becoming parents, he chooses to go on a kind of educational trip. Instead of getting ready, he picks an unusual path of exploring and having strange experiences. Jack’s approach...

The 2024 British Podcast Awards took place at Here at Outernet in Central London. The star-studded event was hosted by comedian and podcaster Marcus Brigstocke, with category presenters including Rylan Clark & Scott Mills, Annie Mac, Olivia Atwood, Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel & Lewis Goodall, Joanne McNally, Jordan North & William Hanson and Hilary & Michael Whitehall.

In a poignant moment, Dr Clare Bailey Mosley accepted the 'Hall of Fame' award on behalf of her late husband, Dr Michael Mosley, for his hugely popular BBC podcast Just One Thing – which encourages listeners to improve their health and wellbeing with small changes.

This marked one of Clare's first public appearances since Michael's death in June, and her heartfelt speech deeply moved the audience, especially Michael's long-time BBC colleagues in attendance. Clare Mosley said: "Firstly, I wish more than anything that Michael was here himself to be collecting this award. Michael knew that Just One Thing had really connected with people,...

Hello International Insiders, hope you’re getting into the Christmas spirit. Tom Grater here delivering a sack full of attention-grabbing headlines from this week of film and TV news.

Insuring The Future

World-beating lifeline: Deadline hears that other nations look on enviously at the UK’s £500M ($665M) coronavirus production insurance scheme, so it’s little wonder that British producers want more of a good thing. Led by Pact CEO John McVay, the film and TV industry is in talks with the government to extend the initiative so that shoots are covered up until June next year, rather than the current cut off of February. Given how receptive ministers have been so far, it will be a surprise if the discussions are not successful.

Why the extension matters: The hope is that it will capture a rush of productions that get cameras rolling during the longer daylight hours of spring...

Lord of the Rings and X-Men star Ian McKellen has revealed that he’s received the Covid-19 vaccine. The 81-year-old actor shared the news with his followers today on his Twitter page, along with a link to an article on the full story. “I feel very lucky to have had the vaccine,” he wrote. “I would have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone.”

While speaking to ITV News, the Hollywood legend, best known for playing Gandalf and Magneto, two iconic cinematic characters, said: “That’s the real bonus of all this, to watch and see what works in this country and what doesn’t work – and it seems to me the NHS is right at the top of the list for institutions that do work.” McKellen went on to praise the organization, which he remembers first coming into being in the 1940s.

“Of course, I know I wouldn’t...

Ian McKellen has become the latest celebrity to receive the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, with the 81-year-old actor scheduled to be back for a second dose of the vaccine in three weeks.

Here’s the actor’s Twitter post about getting inoculated:

I feel very lucky to have had the vaccine. I would have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone. https://t.co/gBLRR0OeJc

— Ian McKellen (@IanMcKellen) December 17, 2020

Speaking to ITV News, he said, “That’s the real bonus of all this, to watch and see what works in this country and what doesn’t work – and it seems to me the NHS is right at the top of the list for institutions that do work.”

“Of course, I know I wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for the NHS. I’m a little bit older than the NHS but when I was a kid, having good...

British television stars Prue Leith and Michael Whitehall are among the first people in the world to receive a coronavirus vaccine after the Pfizer/BioNTech jab began being administered in the UK last week.

Leith, who acts as a judge on ratings smash The Great British Bake Off (known as The Great British Baking Show on Netflix in the U.S.), and Whitehall, star of Netflix docuseries Travels With My Father, both tweeted about their vaccinations.

Leith, 80, said the injection was “painless” in her post on Tuesday:

Who wouldn't want immunity from #Covid19 with a painless jab?? #vaccine pic.twitter.com/BP8VTvAF9u

— Prue Leith (@PrueLeith) December 15, 2020

Whitehall, the 80-year-old father of Jack Whitehall, thanked the UK’s “wonderful” health service staff:

Here was I worrying about a little prick, no, not @jackwhitehall, which was brilliantly organised by @GSTTnhs. Thank you to all the kind and wonderful NHS staff...

Rachel Riley might have shown off her quickstep on Strictly Come Dancing... but she's also good at a whole different kind of footwork.

Yes, the Countdown star might be best known for her adding ability, but she's been hiding some secret ball skills.

And here's the proof! Rachel recently shared this photo during the filming for BBC Three's Backchat World Cup Special and revealed that she's a bit of a footie fanatic.

Not only was she apparently the "leading light" of her university's soccer team, but she is a lifelong fan of Manchester United (been a bit of a tough year, has it Rach?).

Rachel was joined by fellow guests James Corden and Harry Redknapp on the Backchat sofa as she told hosts Jack Whitehall and Michael Whitehall all about her love of the Beautiful Game.

The Backchat World Cup Special will air on Tuesday (June 3) at 10pm on BBC Three.

BBC Three has renewed The Revolution Will Be Televised and handed Sexy Beasts a full series.

The broadcaster announced that Sexy Beasts - which sees participants going on dates in prosthetics to disguise their real appearance - will be back with six episodes. Meanwhile, The Revolution Will Be Televised will return for a third six-part series.

Elsewhere, Jack Whitehall and his father Michael Whitehall will be back for two special editions of their show Backchat, themed around Father's Day and the 2014 World Cup.

The news came as BBC Three announced a new series, starring Uncle's Nick Helm.

Nick Helm's Heavy Entertainment is described as a "fast-paced variety show" in which Helm and his band explore "heavy issues" and attempt to set the world to rights. The show is expected to include stand-up comedy, sketches, audience involvement, songs, poetry and jokes.

BBC Three has also ordered a pilot of surreal show Successville,...

Jack Whitehall was left red-faced by his father's intimate revelations during the filming of the first episode of their new BBC Three show Back Chat.

During the interview with guest Jeremy Paxman, the topic of discussion steered towards the quality of Marks and Spencers underwear, a subject which the Newsnight host famously complained about in 2008.

Paxman told the hosts that his gripe stemmed from problems that he had with holes in his garments.

Backing up his guest, Michael Whitehall revealed to the studio audience that he personally had problems with underwear because of the size of his genitals.

"The problem I have is the elastic. I shouldn't say this in front of you [Jack], but I'm very well hung," he said.

"I need very strong elasticity in an underpant. Once it starts loosening up, all hell breaks loose."

Adding extra embarrassment, he added: "Jack has inherited some very good things from me,...

Jack Whitehall eyeing a role which would see him playing his own father. The comedian is apparently keen to play his dad Michael in a television adaptation of his memoirs Shark Infested Waters: Tales of an Actor's Agent. The Fresh Meat actor has been talking to Objective Productions about the project, according to The Sun, with a source saying: "It's early days, but Jack has his eye on the role. He'd love to play his dad." Michael Whitehall's book, which was published in 2007, also tells (more)...

Jack Whitehall is eyeing a role which would see him playing his own father. The comedian is apparently keen to play his dad Michael in a television adaptation of his memoirs Shark Infested Waters: Tales of an Actor's Agent. The Fresh Meat actor has been talking to Objective Productions about the project, according to The Sun, with a source saying: "It's early days, but Jack has his eye on the role. He'd love to play his dad." Michael Whitehall's book, which was published in 2007, also tells (more)...

He's made his name playing insufferable public school toffs. But is that the real Jack Whitehall?

Jack Whitehall sits outside a Putney cafe, looking slightly harassed. This is his third attempt at finding an interview venue. The first place he suggested we meet was closed, not unsurprisingly, given that it was a pub and it's 10.30 on a Wednesday morning. So he suggested another pub, also closed. Eventually, he leads me on a lengthy walk to discover somewhere that isn't a pub. Does he know this area? He frowns: yes, he grew up in Putney and still lives here. "My parents' house is just down there," he says, pointing across the road.

You could suggest that this is all very Jack Whitehall-ish. He has, after all, made a career out of playing clueless public schoolboys of varying degrees of ghastliness. Pj in Fresh Meat, the student sitcom by Jesse Armstrong...