News

Mark Lewis Jones and Nia Roberts have joined the cast of upcoming S4C/Sundance Now anthology series “Still Waters” (“Y Golau:Dŵr” in Welsh).

It is the second instalment of the Welsh psychological thriller, which starred Sian Reese-Williams, following “The Light In The Hall” (“Y Golau”).

Reese-Williams (“Wolf”) returns for the second chapter of the six-episode season, which will be filmed in both English and Welsh. She will also be joined by Robert Glenister (“Spooks”), Tom Rhys Harries (“White Lines”) and Maeve Courtier-Lilley (“The Red King”).

Written and created by Regina Moriarty (“Murdered By My Boyfriend”), the new season picks up two years after the first, with Caryl Huws (Reese-Williams) still living in Llanemlyn. But she’s decided to start a new life, retraining as a journalist.

Her first story is one that immediately leads her into a mystery. Fascinated with the newly announced expansion of the local reservoir, she stumbles across an old case,...

Amusing, uplifting, and about as sugary and teeth-sabotaging as caramelized popcorn, The Beautiful Game celebrates the healing power of team sports for those who might feel pushed to society’s margins by misfortune or choice. Although prefaced with the vague assurance that it’s based on true stories, this comedy-drama by eminent British screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce (The Railway Man) and directed by Thea Sharrock (Wicked Little Letters) is a tidily assembled, happy-ending-hewing narrative package that revolves mostly around the fortunes of a half dozen unhoused men, competing for England in the Homeless World Cup.

Bill Nighy stars as the team’s manager, a former scout for major London football club West Ham, who takes the team to Rome, where he must also accommodate each player’s foibles and faults, including the arrogance of star striker Vinnie (Micheal Ward, of Empire of Light). After a short theatrical run in the U.

Festivals

The U.K. premiere of “Good Luck To You, Leo Grande,” directed by Sophie Hyde, will open this year’s Sundance London (June 9-12), with lead actors Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack in attendance. The festival will close with the U.K. premiere screening of Jim Archer’s “Brian and Charles,” starring actor and comedian David Earl.

In all, the festival will host several features chosen from the larger U.S. Sundance Film Festival. These include Adamma Ebo’s “Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul”; Andrew Semans’ “Resurrection”; Max Walker-Silverman’s “A Love Song”; Lena Dunham’s “Sharp Stick”; Chloe Okuno’s “Watcher”; Sara Dosa’s “Fire of Love”; Ed Perkins’ “The Princess”; Joe Hunting’s “We Met in Virtual Reality”; Julie Ha and Eugene Yi’s “Free Chol Soo Lee”; and Hanna Bergholm’s “Hatching.”

This year, the festival will feature an equal number of male and female directors across features and shorts.

Fremantle Boosts Revenue By 25% For Rtl Group

Hand of God outfit Fremantle increased its revenue by 25% last year to €1.9Bn ($2.1Bn) as owner Rtl Group, the European media conglomerate, recorded a 10% turnover rise to €6.6Bn ($7.3Bn) and a profit boost of 35% to €1.1Bn ($1.2Bn). Rtl this morning said it is making progress on Fremantle’s growth plan, following four acquisitions in the past year including, most recently, the purchase of 70% of respected Italian producer Lux Vide, along with 12 Nent Group production labels. Fremantle put 81 drama productions into production across the year and scored hits with the likes of Paolo Sorrentino’s Oscar-nominated Hand of God for Netflix. The previous year saw a big drop in returns due to the impact of the Coronavirus. The outfit, which has just struck a talent deal with Angelina Jolie, is targeting €3Bn returns by 2025. Overall, Rtl’s revenue was up 10.3% to €6.6Bn, with adjusted...

Justine (Tallulah Haddon) meets Rachel (Sophie Reid) in a bookshop and the two start chatting. After another chance enounter they begin dating and quickly develop a pretty serious relationship. The problem is that Rachel, about to move to Barcelona to be an English teacher, has her life much more together than Justine, who is on probation and still in the grip of alcoholism.

There are a lot of issues going on in Justine, but rather than alcoholism, or putting one’s life back together on probation, or the struggles of a relationship across economic lines, director Jamie Patterson and writer Jeff Murphy are interested in the human story between their two main characters. We don’t get a huge amount of background on Rachel, and what we learn about Justine is largely teased out in her reticence about her past, at least until one late scene lays some family tensions a bit more bare,...

"It was you, wasn't it?" Acorn TV just released a new teaser for season two of the UK TV show Hidden.

Season two of the Welsh crime drama will see Detective Cadi John ( Sian Reese-Williams) investigate "the brutal murder of a former schoolteacher, but a group of local teenagers knows more about what happened than they are letting on.

Read More…...

Aliya Whiteley Feb 16, 2018

Is Requiem spreading its story too thinly? Here's our spoiler-filled review of episode three...

This review contains spoilers.

See related 35 must-watch movies in 2017

It’s the third episode, and we’re no longer involved only in Matilda’s story; Requiem has spread its roots through the whole of the community of the small Welsh town where Carys Morgan disappeared decades ago. There’s plenty to enjoy, and loads of questions to be answered – but is it spreading itself too thin?

We’ve seen Matilda’s early childhood experiences in flashback in earlier episodes, but episode three kicks off with a different look at the past - the moment when Carys was taken from the park. The revelation that the last person to see her alive was none other than the brusque Trudy (Sian Reese-Williams), who works at the local pub that her father owns. Following Trudy’s...

'Emmerdale' star Sian Reese-Williams is glad her character Gennie Sharma was killed off. The actress has played the popular factory worker for five years, but is pleased her alter-ego's life came to a tragic end last night (25.07.13) after becoming the latest victim of serial killer Cameron Murray (Dominic Power), because it means she can't ever look back and return to the ITV soap. Speaking to Digital Spy, she said: ''When they suggested it to me at first, it made it scarier, but I never changed my mind. I knew that it was the right thing for me ... I'm...

Gennie Sharma will be left fighting for her life on 'Emmerdale'. The popular soap character - played by Sian Reese-Williams - ends up in deadly danger next week when she discovers too much about Cameron's crimes, and her car plummets down a ravine in her haste to escape. Determined to prove to her sister Chas Dingle (Lucy Pargeter) that her fiancé Cameron Murray is having an affair with Debbie Dingle (Charley Webb), Gennie hides out at Debbie's house in the hopes of recording evidence. However, when the Dales killer confesses more than she ever expected, petrified Gennie runs for her life, putting...

Gennie Walker's feud with Katie Macey escalates this evening (November 8) as she exposes the newlywed's recent deception. Tonight's double bill sees new mum Gennie (Sian Reese-Williams) pay a visit to Home Farm in a bid to patch things up with Katie. However, the pair soon find themselves embroiled in another huge row which makes things even worse between them. Seething following the argument, Gennie decides that she is not going to let Katie (Sammy Winward) get away with lying about Robbie any longer, so she heads to Mulberry Cottage to intervene. (more)...

Emmerdale's Katie Macey is shocked later this week as she realises that Gennie Walker kept quiet over Chas and Cameron's affair. Wednesday's (November 7) episode of the soap sees Katie pay a visit to Gennie (Sian Reese-Williams) and her newborn daughter, only for tensions to rise when the topic of conversation turns to Chas. Gennie defends Chas when Katie (Sammy Winward) seems to be judging her, (more)...

Emmerdale star Sian Reese-Williams has hinted that her character Gennie Walker may have to face the music for protecting Chas Dingle's secret. Back in the summer, Gennie discovered that half-sister Chas was having an affair with Cameron Murray, but she ultimately decided to keep quiet about it when the love cheats both agreed to end the fling.

> 'Emmerdale's 40th anniversary - full coverage With the affair storyline coming to a head for Emmerdale's 40th anniversary this week, it is possible that Debbie Dingle may soon find out that Cameron has betrayed her by sleeping with her aunt. Speaking to Digital Spy, Reese-Williams confirmed that Gennie will find herself in an awkward position if the truth about Chas and Cameron does come out. (more)...

Emmerdale star Sian Reese-Williams has said that rehearsals for the soap's upcoming live episode are going well. The show's cast began practising their scenes for the special broadcast earlier this month, and had their first full-length run-through at the weekend. Speaking on Lorraine today (October 15), Reese-Williams expressed surprise at how the preparations currently seem to be going without a hitch.

Pictured: Sian Reese-Williams on Lorraine. The actress, who plays mum-to-be Gennie Walker, commented: "We're getting there. We had our first stagger-through on Saturday night, which went really well. I think we were all quite surprised at how well it went! "It's the first time we've run it in sequence, and I think we all came away going, 'We might actually pull this off'." She continued: "We're (more)...

Emmerdale's Tom Lister has revealed that he is in a band with two of his fellow castmates. The Carl King actor disclosed that he started the group Edna's Hat with co-stars Sian Reese-Williams (Gennie Walker) and Dominic Brunt (Paddy Kirk) "We are in a band, three of us from the show - myself, Sian who plays Gennie, Dominic who plays Paddy - and a couple of guys, one from the crew and one friend," he told Stv. Explaining how the band began, the star added: "It was something we kind of fell in to, some of us love singing, some of us love playing instruments and we just kind of fell together at a charity event and it all snowballed there." Meanwhile, Lister also discussed Emmerdale's 40th (more)...

A new video teasing Emmerdale's 40th anniversary live episode has been released. To mark four decades of drama on the Dales, ITV1 will air the Emmerdale Live special on Wednesday, October 17 at 7pm, as part of a week of celebrations. The video shows stars Adam Thomas, Gaynor Faye, Sian Reese-Williams, Sammy Winward and others talk about their excitement for next week's (more)...

'Emmerdale' stars have begun rehearsing for the soap's upcoming live episode. The ITV1 soap is celebrating its 40th anniversary later this month with an hour-long special and cast and crew had their first practice runs yesterday (02.10.12). Lucy Pargeter, who plays Chas Dingle, tweeted last night: ''#EmmerdaleLive 1st day of rehearsals done!!!!! Wow, Ouch and hope your gonna love it??? And relax... (sic)'' Sian Reese-Williams - who plays Gennie Walker - added: ''I think it's hit me today. Yikes. (sic)'' The cast and crew will have 11 days of rehearsals for the live episode in total, working for 10 hours across each of the...

Emmerdale stars have begun rehearsing for the soap's upcoming live episode. Cast and crew had their first practice runs yesterday (October 2) ahead of the hour-long 40th anniversary special, which will air on ITV1 later this month. Lucy Pargeter, who plays Chas Dingle, tweeted last night: "#EmmerdaleLive 1st day of rehearsals done!!!!! Wow, Ouch and hope your gonna love it??? And relax…" Meanwhile, Sian Reese-Williams - better known as Gennie Walker - confessed: "I think it's hit me today. Yikes." The Emmerdale team will have 11 days of rehearsals for the live episode in total, working for 10 hours across each of the days. 61 cast members are involved in the challenging broadcast, while 350 supporting artistes will also be required. Additionally, 70 crew members will be working - almost double the number for a regular (more)...

Emmerdale stars Sian Reese-Williams and Rik Makarem have revealed that there are some "beautiful moments" in store for their characters Gennie Walker and Nikhil Sharma once their baby arrives. Gennie will give birth in the soap's 40th anniversary live episode next month, but the aftermath scenes with the new arrival have already been filmed - providing a new challenge for the pair on set. Reese-Williams commented: "Because we work ahead, we already have a baby. We've been working with a couple of babies, who are both great. "I don't really have much experience of babies, so the first time I held one was in a scene! I was literally handed the baby in a take, but I think I did okay." Makarem continued: "Because we're so used to each other as actors, we're usually quite relaxed on set. But having a baby on set (more)...

Emmerdale's Sian Reese-Williams has confirmed that Gennie Walker will give birth during next month's live episode. Reese-Williams revealed that her character, who is engaged to factory partner Nikhil Sharma (Rik Makarem), will go into labour on the Dales. "I'm not allowed to say too much about how dramatic it is, but it's outside. And it all happens very quickly," she told the Daily Star newspaper. The actress also joked: "Apparently you sound like a cow when you're doing it, so I'm just going to moo a bit and it will be fine." However, the star also admitted that she is "nervous" about filming the scenes, adding: "I've been watching a lot of One Born Every Minute for tips." Speaking more generally about Gennie's pregnancy storyline, (more)...

Emmerdale star Rik Makarem has expressed his excitement over the soap's upcoming live episode. The ITV1 drama goes live for a one-off special next month as part of the programme's 40th anniversary celebrations. Makarem's character Nikhil Sharma is among those taking centre stage in the big birthday week, as the businessman's partner Gennie Walker (Sian Reese-Williams) will go into labour. Appearing on Daybreak today (September 19), Makarem explained that he is hoping to enjoy the experience of the challenging live broadcast.

Pictured: Rik Makarem on Daybreak He said: "[I'm] very excited. I think all the cast generally are quite pumped up about it. I think we're all privileged and quite honoured (more)...

Emmerdale's Chas Dingle has a surprise engagement party thrown for her in Tuesday night's (September 11) episode of the soap. The gathering has been arranged by Dan, Diane and the Dingles, leaving Chas (Lucy Pargeter) shocked but pleased when she sees the effort that everyone has gone to. Later, after Gennie (Sian Reese-Williams) has spotted Chas and Cameron chatting at the party, she can't help questioning Chas about (more)...

Rik Makarem has revealed that his Emmerdale character Nikhil Sharma is convinced his baby will be a boy. Gennie, played by Sian Reese-Williams, discovered she was pregnant with Nikhil's baby nearly a month ago. Speaking to MSN, the actor said that Nikhil's certainty leads to arguments over the baby's name. Makarem explained of the plot: "I don't think they know the sex, but Nikhil is subconsciously stating that it's a boy, much to Gennie's frustration. "So there's lots of cute moments with regards to discussions about boys (more)...

Emmerdale star Sian Reese-Williams has admitted that she would not stick with Nikhil Sharma in real life. The actress's character Gennie Walker has been in a relationship with Nikhil (Rik Makarem) for a few months, after they fell for each other while working at the factory together. Gennie's current storyline sees her struggling to break the news to Nikhil that she is expecting his baby. Reese-Williams told TV Times of the plot: "They have a communication problem and can't tell each other anything. He keeps going on about not wanting kids and it's putting her off telling him. "Do you know, if I were Gennie, I would have dumped him ages ago. He says stupid things to her on a daily basis! I wouldn't put up (more)...

Emmerdale's Gennie Walker hears that she is 18 weeks pregnant in Thursday night's (June 7) double bill of the soap. After a pregnancy test has indicated that she is expecting a baby, Gennie (Sian Reese-Williams) is busy wondering how to break the news to Nikhil - but she soon has bigger things to worry about when she realises that she is bleeding. At the hospital, Gennie shares her symptoms, but the doctor says she has nothing to worry about and confirms her pregnancy. Gennie is then left (more)...

Emmerdale's Sian Reese-Williams has predicted a bright future for Gennie and Nikhil. Reese-Williams, whose alter ego Gennie discovers she is pregnant next Wednesday, believes that the pair will put their turbulent past behind them. "I think he's going to surprise her with his reaction to the news. It's not what she expected him to do at all," she told Pa. "I think it will bring them closer together in their differences. I think we've got a lot of fun to come with this, even during the pregnancy and beyond with these two trying (more)...

Emmerdale's Katie Sugden wonders whether she wants a future with Declan in the aftermath of his proposal in tonight's episode of the soap. Gennie (Sian Reese-Williams) and Chas (Lucy Pargeter) are impressed when a bunch of flowers arrive for Katie, pointing out that Declan is finally coming up with the romantic gestures she was hoping for. However, Katie complains that the businessman has now gone too far in the opposite direction - he's proposed to her and she doesn't know whether to say yes. Soon afterwards, Declan (Jason Merrells) arranges to meet Katie (Sammy (more)...

Emmerdale's Nikhil Sharma and Gennie Walker finally give into their feelings for each other in tonight's episode of the soap. Nikhil (Rik Makarem) makes an excuse to call Gennie (Sian Reese-Williams) back to work late this evening, but once she arrives, it's clear that he wants a heart-to-heart as he apologises for his recent behaviour. Explaining his actions, Nikhil reasserts his belief that Nicky (Matt Milburn) isn't good enough for Gennie - before (more)...

Emmerdale's Gennie Walker has a showdown with Nikhil after he sabotages her job chances in tonight's episode of the soap. As Gennie (Sian Reese-Williams) heads off for her interview with the factory's biggest rival, a jealous Nikhil broods over the situation - knowing that he doesn't want to stop working with someone he has such strong feelings for. Later, Nikhil (Rik Makarem) is presented with an opportunity to fix the situation when the firm in question phones up asking him to give Gennie a reference. Against his better (more)...

Emmerdale star Rik Makarem has admitted that Gennie Walker would be "perfect" for his character Nikhil Sharma if he gave her a chance. Gennie (Sian Reese-Williams) has had a crush on Nikhil for months, but the businessman is only just beginning to realise his own feelings for her - and may have left it too late. Makarem told This Morning today: "I think what it is, for a long time he's been chasing the wrong thing. In his mind's eye, what he thinks is right for him totally isn't. And it's a bit like Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, where Orsino is in love with the idea of being in love - the ideal of it. "Right underneath his nose, the perfect thing is there, but I think he's got a lot of emotional conflicts from his history and his childhood that he's not established within himself - he's not fought (more...

Emmerdale's Gennie Walker loses patience with Nikhil Sharma in tonight's episode of the soap when he offends her once too often. When Charity and Chas make plans for a girls' night in together, Gennie (Sian Reese-Williams) offers Nikhil an escape for the evening - agreeing to cook for him as long as he behaves himself and doesn't make any unnecessary remarks. However, when the meal gets under way, Nikhil (Rik Makarem) soon returns to his old tricks by commenting on Gennie's cooking and (more)...

Emmerdale's Gennie realises that she may have an admirer as local vet Nicky flirts with her in tonight's double bill of the soap. When Nikhil (Rik Makarem) wants some company to avoid spending the evening with Charity, he's disappointed when Gennie (Sian Reese-Williams) seems more interested in Nicky instead. As Nicky (Matt Milburn) offers Gennie a lift, he surprises her by hinting that she could be his type - and we're left to wonder whether Nikhil could have missed his chance with Gennie. At the (more)...

Emmerdale star Sian Reese-Williams has revealed that filming the show's upcoming fire was "intense". The actress, who plays Gennie Walker in the ITV1 soap, told the Sunday Mail that filming the arson plot involved various stunts and night shoots, adding that the end result is "impressive". "It was intense stuff," she said. "There were a lot of night shoots, some work at weekends and quite a few stunts, especially with a lot of the fire and smoke. Even when you know (more)...

Lives will be lost in Emmerdale in the New Year when a massive fire causes terror and tragedy, it has been announced. The shock new storyline will see a blaze rip through a row of cottages in the heart of the village in some of the soap's most spectacular scenes ever. Show bosses have confirmed that at least two characters will perish in the inferno, although the identities of the casualties will be kept closely under wraps until transmission. Betty Eagleton (Paula Tilbrook), Chas Dingle (Lucy Pargeter) and Gennie Walker (Sian Reese-Williams) are just three of the villagers who have been named as possible victims of the flames. Brenda Walker (Lesley Dunlop) and Terry Woods (Billy Hartman) will also be in danger when the fire spreads to their home, while Viv Hope (Deena Payne) is another (more)...

Emmerdale star Deena Payne has admitted that she was shocked when she learned that her character Viv Hope would split from husband Bob. The couple's relationship hits the rocks in tonight's double bill of the rural soap after Viv discovers that Bob (Tony Audenshaw) slept with Genesis Walker (Sian Reese-Williams) last year. Speaking to the Daily Record about the plot, Payne revealed: "I was shocked when they said they were going to split us up and I think the fans are going to be, too. They will be thinking they will get back together, but I don't think they will. "I think fans will mourn the end of Viv and Bob. I certainly have. I went though a mournful patch but then I thought, (more)...

'Emmerdale's Viv Hope discovers her husband Bob Hope cheated on her with Gennie Walker in a dramatic new storyline. The long-running character - played by Deena Payne - learns the shocking news when Gennie (Sian Reese-Williams) prepares to leave the Dales for Cornwall with her boyfriend Jamie Hope (Alex Carter). As Gennie and Bob have a last minute heart-to-heart, Jamie gets upset as he recalls the fling between his father and lover. Sian told Inside Soap magazine: ''The problem is not so much that he doesn't believe them when they say it's over - it's the fact that he just can't get the idea ..

David Metcalfe rushes to the rescue of his promiscuous lover during tonight's Emmerdale and floors Nathan Wylde for sleeping with Leyla (Roxanne Ghawam-Shahidi). After a chat with Gennie (Sian Reese-Williams) about his ailing relationship with Leyla, David (Matthew Wolfenden) goes to confront Nathan at Home Farm. Natasha (Amanda Donohoe), however, brunts the majority of the aggrieved lover's anger when she reveals that (more)...

Emmerdale star Alex Carter has revealed that he would like to see Emily Symons return to the soap. The 27-year-old's character Jamie Hope was involved in a relationship with the actress's alter ego Louise Appleton during her final months on the show. However, problems in their romance led to Louise leaving the village behind in late 2008. Carter has now told Inside Soap that he would be thrilled if Louise made a comeback to become a love rival of Gennie Walker (Sian Reese-Williams). However, he conceded that the plot twist is unlikely to happen because Symons is now living in her native Australia again. "I'd love Louise to come back and stir up things (more)...