News

Because I will be covering the 2025 Sundance Film Festival entirely from snowy, frozen Chicago instead of snowy, frozen Park City, my screening options are limited. Only a select few films opted in to the festival’s online offerings this year, which means The A.V. Club won’t be getting a...

Noel Fielding will return to host this year’s Great British Bake Off, according to his spokeswoman.

Questions had emerged over whether Fielding would present Channel 4’s most popular show following the revelation last week that his Apple TV+ comedy The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin was being scrapped after Fielding pulled out around three-quarters of the way through the shoot. That show will not be salvaged and reports stated that Fielding had “failed to come to work.”

Fielding’s spokeswoman has since issued a statement saying: “There has been absolutely no discussion about Noel stepping down from Bake Off. We have been in contact with Channel 4 and Love Productions throughout all the speculation and his ‘stepping down’ has never been part of that dialogue. We can confirm he will be returning to co-host the next series of Bake Off.”

Love Productions, which makes Bake Off (titled The Great British Baking Show...

Quick Links The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin Season 2 Latest News The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin Season 2 Is Canceled The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin Season 2 Cast The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin Season 2 Story Details

Apple TV+ renewed the cheeky comedy The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin for a second season, but it has since been scrapped. Starring Noel Fielding as the titular bandit, Dick Turpin fictionalizes and lampoons the exploits of the real-life highwayman from British lore who, along with his Essex Gang, set out to become the greatest highwayman in English history. Like many projects involving Fielding, Dick Turpin utilizes surrealist comedy to pick apart the romanticized figure from history, but does so without losing any of the accessible charm that any comedy show should have.

Most of the reviews for the show's first season were overwhelmingly positive, and it offered...

The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin was Apple TV+’s high jinks vehicle for the very best of British comedy talent, but there’s nothing whimsical about the series coming to a clattering halt this week.

Production has ceased on Season 2 of the Big Talk Studios series about an 18th-century highway robber, putting a cast and crew of hundreds out of work with nothing to show for their efforts. Filmed footage cannot be fashioned into a scaled-back season and there is no hope of getting the show back on the road, according to three sources familiar with Dick Turpin’s demise.

At the center of this highly unusual situation is Noel Fielding, the comedy’s titular character, who is also known to American viewers as the co-host of The Great British Baking Show. The star, who shot to fame in surrealist noughties comedy The Mighty Boosh, failed to return...

Apple TV+‘s comedy The Completely Made–Up Adventures of Dick Turpin will not return.

The show has ceased production on series two, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed on Thursday. British tabloid The Sun first reported the news, adding that titular star Noel Fielding — well known among U.S. audiences as a co-host of The Great British Baking Show — pulled out three-quarters of the way through the shoot.

Filming started on a second series in the autumn, the tabloid said, but 51-year-old Fielding did not return after the Holidays. The cast and crew have now been stood down. Though THR has been unable to confirm the report, Fielding’s team has been contacted for comment.

Written by Fielding, Richard Naylor and Jon Brittain, the series followed the contemptuous life of the 18th-century highwayman, known in York, England, as a thief, poacher and killer but whose exploits have been widely romanticized in modern culture.

Apple TV+ series “The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin,” which stars Noel Fielding as the infamous highway bandit, has shut down in the middle of shooting Season 2, Variety has confirmed.

A source close to the project said Season 2 had “ceased production.”

Variety understands that the show, which was around three months into the shoot, is highly unlikely to get back off the ground. Another source said that Apple and production company Big Talk did “everything they could” to finish the series and were “really excited about it.”

Consisting of six episodes, the first season of the show launched on the streamer last spring, co-starring Hugh Bonneville, Tamsin Greig and Ellie White. It was directed by “The Inbetweeners” and “Douglas is Cancelled” helmer Ben Palmer. Fielding was also an exec producer on the project.

The show’s second season started shooting at Sky Studios in Elstree and on location last...

TV shows sometimes have their characters making songs, but it's not often that these fictional songs are as good as the real thing. There are plenty of musical TV shows, like Glee and The Mighty Boosh, although these don't necessarily feature original songs written and performed by the characters. Any show can have these fake songs, and comedies are particularly prolific in this regard, since they can get away with bad songs.

While it's not too difficult to write a bad fake song, a few TV shows are ambitious enough to make earnest efforts at writing good music. These songs can break out from the world of the TV show and have an impact on real life, making fans wish that the bands were real. The best fictional songs come from a range of different TV genres, and they encompass teen pop, soft rock, rap and much more.

Related 10 Best Music Parody Movies,...

The recently resurrected Anchor Bay Entertainment will release a trio of new indie horror films on Blu-ray and DVD on December 10: Crust, Cursed in Baja, and Abruptio.

Character actor Sean Whalen (The People Under the Stairs) makes his feature directorial debut on Crust, an offbeat horror-comedy about a sock monster that he co-wrote with Jim Wald.

Whalen stars with Daniel Roebuck (Terrifier 3), Alan Ruck (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off), Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp), and Ricky Dean Logan (Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare).

In Crust, “Vegas Winters is a former child star who owns a laundromat. One of the benefits of running the place is finding all the leftover socks from his customers, which Vegas uses in creative ways. After Vegas becomes the victim of bullying, he seeks refuge from the attack in the pile of socks. His pain somehow creates a monster willing to seek vengeance for Vegas.”

Cursed in Baja...

The What We Do in the Shadows cast features a whos-who of seasoned comedy veterans, exciting up-and-coming talent, and scene-stealing supporting players as its vampiric characters. Based on the movie of the same name, What We Do in the Shadows is a mockumentary series about the mundane everyday lives of a group of vampires living in New York. The premise of a vampire-infested mockumentary might not have sustained a sketch in the hands of lesser creators, but Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi, and co. have managed to make an acclaimed feature film and an equally acclaimed TV show out of that concept.

By introducing different kinds of vampires and entirely new supernatural species, the TV version of What We Do in the Shadows has expanded the world of the movie. The limited cast of the film has been replaced with a sprawling ensemble, played by both promising up-and-comers and prolific comedians.

Paddington duo Paul King and Simon Farnaby are bringing Prince Charming to the big screen for Disney.

Director Paul King cut his teeth on Noel Feilding and Julian Barratt’s surreal sitcom The Mighty Boosh, while writer Simon Farnaby was a member of the original Horrible Histories team, who later went on to make the hugely successful Ghosts. They made their feature film debut in 2009 with The Bunny And The Bull.

If 2014’s Paddington captured the hearts of the nation, then 2017’s Paddington 2 – one of the greatest family films ever made – turned them into absolute treasures.

They made a left field turn into prequel territory in 2023 with the delightful Wonka – The Divine Comedy’s Neil Hannon was robbed of the Best Song Oscar for Never Had Chocolate Like This – and since then film fans have been eager to see what the pair will do next.

Now, we have the answer.

British sitcom superstar Matt Berry says that many of the stateside pop-culture references in What We Do in the Shadows sail clear over his head. On the other hand, Jackie Daytona definitely gets the jokes — I’m pretty sure they have Seinfeld in Tucson, Arizonia.

In FX’s mockumentary horror comedy series What We Do in the Shadows, most of the main cast of characters are categorically ignorant of cultural norms in modern day Staten Island. After all, Lazslo Cravensworth and his housemates have been undead for many centuries, so it’s hard for them to keep up with the temporary trends that dominate Twitter in a country that’s younger than they are. And behind the scenes of the series created by New Zealanders and filled with English actors, many of the Yankee references and punchlines made in the series are about as opaque to the actors as the...

Don't overlook lesser-known British sitcoms - there are plenty of hilarious shows waiting to be discovered. British comedies may not have as many episodes as American ones, but they still offer unique and rewarding humor. From surreal adventures to heartwarming stories, British sitcoms like "The Mighty Boosh" and "Detectorists" offer a refreshing take on comedy.

Only a few British sitcoms make an impression in the United States, but there are plenty of hilarious shows which deserve bigger international audiences. While shows like Fawlty Towers, Blackadder and The Office have had plenty of success in America, this is merely the tip of the iceberg. British comedy doesn't always translate well overseas, so people don't often give lesser-known British sitcoms a chance.

Another reason that American audiences sometimes struggle to connect with British shows is that there are so few episodes. If someone is accustomed to sitcoms with upwards of 20 episodes per season,...

Those who enjoyed the historical fantasy, humor, and alternative history elements of My Lady Jane, may enjoy these other series. Renegade Nell was an historical fantasy series about a young woman framed for murder who goes on an epic adventure. Belgravia: The Next Chapter included a major actor from My Lady Jane to fill the gap left by the show.

My Lady Jane was an excellent historical fantasy series that has left plenty of viewers craving more shows that showcased a similar style, addressed the same themes, or combined humor and history in such a compelling way. With an extraordinary lead performance from Emily Bader as Lady Jane Grey, this period series reimagined the story of the Nine Days Queen as a magical tale featuring a world where some can take the form of animals. Adapted from a novel by Jodi Meadows, this Amazon Prime series brought to mind several other acclaimed TV shows.

More completely made-up adventures await Dick Turpin, now that Apple TV+ has renewed the Noel Fielding-led comedy for Season 2.

In The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin, Fielding (The Mighty Boosh, The Great British Bake Off) stars as “the most famous but least likely of highway robbers, whose success is defined mostly by his charm, showmanship and great hair.” Together with a gang of lovable rogues, Turpin rides the highs and lows of his new endeavors, including a brush with celebrity.

More from TVLineThe Morning Show Casts Jeremy Irons as Alex's Dad in Season 4Colin From Accounts' Patrick Brammall...

Exclusive: Still Up, Apple TV+’s insomnia comedy starring The Good Doctor fan favorite Antonia Thomas and Craig Roberts, has been axed after one season.

The series was quietly shelved earlier this year, we are told, having launched in September 2023.

Produced by I May Destroy You maker Various Artists and created by Natalie Walter and Steve Burge, Still Up followed the exploits of Lisa (Thomas), an impulsive and free-spirited aspiring illustrator whose questions over her daughter’s future start keeping her up at night, and the socially anxious yet gifted journalist Danny, played by Submarine’s Roberts. The pair have no secrets, except their feelings for each other, and while the world sleeps they spend their long nights talking despite never meeting.

Other cast included Blake Harrison (The Inbetweeners), Lois Chimimba (The One), Luke Fetherston (Flowers in the Attic), Rich Fulcher (The Mighty Boosh) and Sam Spiro (Sex Education).

Apple...

Dick Turpin features a diverse cast of well-known British actors, each bringing their own quirky charm to the show. Lead actor Noel Fielding not only stars in the series but also has writing credits and serves as an executive producer. The irreverent humor and fantastical elements of Dick Turpin's adventures make the show appealing to fans of British comedy.

The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin has an expansive cast, with certain figures only making brief cameos while its other stars remain in the limelight. Certain actors in the production are well-known on the British entertainment scene, but other figures aren't quite as established as their co-stars. Either way, most have been cast for their ability to augment the lead actor's dry-yet-zany sense of humor that runs through the show.

The Dick Turpin lead actor isn't just restricted to his portrayal of the titular character, as he also has writing...

The historical Dick Turpin comedy on Apple TV+ is teasing a potential reunion from a zany British comedy duo from the past. Fans of Noel Fielding's The Mighty Boosh may recognize familiar faces in Dick Turpin, hinting at more guest appearances to come. The anticipated reunion of Fielding and Barratt in Dick Turpin could bring back the chemistry that made The Mighty Boosh so beloved.

The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin is Apple TV+'s new British comedy, and the show could be quietly setting up a cameo that would mean a long-awaited reunion for a zany duo who made their BBC debut in 2004. The historical comedy, led by The Great British Bake Off's Noel Fielding, has recently been added to Apple TV's impressive line-up, and the show has used some clever casting to get fans of Fielding's past work excited.

Dick Turpin tells the tale of the...

Noel Fielding's new show combines historical inaccuracy with irreverent humor for a fun British sitcom vibe. Michael Fielding, Noel's real-life brother, plays Benny in Dick Turpin, adding a meta twist to the family dynamic. The Fielding brothers have a history of collaboration, including The Mighty Boosh and Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy.

The cast of Apple TV+'s The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin is fronted by Noel Fielding, but other iconic British comedians have already appeared - including one with a real-world connection to the show's lead actor. The Great British Bake Off's Noel Fielding has been involved with various comedy projects throughout his career, and Dick Turpin isn't the first time he's collaborated with certain actors tied to the show.

Apple's new historical comedy already has the makings of one of the best British sitcoms in recent years. The show's intentional inaccuracy paired with Fielding's signature...

Director Paul King is best known for delivering the first two installments of the charming and delightful "Paddington" franchise. Sadly, he won't be at the helm of "Paddington in Peru," the forthcoming third film in the series, but that's because he opted to step into the sweet world of Roald Dahl with "Wonka." The origin story of the famed chocolatier from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" has become one of the biggest box office hits of 2023, and King is already working on potential ideas for a "Wonka" sequel. But 20 years ago, Paul King was just a scrappy young filmmaker cutting his teeth on a cult favorite comedy series across the pond.

"The Mighty Boosh" is a sketch comedy series from the United Kingdom that debuted on the BBC back in 2004. The series feels like Monty Python meets "Kenan & Kel," with an absurd and musical touch reminiscent of "Flight of the Conchords,...

You may not know Dick yet, but you’re about to! “The Mighty Boosh” star and “The Great British Bake-Off” co-host Noel Fielding hops into the saddle as the legendary British highwayman whose exploits are, indeed, the stuff of legend, who is roped into dealing with a cunning thief-taker when he’s made the reluctant leader of a band of outlaws. The six-episode first season of “The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin” will premiere on Apple TV+ on Friday, March. 1. You can watch The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin: Season 1 with a 7-Day Free Trial of Apple TV+.

How to Watch ‘The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin’ Series Premiere When: Friday, March 1, 2024 Where: Apple TV+ Stream: Watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Apple TV+. 7-Day Free Trial$9.99+ / month apple.com About ‘The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin’ Series Premiere

“The Mighty Boosh” star and...

The historical comedy series The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin is set to premiere with its first two episodes this Friday, March 1st, with the rest of the show’s six episodes being released on a weekly basis through Friday, March 29th – all of this exclusively on Apple TV+. In anticipation the show’s premiere, we’re proud to share an Exclusive clip from the first episode, and you can check it out in the embed above!

The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin stars Noel Fielding of The Mighty Boosh and The Great British Bake Off in the titular role as the legendary British highwayman. Also in the cast are Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey), Ellie White (The Windsors), Marc Wootton (High & Dry), Duayne Boachie (Blue Story), Tamsin Greig (Episodes), Asim Chaudhry (People Just Do Nothing), Dolly Wells (Doll & Em), Joe Wilkinson (The Cockfields), Mark Heap (Stardust), Geoffrey McGivern...

Millions of The Great British Baking Show’s fans might not know it, but Noel Fielding is very funny outside the tent, too.

Before taking over as co-host of Netflix’s supremely cozy UK baking competition in 2017, Fielding was best known for starring in The Mighty Boosh, a wildly surreal sitcom that became a cult hit during its 2004-07 run on BBC Three. Now two decades later, Fielding is returning to TV comedy with a new Apple TV+ series, The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin (premiering this Friday on the streamer), with Fielding playing an easygoing misfit who accidentally...

Today at the 2024 Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour, Apple TV+ unveiled the trailer for upcoming comedy-adventure series “The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin.” The six-episode Apple Original, which stars Noel Fielding as the legendary British highwayman, premieres globally on Friday, March 1, 2024, with the first two episodes, followed by a new episode every Friday through March 29. In “The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin,” Dick Turpin (Fielding) sets out on a journey of wildly absurd escapades when he’s made the reluctant leader of a band of outlaws ... Read more...

If you, like us, were saddened to hear that Our Flag Means Death won't return for a third season, then here's something to cheer the heart of anyone looking for a new hapless-numpty-looks-to-kick-start-a-life-of-crime comedy. Yes, that is actual The Mighty Boosh star Noel Fielding (perhaps more widely known these days for hosting the Bake-Off) in new comedy drama series The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin heading our way via Apple TV+. Take a look at the trailer…

The show, sees Fielding as Turpin who, according to the official synopsis, "Sets out on a journey of wildly absurd escapades when he’s made the reluctant leader of a band of outlaws — and tasked with outwitting corrupt lawman and self-appointed thief-taker Jonathan Wilde (Hugh Bonneville). Turpin is the most famous but least likely of highway robbers, whose success is defined mostly by his charm, showmanship and great hair. Together with his gang of lovable rogues,...

Apple TV+ has launched the trailer for Noel Fielding-led comedy ‘The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin,’ which premieres globally on March 1st.

The six-episode Apple Original centres on Dick Turpin (Fielding), who sets out on a journey of wildly absurd escapades when he’s made the reluctant leader of a band of outlaws — and tasked with outwitting corrupt lawman and self-appointed thief-taker Jonathan Wilde (Hugh Bonneville).

In this irreverent retelling set in the 18th century, Turpin is the most famous but least likely of highway robbers, whose success is defined mostly by his charm, showmanship and great hair. Together with his gang of lovable rogues, Turpin rides the highs and lows of his new endeavours, including a brush with celebrity, all whilst trying to escape the clutches of the thief-taker.

Starring alongside Fielding in the ensemble cast are Ellie White (“The Windsors”), Marc Wootton (“High & Dry”), Duayne Boachie...

A history of the most underrated British science fiction of the 1970s is, largely, just a history of British science fiction of the 1970s. It gets a bad rap. Think “1970s British Sci-Fi” and your mind will be flooded with associations of dodgy special effects, less-than-perfect gender politics, and so much knitwear. That, and a certain time traveller with a predilection for scarves and jelly babies.

But the truth is the 70s was a golden age for British science fiction stories with ideas and ambition, completely unrestrained by any concept of production values. While even the most pedestrian attempt at modern science fiction telly feels it has to go toe to toe with the MCU’s latest CGI eyeball-blaster, a year after Star Wars was on our screens the Doctor was still routinely facing off against dressed like this, and it was better for it.

Blake’s 7 (1978 – 1981)

Stream on: Itvx...

When Paul King's 2014 film "Paddington" came out, audiences had reason to be skeptical. The beloved title character, a talking Peruvian bear left alone at London's Paddington station, wasn't necessarily a good fit for a live-action take. Movies like 2002's "Scooby Doo" and 2007's "Alvin and the Chipmunks" were proof that audiences would show up for CGI versions of classic characters, but the movies could also be ugly and loud, the most cynical kind of children's movie. Nobody wanted that fate for Paddington Bear.

But the character flourished in the new medium. King's film received a great deal of critical praise, getting a 97% positive approval rate on RottenTomatoes. The movie was sparkling, playful, and gleefully imaginative, and rather than stop the movie dead, Paddington's (voiced by Ben Wheatley) wild antics set the stage for physical comedy in the vein of Charlie Chaplin. 2017's "Paddington 2" was even better, finding...

Graphic: The A.V. Club A year ago we couldn’t have said definitively whether Wonka would be a delightful musical extravaganza or a total disaster. Either outcome seemed plausible. After all, was anyone actually clamoring for yet another version of the mysterious, magical chocolatier from Roald Dahl’s beloved book series?...

Timothée Chalomet in WonkaPhoto: Jaap Buittendijk/Warner Bros.

A year ago we couldn’t have said definitively whether Wonka would be a delightful musical extravaganza or a total disaster. Either outcome seemed plausible. After all, was anyone actually clamoring for yet another version of the mysterious, magical chocolatier from Roald Dahl’s beloved book series?...

Mgmt have released the new music video for “Bubblegum Dog,” the new single from their upcoming album, Loss of Life.

The Tom Scharpling and Julia Vickerman-directed visual pays tribute to alternative-rock videos from the Nineties. The humorous clip finds Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser hanging by a fake fire, donning cowboy hats, performing in an MTV Unplugged setting, and using soul patches, among other cheeky homages. Actor Mark Proksch (What We Do in the Shadows, The Office) makes a cameo.

“We all saw the video for ‘Bubblegum Dog’ as...

Mgmt fans rejoice: not only is “Bubblegum Dog” real, but is now available to stream in full.

A meme of sorts for Mgmt fans since they released their 2018 album, Little Dark Age, “Bubblegum Dog” first entered public consciousness through a 2016 Periscope livestream that revealed the titles of several songs the band was working on at the time. Fans then expected it to be included on Little Dark Age, but when it wasn’t, it earned legendary status in the Mgmt fan community.

In the years since, the band has joked about the song, tweeting that “Bubblegum Dog is real” and humorously referring to it as a 30-minute-long, multi-part project. Even earlier this year, the band’s Ben Goldwasser joked on Reddit that Loss of Life would “be nearly three hours long to account for ‘Bubblegum Dog’ being an hour.”

In actuality, “Bubblegum Dog” spans only about four-and-a-half minutes. It begins as an acoustic track,...

The Rat Catcher is one of Wes Anderson's Roald Dahl adaptations on Netflix, blending the director's filmmaking style with Dahl's wild stories. Richard Ayoade delivers real comedy and brings an offbeat tone to his role as The Editor in The Rat Catcher, showcasing his comedic talent. British actor Ralph Fiennes portrays The Rat Man, and he also plays a fictionalized version of Dahl in Anderson's shorts.

The Rat Catcher is one of multiple short films that Wes Anderson made for Netflix inspired by the works of children’s author Roald Dahl. The project features a small cast of eccentric characters who bring this bold and colorful story to life with outlandish performances and deadpan comedy that sticks close to Anderson’s signature cinematic style. These Roald Dahl short movies have been excellently received so far, with critics and audiences agreeing that Anderson’s filmmaking blends perfectly with the author's wild stories.

Two of the UK’s top comedy stars, Richard Ayoade and Jonathan Ross, have received backlash on social media after reviewing The It Crowd writer Graham Linehan’s memoir.

Irish scribe Linehan has gone from the writer of much-loved Channel 4 comedies The It Crowd, Father Ted and Black Books to an outspoken anti-transgender activist in recent years, leading many in the UK and Ireland to boycott him.

His book, Tough Crowd, has gone on pre-sale on Amazon this week. Its reviews section displays favorable quotes from talk show host and writer Ross and actor-director Ayoade, who starred in The It Crowd between 2006 and 2013. Other advocates include author John Boyne, anti-trans journalist Helen Joyce, comic Simon Evans and British TV director Lissa Evans.

Ross was quoted saying the book is “one of the most compelling and unflinchingly honest memoirs I’ve read in many years. It’s also the funniest,...

Disney+ has unveiled the cast of Season 2 of “Extraordinary,” the coming-of-age comedy series from creator and writer Emma Moran and Sid Gentle Films (“Killing Eve”).

Season 2 of “Extraordinary” just wrapped production with a raft of new cast members, including Julian Barratt (“The Mighty Boosh”) as George, Jen’s power coach; Rosa Robson (“Inside No. 9”), who plays Nora, someone from Jizzlord’s past; Kwaku Mills (“The Other One”), as Clark, Carrie’s new work colleague; and Derek Jacobi (“Murder on the Orient Express”), who will voice a cameo role.

They join Máiréad Tyers (“Belfast”) who stars as Jen, alongside Sofia Oxenham (Carrie), Bilal Hasna (Kash) and Luke Rollason (Jizzlord). Additional cast members include Siobhán McSweeney and Robbie Gee, who are both back for the second season. Season 2 is looking to make its debut in early 2024.

In “Extraordinary,” everyone over the age of 18 got their superpower a decade ago — expect for Jen,...

News just in from the Sonic-verse! No, Ugly Sonic isn’t making a surprise comeback after his profile-boosting Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers cameo, and the threequel isn’t in production yet. But if you wanted more from Idris Elba as bad-boy echidna Knuckles (what a world this is), then you’re in luck – the big red guy is getting his own live-action spin-off series on Paramount+, and it’s just started shooting. Gold rings all around.

As the above slate confirms, the first episode of the series will be directed by Jeff Fowler, who helmed both Sonic The Hedgehog and Sonic The Hedgehog 2. The series, which will see Idris Elba reprise his role as the voice of Knuckles, takes place between the second film and the upcoming third entry, which is due in cinemas in December 2024. Also returning from the film will be Adam Pally as Wade Whipple,...

Great British Bake Off fans are throwing one particular name in the ring as Matt Lucas’ replacement.

On Tuesday (6 December), the Little Britain actor announced he was stepping away from the baking competition, which is known as The Great British Baking Show in the US.

Noel Fielding reacted to the news in a touching “farewell” post on Instagram, revealing what he will “miss” about his co-host.

In response to Fielding’s post about Lucas, his followers shared the celebrity they think should join the comedian on the series: Julia Barratt.

Should Barratt be announced as the new host, it would mark a fun reunion for fans of comedy series The Mighty Boosh.

Fielding and Barratt found fame as the comedy troupe that began on stage shows and radio before getting their own BBC Three sitcom.

“The clear choice will be to now hire Julian Barratt,” one fan wrote, with another...

Matt Lucas’ time in the tent is over.

The Little Britain star announced Tuesday (6 December) that he was stepping down as one half of the hosting team on Channel 4’s The Great British Bake Off.

While fans have expressed their sadness at the comedian’s decision to move on, it does mean the door is open for another presenter to take on one of the most coveted jobs in television.

Whoever is chosen will join The Mighty Boosh star Noel Fielding – who has hosted the show since it moved to Channel 4 in 2017 – succeeding his past co-presenters Sandi Toksvig and Lucas.

Below, we’ve rounded up some of the most likely replacements for Lucas as well as some who we just think have what it takes to make the tent hum with amusement.

Richard Ayoade

Ayoade is my top pick for Lucas’ replacement for several reasons. Chiefly, he is hilarious and his bookish,...

The Good Doctor alum Antonia Thomas has lined up her next big TV role.

Deadline reports that Thomas will star opposite Craig Roberts on the Apple TV+ comedy series Still Up.

Filming is already underway on the new series.

"Still Up follows the exploits of Lisa (Thomas), an impulsive and free-spirited aspiring illustrator whose questions over her daughter’s future start keeping her up at night, and the socially anxious yet gifted journalist Danny, played by Roberts," according to the logline.

"The pair have no secrets, except their feelings for each other, and while the world sleeps they spend their long nights talking despite never meeting."

Thomas is best known to U.S. audiences for playing Dr. Claire Browne on The Good Doctor.

The star exited the series at the end of its fourth season but returned for a handful of guest appearances the following season.

At the time, it...

Exclusive: Antonia Thomas, former fan favorite on The Good Doctor, and Red Oaks’ Craig Roberts are leading an Apple TV+ British comedy series about insomniacs from I May Destroy You producer Various Artists Limited.

Still Up follows the exploits of Lisa (Thomas), an impulsive and free-spirited aspiring illustrator whose questions over her daughter’s future start keeping her up at night, and the socially anxious yet gifted journalist Danny, played by Roberts. The pair have no secrets, except their feelings for each other, and while the world sleeps they spend their long nights talking despite never meeting.

Thomas played Dr. Claire Browne for four seasons of ABCs The Good Doctor and guested in a couple of season five episodes after telling Deadline she was leaving to “explore different creative opportunities,” hinting that the size of U.S. broadcast orders was a factor in her decision. The British actress has since...

(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)

The Movie: "Submarine"

Where You Can Stream It: Tubi TV

The Pitch: Based on Joe Dunthorne's novel of the same name and set in the mid-1980s, "Submarine" follows Oliver Tate (Craig Roberts), a Welsh teen determined to lose his virginity before his upcoming 16th birthday. He sets his sights on the fierce and feisty Jordana (Yasmin Paige), assured that she will be his perfect first time. While sex is a major priority for Oliver, it certainly isn't the only thing on his mind. He's also desperate to keep his parents' relationship strong, as his depressed marine-biologist father Lloyd (Noah Taylor) fears he will lose his wife Jill (Sally Hawkins) to her recently returned spiritual guru ex-lover Graham Purvis (Paddy Considine...

What do wizards, blancmange and cat killers have in common? They’re all subjects of songs by Melin Melyn, of course.

Since forming in 2019, the eccentric six-piece have become figureheads for a new wave of Welsh artists dubbed by some as “Cool Cymru 2.0”. It’s not a term they’re particularly comfortable with. “There have been times where people have said this is a revival, like we’re doing something unique,” frontman Gruff Glyn says. “But we’re not doing anything, by singing in Welsh, that hasn’t been done before, and it will be done for many more centuries to come.”

Melin Melyn’s music is a hearty cawl (Welsh broth) of surfer psych-pop, folk, and the kind of surrealist comedy you’d typically find in The Mighty Boosh or The League of Gentlemen. They went down a treat at Green Man festival this summer, where they were joined...

Matt Berry, the Englishman known for his trademark epic, boomy voice, has always embraced a unique persona ever since his first start on stage. Despite and indeed because of his highly theatrical delivery, the actor mostly appears in comedic roles, such as title character Steven Toast on "Toast of London," the incompetent CEO Douglas Reynholm in "The It Crowd," and most recently and perhaps famously, the horny vampire Laszlo on "What We Do in the Shadows."

The contrast between his royal-like demeanor and his penchant for absurdity defines Berry's humor. "Cigars, whiskey, open fire, Shakespeare, but all in the shape of a big hairy bear," sums up his "Toast of London" co-star Morgana Robinson. The actor has an impressive background in and passion for music, which helped him discover his brand of comedy and continues to influence his performances, including co-writing the musical parody "Ad/BC: A Rock Opera" with...

Baby Cow are the production company behind some of the U.K.’s best-loved comedy shows, including “Gavin and Stacey” with James Corden and Ruth Jones, Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding’s “The Mighty Boosh” and “This Time With Alan Partridge” starring Steve Coogan as the cringe-worthy fictional television host.

It was a prescient Coogan who founded Baby Cow alongside producer Henry Normal in 1998, long before talent-led production companies were a thing. In 2016 BBC Studios took a majority stake in the company, with Coogan staying on as a shareholder and creative director. He also stars in many (although not all) of the company’s projects – which span TV, film, comedy and drama – including the recent Channel 4 series “Chivalry,” in which he plays an old-school film producer getting to grips with a changing world opposite Sarah Solemani, and upcoming feature film “The Lost King,” about an amateur historian who finds...

Marianne Jean-Baptiste (“Boxing Day”), Alistair Petrie (“Sex Education”), Romola Garai (“The Hour”) have joined BBC drama series “The Following Events Are Based On A Pack Of Lies.”

Rounding out the cast are Rebekah Staton (“Raised by Wolves”), Derek Jacobi (“Last Tango in Halifax”), Julian Barratt (“The Mighty Boosh”), Karl Johnson (“Hot Fuzz”) and Ellie Haddington (“Enola Holmes”).

Robbie McKillop (“Guilt”) and Nicole Charles (“Hair Power: Me and My Afro”) will split directing duties on the series, which was created and written by Penelope Skinner and Ginny Skinner.

Production has already begun on the series, which will be distributed internationally by BBC Studios.

“This is the story of two very different women and the conman they have in common; a dark, funny, and unpredictable thriller about three remarkable characters trapped in a tangled triangle of complexly layered half-truths and lies of epic proportions,” reads the logline.

The series is produced by...

Photo: 'Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me' Despite how “normal” we all may seem, it is admissible that every once in a while we indulge ourselves in something weird; specifically, something weird that we enjoy in the realm of TV series. This can range from many different things such as the British comedy series ‘The Mighty Boosh’ or the dissociative Netflix original ‘Russian Doll’. But, there’s one series that has a well-known reputation for being strange; a story that brought audiences into an experience that may have felt odd at first to embrace, and one that would go on to influence modern television itself. All while being directed by a film auteur who has captured the peculiar hearts of many. Related article: Oscar-nominated - Exclusive: 'Dune' Full Commentary, Reactions, Making Of - Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac Related article: Oscar-nominated - 'House of Gucci...

The stars of the excellent new comedy doc Joy Ride discuss some of their favorite two handers with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

The Graduate (1967) – Neil Labute’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review

Cocoon (1985)

Mission: Impossible III (2006)

Santa Claus Conquers The Martians (1964)

Police Academy 3: Back In Training (1986)

Crooklyn (1994)

Call Me Lucky (2015)

Shakes The Clown (1991)

A History Of Violence (2005)

You Only Live Twice (1967)

Artists And Models (1955) – Tfh’s global trailer search

Joy Ride (2021)

Joy Ride (2001)

Stay (2005)

Sleeping Dogs Lie (2006)

Capturing The Friedmans (2003)

Bela Lugosi Meets A Brooklyn Gorilla (1952) – Joe Dante’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s review

Sleepless In Seattle (1993)

The Producers (1967) – Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review

My Friend Irma Goes West (1950)

Delicate Delinquent (1957)

Keyholes Are For Peeping (1972)

The Brain That Wouldn’t Die (1962) – John Landis’s trailer commentary

Abbott And Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) – John Landis’s trailer commentary, Charlie...

BBC exec Charlotte Moore has defended the recent U-turn to make BBC Three a linear channel once more, following its move to streaming five years ago.

For Moore, who became the BBC’s Chief Content Officer in late 2020, expanding her remit to include radio, education and children’s content as well as TV, it’s all about finding and bringing in new younger viewers.

The exec told the Edinburgh TV Festival: “BBC Three has been making some extraordinary programmes. We’ve increased the budget to make many more. We know that there is an audience in the UK that is still watching linear television. I want to make sure there is universal access to programmes for those BBC Three audiences. The young audience is the hardest to capture, with so much [alternative] choice out there – it’s really important those young audiences know what we have.”

Pushed on whether the 2016 move...

Exclusive: Industry and Skins star Freya Mavor has joined the cast of UK thriller Freegard, which is filming in London.

As previously revealed, cast is led by James Norton (Little Women), Gemma Arterton (The King’s Man), Shazad Latif (Star Trek Discovery), Marisa Abela (Industry), Edwina Findley (The Wire), Julian Barratt (The Mighty Boosh), Sarah Goldberg (Barry) and Jimmy Akingbola (In The Long Run).

Rounding out the cast are Rob Malone (Vikings), Philip Wright (Line Of Duty), Micheal Fenton Stevens (Benidorm) and Charlotte Avery (Doctors).

Based on true events, the movie will chart the story of career conman, Robert Freegard, played by Norton, with Gemma Arterton as the woman who brought him down.

Adam Patterson and Declan Lawn — who won an IFTA last night for their short film Rough — are directing from a script by Michael Bronner (The Mauritanian), Patterson and Lawn (The Salisbury Poisonings). Rabbit Track Pictures and The Development Partnership...

An inter-generational zombie horror-comedy, an Alan Partridge-presented travelogue, Rowan Atkinson fighting a bee… 2021 British TV comedy is a broad church, and that’s before we’ve come to all the stand-ups slicing up their Edinburgh shows into streaming half-hours and Daisy May Cooper playing a 17th century witch. Here’s the info about those new shows and more.

This list will be kept updated through the year as new commissions, casting and release dates arrive. Here’s a look back at the new British comedies that arrived in 2020, here are the new British dramas on their way this year, and here are 2021’s best returning British TV series.

And Did Those Feet

In addition to a second series for The One Show-spoofing This Time With Alan Partridge, the son of Norwich is back to poke fun at the history TV genre. With a working title of And Did Those Feet,...

Much like a vampire’s reflection in a mirror, one standout comedy has been noticeably absent from the Golden Globes conversation despite numerous Emmy nominations and being one of the most consistently funny shows on television. FX’s “What We Do In The Shadows” takes an obvious premise – a mockumentary in the vein of “The Office” or “Modern Family,” except it’s about vampires – and uses a stellar cast and inspired writing to wring the absolute maximum amount of jokes out of the idea. One has to wonder if the reason it hasn’t been as strong of an awards contender until recently is because it makes it look so easy.

The show is based on a 2014 cult comedy hit from New Zealand directed by “Flight of the Conchords” star Jermaine Clement and future Oscar-winning screenwriter Taika Waititi (“Jojo Rabbit”). In 2019 the film was adapted for American TV by Clement,...