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The following contains minor spoilers for Rebus, now streaming on Viaplay.

The third adaptation of Rebus might not be its absolute best -- but it's not far off. Sir Ian Rankin's beloved Inspector Rebus novels are on TV screens again, this time with Richard Rankin in the title role. It's just good sense to ask why, because audiences have already done this before with mixed results, twice if one counts that the role of Rebus has been played by two previous actors. But the Rebus of 2024 is a far cry from the Rebus inhabited by John Hannah and Ken Stott, and that makes all the difference.

Fans of British television will gravitate toward Rebus, which was produced for Nordic streaming service Viaplay and originally screened on BBC One in the summer, because the six-episode drama has the sensibilities of the great British crime dramas. And given that John Rebus...

Outlander fans may be drawn to the Scottish crime drama Rebus thanks to its star, Richard Rankin. But after the very first scene, they might ask themselves: “Roger who?”

Indeed, the Viaplay series’ opening moments introduce Rankin as brooding Det. John Rebus, a man capable of violence and prone to making bad decisions. The character is a far cry from the much gentler role of Roger Wakefield MacKenzie, whom Rankin plays in Starz’s time-traveling romance.

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The BBC adaptation of Ian Rankin’s Rebus will premiere on the 18th May, with Richard Rankin (no relation) in the lead role.

A new adaptation of Ian Rankin’s detective novels, Rebus, is set to air later this month. Gregory Burke, who previously wrote Scottish drama Six Four, wrote all six episodes, which were directed by Niall MacCormick and Fiona Walton.

The new series of Rebus will be a prequel which focuses on the detective in his younger years, as he rises up the ranks in Edinburgh.

Richard Rankin (no relation to author Ian) stars as Rebus, alongside Lucie Shorthouse, Brian Ferguson, Amy Manson, Neshla Caplan, Noof Ousellam, Stuart Bowman, Caroline Lee Johnson, Sean Buchanan, Thoren Ferguson and Michelle Duncan.

The synopsis reads as follows:

Set in Edinburgh, the six-part series reimagines John Rebus as a younger Detective Sergeant drawn into a violent criminal conflict that turns personal when his brother Michael,...

Ted Sarandos To Speak At Rts London Convention

Ted Sarandos will speak at the Royal Television Society London Convention this year, which is being sponsored by Netflix. The head of the streamer will address the biannual event alongside the likes of the bosses of the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. Richard Osman and Marina Hyde, who helm the Rest is Entertainment podcast, will also speak. The convention is being forged with the theme The Next Episode: Keeping Our Creative Edge and will be overseen by Netflix’s Anna Mallett, Vice President, Production, Emea/UK. “As ever, identifying a pertinent theme, one that celebrates and also challenges the industry, is critical to our Convention,” said Rts CEO Theresa Wise. “Thank you so much to Anna Mallett, our chair for this tentpole in the industry calendar and to Netflix for being this year’s Principal Sponsor of the Rts London Convention 2024.”

Tudor Giurgiu...

From left : Karen Gillan as Amy Pond in Doctor Who (BBC), at the Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 premiere, (Jesse Grant/Getty Images), as Nebula in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (Marvel Studios)Graphic: Jimmy Hasse

Welcome to Random Roles, wherein we talk to actors about the characters who defined their careers.

A feast for the eyeballs! That’s what the UK’s new TV drama (British shows returning for another series this year are here) output looks like for 2024 – a year of thrills, chills and laughs, from supernatural escapism to immersive historical dramas, true stories brought to life, and plenty to feed Britain’s crime mystery obsession.

Here’s a flavour of what 2024 holds for your TV: book adaptations include a new imagining of Ian Rankin’s Rebus detective stories coming to the BBC, a scandalous adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s iconic novel Rivals (starring David Tennant), Jack Thorne’s take on Lord of the Flies, and much much more.

There’s high-stakes action in thrillers like Red Eye, Black Doves and Nightsleeper, and you can transport yourself back in time to discover the lives of a notorious eighties jewel thief in Joan, sinister Jacobean power play in Mary and George,...

The BBC has acquired crime drama series Rebus, a new adaptation of the best-selling Inspector Rebus novels by Scottish author Ian Rankin, starring Richard Rankin (Outlander, The Replacement) in the lead role.

Adapted for the small screen by Gregory Burke (´71, Six Four) and produced by Eleventh Hour Films for Nordic streamer Viaplay, the six-part series will air on the U.K. public broadcaster’s flagship network BBC One, BBC Scotland and streamer BBC iPlayer this spring.

Rebus has been seen on the screen and stage before. An ITV series ran for four seasons from 2000 until 2007. The fictional inspector has also been featured in radio and theater adaptations.

The show features a younger, and recently divorced and demoted, protagonist. Set in Edinburgh, it “reimagines John Rebus as a younger Detective Sergeant drawn into a violent criminal conflict that turns personal when his brother Michael, a former soldier, crosses the line into criminality,...

Exclusive: The BBC has bought Viaplay’s Rebus reboot, following international streamer Viaplay’s decision to exit the UK. In further news, we can reveal Australia’s Sbs has also acquired the show from distributor Viaplay Content Distribution.

Set in Edinburgh, the series stars Richard Rankin (Outlander) in the title role, playing a young John Rebus as a detective sergeant, who is drawn into a violent criminal conflict that turns personal when his brother Michael, a former soldier, crosses the line into criminality.

The show, based on Ian Rankin’s novels and from Eleventh Hour Films, had originally been slated for Viaplay’s UK service, having been its first British commission back in November 2022. However, it will now run exclusively on BBC Scotland, BBC One and BBC iPlayer this spring.

Viaplay decided to pull out of the UK and several other territories following a brutal 202 and is selling its British...

In any given year, British TV can be relied on to provide plenty in the way of crime drama, and 2023 was no different. Between these returning series and newcomers A Town Called Malice, Blue Lights, Marlow, Payback, Rebus, Steeltown Murders, The Gold, The Sixth Commandment, Wolf and more, crime continued to flourish on the small screen.

Happily though, that was far from all that UK TV offered this year. There was fantasy too, in the form of Netflix’s South London super-powers drama Supacell, ghost detective series Lockwood & Co., Greek and Roman mythology series Kaos, and sci-fi in Prime Video’s The Rig.

Add to all those the romances, dramas inspired by real-life, and several other book adaptations, period and otherwise plus music-based dramas Champion and This Town, and it was a pretty full slate.

January Stonehouse

Succession‘s Matthew Macfadyen and Crossfire‘s Keeley Hawes star in this three-part ITV drama,...

As the calendar turns to October, BritBox is adding even more Brit hits to its platform. It’s a big month at the British entertainment streamer for fans of Olivia Colman, with the Oscar winner starring in two of the soon-to-be-available titles: the Emmy-winning serial “The Night Manager” led by Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie and “Flowers,” the Channel 4 black dramedy.

Also coming to the platform are multiple North American premieres, the debut of the new BritBox series “Payback,” and more.

Check out The Streamable’s top picks for what is coming to the platform this month (and what’s already here)!

7-Day Free Trial $8.99 / month BritBox.com What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Coming to BritBox in October 2023? “The Sixth Commandment” | Wednesday, Oct. 4

Timothy Spall and Anne Reid star as Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin in the British true-crime drama that explores their deaths and subsequent events,...

Viaplay’s first U.K. drama commission, “Rebus,” has gone into production in Scotland. The show has also added some new cast members including “Line of Duty’s” Lucie Shorthouse, Brian Ferguson (“The Ipcress File”) and Stuart Bowman (“The Serpent”).

They will join Richard Rankin (“Outlander”) as John Rebus, the much-loved character John Rebus from Ian Rankin’s bestselling novels.

“Rebus” tells the story of a Scottish police detective who “finds himself at a psychological crossroads,” according to the logline. “At odds with a job increasingly driven by corporate technocrats, involved in a toxic affair he knows he needs to end, and all but supplanted in his daughter’s life by his ex-wife’s wealthy new husband, Rebus begins to wonder if he still has a role to play – either as a family man or a police officer. In a world of divisive politics and national discord, does the law still have meaning,...

Scottish actor Richard Rankin (Outlander, The Last Kingdom) is set to play Edinburgh detective John Rebus in a new six-part series based on the acclaimed crime novels by Ian Rankin that will go out on Scandinavian streamer Viaplay, which recently launched in the U.S.

Screenwriter Gregory Burke (Entebbe, ’71) will adapt Rankin’s work for the screen. Eleventh Hour Films is producing the series for Viaplay. Niall MacCormick (Wallander) will direct the series, which starts shooting in Scotland next month and will stream on Viaplay in 2024. The show marks Viaplay’s first U.K. drama commission.

Rankin, best known for his role as Roger Wakefield in Starz’s long-running Outlander, also appeared in thrillers Trust Me and The Replacement; the drama series Thirteen and The Syndicate; and as a guest star in political thriller American Odyssey.

The Rebus novels have been adapted for TV before, with four seasons of Rebus...

Sony Pictures Television-backed Eleventh Hour Films have revealed two more projects in development and made a senior creative hire.

“The Man In The Back Seat” (working title) a series development from novelist David Peace (“Red Riding”) and actor-writer, Ted Reilly, is the company’s first foray into the original true-crime genre. Based on events documented in the book “The Long Silence” by Paul Stickler, who serves as a consultant, the series will follow the 1962 criminal case, where after the longest trial in British legal history, James Hanratty was executed for the murder of Michael Gregsten, and the rape and attempted murder of Valerie Storie.

Additionally, Eleventh Hour have optioned author and journalist Celia Walden’s thriller “Payday” for development into a series. “Payday” is a female-driven thriller set in Bwl, a property brokerage firm that sells properties to developers for millions where the protagonists decide to destroy the sexist golden boy of the firm.

Season 3 of Amazon Freevee’s spy thriller series “Alex Rider” is in production in the U.K. and Malta.

Cast members Otto Farrant, Stephen Dillane, Vicky McClure, Brenock O’Connor, Ronkẹ Adékọluẹ́jọ́, and Marli Siu return. Joining them are Sofia Helin (“The Bridge”), Shelley Conn (“Bridgerton”), Kevin McNally (“The Crown”) and Jason Wong (“Strangers”).

Produced by Eleventh Hour Films and distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures Television, “Alex Rider” is based on the bestselling book franchise written by Anthony Horowitz, which has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. The series follows Alex, a teenager who has unknowingly been trained since childhood for the dangerous world of espionage.

Adapted by Guy Burt from “Scorpia,” the fifth Alex Rider novel, season 3 sets the teenage spy on the trail of his greatest enemy: the elusive criminal network known as Scorpia. Alex embarks on a personal mission to destroy Scorpia once and for all.

Horowitz...

Exclusive: Edvard Munch, painter of the iconic The Scream, is to have his life portrayed in a Norwegian feature film from Viaplay.

One of the world’s greatest artists of all time will be depicted across four stages in Munch, with a quartet of Norwegian actors boarding the feature.

Directed by Henrik M. Dahlsbakken, Munch will premiere on 27 January in Norwegian cinemas and two months later on Viaplay, the Scandi streaming service that is premiering 70 films and TV shows this year. Recent greenlights include Jana – Marked for Life and an adaptation of Ian Rankin’s Rebus.

The film opens with the story of Munch’s first love, before showing the controversy around one of his early exhibitions. Munch’s admission to a psychiatric clinic will then be covered, where he is forced to make the biggest decision of his life, before the film relates the artist’s battle to save...

Sir Ian Rankin’s Rebus detective novels are to be reimagined for Nordic streamer Viaplay, the group’s debut UK drama commission and the first Rebus TV adaptation for nearly 15 years.

The six-parter sets down a marker for Viaplay’s ambitions in the UK, having launched in the nation earlier this week.

Rankin’s Rebus, which aired for four seasons on ITV in the early noughties helmed by John Hannah and then Ken Stott, will be in his 30s, recently divorced and demoted to Detective Sergeant. He has a new colleague, Detective Constable Siobhan Clarke, and is struggling to deal with the changes in his personal and professional life. At the same time, Rebus’s daughter, Sammy, and ex-wife, Rhona, are enjoying an affluent existence with Rhona’s new partner.

Eleventh Hour Films is producing and 71 scribe Gregory Burke is writing. Cast will be unveiled shortly and filming will start next year,...

Ian Rankin’s immensely popular detective, Inspector John Rebus, is set for a major reimagining in the form of a six-part series from streamer Viaplay and Eleventh Hour Films.

Set in contemporary Edinburgh, and drawn from the universe of Rankin’s books, the series places Rebus at the heart of a new story devised by screenwriter Gregory Burke. The show represents Viaplay Group’s initial U.K. drama commission and the first Rebus TV adaptation for nearly 15 years.

In the drama, Rebus is in his 30s, recently divorced and demoted to Detective Sergeant. He has a new colleague, Detective Constable Siobhan Clarke, and is struggling to deal with the changes in his personal and professional life. At the same time, Rebus’s daughter, Sammy, and ex-wife, Rhona, are enjoying an affluent existence with Rhona’s new partner – while Rebus’s brother Michael is finding out that in a society where...

With Jubilee celebrations about to kick off in the UK, the Queen’s Birthday Honours List has been released for 2022. Included among recipients are such arts and entertainment figures as actor Damian Lewis, author Salman Rushdie, All3Media CEO Jane Turton, Wales-born singer Bonnie Tyler and designer Stella McCartney.

The awards range from knighthoods to MBEs and recognize outstanding contributions across all sectors, in particular for public service, the environment and sustainability, and youth engagement.

Satanic Verses author Rushdie for his part is receiving a Companion of Honor, of which there are only 65 at any time, for his services to literature. He was previously knighted in 2007.

Crime novelist Ian Rankin is getting a knighthood for services to literature and charity. Author of the Rebus and Malcolm Fox novels, Rankin donated his archive to the National Library of Scotland in 2019.

Billions star Lewis is getting a Cbe for services to drama and charity.

“Billions” actor Damian Lewis, actor-director Rapman (“Blue Story”), writer Salman Rushdie (“Midnight’s Children”) and All3Media CEO Jane Turton are among those in the arts and entertainment field recognized in the annual Queen’s birthday honors.

Lewis has been recognized as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Cbe) for services to drama and charity. Also accorded a Cbe is filmmaker Isaac Julien, Berlin winner for “Derek.”

Rushdie has been accorded the Member of the Order of the Companions of Honor accolade for services to literature alongside illustrator and writer Quentin Blake (“Jackanory”), for services to illustration.

Director Andrew Onwubolu, also known as Rapman, has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to drama and music. Veteran “Coronation Street” actor Helen Worth Dawson has also been accorded an MBE for services to drama.

Ian Rankin, whose crime novels, including the...

It’s the end of an era at The End Of The F***ing World and Misfits producer Clerkenwell Films, where founder and CEO Murray Ferguson is leaving after 23 years and BBC Studios is taking full control of the business.

Ferguson founded the UK production outfit in 1998, but will step away in the fall to try his hand at “new things.” As part of his departure, BBC Studios will increase its investment in Clerkenwell to 100%, having previously owned 48% of the company. BBC Studios first invested in Clerkenwell in 2008.

Channel 4/Netflix’s BAFTA-winning hit The End Of The F***ing World has become Clerkenwell’s calling card in recent years, but it boasts other successful youth-skewing titles including Misfits and Lovesick. More traditional drama credits extend to Afterlife and Rebus.

Clerkenwell recently made Katherine Ryan’s scripted series The Duchess for Netflix, while it is currently working on The Birth of...

Films by Joann Sfar, Rémi Chayé, Takashi Yamazaki and Andrey Khrzhanovsky to compete for festival’s Crystal award.

The Annecy International Film Festival has unveiled the 20 works that will compete in its main feature-length competition and Contrechamp competition, aimed at works by emerging talents.

The French lakeside animation festival and industry event will run online June 15 to 30, following the cancellation of its 2020 physical edition due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

French filmmaker Joann Sfar’s comedy Little Vampire and Japanese animator Takashi Yamazaki’s adventure tale Lupin III: The First will be among the 10 feature animations competing for the Crystal award...

Tributes pour in for the veteran producer, best known for his work on films including ‘The Magdalene Sisters’.

Alan J. ‘Willy’ Wands, a producer of The Magdalene Sisters and detective series Rebus, died yesterday in Glasgow aged 67. He had been diagnosed with cancer.

An outspoken advocate of the Scottish production industry, Wands had more than 35 feature film credits and numerous TV drama series to his name.

Born in Ayr, on the west coast of Scotland, he started his career in the 1970s in theatre before moving into screen work as an associate producer on features including Mike Figgis’ 1988 crime drama...

Tributes pour in for the veteran producer, best known for his work on films including ‘The Magdalene Sisters’.

Alan J. ‘Willy’ Wands, a producer of The Magdalene Sisters and detective series Rebus, has died aged 67. He passed away yesterday (May 17) in Glasgow, having been diagnosed with cancer.

An outspoken advocate of the Scottish production industry, Wands had more than 35 feature film credits and numerous TV drama series to his name.

Born in Ayr, on the west coast of Scotland, his early credits were as an associate producer on Mike Figgis’ 1988 crime drama Stormy Monday and David Hayman’s 1990 gritty drama Silent Screen.

Exclusive: Sony-owned Eleventh Hour Films is doubling down on development to broaden its slate following its investment by the Hollywood studio. The producer has scored developments with the BBC and ITV on a slew of book adaptations after Sony Pictures Television acquired a minority stake in the Foyle’s War producer in September 2018.

The company is currently focused on a number of book adaptations including Alex Rider, which has been fully funded by the studio, classic British detective series Rebus and Whatever You Love from Apple Tree Yard author Louise Doughty.

Deadline can reveal that Rebus, which was written by Ian Rankin and follows Inspector John Rebus, a hardboiled Edinburgh cop with a tendency to bend rules, is in development with the BBC. The series is being written by Gregory Burke, writer of José Padilha hijacking thriller Entebbe. Rebus previously aired on ITV between 2000 and 2007 and was produced by Stv Productions.

Exclusive: Steven Ogg, who recurs on the first season of TNT’s post-apocalyptic sci-fi series Snowpiercer has been promoted to series regular for Season 2, its first on TNT sibling TBS, slated to premiere in spring 2020.

Starring Jennifer Connelly and Daveed Diggs, Snowpiercer is set more than seven years after the world has become a frozen wasteland, and centers on the remnants of humanity, who inhabit a gigantic, perpetually-moving train that circles the globe. Class warfare, social injustice and the politics of survival play out in the riveting television adaptation. Writing on season two will begin this June with Graeme Manson (Orphan Black) returning as executive producer and showrunner.

Ogg plays Pike, a volatile Tailie gang leader, who as Layton’s (Diggs) rival, may be more interested in chaos than a real revolution.

In addition to Connelly and Diggs, season one of Snowpiercer stars Alison Wright, Mickey Sumner, Susan Park, Iddo Goldberg,...

UK-based indie Eleventh Hour Films has acquired rights to Ian Rankin’s Inspector Rebus series of detective novels, and attached ’71 writer Gregory Burke to pen a contemporary TV drama adaptation. The Rebus books center on Inspector John Rebus, a hardboiled Edinburgh cop with a tendency to bend rules. The first book, Knots And Crosses, was published in 1987 and the series has gone on to sell over 30M copies worldwide. BAFTA-nominated Burke’s credits also include next…...

Den Of Geek Dec 14, 2016

As nominated by our writers, here are the books published in 2016 that we couldn't recommend more highly...

Closing the final page on the very best books leaves you with a single urge: to share it. We’re talking about the kind of books that make you want to follow strangers down the road, tugging at their elbow and saying “seriously, you’ve got to read this”.

Here then, is our equivalent of doing that. These are the books published in 2015 that our writers felt compelled to share. If there’s one that you feel similarly enthused about, please do recommend away in the comments section...

All The Birds In The Sky by Charlie Jane Anders

We live in what can charitably be described as interesting times. If you were feeling less than charitable, you might even describe them as dark times. And it has always been...

Rob Leane Dec 2, 2016

Is there any older tradition than giving books at Christmas? Well yes, there is. But here's a list anyway...

Books! Undeniably, the combination of ink, paper, a nice cover and a gripping story makes for a classic Christmas present.

See related The Man In The High Castle season 2: new trailer

Whether you and your loved ones are into books or comics, biographies or crime, laughs or love stories, we hope you’ll find something in our gift guide of the biggest and best books coming to shops both real and digital this festive season...

Out now A Life In Parts

If you saw Bryan Cranston on The Graham Norton Show, you’ll know that he’s lived a fair few different lives, from waiter to actor via murder suspect and online dating expert. He chronicles all those roles, and the ones he’s played in TV and film.

Rob Leane Nov 4, 2016

Ian Rankin, creator of crime icon John Rebus, is waiting for a TV company to offer a “six hours, eight hours, Broadchurch-type” deal...

Ian Rankin has now penned 21 novels starring Inspector John Rebus, Edinburgh’s grumpiest, drunkest and most effective detective. If you’ve not been initiated already, do check them out. Few can weave a thrilling crime yarn quite like Rankin, or raise a wry smile quite like Rebus.

See related The Walking Dead season 7: trailer and teaser clips for episode 4 The Walking Dead season 7 episode 2 review: The Well The Walking Dead season 7 episode 1 review: The Day Will Come When You Won't Be The Walking Dead's top 13 moments so far The Walking Dead: how will the show end?

The character has transitioned to TV twice, first with John Hannah taking the role over four episodes, followed by Ken Stott in fourteen instalments, the...

BBC

It only feels like yesterday the Tardis crash landed in Amy Pond’s back garden. But time really does fly whenever that blue box is concerned, because that was in fact four years ago and Amy’s alter ego, Karen Gillan, has come a long way since then.

Prior to becoming a household name, Karen enjoyed small parts in TV shows such as Rebus and The Kevin Bishop Show, as well as a guest role in Series 4 of Doctor Who, in which she played a Soothsayer in The Fires Of Pompeii.

Born and raised in Inverness, the Scottish actress then achieved mainstream success when she was chosen to become the Eleventh Doctor’s fiery companion Amy Pond. She made her on screen debut as the promiscuous kissogram in The Eleventh Hour in April 2010 and has described her stint on the show as the best years of her life.

It...

Starz will produce and air the original limited drama series “The Missing” in partnership with the BBC. Set in France and London and told over multiple time frames, “The Missing” follows Tony, played by James Nesbitt ("The Hobbit" trilogy, "Jekyll"), as a man obsessively searching for his missing son, which drastically affects his marriage to his wife Emily, played by Frances O’Connor (“Mr. Selfridge,” "A.I.: Artificial Intelligence"), and threatens to destroy his life. “We are pleased to announce such an exciting cast, that brings together the best of British and French actors, led by James Nesbitt, Frances O’Connor and Tcheky Karyo, in this powerful new drama for BBC1.” said Polly Hill, BBC Head of Independent Drama. Nesbitt, O’Connor and Karyo are joined by an international cast including Jason Flemyng ("Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"), Ken Stott ("The Hobbit" trilogy, "Rebus...

It's been a quarter of a century since Thomas Harris's cultured cannibal exploded on the thriller scene, winning fictional killers a place in our hearts for ever

Can it really be a whole quarter of a century since Hannibal Lecter took up residence in our cultural landscape with the immortal line, "I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti"?

Well, actually, no. It is indeed 25 years since Thomas Harris's The Silence of the Lambs was first published, but that famous quote is from Jonathan Demme's highly rated 1991 movie adaptation of the book; Harris's original line did indeed have the sociopathic psychiatrist chowing down on the offal of a census taker who "tried to quantify me once", but in the original text the cannibalistic serial killer's wine of choice is "a big Amarone". Perhaps chianti was the preferred plonk of Anthony Hopkins, who portrayed...

John Hannah has defended his controversial new film, 'The Wee Man', which tells the real-life story of Glasgow gangster turned best-selling writer, Paul Ferris.

"A negative reaction was inevitable from the Scottish press," reflects Hannah, unperturbed, who only met Ferris, after production was completed. According to the actor, he was "charming, and pleased with the film".

Hannah (right) stars with Martin Compston in 'The Wee Man' telling the story of Paul Ferris

Hannah plays Tam McGraw, a rival gangster to Ferris's underworld mentor Arthur Thompson Snr (Patrick Bergin in the film). Ferris was sensationally cleared of killing Thompson's son in 1991, after one of Scotland's longest-running criminal trials, and emotions still run high, two decades later.

"When you're trying to tell a true story, all versions are never truthful, so I wouldn't try to control that argument, and some of the facts around this tale are still sketchy,...

Author announces his next 007 adventure will have single-word name reflecting unauthorised mission

William Boyd announced on Monday that the title of his forthcoming James Bond sequel will be Solo – reflecting the 45-year-old spy's decision to go off piste on an unauthorised mission.

Making his announcement at the opening day of the London Book Fair, Boyd said: "In my novel, events conspire to make Bond go off on a self-appointed mission of his own, unannounced and without any authorisation – and he's fully prepared to take the consequences of his audacity."

Boyd, who grew up in west Africa and has featured African countries in several novels, added that the continent would play a key part in Bond's three-continent escapade. "It's what happens to Bond in Africa that generates his urge to 'go solo' and take matters into his own hands in the USA."

On his choice of title, Boyd said: "Sometimes less is more.

BBC and ITV enraged the government with early portrayals of the conflict but it is being supplanted by recent conflicts

British TV deployed rapidly – and with frequent controversy – to attack the Falklands war as a subject. The assiduous historical website British Television Drama records, in the decade after the war, 10 dramas based on the conflict.

The BBC screened five plays within five years of the events, which may surprise those who now associate the corporation with editorial caution and at the time clearly astonished the Ministry of Defence, which made numerous objections and obstructed access to actual locations and equipment.

The earliest pieces were oblique, with Don Shaw's The Falklands Factor dramatising an 18th-century dispute over the islands, and Maggie Wadey's The Waiting War focusing on military and naval families. ITV also enraged the MoD and the government with a children's series, Jan Needle's A Game of Soldiers,...

John Hannah has signed up for a role on Elementary. The Spartacus actor will play a dealer who used to sell drugs to Sherlock (Johnny Lee Miller), it was revealed at the TCA press tour. The 50-year-old Scottish actor's recent Us television roles have included the part of Batiatus in Starz series Spartacus and Rutger Simon in the final season of Damages. He is also knowing for appearing in the series Rebus and played the lead role in Sky1 cop spoof A Touch of Cloth, while his film credits include Four Weddings and a Funeral, (more)...

Shallow Grave

Directed by Danny Boyle

Written by John Hodge

UK, 1994

There’s a general rule in fiction that, in order to generate any real empathy or connection with your target audience, you have to make sure that your protagonists are to at least some degree sympathetic, likeable even. It’s a rule, incidentally, which seems to be dispensed with just as often as it’s adhered to, with wildly varying results. Before his films started developing the heart that would make him an Oscar winner, Danny Boyle specialized in making fables led by loathsome souls totally essential.

Two years before making his name with the classic Trainspotting, the Manchester born director made quite a splash with his modest and edgy debut, Shallow Grave. A Hitchcockian psychological horror thriller rife with distasteful gallows humor and wrought paranoid tension, the story of three flat mates, a suitcase full of money and...

Outsider II by Brian Sewell, Ian Rankin's Standing in Another Man's Grave and Totall Recall by Arnold Schwarzenegger

"This is a remarkable memoir, but what is missing is any bridge between the controversialist and the connoisseur, the potty-mouth and the prig: it is almost as though the life of Henry James had been written by Roy 'Chubby' Brown." Craig Brown in the Mail on Sunday gave one star out of five to the second volume of Brian Sewell's memoir, Outsider II: "It is written with his usual verve, powered by exasperation … But his life remains a conundrum. On one level, it is all about the china-shop world of the connoisseur … delving into detail, developing a meticulous eye for suggestion and nuance. On another level, it is about gang-bangs and seething hatreds and releasing the bull into that china shop." According to Lynn Barber in the Sunday Times, the...

Standing In Another Man’S Grave Is First Rebus Novel In Five Years

It’s been five years since Ian Rankin wrote a Rebus novel. The character’s farewell in Exit Music left the door open for his return, and for many, I’m sure that the five year wait has been excruciating.

It might be hard to comprehend what a phenomenon the character is. During my time working on a report on the Scottish Parliamentary system, I visited Edinburgh, the character’s home, in 2003. Buses were completely covered with advertisements for The Falls or whatever the Rankin book of that year was and, as I fell in love with the place, it was actually kind of difficult not to imagine it as Rebus’ town.

I enjoyed the first seven or eight of the Rebus novels, but Rankin wrote them seemingly faster than I could read them and I lost the race.

I’ve long been convinced that in order for any American to lay claim to the title “nerd,” that American must take a crash-course in British comedy, around about the time of his or her adolescence. This is not just because that’s how things shook out for me, but I’ve noticed how thoroughly mired in British culture a lot of American nerds are, whether it’s Monty Python or Doctor Who. And one man who transcends comedy, and indeed any genre, is Stephen Fry, that British national treasure who is now turning his considerable powers to a caper-comedy.

Fry has lately been in the sights of crime-heads as it is with his handful of appearances on Bones as Dr. Gordon Wyatt. But Doors Open sounds like a project that is a little more appealing to, well, nerds.

Produced by Fry for the UK network ITV, Doors Open is...

Full listing of Game of Thrones Season 2 New Characters and Actors. Major and minor characters for Game of Thrones: Season 2 have been casting for months now. We have compiled a list of them all from different sources so that you will know what characters will be in Season 2 of HBO‘s Game of Thrones and who would be playing them. There are major spoilers below, especially if you have not read the A Song of Ice and Fire books so be warned. I personally have only shimmed over the detailed information below as I want characters and their motivations kept in shadow as much as possible. The list will be updated when new characters are cast so you might want to bookmark this page.

We previously posted on casting for Season 2 of Game of Thrones here: Game of Thrones: Season 2 Casts Liam Cunningham, Carice van Houten, Stephen Dillane,...

Released by Anchor Bay Entertainment, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena – The Complete Prequel Series, hits Blu-ray and DVD in the UK today, October 3rd 2011.

The jaw-dropping Gladiatorial epic Spartacus: Gods of the Arena features more lust, blood and sweat than ever before. Packed with sexual tension and bloody battles sequences, this series features some of the biggest and most brutal spectacles the show has ever produced. And thanks to Anchor Bay we have Three copies of the complete prequel series on Blu-ray to giveaway!

The House of Batiatus is on the rise, basking in the glow of its infamous champion Gannicus whose skill with a sword is matched only by his thirst for fine women and drink. Poised to overthrow his father and take control, Batiatus will freely betray anyone to ensure his gladiators are in the highest demand.

Spartacus: Gods of the Arena is at its unflinching best with...

Sky 1 HD are continuing to announce new UK productions and their second of the day is a two-hour comedy crime drama titled A Touch of Cloth which promises to be ‘a spoof of every British crime drama made in the last decade.’ We would imagine most obviously A Touch of Frost but no doubt Taggart, Rebus, Silent Witness…. all them shows that send people to sleep and will be like a U.K. version of Police Squad.

Written by Charlie Brooker (Dead Set) and Daniel Maier (Harry Hill’s TV Burp) the one-off show will star John Hannah as the awesomely named Dci Jack Cloth a “maverick, heavy drinking loner who has thrown himself into his work following the mysterious death of his wife”, a role that he has probably played straight a few times in his career, alongside the “plucky no-nonsese” female partner DC Anne Oldman (Suranne Jones).

Brooker...

The unveilings continue for Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" with today's dwarf pictorial coming from Time Magazine.

Their photo shows the dwarf lords Balin (Ken Stott) and Dwalin (Graham McTavish), brothers who are close relatives and the "most loyal and trusted friends" of the Company's leader Thorin Oakshield.

Balin has fought many battles but harbors doubts about their quest, Dwalin has no such doubts and is a strong fighter with a distrust of all non-Dwarves - especially Elves.

Both Stott and McTavish are Scottish actors best known for their TV work but have had plenty of big screen experience as well.

Stott is mostly known for British police dramas such as taking over the title role in the detective series "Rebus" from "The Mummy" actor John Hannah in 2006 and 2007. Stott also scored much acclaim and an award nomination for his work as Di Chappell in ITV police...

All the actors who will play the thirteen dwarves and one hobbit in Peter Jackson's upcoming film adaptation of the J.R.R. Tolkien classic novel "The Hobbit" appeared at a special press conference in Wellington, New Zealand earlier today local time to talk about their involvement in the project.

There was some familiar faces to those of us who watch a lot of British television including Richard Armitage ("Spooks," "Robin Hood"), Aidan Turner ("Being Human"), James Nesbitt ("Jekyll," "Cold Feet"), Robert Kazinsky ("Eastenders"), Ken Stott ("Rebus") and of course Martin Freeman ("The Office," "Sherlock").

Sir Peter Jackson himself could not attend the conference and passed on an apology saying that he was under a "medical form of house arrest" as he recovers from an emergency operation he underwent for a perforated stomach ulcer in January.

The group took several photos and answered a few quick questions. Though nothing revelatory came out of the answers,...

John Hannah has claimed that he was miscast as John Rebus in ITV's adaptation of the Ian Rankin novels. The actor told The Daily Record that many people considered him to be "a failure" in the part. "I liked the Rebus books, but I wasn't sure if I was right for it," he said. "Ian Rankin gave me his blessing though and I don't think I did a bad job. But I wasn't the critics' or fans' image of the character so it never really worked out." Hannah, who also produced the series, added that he had originally wanted Red Riding star Peter Mullan to play the title role. "ITV wouldn't commission him," (more)...

Ian McKellen & Andy Serkis will reprise their roles as Gandalf the Grey and Gollum for Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit.' Here is the official press release stating the return of Serkis and Elijah Wood who will reprise his role as Frodo Baggins:

Elijah Wood and Andy Serkis are set to join the cast of Peter Jackson’s highly anticipated adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic “The Hobbit.” The films, which are scheduled to commence principal photography in February 2011, mark Jackson’s return to Middle-earth following his Oscar-winning “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. The announcement was made jointly today by Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer, New Line Cinema, Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros. and Steve Cooper, co-Chief Executive Officer of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.

Jackson, who directed all three “Lord of the Rings” films, will helm the two films back-to-back, telling the story of “The Hobbit...

Seven more names have been locked in for Peter Jackson's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic "The Hobbit" in an official press release today. As previously reported, former "Doctor Who" star Sylvester McCoy is now officially locked and is indeed playing the wizard Radagast the Brown. Not unexpected but a highly pleasurable confirmation as well today is that Oscar winner Cate Blanchett will reprise her role of Galadriel, the Lady of Lothlorien which she portrayed in the "The Lord Of The Rings" trilogy. Joining them are Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt ("Everlasting Moments") as the shape-shifter Beorn, veteran British these Ken Stott ("Shallow Grave", "Rebus") as the Dwarf Lord Balin. Two more dwarves have been cast - New Zealanders Jed Brophy ("The Warrior's Way", "District 9")...

Orlando Bloom is in talks to reprise his role of Legolas in director Peter Jackson‘s forthcoming Lord of the Rings prequel, The Hobbit. While Bloom hasn’t yet officially signed on, he is nearing a deal to return as the Elven archer.

Deadline reports that talks with Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis and Hugo Weaving to reprise their roles as Gandalf, Gollum / Smeagol and Elrond respectively, are still underway as well.

In other casting news for The Hobbit… Cate Blanchett is set to return as the lovely Elven Queen, Galadriel and Sylvester McCoy, who portrayed the seventh doctor in the long-running BBC sci-fi series, Doctor Who has joined the cast as well.

Check out the press release below for all the details on their casting, as well as a handful of other actors heading to Middle Earth.

Official Press Release:

Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott, Sylvester McCoy, Mikael Persbrandt Join Cast...

Here’s some rather fab news for all you fans of The Lord of the Rings / The Hobbit fans. The One Ring has released this press release given to them by New Line Cinemas / MGM which announces that Australian Actress, Cate Blanchett who appeared in the original Lord of the Rings Trilogy as Galadriel will be back for the prequel, The Hobbit which is now thankfully moving forward faster than an ‘Unstoppable’ Tony Scott freight train!

The press release also confirms that former Doctor Who star, Sylvester McCoy, will be appearing along with Mikael Persbrandt, Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott, William Kircher, Jed Brophy and Ryan Gage.

I’m so pleased about Blanchett coming back. Check out the full press release below and thanks again to Torn.

Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott, Sylvester McCoy, Mikael Persbrandt Join Cast Of Peter Jackson’S “The Hobbit”

Los Angeles, CA—December 7, 2010—Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott,...