WHITSTABLE PEARL
UKTV’S rebranded streaming service launches with a new series of crime drama Whitstable Pearl… Battle in the Box Ragdoll Also available…
This week, free streaming service UKTV Play is uniting its family of channels – Dave, Drama, W and Yesterday – on a single new platform called U! And to celebrate, it launches with a host of great new TV shows, including the second season of Whitstable Pearl, starring
Kerry Godliman and Frances Barber…
‘We’re over the moon that our warm and funny show is available on U,’ says Frances, who plays Dolly Nolan in the drama. ‘We have just finished filming the third series in Whitstable and everybody stopped us to say how much they enjoy it!’
(From 16 July) Pairs of comedians are trapped in a box for 24 hours in this game show hosted by Jimmy Carr. With no sense of what time of day or night it is, they compete in challenges to win more space or ‘luxuries’ such as a bath! First up are Seann Walsh and Joe Swash (both pictured) vs Lara Ricote and Harriet Kemsley. Who will crack first?
When the Kent-based crime drama returns on Tuesday, seaside sleuth Pearl is prioritising her private-detective work, leaving her mum Dolly to run the family restaurant. Both Pearl and broody DCI Mike Mcguire (Howard Charles) have new love interests – Pearl is with teacher Tom (Robert Webb) and Mike is moving on with bubbly Kat (Emily Head). Meanwhile, Dolly’s also testing new waters… ‘The restaurant’s now under Dolly’s domain and
(From 16 July) Orlando Bloom takes on three death-defying challenges – jumping from a plane in a wingsuit (below), diving 100ft into the ocean, and climbing a 400ft pinnacle in Utah! In the first outing, as he’s wingsuiting over the Pacific Ocean, there’s terror when his parachute fails! she’s joined a wild swimming club!’ laughs Frances. ‘My terror was getting into a wetsuit and being in the sea, so they had me stand at the side and just wet me down for my scenes!’
Pearl and Mike’s ‘will they, won’t they?’ tension still flickers as they tackle their investigations. New cases include an attack on movie star Zelda (Stephanie Beacham).
‘Dolly knows Pearl’s in love with Mike,’ explains Frances. ‘She wants to shake her and is constantly saying that Tom is dull and wet – it’s a lot of fun!’
l(From 16 July)
This dark thriller stars Henry Lloyd-hughes, Thalissa Teixeira and Lucy Hale as a trio of detectives on the hunt of a grotesque murderer nicknamed the ‘Ragdoll Killer’.
lSeasons 1-7 of Charlie Hunnam’s US drama Sons of Anarchy (available now); Canadianirish comedy drama Sisters (from Fri 12 July), about two women on a road trip to find their father; Mike (from Wed 10 July), which explores the life of boxer Mike Tyson; and seasons 1-3 of sci-fi series Future Man (available now) with Josh Hutcherson.