Streaming tips: The Crown and Squid Game among the shows coming up in the weeks ahead
L-R: A Murder at the End of the World; Robbie; The Crown
Following his 25-year solo career, the charismatic and characteristically frank Robbie Williams looks back on his life and his younger self. The four-part series sees Williams discuss his history of mental illness as he goes back through the early 1990s and the first flushes of pop success, through to more recent years. It also looks at some key figures from different periods of his life, including Gary Barlow and Geri Halliwell.
This James Bond-inspired unscripted show will see contestants compete in teams of two to win a prize of up to £1million. The globetrotting adventure will be filmed in many of the Bond movies’ most-iconic locations. Viewers are promised various tests of intelligence and endurance as the contestants face various challenges. They must also solve puzzles hidden in locations around the world to progress to the next phase. Overseeing it all will be ‘The Controller’ - aka Succession star Brian Cox, who controls the fate of the contestants.
This new crime series explores a mystery that has made news in Ireland for decades. Within a five-year timeframe, five women - Annie McCarrick, JoJo Dullard, Fiona Pender, Ciara Been, Fiona Sinnott and Deirdre Jacob - all disappeared. The series delves deeply into the investigations to explore what could have caused the disappearances, and features interviews with some of the victims’ family and friends, former detectives and investigative journalists.
Emma Corrin and Clive Owen co-star in Disney’s upcoming detective mystery series. Corrin is Darby Hart, a hacker and amateur sleuth, who is invited along with other guests to the remote retreat of a billionaire. When one of the guests is found dead, Hart is tasked with proving it was murder - before the potential killer strikes again.
Following rave reviews for its debut, this series about a secret organisation that harnesses the ability to turn back time returns to our screens. The sci-fi thriller stars Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You) and Caroline Quentin and revolves around the concept that the world is locked in a time loop that ultimately ends with the extinction of planet earth. Tasked with the challenge of finding a solution, Lazarus agent George (Essiedu) must not only pull off the seemingly impossible, but also redeem himself with his friends and colleagues following the events of the first series.
The record-breaking series makes its royal return and continues with Princess Diana’s (Elizabeth Debicki) story. The final series will be released in two parts, with the first four episodes from November 16th and the final six from December 14th. Part one will explore the events around Diana’s tragic death in a car crash in 1997. Part two will see Queen Elizabeth (Imelda Staunton) reflect on her reign, as she begins to look to a time when her successors will replace her on the throne.
Netflix’s highly anticipated reality show follows the success of its smash-hit series. In the new series, 456 people will be pitted against each other for a prize fund of $4.56 million. While it’s not a matter of life or death, there’s a lot on the line for the competitors - even apart from the prize money. Through a series of games, each player is set to be pushed to their limits, with cutthroat strategies and well-staged betrayals - as to be expected - all a part of the challenge.
The espionage drama starring Gary Oldman makes its return to Apple. The darkly funny drama centres on a dysfunctional group of British intelligence agents who work in a dumping-ground department of MI5 known as Slough House. When a romantic liaison in Istanbul threatens to expose an agent, Jackson Lamb (Oldman) and his team are pulled into the action. The impressive ensemble cast includes Kristin Scott Thomas and Jack Lowden.
Season two of Prime’s hit series focuses on Bad Luck and Trouble, from Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series of novels. It will begin with the veteran military police investigator getting on the case when he receives a coded message that members of his former army unit are being killed one by one. In a bid to crack the case, Reacher (Alan Richson) is reunited with three of his closest former teammates to investigate.
- A Chef for Dalí (The Everyman, 5pm): This Spanish film tells of a talented chef who sets up shop in Cadaqués, the home of the renowned artist, Salvador Dali.
- So This is Christmas (The Everyman, 8pm): The latest documentary from Ken Wardrop (His & Hers) centres on those who reflect on their difficult relationships with Christmas.
- Female Trouble (Triskel, 8.45pm): Director John Waters’ 1974 film is back on the big screen and tells of a woman who embarks upon a bizarre and violent life of crime.
- Screen Ireland Shorts (The Everyman, 6pm): Catch the work of Irish filmmakers with a selection of new short films funded under Screen Ireland’s Focus and Real Short film schemes.
- Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell (Triskel, 7.30pm): A man searches for his brother following a family tragedy in this drama, a winner of the Camera d’Or at this year’s prestigious Cannes Film Festival.
- One Night in Millstreet (8.30pm, The Everyman): The world premiere of Andrew Gallimore’s affectionate documentary recalls the high-profile contest between Steve Collins and Chris Eubank at Green Glens Arena.
- Pure Cork shorts programme (The Everyman, 12.45pm): This programme of shorts showcases the work of the city and county’s filmmakers.
- Robot Dreams (The Everyman, 3pm): CIFF’s family programme includes this animated feature from acclaimed Spanish filmmaker Pablo Berger. Set in1980s Manhattan, it focuses on a lonely dog who decides to build himself a robot companion.
- Fallen Leaves (The Everyman, 8.30pm): Top filmmaker Aki Kaurismaki’s comedy-drama won the Jury Prize at Cannes Film Festival this year. Set in contemporary Helsinki, it focuses on two lonely people who meet by chance in a karaoke bar.
