Watch trailer for the new season of crime drama ‘Vera’

Brenda Blethyn is back as DCI Vera Stanhope this weekend and ITV has released a trailer for the new season of Vera. Based on the bestselling Inspector Stanhope books by award-winning writer Ann Cleeves, the crime drama returns to ITV at 8pm on Sunday 19 March with the first of four new stand-alone films. Buy the complete … >

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‘Broadchurch’ review: Season 3 Episode 3 explores toxic masculinity

If there’s a defining theme that seems to run through Broadchurch 3, but is particularly prominent in this third episode, it’s toxic masculinity. As Hardy says, “it makes me ashamed to be a man”. Chris Chibnall’s script dwells on the many ways the men of Broadchurch act suspiciously, defensively or even aggressively at the thought of … >

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ITV confirms return date for seventh season of ‘Vera’

Vera will return to ITV later this month. Based on the bestselling Inspector Stanhope books by award-winning writer Ann Cleeves, the crime drama is back with four new stand-alone films. Set around Newcastle and the stunning Northumberland countryside, the new season sees DCI Vera Stanhope (Brenda Blethyn) and her team take on more compelling mysteries, including … >

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‘Broadchurch’ review: Season 3 Episode 1 was taut, focused and emotionally charged

On the basis of last night’s episode, Broadchurch has gone beyond a mere crime drama serial to something gut-wrenching, humane and deeply empathetic, rivalling the moving portrayal of grief in its first season four years ago. 2015’s second season was something of a disappointment in the muddled way it portrayed Britain’s legal system and tried … >

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‘Death in Paradise’ Season 6 finale review

As we end our 2017 stay on Saint Marie, things take a decidedly softer pace for this week’s Death in Paradise mystery. Sadly this doesn’t make for a closing episode with much bite. “We’re not in London anymore, Dad. You have to expect things to be a bit different.” The episode does have many redeeming … >

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‘Prime Suspect: 1973’ start date confirmed

ITV has announced the launch date for its new Prime Suspect prequel series. Adapted from Lynda La Plante’s bestselling novel, Tennison, the crime drama stars Stefanie Martini (Doctor Thorne, Endeavour) as the young incarnation of Helen Mirren’s iconic character Jane Tennison. Martini is joined by Blake Harrison (Dad’s Army, The Inbetweeners) and Sam Reid (Belle, The Riot Club) as Jane’s superiors … >

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