Interview with Jodie Whittaker (The Doctor)

New Year's Eve. Sarah (Aisling Bea) is working - again. Nick (Adjani Salmon) is her only customer - again. Same old same old. Except this year, their countdown to midnight will be the strangest and deadliest they've ever known.

Why is an Executioner Dalek targeting these two people, in this place, on this night? Why are they having to live through the same moments again? Can the Doctor (Jodie Whittaker), Yaz (Mandip Gill) and Dan (John Bishop) save them and survive into the New Year?

Interview with Jodie Whittaker (The Doctor)

What can audiences expect from Eve Of The Daleks?

I think the festive special is a wonderful high octane contained story, so if you haven't seen the series, including the Flux, you can start this episode and be taken on a rollercoaster through a scenario where the Doctor, Yaz and Dan are stuck in a time loop. Not only are they stuck in a time loop, they're being pursued by the Doctor's biggest enemy, which is the Daleks. For the Doctor it is her worst scenario.

This is all set on New Year's Eve and we've two fantastic guest stars, Aisling Bea and Adjani Salmon who are not only hilarious but also wonderful actors that provide so much energy and brilliant chemistry. Audiences can expect lots of comedy, lots of fun, high stakes, huge amounts of jeopardy and an energised rollercoaster ride.

Can you introduce us to Sarah and Nick? How was it working with Aisling Bea and Adjani Salmon?

In the New Year's Day special we were really lucky to work with Adjani Salmon and Aisling Bea. I had met Aisling before - and had never met Adjani - so I knew how lovely Aisling was going to be and how hilarious she is! My first introduction to Adjani was when we did the read through on Zoom and he was absolutely hilarious and I couldn't wait for his energy and Aisling's energy, they're so different and they complement each other so well. Because they're both from a world of comedy which I'm not from or Mandip's not from (but obviously John is!) it was like comedy gold dust just being on set with them, they were making us laugh the whole time. What they brought to the characters and what they brought to the episode was really fun, a lot of high energy, a lot of farce, high stakes in this very groundhog, Russian Doll environment.

What was it like filming this time loop story from an actor's perspective?

From the actor's perspective, filming a repetitive moment or the replaying of the same moment in time – the Groundhog Day sequences where we exit the TARDIS and you realise that time is playing a loop - it's actually really fun to shoot because you end up shooting really quick. So because you set it up, you're covering so many moments that it's only slightly different. It's a little bit tricky sometimes because it all does turn into one in your head and then you'll turn a corner and realise you're shooting a different moment and it's unexpected.

I have to say being on set the episode feels like it's going at a million miles an hour even though you're hitting the same moment every time, so I found that fascinating. It was brilliant because it's contained, it's in one location, there's a real brilliant use of comedy with the Daleks as well which was really interesting to do. But also there was just five of us the entire time and that was so much fun.

What was it like filming the scenes where you're exterminated?

When I read this episode for the first time and in one of the opening moments get exterminated I genuinely thought, "Somebody has decided to write me out a bit sooner than I thought!" It's brilliant to play because the first time, for the Doctor, it's as if you're grasping at those seconds and that realisation that it could be your last moment. And for you to be killed by a Dalek would be so horrendous! But then once you realise you're in this time loop the anticipation of the pain and the fun that can be had with that... it's the first time in my career I've died so many times in an episode, there's always a first!

What makes the Daleks so frightening?

What makes a Dalek so frightening is no matter how many times you think you've defeated them they always come back. And it's that never-ending game of tennis, terrifying tennis.

How has the Doctor and Yaz's relationship developed since they first met each other?

I think what's been great is the amount of time that's played out, I think obviously (our) first season was in real time... but with season twelve and season thirteen what happens is we have these elongated gaps between seasons and the time spent away, like the months that the Doctor's in prison. In this season, there's the time where Yaz has absolutely no idea if she's going to see the Doctor again.

So the Doctor has given Yaz a hologram of information and Yaz continually plays it as her one connection to the Doctor when they're parted in time. I think what's brilliant is that these two, have had out of everyone - for my Doctor - the most amount of time together. And so it grows from Yaz's perspective from somebody who is finding her feet to leading and confidence. What the Doctor loves is seeing Yaz's independence and confidence grow, but she never falters in always being there for the Doctor and vice versa as well.

Tom Daley to deliver the 2021 Alternative Christmas Message

Olympic champion Tom Daley will address the nation with a message of inclusion in Channel 4's prestigious Alternative Christmas Message which airs on Christmas Day.

In the heartfelt address, Tom talks about the pride he's felt representing his country but how sometimes didn't feel good enough. He applauds the athletes that have opened up about their struggles this year who've encouraged him to talk about his mental health more often.

Tom reveals how "incredibly lucky" he is that his sport has supported him to live as an openly gay man, but he acknowledges not everyone in sport has the same backing. Using the platform to raise an issue close to his heart he speaks of homophobia in sport, particularly football.

In October Australian footballer Josh Cavallo became the first and only topflight male player to come out as gay. Tom praises Josh's courage but uses this startling example to question why in the world's most popular sport, with 65,000 professional players, just one top male footballer felt comfortable enough to come out and talk openly about their sexuality.

Tom talks about the need for a culture change in football, adding, 'if I had one Christmas wish it would be that next year that changes. That one impossibly brave Premier League player steps forward and says, 'I am gay'. That person would inspire gay people everywhere, give hope to thousands of teenagers struggling with their sexuality and save the lives of countless young people who don't currently feel like they have a place in this world.".

To emphasise the problem Tom raises "In 2022 the World Cup is being held in the second most dangerous country for queer people, Qatar. Why are we allowing places that aren't safe for ALL fans and ALL players to host our most prestigious sporting events?"

Tom applauds how this year's Olympics saw its first trans athletes competing referencing Quinn, the first out trans Olympic medallist who won gold for the Canadian women's soccer team. Tom applauds the impressive achievements of trans athletes, "especially in the current climate of fear and panic around trans people" and adds that "there is no LGB without the T.".

Tom closes with a call for inclusivity and equality saying "We can make this country the most accepting, the most inclusive, the most progressive country on Earth. What if in Britain anybody could be anything regardless of where they started? What if we all started from the same place. Now wouldn't that be something to be proud of?"

REVIEW: Book of Travels on PC (Steam)

Before I start, please note that Book of Travels if still in Early Access, so although this is a review, it is based on a game that by its very nature is not the end product, so please keep that in mind.

Book of Travels advertises itself as a "unique social roleplaying experience that doesn't hold your hand", and as such it is very unusual for a RPG as it has no missions, no real plotlines, and no life-or-death quests. So, taking away the very elements of what makes a RPG a RPG, it seems a strange approach to take for a game.

The first thing you notice when you start playing is the graphics, they are stunning, however they are also weird, it is hard to describe, but it's basically 2D graphics that have hundreds if not thousands of layers, so as you walk toward or away from the camera viewpoint, you pass through the 2D layers, this is really strange, and also incredibly annoying, as often the layers get in the way of what you are trying to see, and since you can't move the camera, often you find yourself moving the character back and forth until the correct layer focuses and you can see what you are doing.

Read Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2021/12/review-book-of-travels-on-pc-steam.html

REVIEW: Graviter on Nintendo Switch

Graviter is the latest puzzle game to grace the Nintendo Switch, and it has a lot of competition if it wants to stand out.

The story is a bit ridiculous, but at least it has one, your cat has been taken, it is missing in the dark void of space, you have been left parts of a map to the galaxy, collect cat paw prints and find your cat.

The game works on the idea of gravity, you control the size and position of planets, manipulate them so that you can fly around and collect the paw prints. On some levels the planets can be moved around, on others the planets sizes can be edited, sometimes you will be able to pause time after launching, and move planets etc, then restart time.

Over 100 levels to complete, and you can change the graphic style to monochrome or normal colours.

Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2021/12/review-graviter-on-nintendo-switch.html

Cicada - New Poster and Trailer - Starring Cobie Smulders and Matthew Fifer

Released in UK and Irish CInemas on 21st January 2022

Matthew Fifer's directorial debut CICADA is a heartfelt and refreshingly hopeful tale that tackles complex subjects with grace, delicacy and uncompromising honesty.  Based on Fifer's personal experiences, the film launched at Outfest and has played to wide acclaim around the world, including the BFI London Film Festival.  

Thirty-something New Yorker Ben (Matthew Fifer) is stuck in life - between meaningless hook-ups and awkward sessions with his free-spirited therapist, Sophie (Cobie Smulders, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER). Things change when he meets Sam (Sheldon D Brown), a handsome stranger with whom he forms an immediate connection. As the pair while away balmy summer nights getting to know each other intimately, their layers begin to peel away, revealing the secrets and fragilities they must share if they are to truly let the other person in.

Watch Trailer

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2021/12/cicada-new-poster-and-trailer.html

American Night - Trailer - Starring: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Emile Hirsch, Jeremy Piven, Michael Madsen, Paz Vega & Anastacia

American Night includes a star-studded cast of Jonathan Rhys Meyers (The Tudors / Vikings), Emile Hirsch (Once Upon A Time In Hollywood), Jeremy Piven (Mr Selfridge / Entourage), Hollywood hard-man Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs / Kill Bill) and Paz Vega (Rambo: Last Blood / The OA).

American Night is neo-noir set in New York City's corrupt contemporary art world. After the theft of Warhol's 'Marilyn', a series of unexpected events turns an art dealer's life upside down as he fights with the ruthless head of the New York Mafia, Michael Rubino, for money, art and power.

The film also marks the feature length directorial debut for Italian director, writer and producer, Alessio Della Valle.

Pop music fans willl also be able to spot singer Anastacia, who appears in the film as well as writing and performing the film's lead song.

American Night will be available on Digital Download from 7th February

Watch Trailer

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2021/12/american-night-trailer-starring.html

REVIEW: Intruder on the bridge on PC (Steam) 18+

Intruder on the bridge is an adult, visual novel, but it does go a bit further than the usual visual novel in that it actually has a few mini games, the main one of interest being a Galaga like minigame.

Let's start with the story.

"Intruder on the Bridge tells the story of Captain Dyce, a Galactic Union officer in command of the largest spaceship ever built: the Ventura. He will have to face a mysterious conspiracy that caused his brother's death. Unfortunately, all leaders of the Union seem to be involved in the conspiracy. "

Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2021/12/review-intruder-on-bridge-on-pc-steam.html

The Lost City - Poster and Trailer - Starring Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Oscar Nuñez, Patti Harrison, Bowen Yang

Brilliant, but reclusive author Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) has spent her career writing about exotic places in her popular romance-adventure novels featuring handsome cover model Alan (Channing Tatum), who has dedicated his life to embodying the hero character, "Dash." While on tour promoting her new book with Alan, Loretta is kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe) who hopes that she can lead him to the ancient lost city's treasure from her latest story. Wanting to prove that he can be a hero in real life and not just on the pages of her books, Alan sets off to rescue her. Thrust into an epic jungle adventure, the unlikely pair will need to work together to survive the elements and find the ancient treasure before it's lost forever.

Starring Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Oscar Nuñez, Patti Harrison, Bowen Yang

Watch Trailer at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2021/12/the-lost-city-poster-and-trailer.html

REVIEW: Kickerinho World on Nintendo Switch

Kickerinho World is a freestyle-football simulator, well that is what the game makers claim.

In reality it is a "Keepie uppie" game.

Originally released on mobile devices about 5 years ago, and downloaded 5 million times, it is your classic freemium mobile game, whereby you play a bit, lose, watch an advertisement, and start again. On Nintendo Switch it is basically the same, but since you have had to pay for it, the ads are gone.

The aim of the game is simple, keep the ball in the air, do not let it touch the floor, the longer you do that, the more points you get.

Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2021/12/review-kickerinho-world-on-nintendo.html

Interview with Jimmy Carr for his brand new quiz show, I Literally Just Told You

What can you tell us about I Literally Just Told You? What attracted you to the premise?  

The more Richard Bacon (who created the show) told me about it, the more I thought it might work. It reminded me a little of one of the first things I've ever did on TV called Distraction which featured me and four members of the public – it was crazy, and it felt like it was the most exciting thing I could possibly do. I sort of like to think of TV being like a trainset: you've got this incredible trainset and these brilliant producers that all help you play, and you've got to come up with the most fun game to play with. It's such an unusual, weird and wonderful show. I think it's the best thing I've ever done.

That's a big claim!

It's not that big a claim! It genuinely was a joy to make.  

My main job is I'm a stand-up comedian, I go out there on my own and decide what I say, what I don't say, that's how it goes and that's great. TV is like a team sport – who came up with the idea, who's the creative producer, who are the people behind it? Richard Bacon was amazing, as were Adam Hutchinson the producer and the guys at Expectation (production company.) I'm in the show, I host it but really if you haven't got good contestants, this show wouldn't be anything. The contestants are crazy good, I don't know where we found these people, but we searched high and low!  

The show has an enormous play-at-home factor which most game shows don't have. Most game shows are binary, you either know the answer or you don't. All you have to know for this show is what's just happened, you just have to pay attention, and you can get the whole thing. We had real fun with the fact that anything could happen – 15 second celebrity cameos, false ad breaks, you can really mess with people's minds. It felt really exciting as a premise for a show.  

How would you do on this show? Are you observant? Do you pay attention?  

I think I was pretty good. I suppose there was a feeling of when I was on set, I was kind of playing along but I was also in work mode. I'm used to being on stage and having to remember someone's name from fifteen minutes ago so I can do a call-back to that guy on stage so my memory's not bad. If you're a one liner guy, and I'm a one liner guy, you need to remember 300 jokes in a row every night, so you work that muscle a lot.  

Random things happen – we'll show them a film and I'll say 'Dave, roll VT' and then the question ends up being 'what was the name of the VT operator?' It's tangential, weird, wonderful stuff – we messed around a lot. It feels like a really fair, level playing field for everyone playing the game. My favourite is the final round – I've never seen another game show do that where you go 'oh, you're setting each other questions.' The records were really long because we were shutting down at each end of every part and went 'right, we need to write some questions for the next part.' We had a bank of people writing questions live which is time consuming and crazy but for the viewer at home, that's fantastic.  

How does it feel to know that Richard Bacon selected you to front the show? Have you known him for a while?  

I've known Richard for years! He's having a bit of a run at the moment. Obviously he was on Blue Peter and he was amazing on Five Live – I was a big fan of him as a broadcaster. He's got no attention span so is constantly interesting because he's always on to the next thing. He's been quietly coming up with these TV show ideas over the last five or six years and suddenly there's a glut of them coming out. I was so flattered that he asked me to host as he's a pretty good host himself. He hosted the try-outs for this, and I really badgered, begged, cajoled and pleaded to be allowed to do this because great ideas for TV shows don't come along very often and you grab one when you can. I knew I would have fun working on it which I hope comes across in the show. It feels like properly exciting telly – very Channel 4 – a bit transgressive, a bit different, edgy and weird – all the things I love about Channel 4.  

How does it feel to be back in a TV studio making a brand new show after the past two years? And what sort of effects has the pandemic had on you personally?  

Making a TV show is always quite a lot of work – these were long records and we did two of them in a day – but we were having a ball.  The contestants had a brilliant time, the audience, albeit a small socially distanced one, were amazing and we just had such fun. We were all so emotionally engaged with the show in the end and genuinely cared about who was going to win.  

As for the lockdown, I went off and wrote a book. It seemed like every comedian was given an ultimatum by management – you either do a podcast or write a book. I think I took the gentleman's approach and wrote the book plus I was a full time dad! I had a good one, I never would have had that expanse of time with my child and I liked it an awful lot.  

Is it easy to keep your cool when you're having to repeat the phrase, I Literally Just Told You, over and over again?  

No! I found that so fun. I bored all my friends to tears telling them about the show. I'd be going I've got this new show, I Literally Just Told You, and you'd be amazed how many times people go what? You say, I Literally Just Told You, and they go 'woah, you're being rude.' I had to say, 'no, no, it's called I Literally Just Told You.' It makes me giggle every time but maybe that's just my daft sense of humour – I loved it. I think the show came out of Richard Bacon going to see Brian Cox, the wonderful physicist, give a talk, and he was sitting there thinking 'I wonder how much of this the audience will remember in five minutes' so he noted down something Brian said and thought 'there's no way anyone will remember that.' I don't think you can double screen with this show, that's something I really love about it. I'm as guilty of that as anyone – I'll sit down and watch something amazing, one of my favourites shows, and be checking the news on my phone at the same time.  

I can already imagine an exciting celebrity version with lots of celebrities making complete tits of themselves. Is there anything in the pipeline?  

We've already made it! I'm not going to spoil it, but my dream line up would be hosts of other TV quiz shows. I always think when you're the host of a quiz show, you've got all the answers and there's a bit of smugness that comes with that. I'd want Philip Schofield, Jeremy Clarkson and Anne Robinson - that's the dream.  

We see in the first episode you use a fake ad break to really throw the contestants. What other cunning tricks do you have up your sleeve?  

The fake ad break was a lot of fun. Once you start the show, literally anything can be a question. So I might be having a chat with autocue, the warmup, the guy on the rig – and anything within those chats could be a question.  

Have you ever forgotten something really important? Perhaps someone told you something minutes previously and it completely slipped your mind?  

Well I lost a pair of sunglasses when I was 14. That's the last thing I lost. Oh and hang on, I did forget to pay my taxes for a while there. I'm not going to fucking forget that again.  

You're much loved for your humour and your near the knuckle jokes, but much has been made of cancel culture recently. Has it made you want to make risky jokes even more?  

I think it's always existed hasn't it? It's always been a thing. I do what I do – I have a duty to my audience as people have booked tickets to see an edgy comic do edgy jokes so I'm going to do that, performing to an audience who've paid to be there. We have a lot of fun and somewhat ironically, a comedy show feels like a safe space, it feels like that's where transgressive comedy should live.  

If we're doing the sums correctly, you turn 50 next September. How are you feeling about the milestone? Are you embracing it? Any worries about it?  

I mean I've had a reasonable amount of work done! They say you can't avoid death and taxes and I've done my best to dodge both. I'm trying to Benjamin Button this shit, I look fucking terrific, look at that skin – iridescent, beautiful. No, I'm good with it. I think it's about life stage, not age – I've got a young kid and I'm running around with him. I've never felt better.  

The Big Fat Quiz of the Year is back again this year – a highlight of the Christmas telly schedule. Do you still enjoy doing it? And see yourself presenting it for years to come?  

Oh yeah, and looking good too… I adore it. Because it's once a year, it always just feels a little bit special. Those shows have a life of their own – people all round the world are watching bits of it online. The idea with The Big Fat Quiz is that you could sit down and not have to chat to your family for two hours - you've probably been with your family for three or four days at that point, everyone's in the same house and it's all a little bit tense. It's in the finest traditions of public service broadcasting!  

Help - Poster and Trailer - Starring: Louis James, Emily Redpath, Sarah Alexandra Marks & Duncan James

HELP was filmed over just 12 days. Due to UK lockdown restrictions, only 20 cast and crew members were involved. HELP is a testament to producing high-quality films during such a turbulent time.

A young woman's life turns chaotic when she uncovers a deadly secret about her friend...A painful break up prompts Grace to visit her friend Liv who is living in the idyllic English countryside with her boyfriend Edward and his dog Polly. The trio start the weekend in high spirits but soon turns into chaos, as well-kept secrets are exposed and the friends come to see each other in a whole new light. Everyone has a secret...

HELP boasts an impressive cast of promising actors of Louis James (The English Teacher, A Simple Robbery), Emily Redpath (Romeo and Juliet, Casualty), Sarah Alexandra Marks (Glamour, Psychosis) and including a cameo performance from iconic boyband Blue's very own Duncan James!

With a plot as dark as HELP's, you might not expect to see former boyband member Duncan James' cameo, but the unlikely pairing came about organically. "I met Louis whilst filming in Liverpool, a mutual friend introduced us, and we immediately struck up a friendship", explains James. "His passion was palpable and there was a lot of mutual respect. I watched his performance in a few of Ridder's short films, such as 'The English Teacher' and 'A Simple Robbery' and thought he was great, so I wanted to support him and be involved in his next project".

Watch Trailer at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2021/12/help-poster-and-trailer-starring-louis.html

REVIEW: Make War on Nintendo Switch

There is an endless amount of strategy simulation type games out there at the moment, and "Make War" from No Gravity Games is another one to add to the pile.

The basic premise of the game is that you place your army and weapons, press play, and see if your strategy can beat the enemy as the AI then plays out.

You can play in various timelines, so from Viking Era to the 20th century and even cyberpunk and futuristic areas. When you start the game, you will be faced with a map, but since the game requires you to play one level at a time, it seems a bit pointless, and perhaps just a simple "Level 1, Level 2..." type map would be better suited.

Read full review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2021/12/review-make-war-on-nintendo-switch.html

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Official Trailer

The world's favourite blue hedgehog is back for a next-level adventure in SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2. After settling in Green Hills, Sonic is eager to prove he has what it takes to be a true hero. His test comes when Dr. Robotnik returns, this time with a new partner, Knuckles, in search for an emerald that has the power to destroy civilizations. Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails, and together they embark on a globe-trotting journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands.

From the filmmakers behind The Fast and the Furious and Deadpool, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 stars James Marsden, Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally, and Jim Carrey returning, alongside new additions Shemar Moore, with Idris Elba as the voice of Knuckles, and Colleen O'Shaughnessey as the voice of Tails.

Coming Soon

Watch Trailer at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2021/12/sonic-hedgehog-2-official-trailer.html

Celebrity Coach Trip is back on E4 with a line up of fresh celebrity faces

After nearly two years, it's finally time for international tour guide Brendan Sheerin to hit the road again in a brand-new series of Celebrity Coach Trip.  Brendan's coach will be bursting with a fresh batch of celebrities, all eager for an action-packed European adventure.

The new series will kick off its run on the 3rd January 2022 on E4 at 8pm with the coach touring sunny Portugal. Brendan will welcome a host of famous faces who will travel in pairs to keep their place on the coach, and at the end of the tour be crowned the winners.

The first of our celebrity travellers boarding the coach and topping up their tans are: Presenter and stand-up Matt Richardson and actor and presenter Will Best; actors Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph; Geordie Shore stars Sophie Kasaei and James Tindale, members of girl band, The Honeyz, Celena Cherry and Mariama Goodman; and Olympian Ashley McKenzie with actor Paul Danan.

The celebrity pairs will enjoy a mix of excursions and cultural outings across the series. But, as ever, at the end of each day the pairs will vote on who they least enjoy travelling with. The pair who receives the most votes will get a yellow card; two yellow cards will see them given a red card and be sent home on the next flight, only to be replaced by a new celebrity pair to fill up the coach.

 Matt Richardson said: "I can't wait to spend a holiday on a coach filled with Celebs. It's what I normally do, so filming it just makes sense!"

Will Best said: "The chance to go on holiday with a mate, meet the icon that is Brendan, AND clear my rent arrears, all in one fell swoop? Yes please! Although if no one from Bananarama is on board I'm kicking off."

Linda Robson said "Me and Lesley had the most exciting, wonderful time - loved every minute of our trip and am missing Brendan and all the trippers! Can't wait for my family to see our adventure."

Lesley Joseph said "I love travel, and travel with a friend is even better, so the chance to go on holiday with Linda was too good to miss.  Not only that, we got to meet the wonderful Brendan – he is a legend.  We had such good fun, I hope the viewers enjoy it too. After months of lockdown it made it such a special experience."

Sophie Kasaei said: "I have always been the biggest fan of Coach Trip from when I can remember. Forget all the other reality tv shows my dream was to do coach trip! I have been such a massive fan of Brendan, watching him with my family on weekday afternoons! The experience of travelling around Portugal with a bunch of celebs? Yes please! It was everything I could have imagined and more."

James Tindale said: "I love meeting new people and getting out of my comfort zone and pushing myself so Coach Trip is right up my street."

Celena Cherry said "After being housebound for so long due to Covid, I couldn't wait to get out there and touch and meet new people! Plus Brendan was an added bonus, always wanted to meet him!"

Mariama Goodman said "I jumped at the chance to get away for some sunshine, silliness and adventure, and of course to meet Brendan!"

Ashley McKenzie said "I'm used to travelling the world as part of the Great Britain Judo squad, but never have a chance to really experience or enjoy the places I visit, as I'm always there training or competing. Coach Trip gave me the opportunity to see new places and meet new people, which is why I decided to take part."

Paul Danan said "I've watched the show for years and always loved it, and thought it would be amazing to go on a road trip after doing a road trip with Calum Best and Fran Cosgrave on our own show back in the day. I'd never been to Portugal and wanted to be part of an iconic show and bring some Danan TV gold back again!"

REVIEW: 6Souls on Nintendo Switch

6Souls is an old school platform game on Nintendo Switch.

You play as Jack, along with his dog Butch, you are on an exciting journey to find and explore Clifford Castle, find out the truth of why the entire Clifford family disappeared, as well as unlock all of its secrets.

There are over 80 levels to play through, in 8 specific and different locations. Each area as its own mysteries to uncover, enemies to beat and secrets to find.

Full Review At

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2021/12/review-6souls-on-nintendo-switch.html

In The Strange Pursuit of Laura Durand - New Poster and Trailer

Antonis and Christos are down on their luck, disconnected from modern society and surviving mainly on Christos' unemployment benefit. Their only escape in life is their passion for music and their 8-bit band, Speed_28.

The two friends are united by their common, platonic love interest, Laura Durand, a porn star of the '90s who disappeared mysteriously years before. As the friends' lives go from bad to worse, they decide that the time has come to start the quest for Laura Durand.

An award winning and hilarious road movie, loaded with an amazing and eclectic soundtrack, In the Strange Pursuit of Laura Durand is a feelgood, touching and very original story, that stays with you long after watching.

The film has been a hit on the international festival circuit being Officially Selected at Tallinn Black Nights, Mons International, Sarajevo Film Festival, Athens International, Monte Carlo Comedy Film Festival, Red Rock Film Festival, Sunscreen, Cannes World Film Festival and more.

In the Strange Pursuit of Laura Durand will be available on Digital Download from 17th January

Watch Trailer

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2021/12/in-strange-pursuit-of-laura-durand-new.html

REVIEW: Clockwork Aquario on Nintendo Switch

There are not many games that you can really call "lost" but Clockwork Aquario truly is one.

30 years ago, Clockwork Aquario was being developed for the Arcade and specifically for the Sega System 18 Arcade System Board.

This was the pre-cursor to the Sega Megadrive. If you have played the original Super Mario Bros. or Wonder Boy 3 then you will instantly feel at home playing Clockwork Aquario.

Here is what Ryuichi Nishizawa (chief publisher, and co-founder of Westone) has to say about the release.

"In the 90s, when game centers were dominated by fighting games, there was one title which had never been released, even though it was completed after more than two years of development and repeated changes. This title is Clockwork Aquario. Who would have thought that it would be restored and playable again? I would like to express my heartfelt respect and gratitude to those who have worked so hard to restore it. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that this work is a great piece of 2D art, where the pixel artists of that time put their hearts and souls into. I'd be happy if people would appreciate and enjoy it."

Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2021/12/review-clockwork-aquario-on-nintendo.html

First look image of new Channel 4 crime comedy The Curse coming early next year

The Curse is a comedy caper set in London in the early 80's, following a gang of hopeless small time crooks who through their own stupidity and poor judgement find themselves embroiled in one of the biggest gold heists in history.  The Curse stars Tom Davis (Murder in Successville, King Gary), Steve Stamp (People Just Do Nothing), Allan Mustafa (People Just Do Nothing), Hugo Chegwin (People Just Do Nothing), Emer Kenny (Pramface, Beaver Falls), Peter Ferninando (The Letter for the King), Ambreen Razia (This Way Up), Geoff Bell (His Dark Materials) and Michael Smiley (Luther).

REVIEW: Beyond A Steel Sky on Xbox

Beyond A Steel Sky is the sequel to classic cyberpunk science fiction point-and-click adventure game Beneath a Steel Sky, released on the Amiga in 1994.

It has only taken 27 years to be made! So, it better be good.

You play as Robert Foster, you live in a community in the desert wastelands, a child had been taken after a brutal attack, and it is your job to tracking them down and bring them home. You find yourself travelling to Union City, one of the last mega cities on the planet, a planet that has been ravaged from war and political strife.

Union City is a seemingly perfect utopia, controlled by AI, everyone seems happy, everything seems wonderful, but with anything that seems so perfect, when you scratch beneath the surface, you find out that things are not at all what they seem.

Read Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2021/12/review-beyond-steel-sky-on-xbox.html

Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont to host a Christmas sleepover on Channel 4

Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont are hosting a Christmas getaway for some of their closest friends. In Jon & Lucy's Christmas Sleepover, a one-off seasonal special made by Ranga Bee Productions, Jon and Lucy are joined by comedy pals to eat, drink and get very merry during a night away from the post-Christmas, pre-New Year lull as they look back at the year gone by.

Joining Jon and Lucy for this rollicking knees-up are Roisin Conaty, Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett. There'll also be a few surprise guests along the way as the gang reflect on the highs and lows of 2021 and enjoy a boozy festive feast guaranteed to lead to misbehaving and chaos.

Jon Richardson says: "The producers of this show are guaranteeing that it will end up in chaos, obviously I will be there to make sure they are proved wrong. I don't get asked to write the press release so let me take this opportunity to tell you that this festive spectacular will start and end on time and contain an appropriate amount of fun given the year we've had and the certainty that next year will be worse."  

Lucy Beaumont adds: "I am so looking forward to being paid to hang out with old friends...and Jon. I shall be mostly slipping generous size cocktails and blocking out the resentment and negativity that Jon pretends he puts 'on ice' for the festive period. If the night is anything like the parties we throw at home, we peak at awkward conversation at about 8.30pm. Jon will go missing at 9pm and come down in some sort of weird nightwear and slippers and the guests will have gone half an hour later."

FIRST LOOK: JAMES NESBITT AND RICHARD E. GRANT IN SUSPECT – CHANNEL 4’S THRILLING NEW DRAMA

When veteran detective, Danny Frater (James Nesbitt), turns up at a hospital mortuary for what he thinks is a routine ID check on a young woman's body, he gets a devastating shock; the corpse turns out to be his estranged daughter, Christina (Imogen King). He sets out on a mission for the truth, retracing her last days and hours, in an agonising crusade to discover what really happened to his only child.

SUSPECT (W/T) also stars Joely Richardson, Anne-Marie Duff, Antonia Thomas, Niamh Algar, Sacha Dhawan, Sam Heughan and Ben Miller and will premiere on Channel 4.

Queens of Mystery Season 2 - Official Trailer

Monday, 29th November 2021 heralds the arrival of QUEENS OF MYSTERY SERIES 2 EPISODES 1 & 2 the ACORN TV ORIGINAL UK PREMIERE  STREAMING EXCLUSIVE

Then two episodes per week follow on subsequent Mondays.

Roll out the red-carpet. The Emmy Award-nominated Queens of Mystery is back for a second series of the brilliant, bold and thrilling homegrown hit mystery drama. Making its World Premiere exclusively on Acorn TV, this Acorn Original series created by writer Julian Unthank (Doc Martin, New Tricks) is wickedly offbeat, with bold visuals, quirky characters, and darkly comic murders.

Series two sees the return of British acting favourites Julie Graham (The Bletchley Circle, Shetland, Penance), Siobhan Redmond (Unforgotten, The Replacement, Taggart), and Sarah Woodward (The Pale Horse, Quiz, The Politician's Husband) as the eponymous queens. Florence Hall (Jonathan Creek) joins the cast as detective niece Matilda, who is 'helped' by her mystery-writing aunts who believe their knowledge of crime fiction makes them perfectly qualified to help her solve whodunit-style murders. Now in the swing of things in her hometown of Wildemarsh, Matilda lives happily above her Aunt Jane's 'Murder Ink' bookshop, but it's not long before the town has a killer in its midst, and as always, Aunts Beth, Cat and Jane are on hand to assist in the investigations.

Watch Trailer at

http://www.jonn.co.uk/2021/11/queens-of-mystery-season-2-official.html

Nightmare Alley - Poster and Trailer - Starring Bradley Cooper & Toni Collette - Directed by Guillermo del Toro

 

When charismatic but down-on-his-luck Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) endears himself to clairvoyant Zeena (Toni Collette) and her has-been mentalist husband Pete (David Strathairn) at a traveling carnival, he crafts a golden ticket to success, using this newly acquired knowledge to grift the wealthy elite of 1940s New York society. With the virtuous Molly (Rooney Mara) loyally by his side, Stanton plots to con a dangerous tycoon (Richard Jenkins) with the aid of a mysterious psychiatrist (Cate Blanchett) who might be his most formidable opponent yet.

In UK and Irish cinemas on Friday 21st January

Directed by Guillermo del Toro

Starring Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Toni Collette, David Strathairn, Willem Dafoe, Ron Perlman and Richard Jenkins 

REVIEW: Mage Drops on PC (Steam)

Mage Drops is a Golf/Platform/Puzzle game from the good people at Orchid of Redemption.

In recent times we have seen quite a few of these Golf/Platform/Puzzle type games, but how does Mage Drops stack up against some of the previous releases in this ever-expanding genre.

As always when reviewing an "Early Access" game, it is worth pointing out that the game is not the finished article yet, the developers are still tweaking the game, listening to player feedback, adding or removing features to try and get the game as good as possible.

When loading up the game, the first thing you will notice is how pretty everything looks. And when things look really good, you instantly know that the developers have spent a lot of time and love on crafting a game, and with Mage Drops that is very apparent from the start.

Each course/level has the basics of golf, you start at the tee, and you need to get the ball in the cup. Aiming is done with a simple dotted line, which you can lengthen, lower, and so on until you get the desired shot. The cup itself is quite large, this instantly tells you that the platforming or puzzle elements are going to be more important than a millimetre precision shot.

Read Full Review

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2021/11/review-mage-drops-on-pc-steam.html

It’s back to the classroom as Ackley Bridge returns for a fifth series

Ashley Walters (Top Boy, Bulletproof) will make his directing debut

Award-winning Ackley Bridge will return to Channel 4 and All4 for a fifth series in 2022, with 10x30 new episodes commissioned from The Forge.

Ackley's back for more high-jinx plans, scams, and mad-cap adventures in school and on the estate. We'll pick up with our trio – Johnny (Ryan Dean - The Gentleman, Penny on M.A.R.S.), Kayla (Robyn Cara -Life, Hounslow Diaries) and Fizza (Yasmin Al Khudhairi - Hilda)  - as they try to navigate the second half of the school year. Elsewhere, life gets complicated for Marina (Megan Morgan - Hollyoaks), Kayla's popular Queen Bee sister, just as her younger brother Kyle (Adam Little – Years and Years), Ackley's newest pupil and troublemaker, turns up at school, fresh out of juvie. It's been a year already jam-packed with love triangles, catfishing, compulsive liars and one utterly joyous (albeit failed) gypsy wedding. But it's not over until the last school bell rings and there's still plenty of time before the sun breaks on the summer holidays…

And for the adults, life is just as chaotic. Martin (Rob James Collier – Downton Abbey) finds his role as Head under the spotlight as Ken (George Potts - Brassic) - true to form – continues to be a raging pain in the proverbial. Things get trickier still for Martin when Asma (Laila Zaidi – Benidorm, Holby City), Ackley's new hotshot teacher joins the staff to immediately ruffle some feathers. Kaneez (Sunetra Sarker – Informer, The Bay) is back at the beating heart of the school and is presented with her biggest challenge yet, in the form of new boy Kyle. Sue (Charlie Hardwick - Emmerdale) does her best to impress Ken which could lead to a change in career.

Rebecca Holdsworth, Channel 4 Commissioning Editor said: "I'm thrilled to be revisiting Ackley Bridge to see what is in store for our pupils and teachers. Series 5 promises the same trademark mix of funny, heartfelt and hard-hitting stories."

George Ormond, Executive Producer, The Forge, added: "We're delighted to be back for another series in our rowdy school and our left-behind town.  It's been a lot of fun coming up with series 5 and we can't wait to share it."

Nida Manzoor’s award-winning, bold music comedy We Are Lady Parts recommissioned for a second series

We Are Lady Parts has been recommissioned for a second series for Channel 4. Series two will also launch on Peacock in the US.

Series one explored the highs and lows of the band, named Lady Parts, as seen through the eyes of Amina Hussain (played by Anjana Vasan) – a geeky microbiology PhD student, on the lookout for love. Amina is recruited to be the bands' unlikely lead guitarist. Lady Parts' fierce and enigmatic frontwoman Saira (Sarah Kameela Impey) sees something in Amina and uses her desperation to find a husband as leverage, offering to set her up with potential matches if she agreed to join the band. Amina soon gets swept up in their joyful, anarchic energy and punk spirit. But she's caught between two different worlds – her more strait-laced uni friends and the band, who urge her to find her voice. Series one ended with the band reuniting on stage, following an exposing interview, for a kick-ass performance. With the support of her fellow band members, Amina manages to overcome her vomit-inducing stage fright and takes her place on centre stage, where she belongs - much to the delight of their newly found adoring fans!

Nida Manzoor, Writer, Creator and Director: "I feel so incredibly lucky and excited to have the opportunity to make a second series of We Are Lady Parts. I can't wait to delve back into the world of the band and go deeper into their lives. Expect more high jinks, more music, and more flights of fancy. SPARTA!"

REVIEW: Hyperball Tachyon on PC (Steam)

From Rendah Games comes Hyperball Tachyon, a fast-moving 2D platform game, where you control a ball as you bounce and jump through increasingly difficult levels.

The basic idea of the game is to get from the start point to the finish line in as fast a time as possible.

At first things start out pretty simple, but soon you will face various obstacles including sand traps, water, spikes and so on.

Your ball can do a basic extra jump, but in the differing levels you will find things that help you and things that hinder you.

For example, a collectable that will allow you an extra jump, or columns of wind that will either push you along, or hold you down. This game is all about learning the physics of the ball, and using it to your advantage.

Read Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2021/11/review-hyperball-tachyon-on-pc-steam.html

Samson Kayo & Jane Horrocks return to Sky in an all new bigger and bolder series of BLOODS

Katherine Kelly and Nathan Foad join the cast of the comedy including Lucy Punch, Julian Barratt, Adrian Scarborough, Kevin Garry, Sam Campbell and Aasiya Shah.

Filming has started on a new series of Sky Original Bloods, Sky's critically acclaimed paramedic comedy starring BAFTA nominated Samson Kayo and Golden Globe nominated Jane Horrocks. The bigger 10-episode deal will be made for Sky by BAFTA award-winning Roughcut TV (Stath Lets Flats, People Just Do Nothing, Cuckoo) in association with Sky Studios. It will air on Sky Comedy and streaming service NOW in two viewing drops coming in 2022.

Bloods follows tough-acting loner Maleek (Kayo) and over-friendly divorcee Wendy (Horrocks), a pair of mismatched paramedics and their fellow ambulance station colleagues through the life-saving world of a south London emergency service. Katherine Kelly (Innocent, Liar) joins the cast in the two new series as the ambulance stations acting counsellor and listening ear and Nathan Foad (Our Flag Means Death) will play Wendy's son Spencer.

The shows returning cast include; Lucy Punch (Motherland) as boisterous station boss Jo and Julian Barratt (Mighty Boosh) as grieving widower Lawrence. Adrian Scarborough (Gavin and Stacey) and Aasiya Shah (Raised By Wolves) reprise their roles as Gary and Kareshma, paramedics with diametrically opposing career outlooks, and Kevin Garry (Ted Lasso) and Sam Campbell (Melbourne International Comedy Festival Barry Award winner) as the glued-to-the-hip duo of paramedics Darrell and Darryl.

The news comes as it is revealed that US streaming service Hulu has acquired the series in a multi-season deal. The first series of Bloods is set to debut on the streamer next month on December 9.  

The hit first series has been described as "A magnificent paramedic comedy full of gallows humour ★★★★★" by The Independent and containing "lovable characters and an impressive high hit rate of gags" by TV Times, while Radio Times described Kayo and Horrocks as "an unexpectedly dazzling comedy duo." The 10x30min episodes will be shot at North London Studios and in various locations in South London and will continue to bring humorous relief to the world and characters of the paramedic service while recognising the talent of those who put their own lives at risk in an emergency to help keep us safe and healthy.

Samson Kayo said: "I'm so excited the BLOODS team are back together again for this new bigger and bolder series. With ten episodes, there is going to be loads more laughs, friendship and fun for fans to enjoy. Maleek is reunited with his miss-matched paramedic partner Wendy and he can't wait to hit the roads again in their ambulance!"

Jane Horrocks said: "I am very much looking forward to getting back to Bloods for series 2. The scripts are already banging and Wendy is getting more naughty!"

COMPETITION! Win Faraday Protocol on Nintendo Switch or PS4

We have 2 codes to give away each for Switch and PS4.

To enter just click the link below to go to Twitter and Like and Retweet, and give us a follow @GamingCouchSpud

We will DM winners on Twitter after 2 weeks

https://twitter.com/GamingCouchSpud/status/1460198513191628803

Faraday Protocol is a first-person puzzle game that will test your wits and intelligence, challenging your critical thinking. You are Raug Zeekon: interstellar archeologist from planet Cunor. You have been sent by your company to investigate the source of a mysterious signal coming from an unexplored star.

The Bia Tool, an ancient relic of an alien civilization, is the first mystery you uncover when arriving in OPIS. Unsure of its true purpose you start wielding it to solve the challenges on your path. With its ability to absorb energy and the option to redistribute it to different machinery, you start digging deeper and deeper into the temples, encountering even harder puzzles that will test your savvy and abilities in problem solving. Are you smart enough to solve every challenge thrown at you?

You encounter a mysterious robotic voice. Her name is IRIS, an A.I. created to guard the ancient structures of OPIS. The complex seems to have been abandoned for aeons, but what was its purpose? Rooms filled with puzzles, getting more and more sophisticated and challenging as you progress through them. Who built them? Why would someone build a training facility like this on an otherwise abandoned planet?

Features:

Puzzle your way through the mysterious space station OPIS

Use the Bia-Tool to absorb and redistribute energy

Unravel the many mysteries of the station and its governing A.I. IRIS

Find hidden collectibles that reward especially attentive players

Experience a unique blend of retrofuturism

REVIEW: BitMaster on Nintendo Switch

BitMaster seems like it should be a game made for Nintendo Switch, it is a twin stick shooter, you shoot at enemies while skating around on a hoverboard.

The game is described as being inspired by such classics as Geometry Wars, Crimson Land and Satellite Reign, but does it measure up?

There are 100 waves of enemies to face (20 different kinds of enemy), after 20 waves you will face a boss, and then another 20 waves and so on.

You can collect new guns and unlock new characters to play with, the environment changes colours, and different areas will benefit or harm your character.

For example, in one area your shield will regenerate faster, in another, your weapon may fire slower rounds.

Read Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2021/11/review-bitmaster-on-nintendo-switch.html