Here’s to some sharper satire, new faces, and fewer reminders of real-world misery in 2021
1 January 2021 • 11:00am
Why don t the terrestrial channels have a period drama to rival Netflix s Bridgerton?
Credit: Liam Daniel/Netflix
It’s that time of year when we look back at what’s gone right (not much in 2020, let’s be honest), cringe at what’s gone wrong (a rather longer list) and vow to do better.
So what should be television’s targets for 2021? Here are 10 things we’d like to see our broadcasters do. Thankfully, none of them involve giving up drinking/smoking/meat/fun…
Updated: 2 Jan 2021, 12:11
The Serpent s Jenna Coleman has revealed the new backpacking murder drama was the scariest challenge of her career.
The 34-year-old has swapped her regal role as Queen Victoria in the ITV period drama for a serial killer s accomplice in the new BBC series.
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Jenna Coleman has revealed her role in The Serpent was the most challenging of her career Credit: BBC
Jenna plays Marie-Andrée Leclerc, who is besotted with her lover, serial killer Charles Sobhraj (Tahar Rahim), and helps him carry out his crimes.
The new BBC drama depicts the true story of Sobhraj’s reign of terror as he killed countless travellers in Thailand, Nepal and India during the 1970s, drugging them and often stealing their identities.
In new snaps from the Channel 4 show, lead stars Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult were seen getting steamy as they stripped naked for sex scenes that are set to feature in the drama.
Updated: 31 Dec 2020, 15:33
THE Serpent s Tahar Rahim has admitted he has wanted to play the sadistic & evil serial killer in the new BBC drama since he was a teen.
The 39-year-old French actor plays real life serial killer Charles Sobhraj, with the new series depicting his reign of terror as he killed countless travellers in Thailand, Nepal and India during the 1970s, drugging them and often stealing their identities.
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Tahar Rahim has revealed how he wanted to play the serial killer in The Serpent since he was a teenager Credit: BBC
Speaking about why he wanted to play such an evil person on screen, Tahar said: When I was sixteen my brother was reading a book - this big thick book by his bed, and he was so into it. It was ‘The Life and Crimes of Charles Sobhraj’… so I read it too, and I became fascinated by it.
Letters
Somehow we still ended up being told a story entirely from the perspective of the white European characters, writes
Rachel Stone of the BBC adaptation
The BBC’s adaptation of Black Narcissus. Photograph: Miya Mizuno/FX
The BBC’s adaptation of Black Narcissus. Photograph: Miya Mizuno/FX
Thu 31 Dec 2020 13.12 EST
Last modified on Thu 31 Dec 2020 23.36 EST
Lucy Mangan’s review (27 December) of the BBC adaptation of Black Narcissus made the point that this empire-era tale is very much of its time. As she pointed out, the right ingredients were there, but somehow it didn’t hit the mark. I would like to suggest why.