Never anything on the telly you say? We heartily disagree.
The term ‘noir’ simply wasn’t dark enough to describe this series when it first reared its ugly head early last year. Although the ending didn’t quite hit all the right notes for many of the fans, the inspired casting choice to reunite Woody Harelson and Matthew McConaughey made for a magnetic piece of storytelling that had viewers champing at the bit in anticipation of the next week’s instalment.
In many ways, it’s a shame that the two megastars won’t be returning, particularly McConaughey’s nihilistic existentialist, Rust Cohle. The creators have their minds set on an anthology series that will delve into a fresh batch of characters with each season but what will remain constant is the show’s signature slickness set in a world so moody it makes Sin City look like Sesame Street.
This time, the unlikely pairing of Colin Farrell and Vince Vaughn take centre stage as a corrupt cop and brutal gangster respectively. It’ll be interesting to see Vaughn step out of his comedy comfort zone (especially as that went dry for him some time ago) while Farrell might well be the comic relief if his moustache is anything to go by.
Jack Black stars opposite Tim Robbins in this satirical comedy centred on a geopolitical crisis in Pakistan. Now there’s an unlikely sentence!
Robbins plays an alcoholic Secretary of State with an unhealthy preoccupation with the ladies while Black is a sex-obsessed diplomat at the US embassy in Islamabad who likes nothing more than to hit the bong. Joining them is Pablo Schreiber (Pornstache in Orange is the New Black) as a perpetually high, drug dealing fighter pilot.
So, expect a fair amount of sex and drugs to be involved as these three reprobates attempt to thwart an international incident and prevent World War 3. This one holds a lot of promise if executed properly.
How do you get some of the Mafia’s most notorious enforcers to reveal the details of the world’s most infamous criminal organisation? Easy, just send in Trev!
Armed only with his quintessential British charm, the broadcaster interviews various former-mobsters, from hitmen to extortionists, as he tries to piece together a picture of the money, the glamour and the violence that makes up “The Mob”.
In the first of a two-part series, Trevor heads for New York, the spiritual home of the Mafia, where he sits down with John Alite, one of the most cold-blooded killers in Mafioso history as well as Michael ‘Mikey Scars’ DiLeonardo, an FBI informant.
Don’t fancy your chances out in a field in Somerset while you pray that those dark clouds in the distance don’t spell 72 hours of non-stop rain? Well then try this out instead.
Jo Whiley, Mark Radcliffe, Lauren Laverne and Gemma Cairney will be overseeing the events as they unfold, offering you exclusive access to the biggest music event of the year – all from the comfort of your own home.
Friday night will see the likes of Florence and the Machine, Rudimental, Hit Chip and (after Metallica’s huge success last year) heavy metal legends Motörhead.
Coverage will continue throughout the weekend with appearances from Kanye West, Deadmaus, The Who, Paul Weller, Alt-J, The Chemical Brothers and Jamie T among others.
What will Top Gear be without the irreverent Jeremy Clarkson at the wheel?
It truly is an end of an era as Britain’s best export says goodbye to the loud-mouthed lunatic who, along with his devoted side-kicks Richard Hammond and James May, turned a simple show for motoring enthusiasts into an international phenomenon.
The programme will be made up of pre-recorded films from the final 3 episodes of series 22 that were never completed following the ‘fracas’ between Clarkson and one of the show’s producers.
The show isn’t exactly dead as Chris Evans is set to fill the enormous shoes (figuratively and literally) of Clarkson going forward. Whether or not he will be able to replicate the spirit of the show as we know it is yet to be seen, but for now we’re left to say goodbye to the lads, and on that bombshell, it’s goodnight!
