What To Watch On Locked Out TV: Here Are The New Shows That Are Getting Excited | Ents & Arts News

With full lockdowns underway across the UK, it’s time to spend (even more) time in front of our TVs.

Here is our guide to the upcoming shows that will hopefully make life more bearable while COVID-19[female[feminine restrictions are in place over the next few weeks and months.

The Serpent – BBC iPlayer, now available

Inspired by real-life events, The Serpent tells how crook and killer Charles Sobhraj (Tahar Rahim; The Eagle) posed as a gem merchant and, along with his girlfriend Marie-Andree Leclerc (Jenna Coleman; Victoria, Doctor Who), committed a spate of crimes across Thailand, Nepal, and India in 1975 and 1976. They also became prime suspects in a string of murders of young Western travelers.

The look and feel of the era is recreated vividly and the story well told. On the other hand, there are a lot of time jumps which can be a bit confusing, but it’s elegant drama that’s well worth your focus.

A Discovery of Witches – Sky One and NOW TV, from January 8

Adapted from Deborah Harkness’ bestselling novel trilogy, this is a romantic thriller about a secret underworld of vampires, witches and demons, hiding in plain sight for fear of being persecuted by the humans.

This is the second season, and this time around Matthew (Matthew Goode, Downton Abbey) and Diana (Teresa Palmer, Hacksaw Ridge) lurk in the treacherous world of Elizabethan London – where they must find a powerful Witch Teacher to help Diana control her magic and search for the elusive Book of Life.

New cast members include Steven Cree (Outlander) as Gallowglass De Clermont, a vampire and soldier of fortune who particularly loves his uncle, Matthew. Sheila Hancock appears as the elder witch Goody Alsop, while James Purefoy plays the role of Philippe De Clermont – founder of the Congregation, commander of the Knights of Lazarus, companion of Ysabeau and stepfather of Matthew. (Daenerys Targaryen, Mother of Dragons, Khaleesi … etc devours your heart).

American Gods – Amazon Prime Video, from January 11

This is the third series of the drama based on the novel of the same name by Neil Gaiman, about a war waged between the old gods and the new ones.

After a few shocks at the end of the second series, it begins with the main character, Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle) hiding and trying to start a new life in a small town.

While the first set was well received, the second didn’t work out so well – however star Whittle (of Hollyoaks fame) said it was a “massive return to form”. Ian McShane (of ’80s Lovejoy fame) also stars and Marilyn Manson has also joined the cast for this season, playing the role of Johan Wengren, who is, rather deservedly, the frontman of a band of viking death metal called Blood Death.

The stand – Starzplay, out now

This scary pandemic series is adapted from a book by Stephen King.

Less than a million miles from the news footage we saw last year, the first episode can be difficult to watch, although the (very severe) flu in this series wipes out 99% of the population – and those who remain have strange dreams. involving a mysterious old lady (played by Whoopi Goldberg).

Alexander Skarsgard, James Marsden and Amber Heard – who gave an exclusive UK interview on the show to Sky News in 2020 – also a star.

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK – BBC iPlayer, from January 14

He is back! Twelve new competing queens – Tayce, Lawrence Chaney, Cherry Valentine, Tia Kofi, Bimini Bon Boulash, Ginny Lemon, Veronica Green, Sister Sister, Joe Black, Ellie Diamond, Asttina Mandella and A’Whora – are at your service, here to show you us the best of what the british drag scene has to offer.

Weekly challenges test their makeup skills, fashion sense, sewing skills, comedy, singing, acting, dancing, and lip syncing. With judges Michelle Visage, Graham Norton and Alan Carr – as well as RuPaul herself, of course – as well as guests Elizabeth Hurley, Sheridan Smith, Lorraine Kelly, MNEK and Jourdan Dunne, this is the perfect way to heal the blues. January (plus lockdown). .

Servant – Apple TV +, January 15 to January 15

Produced by Oscar-nominated director M Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Glass, Split), this chilling psychological horror series was one of the first shows to launch when Apple TV + launched in November 2019. Looks like that a long time ago, isn’t it? is not it?

The cast includes Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under), Toby Kebbell (Kong: Skull Island, Fantastic Four, Black Mirror), Nell Tiger Free (Game of Thrones) and Rupert Grint (Harry Potter), and series two, which will each see of the 10 episodes released each week, takes a supernatural turn. Prepare for the chills.

WandaVision – Disney +, from January 15

This one is an odd mix of classic television and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in which Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) – two overpowered beings living idealized suburban lives – “begin to suspect that all are not. ‘is not as it seems “.

Chief writer Jac Schaeffer described the series as “a love letter to the golden age of television,” but clearly with an unusual twist. Expect the unexpected …

It’s A Sin – Channel 4 / All 4, from January 22

This is a new five-part drama from multi-BAFTA (Queer As Folk, A Very English Scandal, Years and Years, Doctor Who) writer Russell T Davies that follows the story of the 1980s. , the story of AIDS, and traces the joy and sorrow of a group of friends over a decade in which everything has changed.

Musician and actor Olly Alexander (Years And Years, the band) leads the star-studded cast, which also includes Keeley Hawes, Stephen Fry, Neil Patrick Harris, Tracy Ann Oberman, Shaun Dooley and Omari Douglas.

The Masked Singer – ITV, Now Available

What launched as What I’m Watching on TV in February 2020 has now returned as a must-see Saturday night fixture, dare we say it. Yes, it’s very weird and silly, but it’s perfect for families and an hour or two of pure escape, which is what everyone needs right now.

In case you haven’t followed, here’s the premise: A bunch of celebrities, dressed up in some really good costumes, sing for a panel of judges – Davina McCall, Rita Ora, Jonathan Ross and newcomer Mo Gilligan – who do crazy guesses as to who is behind the mask. Audience members vote, sing “take it off” rather handily at the end, and the panel has the final say on who goes bottom scorers each week.

We say guesses are wild because, well, it’s probably unlikely that Madonna or Meghan Markle signed up to appear on prime-time TV disguised as an alien, but you never know. So far this year, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Spice Girl Mel B have already been unmasked, but don’t worry – Badger, Grandfather Clock, Sausage and more are still singing for you to enjoy.

Cobra Kai – Netflix, from January 8

Taking place 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, this long-running sequel to The Karate Kid – with original stars! – unsurprisingly became a great success

The series begins with the successful Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) struggling to maintain balance in his life without the guidance of Mr. Miyagi – and again faces his previous opponent, Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), who seeks the redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai karate dojo.

Now in the third season it’s easy to watch, and of course you can always binge on the first two to level up.

The Pembrokeshire Murders – ITV, from January 11

Luke Evans (Beauty and the Beast, Dracula Untold) stars in this latest true crime drama, a three-part miniseries depicting the investigation into the cold case of a serial killer. Adapted from the real-life crime book The Pembrokeshire Murders, written by senior investigative officer Steve Wilkins and ITV press reporter Jonathan Hill, it’s from the creators of Line Of Duty and Bodyguard, making it instantly a staple .

Wilkins reopened the case of two unsolved 1980s murders in 2006, and using forensic methods that were pioneering at the time, he and his team found microscopic DNA and fibers that could potentially link the murders to a series of burglaries – for which the culprit was already in prison.

Bulletproof: South Africa – Sky One, from January 20

Noel Clarke and Ashley Walters reprise their roles as best friends and partners Pike and Bishop for the third installment of this action-packed boyfriend series. This time, however, they left the wicked streets of London for the sunnier Cape Town of South Africa – and for a vacation, nothing less (some are fine, eh?).

After years of finding themselves in seriously dangerous situations with hardened criminals, the couple just want some rest and relaxation – but obviously things don’t go as planned.

More…

If you want more, you can always check out Sky News’ Backstage podcast team. selection of the best shows and films of 2020.