American subscription streaming service owned by Apple, originals hub since 2019
Sophie, a long-time fan of BBC Radio 4’s The Archers, has joined Ambridge regulars in a Thursday episode recorded secretly in May at the BBC Mailbox in Birmingham. The duchess appears as a surprise guest at the Borchester Show in the drama’s 75th anniversary year, in her real-life role as honorary president of LEAF. Cast members include Tim Bentinck, David Troughton and Susie Riddell.
Netflix is exploring always-on live TV channels and publisher-backed short-form videos to boost engagement and ad revenue. The moves come as the streamer seeks to curb audience declines, test new formats, and compete with free services and short videos.
Apple TV’s Cape Fear reimagines the 1962 and 1991 thrillers for today, with Javier Bardem as Max Cady and Amy Adams and Patrick Wilson as the Bowdens. The 10-part series leans into modern anxieties, preserving key scenes while intensifying the nightmare. Director Nick Antosca aims for a nightmare remix rather than a straight remake.
Maureen Beattie has been cast as Lear in a new Pitlochry Festival Theatre production adapted and directed by Finn den Hertog. The show, staged by artistic director Alan Cumming, has opened a run from 4 July to 1 August 2026 and reframes King Lear as a matriarchal tragedy performed by a largely Scottish company.
The final season of The Bear lands with high-stakes energy. Carmy faces mounting pressure as staff, space, and supply collapse in a single-day arc. The finale delivers a tense close that redefines the show’s arc while reuniting fans with its core crew.
Coughlans Bakery has ceased trading and entered voluntary liquidation after rising business rates, employer national insurance contributions, and fuel costs added to a challenging financial climate. Romesh Ranganathan, a co-owner since 2024, has shared in the heartbreak as staff and suppliers face the impact.
The Minions & Monsters franchise continues to ride high on box office success, with Coffin defending its bridge to cinema history while the latest film tests whether silent era nostalgia can translate into new, daring storytelling.
Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie has been updated for 2026, expanding the frontier story with new Indigenous and Black characters while aiming for historical nuance. Rebecca Sonnenshine’s adaptation keeps the core journey of the Ingalls family but confronts questions of land, treaties and representation in a more explicit way.
Justin Baldoni and wife Emily say they have faced trauma from a long-running legal battle with Blake Lively over harassment and retaliation claims. The case has been settled ahead of a trial, with judges dismissing parts of the claims and both sides expressing gratitude while acknowledging ongoing pain.
Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey has sparked global discourse as Hollywood’s latest epic. With a $250m IMAX shoot, Lupita Nyong’o, Anne Hathaway and Tom Holland headline a human-centered retelling of Homer’s tale, focusing on Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus as they navigate re-emergence, loyalty and home.