Watch it! 9 hot TV drops new this week
It’s Jeremy Allen White, Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman, Lily Gladstone, Eva Longoria and Celine Dion versus the heatwave this week! Book mark these nine screen sizzlers for when the weather takes a turn.
PICK OF THE WEEK
The Bear, Disney+, Thu 27 Jun
Forget Polin, it’s Jeremy Allen White’s turn to steam up our screens! He’s back as Carmy, cooking up a stressy storm in The Bear kitchen and, with his sights firmly set on that Michelin star, he’s more nervy, pernickety and frazzled than ever – which is just the way we like him. Ayo Edebiri, Abby Elliott, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Liza Colón-Zayas and Lionel Boyce are among the cast favourites returning for another helping of this fast, furious, fantastic series.
I Am: Celine Dion, Prime Video, Tue 25 Jun
Before Taylor Swift was selling out global arenas, there was Celine Dion. After a devastating diagnosis of stiff person syndrome – a rare neurological disorder which restricts movement, causes spasms and has affected her voice – the Queen of the air-grabbing ballad has had her world turned upside down. This moving documentary by award-winning director, Irene Taylor, follows a year in Dion’s life as she tries to manage her illness. Part celebration of her career part tribute to her impressive resolve to continue singing, I Am: Celine Dion is heartbreaking and inspiring in equal measures.
Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge, Disney+, Tue 25 Jun
We all have at least one wrap dress hanging in our wardrobes and for that we owe a sizeable stylish debt to its inventor, Belgian designer Diane von Furstenberg. Yet, as this riveting documentary will reveal, the wrap dress is the least interesting thing about her! The daughter of an Auschwitz survivor, wife of a German prince, Studio 54 frequenter and all round feminist icon, DVF reveals all in this candid film by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Trish Dalton. Featuring interviews with Oprah and Hilary Clinton as well as friends and family, you’ll be wearing your wrap dress with pride after watching this.
Land of Women, Apple TV+, Wed 26 Jun
Eva Longoria returns to her Desperate Housewives roots in this cracking dramedy based on the award-winning book by Sandra Barneda. In Land of Women she plays well-to-do New Yorker, Gala, who is forced to go into hiding when her husband does a runner after failing to repay his debt to some dangerous criminals. With her stroppy teen Kate (Victoria Bazúa) and elderly mother Julia (Carmen Maura) in tow, Gala leaves New York for her mother’s hometown in Northern Spain only for her past and present to collide in explosive style. An easy, breezy watch.
Supacell, Netflix, Thu 27 Jun
If Top Boy and the Marvel Universe collided, you’d get Supacell, the latest TV offering from rapper turned director, Rapman aka Andrew Onwubolu. The six-episode series follows five South Londoners who develop super powers during moments of high stress. The fantastic five eventually unite to try and figure out what, if any, is the purpose of their powers. This slow but riveting burn stars Adelayo Adedayo, Josh Tedeku, Tosin Cole and Eric Kofi-Abrefa, expertly blending urban grit with sci-fi for some tip-top viewing.
My Lady Jane, Prime Video, Thu 27 Jun
What if Lady Jane Grey was never executed? This is pretty much the premise of dark comedy My Lady Jane which offers the ‘Nine Day Queen’ an alternative life, one which involves adventure, scheming, love and a lot of sex. Based on the book by Gemma Burgess and starring Dominic Cooper, Rob Brydon, Anna Chancellor, Jim Broadbent, Edward Bluemel and Emily Bader, this steamy, star-studded swashbuckler should go some way to fill the Bridgerton shaped void in your life.
Douglas is Cancelled, ITV1, Thu 27 Jun
Hugh Bonneville cuts an awkward figure in this juicy new drama exploring cancel culture. He plays a white, privileged, popular and trusted news anchor whose career goes up in flames after a sexist joke he made at a wedding is leaked to social media. To make matters worse, his co-anchor Madeline (Karen Gillan) reshares the post – cue chaos and some ill-advised damage control. Though show creator Steven Moffat argues the series isn’t based on anyone or event in particular, Douglas is Cancelled resembles plenty of sexist remarks that have made headlines of late.
Fancy Dance, Apple TV+, Fri 28 Jun
Consider the great Friday night film debate closed as this week you’ll be watching Fancy Dance.Erica Tremblay’s poignant debut follows Jax (Killers of the Flower Moon breakout star, Lily Gladstone) who has been tasked with looking after her teenage niece, Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olsen) since the disappearance of her sister, Tawi. Faced with the prospect of losing custody of Roki, the pair go on a road trip to find Tawi leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Documenting the present Native American experience and highlighting the difficulties for Indigenous women in a colonised world, Fancy Dance is thoughtful and affecting, further cementing Gladstone’s rising star.
A Family Affair, Netflix, Fri 28 Jun
Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron and Joey King find themselves in a rather awkward ménage à trois in new rom-com, A Family Affair. Zara’s (King) personal and professional worlds collide when her mum (Kidman) starts dating her movie star boss (Efron). Kathy Bates and Liza Koshy also star in this hilarious, light-hearted watch from King of romance, Richard LaGravenese (PS I Love You, The Bridges of Madison County).