Here's what's got me talking this week...
It's that time of the week again where I take a look back at the last 7 days to see what has got me talking the most.
From EastEnders to a raft of Netflix announcements and more, here are my 4 telly talking points of the week...
1
Natalie Cassidy as
SONIA FOWLER
leaving EastEnders after 32 years
This week, it was confirmed that Natalie Cassidy will sadly be leaving EastEnders, and waving goodbye to Albert Square, more than three decades after her first appearance as Sonia Fowler.
Details on how Sonia will leave and when, is being kept under wraps, but it's expected to be around the show's 40th anniversary in February.
Sonia is currently involved in a major storyline in which she was freed from prison following her sister Bianca's "confession" to killing Reiss' wife, Debbie.
However, Sonia doesn't know that it's Reiss who is the guilty one and ever since Bianca found out, he's been keeping her sister locked up in his storage unit. But as Sonia's suspicions over Bianca's confession surface, could time be running out for Reiss? And will the climax of this storyline see us wave goodbye to a true EastEnders legend?
EastEnders continues Mondays to Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One with first look episodes available from 6am on BBC iPlayer
2
DAVID TENNANT
starring in ITV1’s new drama The Hack alongside Toby Jones
Some actors you can rely on to always deliver an incredible performance and David Tennant is most certainly one of them. So when ITV announced that he'll be starring in their new drama from Jack Thorne and the team from Mr Bates vs The Post Office, I was immediately on board.
Written by Jack Thorne, The Hack is a new seven-part drama about the phone hacking scandal, set between 2002 and 2012. The drama deftly interweaves two real life stories, the work of investigative journalist Nick Davies, played by David Tennant, who uncovered evidence of phone hacking at the News of the World.
Running parallel will be the story of the investigation into the unsolved murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan, led by former Met Police Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Cook, played by Robert Carlyle. With Toby Jones playing former Editor-in Chief of The Guardian, Alan Rusbridger.
The Hack will air on ITV1
3
THE GREAT CELEBRITY BAKE OFF
revealing their 2025 line-up
Every year, to raise vital funds for cancer research, 20 well-known faces enter the famous Bake Off tent, in the hope of being named Star Baker. And this week, ahead of the new series, Channel 4 revealed who'd be taking part.
This year's line-up includes comedian & podcaster Adam Buxton, comedian and presenter Amelia Dimoldenberg, podcaster and broadcaster Chris Ramsey, model, actor, author and changemaker Ellie Goldstein, actor, writer and director Gbemisola Ikumelo and broadcaster Gloria Hunniford OBE.
Also taking part will be comedian, actor and documentary maker Jamali Maddix, actor and writer Jim Howick, TV presenter and broadcaster Kate Garraway, actors and writers Maxine Peake and Meera Syal and comedian Phil Wang.
Completing the line-up are broadcaster Roman Kemp, podcaster & broadcaster Rosie Ramsey, broadcaster, best-selling author, businesswoman and podcaster Sarah Beeny, TV presenters and property experts Scarlette and Stuart Douglas, singer, songwriter & actor Self Esteem (Rebecca Lucy Taylor), actor, writer & comedian Sophie Willan and comedian & actor Tommy Tiernan.
This year, they'll have to impress Paul Hollywood and new judge Caroline Waldegrave OBE, who takes over from Prue Leith, who has stepped away from the Bake Off specials but will return for the regular series later this year.
The Great Celebrity Bake Off returns this Spring on Channel 4
4
NETFLIX
announcing what's coming up in 2025
On Thursday, Netflix held their annual showcase of films, series and games coming in 2025, at the Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles. And here are the things that caught my attention about what was discussed.
An exclusive first-look deal with Lena Dunham was announced, which will see her develop and create serialised projects through her production company Good Thing Going.
Guests included Tina Fey, who was there to speak about her upcoming adaptation of Alan Alda's 1981 film, The Four Seasons. The eight-part series follows six old friends as they head for a relaxing weekend away only to learn that one couple in the group is about to split up. It stars Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Will Forte, Kerri Kenney, Colman Domingo and Marco Calvani. Take a first look here.
Having just wrapped production, it was confirmed that Wednesday will be returning later this year for a brand new season. And speaking of huge Netflix dramas, 2025 will be the year we say goodbye to Squid Game, confirmed to now be on 27th June, and Stranger Things later on in the year.
Speaking on stage at the even, The Duffer Brothers described the upcoming final season of Stranger Things as their "biggest and most ambitious season yet." But this won't be the last Netflix show they work on, as they'll return in 2026, executive producing The Boroughs and Something Very Bad is Going to Happen.
It was also announced that new drama Toxic Town, starring Jodie Whittaker, will be available from 27th February and Adolescence, starring Ashley Walters and Stephen Graham will be available from 13th March .
Other key dramas for 2025 include Death by Lightning from David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, Zero Day starring Robert De Niro, Black Rabbit starring and executive produced by Jason Bateman and Jude Law and The Beast in Me with Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys.
New shows announced, included new comedy Tyler Perry’s She The People, new documentaries, Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds, American Manhunt: Osama Bin Laden, Chaos: The Manson Murders, Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer, Katrina: Come Hell and High Water, Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey, Titan and Eddie, which you can read all about here.
Before his tragic death, Liam Payne had worked as a judge on Netflix's new competition show Building the Band, alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Kelly Rowland. Whilst the show's future remained unclear, it has now been confirmed that the show will air this year.
Building the Band gives singers complete control as they form their own bands without ever seeing each other. All they have to go on is musical compatibility, connection, chemistry and merit.
And finally, whilst we're on the subject of competition shows, speaking at the event, Netflix's Chief Content Officer, Bela Bajaria also announced that, in the future, viewers will be able to cast a vote live right from their screen, which they hope will open up new opportunities.
Comments