DERRY GIRLS actress Siobhan McSweeney has said her parents dying was the “best gift” they gave her. The Cork star was left devastated after the death of her father while she was shooting the second season of hit show, DERRY GIRLS. Her mother, Mary, died in 2005, the same year she graduated from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. But opening up about her parents’ death, Siobhan said losing them was the “best gift” they gave her.
Irish actress Niamh Algar is set to star in darkly funny crime series CULPRITS. Niamh, from Mullingar, Co Westmeath, plays Psycho in the Disney+ series. The eight-part show will premiere on Disney+ this autumn. CULPRITS kicks off where most crime stories end – after a high-stakes heist. The crew of elite criminals have gone their separate ways and have tried to leave their old lives behind but their past and present collide when a ruthless assassin starts targeting them one by one.
The Northern Ireland-based crime series, HOPE STREET, whose first season premiered on public television stations last year, is now airing on some stations as well as on select PBS streaming services. Set in the fictional town of Port Devine on the Northern Irish coast, Hope Street follows an English detective constable, who is a Muslim with Pakistani-born parents, as she works in this sleepy coastal town.
GAME OF THRONES star Jack Gleeson will make a return to acting in a BBC adaption of Enid Blyton’s THE FAMOUS FIVE, almost ten years after he announced he was quitting Hollywood. Gleeson will star as Wentworth in the series, which famously follows young five explorers as they find themselves caught up in mysteries and adventures. The series is set to debut on the BBC, and will be based on Enid Blyton’s 21 stories which were published between 1942 to 1962 – however which specific story the series will take inspiration from is unknown. Filming is currently underway in the south of England.
Apple TV’s BAD SISTERS leads this year’s Irish nominations at the 75th Emmy Awards, with Sharon Horgan and Dearbhla Walsh among the Irish talent recognised, as well as TED LASSO director Declan Lowney. Horgan received two nominations for her work on Bad Sisters. She was recognised in the lead actress in a drama category and the writing category. Dearbhla Walsh, who directed the show, was nominated in the category for outstanding directing for a drama series.
Adrian Dunbar is on his way back into his retired detective inspector boots as Alex Ridley for a second season of crime-solving detective drama RIDLEY. ITV has confirmed that the LINE OF DUTY star, best known as Superintendent Ted Hastings in the BBC’s police corruption drama, is set to step into his crime consulting role once again for the next instalment. RIDLEY season 1 racked up 7.1 million viewers when it first landed and maintained around 6.3 million viewers going forward. It was named ITV’s fourth biggest drama launch of 2022.
Happy birthday to Eve Hewson. The Dublin actress’ first major role was in the 2011 drama film THIS MUST BE THE PLACE, and she made her television debut as Nurse Lucy Elkins in the 2014 Steven Soderbergh series THE KNICK. Hewson’s got a ton of work on her plate these days. She’s been spending time in Cape Cod shooting a limited series for Netflix, THE PERFECT COUPLE, based on Elin Hilderbrand’s bestseller alongside Nicole Kidman, Dakota Fanning, and Liev Schreiber.
The Tower Museum was absolutely buzzing on Monday evening as guests gathered for the opening of the new DERRY GIRLS Experience, paying homage to the award-winning show that’s taken the world by storm. The unique collection features a quirky array of familiar items from the series, provided courtesy of Hat Trick Productions and Lisa McGee herself, which will now be used to build on the show’s legacy and create a memorable visitor experience for fans. The exhibition, supported by Tourism N. Ireland, Visit Derry and Derry City and Strabane District Council, will remain on display at the Tower Museum until July 2024.