David Farnor | On 26, Mar 2021

BritBox continues to build on its distinctive streaming proposition this month with a new batch of British films, the latest seasons of McDonald & Dodds, Unforgotten and Staged, the timely BBC drama Noughts + Crosses, the excellent documentary McQueen, and Lynda La Plante’s original Widows ITV series.

Here’s what’s coming soon to BritBox in April 2021:

Staged: Season 2 (Extended Edition) – 1st April

The critically acclaimed series, written and directed by Simon Evans, produced and co-created by Phin Glynn, and starring David Tennant (Good Omens, Doctor Who) and Michael Sheen (Good Omens, Masters of Sex) was filmed entirely throughout the UK’s lockdowns. Absurd and humorous in equal measure the series also stars Georgia Tennant, Anna Lundberg and Lucy Eaton, as well as eminent surprise guest stars. Each BritBox episode will feature an additional 7 minutes of material in comparison to the versions broadcast.

It’s Tommy Cooper (1969-1971) – 1st April

Tommy Cooper’s series for London Weekend followed hot on the heels of his phenomenally successful three-year-run of Life With Cooper and set him firmly on the path to television superstardom through the 1970s and beyond. Featuring all 11 episodes of London Weekend Television series.

League of Gentlemen Live Again! (2018) – 1st April

The League of Gentlemen return to the stage with their live show. The tour features Bafta Award-winning comedy legends Reece Shearsmith, Steve Pemberton, Mark Gatiss and Jeremy Dyson, bringing their deliciously dark and unhinged fictional village of Royston Vasey to theatres and arenas across the country.

Men Behaving Badly (1992-1998) – 1st April

All six seasons of the sitcom which follows the misadventures of laddish flatmates Gary and Tony. Starring Martin Clunes and Neil Morrissey.

Film4 Collection – 1st April

Comedy additions to the film collection this month include Alan Patridge: Alpha Papa (2013), Clockwise (1986), Gregory’s Two Girls (1999), Hear My Song (1991), God On The Rocks (1990), I’m All Right Jack (1959), The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953), The Lavender Hill Mob (1951), The Man in the White Suit (1951), Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), Whisky Galore (1949), 12 Years a Slave (2013), Hampstead (2017), Another Time, Another Place (1983), Comrades (1986), Shopping (1994) and The Disappearance of Harry (1982).

Man Stroke Woman (2005-2007) – 8th April

Comedy sketch show featuring the talents of Amanda Abbington, Daisy Haggard, Meredith MacNeill, Ben Crompton, Nick Burns and Nick Frost.

Indian Summers Series 1&2 (2015-2016) – 8th April

As Indian Summers begins, the stories of promises, secrets, politics, power, sex and love play out as the British Raj begins to falter and a nation opens its eyes to the possibilities of freedom…Starring Julie Walters, Jemima West and Henry Lloyd-Hughes.

Real Housewives of Jersey (2020) – 8th April

Reality series following the lifestyles of Jersey’s biggest characters, bringing fun, laughter, fall-outs and, of course, plenty of glitz.

Birds of a Feather Series 10 & 11 (2014) – 8th April

The most recent two seasons of the popular sitcom Starring Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph.

McDonald & Dodds Series 2, Episodes 1 & 2 (2021) – 8th April

The first two episodes of the second season of the popular detective drama starring Jason Watkins and Tala Gouveia.

The Nest (2020) – 15th April

A couple find out how far they are willing to go to have a baby. Emotional thriller about love, trust and the true cost of buying whatever you want. Starring Fiona Bell, Christine Bottomley and Martin Compston.

Friday Night Dinner Series 6 (2020) – 15th April

In series six of this popular sitcom Dad has some strange obsessions, Mum can’t contain herself when the boys get new ‘females’, Horrible Grandma wreaks more havoc – and Jim gets a new dog.

Diana: The Interview that Shook the World (2020) – 15th April

On 20th November, 1995, BBC Panorama broadcast the scoop of the century. A candid interview with Princess Diana in which she broke every protocol to expose traumas and scandal of life in the royal household. 25 years later, this film looks at how the broadcasting event of the century was orchestrated, what the interview revealed about modern society and new insights into the psychological portrait of Diana herself, a naïve young woman who believed in the fairy-tale of her marriage only to lose her sense of self in its realities.

Robin Hood (2006 – 2009) – 15th April

Back from the crusades, Robin Hood squares up to the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham. Wisecracks, romance and swashbuckling adventures in the fight for good. Starring Jonas Armstrong, Gordon Kennedy and Sam Troughton.

Agatha Christie: 100 Years of Poirot and Miss Marple (2020) – 15th April

To mark the centenary of the publication of Agatha Christie’s debut novel, a celebration of ten of her most beloved stories.

Noughts + Crosses (2020) – 22nd April

In a dystopian London, Sephy and Callum fall in love despite the odds. Can they breach the divide between the black elite and white underclass? Based on Malorie Blackman’s novels. Starring Masali Baduza, Jack Rowan and Jonathan Ajayi.

Kidnap & Ransom (2010-2012) – 22nd April

Trevor Eve is international hostage negotiator Dominic King in this thriller, alongside John Hannah, Helen Baxendale, Natasha Little and Emma Fielding.

The Planets (2019) – 22nd April

Professor Brian Cox explores the dramatic lives of the eight majestic planets/worlds that make up our solar system.

The Adam & Joe Show (1996-2001) – 22nd April

All four series of the hilarious and irreverent comedy from award-winning duo Adam Buxton and Joe Cornish.

McQueen (2018) – 22nd April

‘Lee’ Alexander McQueen’s rags-to-riches story is a modern-day fairy tale laced with the gothic. An unremarkable working-class boy from east London, McQueen harnessed his demons and went on to become a global one-man fashion brand and one of the most iconic artists of the century.

Centre Stage – 22nd April

The theatrical collection expands to include Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats (1998), Jesus Christ Superstar (2012), Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (2000) and The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall. Performances of Billy Elliot (2014) and the 25th anniversary performance of Miss Saigon (2016) will also be added alongside concert film Roger Waters: The Wall (2015).

Grace (2021) – 29th April

Acclaimed screenwriter and Endeavour creator, Russell Lewis, has adapted international bestseller Peter James’, Dead Simple, his debut novel from the award-winning Roy Grace series. John Simm takes the lead role of the tenacious detective.

Mister Winner (2020) – 29th April

Sitcom following ironically named Leslie Winner, who, despite all his best intentions, is forever finding himself in disastrous situations. Starring Spencer Jones, Lucy Pearman and Shaun Williamson.

Unforgotten Series 4 (2021) – 29th April

The latest season of the British crime drama centered around a historical crime, unravelling secrets left buried for years. The programme follows two London detectives DCI Cassie Stuart and DI Sunny Khan, as they work to solve cases involving disappearances and murders. Starring Nicola Walker and Sanjeev Bhaskar.

Widows Complete Series (1983-1985) – 29th April

Dolly Rawlins, Linda Perelli and Shirley Miller have one thing in common; their husbands are all members of the same gang. After a terrible accident when their husbands are killed attempting to hold up a security van, each woman has the chance to stop, take stock and start life afresh. However, when Dolly finds the plans for the robbery it begs the question; suppose they were to finish what their husbands started? Starring Ann Mitchell, Fiona Hendley and Kate Williams.

WW1: The Final Hours (2018) – 29th April

One hundred years after the end of the First World War, this documentary uncovers the extraordinary events leading up to the Armistice negotiations, and the repercussions that would ripple across the continent, and throughout the 20th century – sometimes with catastrophic consequences.

Bergerac Series 1 & 2 (1981-1983) – 29th April

John Nettles stars as the eponymous detective in the police drama series set in Jersey.

 

A subscription to BritBox UK costs £5.99 a month, with titles available in HD.

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