TV & Showbiz

Sneak peek at Netflix’s new Harlan Coben series filmed around Greater Manchester

No trailer yet but here's our first few glimpses.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 12th October 2024

Netflix’s latest Harlan Coben adaptation, which has been filmed all around Greater Manchester over recent months, officially has a release date.

Following the success of the best-selling thriller author’s previous shows on the streaming platform, both of which were also filmed at least in part around the region, they confirmed that a further two shows would be coming too.

The drama series is called Missing You and is based on Harlan Coben’s 2014 novel of the same name. Believe it or not, this is the NINTH time that Netflix has adapted one of his books (yes, nine!), with this being the third time they have filmed one of his works in and around Manchester.

Much like the story itself, the trio seem to have a bit of a love affair going on between them – though we promise you this one will be much more complicated…

Set to release on 1 January 2025, Missing You stars Rosalind Eleazar in the lead role as Kat Donovan, a detective specialising in Missing Persons.

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Starring alongside other big British names like Ashley Walters, Richard Armitage, Sir Lenny Henry; Steve Pemberton, Jessica Plummer and James Nesbitt, the series is once again produced by Quay Street Productions (part of ITV Studios).

Without giving too much away, here’s the synopsis: 11 years ago, Detective Kat Donovan’s fiancé Josh – the love of her life – disappeared and she’s never heard from him since. Now, swiping profiles on a dating app, she suddenly sees his face and her world explodes all over again. Creepy, right?

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Josh’s reappearance forces her to dive back into not only his life since going missing but the mystery surrounding her father’s murder and uncover long-buried secrets from her past too.

Although many of Coben’s stories take place in the US, the Netflix adaptation is also transposed to a UK setting and so filming took place all over Greater Manchester, including the city centre, Le Mans Crescent and Victoria Square in Bolton, as well as various other spots around the North West.

Credit: Vishal Sharma/Netflix © 2024 (supplied)

Coben serves as executive producer through his company, Final Twist Productions, with help from the likes of Danny Brocklehurst (Brassic) and Guy Hescott (The Red King, Without Sin); Victoria Asare-Archer from Stay Close is the lead writer and directing is split between Nimer Rashed (Fool Me Once) and Isher Sahota (Ridley, Grace).

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Set across five hour-long episodes, if Netflix’s follow-up to Fool Me Once – which was recently named the most-watched show on the platform in the first half of 2024 – is even half as popular as its previous programme, it’ll still be a huge success.

As for Quay Street, the locally-based production house has a long track record of delivering top-quality drama thanks to its founder and multi-award-winning producer, Nicola Shindler OBE, who set up the company back in 2021.

Her credits have included Fool Me Once, It’s A Sin, Stay Close, Ridley Road, Finding Alice, The Stranger, Happy Valley and cult favourite Queer As Folk (1999-2000).

With a pedigree like that, we’re confident the latest Harlan Coben adaptation from Netflix will be just as good as the last one, and we can’t wait to play another round of ‘guess where in Manchester that was filmed’. Speaking of, it’s not the only local production of late.

A new rom-com set in Manchester has started filming in the city centre

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Featured Images — Supplied (via Netflix)

TV & Showbiz

A full series of The Celebrity Apprentice is coming to UK screens for the first time ever

Danny Jones Danny Jones The Celebrity Apprentice UK first full series 2026

Britain’s much-loved version of The Apprentice is getting its first-ever full celebrity season next year as the series is set to copy the spin-off format seen in the US.

The popular reality TV show competition, where game-show meets the world of business, has been running here in the UK since 2005.

Now coming up 20 seasons and already well over 200 episodes, including specials, the producers have just as much of a challenge coming up with fresh ideas as the contestants do.

With that in mind, the BBC has now ordered the first dedicated The Celebrity Apprentice series, separate from the mainline show and set to run longer than previous iterations.

As confirmed by multiple sources – including one of renowned businessman and host Alan Sugar’s own advisors, Andrew Bloch – the first proper Celebrity Apprentice season will air in 2026.

Bloch explains that it’ll come in the form of a six-episode series that “will see a new line-up of famous faces take on weekly business challenges set by Lord Sugar, competing to avoid the words ‘You’re fired’ and ultimately be crowned The Celebrity Apprentice winner.”

While previous instalments in the celebrity version have either been attached to Christmas specials or the likes of Comic Relief/Red Nose Day in March, this inaugural fully-fledged chapter is set to take place sometime early next year, though an official release date is yet to be announced.

Speaking of seasonal episodes, any viewers who’ve never seen the show or at least not with recognisable household names starring in it, the 2025 festive special will be airing across two parts later this month.

You can see the trailer down below.

Speaking on the commission, BBC’s Head of Entertainment, Kalpna Patel-Knight, added: “The Apprentice is a much-loved part of the BBC’s entertainment offering, and we can’t wait to see how the celebrity candidates rise to the challenge when the series launches later in 2026.”

The lineup of special guests for next year’s series is yet to be confirmed, but the lineup for the upcoming Xmas episodes is as follows: AJ Odudu, Angela Scanlon, Charlie Hedges, Eddie Kadi, Jake Wood, JB Gill, Kadeena Cox, Matt Morsia, Rob Rinder, Sarah Hadland, Shazia Mirza and Tom Skinner.

Skinner actually took part in the regular show back in 2009, helping launch his public persona, before going on to get involved in social media, appearing on Strictly Come Dancing and even politics.

Have you seen the celeb version of The Apprentice before, and/or will you be watching this one?

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Featured Images — Publicity pictures (via BBC Media Centre)

TV & Showbiz

BBC is back looking for more Mancs to test their music knowledge and win £10,000

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant The Hit List

Consider yourself a music fan? Spend your days with tunes on in the background? Would you be able to identify a song within the first couple of seconds?

Well, this might be your chance to win £10,000 then.

Once again, the BBC is back casting for the next series of its smash-hit competition show The Hit List, where contestants get their music knowledge put to the ultimate test, and the broadcaster is now looking for people from across Greater Manchester to apply and be in with the chance of winning a massive pot of cash.

The Hit List, presented by popstar couple Marvin and Rochelle Humes, sees three pairs of music-lovers go up against each other.

Across three rounds, the contestants attempt to identify huge hits from across the years, and the three teams must prove their ability to recognise songs from across all genres of music, both artist and song title, if they want to take home the win.

A casting call for the next series of The Hit List on the BBC website reads: “Could your love of music win you a £10,000 cash prize? We are looking for lively pairs of contestants to take part.”

Any one can apply to take part in the show, but producers and casting directors say they would particularly love to hear from couples, grandparent and grandchild, siblings, best mates, and parent and offspring.

“Anything goes, as long as you love your music and know your hits,” the casting call concludes.

Anyone who applies to the show must be a legal UK resident, and be available for potential filming dates in early March 2026 up in Glasgow.

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Although it’s a little further for Mancs to travel, thankfully, all travel and accommodation will be provided if your application is successful.

Fancy it then? You can find out more and stick an application in here.

Featured Image – BBC

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