Netflix has confirmed that two more new Harlan Coben shows are on the way after the smash-hit success of Fool Me Once.
A further two novels in the world-renowned author‘s extensive repertoire of works are to be adapted into new limited series for the popular streaming service, with Coben himself serving as executive producer of the shows and steering the ship.
The two new limited series will be titled Missing You and Run Away.
Set to be the ninth and tenth on-screen adaptations produced by the bestselling author through his ongoing creative partnership with Netflix, Missing You and Run Away will see Coben continue to work with local screenwriters from around the world to bring his novels to life on screen in over four different languages.
Following the recent success of Fool Me Once (Top 10 in 91 countries!) we’re excited to announce two new @HarlanCoben limited series adaptations…
MISSING YOU will begin production this spring, and will then be followed by RUN AWAY.
Missing You follows the story of Detective Kat Donovan, who’s fiancé Josh disappeared 11 years ago and has never heard from him since – but now, when swiping profiles on a dating app, she suddenly sees his face and her world explodes all over again.
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Josh’s reappearance will force her to dive back into the mystery surrounding her father’s murder, and uncover long-buried secrets from her past.
Run Away, on the other hand, follows Simon, who once had the perfect life – a loving wife and kids, a great job, and beautiful home.
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But then, his eldest daughter Paige ran away and everything fell apart, so now, when he finds her, vulnerable and strung-out on drugs in a city park, he finally has the chance to bring his little girl home – however, it turns out she’s not alone, and an argument escalates into shocking violence that will shatter his life all over again.
Simon’s search for his daughter will take him into a dangerous underworld, and reveal deep secrets that could tear his family apart forever.
Missing You and Run Away are both international best-sellers / Credit: Amazon UK
Coben will be working with critically-acclaimed Hyde-born writer Danny Brocklehurst – who is most-famous for being the creator and writer of Sky One’s Brassic – for the creation of Run Away, and it’ll be the fifth time the pair have collaborated, with their previous successful works including Safe, The Stranger, and Stay Close.
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Coben and Brocklehurst most-recently worked together to create Netflix’s newest Coben adaptation, Fool Me Once – which aired globally on the platform at the start of this year.
The news of these two new Coben limited series being commissioned also comes after the Michelle Keegan-led drama series shot to the top of Netflix’s most-streamed charts in the days after it was released on New Year’s Day (1 January).
It’s amassed 61 million views worldwide in its first two weeks, reached the top 10 in 91 countries, and has had people sharing their thoughts all over social media.
Fool Me Once stars Michelle Keegan, and is based on a novel by Harlan Coben / Credit: Netflix UK
It’s been confirmed that filming for Missing You will commence in the UK in spring 2024, but we’re still yet to hear when Run Away will hit our TV screens, so keep your eyes peeled.
Featured Image – Netflix
TV & Showbiz
Manchester romcom Finding Emily is currently one of the best-reviewed films of 2026 so far
Emily Sergeant
A new romcom that is set, was filmed in, and actually romanticises Manchester is soon to be released overseas.
If you haven’t had the chance to see Finding Emily for yourself yet, the film is set in Manchester at the fictional Manchester City University and tells the story of a lovesick musician, played by Spike Fearn, who meets his dream girl named Emily on a night out.
Sadly though, he ends up with the wrong phone number for Emily, and so teams up with a driven psychology student, played by Angourie Rice, in a bid to find her.
Together, the unlikely duo spark a hilarious campus-wide frenzy that tests their own hearts and ambitions along the way.
The film – which is directed by Alicia MacDonald, based on a screenplay by Rachel Hirons, and produced by Working Title Films – is filled with notable local locations dotted throughout, from Manchester Central Library and Piccadilly Records, to Canal Street, the Northern Quarter, and even the Emmeline Pankhurst statue in St Peter’s Square featured for all to see.
Oh, and not to mention, if you keep your eyes peeled when watching the trailer, you can even see a small clip of Stockport band Blossoms playing a gig in there too.
Finding Emily was released here in the UK back in May, and received overwhelmingly positive reviews from fans and critics, including by The Manc Group team when we were lucky enough to see it at the Manchester premiere.
And ahead of its international release this week (Friday 26 August), those reviews have remained as glowing as ever.
In fact, over on major film review platform Rotten Tomatoes, the film stands at 95% on the ‘tomatometer’, meaning it’s one of the highest-rated romcoms of the decade so far.
That also makes it one of the best-reviewed movies of the entire year, in addition to its record score for the genre itself, as only two other films released in 2026 have retained scores higher than it – thrilling Hong Kong action film, The Furious, with a score of 98%, and the uniquely hilarious Olivia Wilde directed and starring, The Invite, with a score of 97%.
Unfortunately, box office projections for Finding Emily are pretty low for the weekend over in the US, as it has to contend with continuing big-hitters like Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey.
But it says a lot that this fun-filled original romcom set in our incredible city is more critically acclaimed than those two blockbusters based on existing IP.
Critics say Finding Emily ‘makes a tried-and-true formula feel brand new’, and to us, that’s about as good as you can get.
Finding Emily is no longer in UK cinemas, so if you would like to check it out, you can currently buy or rent the film on Amazon Prime UK, the Sky Store, or the Virgin Media Store.
Race Across The World star Jo Gardiner dies just one year after co-star son
Daisy Jackson
A Race Across The World star from Manchester has died just one year after her son and co-star tragically passed away.
Jo Gardiner, who starred on the hit BBC series back in 2020, died after a ‘long and courageous battle’ with cancer, her family has said.
The 61-year-old physiotherapist appeared on the second season of the travel competition, racing across Latin America with her son Sam Gardiner, who was just 19 at the time.
The pair became a fan favourite as they bonded over their travels, and Sam gained confidence to explore despite his ADHD.
Tragically, Sam passed away last May at the age of 24, following a vehicle collision in Gatley.
Paying tribute to Jo, Studio Lambert and the BBC described her as ‘the matriarch of the Race Across The World cast family’.
In the tribute, they also sent ‘deepest and heartfelt sympathies to Jo’s son Charlie’.
Jo’s family shared in a statement: “She had a rare gift for making everyone around her feel more alive. She lived fully, fiercely and never did anything by halves.
“She was blessed with countless friends, drawn to her extraordinary magnetism. Somehow, each one felt as though they were among her very best.
Jo Gardiner, from Manchester, starred on season two of Race Across The World. Credit: BBC
“To us, she was more than all of these things. She was our family, our joy, our safe place and our absolute treasure.
“We know how deeply Jo was loved, and we take comfort in knowing that her laughter, her courage, her kindness and her wonderfully outrageous spirit will live on in the many people whose lives she touched.
“As we grieve, we ask for privacy, but we also ask everyone who knew and loved Jo to do exactly what she would have wanted: tell the funny stories, raise a glass, have an adventure, laugh loudly and live life to the full.”
Studio Lambert and the BBC shared: “On behalf of the Studio Lambert production team, the BBC and the whole Race Across The World cast, we offer our deepest and heartfelt sympathies to Jo’s son Charlie, and her wider family and friends.
“Following the tragic death of Jo’s son Sam last year, we paid tribute to how integral Sam and Jo had been to series two. Millions of people remembered their transformative journey across Latin America in 2020 and we hold that memory in our hearts as we fondly recall Jo’s passion for life, her kindness, her strength, and above all her utter devotion to Sam and her family.
“At the time of filming, Sam described his mum as amazing – and that is how we will always remember her.
“Jo became the matriarch of the Race Across the World cast family, she leaves a lasting legacy in the many lives that she touched, both through the series and beyond. It was a privilege to share her story and she will be deeply missed.”
Emily Sergeant -
24th January 2024 
