The full cast for a brand-new TV series that follows on from one last year’s most critically-acclaimed films has been released.
And filming for it has already begun right here in Manchester.
In case you haven’t had the chance to watch 2022’s fast-paced and tension-filled Boiling Point yet, the film is set on the busiest night of the year at one of the hottest restaurants in London.
Written and directed by breakthrough British filmmaker Philip Barantini, the film stars beloved Northern actor Stephen Graham as charismatic and commanding head chef Andy Jones, who balances along a knife’s edge as multiple personal and professional crises threaten to destroy everything he’s worked for.
The film was met with huge acclaim from fans and critics when it was released back at the start of last year, and even went on to be nominated worldwide for over 30 awards in multiple categories, including clinching wins at the BAFTAs, BIFAs, National Film Awards, and more.
ADVERTISEMENT
So it’s no wonder the BBC has scooped it up for a follow-up TV series, is it?
🍳 Yes Chef! Full casting's been announced for Boiling Point, as filming begins on the brand new BBC drama series – which picks up six months on from where the film left off…
Set to hit our screens soon, the series – which is also titled Boiling Point – picks up six months on from where the film left off, and, according to the plot teaser on the BBC website, sees Sous Chef Carly as Head Chef at her own restaurant, with many of Andy’s original team alongside her.
ADVERTISEMENT
As the pressure mounts to keep the restaurant full, Carly begins to feel the magnitude of responsibility that comes with running her own place.
The series will see Stephen Graham, Vinette Robinson (Carly), and Hannah Walters (Emily) reprise their roles from the multi award-winning film.
The three leads will be joined by their co-stars Ray Panthaki (Freeman), Gary Lamont (Dean), Áine Rose Daly (Robyn), Taz Skylar (Billy), Daniel Larkai (Jake) Stephen McMillan (Jamie), Hannah Traylen (Holly), and Izuka Hoyle (Camille).
ADVERTISEMENT
Several other newcomers are also joining the celebrated cast of actors.
New TV series following on from smash-hit film Boiling Point begins filming in Manchester / Credit: Vertigo
The Boiling Point series also reunites the film’s co-writer and director Philip Barantini, who will direct episodes one, two and five, and co-writer James Cummings, alongside the film’s producers.
“We are over the moon to get the band back together,” Boiling Point’s executive producers admitted.
“Not only that, we are excited to introduce new members to the Boiling Point family, and we are immensely grateful to the BBC for giving us this moment and we are all raring to get going on the series.”
No official release dates for the new series have been announced as of yet, but fans might want to keep their eyes peeled to see the show filming around the city centre.
Featured Image – Christian Black / Saban Films
TV & Showbiz
Gregg Wallace now faces claims of ‘groping’ and ‘touching’ as misconduct investigation continues
Danny Jones
The allegations against Gregg Wallace continue to mount as the former MasterChef host is now facing fresh claims of ‘groping’ and inappropriate ‘touching’.
Wallace stepped down from the show last week after pressure from an initial accusation ultimately resulted in a total of 13 individuals coming forward to lodge formal, historical complaints.
Spanning across a 17-year period, with the 60-year-old having worked on MasterChef and other TV projects for nearly two whole decades, these latest allegations were put to his representatives on Tuesday but Wallace still strongly denies engaging in anything of a “sexualised nature”.
According to the latest in the BBC News investigation, he is now accused of numerous instances of both sexually-charged comments and behaviour. Actor, comedian, writer and fellow TV personality Emma Kennedy also says she believes he “does not understand” when he’s being inappropriate.
“As she was bending over, Gregg put his hands over her buttocks, and then turned to me and went ‘Cor!’”@EmmaKennedy tells #TimesRadio she believes Gregg Wallace “fundamentally does not understand” when he is being inappropriate.@AyeshaHazarikapic.twitter.com/xqzwfQsDGz
Speaking to the corporation, one woman referred to only as ‘Lisa’ says that while filming for the Eat Well For Less show at a supermarket back in 2015, Wallace “brushed past me at the checkout, and touched my bum with his waist and penis and laughed and said ‘oooh you liked that didn’t you’.”
Despite insisting she felt like she just had to get on with her job at the time, she says: “I wasn’t ok about it. When I finished the shoot, I felt it was slimy, disgusting. He just didn’t need to touch my body, it made me uncomfortable.” She also says she raised the issues with a senior colleague but nothing happened.
In a separate incident, Wallace is also accused of touching another woman inappropriately after he asked her to walk him to the car park after an event. “As we walked down, he started putting his arm around me, saying ‘Go on, hold my hand, don’t you want to stand next to me?’ It was totally out of the blue, and totally unwanted”, she said.
The anonymous woman said she was later pulled into a group hug in an elevator, during which she claims the long-serving MasterChef co-presenter and household name “put his hand on my bottom and groped me”, adding, “It made me feel gross, it was horrible.”
She went on to say that although she still struggles to see his face on TV and feels “sad that so many people are coming forward”, she’s also relieved that so many have spoken out about their experiences.
MasterChef production company, Banijay UK – who are working in full cooperation with the BBC as part of their own internal investigation – state they have no record of these issues being raised at the time of the incidents, reiterating that this is the case for all 13 women who have now filed complaints.
Banijay and BBC have agreed to pull the two already recorded 2024 MasterChef Christmas special episodes that were scheduled to air on BBC One this month.
Meanwhile, while Wallace is still yet to respond to these most recent allegations, he still categorically denies the claims already put forward.
The former greengrocer and restaurant owner did, however, apologise for a recent response video he made during which he received additional backlash for citing those who complained as “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age” – a comment which a No.10 official branded “misogynistic”.
Fawlty Towers – The Play is coming to Manchester Opera House next year
Danny Jones
John Cleese’s much-loved Fawlty Towers – The Play is landing at the Manchester Opera House next year and we cannot wait.
The critically acclaimed theatre adaptation of the iconic sitcom, still revered as one of the greatest UK comedies of all time, first came to fruition back in 2016 and is now set to land here in Manchester city centre for the first time ever.
We’ve been treated to Fawlty Towers The Dining Experience at The Lowry Theatre in Salford before, but this is the first time the smash-hit West End stage production has headed North and judging by the reviews, audiences are about to be belly-laughing all the way to Torquay.
Coming to Manc crowds this time next winter, you can expect this one to be a sell-out.
⭐ ON-SALE TODAY ⭐
Secure your tickets now and relive the madness of Fawlty Towers live on stage. It's a staycation you'll never forget!
ATG+ and Groups Presale👉 TODAY 10am General sale👉 TODAY 12pm
Still busy playing a fully booked-up run at London’s Apollo Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue, the twice-extended West End show is packing up its stage for a massive tour across the UK and Ireland.
Announcing dozens of dates next year and well into the summer of 2026, including shows in Leeds, Liverpool, York, Stoke, Sunderland and many more, the show has earned four and five-star reviews from countless publications.
The Arts Desk have hailed it as a “comedy masterpiece [that] makes a seamless transition to the stage”, with actor Adam Jackson-Smith playing the lead role of Basil Fawlty and the entire cast said to leave viewers cackling with some of the best bits from iconic TV series recreated in the flesh.
Speaking on the stage adaptation, John Cleese said: “When we came up with the idea of bringing Fawlty Towers to the stage, I never thought it would get the reception that it has.
“On 23 December it will be 50 years to the day since we recorded the pilot at BBC Television Centre and I’m delighted the audiences we’ve had in the West End still think it’s as funny as ever. The announcement of the tour means many more people will now have the chance to laugh themselves helpless.”
John Cleese, now 85.
Set to hit the road 50 years on from the broadcast of the first episode on BBC Two back in September 1975, before going on to win countless awards including two BAFTAS and even being voted the best British programme of all time as part of a British Film Institute poll, it all feels very full circle.
Brought to life on stage by a creative team consisting of Cleese and fellow writer Connie Booth and directed by Caroline Jay Ranger – best known for her work on Blood Means Nothing (2019), My Week with Maisy (2024), Early Doors: Live (2021) and the Monty Python live show, there’s non-stop talent both on and off the stage.
One of the best part parts about a series that was stretched across just 12 half-hour episodes of TV is that you can just about manage to squeeze in the majority of the most memorable highlights into the approximately 1h50m run-time.
You can see the cast’s recent interview on This MorningHERE and for a short trailer for a better look at what to expect down below:
Fawlty Towers – The Play comes to the Manchester Opera House on Tuesday, 4 November 2025 and will be there until Saturday, 8 November.
General admission is live as we speak, with ticket options starting from £20 and going all the way up to £147.50 for the best premium seats and experience in the house.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd February 2023 
