Author: Bella

“Ellis” First Images

After filming wrapped on new detective drama Ellis earlier this year, we are finally treated with some first images from the series.

DCI Ellis is a tenacious cop who is parachuted into failing investigations. Each two-hour episode sees Ellis—accompanied by her right-hand man, DS Harper—arrive at a different police station, where she must win over the local detectives and immerse herself in the cases she has come to solve. As a Black female cop, Ellis is used to being dismissed and overlooked, but she is a first-class murder detective with a determination for justice and a deep well of compassion for those who need it.

Ellis is played by Sharon D. Clarke (best known for her work on Holby City, Doctor Who and Red, White and Royal Blue) while her right-hand man Harper is played by Andrew Gower.

The series will consist of three feature-length episodes and is expected to be released on Channel 5 (UK) in autumn 2024. It will cross the pond to debut on Acorn TV (US), probably in early 2025.

Tellyvisions called Ellis “a mashup of Line of Duty and D.I. Ray” and added “that’s a compliment”:

Line of Duty would send a team into a different precinct every season to find out why investigations were not going as they were supposed to, with a writ to find the bad apple undermining police efforts. Ellis’ pacing is slightly different — each feature-length episode will move from precinct to precinct instead of each season, and investigations won’t always fail due to someone undermining things — but the setup and rotating guest cast remain the same. Meanwhile, Ellis, a Black British police inspector, will have to deal with constantly sexist and racist microaggressions from the different staff she encounters, much like D.I. Ray does, with the same drive to see justice done instead of blaming the nearest person of color.

While the images don’t give away much, we can anticipate that the new series will be a gritty turn towards the detective genre for Channel 5.

Gustaffson – Black & White Movie Tour

In case you haven’t seen them yet (or want to see them again): your chance has come to see Andrew Gower‘s band Gustaffson live this autumn:

They’ve announced the follwing dates via their Social Media:

For more information and tickets click here.

In anticipation of Gustaffson‘s debut album ‘Black & White Movie’ produced by Elbow‘s Craig Potter – they will be finishing the year with a little UK tour at some of their favourite venues & be joined by some special guests. These gigs will support the release of their brand new singles – coming Autumn 2024!

It’s a Wrap on “Ellis”

Source: Andrew Gower (Instagram)

It’s a wrap on Ellis, a new feature-length detective drama series coming to Channel 5 in the UK later this year. After a 4 months shoot in Belfast (Northern Ireland), the series is now ready to go into post-production.

Starring Sharon D. Clarke) as Ellis, a tenacious cop who is parachuted into failing investigations. As a black female cop, Ellis is used to being dismissed and overlooked, but she is a first-class murder detective, with a determination for justice and a deep well of compassion for those who need it.

Accompanied by her right-hand man DS Harper, played by Andrew Gower, she arrives at a different police station each week, where she will have to win over the local detectives and immerse herself in the cases she has come to solve.

As a black female cop, Ellis is used to being dismissed and overlooked, but she is a first-class murder detective, with a determination for justice and a deep well of compassion for those who need it.

Sharon D. Clarke & Andrew Gower

Gustaffson Live @ St Oswald’s Church Warrington

You can now book your tickets for Gustaffson‘s upcoming gig at St Oswald’s Church in Warrington (UK):

Click to Buy Your Ticket Now!

Gustaffson return to St Oswald’s Church Warrington for a one off night & special acoustic gig. Fresh out of the studio after recording their debut album with Elbow’s Craig Potter producing and featuring Emmy-winning composer Bear McCreary (Outlander) & Sir Ben Kingsley.

They will be performing brand new tracks from their upcoming album and last year’s EP ‘The Jacaranda’.

This will be our first gig in Warrington and it should be a really special night at St Oswald’s Church. What an incredible venue to play music in. We are delighted they have welcomed us back after filming our latest live video ‘Flowers’ in the Church November last year. If you’re local come down and say hello.

Andrew Gower

There will also be music from Warrington singer-song writer Eve Jean.

© Eve Jean Music

Andrew Gower in new Detective Drama “Ellis”

AMC Networks’ streaming platform Acorn TV and Channel 5 (UK) announced today the commission of new, feature-length detective drama series Ellis.

The three-part series will follow DCI Ellis (played by Sharon D. Clarke), a tenacious cop who is parachuted into failing investigations. Each two-hour episode sees Ellis – accompanied by her right-hand man DS Harper, played by Andrew Gower – arrive at a different police station, where she will have to win over the local detectives and immerse herself in the cases she has come to solve. As a black female cop, Ellis is used to being dismissed and overlooked, but she is a first-class murder detective, with a determination for justice and a deep well of compassion for those who need it.

Ellis is set to begin filming this spring in Northern Ireland and will air on Acorn TV and Channel 5 later this year.

We could not be more excited about these news and cannot wait to find out more about this series and Andrew’s role!

Sources:

The Winter King Episode 1×10

The Winter King – Episode 10

After Arthur (Iain De Caestecker) is forced to cut a deal with the Saxon King Aelle (Craig Parkinson) - and at a much higher price he was initially willing to pay – he is determined more than ever to “kick every Saxon back into the sea from where they came.”

Derfel (Stuart Campbell) is trying to rescue Nimue (Ellie James) from the Island of the Dead. He finds her but they are soon trapped behind a sealed prison wall and attacked by the other inmates. Meanwhile Arthur and his warrior Sagramor (Ken Nwosu) are on their way to the Island as well to save Derfel and Nimue.

Morgan (Valene Kane) is still suspicious of new Bishop Sansum (Andrew Gower), especially when she finds him baptising servants at Caer Cadarn. When he later gifts her a book with stories from the Bible, she seems to become more susceptive to his ideas.

Merlin (Nathaniel Martello-White) finally reaches the cave he has previously seen in his vision and finds the Horn of Bran – one of the Thirteen Treasures of the Island of Britain. However, as Merlin touches the Horn, it overflows with blood, which forms into the shape of Britain itself.

Visit our Gallery for more screencaps from this episode!

The Winter King Episode 1×09

The Winter King – Episode 9

Morgan (Valene Kane) and Derfel (Stuart Campbell) return to Dumnonia with Bishop Bedwin’s (Steven Elder) body in tow and a surprising warning from Ceinwyn (Emily John). After Arthur’s betrayel her father King Gorfydd (Aneirin Hughes) has betrothed her to a Saxon king, Dumnonia’s worst enemies.

Sansum (Andrew Gower) leads the solemn funeral service for his predecessor. While Bedwin was a gentle man trying to ease Christian ways onto the pagan population of Britain, it is clear that Sansum is much more ambitious and much less patient. While Morgan, an aspiring Druidess herself, is still mourning the loss of her friend, she eyes Sansum with suspicion.

After his return Derfel looks for Nimue (Ellie James) and learns she was exiled to the Island of the Dead by Arthur as a punishment for her suspected involvement in the death of three Christians. Feeling obliged to her, Derfel investigates further and finds out the true cause of death and sets out to rescue her from a place, where no living soul can escape.

Guinevere (Jordan Alexandra) and Arthur fight when he realizes that she has gently steered him from the sidelines. His father’s abuse and banishment have left him with deep trust issues but as leader of Dumnonia, it’s time to start placing his trust in others. He finally hatches out a plan to buy valuable time in the looming war against Powys and the Saxons.

Visit our Gallery for more screencaps from this episode!

The Winter King Episode 1×08

The Winter King – Episode 8

While Arthur (Iain De Caestecker) and Guinevere (Jordan Alexandra) are enjoying a moment of married bliss, many in Dumnonia are struggling yet again with one of Arthur’s decision: abandoning his plan to wed Ceinwyn (Emily John) and form a powerful alliance in favour of marrying a woman who – as she herself stated – has no titles or land.

Despite Guinevere’s warnings Morgan (Valene Kane) and Derfel (Stuart Campbell) head to Powys to negotiate peace and forgiveness for Arthur’s actions while Arthur is on his way to Iscar to deal with Cadwys (Billy Postlethwaite) who’s still unhappy about Owain’s demise and tests Arthur’s leadership.

In the meantime, Sansum (Andrew Gower), now a bishop, is facing his own challenges when he starts building a Christian church near Avalon. After Nimue (Ellie James) curses him and his followers, men start to die. On his return to Dumnonia, Arthur suspects the cause for their deaths might be a much wordlier one than Nimue lets to believe.

Visit our Gallery for more screencaps from this episode!

The Winter King Episode 1×07

The Winter King – Episode 7

Arthur Pendragon (Iain De Caestecker) is caught between duty and his heart: he is betrothed to Ceinwyn (Emily John) but he is smitten with Guinevere (Jordan Alexandra). His marriarge is supposed to bring peace to the warring countries of Dumnonia and Powys. It doesn’t take Ceinwyn long to see what is going on between her best friend and her fiance. Her feelings are hurt but she offers a practical solution.

Being around Gundleus (Simon Merrells) – the man who killed his mother, assaulted Nimue and left himself for dead – is proving increasingly difficult for Derfel (Stuart Campbell). When Gundleus ambushes the young Saxon, Derfel is able to fight him off with Arthur’s help. Ladwys (Tatjana Nardone) warns her lover Gundleus to attack Derfel again or he will upset the Gods.

Bishop Bedwin (Steven Elder) tries to talk sense into Arthur but his feelings for Guinevere are stronger than any concerns. He breaks off his engagement with Ceinwyn, who advises them to leave Caer Dolforwyn in the dead of night. When they find themselves near a lake, the Bishop leaves the party to try and mend affairs with Powys, which leaves Sansum, the Priest (Andrew Gower), to fulfil Arthur’s and Guinevere’s wish.

Visit our Gallery for more screencaps from this episode!

The Winter King Episode 1×06

The Winter King – Episode 6

When Merlin (Nathaniel Martello-White) and Nimue (Ellie James) arrive in Caer Cadarn during the aftermath of Arthur’s (Iain De Caestecker) and Owain’s (Daniel Ings) fatal duel, Merlin takes the chance to declare Arthur the new ruler of Dumnonia. In a private moment, he later explains the origins of the sword, Arthur had found in his mother’s workshop.

Bishop Bedwin (Steven Elder), Sansum (Andrew Gower) and Derfel’s (Stuart Campbell) accompany Arthur on his way to Caer Dolforwyn to woe the “Star of Powys” Ceinwyn (Emily John), King Gorfydd’s (Aneirin Hughes) only daughter. The night before they arrive at court, however, Arthur meets a mysterious beautiful lady by a lake, who he is instantly attracted to.

Merlin has a vision of himself and the Horn of Bran, one of the Thirteen Treasures of the Island of Britain, which are mythical items said to be infused with magic properties. He sets out on a mission to find the Horn because he believes that if all Treasures are united again, the quarreling tribes of Britain will also re-unite.

Visit our Gallery for more screencaps from this episode!