Philip Pullman

Alex Hassell has been announced as David Tennant's and Aiden Turner's co-star in the upcoming Disney+ adaptation of Jilly Cooper's raunchy 80s romance novel Rivals. English actor Alex, 43, has been acting since 2001 and has appeared in a string of prominent productions. After starring in British staples The Bill and Silent Witness, Alex bagged a role as superhero Translucent in series one of the ongoing black comedy The Boys. Two years later, he had his longest television series stint as Vicious in Cowboy Bebop, an American space Western series based on the anime of the same name. He donned an ice blonde wig again in 2022 for his role as Metatron in the final series of the BBC / HBO adaptation of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials.

Following the publication of The Royal Society's annual magazine in December, the fellows are demanding an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM). Margaret Atwood, Kazuo Ishiguro, Ian McEwan, and Philip Pullman have all signed a letter to The Times about suspected 'censorship' over the pro-Palestine inscription. However, the church has denied that this was the reason for the magazine's demise. The writers have joined former presidents of the Royal Society of Literature Marina Warner and Colin Thubron to express their dissatisfaction with the 200-year-old institution's'significant brand damage.'

A dramatic mixture of tension, passion, and intrigue can be obtained during period dramas. But with so many options across so many streaming services, where should you start? Well, our reporters have done the hard work for you by sifting through copies to bring you an unbeatable selection of 30 options that will take you back to the excitement and passion of long-past eras.