News about Robert Hardy

Magic formulas must exist for successful TV shows, but actors and writers have yet to find a foolproof spell. Instead, they keep falling back on the classics, remaking favourite shows in the hopes that lightning will strike twice. Here we examine eight classics and compare them to their remakes - some are better than the original, some are more popular but equally good, and at least one of them is a horrible clunker.

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.

FEMAIL looks at the British Royal Family's other showbiz flops as Meghan's Spotify contract was cancelled (C). From the BBC documentary, the Queen had been barred (top L) to Prince Andrew's Good Newsnight interview (bottom R) and Prince Edward's many ventures (L) and Crown and Country (L), it's fair to say that the monarchy and making good television do not go hand in hand. Following the closure of Netflix's £18 million Spotify deal, rumors have surfaced that Netflix will not renew its $100 million deal with Harry and Megan until it comes to an end in 2025. So far, the couple has produced one docuseries, Harry And Meghan, with the streaming platform apparently wanting more than just the six-episode series. Although the couple's film was Netflix's most viewed documentary ever, the Sun announced that the company isn't interested in paying the Sussexes the additional $51 million they owe unless they come up with more content. Meanwhile, a new piece in the latest issue of Closer magazine revealed that a source at Netflix said the couple had "ruffled feathers" on the streaming website, sparking uproar at the top. Given his family's reputation in showbiz, it shouldn't surprise to Harry that his attempts at being a producer were doomed from the start - just take a look at his uncle Edward's remarks.

On September 15, Creatures Great and Small will return to Channel 5 again. The series is back in a modern twist, with women at the forefront of action. As a studio set, the weekend has been allowed to a former warehouse where James Herriot's fictional veterinary practice Skeldale House was built. Left to Right: - Mrs Hall (Anna Madeley), Siegfried Farnon (Samuel West), James Herriott (Nicholas Ralph), Helen Alderson (played by Rachel Shenton) and Tristan Farnon (Callum Woodhouse)