ITV drama Red Eye has proved such a huge hit that bosses are already planning a second series – before the first has even finished airing.
The thriller stars actor Richard Armitage as a doctor who has to survive a night flight to China, where he’s being framed by the authorities for a murder he says he didn’t commit.
Viewers and critics have hailed the six-parter — well, apart from our own Ally Ross— as it fills the high-octane Sunday night drama slot perfectly.
A TV insider said: “Having a follow-up series is a no-brainer for ITV, though it is somewhat unusual to be asking for a sequel before the debut series has finished airing.
“But bosses can already get a sense of how well it has been received by the viewing figures on their streaming service, ITVX.
“It’s been quite a coup for them getting Richard in a big drama too, because normally he’d be fronting one of multiple thrillers for streaming rival Netflix.”
Richard appears opposite little known actress Jing Lusi, who plays a British cop charged with ensuring he is delivered safely to the Chinese police.
During their flight, a series of things happen which make her start to suspect that the version of events she’s been presented with are far from the truth.
Red Eye has benefitted from the huge success of Hijack, another on-plane drama which dropped on Apple TV+ last summer, with Idris Elba playing the central character.
Its second series was confirmed in January this year.
But Richard has jokingly remarked on how ITV had to make Red Eye without splashing the same amount of cash that the streaming giant did.
He said that it was “a bit cheaper” than the other production.
I reckon if he signs for the sequel, though, they might just up that budget a bit.
At her Whit’s end
SHE’s only just proposed, but now Whitney Dean is about to give birth.
Actress Shona McGarty will walk down the aisle with her on-screen beau Zack Hudson (James Farrar) in EastEnders later this month.
But there’s not much time to celebrate on her joint stag and hen do in this week’s episodes of the BBC One soap.
Whitney is seen panicking as things take an unexpected turn when she’s trapped with Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) – who recently enjoyed a secret tryst with Zack behind her back.
Just as Lauren prepares to come clean about the romp, Whitney’s water breaks – and all while they are locked inside a taco street food van.
As their phones lose power and their cries for help go ignored, Whitney could be forced to welcome her little one in the back of a van, while Zack enjoys the party alone.
Omid hit the bum notes
OMID DJALILI has revealed he was kicked out of sixth form at his school for appearing naked in classrooms in silly schoolboy dares.
The comedian, who later faked his exam results to get into university after failing them six times, said the staff at Holland Park School in West London weren’t keen for him to return after one prank.
Appearing on Rhod Gilbert’s Growing Pains on Comedy Central tonight, Omid said: “There were always people daring me to do things, and I kept doing them.
“I loved Monty Python – that scene when Terry Jones plays the piano – so one dare was to go in naked to play the piano, turn around and smile at the teachers and run out.
“Later . . . I came back trying to grovel to get back into sixth form, they said, ‘No, you showed your hairy a**e one too many times, you’re not a good example’.”
WILL MELLOR says he understands the Strictly curse after his turn on the BBC show with pro partner Nancy Xu.
At his Two Pints live show with Ralf Little, he said: “If you’re two single people and you work with each other six or seven hours a day every day, you’ve got all these emotions.”
In love but not met yet
A COUPLE who have been dating for nearly three years but never spent time together in person will meet face to face for the first time on a new Channel 4 series.
The Nevermets follows six couples who met online and fell in love as they have the first chance to be together in person and test the legitimacy of their relationship.
And while 90 Day Fiancé-style shows like these normally spell doom for the lovebirds taking part that can’t be said for all the couples who appear in this new series.
For Matt, 38, a virgin from Warrington who has only left the UK a handful of times, admits he was ready to propose to Maria, 28, from the Philippines, moments after they first meet.
The Nevermets airs later this month on Channel 4.
Tyler’s a cockney geezer
WOULD you Adam ’n’ Eve it!
Tyler West fancies a role in EastEnders – after perfecting his cockney accent to help girlfriend Molly Rainford.
The actress joined the BBC One soap as Anna Knight last year, shortly before going public with her relationship with the DJ.
The pair got together after taking part in the Strictly Come Dancing live tour.
And spending time together at home means practising lines for her soap role.
Tyler said: “I help Molly learn her lines, but I haven’t got a clue what’s going on with the show.
“I play all the other characters, by the time I’ve perfected my lines she’s already learned hers.
“I try to get into each role as much as possible, I put on different expressions and accents – and I love doing the Phil Mitchell.”
CORRIE’S Helen Flanagan has opened up about a breakdown this year which forced to quit stage show Cluedo 2.
In OK! Magazine, out tomorrow, she said: “I was having a breakdown, I couldn’t travel alone. I needed my friends and family, and to be there for my kids.”