Zoë plays Baghra, a stern teacher, in this major new fantasy series based on Leigh Bardugo’s bestselling Grishaverse novels. Series one and two are streaming now on Netflix.
Zoë guest stars in an episode in the second series of BBC One's black comedy about a crime scene cleaner, called 'The Statue', which is available on the BBC iPlayer.
Zoë guest stars in BBC One's six-part comedy thriller about two Police Community Support Officers working undercover. Begins 5 May, BBC One, 9:30pm.
Zoë plays the mother of a young detective reinvestigating an old murder case in this crime drama series for Apple TV+. Filming began in summer 2022.
Love Hurts on BritBox UK
25 May 2022 14:38
Many fans fondly remember Love Hurts. The witty, touching BBC comedy-drama made Zoë a household name overnight and ran for three series in the early 1990s. She and former popstar Adam Faith starred as Tessa and Frank, a corporate exec turned charity worker and plumber turned self-made millionaire, who meet when the former has a plumbing problem!
The characters' relationship rarely goes smoothly (as the show's title suggests), but because Zoë and her co-star acted so wonderfully together, every episode is a joy to watch. As Faith wrote in his autobiography, 'Guy Slater, the producer of Love Hurts, put Zoë and me together for a lunch and after about two and a half seconds we were firm friends.'
Although Love Hurts has been released in the UK as a DVD boxset, I'm not aware of it being repeated on TV here - until now! All 30 episodes will be available on streaming service BritBox UK from 2 June, according to an ITV press release. Ideal if you fancy binging the show over the long weekend.
I'm so glad one of Zoe's most successful TV programmes will soon be (re)discovered by viewers across the UK. And if you're in the US instead, don't worry - you can still watch Love Hurts via Acorn TV on Amazon.
Lady Cassandra returns in Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder
19 May 2022 16:06
There's just days to go before a brand new, blockbuster exhibition, Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder: Where Science Meets Fiction, opens at World Museum, Liverpool. Visitors 'exploring the world of science within the universe of Doctor Who' will be treated to Zoe's considerable vocal talents. Yes, you've guessed it - she's reprising her role as Lady Cassandra, the last human (and 'bitchy trampoline'!), in an area of the exhibition dedicated to the iconic baddie from 'The End of the World' and 'New Earth'!
Precise details about this and the rest of the interactive exhibition, which will feature sets, props, costumes and more, are under wraps. But if you'd like to learn all about the 'timey wimey' science behind the classic BBC series, not to mention come face-to-face with Cassandra (the computer-generated picture on CultBox gives you an idea of what this encounter might be like), you can book tickets now.
Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder runs from 27 May to 30 October and looks set to be absolutely fascinating.
Bid for Zoë's All My Sons poster in Mousetrap charity auction
19 May 2022 14:55
Zoë has donated a fantastic signed piece of memorabilia to Mousetrap Theatre Projects, of which she's long been a patron, to help the charity raise vital funds to continue making theatre more accessible to young people. (She described Mousetrap as 'the most wonderful charity' during a Q&A session at a fundraising event several years ago.) The item, a poster given to Zoe when she starred in the 2010 West End revival of Arthur Miller's All My Sons - lauded by the Telegraph as 'a stunning production of a modern classic' - is among the amazing lots you can bid for in Mousetrap's 25th Anniversary Gala Auction.
The beautiful framed poster features Zoë and her All My Sons co-star David Suchet, best known as TV's Hercule Poirot. Suchet has signed it and dedicated a heartfelt message to Zoe, as have the rest of the cast. Zoe has autographed the back of the frame to make the item even more special.
If you'd like to be in with the chance of owning this incredible piece of theatre history, you can bid online until 25 May, knowing that you're helping one of Zoë's favourite charities.
And if you missed All My Sons at the theatre or want to refresh your memory of this multi-layered, compelling play about grief and secrets, head over to Digital Theatre, where you can watch it online.
Remembering Kay Mellor and rediscovering Girlfriends
18 May 2022 17:50
You may have heard that Kay Mellor, the trailblazing British scriptwriter, sadly passed away on 15 May. The team at her production company, Rollem Productions, calls her 'a phenomenal talent and a true luminary'.
Mellor created and scripted Girlfriends, the 2018 ITV drama starring Zoë, Miranda Richardson and Phyllis Logan - and it was undoubtedly a trailblazer too. As BBC News pointed out at the time, Girlfriends stands out because it 'focuses on an under-represented group on British TV - older women'. It even featured on ITV News at Ten for this reason.
Girlfriends showcases the talents of its writer and stars
Girlfriends, which was a hit with audiences in both the UK and US, exemplifies what made Kay Mellor a superb writer: rollicking good storylines and strong female characters. Plus it reaffirms the importance of friendship and sticking together - another hallmark of her work.
Zoe's character, Gail, is caring for her grandson and elderly mother, forever putting everyone else's needs above her own. Magazine features editor Sue (Miranda Richardson) has a glamorous, affluent lifestyle - but she still faces major challenges. They both rally round long-standing friend Linda (Phyllis Logan), a housewife who's in need of their support after the loss of her husband.
Zoë found the drama compelling
Interviewed about Girlfriends when it was first shown, Zoë emphasised that she loved the concept of the series from the outset. 'I read three episodes and thought they were really good [...] It was something different for me as [put-upon Gail is] not the kind of part I'd normally do and I have been a big fan of Kay's work for many years'.
Rediscover Girlfriends on the ITV Hub
Now feels like an appropriate time to rediscover Girlfriends (or watch it for the first time) and marvel at Kay Mellor's writing and the quality of the acting. The full series is available free to UK viewers on the ITV Hub. In fact, Girlfriends is currently featured on the ITV Hub homepage, which invites viewers to 'commemorate [Mellor's] life with her drama series'.
If you'd like to add Girlfriends to your DVD collection, you'll be pleased to hear there are Region 1 and Region 2 versions. Another option is to stream it on Acorn TV on Amazon US or Amazon UK.
However you choose to watch Girlfriends, I'm certain you'll come away with renewed appreciation of the power of friendship - and British drama.
Happy birthday, Zoë!
13 May 2022 04:20
Wishing wonderful Zoë an equally wonderful birthday <3
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