RichardArmitageNet News

The BBC Entertainment channel which can be received via satellite or cable across Europe is showing Robin Hood series 1 starting 15 March at 5pm (CET). More details on the BBC Entertainment website.

BBC Prime relaunched as BBC Entertainment on 11 November, 2009. This channel is also available in Asia although they are not showing Robin Hood at this time. However the Asia website has a Robin Hood series 1 page and a series 2 page that you may enjoy – there are a few short clips of Gisborne.

The Spooks page has a photograph of Lucas and Ros that is slightly different from one we’ve seen before on the ‘Spooks Facts’ page.

There is also a bit of a tough quiz about Spooks on the ‘Quiz’ page. You have to be a real fan of the show to get some of those questions correct.

(Ali got 15/20 and is amazed she got that many!)

Series 7 of Spooks is currently being shown on Sunday evenings on BBC Entertainment Asia.

The website FilmReviewOnline.com has published a preview of episode 4 with some new pictures of Lucas, Sarah Caulfield and Lucas’s former interrogator Oleg Darshavin. The text is taken from the BBC Press release, so it is full of spoilers. Article here

Here is the new picture of Lucas.

This picture has been added to our Spooks Promo gallery which you can find here. You can see each picture at its largest size by clicking on the ‘original image’ button when viewing each image.

Richard Arnold of GMTV visited the Spooks set a few months ago (we were given a teaser of this on 15 July 2009 in this article in Woman’s Own) and we have provided a download in our Spooks series 8 Interview Downloads page.

There are brief interviews with Richard Armitage, Peter Firth, Hermione Norris and Nicola Walker and a quick look around the new revamped set.

More pictures here

Miranda Raison was interviewed later in the programme by Lorraine Kelly and there are some brief clips of Richard during the interview. This is also available for download in our Spooks series 8 Interview Downloads page.

If viewing in Quicktime you may find the audio is slightly out of sync with the picture. Try using a different media player instead. VLC is excellent and is free to download.

There’s a new interview in Time Out magazine with Richard Armitage and this time the questions are very different. Some insights into his most memorable audition, the piece of work he’s least proud of, his most extravagant purchase and many more.

Click to enlarge.

There is also a snippet describing episode 1 of Spooks in Time Out. A few spoilers here.

Many thanks to Annette for sharing these scans with us.

Ian Wylie has given us two long interviews with Richard Armitage today. The first is here in which there’s information about fighting in swimming pools, the return of Ruth and the pitfalls of tattoos that rub off onto sheets.

“This series does keep you on your toes. It doesn’t help if you’re a bit of a control freak, like I am, because I like to know everything I’m doing, when I’m doing it.”

And now, Ian has given us an extra feature with Richard, which you can read here. There’s more detailed information about the series, about most of the main characters, the new CIA officer and Richard’s reaction to the storylines. Enjoy!

The Daily Record has an interview with Richard Armitage this morning in which we get an interesting insight of what life was like before he landed more significant roles in television. This experience affects his current work ethic: “But I always feel somehow it’s going to be taken away from me so I work when I can. When you struggled with work as I did when I left drama school you make hay when the sun shines.”

He also talks about the ever-changing scripts that are part of working life on the set of Spooks: “When I first came on board, Peter Firth said to me this is what happens and you have to learn to run with it. You’ve got to be able to learn lines and some very dense political jargon very quickly – it’s quite a workout for the brain.”

The online article is here.

Bernie from C19 has very kindly given us permission to post the scan from the printed edition of the Daily Record. Click on the images below to enlarge.

A complete list of all Spooks articles and interviews can be found on our site here.

There’s a brief interview with Richard Armitage in this week’s Woman magazine. He says…”Last year Lucas was finding himself again after an eight-year incarceration, now he’s one of the team. He prefers to play the maverick, all guns blazing…”

Read more below – click to enlarge

Once again, the image of Richard is reversed and we cannot resist turning it the right way round

tvshowsondvd.com have announced that the region 1 version of Spooks season 7 (known as MI-5 in the US) will be released on 26 January 2010. The boxset comprises 4 discs with the same extras that are currently available on the region 2 (UK) DVD, namely:

- Audio commentaries by the producer, director and writer of episode 5 and episode 8
- Original UK Trailer
- “Spooks in Russia” Featurette
- Action Sequence Featurette
- Behind the Scenes Documentary

The article says that it will cost $59.98, however it will no doubt be cheaper from Amazon.com and other retailers. You can sign up here to be notified when the DVD is available from Amazon.

At last the BBC Press Office has announced that Spooks will start on Weds 4 November, 9pm – 10pm on BBC1.

Episode 1 information is here. Be warned – there are major spoilers in this press release.

There’s an interview with Richard Armitage in Star Magazine today with some new pictures. Be warned though, that one of the pictures and the text of the interview contain mild spoilers about the series.

“Series eight sees Lucas firmly in the fold of head-honcho Harry Pearce’s (Peter Firth) Section D team and, this time round, Lucas is the agent in the thick of most of the action.”

Click to enlarge the image.

The picture of Richard is the wrong way around, so we’ve reversed it so you can see it properly. Click to enlarge.

There’s a feature about Spooks in the Daily Express Saturday magazine today. There are quotes from Richard Armitage, Hermione Norris and Peter Firth which give some mild spoilers about the forthcoming series 8.

Thank you Lady J for the scan.

Click on the image to enlarge.

All Spooks reviews and articles can be found here.

John Lloyd of the Financial Times has written an interesting article about Spooks, analysing the reasons for its appeal.

He states: “But for all its contemporary references, Spooks isn’t interested in being any kind of documentary on what MI5 actually does, or how it does it. A working knowledge of international relations and geopolitical tensions has never been the main reason for its continued success.”

Read the full article here.

There’s also a great photo of Harry, Ros and Lucas. Click the image below to enlarge.

I’ve created a slightly large pic here, any larger and it starts to lose quality.

A short but sweet article in the free London magazine Shortlist today.

At the end you’ll see that it mentions Thursday 29 October 2009 as the air date, which does seem to add weight to the rumours already circulating that this is the date for episode 1. The BBC are still yet to confirm.

Click on the image to enlarge.

Many thanks to Stef for the scan.

There’s a new interview with Richard Armitage in the October issue of Closer magazine, in which he gives some insight into what we can expect from Lucas North in Spooks series 8.

Many thanks to LadyJ for the scan.

Click on image to enlarge.

The Radio Times and the TV Times have today given clues that Spooks series 8 will start week commencing 24 October, although there is still no exact day given.

On the back page of the Radio Times there is a picture of Ros under the heading ‘Next week in Radio Times on sale Tuesday 20 October’. Under the picture are the words ‘Spooks. The spy drama is back on the grid’.

The TV Times says “Next Issue – Spooks – Ros and Lucas return on a mission impossible: to find Harry alive.”

Still no word from the BBC Press Office.

Thanks Stef for the RT info and Janice for the TV Times info.

Allison Pearson has interviewed Richard Armitage on the set of Spooks. She states;

“Some rakish TV turns have earnt Spooks star Richard Armitage an army of female fans. ALLISON PEARSON went to see what all the fuss is about  -  and found him squirming with embarrassment.”

How many women can you take to a Richard Armitage interview? Earlier this year, when I paid homage to the actor in my Daily Mail column, so many readers volunteered to come along and ‘hold the microphone’ that if I ever met Richard I would have had to rent the Royal Albert Hall to squeeze us all in.”

There’s a new picture accompanying the article as well (click to enlarge):

You can read the full interview here
Here’s an article scan of the two page interview in the Weekend magazine that is published with the Daily Mail today, you get a larger picture with the printed version but the text is the same. Click each image to enlarge.

We have been sent a press release for the Spooks series 7 DVD which available from E1 Entertainment on 12 October.

Click on the images below to enlarge

1. Two people have the chance of winning a Spooks series 7 boxset courtesy of lastbroadcast.co.uk. They have confirmed via email that this competition is only open to UK residents I’m afraid.

The page link above also gives you access to an episode guide for series 7 and to Richard Armitage’s interview that he gave prior to series 7 in case you haven’t seen it before, or would like a re-read.

I think the answer to the competition question is a tad obvious 

Closing date 3 November 2009.

Update 7th October

2. Another competition to win a Spooks 7 DVD boxset has been announced from Downtown Radio. Again, I’m afraid to say this competition is only open to UK residents.

The closing date is 9 November 2009. Click here for details

3. Another competition was announced on our news blog here on 27 September 2009 from Now magazine.

Update 9th October

4. Yet another competition only open to UK residents from Webuser

Ian Wylie of the Manchester Evening News has posted some tantalising news of Spooks series 8, particularly episode 1 as he received the DVD of this episode yesterday.

Read his blog here. Caution: minor spoilers.

Highlights include:

The actor formerly known as Richard Armitage has been totally taken over by Lucas North.

It’s such a convincing portrayal that they surely must be one and the same person?

and

And a disturbing image in the teaser trailer for episode two.

I’m not ashamed to say that I had a little tear in my eye at the end.

Not long to go now…I hope!

The BBC America shop DVDs in the Works page has details of early 2010 releases of Spooks season 7 (known as MI-5 in the US) and Robin Hood season 3 on DVD.

Scroll down for a picture of tattooed Lucas and the following info…
‘we can now confirm we’re releasing this season, never before broadcast in the US, on DVD early next year’

There is still no news to confirm when BBCA will be showing MI-5 season 7, starring Richard Armitage as Lucas North.

Further down the DVDs in the Works page, there is information about the Robin Hood season 3 DVD, which will be available to buy in early in 2010. However, the site monstersandcritics.com states that it will be available to buy from 12th January 2010. The special features are exactly the same as you’ll find on the region 2 DVD which is out now, namely:

- A Legend Reborn (behind the scenes feature)
- A New Look (behind the scenes look at costuming)
- Trebuchet: Creating Chaos
- Character Profiles
- Video Diaries

The WATCH UK television channel are re-showing series 7 of Spooks starting 21 October 2009. The first episode will be shown at 9pm, repeated three hours later at midnight.

There is still no confirmation of when BBC1 will be showing series 8, although the BBC Press Office have not included it in their programme schedule 10-16 October, so perhaps it will start week commencing 17 October to coincide with the re-showing of series 7 on WATCH? We hope so.

Now magazine are offering the chance for 6 people to win copies of the Spooks series 7 DVD, but I’m afraid this is only open to UK residents.

The competition closes on Tuesday 27 October 2009.

To enter click here.

On 4 August 2009, Jason Arnopp revealed on Twitter that he had attended a round table interview with Richard Armitage and today, thanks to Debs, we have received a copy of that interview which has been published in a new magazine called ‘Film Star’, October edition.

The interview reveals many exciting details about Lucas’s role in series 8 of Spooks, including the fact that Lucas will revisit his traumatic past in the Russian prison and that he will begin a love affair with an attractive CIA liaison officer.

Here’s a scan of the interview. Click to enlarge.

(Ali has since bought the magazine and re-scanned for a clearer image. Press F5 if you can’t see the newer version straight away).

The TV Quick and TV Choice Awards will be held this evening at the Dorchester Hotel in London.

Richard is nominated for Best Actor for his role as Lucas North in Spooks, Moving On is nominated in Best New Drama, Spooks in Best Drama Series and Robin Hood is nominated in the Best Family Drama category.

Update 8 September:

Winners

• Best Comedy Show: The Inbetweeners
• Best Daytime Show: Loose Women
• Best Entertainment Show: Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway
• Best Lifestyle Show: Top Gear
• Best Family Drama: Waterloo Road
• Best New Drama: Merlin
• Best Drama Series: Ashes To Ashes
• Best Reality Show: The Apprentice
• Best Actor: Philip Glenister
• Best Actress: Denise Welch
• Best Talent Show: Britain’s Got Talent
• Best Gameshow: Deal Or No Deal
• Best Soap Actor: Simon Gregson
• Best Soap Actress: Katherine Kelly
• Best Soap Newcomer: Lauren Crace
• Best Soap: EastEnders
• Best Soap Storyline: Danielle and Ronnie’s story, EastEnders

Richard Armitage has been nominated for Best Drama Performance in the National Television Awards.

You can vote here before the end of September and it is possible to vote up to 6 times using the same email address or phone number.

The Terms and Conditions state the following:

Voting restrictions:
You may vote up to 6 times by PRTS phone, post or via the website using the same phone number or email address, but you may only vote for one nominee per category. If you exceed this limit using PRTS you will hear a message informing you that you have reached the limit. Your telephone provider should not charge you for this call. If you exceed the limit when voting via the websites or via post, your votes will not be counted but you may still be charged where applicable.

This is the long list of nominees so hopefully Richard will make the short list, which will be announced later this year.

The NTAs will take place at the O2 Arena on 20 January 2010 and will be shown on ITV1.

Spooks and Robin Hood have been nominated for Best Drama. Please vote now!

Further details added 9th September:
According to the Radio Times, the shortlist will consist of just four nominees per category. The second round of voting for the nominees on the shortlist will commence 5th January 2010.