BOX SETS AND ON DEMAND
Secrets of the Krays (BritBox, from Thu)
The streaming service’s first original factual commission offers an in-depth profile of arguably the most notorious criminals in British history. Much has been said and written about Ronnie and Reggie Kray since they were incarcerated in the late 1960s, having built an empire via murder, armed robbery, arson, protection rackets and assaults. But they were famous before then thanks to their West End nightclub, where celebrities including Diana Dors, Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland would hang out when they were in London. Here, relatives of the twins, as well as family friends, their lawyers, police officers and photographer David Bailey discuss their memories of the duo. Also featured is Micky Fawcett, a key member of the Krays’ ‘firm’, who has never spoken publicly before.
Halston (Netflix from Fri)
Does Ryan Murphy ever sleep? TV’s super-producer seems to be behind every other show on the box these days, including this new mini-series. He is, however, only its executive producer; writing duties have been taken by playwright Sharr Wright, who is also the drama’s creator. Based on the book Simply Halston by Steven Gaines, it stars Ewan McGregor as iconic fashion designer Roy Halston Frowick, who was known by his middle name – the moniker became synonymous with luxury, sex, status and fame during the 1970s and 1980s. His rise to prominence and dramatic fall from grace are charted, with Rory Culkin, Bill Pullman and Vera Farmiga joining McGregor on screen. The series is directed by Daniel Minahan, who has such series as Game of Thrones, True Blood and Deadwood on his CV.
Time Is A Killer (Walter Presents/All 4, from Fri)
Michel Bussi’s bestselling novel has been turned into an eight-part crime drama. A quarter of a century after surviving the tragic accident that killed her brother and parents, Clotilde, now in her early forties, returns to her Corsican hometown for the first time. She and her husband Franck and their 16-year-old daughter Valentine are planning on starting a new life, but almost immediately, the past begins rearing its ugly head when Clotilde receives a letter from her supposedly dead mother. Unable to let it lie, she begins delving into her family’s history, determined to find out what really happened on that fateful day all those years ago. Mathilde Seigner heads the cast, which also includes ex-Bond girl Caterina Murino and former Spiral and Mr Selfridge star Gregory Fitoussi.
The Underground Railroad (Amazon, Fri)
Barry Jenkins is best known for directing the Oscarwinning drama Moonlight, but now he’s turning his attention to TV for the first time. He’s directed all 10 episodes of this adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Newcomer Thuso Mbedu leads the cast as Cora Randall, a slave desperately trying to escape the horrors of life on a Georgia plantation. She’s heard of an underground railroad that could help, but doesn’t really expect to find an incredible subterranean network populated by engineers and conductors. However, Cora’s journey is far from easy – a bounty hunter is on her trail... Joel Edgerton, Will Poulter and Scotland’s Peter Mullan also star.