Jodie Comer

Jodie Comer: The woman behind TV's most ruthless villain

With a wardrobe to die for and a closet of weapons that would impress an international arms dealer, Comer’s refreshing portrayal of the free-spirited assassin threw all of television’s gendered troupes out the window. Cold, ruthless and carefree, Villanelle is not your typical female character in a spy drama.

“This role should be stereotypically one-dimensional and probably played by a man, but Phoebe [Waller-Bridge] has completely turned all those stereotypes on their head,” says Comer.

Winners of the RTS Programme Awards 2019 announced

Jodie Comer took home the Actor - Female award for her role in Killing Eve (Credit: RTS/Richard Kendal)

Guests in attendance included the cast of Hollyoaks and Coronation Street, star of Killing Eve and Actor (Female) winner Jodie Comer and legendary actress Lesley Manville, who picked up the award for Comedy Performance - Female for Mum.

Jodie Comer's iconic performance in Killing Eve won her the Actor - Female award, with Lucian Msamati winning the Actor - Male award for his harrowing and extraordinary portrayal of Tobi in Kiri.

Channel 4 releases first look image of Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham in Help

Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham in Help (credit: Channel 4)

Set in a fictional care home in Liverpool, Help tells the poignant story of the relationship between a young care worker (Comer) and a patient (Graham), whose lives are irrevocably changed by the coronavirus pandemic in spring 2020.

Jodie Comer plays Sarah, a smart young woman who has never felt like she fitted in at school or at work. Despite her family telling her she’d never amount to anything, she finds her calling unexpectedly as a carer at Bright Sky Homes and can effortlessly form special connections with residents.

TV’s Greatest On-screen Rivalries

For drama to arise, the hero’s intention must meet an obstacle, and what better obstacle than an arch-rival.

But rivalries come in all forms, from the most petty to the most fierce, and are therefore wellsprings of drama and hilarity that can be found in series of all genres.

Here are some of the greatest to have graced the small screen.

Killing Eve to conclude with upcoming fourth series

Filming for the eight-episode series will take place in the UK and locations across Europe.

Both Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer will return to star in the series as Eve Polastri and Villanelle.

Sandra Oh said: “Killing Eve has been one of my greatest experiences and I look forward to diving back into Eve’s remarkable mind soon.

“I’m so grateful for all cast and crew who have brought our story to life and to the fans who have joined us and will be back for our exciting and unpredictable fourth and final season.”

Stephen Graham and Jodie Comer to star in new Channel 4 drama Help

From RTS Award-winning writer Jack Thorne (His Dark Materials), Help tells the moving story of a young worker in a fictional Liverpool care home, Sarah (Comer), and her patient Tony (Graham), whose lives are torn apart by the coronavirus pandemic.

Graham said: “Jack is one of the greatest and most truthful writers of our generation and in Help he has crafted a profoundly important piece of social realism.

BBC announces remake of Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads

Left to right: Jodie Comer, Monica Dolan, Martin Freeman, Tamsin Greig, Sarah Lancashire, Lesley Manville, Lucian Msamati, Maxine Peake, Rochenda Sandall, Kristin Scott Thomas, Imelda Staunton and Harriet Walter (Credit: BBC)

Ten of the original monologues will be remade and two new ones, written by Bennett last year, will also be showcased.

Produced by Nicholas Hytner’s London Theatre Company and Kevin Loader, filming will take place at the BBC Elstree Studios using current sets.

The monologues tell stories that are important and timely, all while allowing the actors to perform despite the coronavirus lockdown.

BBC announces Killing Eve series three UK air date

The new weekly episodes will be available to stream every Monday from 6am and air on BBC One on Sundays at 9pm, starting from Sunday 19th April. 

SPOILERS AHEAD 

The second series finale ended with a shock twist as Villanelle (Jodie Comer) appears to finally achieve her mission of 'killing Eve' when she shoots Eve (Sandra Oh) in Rome and leaves her for dead.

Memorable TV performances of the decade

(credit: BBC/Luke Varley/Two Brothers/AMC/ITV)

Series binging over weekly releases has become the new norm, and brand new, high-quality TV content seems to be in endless supply.

The competition for viewers’ attention has intensified tenfold, and the leading broadcasters have risen to the challenge.

At the beginning of a new decade, we look back at some of the most memorable performances and series of the last ten years.