Ever since Spooks Series 10 started airing in the UK in September 2011, fans have noticed how good Nicola looked. Certain fans have asked, tongue in cheek, “has Nicola lost weight?” or “has Nicola had a facelift?” For a response from Nicola with regard to the facelift comment, see this Page.
Well, following a tweet posted by @equalsresults on 10 October 2011, we now know why Nicola is looking so much fitter these days. Apparently, she’s a bit of a gym bunny! “=results” is a London gym which staged a charity event over the 8th to 9th October 2011 weekend. It hosted 96 personal training sessions in 24 hours in order to to raise funds for local youth. For more details, click on the event poster below.
Nicola participated in this event and looked as though she had a great time working out at the gym. Love the “Kill Bill” style track suit 🙂
I guess that also explains the incredible energy Nicola has displayed during the recent run of Di and Viv and Rose.
We will be going to a couple of performances of Di and Viv and Rose. We hope to be able to meet with Nicola after the show. If you have any questions for her, we’ll be happy to put them to her, and then print all of the answers here at a later date. We will leave it to Nicola to decide which questions to answer (in case some of these are too personal in nature).
Please Email Us with your questions not later than 25 September 2011. In your email, please also let us know whether you wish to remain annonymous when we print the answers or if not, the alias you would like to use when we identify your question(s).
If you choose to make your questions public by filling out the comment form below, or if you’re using the Contact Form in the Contact Us section, please remember to answer the simple math question which appears either above or below the form (this is in place of the usual captcha phrase you are required to type to prove that you’re human and not some spambot), otherwise your attempt to lodge a question or comment will be rejected by the system.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Update : 30 September 2011
Nicola has answered your questions. You can read them HERE.
Thank you to everyone who submitted questions.
An even bigger THANK YOU to Nicola for taking the time to give such fabulous answers. We love ya!!!
For our report on the events which led up to the commissioning of Series 10 and sightings of Series 10 being filmed on location, read our Post HERE.
For our report on the announcement that Series 10 will be the last series and the announcement of a transmission date for episode 1, read our Post HERE.
We have just received confirmation from an absolutely reliable source that the Region 2 DVD box set for Series 10 of Spooks will be released on 28 November 2011. Extras will include “Top 10 Spooks moments” as selected by cast and crew and a featurette called “Harry’s Game”. We may even be able to run a competition like we did when the Region 2 DVD box set for Series 9 was released. We will post more details as soon as we have more information. Put this on the top of your Christmas wish list! 😀
Update : 20 October 2011
Kudos held an End-of-Series party in London today and invited all cast and crew from previous series to attend. We know via Twitter that Peter Firth was still held up filming World Without End in Budapest and was unable to attend. At this party, the last ever episode of Spooks (episode 6 of Series 10) was screened for all attendees. Rupert Penry-Jones (who played “Adam” from Series 3 to Series 7) was there and posted this pic on Twitter to tease fans.
DVD Preview Clip
Update : 20 October 2011
This clip has been released by Helen James Productions on YouTube. Its taken from an interview which Nicola and Peter Firth gave to HJP as an extra for the DVD. The clip can be considered spoilery for any one who has not yet seen any episode from Series 10, so please proceed with caution.
@kraysler was there, on the streets of London, the day Nicola turned up to film the DVD extras with HJP. She didn’t see the actual filming of the extras, but she saw a bit of the filming of episode 5 from Series 10. You can read her report HERE.
Update : 28 October 2011
For reasons unknown, Helen James Productions have now removed the YouTube clip of the Series 10 DVD teaser clip (see link above). We’ll keep the link for now, in case they change their minds and make it available again.
Click the link below and pre-order the Region 2 box set NOW!
Update : 23 October 2011
The Telegraph takes a look at “Spooks – the Spies who are the Good Guys” HERE.
In the course of collecting information and other materials for this fan site, now and then we would come across some fun facts about Nicola which do not fit under any other category. We’d like to share these with you, so we’ve grouped these bits of information under “Fun Facts”. You can view them HERE.
We want these Fun Facts to be more than the Six Degrees feature which appear in our various Guides to Nicola’s work. At the same time, we also want to steer clear of any facts which pertain to the very personal aspects of Nicola’s private life (unless she has disclosed these herself in interviews).
What do you think? Do you have an interesting Fun Fact or two to share with Nicola fans? If you do, please Email Us with a full description of any such Fun Fact, with pics where possible and the name you wish to be credited with, and we will be in touch with you.
Cultbox is running a poll to find out who fans think is UK Cult TV’s Sexiest Female. You can vote HERE. Although Nicola had an early lead, she has now been overtaken by Alex Kingston. Anyone can vote, and by using different browsers (thanks for the tip @jadewhite1), you can cast more than one vote for the same person.
So please vote to show your support for Nicola and VOTE NOW!
Update : 5 September 2011
Nicola is now languishing in 4th position in this poll. Come on, people, vote and vote again. Any one can vote, and you can vote more than once each day, using a different browswer. You can then repeat this exercise on another day!
Update : 12 September 2011
Nicola has now overtaken Alex Kingston by over 300 votes. Keep up the good work, everyone, and keep voting until they close the polls! 😀
Update : 10 October 2011
Voting on the CultBox poll closed on or about 2nd October 2011. We know from watching the tally of votes that Nicola should be the winner, with almost 1,000 votes more than Alex Kingston, who had the second highest number of votes. However, although CultBox has already announced the male winner of this poll (Colin Morgan of Merlin), it has yet to make an official announcement with regard to the female winner. We have tried to contact CultBox via Twitter to find out what’s causing the delay, but so far, CultBox has ignored our tweets completely. Maybe CultBox is trying to lineup an interview with Nicola to find out what is her reaction to being named the winner of this poll. For the male winner, there was a short video clip of Colin Morgan’s reactions. *drums fingers on desk, waits impatiently*
Update : 8 November 2011
We have just been in touch with one of the editors of CultBox. Apparently, they are not going to declare any one the winner of their Cult TV’s sexiest female poll because they discovered that there was a loophole in their voting system with the result that people could vote again and again for the same person. As far as CultBox is concerned, that rendered the results of the poll “useless”.
CultBox said that they will be doing a 2011 “Best Actor” and “Best Actress” poll in December and that Nicola will definitely be one of the options on that poll.
Earlier, we were tipped off to the fact that by using different browsers, one could vote for the same person multiple times on different days. However, we understand that some fans went one step further and discovered that by deleting all cookies from their browsers, they could vote multiple times for the same person on the same day, every day.
Even though there were irregularities involved, we are still disappointed that CultBox decided to bin the results. For anyone interested in the final results of that poll, you can still access them through this link.
Update : 14 November 2011
CultBox has started a new poll, this time its for 2011’s Best Actor/Best Actress in UK cult TV. Nicola has been included in the list of nominees for the Actress section and is currently leading the poll. You can vote by going to the CultBox website.
For more background information about the filming of Series 10, please read our companion Post.
After months of rumours and speculations on the internet (Twitter and various Spooks forums), Kudos, the production company behind Spooks, have finally made a formal announcement that Series 10 will be the last ever series for Spooks. You can read more about it in this Guardian article.
HERE is the official BBC Press Release about the end of Spooks.
HERE is Ian Wylie on the end of Spooks, with a short audio clip from Nicola on how she feels about this.
HERE is Cultbox’s report on this subject, complete with comments from Sam Vincent, writer of various episodes in Series 10. This piece also includes that BBC Drama trailer, in full, with no geographic restrictions.
HERE is another Guardian article commenting on the passing of Spooks.
Please take a moment now to observe a 30 second silence for the passing of a great TV show.
What’s going to happen to Harry and Ruth?
It is interesting to see this comment from Jane Featherstone, chief executive of Kudos and Spooks,
It was during the writing of the episodes [for Series 10] about Harry’s past and his relationship with colleague Ruth that [I] realized [I] wanted Spooks to end. … We’ve followed the arc of their personal story and I think they’ve brought us to a natural end, which you will all see played out later this year.
There is only one of three ways things can end for Harry and Ruth :
they finally get together (but Spooks is not known for doing happy endings)
they break up and go their separate ways, either voluntarily or because one of the characters get killed off (Spooks have done that too many times in the past, its getting old for its shock value) or
they leave the two characters “as is”, that is, neither moving forwards nor backwards (that would be most unsatisfying for fans).
The cast have already done interviews with various media sources in connection with Series 10. In particular, the Telly Rocket (@TheTellyRocket, the Sunday Express TV Editor’s Twitter account) have logged this tweet
Just did lovely chat with #spooks Nicola Walker. She told of audacious climax to series. Sounds brilliant. Chat to run autumn.
Spooks and Nicola fans, you can draw your own conclusions with that comment!
Old face(s) returning in Series 10?
In that Guardian article, Jane Featherstone did not rule out an old face or two “returning during flashback scenes to explain Harry’s past”. Indeed, Rupert Penry-Jones (@rpenryj) has also tweeted something to the same effect, though he said that he himself will not be returning. This Sun article went further and posted photos of two former Spooks to go with their article.
Who do you think will return? Who would you like to see come back, however briefly, to explain Harry’s past?
Transmission Date for Series 10
Although there has been no formal announcement from the BBC, through various sources, we have been told that Spooks Series 10 is likely to be transmitted in the UK during the second half of September 2011. This is further bolstered by the fact that an anonymous source has logged a post on one of the Spooks forums to the effect that the Series 10 Region 2 box set will be released in November 2011, as a two disc package.
We already know that there will only be 6 episodes for Series 10. We also know from tweets logged by Helen James Productions (@HelenJamesProd) that they are once again putting together extras for the Series 10 box set. We don’t know how will they be able to fit all 6 episodes and the Extras on two discs?!
On the brighter side
Now that Nicola is done with filming Spooks, it will free her up to accept other, possibly more interesting, projects. We would love to see her take on a comedy series next, as we all know, from Chalk [TV] and the Big Town All Stars [Audio] what a great comedic actress she can be. If we get to meet with her after a performance of Di and Viv and Rose [Stage] during its run, we will certainly grill her for more information on this subject.
In the meantime, got a comment (which you can leave below) about the passing of Spooks and/or what will happen to Harry and Ruth?
Update : 11 August 2011
By now, over 55 news outlets are carrying the press release about the end of Spooks. However, many of their reports are inaccurate. The BBC did not axe or cancel the show. Kudos made that decision alone, even though the BBC asked it to reconsider. There is a difference.
Then there is this pic from the Sun report. This photo is not available in the online version of the Sun article and comes to you courtesy of @crazycazzz.
Here is another version of that pic
What do you think? Hope for all the Harry and Ruth fans out there, or disinformation intended to soften the blow when the episodes actually air and we do not get the ending that we want?
Update : 12 August 2011
Jane Featherstone of Kudos was interviewed on BBC Breakfast this morning. For those of us who missed this programme, and for the non-UK based fans who may not have access to this show, the great Ian Wylie has prepared a transcript, complete with audio clip, and you can access it HERE.
As for the return of some likely old faces, the Sun was a little coy and simply included pics of Matthew MacFadyen (Tom) and Keeley Hawes (Zoe) in their article with a brief indication that some old faces might return. The Daily Mail is more open and came right out with “Hawes and MacFadyen are believed to have been invited back to reprise their roles in the final six episodes of the MI5 drama”. Meanwhile, the Telegraph seems to be labouring under some misapprehension that Lucas North (Richard Armitage) is still alive out there, somewhere.
Digital Spy has summed up fans’ reaction perfectly about the end of Spooks!
Update : 23 August 2011
@ianwylie posted the following tweets today :
Spooks 10 ep 1 is an assured return as Sir Harry’s final secrets begin to unfold. Thrilling opener ahead of The End.
For those asking, Spooks returns to BBC1 next month but exact date still under wraps and never certain until schedules are finalised.
Spoke to Peter Firth in April about the Spooks 10 revelations. Good to see Harry given some cracking script lines in ep 1.
Update : 24 August 2011
Cultbox has posted 10 lines of dialogue from the first episode of Series 10 of Spooks. They do not contain spoilers, and you may have a fun time guessing which Spooks characters delivered the lines in question. Don’t click on the link if you do not wish to know about these lines.
Update : 1 September 2011
taken from the Prime Focus World website
The BBC Programme Information page for week 38 announces that Series 10 will premiere sometime during the week from 17 – 23 September 2011, with the exact date and time to be announced. HERE is more information about the first episode – the description is a little spoilery so don’t click on that link if you do not wish to know what happens in episode 1.
Cultbox has previously tweeted that all official publicity photos for Series 10 are embargoed until 13 September 2011. Go to the Cultbox website NOW to vote for Nicola as UK cult TV’s sexiest female!
Update : 5 September 2011
Culbox has an exclusive interview with Sam Vincent and Jonathan Brackley, the main scriptwriters for Series 10 of Spooks. Part 1 can be found HERE. The interview is relatively spoiler-free. Part 2 will be online on Friday, 9 September 2011.
We still don’t have an official airdate for episode 1 though the Cultbox website has a clip of the brief preview promo which ran on BBC TV as from Sunday.
Update : 7 September 2011
Finally, we have an official air date for episode 1 of Series 10, the last ever Spooks series. In their inimitable wisdom, the BBC is scheduling Spooks on Sunday nights, at 9 pm (starting from 18 September 2011), which puts it squarely against Series 2 of Downton Abbey airing on iTV at the same time. HERE is the Guardian article on this subject. The Press Association has something similar to say.
What do you think? Inspired scheduling, or the BBC not giving a damn that the last ever Spooks series might get killed in the ratings war between the two programmes?
Update : 9 September 2011
The second part of Cultbox’s exclusive interview with Sam Vincent and Jonathan Brackley can be found HERE.
HERE is the Radio Times’s thoughts on the scheduling of Spooks against Downton Abbey.
The Huffington Post UK is conducting a poll to see which show UK viewers will be watching come Sunday night, 18 September 2011. You can vote HERE.
Update : 10 September 2011
Thanks to ramblingscribe/HarryFan, here are :
the first teaser trailer for Spooks Series 10
and the first full trailer for Spooks S10
Getting proper excited about Series 10? I know that we are!
We shall now close this Post and start the proper Spooks Series 10 page, which you can access HERE.
If you wish to leave a comment but cannot see the comment box (maybe because you are viewing this Post as part of our archives), just click on the comment balloon to the far right of title of the Post and you will be taken back to the comment box.
BBC Radio 4 will be repeating its broadcast of “The Time Being” series and first up is Nicola’s episode, Jules. You can read more about this programme HERE. The repeat will go out at 00.30 GMT on Sunday, 7 August 2011 and thereafter available on the BBC Radio iPlayer for seven days. There is no geographic restriction on the BBC Radio iPlayer so non-UK fans can also listen to this programme.
The programme itself is a little less than 15 minutes, and once again, Nicola delivers some fantastic voice acting.
This Post only deals with the 2011 staging of Di and Viv and Rose at the Hampstead Downstairs as Nicola was part of the cast. This Post has not been updated to include any information relating to the 2013 re-staging of the play at the Hampstead Theatre as Nicola will not be reprising her role as Viv.
Before you ask, no, we have not gone into business selling lingerie, nor are we staging an auction of Nicola’s undies. The above pic is the feature image for a new play in which Nicola will appear. Nicola will return to the stage on 14 September 2011 in a play called Di and Viv and Rose. Here is more information from :
From these press releases, we are told that Nicola will play “Viv” in this production.
Seating
The Hampstead Downstairs is a small theatre with seating for only 80 per performance; sometimes less if the creative team wants to take over part of the studio as part of their performance. So please book early if you are thinking of going. Also, the studio has free seating, so if you do go, you should be there early in order to be able to get a good seat.
The play will only have a short run of about one month, ending on 15 October 2011. Hopefully, it will be successful enough to warrant a transfer to the West End and larger theaters.
As the studio is small and the cast consists of three actresses only (similar to Mrs Klein at the Almeida), this promises to be an intimate night out for those who will be attending performances.
Show times
Evening performances start at 7:45 pm (instead of the usual 7:30 pm) and matinees start at 3:15 pm (instead of the usual 2:30 pm). See our Update : 18 September 2011 below for the play’s running time.
Remember, if you do go and end up meeting Nicola afterwards, don’t forget to let us have permission to post your photos with her in our We Met Nicola! section. You can always write a review for us and post this in the Comments section. 😀
Inside Men – new TV project for Nicola
There is one interesting point in the Whats On Stage press release. It referred to Inside Men as one of Nicola’s TV credits, which appears to be this BBC production. In the past, we have often found out about new TV projects for Nicola via her CV released by the relevant theaters, e.g. Gethsemane -> Grandma’s House (for which she shot the pilot only and didn’t appear in the final production), and Season’s Greetings -> Law and Order : UK. Inside Men seems to be more of a showcase for actors rather than actresses. You can read more about this new project HERE. (Thanks to eagle-eyed lottanyman on one of the Spooks forums for pointing this out to us. 🙂 )
Six degrees
Tamzin Outhwaite was the lead actress in Red Cap. Nicola appeared in one episode of Red Cap titled Fighting Fit. Nicola did not share any scenes with Tamzin Outhwaite in Red Cap.
Claudie Blakley was a guest star in Touching Evil [TV] in the episodes titled “Evil Web” Parts 1 & 2 (also known as “What Amathus Wants”). She is also a good friend of Emma Kennedy, who was a former roommate of Nicola and they continue to be good friends. (A bit tenuous for Six degrees, we know, but just thought that you might be interested to know 🙂 )
Update 4 August 2011
According to the Hampstead Theatre’s online booking page, 14 September 2011 has been sold out.
Thanks to a heads up from HarryFan on the Spooks Forum, we draw your attention to Nicola’s Spotlight page.
Several interesting things to note about that page :
Under Sports towards the bottom of the page, Nicola is listed as a highly skilled swimmer.
Under the Films tab, her role in 4 Weddings has a name, finally! Its Claudia, instead of the usual awful folk singer. Who knew?!
In the pictures gallery, there are some lovely Nicola pics. They look like recent headshots and she looks great!
Under the “Television” tab, it confirms that Nicola does have a role in the BBC’s Inside Man and her character is called “Kirsty Doyle”.
Update : 11 August 2011
Here’s an image taken from the Hampstead Theatre webpage for this play
the script is 104 pages long, which means the play’s running time is likely to be 2 hours with a 20 minute interval
however, the exact running time may change, depending on what changes or tweaks will be done to the script during rehearsals
once the exact length of the play has been finalised, more information will be posted on the Hampstead Theatre website
Update : 5 September 2011
Rehearsal pics are now up on the Hampstead Theatre website, Gallery section for this play’s webpage. I think Nicola is wearing her favorite rehearsal top again 🙂 ! Tamzin Outhwaite has been tweeting about how much fun rehearsals have been with all three ladies. Cannot wait to see this on stage!
Update : 6 September 2011
Thanks to a head up from @SofieB_, good size rehearsal pics (many more than the ones displayed on the Theatre’s webpage for this play) can also be found on Hampstead Theatre’s Facebook page.
Update : 12 September 2011
Hampstead Theatre are running a caption competition on their FaceBook page where you can win tickets for Di and Viv and Rose. Try your luck HERE.
Update : 18 September 2011
The Hampstead Theatre now tells us, on their webpage, that the running time for this page is approximately 2 hours 35 minutes, with one interval.
Hampstead Theatre has posted 29 production photos of this play on its Facebook page. Nicola looks gorgeous in those photos, with much shorter hair. Wait till you see the photos of Nicola playing air guitar and rocking out! To any fan who has ever known her in “Ruth” mode or who thinks she’s only capable of looking dour in blacks and blues, you’re in for a very pleasant surprise. Head over to the Theatre’s Facebook page NOW!
Of the remaining 23 performances, 5 shows have now been sold out. Grab a ticket whilst you still can!
In addition to the Review in the Comments section below, there are more reviews and other information/updates on the next page.
Nicola is the voice of BBC Radio 4 Extra’s 7th Dimension this week. This means that she announces the name of the show at the beginning and at the end of the show. Have a listen :
7th Dimension is the BBC’s regular radio slot for science fiction, fantasy and horror. It is broadcast on the digital radio station BBC Radio 4 Extra at 6 pm or 6:30 pm (depending on the day of the week) GMT, seven days a week and then repeated each day at around midnight. The host of the show is Nick Briggs. Most of the programs are full cast dramatizations and the remainder are book readings. The show is also available on the BBC Radio iPlayer , but its listed under the individual story names and not under “7th Dimension”. So if you wish to listen to an episode, you should look up the name of the story first in the Schedule page of BBC Radio 4 Extra.
Six degrees :
Nick Briggs is the host of this show. Nick is also executive producer and the writer of Robophobia.
Toby Hadoke (@TobyHadoke) alerted us to this gig via twitter. (Thank you, Toby 😀 ) Toby plays Farel on Robophobia . Toby will be on 7th Dimenson every night for the next two weeks. You can find out more about this amazing actor/writer/comedian/Dr Who fan by visiting his website.
Please also visit our Guide to Nicola’s other audio work for samples of some of her voice over work, HERE.
From time to time, we receive enquiries from fans as to how they can write to Nicola. We always suggest that you do this via her agents, whose address is listed in our FAQ page. However, we accept that the FAQ page may not be the most logical place to find this information, so here it is again :
R Blond & Associates
69a Kings Road
London SW3 4NX
United Kingdom
Many of you may want to write and let Nicola know how much you have enjoyed her work over the years. We have it on good authority that Nicola collects her fan mail from her agents quite regularly and enjoys reading fan letters. However, you should not expect that she will have time to send a personal response to each and every letter, it depends on how busy she is at any time. No offence to any one who has written or is considering writing to Nicola, but we’d rather she spend time filming new projects, reading scripts and/or taking meetings/going to auditions in relation to new and interesting work than writing responses to fans. 🙂
SASE
If you would like an autographed photo in return, you will need to enclose a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope (“SASE”). For those fans who live outside the UK, this may present a bit of a problem since you may not be able to purchase UK stamps where you live, but in this internet age, that is no longer a problem.
work out how much it will cost to have the SASE sent back to you from the UK with just one photo, which measures 4″ x 6″, (shouldn’t weigh more than 30 grams) on this page
buy the necessary UK stamps and have these sent to you – there is a variety of stamp books you can buy on this page
After you receive the UK stamps from Royal Mail via regular post, you can then use the UK stamps on your SASE and then send it, together with your letter to Nicola, care of her agents. Make sure that your package has the correct postage as required by the Post Office from your location. Unless you live in the UK, you will not be able to use the online postage option since once purchased, these stamps (which you can print out on your computer) only have a 24 hour validity period.
The Royal Mail online shop also has a variety of other interesting items for you to purchase, in addition to stamps. So its well worth exploring. However, you will need to give your credit card details online as the Royal Mail does not accept PayPal.
Photos
As far as we know, Nicola has done two “head shots” for work purposes. Signed copies of these head shots are often sent to fans on request, as long as any such request is accompanied with a SASE with correct postage. Here on the right is the older version, which sometimes sells for less than £1 on eBay (but you will then have to add on shipping and handling fees charged by the eBay vendor). As from November 2010, we noticed that Nicola has started to use this newer head shot (on the left), which was available on her actor’s page on the National Theatre website. We have noticed, with some interest, that recent sales on eBay of this newer version of Nicola’s head shot have gone for more than £20! There must be some very keen fans out there who have made one or two professional autograph sellers very happy. But for those of us who cannot afford these prices, writing directly to Nicola via her agent would be the most economical way to go, if you’re after a signed photo.
If you wish to send a small gift to Nicola via her agents, please make sure that you include enough postage for her agents to forward the package to Nicola.
Scroll down the page for more updates on this matter.
We have stopped updating this Post now that it is clear that Series 10 will be transmitted in the UK in the week commencing 19 September 2011 and that this will be the last ever series of Spooks to be produced. Please read our companion Post for further updates on Spooks Series 10.
There will be a series 10 for Spooks.
We first became aware that this was a distinct possibility when Ian Wylie mentioned this in one of his tweets or blog posts on Spooks. The BBC held a press event in October at which they showcased to members of the press their new shows for the autumn and winter season. Ben Stephenson, head of BBC Drama, indicated at that function that Series 10 of Spooks will be commissioned.
The strongest confirmation that there will be a Series 10 of Spooks came at the end of episode 908 (which aired on BBC One on 8.11.2010) when this appeared on screen at the very end :
We believe that Series 10 is now in pre-production, and principal photography will take place between March and July 2011, followed by post production work, and the actual series will air sometime between September and November 2011.
Update : 9 December 2010
Nicola is expected to start work on Spooks Series 10 on 14 March 2011, i.e. the day after she finishes at the National Theatre in Season’s Greetings.
A French fan asked Nicola recently whether she would like her character, Ruth Evershed, to be Section Chief in Series 10. Nicola said, “oh yes, of course Ruth should be section chief, she doesn’t want Harry’s love … she wants to be out in the field …” She was only half joking (we think)!
Update : 7 February 2011
From Twitter, we hear that after recent a cast and crew screening of South Riding, an upcoming TV mini series in which Peter Firth has a small but important role, Peter told Ian Wylie that no firm decision has been made as to whether or not Series 10 will be the last series for Spooks, but he also added that one can never be sure with a show like Spooks. A few minutes later, Ian tweeted that “Spooks series 10 starts filming in March. My instinct (with NO inside info) is that it will be the last. But could be wrong.”
Update : 10 March 2011
From Twitter, we learn from exchanges of tweets between Sam Vincent (@smavincent), one of the Spooks scriptwriters, and other fans :
First read through of a Series 10 script took place today and it went OK
Nicola was in great form, very nice and funny as ever.
(In plain English, for those not familiar with production lingo – cast and crew will sit down to do a read through of a script before filming commences, they will work out which bits will work and which bits will not, the script writer then produces one or more (usually more) redrafts before shooting takes place. Frequently on Spooks, scripts will continue to be amended during the filming process.)
Update : 13 March 2011
From Twitter, we learn from an actor (@RussellBalogh) that he started filming a small part on Spooks Series 10 on Sunday, 13 March 2011.
Update : 1 April 2011
Ian Wylie has blogged about some casting changes for Series 10 which you can read HERE. Don’t read if you don’t want to be spoiled for what lies ahead in Series 10.
There has been more sightings of location filming reported via Twitter at the following places :
Canton Arms and Albert Square
City Hall
a street in Bermondsey
a street somewhere made to look like 80s Germany, said the tweeter
Drury Lane / Covent Garden
New Wimbledon Theatre
Albert Embankment
outside an office block somewhere, Peter Firth was spotted
And this is all in addition to the indoor scenes being filmed at the Grid set at Bermondsey!
Update : 26 April 2011
From the Spooks Fan Blog comes a report of more location filming, this time over a few days at the Chelsea Harbour Hotel in Peckham. Apparently all the signs near the entrance to the hotel were changed to German signs, thus suggesting that the hotel was masquerading as a hotel in Germany. Spooks fans have been speculating that this might have something to do with a look into Harry’s past dealings in Germany.
From the Spooks Information Central Forum, we know that the crew has also been filming recently around Peckham/East Dulwich for 5 days.
Update : 2 May 2011
Some casting spoilers from @ruther2 via Twitter :
You will see the names of some actors who have been cast in various roles in SpooksSeries 10 on THIS PAGE. Most of these are for minor roles except for one person who is described as playing the younger version of THIS CHARACTER. (Click on the “Television” tab.) Don’t click on these links if you do not want to be spoiled.
In addition, the IMDb Spooks page has been updated to show the names of directors for each of the 6 episodes that will make up Series 10. The Director for episodes 5 and 6 for Series 10 is interesting. He directed the very first two episodes of Series 1 and Series 2 and has been credited with creating the distinctive look and feel of Spooks.
Update : 5 May 2011
Over the past few months, there have been frequent sightings of Spooks filming in and around London which are reported on Twitter. Often, these tweets would be accompanied by photos of the crewing setting up a shot etc. We have not posted any of these photos, until now. Today, courtesy of @abby1412 on Twitter comes the first sighting of a Harry and Ruth bench scene being filmed. The location is somewhere along the Mall in London. Abby was told by the crew that this scene is for episode 3 of Series 10, which they think will screen sometime in either September or October 2011. See these pics for yourself. THANKS @abby1412 for letting us put these photos on this fansite.
Spooks crew setting up a shot at the Mall
Looks like Harry and Ruth on a bench along the Mall.
Update : 19 May 2011
Per @Quaiacom via Twitter, another Harry and Ruth sighting. This picture was taken by @Quaiacom this morning. They were filming by the side of the Thames. @Quaiacom said that it looked like Harry, Ruth and some other guy having an intense conversation, and then the other guy walked off, but Ruth and Harry stayed. According to Lady J on the Spooks Forum, the location is directly outside the National Theatre (on the South Bank) on the beach at low tide.
Here’s a pic of the same scene but taken from another angle. Thanks to Shiv11 for letting us use this pic.
Update : 19 May 2011(2)
Helen James Productions (@HelenJamesProd) announced via Twitter that they will be doing the Extras for the Series 10 DVD box set. Helen James Productions were also responsible for the two extra features which were included in the Series 9 DVD box set.
Update 8 June 2011
A Spooks fan flew all the way from Boston to London, specifically to see if she could find the Spooks team on location shooting. She was not disappointed. Here is an album of her photos and two short videos.
Many thanks to @kraysler for letting us put these on this fansite.
We subsequently found out that Nicola was not actually required for any scenes on that Sunday (5 June 2011) though she turned up to do interviews with Helen James Productions for the Series 10 DVD Extras! So that scene of Nicola walking away with Peter Firth is not actually a scene from Series 10.
Update 11 June 2011
Here’s more video from @kaysler
Update 12 June 2011
You can read a detailed report of @kraysler’s close encounters with the Spooks crew HERE.
Update 15 June 2011
Another great video taken by @kraysler during her recent trip to London, this time featuring the wonderful Nicola and one of the Spooks crew
Update 18 June 2011
Another video from @kraysler, this time with Nicola viewing some rushes with Chris Fry, the producer.
Update 11 August 2011
Please also read our companion Post on this subject.
Nicola will guest in an episode of a Dr Who radio drama produced by Big Finish. You can read more about it HERE.
The audio programme will be available in July 2011, either as a CD or MP3 download. As far as we can see from the Big Finish website, there is no geographic restriction if you wish to purchase the download, though it is unclear whether or not they will ship the CD outside the UK. In order to make a purchase on the Big Finish website, you first have to register an account. We have, but have not been able to make any purchases so far, as the Big Finish website appears to be undergoing some update work. Every time we click on an item to buy, it redirects us back to the log in page, even though we are already logged in, and so it goes round in circles. Hopefully, this kink can be resolved soon.
You can read more about the Big Finish series of Dr Who radio dramas HERE on Wikipedia.
Although Robophobia is in the sci-fi genre, we are sure that Nicola will be in top form, as usual, and very entertaining so that even if you are not already a Dr Who fan, you should not have difficulties in following along with the story.
We have made enquiries with Big Finish and will update this page as more information becomes available.
One of our Contributors, who is not based in the UK, has been successful in registering an account and purchasing a download from the Big Finish website by using Safari as the browser instead of Firefox. So if anyone has a problem purchasing anything from Big Finish, try using a different browser to complete your transaction.
You can pay for online purchases by using either a credit card or via PayPal. If you use PayPal, Big Finish will add a small amount to your final bill in order to absorb the PayPal charges.
You should note that this is a radio only production of a Dr Who story, not the TV version, and the Dr in this story is not the current Dr Who played by Matt Smith on TV. If you are not already familiar with the Dr Who franchise of TV and radio shows, there are plenty of resources available online where you can familiarize yourself with the characters and some of the lingo used. Here are two such venues :
Now if only we can get Nicola to appear in the TV version of Dr Who!
Update 2 : 11 March 2011
Nicola recorded her episodes on 7 and 8 March 2011, her days off from Season’s Greetings (at the National Theatre). Paul Spragg of Big Finish Productions told us, “I was in the studio for the recording and Nicola was both a delight to work with and superb in the role. So it’ll be one worth waiting for.”
HERE is a direct link to the Big Finish website to purchase this programme when it becomes available in July 2011. The story is spread over four episodes and lasts a total of 120 minutes. Nicola’s the main guest star in this story and she’s in every episode.
You can either purchase the CD version (it will come on two discs) or the download version (which will be given to you free when you purchase the CD version). The CD version is priced at £14.99 plus shipping. Big Finish will ship anywhere in the world. Pre-orders for the CD version are now being accepted. The download only version will be £12.99. If you’re a serious Dr Who fan, there is also the option of buying a subscription package for 6 or 12 releases (CDs or downloads only); this will work out far cheaper on a per title basis.
Update : 9 April 2011
THANK YOU RobertG 😀 for alerting us to the fact that the CD cover for Robophobia has now been put up on the Big Finish website. Robert also told us that Nicola’s image on that CD cover has been “photoshopped in order to add the distinct eye make-up for the Kaldorian race (featured in the 1977 story “Robots of Death” – for which “Robophobia” is a sequel)”.
You can read more about the “Robots of Death” at Wikipedia HERE.
Update : 12 May 2011
Thanks to a heads up from flip18, there is a short write up of Nicola’s forthcoming performance in Robophobia in Vortex Magazine (page 3). Have you ordered your copy of this radio programme yet?
Update : 25 May 2011
Just saw this tweet from @BigFinish : Just listening to the extras for Robophobia. Nicola Walker is just wonderful.
Now will you put in your order for a copy of this audio programme?
Update : 10 June 2011
We received more information on said extras yesterday from Big Finish :
the “extras” will be interviews with the cast, including Nicola
these interviews will total about 15 minutes, so Nicola’s contribution will be a little less than that
the “extras” will be available to any one who has purchased Robophobia in either CD or digital format. This will also be available to any one who subscribes at the main range of the Dr Who stories.
Place your pre-orders NOW!
Update : 18 June 2011
You can now hear a trailer of Robophobia on the Big Finish website HERE. It sounds fantabulous! Please put in your pre-order soon, it will be released on 31 July 2011. Thank you, RobertG, for the heads up 😀
Update : 1 July 2011
Thanks to Dan Tostevin (@notdangle), there’s an interview with Nicola in the current issue of Vortex magazine. You can read a Flash version of this issue HERE. If you go to the Vortex magazine website, you can download PDF version of the current issue. Nicola’s interview appears on pages 6 and 7. There is also more from that interview in the current issue of Dr. Who Magazine (#436).
Update : 4 July 2011
You can download the June podcast from Big Finish HERE. Another clip from Robophobia is included, as well as some lovely comments from Toby Hadoke about Nicola’s performance.
Update : 11 July 2011
Here is a preview of Robophobia which appeared on page 92 of issue #436 of Dr Who Magazine, written by Dan Tostevin (@notdangle). (click on the image to enlarge)
Update : 15 July 2011
With very little fanfare, Big Finish brought forward the release date for Robophobia (from 31 July 2011) to 15 July 2011. Hurray! 😀
If you pre-ordered this title, you should be able to find a download link as soon as you log into your Account page at the Big Finish website. If you ordered only the CD version, you will also be given a download link as the MP3 file is included as part of your order, so you don’t have to wait for the actual CD to arrive before you can enjoy the programme. And if you haven’t yet purchased this title, well why not?
The programme is a 2 hour long Dr Who story. You don’t have to be an existing fan of Dr Who, or a Sci-Fi fan, to enjoy this programme. Nicola does “audio angst” so well. There is also a short interview with Nicola as part of the CD/MP3 extras. The executive producer and writer of Robophobia, Nick Briggs, was most complimentary about Nicola’s performance, telling us that “she’s smart and she’s a brilliant actress”. Eh, we already know that, don’t we, fellow NOGs? 😀
Simple really – the performance both when moved to emotion and in general is superb. The character has range of expression and displays both vulnerability and trust.
Liv is manipulated by the Doctor throughout this tale and manages to recognise it, question it and go with it. More than becoming an extension of the Doctor’s will Liv is recognisably an individual made more so by the talented Nicola Walker (her of Spooks!).
This review appears in Issue #438 of Dr Who Magazine (click on the image to enlarge)
Availability on Amazon UK
The price for this CD may appear low on Amazon UK, but that will only be a saving for you if you are able to take advantage of Amazon’s free shipping policy; otherwise, after you add on shipping outside the UK, Amazon’s price will end up being far higher than the price quoted on the Big Finish website.
(click on the image above to view a larger version and to read about the character of Sile De Tansarville)
Nicola’s profile on IMDb was recently updated to include a voice over gig for a video game called The Witcher 2. She plays the role of Sile. As of this writing, we have not yet received confirmation from Nicola’s agent about this role, but we have found parts of the game which have been uploaded on YouTube where you can hear Sile talk. Go to around the 9 minute mark and judge for yourself. Is Sile voiced by our Nicola? If it is Nicola, this would be the first time that she’s done voice over for a video game.
Update : 2 June 2011
We have just received confirmation from the Agnieszka Szóstak, the Publicity Manager for CDProjektred, producers of Witcher 2, that Nicola DID voice the character of Sile De Tansarville for this video game.
At long last, Series 5 of Pie in the Sky will be released on Region 1 DVD. Amazon US has listed the release date as 2 August 2011 and is currently taking pre-orders. For a long time, all of the first four series of this beloved 90s UK sitcom has been available on Region 1 DVD. Some unknown problem has held up the release of Series 5 on Region 1 DVD, until now.
There is still no news on when Pie in the Sky will be available again on Region 2 DVD. At the moment, a small quantity of the original 5 series box set, and copies of the individual series, are available from Amazon UK, though at ridiculously high prices as they are being sold as collector’s items.
Nicola guest starred in the penultimate episode of Series 5. See our write up of this programme in the Pie in the Sky Guide page.
BBC Radio 4 Extra (formerly known as BBC Radio 7) will be repeating episodes of Series 1 of the comedy series, Vent, as from Tuesday, 17 May 2011 at 10:30 pm (GMT). There is a detailed Episode Guide of Series 1 HERE. Vent was also included in our Guide to Nicola’s Audio work HERE.
This show was first broadcast in 2006. Each episode revolves around Ben and the people around him, though the problem is that Ben is in a coma and is supposedly only able to converse with some fellow hospital patients but not most members of his family. Nicola appeared as a guest in Episode 4 of Series 1 and played a psychiatrist who was called in to se if she could help Ben feel less depressed whilst he was still in a coma.
At the rate of one episode being rebroadcast per week, we should be able to hear Nicola’s episode on or about 7 June 2011. This is assuming that there is no copyright problems with episode 4 which prevents it from being re-broadcast. If you wish to be familiar with all the activities going on inside Ben’s mind before Nicola comes on in Episode 4, you should start tuning in on Tuesday, 17 May 2011.
Non-UK fans can listen to this programme via the BBC iPlayer, which does not have any geographical restrictions for radio programmes.
For the last few months, we have been running a poll on this fansite :
Should Nicola Walker be nominated for a BAFTA* for her exemplary work in Spooks Series 9?
92% of you said, Yes, absolutely!
7% of you said, No, it was good work, but not good enough for a BAFTA yet.
1% asked, What’s a BAFTA?
(A big THANK YOU to everyone who cast a vote in this Poll!)
The 2011 BAFTA Television Awards nominees were announced on 26 April 2011. Nicola was not named as one of the nominees. There could be several reasons for this :
No entry was submitted for consideration by or on behalf of Nicola for Spooks Series 9
An entry was submitted for consideration by or on behalf of Nicola but it did not make the shortlist in the relevant category announced today.
To be up for consideration for a BAFTA in the performance category, an entry must be submitted by the actor/actress in question, or someone on his/her behalf, such as a Director or the production company. Whilst it is possible for a BAFTA member to originate the nomination process, this is rarely done, except perhaps in the case of the Fellowship (i.e. Lifetime Achievement) Award. These nominations are not generated by fans. For Nicola, she would have been eligible for a nomination in either the Lead Actress or Supporting Actress categories for Spooks Series 9. Unlike the Emmy Awards in the US, the TV BAFTAs do not have a category which rewards excellence as a guest performer in either a Drama or Comedy series. So Nicola’s guest appearances in Luther and Being Human would not have been eligible for consideration. As for her guest appearance in Law & Order : UK, that episode was broadcast in the UK on 21 March 2011, i.e. after the deadline was closed on 28 February 2011, so even if there was a category for guest performances, it would not have been eligible for consideration.
Although the BAFTA rules say that there is no entry fee for the performance categories (there is a small fee payable for submitting entries in the production categories), performers and production companies must still incur considerable expense in mounting a BAFTA campaign, from the production of copies of the submitted episodes to the BAFTA voters for consideration, meeting and greeting the voters to solicit votes, to attending the actual ceremony, dressed to the nines.
Whilst it would have been nice if Nicola did receive a nomination for her work in Spooks Series 9, we have to remember that there are many, many talented British actors and actresses who have never been nominated, or have been nominated but didn’t win an award. As long as Nicola continues to be gainfully employed, us fans would be happy for the chance to watch her on screen or listen to her dulcet tones via audio programmes.
To understand more about the BAFTA nomination and voting process, you can download a copy of the Rules and Guidelines for the British Academy Television Awards HERE.
It has just been brought to our attention that a Nicola Walker fan has set up a new LiveJournal page titled nicola_walker, sub-titled Bonkers but Brilliant. We do not have a problem with any fan of Nicola’s setting up any number of LiveJournal pages in order to celebrate Nicola’s work in a way which that fan feels necessary or appropriate, but we do object to such a deliberate attempt to pass-off this new LiveJournal page as having anything to do with this fansite.
This fansite has been known as “Bonkers but Brilliant” since it was first set up in 2006 by another fan. At that time, the webmaster also set up a LiveJournal page titled nicolawalker, sub-titled Bonkers but Brilliant. When we took over the administration of the fansite in September 2010 and subsequently its re-design, we made an editorial decision to mothball the LiveJournal page for a number of reasons :
there has not been a whole lot of activities on the LiveJournal page for some time
the new format of the fansite allowed us to post more detailed entries regarding Nicola’s work, so that it was no longer necessary to use LiveJournal for this purpose
the new format of the fansite also allowed fans to log comments, again, duplicating a similar function on LiveJournal
Recently, the fan in question logged an entry on our Nicola LiveJournal page which contained links to her own, personal, LiveJournal page where she had posted a number of entries which set out her comments on various aspects of Nicola’s work. We made a collective decision to delete that post as we felt that it was an unfair way of diverting traffic to this fan’s own, personal LiveJournal page. If you wish to comment on Nicola’s work, why not do it either on this fansite, or on our Nicola LiveJournal page direct? If you have already set up a personal LiveJournal page, why not publicize that page using your own methods, instead of taking advantage of our member list?
Understandably, our deletion of that post has enraged the fan in question. Instead of taking this up with the Editor on this fansite, the fan in question sent a very, very rudely worded private message to one of our contributions via one of the Spooks forums. As far as we were concerned, this was a very childish act and we chose not to respond. Until now.
We are just one group of Nicola Walker fans who wish to celebrate Nicola’s work on the internet. Other fans are absolutely free to undertake similar activities in any form they can think of. Be creative. Be inventive. We do object, however, most strenuously, if people try to pass off their efforts as being in any way associated with this fansite by using “Bonkers but Brilliant” as the title of their LiveJournal or Facebook page. If, as this particular fan has already stressed in her very rude private message, we are such a despicable lot, why does she still want to ride on our coat-tails?
It is not our intention to pick a fight with any Nicola Walker fan (which is why we are disabling Comments for this Post). We have chosen to maintain a dignified silence in all this, till now. We just want other fans to know that we have nothing to do with the new LiveJournal Nicola Walker page. We would also urge that particular fan to change her new LiveJournal page to something other than “Bonkers but Brilliant”.
In a short article titled, “Up-and-Coming Character Actors to Watch”, published on 5 April 2011, the London Evening Standard rounded up a list of 5 character actors/actresses which they have labelled as “up-and-coming” and “to watch”. For the convenience of Nicola fans, we quote below what the paper had to say about Nicola :
Nicola Walker
Walker, 40, best known for her long-running role as Ruth in the BBC’s Spooks, has a wonderful knack of providing the quiet, beating heart of whatever drama she’s in. Ruth, the still centre of an office of MI5 mayhem, is a case in point, as is her recent turn as lovelorn Rachel in Ayckbourn’s Season’s Greetings at the National.
The other character actors covered in this article were :
Pip Carter
Bryony Hannah
Anna Maxwell Martin
Russell Tovey
Nicola last shared the stage with Pip Carter in Gethsemane (2008-2009). Nicola recently worked with Russell Tovey in Being Human (episode titled The Longest Day). Although Anna Maxwell Martin has not yet worked with Nicola, she does have a (somewhat tenuous) connection with Nicola in that Anna was recently seen on TV as the female lead in South Riding, a TV mini series in which Peter Firth also had a small but important role. Certain fans have expressed the view that Anna’s role in South Riding should have or could have been done by Nicola. This is no more than these fans’ hope for a perpetuation of the “Ruth and Harry” characters from Spooks, which is not only an unnecessary pigeonholing of Nicola’s enormous talents but also dismissive of the skills of Anna Maxwell Martin, an equally capable actress in her own right.
Anna Maxwell Martin is often mistaken for Nicola. Some fans think that the two of them must be somehow related. They are not. Please see our comments on this subject in this Fun Fact.
We are not sure whether Nicola should be labelled as “up-and-coming”, given that she has had lead roles on TV, comedy (Chalk) and drama (Touching Evil), in the past. But on the grounds that any publicity is good publicity, we still want to thank the London Evening Standard for including Nicola in this list! 😀
Update : 7 April 2011
We have received a number of requests from fans of the other actors named in this list, so for everyone’s convenience, we will quote below what was said in the article about these other actors :
Pip Carter
Quietly making a name for himself as a recurrent cast member of headline National Theatre productions (Never So Good, David Hare’s Gethsemane), Carter, 26, recently provided the perfect foil to Matt Smith’s flamboyant Christopher Isherwood as a wryly world-weary yet quietly smitten WH Auden in the BBC’s Christopher and His Kind.
Bryony Hannah
Many would contest that it is the diminutive Hannah who is the real star of current stage hit The Children’s House, rather than headline names Keira Knightley and Elisabeth Moss. Her scheming schoolgirl Mary is another of the compelling children that 27-year-old Hannah has become known for, after notable work at the National in Earthquakes in London and War Horse.
Anna Maxwell Martin
Her angular beauty might not quite fit the Hollywood mould, but Maxwell Martin, 32, has surprised and delighted with her professional choices ever since her BAFTA-winning work in the BBC’s Bleak House (2005). Her turn as a progressive headmistress in the recent television adaptation of South Riding showcased her at her passionate, questing best.
Russell Tovey
The personable Tovey, 29, first garnered public attention and affection as sports-mad Rudge, one of Alan Bennett’s iconic original History Boys, a role he played at the National, on Broadway and on film. Now he’s wooing BBC3 audiences as flat-sharing werewolf George in the popular supernatural drama Being Human.
This Sunday, 27 March 2010, BBC Radio 7 is repeating the radio drama, The Birds, at 6 pm and again at midnight (GMT). This is a one hour drama which is a closer adaptation to the original short story (of the same name) by Daphne du Maurier than the movie interpretation by Alfred Hitchcock. Presumably, BBC Radio 7 is giving this programme another airing because of the male lead, Neil Dudgeon, who has recently commenced his run as the replacement lead on the long running BBC drama, Midsomer Murders.
Nicola has only a small role in this drama and plays the wife of the male lead. You can read our guide to this program HERE.
There is no geographic restrictions on the BBC iPlayer, so non-UK fans can listen to the show as well. We assume that because of this recent (re)broadcast, the show will be available on the BBC iPlayer for 7 days after the Sunday broadcast.
This article deals with Nicola’s guest appearance on Law & Order : UK, which was aired first in Canada in November 2010, then in the US on 4 March 2011 before it is aired in the UK on 21 March 2011.
When we accessed Nicola’s actor’s page on the National Theatre website in September 2010, in search of more information relating to Season’s Greetings [Stage], we saw that Law & Order : UK was included as one of her TV credits. So we dug around further and was able to obtain confirmation from a very reliable source in mid September that indeed, Nicola has filmed a guest appearance on Law & Order : UK though it was unclear at that time when the relevant episode was going to be aired in the UK. At that time, Series 3 of Law & Order : UK had just started transmission in the UK and Nicola’s name was not amongst the guest stars announced when publicity for the show kicked into gear.
Towards the end of October 2010, we were given new information about Nicola’s episode by a group of dedicated fans of Law & Order : UK. Quite surprisingly, Nicola’s guest episode was going to be aired on Canadian TV in November 2010, months before it was going to be shown on UK TV. Apparently, this also happened in 2009 with a previous series of Law & Order : UK. Nicola’s guest episode is titled “ID” and is based on the episode titled “Promises to Keep” from the US version of Law & Order (episode 304 which originally aired in the US on 10 February 1993).
Nicola’s guest episode was shown on CityTV in Canada on 4th November 2010. At about the same time, the following tweets were exchanged between ourselves and Emilia di Girolamo, the lead writer of Law & Order : UK (we also included a Tweet from Ben Daniels, one of the lead actors on the show) :
EmiliaDG
@BonkersButBrill FYI Nicola Walker appears in tonight’s episode of Law & Order UK, I.D. at 10pm on CityTV. #LOUK
4 Nov 2010
bendanielsss
@EmiliaDG @TVBrittanyF Totally one of my faces too. Nicola is on FIRE! Script’s pretty ace too 😉
4 Nov 2010
BonkersButBrill
@EmiliaDG Thanx for the heads up. Nicola is the most magnificent actress in the world, no question! Can’t wait to see this episode.
4 Nov 2010
EmiliaDG
@BonkersButBrill In which case you will LOVE it! She really is awesome
4 Nov 2010
BonkersButBrill
@EmiliaDG Just watched it. V powerful writing n brilliant acting from all. 4 some1 who said she can’t cry on cue, that tear looked real! 😀
6 Nov 2010
EmiliaDG
@BonkersButBrill It was real, she was incredible. So glad you enjoyed it.
6 Nov 2010
So there you have it folks, Nicola has apparently overcome her inability to cry on cue for the camera. There is now no limit to her range as an actress!!!
Update : 26 February 2011
Emilia di Girolamo tweeted today that Nicola’s guest episode, ‘ID’, will be the third (not first) episode to air on ITV when the show returns for a 4th series on 7 March 2011. So UK fans, mark your diaries for 21 March 2011!
Update : 27 February 2011
Law & Order : UK ‘ID’ will be shown in the US on 4 March 2011 on BBC America. US fans, mark your diaries!
Update 28 February 2011
There is a brilliant interview on the CultBoxTV website with Emilia di Girolamo about her experiences as a writer for Law & Order : UK. She also talks a little about Nicola’s guest episode, “ID”.
Six degrees
Bradley Walsh, who plays Detective Sergeant Ronnie Brooks, last appeared with Nicola in Torn [TV]. He played the husband to Nicola’s character, Joanna. The two shared many scenes together.
Ben Daniels, who plays Senior Crown Prosecutor James Steel, appeared in episode 408 of Spooks [TV] when he played Oleg Korsakov. He did not have any scenes with Nicola in that episode.
Harriet Walter, who plays Detective Inspector Natalie Chandler, appeared in episode 303 of Spooks [TV] when she appeared as Deep Throat. She did not have any scenes with Nicola in that episode.
Benjamin Wong, who guest starred in this episode as Barrister Eli Smart, appeared in episode 904 of Spooks [TV] when he played Kai. He did not have any scenes with Nicola in that episode.
Out of respect to UK fans who have not yet seen this episode, screencaps will not be posted until this episode has aired in the UK.
If you have already seen the episode and wish to leave a comment, please refrain from posting any spoilers about this episode 🙂
Availabliity on DVD
The Region 2 DVD box set of Law & Order : UK Series 4 will be out on 4 July 2011. Click on the link provided below to pre-order your copy.
There is no news yet, as to when the Region 1 DVD box set for this episode will be released. For the US market, the episodes from two seasons are combined for the purposes of putting out one box set. For example, Law & Order : UK Season One in the US market is actually an aggregate of all 13 episodes which formed Series 1 and 2 of the programme which was aired in the UK. We will update this portion of this Post as soon as we hear further in this respect.
Nicola is NOT on any social media, but we are! We are now live on
Twitter
Instagram as well as
Facebook. Go to this Page to find out more details.
Annika Stranded news
All 6 series of "Annika Stranded" now available on BBC Sounds the BBC Sounds app on your mobile device.
Free, with no geographic restrictions.
Unforgotten Series 4
Series 4 has now aired in the UK, US and Australia.
Awards and Nominations
Nicola has picked up a number of nominations in New York for her work in A View from the Bridge : Outer Critics Circle Awards - Outstanding Actress in a Play (results : 9 May 2016). She didn't win. :(
Drama League Awards - Nominee for The Distinguished Performance Award (results : 20 May 2016). Again, she didn't win. :( :(
Drama Desk Awards - Outstanding Actress in a Play (results : 5 June 2016). She didn't win. That's three for three :( :( :(
River has been nominated in the 2016 Golden Nymph Awards (Festival de Television de Monte Carlo), in the category of Best TV Series Drama. Both Stellan Skarsgard and Nicola scored nominations in the acting categories. River won in its category but sadly, Nicola did not. :( Both the show and the lead actors were snubbed in the 2016 BAFTA TV Awards.
Miscellaneous Photos page updated!
We have updated the Miscellaneous Photos page with Nicola's latest headshots and photos taken elsewhere. Enjoy!
Navigating Spooks DVD menus
Here is a handy guide to help you navigate the earlier Spooks DVD menus.
