TV&REVIEWS
Our pick of what to watch this week, plus the best podcasts and new books…
WORDS: MICHAEL DARLING, ELLA DOVE, ZOE WEST. PHOTOS: ACORN TV, BBC, C4, GETTY, JAMES STACK/ CHANNEL 4/WORLD PRODUCTIONS, YZE/ SCOPE PICTURES/LIONSGATE
Vinette Robinson has starred in TV dramas including Waterloo Road and Sherlock, but she’s probably best known for playing stressed restaurant chef Carly in the one-off 2022 film Boiling Point and its spin-off series, which aired on BBC1 last year. Now she’s starring in six-part thriller The Gathering, which begins with local teenager Kelly (Eva Morgan) being attacked at a rave in Merseyside, and explores what happened from the perspectives of other teens and their families. Here, Vinette reveals more…
How would you describe The Gathering?
It’s a thriller, a classic whodunnit, but it’s essentially about parent-child relationships and the things we do for our children. It’s also about class, opportunities and privileges.
Who do you play?
Natalie, whose daughter, Jessica (Sadie Soverall), is an elite gymnast who has been given every opportunity that her mum can afford to give her – which is in sharp contrast with Kelly, another elite gymnast, who comes from a more humble, working-class background. Kelly has just as much love and support as Jessica, but doesn’t have the same financial means.
How would you describe Natalie?
She’s a very formidable character and she’s learned that it’s a very dog-eat-dog world and her modus operandi is to make sure that she gets what she wants by any means necessary. She’s a brilliant character. Even though an audience will bristle and dislike her actions, you understand why she does them and where it comes from.
Why will the drama appeal to viewers?
I think it’s very recognisable, relatable and entertaining. It’s about young people, what their desires are, their wants, their struggles, their insecurities and how they behave. The kids are getting up to things that parents would be worried about. The characters are strong and brilliantly written. The whodunnit element of the show is not the meat of the story, the real heart of it is the relationships.
WHAT TO STREAM
The latest releases to watch on demand
Harry Wild
Acorn TV
Jane Seymour returns as the titular lecturer-turned-investigator in a new series of the drama. The six-parter begins with an investigation into the apparent suicide of the lead singer of an Irish boy band. B
