Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2022 i Foxtel Magazine

It’s one thing to bake for your family and friends. It’s a whole other ball game to put your reputation on the line in front of a national audience for popular FOXTEL Original series The Great Australian Bake Off. But for three of the current batch of bakers – Jawin Ratchawong, Blessing Mudzikitiri and Hoda Alzubaidi – the opportunity to cook up a storm in the famous Bake Off Shed and have their delights tasted by renowned foodies Maggie Beer and Matt Moran was the icing on the cake (even if there were a few nerves!). The trio, along with Moran, reveal what’s in store this season from page 12. While there’s bound to be drama in the kitchen, FOXTEL brings you plenty more must-watch viewing this month with new…

THE RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES (s2) Wednesdays at 8.30pm and watch it first On Demand, Mondays at 2pm FOX SHOWCASE [112] It takes charisma to make audiences cheer for angry, self-sabotaging characters, but Danny McBride – perhaps best known for his portrayal of gaffe-prone PE teacher Kenny Powers in Eastbound & Down – has plenty of it. The American actor continues his hot streak with black comedy The Righteous Gemstones, now airing its sophomore season on FOXTEL. To mark its return, we take a look at televangelist Jesse Gemstone and some of the other jewels in McBride’s acting crown, all currently available On Demand. THE RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES (2019) McBride – who also created the series – plays Jesse, the anything-but-pious heir to the mega-ministry founded by his dad, Eli Gemstone (John Goodman). Jesse…

“I’d have to lose 60 IQ points to be classified as smart” The Big Bang Theory’s Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) knows a good thing when he sees it. Working your way around the iQ3, iQ4 and iQ5 is a breeze – your one-stop shop for unlocking 50,000 hours of the world’s greatest viewing. Best of all, it’s all in one place! “You know what it’s like when a case gets inside you like that? It’s not a switch you can just turn off” For Mare of Easttown’s detective Mare Sheehan (Kate Winslet), switching off isn’t an option, with new programs like Hotel Portofino and fresh episodes of S.W.A.T. available to watch On Demand. Newly designed homepages showcase the best of the best content, including from Netflix and Amazon Prime. “What…

STAR PICK! WITH HANNAH HOLLIS “Oh my god, Sex and the City follow-up And Just Like That… (starring Sarah Jessica Parker) – dying! It’s so good.” I can’t bloody wait [for season six of Outlander to premiere on FOX ONE in March]! Obsessed with this show. Lisa Markham, via Facebook There’s no way I’m surviving this season [of Euphoria]. Valentina Christofordi, via Facebook Loved every second [of Gordon, Gino & Fred: Christmas Road Trip – Three Unwise Men]. Haven’t laughed so much for so long.  Maxine Evans, via Facebook Tell us what you think… Send an email to foxtel@mediumrarecontent.com or write to FOXTEL magazine, Level 1, 83 Bowman St, Pyrmont, NSW, 2009, and see below to have your say via social media. facebook.com/foxtel @foxtel instagram.com/foxtel…

Settle in for a wild time, because February is all about the Irwins! Australia’s beloved wildlife warriors take over Animal Planet with family-friendly viewing every evening from 6.30pm. There’s a new season of Crikey! It’s the Irwins (from Saturday February 5) – which now features Bindi and Chandler Powell’s adorable bub Grace Warrior – two seasons of behind-the-scenes series Crikey! It’s the Irwins: Extra Bites (from Tuesday February 1), moving special The Steve Irwin Story and more. Starts Tuesday February 1, nightly from 6.30pm on Animal Planet [141]…

CLOSE TO ME Starts February 10, Thursdays at 8.30pm and watch On Demand BBC First [119] Rushed to hospital after falling down the stairs, Jo Harding realises the head trauma has wiped the past year from her memory. Worse still, her husband Rob doesn’t seem eager to fill in the gaps, telling her the last 12 months have been an ordeal and that it’s better for everyone to simply move on. But Jo (Connie Nielsen) can’t shake an all-consuming thought: what doesn’t he want her to know? That’s the tantalising premise at the heart of compelling new six-part drama Close to Me, adapted from the bestselling book by Amanda Reynolds. As Jo unravels the mysteries of her past, she and the audience must decide what to make of the attentive yet inscrutable…

1 The Blacklighters Paul Coon, Mark I’Anson and John Nassar (all pictured from left) buy an old derelict dugout at auction to discover the walls are full of opal, while a 50-metre-high dump threatens to collapse. 2 The Cheals Without their dad Chris’s (pictured right) guidance, Rory and Oscar Cheal (from left) must step up and operate an unpredictable 20-tonne exploration drill 20 metres below the surface. 3 The Bushmen Rod Manning, Les Walsh and their new crew member Ty Gross (all pictured from left) are forced to operate an ancient drill, while extreme temperatures play havoc with equipment.…

Did you know that access to Store* is available to all internet-connected iQ3/iQ4/iQ5 boxes, regardless of the pack you’re subscribed to? That’s right, you don’t need to be a Movies pack subscriber to rent the new-release box-office blockbusters that drop each and every month – as well as an ever-growing library of all-time film favourites and TV episodes. Connect your box to the internet via wi-fi or with an ethernet cable to get started. If your modem is out of reach, you can order a powerline adapter through My Account. To find out more about what’s on Store this month and for more information, simply head to foxtel.com.au/store *Requires internet-connected iQ3, iQ4 or iQ5. Rental charges apply. Dates are subject to change.…

A QUIET PLACE PART II Saturday February 12 at 8.30pm and watch On Demand Foxtel Movies Premiere [401] Emily Blunt’s 10th wedding anniversary fell amid promotional duties for a film. Fortunately, it was A Quiet Place Part II which, like the first instalment, was written and directed by her husband, John Krasinski, former star of The Office. Shortly after the events of the 2018 hit thriller A Quiet Place, now-widowed Evelyn (Blunt) leads her three children out from their farm into the post-apocalyptic world, where aliens aren’t the only thing they need to worry about. Here, the English actress talks about working with her husband and raising their daughters. Tell us about Evelyn in the sequel. I admired her so much because she’s completely grief-stricken in this film and everything is on…

Australia’s thrilling T20 World Cup triumph was only in November, but this month they will come face-to-face again with the team they defeated in the final, New Zealand, in a three-game ODI series and one-off T20 international on home soil. This is followed by a five-game T20 series against Sri Lanka to round out the home summer of cricket. Australia and New Zealand have always had a friendly trans-Tasman rivalry, but the stakes have been raised in recent years as New Zealand have become a powerhouse of world cricket. Their team is stacked with quality big hitters, pace and swing bowlers, and a mature and consistent approach to the game that has been rewarded by deep progress at major international tournaments. However, despite the nation’s growing stature on the world…

Penny Lancaster A devoted mother to two sons who tells it like it is as a panellist on the chat show Loose Women, Lancaster admits she doesn’t cook for her rock-star husband, Sir Rod Stewart. Instead, the couple hires a chef. “Rod likes the fine dining every evening… and it’s kind of out of my league, so I do the kids’ cooking,” she explains. Katie Price This veteran of the reality TV circuit reveals that her Celebrity MasterChef experience proved to be a welcome change of pace: “They’re not judging me as a person, they’re judging me on my cooking and that’s really nice to get that praise, but I also never know how to take it.” Rita Simons The popular soap star, who made her name playing EastEnders’ fiery Roxy…

THE BRIT AWARDS 2022 Wednesday February 9 at 8.30pm on UKTV [105] With her hit single Easy on Me playing on repeat, there’s little doubt about songstress Adele (pictured) taking home a coveted gong or two at this annual soiree. If last year’s show featuring killer performances by Elton John and Dua Lipa is anything to go by, we’re in for a blast. RABBIT-PROOF FENCE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT To mark the 20th anniversary of award-winning film Rabbit-Proof Fence this month, we reflect on its legacy from page 50. To our First Nations and Torres Strait Islander readers, please be advised that this feature contains an image of a person who is deceased.…

As one of America’s hottest comics, Jerrod Carmichael has pushed the boundaries to get a laugh. Here’s why the young rising star’s new HBO special is unmissable viewing. 1 HE’S BEEN AT IT A LONG TIME In primary school, Carmichael hosted a news program on his school’s local access channel, by 20 he was a stand-up legend and, before the age of 30, he had his own series and two stand-up specials. 2 IT’S REAL To make sure what he’s saying is actually funny, the comic abandoned canned laughter for his sitcom The Carmichael Show and recorded in front of a live audience. “People like saying I use a laugh track? That hurts my feelings,” he admits. 3 HE’S A WRITER, ACTOR AND PRODUCER By being his own boss, the 34-year-old ensures…

ALL AMERICAN: HOMECOMING Starts February 22, Tuesdays at 9.30pm and watch On Demand FOX8 [108] Farewelling the California sun, All American: Homecoming – a spin-off of football drama All American – moves the action to Atlanta, Georgia and centres on talented tennis star Simone Hicks (Geffri Maya, Snowfall, watch On Demand), who is all too aware of the challenges she faces as she enters the competitive world of college sports at Bringston University. There she must navigate new friendships, relationships and some serious competition in the form of fellow tennis ace and team captain Thea (Camille Hyde, Katy Keene, watch On Demand). Of course, those familiar with the original series will know that Simone is ready for a fresh start after a challenging time that saw her unexpectedly pregnant, marrying Beverly High…

Raised by Wolves (s2) The science-fiction drama created by Aaron Guzikowski and executive produced by Ridley Scott is back with more mind-bending plotlines as androids Mother (Amanda Collin, pictured) and Father (Abubakar Salim), and their group join a new colony in Kepler-22b’s mysterious tropics. “I couldn’t wait to get back in my ‘dolphin suit’, as we call it, to start shooting in Cape Town,” says Collin. “It’s such a dream part and the second season for Mother includes many more challenges.” Starts EXPRESS February 3, Thursdays from 9pm* on FOX SHOWCASE [112] and watch On Demand Our Flag Means Death Loosely based on the story of Stede Bonnet, a wealthy landowner who abandoned his life of privilege to become a pirate, this new comedy series stars Rhys Darby (Flight of the Conchords) as the titular character.…

Had French sculptor Frédéric Bartholdi kept to his original design, New York’s Statue of Liberty would look very different to the icon we know today. Bartholdi wanted the statue to hold a torch in one hand to represent enlightenment, with the other clutching broken chains to signify the abolition of slavery. However, the latter was considered controversial, so she instead holds a tablet bearing the date the Declaration of Independence was ratified by Congress: July 4, 1776. But Bartholdi was determined to make his point and the broken chains lie at Liberty’s feet in the finished statue. The artist’s experiences are among the many grand tales of ambition, treachery and triumph explored in HISTORY’s fascinating Built the World offerings, airing as part of their Engineering History Month line-up. Premiering this…

ENTERTAINMENT PROJECT RUNWAY (s19) The stakes are as high as the heels when long-running hit reality competition Project Runway returns with 16 new hopefuls. This season includes a Real Housewives reunion challenge to dress the ladies of Orange County, New York City and Potomac. Can the talented dressmakers strike the fashion jackpot and create a dazzling outfit that the Housewives – and guest Gigi Hadid (pictured), who judges alongside Christian Siriano, Nina Garcia, Brandon Maxwell and Elaine Welteroth – will adore? Starts February 15, Tuesdays at 1.30pm, ENCORE at 8.30pm on FOX ARENA [111] and watch On Demand DRAMA WATCHING THE DETECTIVES Some of the greatest sleuths on TV are cracking cases every night in February, from the titular moustachioed Belgian of Agatha Christie’s Poirot to DCI Vera Stanhope (Brenda Blethyn, pictured with…

EUPHORIA (s2) Mondays EXPRESS at 1pm, ENCORE at 8.30pm on FOX SHOWCASE [112] and watch all seasons On Demand Although still in high school, Rue (Zendaya) and her friends are navigating a world of adult-level drama with a combination of alcohol, drugs and sex. Zendaya was shocked by her 2020 Outstanding Lead Actress Emmy win, but we’re not – her contradictory Rue is one empathetic creation! Jules (Hunter Schafer) alone brings so many feels, especially when the trans teen admits, “I think I’ve framed my entire womanhood around men.” “People are nostalgic about high school ’cause it’s the last time… they get to dream”– Cassie Howard (Sydney Sweeney). The abusive co-dependency between Maddy (Alexa Demie) and Nate (Aussie Jacob Elordi), and the secret life of Nate’s dad Cal (Eric Dane). GENERA+ION Watch the complete series On…

THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN BAKE OFF (s5) Starts January 27, Thursdays at 8.30pm and watch On Demand LifeStyle [106] When a well-meaning aunt decided to enter Blessing Mudzikitiri into The Great Australian Bake Off without actually telling her, she had no idea just how life-changing the experience would prove to be for her niece. While the 19-year-old was in no rush to complete the application once she found out about it, it was a “sign” that led to her auditioning for a place in the FOXTEL Original series. “She wanted to surprise me [with the application] but she got to the part where it says, ‘What do you do in your spare time?’ and she was like, ‘I can’t. I can’t actually make this up, so you have to do it.’ I was…

Lady Latchmere Anna Chancellor (Four Weddings and a Funeral) The dowager with Victorian values is summering in Italy, but barely stops complaining and ordering around her downtrodden teenage great-niece, Melissa (Imogen King). Betty Scanlon Elizabeth Carling (Casualty) A no-nonsense, but soft-hearted and hard-working hotel cook from the north of England, deeply sceptical of all things Italian and protective of her trouble-prone teenage son, Billy (Louis Healy). Claudine Pascal Lily Frazer (Sally4Ever) A self-assured, assertive and liberated Black singer and dancer from Paris who causes quite the stir when she arrives with her American art-dealer boyfriend, Jack Turner (Adam James), on her glamorous arm. Count Carlo Albani Daniele Pecci (Orgoglio) The Oxford-educated Italian aristocrat is a widower with a great affinity for all things English. By contrast, he is accompanied to…

MOM (s7) Starts Saturday February 5, weekends from 2pm, ENCORE from 9.30pm FOX Funny [114] The characters in Mom are relatable because of the issues that they’re struggling with, the primary one being addiction. At this time in the world, there are so many people facing addictions, battling them, overcoming them and in recovery. [Anna Faris and I] are two women that you can watch, facing that head-on and surviving. I think that’s relatable to everybody in the world and, besides just addiction, we’re also dealing with some pretty heavy topics for a comedy, like cancer and teen pregnancy and adoption. I like to think [Mom does] a little more to destigmatise recovery programs. A lot of people who have seen the show are sober in Alcoholics Anonymous and come up…

Reese Witherspoon Unlike many child actors, the Legally Blonde star’s success has continued well into adulthood. Not content with simply acting, the Oscar-winner also produces her own stories for film and television, including the multi-award-winning  Big Little Lies. Watch Friday February 11 at 7.30pm Freddie Mercury His meteoric rise from shy boy to flamboyant frontman of Queen was told in the Oscar-winning movie Bohemian Rhapsody, starring Rami Malek. Now, this documentary takes you backstage for the real story of Mercury’s brilliant – but ultimately tragic – life. Watch Friday February 18 at 7.30pm John Candy He was the hilarious comic who made an impact with roles in Splash, Uncle Buck and Planes, Trains and Automobiles. But behind the jokes, Candy struggled with personal issues that would contribute to his life…

2 The number of KFC employees who know the company’s secret Original Recipe 55,000 Approximate number of bridges in the US interstate road system 16 HOURS Time it took for a message from Queen Victoria to reach US President James Buchanan using the first transatlantic telegraph cable in 1858 1950s The decade Coca-Cola was first sold in cans 82 kilometres Length of the Panama Canal 250,000+ Length in km of the US rail network 1981 The year M&Ms became the first candy in space, on the shuttle Columbia 93 METRES Height of the Statue of Liberty…

MARGARET’S TOP PICK ETERNALS (M) Available from February 2 Another Marvel Comics Universe instalment has arrived with Eternals. The Eternals are a group of 10 humanoids from the planet Olympia who were sent to earth in 5000 BC by the Celestial Arishem (voiced by David Kaye) to defend civilisation from the predators known as Deviants – reptilian monsters with huge jaws and piercing tendrils. Having won that battle thousands of years ago, the Eternals have lived among us, pursuing individual lives while carefully hiding their specialised talents – some with more reluctance than others. Sersi (Gemma Chan) works as an ancient artefacts expert at the London Natural History Museum and feels conflicted about her relationship with boyfriend Dane (Kit Harington) due to her historic relationship with another Eternal, Ikaris (Richard…

Natasha Wanganeen first flexed her acting muscles as dormitory boss Nina in Rabbit-Proof Fence, under the guidance of acclaimed Hollywood director Phillip Noyce. “There was one scene where [Noyce] said, ‘Look at the tree,’” she recalls. “I looked at the tree, but it was the wrong bloody tree. I snapped at him. “I said, ‘There are five f***ing trees there. Pick one.’ Then I spun around and walked back inside the dorm.” Looking back on it, even Wanganeen is surprised by her audacity: “I pretty much told Phillip Noyce how to do his job!” To his credit, Noyce took the sassy teenager’s tip in his stride. “He was like, ‘Yep, okay, [tree] number three,’” she adds. Since Rabbit-Proof Fence, Wanganeen has appeared in a string of Australian productions, including zombie thriller…

Matthew Dellavedova The Boomers’ point guard is back home, bringing his NBA championship experience to a Melbourne United side seeking back-to-back titles. His tenacious defence skills remain world-class. Bryce Cotton The three-time MVP is a showstopper. Cotton’s ability to penetrate the key and either find teammates or take the big shot himself is a major reason why the Perth Wildcats are must-watch viewing. Mitch McCarron The former Melbourne United championship playmaker was a wanted man in free agency and opted to join the rebuilding Adelaide 36ers under coach CJ Bruton. He’s calm at point guard, but enjoys pushing upcourt for crisp passes on the fast break. RJ Hunter The Sydney Kings have been raving about this former Boston Celtics import – an elite shooter who’s especially lethal in the open…

CELEBRITY MASTERCHEF UK (s16) Starts Monday February 21, weeknights at 7.30pm and watch On Demand LifeStyle Food [125] One of the enduring delights of cooking comp MasterChef UK, 32 years after it first premiered, is the looks on the faces of contestants the first time they enter the kitchen and see where the magic is made. The expression is always a mixture of overwhelming fear and dazed excitement, sprinkled with an added dash of bold courage as they contemplate what lies ahead of them in the challenges. But what makes the celebrity editions of MasterChef so compelling is that, as the pressure intensifies, we also witness the confident public facades of the famous faces drop away to reveal a more authentic, vulnerable side. The latest season of Celebrity MasterChef UK is no…

MARY BERRY’S LOVE TO COOK Starts February 2, Wednesdays at 8.30pm and watch On Demand LifeStyle Food [125] There haven’t been many good things to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, but British cooking doyenne Mary Berry put the months at home in lockdown to good use by preparing for her latest series, Mary Berry’s Love to Cook. Indeed, the first UK shutdown allowed time for the 86-year-old to finesse the recipes she had been planning. “It reminded me I love to cook,” she reveals. In Love to Cook, Berry meets with passionate cooks, growers and makers to discover what fuels their love of food and how they approach their craft. But for all the years she’s spent in the spotlight, there are some things not everyone knows about TV’s first lady…