The Shows Must Go On - The Witcher: Blood Origin, Slow Horses, The Recruit and more

The Witcher: Blood Origin (Netflix, December 25)

Former Bunmahon, Co. Waterford resident Declan de Barra is the co-creator of this four-part prequel, which is set 1,200 years before the original fantasy epic. Michelle Yeoh stars as Scían, the last member of a nomadic tribe of sword-elves on a mission to retrieve a blade stolen from her people. As you do. The Irish interest doesn’t end there with Dylan Moran and Laurence O Fuarain, who was fab in last year’s Who We Love coming of age drama, also bagging themselves roles.

Slow Horses (Apple+)

Gary Oldman returns as the wonderfully seedy Jackson Lamb in the second season of this MI5 misfits spy thriller. As far removed from the martini-sipping world of James Bond as it’s possible to get, the put out to pasture occupants of Slough House find themselves having to deal with a newly activated network of Russian sleeper agents who are planning a catastrophic attack on London. Oldman is almost upstaged by Kristin Scott Thomas who plays the Head of Ops desperate to terminate his employment – and him.

Rosie Molloy Gives Up Everything (Sky Comedy)

Smoking, alcohol, Xanax, Adderall, caffeine and Terry’s Chocolate Oranges are just some of the addictions Sheridan Smith’s character tries to kick in this razor-sharp single camera comedy. Set in Manchester, it also reunites Father Ted duo Ardal O’Hanlon and Pauline McLynn who play Rosie’s long, long, long suffering parents.

The Recruit (Netflix, December 16)

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and Sierra Burgess Is A Loser man Noah Centineo stars as a fledgling CIA lawyer whose life is turned upside down by a former asset. Just Stop Oil activists will be horrified by the size of his carbon footprint as he planes, trains and automobiles around the world in order to keep one step ahead of the bad guys.

Read more TV and film features in the new issue of Hot Press, out now.