George Clooney’s next big TV project revealed as he takes on BBC and ITV with new British drama
GEORGE CLOONEY’s new TV thriller The Department will start filming in the UK this summer.
The silver fox may be best known for making movies but he shot to fame in telly series ER.
He is now returning to the small screen as a director of the Paramount+ production.
Fellow Hollywood actor Michael Fassbender has top billing in the drama, which is due to be filmed in well-heeled Belgravia, central London.
A TV insider said: “These rather posh streets will provide the backdrop for the thriller, which sees a spy return home from working in the field only to struggle to readjust to life.
“It’s likely to have a similar feel to the TV and movie versions of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, which also delved into the world of espionage in London.”
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After directing the film The Boys In The Boat last year, George has turned his attentions to TV and back to Britain, where he was living with wife Amal and their twins before relocating to France this year.
The new series, which is adapted by Eric Rochant from his show The Bureau, was a big hit when it ran in France between 2015 and 2020.
The British version will provide something of a comeback for Michael, who is also better known for movies.
But he gave a standout performance last year playing an assassin in The Killer on Netflix.
Location scouts have already been writing to residents of Eaton Square in Belgravia, which is arguably the poshest part of London’s most high-class suburb.
They have offered residents money to allow them to use their properties, mainly for exterior shots as the drama’s lead stars exit palatial pads.
So you could end up with fit Fassbender or swooney Clooney in your hallway — and get paid for the pleasure.
You simply need a £10million mansion to qualify.
Kai takes a punt on love
LOVE Island winners Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan’s romance has lasted longer than their tan lines by getting engaged.
Teacher Kai shocked social worker Sanam when he popped the question on a ride in a punt through Oxford.
They were crowned champions of the winter 2023 series on ITV2 by host Maya Jama.
After sharing snaps of the touching moment online, a comment from the show read: “They grow up so fast! Congrats.”
Their fellow Islanders also rushed to share the love.
Well done you two.
Kath hol with the oldies
KATHERINE RYAN revealed she once ended up on a zero-action weekender at a pensioners’ resort in Florida – playing bingo and dancing to The Lady In Red.
Breaks are on her mind as she is currently fronting Channel 4’s Bargain Holidays with fellow comic Joe Wilkinson.
Canadian Katherine said: “I love a bargain because I’ve always been hustling through some sort of financial crisis.
“When I was young we went to a town in Florida where spring break was outlawed ’cos of all the elderly people who lived there.
“It cost £160 for the week and we stayed with loads of pensioners, danced to Lady In Red, played bingo and there was zero debauchery.
“Hopefully we got ourselves into some of their wills, too.”
CLAUDIA WINKLEMAN’s ivory-tinkling talent show The Piano on Sunday became Channel 4’s biggest launch of 2024.
Its audience peaked at 2.1million.
This makes The Piano its third-biggest show of the year, behind Bake Off and Gogglebox.
Rich did red eye for dad
RED EYE actor Richard Armitage has revealed the sad story behind him making ITV’s plane drama.
He did it to please his late father, who was fed up of him only doing shows for Netflix, which he didn’t subscribe to.
On Ryan Tubridy’s Virgin Radio show yesterday, he said: “I remember him sort of grumpily saying to me once, ‘When are you going to do something I can watch?’
“So I looked at this show, and thought, ‘It’s ITV, my dad will be able to watch it’.
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“But unfortunately he died while I was filming. He never saw the show, but he’s kind of there in spirit.
“It was always at the back of my head, going, ‘I made this one for him’.”