Stern & Wild (2026)

04/09/2026

Congratulations to Stern & Wild filmmaker Adnan Ahmed, one of two directors on the latest outing of UKTV true crime docuseries RED FLAG which launches on U and U&W on 8 September.

Produced by FirstLookTV in association with SOAR Productions, the series explores toxic relationships, emotional manipulation and coercive control through the first-person accounts of survivors. The new season (8x60mins) is presented by renowned relationship expert Paul C. Brunson (MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT UK, WE NEED TO TALK). Each episode sees Paul meet with a survivor of “romantic abuse” who shares their emotional story – allowing him to decode the hidden dynamics of unhealthy relationships.

"Red Flag is an important series that shines a spotlight on manipulative behaviour that a lot of us think we will never fall victim to,” Paul wrote for the production notes. “The stories explored in this series are deeply personal and I am honoured that the contributors are willing to share their experiences with me and U viewers. It’s important to me that this series is not just re-telling stories but unearthing shared human experiences.”

“The survivors who trusted us with their stories were extraordinarily brave,” wrote Adnan, who reminds us that almost 50,000 offences of coercive control are recorded by police in England and Wales every year. And these are just the ones reported.

A huge shout out to Paul, Adnan and everyone involved in this important project. Be sure to catch it on U from next Tuesday.

Image: Adnan Ahmed (left) with Paul C. Brunson

04/09/2026

We are thrilled to announce that Stern & Wild filmmaker Hannah Berryman's widely acclaimed 2024 feature documentary SPACEWOMAN is now available to watch in the UK and Republic of Ireland on Apple TV.

A New York Times critics pick, SPACEWOMAN recounts astronaut Eileen Collins’ trailblazing journey to become the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle and the first to command a Space Shuttle mission. The film explores Eileen’s inspirational life and career, from humble beginnings in upstate New York to smashing countless glass ceilings in the US Air Force and at NASA, culminating in four increasingly dramatic and dangerous Space Shuttle missions. It premiered at DOC NYC and CPH:DOX to critical acclaim before enjoying a specialised theatrical run in the UK and USA. It’s a fantastic watch.

The film is produced by Haviland Digital in association with Tigerlily Productions. It is written and directed by Hannah; Natasha Dack and Keith Haviland are producers; and the editor is James Gold.

02/09/2026

As practitioners and audiences welcome a reset after a very long hot summer, we are delighted to announce that two very different projects from Stern & Wild filmmakers have been selected for the Guardian’s list of the 50 best TV shows to watch this autumn.

The first of the two must-see picks is DAMILOLA TAYLOR: THE LAST 24 HOURS (Optomen Television for the BBC) which promises to be one of the most powerful documentary films seen on UK screens this year. Directed by multi-award winner Alex Thomas (BIBAA & NICOLE: MURDER IN THE PARK), the film explores the final day of 10-year-old schoolboy Damilola Taylor who was murdered in a Peckham stairwell 26 years ago, and the lasting impact his death has had on those who knew him, including childhood friend and Star Wars actor John Boyega. It’s heartrending.

Our second must-see pick is the eight-part culinary adventure show THE UNLIKELY COOK WITH AWKWAFINA (Twofour for Apple TV), which follows actor and comedian Nora Lum, aka Awkwafina, as she makes a personal journey across the USA to explore contemporary Asian American cuisine, starting with her own family’s remarkable legacy. The Series Producer is fantastic Stern & Wild filmmaker Tara Jang (ACCUSED: GUILTY OR INNOCENT?). We have high hopes it will be just as popular as Twofour’s first collaboration with Apple, the Emmy-winning THE RELUCTANT TRAVELLER WITH EUGENE LEVY.

Neither production has a confirmed tx date as yet. Watch this space for more details. In the meantime, for a full list of the Guardian’s top 50 TV shows, click here.

27/08/2026

Shout out to Stern & Wild filmmaker Tom Beard, shooting director and consulting executive producer on a newly announced Hulu/Disney+ feature documentary following media personality Spencer Matthews as he attempts to break the world record for completing seven full triathlons across all seven continents in the shortest-ever time.

BREAKING SPENCER MATTHEWS (w/t) is the second collaboration between the former MADE IN CHELSEA star and Tom who directed Spencer’s first Disney+ film FINDING MICHAEL (2023), which followed his journey to Mount Everest to try and find the body of his older brother, Michael Matthews, who tragically disappeared on the mountain 24 years prior.

Their latest project documents Spencer’s Project Se7en challenge which sees the TV star and his close friend and guide, Chris Taylor, embark on an adventure that pushes them to their physical and psychological limits: seven Iron-distance triathlons – each consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run – on seven continents, in just 21 days.

Beyond capturing the extraordinary physical test of the challenge, the film continues Spencer’s on-screen exploration of men's mental health, looking at themes of identity, addiction, and grief as he confronts the man he used to be, examines his past destructive relationship with alcohol, and continues to process the loss of his brother.

The film is produced for Disney+ EMEA by UK indie Whisper. The transmission date will be announced shortly.

27/08/2026

We are thrilled for Stern & Wild filmmaker Sebastian Smith whose latest true-crime offering is set to stream on Hulu and Disney+ from Tuesday 1 September.

The four-part docuseries WELCOME TO THE FAMILY: THE MURDER OF DAN MARKEL explores the investigation of a brutal killing that gripped America for over a decade involving two divorced law professors, a wealthy ‘dental dynasty’ and a shocking murder-for-hire plot.

The series uncovers the extraordinary story surrounding the 2014 killing of 41-year-old Florida law professor Dan Markel and includes a cast of larger-than-life suspects, a messy custody battle, ex-lovers and a startling family conspiracy. It features exclusive audio and first-time interviews with those at the centre of the case, including FBI investigators, a number of Markel’s ex-in-laws and some outlaws too!

The series is produced by UK indie Curious Films for ABC News Studios. It is directed by Sebastian (GIRL ON THE RUN: THE HUNT FOR AMERICA’S MOST WANTED WOMAN), produced by Lily Fletcher and executive produced by Dov Freedman and Charlie Russell for Curious Films. David Sloan is senior executive producer for ABC News Studios with Claire Weinraub as executive producer.

Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUePlCSexlE

25/08/2026

Amazon MGM has released the official trailer for ALI G: WHO IZ I?, the big screen return of Sacha Baron Cohen’s west Staines rudeboy. Stern & Wild filmmaker Jonathan Levene is Co-Executive Producer on the project which is set to be released in cinemas on 23 October.

Filmed in secret earlier this year, the mockumentary-style film marks Baron Cohen’s feature directorial debut. Over two decades after 2002’s feature release ALI G INDAHOUSE, the wannabe gangsta is back to contend with the issues of the day and the shock pregnancy of his long-term girlfriend, Julie. “Faced with an extra mouth to feed, he gets off his batty and heads to America to reclaim his former glory,” the official synopsis reads, “but soon encounters adversaries who will ultimately threaten his and his child’s very existence."

Catch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/6t7C4qaHihE

17/08/2026

Shout out to Stern & Wild filmmaker John Joe Bardsley, who edit produced tonight’s opening episode of BURIED WITH MICHAEL SHEEN, a shocking two-part documentary calling for action over the dumping of thousands of tonnes of the toxic “forever chemical” PCB in sites across Wales and north west England.

Welsh actor and activist Michael Sheen has sought to highlight the issue for the past decade after recording an interview with farming consultant and whistleblower Douglas Gowan who claimed the people of Wales had been poisoned, not by a single criminal act, but by decades of exposure to toxic chemicals in the environment. Filmed over two days, the interview saw Douglas describe a lifetime battling corporations, government and local councils, claiming Monsanto – the world's leading PCB producer – knowingly buried highly toxic waste in communities across Wales, with consequences still being felt today. Two months after the interview, Douglas was dead, leaving Michael with his story.

The documentary builds on the award-winning BBC podcast BURIED: THE LAST WITNESS which Michael presented alongside investigative journalists Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor, and follows the three as they retrace Douglas' footsteps with environmental experts, forensic scientists and residents living near toxic dump sites. The BBC describe it as “a journey into alleged conspiracy and cover-ups, but also one of ordinary people speaking truth to power”.

The series is a BBC Factual and BBC Cymru Wales co-commission for BBC Two, BBC One Wales and BBC iPlayer. It is produced by Wall to Wall and Smoke Trail Productions in partnership with the Open University.

The first episode airs tonight at 9.00pm on BBC Two, BBC One Wales and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer: https://ow.ly/9fq150ZAA71

13/08/2026

Two projects involving super talented Stern & Wild filmmaker Marcus Liversedge are trending this week. He is Series Director of a fantastic new art dealing competition show hosted by Steph McGovern which launches on BBC Two tonight and Director of a brilliant title sequence for the newly announced four-part Halloween special of the Amazon Prime Video comedy hit LAST ONE LAUGHING UK.

The six-part series THE BIG DEAL WITH STEPH MCGOVERN follows seven pairs of amateur dealers as they are challenged to test their skills in the contemporary art market, from spotting breakthrough artists to building relationships with established ones, wooing potential buyers, and ultimately securing a sale. They’ll be assessed by art fair director and dealer Cordelia de Freitas, along with guest judges including artist Margo McDaid and curator Matt Carey-Williams.

The series is produced by Belfast-based Stellify Media for BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and BBC Northern Ireland, with support from Northern Ireland Screen. The Series Producer is the wonderful Zinia Scroggs. Exec Producers for Stellify are Jo Bishop and Tracie O’Neill.

It airs weekly on BBC Two, Thursdays at 8.00pm starting tonight and is available to stream on iPlayer. (It launched in Northern Ireland on the 12th.)

LAST ONE LAUGHING: HALLOWEEN is a Zeppotron and Initial production for Amazon Prime Video. The titles were produced by Craft Films.

In a twist to the show’s usual format, the guest comedians will not only aim to refrain from laughing, but also from screaming, as their competitors channel their efforts to break them. It is hosted by Jimmy Carr and Roisin Conaty, who will use cursed props, ghostly appearances and spooky surprises to catch the guest comedians off guard. Guests include Tom Allen, Daisy May Cooper, Jack Dee, Harriet Dyer and Reece Shearsmith. The first three episodes will launch on Prime Video on 23rd October with the final episode available from the 30th.

11/08/2026

We are ‘hyped’ for super talented Stern & Wild filmmaker Jonathan Levene, Co-Executive Producer on the big screen return of Staines Massiv gangsta Ali G, which has generated huge buzz since the project was confirmed in July.

ALI G: WHO IZ I? was announced by actor and comedian Sacha Baron Cohen via a newly launched character Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/official.ali.g/. The video post has racked up an amazing 3.6 million views in under three weeks. Filmed in secret earlier this year, the project is Baron Cohen’s feature directorial debut. It will be released in cinemas by Amazon MGM Studios on 23 October.

It is the latest project from the Ali G and Borat star that Jonathan has worked on. He was Associate Producer on Baron Cohen’s 2018 seven-part Emmy-nominated series WHO IS AMERICA? (Paramount+), Co-Producer on the 2020 Oscar-nominated BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM (Amazon Studios) and helped to develop this year’s comedy feature LADIES FIRST (Netflix).

A specialist in talent-led comedy and factual entertainment formats, Jonathan was co-creator and Producer on the 2023 TV special THE BRITISH MIRACLE MEAT (Untold Studios for Channel 4) which the Guardian described it as ‘one of the most audaciously satirical spoofs ever aired in the UK’. He was Executive Producer on both seasons of the 2022+ digital-first series TRAINSPOTTING WITH FRANCIS BOURGEOIS (Channel 4) and was co-creator and Director on this year’s MISSION TO SPACE WITH FRANCIS BOURGEOIS (Shine TV for Channel 4) for which Francis was recently longlisted for a Grierson Best Documentary Presenter award.

Jonathan signed with Stern & Wild in March this year and is represented by Natalie Spanier, Agent for Documentary and Talent-led Projects.

11/08/2026

Congratulations to Stern & Wild filmmaker James Buchanan, Executive Director of ‘Health Wonders’, a fantastic series of short films launched this summer as part of a raft of celebrations to mark the 90th anniversary of the Wellcome Trust.

Commissioned by the Trust from Accenture Song, the series comprises 10 short films profiling Wellcome-funded projects from the UK to Tanzania and Zimbabwe, featuring lab-based researchers, clinicians in the field and patients whose lives have been transformed by new medical developments. The films are a key feature of the Trust’s new impact hub which was introduced to share stories from around the world that show the positive impact of research on real lives.

The films include the story of Remi who was diagnosed with a severe immune condition at age two, and how a pioneering gene therapy is allowing him to live medication-free; how a research project in Zimbabwe and the UK is increasing protection for pregnant women and babies from extreme temperatures; the decade-long development of a wearable magnetoencephalography brain scanner used to help children with epilepsy; and the real-world deployment of existing and novel treatments, such as affordable steroids that saved lives during the COVID-19 epidemic.

The ‘Health Wonders’ series is available to watch now on YouTube - https://ow.ly/lBiU50Zyr3E - or at the Wellcome Trust impact hub - https://ow.ly/cW4t50Zyr3F - which also includes transcripts from the films.

Stern & Wild

04/09/2026

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