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Strictly Come Dancing's Shirley Ballas warns Maisie Smith - digitalspy.com

"These people all look like they were at the starting block, ready to move forward."

Strictly Come Dancingheadjudge Shirley Ballas has warned Maisie Smith not to take her previous win on the show for granted. The EastEnders star has been partnered with Gorka Marquez in this year's line-up, having previously won the Strictly Come Dancing: Children in Need special. Speaking recently, Shirley cautioned Maisie against letting that success get to her head. She warned the actress that "the competitive spirit" of her fellow celebrities shouldn't be underestimated and advised her to "be full on" in her pursuit of the Glitterball trophy. Related: Strictly Come Dancing's Max George reveals dance blunder during Glee filming "I know she won the special but if I was Maisie I wouldn't take anything for granted because doing one dance is not like doing ten weeks," she told The Sun. "You've got to be there and you've got to be full on and you've got to go the whole nine yards. "You could see the competitive spirit, you could feel it. These people all look like they were at the starting block, ready to move forward." Related: Strictly Come Dancing 2020 launch show confirms this year's dancing couples Shirley's comments follow Maisie explaining what inspired her to take part in the show, which returned to screens on Saturday night (October 17). They also follow Craig Revel Horwood revealing the biggest changes to the series this year. Strictly Come Dancing continues this Saturday (October 24) on BBC One. Digital Spy has launched its first-ever digital magazine with exclusive features, interviews, and videos. Access the latest edition with a 1-month free trial, only on Apple News+. Interested in Digital Spy's weekly newsletter? Sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox – and don't forget to join our Watch This Facebook Group for daily TV recommendations and discussions with other readers. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

The Million Pound Cube suffers technical issue in debut episode - digitalspy.com

"Thought my tv was goosed."

ITV's premiere episode of The Million Pound Cubesuffered a technical issue, as the show's sound mysteriously disappeared. Presented by This Morningfavourite Phillip Schofield, tonight's (October 17) opener was a special celebrity edition featuring comedians Jason Manford and Mo Gilligan. Just as things were being wrapped up, though, the volume randomly decreased before cutting out completely for several seconds. Related: This Morning's Phillip Schofield shares behind-the-scenes pictures from set of The Cube reboot Over on Twitter, the viewing public shared their collective confusion as the ITV sound waves faltered. "Oh so into the cube. But @ITV sort the sound out," posted one individual, before two more added: "Has anyone else's sound just gone?" and "that was so tense that even the sound has gone". Keep on reading for more baffled tweets. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Of course, the broadcaster managed to sort it out fairly quickly and Schofe's voice returned to soothe everyone's worries. The continuity announcer even apologised at the end of the show, too. Related: Loose Women suffers awkward technical issue with social distancing format Meanwhile, Jason (helped by brother Stephen) managed to bag himself an enormous £100,000 for his chosen charities. Mo, who cracked us up on Celebrity Goggleboxearlier this year, experienced a somewhat tense time through the competition, but still took home £10,000 for charity with the help of his friend, actor David Ajao. Mo tweeted along with the show, saying it was "too funny" watching the Cube challenges back and that he was pleased they left with money for their chosen charities, 100 Black Men and Albrighton Community Centre. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Jason also thanked viewers for their "lovely and supportive messages" and shared his joy at hanging out with his brother, and "raising much needed money for two wonderful charities". The Manford brothers were raising money for the Children's Adventure Farm Trust and the Theatre Artists Fund. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. The Million Pound Cube kicks off its regular editiononMonday (October 19) at 9pm. Digital Spy has launched its first-ever digital magazine with exclusive features, interviews, and videos. Access the latest edition with a 1-month free trial, only on Apple News+. Interested in Digital Spy's weekly newsletter? Sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox – and don't forget to join our Watch This Facebook Group for daily TV recommendations and discussions with other readers. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

Haunting of Bly Manor viewers react after finding out Flora is played by Peppa Pig star - digitalspy.com

"I can't process this information."

The Haunting of Bly Manor has arrived on Netflix to keep horror fans decisively spooked in the build-up to Halloween. And, already, the series has delivered a shock that many never saw coming. Viewers have been left stunned to discover that actress Amelie Bea Smith, who plays 'creepy' little girl Flora, is actually also the voice of Peppa Pig. Smith became the fourth actress to take on the role earlier this year, following the departure of Harley Bird. Whether that enhances or ruins the show, we'll let you decide. But now all we can think about is a spin-off series about a pig on a haunted farm. Related: Victoria Pedretti reveals Bly Manor's hidden meanings and talks comparisons to Hill House After discovering this earth-shattering piece of information, viewers soon shared their hysterical reactions on Twitter. "Oh my god the little girl in Haunting of Bly Manor is PEPPA PIG. I can't process this information," tweeted one viewer. Another apparently yelled: "APPARENTLY FLORA FROM THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR IS THE VOICE ACTRESS FOR PEPPA PIG??? I CAN'T UNHEAR THIS ANYMORE." Related: How they filmed The Haunting of Bly Manor's hidden ghosts "The little freaky spooky girl, Flora, in The Haunting at Bly Manor on @Netflix is the same actress that does the voice of Peppa Pig. So have fun with that fact. I don't know if I made it a better or worse viewing experience," added another Check out more of the reactions below: This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. The Haunting of Bly Manor is now available to watch on Netflix. Digital Spy has launched its first-ever digital magazine with exclusive features, interviews, and videos. Access the latest edition with a 1-month free trial, only on Apple News+. Interested in Digital Spy's weekly newsletter? Sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox – and don't forget to join our Watch This Facebook Group for daily TV recommendations and discussions with other readers. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

Strictly Come Dancing pays emotional tribute to Caroline Flack - digitalspy.com

"She lit up the Strictly ballroom every single week."

Strictly Come Dancing has aired a heartbreaking tribute to Caroline Flack. Caroline tragically passed away in February of this year, aged just 40 years old, after taking her own life. On tonight's (October 10) Strictly: The Best of The Final, hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, as well as the judges, professional dancers and some of her fellow celebrity contestants talked about her time on the show in 2014 when she took home the Glitterball. "In 2014 she became the first celebrity to receive a perfect 40 for every single performance in the final," Claudia said. "And she lit up the Strictly ballroom every single week," Tess added. "It is, of course, Caroline Flack." Strictly pro dancer Janette Manrara said: "I think Caroline was probably one of the best, best dancers we have ever had come into Strictly Come Dancing." She went onto say how she particularly loved watching her Charleston performance, but then got very emotional as she discussed Caroline's incredible Showdance routine and said she was so "proud" of her for doing that dance. "She was very, very into it, you could just feel that she was lost in that moment, she just wanted to dance her heart out and dance what she was feeling and dance with her everything and I think as a dancer and a performer, you can't ask for more. Her professional partner, Pasha Kovalev remembered their "incredible" win and said: "We saw how she transformed into that beautiful dancer with her big heart on her sleeve". This content is imported from YouTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Frankie Bridge, who was a runner up in 2014 with her partner Kevin Clifton said that after watching her Showdance, Frankie knew she would win. "I think people watching Caroline on Strictly will just remember her as an absolutely stunning performer, she was just beautiful to watch and it just meant so much to her," Frankie added. Following her passing, several famous faces and stars of Love Island, for which she was the host, paid tribute to the presenter, with the ITV2 series' narrator Iain Stirling sharing a touching on-screen tribute too Strictly Come Dancing will return for an all-new series next weekend on BBC One. Digital Spy has launched its first-ever digital magazine with exclusive features, interviews, and videos. Access the latest edition with a 1-month free trial, only on Apple News+. Interested in Digital Spy's weekly newsletter? Sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox – and don't forget to join our Watch This Facebook Group for daily TV recommendations and discussions with other readers. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

Britain's Got Talent viewers spot major issue with one semi-final performance - digitalspy.com

"Great act. Shame we can't hear it."

Britain's Got Talenthopeful Crissy Lee endured an awkward semi-final tonight (October 3). The 76-year-old drummer (and ex-acquaintance of The Beatles) proved to be one of the show's most surprising auditionees ever earlier this year, when she rocked out behind the cymbals and snare to a selection of heavy tunes. But with the top prize within touching distance, she'd have hoped for a much stronger follow-up routine. Related: Britain's Got Talent's Amanda Holden responds after her low-cut dress got 235 Ofcom complaints As Crissy bashed away in 'synchronisation' with the likes of Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit', it quickly became apparent that the music was far too loud to really hear her playing. The fact that the original drum recordings were still attached to the background music seemed to be a big mistake, and over on social media, BGT viewers shared their frustrations, with many believing her timing wasn't there either. One person tweeted: "Back ground music is to loud!!! Awful [sic]," while another pointed out: "The music is much louder than her drums." "If the focus is on the drumming, maybe don't drown out the drums with the rest of the music," wrote someone else. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Related: BGT star Myra DuBois reveals the truth behind claims her duet with judge Amanda Holden was staged In the end, Crissy wasn't handed the judges' vote and will now rely on the public vote to make it to the final. Britain's Got Talent returns for the grand final next Saturday (October 10) on ITV. Digital Spy has launched its first-ever digital magazine with exclusive features, interviews, and videos. Access the latest edition with a 1-month free trial, only on Apple News+. Interested in Digital Spy's weekly newsletter? Sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox – and don't forget to join our Watch This Facebook Group for daily TV recommendations and discussions with other readers. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

Strictly Come Dancing pro Dianne Buswell talks about one dance she'd love to relive - Digital Spy

"I don’t think I’ll ever forget that feeling."

Strictly Come Dancingmight be all about watching our favourite celebrities get better at dancing with each passing week, but the professional dancers also have their favourite moments. Dianne Buswell, who will soon be starting her fourth year on the BBC One show, has revealed her most favourite moment from her Strictly career so far was her very first dance. "I think the most special moment ever for me was when me, Amy [Dowden] and Nadiya [Bychkova] first were introduced and did our first dance as the new professionals on the show," she revealed exclusively to Digital Spy. Related: Graham Norton apologises for past Strictly comments and shows full support for Nicola Adams' same-sex pairing "I don't think I'll ever forget that feeling, so if I could go back and do one again and feel the same emotion, I would go straight back to there. I was thinking, 'This is a new adventure for me, I'm so excited to be here, I'm so grateful for it all.' I just took it all in. "The three of us felt like real new kids on the block and it was such a special moment and just very surreal at the same time." This content is imported from YouTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. It's safe to say that Dianne has been involved in some big moments in the show, such as finishing second with Joe Sugg in 2018. Dianne said: "There were some moments in there that were obviously really special to me, like Blackpool and watching back the Quickstep I did with Joe. That was the first time that we got a ten and that I'd ever gotten a ten on the show! Related: Strictly Come Dancing star HRVY confirms he has coronavirus "Then there were moments in there where they showed a bit of me and Rev (Reverend Richard Coles) when we left the show, but that was still really special to watch." Dianne admitted that leaving the competition on Strictly "is never fun", but the whole experience is really special to her. "Even the tougher moments are still so special on Strictly," she said. "Leaving the show is never fun, so seeing it on there was very emotional. When I watched the shows I laughed and cried because it really did hit home and brought back all the emotions. It was beautiful." Judge Shirley Ballas revealed last week that this year's Strictly launch show is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 17, with the first live show a week later on October 24. Watch Strictly: The Best Of Musicals this Saturday (October 3) at 8.10pm on BBC One. Digital Spy has launched its first-ever digital magazine with exclusive features, interviews, and videos. Access the latest edition with a 1-month free trial, only on Apple News+. Interested in Digital Spy's weekly newsletter? Sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox – and don't forget to join our Watch This Facebook Group for daily TV recommendations and discussions with other readers. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

Home and Away - will Colby Thorne turn against Dean Thompson? - digitalspy.com

Could Colby land Dean in big trouble?

Home and Away spoilers follow from this week's Australian episodes, which some UK readers may prefer to avoid. Home and Away aired more drama in the Colby Thorne killer storyline on Australian screens this week, as his loved ones continued to suffer due to his dark secret. Meanwhile, Dean Thompson returned to the Bay following a few days away and was thrown straight into a dramatic situation involving his young son. Here are eight big questions we've been left with after the latest episodes. 1. Will Colby bring Dean down with him? Another week, another round of nasty behaviour from the newly-villainous Colby. The corrupt cop will seemingly now stop at nothing to stay out of trouble for the murder of Ross Nixon, even if it means alienating some of his closest friends and loved ones in the Bay. In unsettling scenes this week, Colby targeted Ziggy by paying her a visit at home and trying to intimidate her into keeping quiet about what really happened to Ross. Skilfully twisting the story of Ross's final day, Colby made out that the cover-up of the murder was entirely Dean's idea. Knowing that Ziggy is still loyal to Dean, Colby threatened to implicate him if he ever gets caught out himself. Colby has always previously promised to leave Dean's name out of the situation if he's ever brought to justice. Now that he has turned so ruthless, could Colby really be prepared to betray his closest friend? 2. Will Bella expose Colby's affair? Bella tried to get the upper hand against Colby after he lied to her about ending his ill-fated affair with Taylor. When Bella saw them kissing out in public, she took some incriminating photos on her camera. The pictures didn't last for long, as Bella's decision to send one of the shots to Colby's phone was enough to provoke him into angrily stealing her camera and deleting all of the evidence. Colby's strong-armed tactics caused tensions between him and Bella to rise to their highest levels yet. Could Bella be pushed into exposing the truth in another way? Or could her boyfriend Nikau – who also knows the truth – spill the beans? 3. Will Dean's son Jai be okay? Dean faced a backlash after returning to Summer Bay after a few days away to clear his head. Ziggy and John were both unhappy with him for abandoning his responsibilities at the board shop, while Amber rebuked him for not keeping her in the loop and acting like a part-time parent to Jai. Amber gave Dean another chance by letting him have Jai overnight for the first time, but the evening turned disastrous when the young boy's temperature skyrocketed and he became unwell. Will everything be okay? 4. Has Dean blown his last chance with Ziggy? Ziggy has struggled to feel the same way about Dean since discovering his involvement in covering up Ross's death. This week, there were signs that she was prepared to talk things through following their break-up, but the other major obstacle in Dean's life ended up standing in the way. When Ziggy headed over to the pier apartment for a catch-up, she spotted Amber there and misinterpreted the situation, wrongly believing that Dean's old flame would be staying the night. A heartbroken Ziggy rushed off, without Dean ever knowing that she'd been there. Could this near-miss keep them apart for the foreseeable? 5. Are Jasmine's troubles finally over? Home and Away finally provided closure for Jasmine's storyline this week, as she was asked to look after Grace at the hospital when Justin was called away for tests unexpectedly. With nobody else around, Jasmine agreed to keep an eye on her baby stepdaughter, but feared the consequences as she was technically breaching the conditions of the Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) currently in place against her. Rather than react angrily when she discovered what had happened, Tori generously decided to drop the AVO altogether – recognising that Jasmine is now in a much better place thanks to her counselling sessions. Tori also agreed that Jasmine had proved herself enough to be allowed to look after Grace alone again. Has Jas turned a corner? 6. Will Tori and Christian become a couple? There was more good news for the Morgans when Justin's test results gave him the all-clear following the operation to remove the tumour from his spine. This was largely down to newcomer Christian Green's handiwork in the operating theatre. Tori shares a chemistry with Christian, which was revisited when they came face-to-face in a lift at the hospital – the location of their first kiss. They later crossed paths at Salt and seemed destined to become closer. Christian seemed very keen to get to know Tori better, but will they start dating and become a couple? 7. What does the future hold for Ryder? Ryder faced an emotional day, as the Stewarts came together with Owen to remember Evan on what would have been his birthday. The occasion left Ryder with food for thought, wanting to make a positive impact in the world in the same way his late father did. Ryder spoke about wanting to do more with his life and truly make his mark, although Alf cautioned him not to put too much pressure on himself at the age of 19. It's clear that a seed has been planted in Ryder's mind, though – will he be broadening his horizons in the coming weeks? 8. What will Mac do about Ari? It was a disappointing week for Ari, as Mac chose to move out of the Parata house due to the ongoing awkwardness of living with Tane. Ari wanted Mac to make her new living arrangements more permanent, but she declined and moved in with Ziggy at the farmhouse instead. Starting to doubt their relationship altogether, Ari decided to take on a job away from Summer Bay for a few days and encouraged Mac to use this time to decide whether she's committed to him or not. Can they get their romance back on track when Ari returns? Home and Away airs weekdays at 1.15pm and 6pm on Channel 5 (UK) and Mondays to Thursdays at 7pm on Channel 7 (Australia). Digital Spy now has a newsletter – sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox. Read more Home and Away spoilers on our dedicated homepage Want up-to-the-minute soaps news, spoilers and gossip on your social feeds? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Soaps Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @soapscoop Twitter account. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

Graham Norton sorry for past Strictly comment, backs Nicola Adams - digitalspy.com

"Big up @NicolaAdamsOBE and her partner!!"

Graham Norton has given his full support for Nicola Adams, as he apologised for past comments he made about Strictly Come Dancing. Nicola was confirmed earlier this month to be taking part in the 2020 series as part of the show's first ever same-sex pairing. New quotes then surfaced in Best magazine where Graham – speaking before Nicola's announcement – suggested that a same-sex pairing would "muddy the waters" when it comes to judging the performances. "As you have people who can be openly gay on that show, I don't particularly need to see a man dancing with a man," he said at the time. "I understand the reason the Strictly bosses might do it is coming from a good place, but it does kind of muddy the waters for the judges. If you've got two partners who can do lifts and men's bodies are different shapes, how would that work?" Last night, Graham called his past comments a mistake on Twitter, before tagging Nicola and celebrating the upcoming historic pairing. "Oh God," he wrote. "This is entirely my own fault. Ages ago gave a throwaway comment to a journalist... Clever clogs remembered and now look!! "So sorry. Big up @NicolaAdamsOBE and her partner!!" Related: Strictly Come Dancing reveals new-look judges' tables amid social distancing restrictions Nicola previously said that she was the one who persuaded Strictly bosses to consider a same-sex pairing. "I asked the show about it," she recalled. "They wanted to know if I wanted to be on the show and I said, 'Yeah, but I want to dance with another female dance partner'." Nicola continued: "I think it's really important. It's definitely a time for change, it's definitely a time to move on and be more diverse, and this is a brilliant step in the right direction. "It'll be nice for the LGBT community to be able to see same-sex couples on the show as well." Strictly Come Dancing will return for an all-new series later this year on BBC One. Digital Spy has launched its first-ever digital magazine with exclusive features, interviews, and videos. Access this edition with a 1-month free trial, only on Apple News+. Interested in Digital Spy's weekly newsletter? Sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel welcome second child - digitalspy.com

The news was revealed by a fellow NSYNC member.

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel have welcomed their second child in private. The news was announced by Timberlake's former NSYNC bandmate Lance Bass during an interview with Entertainment Tonight. Bass revealed that the boy band keep each other updated about their families in a group chat, and that Timberlake had even shown them an image of his newborn. Related: Justin Timberlake says he "absolutely" wants to collaborate with his ex Britney Spears "The baby is cute, of course. It's Justin and Jessica!" said Bass, but he wasn't willing to reveal the sex or age, adding: "That's a good question. Justin would kill me!" It was first reported that Timberlake and Biel welcomed their second child back in July. The singer and actress, who have been married since 2012, are also parents to five year-old-son Silas. In December last year, Timberlake apologised to his wife for his "strong lapse in judgement" after he was pictured holding hands with Palmerco-star Alisha Wainwright. "I stay away from gossip as much as I can, but for my family I feel it is important to address recent rumours that are hurting the people I love," he wrote. "A few weeks ago I displayed a strong lapse in judgement – but let me be clear – nothing happened between me and my costar." He added: "I apologise to my amazing wife and family for putting them through such an embarrassing situation, and I am focused on being the best husband and father I can be." Digital Spy has launched its first-ever digital magazine with exclusive features, interviews, and videos. Access this edition with a 1-month free trial, only on Apple News+. Interested in Digital Spy's weekly newsletter? Sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

Enola Holmes makes classic female-led movie error by pitting her against a man - digitalspy.com

You can blame Mycroft.

Enola Holmes spoilers follow. Netflix's new mystery adventure Enola Holmes puts an unexpected spin on the story of a famous super-sleuth, allowing Sherlock's younger sister to take on the mantle of detective. Her tale is one that is becoming increasingly popular in cinema, recounting her journey of self-discovery, liberation and empowerment. These female-led movies are made to be relatable and encouraging for the women in the audience, but Enola Holmes makes the same mistake that many of them do: pitting women against men. As the movie is set in the Victorian era, you might think that the tension between the two simply reflects history, and to an extent this is true. Much of Enola's initial oppression stems from the upholding of traditional gender roles and the lack of womens' rights that severely limited their freedom. This comes in the form of her strictly conservative brother Mycroft enrolling her in a finishing schools for girls. As Enola runs away to pursue the mystery of her missing mother, there's a chance to move away from this, but much of the movie then becomes focused on her evasion of Mycroft and the competition between them. For a movie that is telling a story of female empowerment, this isn't necessarily a good thing. For one, the competition is not between two well-written characters with a variety of both flaws and redeeming qualities. If anything, the writing of Enola and Mycroft could be seen as reductive. Being the heroine of the movie, Enola is capable of doing pretty much anything she sets her mind to, from puzzle solving to hand-to-hand combat, and she doesn't seem to have any personal flaws besides her defiance, which is only perceived as a failing by Mycroft because it inconveniences him. Mycroft is perhaps the most two-dimensional character of them all. He is purely defined by his conservative values, political ambition and the stream of offensive comments that leave his mouth. He is so unequivocally easy to hate that it would be near-impossible not to side with Enola when watching the film. However, it is the issue of 'sides' that is exactly the problem here. Enola and Mycroft are positioned as rivals in direct conflict and this conflict is one of the most prominent parts of the movie, sometimes overshadowing even the main plot. In doing this, there are clear distinctions made between the two of them. Their fight is split into female versus male, which becomes almost synonymous with good versus evil. Their fundamental differences tie in with the movie's general portrayal of feminism as being a sometimes violent power struggle between men and women. Not only is this a terribly outdated view of feminism, it also causes us to root for the female protagonist for all of the wrong reasons. Given Enola's intelligence, fighting prowess and exceedingly likeable nature, it should be easy to admire her independence and to want her to succeed. All of these qualities make her an ideal character for women to root for and see as emblematic of empowerment. However, it is her conflict with Mycroft that really tips the scales in her favour. A lot of the actions she takes throughout the movie serve to outsmart or outrun her brother, and his hateful disposition often means that we want to see Enola succeed so that we can see him fail. Ultimately the choice to focus on the conflict between the siblings means that we only care more about Enola's success because it leads to Mycroft's failure. His misogynistic views evoke a strong emotional reaction, and the feelings of disgust aimed at him are far more powerful than Enola's sweet and simple likeability. Another issue with having the female protagonist compete against a man is that it creates the sense that she has something to prove. In the movie, Enola is Mycroft's ward. He is charged with her care, but this also involves making important decisions for her. The act of running away to pursue her own life in London is not just an act of rebellion against her lack of free will, but an attempt to show her brothers that she can live independently in the hope that if she succeeds she will be allowed to make her own choices. This is emphasised by the movie's ending, where Mycroft becomes tired of being evaded by Enola and passes his responsibilities on to Sherlock. By this time Enola has proven her ingenuity to her eldest brother to the point that he reluctantly allows her to escape him. The notion that female characters should have to prove themselves to their male adversaries in order to gain their freedom is an unsettling one. It carries the implication that women can only empower themselves by 'beating' men in competition, lifting themselves up at the others' expense. Instead of viewing the subject as a competition, for the film to be truly feminist, the focus should be on the development and growth that she undergoes. If Enola had been a better-written character with a few more flaws and room to grow, then she could have been much more relatable and realistic, and Enola Holmes would have been significantly more successful in conveying its message of empowerment. Fingers crossed that the potential sequel does just that. Enola Holmes is available to watch now on Netflix. Digital Spy has launched its first-ever digital magazine with exclusive features, interviews, and videos. Access this edition with a 1-month free trial, only on Apple News+. Interested in Digital Spy's weekly newsletter? Sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io