A HUGELY popular Netflix drama is returning to screens early in a shock shake-up.

The romantic drama premiered in 2019 and has aired five series to date.

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According to Deadline, Virgin River series six will be premiering on December 19, with all ten episodes available that day.

Viewers will be happy to know the show’s return is slightly ahead of schedule.

In fact, its absence from the streamer’s 2024 slate seemingly suggested a 2025 return.

The premise follows Mel Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge), who moves to Virgin River hoping to start afresh as a nurse practitioner and midwife.

She came to the remote California town from Los Angeles, having left painful memories behind in the city.

Upon arriving, Mel meets Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson), a bar owner and ex-US Marine suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

It comes as a newcomer joining Virgin River in series six has already been announced.

Callum Kerr has landed the role of a younger Everett Reid, Mel’s father and will therefore appear through flashbacks.

The character’s older counterpart is played by actor John Allen Nelson.

In season 5, Mel discovered and met her birth father.

Although fans will now be learning how Everett met Mel’s mother, Sarah (Jessica Rothe).

Meanwhile, even some of the show’s most ardent fans might be surprised to learn about its filming location.

While the story takes place in a small California town, in reality filming doesn’t take place in the United States.

The primary location is actually British Columbia, Canada.

Author Robyn Carr previously described Virgin River to Entertainment Weekly as “the perfect small town.”

She said: “People always write and say, ‘Where is it? I want to go there,’ and I have to remind them that it only exists in our hearts and minds.”

“But to further that thought, we can have that sense of community in our own neighbourhood or school or church group or community centre or library association.

“All we have to do is try to create it.”

Virgin River is available to watch on Netflix.

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Meghan Markle’s former Suits co-stars have extended an invitation to their former colleague, to appear on their new podcast in which they rewatch the show.

Before the 43-year-old married Prince Harry and became the Duchess of Sussex, she was known for her role as paralegal Rachel Zane on the legal drama.

Last year the popular series made its debut on Netflix, and gained a new onslaught of fans along with a record 26.5 billion minutes watched in just eight weeks.

Markle starred on the show for seven seasons, before her exit shortly after her engagement announcement. Her final episode saw her character finally tie the knot with Mike Ross, played by Patrick J Adams.

Adams and Sarah Rafferty (who played Donna Paulsen on the series) will rewatch the show for the first time on Sirius XM’s Sidebar: A Suits Watch Podcast. They expect to recap episodes and share their personal experiences from filming the series.

They have also revealed they will interview fell cast members including Gina Torres who played Jessica Pearson and the programme’s showrunner Aaron Korsh.

“Everybody’s invited, and everybody has been so supportive,” Rafferty told Entertainment Weekly when asked if the Duchess of Sussex has been called in as a guest.

“It’s amazing. I’ve just been texting one of our directors, Mike Smith, Rachael Harris had some comments on our Instagram Live this morning, cannot wait for Sheila Sazs to be introduced into the show. I can’t wait to talk to Max Beesley and all the British actors that we had.”

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Rafferty said she is most excited about the prospect of bringing on voices from behind the scenes of the show, including wardrobe, set design, and more.

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“Everybody’s a storyteller from a different angle, and it takes so many people to make a show,” she said. “I think that that’s really fascinating. There’s so many conversations to be had, like, ‘How did you choose that song?’ All that stuff.”

Markle reacted to the renewed love for the programme during a red carpet interview at Variety’s Power of Women event in November last year.

“Is that right?” Markle asked in amazement at the “wild” figure, which had reached 45 billion minutes at the time. “But who’s counting?” she quipped.

The Duchess admitted that she had “no idea” what was causing the show’s recent uptick in popularity.

“It was great to work on, such a great cast and crew. We had such a fun time. I was on it for seven seasons – so quite a bit,” she said.

BIG Brother star Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace didn’t hold back while talking about new contestant Lily.

Hailing from Warrington, Lily, 20, is a Chinese takeaway server, but her lively personality and ‘screeching’ has quickly hit a nerve with fans and Aisleyne alike.

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Here, our BB columnist reveals why she thinks Lily is playing a game and that she’s ‘copying the late Nikki Grahame,’ who famously starred on series seven of Big Brother with Aisleyne.

I told you. I called it. I knew Lily was going to be loud and doing the most and trying to get the most attention.

And that’s exactly what she’s doing on the second night of Big Brother in the storage cupboard.

It’s annoying – can someone please take her batteries out because it’s doing my head in. She’s doing my head in.

She is doing the most trying to get the most attention and being so loud.

I even think sometimes she’s trying to be like my Nikki, and there’s only one Nikki, God rest her soul.

You could never be Nikki.

Why do people do that? Don’t try and be someone else, just be yourself.

Anyway, that said, she’s annoying.

I liked her little rant in the diary room, she was quite entertaining in the diary room not going to lie.

But as a housemate, watching that for six weeks? Drop me out. She’s so annoying. She’s got to go.

But that said, I’m loving all the housemates, even the annoying ones.

Big Brother 2024 cast

A brand new batch of Big Brother housemates are living it up in the famous compound.

Meet the cast of the 2024 series:

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• Rosie, 29, dental assistant from Cornwall.
• Emma, 53, aesthetics business owner from Altrincham.
• Segun, 25, charity videographer from Watford.
• Nathan, 24, pork salesman from Dumfries.
• Daze, 24, climate activist from London.
• Khaled, 23, sales manager from Manchester.
• Martha, 26, NHS administrator from Scarborough.
• Lily, 20, Chinese takeaway server from Warrington.
• Ali, 30, Forensic psychologist from London.
• Thomas, 20 amputee footballer from Carlisle.
• Ryan, 28, marketing and events from Stockport.
• Hannah, 24, HR consultant from West London.
• Izaaz, 29, sales consultant from London.
• Sarah, 27, spa account manager from Shrewsbury.
• Marcello, 34, youth mentor from East London.
• Dean, 35, barber from East London

Sarah needs to get a grip

Sarah – the posh contestant is how I remember her – she is giving me so much jokes.

How are you having a breakdown on the first night? She’s sobbing.

Honey, I don’t know – do you need a tissue? A hug? Babe, you can’t cope after one night then how about trying ten weeks.

I did ten weeks in there and you’re going to do six potentially and you’re crying and having a breakdown on the first night

I can understand why she’s getting upset about Lily, because that is a lot, but crying come on now, you’re on Big Brother.

I want to see more strength from her, so come on tomorrow you can pull it out the bag.

Ali is fast becoming my favourite – and Ryan needs to go

I’ve told you Ali is the one to watch guys, and she’s fast becoming my favourite.

You’ll have seen last night that she had to choose who was lying and she was right because she said both of them were.

She ended up sending Ryan to the storage, and to be honest guys he’s a bit bland for me.

He didn’t know how to lie and it was just a bit boring and bland.

I really can’t see him going that far in the game, I’m sorry to say it but I really can’t.

I think he might be the first to go.

Anyway, I’ll be back tomorrow with all of the Big Brother latest so watch this space…

Big Brother will air daily at 9pm on ITV2 and it will be followed each night by Big Brother: Late & Live – giving viewers additional exclusive content.

The Live Stream is also making a comeback, airing seven nights a week on ITVX.

This series of BB will be co-hosted by AJ Odudu and Will Best.

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