It’s a big month for King Charles and the Queen Consort, Camilla, with the coronation weekend of celebrations creating options galore for the streamers, including another Megan Markle expose.
(Don’t worry, there’s also new, non-royals streaming content in the guide below).
A week out from the coronation on May 6, the Duchess of Sussex – who remains behind in California while Prince Harry shoots across to the UK – is the subject of a Seven network show on April 30 with exclusive interviews with her father, Thomas Markle Senior, Tom junior and daughter Samantha [Meghan’s half-sister] at home in Florida.
“The ‘dying’ dad of the Duchess of Sussex makes a desperate plea to his once-devoted daughter: Please make peace with me before it’s too late,” teases Seven.
“Under-fire palace officials will cringe at the latest airing of Markle’s dirty laundry, as they attempt to cleanse the image of an already embattled King and his wife.”
The network also promises a Prince Andrew bombshell.
On a more celebratory note, Foxtel is offering up a massive package of its own “Long Live the King” titles … 11 all up.
The Queen’s Coronation In Colour gets us in the mood on May 4, followed by a documentary on Charles, Born to be King, the following night where those who have worked close to him tell nice stories about his achievements.
The Coronation Of Their Majesties is a big day on May 6 with a package of footage of the May 12, 1937 coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth’s coronation on June 2, 1953, at Westminster Abbey.
You can switch over to all the free-to-air networks for the King’s coronation.
There’s the Coronation Concert on May 8 starring Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Take That; Harry & Meghan: Escaping The Palace the same night, a Mary, Queen of Scots movie on May 13 and Elizabeth: A Life Through The Lens on May 14.
Two movies, A Royal Night Out and Marie Antoinette, close out the month.
If you like royal fiction, a prequel, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is on Netflix on May 4, and Golden Globe and Emmy award-winning series The Great, starring Elle Fanning, returns to Stan on May 13.
Not a fan of royalty? Check out these offerings from our streamers.
Citadel: Prime Video, April 28
Stanley Tucci goes all serious in this action-packed, high stakes spy-drama. Co-stars include Richard Madden, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Lesley Manville.
“Eight years ago, Citadel fell. The independent global spy agency – tasked to uphold the safety and security of all people – was destroyed by operatives of Manticore, a powerful syndicate manipulating the world from the shadows,” according to Prime.
White House Plumbers: Foxtel, May 2
This series chronicles the spectacular failings of E. Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy in investigating the Pentagon Papers leak, leading to the accidental toppling of Nixon’s presidency – which they ardently tried to protect.
Tommy Little: Pretty Fly for a Dickhead: Prime Video, May 5
Comedian Tommy Little talks about – among other things – taking flying lessons and nailing his first solo flight.
On stage, Tommy is a perpetual motion machine, constantly working the crowd and landing line after line.
Hannah Gadsby: Something Special: Netflix, May 9
Emmy and Peabody Award winning comedian Hannah Gadsby is back for their third Netflix comedy special, talking about a wedding (theirs!), with “more than one traumatic encounter with a bunny and much more,” in a special filmed at the Sydney Opera House last year.
Gadsby filmed the 2018 comedy sensation, Nanette, at the Opera House, and the follow-up, Douglas, was nominated for two Primetime Emmy awards and won an AACTA Award.
The Mother: Netflix, May 12
The Mother, starring triple threat Jennifer Lopez, premieres on May 12 and follows a military-trained assassin who comes out of hiding to protect the daughter she’s never met from ruthless criminals gunning for revenge.
City on Fire: Apple TV+, May 12
On July 4, 2003, a New York University student, Samantha, played by Chase Sui Wonders (Generation), was shot in Central Park.
She was alone, there were no witnesses and there was very little physical evidence after she left a club to meet someone.
As the crime is investigated, Samantha is revealed to be the crucial connection between a series of mysterious citywide fires, the downtown music scene, and a wealthy uptown real estate family fraying under the strain of the many secrets they keep.
Eurovision: SBS and SBS on demand, May 12-14
SBS’s exclusive coverage will once again be in the capable hands of music buff Myf Warhurst and comedian Joel Creasey, who will bring witty banter to the commentary booth as they cover the glitz, glamour, and madness of the semi-finals and spectacular grand-final direct from Pier Head in Liverpool, UK.
Keep an eye out for Australia’s entrant, Voyager, who will perform their epic, progressive pop metal track Promise on the Eurovision stage.
High Desert: Apple TV+, May 17
Patricia Arquette and Matt Dillon star in this eight-episode dark comedy about Peggy (Arquette), an on-again-off-again addict.
After the death of her beloved mother, with whom she lived in the small desert town of Yucca Valley, California, Peggy decides on a new start and becomes a private investigator.
Plane: Prime Video, May 19
Gerard Butler is great in an action flick. In the white-knuckle action movie, Plane, pilot Brodie Torrance (Butler) saves his passengers from a lightning strike by making a risky landing on a war-torn island – to find that surviving the landing was just the beginning.
When most of the passengers are taken hostage by dangerous rebels, the only person Torrance can count on is Louis Gaspare (Mike Colter), an accused murderer who was being transported by the FBI.
Platonic: Apple TV+, May 24
Starring Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen, Platonic is a 10-episode comedy series which follows a platonic pair of former best friends approaching midlife who reconnect after a long rift.
Their friendship becomes all consuming – and destabilises their lives in a hilarious way.
The series marks the latest collaboration for Apple TV+ and Byrne, who also stars in critically hailed Apple Original series Physical, which will debut its third season later this year.
