Judi Dench is bringing Tea with Judi Dench back in August, and Ian McKellen is the guest. The new film turns a one-off conversation piece into a second outing, with the first episode having aired last year featuring Kenneth Branagh.
Dench and McKellen
Dench said she was “absolutely delighted to be returning for a second film, and even more pleased to be sharing the experience with the wonderful Sir Ian McKellen.” She also said, “The response to the first film was deeply touching, and it’s a great privilege to continue these conversations and capture moments of great friendship.”
The pairing gives the programme a sharper commercial hook than a routine return. Viewers of Sky Arts, Freeview and NOW get a second film built around two major screen and stage names, which should make the August window easier to market than a standard repeat.
Sky Arts and NOW
Tea with Judi Dench is produced by Mindhouse for Sky Arts, with Laurence Turnbull directing and Suzy Burnet serving as production executive. It is also commissioned by Phil Edgar-Jones for Cécile Frot-Coutaz at Sky, with Leanne Cosby listed as a commissioning editor for Sky.
The format is clearly designed around conversation rather than promo chatter. Dench and McKellen will talk about their lives on and off stage, along with Shakespeare, stage fright, The Lord of the Rings and James Bond movies.
Section 28 and McKellen
The description also says McKellen speaks movingly about coming out, his defining role in the fight against Section 28, and never sharing the truth about himself with his parents. That gives the film a more serious edge than a simple reunion, even as the programme keeps its tea-table setting.
For Sky Arts, Freeview and NOW, the practical takeaway is simple: the second film arrives in August, and the draw is not just Dench’s return but the pairing with McKellen. The first episode set the template with Kenneth Branagh; this one widens the conversation without changing the basic pitch.
