ENTERTAINMENT

Turkish channel NOW is adding a new daytime competition to its schedule, and the first promo for Gelinler Sofrada (roughly, “Brides at the Table”) has been released. The biggest talking point, though, was not the format but the host: actress Pelin Öztekin, who has been away from the screen for a long time, is coming back to television — this time as a presenter rather than an actress.

Beren Saat and Ekin Koç, who played Kösem Sultan and Sultan Ahmed in Magnificent Century: Kösem, are set to work together again roughly 10 years later. According to Turkish entertainment journalist Birsen Altuntaş, the pair will appear in Tüm Yorgun Atlar (All the Tired Horses), an independent film directed by Burak Çevik.

For years Defne Samyeli has been talked about for her looks and her fit, polished style. Yet the Turkish presenter and singer, who placed third at Miss Turkey in 1991, says the pageant period felt very different from the inside than it looked from the outside.

The parents of Harry Potter have been cast in HBO's Harry Potter series. Jasper Talbot will play James Potter and Hannah Chinn will play Lily Potter. Charlie Weasley, who appeared only in a family photo in the films, will make his screen debut with Harry Gilby in the role. The first season premieres on December 25 on HBO Max.

Singer Mustafa Sandal performed at Istanbul's Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theatre, and his very short haircut got people talking. Those who saw his new look were surprised by the change. After the concert, the singer posted a thank-you message on social media.

Gamze Erçel, the older sister of actress Hande Erçel, married Caner Yıldırım in 2019, and the couple has a daughter. In June, Gamze Erçel announced on social media that she was expecting a second child with the note 'Our little family is growing.' The couple later learned at a small celebration in their garden that the baby is a girl. Now close friends have thrown the mom-to-be a surprise baby shower, and Hande Erçel and Yasemin Şefkatli were among the guests.

Yeliz Korkmaz, who plays Nazlı in the Turkish series Anne Yarısı, airing Tuesday nights on NOW, did not leave a question about her switch from social media fame to acting unanswered. Known on TikTok as Semiraminta, Yeliz Korkmaz said: 'I'm in the same boat. Everyone should do what they love, everyone should chase their dreams.'The comments were reported by Turkish journalist İbrahim Savun.

The Turkish version of hit South Korean drama The Penthouse now has a name behind the camera. According to Turkish entertainment journalist Birsen Altuntaş, the new project from Polat Yağcı, producer of the series Salty Coffee (Tuzlu Kahve), will be directed by Can Ulkay, the filmmaker behind box-office successes Müslüm and Ayla.

Years after its finale, the Turkish series Fi, starring Serenay Sarıkaya, Ozan Güven and Büşra Develi, is still being talked about on social media. A video of Azra Kohen, the author of the novels it was based on, has been shared again, bringing back the question fans have asked for years: why did Fi end so early?

Hasan Küçükçetin, the actor who took over the role of Şevket from Caner Kurtaran in the Turkish drama Yaprak Dökümü, has looked back at one of the show's most debated characters. Speaking on the YouTube channel Kültürsüz, Hasan Küçükçetin said he long believed Ferhunde had cheated on Şevket, but has since realised he was wrong.Source: Kültürsüz (YouTube)

Several Turkish series were cancelled in the first weeks of the season, and the channels are now filling the gaps with new projects for the winter months. Some are already shooting, others have only just completed their casts. From Oktay Kaynarca's Hamal to Neslihan Atagül's comeback series Kaderin Cilvesi, here are the new titles, the channels they are heading to, their stories and their stars.

Devrim Özkan, who has been in the spotlight lately thanks to her role in the series Yeraltı, has shared a story that sounds like it was written for the screen. Just days before the release of Aşk Tesadüfleri Sever 3, in which she shares the lead with Mehmet Günsür, the actress revealed a coincidence that fits the film's title perfectly. Aşk Tesadüfleri Sever translates as 'Love Likes Coincidences'.

Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ, one of Turkish television's most popular leading men, turned 43 on October 27. Fans flooded social media with birthday wishes, but the most special message came from his wife, Başak Dizer, who shared a pair of affectionate photos of the couple with a short, sweet note.

Damla Sönmez, remembered by many viewers as Efsun from the hit series Çukur, was a guest on 'Aslı Şafak'la İşin Aslı', a talk show on Bloomberg HT. Her candid answers about her career quickly became a talking point on social media. Damla Sönmez spoke about the moment she faced her own arrogance years ago, explained why she chose acting in the first place and responded to the pressure to constantly share her life online, revealing a far more reserved side than the strong characters she plays on screen.

Another experienced name has joined the cast of Yörük Kızı (The Yörük Girl), the new series from Turkish public broadcaster TRT 1. Olgun Şimsek will play Yaşar, the father of the last nomadic Yörük family living in the Taurus Mountains. The character's name also reminds viewers of one of the actor's best-known roles.Source: Birsen Altuntaş