The Lord of the Rings franchise is held very near and dear to many Kiwi’s hearts, and the brand-new retelling of the franchise has been nothing but popular upon it’s release.

The Rings of Power had an estimated 25 million viewers tune in for its Season 1 premiere, and it’s second season has begun.

It’s set thousands of years before the events of JRR Tolkein’s novels, with Middle Earth’s infamous villain inhabiting a flesh and blood body for the first time on screen.

Australian actor Charlie Vickers plays Sauron, a twist only revealed in the final episode of the first season, as his charismatic Halbrand was unmasked.

The twist was something of a surprise to Vickers as well, as he only found out after they had begun filming.

“I filmed the first two episodes of the show, not knowing I was playing Sauron,” he told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame.

“And then they called me into their office in Henderson and they said, you’re, so it turns out that Halbrand is Sauron.”

“I was left reeling, in a good way.”

LISTEN ABOVE 

The Lord of the Rings franchise is held very near and dear to many Kiwi’s hearts, and the brand-new retelling of the franchise has been nothing but popular upon it’s release. 
The Rings of Power had an estimated 25 million viewers tune in for its Season 1 premiere, and it’s second season has begun. 
It’s set thousands of years before the events of JRR Tolkein’s novels, with Middle Earth’s infamous villain inhabiting a flesh and blood body for the first time on screen. 
Australian actor Charlie Vickers plays Sauron, a twist only revealed in the final episode of the first season, as his charismatic Halbrand was unmasked. 
The twist was something of a surprise to Vickers as well, as he only found out after they had begun filming. 
“I filmed the first two episodes of the show, not knowing I was playing Sauron,” he told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame. 
“And then they called me into their office in Henderson and they said, you’re, so it turns out that Halbrand is Sauron.” 
“I was left reeling, in a good way.” 
LISTEN ABOVE

Jack Tame’s crisp perspective, style and enthusiasm makes for refreshing and entertaining Saturday morning radio on Newstalk ZB.

News, sport, books, music, gardens and celebrities – what better way to spend your Saturdays?

Jack Tame’s crisp perspective, style and enthusiasm makes for refreshing and entertaining Saturday morning radio on Newstalk ZB. News, sport, books, music, gardens and celebrities – what better way to spend your Saturdays?

Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Charlie Vickers: Australian actor on his role in the Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, the twist identity reveal

No matter how smart you are, you’re always at risk of getting caught by a scam. They’re on the rise lately, and even those who know all the signs and think they’ve taken all of the precautions are finding themselves on the sharp end of the stick.

Kevin Milne is rather familiar with scams and consumer affairs, but a recent incident had him cancelling his credit card as quick as possible.

LISTEN ABOVE 

No matter how smart you are, you’re always at risk of getting caught by a scam. They’re on the rise lately, and even those who know all the signs and think they’ve taken all of the precautions are finding themselves on the sharp end of the stick. 
Kevin Milne is rather familiar with scams and consumer affairs, but a recent incident had him cancelling his credit card as quick as possible. 
LISTEN ABOVE

Kevin Milne: Protecting yourself from online scams

Short n’ Sweet, Sabrina Carpenter’s latest album was an instant success. Released on August 23rd, it was her first album to top the Billboard 200 chart, and was the third biggest debut week for an album in the US in 2024.

It’s a 12 track album, mixing influences of country, rock, disco, and R&B with Carpenter’s signature pop style. 

Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the release.

LISTEN ABOVE 

Short n’ Sweet, Sabrina Carpenter’s latest album was an instant success. Released on August 23rd, it was her first album to top the Billboard 200 chart, and was the third biggest debut week for an album in the US in 2024. 
It’s a 12 track album, mixing influences of country, rock, disco, and R&amp;B with Carpenter’s signature pop style.  
Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the release. 
LISTEN ABOVE

Estelle Clifford: Sabrina Carpenter - Short n' Sweet

Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson

The crumbling house - Burton Makepeace and its chatelaine the Dowager Lady Milton - suffered the loss of their last remaining painting of any value, a Turner, some years ago. The housekeeper, Sophie, who disappeared the same night, is suspected of stealing it.

Jackson, a reluctant hostage to the snowstorm, has been investigating the theft of another The Woman with a Weasel, a portrait, taken from the house of an elderly widow, on the morning she died. The suspect this time is the widow’s carer, Melanie. Is this a coincidence or is there a connection? And what secrets does The Woman with a Weasel hold? The puzzle is Jackson’s to solve. And let’s not forget that a convicted murderer is on the run on the moors around Burton Makepeace.

All the while, in a bid to make money, Burton Makepeace is determined to keep hosting a shambolic Murder Mystery that acts as a backdrop while the real drama is being played out in the house.



Safe Enough by Lee Child 

From the world's number one thriller writer, twenty pulse-pounding short stories are collected for the first time in one edition, complete with an introduction from the author plus an exclusive brand-new short story featuring Jack Reacher and Maggie Bird from Lee Child and Tess Gerritsen.

I was the guy who always found a way.

I was the guy that couldn't be stopped.

A drug-dealing hit man unburdens his fears to a stranger. An overlooked rookie cop is assigned to the department’s file room. A ruthless killer only kills bad guys. A methodical bodyguard quits his job when he’s outsmarted. A military mission is planned to perfection...

Meticulously plotted and utterly compelling, these are intimate portraits of humanity at its best and worst. Each story is entirely distinct. And with their economical prose and unexpected twists, each could only have been written by the creator of Jack Reacher.



LISTEN ABOVE  

Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson 
The crumbling house - Burton Makepeace and its chatelaine the Dowager Lady Milton - suffered the loss of their last remaining painting of any value, a Turner, some years ago. The housekeeper, Sophie, who disappeared the same night, is suspected of stealing it.  
Jackson, a reluctant hostage to the snowstorm, has been investigating the theft of another The Woman with a Weasel, a portrait, taken from the house of an elderly widow, on the morning she died. The suspect this time is the widow’s carer, Melanie. Is this a coincidence or is there a connection? And what secrets does The Woman with a Weasel hold? The puzzle is Jackson’s to solve. And let’s not forget that a convicted murderer is on the run on the moors around Burton Makepeace.    All the while, in a bid to make money, Burton Makepeace is determined to keep hosting a shambolic Murder Mystery that acts as a backdrop while the real drama is being played out in the house. 
 
Safe Enough by Lee Child 
From the world's number one thriller writer, twenty pulse-pounding short stories are collected for the first time in one edition, complete with an introduction from the author plus an exclusive brand-new short story featuring Jack Reacher and Maggie Bird from Lee Child and Tess Gerritsen. 
I was the guy who always found a way. 
I was the guy that couldn't be stopped.    A drug-dealing hit man unburdens his fears to a stranger. An overlooked rookie cop is assigned to the department’s file room. A ruthless killer only kills bad guys. A methodical bodyguard quits his job when he’s outsmarted. A military mission is planned to perfection...    Meticulously plotted and utterly compelling, these are intimate portraits of humanity at its best and worst. Each story is entirely distinct. And with their economical prose and unexpected twists, each could only have been written by the creator of Jack Reacher. 
 
LISTEN ABOVE

Charlie Vickers: Australian actor on his role in the Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, the twist identity reveal

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