Marisa Abela and Lesley Manville’s controversial biopic is now streaming on the BBC

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I just finished watching Back to Black, the new movie about Amy Winehouse, and it was incredible! Marisa Abela is amazing as Amy, and the whole cast – including Jack O’Connell, Lesley Manville, and Eddie Marsan – is fantastic. If you missed it when it was on TV, great news – it’s now available to stream on BBC iPlayer!

The movie explores Amy Winehouse’s incredible career, showcasing the making of her hit album Back to Black. It also delves into her complex relationships with her father, Mitch, and her partner, Blake Fielder-Civil, as well as her battles with addiction.

Normally, films are on BBC iPlayer for a month after they’re shown on TV, but Back to Black will be available for two months.

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As a fan, I have to admit the film really stirred up debate. A lot of people felt it exploited Amy’s incredibly difficult life and the relentless attention she got from the paparazzi, and honestly, I can see why they felt that way.

Actor Daniel O’Connell, who portrayed Blake in the film, responded to the criticism by describing it as a tribute to Amy Winehouse and her music.

He explained that if they had tried to show her in a bad light, he could understand why a few people might have reacted defensively.

Last year, actress Amy Abela discussed the issue in an interview with Digital Spy, explaining that she hoped the movie would honor the singer appropriately.

She explained it felt like a shared understanding, as if she wasn’t alone in feeling that way. She was confident this was the right path, and truly believed it would be successful – more so than anyone else, she said.

Okay, so the movie definitely divided people! Critics were pretty lukewarm, giving it around a 35% positive rating. But honestly, as a fan, I thought it was way better – audiences seemed to really love it, with an 85% positive score on Rotten Tomatoes! It’s cool to see such a difference between what critics and regular viewers thought.

Here at Digital Spy, we thought the acting was a mixed bag. While we enjoyed Yasmin Abela’s performance, we felt the other actors weren’t given enough interesting material to work with.

You can watch Back to Black on BBC iPlayer and through Studiocanal Presents, which you can access as a subscription through Amazon Prime Video.

The latest issue of Living Legends magazine is now available, and it’s a special tribute to Dolly Parton! You can find ‘Dolly at 80’ in shops or order it online for only £8.99.

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2026-01-05 18:50