The Lord of the Rings

Grab your swords and pack a luncheon (and elevenses, and afternoon tea) because we’re heading back to Middle-earth. As the new fantasy series The Rings of Power whisks viewers back to the Lord of the Rings universe, we journey through the history and legacy of JRR Tolkien’s classic tales, and look to the future with some of the show’s new stars.

Also in this edition:

• The Rings of Power stars Sophia Nomvete and Robert Aramayo tell us why Tolkien’s stories, which teach us to respect and honour the natural world, are more relevant than ever.
• Rugby league champ-turned-actor Ian Roberts on being dyslexic, the grand final he still can’t watch, and the importance of visibility.
• For author Anna Spargo-Ryan, having a bite of tiramisu on a Saturday night out with a friend was more than a delicious decadence – it was an act of defiance.
• Photographer Luisa Dörr meets The Flying Cholitas – ladies of the wrestling ring, fighting for Indigenous women’s rights in El Alto, Bolivia.
• Rapper Sampa the Great, who’s been making music in Zambia, is back in Australia as a special guest on megastar Billie Eilish’s current arena tour.
• The creatives behind Wayward Strand reveal the empathetic agenda of their long-awaited indie game, which is set aboard an airborne hospital, and features the voice talents of The Castle’s Michael Caton.
• Discussing her memoir Desi Girl, Muslim journalist Sarah Malik reveals what it’s like to write the stories, not be their subject.
• Plus, Ellie Bullen dishes up a plant-based take on the hearty, wholesome Shepherd’s Pie in Tastes Like Home.