IF all you telly addicts, film buffs, music lovers and sports fans thought 2016 was an exciting year, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
2017 is shaping up to be even bigger and better in the thrills department, with a host of hotly anticipated events – from fight nights and hot-ticket music tours to must-see TV shows and movies.
Here, GRANT ROLLINGS rounds up the treats in store.
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JUSTICE LEAGUE: The Batman v Superman movie was really just a warm up for this DC Comics superhero mash-up to rival Marvel's Avengers' box office supremacy. Released: November 17Credit: Scope Features
Movies
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SPIDER-MAN HOMECOMING: Brit Tom Holland is the third cinematic web-slinger in a crucial reboot of one of the great comic book heroes. Released: July 7.Credit: Planet Photos
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ALIEN – COVENANT: Expect those belly-bursting, face- hugging aliens to be back in this sequel to Prometheus, directed by Ridley Scott. Released: August 4.Credit: Planet Photos
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BAYWATCH: Enjoy sand, sea, swimsuits and a new set of beach babes and hunks in trunks in the big-screen debut of the hit Nineties TV show. Released: May 12.Credit: www.capitalpictures.com
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FIFTY SHADES DARKER: With US House Of Cards director James Foley in charge, this could be several shades better than the debut. Released: February 10.Credit: WWW.LMKMEDIA.COM
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PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN – DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES: Hunk Orlando Bloom is back on board as Will Turner after a one-film absence. Released: May 26.Credit: www.capitalpictures.com
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STAR WARS EPISODE VIII: Two years after The Force Awakens we expect Rey to learn the ways of the Jedi from Luke Skywalker. Released: December 15.
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DUNKIRK: Batman director Christopher Nolan teams up with Tom Hardy and Cillian Murphy to tell of real-life World War Two heroes. Released: July 21.Credit: PA:Press Association
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DESPICABLE ME 3: One of the biggest kids’ animation brands is back. This time mad inventor Gru is pitted against his long-lost twin, Drew. Released: June 30.Credit: Universal Pictures
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T2 TRAINSPOTTING: Twenty years on, Renton (Ewan McGregor) is reunited with Spud, Sick Boy and Begbie (Robert Carlyle). Released: January 27.
Music
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OLLY MURS: To promote his No1 album 24 Hrs, Olly will play 21 dates in arenas across the UK in March and April, before performing at outside venues over the summer.Credit: Getty Images
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JESS GLYNNE: Between hit tours of Europe and the US, she has worked with dance producer Skrillex on new material which is set to arrive in the second half of 2017.Credit: Getty Images
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DRAKE: The Canadian rapper will be one of the first major acts to gig in the UK in 2017. His Boy Meets World tour includes eight dates at London’s O2 from late January.Credit: AP:Associated Press
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BRUNO MARS: The 24k Magic singer tours here in April for the first time since 2013, with four dates at London’s O2 and stops in eight other cities across the UK.Credit: Getty Images - WireImage
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LITTLE MIX: After a mammoth tour of North America and Australia, the girls bring their Glory Days gigs back home in October, playing 36 dates in arenas around the country.Credit: PA:Press Association Wire
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HARRY STYLES: Since 1D took a break he has been in the studio with Bruno Mars and producer Max Martin working on solo tracks. Expect his debut album later this year.Credit: Getty Images - FilmMagic
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KATY PERRY: After campaigning for Clinton in the US election, her new album is expected to be more political and also influenced by her romance with Orlando Bloom.Credit: Getty Images
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ED SHEERAN: The star’s third studio album is due to be released this spring. X was 2014’s best-selling UK album and this follow-up is expected to be even bigger.Credit: Getty Images
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PALOMA FAITH: After time off following the birth of her baby, Paloma returns in late 2017 with her fourth album The Architect, penned with Sia’s producer Jesse Shatkin.Credit: Getty Images
Sport
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ANTHONY JOSHUA V WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO: IBF champ Joshua, with 18 pro fights to his name, takes on two-time world champ Klitschko at Wembley Stadium on April 29.Credit: Reuters
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IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, scene of London 2012, is the stage for Usain Bolt’s last major race. The games run from August 4 to 13.Credit: Getty Images
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SIX NATIONS: Can Eddie Jones’s England extend their record unbeaten run to 15 straight victories when they take on France at Twickenham on February 4?Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL: It’s a big ticket for Wales, as the country hosts the Champions League Final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on June 3.Credit: Getty Images
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UFC FIGHT NIGHT: After months of speculation, UFC announced its much anticipated return to London, launching its European calendar of events at the O2 on March 18.Credit: Getty Images
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ASHES TOUR: England should be on safer – if faster – ground batting in Australia from November 23 than they were on the spin-friendly wickets on their recent tour of India.Credit: Getty Images
BROADCHURCH: David Tennant and Olivia Colman are back in the spring as DI Alec Harvey and DS Ellie Miller for the final series of the hit ITV crime drama. Lenny Henry also stars.Credit: BBC America
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GAME OF THRONES: Fans will have to wait until the summer for series seven of the popular fantasy drama to hit TV screens, with Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent joining the cast.Credit: AP:Associated Press
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DOCTOR FOSTER: Two years after GP Gemma Foster (Suranne Jones) took revenge on her cheating husband, her actions are taking their toll. Coming to BBC1 this spring.Credit: Splash News
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TABOO: Tom Hardy has co-written this BBC1 drama and plays Keziah Delaney, who builds a controversial shipping empire. Oh, and he gets ALL his clothes off. It starts on January 7.Credit: Fame Flynet
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AMERICAN GODS: Former Hollyoaks star Ricky Whittle is the lead in this version of Neil Gaiman’s fantasy satire about a power struggle between the gods. On Amazon Prime in spring.
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LIAR: Joanne Froggatt and Ioan Gruffudd star in a compelling and dark six-part thriller from The Missing creators Jack and Harry Williams. Due on ITV in the autumn.Credit: PA:Press Association Wire
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FEARLESS: Michael Gambon and Helen McCrory star in this six-part ITV drama about a solicitor and the man she thinks was wrongly jailed for of murder. Starts in the summer.Credit: Rex Features
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LINE OF DUTY: DCI Roz Huntley (Thandie Newton) is under investigation by the AC12 unit in the fourth series of Jed Mercurio’s hit BBC2 drama, on our screens in spring.
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TWIN PEAKS: Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) is back, 25 years on from the murder of Laura Palmer, after the FBI discovers a huge dossier on the case. On Sky Atlantic.Credit: Showtime
