This is a great book, and if this kind of thing interests you, I absolutely recommend it...

So, The Night Manager (so far). Lovely twist, if slightly spoiled by the trailer (and, to be fair, by the executive producer credit). Now that we've heard about Roxana's father, do we all think that she will go all Inigo Montaya on either Teddy or [spoiler]?

Closedown.

@levparikian.bsky.social Could I please ask your help with a garden bird spot? Deepest Nottinghamshire; slightly larger little brown thing with a good tail - and quite dark brown; on the bird feeder, then down to the ground, then back up to the feeder and away. Thoughts?

Watching the last hour of the Last Crusade again because I can. It is still just completely magnificent.

A bookseller writes: I loved working in an independent bookshop on Christmas Eve. From about this time onwards, well-lunched men of a certain age would fall out of the pub & into the shop. They would say to us "I must get my wife something", & we'd sell them an armful of hardbacks. Merry Christmas.

Catching up with #Strictly - delighted for Kaz, but also really impressed with George. What's been great about both of them over the weeks is just how much they've thrown themselves into this. Non-dancers finding themselves and having a fabulous time in the process. This is absolutely what we want.

@moviessilently.bsky.social I'm sure you know about these - in fact I think I read a blog post once - but I thought you'd appreciate this: www.theguardian.com/film/2025/de...

Three of the finest books that I own are Parr's collections of Boring Postcards, which tell a splendidly subversive tale of post-war rebuilding in Britain, Germany and the US. Seek them out if you can - and farewell to a master of his art... www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

Currently watching San Ferry Ann (1965) on Talking Pictures TV. A silent-ish comedy of British tourists abroad, filmed on location in and around your actual Calais. Not least of its pleasures is the fact it's got *everyone* in it.

An actor friend of mine has had a brilliant idea: could we rename a theatre for Tom Stoppard? He suggested the National's Lyttleton - any other suggestions?

As a student, many thousands of years ago, I went up to that London to see the first run of The Real Thing, with Roger Rees and Felicity Kendal. For the cricket bat speech and for so,so much else besides, Tom Stoppard has had my heart ever since. Farewell to one of the best to ever.

Introduce yourself with 5 acts you've seen: Bellowhead (lots of times) Danny & the Champions of the World BNL (one time supported by KT Tunstall *and* Boothby Graffoe; one time supported by Colin James Hay; and lots of other times (...) Lizzie No (at the Gate to Southwell Festival) Peter Tork

You know, for all we mock, O What A Circus is an absolute stone cold banger #BBCRadio2 #SalveSalveRegina

I've known Dirk since I was a student back in the early 80s. It is brilliant to see that he's still creating epic audio magic, and I absolutely recommend that you hear this...

Top 5 movie genres: *Okay, dammit, I'll do the right thing, if I MUST... *Flawed protagonist solves crime *Ragtag ensemble pulls off heist (or doesn't), 1950 - 2000 *Paranoid spy/detective thriller 1965 - 1980 *Jean-Pierre Melville

Death In Paradise Postponed #TWOSHOWSINONE

Love Dougray Scott on the One Show taking time to credit the writers (script and original novel)

Farewell to the great Gilson Lavis, drummer for Squeeze (and so much more). Here's a fine example of exactly what he did: youtu.be/9bTWF7eirJw?...

This was my home for nearly forty years (the city, not the cathedral, obviously) - and these are some gorgeous photos...

Back in the late 80s, I came fourth in the Radio Times Comedy Writing competition. I got a cheque for £150 and some kind words from Prunella Scales (one of the judges that year). I know which I valued more...

I know we all know this, but aren't the #Strictly pros *really* good at ensemble work...

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Beaky, Mick, and Titch

Ah, automated switchboard for my broadband provider, my mother has only ever had one maiden name, but because it has a silent letter, you will never ever recognise it when I say it out loud. Put me through to a human being...

Coming soon, based on the show that's entirely responsible for the way I say the word 'tablet'...

Share your favourite black & white film (apart from all the others...)

Hurrah! #SewingBee

@eggsbened.bsky.social David, quick question if I may: are you aware of any good articles on the set design for the new Godot, and how they got it past the notoriously fastidious Beckett estate? No worries if not, but please and thank you if there's anything out there.

Friends don't let friends clap on one and three #TheProms

And that was just beautiful #TheProms

Black and white footage of New York City in musical form #TheProms

Fuck me, that was brilliant #TheProms #BohemianRhapsody

I love a montage #TheProms

By the way, this performance of the Sorcerer's Apprentice has been exceptional #TheProms

Slightly diminish a book: The Two Towels

1,184 (Location in alt text)

The BBC thriller music Prom is seriously, seriously good. BBC4 now or iPlayer if your region permits.

Delighted to learn that Mitchell and Webb are, like all good comedy writing partners, a planter and a pacer. Excellent.

I think I've worked it out. On Bake-Off, Bee, Masterchef, etc., we learn who these people are by watching them do stuff - so we care about their ups & downs, highs & lows. On Destination X, on the other hand, we watch them sit on a bus & occasionally do puzzles they can't solve. Not quite there, eh.

Just spent a very happy couple of hours seeing the Thursday Murder Club in an actual cinema. Exceptional casting all the way down, and (as Stephen regularly points out) Chris Columbus is a very fine director. Nonsense on stilts, obviously, but huge, huge fun.

Destination X - it's just not quite there, is it. The bits on the bus are dull - and could have been filmed anywhere, for all we know; the clues are too cryptic - how many more times must we watch someone go "I have no idea what that means"; and there's just not enough of that gorgeous scenery.

Part of my big fat theory about the longevity of Sherlock Holmes is that he was adapted for the stage *just* before the invention of cinema (see also Dracula); and that in all media he presents a strong visual image (see also Dracula) and a gift of a part for an actor (see also Dracula)...

My review of Ian Penman's brilliant book on Erik Satie, published by @fitzcarraldoeds.bsky.social

Still processing yesterday's collapse of Spurgeon’s College, where I recently completed a Theology MA. It seems very precarious out there in academia at the moment, and my heart goes out to those who were currently studying there - what now for them? - and to those who've suddenly lost their jobs...

Oh my goodness me!

I've just verified my age by calling it "tin foil"

Bookish, then. Lovely cast, lovely writing, exquisite attention to detail, and excellent use of Chekhov's spotlight. More of this, I think.

Oh, automated menu on my broadband provider, don't ask me my mother's maiden name as you'll never recognise the answer. (It's got a silent 'h').

Spectacular thread (and beautifully written) about the point of doing good in an increasingly dark-seeming world...