Maybe I shouldn’t have watched after a day of driving, but I felt that the Taskmaster New Year’s Treat was a disappointment (despite Rose and Sam being excellent). Probably my least favourite NYT since it started.

Julie Andrews’ Daily Schedule. 1. Quick Homer Simpson impression 2. Learn about bushcraft 3. Watch silly British comedy 4. Remove weeds in garden 5. Begin making coffee flavoured bread D’oh, Ray Mears, Farce, Hoe, Latte dough.

I've just started the Season 13 bluray set. I'd assumed that the AI stuff would only be obvious to someone who knew the stories well, but I've never seen Terror of the Zygons before, and I didn't even make it to the three minute mark before becoming very, very aware of it.

Just got out of Into The Woods at the Bridge Theatre. Phenomenal, incredible staging and design, fantastic performances across the whole cast, I’m very glad I now know this show. A high bar set for theatre on the first day of the year…

By my count, I’ve done 22 theatre shows this year, two continents, four countries, six cities. Not bad considering my work situation (or lack of it!). I doubt I’ll be as diverse in location in 2026, but I’m hoping very much to keep on seeing things I love and discovering new things.

Going to be spending NYE out in central London. Only the second time I’ve done this - the first was 2012, spent in Namco on the south bank, which meant we could pop onto Westminster Bridge for the fireworks as we were within the cordon.

Ride the Cyclone. Macabre, twisted, funny, and more. I’d say grab a ticket, but it’s sold out until the end of the run.

Kings of Leon did predict this tbf 😬

Sat on a bus heading to my last theatre of the year - Ride The Cyclone at the Southwark(ish) Playhouse.

Um… I think not…

TL;dr she breasted boobily, I came.

Dune, Dune, Deeper and Dune

Dune, Dune, Deeper and Dune

I’ve put in When Harry Met Sally. Haven’t seen this since I was… 17? Over half a life ago. Billy Crystal is charmingly obnoxious, Meg Ryan is incredible. Can’t wait for Fisher and Kirby to show up.

Boy, Brigitte Bardot sure loved doing a racism, didn’t she…

It’s soup-make day Yes it’s soup-make day It’s s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-soup-make day

Why is the version of Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious from the Mary Poppins musical so slow? It’s on BBC1 right now and it feels so weary. Just hit it at the proper speed!

Ploughing through DC Finest: The Killing Joke volume. Some great whiplash here - from Son of the Demon, to the awful Millennium tie-in books, then to the first meeting of Dick and Jason which might be the first ‘Batman is actually a bit of a prick and people in his orbit need to make their…

There was a way to write this without invoking the Audible HP things, which very clearly aren't podcasts, but full-cast audio dramas (which shouldn't have been made). The only video podcast I've watched is the 'visualised podcast' that is Traitors Uncloaked, and that's because it's on iplayer.

Yum.

“I hate you…” “No you don’t.”

[breathing a sigh of relief as I carefully remove the poison, hammer, Geiger counter, and radioactive source before helping Tiny Tim out of the box]

And Tiny Tim, who did not die, but started to like makeup and boys, so Aslan wouldn’t let him into the true realm of Narnia.

To me, my X-Mas!

me: you boy what day is it today? boy: nonces shout out of the window day. me: oof you’ve absolutely done me there.

i post this story every christmas, and will keep doing so until it stops making me cry merry christmas xx

Heading into Christmas with Michael Gambon at his absolute best - being completely confused by the sheer concept of Matt Smith.

I was visiting the Cratchits, late one night when my eyes beheld a very alive sight

Back at home in Newent. Two days by myself until my Dad arrives. I’ve just cooked a ribeye steak to perfection (med-rare) and enough roast potatoes to feed a family, all just for me. I’m having the time of my life.

me: sorry, but you’re that guy that was in that thing, aren’t you? keith david: actually, if you recall, it’s the other way around

Been listening to some Eighth Doctor on my Christmas drives over the past few days. It’s hard to top the moment where River Song meets Liv Chenka, then the two of them beat the crap out of The Eleven because he’s so annoying.

And to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, and will return in Avengers: Doomsday

Just got out of Oh, Mary! Such a riotous romp, with a truly magnificent and deranged central performance from Mason Alexander Park.

Spent the afternoon filling in a gap in my musical theatre knowledge. Small but fun production of Pippin in Highgate.

Have seen off last nights cocktails with Taskmaster Champion of Champions. Delightfully unhinged and unpredictable.

I love having time between things, because it gives me the chance to do something like drop on @adlaim.bsky.social for a surprise visit at his bar!

Aah, that’s sad news. Back in 2008, I was working in a shop on Henrietta Street, just off Covent Garden. That Christmas, we had the usual seasonal music on. I was at the tills doing some admin while a colleague was ringing someone up.

Finished up The War Between. Deeply frustrating piece of television that repeatedly confuses stupid decisions with great drama.

Turns out, the chocolate orange espresso martinis and a two for one deal at The Room Where It Happens is a potent bloody combination.

Nothing better than squeezing in a quick Christmas catch-up with a pal while on the way to your evening plans. Cheers @dapperdanh.bsky.social!

Rare footage of St Paul’s Cathedral testing its giant flamethrower

That’s me done with Belgium for 2025. Next stop, Dunkirk and beyond.

A Lord of the Rings cover band called Chappell Rohan.

Corner box art, in 2026? Hell yeah!

The great Jorge Jimenez, from his story in Superman: The World.

@simonbrew.bsky.social justice listening to the Chibnall interview, and… you wrote the intro we had for the Muppets Most Wanted screening? Fantastic!

The great Jorge Jimenez, from his story in Superman: The World.

I fired up the 2020 reissue of Fin de Siecle by The Divine Comedy, and they've replaced the excerpted dialogue on Generation Sex and it sounds so strange without what I very clearly remember from 1998...

Oh my god. It’s actually finally happened. Merry Christmas, everyone!

LOOMS!!!