Speaking of heists, my first book of 2026 is in that ballpark, 1963’s The Mourner by Richard Stark.

My 2025 dream team according to #Letterboxd. Maybe Roger will make an appearance in 2026.

Watching the Back to the Future films on release might be the best cinema going experiences I’ve had… the first film was incredible, then getting Marty and Doc back for II seemed like a minor miracle, then seeing the trailer for Part III as it ended… mind blown. Love them all.

Wasn’t planning Back to the Future III as my last film of 2025, but iPlayer had other ideas. Hope everyone has as good an evening, happy new year when it comes… your friend in time, etc, etc.

… while in the UK it’s around £100 to buy S1-4 on Apple+ (and £90 for S5 as you can only buy individual eps), though Amazon has a deal of £4.99 for each season except 4, which is unavailable in the UK. Just one reason to get those lovely Blu-rays.

1. I Shouldn't Have Had That Pasty Me and Artfully Liam talked all things JNT in the most listened to episode of the year. www.buzzsprout.com/864883/episo...

Found my new Lodge 49 (Disney+) youtu.be/cE9bq37W3Qo?...

After their excellent piece on Penda's Fen a few weeks ago, @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social turns its attention to the Midlands' other great slice of celluloid history. Time for another showing, @talkingpicturestv.bsky.social?

Short reading list Local Hero - Making a Scottish Classic - @jonmelville.bsky.social Windswept - Life, Nature & Deep Time in the Scottish Highlands - @annieworsley.bsky.social English Pastoral - James Rebanks @herdyshepherd.bsky.social Positive Tippings Points - Tim Lenton @gsiexeter.bsky.social

You can read the #LocalHero amateur follow-up script, titled "Rionnag" (Star), at tinyurl.com/Rionnag Or my story about the story at: tinyurl.com/skyebalou

Cheers Darren, bar one VHS release it skipped DVD and has barely been repeated in the last 40 years, a real shame when it was so big in its day. And Dave definitely looked a wee bit older than 40!

Lining up some Christmas viewing, tempted to have a very 70s Christmas, though Sicario and Hell or High Water on iPlayer are also calling me…

Broadcast just once in 1988, City Lights’ Hogmanay special featuring Billy Connolly is finally on iPlayer! The first three series are also there, a chance to see the best of this brilliant Scottish comedy series. Check out the new documentary while you’re there, I’m proud to have worked on it.

One of those promos the BBC used to be so good at making. A raft of comedy talent on display here

Wasn’t expecting Elaine C Smith to sing the Super Gran theme with Clare Grogan on backing vocals as part of this tribute to Billy Connolly - 63 minutes in (but it’s all worth a watch). www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Not sure there are many shops left in Edinburgh with a decent Doctor Who section, but Edinburgh Collectibles on Leith Walk is making an effort.

I think you’ll enjoy it, very hard to describe the tone, but it’s a sort of hazy wooziness as Dud (Russell) ambles around Long Beach and meets characters who are more than just oddballs. Can’t wait to finally watch S2.

Just a smidge better than “iconic”, a word that should now be banned forever from the English language.

A reminder for me to mention that Lodge 49 is now free to watch on the Channel 5 app. I’ve yet to watch season two, but the first is very special indeed, with ex-surfer Wyatt Russell trying to make sense of the world. Bruce Campbell pops up in season one if that tempts you to try it.

Quite enjoyed 1978’s High Ballin’, starring Jerry Reed as a trucker facing rivals trying to force him off the road. Not sure Peter Fonda brings much to it and it all looks very, very cold, but Smokey and the Bandit fans should get something out of it. On Amazon Prime.

Didn’t expect Waterstones to back down so quickly, good news for small businesses in Leith.

That was fantastic, a mad joy ride around NYC that gets crazier by the minute. The 4K looks stunning, looking forward to getting stuck into the extras. Would love to see this on the big screen in a double bill with Die Hard with a Vengeance.

Tonight’s viewing will be the new Radiance release of Night of the Juggler, not one I’ve seen before. An ex-cop chasing a psychotic kidnapper through grimy 70s New York sounds like fun.

My latest Substack newsletter is live. A few words on the brilliance that is Don Carpenter’s 1966 novel HARD RAIN FALLING. andrewnette.substack.com/p/hard-rain-...

Not the most obvious resemblance…

A proper treat for you! 🎛️ New mini #BBCRadio3 series, every night this week 9.45pm #Electronicwomen From Daphne Oram to Laurie Anderson… only 15mins each night, before NightTracks kicks in HP x

The first three series of City Lights are now on iPlayer, looks like series three hasn’t been repeated since 1988 according to the BBC website. It deserved a long life on VHS, DVD and iPlayer, sadly that wasn’t to be.

This is on the BBC Scotland channel and iPlayer tonight from 9pm, a trip back to the 80s and 90s in the company of cast, crew and creator of City Lights. A few rarely seen bits of archive, including clips from the pilot with Billy Greenlees as Chancer and no studio audience.

AppleTV has all 356 eps of the original Dallas for just £33.99 right now, the HD remasters that have never appeared on Blu-ray. Hard to say no at that price. The revival series is also worth checking out.

I’ve stocked up on copies of my Jim Henson and Hamish Macbeth books, plus I have some Tremors books in the house… if anyone wants signed copies for Christmas presents, just give me a shout.

I am very proud to announce that you can now preorder my new novel CONNERY @plumeriapics.bsky.social which will be released 23 February 2026. We don’t do Amazon because they’re bastards so please preorder direct from the site. plumeriapics.co.uk/shop/ols/pro...

Several #Highlander items are currently being auctioned at Propstore including Connor’s trench coat and the Kurgan’s jacket. I need a job again so I can afford to bid on some of this stuff (maybe not the 20k trench coat)… propstoreauction.com/search?key=H...

Watching the 1984 City Lights pilot, with Billy Greenlees as Chancer rather than Andy Gray, I spotted both Alan Cumming and John Hannah in non-speaking roles. No mention on IMDb for either of them. Sadly no clips of them in Sunday’s doc, but Billy can be seen alongside Gerard Kelly.

Share a 90s movie you think deserves more love...

Set your videos for this one on Sunday night (Chancer’s selling them cheap down the Barras). www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

I also spoke to Jeremy about his time directing Fraggle Rock UK for my Rainbow Connections book, in stock at Argonaut Books in Edinburgh as of yesterday!

Dream jobs do come along… I’ve spent the last few months immersed in BBC Scotland’s City Lights as Assistant Producer on a new 60min doc telling the story of the show. With vintage clips + new interviews, it’s pure dead brilliant! On telly/iPlayer 30th November. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

We need your help. @waterstones.bsky.social, without any direct communication with us, will be opening their 6th Edinburgh branch less than 100 metres from our front door at the Foot of the Walk in Leith. Please read on for more information www.heraldscotland.com/news/2562908... (1/2)

Went Nessie hunting. Didn’t find her. Next time.

Ep 3 of Through the Square Window is available wherever you get your podcasts. @samiraahmeduk.bsky.social and @gkw.bsky.social discuss Bob's Full House, Ray Davies' Return to Waterloo, Juliet Bravo, The Gentle Touch and, in the company of Richard Marson, the last-ever episode of Rentaghost.

Glad you liked it, @jonmelville.bsky.social did a grand job. Every #LocalHero aficionado should enjoy this. ❤️

New additions to the Highlander cast… www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...

A belated thanks to Tough Pigs for this fantastic review of my recent Jim Henson book!

These Classic Pick of the Pops with Fluff have been great fun, more please!

The mighty Edge of Darkness is on BBC4 tonight at 9.15 and also on iPlayer www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis... You can get yourself in the mood by watching our video podcast up to the spoiler warning. Lots of stuff about Troy Kennedy Martin and other prime movers behind this fantastic series.

Finally watched Frank & Eleanor Perry’s 1963 Cold War drama Ladybug Ladybug, it’s now on Amazon Prime. Big themes on a small scale, definitely worth 82 minutes of your time.

Pennyworth is back on Prime Video UK, complete with season 3! If you’re a fan of 1960s Avengers/ITC shows this feels like a skewed modern take on those. Jack Bannon leads a cast inc Paloma Faith and Jason Flemyng, plus Ryan Fletcher as Dave Boy, who I hassled for a photo at Glasgow Film Fest.

The ideal Halloween gift for your friends and family 🎃

“I used to take a Super 8 camera to set, and one time I filmed her at the top of the stairs when she did The Bride for me, staring down and giving me that sneer!” www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

So here's one of the best ad-libs ever (in my opinion): the "whose baby" line in #LocalHero