Also nice to see local lads Will Anderson and Ainslie Henderson working on the animation side of this, with a cameo from Ainslie in episode six.

I say “best show” as I’m also luxuriating in the world of The Lowdown on Disney+ - subscribed for The Muppets, stayed for Ethan Hawke and a twisty plot that introduces us to so many memorable characters. Glad there’s going to be another season.

Telly doesn’t get much better than Small Prophets, six episodes flew by. Best show of 2026? Could be. Yet another reason to cherish the BBC. (Oh, and iPlayer now has trailers playing automatically on the app)

I thought the state of the copies already on YouTube were absolutely shocking, so I've uploaded and playlisted some lovely ones. All here: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

Twelve racketeers took over a whole town… This 1964 Pocket Books edition of Richard Stark’s The Score took a while to arrive from the US but was worth the wait. Odd that Parker isn’t mentioned on the cover.

Through the Square Window episode six is out now! This month, @samiraahmeduk.bsky.social and @gkw.bsky.social look at shows from February 1969, namely: Do Not Adjust Your Set, Civilisation, Saturday Night Theatre (with Sean Connery) and Department S. Available wherever you get your podcasts.

Bought the German Blu-ray of the brilliant Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, partly for the Nick Redman/Lem Dobbs commentary, and have now placed orders for two film books mentioned by Dobbs. Would love to see this at the cinema sometime, those landscapes look incredible. BTW, those film books are…

Big news in Edinburgh - @filmhouseedinburgh.bsky.social now displays screen numbers alongside times on the website. Saves a lot of faffing about while booking. (Plus, I saw Sorcerer on Screen 1 tonight and had a great time).

Yes, there are too many reboots and spin-offs, but a return to the Wentworth universe is good news - just announced on stage at an Australian awards ceremony (as you do). www.facebook.com/reel/1983450...

With The Muppet Show back on Disney+, it’s the perfect time to read my book of interviews with creatives who either worked alongside Jim Henson or on his productions - it’s now available in paperback and ebook: Paperback: amzn.eu/d/b99EAB4 Ebook: amzn.eu/d/huZMlM7

Copies of my Hamish Macbeth book have been spotted in Dornoch Bookshop, a place I’ve been visiting since I was wee thanks to most of my family being from the town…

Help us make hope normal again. Join the Green Party now.

Started watching my DVD of Once Upon a Time in the West, but the picture quality is very ropey, it’s almost an insult to the film. Might have to upgrade to the Blu-ray as I seem to remember there being issues with the 4K - anyone got it?

Nice to see Australia Day being celebrated at @filmhouseedinburgh.bsky.social today.

Stumbled upon the excellent Priscilla, Queen of the Desert making of doc, Between a Frock & a Hard Place, on Prime, narrated by Terence Stamp. Didn’t know it was Moneypenny herself, Caroline Bliss, who encouraged him to take on the role of Bernadette.

When you go to the Amazon Prime home page and realise you’ve tamed the algorithm… apart from whoever Molly-Mae is.

***ANNOUNCEMENT*** Coming on April 21st on #4K and Blu-ray in the US from @criterion.bsky.social: #PointBlank (1967)! Director John Boorman brought the gangster drama into new realms of modernist abstraction with this stylized revenge thriller, which transforms

“Every character has to have a yesterday and is going to have a tomorrow.” Screenwriting advice from the late Stephen J. Cannell I saved years ago, from Craig Mcdonald’s Rogue Males book.

Miss Marple on iPlayer was my favourite TV of 2025, wish they’d put them on there permanently. I’ll also get back to Campion at some point, another 90s gem. As an aside, my letter from Davison after I wrote to him praising the show, as I’m sure many 13-year-olds did.

Took advantage of a free month of the StudioCanal channel - might be a good opportunity to watch Hannibal (though I’m enjoying Elementary and Landman on Paramount+).

Including a show at the Queen’s Hall in May!

Want to be depressed? May I suggest... The Librarians (Kim Snyder, 2025) www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis... and Ordinary Men (Manfred Oldenburg, 2022) www.netflix.com/title/81672035 They're both about how fascism distorts ideas of the prohibited and the acceptable.

I’d love to read more of Frank’s work in new physical media releases, he knows his old telly and films!

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.