Eschewing the tired celeb travelogue format, Brummie trickster Joe Lycett’s quest to visit every American Birmingham on the map -fifteen to be precise- is a nice spin on it, in a both true and idiomatic flipping the bird sense. The sees him hanging out with US eccentrics: everywhere from bat caves, to a place wonderfullyContinue reading “TV Review: Joe Lycett’s United States of Birmingham”
Category Archives: Television
Moira Rose Forever🌹
Few comedy icons make me cackle like the late, wonderful Catherine O’ Hara and her Schitt’s Creek character Moira Rose. Where to start ? Her high fashion, bordering on Gaga ridiculous; her feral wigs, her quasi- European accent and arcane euphemisms and language, the many levels of delusional that she was… She’s simply one ofContinue reading “Moira Rose Forever🌹”
TV Review: Falling Part 2
I’m prepared to contradict my initial impression. It’s been a couple of weeks since my last confession. ‘Falling’ is getting better since its first two episodes. Now, we’re getting into the ethics of the series, the meat, a heavy juxtaposition of forbidden love and devout faith, it’s a slow -burning, rather good series, actually. JasonContinue reading “TV Review: Falling Part 2”
TV Review: Tip Toe
“Leo, you’re queer in 2026. You’re a political act”. So says Melba, portrayed by Paul Rhys with fire and pathos in Russell T Davies’ new drama, set around the LGBTQ+ bars in Manchester’s famous Canal Street. He’s addressing friend Leo (Alan Cumming) a proprietor of Spit and Polish club, who can’t understand why he’s justContinue reading “TV Review: Tip Toe”
Half Man Is Half-Baked…
In his trailblazing novel ‘1984’, George Orwell wrote, “Imagine a boot stamping on a human face-forever”. Well, now we don’t have to imagine, we’ve got ‘Half Man’. Yay. Hot on the heels of the success of his drama series ‘Baby Reindeer’, writer and actor Richard Gadd announced the release of a follow-up drama series, whichContinue reading “Half Man Is Half-Baked…”
Howay,Daft Genius: Smoggie Queens Rules!
Series 1 of Smoggie Queens was brilliant: surreal, hilarious and touching. Focusing on a queer family in Middlesbrough, creator Phil Dunning, who also plays main character Dickie, crafted a loveable, silly bunch of misfits with recognisable quirks and – most importantly -a strong working -class sensibility. Series 1 set up the rivalry between Dickie andContinue reading “Howay,Daft Genius: Smoggie Queens Rules!”
The Tony Ferrino Musical: Silence Of The Lambs
Steve Coogan’s lesser-known character Tony Ferrino has been on my radar a lot lately, because of the Eurovision (Bulgaria won, incidentally.) Who could resist this stylish, moustachioed lothario; part Julio Iglesias, part Tom Jones, but all love stallion? This swingin’ number about a certain serial killer is possibly even better than Spinal Tap’s spirited paeanContinue reading “The Tony Ferrino Musical: Silence Of The Lambs”
TV Review: Only Child, Series 2
Greg McHugh, Gregor Fisher and Kevin Bishop. The second series of Only Child carried quite a weight of expectation: would it be as good as the first? Well, there were moments when it almost teetered into farce, notably during the driving lesson episode. Yet somehow, both Bryce Hart’s characterisation and the consistent cast keep itContinue reading “TV Review: Only Child, Series 2”
Malcolm Tucker’s Rough Guide to Lyrical Profanity
Ahhh, Peter Capaldi, the dapper, mild -mannered thespian and for a whole generation, forever ‘Dr Who’. But undercover of darkness, he transformed into Malcolm Tucker, godfather of spin, Beelzebub in a suit, and *wink* not at all based on Alistair Campbell, Tony Blair’s right-hand man. ‘The Thick of It ‘, created by the brilliant ArmandoContinue reading “Malcolm Tucker’s Rough Guide to Lyrical Profanity”
“It’s Alright”… A public announcement from ‘The Day Today ‘
Who, prithee, can we count on in times like these? Who’ll be there in our hour of need, when all seems lost? Russell Brand is struggling to find appropriate pages of comforting verse in his bible; Trump is struggling in general, and the world remains as divided- and divisive – as ever. Let us turnContinue reading ““It’s Alright”… A public announcement from ‘The Day Today ‘”
Hit The North 