In the run up to their 200th monthly release, Big Finish have found a novel way to ring the changes; mixing up eras by pairing older companions with their regular roster of Doctors. ‘The Defectors’ begins as a Pertwee story, but promptly substitutes the Seventh Doctor in place of the Third. The Time Lord has … >
Given that Chapter 4 of BBC One’s fantasy period drama is titled ‘All the Mirrors of the World’, let’s take a moment to reflect on mirrors. That shiny plate on your bathroom wall has always been viewed as magical, either practically – it was mirrors that brought to life the famous 1862 illusion ‘Pepper’s Ghost’ … >
Winter has Great Paxford in its icy grip. Steph has excelled at all of the new farming protocols and proudly signs her name to the required paperwork. Meanwhile, her devoted teacher receives the devastating news that German U-boats sunk the ship carrying her lover to America. Alison realises that Teresa’s grief is akin to what … >
The final chapter of this second E-Space trilogy begins not by resolving the cliff-hanger from ‘Equilibrium’, but rather with the TARDIS returned to our universe and the Doctor keeping an appointment. He comes as the bearer of bad news and begins to tell his tale; the TARDIS was in pursuit of Tegan, who had been … >
If there’s one thing the finale of BBC Two’s The Game makes abundantly clear, it’s that Toby Whithouse should really write a DCI Jim Fenchurch spin-off. One where, each week, Shaun Dooley gets to be angry at a criminal such as a KGB agent or someone who nicked the money from the Post Office till. … >
Returning to BBC One for a third season is In the Club creator Kay Mellor’s wonderful comedy-drama, The Syndicate. However, where previous seasons have focused on how a collective lottery win has affected the lives of a supermarket staff and colleagues in a hospital, this time round it’s a sort of Upstairs, Downstairs setup, as … >
Following the huge success of 2011’s Bridesmaids and 2013’s The Heat, Melissa McCarthy and director Paul Feig have become the most reliable director/actor duo since Tim Burton and Johnny Depp’s heyday. And whilst McCarthy’s recent films (Tammy) have seen her tread familiar ground, Spy is a departure in style and one heck of a risk. … >
The magic continues in the third chapter of BBC One’s Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. In ‘The Education of a Magician’ tensions continue to tighten like a belt sucked agonisingly into the next notch along, those ever so polite animosities escalate, and a magician does indeed learn a thing or two of the consequences of … >
Tony Jones and Ian McArdell review this month’s new Doctor Who plays from Big Finish… Doctor Who Main Range #199 ‘Last of the Cybermen’ The second in the “locum Doctors” trilogy, which “translocates” a Big Finish Doctor back in time for an adventure with his early companions, this tale sees the Sixth paired with … >
Every now and again, the BBC takes a gamble on a show that may prove to be just a little too Marmite for the audience. Airing in a rather telling 10.45pm Wednesday night slot in summer, SunTrap is one of those shows. Opening episode ‘Look Who’s Talking’ revolves around comical investigator Woody (Facejacker’s Kayvan Novak) … >