‘Banana’ Episode 4 review: ‘Helen’

The fourth episode of Banana was one of the most stressful things I’ve had the pleasure of watching for quite some time. Helen (Bethany Black) is so sweet and so lovely, I just so desperately want good things to happen to her: I want Eddie to stop bothering her, and I’m so sad when he … >

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‘Cucumber’ Episode 4 review

Finally, after years spent traversing the space-time vortex, Russell T Davies gets to write a scene of two men, sat at a table, talking about relationships. As Henry (Vincent Franklin) opens up to newcomer Leigh (Phaldut Sharma) about his fears of sex and fears of men, the character visibly softens, beginning the journey perhaps towards … >

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‘Death in Paradise’ Season 4 Episode 6 review

When a volleyball player is fatally stabbed at the Inter Island championships, Humphrey (Kris Marshall) and his team are called in to investigate. However, much like volleyball, this episode really feels like a game of two halves. Director Paul Murphy is clearly at home with filming the show, as tonight’s instalment is one of the … >

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‘Jupiter Ascending’ movie review

It’s become something of a clichéd line regarding the Wachowski siblings’ film output of late, in that people “admire the ambition”, but find the films to be flawed overall. Well, things usually become clichés for a reason, and while there is – yes – plenty to admire about Jupiter Ascending; it is also a bit … >

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‘The Avengers’ audio boxset review: ‘The Lost Episodes – Volume 3’

Continuing to work their magic on The Avengers’ mostly incomplete first series, this latest boxset from Big Finish provides four further tales adapted from surviving scripts by writer John Dorney. Featuring Dr David Keel (Anthony Howell) as much as they do the enigmatic John Steed (Julian Wadham), the former’s medical practice and connections often provide … >

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‘The History Boys’ play review

There’s much to enjoy in this bright and breezy production of Alan Bennett’s most famous play, directed by Kate Sexton. We’re in Cutler’s Grammar School, where a group of history pupils are preparing for the Oxford and Cambridge entrance examinations, never quite sure if it’s knowledge or ideas that will get them through. Wolfblood‘s Kedar … >

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Big Finish’s ‘Dark Shadows: Bloodlust’ audio story review

For the uninitiated, Dark Shadows was a spooky American soap which ran daily for five years beginning in 1966, and now holds cult status. Revived on various occasions since, not least by Tim Burton for his 2012 Johnny Depp fronted movie, it has found a home at Big Finish Productions since 1996 for a series … >

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‘Broadchurch’ Season 2 Episode 6 review

With only three episodes left, Broadchurch really needed to up its game. The quality has been up and down this season, compared to the consistent nail-biting of the first, but there is no denying that tonight’s episode was brilliant, with much needed revelations and developments explored. It’s an episode of key character moments, the first … >

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