Radio Times

If, like me, you come from Northampton, you'll know that the town's links with the movies are few and far between. Marc Warren, star of TV's Hustle and a handful of feature films, was born there, as were Nanette Newman, who enjoyed a substantial big-screen run in the 1960s and 70s, and Joan Hickson, whose pre-Miss Marple career went back to the 1930s.

Meanwhile, legendary comics writer Alan Moore, who still lives in the town, has seen his work adapted into the likes of V for Vendetta and – coming soon – Watchmen. And (apart from an appearance in Tony Scott's The Hunger by...

2 comments

Read more...

It is, as the pine-scented crackle of childlike anticipation in the air confirms, Christmas!

A time of tinsel and toys, Mass and marzipan! So first my guide to making this a traditional movie Christmas – complete with snug new slippers and a glass of sherry, of course.

What could be more festive than gathering the whole family round the box (or flatscreen) for a real blockbuster? Christmas Day alone offers Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (BBC1), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (ITV1) or the 2005 version of Lassie (Channel 4).

Other treats include Superman Returns (Monday 29 December...

2 comments

Read more...

I wasn't sure at first, but I rather grew to like Apparitions (previously Thursdays, BBC1). Yes, it was as daft as a whole cupboard full of brushes. But it had the courage of its convictions and obviously believed in itself.

In case you missed it – and you probably did, viewing figures were pretty poor – Apparitions featured Martin Shaw as an exorcist priest, Father Jacob, whose faith was tested every week by demons. Yes, yes, I know it sounds silly and I suppose it was preposterous, but it had its moments, some of them unnecessarily gory (an unfortunate friend of Father Jacob's was skinned alive in...

29 comments

Read more...

Radio Times editor Gill Hudson gives her verdict on the Doctor Who Christmas special, The Next Doctor (Christmas Day, 6:00pm, BBC1):

We're in 1850s Victorian London. It's 24 December. It is snowing, it is bustling, it is Christmas-card perfect. And guess who just landed right in the middle of it?

Correct.

So far, so not terribly surprising – for about 60 seconds, anyway. And that's when another character arrives on the scene and, wouldn't you know it, he's calling himself the Doctor too, complete with sonic screwdriver and Tardis. Mad, bad, dangerous to know, or all three?

From here on in, we're off on another furiously paced...

14 comments

Read more...

It's time to tell us which programmes you've enjoyed this year, and which should be consigned to the bin along with the torn wrapping paper and leftover turkey! To jog your memory, I offer my highs and lows of the TV year:

HIGHLIGHTS

Doctor Who: after a disappointing third run, the pace picked up in series four. Catherine Tate proved a strong, sparky companion. The nation held its breath to see whether David Tennant really would regenerate. The final few episodes, of course, also saw the long-awaited, much-anticipated return of…Davros. (Oh yes, and Billie Piper.) Can't wait for the forthcoming specials. Allons-y!

Lost in Austen: likeable actors...

12 comments

Read more...

I'm too old and sensible for drinking games, but I am always impressed by anyone who's tried to match Richard E Grant, tipple for tipple, while viewing the boozy Withnail & I – leaving out, one hopes, the glug of lighter fuel. A far more sophisticated experience can be gained from quaffing along to Sideways (Saturday 13 December Channel 4).

The Oscar-winning comedy, which sees two buddies bonding on a crawl round California's vineyards, is the cinematic equivalent of a wine lake: the connoisseur of the pair, Miles (Paul Giamatti), swills each sample for "colour and clarity", while Jack (Thomas Haden Church) waits impatiently to...

1 comment

Read more...

The time has come and I can't put it off any longer. I have to go Christmas shopping with dour Swedish detective Kurt Wallander…

The brightly lit shopping mall is alive with coloured lights. A children's choir is singing and someone is handing out free mince pies.

Wallander stands still, and stares into space. I look at him: "Kurt, you'd feel better if you had a shave. Why are you always so scruffy?"

He doesn't look at me as he replies. "Shave? What is the point of shaving because I will die. You will die…we will all die. And this mince pie. It is...

30 comments

Read more...

We take a fond look back at some of the most hilarious moments from Vic and Bob's surreal variety show/celebrity panel game.

1. The spectacular musical medley that introduces this Shooting Stars Christmas special kicks off with Vic and Bob's take on a Lionel Richie classic, revisits the theme from Rupert the Bear and concludes with Mark Lamarr's levitating version of Mr Boombastic. Simply stunning.

Watch the clip…

2. Guest Paul Whitehouse valiantly attempts to get a round of drinks in for the Hapsburg King, hampered by some pesky anarchists.

Watch the clip…

...

5 comments

Read more...

At the start of the second series of Channel 4's cult sitcom Spaced, Daisy (Jessica Hynes) returns to the London flat she shares with Tim (Simon Pegg). Catching up, he says, "I've had a few things to work through." "With your ex-girlfriend?" "No, with George Lucas." At which point, in flashback, we see Tim setting fire to a big pile of boxes and files marked "STAR WARS STUFF".

Star Wars Episode I: the Phantom Menace had been released, to deafening fanfare and overnight queues, in 1999, and Tim spoke for many fans when he said, "It still hurts."

Never before had the creator of an epochal, blockbusting...

10 comments

Read more...

Graham Norton to take over from Sir Terry

After more than 30 years spent guiding viewers through the "magnificent celebration of foolishness" that is the Eurovision Song Contest, Terry Wogan is passing the torch to Graham Norton.

The camp comic was excited to be taking over from Wogan, who he called "nothing less than a legend" and "an impossible act to follow."

But what prompted Wogan to leave? In the past, he's admitted to having become somewhat disillusioned by aspects of the competition, saying it was "no longer a music contest" and suggesting that prospects for entrants from western European were "poor"....

3 comments

Read more...

Phew! Spooks, eh? Blimey. Wasn't episode seven (Monday 1 December, BBC1) a corker? In fact, hasn't this been the best ever series? I've always been a fan, but suddenly Spooks seems to have grown up into a beautifully polished, clever, adult drama that's just so flipping exciting.

We're not terribly good at TV thrillers here, a genre that's historically been the province of the Americans. I feel this is due to British TV's tiresome pursuit of "characterisation" at the expense of story and plot.

We always have to have a "message" too - just look at this year's offerings, the dismal The Last Enemy and Burn...

19 comments

Read more...

To tie in with BBC Radio 2's programme The Album as Art (Tuesday 16 December, 10:30pm) - part of a season celebrating the album - we've put together a photo gallery of some of the most iconic album covers of all time.

The Beatles - Revolver (1966)
The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)
David Bowie - Aladdin Sane (1973)
The Clash - London Calling (1979)
Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures (1979)
Joy Division - Closer (1980)
Kraftwerk - 12 comments