This is a really well written book but I’m not sure it grabbed me 100%. It tells the story of one train journey, an express into Paris that factually crashed once it got there. The rest is fiction based in reality, and follows all the different characters on the train in the various different classes - what drives them, what journey they are on, and how they interact. It was interesting and got more so towards the end, but it felt like a little bit of a slog to get there.

The final outing for our private investigator duo and the stakes are high for both individuals and also the country as a whole. I like that there’s a teenager at the heart of this, that Michelle drives the story and the investigation because she cares about a lost soul. And the way the story weaves back and forth and the mystery is gradually unravelled is done really well. It’s not necessarily entirely believable, although who knows? But it’s a great thriller and a fascinating relationship between the main pair. A shame, really, that the series ends here as there’s more that could be delved into, I’m sure.

This was a tournament that just kept on delivering surprises, day after day. After blistering temperatures in the first week, the conditions cooled a little for the second but remained challenging. The wind picked up and played its part and we got to a position where whoever the champions were going to be, they were going to be a surprise!

This is sort of billed as a bit of a mystery thriller but it’s not that at all. It’s a well written story about a woman coming to terms with the end of a relationship and dealing with the mental health side of such a big upheaval in your life. I wasn’t entirely on board and not sure about all the characters but it was a good enough read to keep me going to the end, and it was kind of uplifting in the end.

This is such an interesting book with a few different layers. It’s got the history of St Kilda, a fascinating island that was so remote but eventually abandoned by the inhabitants. It’s also a bit of a drama and mystery, it’s a fish out of water story both on and off the island, and of course more than anything a romance at heart. It did take me a while to get into it but once invested, I really couldn’t put it down. I wanted to know what happened and oof, it only goes and ends on a cliffhanger that means I absolutely have to read the others in the series.

So sad that Anthony Head has died. Of course for most of us, he’s either Giles from Buffy (a great excuse to rewatch that show again!) or the enraging ex-husband in Ted Lasso (similar story!). But he had a huge and varied career and I really loved him in a few more things.

It took me a while to warm up to this movie. I know it’s of a different era, of course, but even so, the whole premise just seemed too cynical to really enjoy. But gradually the characters started to grow on me, and the relationships developed in their own ways and I was invested. My favourite bit, weirdly, was the scene on the plane where Marilyn learns to love herself with her glasses on. Adorable. She was great in this, I wouldn’t have necessarily known her as a comedy actress! Overall, a better film than I initially thought and a happy ending for all!

This is a great Poirot mystery! I’d not heard of it before, but our hero is on holiday and stumbles across a woman who appears to have dodged several attempts on her life. Obviously Poirot, and our narrator Hastings, have to investigate and I don’t know why but I just really got into this one. With the missing pilot, the friend who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, confusion over wills and a threatening box of chocolates, I just found it all very entertaining.

Holly Humberstone popped up on Radio 1’s Big Weekend, and I realised I had entirely overlooked her debut album a couple of years ago. So to correct that, here we are. It’s great. It’s the kind of album that obviously channels all those other female singers - a bit Olivia, a bit TayTay, a bit Maisie. But it also stands on its own two feet and I really enjoyed it.

No one can deny that Paul McCartney is a legend, and his popping up on Chicken Shop Date led me to believe there had to be an album to promote. Low and behold, here it is! The first track is awful, I really thought we were in for a bad ride. However, once you get that initial song out the way, things pick up a bit. In the whole, it’s probably not really my cup of tea, but it’s good tunes, reflective and gentle, and a pleasant listen.

This popped out of nowhere for me, Matt Morsia, aka Legend, suddenly appeared in various places promoting this book. It makes sense, though, having had to take some time out recuperating from injury, that’s the perfect time to put fingers to keyboard. I listened to the audiobook because I wanted to hear Legend read it out, and it’s a really good no-nonsense guide with sensible advice coupled with his trademark sarcasm and dry humour. The audiobook is super short because the book is also stacked with tables and guides and lists of reps for various programmes… these are read out by someone else in the audiobook, so I skipped that. I might not stick to the plans in the book, but there are definitely things I’ll take away from this.

I’ve been a fan of Les Mills workouts for a long while now, previously in the gym and since Covid via at home subscription, and even though I’m still pretty poor at most of the workouts, there’s a lot to like in there. Each programme refreshes every quarter, so you’re always in line for something new, and one of the best bits of that is following the progress of the presenters. Some burst onto the scenes fresh and smash it, others start in the background one release and gradually make their way towards the microphone.

I was perusing my to read list and found this one, a compilation of newspaper columns written by the comedian over a decade ago. So I was tempted to just bin it, because I’ve not enjoyed reading columns so much recently, and these were bound to be out of date. But I gave it a go and there were a few that I did enjoy reading. Mitchell’s trademark grumpy smart style is funny and worth reading. I can’t promise I read every word - some of the columns about politicians I don’t know and situations that happened so long ago were easy to gloss over. But the columns that caught my attention were good and fun.

This was a great mystery thriller novel with King and Maxwell back to doing what they do best. I didn’t rate the last book in this series very highly so it was nice to be back enjoying it again. We’ve got the slightly awkward interplay between our two protagonists, but a greater puzzle to investigate and solve. I wasn’t entirely convinced by just how much trouble was made over this one guy, however smart he was, but if you go with it, it’s a good ride.

I stumbled across this video yesterday, which is a nice little behind the scenes feature for the Baftas focused on the show Beyond Paradise. A spin off of the long-running Death in Paradise, this one is set in the slightly less sunny Cornwall and, surprisingly, appears to mostly be filmed in a barn. I love behind the scenes features, it’s always surprising just how many people are involved, and how they are all so brilliant at their individual roles - with everything feeding in to this fantastic end result.

I’m determined to improve my knowledge of cinema history - older films, black and white, silent movies, the whole nine yards. It’s hard to know where to start but sometimes you just have to dive right in. This was available on YouTube, and so I gave it a go… and loved it! I’ve never watched an entire Chaplin feature before, and I loved the physicality of it - the first scene on the statue, and of course the boxing sequence, both absolutely brilliant. There’s a love story at the heart of it which is cute. I must admit I didn’t quite get the drunk guy, totally understandable he might forget everything when sober, but then why suddenly remember again when drunk next time? Weird, but barely a problem, I loved this!

I read Lily’s War a while ago and it was surprisingly good - just a lovely soap opera style story highlighting the hardships of women during the war. This was more of the same, but covered an area I really didn’t know anything about on the canals. So many awesome crews transporting necessary stuff around on the canals. And at the same time, in this story of course, falling in and out of love and dealing with family crises at the same time. Great stuff, and I’ll definitely read more of these.

The fifth and penultimate season of For All Mankind came to a close this week, concluding another tense and eventful series that moved quite a lot of storylines on, and inevitably led us to the next decade time jump. The show has been renewed for the sixth and final series - I think the creators initially had planned seven, but I’m happy they know it’s ending and can plan accordingly.

I didn’t think I would have much time to watch tennis this fortnight, so for Roland Garros 2026, I have defaulted to the excellent online radio. Radio Roland Garros has always been a highlight and continues to be so. Great balance of tennis commentary, general chatter, pun games, and friendly banter, and this year plenty of talk about the weather.

I watched the Kylie documentary on Netflix this week, so it’s only fitting to have listened to an album. I’m working through the full Kylie catalogue, so unfortunately this is one from her PWL days - which I now know weren’t her favourite. But supposedly this album is where she first started asserting some control, and gets a few songwriting credits on here as well. It’s stacked full of pop bops, but you can tell it’s getting a bit more adult, a bit sexier than previous outings. Great stuff.

I feel like Maisie’s work has been growing on me, each album gets better and better. This one was fantastic - really great summertime sounds. There’s a mix of feelings in there, sometimes in love, sometimes dealing with pain, sometimes angry at men, sometimes wanting nothing more than to spend time with them, and all of it with Maisie’s great vocals and signature sound. I loved it!

About this time last year, I was caught up playing Planet Zoo, the zoological simulation game that has taken the world by storm. Well, it took me by storm anyway. The end of my review stated: “This may be the last game review I ever write, as I’m going to be playing Planet Zoo a lot and for a long time.” I was not wrong. There have been other game reviews since then, but I can’t lie - if I have enough time to sit down and play something, you’re going to find me managing a zoo.

Last year, the BBC quietly released one of those cosy humerous detective shows called Death Valley. It featured the odd couple of Gwyneth Keyworth as ambitious but socially awkward detective Janie Mallowan teaming up with retired actor John Chapel, played by Timothy Spall. Chapel’s stint as a murder detective on a long-running TV show gives him a useful insight into motives and character arcs, and the pair put their skills to good use solving murders around South Wales.

This month, I saw the touring production of Single White Female, an updated version of the film adapted for the stage, starring Lisa Faulkner and Kym Marsh. In preparation, I made sure to have watched the movie, which gave me a good grounding for what to expect, even though they were two very different things.

This is a much beloved film, and I’ve had the book to read for a while. It’s interesting, the story itself maybe didn’t capture me as much in text as it does on film, but having said that, I really liked the way it was written. It absolutely gives you that feeling of mysticism and magic, an other-worldliness but also grounded and earthy. An odd combination. The characters don’t come off quite so sympathetic in the book, but I’m intrigued to read the prequels and sequels regardless.

I’ve been listening to Radio Roland Garros this week, as per usual, and really loving the descriptive commentary of matches. I’ve opted not to got access to watch this year so am relying solely on the radio for coverage.

Last year’s Eurovision seemed like it had taken a bit too much of a turn towards a credible singing contest, losing some of that quirkiness that makes it the institution that it is. This year, things were a bit more nutty, which is exactly what I’m looking for. Hilariously, I’ve read criticisms of the UK performance, saying we really should try harder and not send novelty acts. I mean, I would say the last couple of years we have had ‘proper’ songs, even if they weren’t actually very good, and that hasn’t done us any favours. Why shouldn’t we try something a bit more quirky? As soon as I heard Look Mum No Computer, I knew it was a Eurovision entry. I wasn’t expecting great things but I thought we might have got a bit more than one point. Oh well, roll on next year.

If you’ve been following the Tomb Raider journey so far, you’ll know that I have previously loved Angel of Darkness. My TR experience previously had been Tomb Raider II (love) and then Angel of Darkness (love). And that was it until the new Crystal Dynamics games were released. Well, now I have been replaying through all the early games thanks to the Remastered versions, and it’s been eye opening.

I, like so many people, was eagerly awaiting the arrival of HBO Max in the UK so that we could sample Noah Wyle’s new medical drama The Pitt. Inevitably facing comparisons to ER, the show was billed as something different though - something realistic and emotional and deep. It was all of those things and so much more.

I went into this book hoping for some great insights into what a wonderful experience making the TV show Nashville was… in that sense, I was disappointed. Hayden didn’t particularly enjoy it. But forget that, it’s a good book about a difficult life so far. Hayden is honest and open, clear about her flaws and how her upbringing (starting in show business as an actual baby is bound to have some impact) affected her life so far. It gets a little downbeat towards the end, difficult things follow harrowing events, but the overriding sense is just to keep going, and that’s a good message to take away.

Glorious album, this one. The first two tracks really kick things off in style, and I Saved the World Today really can get stuck in my head. It’s got that nice feeling of a band coming back together after going solo with varying degrees of success, and now back to that joyful feeling of home. Good tunes, incredible vocals, nothing to complain about!

I’d sort of forgotten that I listened to a Jack Savoretti album previously and really enjoyed it, so I almost let this one pass me by. But phew, I listened to it and I really enjoyed it. I would say it’s one of those albums that’s really lovely to listen to while you are in it, but it’s not so memorable once you’ve stopped. A good couple of guest artists, and a nice feel from start to finish, but I fully expect to do this whole ‘forgot, oh yea, he’s good’ thing on the next album as well.

I have no idea why I bought this book, it’s been on my to read pile for a while but I haven’t seen the film and wasn’t aware of the story. I whizzed through it though, it’s an engaging story about horrible survival. I find it quite hard to understand why someone would just head off into the jungle with a stranger like that in the first place, but once you’re in, the horrors unfold. An easy read in terms of writing, a hard read in terms of content, it’s a good, interesting book, and I wonder whether the film is worth a watch too.

I (a bit reluctantly) have really enjoyed the Thursday Murder Club series, so was interested in this new series from the crazy successful Mr Osman. It didn’t work quite so well for me, it took me a couple of attempts to really stick with it. The characters just aren’t quite as well drawn, and the situation seems slightly less believable. I do like the unconventional marriage that Amy and Adam have, and Steve was clearly the best humorous character but I wasn’t sure. His conversation with the airport security, it didn’t feel like that could have happened, he wasn’t that charming. The story was fine, the writing obviously great, but I think Thursday Murder Club is far superior.

I’ve started this book a couple of times I think, but this time it stuck - I’m mildly obsessed with Bletchley Park, the secrecy, the combination of using maths and language to make SUCH a difference to the world, the outrageous abuse of Alan Turing. This book tells the history of the park from pre-war, through great achievements and then the astounding secrecy that remained even after the war was done. We get to hear the story told from people who were there, and documents and facts that are now in the public domain, and it’s well done mixing a historical timeline alongside chapters on what life was like in the park. It felt a little drawn out in places but ultimatley is a great record of an incredible achievement.

Obviously, having blitzed my way through both Mamma Mia films, it had to be an ABBA album this week. I’ve listened to a couple of albums from this band already, but started at the beginning of their journey, so this was the first one that’s really felt like proper ABBA. It has a good few songs I know and love (SOS is so stuck in my head, and I’ve Been Waiting for You is just lovely) and the rest of it has that great pop vibe that ABBA are known for delivering. It’s fun when the boys pop up to do a bit and there’s even an instrumental track on there - it’s all a bit 70s but wonderfully so.

I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this or not but it actually came across really well. The first track sets the scene, a sort of meandering whimsical journey through loneliness and finding yourself outside of any relationships. I enjoyed some of it more than other bits, the duet with Miranda is interesting given their history, and Dry Spell is pretty candid. There’s a slight over-reliance on slide-guitar but even with that it’s not too country, so overall a good listen.

You can love or hate the phenomenon that is Clarkson, May and Hammond but you can’t argue that they have achieved some incredible things. This book takes you behind the scenes for a new angle - the infamous Mr Wilman. I didn’t know a lot of the early stuff, that he and Clarkson had been friends for so long and just how much his career was propelled by Clarkson helping him out. Then you get to Top Gear and how that evolved and grew and became the beast it was… until eventually it imploded. I really liked the frank details here - where they didn’t act in the best way, Wilman doesn’t shy away from that, and he’s equally proud to discuss what they did well. There are highs and lows and crashes and races, things we know and things we don’t, and it’s all written really well with great humour. I loved it.

I’m so glad that things worked out this way because I absolutely LOVED this film. I suspect it’s to do with the writers having the freedom to explore the plot more, rather than being hemmed in by the existing musical. And we know these characters now and have come to terms with the slightly bizarre three fathers situation… that meant the quality of the story was so much better and the comedy layered on top was fantastic.

This album has been a contentious one (in my own mind, only) as to whether it should count in this album adventure. As a collection of covers, it’s not really what the adventure was about and I’ve debated (with myself, obviously) over and over again. Then, Burning Down the House popped up on the Top of the Pops replays, and I decided to go for it. Partly, that’s because Tom Jones has obviously put a lot of thought into this collection of songs, crafting the track list and selecting the ideal guest artists to participate. And partly it’s because this is my game and I wanted to listen to it.

I love Mel C, I’m impressed by her longevity in this business, and she looks amazing! I was keen to listen to this new album, and it’s good, but it’s probably leaning just a bit too much into the dance genre for my tastes. I know that’s a direction she’s going in, proper DJ and all, but it’s not quite what I wanted. However, as a dance album, it’s very good, it has echoes of Robyn in there and it’s done well. So worth a listen, for sure.

Oh man, I’ve loved following Reacher on his ups and downs and cramming the whole series over the last year or so. But we’ve surely reached a point where the character should potentially be retired… this was a real low point. There’s definitely been a dip in quality since Andrew Child got involved, which is not to diss his work, it’s bound to happen when the author changes. The plot was very basic, there was a lot of chasing around after files - physical and digital - and it all felt very bland with abstract stakes. I can’t stop thinking about the bit where he says no one ever looks up when they walk into a building… such a generalisation and what evidence do we have for that?? I’m annoyed at myself for not swearing off this series already, but you just want the next one to be better, don’t you.

People have been raving about this book, so I was curious to see what it was all about. Having read it, honestly, I’m none the wiser. The style of writing is engrossing, you’re thrust into this world of stage and theatre and drama both on and off the boards. But the two halves of this story are deliberately but confusingly different, don’t really make any sense and don’t progress any sort of plot or story. Maybe I’m missing something because the people that love it really do, but I just didn’t get it.

It’s becoming a bit of a tradition now that when I realise a new series of Trying is rapidly approaching, I finally get into gear and get my quote post ready to go. This series fast forwarded a few years so the kids are older and relatively settled into family life. But there are still plenty of challenges and lot to laugh at along the way. Rewatching this show reminds me how much I love it and will never get bored of it.

I’ve really enjoyed previous Matt Haig books I’ve read, both fiction and non-fiction, so I was looking forward to this… it just didn’t quite work for me. The writing is engaging, and the spirit of the book definitely has that magical Matt Haig quality, I guess I just didn’t like the story. And I had the feeling along the way that some characters were getting more airtime than others which made it feel a bit disjointed. I don’t know, it was definitely worth reading but not a favourite.

For some reason, my journey through photography and particularly improvements in the technology used to take photos (I’ve really not developed much as a photographer myself) has been documented in turtles. I guess it had to be something so why not an adorable shelled creature. The first attempt at capturing a turtle image ended in frustration, disappointment, nothing tangible to see, and was quickly followed by the purchase of a new camera.

When I saw A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong towards the end of last year it must have been a sort of test run because the Mischief crew are going big with promoting their new London production and short UK tour run. They’re popping up everywhere and releasing lots of promotional content, including this excellent behind-the-scenes video of how the show has come together, and generally what a great bunch of people are involved.

I have a huge and growing list of things to blog about but April really got away from me… how can I not have written already about the Artemis II mission? I was so looking forward to it, I kept an eye on it constantly, and was hugely impressed with some of the imagery they shared. The moon in all its grey and cratered glory. I love it so much.