Contains mild spoilers Welcome to this feature-length installment of the Retroscopic Roundup - where I look back over the week's entertainment to see how varied it's been (or not), and to keep track of where I am with the various programmes I've got on the go. Scroll past the diary if you want to read the ‘Story … Continue reading Week 6: Ditching the streaming algorithms and building my playlist
Week 3 of ditching the algorithms to curate my own classic TV lineup
Contains mild spoilers The schedule is a bit different this week, knocked off course by seemingly-endless work promoting my new self-published book, (Phil's Marvellous Machine and Other Stories, available here). How did I manage the diversions, deviations and distractions? Scroll past the preamble to find out. The Story So Far... When linear television was at … Continue reading Week 3 of ditching the algorithms to curate my own classic TV lineup
Review: My Favourite Doctor Who Audio Spin-offs
Contains mild spoilers Jago and Litefoot Starring Christopher Benjamin and Trevor Baxter. 13 x 4-part full-cast series released as ‘box sets’ from 2010 – 2017 by various writers. Henry Gordon Jago (Benjamin) is a theatre impresario, master of ceremonies, a booker of talents, and king of the art of alliteration. His best friend is Professor … Continue reading Review: My Favourite Doctor Who Audio Spin-offs
Week 2: Build a Better TV Guide – Ditching the algorithms to curate my own lineup
Contains mild spoilers The schedule is a bit different this week, knocked off course by seemingly-endless work promoting my new self-published book, (Phil's Marvellous Machine and Other Stories, available here). How did I manage the diversions, deviations and distractions? Scroll past the preamble to find out. The Story So Far... When linear television was … Continue reading Week 2: Build a Better TV Guide – Ditching the algorithms to curate my own lineup
Retroscopic Round-up: My Week of Self-Curated Classic British TV
Contains mild spoilers When linear television was at its height in the UK, I had my own schedule. I’d flit between channels to catch my favourite programmes, and use things from my own video-cassette collection when there was nothing else worth watching. I had my own schedule: a personal routine of programmes, slotted in perfectly … Continue reading Retroscopic Round-up: My Week of Self-Curated Classic British TV
Obscure Drama – Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (Network DVD Review)
Contains mild spoilers I collect the DVDs released by Network, even things I wouldn't necessarily have a desire to watch, or even knew existed. I picked up Edward and Mrs Simpson starring Edward Fox, in my local charity shop. It was £1, so at the very least I'd get a DVD with a Network badge … Continue reading Obscure Drama – Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (Network DVD Review)
Savouring the sublime: Colvil and Soames (Full-Cast Audiobook review)
Contains mild spoilers Savouring things is a constant problem for me. It basically means delaying the moment I reach the end of a story—sometimes to the absolute limit. I was savouring Colvil and Soames, an audio drama starring Amanda Redman and Christopher Benjamin. But I was worried I’d lose the thrust of the story if … Continue reading Savouring the sublime: Colvil and Soames (Full-Cast Audiobook review)
Untangling Red Dwarf on Audio, Bill Bailey and more
It should perhaps come as no surprise that sci-fi comedy Red Dwarf is the latest TV series to get a soundtrack release. Available to download from November 20 on Audible, the soundtrack of Red Dwarf I to VIII comes amid a resurgence in TV soundtracks, joining recently released comedy classics Are You Being Served (February … Continue reading Untangling Red Dwarf on Audio, Bill Bailey and more
A coming of age story of green activism, wild invention and romance
Never judge a book by its cover, so the saying goes. But we all do it, don't we? That's why covers - first impressions - are important, and it's the reason why I opted for a re-design when launching my first ebook as a paperback. Writers are incorrigible perfectionists, and I'm no different. I couldn't resist having … Continue reading A coming of age story of green activism, wild invention and romance
