TV and Culture Guide: What to Watch, Read and Listen to in October
Autumn has arrived!
Taskmaster
Channel 4
If you haven’t already been dedicating Thursday nights to Taskmaster, what have you been doing? We’ve been loving Yorkshire-born comedian Rosie Jones’s antics but will she be crowned the winner by the Taskmaster, Greg Davies?
Strictly Come Dancing
BBC One
Of course we’ve been backing local lass Tasha Ghouri to win the Glitterball trophy since Strictly returned to our screens this autumn, but how amazing has Chris McCausland been? The return of Strictly also begins the countdown to Christmas… no, it’s never too early! Our Christmas Fairs are just around the corner.
The Cleaner
BBC One & BBC iPlayer
We loved the first two series of this comedy written by and starring Greg Davies, with a fabulous cast and binge-worthy episodes. After CSI have done their job, the cleaner (Greg’s character Wicky) mops up the mess, but nothing ever goes to plan. Watch series one and two before the third airs on 4th October.
Big Brother
ITV2 & ITVX
Now hosted by AJ Odudu and Will Best, Big Brother is back! It was only six months ago that David Potts was crowned the winner of Celebrity Big Brother but we’ve been craving more ever since. We’re excited to see inside the revamped house and find out who this year’s contestants are when they head inside on 6th October.
Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare
Netflix
If you loved the podcast of the same name, you’ll want to watch this Netflix documentary. Kirat falls for a man she meets online and finds herself swept up in a virtual relationship that isn’t quite what it seems. Add it to your list and watch from 16th October.
ETERNAL
Lisa Scottoline
Beginning in 1937 Rome, this is the story of three best friends (Elisabetta, Sandro and Marco) and their families. From the naive, youthful and joyous start, the story develops into a complex coming-of-age tale as we learn the true extent of Rome (and Italy’s) fate during the rise of fascism and antisemitism during WWII. With friendships growing into love, Sandro and Marco fight for Elisabetta’s heart. The rise of Mussolini’s power is just the beginning for their families; the Germans occupy Italy, and through Sandro’s family, we watch the horrors of the race laws unfold. As the war comes to an end and years pass, can their friendship – and more importantly their love – survive?
WAVE
Sonali Deraniyagala
This memoir wastes no time throwing you straight into the shock and chaos of the tsunami that hit Indonesia, Sri Lanka and other locations in December 2004. In the aftermath of the disaster, Sonali discovers that despite her miraculous survival, she has lost her husband, both of her children and her parents in one fell swoop. What unfolds is a tale of perseverance and learning to live with unimaginable loss as Sonali slowly begins to pick her way through the happy memories of her life, from meeting her husband at Cambridge to the birth of her children. This is not an easy read, but certainly worth it.
The Blue Hour
Paula Hawkins
8th October
From the the bestselling author of The Girl on the Train and A Slow Fire Burning, comes another fantastic thriller that we can’t wait to get lost in. When a small bone at the centre of a famous sculpture is revealed to be human, three people are connected.
What Does It Feel Like?
Sophie Kinsella
8th October
Novelist Eve wakes up in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there. She’s had a tumour removed from her brain and must learn to walk, talk and write again. This ‘loosely autobiographical novella’ is a celebration of life through Sophie Kinsella’s trademark wit.
Three Podcasts For Amateur Sleuths
MORBID
As one of the hosts is an autopsy technician, episodes of this podcast have a level of insight that other true crime podcasts don’t. We recommend starting with the four part episode on H. H. Holmes, the notorious conman and serial killer.
SOMEONE KNOWS SOMETHING
Each season of this podcast follows a different cold case as host and filmmaker David Ridgen goes in depth to investigate what happened, from visiting locations to interviewing people involved. Season one focuses on a murder from David’s hometown.
UNDISCLOSED
A different take on classic true crime, this podcast investigates wrongful convictions, combing back over closed cases and finding new evidence which never made it to court. So far, the podcast has helped to exonerate 10 defendants
What We’re Listening To
Moon Music
Coldplay
Coldplay are back with a new album on 4th October – the sequel to From Earth with Love on their Music of the Spheres project. Congrats to those who managed to get tickets to see them next year!
What Do You Believe In?
Rag'n'Bone Man
Get ready for new Rag'n'Bone Man music on 18th October when he releases his new album. If you’ve been loving the title track released earlier this year, you’ll have an idea of what to expect.
Tension II
Kylie Minogue
Tension II is the upcoming 17th studio album by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. Yes, 17th! We expect high energy tracks and more chart toppers. Listen from 18th October.
