TV and Culture Guide: What to Watch, Read and Listen to in June
If you're not patiently (or maybe not-so-patiently) waiting for the second instalment of Bridgerton, there's plenty more to watch, read and listen to this month
Love Island
ITV, ITV2 & ITVX
3rd June
Whether you love it or loathe it, it’s a sure-fire sign that summer is finally on its way – Love Island is back! We’re disheartened to see no contestants from the North East or Yorkshire on this year’s line-up but we’re banking on a bombshell.
Taskmasterclass
Channel 4
6th June
If you love Taskmaster, you’ll love this. The all-new Taskmasterclass is a series of Taskmaster specials looking back at previous challenges with former contestants. When you’re done with that, get ready for Junior Taskmaster later this year.
The Boys
Prime Video
13th June
The Boys are back in season four of this satirical superhero show. If you’re not up-to-date, it’s time to get binge-watching before 13th June. That's when the first three episodes will be released on Prime Video, with more to be available to stream each Thursday.
Bridgerton
Netflix
13th June
Dear Gentle Reader, your wait is almost over. Having watched the first part of Bridgerton season three in a matter of hours, we’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of part two to follow more of Colin and Penelope’s story. We’re hoping the next four episodes of Netflix's hit period drama live up to our expectations.
The Bear
Disney+
27th June
Fans of this series have been raving about it since it first aired in 2022 and season three is coming to Disney+ in the UK this June. If you’re planning to watch from the beginning, it follows a young chef who inherits his family’s sandwich shop after his brother’s death, leaving behind his world of working in Michelin-starred restaurants and facing unresolved debts, a run-down kitchen, and rough-around-the-edges staff.
We Loved
HIGH-RISE
J. G. Ballard
Now adapted for the big screen starring Tom Hiddleston, this dystopian thriller takes an eerie look at how quickly things can fall apart when we are left to our own devices. Inside a luxury apartment block, all hell is breaking loose between the affluent tenants, and with their shocking actions hidden from the world by whitewashed walls, it’s survival of the fittest. Prepare for an unflinching display of violence, hedonism and chaos.
RACHEL’S HOLIDAY
Marian Keyes
No, this is not your typical book about a holiday romance or a summer fling – this ‘holiday’ is actually a trip to rehab. Rachel Walsh is living in New York, striving for the ultimate cool-girl lifestyle, but an ‘accidental’ drug overdose ships her straight back to her hometown of Dublin and into rehab where she meets some interesting people (to say the least), all while mourning the loss of the love of her life in New York. Marian Keyes perfectly balances the seriousness of the situation with great wit and humour, all while throwing in a love story that you won’t be able to get enough of. A must-read.
THE GRIEF DOCTOR
Jack Anderson
A dazzling debut thriller from Sheffield-born writer Jack Anderson, this novel follows a genius scientist who claims to have developed a cure for one of the greatest sicknesses we can face – grief. But can she cure her newest patient, a grieving widower, or is her treatment nothing more than a lie? Jack is an up-and-coming writer based in Sheffield who is certainly one to keep an eye on, having already secured a further two-book deal for his new series offering a new take on the classic villain Moriarty.
Read More: LJ Ross Chooses a Historical Mystery Novel For May's Book Club
On Our To-Read List
The Midnight Feast
Lucy Foley
The bestselling author of The Hunting Party and The Guest List is back with a new page-turner set on the Dorset coast (released on 6th June). Guests gather for the opening of The Manor hotel, but it has a secret history, and old friends and enemies are creeping out of the shadows. This party is about to turn deadly.
One of Our Kind
Nicola Yoon
Described as Get Out meets The Stepford Wives, we’re highly anticipating the release of One of Our Kind on 13th June. When Jasmyn and her husband realise they're expecting their second child they move to Liberty, California, but Jasmyn struggles to find her place. Further into her pregnancy, she discovers a terrible secret that could threaten everything.
Death Rocks
LJ Ross
Alert, alert! New LJ Ross release incoming. Now out in paperback, you can get up to date on the DCI Ryan mysteries with this novel set at the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle. When a body is found near Hadrian’s Wall after a body was found beneath the ruins of the castle, the only suspect has an airtight alibi – this could be Ryan’s most dangerous case yet.
Pop Culture Podcasts
DISSECT
A music podcast that truly takes its time to unpick albums, one track at a time. Haven’t listened to Cowboy Carter yet? (Shame on you). Get all the context you need and then some with their break down of Beyoncé’s critically-acclaimed 2016 album Lemonade.
HOW DID THIS GET MADE
There’s nothing better than an outrageous film that everyone loves to hate (Sharknado, you will always be famous). Settle in and laugh along as the hosts take you through some of the worst films in history.
THE BROSKI REPORT
A broad and meandering exploration of the latest in pop culture as told by the one and only Brittany Broski. Hilarious, irreverent and deeply intimate, you’ll feel like you’re gossiping with your best friend.
Read More: Ilkley-Based Author L. D. Smithson on Her Latest Novel
New Albums You’ll Love
9 Sad Symphonies
Kate Nash
21st June
It’s been more than 15 years since Foundations was released and we’re not saying you need to update your karaoke song, but we do recommend you stream Kate Nash’s new album to hear the music she’s making now.
Songwriter
Johnny Cash
28th June
Johnny Cash’s legacy continues to live on. Featuring songs written solely by Johnny Cash more than 20 years after his death, Songwriter is a collection of 11 previously unreleased recordings that he demoed in 1993.
C,XOXO
Camila Cabello
28th June
The fourth studio album from American singer/songwriter Camila Cabello was announced by the Havana singer in May and fans have been eagerly awaiting its release, having already heard two singles – I Luv It and He Knows.
