TV and Culture Guide: What to Watch, Read and Listen to in September
Staying in this September?
The Voice UK
ITV
North East singing duo Jen & Liv (now known as HUNNI) were crowned winners of The Voice UK’s 12th series, and the show returned to our screens on 31st August! Let’s see if we can bring the crown back to the North again this time around! Three new coaches will join will.i.am and Sir Tom Jones – LeAnn Rimes and McFly’s Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones.
Matt Baker: Travels With Mum And Dad
More 4
In this show, Easington-born Matt Baker takes his mum and dad on some memorable, easy-to-reach excursions around our region as they relive old memories and make new ones. In this new series airing on 2nd September, they’re taking a puppy along for the ride. This first episode will see the trio head to the Northumberland County Show – the North East’s biggest annual celebration of all things countryside.
The Perfect Couple
Netflix
Amelia is about to marry into one of the wealthiest families on Nantucket, until a shocking death derails the wedding and turns everyone into a suspect. We’re adding this limited series starring Nicole Kidman to our watch-list on 5th September.
Waterloo Road
BBC One
September means back to school and we’ll be taking a peek into Waterloo Road’s classrooms. The BBC drama returns to screens on 10th September and will see the arrival of Jason Manford as the school’s new headteacher, while Angela Griffin returns to direct the show. Nothing’s ever smooth sailing in this school and when a chain of unfortunate circumstances turns lives into chaos, there are tragic repercussions.
The Great British Bake Off
Channel 4
While there’s no official start date for this year’s return to The Great British Bake Off tent, the series usually begins at the end of September so here’s hoping! We can’t wait for the UK’s ultimate baking battle to be back on our screens.
We Loved
THE LONGEST GOODBYE
Mari Hannah
I love the Kate Daniels series of police procedurals. In fact, I just love all of Mari Hannah’s novels, so I was thrilled when the Northumberland-based writer released The Longest Goodbye in January. Three years ago police officer Georgina Ioannau was murdered, and her killers were never brought to justice. Now the prime suspects have been shot dead within hours of their return to the UK. Kate must confront her own past mistakes, and put her career, and her team’s lives, on the line. Hanging onto every word, I was gripped by this story which was arguably Mari’s most emotive tale yet. Twists and turns kept me glued to the pages and, of course being set in the North, its gets a big thumbs up from me! This series just keeps getting better and better.
SHARP OBJECTS
Gillian Flynn
I was late to the Gillian Flynn party but I’m thrilled to be here now and after devouring Gone Girl and Dark Places, I had high expectations for Sharp Objects – and this is without doubt my favourite yet. We follow the troubled Camille Parker as she returns to her small hometown in Missouri to report on the disappearances of two young girls. The longer she stays in town with her estranged, neurotic mother and teenage sister with a penchant for cruelty, the more the secrets of her past begin to work their way to the surface. Will this be a homecoming she can survive? Expect all of Gillian’s usual twists and intense characters in what is her best work yet.
THE DARK WIVES
Ann Cleeves
The new instalment in the popular Vera Stanhope detective series from North East author Ann Cleeves sees a body found outside a care home for troubled teens. The victim? A staff member at the home who never showed up for work. The lead suspect is Chloe, a 14-year-old who has disappeared without a trace, but DI Vera Stanhope can’t quite bring herself to believe that she’s the true culprit, even if the evidence is compelling. When a second body is found at the Three Dark Wives in Northumberland, fact and fiction begin to blur, and Vera’s instincts tell her that Chloe is at the centre of it all.
To Add To Your To-Read List
WHAT A WAY TO GO
Bella Mackie
12th September
Bella Mackie is killing it, with her best-selling book How to Kill Your Family making it to Netflix as an eight-part drama starring Anya Taylor-Joy. Whilst you wait, why not dive into her new book? A whodunnit begins with a millionaire finance maestro coming to a grisly demise at his own birthday party.
THE GOLDEN LINNET
Alexander Armstong
12th September
This debut children’s novel comes from local legend Alexander Armstrong and is packed with ancient magic and secret societies, perfect for fans of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter.
INTERMEZZO
Sally Rooney
24th September
Sally Rooney, the author of Normal People, returns with another moving story about grief, love and family this month. Two grieving brothers, a Dublin lawyer and a competitive chess player, find themselves in a period of desire, despair and possibility.
Three Podcasts to Get Lost In
ALICE ISN’T DEAD
A truck driver embarks on a wild journey across America in pursuit of the wife she had believed to be dead. Along the way, our driver encounters everything from towns lost to time to crazy conspiracy theorists and deadly killers.
WELCOME TO NIGHT VALE
Told in the style of a small town community radio show (complete with weather reports and news announcements) Welcome To Night Vale is one part X Files and one part comedy show, slowly revealing the bizarre goings on of this isolated desert town.
LIMETOWN
Ten years ago, hundreds of people disappeared from a small town in Tennessee without a trace. Not satisfied with what few answers were given, reporter Lia Haddock won’t rest until she uncovers the truth behind what happened to the people of Lime
What We’re Listening To
The Forest is the Path
Snow Patrol
We recently saw Snow Patrol perform at Hardwick Festival and now we’re counting down the days to their release of their new album on 13th September, which includes the magical new new single, The Beginning.
Brat
Charli XCX
Battling it out for this year’s Mercury Prize Album of the Year is Brat by Charli XCX. Find out if it’s a winner on 5th September. Since its release in June it’s been taking socials by storm and Brat summer is officially the vibe. Have a listen to see why.
Tom and Lauren Are Going OOT
BBC Radio 4
Gateshead-based Candle & Bell announced the launch of its first comedy series for BBC Radio 4 last month. Tom and Lauren Are Going OOT stars Lauren Pattison and Tom Machell and follows the misadventures of a millennial couple from Newcastle. Catch up now and listen out for guest appearances from Louise Young and Julian Clary.
