As the new year settles in, British screens and speakers are set to be dominated by a thrilling mix of returning favourites and exciting new discoveries. From the psychological mind games of a hit BBC reality show to the genre-defying sounds of a celebrated indie band, this week's cultural highlights offer something for every taste.
Television Triumphs: Deception, Drama, and Documentary
The television event of the week is undoubtedly the return of The Traitors to BBC iPlayer. Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, the fourth series of the 'civilian' version introduces an audacious new wrinkle designed to keep both contestants and viewers guessing. Critics have praised the producers for not resting on their laurels after the success of the celebrity edition, instead opting to make the format even more unpredictable. The next episode airs on Saturday.
For those seeking natural wonder, Sir David Attenborough presents Wild London, a stunning BBC special that explores the capital's hidden wildlife, from urban foxes to peregrine falcons. Meanwhile, fans of high-stakes espionage can rejoice as The Night Manager returns to BBC iPlayer after a decade, with Tom Hiddleston reprising his role as the enigmatic Jonathan Pine.
ITVX offers a dose of escapist fun with The Hunting Wives, a star-studded series described as 'perfect trash' filled with blackmail, murder, and intrigue. For a more intense historical experience, the docudrama Titanic Sinks Tonight on BBC iPlayer uses firsthand accounts to create a visceral sense of being aboard the doomed ship.
From Big Screen to Bookshelf: This Week's Standouts
In cinemas, the film generating significant buzz is Song Sung Blue. This drama features Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson portraying a real-life couple who found fame with a Neil Diamond tribute act. Reviewers warn that its feel-good surface belies a plot full of savage twists that will leave audiences gripping their seats.
Documentary lovers are treated to Frederick Wiseman's epic Menus-Plaisirs: Les Troisgros, a four-hour, immersive look inside the meticulous workings of a triple-Michelin-starred French restaurant. On the streaming front, Sky Documentaries profiles a comedy legend with I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not, while True Story hosts the poignant documentary A French Youth, following bullfighters confronting racism in southern France.
The literary world welcomes a standout debut novel from short story writer Daniyal Mueenuddin, titled This Is Where the Serpent Lives. It has been praised for its vibrant portrayal of Pakistan and its fluent, often humorous prose. Other notable releases include Nadia Davids' colonial-era novel Cape Fever and Siddharth Kara's harrowing non-fiction account of a slave ship, The Zorg.
Album of the Week: Dry Cleaning Expand Their Sound
The musical highlight this week comes from the acclaimed left-field quartet Dry Cleaning. Their new album, Secret Love, out on 9 January, marks a significant evolution for the band. Moving beyond their initial 'sprechgesang' novelty, the group has developed a more expansive sound that provides a rich backdrop for Florence Shaw's distinctive spoken-word narratives of everyday life spiralling into chaos.
Further musical treats include Riversphere Vol 1 from saxophonist Iain Ballamy, an exquisite flow of genre and improvisation, and a six-disc collection of The Unreleased Recordings from the late, great pianist Radu Lupu, released to mark what would have been his 80th birthday.
With such a diverse and high-quality array of culture on offer, from the treacherous roundtable of The Traitors to the innovative soundscapes of Dry Cleaning, audiences have plenty to engage with as January unfolds.
