A Wonderful World

                                                     'A POWERFUL TALE OF A MOTHER'S SURVIVAL' Netflix have returned with another hit series ‘ Maid ’, which follows young mother Alex as she fights to care for her daughter Maddie while experiencing abuse, lack of support and income. Although it’s extremely hard hitting, covers some sensitive topics and has some very raw moments, it’s a beautiful and very honest portrayal of the reality of the circumstances for many and provides light and hope for those who may have been affected by similar situations.   It’s inspired by Stephanie Land’s 2019 Memoir, Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive , in which she shares about working as a maid while raising her daughter. It’s ‘inspired’ by rather than ‘based’ on, as many of the characters, happenings and storylines have been created for t...

SOME NEWLY RELEASED ENTERTAINMENT NEWS IN THE WORLD OF TELEVISION, FILM AND THEATRE.                                                     NETFLIX'S 'WEDNESDAY: Tim Burton is set to make his TV directing debut with a new series for Netflix, titled 'Wednesday.'  B ased on the iconic gothic   Addams Family   character, the dark comedy spin-off series will run for a total of 8 episodes.  Each episode has an expected run time of approximately 60 minutes. Known for his quirky and slightly gothic films including ' Edward Scissorhands', 'Sweeney Todd', 'Alice In Wonderland' and ' Corpse Bride', it's likely he will bring his unique style to the upcoming television series. In a recent announcement, Netflix described the series as a “sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at nevermore academy.” The char...

      After shedding light on the impact of Suranne Jones’ performance and the harrowing storyline shared in Episode 1 ‘I am Victoria’, I wanted to touch upon the other two episodes in the series. ‘I am’ is a mini-series on Channel 4, made up of three episodes with different casts tackling challenges and taboo topics faced throughout womanhood that are all emotionally raw, thought-provoking and personal. As addressed in a previous blog, episode one takes us through Victoria’s journey as she’s pushed towards a breakdown. The powerful performances, Dominic Savage’s detailed direction and step to bring such a sensitive subject matter to screen has been praised across the nation. It’s proven to be a success, Episode 2 and 3 haven’t been a disappointment either, they’ve continued to have a huge impact on viewers and the conversations had around women, wellbeing and taboo topics. Episode 2 ‘I am Danielle’, delves into consent, relationships and boundaries. Danielle is playe...

                                                   ‘CHANNEL 4's POWERFUL NEW MINI SERIES’ ‘I am…’ is a new three part series on Channel 4 of searingly truthful dramas. Each one hour episode follows a different protagonist and shares their story, each focusing on an important subject matter, supporting raising awareness and increasing conversation around such topics. ‘I am Victoria’ is the first of the three. Suranne Jones takes on the role of Victoria and does so phenomenally, her performance is extremely raw, honest and at times difficult to watch. Sharing Victoria’s story, a mother trying to do it all and hurtling towards a breakdown. We see her juggle multiple aspects of her life, finding it difficult to manage until it reaches a point of extremity. It’s a very moving and harrowing piece, equally important in raising awareness and discussion around m...

                                                 As June has come to an end and we move into July, I thought I’d pick out and share some of my favourite things the month, new things that I’ve tried or loves that I’ve gone back to throughout the four weeks. Music: I’m a lover of Spotify and creating playlists, but over the past months I’ve been finding myself sticking to what I know, returning to my go-to artists or albums and listening to them on repeat. While there’s nothing wrong with that, I thought I’d use this month as a chance to listen to some new music and test the waters with a range of artists. My favourite new album that I’ve listened to this month has to be Easy Life’s ‘Life’s a Beach’ . I was aware of their music and singles previously, but this is their debut album and I love it. It’s easy listening, and his spoken word style is reminiscent of Jamie...

                                                  3 FAVOURITE RECENT TV SERIES 1. 'THE PACT' - BBC 'An unexplained death - and five friends bound together by a fragile pact of silence. What really happened that night in the woods?'  If you like a drama, this series is for you. Crime thriller, six one hour episodes. The cast alone makes it worth watching, starring the likes of Julie Hesmondhalgh, Eddie Marsan, Laura Fraser and Gabrielle Creevy. As the story unfolds you're left on the edge of your seat, holding your breath or gasping in shock. Faced with hair raising twists and turns, the journey follows four female employees at a Brewery in Wales, exploring the overwhelmingly suspicious circumstances surrounding the murder of their boss Jack Evans.  At the start of the series, boss Jack organises a party, but after crossing the line with one of the worker...

                                                     “IMPACTING TELEVISION AND LIVES" A POIGNANT MASTERPIECE: ‘IT’S A SIN’ A deeply moving and important watch, certainly a Lockdown love for me. As many continue to wind down or switch off amid the pandemic by turning to some television, I recommend making this your next watch if you haven’t seen it already. It’s a Sin aired on Channel 4 at the end of January 2021, a series set in the 1980’s about a group of friends whose lives are changed irrevocably by the HIV/Aids Epidemic. It was written by Russell T. Davies and has been crowned the most watched drama series in Channel 4’s history. As an eighteen year old gay man when the crisis first broke out, the series is loosely inspired by Russell’s own life experiences. The accredited Screenwriter, known for creating other popular series including Doctor Wh...

                                                Amidst our third lockdown, television can provide a necessary comfort and distraction from the ongoing pandemic. Since Coronavirus initially hit and we entered our first lockdown, television viewing has increased. Of course, when caring for both our physical and mental health during lockdown it's important to consider how much time we're spending in front of our screens to avoid too much of a sedentary lifestyle and unnecessary health detriments, but dedicating some of our day to such a pastime isn't wholly a negative thing when it has also shown positive benefits. Spending a little time watching the newest series or our favourite classics can help us through this challenging time, a support tool in relaxing us, reassuring us during what can be an isolating and overwhelming time, and distracting us for a while from the ne...