Robert Jackman

Covid virtue-signalling has infected our TV dramas

From our UK edition

Not for the first time in its history, Eastenders managed to make a bit of a stir last week. In a break from the more harrowing stuff, viewers were treated to the sight of the ever-sprightly Patrick Trueman waltzing into the Minute Mart to jubilantly announce he’d received his second Covid vaccine. ‘Good for you!

The must-see foreign language films to watch

From our UK edition

Fancy a more sophisticated slice of entertainment to lighten up the last few weekends of lockdown? Here’s our pick of the best foreign language films you might not have seen yet: Minari, Amazon (to rent) The extremely moving Minari triggered a bit of a debate when it was first nominated for Best Foreign Film at this

Labour’s TikTok paranoia

From our UK edition

As if the Labour party didn’t have enough to worry about with its withering opinion poll ratings, yesterday’s Times reveals that party officials are warning MPs of another potential danger: malicious TikTok parodies. The paper reports that Sir Keir himself is one of several Labour MPs whose names have been used by hard-left TikTok pranksters

Fake views: the problem with Netflix documentaries

From our UK edition

Netflix gets a lot of stick for being woke these days – and not just from this parish. And when you look at the network’s recent signings, it’s not hard to see why. From hiring Michelle Obama to present kids’ shows to splashing out on the Sussexes, Netflix executives don’t exactly hide their worldview. But for

After Lupin: 8 French dramas to watch this weekend

From our UK edition

Netflix’s reimagining of the Arsene Lupin franchise has been quite the success, with an estimated 70 million households streaming the series last month. But with some months to go until the next batch of episodes, Francophiles will need something to tide them over. Here are our suggestions: Le Bureau ”  France’s rather brooding answer to

Is it worth investing in IPOs?

From our UK edition

Will 2021 be London’s year of the IPO? After a quiet few years for the FTSE – a sharp contrast with the NASDAQ’s seemingly unstoppable IPO mania – it looks like things might finally be on the turn, as the City looks forward to its biggest list of debutantes in years. Indeed the much anticipated

What to watch on Netflix this spring

From our UK edition

With lockdown looking set to continue for weeks on end, more of us have become resigned to more time indoors – reluctantly or otherwise. Thankfully Netflix, as ever, is ready for the occasion, with a slew of new releases scheduled over the next two months. Here’s our guide to what’s coming up: Sky Rojo, 19 March ”  As

The show must go on: theatre to look forward to this year

From our UK edition

With the vaccine rollout underway, the theatre world is betting on a triumphant return in the spring – and this time for good. If, like me, you can’t wait to get back to the West End, here are eight shows to book ahead for (whilst keeping your fingers firmly crossed for the vaccine rollout). Good

The con artist on screen: from American Hustle to The Sting

From our UK edition

Gone Girl star and former Spectator contributor Rosamund Pike steps into the shoes of a con artist in Netflix’s new original, I Care A Lot. Just like serial killers, swindlers and hustlers have long held a fascination for film-makers and audiences alike – not least during the golden age of Hollywood. If you appreciate a

Who are the Reddit traders?

From our UK edition

The anarchic traders of Reddit stunned stock-markets this week, boosting the share price of struggling retailer GameStop by some 400 per cent. It’s the latest stunt from WallStreetBets – an infamous Reddit page for novice millennial traders (which was featured in The Spectator last February). But who are the Redditors behind the great Wall Street

Serial killers on screen: from Nilsen to The Night Stalker

From our UK edition

As the success of The Serpent and The Pembrokeshire Murders shows, many of us remain oddly fascinated by serial killers. But for all its popularity, the serial killer format can be tricky to get right – with many coming across as distasteful, clichéd or overly sensationalised. Here are eight recent shows – both dramas and documentaries

Madam Vice President: who’s who in the Harris clan

From our UK edition

Nearly three months since the US election, Kamala Harris will soon make history as the first woman to be sworn in as Vice-President. As the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, Harris has made much of her historic background. And not always without controversy – the recent ‘fweedom’ gaffe being a case in point.  So

8 films that began as plays

From our UK edition

Back in the golden age of Hollywood, American’s theatres provided a steady supply of would-be hits ripe for adaptation. These days, fewer plays make it to the silver screen but those that do usually prove their worth. Here are eight recent picks well worth watching:  Una (2016), Amazon – to rent  Blackbird, a jet-black thriller

Who’s who in the Biden clan

From our UK edition

The electoral college has confirmed it: the US will have its 46th president on 21 January next year – Joseph R Biden Jnr. While Scranton Joe might not have much in common with his predecessor in many departments, there are (some) similarities when it comes to their personal lives. As grandfathers in their 70s, both

What to watch on Amazon Prime this winter

From our UK edition

Looking for something new to watch on Amazon Prime this Christmas? Here’s our guide to the best shows and films arriving over the winter season: Tenet, 15 December (to rent or buy) Christopher Nolan’s time-bending venture – which revolves around the concept of bullets fired backwards in time – may have failed to reverse the

Are ministers right to back gene therapy?

From our UK edition

It isn’t for government to ‘pick winners’, according to the ruling philosophy of Conservative industrial policy over the past three decades. Yet ministers have made an exception in the field of gene therapy. Three years ago, the government’s Life Sciences: Industrial Strategy identified it as an area in which public investment might reap rich rewards

Seven films to help you escape

From our UK edition

With the November shutdown and talk of Christmas restrictions, you could be forgiven for wanting a good dose of escapism right now. If that’s you, here’s our guide to the best films to watch when you’re feeling fed up and want a break from it all: North by Northwest (1959) Preserved by the United States

The best Scandi Noir to watch this winter

From our UK edition

With the dark evenings rolling in and the headlines sounding gloomier than ever, what better way to enter winter than by getting stuck into a good Scandi noir? Once the preserve of late nights on BBC Four, the genre has become a bankable success for streaming services – and a source of friendly(ish) competition between