Robert Jackman

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! I’m due my first one later today,’ replied the shop-keeper, before dismissing the objections of a vaccine hesitant customer (called Karen, of all things). As you can imagine, the scene went down like a cup of cold sick with conspiratorially-minded types online. But you don’t have to believe odd things about Bill Gates to ask the more obvious question: which is why soap operas are tackling the pandemic in the first place. I get it.

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) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ0gFidlro8 The extremely moving Minari triggered a bit of a debate when it was first nominated for Best Foreign Film at this year’s Golden Globes, with various Hollywood luminaries protesting that the (largely) Korean-language immigrant story, set in rural Arkansas, deserved to be considered for the main prize. And in many ways, they’re right: you’d be hard-pressed to find a more stirring portrayal of the American dream.

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 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTkMm5DtZEU " France’s rather brooding answer to Spooks follows an elite unit within the country’s intelligence services charged with managing complex undercover missions in unfriendly territories.

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 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD0i_1BWhYM " As tens of millions of addicts await the final instalment of his smash hit Money Heist (expected to land on Netflix later this year), Spaniard Alex Pina bridges the gap with the inaugural series of his latest show - a mile-a-minute glitzy thriller about three escaped prostitutes taking on pimps, patriarchy and everything in between.

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 Harold Pinter Theatre, 21 April - 17 July David Tennant stars in Good David Tennant returns to theatreland to take on the leading role in CP Taylor’s seminal play about a liberal-minded professor and dutiful husband who finds himself seduced by the rise of National Socialism in 1930s Germany.

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 decent grift, here are eight of the best cons to hit our screens: Hustlers (2019, Prime) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyQ9uGoHSwQ Inauguration darling Jennifer Lopez gives a decidedly unpresidential turn as Ramona Vega: the alpha female in a troupe of Manhattan strippers.

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 - that strike the right balance:  Des,  ITV Player  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvWaTtE7rpk ITV’s gripping portrayal of the cold and calculating Dennis Nilsen (known in the red top press as the Muswell Hill Murderer) flips the format on its head by starting with the last thing you’d expect: a confession.

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  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beC3-U-sLF0 Blackbird, a jet-black thriller about a tense reunion between a twenty-something woman and the man who groomed her as a teenager, caused a storm at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2005 before enjoying sell-out runs in the West End and on Broadway. Despite the name-change, Benedict Andrews’ Una is an extremely faithful adaptation of the original, perfectly capturing its darkness, ambiguity and underlying menace.

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 men preside over large broods, who have helped build the family political brand - and who have generated their fair share of media intrigue along the way. Here’s the guide to who’s who in the Biden clan: (Dr) Jill BidenDr Jill Biden (Image: Getty) An English professor with nearly two million followers on Instagram, Jill Biden is no stranger to the White House.

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) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZGcmvrTX9M Christopher Nolan’s time-bending venture - which revolves around the concept of bullets fired backwards in time - may have failed to reverse the decline of the cinema industry when it opened in theatres earlier this year. But now the would-be blockbuster gets a second chance to deliver on the hype when it arrives on Amazon Prime, as a rental offering, just in time for Christmas. Will the head-scratching plot make any more sense after a few helpings of seasonal mulled wine? You never know.Uncle Frank https://www.youtube.com/watch?

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) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx0QuZJVTFE Preserved by the United States Congress as a film of cultural significance, Hitchcock’s 1959 spy caper has been dazzling moviegoers for much of the past century, currently holding an enviable 99 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. And quite frankly, its praises have been sung more than enough. Having said that, it’s worth noting that this classic sparkles just that little bit more during lockdown.

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 the Nordic nations. Here are eight of the best recent offerings currently available on Netflix: Bordertown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjOFzeVynVY Brooding crime drama Bordertown has attracted praise from such luminaries as horror supremo Stephen King, as well as smashing viewing records in its native Finland.