jearnott

The Mitfords are one of, if not THE, most interesting families of the 20th century, so l've been waiting for this biopic for some time, even though much has been used in Nancy's biographic novels 'The Pursuit of Love' and 'Love in a Cold Climate', both of which have been adapted for television several times. Their story is seen through the eyes of the eldest Mitford, Nancy, the author and although the sisters bear no physical resemblance to the reality (that would be hoping for too much) the characters are fairly well defined, if a little bland in some cases. My grandfather met Nancy when a Bright Young Thing and took her to a party. I don't know what he would have made of this. What is missing is the distinctive Mitford drawl, which you can hear in interviews, obviously toned down for modern 'Estuary English' audiences. What redeems this series however is the love the sisters have for each other, even though often diametrically opposed to each other.

It's seven years since this compelling drama graced the screens of the BBC and U. K. television. Since then the series has be broadcast world-wide, screened on Netflix and countless other platforms, gaining countless fans and plaudits, however (at the time of writing 2014) we still wait for a second series. Other less worthy costume dramas (e.g. Sanditon) spawned even worse sequels than the original, but with such a stellar cast and talent behind this production, Taboo deserves more. I gather much of the funding for Taboo came from Tom Hardy himself (and costume dramas ain't cheap).

Let's just pray that a second series will one day be made - it will be well worth the wait.

This unsettling short horror story still remains etched on my memory almost 45 years after it was shown.

Part of the BBC's annual Series of Ghost stories at Christmas and the only one set in contemporary times, the story begins with the removal of one of the Avebury Stones which inconveniently lies in the garden of its new owners, Peter and Katherine, unleashing a supernatural force which affects Katherine, who starts to bleed uncontrollably.

It's a slow burner with a lot of nudity for the time, as Katherine tries to find the source of the bleeding and to stop it, which initially she seems to succeed.

Later the following morning, the stone is removed to reveal a skeleton hidden below, surrounded by daggers and a blade in the rib, roughly in the area of Katherine's bleeding, but by then it is too late. There is no reason given for the bleeding, other than retribution from the dead, as it is later revealed that the skeleton may be that of a witch, but enigmas are sometimes the best way to end a tale.