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Spectator
21 hours ago
- General
- Spectator
Goodbye to the letters of introduction
Re-reading Agatha Christie's A Murder is Announced this week (it's the summer holidays! I can relax like anyone else!), I was struck by one of Miss Marple's wise pronouncements: And that's really the particular way the world has changed since the war. Take this place, Chipping Cleghorn, for instance. It's very much like St Mary Mead where I live. Fifteen years ago one knew who everybody was. The Bantrys in the big house – and the Hartnells and the Price Ridleys and the Weatherbys… They were people whose fathers and mothers and grandfathers and grandmothers, or whose aunts and uncles, had lived there before them. If somebody new came to live there, they brought letters of introduction, or they'd been in the same regiment or served in the same ship as someone there already. If anybody new – really new – really a stranger – came, well, they stuck out – everybody wondered about them and didn't rest till they found out. Since 1950, when the book was published, letters of introduction have all but vanished, as anachronistic as spats and stove-pipe hats. I wonder when the last one was written, gravely bestowed on its recipient, and carried reverently (in a battered briefcase, no doubt), bearing hopes of social or financial success. Decorous and polite, they hark back to an ordered world, and the exchange of reliable information about identity. A tip from the right person could be a conduit into Society, or smooth your way into a job. They boast an ancient lineage: the Ancient Egyptians used them; the Greeks had a manual which explained how to write them; Cicero got worked up about their formulaic nature. Important figures such as Benjamin Franklin were besieged by suppliants desiring their recommendations. A good letter of introduction was like a passport. If a young man pitched up on your doorstep bearing one from your aunt or a bishop, you'd have a solid indicator of his trustworthiness. Further afield, they really were passports: the travel writer Patrick Leigh-Fermor bore letters which granted him passage to the crumbling palaces of Middle European aristocrats. In practice, they weren't always successful: there's a 19th-century painting by the artist David Wilkie which shows him approaching a potential patron with a letter of introduction. It's worthless, as the patron has no interest in him. A more sinister application of this custom enabled the introducer to keep tabs on the introduced: an early form of an AirTag. When Lord Chesterfield gave letters of introduction to his son, Philip Stanhope, he warned 'at Leipsig I shall have an hundred invisible spies upon you; and shall be exactly informed of everything that you do, and of almost everything that you say.' They could have fatal consequences, at least in fiction: in The Iliad, the hero Bellerophon carries a missive to a king, which he believes is a letter of introduction. In fact, it contains instructions for his murder. Benign or not, their absence, says Marple, is a factor of instability. In A Murder is Announced, identity is fluid. Various suspects present themselves as one thing, only to be revealed as impostors. In Miss Marple's pre-lapsarian world, this would have been nigh on impossible (although her view may be rosy-tinted). Even so, that ordered, hierarchical universe, in which you knew everyone from lord of the manor to muck-spreading labourer, has been smashed by the vast machinery of war. Letters of introduction still eke out an existence in electronic form, though, like everything technology touches, they are much debased. In my twenties, if you were visiting somewhere new, whether in the UK or across the world, you'd be cc'ed into an excitable email from a mutual friend. 'Hi John, Philip's staying in Dorset for three weeks, it would be lovely if you could see him! He's not a murderer!' You would reply, 'Nice to e-meet you!', which is one of the cringiest phrases to have been spawned in recent times. Worse are those now conducted via a hurried WhatsApp: 'Just introducing Whizz here, who was at nursery school (I think???) with me. He'll be in London for two days in October. Have fun!' Little real information is given; we rely on the probity of the mutual friend and, if we are snoopy, on the internet. Indeed, even sage old Marple could not have foreseen that. We have a much stranger situation than the one she bewails. Despite the reams of information available online, we have little to no guarantee of its truth. People lie on their CVs (even, or perhaps especially, prominent ones: ahem, Rachel Reeves). Curated or locked social media posts baffle and frustrate the inquisitive. Some people eschew social media altogether. Does that make them suspicious, or not? A message purporting to be from 'someone who wants to connect', or even one from a close friend or relative, could be written by an LLM, or be a front for a crook waiting to siphon off your life savings. How then, are we to know when a new person in our lives is the real deal? Perhaps we will be reverting to St Mary Mead (though the people in 'the big house' are now more likely to be London blow-ins, and the plumbers will be earning more than the toffs). Maybe the physical letter of introduction, as opposed to its ersatz electronic counterpart, will return. Personal connections will become even more important than they already are. Aunts and bishops will once more be in high demand, while high-profile figures may once more be inundated with claims for their (literal) seal of approval. Printed on headed writing paper, or even hand-written, and sealed in a thick envelope. These may be the only reliable way to confirm your bona fides. And who knows, they might gain their own social cachet, too. Time to start investing in sealing wax.
AU Financial Review
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- AU Financial Review
Bookish is a British crime drama, but not as you know it
There's something about the British and a good mystery. Maybe it's the afternoon teas or the fog that sets in. Regardless, the land of Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple is synonymous with tales of intrigue. Another in this grand tradition is Bookish, Mark Gatiss' finely crafted six-part period drama. Set in postwar London, this is a clever whodunit consisting of three full-bodied yarns told neatly across two episodes apiece. A polymath equally at home in front of and behind the camera, Gatiss first became known as a creator of The League of Gentlemen and for his turn as Mycroft Holmes in the BBC's Sherlock.
Times
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
What's on TV and radio this weekend — ELO at the BBC
BBC2, 8.05pmGiven their very last concert takes place next Saturday (in Hyde Park), it feels right that the pop pioneers from Birmingham's turn for the full BBC archive treatment. Among the performances filmed in front of Auntie's cameras are the hits 10538 Overture, Don't Bring Me Down, Livin' Thing, Sweet Talkin' Woman and, of course, the big one, Mr Blue Sky. It is followed by a welcome repeat of Mr Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne and ELO (BBC2, 9.05pm), a sprightly film from 2012 that opens with Paul McCartney saying of the singer/songwriter: 'Funny, shy, ever so clever, great musician and a total twat.' He's clearly joshing because, while ELO owed much of their sound to the Beatles, the Liverpool legend is generous in his praise for Lynne, as both man and talent. Ben Dowell • Lights out: ELO announce final concert at Hyde Park BBC4, 8pmOf all the big and small-screen Miss Marples there was none better than Joan Hickson. When she took up the knitting needles in the 1980s her look as well as her calm, quizzical, precise delivery was so perfect it is hard not to imagine her voice whenever you read the books. Ahead of a repeat of her debut (The Body in the Library, BBC4, 8.10pm), the producer George Gallaccio remembers his work on the series, explaining why the stories were perfect for television and what a pleasure it was to work with Hickson — well, TV history would have to be rewritten if he said otherwise. Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley's theme tune wasn't bad either. BD • Jeremy Vine: Can an AI Agatha Christie help me to write a crime bestseller? BBC1, 12.20pm/7.15pm What may be a groan inducing summer for non sports fans is certainly hotting up with live tennis from Wimbledon (BBC1, 12.20pm/7.15pm) as the players battle for a place in the second week. Also on today's sporting menu is the start of the Tour de France (ITV1, 11.45am) and the fourth day's play in a lively second test match between England and India (Sky Sports, 11am start). BD • Wimbledon 2025 queue tips and secrets: how to get tickets ITV1, 7pmTake your mind back to that glorious England win against Germany in 2022, the team congaing into the press conference and the sense that women's football had the status it deserved. Since then the team has slightly stuttered and there have been some high-profile departures, including the bullish goalkeeper Mary Earps. But we have a chance t. Laura Woods presents the Lioness's opening game against France, with Emma Hayes, Karen Carney and Laura Georges in the studio and Seb Hutchinson and Lucy Ward on commentary detail. BD BBC iPlayerEschewing the images of tsunamis and collapsing buildings that tend to accompany most speculative dramas about global warming, the Danish director Thomas Vinterberg's seven-part miniseries is far less emotionally manipulative but just as chilling. Set in a world where rising sea levels have forced the entire population of Denmark to evacuate their country and seek asylum elsewhere, Families Like Ours asks difficult questions about immigration, self-survival and privilege but never once does it feel didactic or manipulative. Andrew Male • The best films to watch at home this week Channel 4, 10pmWith the reunion tour underway, here's a showing of Mat Whitecross's riotous rock-doc, which traces the rise of Oasis from working-class Manchester to their triumphant concerts at Knebworth in 1996. The film follows the executive producer Asif Kapadia's no-talking-heads ethos, although a more helpful comparison is with Ron Howard's Beatles documentary, Eight Days a Week — Noel and Liam Gallagher have the same comedic instincts and disarming honesty that made the Fab Four such luminous subjects. (117min) Ed Potton BBC1, 10.20pmAn Oscar-winning performance from Will Smith defines nearly every scene of this biopic. He plays Richard Williams, the father of tennis champions Venus (Saniyya Sidney) and Serena Williams (Demi Singleton), in a movie that is authorised by the Williams family and could so easily have been a trite account of ambition, moxie and devotion. Smith's Richard, however, scotches any claims of lazy bias. He's a mercurial figure, complex and irascible; an ornery martinet one minute, a dewy eyed guru the next. (144min) Kevin Maher • The best films of 2025 so far, as chosen by our critics Radio 4, 8pmA century after the publication of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf, John Kampfner — whose Jewish father fled Czechoslovakia in 1939 — looks at its origins, impact and how the book is still influencing readers today. It was republished in 2016, heavily annotated by historians, and Kampfner is struck by how much its spirit lives on in digital spaces and political rhetoric. Clair Woodward • The best podcasts and radio shows of the week BBC2, 9pm/10pmIn late October 1984, Bob Geldof was sitting at home with his wife Paula Yates when they caught Michael Buerk's BBC news report from the 'biblical' famine that had struck Ethiopia. The singer's determination to do something to stop people dying led to the Band Aid single, Do They Know It's Christmas?, and on July 13, 1985, the intercontinental rock spectacular Live Aid. As a story that exists at the intersection of politics, culture and celebrity, it's fabulously rich ground for documentary-makers and this excellent three-part series locates all the drama, poignancy and — despite the human tragedy on display — absurdity of this complicated, controversial knot of rock history. Midge Ure, Bono, Sting and Geldof share their memories, while there are also contributions from George W Bush and President Obasanjo of Nigeria. Victoria Segal • Tony Blair: Bono and Geldof saved millions of lives with Live Aid Channel 4, 8pmIt's been 20 years since Jimmy Doherty first came to the public's attention as an agricultural neophyte setting up his own farm. Then, the childhood friend of Jamie Oliver was wholly committed to rare breed pigs; now, he and his wife, Michaela, are also focused on conservation, their Suffolk farm housing brown bears, tapirs, crocodiles and camels. While he admits his choices have been eccentric — 'I mean, who has a giant anteater?' — this series follows him as he takes on a truly wild task: rehousing two polar bears who are about to lose their home in Sweden. Doherty and his team start building Europe's largest polar bear reserve to cater for their complex needs, but there is a distinct lack of We Bought a Zoo sentiment as the realities of bringing huge predators to Suffolk become crushingly apparent. VS Channel 4, 2.30pmThe Red Bull team, home of reigning F1 champ Max Verstappen, conceded defeat in the world championship last weekend after Verstappen crashed out of the Austrian Grand Prix. The race ended in a 1-2 for McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, with Piastri holding a slender lead over his teammate in the drivers' standings. The Bristol-born Norris will look to press on with his title charge in front of 150,000 passionate supporters in his home Grand Prix at Silverstone today. Joe Clay • Read more of the latest Formula 1 news and analysis 5, 9pmSome people approach turning 40 with dread, but it's particularly acute for Emma Averill (Vicky McClure) in this dark six-part psychological thriller, first shown on Paramount+ last year. Her mother suffered from insomnia, eventually having a violent psychotic breakdown on the night of her 40th birthday. History seems to be repeating itself as Emma experiences severe insomnia as she approaches the landmark age. The twists are hardly plausible but McClure is reliably good as a woman on the edge. JC ITVXOne of Disney+'s first UK-made series is now on ITVX. J Blakeson's Culprits is a darkly comic eight-part crime thriller. The action begins three years after a crew of elite criminals have pulled off a daring heist. They have divvied up the spoils and gone their separate ways, but soon find themselves targeted by a ruthless assassin who starts picking them off, one by one. Nathan Stewart-Jarrett leads the cast as Joe, a former criminal trying to put his past behind him to live the American dream as a suburban dad, with Gemma Arterton as a notorious crime boss and Eddie Izzard as the mysterious Vincent. JC • 25 new TV shows to look for in 2025 — and the best returning favourites BBC1, 10.30pmThe wisecracking cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) finds himself once again facing the bad guys and seemingly insurmountable odds. It is Christmas Eve, and an inconsiderate rogue military cadre has taken over an airport and is threatening to crash the aircraft in the holding pattern, one by one, unless its needs are met. It's a solid sequel, bigger in spectacle but not the equal of the first film. Willis has a nice line in vulnerable machismo — a combination that shouldn't work but does. (123min) Wendy Ide Channel 4, 11.05pmDaniel Craig has an indecent amount of fun playing Benoit Blanc, a southern sleuth with a deep-fried accent, in Rian Johnson's superlative Agatha Christie remix, which takes familiar ideas and upends them. Chief among those is the 'big-house murder', where a wealthy patriarch (Christopher Plummer) is dispatched in the dead of night, leaving a trail of clues that implicate his entire family, played by a quality cast including Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson and Toni Collette. The film unfolds with precision timing — the plot twists arrive at just the right moments. (130min) KM • Read more film reviews, guides about what to watch and interviews Radio 2, midnightIn a three-part series that is part of the Radio 2 Loves Jazz season, Myrie celebrates the great male voices of the genre by interviewing relatives of the jazz kings. In today's programme Ray Charles Jr discusses growing up with a superstar father and his struggles with heroin addiction. Later in the series Myrie interviews Nat King Cole's nephew and Enrico Tomasso. Tomasso befriended Louis Armstrong when he was a child and the pair went on to have a lifelong relationship. Also today, the Soul Jazz Summit (8pm) features the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Guy Barker Big Band plus guest artists including Damien Lewis, Emeli Sandé and Curtis Stigers. CW
Telegraph
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Amsterdam is celebrating 750 years – here's how to enjoy a summer weekend in the city
Amsterdam is a city that celebrates individuality, encourages quirkiness and delights in difference. It has a long history of riches and rebelliousness. The glory-days of the 17th century, the über-cosy 1800s, the counter-culture explosion of the 1960s – they've all left tidelines along Amsterdam's canals: opulent gables, Rembrandt and Van Gogh, barrel-lined cafés, gardens of rare blooms, marijuana-selling 'coffeeshops', and Miss Marple bicycles. Now Amsterdam is sweeping into a new Golden Age, making a fresh mark with galleries, sharp shops, award-winning restaurants and hipster cafés. Bristles of audacious architecture have shot up round the city edges but the cobweb of gable-lined canals is still at its heart, with funky stores in the criss-crossing alleys of Negen Straatjes, new galleries to the west in the Jordaan, world-class museums and chic boutiques south around Museumplein, a market and further foodie paradise in De Pijp, and hot new quarters opening up all the time. And here are our other Amsterdam guides, providing inspiration for hotels, restaurants, shopping, bars and cafés, attractions and free things to do (plus the best hotels near Amsterdam airport). In this guide: What's new in Amsterdam this summer Festivities: Amsterdam turns 750 Amsterdam has been celebrating the lead-up to its 750th anniversary all year, with a vast programme of exhibitions, festivals, concerts and more. On June 21, 15km of the city's ring road close for all-day celebrations, including DJ sets, street food and choir performances. Other anniversary events include a free Isamu Noguchi exhibition at the Rijksmuseum until October, showcasing the renowned sculptor's works. An Amsterdam Eats exhibition is also on at the Allard Pierson Museum until early September, that walks through the history of the city's culinary scene. Concerts: Sounds of the Future From August 15 to 24, venues along the canals – homes, gardens, terraces, concert halls, churches and outdoors – host the Grachtenfestival. Amsterdam's rising young musical talent take to the stage to perform classic and jazz concerts in alluring settings. It's the place to hear those who are teetering on the brink of fame. Museum: Photography exhibition Huis Marseille makes imaginative use of its two quite exceptional 17th-century canal houses (complete with ceiling paintings by Jacob de Wit) in Memento, running from June 28 to October 12. More than 100 photos from its rich photography collection track the changes, tangents and curious surprises of photography over the past 25 years.
Tom's Guide
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
How to watch ‘Grantchester' season 10 online for FREE – stream the period crime drama from anywhere
As we all know, from "Miss Marple" to "Midsomer Murders" the British countryside is one of the most dangerous places on Earth with a week-on-week body count to rival Mexico in the middle of a cartel dispute and 'Grantchester' season 10 is no different... Traveling outside the U.S.? Don't miss the show back home. Simply download a VPN to stream the show from anywhere. We recommend NordVPN. "Grantchester" season 10 premieres on Sunday, June 15 at 9 p.m. ET on PBS. Season 9 is currently streaming on PBS Passport. • U.S. FREE STREAM — Watch anywhere — Try NordVPN 30-day trial Set in a seemingly tranquil 1950s Cambridgeshire village, this season brings bodies in an orphanage and a university plus sundry other places and the death of a rock star but if that isn't enough intrigue pause to raise a quizzical eyebrow regarding the Rev. Alphy (played by Rishi Nair). D.I. Keating (Robson Green) is the same as ever but while he and Alphy have bonded, there seems to be something going on in the vicar's background that makes him push away those that want to be close to him. One case this season delivers romantic possibilities but will he be amenable? (Hint: check out the trailer below) Read our guide below for how to watch "Grantchester" season 10 online now, live and on-demand through "Grantchester" season 10 premieres on Masterpiece via PBS and the PBS app on Sunday, June 15 at 9 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. CT.. Don't have cable? Stream your local PBS channel through the PBS website and app. Not in the U.S. when "Grantchester" season 10 airs on PBS? Don't worry — as we explain below, you can watch it live or on-demand when you download a VPN. We recommend NordVPN. Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching "Grantchester" season 10 on PBS? Luckily, you can still watch the show online thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where you are in the world. So it's ideal for viewers who may travel a lot and don't want to miss their favorite shows. Our favourite is NordVPN. It's the best on the market – and you can find out why in our NordVPN review. There's a good reason you've heard of NordVPN. We specialize in testing and reviewing VPN services and NordVPN is the one we rate best. It's outstanding at unblocking streaming services, it's fast and it has top-level security features too. With over 7,000 servers, across 110+ countries, and at a great price too, it's easy to recommend. Get 70% off NordVPN with this deal and a FREE Amazon gift card when you purchase a two-year plan (Exclusive deal for Canadian and U.S. residents) Using a VPN is incredibly simple. 1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite. 2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance if you're in the U.K. and want to view your usual U.S. service, you'd select U.S. from the list. 3. Sit back and enjoy the show. Head to and stream "Grantchester" season 10 online on Masterpiece. In Canada, "Grantchester" season 10 will be available on PBS Masterpiece Amazon Channel from Sunday, June 15th at 9 p.m. ET. For extended access to PBS content, consider getting PBS Passport. That'll provide access to a range of the network's channels, like PBS Life and PBS Masterpiece. Membership costs a suggested donation of CA$5 per month, although prices will alter depending on your local station. Currently away from Canada? Download a VPN and connect to the services you enjoy free-of-charge back home, without having to register for any additional subscriptions. We recommend NordVPN. The U.K. release date for "Grantchester" season 10 is early 2026 on ITVX. All previous nine seasons are also available to catch here. However, if you're an American or Canadian citizen in the U.K. right now and just can't wait that long, a VPN will allow you to stream "Grantchester" season 10 online by unblocking the free PBS website. We recommend NordVPN. "Grantchester" season 10 premieres on ABCiView in Australia on Saturday, June 28 - this will be after PBS in the USA. Out of the country? Connect to your home streaming services when you download a VPN and watch TV shows, films and documentaries no matter where you are in the world. We recommend NordVPN. Season 10 Episode 01: A suspicious death interrupts the Grantchester Easter celebrations. Alphy attempts to use the case as a distraction from his personal life. (Wednesday, June 15) S10 E02: A death at the university plunges Geordie and Alphy into a world of academic adversaries, while Alphy faces a romantic complication. (Weds, June 18) S10 E03: Alphy's attempt to cook a romantic dinner is interrupted when a familiar face arrives unannounced. (Weds, June 25) S10 E04: Alphy and Geordie investigate witchcraft at a home for orphaned and disadvantaged chidren, but everything changes when a body is found. (Weds, July 2) S10 E05: Leonard's drinking leads to a prison cell, and the consequences escalate from there. (Weds, July 9) S10 E06: Alphy and Geordie investigate the murder of a rock band member, and Alphy struggles with some family history. (Weds, July 16) S10 E07: Cathy and Mrs. Chapman's new business venture faces a challenge, and Geordie tries to intervene in Alphy's personal life unbeknownst to Alphy. (Weds, July 23) S10 E08: Alphy and Geordie keep an eye on rising tensions as a controversial figure is invited to speak at the university. When a murder is committed, however, they disagree on how to approach the case. (Weds, July 30) Yes, there is a real village named Grantchester in the U.K. near Cambridge in Cambridgeshire, England. No, not right now. You can stream the drama for free in the U.S. on Masterpiece via PBS. Remember — use NordVPN to access your usual streaming service if you're outside the U.S.. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
