1. Magnus Carlsson plays the RVT

This solo star and former member of bands Alcazar and Barbados has tried, and failed, to represent Sweden eight times in the Eurovision Song Contest. The Eurofest club night at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern has boasted Melodifestivalen stars including Linda Bengtzing and Shirley Clamp. On 13/1 it throws open its doors to Carlsson. Tickets

• Picture via Live Forever video. Read on for reasons including Eurovision: Your Decision, Alison Steadman & The Glass Menagerie

2. It’s Eurovision: You Decide

There was much to applaud about the BBC’s revamped selection show for 2016’s Eurovision Song Contest and on 27/1 it builds on those best bits with Eurovision: You Decide on BBC2 this year again hosted by Mel Giedroyc and staged live this time at Hammersmith’s Eventim Apollo. Tickets

3. Alison Steadman Q&A

Mike Leigh’s play for stage and TV is a 1977 satire on the aspirations of the new middle class of the time. It’s shown at the BFI 5/1 ahead of a Q&A with its star Alison Steadman. Tickets

4. Angels In America tickets go on sale

Most anticipated theatrical event of 2017? Perhaps. Certainly for us at least. Marianne Elliott (War Horse, Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night-Time) directs a stellar cast including Nathan Lane (The Producers, The Birdcage), Andrew Garfield, Denise Gough, James McArdle and Russell Tovey in this two-part Tony Kushner classic at the National Theatre from 11/4. Tickets onsale for members from 10/1 and the public from 20/1. In other news, UK tickets for 2016’s biggest Broadway hit Hamilton go on sale 30/1 or a fortnight earlier if you subscribe here.

5. T2 Trainspotting arrives

Mark Renton returns after 20 years away on 27/1 as do original director Danny Boyle and cast Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller and Robert Carlyle. Can it be anywhere near as groundbreaking and iconic as the 1996 original?

6. Sherlock returns

Writers Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffatt discuss this third and final episode in the fourth series ahead of its TV showing at the BFI 12/1. Tickets The series returns to BBC1 at 9pm 1/1.

7. The Glass Menagerie

Fresh from a multi-Tony Award nominated Broadway run, this Tennessee Williams classic about a family struggling to survive on hopes and dreams is on at the Duke Of York’s 26/1 – 29/4. Tickets

8. Mark Kermode at the BFI

We went to the first five Kermode Q&As at the BFI between January and May 2016 and are delighted they continue to be a monthly fixture. Tickets We’re hoping for pre-Oscar nomination speculation (shortlists revealed the following day) as well as the opportunity to ask questions in advance #MK3D.

9. Visit Fortitude

Sky Atlantic’s Sofie Gråbøl-starrer was definitely one of the more interesting series to debut in 2015 and we’re pleased as punch at its return 26/1. Trailer

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