- New Russell T. Davies drama It’s A Sin
Years and Years‘ lead singer Olly Alexander stars in T.Davies’ latest 5-parter looking at gay life in London in the 80s. We loved co-star Omari Douglas in Wise Children at the Old Vic in 2018. T. Davies is of course the author behind the generation-defining Queer As Folk. A Channel 4 air date has now been confirmed for 22/1/21.
- Read on for reasons including the return of the West End, Eurovision finals season and Drag Race UK season 2
2. The return of the West End
London’s latest Tier 4 lockdown on 15/12/20 left a lot of shows in limbo and we’re looking forward to the return of the West End soon. But also the return of shows whose runs were interrupted including A Christmas Carol at the Bridge and Death Drop at the Garrick.
3. Second season of Drag Race UK under starter’s orders
Baga Chipz finished 3rd in 2019’s 1st season of Drag Race UK which gave us the Frock Destroyers and our song of the month for November 2019 Break Up (Bye Bye). The Vivienne may have sashayed away with the season 1 crown but it’s Baga Chipz we’ve seen make her West End pantomime debut. Season 2 airs on BBC Three from 14/1/21.
4. Eurovision season gets up and running
Our annual Melodifestivalen previews are due to begin in January with the competition itself launching on the 1st Saturday in February. Albania was the 1st country to select its entry (watch above) and we’re expecting news from France, Latvia and Israel this month on who might represent them at 22 May’s postponed 65th contest in Rotterdam. Still no word on whether James Newman will return for the UK. We hope he does. Tickets
5. Daði Freyr feels the love with new song
Freyr was 2020’s Eurovision winner who never was and his fine entry Think About Things was shortlisted as our Best Song of 2020. He will represent Iceland in Rotterdam at the 65th contest in May but first he releases new single Feel The Love out 1/1/21. He’s already been playing a blinder since 2020 Eurovision’s cancellation and released Christmas song Every Moment Is Christmas With You (listen and watch above) and plays London, Covid-19 permitting, at Oslo in Hackney 21 and 22/4/21 (Tickets) and 30/4/21 O2 Forum Kentish Town (Tickets).
6. Staged starring Michael Sheen and David Tennant returns
Without lockdown we wouldn’t have been treated to this comedy highlight where this unlikely duo play themselves Zoom-ing during lockdown as they work on something new. The 6-part opening season featured special guests including Judi Dench, Nina Sosanya and Samuel L. Jackson. Series 2 airs from 9.45pm on 4/1/21. Watch
7. Mark Kermode’s Secrets Of Cinema returns to small screen
Pre-lockdown we used to enjoy Kermode’s live BFI events and his Secrets Of Cinema series features the UK’s leading film critic discussing 1 topic, previous episodes have looked at themes including The Romcom, The Heist and Coming Of Age, using well-known movie clips as examples. Airing on BBC4 from 11/1/21 at 9pm, this 3-episode series opens examining British humour. Watch previous episodes
8. One Night In Miami film streams
We didn’t see the Donmar production of this 2016 play which has been adapted into a film about a fictionalised meeting of Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown and Sam Cooke but only heard good things about it. This film is generating Oscar buzz not least for British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir who plays X and is released on Prime Video 15/1/21. Watch
9. Film The Father stars Anthony Hopkins
Oscar buzz for monsta-winner Hopkins as the titular father in Florian Zeller’s film co-starring monstagigz favourites Mark Gatiss and Olivia Colman released in the UK 8/1/21. Zeller may be an acquired taste as we had reservations about both of his plays that we’ve seen, The Height Of The Storm and The Truth. But the former landed some interesting points about ageing which we assume applies also to The Father.
monstagigz 
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