Platt (The Last Five Years, London Palladium) stars in this story about Trevor Copeland and Arthur Brightman who perform love songs in 1965 New York at a time when their love is against the law. Runs at the Menier Chocolate Factory 11 July through 12 September 2026. Tickets
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2
WHEN?: Monday 18 May 2026, show airs on Channel 4 from Sunday 31 May 2026
Writer Davies may be best known for Queer As Folk and It’s A Sin but his new Channel Four drama Tip Toe is his 1st thriller, with a political edge and opens with Cumming’s Leo apparently hanging by his neck in a noose from a lamp post on a Manchester street.
Writer and director Stephen Beresford and Matthew Warchus (Oedipus, Old Vic) return from the 2014 film for the musical of a group of gay men and lesbians supporting the striking miners in the 80s. Stars Samuel Barnett (Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is About To Happen, Bush Theatre) at the National’s Dorfman Theatre 11 June through 12 September 2026. Original music by DJ Walde (SYLVIA, Old Vic). Tickets
By Neil Durham
WHEN? 16 May 2026 HOW TO WATCH? BBC1 in the UK at 8pm
WHERE? Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna
The 2nd semi final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest is over and we’ve updated this preview with our predictions for the qualifiers joining the host country and remaining Big 4 after Spain’s boycott.
Oscar winner Oldman (Apple’s Slow Horses) directs and stars in this monologue about a man on his 69th birthday who sits alone and listens to the echoes of his younger self. The play returns to the Royal Court where it ran in 1958 in this York Theatre Royal production. The run is sold out although tickets are available on Mondays. Runs 8 through 30 May 2026. Tickets Our review
By Neil Durham
WHEN? 14 May 2026 HOW TO WATCH? BBC1 in the UK at 8pm
WHERE? Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna
The final half of this 2nd semi final is Eurovision at its most competitive and 1 of our favourites is sure to miss out but we do think superstar Delta Goodrem’s is the performance to watch out for here because the song is contest-winning worthy.
By Neil Durham
WHEN? 12 May 2026 HOW TO WATCH? BBC1 in the UK at 8pm
WHERE? Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna
Juries return to the semi finals for the 1st time since 2022 and the 1st semi is notable for the appearance of the contest’s runaway favourite at the time of writing – Finland (pictured) – and controversial inclusion of Israel.
Do I Have To? We All Feel Better In The Dark. Shameless. Pet Shop Boys Tennant and Lowe have been releasing extraordinary songs since the 80s and this 5-night residency of Obscure tracks at Camden’s Electric Ballroom in London Monday 6 April through Friday 10 April 2026 has long been sold out. We join Neil and Chris there for a post-Dreamworld (Glastonbury Festival) check in. Tickets if you’re very lucky Our review
By Neil Durham
WHEN? 16 May 2026 HOW TO WATCH? BBC1 in the UK at 8pm
WHERE? Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna
No Spain this year which is 1 of 5 countries to boycott 2026 because of Israel’s participation and it’s the UK’s Look Mum No Computer (pictured) which is giving us the most interesting entry of the pre-qualified finalists.
By Neil Durham
WHEN? Tuesday 24 February 2026
HOW TO WATCH? Final 4 episodes of season 4 now available on Netflix. Season 5 and 6 to air
ITV This Morning’s host Alison Hammond makes for a sympathetic and enthusiastic host as we view episode 5 of season 4 of this Netflix period behemoth amidst an audience of mostly women who clap, cheer and whoop their way through the most enjoyable big screen way to watch an episode of Bridgerton.
