Films I've hated this year (UK release dates): 'August: Ossage County','Cuban Fury', 'The Zero Theorem', 'The Dirties', '100-year-old-man who climbed out of the window and disappeared', 'God’s Pocket', 'Third Person'.

Did you see drama about the making of the first episode on BBC4. It was excellent.

I've seen it and it is good.

I went to a preview of the new Aardman film 'Shaun the Sheep' ('he even mucks about with those who cannot bleat'). Reviews are embargoed which is a shame as I can't say how much I liked it. I can confirm that the promotional sheep headbands, replete with ears and wool flat-top, were a triumph.
Watched 'Babylon': liked…

'Kiss and Not Tell' by La Roux is so ridiculously catchy it made me giggle when I first heard it. If we can do reissues I'd go for 'So Be in Love with Me' by Lewis. Also loved 'Shake it Off', 'Problems', 'Seasons' and 'Prince Johnny' like loads of other people on here. Oh, and 'Lights On' by FKA Twigs and 'Cruel…

'Nil by Mouth', although I see Gary Oldman has another film lined up.

Dunno, I got my figures from hearsay and asking people 'Have you watched 'Babylon?''

It's getting okay reviews and not particularly good viewing figures, unfortunately. I really hope Channel 4 stick with it and give it a second series.

It could go either way, really.

Seconded for Babylon. I wish people would get behind it more.

It feels pretty 'meta' watching it.

For the warm family glow you associate with the festive season, I would say UK Channel Four’s ‘Gogglebox’, a reality show in which
various families sit around watching the telly, commenting on it. It’s far more entertaining to watch people who like each other riffing on a subject, instead of horrible twats bitching, as…

Cocteau Twins' 'Treasure', 'Head Over Heels' and 'Heaven or Las Vegas' are fantastic non-Xmas Xmas records.

They have Bush Nativity Xmas cards with the baby Jesus surrounded by Kangaroos and Kaolas etc.

Old traditions: My mum would put the TV on at 3:00pm to watch the Queen's Speech and we would take the piss out of her. Then we would watch the Xmas editon of 'Top of the Pops'.
New: Licky_kickette insists on having Carols at Kings College, Cambridge, on the radio on Xmas morning when we're having breakfast. Later,…

There's a Simon Gompertz who does personal finance on BBC too - they're second cousins apparently.

Saturday I went to see the play about tabloids and phone hacking 'Great Britain' with Lucy Punch at the Haymarket Theatre. Not as satirically sharp and funny as reviews suggested but good fun.
Earlier today I saw 'Paddington' which is thankfully not as brash as trailer suggests and actually quite sweet. Very strong…

I didn't like the insertion of present-day interview footage. It doesn't really add any info and their presence together serves as a spolier.

It doesn't always work for me (but it did this time).

I agree. I'm surprised the reviewer didn't mention how indebted it is to Jim Jarmusch, as if he had made a vampire film at the beginning of his career rather than later.