Deck the halls and pop the bubbles - it’s time again for our annual Blake Friedmann Cultural Highlights, where the team share the books, films, TV programs, plays, places and pleasures we’ve enjoyed away from our desks this year. Check out previous years here!
Stay tuned for more festive reflections coming soon, including the round-up of Best of the Year picks featuring our BFLA authors, and Ones to Watch in 2025.
Kate burke
TV: RIVALS (Disney+)
Media moguls, power struggles, family drama, lust and laughter, big hair and massive shoulder pads – what’s not to love about the adaptation of this Jilly Cooper classic?! With a great cast, brilliant set and costume design, and lots of juicy plot, RIVALS transported me back to the Eighties in the most fun way. Really hope they make a second series as it ends on such a cliffhanger. Such an enjoyable TV gem that promised a lot, and delivered it!
Film: LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL (dir. Colin and Cameron Cairnes)
Quite possibly a 2023 film but I saw it in the cinema in January of this year. A 1970s-set, found-footage mystery/horror that’s tightly scripted and filmed. I can't say much more as I don’t want to give too much away but an intense and atmospheric watch with brilliant period detail and some great scares. And it's only 94 minutes long so it doesn't mess about!
Travel: Pompeii
I'd been to Pompeii before, many years ago as a teenager, and found it was quite dull (scandalous, I know!) but going back as an adult was a different experience, possibly because, this time, instead of wandering around looking at old ruins for hours on end, we had a tour guide who filled us in on the whole history of the place in a funny and succinct way. The site is vast (I met some American tourists who had already spent three days there!) and, with no plaques of information around the site, it still sort of looks like a collection of ruins with no context but, with the guide, it was brought to life and I loved it. Worth a visit – we went in May and the weather was quite mixed but, given that there's no shelter there at all, I'd recommend going outside of the hot, summer months.
Finlay charlesworth
Book: IN. by Will McPhail
Read in a single sitting on a cold, wet Spring morning – and made being alone feel far less lonely. A beautiful, witty and bittersweet graphic about finding connection, constructed through spare but immaculately observed illustrations. It was the only book to make me cry this year – special mention though to Isabella Hammad’s ENTER GHOST and Jan Carson’s QUICKLY, WHILE THEY STILL HAVE HORSES, for their ability to bear witness, find warmth and humanity, and to stun me speechless.
Theatre: THE YEARS (Almeida Theatre)
I really overdid it at the theatre this year – 32 plays, dance shows and musicals to be exact (and one bizarre experience involving a fully-naked crowd surfing penguin) – but nothing I saw matched the depth, playfulness, and heartbreak of Eline Arbo’s adaptation of Annie Ernaux’s THE YEARS.
The five actresses share the role of Annie, and the people in her life, with exceptional grace and elegance, even in the darkest moments of her life – I was in awe of how they made one woman’s story feel so universal and all-encompassing: thought-provoking and shocking, but also funny and full of love.
TV: FARGO (Amazon)
The people who inhabit the world of Noah Hawley’s FARGO can usually be categorised as, first, either law keepers or lawbreakers and, secondly, smart or…
Each season has had its own superb cast, unique period setting, pitch-black humour and gripping mystery – but the latest took the series to new territory, a daring and confrontational look at American politics in both the domestic and social spheres. At times genuinely disturbing, but always able to bring you back with humour, heart, and brilliant performances by Juno Temple, Jon Hamm, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and ‘Winston from New Girl’.
In 2025 I’m looking forward to two debut novels by adored short story writers: THE BENEFACTORS by Wendy Erskine (SWEET HOME and DANCE MOVE) and GUNK by Saba Sams (SEND NUDES). Their short form works have been, in turns, alluring, incisive and revealing, and I cannot wait to discover what they might do in the longer form.
Isobel dixon
Film: PERFECT DAYS (dir Wim Wenders)
I spent so much more time on computer screens than watching movies or television in 2024, but I feel fortunate to have seen some exceptional films. A shortlist I’d love to watch again includes FALLEN LEAVES, ANATOMY OF A FALL, ALL OF US STRANGERS, AFTERSUN (seen twice already) and most recently ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT (many films beginning with ‘a’!) – but PERFECT DAYS directed by Wim Wenders (with script by Wim Wenders and Takuma Takasaki) takes the lead. I often think of Kōji Yakusho’s fine performance, quietly yet fully inhabiting the role of public toilet cleaner Hirayama as he goes about his days.
FESTIVAL: The Edward Thomas Literary Festival 2024
The theme of this year’s Edward Thomas Literary Festival at the Petersfield Museum in Hampshire was ‘Poetry, Prose & Birdsong’. I loved running an art-poetry workshop there with my artist comrade Douglas Robertson, along with many enriching events to attend. A highlight was hearing Michael Longley read again, as well as a lecture by Edna Longley on Edward Thomas – I’ve read Edna’s work on Louis MacNeice, W.B. Yeats and 20th century poetry over the decades and it was a joy to hear her speak. Memorable quiet moments included a run past a house where Thomas lived in Steep, and an early-service visit to All Saints up the road (with its remarkable collection of kneelers, stitched with birds, flowers and all manner of creatures). Grace-note birdsong in the churchyard too.
MUSIC: Peggy Seeger & Family at Cambridge Folk Festival
A surprise ticket to Stornoway’s wonderful sold-out show at the Union Chapel was a very strong recent contender here, but the enduring first of the year has to be the incredible Peggy Seeger performing with her sons and other family members at Cambridge Folk Festival in July. Now 89, multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Peggy played at the very first CFF back in 1965. Eloquent, feisty, funny, earnest and joyful – an inspiration on so many levels.
LOOKING FORWARD: DINNER AT STIRLINGS @ THE IBIS LOUNGE
Looking to next year, I can’t wait to return to my heart-home of the Great Karoo, and among the pleasures to have another delicious meal at Stirlings at the Ibis Lounge B&B in Nieu Bethesda. A special, peaceful place to stay, with an exceptional culinary experience in the restaurant, all locally sourced and foraged, creatively devised and perfectly prepared by chef Barbara Weitz. Worth the journey!
Siân ellis-martin
Music: Nao @ Hackney Round Chapel
I’m a big fan of a gig in a church or chapel so I felt extremely lucky to get tickets to see Nao at Hackney Round Chapel recently. Nao appeared in the upstairs pews we were sitting in for her first song, with a spotlight shining on her (very angelic) and then performed on a stage in the centre of the room for the rest of the night. Her voice was beautiful, the acoustics were amazing and the atmosphere felt like a giant party. A very special evening!
Book: IN MEMORIAM by Alice Winn
2024 was an excellent reading year for me. So many great books but my favourite was IN MEMORIAM by Alice Winn. Set during WWI, the story focuses on two schoolboys; Gaunt becomes infatuated with Ellwood and Ellwood has always loved Gaunt too and this forbidden love brings them comfort on the battlefield. Almost every page of this novel is heartbreaking and Gaunt and Ellwood’s love for each other against all odds is beautiful to read. If I put the book down for a few hours, I found myself wondering what Sid and Henry were up to.
Film: WICKED (dir. Jon M. Chu)
I doubt that anyone needs to hear more about WICKED (especially after that intense publicity cycle) but I can’t help but include it. I love the musical, and the film really lived up to expectations for me. It’s the perfect blend of witty and emotional and (although it was a little slow in parts) spending longer with the characters and story only made me love it more! The scene at the dance where they finally overcome their loathing of each other was beautifully done and I found Ariana Grande surprisingly funny throughout. Cynthia Erivo’s voice gave me goosebumps too.
While I’m on the subject of musicals, a special mention to OPERATION MINCEMEAT at the Fortune Theatre. A very fun story about a secret mission that helped the allies succeed in WW2.
Nicole etherington
Live Music
2024 was the year of live music for me, highlights include The Beaches, Maximo Park, The Last Dinner Party, and Lana Del Rey, but perhaps my favourite gig was Green Day. I felt incredibly nostalgic sitting in Wembley stadium listening to Billy Joe Armstrong sing the songs I loved as a teenager (and still love now). The atmosphere was electric!
Travel: Porto
I visited Porto for the first time with a friend in June and ate a glorious amount of pasteis de natas, sipped white sangria under a canopy in a rain-soaked square, sampled the francesinha and admired the intricate tiles the city is known for. The highlight was seeing Lana Del Rey perform at Primavera Festival.
Food: Sandwiches
London has a wealth of delicious sandwich shops, and I’ve made it my mission this year to hunt them out. So far, my favourites are Rogue Sarnies in Hackney (their limited-edition wagyu beef sarnie was phenomenal) and Dal Fiorentina in Hoxton. I’m hoping to try a spring roll sandwich at Max’s Sandwich Shop in Crouch Hill in the new year.
In 2025, I’m excited to see Chappell Roan at Primavera festival in Barcelona.
Alex Falkenberg
Film: FROM HILDE, WITH LOVE (Dir. Andreas Dresen)
In Nazi Germany a young woman gets drawn into subversive activities by her husband. As a result, she must decide what it means to be a decent human being in the face of the Nazi regime.
I have often been sceptical of ‘worthy’ films as often I believe they put a political message ahead of what is more important in a film. Namely to be engaging and entertaining. However, Hilde proves a stunning exception to the rule. It is a story about being a good human being and what the consequences were in 1940s Germany.
Film: CAFÉ EXPRESS (dir. Nani Loy)
Michele (played by Nino Manfredi) flamboyantly and illegally sells cappuccinos on the regular night train service between Naples and Vallo Della Lucania. Why? He’s saving up for his son to undergo a lifesaving heart operation. When one evening, a trio of hapless Italian train conductors are ordered by their superiors to arrest Michele, Michele must evade their investigations whilst also continuing to sell hot coffees.
This film takes something unique, an Italian criminal selling coffee to try save his son and finds the universal element in it which makes is a wonderful watch for anyone. Especially anyone who appreciates Italian language and culture.
Film: HOBSON’S CHOICE (dir. David Lean)
A brilliant film and play. A Salford man realises he must part with his three grown up daughters. When he won’t marry off his eldest daughter Maggie, she decides to take romance into her own hands and show him who’s boss. A brilliant Christmas film you must watch.
Julian friedmann
TV: THE SECRET GENIUS OF PLANTS (BBC4)
Did you know plants can smell, feel, remember and much, much more? With awesome high-tech camera and CGI work, we are taken into the very pores of plants as we learn that they are sentient.
Travel: Masai Mara and Little Governor’s Camp
A cherished bucket-list holiday to the best game park and best camp I have ever been to (and I have been to many). You get up close and personal (only once did our driver look nervous and backed the vehicle from an advancing elephant). For the rest (including herds of elephants, lions, cheetahs) they ambled by within almost touching distance (the lions were within touching distance – and the 4-wheel drive vehicles don’t really have “sides”). Magic.
Technology: My trusty Nikon P950 camera
I can’t be faffed with the 1001 controls on most cameras including this one: but the point and shoot options take such incredible photos that you wonder why you spent many hours reading the 350-page manual. And the fact that it has a built-in optical zoom lens that extends to 2000mm (in English = 83X enlargement), and it can be handheld, makes everything foolproof.
Juliet pickering
TV: RIVALS (Disney+)
I’ve not read Jilly Cooper’s novels (I now have two on my Christmas list), but I jumped into the TV series with zero expectations, and found it very stylish, engaging and compelling. I didn’t expect all the twists and turns the story takes, and although they’re mostly awful human beings the characters were brilliantly cast. I won’t spoil anything, but let’s just say that Danny Dyer’s ‘site of outstanding natural beauty’ line really made my year.
Food: Roasts at Castle Farm, Midford
Yes, you read that right; I’m picking roast dinners as one of my best experiences of 2024. Castle Farm is a nondescript smallholding collapsed on top of a hill just outside Bath, and they’ve converted a barn into a literal paradise for anyone who eats. Their Sunday roasts are booked up three months in advance for good reason: you will never taste roast potatoes this crispy; roast pork this savoury; cauliflower cheese this creamy. Even writing about it kills me. If I ever get doled out a death sentence for murdering a bad publisher in cold blood (but with good reason), this is my Last Meal.
Books: Kate Atkinson’s Jackson Brodie series
Is there anything better than reading a novel without any particular expectation, loving it and then realising there are five more books in the series to relish? I took CASE HISTORIES to Scotland on holiday with me (an excellent location for these stories, as it turned out) and devoured it. I’ve always loved Kate Atkinson’s writing but been nervous of her crime novels (I’m too squeamish, and fed up of women being brutally treated, to try much crime fiction) but I should never have doubted her: Jackson is a fine detective, and Atkinson seems to very much enjoy writing the characters around the crime, so as a reader you do too. Plus, best of all, you’re never quite sure who’s done it until the final pages, but you realise you don’t really care because you’re having so much fun along the way.
Honourable mention: MOOMINLAND MIDWINTER, the most beautifully icy, peaceful and atmospheric novel. I recommend to anyone, especially at this time of year.
James pusey
Book: MOOMINVALLEY IN NOVEMBER by Tove Jansson
Join Toft, Snufkin, Grandpa-Grumble and friends, as the season changes, winter draws in, and still there’s no sign of the Moomins.
Travel/Art: Galleria Borghese, Rome
A treasure trove, including Bernini’s astounding Apollo and Daphne.
Film: LA CHIMERA (dir. Alice Rohrwacher)
Set in 1980s Tuscany, this peculiar film follows a troupe of grave-robbers led by lovelorn Englishman Arthur, played by Josh O’Connor.
Ane reason
Dance: THE STATEMENT by Crystal Pite
This was the last of four dances included in The Royal Ballet’s mixed programme Encounters: Four Contemporary Ballets and it absolutely took my breath away. Performed to spoken word with movements that were tightly interwoven with each statement and impeccably timed, the piece hovered beautifully between the realms of theatre and dance. It was witty, mesmerising and brilliantly cast.
Travel: Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen
I had the best time visiting Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens, one of the oldest amusement parks in the world and home not only to the conventional thrilling rides and sweet treats, but also to dance and theatre performances, concerts, beautiful buildings and a wealth of restaurants. The biggest surprise was stumbling upon an enchanting aquarium full of corals, rays, colourful fish and even a shark. Illuminated by calm blue lights and accompanied by peaceful music, the aquarium provided an ideal opportunity to catch one’s breath before wandering back into the hustle and bustle of the amusement park.
TV: TOKYO VICE (BBC iPlayer)
I rarely binge-watch anything these days, but I found this crime drama about a young, American journalist investigating the Japanese underworld highly binge-worthy. With its stylish shots of Tokyo and wide range of characters, it made for great late-night entertainment. It’s a shame this was the last season of the series!
Tabitha topping
Activity: Marbling
I did a marbling workshop at the tail end of last year with Marmor Paperie (which I would thoroughly recommend) and recently purchased some materials so I could have a go at home. So far, the results have been mixed (I’m yet to perfect the correct amount of dispersant), but that in itself is part of the joy (you never know how a print might turn out!) and I find the process immeasurably calming.
Book: THE MINISTRY OF TIME by Kaliane Bradley
Of all the books I’ve read this year, THE MINISTRY OF TIME by Kaliane Bradley was definitely the most fun – which is an odd thing to say considering its main character is a disillusioned civil servant. I laughed, I cried, and would recommend it to anyone – even those who usually dislike speculative fiction!
Theatre: HADESTOWN (Lyric Theatre)
Thanks to the glories of TodayTix I somehow managed to get a stalls seat (which I would never be able to afford otherwise) and had a truly wonderful time. I was sceptical when I first heard the premise (even those not overly familiar with Greek mythology know the story of Orpheus and Eurydice) – how would they handle the ending? But let me tell you when *that* moment happened I was so caught up with the story that it took me by surprise and I gasped aloud. Me being me, I then burst into tears, but don’t let that put you off!
2025 pick: THE CITY CHANGES ITS FACE by Eimear McBride
I am very much looking forward to reading THE CITY CHANGES ITS FACE by Eimear McBride. It’s the sequel to my favourite of Eimear’s novels, THE LESSER BOHEMIANS, and I can’t wait to catch up with Eily and Stephen. Out 13th February 2025 from Faber & Faber.
Daisy way
Book: HELLO BEAUTIFUL by Ann Napolitano
This was a charming novel, at once heartwarming and heartbreaking, which pays homage to LITTLE WOMEN. William Waters is a young man who had a difficult childhood with emotionally distant parents and so when he is welcomed into the Padavano family, made up of four closeknit sisters and their eccentric parents, he is quickly completely mesmerised. We follow them all on an epic family saga, through ups and downs, love, loss, betrayal, spanning many decades. I loved this book, which has stayed with me long after reading it. Highly recommended.
TV: RIVALS (Disney+)
An utterly bingeable adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s novel, full of scandal, sex and ambition. Loved the 80s backdrop – the hairdos, the clothes and the soundtrack were all impeccable. Excellent casting across the board, and I was left rooting for unlikely couple Freddie and Lizzy, played exquisitely by Danny Dyer and Katherine Parkinson. I raced through this series in no time at all and can’t wait for the second season. Brilliant, bonkers fun.
Theatre: HELLO, DOLLY! (London Palladium)
The latest production of this 1960s musical was brilliant – fun, upbeat and nostalgic – and the cast’s enthusiasm could be felt across the theatre. Imelda Staunton was perfect as matchmaker Dolly Levi, but for me it was Harry Hepple and Tyrone Huntley, playing the hapless duo Cornelius and Barbaby, who stole the show. The set, costumes, choreography and orchestra were all sublime and ‘Sunday Clothes’ was the song of the night. The standing ovation at the end of the show was well-deserved – just pure unadulterated joy from start to finish!
Conrad williams
The classical piano repertoire is one of the great glories of the last 330 years. From the invention of the Fortepiano in 1700 to modern times, pianos have been rapidly evolving as the repertoire evolved. And just as the baton of inspiration passed between the hands of the great composer pianists, so the piano manufacturers had their great innovations and heydays over that period. If Steinway predominates in monocultural monopoly today, Beethoven in 1820 preferred a Broadwood, Chopin a Pleyel in the 1840s, Debussy a Blüthner in the 1890s, and amongst the great 20th century pianists Jorge Bolet demanded a Bechstein, and Sviatoslav Richter a Yamaha.
The golden age of piano construction was perhaps 1890 to 1930, the era of plangent, heart-breaking Bechsteins and Hamburg Steinways with their chocolate rich tone, and regal Blüthners: a time of more diverse sound aesthetics and greater instrumental character. My own treasured Blüthner dates from 1891 (when Brahms and Debussy were still alive) and this year, after nearly a century and a half of service, it had to be completely renovated. The case was sent to Poland to be re-veneered with a gloss black polyester finish. It gained a new ornate desk and bulbous legs appropriate to the design of the 1890’s. At Piano Renovations near Aylesbury they fashioned a new sound board, rebuilt the bridge, laid in new strings and hammer felts, reconditioned the patent action, polished all the metal parts, resprayed the frame, and returned the action of the keys to a marvellous uniformity of touch and response that cost over 250 hours of labour. All the time, I was wondering what the reborn version of my piano would sound like. The moment of first contact was something unforgettable. Now, after months of exploring its capabilities through a range of repertoire, I can begin to define its sound. The tone is pure and ringing, the mid-range mellow, the bass grand, but the X factor, enabled no doubt by the famous Aliquot stringing, is an opalescent harmonic mist which makes every note ‘speak’. No wonder Rachmaninov could not do without his beloved Blüthner when he moved to America, or that Debussy loved playing his Preludes on this translucent instrument. Hearing that golden age Blüthner sound reincarnated under one’s fingers in music by Beethoven, Albeniz, Scriabin and Debussy has been my cultural highlight of the year.