Entertainment recommendations for isolation

During these unprecedented and unsettling times of self-isolation due to COVID-19, and as we’ve all been ordered to stop, slow down and keep each other safe, there really is no better time than to open the first page of that book you’ve had on your nightstand for a few months, to listen to that podcast episode you’ve had saved or to finally watch that boxset everyone’s been talking about.

See below for my personal recommendations on what to listen to, what to watch and what to read over the next few weeks, hopefully providing a little inspiration during these times of lockdown here in the UK…

PODCASTS 

• The Rewatchables – film geeks rejoice. This brilliant podcast hosted by film journalists in the US ‘rewatch’ a certain film each episode, exploring every element of it – a favourite episode is The Talented Mr Ripley. It will inspire some of your own film rewatches during this time too!
• Fake Heiress – We listened to all episodes of this back to back while on our recent US road trip! Once you get past the slightly odd ‘re-enactment’ sections, this podcast is hosted by an investigate journalist who is explaining the true story of millennial con-woman extraordinaire Anna Delvey. Absolutely fascinating – get listening before the imminent Netflix and HBO docs come out later this year…! There’s also this book – My Friend Anna – if you’re looking for further reading.
• Lit Up – For any fellow bookworms, this author interview series offers real in-depth insight into works from some of my favourite writers. The Lisa Taddeo episode is a MUST for anyone else who devoured her incredible book Three Women.
• Table Manners – Jessie Ware and her mother Lennie invite people of note over to their house for dinner, chatting food and life. They’ve just launched a new cookbook too and I highly recommend listening to this as you cook up a new recipe from it. The recent Riz Ahmed episode is a personal favourite.
• Culture Call – FT’s culture editors try to make sense of what’s happening in today’s world via new episodes every two weeks.  
• Happy Place with Fearne Cotton – Fearne is a rare thing; a truly genuine interviewer who discuss mental health and life’s lessons with celeb interviewees of note each week.  
• Crime Junkies – a must for all fellow true crime lovers! A new murder investigation each episode, perfect to plug in to listen to for a long walk or to listen with a glass of wine during a relaxing evening bath.
• Desert Island Discs – this is the OG of podcasts for a reason. With hundreds of hours of back catalogue episodes, listening to people of note talking us through their favourite music will never get old.
• The Travel Diaries by Holly Rubenstein – Travel journalist Holly is a wonderful interviewer who speaks to everyone from Mr and Mrs Smith founder, to famous chefs, to editors of Conde Nast Traveller to Poppy Delevigne about their travels. True inspiration for future trips once some form of normality returns.
• Radio 4’s Beyond Today – I’ve recently started listening to this every morning. It’s a brilliantly digestible 20 min episode of daily news, where the R4 news team will explore one topic in depth that’s on the news agenda that week.
• The High Low – The now infamous duo of Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes are everyone’s virtual best friends and their weekly podcast, straddling the line between high and low culture, has been my favourite ever since it launched. Currently on maternity leave, they’ll be back in April – but if you’re new to them, there are hundreds of back catalogue episodes to keep you inspired.
• Ted Talks Daily – This daily podcast covers Ted talks on the go, giving you thought-provoking ideas on every subject under the sun, everything from the current COVID-19 pandemic, to AI, to how to manage anxiety. Highly recommend if you’re just looking to switch off and learn something new for 45 minutes.
• AUDM – I recently downloaded this audio app and also want to include here, as you can listen to long-read articles from key publications such as Vanity Fair, New Yorker, New York Magazine, The Times, and many many more. It’s great if you’re short on reading time but rich on listening time (I can highly recommend the recent Reese Witherspoon cover interview in Variety, which discusses the actress’ comeback to Hollywood and her innovation bringing book screenplays to life. She’s a huge book lover too so I came away from the listen with lots of book recommendations too!).

BOOKS 

• Ones I’ve read and recommend:
• My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell – currently reading this book that has been making waves for its exploration of the #metoo movement. I’m completely riveted by the storyline of 15 year old Vanessa and her affair with her English Lit teacher and how she re-examines this as a middle-aged woman.
• Modern Love; Collection of Essays – a must-read collection of the infamous Modern Love columns in The New York Times. The accompanying Amazon Prime series (see below!) should be enjoyed in tandem with this.
• Tangerine by Christine Mangan – I read this recently on holiday as it was billed as ‘If Girl on the Train met The Talented Mr Ripley, under the Moroccan sun.’ Safe to say I was hooked! It’s also been optioned by George Clooney’s production company with Scarlett Johansson set to star, so read it before everyone else does.
• American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins – Favourite book of the year so far for me. I read this in two days and found this controversial story of Mexican migrants Lydia and her son Luca, as they try to escape over the border to the US after fleeing unthinkable tragedies back home, utterly gripping as well as illuminating. Highly recommend!
• Adults by Emma Jane Unsworth – if you’re a fan of Dolly Alderton or Sally Rooney, this is one for you. (I also recently watched the film of author Emma Jane’s other book – Animals – and I can’t recommend it enough!).
• Topics of Conversation by Miranda Popkey – I had this on pre-order for months and am making my way trough this story about desire, motherhood, loneliness, art, pain, feminism, anger and guilt. One for fellow fans of Three Women by Lisa Taddeo (which I also adored and highly recommend!).
• The Five by Hallie Rubenhold – Hallie’s exploration of the real story behind the five women murdered by Jack The Ripper is a feat of investigative journalism and I love how she’s giving a voice to these women that history forgot.
• Long Bright River by Liz Moore – I’ve just finished this crime thriller for my book club and I really recommend if you’re a fellow crime thriller fan. This is a subtle, deeper exploration of two sisters – one a policewomen and one a drug addict who goes missing – and is beautifully written. Check out Our site if you want to the best drug addiction centers.
• Ones on my current ‘to read’ list (I’ll leave you to read up on these and see which ones take your fancy – they’re all fiction as currently on a real escapism drive!):
• Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
• The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
• Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
• Supper Club by Lara Williams
• The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne
• Grown Ups by Marian Keyes

TV / BOXSETS

• The Tunnel (Amazon) – English and French
• Call My Agent (Netflix) – French series
• The Night Of (Sky boxsets)
• The Jinx (Sky Crime)
• The Start Up (Prime)
• Succession (Buy digitally now)
• Modern Love (Prime)
• Grey’s Anatomy (Sky boxsets)
• This Is Us (Prime)
• Very Cavalleri (hayu / Sky)
• The Morning Show (Apple TV)
• Friday Night Lights (Prime)
• Truth Be Told (Apple TV)
• Love Is Blind (Netflix)
• Brassic (Sky One)
• Girls (Sky boxsets)
• Hunters (Prime)
• Fleabag (BBC Iplayer)
• The Affair (Sky boxsets) 
• The Bold Type (Prime) 

Enjoy! LMNH x