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Mr Holmes, The Household Spirit, Fighting History, The Brink, The Mother... With the Hat

A review of the week's cultural highlights, including Ian McKellan taking on the legendary role of Sherlock Holmes, as a 93-year-old, in Mr Holmes.

Ian McKellan takes on the legendary role of Detective Sherlock Holmes in Mr Holmes, alongside a stellar cast including Laura Linney, Frances de La Tour and Roger Allam. A cantankerous 93 year old who has retired to the Sussex countryside with only his housekeeper and her ten year old son for company, Holmes becomes obsessed with his last unsolved case. How will McKellan's elderly Holmes appeal to cinema audiences so familiar with one of British literature's most iconic characters?

The Mother...With The Hat by Stephen Adly Guirgis opens at London's National Theatre and tells the story of Jackie, out of jail and staying clean thanks to his sponsor. He might even have found a job. And of course there's Veronica, who he's loved since 8th grade. Nothing could come between them - except a hat. The Mother...With The Hat received six Tony nominations on Broadway - how will it appeal to British audiences?

The Household Spirit is the follow up novel from American writer Todd Wodicka. Like his debut "All Shall be Well; And All Shall Be Well:And All Manner Things Shall Be Well," this book uses dark humour to provide insight into the human condition.

Another dark comedy in a new HBO tv series "The Brink," that focuses on a geopolitical crisis and its effect on three disparate and desperate men: Walter Larson (Tim Robbins), the U.S. Secretary of State; Alex Talbott (Jack Black), a Foreign Service officer stationed in Islamabad; and Zeke "Z-Pak" Tilson (Pablo Schreiber), a Navy fighter pilot with a side business dealing prescription drugs.

And Fighting History at Tate Britain in London explores 250 years of British history painting including work by artists as various as Winifred Knights and Stanley Spencer, and Rita Donagh and Jeremey Deller.

Tom Sutcliffe's guests are Tiffany Jenkins, Kevin Jackson and Jamila Gavin. The producer is Hilary Dunn.

Available now

45 minutes

EXHIBITION: Fighting History

EXHIBITION: Fighting History
´¡³ÙÌý, Millbank, London SW1P 4RG until 13 September 2015

Picture credit Dexter Dalwood - The Poll Tax Riots 2005 (oil on canvas) Private collection© Dexter Dalwood

BOOK: The Household Spirit by Tod Wodicka

Published by Jonathan Cape 

FILM: Mr Holmes (PG)

FILM: Mr Holmes (PG)

TV: The Brink

TV: The Brink
On Sky Atlantic from Monday 22nd June at 10:10 pm for 10 weeks 

THEATRE: The Motherf… with The Hat

THEATRE: The Motherf… with The Hat
At the Lyttelton Theatre, , Southbank, London until Thursday 20 August

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Tom Sutcliffe
Interviewed Guest Tiffany Jenkins
Interviewed Guest Kevin Jackson
Interviewed Guest Jamila Gavin
Producer Hilary Dunn

Broadcast

  • Sat 20 Jun 2015 19:15

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