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FROM A MUST-SEE FILM TO A FESTIVAL OF LITERARY STARS, HERE ARE THE THINGS TO DO, SEE AND WATCH THIS MONTH…
FILM DOWNTON ABBEY
Yes, it’s back, with the trademark servant bell jingle and original ITV cast, including some of Britain’s best (we’re looking at you, Dame Maggie Smith). This year, Downton has been thrust on to the big screen in a feature-length incarnation, which sees the Earl and Countess of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth Mcgovern) host the King and Queen. Will staff rivalry lead to a royal rebellion? Will Tom (Allen Leech) be lucky in love? What we do know is that Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) will raise a poignant eyebrow or two, there will be stiff pauses aplenty and Violet (Maggie Smith) will be delivering her one-liners. In cinemas from 13th September
TV THE POLITICIAN (NETFLIX)
Gwyneth Paltrow will appear alongside US stars Jessica Lange, Zoey Deutch and January Jones in new Netflix series The Politician. As one of the producers is Ryan Murphy (his past projects include Glee, American Horror Story and Eat Pray Love), viewers are in safe hands. The series follows California rich boy Payton Hobart (Ben Platt) as he navigates ruthless classmates in a bid to become the future President of the United States. The show is set in a Santa Barbara high school, but don’t expect the plotlines from this dark comedy to be as sunny as the CA weather. On Netflix from 27th September
EVENT CLIVEDEN LITERARY FESTIVAL
Cliveden House in Berkshire welcomes back a weekend of literary festivity, packed with writers, speakers and opinion makers. With panels spanning topics from the secrets of the universe to conflict and conspiracy, there’s an extraordinary lineup of thought-provoking events that are guaranteed to spark your synapses. Speakers such as BBC Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis, physicist Brian Cox and novelists Leïla Slimani and Ben Okri join philosophers, historians, screenwriters and more in a cultural meld of ideas and insights. 28th to 29th September, clivedenliteraryfestival.org
ART TIM WALKER: WONDERFUL THINGS
‘What I am photographing is an imaginary place that never existed, but is connected to something that has already been,’ said photographer Tim Walker in an interview with British Vogue in 2008. Now, we can all step into Walker’s imagination during his Wonderful Things exhibition at the V&A. The showcase promises to immerse spectators in Walker’s creative processes through his photography, pictures and special installations. There will also be 10 new series of photographs on display, which are inspired by collections at the museum. Expect dazzling work with a dash of escapism. From 21st September, vam.ac.uk