Don’t touch that dial...
This week brings a star-studded new drama, a son exploring how a Russian woman saved his mum’s life at a ballet school and an internet-themed sitcom
Game of Thrones’ Nicolaj Costerwaldau stars as the former radio DJ reinventing himself as the presenter of a true crime podcast with the help of local DCI.
Thanks to his drinking mate (played by David Morrissey), he is first to broadcast the latest details of a woman’s murder – and the disappearance of one of her colleagues.
Neither of them are particularly likeable. Radioman Chas is arrogant and distastefully keen to use the victim’s sad story to rebuild his failed career.
And there is definitely something murky about DCI Whittaker’s character, hinted at during flashbacks that open each episode.
Also starring Cathy Tyson and
George Georgio, it’s newly released as an Audible Exclusive.
WHERE TO START:
Meet
Chas at his mother’s funeral in episode one.
FINDING NATASHA
The creator of this charming documentary podcast would not have been born had a Russian woman, Natasha, not saved his mum’s life when they were both teenagers.
Debbie Gayle was 17 when she scored the apparent chance of a lifetime to study at the famous Kirov ballet school in St Petersburg.
But it was almost impossible for an indulged girl from London to imagine life in 1970s USSR and the cold reception she was to receive there.
Natasha found her crying outside the school office after days of struggling with her lessons and not knowing how to find the canteen.
And it was she who took the risk of stepping in to rescue Debbie when things went very badly wrong.
Investigative journalist Josh Harper sets out to find the real story behind why his mum keeps Natasha’s photo on her bedside table alongside his – and the results are really rather lovely.
WHERE TO START:
In episode one, discover why Debbie set her sights on dancing at one of the most celebrated ballet schools in the world.