SOUND AND VISION
From Stephen King’s post-apocalyptic best-seller and a soul classic to small-screen mobsters and the cheering laughter of an old friend, Alan Parks shares a few of his favourite things
THE BOOK I READ AGAIN AND AGAIN
The Stand by Stephen King, a post-apocalyptic dark fantasy novel first published in 1978 by Doubleday. I usually read it every couple of years and still enjoy it. It’s about a disease that leaves most of the world dead and the struggle between good and evil involving the few people that are left. I admit, it is maybe not the cheeriest book pick in these pandemic days, but it is a classic!
THE SONG LYRIC THAT SPEAKS TO ME
The best opening couplet of any song – the beginning of I Heard It Through The Grapevine, best sung by Marvin Gaye. “Ooh-ooh, bet you wondered how I knew, ’bout your plan to make me blue.” So simple, but so great.
MY FAVOURITE MOVIE SCENE
It has to be the opening scene of Apocalypse Now, the 1979 epic American psychological war film directed and produced by Francis Ford Coppola. I remember going to see the film at the ABC in Sauchielhall Street when it came out and just sitting there, stunned. Helicopter noises, forests exploding with napalm, an upside-down Martin Sheen and music by The Doors. It has it all.
MY BOX SET BINGE
The HBO series The Sopranos created by David Chase. It’s still, for my money, the best TV series ever made. It focuses on the late James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano: a husband, father and mob boss whose professional and private problems land him in the office of a therapist. It’s as much the story of a family, and how their relationships change over time as, it is about the Mafia. It’s addictive viewing. Another series I have just watched is Zerozerozero, an amazing story about the mechanics of how drugs get to America. The music by Mogwai is great, too.
MY ULTIMATE DINNER PARTY GUESTS
Malcolm Mclaren the former Sex Pistols manager credited with helping to form what became the legendary UK punk band. Tragically, he died aged 64 in New York after a battle with cancer and is buried in London’s Highgate Cemetery. He changed everything on the music scene and made music the most exciting thing in the world for me when I was growing up. I’d also invite the late Andrea Dworkin, the American radical feminist activist, writer and critic whose ideas seem to be more relevant every day. Finally, it wouldn’t be complete without my friend, John Niven, the author and screenwriter. He makes me laugh more than anyone.
A number of anticipated new dramas scheduled for spring should see us through to the end of lockdown. Here are some highlights
Line Of Duty BBC One, March 21
The highly anticipated sixth series of the police procedural rewards fans with an extra seventh episode rather than the usual six.
Trainspotting star Kelly Macdonald joins the cast as DCI Joanne Davidson, who is being investigated by Superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar), DI Kate Fleming (Vicky Mcclure) and DS Steve Arnott (Martin Compston).
Viewpoint ITV, April
Noel Clarke plays a surveillance detective, setting up his observation post in the house of single mum and secret voyeur Zoe Sterling, played by Alexandra Roach. Zoe’s window commands a direct sightline into the property of a missing teacher, who shares the home with her boyfriend – the prime suspect in her disappearance.
The Northwater BBC Two, April
Based on the novel by Ian Mcguire, Jack O’connell plays a disgraced ex-army surgeon who signs up to be a ship doctor on a whaling expedition to the Arctic. He is joined by harpooner Henry Drax, played by Colin Farrell. Peter Mullan, Tom Courtenay and Stephen Graham are also part of the series, which was actually filmed in the Arctic.
Jupiter’s Legacy Netflix, May 7
Based on the comic book by Scots dream team Mark Millar and Frank Quitely – who also serve as executive producers here – this eight-part series follows the children of the first generation of superheroes as they try to live up to the expectations and legacies of their parents.
The Underground Railroad Amazon Prime, May 14
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Colson Whitehead, this 10-parter tells the story of Cora and Caesar, two 19th Century slaves who try to escape their Georgia plantation by following the Underground Railroad – a rail transport system, a series of safe houses and secret routes. Peter Mullan is among the cast.
Too Close ITV, date to be confirmed
Emily Watson and Denise Gough face off in this three-part psychological drama. Watson is Dr Robertson, a forensic psychiatrist placed with Gough, who is accused of a terrible crime she claims she has no memory of. As the two women get under each other’s skin, Robertson’s search for justice might end up destroying her.
Landscapers
Sky Atlantic, date to be confirmed Oscar-winning actor Olivia Colman teams up with Oscar-winning director Alexander Payne in a four-part true-crime thriller. Colman plays Susan Edwards, who, along with her husband, kills her parents and buries them in their Mansfield garden, where they remain undiscovered for a decade.
The SNP hopes to reach 2.5 million voters with a digital leaflet campaign.
Ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections in May, SNP members are being asked to share online leaflets with 20 people.
SNP deputy leader Keith Brown urged members to share the leaflet.
He said: “The SNP is aiming to mobilise its huge base of party members to connect, and have digital conversations with
2.5 million voters across Scotland.”