Author: Martin

Royal Literary Fund Fellow, scriptwriter, author, editor

Mart’s Movie of the Month – Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool

When I first heard about this film on The Jonathan Ross Show I was a bit meh. I mean, it's a romance innit. But Mrs S was keen, so off we went. Now, having seen it this afternoon, I can safely say Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool is everything a movie should be: great … Continue reading Mart’s Movie of the Month – Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool →

Mart’s Radio Highlight of the Week – A Badge, written and directed by Tony Pitts

When I learned another play by Tony Pitts was due for broadcast I knew it would be a belter. His previous plays Pact and Monster were incredible: the former, the darkest radio play I've ever heard; the latter, a skilful examination of the secrets lurking behind so many ordinary front doors. Written in Pitts’ unique, … Continue reading Mart’s Radio Highlight of the Week – A Badge, written and directed by Tony Pitts →

Mart’s Radio Highlight of the Week (x2) – Tommies, and Home Front

BBC Radio 4's World War One drama series are back on air this week, with 45-minute episodes of Tommies on both Friday and Saturday, and Home Front returning to the lads and lasses in Tynemouth. The characters in both series continue to develop as a result of the ongoing conflict. In Tommies, Captain Mickey Bliss is … Continue reading Mart’s Radio Highlight of the Week (x2) – Tommies, and Home Front →

Mart’s Radio Highlight of the Week: Velvet Blackout by Vincent O’Connell

Vincent O'Connell's Velvet Blackout, directed by Marc Beeby, is an unusual drama set during World War Two London. In 1942 a young woman with amnesia is pulled from a bombed building. A doctor and a policeman think she may know something vital to the British war effort - and they use some unorthodox techniques to … Continue reading Mart’s Radio Highlight of the Week: Velvet Blackout by Vincent O’Connell →

Mart’s Radio Highlight of (last) Week: Home Front, September 15th 1917 – Ivy Layton

If you're not a regular listener to Home Front this may not mean a lot to you, but the burgeoning romance between Ivy Layton and disfigured soldier Dennis Monk has been bubbling for a while. Wonderful writing and acting, and the delicate pacing of this story, made the final lines of this episode a real … Continue reading Mart’s Radio Highlight of (last) Week: Home Front, September 15th 1917 – Ivy Layton →

Mart’s Radio Highlight of the Week: Moving to the Red Planet

Although this programme was originally broadcast on 7 March 2017, I only got around to listening to it this week, so... In Moving to the Red Planet, Claudia Hammond discusses the psychological challenges facing human travellers to Earth's nearest neighbour, such as isolation, lack of privacy, and clashes among crew members. While the physical challenges … Continue reading Mart’s Radio Highlight of the Week: Moving to the Red Planet →