Trick or treat yourself to another round of our Culture Digest, our curated cultural briefing from The TV Foundation team. Your quick guide to what’s worth watching, reading, and seeing - curated with care, so you never miss a cultural beat.
It’s officially sweater weather so we’ve got a bumper list of binge-worthy tv and film for you to feast on over the colder months.
Slow Horses (Apple TV): Jackson Lamb is back for a fifth season with his Slough House posse in tow.
Film Club (BBC): Aimee Lou Wood stars in - and co-wrote - this understated rom-com about two will-they-won’t-they cinephile friends.
Ragdoll (BBC): One from the iPlayer archives but perfect for Halloween season.
Task (Now): A riveting cat and mouse chase from the creators of Mare of Eastown.
The Chair Company (Now): Unhinged office rage. Tim Robinson brings us this bonkers comedy-thriller.
Blue Lights (BBC): Back for season 3, Blue Lights proves yet again that it might be the best cop show ever made.
Sorry, Baby (Mubi): Heartbreaking and hilarious in the same beat.
A House of Dynamite (Netflix): Tense thriller from director powerhouse, Kathryn Bigelow.
Frankenstein: (In Cinemas Now): Perhaps the most fitting recommendation for this months digest. Guillermo del Toro’s take on the horror classic.
Hamnet: (In Cinemas January 2026): Some of the team were lucky to catch the premiere at LFF this year and now the rest of us can’t wait to catch the adaptation of Maggie O’Farrells novel.
One Battle After Another: (In Cinemas Now) – PTA putting Leonardo Di Caprio firmly in the Oscar’s race. A must on the big screen.
Zodiac Killer Project: A documentary about the making of a failed documentary. A clever unpicking of the true crime genre. Tickets are available now for the London premiere and Q&A at the ICA.
The Slumber Party Massacre: Perfect for Halloween night, feast your eyes on this classic 80’s slasher film.
In the Cut: Early noughties Meg Ryan and Mark Ruffalo, need we say more?
Goodnight Mommy: A viscerally chilling Austrian horror film.
West End Girl: Lily Allen’s new album, is a work of theatre.
Audition by Katie Kitamura: Now Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, its sharp, hypnotic, and masterfully crafted.
All The Best For The Future: Growing Up Without Growing Old by Greg James: Brilliantly funny and heart-warming stories of growing up from much-loved Radio 1 presenter and bestselling children’s author, Greg James. What’s not to love?
Spent Light by Lara Pawson: Compelling as it is repellent, this book blends memoir, fiction and history.
Podcast
WTF with Marc Maron: Bowing out after 16 years, the King of podcasts say’s farewell with one final guest, Barack Obama.
The Stack: Shoutout to our former Festival Researcher and friend, Jake Williams who’s just launched a book podcast with his friend, Ella. Kick off the series with some Haunting recommendations.
What Went Wrong: A podcast covering Hollywood’s most notorious disastrous film productions.
Out and About
Mary Page Marlowe at The Old Vic: Susan Sarandon and Andrea Riseborough together at the Old Vic by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tracy Letts. Were you lucky enough to catch the run?
Folkestone Triennial is over for another year, but highlights include artist Hanna Tuulikki’s Love (Warbler Remix)
Got something we should check out or spooky Halloween recommendation? Let us know in the comments - we’re always looking for our next favourite thing.
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