It looks like Christmas has come early for TV drama fans and cinephiles, because Netflix has officially dropped the first trailer for the upcoming Peaky Blinders movie.
Popcorn at the ready – even the teaser alone has got us fired up.
ln just 70 seconds, they’ve managed to pull us right back in, and we cannot wait to see Cillian Murphy back in full-on Tommy Shelby mode.
Not exaggerating when we say we have LITERAL chills.
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As you can see, they certainly haven’t scrimped on the budget with the first-ever feature-length Peaky Blinders film, neither in terms of production value nor the cast.
Then again, having already hosted the likes of Sam Neill, Tom Hardy, Adrien Brody, Anya Taylor-Joy and others in the series itself, as well as going on to become one of the most successful BBC shows of all time, they were never going to.
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We’re sure you spotted plenty of them for yourselves, but the debut trailer for The Immortal Man gives us not only our first glimpses of now Oscar-winning Murphy, 49, back in the saddle (both figuratively and literally) but also fellow blockbuster Irish actor, Barry Keoghan.
Other big names set to appear in the movie – set for a limited release in theatres before launching exclusively on Netflix – include Rebecca Ferguson and Tim Roth. It still remains unclear, however, as to how any of these characters will knit into the new season.
It’s also worth noting that the trailer shares a little snippet of the historical context, this continuation of the Shelby story is playing into, as we see what looks to be Nazi figures meeting on screen.
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Creator Steven Knight has already confirmed that the plot will fast-forward some years to meet back up with Tommy at the outset of WWII and his ancestral home of Birmingham during the Blitz.
Having already confirmed 6 March as the theatrical release date ahead of it going live on Netflix a fortnight later, the anticipation was seriously starting to ramp; this latest look has only added to the tinderbox of excitement.
What do you make of the Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man trailer, and will you be watching it?
Audio North’s favourite albums of 2025
Danny Jones
It’s that time of the year again: time to round up the best, or at least our favourite albums of 2026 here at Audio North.
We’re ready for your spiky opinions and intense judgement.
For those of you who haven’t been following over the past year or so, members of The Manc, The SheffandThe Hoot have banded together in our love of music to create the one-stop shop for all the best Northern tunage there is, going to as many gigs and chatting with as many artists as possible.
However, we’d never dare limit an audiophile’s listening to one region, so you can expect plenty of globe-trotting, genre-hopping and head-bopping excellence on this list. Without further ado, here is Audio North‘s round-up of the best records of the year for 2025.
Lux by Rosalía – Emily
5/5
I am not a trusted voice in music criticism, nor do I claim to be, so take what this verging-on-30-year-old white girl who only speaks English and has no relationship to religion whatsoever, says with a pinch of salt… but I think this might be one of the best albums of the decade, never mind this year.
When was the last time a genre-bending concept album about feminine spirituality and female saints sung in 14 DIFFERENT languages managed to wiggle its way into the cultural zeitgeist and onto the global charts? Yeah, never.
But that’s exactly what’s happened with Spanish singer Rosalía’s fourth studio album, Lux. It sees the hugely influential musician return to her roots by showcasing her classical training, with touches of flamenco mixed in with contemporary pop and orchestral sound – and to me, it’s exactly where she belongs.
Go on, give it a listen if you haven’t already.
We’re Never Getting Out by Deaf Havana – Danny
4.5/5
Since early adolescence onwards, Deaf Havana have been with me through every major milestone, significant moment and formative part of my life, good, bad, and everything in between, so it only feels fitting that I’d enter my third decade on this planet with one of their records to start me off right.
In fact, not only did they release this in my birthday month, but they also happened to play Manchester not long before the big day. I couldn’t have asked for a better 30th gift, but getting to hear this long-awaited batch of new tunes live and seeing frontman James Veck-Gilodi back at his best felt special.
They’ve been through many iterations over the years and I’ve loved them all in their own way; their previous two albums definitely felt like a return to form after perhaps somewhat of a blip (for various background reasons), but it still staggers me how Matty and James’ stuff never fails to connect with me more than any other artist, no matter the age, stage or style.
To be completely truthful, I’ll always lean towards their heavier guitar-driven stuff – and they’ll never abandon it – but I guess there’s a comfort in knowing just how challenging a period of life James has gone through, yet he still continues to be the most raw, introspective and eternally honest lyricist.
For my money, the best and most underrated songwriter of a generation. Help hail him if you want it, or don’t; even if not, it feels like he gets to stay mine, or at least for those of us initiated, OURS.
Thanks for everything up until now, and you know what? Sod it, I’ll take the liberty of speaking on behalf of all Deaf fans when I say we’re SO bloody happy you’re back with us, even if ‘The Present Is still feels like* a Foreign Land’.
Would I have called myself a Lily Allen fan six months ago? No. But I have always called myself a fan of a diss track and a good gossip, so when I learned of her divorce album, I consumed it HARD.
West End Girl is a solid pop album, but also a masterclass in knowing your worth, speaking your truth, and serving revenge ice-cold. And bringing the receipts, too.
It’s also a masterclass in music marketing – not only did it drop right before the release of her ex-husband’s biggest project of his career, but her tour posters were then placed directly opposite Stranger Things posters, so her face reflected back over his.
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He effectively vanished from his own press tour, and possibly the face of the planet? Has David Harbour gone into witness protection in ‘The Upside Down’? I would.
Love and light, Lily, and thank you for delivering the best.
Before you ask, yes, I have endured a breakup this year and, coincidentally, around the same time as Ms Dean released this absolute masterclass of a sophomore album.
The Art of Loving is a perfect analysis of love in all forms. Her heartfelt yet humoured lyricism explores its constant ups and downs, from delightfully romantic songs like ‘So Easy (To Fall In Love)’to more gut-wrenching, raw confessions like ‘Let Alone The One You Love’.
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But perhaps the most prominent theme of love throughout is self-love; Olivia portrays herself as not a victim but a student, and we, as listeners, are reassured that we’re all in the same boat and that if we trust the process, the right sort of love will find us eventually.
It’s no surprise that Olivia Dean is one of the most exciting artists in the world right now, oozing class, charm and impeccable talent – we can’t wait to see her live again and to see what she does next.
A Complicated Woman by Self Esteem – Kris
5/5
Self Esteem has kicked the door off its hinges this year with her third studio album, A Complicated Woman, with standout critical acclaim. The album explores identity, womanhood and burnout against a backdrop of delicious pop-bops and powerfully honest lyrics with a theatricality that few other musicians can muster.
I only properly “discovered” Self Esteem this year, and she has absolutely knocked my musical socks off. I had the joy of watching her sensational performance at Glastonbury, shedding a number of tears at the likes of ‘I Do And I Don’t Care’, ‘In Plain Sight’ and ‘Focus Is Power’.
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Her lyrics and her music have a way of mining the depths of your emotions and dragging feelings out of you that you didn’t even know existed. ‘The Deep Blue Okay’ is the perfect closer, reminding us that self-preservation is acceptable and OK.
In a world where there is constant pressure, internally and externally, to be perfect, this whole album reminds us that sometimes being imperfect and trying is what matters. Every day we get to have is big.
Whilst Sheffield-born Self Esteem might be a complicated woman, there is nothing complicated about this album being an absolute knock-out.
I’m usually a pop-punk, obsessed with Oli Sykes kinda girl, but Addison Rae… You are my Queen.
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The soundtrack to my summer, Addison Rae brought us all classics like ‘Summer Forever’, ‘Diet Pepsi’, ‘Headphones on’, and the absolute fan favourite ‘Fame Is A Gun’ on the self-titled album, Addison.
She followed me to all my holidays, and the album itself takes you on a journey of what it’s like to be a woman; it’s empowering, showcasing what it’s like to be young, being in love, not wasting time and maybe a little bit of money – it’s a joyful masterpiece.
I fell short of seeing her live in Manchester earlier this year, but it didn’t stop me from scrolling through TikTok the next morning.
Addison, thank you for being the noise of one of my favourite summers – now put your ‘headphones on’ and enjoy.
People Watching by Sam Fender – Lonnie
4/5
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People Watching… WHAT an album. Where do I even start? Sam Fender really has knocked it out of the park on this one – Wythenshawe Park, specifically.
It’s raw, emotional, yet still full of energy. I was lucky enough to see Fender for that wonderful day fest in Wythy back in August, where he did this album the utmost justice.
The title track ‘People Watching’ is a full-on banger: high energy and massive sound. It also carries a message that will hit people from all walks of life. Knowing it’s about a late mentor and friend of Sam’s made it land even harder.
‘Rein Me In’ is another standout, touching on self-sabotage in love, which most of us can acknowledge we have done at one time or another. It’s honest, extremely relatable, and hits home without trying too hard; having Clem’s favourite Olivia Dean then hop on it was just the stuff of dreams.
Overall, the album feels incredibly human. Reflective without being boring, emotional without being over the top. It’s the sort of record you stick on and let play, and it’ll hit different ways depending on where your head is. A brilliant album and one of Sam Fender‘s strongest to date.
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Hopefully! by Loyle Carner – EmJ
4/5
Hopefully! has been one album I’ve listened to time and time again this year. Loyle Carner (real name Benjamin Coyle Larner) continues to prove why his music connects so deeply with so many people.
From the moment I pressed play on the record, I was met with an immediate sense of comfort. The opening track, ‘feel at home’, begins with a child-like sound of wind chimes before switching into a jungle/breakbeat rhythm – a more experimental direction for Loyle, but one that feels completely natural.
Sonically, the album is interesting. There are moments that lean into a murky, slightly off-kilter sound that will remind many listeners of King Krule and Mac DeMarco – more in mood and atmosphere than direct influence. It shows Ben pushing himself creatively without losing what makes his music feel so personal.
Throughout the album, you can hear the weight in Loyle Carner’s voice. Often sounding like there’s a lump in his throat, his thoughts feel raw, unpolished and imperfect, and that’s exactly what makes the record resonate with me.
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Vulnerability has always been at the heart of Loyle’s music, but it feels especially front and centre here. The album flows effortlessly, and it’s one of those records you end up listening to front-to-back without even realising.
Tyler, The Creator’s latest album, DON’T TAP THE GLASS, is another reminder of why his evolution has been so compelling to watch. I’ve been listening to his music since the Odd Future days, and what’s impressive is how he’s managed to grow without losing that edge.
The album is inspired by people’s fear of dancing in public due to social media; it’s an album about letting loose and expressing yourself. Production is layered and interesting, but never distracting, giving Tyler room to say exactly what he wants to say.
‘Sugar On My Tongue’ stands out immediately. It’s the kind of track that grows with every listen and sticks around long after the album ends.
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This isn’t Tyler trying to prove anything. It’s an artist fully comfortable in his sound, still pushing himself forward while staying true to where he started.
Hearts Sold Separately by Mariah the Scientist – Thomas
4.5/5
With this project featuring my top song, album and artist of the year, ‘Is It a Crime’ if I didn’t choose this to be my album of the year? Yes. Mariah has resorted to every artist’s favourite era of inspiration, calling back to the 80s for some echoey drums, chimes and synths which dominate this record’s soundscape.
This album’s magnum opus, ‘Burning Blue’, sees her letting down her guard as she finds true love with ‘Eternal Flame’ and ‘Like You Never’ continuing this theme. Fittingly, Ms Scientist uses this album to discuss her expertise in one specific chemical reaction, love.
Roll on January, when I’ll be belting out Hearts Sold Separately for its entire duration when she plays Manchester Academy.
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Getting Killed by Geese – Lilly
5/5
As an avid rock fan, I’ve been hungry for an album that flips the genre on its head and finally provides us with a fresh new perspective. Thankfully, Geese DELIVERED this year, and brought out their third wild and weirdly wonderful LP, Getting Killed, which has since gone platinum in my house.
Each song on the album feels like its own religious experience; it’s a perfectly crafted amalgamation of art-rock and post-punk with references to prime funk and soul, conveyed through groovy basslines and sonic shifts.
Cameron Winter’s uniquely brilliant vocal range shines through once again, accompanied by his absurdist lyricism and the band’s overall 70s flair; Getting Killed isn’t just a good rock album in my eyes, it’s a modern-day classic.
With a name like ‘Geese’… It’s hard to forget a band like these lot – and once you hear this album, they’ll be cemented in your brain forever.
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Go on, then – how did we do?…
Let us know your favourite albums of 2025 down below, and here’s to what we’re sure will be another brilliant year of music in ’26.
Featured Images — Audio North/Publicity pictures (various)
TV & Showbiz
10 of the very best British Christmas specials and episodes to watch on TV this holiday season
Danny Jones
‘Tis the season to sit on your backside and do nothing but gorge on mountains of food and watch TV for hours on end as you make your way through all the Christmas specials and best of British telly you can muster.
Now, there’s nothing worse than when it feels like there’s nothing on you’re stranded in that spot on the sofa that’s too comfy to vacate, so that’s where we come in.
Along with all the usual stuff you’ll find in the TV guide at this time of year, we thought we’d round up some of the very best Christmas specials made here in the UK and Ireland to have ever aired – that way, you’ll have a steady supply of festive viewing and barely need to move an inch.
In no particular order, let’s get stuck into it, shall we?
The best British Christmas TV specials of all time
Where else to start than with the pride of Wales and a series that millions watch from start to finish every year? Gavin & Stacey.
Still revered as one of the most beloved comedies to ever come out of the UK, their two festive specials are also part and parcel (pardon the pun) of many Brits’ Christmas.
It still feels a bit weird going back and watching Corden as Smithy before the days of American fame, that first Nessa entrance; Uncle Bryn being, well, Bryn – even the soundtrack takes us back – but after the huge success of last year’s Gavin & Stacey finale, we’re ready to cry buckets all over again.
9. The Office – ‘Christmas Special’ (Part 1 and 2)
Next up is not only this particular telephile’s ultimate Christmas TV event but possibly one of the very best episodes of British telly in history. Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant broke new ground with this genre-defining comedy, and while they fine-tuned cringe throughout the series, this was pure heart.
Rom-com juggernaut Richard Curtis dubbed this two-part Christmas special spread across just 96 minutes as the culmination of what he believed to be “one of the great romantic stories of all time” between Tim and Dawn, and the perfect end to a “masterpiece”.
You’ll hear no arguments from us.
Is it the best Christmas special in British TV history?
8. The Royle Family – Christmas Specials (1999, 2000, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012)
Another classic not only British but fundamentally Manc comedy, The Royle Family might just be one of the best things Greater Manchester ever produced – and that’s saying something – and perfectly captures the comfortable monotony of sitting in front of the telly for hours on end.
That goes doubly so for the multiple Christmas specials, of which there are many and while they all do a great job of creating that familiar feeling of a Northern front room that the series was so good at throughout its entire run, the 1999 Christmas with the Royle Family special where the late great Caroline Aherne’s water breaks and that tear-jerking scene with Ricky Tomlinson…
It gets us every time.
Set just down the road in Wythenshawe, it still has us weeping just as much now as it did back in the day.
7. Peep Show – ‘Seasonal Beatings’
Cauliflower may or may not be traditional, but one thing we can agree on is that watching Peep Show‘s hilariously miserable, ill-mannered, tense, ever-awkward and bloody brilliant Christmas episode from 2010 is very much part of our annual holiday ritual.
The fifth episode of the seventh season – which many would rightly champion as peak-era Peep Show – may only last less than half an hour, but it feels like an eternity of familiar festive agony and walking on eggshells before the fantastic crescendo that is Mark pouring gravy into a shredder.
‘Merry Chris-Mark!’
If you don’t think Peep Show’s Christmas special/festive episode is one of the best in British TV history, you’re just wrong, sorry.
6. Ted Lasso – ‘Carol of the Bells’
Approaching the halfway mark, and we’re going to be somewhat controversial and introduce not only a very contemporary pick but one that isn’t technically a UK production, but the show is set entirely in England, and if there’s one thing it has tried to be since the start, it’s almost too cookie-cutter British
Now, we’re going to qualify that we have a weird relationship with Ted Lasso; it’s by no means the funniest thing we’ve ever seen, and the broad-strokes American look at football is frustrating at times, but one thing this show does do well is being deeply sincere, and never more so than in its Xmas special.
Plus, you get to hear Hannah Waddingham sing her pipes off – what’s not to like?
Christmas is about reminding your loved ones how much they mean – regardless of what you make of the show, this episode nails that.
5. Extras – Christmas Special (Part 1 and 2)
Our penultimate pick is also our second Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant creation: the Extras Christmas special, which aired back in 2007 and still has some of the funniest gags in the history of British TV as far as we’re concerned.
Managing to rope in even more big names for this equally cringeworthy and even painful to watch at times conclusion to the show, which also ran for just two series like The Office, the frustrating arc of Gervais’ main character Andy Millman is such a great payoff when all is said and done.
Only an hour and a half in total, well worth sticking on if you’ve never seen it before.
Just look at how many famous faces they managed to rope in for this fantastic two-parter. (Credit: Press Image via BBC)
4. Doctor Who – ‘End of Time’ (Part 1 and 2)
From a David Tennant cameo to him in arguably one of his greatest-ever performances in his final full-time appearance as the space-travelling Time Lord in what we are officially declaring the best Doctor Who Christmas special to date, and some of Russell T. Davies’ very best work.
It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly 15 whole years since the national treasure said goodbye to the role in the gut-wrenching two-parter, which also saw the return of John Simm as ‘The Master’, but we’re still confident that there hasn’t been a better Xmas/New Year’s Day special pairing than the one below.
Here’s hoping RTD’s recent comeback will see a return to form by the next one in December 2026.
That delivery of ‘I don’t wanna go’ still makes us well up.
As we gradually approach the end of our list, we want to give so much deserved love to what we think isn’t just the underdog of British telly but an unsung hero when it comes to spotlighting friendship, positive male relationships and downright fraternal love.
It’s Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Finishing – the festive editions. We know we’re biased, but we really love the one with Paul Heaton. If you’ve ever sat down to watch an episode of this laid-back, laughter-filled show, you’ll know that these two can often achieve that warm, heartfelt and cosy feeling regardless of whether it’s Christmas or not.
It’s also a great antidote to any latent toxic masculinity left on screen, and with some serious emotion being laid bare in these Christmas special episodes, especially for us, this is what reality TV should be. We’re already looking forward to the next instalment at 9pm on Christmas Eve.
— Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing (@MWGoneFishing) December 22, 2025
2. Click & Collect
Ok, we promise this is the last Merchant mention on this list, as we’re intensely aware of some bias on our end, but this straight-to-TV BBC short film really took us by surprise when we first saw it and is well worth setting aside a nice round hour to enjoy.
Not only does the core premise feel like a very relatable scenario for many parents rushing to sort out everyone’s Christmas presents in time, but it’s a touching tale of family, kindness and sparing that extra bit of patience during what can be a tough time of year for lots of people.
Trust us, you’ll love it.
Asim Chaudhry is fantastic.
1. Only Fools & Horses – ‘Heroes and Villains’
And finally, what better place to round off this list than with only the series consistently voted the greatest British comedy of all time, but the episode that is widely considered its best-ever Christmas special? It can only be Del Boy and Rodney dressed up as Batman and Robin in ‘Heroes and Villains’.
Now, there is a whopping total of 18 Only Fools Christmas specials, and we’re sure everyone has their own personal favourite, but surely there isn’t a single one more iconic than the first episode of the legendary 1996 festive trilogy.
It also sets up events for ‘Time on Our Hands’, one of the most moving scripts they ever wrote – but it all starts with the much-loved duo plodding through the mist in capes.
It’s still regarded as the best British comedy ever, but where does it rank on the list of all-time greatest Christmas TV specials?
A very Christmas special mention…
Father Ted – ‘A Christmassy Ted’
Not technically British, we know, but the cult Irish hit remains one of the funniest comedies to ever come out of our corner of the world, and if you’ve never seen Ted, Dougal and a bunch of other clergymen get stuck in a women’s lingerie section like it’s a warzone, you’re seriously missing out.
Mrs Doyle is her typical quick-witted self, and Father Jack can be found making the occasional outburst from his chair as usual and overall, ‘A Christmassy Ted’ is a very funny bit of seasonal telly.
Not strictly British but still one of the best Christmas specials in TV history if you ask us.
Come on, you have to agree – we absolutely smashed that.
Some old, some new, some maybe a little bit out of left field, but all absolutely guaranteed to keep you entertained this festive period.
If you think we’ve made the cardinal sin of missing an all-time TV great, then please feel free to give it to us in the comments and educate us on the best British Christmas specials.
In fact, one of our other writers, Emily, has forced me to add a line about The Vicar of Dibley Christmas Specials too… so here’s the line. You can also find her round-up of all the best new bits coming to the box this holiday season down below.
Danny Jones -
24th December 2025 
