February 2026 Cultural Highlights Ratings for Television Shows, Books and an outstanding Film

March 9, 2026

Explore what grabbed our attention in February

Our monthly round up of what we enjoyed last month

Television

The Blair Story Ch4

★★★★

A three-part documentary that chronicles the highs and lows of Tony Blair’s premiership and that of New Labour.

A fullish portrait is shown aided by interviews with the man himself, wife Cherie, two of his children and close associates including Lord Mandelson whose interview the producers are keen to point out pre-dated his fall from grace. Aside from making Labour votable, there’s no doubt that Blair had some notable achievements. Many of his predecessors had tried and failed to resolve the issue of Northern Ireland. Blair did with the Good Friday agreement and he was fundamental in solving the Kosovo issue.

But lurking around the corner is Iraq, his commitment to the American cause and his messianic belief blights his legacy. And listening to between the lines of his interview, you can’t fail to conclude there is a bitterness about Blair that he thinks his legacy should be far greater than it is. The main failing of the series is that you can’t tell the Blair Story without hearing from Gordon Brown whom Blair idolised early in his political career and then kept at bay when first there was discussion about the succession.

How to Get to Heaven from Belfast  Netflix

★★★★★

From the creator of the highly successful Derry Girls, this is a darkly comic, genre-blending Netflix series that combines mystery, emotional depth, and Irish wit.

Three old schoolfriends reunite to attend the wake of their close friend, Greta whom they’ve lost touch with 20 years ago when something went wrong for Greta. There’s something odd about Greta’s family and all manner of theories abound when one of the friends, Saoirse, lifts the coffin lid and tells her friends it’s not Greta.

What ensues is a hilarious ride as the three friends join forces and experience improbable scenarios whilst all the while there are flashbacks to them watching a shack burning which must be linked to what happened to Greta.

It’s all bound together by a sharply observed script and excellent performances by the principals.

Under Salt Marsh Sky Atlantic

★★★

Heavily promoted by Sky, this has the right credentials, two excellent performers Kelly Reilly and Rafe Spall, once police colleagues but driven apart when investigating the disappearance of Reilly’s niece some years ago.

Rafe Spall has returned to the scene following the discovery of a murdered boy and Reilly, a local teacher, can’t help but become involved. To further complicate the investigation, a big storm is on the way threatening to flood the low-lying town.

As to be expected, numerous suspects are thrown our way and whether it’s the combination of relentless rain or that there are only so many anguished expressions by Reilly that one can take, makes this a series you think you should give up on but persist to the end even though you’ve lost interest in the denouement.

56 Days  Netflix

★★★

With so much choice of what to watch, viewers are more empowered than ever to make judgements within minutes of the first episode. So it was that we approached 56 days but giving a few more minutes, became an episode and then a binge of a whole series.

In the present day, a severely decomposed body is found in the bath of a smart Boston apartment. Flipping back 56 days and a young pair meet and are instantly attracted to each other. This wouldn’t work without the chemistry between Ciara (Dove Cameron) and Oliver (Avan Jogia) and whenever the action returns to the present day and the two detectives investigating the case, it loses impetus.

We know the apartment belongs to Oliver and that there is something dark about his past, equally we suspect that the body is neither of the couple.

I’m glad I persisted with this as there’s a resolve untypical of this type of series but it’s not one I’d necessarily shout from the roof tops.

Podcast

Podcast listening has been confined largely to our recommendation of last month – Short History Of. Here are some of the episodes, we’ve enjoyed – Female Spies of World War Two, Rasputin, Marie Antoinette, The Blitz, The Soviet Union Part 1 & 2, Frida Kahlo, The Mona Lisa, The Real Peaky Blinders, The War of The Roses Part 1, 2 & 3 – and I’m sure you’ll find episodes to suit your taste.

Film

I Swear  Netflix

★★★★★

I Swear was the main talking point of the Baftas because of the inadvertent tics expressed by Tourette’s sufferer, John Davidson upon whom the film is based and the actor who portrayed him, Robert Aramayo, winning Best Actor against strong competition.

His award is fully deserved as it is an exceptional performance. Davidson educated the nation about a little-known syndrome and was awarded an MBE in 2019. This is a warm and engaging film which illustrates perfectly how Tourette’s behaviour can be misconstrued. Davidson didn’t start displaying symptoms until he was a teenager and the film captures how initially he was accused of making it up, how divisive it was for his family and how eventually he was saved by a mental health nurse who took him in when his mother couldn’t cope and by a community centre worker who gives him a chance.

There can be understandable apathy about watching such a film but amidst the hardship suffered by Davidson, there is humour associated with some of his experiences and it is a condition about which we should be better educated. 

Books

The Death of Us  Abigail Dean

★★★★

Isabel and Edward meet as teenagers and as their courtship unfolds, you know they are made for each other.

However, from the start, there are references to a dark event – a home invasion and that is where this book really begins. The violent attack leaves them with a multitude of issues which they find difficult to express to each other. That’s compounded by the fact that this was no random, opportunistic attack but one designed to interfere with their relationship. Details of the attack are left to the imagination, the aftermath isn’t.

It’s a slow burner and that allows us to fully understand the characters particularly when it comes to the trial of the perpetrator and the victims’ statements. A story like this needs hope and that process is extremely well crafted.

What Happened that Night  Nicci French

★★★★

A group of friends reuniting and secrets being revealed isn’t particularly original but this one just about carries it off because the invitation to reunite has come from the one just released from prison after he was found guilty of murder when they were last together.

Tyler Green has always maintained his innocence, so on release he summons those who were in attendance that fateful night expecting to discover who the real murderer was. Most of them can think of reasons for not attending but of course they do.

Characterisation is at the heart of this novel and each of the friends has a tale to tell or a secret to hide especially when one of them is murdered in a similar fashion to the first victim.

If you like this sort of book, then you’ll enjoy it as it’s well written and structured. The reveal when it comes, won’t take you aback but it is plausible.

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