Are Brilliant ... Mark XXI

Am on the Island (Ynys Mon) with the Groupie so naturally well disposed to the world at present. We are going home today to see the brilliant Muse tonight.

So what's brilliant? Kenneally's Bitter by Bragdy Brewery of Conwy. It definitely helps that I was drinking it at the Ship Inn at Red Wharf Bay where I had the sausage sandwich as accompaniment to the beer. The Groupie had the coronation chicken sandwich, which I sampled in the interests of science. Jolly good.

The Thick of It. We have been binge-watching all four series over the past few weeks and it confirms me in the view that Armando Ianucci is a great modern writer. A stimulating commentator also - take a look at this excerpt from his defence of the BBC : Iannucci MacTaggart lecture 2015 What this has also called into question is OG's judgement in not including The Thick of It in the advent calendar of great television 2015. Oh well, maybe I can get another year out of it further down the line. Revisiting the final episode and the political demise of that great monster Malcolm Tucker, I was put in mind of Coriolanus's overpoweringly succinct farewell to Rome, 'I banish you'. Tucker draws his breath for one final act of coruscation, thinks about it and merely utters, 'It doesn't matter'. Less is more. Great writing.

Another piece of television - Line of Duty. If this were American we would be raving about it. Series 3 is playing right now but we have also re-watched series 2 and will shortly embark on series 1 which somehow we missed altogether. Line of Duty is not the only tale of British televisual brilliance to appear on our screens of late. There ought to be a mention for Happy Valley starring the very reliable Sarah Lancashire who sure has come a long way from barmaid at the Rover's Return in Corrie.