From long-awaited sequels to deep embarrassment

The Independent’s entertainment newsletter [View in browser]( [The Independent]( December 18, 2021 [The Independent]( Written by Alexandra Pollard The IndyArts Newsletter Hello, and welcome to another IndyArts newsletter. With spirits low and Christmas plans hanging in the balance for a second year in a row thanks to the dreaded Omicron variant, I am going to keep the recommendations entirely cheerful this week. I have also changed the "out and about" section to "staying in", because I'm not sure I can recommend trips to crowded theatres at the moment. If you, like me, used to adore the camp, bonkers musical-theatre talent shows helmed by Andrew Lloyd Webber – I'd Do Anything, Any Dream Will Do and the like – then you must read Isobel Lewis's [brilliant deep dive into Webber's bizarre reality TV empire.]( Speaking of Jessie Buckley –who came second on I'd Do Anything, of course – [I gave five stars to Cabaret this week](, which is on in London's Playhouse Theatre (re-named the Kit Kat Club especially) and stars Buckley and an impish, mercurial Eddie Redmayne. You might have to sell a kidney to get your hands on a ticket (or enter the daily lottery), but it's worth it – once Omicron dies down. These musical shows, presented by Graham Norton, brought together two seemingly oppositional forces and shook the industry (Shutterstock/Getty/PA/BBC) Meanwhile, [Ed Cumming's TV column]( this week was on Ant & Dec, the unlikely political saviours taking down Boris Johnson, and Sam Moore spoke to many of the stars of Lord of the Rings for [this oral history to celebrate the film's 20th anniversary.]( [The Saturday Interview – Michael Sheen]( [Oscars image]( Michael Sheen: 'For every column about cancel culture, there’s one less about real dangers’ This week's Saturday Interview is with ‘Frost/Nixon’ star Michael Sheen, who spoke to Patrick Smith about why the prime minister seems to have "no personal ethics, morals, beliefs", cancel culture, and becoming a "not-for-profit" actor. [Oscars image]( Sheen plays Tony Towers, a brash Nottingham nightclub impresario, in ‘Last Train to Christmas’ Read an extract from our Saturday Interview below… Michael Sheen isn’t one to mince his words. Even before Boris Johnson finds himself at the centre of the Christmas party scandal, the Welsh star of Frost/Nixon has our PM in his crosshairs. “He’s the absolute worst of what politics can be,” says the 52-year-old, his voice rich and lilting. “A man who doesn’t seem to care or believe in anything other than his own advancement, and, as a result of immense privilege, has been able to get to the most powerful position in the country and then doesn’t use it to make people’s lives better. Everything is a game to him.” Sheen stops, reloads. “He seems to have no personal ethics, morals, beliefs, value system. So I will be immensely happy to see the back of him, not just from being prime minister but out of the political arena altogether. I hope he goes off and finds a job that has no influence whatsoever on anything in our cultural, social or economic life.” Deep breath. Exhale. “And good luck to him with that.” Disconcertingly, Sheen delivers this diatribe while sporting a shock of white blond hair, like a vertiginously quiffed version of the Boris bouffant. Unlike Johnson, though, he doesn’t seem to be spouting hot air. The actor, after all, sold his houses to bankroll the 2019 Homeless World Cup. The following year he revealed that he’d handed back the OBE he was awarded in 2009 for fear of being, in his words, a hypocrite. And earlier this month, he declared himself a “not-for-profit actor”, pledging to use future earnings to fund social projects. He’s a walk-walker in a crowd of talk-talkers. That there is any hair similarity today – Sheen’s mane is ordinarily dark, scraggly and flecked with grey – is down to him currently filming a second series of Good Omens, Amazon’s devilishly entertaining adaptation of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s apocalyptic novel. [Read the full interview here]( What to binge this week [Oscars image]( [Detectorists]( I started watching this charming, low-key comedy as research for interviewing Mackenzie Crook, and then I couldn't stop. Two amateur metal detectors – sorry, detectorists – traverse the English countryside chatting about their hopes and fears and University Challenge, hoping to uncover buried treasure. It's comfort TV at its very finest and it's all on iPlayer. Staying in [The Power of the Dog, Netflix]( Jane Campion’s "magnificent and erotically charged western" is at number two in Clarisse Loughrey's films of the year list. It is brilliant, haunting and visceral, and it's streaming on Netflix now. [All Star Musicals, ITV]( This delightfully frothy TV special sees a handful of celebrities, including presenter Fern Britton, Corrie star Catherine Tyldesley, and Ben Miller (my interview with him is out tomorrow), take on showtunes in front of a live audience and a panel of judges that includes Elaine Paige. It's an absolute joy. [Little Women, Netflix]( Greta Gerwig's beautiful adaptation of the Louisa May Alcott classic novel was my film of 2019, and is as comforting as it is heartbreaking. Now it's arrived on Netflix, I can heartily recommend putting it on and basking in the glow of its warmth. Essential reading [Child star of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ reflects on the movie that changed her life]( [Child star of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ reflects on the movie that changed her life]( [The 49 funniest movie insults of all time]( [The 49 funniest movie insults of all time]( [Every Netflix Christmas romcom ranked from least to most ridiculous]( [Every Netflix Christmas romcom ranked from least to most ridiculous]( If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's entertainment newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's entertainment newsletter, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Culture_Newsletter_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. 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