Miniature Workshops, Sycamore Trees, and The Abandons

Ian MacEwan: 00:00:00

Foreign.

Hannah Fernando: 00:00:06

Hello and welcome to Bingewatch, the podcast, where we take a look at the hottest new TV and film releases on streaming television platforms. I'm Hannah Fernando, the group editor of Woman and Women and Home magazine.

Ian MacEwan: 00:00:17

th December: 2025

Including western drama the Abandons, starring Gillian Anderson and Lena Headey on Netflix, and Channel 4 documentary the Sycamore Gap mystery about the felling of the famous tree.

Hannah Fernando: 00:00:50

And we'll also be looking at the marvellous miniature workshop hosted by none other than the brilliant Sarah Cox on Iplayer. And also Harry Wilde on New Song, starring Jane Seymour. But first, Ian, what's in the news?

Ian MacEwan: 00:01:05

Prime Video's eight part romantic comedy, Escorted, written by and starring Brett Goldstein, will follow the fortunes of a divorced father who becomes a male escort in New York. Imagine that, Hannah.

Hannah Fernando: 00:01:17

Oh, wow. Well, I've got something even better for you because Idris Elba is back in the room.

He's reprising his role as John Luther in a second film on Netflix, which will see the troubled detective beset by threats to his life when he called on to investigate a terrifying and seemingly random killing spree.

Ian MacEwan: 00:01:37

Can't wait. Well, you can't fault us for variety this week and we're going to start off on Netflix with a new western drama called the Abandons.

And here is a clip.

Hannah Fernando: 00:01:50

Angel's Ridge is expanding more rapidly than anyone could have imagined. Their tyranny's getting worse. You continue to turn down my generous offers. My family are five abandoned souls now.

Ian MacEwan: 00:02:08

Kin.

Hannah Fernando: 00:02:09

God gave us this home, only God, and take it away.

Ian MacEwan: 00:02:16

Well, we bang on a lot about Gillian Anderson and how fantastic she is on this podcast, don't we, Hannah? And she's. She's only gone and done it again. So this is written by Kurt Sutter, who created Sons of Anarchy, which is a drama about a biker gang.

And it stars Lena Heady, who was in Game of Thrones, of course. She plays Fiona, who is an Irish immigrant living on a cattle ranch.

It's in the: 1850

She's keen to buy the land. And so it's kind of these two facing off against each other. So, yeah, the Van Ness family, well, they're very wealthy and very powerful.

She's got two sons and a daughter. The relationship between her and the kids is. Is very interesting. So there's one favorite son and she's pretty horrible to the other two kids.

And yes, the other son gets involved in an incident and altercation on the aforementioned cattle ranch and it all kicks off from there. So, yeah, it's. It's a really well done western drama. It looks great, the sets are good, the costumes, etc, etc. And Anderson is.

Yeah, she's playing a really nasty character in this, unusually for her and doing it really well. So, yeah, I thought it was great. I loved episode one. It rattled along at a great pace and some great scenes so early on.

So Julian Anderson's character arranges for a sort of raid on this cattle launch, cattle ranch at night, where they're basically trying to drive all the cattle over a cliff. It's very exciting stuff. So, yeah, if you like your Westerns, which I very much do.

I grew up watching things like the High Chaparral and the Virginian. You won't remember those, Hannah. But, yeah, this is good. And as ever, well, they're both. Actually. Both female leads are great in this.

So, yeah, recommended. What did you think?

Hannah Fernando: 00:05:01

Well, I'm not a massive fan of westerns, but I am a massive fan, as you say, of Gillian Anderson. And so therefore it's definitely worth a watch for that. For that alone.

She really is an actor that can kind of turn her hand to absolutely anything, isn't she? I mean, she.

She must investigate and spend so much time on these characters and becoming these characters because it's just so credible and believable. And she's an absolutely, as you say, horrible character. Really, really ruthless, but. And unexpected, I suppose, really from her.

And we've seen her play some really gritty parts before, haven't we? But this sort of. This takes it to another level and also kind of makes west. More appealing, I think, to women.

And I. I don't know if I'm right in saying this, but I think that Westerns quite often were stereotypically kind of a. A male thing, perhaps. And. And this doesn't feel like that. This kind of. This is. That changes that perception a bit.

So there's lots of kind of new territory here. I think It's. I mean, as you say, she. She's A pretty grim person really, but brilliantly, brilliantly played by her.

And I love all the, the kind of like you're saying about the cattle and kind of all that kind of really nasty, horrible sort of stuff that's going on within this. It don't know, she sort of, they bring it to life really, really, really well.

Ian MacEwan: 00:06:30

Okay, well, we're going to move across to the streaming platform. You and the channel, you and drama for the return of crime drama. Harry Wilde. And here's a clip.

Hannah Fernando: 00:06:46

The world is full of obvious things which nobody ever observes. Shakespeare, Sherlock Holmes.

Ian MacEwan: 00:06:54

This is the great detective, my mother, Harry Wilde.

Hannah Fernando: 00:06:57

What kind of mysteries have you guys been solving? Somebody murdered my friend. We're going to have to find out who. You have that look. Didn't I train you well? Yes.

Now I'd not watched much of this series before and there's been, there's been a few seasons, so it's kind of like catch up time. Although I don't think you absolutely have to. But I think it's quite useful to go back and, and dip in and see what this is about.

But this show is about a recently retired literature professor, Harriet, known as Harry, as the, as the head gives away Harry Wilde.

And as she becomes a private investigator, she's played by Jane Seymour and she's played, plays this private investigator and she becomes this private investigator after her son who is a police detective, dismisses her help completely on a murder case. And she is somebody who is. So ambitious and absolutely kind of wants.

She'S over everything, she wants to be a part of everything, she wants to know everything, she wants to do everything. And she reluctantly recruits her son's teen mugger Fergus as her sidekick, which doesn't go down at all well.

But I suppose if you're going to employ anybody, it's somebody who knows exactly what they're doing and how it's done.

And together they solve these, these mysteries and they do it really, really well, I guess because essentially what they're doing is they're not playing it by the book. They're doing things they probably shouldn't be doing, like breaking into, you know, police quarters to try and find paperwork and things like that.

So. But the point is, is that she knows she's being unconventional. She knows she's doing things she shouldn't really be doing.

But the ultimate goal is to get the perpetrator. And of course, you know, that's exactly what she tries to do. But what's great about this is it's not just the work that she does as an investigator.

It's also the kind of family life that goes with it and what's going on around it within their own personal life. And I think that makes it feel much more.

Because it does have some comedic moments, but it makes it feel that bit richer, I suppose, knowing about the families, about what's going on behind the teenage, the teenagers in the families, the relationships. And it just feels, as I say, that little bit richer, like you kind of understand a bit more. Jane Seymour is particularly good in this.

I mean, she feels. It's funny because she sort of feels a bit exhausted by it all, but yet this is the one thing fighting crime, finding.

Investigating serious things that she feels isn't being investigated properly is. Is her thing. And it really keeps her going. So breaking into the Guards is set in Ireland and breaking to the guard station to looking for clues.

You know, she's doing everything that's not by. By the book. And it's. At times it's kind of, it's. It's. Pacey, I, I've really enjoyed watching what I've watched so far. It's not.

It doesn't take itself too seriously. It's a bit of fun. What did you think, Ian?

Ian MacEwan: 00:10:07

I do like it. It's very much in the sort of cozy crime area, so you can't kind of. You can't compare it with.

With sort of the more dark and gritty crime dramas because that's not what it's aiming for.

I mean, Jane Seymour, I don't want to be one of those people who bangs on about someone looking good for their age, but she just, she does look incredible.

And, you know, of course, you know, Solitaire in Live and let die, Dr. Quinn, medicine, women, she's done all these great films and TV shows and yeah, she's just. She's just got bags of charisma, hasn't she? And yeah, it's a bit weird, this one, because they're showing series two, which is what we've watched.

Episode one of series one to three are all available to stream. Okay, so. So it's all there. If you, if you want to burn through the whole lot. It's all there. Yeah, I think it's nice.

So the case in this particular episode, it's quite an exciting start. So you see this guy, he seems to be sort of staking out someone who is stashing some kind of parcel on the beach.

And then, yeah, he is sort of executed assassin style. And his. I think it's his estranged wife. They're getting Divorced, who is a policewoman.

She turns up at the house and is sort of framed for the murder. Okay. And there's a little bit of backstory about Fergus, the guy that you mentioned who was the mugger. He's very good actually in this.

Say so his mum, who he is estranged from. The. The first thing that happens is that she turns up trying to kind of reconnect and make amends.

And we see a little bit of him, his relationship with his girlfriend. I mean, I put it very much in the same bracket as something like Whitstable Pearl with Kerry Godlyman in that. Yeah, it's about the relationships.

It's cozy crime. And again, in this like the sort of the final action scene where it's all, you know, is wrapped up. It's not good, but.

But I don't mind because I like everything else about it. And yeah, it's good to see it back and it's great to see, you know, Jane Seymour still getting a leading role in a TV series. So.

Yeah, long may it continue. Over on Channel 4 streaming, we have a new two part documentary series called the Sycamore Gap Mystery. And here's a clip.

Hannah Fernando: 00:12:43

Past the fabric of our community, this.

Ian MacEwan: 00:12:45

Grand old sycamore fell.

Hannah Fernando: 00:12:47

We thought someone was playing tricks on us. And then we saw the news.

Ian MacEwan: 00:12:51

Absolutely gobsmacked. Didn't realize how much hurt. Of course, around the northeast, at the.

Hannah Fernando: 00:12:55

End of the day, it's a tree. It wasn't just a tree.

Ian MacEwan: 00:12:58

This is a shared grief. Who in the right mind would do this? But you're talking about psychopaths. So, yes, everyone will remember this.

th of September: 2023

So this is a very well made two parter in which they. Yeah, they look into the whole story, the police investigation.

And it's quite stylishly done because it starts with a sort of close up of a tree trunk that's been sawn in half. And they've got some beautiful folk music sort of similar to the kind of stuff that Mackenzie Crook uses in things like the Detectorists.

And it did divide opinion, this, this crime. So it turned out there was two guys had done it and we see their police interviews and yeah, I mean, they're just dreadful People.

And you know, why, why on earth did they do this? It's just pointless vandalism, awful.

And yet there are some people who are apologists for these guys saying, oh, you know, they've had, they've got difficult backgrounds, you know, blah, blah, blah, or, you know, or it's only a tree. I disagree. I think it's the most dreadful thing that they did.

It's an environmental crime and they're totally unapologetic about it and uncooperative with the police. And yes, I'm very glad that they were found.

I mean, they're pretty stupid as well because one of them filmed them chopping the tree down on his mobile. What an idiot. But, yeah, I'm glad they got caught and punished. And yes, it's a terrible shame.

It's a real piece of English history that, that we've lost there. But, you know, some people are just the worst, aren't they? Hello. What did you make of this? I'm sure you remember this case.

Hannah Fernando: 00:15:09

Oh, it's so, it's, it's just so sad, isn't it? And so unnecessary and just like what, 200 year old tree? And then someone just comes on and just does that in a matter of minutes, probably, really.

And as you say, for what?

And there were no witnesses, as you say, it was, it was filmed on a mobile phone, which was a bit daft really, isn't it, if you're trying to cover your tracks, to be honest with you, because we know there's a footprint with data wherever we go. And I think the interviews just show how lame they are about the whole thing, really, and how much they just don't care.

And as you say, it did divide people, but I don't know why it divided people. It's wrong. It's a, it is an environmental crime. It should never, ever have happened. It's.

It's part of our heritage and, you know, that's why there are TPOs on, you know, all kinds of trees around the country, not, you know, not just this one. It's not okay. There is a reason for it. So, yeah, it's really sad. And of course, you know, once it's gone, it's gone.

That's, you know, that, that's it. So I think it is interesting and I think it will make more people probably feel like we feel. I think actually after watching it.

Ian MacEwan: 00:16:15

We've reviewed the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, haven't we, Hannah? And now we're going to talk about the Marvellous Miniature Workshop. Yes. Which is a new series on BBC iPlayer. And here is the clip.

Hannah Fernando: 00:16:30

They say it's the little things that mean the most. And in this series we're taking that to heart. Stepping into a world where cherished places from the past are brought back to life in miniature.

It's like being detectives, isn't it? From family homes. I just miss it so much. To grand public buildings. This building was so magnificent. I found my identity there.

Each tiny model tells a big story. Yes. So I'm a huge fan of Sarah Cox. We do a lot with her at Woman and Home.

And anyone who's been on social media of late will have seen Sarah doing the most incredible challenge for BBC Children In Need. She really, you know, was absolutely incredible and knowing her, she's. She broke down a lot on that, didn't we?

Really saw a side of her, really kind of, you know, emotional side of her. Just, just an incredible challenge. I think she's absolutely brilliant. She is now heading up.

So she's obviously on Radio on BBC Radio 2, but now she's heading up and hosting this new BBC One series called the Marvellous Miniature Workshop. And it's airing on weekdays for the next fortnight and there are eight, eight episodes.

And it sees professional model makers bringing very loved places back to life, but on a much smaller scale. So, I mean, which is pretty incredible.

We're talking about family homes, you know, huge, amazing public buildings, hospital wards, things that mean so much to so many people and they, and you meet these people and they talk about it and it's very, very emotional and these things are brought to life and when they see the, the piece in miniature form, I should say in miniature, tiny form, it's so incredible. It's like. It's just most unbelievable.

The scale and the detail and absolutely everything is just, it's just wonderful and means so much, so much to people because I think it's a really clever time to air it as well in the, in the run up to Christmas, because we're thinking about the toy workshops, aren't we, and the elves and Father Christmas and it kind of taps into that sort of romantic side of our natures.

And this really, this really gives you that fuzzy feeling, I think, hearing people's stories and also watching these incredibly talented people recreate these amazing places, items on, on this small scale. And I just think seeing all, like, even the lamp details inside the house and absolutely everything, people are brought to tears.

I think people will really, really enjoy this. And Sarah, I think, hosts it really, really well. What do you think him yeah, it.

Ian MacEwan: 00:19:19

Wasn'T quite what I expected. I thought it was going to be one of those sort of Bake off style shows where people compete.

So I thought it'll be all these miniaturists competing to build the best miniature whatever. But it isn't that, it's more. It's more like the repair shop and of course. Miniaturists.

Hannah Fernando: 00:19:36

Yes, the repair shop, exactly.

Ian MacEwan: 00:19:38

Miniaturists do crop up in some films, don't they? So there was the Miniaturist and also Hereditary, in which Toni Collette played this woman who.

We made these sort of miniature sets almost of like rooms or houses and so on, and it's just a fascinating thing. And we were just talking about Christmas parties, weren't we?

Often at a party you'll get miniature food and I just think anything that is miniaturized is better than the thing when it's its actual size. So, yeah, it's fat.

Hannah Fernando: 00:20:08

I mean, that's so true.

Ian MacEwan: 00:20:09

How they do these tiny, like. So one of. I watched the wrong episode, actually, I've realized.

So one episode is recreating a library, which was very important to this woman when she was younger. And so it's even got the bookshelves with all the books, tiny little books. It's got the card index. Drawers, it's just all.

Hannah Fernando: 00:20:31

But those books are almost leather bound, aren't they? When you look at them, they're incredible.

Ian MacEwan: 00:20:35

So the skill is amazing.

I think if there is a problem with it, it's that it's seems a little bit kind of fake in that, like these people suddenly say, oh, yeah, I've always wanted this building from my life to be recreated in minutes. You think, have you really? But yeah, you have to admire. I mean, the skill is just astonishing.

And when, you know, when you see the finished product, it's just a joy. And they managed, they managed to get the camera right in there inside the miniature building or whatever it is, and it's just, just.

It's spectacular. And yeah, as you say, I mean, yes, Sarah Cox can do no wrong at the moment. She's fab, isn't she?

So, yeah, it's a nice bit of kind of cozy TV for the run up to Christmas. Yeah, just. Just the job. Super. Well, we've got to that time and then we find out what the hell you've been binge watching.

Hannah Fernando: 00:21:30

John, I'm just boring at the moment, I'm afraid. It's a really busy time, isn't it? And frankly, and there's only so much TV you can watch. So I. And I just can't stop watching. I'm a celebrity.

It's, you know, I'm really enjoying it this year. So that's where I'm at.

Ian MacEwan: 00:21:45

Okay, well, I haven't watched any of it. Not that I'm saying, you know, there's anything wrong with that. I used to be an absolute super fan of I'm a celeb.

I have been continuing with the death of Bunny Monroe on NOW tv starring Matt Smith. Nick, based on a Nick Cave novel. That is really, really good. I think that's one of the shows of the year for me.

Also, I did start watching the new season of Stranger Things, which apparently crashed the Netflix. Crashed Netflix in certain parts of the world because everyone tried to watch it straight away. I'm struggling to get into it a bit.

I don't really care anymore, but maybe it was just the wrong time. I was in the wrong mood anyway, so that's what I've been doing. We've just got time to look ahead to next week's offerings.

So what is on the binge watch menu, Hannah?

Hannah Fernando: 00:22:33

Well, the late Robert Redford stars in crime drama Dark Winds on you.

Ian MacEwan: 00:22:38

And yes, I accidentally trailed this wrongly last week, but now it is genuinely coming up, divorcees get payback in Paramount. Plus thriller the Revenge Club starring Martin Compton. And yeah, that is good fun.

It's got a really stellar cast as well, so we look forward to those and much, much more. And Christmas. Yes. But in the meantime, dear listeners.