Your reservation at the CECIL HOTEL, Downtown LA

The much talked about Britney documentary is now available to watch in the UK on Sky & NOW TV. It’s ultimately quite a sad state of affairs if I’m honest but I did find it fascinating (and alarming) to look back at just how terribly Britney was treated throughout her career. Hopefully raising some awareness of her current situation will do some good but there aren’t really any answers on offer here.

Darius Kellner speaks better Klingon than Farsi, and he knows more about Hobbit social cues than Persian ones. He’s a Fractional Persian—half, his mom’s side—and his first-ever trip to Iran is about to change his life… I absolutely adored this book which as well as dealing with the topic of depression exceptionally well is a joyful celebration of friendship. A fine way to lose yourself during another dreary week in lockdown.

G mentioned this one before but I want to highlight the episode with Rylan in particular. I found it fascinating and it made me really like him. Rylan comes across as totally self-aware, grounded (which is handy) and demonstrates a forensic knowledge of the reality television industry. I just wish the BBC would buy Louis Theroux a decent microphone!

A four-part series dissecting the many theories behind the disappearance of a 21 year old Canadian student from the infamous Cecil Hotel in downtown LA. I was gripped by the twists and turns in this story, the main focus being the bizarre four minute security camera footage of the student’s last movements and the gruesome, compelling history of the 100 year old hotel itself.

Gal-dem is an online and printed publication for, and created by, women of colour and this, their first podcast, invites guests to read out old entries from journals, letters and texts. Exploring a range of topics from growing up, misrepresentation, inequality to family dynamics, this is funny, emotional and thought-provoking.

A reality series focused on the über wealthy East Asian and East Asian-American multi-millionaires living in and around Beverly Hills. If you need some escapism and an easy-watch, I can highly recommend this. Incredible wealth, epic rivalries and some fascinating characters.

What special present should a man buy for his girlfriend’s birthday? An Emirati man decided it should be a highly valuable camel! But after tackling and failing to capture an adult camel on his neighbour’s farm, he stole a newborn and gave it to his girlfriend. When interviewed by police the man claimed the stray youngster had “wandered on to my farm” but police arrested him after his story fell apart. You can’t make it up.