Politics
Maine has a long track record of electing moderates. Enter Graham Platner.
BRUNSWICK, Maine — The fireplace crackled as Democratic Gov. Janet Mills laid out her vision for beating Susan Collins to a room of supporters in late January. Then came the questions about her primary opponent, Graham Platner.
Platner, one attendee noted, was very successful on social media. A second pointed to his support among young people and asked Mills whether she would support him if he became the party’s nominee.
“I am a Democrat,” Mills answered, before pivoting to how she sought as governor to make the state more affordable for young Mainers.
Mills’ Democratic primary opponent isn’t her favorite subject. She would rather talk about how she expanded Medicaid, bolstered protections for reproductive rights, and, most recently, challenged President Donald Trump over the surge of immigration enforcement in the state — issues that conveniently allow the governor to draw contrast with Collins, the five-term Republican who Democrats must unseat in order to take back control of the Senate.
But Platner, a political newcomer, has made himself all but unavoidable in conversations about the Maine Senate race. The 41-year-old oyster farmer and combat veteran is unlike any other recent popular candidate the state has seen: He is brash. He is progressive. He has drawn crowds of hundreds of people, national attention and millions in campaign dollars.
Platner’s meteoric rise reflects a growing frustration with the Democratic establishment and voters’ interest in a new generation of leaders. He is campaigning not just against Collins but against a “billionaire class,” running a campaign in the style of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who endorsed him.
His battle with Mills comes at a moment when the stakes for Democrats could hardly be higher. Though the Maine Democratic Party doesn’t take positions in primaries, some establishment figures like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have backed the moderate governor, who they believe is their best shot at defeating Collins to win back the Senate in 2026.
The challenge for Platner is that he is running on a vision of disruptive progressivism and generational change in Maine, the oldest state in the nation and one with a long track record electing senators perceived as moderates within their parties. Mills would largely fit that image; Platner would blow it up entirely. But he is betting that voters now want what he is offering — and his early support makes it hard to ignore the possibility.
“If you look at everyone from Bill Cohen to Angus King to George Mitchell to Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, there’s a strong, moderate streak there when it hits November,” said Adam Cote, a Maine lawyer and veteran who ran for governor in 2018, coming in second to Mills in the Democratic primary. “In the primary, I don’t know.”
While public polling in the race has been relatively scarce, an internal poll released by Platner’s campaign last month had him up by double digits over Mills. He has 283,000 followers on Instagram compared to 61,000 for Mills and 25,000 for Collins. His campaign boasts of a 15,000-person strong volunteer network. Through the end of December, he raised $7.8 million to $2.7 million for Mills, enough to begin running TV ads more than four months in advance of the June primary.
“My wife makes this joke. I’ve been just saying the same bullshit for years, ranting on about structural inequality, ranting on about, like, American history and how we need to reconnect with things. Nobody cared about me because I was a random dude in Sullivan, Maine,” Platner said in an interview. “I’m now running for United States Senate, and I get to have this conversation at a national level.”
Both in style and substance, Platner is unlike any candidate who has risen to the highest levels of Maine politics in recent decades. Even before he faced a litany of controversies in the fall — including a series of offensive old Reddit posts for which he apologized and a tattoo of a Nazi symbol that he had covered up — the Sullivan oysterman was building an operation different from any Maine Democrat.
Platner does not like the label of progressive, but where he differs with Mills on policy, his positions are largely to her left. He has backed progressive priorities like Medicare for All, described Israel’s military actions in Gaza as a genocide, and favors abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Asked whether progressives can win in Maine, Platner pointed to polling showing Sanders’ popularity despite his finishing narrowly behind Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential primary.
Although more progressive state lawmakers have been elected from southern Maine over the past few election cycles, further-left candidates finished far behind the more moderate ones in statewide primaries for governor in 2018 and Senate in 2020.
“There’s a reason why [Rep. Chellie] Pingree never ran for governor,” said Mark Brewer, a political science professor at the University of Maine. “She recognizes it would be very difficult for someone that’s as far to the left as she is to win statewide in Maine. And when we look at the Democrats who do win statewide, they look like Janet Mills.”
Some of Platner’s appeal may come less from his specific progressive stances than from his ability to capture the energy of Democratic voters upset about the state of the country — and at their own party for not doing enough to stand up to it. Trump’s second term led even people who were not previously politically active to show up for protests, with many aligned with Platner’s style of economic populism, said Andy O’Brien, a Maine writer and activist supporting Platner.
“The Trump administration has just been so extreme that I think it’s really radicalized average, ‘normie’ voters,” O’Brien said.
In an interview, Platner recalled going to a local Democratic party meeting in early 2025 and coming away frustrated that attendees were talking about bylaws, not Trump. In his view, there was pent up grassroots energy to fight the administration — shown, for example, by large No Kings protests in the state — but few organized outlets to turn it into action.
His campaign proved one outlet for that energy. Following a surge in ICE activity in Maine in January, Platner led a protest at Collins’ offices in Portland and Bangor, calling on the senator to cut funding to the agency. Dozens of supporters showed up in single-degree temperatures.
“I’m a supporter of Graham Platner because we need a U.S. senator to represent Maine who will be honest with us, who will be truthful with us, and will work for us,” said Laura Neal, a Bar Harbor resident who attended the protest with a sign reading “My Cat Hates ICE.”
Like many Platner backers, Neal doesn’t dislike Mills, but thinks it is time to move on. “I think Governor Mills has done a great job, and it’s time for new energy,” she said.
In much of the national conversation about the Maine Senate race, Mills has been the less talked about candidate. It’s an odd position for a well-vetted two-term governor.
Her diagnosis for why Maine Democrats have not been able to knock off Collins is straightforward: Past nominees have been “untested.” The GOP senator has never had to face a Democrat who has won statewide before. If Collins has won in part because of her deep history in the state, Mills matches her.
“Each of us probably knows everybody in Maine, one way or other,” Mills said in an interview.
Mills started as district attorney in rural, more conservative western Maine before being elected to the state legislature, then served as attorney general for much of Republican Paul LePage’s tenure as governor, frequently clashing with him. In 2018, she became the first gubernatorial candidate in Maine in 20 years to win the general election with at least 50 percent of the vote, as well as the state’s first female governor. Four years later, when LePage attempted a comeback, she beat him by 13 percentage points.
Governing with a Democratic trifecta, Mills expanded Medicaid and enacted a string of other priorities, including free community college, universal school meals and expanded abortion access following the Dobbs decision.
Since Trump’s return to office, Mills has faced off with him several times. In a White House confrontation last year, the president threatened to withhold funding from Maine over the state’s continued allowance of transgender participation in youth sports, Mills fired back: “See you in court.” The Trump administration paused certain agriculture department funding to Maine; the state sued and the money was restored.
The episode provided a theme that underlies the governor’s Senate campaign: Collins has not stood up to the president, but Mills will. Her latest TV ad describes her as “the one who took on Donald Trump and won.”
“Susan Collins is formidable,” said Trish Riley, a retired health policy expert who hosted Mills in her Brunswick home last month. “And the only person who can beat a formidable candidate is another formidable candidate, and that’s Janet.”
Mills’ tenure as governor has not been free from conflict with other Democrats. She at times disagreed with progressives in the legislature, issuing more than 50 vetoes, with the most prominent conflicts around labor and tribal sovereignty. That created openings for Platner to hit her record from the left, and his prominent endorsers have included several labor unions.
The bigger challenge for her in the primary may be the support from national Democrats like Schumer. Sara Gideon’s 2020 loss to Collins, despite strong national Democratic support which helped her far outspend the Republican, led to a sense in the state that the national Democratic actors did not use money wisely and did not understand Maine. For some, that distrust has only compounded since Trump returned to office.
“There’s a reaction among a lot of Democrats to what they see as the weakness of the establishment leaders in Washington,” said Amy Fried, a retired political science professor from the University of Maine and longtime Collins critic. “The fact that Chuck Schumer is the one who recruited Mills — maybe she would have run anyway, but he’s definitely associated with her. And then you have a lot of people who are on the Left who are really unhappy with what Democratic leadership has done when it comes to pushing back on Trump.”
Mills maintains that she made no promises to Schumer, and the decision to run was hers. She bristles at the idea that she would be considered part of the political establishment.
“I got elected to the legislature, not because somebody said, ‘You should be anointed to his job.’ I worked for it, I ran for it, and I won,” she said in an interview. “When I ran for district attorney, I defeated three guys for the primary, and then another guy for the general. Nobody ever gave it to me on a silver platter. Again, when I ran for governor: Seven-way primary. And I won. I’m used to that. Bring it on.”
Republicans have been gleeful at the prospect of a grueling primary.
“Maine Democrats are in a race of extreme vs more extreme — the only question is which of their candidates will run farther to the left to claim victory in this messy primary,” Republican National Committee spokesperson Kristen Cianci said in a statement.
Whoever prevails in June will have to take on the electorally resilient Collins. If Democrats fail to knock off the GOP senator, there will be recriminations from whichever side loses the primary that their candidate would have been able to defeat her.
Most supporters of Platner and Mills say they would back the eventual Democratic nominee regardless, with defeating Collins the most important priority. But a nasty primary could still risk alienating some voters, when every vote will count in November.
“The differences are really pretty big between the two candidates, and I think it’s probably going to get strongly oppositional towards the end,” said Cote, the former gubernatorial candidate. “And how the victor is going to unite the party afterwards is going to be a huge challenge.”
A senior United Nations officials has warned Donald Trump that targeting key civilian infrastructure in Iran would be “war crimes”.
The US president said bridges and power plants could be destroyed unless the regime in Tehran agrees a peace deal to end the conflict.
His comments, in a post on Truth Social, came nearly five weeks after the war began with a wave of Israeli and US strikes.
Trump said: “Our Military, the greatest and most powerful (by far!) anywhere in the World, hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran. Bridges next, then Electric Power Plants! New Regime leadership knows what has to be done, and has to be done, FAST!”
But speaking on Radio 4′s Today programme, Tom Fletcher, the UN’s under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs, said that would be a clear violation of international law.
He said: “This is infuriating. We’re dealing with the intended and unintended consequences of this reckless conflict, and I think what everyone is observing now is that war is not a television game show.
“Peacemaking is not a real estate deal and the world is not a casino and these actions have real consequences.”
Fletcher added: “This has been a gradual and then very sudden deterioration in the way that we talk about protection of civilians, the way that we talk about international humanitarian law.
“This stuff isn’t negotiable. You don’t hit civilian infrastructure.
“You don’t hit schools, you don’t hit energy sources, you don’t hit bridges. Those are war crimes. That is absolutely clear in international law.
“But somewhere along the way we seem to have thrown that all aside and we’ve chosen impunity, indifference, game show gambling over solidarity and humanity.”
Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.
Some experts advise against cutting hedges between March and September, as that’s when birds are busy building their nests and raising their chicks.
But Andy Simms from MyBuilder.com, which is running a Help the Hedgehogs campaign, pointed out that we need to look out for other little critters too.
“The winter season is well and truly over, so, understandably, millions of Brits will be starting to think of garden tasks they can complete now ahead of summer. But it’s not just us that might be outside, hedgehogs may be, too, and they’re not always easy to spot,” he said.
How can I tell if I have hedgehogs in my garden?
“There are signs to watch out for, such as small, black droppings, tiny hand-like footprints in mud, and loud grunting noises, particularly at night. If you notice any of these, you may have one of these small creatures in your garden,” Simms shared.
Hedgehog poop is typically 1-1.5cm long and often has shiny insect remains in it.
Hedgehog Street has a postcode tool that can tell you if people have reported hedgehogs near you, too (hedgehogs can travel further than you think at night).
You should always check these signs before beginning any gardening task, be it mowing, pruning, or planting, Simms added.
And don’t forget to look in any garden drains from time to time, as hedgehogs can fall in these and get stuck.
Hedgehogs are seriously struggling in the UK
Sadly, these measures are necessary as hedgehog numbers have fallen by 30% in urban areas and 50% in rural ones since 2000.
“If you would like to help protect hedgehogs, there are jobs you can do, such as leaving some areas in your garden wild… or even building a hedgehog home,” Simms said.
Collecting nesting materials like logs and leaves, providing clean drinking water, and avoiding the use of slug pellets can all help, DEFRA shared on the government’s site.
Keir Starmer loves the European Union. It is not controversial to point this out.
Few, if any, MPs did more to overturn the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum than the member for Holborn and St. Pancras.
As Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary, Starmer led the charge – often against intense resistance from his own party colleagues – for a second referendum, and made no secret of the fact he would campaign to stay in the EU if it ever happened.
In the end, Jeremy Corbyn’s decision to support Boris Johnson’s call for a snap election in 2019 put paid to Starmer’s dream.
Johnson won a landslide victory and took the UK out of the bloc on January 31, 2020.
This neatly coincided with the Labour leadership contest, which Starmer won with a promise to “defend free movement as we leave the EU”.
That pledge, alongside the other nine he made during that campaign, were all quickly ditched once he was in post.
Indeed, the return of free movement remains a “red line” the government says it will not cross, alongside a return to the EU’s single market and customs union.
These positions were seen as a tactical necessity ahead of the 2024 election, for fear of angering the millions of previously-Labour voters who backed Brexit in 2016 and then Johnson’s Tories three years later.
Nevertheless, the prime minister and other senior government figures now feel emboldened enough to criticise Brexit and openly talk about seeking closer ties with the EU.
On Wednesday, Starmer was unequivocal.
Brexit “did deep damage to our economy”, the PM said, adding that the economic turmoil caused by the Iran war meant “the opportunities to strengthen our security and cut the cost of living…. are simply too big to ignore”.
Donald Trump’s relentless attacks on the UK, and Starmer, have weakened the trans-Atlantic alliance, giving Starmer more political cover to pursue a deeper relationship with Brussels.
“It is increasingly clear that as the world continues down this volatile path, our long-term national interest requires closer partnership with our allies in Europe and with the European Union,” he said.
His comments echo those of Rachel Reeves, who set out her aim of “breaking down trade barriers and deepening alliances with our European partners” as she delivered the Spring Statement a month ago.
Negotiations between the UK and EU are already taking place on youth mobility, food and drink, and the emissions trading scheme, with agreement set to be reached in time for a summit to be held in the summer.
A government source said: “The lightbulb moment happened for Europe with Trump’s Greenland stuff. He wound up the Danes and all of us with that stuff. Iran has made it all the more prescient.
“It gives us an opportunity to step up a programme that will help resilience across the EU, but which will also be in the UK national interest and benefit Britain.”
Nicola Tree via Getty Images
However, some in Labour believe the race to improve relations with the EU could come at a political cost, with the elections on May barely a month away.
One senior party figure told HuffPost UK: “I can see this appearing on every Reform leaflet in the country.
“Why do it about a week or two before the postal votes go out? Election day is not on May 7, it’s in a couple of weeks time when the postal votes go out, and all the Reform Facebook groups will be featuring this strongly.”
But a government insider rejected the suggestion that voters will seek to punish Labour for trying to cosy up to the EU.
“What we’ve tried to do since the general election is take voters on a bit of a journey and show that we are making deals that help our economy while still being true to spirit of Brexit.
“We’re sticking to our red lines on the single market and customs union, and getting a bespoke relationship with the EU while making use of our Brexit freedoms as well.
“People are not happy with the deal Johnson agreed, and can can make that link between issues at the border and prices on the shelves.
“People want to see the UK to go out and make deals with the EU while sticking to our red lines. Voters have moved on from 2016, they don’t want to relitigate the Brexit debate all over again.”
This view was supported by one Labour MP, who said: “Brexit was ten years ago. The government’s been firm in its EU red lines and is doing nothing which would undermine them.
“It’s the cost of living, precipitated by Trump’s war on Iran, which is fore of people’s minds. Set against the backdrop of increasing global uncertainty, striking a closer relationship with the EU is all the more important if it can bring down the cost of the weekly shop and reduce barriers for British businesses.”
Unsurprisingly, Reform UK have sought to capitalise, accusing the PM of betraying the 2016 result.
Deputy leader Richard Tice said it was “ludicrous” to suggest Britain should have closer ties to “a failing economic bloc that also has a long track record of failing to invest in defence”.
But Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Cabinet Office minister leading the EU negotiations told HuffPost UK: “Reform is betraying the future of young Brits.
Between Robert Jenrick axing EU travel for young people and Farage shredding trade deals, they’d rather pick a fight with Europe than protect people’s household finances.
“They’re obsessed with a harder Brexit that hits every household with a massive paperwork tax.”
Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.
Donald Trump issued a string of threats in his Truth Social post.Donald Trump has launched a foul-mouthed rant against Iran as his deadline for the re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz approaches.
The US president has given Tehran until Monday to begin allowing oil tankers to once again pass through the key shipping lane unaided.
Around one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through the strait, but that as all-but ceased since Iran began attacking ships in retaliation for America and Israel’s bombing campaign against the country.
That has sent oil prices soaring, sparking fears of a global economic meltdown.
Trump warned Iran on Saturday that “all hell will reign down” if it did not re-open the strait within 48 hours.
In a fresh post on Truth Social on Sunday, the president listed the Iranian targets that America will hit unless Tehran complies.
He said: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.”
A senior United Nations official warned on Friday that attacking power plants and bridges would be against international law.
Tom Fletcher, the UN’s under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs, told the BBC: “This stuff isn’t negotiable. You don’t hit civilian infrastructure.
“You don’t hit schools, you don’t hit energy sources, you don’t hit bridges. Those are war crimes. That is absolutely clear in international law.
“But somewhere along the way we seem to have thrown that all aside and we’ve chosen impunity, indifference, game show gambling over solidarity and humanity.”
Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.
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As an only child, I was in for the shock of a lifetime when my children first started properly fighting.
Of course, I knew siblings fought – I grew up alongside other kids and watched their close (and sometimes calamitous) sibling relationships with intrigue and longing.
But seeing my own kids fight was another experience altogether. There’s the screaming, hair-pulling, throwing things at each other. It’s like someone’s transported WWE straight into my living room.
Siblings are going to fight. It’s only natural – I read somewhere that young children fight around 3-4 times per hour, on average. (Whew.)
But it got me thinking: as someone who’s new to this sibling business, and who’s watched family estrangement play out in the public eye, are there specific pointers I should be following now to help raise two kids who have a stronger bond in later life?
L.J Jones, BACP registered counsellor and author of Become the Parent You Needed, tells me: “Sibling relationships can be some of the longest-lasting in our lives, yet they’re often filled with conflict and competition in childhood, and even estrangement in later life.
“The truth is, children aren’t born knowing how to navigate these relationships. They learn through experience, and crucially, through us.”
She often reminds parents that their role isn’t to eliminate sibling conflict, “as it is one of the most organic forms of character building and appropriate to their development stages, albeit extremely stressful for parents”.
Instead, their role is to “help children move through it in a way that builds empathy, emotional and physical safety, and connection”.
So, I asked therapists and counsellors for their top dos and don’ts for raising siblings who thrive. Here’s what they said:
The dos of raising siblings
1. “Treat all children equally in terms of attention, rules and consequences, this will ensure all children feel seen, valued and included.”
– BACP senior accredited psychotherapist, Debbie Keenan.
2. “Be consistent. Consistency does not mean perfection, difficult days can happen and it’s OK to get things wrong. What it does mean is that, for the most part, your children experience you as a reliable, predictable presence. They know what to expect from you, and that sense of security forms the foundation upon which healthy sibling relationships are built. When children feel safe and secure in their relationship with their parent/s, they have far greater emotional capacity to navigate their relationships with one another.”
– BACP registered child and adolescent therapist, Kemi Omijeh.
3. “Praise and recognise all siblings. Don’t compare each child’s strengths, offer balanced, individualised praise, so no child feels overlooked.”
– BACP senior accredited psychotherapist, Debbie Keenan.
4. “Encourage individuality and celebrate them separately. If they each feel they have unique skills and attributes to offer, this will encourage their self confidence in and out of your family unit.”
– BACP accredited therapist, Janey Morrissey.
5. “Build connection, not competition. Encourage teamwork, working together, rather than creating rivalry. Some rivalry is OK, but not if actively and consistently promoted, as this could embed resentment further down the years.”
– BACP senior accredited psychotherapist, Debbie Keenan.
6. “Give praise liberally when they work together to achieve things. This can engender a sense of positivity when they come together as a team.”
– BACP accredited therapist, Janey Morrissey.
7. “Spend one on one time with each child, so that they feel heard and seen. Siblings have to be in each others’ company a lot of the time and parents have to split their attention – giving quality time to each child every now and then helps them feel valued.”
– BACP accredited therapist, Janey Morrissey.
8. “Teach conflict resolution skills. It’s natural to want to step in quickly when tensions rise. But sibling conflict is not something to be eliminated; it’s something to be guided.
“When we jump in as referees or problem-solvers, we unintentionally remove the opportunity for children to learn vital relational skills.
“Within timely restorative conversations lies the opportunity to teach them how to take accountability; a life skill to carry through life.”
– BACP registered counsellor, L.J Jones.
Halfpoint Images via Getty Images
The don’ts of raising siblings
1. “Don’t have a favourite (even unintentionally). Children are highly sensitive to perceived favouritism, this can quickly damage sibling relationships and self-esteem.”
– BACP senior accredited psychotherapist, Debbie Keenan.
2. “If there are arguments or conflict, don’t always step in and solve the issue. Help them to healthily solve the disagreement by expressing their feelings to each other in a safe, measured way.”
– BACP accredited therapist, Janey Morrissey.
3. “Don’t compare or label. Comparison is one of the quickest ways to create tension between siblings and often leads to impaired esteem for the child being compared less favourably.
“Comments like, ‘Why can’t you be more like your brother?’ or even subtle labels such as ‘the sensitive one’ or ‘the easy one’ can shape how children see themselves and each other. Over time, this can lead to rivalry, resentment, and a sense that love or approval must be earned.”
– BACP registered counsellor, L.J Jones.
4. “Don’t apply inconsistent consequences. Different reactions to the same behaviour can create feelings of injustice, which in turn, can deepen rivalry. Keep clear, consistent boundaries for all.”
– BACP senior accredited psychotherapist, Debbie Keenan.
5. “Don’t minimise hurt. When conflict happens, it can be tempting to downplay it, especially if it seems small from an adult perspective. What this is actually doing is unconsciously informing children that their feelings are disregarded and unimportant.
“Phrases like ‘It’s not a big deal’ or ‘Just ignore it’ can leave children feeling dismissed, particularly when the hurt comes from a sibling. Instead, start with validation: ‘I can see why that really upset you.’ Feeling understood doesn’t reinforce conflict; it softens it. When children feel emotionally safe, they’re far more able to access empathy and move towards repair.”
– BACP registered counsellor, L.J Jones.
6. “Don’t have unrealistic expectations. Consider your child’s age and where they are developmentally and emotionally before placing expectations around sibling relationships.
“For example, sharing is cognitively and emotionally challenging for children under the age of five. This does not mean you stop supporting them in learning how to share, nor does it mean the other sibling should always be expected to concede. Rather, it means allowing your understanding of your child’s development to inform your expectations and guide how you navigate these situations with patience and realism.”
– BACP registered child and adolescent therapist, Kemi Omijeh.
NB. You can’t force them to like each other
Therapists note that even if you follow this guidance, you can’t force a relationship on siblings. As BACP accredited therapist, Janey Morrissey, notes: “Hard as it may be, you can’t force any human to like another human – sometimes siblings just aren’t a friendship match.
“It can be healthier to encourage their mutual respect and support for each other, rather than insisting on inorganic closeness.”
In the UK, Christmas has become an excuse for right-wingers to complain about supermarkets’ labelling policies. Now, Farage is looking to branch out into a bit of Easter-themed moaning:
🚨 WATCH: Nigel Farage’s Easter Message pic.twitter.com/CNn584Es1l
— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) April 5, 2026
The problem is Farage barely seems to know what he’s upset about.
Jesus Christ
In the clip above, Farage begins:
It’s Easter! Happy Easter to all of you.
Should we take bets on how long it will take before he starts moaning?
If you guessed ‘immediately’, congratulations, because this is what came next:
Not of course that you know it’s Easter because it seems that now cities, towns all over our country are really, really shy about advertising the fact.
Easter isn’t like Christmas, with town centres putting up Easter lights and Easter trees. There are certainly local traditions, however, like the egg rolling which takes place in parts of Scotland and my home town of Preston.
The reason why towns and cities promote Christmas is obvious: the financial incentive. During the winter months, people shop more than ever and go on work dos and nights out. No one buys Easter presents or drunkenly kisses an acquaintance under the mistle-egg.
Has Farage forgotten that we live in a capitalist society?
Has Farage forgotten about his DOGE unit, which dictates all government decisions should be driven by ruthless economic efficiency?
Look, if Reform want to make Easter a thing, I’m not saying no; I’m just pointing out it will mean central government providing local areas with the cash they need to shower everything in eggs. We’ll also need an artistic effort to write all the Easter pop songs we’re currently missing, because I don’t see how we’re going to have a good time without smash hits like Jingle Egg Rock and I Saw Mommy Kissing Some Sort of Humanoid Rabbit.
Farage continued:
So why have we got this holiday? Well it’s very simple. It’s all about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Spoken like a man who just googled ‘what is Easter?‘
He added:
Of course we can be tolerant of all religions. We always have been. But isn’t it about time we started to insist that this is who we are?
Two points here:
Firstly, we have never been wholly tolerant of all religions, and Reform UK is markedly less tolerant than any other political parties (besides the fringe groups of the far right, obviously).
Backing that up, here’s Farage labelling British Muslim voters ‘extremists’:
Today this government committed a disgraceful and cowardly act.
Labour are running scared of the extremist Muslim vote in our inner cities.
Perhaps a judicial review is now the way to deal with the mass rape gang scandal.
— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) April 8, 2025
Secondly, what do you mean by “who we are”?
The reason you’ve not seen Easter ‘advertised’ anywhere, Nigel, is because you’re not a church-goer.
If you were, you would have been seeing Easter decorations for weeks.
Farage — He is risible
Farage ends his message as follows:
So I wish you all a very good, peaceful family time. And it reminds me of the founding principles of Reformer UK, family, community, country.
Yes, because this is what Jesus died and returned for, isn’t it; to give Farage an excuse to plug his party’s mission statement.
No bigger cunt in the World than a fake Christian.
The number of thick cunts who fall for this shit suggests we need to rethink our education policy.
They wank on about ‘Christian Values’ because they want to exclude people, not involve them. https://t.co/WOIzllOgTX
— Flibberty Gibbert (@ReturnOfDadbo) April 5, 2026
When exactly did Nigel Farage discover Christian values? You know those ones of loving your neighbours, forgiveness, humility, generosity, peace, and justice? https://t.co/ZmwUP6OD4M
— Mark Seddon (@MarkSeddon1962) April 5, 2026
Really, Farage doesn’t seem to know what to say in his Easter message. This presumably means he’s struggled to find Easter eggs without the word ‘Easter’ plastered all over them this year.
We look forwards to 2027, anyway, when Farage asks why there are no Pancake Day decorations up.
Featured image via Nigel Farage
Independent journalist and Canary contributor Jody McIntyre has claimed victory over Labour MP Mike Katz. At the same time, he’s saying the situation isn’t over until Katz pays damages:
MAJOR UPDATE:
Pleased to announce that in response to our legal demands and the generous contributions of my supporters, Labour peer Mike Katz has now deleted his defamatory statements against me.
However, removal is insufficient in this case, and I hereby call upon Mr. Katz to… pic.twitter.com/BaOtGkKBUu
— Jody McIntyre (@jodymcintyre_) April 4, 2026
Jody McIntyre — No quarter
Lord Mike Katz MP is the chair of the Jewish Labour Movement. The offending tweet from Katz is deleted, but Simon Maginn commented on its contents here:
‘peddles… hate towards Jews’ looks actionable to me.
The cannier ones just scream ‘Antisemite!’, which can be covered by the ‘honest opinion’ libel cop-out.
But Katz, being so spectacularly dim (my ‘honest opinion’), has to go that bit further and make an allegation of fact. https://t.co/m8T3p7fX0B— simon maginn (@simonmaginn) March 31, 2026
Before it was deleted, McIntyre posted the following:
This week, Labour Party officials, including Labour peer Mike Katz, have launched a series of defamatory claims against me.
For legal reasons, I have been advised not to repost the defamatory statements, but let me make this clear:
Keir Starmer and his cronies will not silence me.
The attacks come after a Labour MP that I interviewed about McSweeney was suspended from the party. He had been a Labour member since the age of 13.
In 2024, the Labour Party hierarchy chose to ignore me as I came within 693 votes of taking one of their “safe seats”.
Now that my audience is growing, Starmer’s administration have gone on the offensive.
If ending jury trials, introducing digital IDs, and supporting a genocide wasn’t enough, Labour now want to “delegitimise” the journalists exposing their actions.
I am not intimidated, but I do need your support.
Following Katz’s deletion, McIntyre said:
Pleased to announce that in response to our legal demands and the generous contributions of my supporters, Labour peer Mike Katz has now deleted his defamatory statements against me.
However, removal is insufficient in this case, and I hereby call upon Mr. Katz to make a public apology and pay compensation for the harm already caused.
I have spoken to my legal team, and once my crowdfunder has reached our target, we will be ready to issue proceedings against Mr. Katz.
Within 24 hours, we have already raised 20% of our target. Let’s make sure that Labour Party officials realise that they can no longer use their money and status to bully independent journalists.
You can support McIntyre’s legal fund here.
Featured image via Crowdfunder
The clocks may have gone forward for spring, but it doesn’t look like the wet evenings are going away just yet.
Luckily, while we’re all trying to stay out of the rain, Netflix has something to keep us entertained this April, whether you’re in the mood for a gentle YA series, a competitive reality TV, a dramatic action flick or a new spin-off of one of Netflix’s most popular shows ever.
Here’s your guide to the new shows and films to get your teeth stuck into on Netflix this April…
Love On The Spectrum (Streaming now)
Tell me more: Love On The Spectrum is back for its fourth season, following the trials and tribulations of dating and maintaining a relationship as someone with autism.
In the latest iteration of the Emmy-winning reality show, viewers are introduced to three new neurodivergent singles looking for love, while Connor, Madison and James, who have been part of the journey since its very first season, all return.
Netflix says: “Once again, the series follows members of the neurodivergent community as they navigate the unpredictable world of first dates, budding relationships, and meaningful connections.
“With international adventures, shocking relationship updates, and big personal milestones along the way, season four is a bold new chapter for the beloved series.”
XO, Kitty (Streaming now)
Tell me more: Netflix’s To All The Boys… spin-off focusses on Anna Cathcart’s Kitty Song Covey as she relocates to Seoul and attends the Korean Independent School of Seoul.
Season three continues Kitty’s journey of self-discovery as she navigates romance with Min Ho, strengthens her ties to her newfound Korean family and creates meaningful moments with her new friend group.
According to the recent trailer, Lana Condor’s character Lara Jean is set to reunite with her little sister in the upcoming third series, in her first appearance in the spin-off.
Netflix says: “Kitty returns for her final year at KISS with her perfect senior year mapped out. She’s going to make meaningful memories with her friends, grow closer to her relatives in Korea, and make big decisions about her future. And, she’s going to define her relationship with Min Ho. For real this time.
“But when surprise revelations derail her plans and relationships, Kitty will have to learn to embrace the unexpected.”
The Bad Guys: The Series (Streaming now)
Tell me more: Just in time for the Easter holidays, the TV spin-off of the popular animated films has landed on Netflix to keep your little ones amused.
Hot off the tail of last year’s The Bad Guys 2, the Netflix series follows the gang’s rise to infamy and the pitfalls of being the big shots of the criminal underworld.
As funny and inventive as the films, this television follow-up sees the crew squaring up against old foes, facing a new vigilante and reuniting with an old mentor.
Netflix says: “The Bad Guys are on a heisting hot streak, and the crew is moving on up into a brand new lair. While they continue to earn their bad reputation, the crew must confront old enemies, stop a wedding, and face the emergence of Wolf’s former mentor.
“And when a vigilante comes to town calling for the end of crime, The Bad Guys must take a stand and reclaim their home in the name of mischief, troublemaking, and being bad.”
Trust Me: The False Prophet (8 April)
Tell me more: Trust Me: The False Prophet promises to be your new true crime obsession.
The four-part documentary chronicles the rise of Samuel Bateman, who proclaimed himself to be the successor to Warren Jeffs, the notorious former head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) sect in Utah.
Unlike many of your other true crime favourites, this series was filmed by a couple who infiltrated his inner circle, and offers a first-hand account of Samuel Bateman.
Netflix says: “Trust Me offers intimate access to a normally closed world – and in doing so, I hope it exposes both the violence that enforced secrecy enables and what it takes to tell the truth when everything is at stake.
“What these women did matters far beyond their community. It is a blueprint for how to dismantle even the most entrenched systems of abuse.”
Big Mistakes (9 April)
Tell me more: Schitt’s Creek fave Dan Levy has teamed up with I Love LA’s Rachel Sennott to create the new comedy series, Big Mistakes.
In his new TV offering, Dan plays a queer priest who finds himself in over his head when he and his sister, played by Taylor Ortega, fall afoul of a criminal organisation after some petty thievery.
Part family drama, part crime caper, Big Mistakes could be your new comedy favourite this spring.
Netflix says: “Big Mistakes follows Nicky and Morgan, two deeply incapable siblings who are in over their heads when a misguided theft for their dying grandmother accidentally pulls them into the world of organised crime.
“Blackmailed into increasingly dangerous assignments, they clumsily fail upwards, sinking deeper into chaos they’re ill-equipped to handle.”
Temptation Island (10 April)
Tell me more: Temptation Island is back for a second season, following four more struggling couples as they attempt to resolve the issues in their relationship by going their separate ways and living separately among some sexy, eligible singles.
Will they recommit to their partner, or will they explore something new?
Considering that three couples broke up last series, we can’t wait for the drama season two will bring.
Netflix says: “In this new season of Temptation Island, emotions will run high as a fresh group of couples, each at a crossroads in their relationship, attempt to discover if their love can truly conquer all.
“The couples will face plenty of temptation as they part ways to live with a group of singles of the opposite sex. Only time will tell if the choices they make in paradise push them closer together, into the arms of a new lover, or into the single life.”
Thrash (10 April)
Tell me more: Bridgerton’s Phoebe Dynevor battles hurricanes and sharks in Thrash, the new disaster movie from Violent Night’s Tommy Wirkola.
Co-starring Hocus Pocus 2’s Whitney Peak and Gladiator’s Djimon Hounsou, the film centres around a heavily-pregnant woman as she tries to survive a shark infestation that has struck in her quiet coastal hometown.
Netflix says: “Amidst a catastrophic hurricane, a coastal town battles nature’s wrath and an onslaught of sharks.
“Braving torrential rain, debris, and darkness, they unite to survive the deadly predators and make it through the storm.”
At Home With The Furys (12 April)
Tell me more: The new season of At Home With The Furys follows the boxer Tyson Fury as he tries to embrace retirement alongside his wife, Paris, and their seven children.
Fans of Tyson will know his retirement didn’t last long, so the series will likely see what made him change his mind and step back into the ring.
Netflix says: “Surrounded by wife Paris Fury, their seven children and his ever-opinionated dad John Fury, Tyson channels the competitive drive that made him a world champion into new ventures – from a family road trip to Monaco to investing in a racehorse and finding creative ways to stay busy.”
Million Dollar Secret (15 April)
Tell me more: Netflix’s answer to The Traitors was a surprise hit when it premiered last year (even if some critics did brand it a “shameless” rip-off of the BBC show), leaving people hooked on all of the back-stabbing, larger-than-life characters and conniving game plans that Million Dollar Secret provided.
The reality show sees 14 contestants moving into a mansion, where one contestant is initially given a million-dollar suitcase, which they must conceal from the others who are trying to identify the show’s secret millionaire and eliminate them.
After the first episode drops on 15 April, more instalments will be added each week until the final.
Netflix says: “This season, the stakes are higher than ever as players face trickier agendas, grueling challenges and navigate the ever-changing game of deception. Do they have what it takes to keep their Million Dollar Secret?”
Beef (16 April)
Tell me more: The award-winning Beef is back for another season – with a whole new cast and story or revenge.
In this next chapter, the story is hooked on a feud between a newly-engaged couple, played by Cailee Spaeny and Charles Melton, and their boss and his wife, played by Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan.
This eight-part miniseries is set to explore the internal rage people suffer at work and the various challenges that couples face through the years.
Netflix says: “A Gen Z couple witnesses an alarming fight between their millennial boss and his wife. Ashley and Austin, both lower-level staff at a country club, become entangled in the unraveling marriage of their general manager, Josh, and his wife, Lindsay.
“Through favours and coercion, both couples vie for the approval of the elitist club’s billionaire owner, Chairwoman Park, who struggles to manage her own scandal involving her second husband, Doctor Kim.”
A Gorilla Story: Told By David Attenborough (17 April)
Tell me more: With almost seven decades in the industry, there is one nature clip that is synonymous with Sir David Attenborough. In 1978, the naturalist met a baby Rwandan mountain gorilla named Pablo during an episode of his show Life On Earth.
This new Netflix documentary film sees Sir David recount this iconic meeting, and explore the community of gorillas at the Volcanoes National Park, many of whom descend from Pablo. Narrated by the national treasure himself, the doc mixes archival footage with never-before-seen excerpts of his journals at the time.
Netflix says: “This intimate documentary blends the remarkable story of David Attenborough’s first encounter with the baby gorilla Pablo with a deep dive into how Pablo’s direct descendants are doing today in the mountains of Rwanda.
“Weaving together contemporary and archival footage of the gorilla group and narrated by Attenborough – including excerpts from his 1978 journals – A Gorilla Story is packed with extraordinary gorilla behavior never filmed before.”
Roommates (17 April)
Tell me more: The comedy movie Roommates introduces us to Devon, played by Sadie Sandler (yes Adam’s daughter), a shy first-year college student who strikes up an unlikely friendship with her fiery roommate. At first, it’s all freshman fun for the pair, until a karaoke-fuelled spring break trip starts a war of passive aggression.
The film explores the hilarious complications of female friendship and how trust is lost when boundaries are crossed.
Co-starring Nick Kroll, Natasha Lyonne and Sarah Sherman, expect big laughs from this coming-of-age drama, which was written by Jimmy Fowlie and Ceara O’Sullivan, who penned Saturday Night Live’s viral Domingo sketch.
Netflix says: “When a hopeful, naive college freshman, Devon, asks the cool and confident Celeste to be her roommate, a blossoming friendship spirals into a war of passive aggression.”
Unchosen (21 April)
Tell me more: If you’ve ever found yourself hooked on the various Harlan Coben series that have premiered on Netflix over the years, the streamer has a new psychological drama that could pique your interest.
Unchosen stars Sex Education’s Asa Butterfield as a member of a close-knit Christian sect, who lives with his wife, played by Molly Windsor.
Co-starring Christopher Eccleston as the congregation leader, this miniseries sees Rosie slowly uncovering dark secrets about their religious community that make her question her marriage – and her life.
Netflix says: “Rosie lives with her husband Adam and daughter in a cloistered Christian community.
“The fateful arrival of escaped prisoner Sam into her life, reveals the reality and restraints of her world; perhaps this hidden religious community doesn’t have her best interests at heart.”
This Is A Gardening Show (22 April)
Tell me more: If you’re in need of a comforting, joyful show to provide some escapism right now, This Is A Gardening Show might be just what you’re looking for.
Fronted by The Hangover actor Zack Galifianakis, this gentle series aims to explore gardening in a down-to-earth, earnest and digestible way, rather than just having experts listing Latin names and talking about obscure herbs.
Netflix says: “Rather than positioning himself as an expert, Galifianakis approaches the subject with curiosity and self-effacing humor, with the goal of learning alongside his audience and giving viewers valuable, accessible, and educational tools to use in their own gardens.”
Running Point (23 April)
Tell me more: Co-created by Mindy Kaling, the comedy-drama season one of Running Point saw former party girl Isla Gordon, played by Kate Hudson, being appointed president of a fictional basketball franchise over her brothers, which angers them greatly.
Cheesy though it might be, Running Point has been a hit for the streamer, with critics and fans praising its “girlboss” humour and satirical look at men’s attitudes towards women in the sports world.
Season two teases more romance, more competitive siblings and, of course, more fabulous power suits.
Netflix says: “Isla Gordon faces intense pressure leading the Los Angeles Waves, determined to prove she’s not merely placeholder for her brother, Cam , who secretly manoeuvres to reclaim his role as the team recovers from a scandal.
“She must navigate complex family dynamics, board scrutiny, and the challenges of running the franchise, forcing her to develop a new strategy to succeed.”
Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 (23 April)
Tell me more: Already missing Mike, Eleven, Dustin and co after that divisive season five finale? Viewers can now take a return to the Stranger Things universe in this animated spin-off, inspired by the Saturday-morning cartoons of our youth.
Set between the events of season two and season three of Stranger Things, this animated series sees our favourite Hawkins gang take on more monsters and a whole new demo creature.
Tales From ‘85 promises to take us back to when the kids were on BMX bikes trying to save their town, rather than the battles with universe-shattering evil that dominated Stranger Things’ final seasons.
Netflix says: “Welcome back to Hawkins in the winter of 1985, where the original characters face new monsters and a paranormal mystery.”
Apex (24 April)
Tell me more: In this new action film, Charlize Theron plays a rock climber who thinks she’s all alone in the woods, until she runs into a psychotic drifter, played by Taron Egerton, who wants to hunt her for sport.
From Beast director Baltasar Kormákur, the movie promises brutal fight scenes, stunning chase sequences and a twisted villain.
We already know that Charlize Theron can kick ass, so we can’t wait to see how she takes on Taron’s sinister bad guy.
Netflix says: “A grieving woman seeks solace in the wilderness only to become ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse with a serial killer.”
Should I Marry A Murderer? (29 April)
Tell me more: Another true crime doc coming to Netflix’s roster this month is Should I Marry A Murderer?, a series investigating what happens when a commitment to lifetime love goes wrong, after a woman finds out her fiancé is a murderer.
Should I Marry A Murder? follows Dr Caroline Muirhead, whose partner previously ran over a cyclist and then hid his body.
When he later confesses his crime to his fiancée, she must make a hard decision on whether to tell the police, and if she can stay with the man she had planned to marry.
Netflix says: “A fiancée turned key witness reveals how she stayed engaged to a man accused of murder while gathering evidence against him in this documentary series.”
Man On Fire (30 April)
Tell me more: Wonderman star Yahya Abdul-Mateen ll steps into the role of John Creasy, made famous by Denzel Washington in the 2004 film of the same name.
Adapted from A.J. Quinnell’s book series, the show will follow the Special Forces soldier looking for a fresh start amid a battle with extreme PTSD.
In Man On Fire, John is forced out of retirement to take on a new mission after his only friend is killed and he must protect his fallen comrade’s daughter.
Netflix says: “Haunted by his past and hunted by his enemies, a Special Forces veteran fights to keep a teenage girl alive on the deadly streets of Rio de Janeiro.”
Since it premiered last month, Netflix’s deeply unsettling original series Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen has been a hit with both critics and viewers.
While early reviews for the eight-part horror show were mostly positive, the show itself has been hugely popular with Netflix users, consistently hovering around the top of the platform’s most-watched list ever since it premiered.
The series centres around a young couple gearing up for their wedding day, who are confronted with a series of increasingly horrific bumps in the road that leave them questioning everything about their relationship.
Horror fans have a seemingly-endless plethora of films to pick from when they’re looking for something new to watch, but when it comes to TV, there are considerably fewer offerings from the genre.
With that in mind, if you’ve already made your way through Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen and you’re looking for a new chilling binge-watch, we’ve rounded up 11 horror-centric TV shows available to stream now…
American Horror Story
Alright, we’re starting with the biggie – you can’t have a conversation about horror on TV without discussing American Horror Story.
With 12 iterations to pick from (varying in quality, it has to be said), the anthology series takes place in a completely different time and setting each time around, with many of the same actors playing all new characters from season to season.
High points include the camp-tastic witchiness of Coven, the sheer vampiric glamour of Hotel, the grit of NYC, the politically-charged Cult, the terrifying pinnacle of Asylum or the one that started it all, terrifying domestic drama Murder House.
Later this year, American Horror Story will return for its landmark 13th run, with franchise staples Sarah Paulson, Jessica Lange, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett and Kathy Bates all returning alongside new addition Ariana Grande.
Scream Queens
FOX Image Collection via Getty Images
A love letter to the slasher genre, Scream Queens was another of Ryan Murphy’s attempts at creating a TV horror, serving as a tongue-in-cheek meeting point of Scream, Halloween, Mean Girls and Heathers.
The dark comedy starred Murphy-verse regular Emma Roberts as clique leader Chanel Oberlin, with appearances from Glee alum Lea Michele, Oscar nominee Abigail Breslin and aforementioned American Horror Story newbie Ariana Grande.
While the show didn’t quite live up to the scale of previous Murphy projects like Glee or American Horror Story, it developed a cult following over the course of its two seasons in the mid-2010s.
Grotesquerie
Murphy tried his hand at horror once again during a fallow year for American Horror Story in 2024, that was every bit as star-studded as you’d come to expect from the TV super-producer.
While the principal actors included Niecy Nash-Betts, Lesley Manville and Nicholas Alexander Chavez (who, at the time, was fresh from his work as Lyle Menendez in the true crime anthology Monster), it also made use of some bold stunt casting, most notably marking the acting debut of one Travis M. Kelce.
The sinister series centres around a detective who teams up with a nun to get to the bottom of a series of crimes affecting their community, only for things to take an increasingly creepy turn.
Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Alright, one more Ryan Murphy show and then we promise we’re done.
Previous iterations of the Monster anthology series were more grisly true crime explorations than outright horror, but the graphic violence and gore of The Ed Gein Story definitely took the show in an even more frightful direction.
Gein’s crimes are believed to have been the inspiration for horror films like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Silence Of The Lambs – not to mention Psycho, with director Alfred Hitchcock and actor Anthony Perkins appearing in Monster’s third season as minor characters, in a B-story about the creation of the iconic film.
It: Welcome To Derry
A TV off-shoot of the Andy Muschietti adaptations of Stephen King’s tome It has no right being as good as it is.
The critically-acclaimed prequel explores the seemingly cursed town’s origins, and how Pennywise began terrorising its residents by exploiting their deepest fears and anxieties for its own gain long before the events of It.
Gripping though it might be, Welcome To Derry is also really scary, so just prepare yourself for that.
Stream it on: Now, Sky and HBO Max
The Fall Of The House Of Usher
One for fans of gothic horror, The Fall Of The House Of Usher is a loose retelling of the Edgar Allen Poe short story set in the modern day, which incorporates other popular stories from the classic author’s oeuvre along the way including The Raven and The Tell-Tale Heart.
While the source material is one of the most famous haunted house tales ever, this new version is more in line with Succession or Industry, focussing on a wealthy family in charge of a corrupt pharmaceutical company Fortunato Pharmaceuticals, which befalls a series of mysterious tragedies in quick succession.
The Haunting
The Fall Of The House Of Usher creator Mike Flanagan is no stranger to horror, though, previously overseeing the anthology series The Haunting for Netflix.
Back in 2018, The Haunting Of Hill House proved to be absolute nightmare fuel, as siblings return to their haunted childhood home to confront their past demons (including the deeply upsetting Bent-Neck Lady) once and for all.
Like with American Horror Story, follow-up The Haunting Of Bly Manor featured several of the same actors in a whole new – but just as terrifying – haunted house setting.
Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet Of Curiosities
Best known as the auteur behind the expansive and surreal films Pan’s Labyrinth, The Devil’s Backbone, The Shape Of Water and, more recently, Frankenstein, Guillermo Del Toro has made a shift to TV work in the 2010s.
As well as his Tales Of Arcadia series with Netflix, in 2022, he put out the anthology miniseries Cabinets Of Curiosity.
Each episode of the eight-part miniseries told its own stand-alone story (in the style of The Twilight Zone or Black Mirror) hosted by the Oscar-winning filmmaker himself, with instalments putting a new spin on horror tropes like paintings coming to life, demonic conjurings and unrelenting ghosts from the past.
Look out for appearances from Harry Potter’s Rupert Grint, The White Lotus’ F Murray Abraham and Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens, among others.
Stranger Things
While perhaps not a horror in the traditional sense, Stranger Things incorporates elements from the genre (particularly from films that popped off in the 1980s, when the show is set) alongside sci-fi, mystery, action and traditional coming-of-age teen dramas.
There are also countless several deliberate homages to Stephen King over the course of its five seasons, with the horror author previously giving the show his personal seal of approval.
Black Mirror
Dystopian anthology series Black Mirror is probably most well-known as the show that warns about the perils of technology and social media – but make no mistake that when it decides to go full horror, it can really get in your head.
Among its most frightening offerings include early offerings White Bear, Men Against Fire, Playtest and Metalhead, plus the deliberate horror homages of Demon 79 and Loch Henry.
Meanwhile, even the more allegorical stories like Be Right Back, The Entire History Of You and the “Christmas special” White Christmas will leave you with a chill that lingers longer than you might think.
Goosebumps
Then again, maybe you prefer your frights a little less on the disturbing side.
Streaming service Disney+ currently has two stand-alone series based on those R.L. Stine books that had you hiding under the covers back in the 90s, telling two distinct stories that make for more family-friendly viewing than every other suggestion we’ve laid out here.
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