Stephen Garrett
Dear Reader, hello. You probably don’t know me, may even be wondering why I’m here. Thank you for getting this far. Now we’re together, please bear with me. My name is Stephen Garrett. I’m the lead Executive Producer of season 2 of THE NIGHT MANAGER, the same role I had on season 1 nearly 10 years ago. A few questions arise:
What does an Executive Producer do, let alone a “lead” one? It’s a good question. Credits are in the main pretty precise. Editor, Director of Photography, Standby Electrician, actor, dialect coach, the clue’s on the box. But everything around producer is a little fuzzy, especially when on this series we have around twelve Executive Producers alone. They all do something valuable, of course, but roles can range from providing finance for the show, creating the show, providing infrastructural and logistical support, being a significant creative contributor and the like. And in my case, as “lead” I’m there from cradle to grave, working closely with the writer to develop the scripts, finding a visionary director, then working hand in glove with (in this case) the very fabulous Georgi Banks-Davies (you heard her name here first, and you’ll hear it again) to nourish and guide her vision through the shoot (some ad hoc therapeutic sessions with cast and crew a surprisingly dominant component of that) and beyond into post production - the edit, the grading of the picture and the massively under-estimated sound design, the seamless integration of composed music, existing tracks and the soundscape of the world that makes it feel real to you. At the heart of this is being - and this is the best description I can conjure - an “alchemist of people.” By which I mean I’m bringing creative people together in the hope that something magical happens and that what we make somehow adds up to more than the sum of its parts.
Then what took you so long, I hear you ask? It’s another good question, and one day when we’re sitting down together to share a bottle of fine wine (a passion of mine, and - thank you for offering - a Pomerol or Mersault will do just fine) I’ll give you the full answer. The short answer is that season 1 was supposed be “it.” We adapted John le Carré eponymous novel, he made it clear that there were to be no sequels, and so we were free to paint ourselves into the sort of story-telling corner you are only able to do if you’re not coming back. Like killing Tom Hollander. That’s all fine and dandy, unless, that is, the show is hailed as a masterpiece and wins lots of prizes (it was and it did), le Carré changes his mind (he did), and global broadcasters say “we want more, please, and not just one more season, but two. Let’s make it a trilogy” (that happened, too). So, when you’re done whooping with joy at your great good fortune, you then find yourself locked in the pose made famous by Rodin’s LE PENSEUR (the Museé Rodin in Paris may be my favourite museum, it’s certainly the one I've been to the most), essentially a meme for “what they fuck do we do now?”
Thrillers are difficult anyway. Especially spy thrillers. Why? Well, thrillers chew up plot, often at breakneck speed, which can leave little time to explore nuances of character and subtle shifts in relationships, two of the key characteristics of powerful and emotional drama. This is compounded by the fact that spies have no friends or family, no one in whom they can confide. If they talk to anyone they’re usually lying, as a result of which there’s no way to let the viewer inside their heads. So for us to return another season of THE NIGHT MANAGER, one of whose triumphs first time around was to craft, not just a compelling thriller, but one that was driven by richly drawn, multi-faceted characters was something of a challenge. Hence our gap year(s).
But even spending many moons building a season 2 that justifies the wait cannot compensate for the fact that (this is our dirty little secret, so please don’t tell anyone) most thrillers don’t really make sense. Even the best of them have logic gaps that ideally you won’t notice. And much effort on our part goes into ensuring that you will not notice. There’s a delicious scene in season 1 where Hugh Laurie’s beguiling Richard Roper (aka “the worst man in the world”) is doing a magic show for a group of children at his Majorcan villa-cum-fortress (our use of that location, by the way, pretty much doubled its value). The centre-piece of his show is the switching around of 3 cups, under only one of which is a small ball. His son Danny is watching, and, when asked under which cup the ball might be hiding, guesses wrong. Ever the supportive Dad, Roper responds, “You’re not watching the cups, Danny. You need to watch the cups.” I love this scene - and not just because in another life I’d have enjoyed becoming a very brilliant close-up magician - because it’s a metaphor for what we do to maximise the chances that you won’t see the cracks in the plot. If we’ve done our job properly, just as you’re about to have one of those “hey, what just happened?” moments, like a good sleight of hand artist, we misdirect you with a car chase, a steamy sex scene, an explosion or even just a fabulously witty line. It’s critical that you watch THE NIGHT MANAGER. Equally critical that, like Roper with Danny, you’re never able to watch the cups.
- Stephen Garrett
Food: Admiralty Arch, Waldorf Astoria
Credit: Hilton
January is classically quiet on the new restaurant front but one that's coming soon that we wanted to highlight is the much-anticipated Admiralty Arch restaurants debut at the Waldorf Astoria London. Admiralty Arch is set to be one of January 2026’s most talked-about openings, marking a very exciting new chapter in London’s culinary scene. Slated to open in January 2026 as part of the luxury hotel’s grand launch (but we know these luxury launches often dance with delays!), the venue will feature two signature dining experiences helmed by world-renowned chefs. First up is Coreus by Clare Smyth, an elegant fine-dining celebration of Britain’s bountiful seas, coastal regions and farms with menus rich in sustainably sourced seafood, heritage produce and seasonal delights, alongside an intimate Whiskey & Seaweed bar concept. Secondly is Café Boulud by Daniel Boulud, a rooftop all-day dining destination offering classic French-inspired breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea with panoramic views over The Mall toward Buckingham Palace. Together, these restaurants promise to transform the iconic Admiralty Arch into a global gastronomic destination where timeless technique and local flavour meet modern luxury. We cannot wait!
Art: A View of One’s Own: Landscapes by British Women Artists, 1760–1860
The Courtauld Gallery’s major 2026 exhibition, A View of One’s Own: Landscapes by British Women Artists, 1760–1860, opens in London on 28 January and runs until 20 May, offering a rare and illuminating look at the work of women who helped shape British landscape art long before they received widespread recognition. This groundbreaking show brings together drawings and watercolours by ten British women artists working across a century, from accomplished amateurs to ambitious practitioners whose brilliance was too often overlooked. Highlights include early depictions of the Lake District by Harriet Lister and Lady Mary Lowther, evocative scenes by Amelia Long, Lady Farnborough, one of the first British women to paint abroad after the Napoleonic Wars, and recently rediscovered works by Elizabeth Batty that reveal fresh artistic perspectives on nature. Set within the historic Somerset House, the exhibition not only celebrates exquisite landscapes in delicate watercolours and evocative sketches but it also reframes art history by spotlighting voices and visions that have been unjustly marginalised, making it essential viewing for anyone interested in the richness and diversity of British art.
Winter Lights: Canary Wharf
Credit: Canary Wharf
Get ready to kick those January blues literally into the shadows, because Canary Wharf’s Winter Lights festival is back and this time it’s celebrating its 10th anniversary from Tuesday 20 to Saturday 31 January. Yippee! Free and open each evening from about 5pm to 10pm, the financial district’s gleaming towers become the backdrop for an utterly immersive and immense outdoor gallery of light art that turns the whole place into an interactive, neon-soaked playground of colour and imagination. Sounds like Willy Wonka;s chocolate factory with that description! Under the festive theme “Dreamscape”, expect 16 jaw-dropping installations by acclaimed international artists that show everything from mesmerising kaleidoscopic sculptures to playful projections and quirky, walk-through pieces. It’s free and it’s fabulous, so meander through surreal light portals and Instagram your way along the trail with a hot choc in hand. Winter Lights is London’s lovely reminder that even in the depths of winter, art and fun can still shine bright.
Exhibition: Hawai’i, British Museum
Credit: British Museum
The British Museum’s dazzling new show, Hawaiʻi: a kingdom crossing oceans, opens on 15th January, running until 25th May in the Joseph Hotung Great Court Gallery. It’s a fresh, thought-provoking blast of Pacific colour mid-winter. Think feathered cloaks (‘ahu ʻula) fit for royalty, a nine-foot statue of the war god Kū that greets you like a slightly intimidating but majestic aloha and shark-toothed weapons and carved bowls that whisper stories of long ocean voyages, cultural exchange and diplomatic drama. The exhibition also marks 200 years since young Hawaiian royalty visited London and includes treasures never seen in the UK before, alongside bold contemporary works by Kānaka ʻŌiwi artists that snatch history out of dusty colonial boxes and into vivid, living conversation. Each gallery corner feels like an immersive postcard from the Pacific:a perfect blend of scholarship, spectacle, and spirit to kick off 2026 in style.
Health: Founders Health
Credit: Founders Health
Founders Health is a fully immersive, science-led partnership designed to help you feel sharper, stronger and biologically younger for the long run. By combining advanced diagnostics (from deep bloods, genetics, gut health and metabolic profiling to VO₂ max, body composition and movement analysis) with genuine world-class specialists in regenerative, functional and hormonal medicine, the programme delivers a precise, 360° understanding of how your body is ageing and most importantly, exactly how to change its trajectory. Every plan is bespoke, actively implemented with you and rigorously tracked, blending biology, behaviour, performance and lifestyle into something that actually sticks. This programme is built specifically for founders and senior leaders battling stress, burnout and accelerated ageing and is sought after by anyone who wants measurable gains in energy, cognition, hormones, sleep, resilience and a longer health span. With tiered longevity programmes and concierge-level support, Founders Health doesn’t just diagnose problems; it partners with you to fix them, future-proof your health and prove the results with objective data.
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Staycation: House of Gods, Canary Wharf
Credit: House of Gods
This isn't just another hotel opening. House of Gods Canary Wharf is storming into the start of next year with all the theatrical swagger of a rock-star encore and zero intention of being subtle. Though its doors technically first swung open late last year, bookings for stays from February are actively live, so winter travellers and staycationers can slide in right after the festive break and treat themselves like the A-listers this boutique favourite insists you are. It is 79 seriously decadent rooms and suites that are over-the-top in the best possible way with super-king canopy beds, lush fabrics, dramatic lighting and the ultimate luxe vibes. The crown jewel? The Sacred Garden, a 300-cover rooftop restaurant and bar with sweeping views over Eden Dock that’s poised to become Canary Wharf’s new go-to for skyline cocktails, contemporary bites and after-work revelry. We are on countdown to sipping the bespoke concoctions under the stars and indulging in a mimosa-soaked breakfast that’s almost worth the hangover. House of Gods delivers maximalist décor and Instagram-ready moments.
Charity of the Month: Food Cycle
Not all January resolutions are all about gym memberships and here’s a cause that actually makes a difference: Lewisham-based charity FoodCycle turns good intentions into hot meals, warm company and zero-waste magic every week and they need our support more than ever. By rescuing perfectly good food that would otherwise be thrown away and turning it into free, hearty community meals for anyone who walks through the door, FoodCycle doesn’t just fight hunger, it fights waste and loneliness too. Your donations helps keep the stoves burning, the volunteers fed and the long tables buzzing with neighbours who might otherwise be eating alone. So we implore you to give money, time or a few bags of pantry staples. Why don’t you skip one Flat White this week, or two, and donate the cost instead. Supporting FoodCycle means real food, real people and real change on your doorstep.
Credit: Food Cycle