We Have Notes

The finale of this year's awards season takes place this Sunday, with Hollywood's biggest stars gathering in LA for the 98th Academy Awards - also known as the Oscars.    While Oscars can be won on merit alone, many are the result of strategic campaigns akin to an election.    So, how do you win an Oscar? Liv and Miranda get all the details from journalist and award campaign strategist, Leila Latif.  Liv and Miranda love to share their recommendations, here's what's on their radar this week:    Liv: Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize 2026   Read more On My Radar recommendations from The Observer's New Review HERE    Let's chat! Send us your voice notes!  @WeHaveNotes_Pod on Instagram @WeHaveNotes_Pod on TikTok wehavenotes@observer.co.uk via email   

This weekend was all about the Brit awards But what do the top winners of the night have in common? They all went to the prestigious Brit School in south London. So how did this performing arts state school end up shaping and creating the biggest UK talent of the past 20 years.    Grey's Anatomy and Euphoria actor Eric Dane died on 19 February after being diagnosed last year with ALS. The following day, Netflix dropped a new episode of its Famous Last Words show, featuring Dane. The secret interview was intended to be his final goodbye to the world and to his daughters. Can artists ever shape their legacy after their death?    Liv and Miranda love to share their recommendations, here's what's on their radar this week:  Liv: Water Bearers (book) by Sasha Bonét  Miranda: Fenian (album) by Kneecap out on 24 April    Let's chat! Send us your voice notes!  @WeHaveNotes_Pod on Instagram @WeHaveNotes_Pod on TikTok wehavenotes@observer.co.uk via email   

Capitalising on a massive cultural moment, like Brat, is easier said than done. But has Charli xcx successfully brought Brat summer to an end with her new mockumentary film - The Moment?  BFI Flare, the largest LGBTQIA+ film festival in Europe, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. How has queer cinema evolved over that time?  Plus, we discuss the fallout of the Bafta awards. Headlines that follow award shows typically highlight the night's winners and losers. But this week is very different. Liv and Miranda discuss the incident that saw the N-word broadcasted on the BBC.  More about the BAFTAs: The BBC wins no marks for its production at the Baftas   Liv and Miranda love to share their recommendations, here's what's on their radar this week: Liv: If I Had Legs I Would Kick You (film) and Spirit by Bafta award winner Akinola Davies Jr. (film) Miranda: National portrait gallery exhibition -  Lucian Freud: Drawing into Painting    

Capitalising on a massive cultural moment, like Brat, is easier said than done. But has Charli xcx successfully brought Brat summer to an end with her new mockumentary film - The Moment?  BFI Flare, the largest LGBTQIA+ film festival in Europe, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. How has queer cinema evolved over that time?  Plus, we discuss the fallout of the Bafta awards. Headlines that follow award shows typically highlight the night's winners and losers. But this week is very different. Liv and Miranda discuss the incident that saw the N-word broadcasted on the BBC.  More about the BAFTAs: The BBC wins no marks for its production at the Baftas   Liv and Miranda love to share their recommendations, here's what's on their radar this week: Liv: If I Had Legs I Would Kick You (film) and Spirit by Bafta award winner Akinola Davies Jr. (film) Miranda: National portrait gallery exhibition -  Lucian Freud: Drawing into Painting    

This week, we are tackling two types of drama: reality TV and gothic literature.  First up: a new Netflix doc lifts the lid on the hit TV show, America's Next Top Model. Was host and former supermodel Tyra Banks the ultimate TV villain or a victim of toxic 00s culture?  And then, we're switching gears to the big screen and talking about the new Wuthering Heights film. Does a film have to be "faithful" to the book to be good, or are we okay with a total vibe-shift? Director Emerald Fennell made some bold choices with the latest version of the Brontë classic, does it work? Liv and Miranda love to share their recommendations, here's what's on their radar this week:  Liv: Pillow Talk - Nicolas Deshayes & Paloma Proudfoot Miranda: Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch  

Michelle de Swarte joins Liv and Miranda to speak about her career and the changing UK comedy scene. Will SNL UK be the new vehicle for introducing up-and-coming talent to the mainstream?  Bad Bunny made history at the Super Bowl Halftime Show on Sunday and new super fans out of Miranda and Liv. For many, this was their introduction to the Puerto Rican star - but how did he get so big?  Get tickets to Michelle de Swarte's comedy tour - The Afters → HERE    Liv and Miranda love to share their recommendations, here's what's on their radar this week:  Liv: How to Mend: Motherhood and Its Ghosts by Iman Mersal Between the Covers live Miranda:  The Muppet Show!  Read more On My Radar recommendations from The Observer's New Review HERE    Let's chat! Send us your voice notes!  @WeHaveNotes_Pod on Instagram @WeHaveNotes_Pod on TikTok wehavenotes@observer.co.uk via email     

The HBO hit, Industry, is back on TV and more stressful than ever. The gritty financial thriller doesn't pull its punches when it comes to showing the darker elements of British society. Liv and Miranda discuss what they think the show is about. Class? Capitalism? Race? A combination of all three, perhaps?   Harry Styles, Bruno Mars, Coldplay, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift are just a few of the artists who are taking touring to the next level. Long gone are the days of acts occupying a stadium for a night or two - now, tours appear to be closer to international residencies. And you need to take out a loan to buy tickets. What's happened? Liv and Miranda love to share their recommendations, here's what's on their radar this week:  Liv: Sirât (film)  My Father's shadow  Miranda:  Zine Age Kicks (book) by James Brown

On Monday, Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) published a full page ad in the Wall Street Journal, apologising for antisemitic behaviour and hate speech. He shared that late diagnosis of frontal lobe damage and bipolar disorder was to blame.  But after all this time… are we ready to forgive Kanye?  And hit show Bridgerton is back! What will the ton be wearing this season? We get all the details from the show's costume designers John Glasser and Dougie Hawke.  Liv and Miranda love to share their recommendations, here's what's on their radar this week: Liv: Brogan Bertie (artist)  Tickets to The Observer Bookclub HERE   Let's chat! Send us your voice notes!  @WeHaveNotes_Pod on Instagram @WeHaveNotes_Pod on TikTok wehavenotes@observer.co.uk via email   

The internet and group chats across the country were on fire on Monday night with the news that Brooklyn Beckham had finally addressed rumours of a rift with his famous parents. We give you TLDR on everything that happened, Brooklyn's claims and discuss the PR approach the Beckhams may be using.  Before Brooklyn's Instagram story, the only thing the internet was talking about was the viral hit TV show Heated Rivalry. How did a small, indy show become the most talked about series of the year? And we hear from artist Lindsey Mendick, who is a part of the team behind Off Season, a pop-up art festival in Margate.  More details on Off Season HERE   Watch full episodes on YouTube - HERE  Liv and Miranda love to share their recommendations, here's what's on their radar this week:  Liv: No Other Choice (film)  To Whom This May Concern - Jill Scott   Miranda:  Hamilton  The Self Help Podcast  Read more On My Radar recommendations from The Observer's New Review HERE  Let's chat! Send us your voice notes!  @WeHaveNotes_Pod on Instagram @WeHaveNotes_Pod on TikTok wehavenotes@observer.co.uk via email   

We are baaaccck!  This week we talk to Chloe Hadjimatheou, the Observer journalist behind the viral investigation into the Salt Path. She dishes on all the behind the scenes details of her new podcast series - The Walkers: The Real Salt Path. Observer subscribers can listen to all episodes HERE.  Award season is in full swing and we have noticed a trend … a lot of the top film nominees are about dads. One Battle After Another, Hamnet, Sentimental Value, even Marty Supreme! We speak to the Observer's Olivia Ovenden and ask why is Hollywood so obsessed with putting fathers on film?    Watch full episodes on YouTube - HERE    Liv and Miranda love to share their recommendations, here's what's on their radar this week:  Liv: Deborah Levy - Cost of Living, Hot Milk and ‘Reality was so dull. Bowie gave us glitter' (for The Observer) Joy Gregory's Catching Flies with Honey exhibition Kerry James Marshall's The Histories exhibition  Miranda:  Peaches' new album - No Lube So Rude (coming soon)    More details on everything we chatted about in this episode!  Read Chloe's Salt Path Investigation HERE  Listen to Chloe's new podcast series, The Walkers: The Real Salt Path HERE Raynor Winn's response to the Observer's investigation HERE Read Olivia's article: How daddy issues took over this year's Oscars race HERE   Read more On My Radar recommendations from The Observer's New Review HERE    Let's chat! Send us your voice notes!  @WeHaveNotes_Pod on Instagram @WeHaveNotes_Pod on TikTok wehavenotes@observer.co.uk via email   

Your favourite cultural commentators Liv Little and Miranda Sawyer are (almost) back for a brand new season of the We Have Notes Podcast.    That means new episodes every week from Wednesday 14th January onwards. Make sure to follow the feed so you don't miss the first episode of season 2!   Until then… Let's chat! Send us your voice notes!  @WeHaveNotes_Pod on Instagram @WeHaveNotes_Pod on TikTok wehavenotes@observer.co.uk via email   

Miranda and Liv hear from the queen of the year: the one and only… Lily Allen! We went mad for KPOP Demon Hunters, Adolescence and Kendrick Lamar's bootcut jeans at the Super Bowl. Sean ‘Diddy' Combs trial dominated headlines and the new documentary - Sean Combs: The Reckoning went viral.    Listen to Part One of 2025 Wrapped HERE  

This year has delivered a string of surreal pop-culture moments: Katy Perry in space, Katy Perry going official with former Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, the jumbotron affair at the Coldplay concert, the Louvre heist, the rise of Labubus and JoJo Siwa's unlikely romance with Love Island's Chris Hughes.   Liv and Miranda discuss their favourite moments of the year as well as those things they'd like to leave behind.    Watch full episodes on YouTube - HERE    Liv and Miranda's 2025 highlights    Liv: Hard Truths (film) A Real Pain (film) One of Those Days (film)  Pillion (film)  Such Brave Girls (TV)  Mo (TV)  Kehlani (singer)  Sasha Keable (singer)    Miranda:  Fela Kuti: Fear No Man (Podcast)  Pipeline Left to Die (podcast)  Hamlet Hail to Thief (theatre)    More details on everything we chatted about in this episode!  Read Chloe Hadjimatheou's Salt Path Investigation HERE  Raynor Winn's response to the Observer's investigation HERE Miranda's Hamlet Hail to Thief review HERE   Let's chat! Send us your voice notes and predictions for 2026!  @WeHaveNotes_Pod on Instagram @WeHaveNotes_Pod on TikTok wehavenotes@observer.co.uk via email     

Spotify Wrapped is here! All of the usual suspects are dominating the global charts - Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Drake… not much has changed from last year. So how do emerging artists breakthrough on the world's largest streaming platform?    The new film, Pillion, starring Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling is a masterclass in how intimate scenes can add to the plot and develop characters. But how do you create ethical and compelling sex scenes for film? Ita O'Brien, the intimacy coordinator behind Normal People, I May Destroy You and Sex Education shares all the behind the scenes secrets.    Watch full episodes on YouTube - HERE     

We're back in the land of Oz with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo for the second half of the Wicked adaptation. It's a box office hit, but critics have been divided. Was making a Wicked sequel the best or worst move for the franchise?   Timothée Chalamet is flooding Liv and Miranda's timelines with a string of press stunts: from a spoof marketing Zoom call and designer merch collabs to commissioning orange blimps to hype his new film. So who is the little-known 29-year-old Glaswegian behind the stunts who is collaborating with Timothée, Charli XCX, and Billie Eilish?   Watch full episodes on YouTube - HERE    Read Wendy's review of Wicked: For Good HERE    Liv and Miranda love to share their recommendations, here's what's on their radar this week:    Liv: Burgonia (film)   Miranda:  This Ain't Rock 'n' Roll: Pop Music, the Swastika and the Third Reich by Daniel Rachel (book)    Read more On My Radar recommendations from The Observer's New Review HERE    Let's chat! Send us your voice notes!  @WeHaveNotes_Pod on Instagram @WeHaveNotes_Pod on TikTok wehavenotes@observer.co.uk via email     

Where do we draw the line with problematic artists? Last week, Michael Jackson became the first artist to land a top-ten hit in six different decades - right as the Michael biopic trailer dropped and racked up a record-breaking 116 million views in 24 hours.    Meanwhile, the battle for the best Christmas advert is officially underway. John Lewis, M&S, Aldi and Sainsbury's are all vying for your festive cheer. Joining Liv and Miranda to dissect the ad wars is legendary advertising guru Sir John Hegarty, the creative force behind some of the most iconic campaigns in the past sixty years, including Levi's, Lynx and Audi.   Watch full episodes on YouTube - HERE   

David Harbour hasn't posted about the latest season of Stranger Things and has skipped major cast interviews, despite being one of the show's stars. Liv and Miranda sit down with a crisis PR expert to explore how Netflix might be managing the fallout from Harbour's ex Lily Allen's breakup album - and the Daily Mail's claims that Millie Bobby Brown filed a harassment and bullying complaint against him.   Is getting zero star ratings from critics and initially receiving 0% on Rotten Tomatoes the best thing that could have happened for Kim Kardashian's new Disney+ series? More than three million people tuned in to watch in the first weekend alone.   Watch full episodes on YouTube - HERE    Liv and Miranda love to share their recommendations, here's what's on their radar this week:  Liv: Die My Love (Film)  Miranda:  Broken English (Documentary out next year)  Listener recommendations: Celebrity Traitors‘ Mark Bonnar recommends: O Brother (book) Lee Miller exhibition at the Tate  Read more On My Radar recommendations from The Observer's New Review HERE    Links to everything mentioned ‘In The Margins':  For The Love of Jamaica Grammy nominations - Olivia Dean Miss Piggy film    Let's chat! Send us your voice notes!  @WeHaveNotes_Pod on Instagram @WeHaveNotes_Pod on TikTok wehavenotes@observer.co.uk via email 

How did The Celebrity Traitors become British television's most unmissable series? This week's finale looks set to break records - one in four UK adults tuned in for the launch. After 40 years, MTV is shutting down nearly all its UK channels. Once the gateway to pop fame, the music video may seem obsolete in the streaming era - yet Rosalia's latest release, Berghain, is blowing up. So, is 2025 the death of the pop music video or its rebirth? Watch full episodes on YouTube - HERE    Liv and Miranda love to share their recommendations, here's what's on their radar this week:    Miranda:  Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks by Patrick Radden Keefe    Liv: Sorry Baby (Film)    Read more On My Radar recommendations from The Observer's New Review HERE    Links to everything mentioned ‘In The Margins':  Billie Eilish calls out Billionaires  Olivia Dean breaking records Is having a boyfriend embarrassing now? By Chante Joseph     Let's chat! Send us your voice notes!  @WeHaveNotes_Pod on Instagram @WeHaveNotes_Pod on TikTok wehavenotes@observer.co.uk via email  

Has Lily Allen shared too much in West End Girl, her first album in 7 years? She's said it's “not gospel” but it reveals painful details of the breakdown of her non-mononymous marriage.    Has Strictly Come Dancing lost its sparkle now that Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly are making their exit? TV critic Scott Bryan shares his thoughts.   Watch full episodes on YouTube - HERE    Liv and Miranda love to share their recommendations, here's what's on their radar this week:    Miranda:  Dave's new album ‘The Boy Who Played the Harp'   Liv: Yasmin Lacey's new album ‘Teal Dreams'   Read more On My Radar recommendations from The Observer's New Review HERE    Links to everything mentioned ‘In The Margins':  Grace Wales Bonner ROSALÍA's new music video ‘Berghain' Vogue World 2025: Hollywood  Wayward (TV show) The Perfect Neighbour (TV show)   Let's chat! Send us your voice notes!  @WeHaveNotes_Pod on Instagram @WeHaveNotes_Pod on TikTok wehavenotes@observer.co.uk via email   

Jacqueline Wilson was the author who carried millennial women from childhood into adolescence. Her books didn't shy away from tough subjects like depression, abuse and grooming. Now, as she releases Perfect Imperfect, the long-awaited follow-up to her 1997 classic The Illustrated Mum, Liv and Miranda discuss how she mainstreamed taking girlhood seriously.   It's been a wild week in the art world: a heist at the Louvre, A-listers swanning through a British Museum ball trying to outshine the Met Gala, and the Frieze Art Fair came to London. But behind the Chanel and champagne lies one big question: why does a multi-billion-pound industry have a money problem?   Watch full episodes on YouTube - HERE    Liv and Miranda love to share their recommendations, here's what's on their radar this week:  Miranda:  Thorpe Park Fright Night Liv: Pillion (film) Santosh (film) The Stimming Pool (film) I swear (film)   Read more On My Radar recommendations from The Observer's New Review HERE    Links to everything mentioned in this episode:  Get a copy of Jacqueline Wilson's new book - Picture Imperfect - HERE    Let's chat! Send us your voice notes!  @WeHaveNotes_Pod on Instagram @WeHaveNotes_Pod on TikTok wehavenotes@observer.co.uk via email