The Headless Edit: No.1
Friday 30th January 2026
Introducing The Headless Edit - a curated list of the things which have kept me inspired and entertained over the past month.
Each edit will include films, books, TV shows and articles that have given me food for thought and tugged at my heartstrings recently, as well as some picks which are simply lovely to look at.
From the lyrical audiobook I listened to while working late in the studio one evening to the super-gay series I binged to unwind after a long week of playing with shapes, here are 10 things my eyes and ears enjoyed in January…
“You are the first person ever truly to see me.”
- A Friend of Dorothy
A Friend of Dorothy
A short film about an elderly woman (played by national treasure Miriam Margolyes) and a young closeted man (played by talented newcomer Alistair Nwachukwu). It's short, witty, sweet, gay and leaves a lasting impression - much like Margolyes herself. After you’ve watched the film, this article by Pink News offers some extra interesting insight into why it was made.
Hamnet
A film which I enjoyed a lot more than I expected. I’m not usually a fan of old-timey stories and, honestly, I am not that fussed about Shakespeare, so I didn’t go into Hamnet thinking I would love it, but I did. It’s impossible not to be captivated by Jessie Buckley’s portrayal of a magical mother. My little heart was broken first and foremost by Buckley, and then by young star (and Prince George lookalike) Jacobi Juke, who played the titular character, and then a third time by professional sad boy Paul Mescal - and I loved every second of it.
Heated Rivalry
A TV show which is equally smutty and addictive, trashy and incredible. It’s kind of like someone started writing gay porn about two ice hockey players and then, partway in, changed their mind and switched to writing a beautiful queer love story instead. I watched it all in one night and will be rewatching it soon.
“Despite the risk, still men go to the houses. They go because not to go, not to make contact, not to be touched, is to ensure a life of feeling like you are drowning.”
- Radical Love by Neil Blackmore
Radical Love
A novel by Neil Blackmore, which is also very gay but in a very different way. Set in the early 1800s, the story follows a young gay priest who performs secret weddings at a drag-filled molly house (secret queer bar) and gets embroiled in an intense, obsessive love affair. It’s a pacey, unapologetic piece of historical fiction which shows that queer people have always been here (and we have always been super messy, apparently).
Dans Les Dants
An illustrator who lives and works in Nantes, France, where he also goes by the name of Guillaume Denaud (we love a creative pseudonym). There is so much eccentric character and witty detail in every illustration Dan Les Dents creates. I’ve spent a lot of time browsing his online store recently because I can’t decide which one of his ridiculously nice art prints I need for my home - I think the answer may be all of them.
Waiting For The Out
A TV show about a philosophy teacher who has to face up to his family trauma as he begins teaching in a prison. The show covers a whole load of wide-ranging topics - philosophy, masculinity, mental health, injustice - in a way that feels engaging and human. Its depiction of OCD in particular is a nuanced triumph.
“Designers and illustrators are stuck in a bind: analogue signals value, but digital is what’s feasible. The result is a kind of strategic mimicry.”
- Elizabeth Goodspeed
The End of Analogue
The first edition of my favourite design column by Elizabeth Goodspeed, for It’s Nice That, exposes the pitfalls of viewing analogue as an aesthetic rather than a process. Elizabeth’s writing is consistently so thought-provoking, sharply focused and broadly researched - and this latest article is no different.
House of Errors
A fashion brand which I would like to be dressed in at all times, please. They create clothes which are beautifully illustrated (not nearly enough fashion features contemporary illustration), chic and witty. Just think how stylish my headless body would look in one of their charming, colourful garments.
Amy Catriona
And finally, a creator who makes incredibly wholesome and insightful videos. I didn’t expect to include any TikTok content in this round-up, but Amy Catriona’s videos feel like the opposite of brain rot; they encourage you to slow down, take time to look after your mind and indulge in the hobbies and topics you are most passionate about.
What's the best thing you watched, read, listened to or looked at over the past month? I would genuinely love to know, so please do get in touch with any recommendations.