THIS IS ENGLAND '86

This is England '86 is a sequel of sorts to the movie This is England, except instead of being a feature film, this one is made for TV as a 4 part mini-series. Currently airing on Channel 4 in the U.K., but will be available on DVD on October 11, 2010.

From the Channel 4 site:

It's 1986 - the year Chris de Burgh is at number one, Top Gun is filling the cinemas, VHS is trumping Betamax, the World Cup is raging in Mexico and over 3.4 million Brits are unemployed.

As Shaun (Thomas Turgoose) sits his last school exam, the realisation dawns that adulthood beckons and in mid-80s England he's going to have to find his own way in the world. Luckily life has dealt a surprise hand to his friends too and no one is quite where they thought they would be. Woody, Lol, Smell, Gadget, Milky - they are all looking for love, a laugh, a job and something that resembles a future.

This Is England '86 is a brand new drama coming to Channel 4 this September. It revisits the gang from the hit film This Is England three years on.

"When I finished This Is England I had a wealth of material and unused ideas that I felt very keen to take further audiences seemed to really respond to the characters we created and out of my long standing relationship with Film4 and Channel 4 the idea for a television serial developed. Not only did I want to take the story of the gang broader and deeper, I also saw in the experiences of the young in 1986 many resonances to now recession, lack of jobs, sense of the world at a turning point. Whereas the film told part of the story, the TV serial will tell the rest." - Shane Meadows, Director

DRINK RECIPE: 2 TONE (A Cultured Hooligan Exclusive)

The 2 Tone, a Cultured Hooligan exclusive. This is a quick and easy drink recipe that I created* when I had Guinness and Red Stripe in the fridge. Based on the classic Black and Tan.

What you'll need:

1 can of Guinness Draught (these also come in bottles now, but I prefer the can)

1 bottle of Red Stripe

1 Pint Glass

1 Spoon

Directions:

1. Grab the pint glass and hold it at about a 45 degree angle.

2. Pour the Red Stripe along the side of the glass about half way up.

3. Put the pint glass on the table, grab the spoon and hold it with back of the spoon facing up over the opening of the glass. Makes it easier if you have a black and tan spoon, but not necessary.

4. Slowly pour the Guinness over the spoon. Do it slowly and you'll see the Guinnes laying on top of the Red Stripe.

5. Let the Guinness settle, drink up, and enjoy.

6. When done repeat steps 1-5 with the remaining beer.

*No, I'm not so delusional that I think I was the first to come up with this. As I was doing this a quick Google search came up with the name Black and Red, but the 2 Tone is such a better name.