Vino. Couch. Remote.

VINO

Acaballo Shiraz Carmenere 2014, Chile. A rich and spicy deep plum red that will warm your cockles on a winter's evening.

REMOTE

The Affair. - I'm going to put this out there: this is the most addictive TV drama series I've ever watched. Struggling novelist Noah (played by Dominic West) meets a young waitress, Alison (Ruth Wilson), while holidaying with his wife Helen (Maura Tierney) and his four kids. Alison is struggling with her marriage to Cole (Joshua Jackson) following the freak death of their four-year-old son. As they embark on a passionate love affair, you begin to think this is a pretty pedestrian plot. But here's the twist: each episode is divided into Noah's recollection, followed by Alison's. Both are similar - but slightly different. Noah positions Alison to be a siren luring him into infidelity via tight dresses and suggestive glances, while Alison leads us to believe in Noah's unfaltering pursuit of her. You're not quite sure who to believe. Why does it matter? - Because these recollections form the basis of a murder investigation. You don't know whether they're suspects or helping with police enquiries, but their separate testaments don't match up.

Series 2 is even better, with both Helen and Cole's perspectives being thrown into the mix. With the four main actors having shows including The Wire, Luther, ER and Dawson's Creek under their belts, it's no surprise the acting is first class. Plus it's got a killer intro song:

Main title sequence from the new Showtime series, The Affair, with the brand new original song "Container" written and performed by Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Fiona Apple, who constructed a treatment for her previously unreleased song, largely inspired by the show's narrative. Starring Dominic West, Ruth Wilson, Maura Tierney, and Joshua Jackson.

Airing on Sky Atlantic (UK) and Showtime (US), this Golden Globe-winning series is definitely worth a watch. (N.B.  appropriate for adults only as it's pretty raunchy in places!) Here's the pivotal scene from series 1: Noah meets Alison:

Noah (Dominic West) and his family stop off at a diner as they arrive in Montauk. Starring Dominic West, Ruth Wilson, Maura Tierney, and Joshua Jackson. 

If you love scandalous TV series, you might like this also.

Vino. Couch. Remote.

VINO

The Optimist Chardonnay Viognier 2014, Australia. A refreshing blend of Chardonnay and Viognier from winemaker Bob Berton, whose optimistic creations invariably 'come up trumps'. Its combination of citrus and spicy peach makes it enjoyable any time of year.

*Similar. The onesie I'm wearing has been discontinued (purchased in a Dorothy Perkins sale) - F&F version above has a similar pattern and looks super cosy.

REMOTE

TFI Friday - this is an entertainment show close to my heart as Channel 4 recently brought it back out of retirement. I remember watching it during the 90s with my sister S - mostly for the incredible live Britpop performances and Chris Evans's mucking-about interview style. No-one can deny what an incredible Friday night show it was - and is. It's all about having fun and good music. Evans even introduced a water slide entrance for celebrities for the comeback series. Although now finished, you can view episodes here and historic ones on YouTube. Fingers crossed the success of this revival will mean more in 2016...

Here's the first episode from 1996, with an iconic performance of 'The Riverboat Song' by Ocean Colour Scene, a band Evans regularly championed. The track was immortalised into TV history when Evans selected it as the intro to his celebrity guest entrances. This clip personifies the 90s for me. Enjoy!

TFI is back! And we're celebrating with the FIRST EVER TFI album Order TFI The Album: Amazon: http://po.st/hCMVq7 | iTunes: http://po.st/doNd7Y | Google Play: http://po.st/QdJ1Vq Full Tracklist CD1 1. Ron Grainer & His Orchestra - Man In A Suitcase (TFI Intro Theme) 2. Ocean Colour Scene - The Riverboat Song 3.

There's no denying 1996 was a great year for both TV and film, as this VCR proves.

Vino. Couch. Remote.

VINO

Whispering Jack Chardonnay 2014 - A medium bodied dry white from South Africa. Its crisp taste includes lime zest and tangerine notes, making it a refreshing alternative during a cosy night in if you don't fancy red.

REMOTE

Peep Show. - A TV series following the sad but brilliant lives of flatmates Mark and Jeremy. It's an all-access pass to their amusing yet disturbing minds as they bumble through life getting into awkward situations. This was our go-to box set at university for its easy watching and incredible one-liners. In 2010, it became the longest running comedy series on C4 (its first episode aired in 2003). Now in its final series, the El Dude Brothers are taking their last bow - but not before they've given us one last trip down Cringeworthy Alley. Perfect viewing if you're looking to laugh and forget about life's stresses - because no matter how bad your day might have been - you can find comfort in the knowledge that it likely couldn't have been as bad as Mark's.

(N.B. It's near to impossible to find a clip without swear words in (!) so I've found one which uses less of them...):

If you love to laugh, check out Modern Family - another iconic comedy series (which is much more family friendly than Peep Show-!).

Vino. Couch. Remote.

VINO

Angove Shiraz Carignan 2014 - A medium-bodied Australian red that smells of bramble, black pepper and vanilla and offers a taste of 'strapping' blackberry and spice. It was like drinking a cup of cosy - really warming and instantly relaxing.

REMOTE

Downton Abbey. Admittedly, I only started watching this period drama at the beginning of 2015. I completely missed the Downton boat when it first came out - I think it was on TV at the same time as Spooks, which L and I love, so we opted for spies over silverware. I've now caught up and can't recommend it enough. Following the lives of the Crawley family and their servants, it's filled to the brim with drama, mystery and incredible fashion (and don't get me started on the HOUSE). My brother-in-law is one of the biggest fans I know - which is one of the reasons I really love Julian Fellowes: his ability to write for everyone. With that in mind, here's an ode to his unrivalled ability to weave comedy into a stiff upper lip: His character the Dowager Countess of Grantham, played by the marvellous Maggie Smith:

If you love beautiful film and TV sets like Downton Abbey, check out ScreenStyle, where I shop the looks of my favourite on-screen homes.

Vino. Couch. Remote.

VINO

Gran Hacienda Reserva, Sauvignon Blanc 2014 - A crisp Chilean white with fruity aromas of citrus blossoms and peaches, balanced with 'herbaceous undertones'.

REMOTE

The Knick (Sky Atlantic) - a medical drama set in the 1900s starring Clive Owen. Centred around Dr John W Thackery (Owen) and his team at New York's Knickerbocker Hospital. Bear with the first couple of episodes as you'll soon get addicted. It has many dark moments and as you can guess - lots of bloody surgery scenes! Best enjoyed with wine - not food... 

No matter what you're watching, comfort is key. Take a look at some of the cosy-looking living rooms I've been pinning on Pinterest - all you need is the big 4: couch, cushion, throw, vino.