Showing posts with label Lifestyle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lifestyle. Show all posts
Monday, 29 December 2025
It’s that time again. Bottles are chilled, finery is pressed, and the mood is unmistakably festive. Pull on your sharpest outfit, practice your best toast, and get ready for a night designed to delight. Welcome to the Debbie Awards, the grand finale of the year that honors the highs, the lows, and the truly unforgettable moments of the past twelve months.
The year 2025 has been a year of contrasts. Progress and regression, lost loved ones and new life. There's no shortage of global challenges, but at the same time there is much to celebrate. Technologies that once seemed experimental are now quietly improving daily life, global health is steadier and more resilient than it was a few years ago, and conversations about climate, equity, and cooperation have moved from abstract ideals to practical action. Progress no longer depends on grand breakthroughs alone, but on millions of small, thoughtful improvements; evidence that the world, imperfect as it is, is learning how to take care of itself a little better each year.
Without further ado, let the curtain fall upon 2025 as we begin our definitive review of the past 12 months:
2025 Debbie Awards
Cinema & TV
1. The Debbie for TV Show of the Year
Winner: Pluribus (AppleTV)
Runner Up: Severance (AppleTV)
It has been another excellent year for television, resulting in a very competitive category for this year's Debbies. There is objectively too much TV on at the moment, but hey let's enjoy the excess cultural output while it lasts. It doesn't happen often, but this year's winner is an entirely new series. Pluribus is the latest from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul creator Vince Gilligan, and once again he has brought us some highly addictive TV. Ostensibly a satire of generative AI, Pluribus imagines a world overcome by a virus that turns humanity into a hive mind, albeit a seemingly friendly and content one. A few immune persons survive and contemplate what to do next. In equal parts funny and thought provoking, this is some highly original, genuinely entracing television, and I can't wait to see where it goes next.
Continuing the theme of thought-provoking satire, our runner up prize goes to the second season of Apple's excellent Severance. Season 2 deepens everything that made the first season so gripping, expanding its eerie corporate mythology while staying laser-focused on character and theme. Every bit as funny as the first season, with more twists and turns and, finally, some answers. The finale cliffhanger leaves us chomping at the bit for a season 3. We can only hope there is less of a break in between seasons this time.
2. The Debbie for New TV Show of the Year
Winner: Pluribus (AppleTV)
Runner Up: Alien: Earth (FX/Hulu)
2. The Debbie for New TV Show of the Year
Winner: Pluribus (AppleTV)
Runner Up: Alien: Earth (FX/Hulu)
Unsurprisingly, this year's best TV series is also the best new TV series. Pluribus faced some very strong contenders for both of these prizes, but this is a series that grabs you right from the first moment and doesn't let go. This really is the best thing on television at the moment, and it's just the beginning.
Runner up goes to a series that really might have won in another year. Alien: Earth is the latest addition to the Alien franchise and does a really remarkable job of maintaining the tone and the scares for which the series is known, complete with its trademark retro-futuristic aesthetic and production. By bringing the terror home, the series sharpens the franchise’s core themes: corporate hubris, exploitation, and the fragility of human control, while introducing fresh characters who feel fully lived-in rather than disposable. Add to that a wicked sense of ironic humour and some timely plotlines about AI and longevity science, and the result is some truly gripping television.
3. The Debbie for Film of the Year
Winner: Sinners
Runner Up: Ocean
Runner up goes to a series that really might have won in another year. Alien: Earth is the latest addition to the Alien franchise and does a really remarkable job of maintaining the tone and the scares for which the series is known, complete with its trademark retro-futuristic aesthetic and production. By bringing the terror home, the series sharpens the franchise’s core themes: corporate hubris, exploitation, and the fragility of human control, while introducing fresh characters who feel fully lived-in rather than disposable. Add to that a wicked sense of ironic humour and some timely plotlines about AI and longevity science, and the result is some truly gripping television.
3. The Debbie for Film of the Year
Winner: Sinners
Runner Up: Ocean
The career trajectory of director Ryan Coogler has been fascinating to watch. First making a name for himself through intimate, high quality filmmaking in projects such as Fruitvale Station, Coogler's talents quickly saw him poached up the big studios and put to work on bigger mass media properties like Creed and Black Panther, both of which, to be fair, were met with high critical acclaim and awards. Sinners marks his first original project in a decade, albeit still with a blockbuster-sized budget, and it reminds us exactly why Coogler is still considered to be such a talented filmmaker. An immaculately produced film that feels in equal parts lavish period piece and schlocky horror, with an unexpected dash of musicality. It's really hard to find fault here. It's a film that looks great, sounds great, with a strong thematic undercurrent, and is just a ton of fun to boot.
Coming in second this year is Ocean, the new film from David Attenborough. A breathtaking testament to both the majesty of the world’s oceans and the unmatched storytelling of Sir David Attenborough, delivering an immersive journey beneath the waves that is as enlightening as it is visually stunning. Through awe-inspiring cinematography and Attenborough’s calm, evocative narration, the series showcases the astonishing diversity of marine life while grounding its beauty in urgent environmental context.
4. The Debbie for Variety Show Host of the Year
Winner: Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart
As the rest of the world watches in horror at what is happening in America right now, there is little more we can do than pay our respects to those brave enough to still speak truth to power. This year, I award this prize to Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel, the late night talk show comedians who this year made headlines for being the target of government censorship. It is a dark time where those in power can direct the media to silence voices solely because they say things of which our leaders do not approve, but that is the state of America right now. While Jon Stewart has not (yet) been targeted that we know of, I add him to this list for producing perhaps one of the greatest and most timely commentaries on the authoritarian direction of the nation, as a direct response to the cancellations of Colbert and Kimmel. This really can't be said strongly enough, but that segment is absolutely essential watching for anyone trying to make sense of what's going on.
5. The Debbie for Rising Star of the Year
Winner: Miles Caton
5. The Debbie for Rising Star of the Year
Winner: Miles Caton
This year's pick for tomorrow's star of the future is Miles Caton fresh from his breakthrough performance in Sinners. In a film chock-full of strong performances, somehow the most memorable of all is that of the debutant. The 20 year old is a musician of some prospect, having featured alongside artists such as Jay-Z and H.E.R., but no one would have expected his acting debut to feature such confidence and emotional nuance. That he found a role which also complements his musical talent is fortuitous, but following this much hyped, and potentially award winning debut, the world's eyes will be on him going forward.
6. The Debbie for Web-Show of the Year
Winner: noclip
6. The Debbie for Web-Show of the Year
Winner: noclip
Gaming documentarian noclip continued to solidify its reputation in 2025 as one of the most thoughtful and valuable voices in games journalism, producing in-depth documentaries that treat game development as a cultural, artistic, and human endeavor rather than just a commercial one. While the crowdfunded endeavour has been operating since 2016, 2025 saw the group really step up their productions with a number of high quality longform series including an essential series on the development of Disco Elysium, featuring original interviews with its elusive creatives, and on the history and impact of cult classic Dwarf Fortress. By focusing on context, history, and the people behind the work, Noclip not only preserves important stories from an evolving medium but also helped audiences better understand how games are actually made, and why that process matters.
Music, Art & Theatre
7. The Debbie for Theatrical Production of the Year
Winner: Stranger Things: The Invention of Love (Hampstead Theatre)
I'll be honest, personal circumstance and baby-related commitments have made my experience of this year in theatre a little on the truncated side. This, of course, is terrific news for any plays I happened to see in the first half of 2025. So congratulations to The Hampstead Theatre’s production of The Invention of Love! This new offers a lucid, engaging take on one of Tom Stoppard’s most intellectually rich works, balancing its dense classical allusions with emotional clarity and warmth. The staging smartly embraces the play’s fluid movement between memory, scholarship, and mortality, allowing the ideas to breathe without ever feeling academic or remote. Strong performances, most notably that of the legendary stage actor Simon Russell Beale, ground Stoppard’s language in lived experience, giving weight to the play’s reflections on ambition, repression, and the cost of a life devoted to thought over intimacy.
8. The Debbie for Album of the Year
Winner: SABLE, fABLE - Bon Iver
Runners Up: Sinister Grift - Panda Bear, For Melancholy Brunettes - Japanese Breakfast
Bon Iver is no stranger to the Debbie Awards and a darling of the indie folk music landscape. His latest album SABLE, fABLE finds songwriter Justin Vernon leaning further into mood and texture, crafting a record that feels both intimate and elusive in equal measure. The album drifts between warmth and abstraction, pairing Justin Vernon’s fragile, expressive vocals with arrangements that feel weathered, patient, and quietly experimental. Great examples being the tracks Speyside and Everything is Peaceful Love. It’s a reflective, understated work that reinforces Bon Iver’s strength at turning uncertainty and vulnerability into something gently immersive and deeply human.
Fans of the indie genre will be well versed with Panda Bear, stage name of songwriter Noah Lennox, and his work with Animal Collective. Those that aren't will likely recognise his voice from well-played collaborations with artists like Daft Punk and Braxe + Falcon. Panda Bear's is one of the most distinctive voices in music, and his latest solo release, Sinister Grift, refines his sun-bleached psychedelia into something both more focused and subtly darker. The album’s looping rhythms and hazy harmonies feel deceptively gentle, masking a restless undercurrent that gives the songs emotional tension and depth. Noah Lennox’s gift for melody remains front and center, case and point tracks like Ends Meet and Defense, but here it’s framed with a sharper sense of intention, as if the warmth is being tested rather than simply basked in.
And in third place, For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) finds Japanese Breakfast striking a graceful balance between lush pop craftsmanship and emotional restraint. Michelle Zauner’s songwriting feels more measured and reflective here, allowing longing, doubt, and quiet resilience to coexist without tipping into melodrama, best exemplified by Picture Window. The arrangements are rich but uncluttered, giving the songs space to breathe and letting melodies unfold with a gentle confidence, a great example of this being Mega Circuit. Rather than chasing big cathartic moments, the album lingers in subtler moods, rewarding close attention with warmth and depth, and reaffirming Japanese Breakfast’s knack for turning introspection into something beautifully accessible.
9. The Debbie for Debut Album of the Year
Winner: Blue Sky Mentality - Good Neighbours
Runner Up: Till the Morning - Brian D'Addario
And in third place, For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) finds Japanese Breakfast striking a graceful balance between lush pop craftsmanship and emotional restraint. Michelle Zauner’s songwriting feels more measured and reflective here, allowing longing, doubt, and quiet resilience to coexist without tipping into melodrama, best exemplified by Picture Window. The arrangements are rich but uncluttered, giving the songs space to breathe and letting melodies unfold with a gentle confidence, a great example of this being Mega Circuit. Rather than chasing big cathartic moments, the album lingers in subtler moods, rewarding close attention with warmth and depth, and reaffirming Japanese Breakfast’s knack for turning introspection into something beautifully accessible.
9. The Debbie for Debut Album of the Year
Winner: Blue Sky Mentality - Good Neighbours
Runner Up: Till the Morning - Brian D'Addario
There were a few good contenders for this prize in 2025, but ultimately the Debbie goes to Blue Sky Mentality, a confident, upbeat debut that announces Good Neighbours as a band with a clear sense of identity and an instinct for emotionally resonant pop. The record leans into warmth and openness, pairing bright melodies with lyrics that acknowledge anxiety and uncertainty without being weighed down by them. Songs like Home have already gone on to become massive hits on streaming. There’s a natural charm to the songwriting, balancing earnestness with polish, and the album’s cohesion gives it the feel of a band already comfortable in its own skin. Blue Sky Mentality succeeds by being sincere, melodic, and quietly uplifting, making it an inviting and promising first statement. I expect that this band will go on to achieve big things.
As runner up, we have the debut from Brian D'Addario, better known as one half of the excellent retro-tinged rock band The Lemon Twigs. The debut record, Till the Morning, is a warmly crafted, introspective album that highlights D'Addario's gift for classic songwriting and melodic grace. Stripped of excess and rich in feeling, the album leans on timeless chord progressions, tender vocals, and arrangements that feel intimate without being slight. The result is often mesmeric, most so with lead single Only to Ease my Mind, a track so good it almost made it into the best song top three. Till the Morning succeeds not by reinventing the form, but by embracing it with sincerity and care.
As runner up, we have the debut from Brian D'Addario, better known as one half of the excellent retro-tinged rock band The Lemon Twigs. The debut record, Till the Morning, is a warmly crafted, introspective album that highlights D'Addario's gift for classic songwriting and melodic grace. Stripped of excess and rich in feeling, the album leans on timeless chord progressions, tender vocals, and arrangements that feel intimate without being slight. The result is often mesmeric, most so with lead single Only to Ease my Mind, a track so good it almost made it into the best song top three. Till the Morning succeeds not by reinventing the form, but by embracing it with sincerity and care.
10. The Debbie for Song of the Year
Winner: safeandsound - Parcels
Runners Up: Childhood - Barry Can't Swim, Kid - Great Grandpa
Picking a best song from a year's worth of music is always an impossible task, but this year's pick of the bunch is the lead single from the new Parcels album. Safeandsound is a smooth, effortlessly reassuring slice of modern funk-pop, capturing the band at their most relaxed and emotionally open. Built on warm basslines, crisp grooves, and featherlight harmonies, the song feels intimate without being slight. There’s a timelessness to the arrangement, retro in texture but contemporary in feel, that makes it instantly familiar while still distinctive.
Next up is a track from an album that very nearly made the top albums list from Edinburgh-based DJ Barry Can't Swim. On album full of creative flourishes, Childhood is a gently evocative track built on soft, rolling rhythms and warm melodic touches. The song's restrained progression gives it an almost dreamlike quality, inviting the listener to linger in memory rather than rush toward a drop. Childhood works beautifully as both a headphone listen and a late-night dancefloor moment, underlining Barry Can’t Swim’s talent for making electronic music that feels personal, humane, and quietly transportive.
Finally, third place, we have Kid, the lead single of the new album from Seattle-based rock band Great Grandpa. A sprawling, eclectic track that blends everything from vocoded acoustics to tender strings and anthemic, soaring harmonies, yet somehow manages to form a cohesive and brutally haunting whole. Intimate, bold, yet irresistibly dreamy. An absolutely top track that lingers with you for weeks on end.
11. The Debbie for Exhibition of the Year
Winner: Amsterdam Eet! - Allard Pierson, Amsterdam
Winner: Amsterdam Eet! - Allard Pierson, Amsterdam
For this year, we're going with something a little bit different for this prize. Amsterdam is a beautiful cultural melting pot of a city that blends cultural influences from all through out the rich history of the Netherlands and Europe, as well as the old colonial influences from Indonesia and East Asia. Amsterdam Eet!, the vibrant exhibition at Allard Pierson, offers a deliciously immersive celebration of the city’s diverse food culture through history, blending historical artifacts, striking visuals, and thoughtful curation to celebrate the way Amsterdam eats, socialises, and evolves. By juxtaposing everyday objects with compelling stories, the exhibition manages to be both heartwarmingly familiar and richly informative, inviting visitors to consider how food shapes identity, community, and urban life.
12. The Debbie for Book of the Year
Winner: This Way Up - Jay Foreman & Mark Cooper-Jones
Boy, I had a tough time with this one. As you will see from this blog's annual book review, published last week, there were a couple of strong releases this year that stood out. I certainly know that there were other books that would have made for a more popular winner, but ultimately I have gone for the This Way Up, the delightfully irreverent, yet educational, exploration of the weird and wonderful world of cartography (which is actually way more interesting than it sounds), brought to life with the same dry humour and infectious enthusiasm that made the author's Map Men YouTube series a hit.
Even if the subject matter seems dry or uninteresting to you, it's the wit and humour with which it is delivered that makes this such an excellent read (as indeed is the case with the YouTube channel). Foreman is a truly impressive talent who deserves a wider audience, and perhaps this is the first step. Whether you’re a seasoned map geek or just “map-curious,” there’s a surprising amount to learn and enjoy in each chapter.
Business & Technology
13. The Debbie for Scientific/Technological Breakthrough of the Year
Winner: The First Ever Successful Treatment of Huntington's Disease
In 2025, neurologists Edward Wild and Sarah Tabrizi played leading roles in a landmark breakthrough for Huntington’s disease, a hereditary neurodegenerative condition that has long been fatal and untreatable.
Their work on the experimental gene therapy AMT-130, developed with uniQure and delivered in a single surgical dose to lower the production of the mutant huntingtin protein, produced the first robust clinical evidence that the course of the disease can be significantly slowed in humans, with participants showing about a 75 % reduction in progression over three years compared with untreated cohorts. This represents the first time a treatment has been shown to modify the underlying disease process rather than only managing symptoms, offering unprecedented hope to patients and families affected by Huntington’s and marking a major step toward future disease-modifying therapies for neurodegeneration.
14. The Debbie for Videogame Platform of the Year
Winner: Steam Deck
If there is one thing I have learned to appreciate this year, it is technology that allows for more flexible and more portable gaming experiences. The kind of gaming that, should one need to quickly exit and attend to a little human, one can do so. Accordingly, the Steam Deck has emerged as an ideal platform for gaming because it blends portability, power, and ecosystem flexibility in a way few other devices do.
Its custom AMD hardware runs a wide library of PC games natively or through Proton compatibility, letting players access their existing Steam libraries without sacrificing performance. The integrated controls and touchscreen make the experience intuitive on the go, while the open Linux-based system supports customization, emulation, and even non-Steam titles. With a robust UI designed for handheld play and the ability to dock to a TV or monitor, the Steam Deck bridges the gap between home and portable gaming, giving users a true “play anywhere” PC experience without the compromises of traditional handheld consoles. The only downside is a battery life that can quickly dwindle during an intensive gaming session. This is par for the course with any high powered mobile gaming platform, but I look forward to future models improving in this regard.
15. The Debbie for Videogame of the Year
Winner: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (PC, Playstation, Xbox)
Runners Up: Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (PC, Playstation, Xbox), Dispatch (PC, Playstation, Switch)
Let's first give credit to 2025, which was an absolutely smashing year for gaming, one of the finest. Whittling the list down to just a top three was an extraordinary task, and I feel a shout out is in order to the brilliant games of 2025 that, in any other year, may well have been a contender, but did not break into this year's awards solely because of how absurdly competitive the field was this year. Games like The Alters, Citizen Sleeper 2, Octopath Traveler 0, Avowed, The Outer Worlds 2, Keep Driving and Skate Story. Phenomenal all, but alas we can only have three games in a top three.
I had a difficult time with this year's winner. Right up until the day of publication I had been going back and forth in my mind about who should get this. As anyone who is at all switched into the world of gaming knows, in 2025 there has been one game above all others that has been hyped by everyone as the clear winner, and not just the best of the year, but one of the best of the decade. That game is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and I can see why it attracts such praise. This western spin on a classic turn-based JRPG demonstrates absolutely stunning storytelling and artistry, from the unique belle époque aesthetic to the unforgettable visuals, music, writing and voice acting. Yet something that I feel has been overlooked by most reviewers is the fact that, underneath all the presentational brilliance lies a distinctly creaky and flawed base of gameplay mechanics and design, from questionable minigames to cumbersome UI design, and a side quest system that is not very well implemented. None of it is "bad" per se, but there are other games in this competition that demonstrate more accomplished design and execution. This left me with the question, should the "best" game not be the one that is the best made, or is it possible for a flawed masterpiece to have so profound an emotional impact so as to compensate for being more rough around the edges? Clair Obscur is a great example of a piece of work that, through the mystifying alchemy of artistic expression, manages to deliver so much more than the sum of its parts and leaves an indelible mark on the player. Ultimately I can't think of any better way to evaluate the success of a piece of art.
By contrast, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is a game with which I can find very few flaws. This is a sequel to Warhorse's 2018 RPG, which was quite famously built on a crowdfunded budget, with minimal studio support. The success of that game has allowed for the development of a much more lavish and polished sequel, and it really shows. This is a game which just oozes quality, from the excellent storytelling, voice acting and writing, to the intricately detailed and interactive open world. Everything has been refined and polished, from the notoriously detailed combat system, to the alchemy, bartering and crafting. The stat-based RPG elements are excellent and remarkably diegetic. It's an excellently made RPG that in any other year would be a worthy winner, if not for that one other, arguably more flawed game and its je ne sais quoi.
Just as it was with first and second, third place also came down to an absolutely brutal death match between Dispatch and The Alters. While I ended up going for the former, if you haven't played The Alters please do so. It's a delightful twist on the base/squad management genre that manages to be funny, thought-provoking, and surprisingly sweet. As for Dispatch, this game is fantastic. A Telltale-style narrative adventure that, at times, feels more like an interactive TV series than a game. Essentially a superhero workplace comedy, this game is blessed with phenomenal animation, genuinely hilarious writing, and an allstar voice cast that includes the likes of Aaron Paul, Jeffrey Wright, and Laura Bailey. The storytelling is absolutely on point and delivered with a surprising amount of style and emotional heft. Frankly, if this was a TV series, it would be one of the best of the year.
16. The Debbie for Company of the Year
Winner: Baboodle
Any parent knows the pain of making sure you have all the baby equipment you need, especially when traveling. strollers and cribs are expensive, take up a lot of space, and don't even last that long before the child becomes too big for use. Baboodle offers a flexible rental subscription model that allows families to access high quality strollers, cribs, carriers (some of which is brand new) for just the period of time you need it, without the full expense or clutter of ownership. The flexibility and service of the business is key, delivering to your door and collecting, with minimal hassle. At the same time, the company’s circular approach also reduces waste and extends product lifecycles, helping parents reduce their environmental footprint. By tackling both economic and ecological challenges with a simple, elegant solution, Baboodle exemplifies a business built for the needs and values of 2025.
Sports
17. The Debbie for Footballer of the Year
Winner: Ousmane Dembélé - Paris Saint-Germain
Sports
17. The Debbie for Footballer of the Year
Winner: Ousmane Dembélé - Paris Saint-Germain
It has been an excellent year for the man at the centre of arguably the best team in the world right now. Ousmane Dembélé's comeback has been remarkable. Historic injury issues had seen Dembélé dismissed as just another failed prospect who never lived up to his potential. Now he is a genuine world superstar. 2025 saw the forward instrumental to Paris Saint-Germain's success as the French side secured a historic treble, including Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Champions League. His performances earned him the Ballon d’Or and The Best Fifa Men’s Player awards for 2025, affirming both peer and fan recognition of his influence on the pitch and his evolution into a complete, world-class forward who defined the season for club and country.
18. The Debbie for Young Footballer of the Year
Winner: Lamine Yamal - Barcelona
There are a few players in world football today who would be contenders for this prize. Some people may see that I have picked Lamine Yamal and think "oh him again?". It feels like he has been around for years, yet somehow the kid is still only 18. It is this which sets Yamal apart from the likes of Estêvão, Max Downman and Désiré Doué. Yamal is not just an exciting prospect with potential, he is already a world class footballer who can play at the highest level in the world with consistency even at his age. That is unusual, that is rare. In a year when youth often struggles to translate hype into impact, Yamal’s consistency, adaptability, and moments of genuine brilliance marked him as the most compelling young talent in world football.
19. The Debbie for Football Manager of the Year
Winner: Sarina Wiegman - England Women's Team
Choosing a winner from the women's game may raise eyebrows from some people, but this is no political statement. Sarina Wiegman is the real deal. Wiegman's three European Championship titles in a row (one with Netherlands, two with England) may never be matched. It's mind boggling to even think about it. Add to this that she has also been back to back World Cup runner up, which makes her the first manager in either the men's or women's game to reach five major international cup finals in a row, and it's clear. Truly there is no manager anywhere in the sport with this incredible level of consistency and excellence.
20. The Debbie for Football Club of the Year
Winner: Paris Saint-Germain
With a squad brimming with world-class stars who excelled both individually and as a unit, Paris Saint-Germain delivered a season to remember, defined by attacking flair, defensive solidity, and mental resilience in big moments. Their success speaks for itself, a historic treble in the bag including a first ever Champions League victory. Really the only black mark on PSG's 2025 is their failure to claim the inaugural Fifa Club World Cup at the hands of a resurgent (if ephemeral) Chelsea, but in spite of this there are few in the world who would argue against PSG being the team of the moment.
Current Events
21. The Debbie for Politician of the Year
Winner: Mark Carney
Current Events
21. The Debbie for Politician of the Year
Winner: Mark Carney
So there are a few people in the running for this award, but ultimately my pick for 2025 goes to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Carney took leadership of the Liberal party at possibly the worst imaginable moment. In the run up to an election where his party trailed in the polls by double digits, in a nation weary after a full decade of Liberal leadership, with a newly hostile American President across the border talking of violent annexation. But anyone who has followed Carney's career knows that this is a man who can handle immense pressure and grave circumstances with grace and skill. That he managed the most unlikely of electoral turnarounds and managed to more or less calm border tensions to the south speaks to this. Carney may not be the flashiest, but he is a steady hand at a time when it is most needed.
22. The Debbie for Scandal of the Year
Winner: The Epstein Files
I mean it really can't be anything other than this can it? This is hardly a new story, but in 2025 the Epstein Files finally, and belatedly, started to reach fever pitch. This refers to all the Government files relating to Jeffrey Epstein and his ring of child abuse and sex-trafficking, which is said to include a number of highly prominent clients. One person very much embroiled in this affair is, of course, the current President of the United States, Donald Trump. Donald Trump has been long known to have been a very close associate and friend of Epstein and a frequent attendee at his events and visitor to his island, but the revelations we have seen in the past year have at last started to shed a light on just how close he may have been. Allegations of rape, lewd, sexually explicit conversations and communications, references to secrets and "love of nubile young women", not to mention what appears to be a blatant unlawful cover up of those documents. It's no longer rumour and speculation. What happens next will be a massive test of America's moral character. Do they finally address this situation, or continue to shrug at the apparent perpetration and cover up of some of the darkest crimes imaginable.
23. The Debbie for Cause of the Year
Winner: Combatting toxicity and misinformation on social media
This is certainly not a new story, but 2025 has been a year to really cast a spotlight on the dangers of social media, from election-interfering misinformation, to bullying, toxicity and violent crime. There exists a fundamental tension in the world today between liberal western society's desire for openness and free speech, and the damage that can be done when those freedoms are abused, and for whatever reason, no one has yet come up with a satisfactory answer. Censorship is decidedly not the answer, as the UK Government is starting to learn. It is going to require better education, better transparency, and light-handed but essential moderation. I don't have all the answers, but this is the area that most sorely requires action from the powers that be, but sensible, empirically tested actions, rather than performative and reactionary actions.
24. The Debbie for Person of the Year
Winner: Demis Hassabis
There has been a lot of talk in 2025 of AI and the significance of their creators on the world today. Of these creators, Demis Hassabis stands out as The Ephemeric's Person of the Year because he exemplifies how advanced technology can be harnessed in service of human progress rather than disruption alone. Through his leadership in AI research, most notably its application to biology, medicine, and scientific discovery, Hassabis helped shift the narrative around artificial intelligence from fear and speculation to practical benefit, accelerating breakthroughs that would have taken decades by traditional means. His work has shown that AI can deepen our understanding of life itself, opening new paths toward treating disease and solving complex global problems, while his emphasis on responsibility and long-term thinking offers a hopeful model for how powerful tools should be developed.
Social & Lifestyle
25. The Debbie for Restaurant of the Year
Winner: Klein Breda
There are lots of restaurants that can offer elaborate tasting menus with creative and aesthetically pleasing dishes, but there is an art to running a restaurant that can do so whilst maintaining a warm and relaxed atmosphere. Klein Breda in Amsterdam manages to thread this needle, and it does so through a number of methods. From the cosy, casual ambience, to the friendly and flexible service. The menu is accommodating to dietary restrictions and offers flexibility as to the number of dishes. Most surprisingly, the prices are quite reasonable, providing value for money that you rarely see with this type of restaurant. And of course, most importantly, the food is delectable.
26. The Debbie for New Restaurant of the Year
Winner: Casi Casa
Our pick of the year's new restaurants goes to Casi Casa in Zurich. From the entrepreneurs behind celebrated Zurich establishments such as Weisses Rössli, Casi Casa is a stylish Latin America influenced restaurant, bar and event space. It works for brunch, lunch and dinner, with great food, drinks, and even family-friendly support. The event space opens up for live music, dancing and DJ nights, as well as films and sporting events. An excellent and versatile addition to your Zurich rotation.
27. The Debbie for Bar of the Year
Winner: The Pulitzer Bar
A returning champion of Debbie Awards past. This year this highly coveted award goes to The Pulitzer Bar of Amsterdam, a stylish and cosy cocktail venue from the hotel of the same name. Adorned with books, classic velvety armchairs, and rotating themed cocktail lists, there is certainly no more whimsical a setting to enjoy a good snifter in 2019. But this is no mere novelty bar, far from it. It is the high quality of the setting, and the creativity of the drinks that makes Pulitzer a standout establishment, and somewhere that everyone should visit in Amsterdam.
28. The Debbie for Destination of the Year
Winner: Stockholm
28. The Debbie for Destination of the Year
Winner: Stockholm
Offering a uniquely rich blend of historic charm, cultural depth, and natural beauty, Stockholm invites exploration from its atmospheric cobblestone streets in Gamla Stan and grand royal palaces to world-class museums easily paired with scenic waterfront strolls or visits to the vast nearby archipelago of over 30,000 islands. The city’s distinctive "Scandi" crafts and design makes for an excellent shopping destination, while the food scene encompasses so much more than one might expect.
29. The Debbie for Wine of the Year
Winner: Leeu Passant Stellenbosch Chardonnay 2021
29. The Debbie for Wine of the Year
Winner: Leeu Passant Stellenbosch Chardonnay 2021
This year's recipient of the wine Debbie comes from a pairing option we had at dinner. Suffice it to say, it was good enough that top ups were ordered. From the cool, maritime-influenced slopes of Stellenbosch, the Leeu Passant Stellenbosch Chardonnay 2021 invites with aromas of lime and peach, with a lush yet textured mouthfeel. The citrus notes are balanced by a fresh mineral-tinged finish. This is a beautifully crafted Chardonnay that rewards both immediate enjoyment and careful cellaring.
30. The Debbie for Tipple of the Year
Winner: The Copenhagen Sparkling Tea Company, Lyserød
30. The Debbie for Tipple of the Year
Winner: The Copenhagen Sparkling Tea Company, Lyserød
A first for this blog as we award this prestigious prize to a non-alcoholic beverage. Non-alcoholic options for those looking to engage in some convivial beveraging are all the trend right now, and every year we see more and more offerings that are good enough to become, not just an option for those who can't drink, but a worthwhile choice for anybody. This year the prize goes to The Copenhagen Sparkling Tea Company's Lyserød, a delightful and refined non-alcoholic sparkling beverage that elevates what might once have been a simple soft drink into a sophisticated alternative to rosé wine. Crafted from a carefully curated blend of organic teas including oolong, hibiscus, and Silver Needle white tea, Lyserød offers intense fruity complexity while remaining comfortably dry and smooth on the palate. As part of a broader trend toward elevated non-alcoholic drinks, Lyserød stands out for its nuanced taste, thoughtful craftsmanship, and versatility with a wide range of foods.
Well there you have it, another year signed, sealed and delivered. Here's to 2026 being a year of peace, good health, and progress. See you there!
Well there you have it, another year signed, sealed and delivered. Here's to 2026 being a year of peace, good health, and progress. See you there!
Saturday, 26 April 2025
I like to think I am a pretty adaptable person. I have been told before that it's almost like there are multiple versions of myself for every context. There's "City James", the posh London boy that so many have grown to love and/or hate. "Country James", the James that wears a flat-cap and picks apples in the rurals. Then there's "Switzerland James". Is he a more practical James? A more in-tune with nature James? More neutral? One thing I can say is that City James would never eat something he found outside on the ground. But Switzerland James, oh boy are you in for an adventure.
Since moving to this new land, I have been awed by its natural bounty. Local produce harvested from robust ecosystems, woodlands practically bursting with foragables. I wanted to get in on the action, and so I invite you to journey with me as I forage and make (under heavy supervision from someone who knows what they are doing) wild garlic pesto, picked from the local forests.
The first step is the most important, and also the hardest. Find yourself some wild garlic. You want damp, shady woodlands, ideally close to a source of water. It looks a little something like this:
There it is, wild garlic, also known as ramsons. You'll find it in thick carpets, huge amounts in one area. The first thing to notice is that this is not garlic like the bulbs you find in the supermarket. While ramsons is is a member of the same Allium genus as your typical garlic, the bulbs are underground and not typically eaten. Instead, it's the broad green leaves we're after.
But, be careful! Wild garlic leaves can easily be mistaken for similar looking, but toxic, vegetation. Two good tips for being safe: 1) sniff for that garlicky smell. No garlicky smell, no garlic; 2) look at the stems, if it's a single stem, it's safe. If one stem branches into several, then it's not.
So you've identified a plant which is definitely ramsons and definitely not poisonous. Next we need to harvest it. Do so by breaking off the leaves. Be careful not to pull up the roots, that way the ramsons will grow back after picking. As to the amount, it depends on how much pesto you wish to make, but I would say pick more than you expect you will need. You'll be surprised by how little pesto you get for the volume of leaves picked.
On to the kitchen. Wash the ramsons thoroughly in a collander with cold water. You may also want to wash or soak in bicarbonate of soda to ensure that everything is clean (you never know where there may have been foxes about).
While soaking, toast some pine nuts in a dry pan until golden brown. For two cups of leaves, you want about a half cup of pine nuts. Watch these like a hawk and stir. Pine nuts can go from brown to burnt very quickly.
Once that's all done, add the pine nuts to the ramsons, along with a quarter teaspoon of salt and a whole heap of freshly grated parmesan. However much cheese you think you need, it's more. At least a half cup. Finally, add a quarter cup of olive oil.
With your ingredients combined, all that is left is to blitz the heck out of it with a blender. Your standard kitchen blender will do, but if you really like to get your hands dirty, you'll want to use a hand blender. Blend to your preferred consistency, and then jar that sucker up (pictured above). Pour a layer of oil along the top of the pesto to keep it fresh for longer.
Congratulations, you've just made some hand-picked wild garlic pesto. Easy, right? Pour some of that bad boy out on a dish of pasta and enjoy the most fresh, fragrant, garlicky pesto you've ever eaten. Or get creative. Make some pesto bread, mix with butter for some wild garlic butter. Embrace the garlicky goodness.
Sunday, 29 December 2024
The time has come once again—bubbly is flowing, salad forks are perfectly chilled, and the stage is set for an evening of indulgent revelry. Dust off your finest evening wear, polish those dancing shoes, and prepare for a night to remember. Welcome to the Debbie Awards, the grand finale of the year that honors the highs, the lows, and the truly unforgettable moments of the past twelve months.
The year 2024 has been marked by global advancements and challenges across multiple fronts. Technology continues to reshape daily life, with artificial intelligence and renewable energy driving innovation and sustainability efforts. While challenges abound, we are generally all living longer, healthier lives on a planet full of wonders, and I remain optimistic for the future. Culturally, 2024 was no slouch. Human creativity knows no bounds, from groundbreaking films and literature to thought-provoking art and music. Amidst both triumphs and uncertainties, 2024 reflects humanity's resilience and its quest for progress in an interconnected era.
Without further ado, let the curtain fall upon 2024 as we begin our definitive review of the past 12 months:
2024 Debbie Awards
Cinema & TV
1. The Debbie for TV Show of the Year
Winner: Slow Horses (AppleTV+)
Runner Up: Fargo (FX)
At a time when there exists more numerous premium streaming networks than hours in the day, it takes something special to stand out. In 2024, one TV series more than any other seems to be sweeping critical acclaim from all corners, and that's Slow Horses. An adaptation of the Slough House series of novels by Mick Herron. Led by the sharp-tongued and unkempt Jackson Lamb (played brilliantly by Gary Oldman), the “Slow Horses” uncover conspiracies and threats that their more polished counterparts in MI5 headquarters often overlook. Blending razor-sharp dialogue, thrilling twists, and moments of surprisingly deep humanity, the show masterfully explores themes of loyalty. It's like the not-ready-for-primetime-players version of Le Carré, in a very good way.
Our runner up prize goes to the latest season of Noah Hawley's crime anthology series Fargo. As a series, Fargo has been very much more hit than miss, and this latest season bites back with perhaps its finest since the first. Anchored by a ferocious Juno Temple and a scenery-chewing Jon Hamm, Fargo season 5 makes for indelible television, blending dark humour, intricate storytelling and compelling performances.
2. The Debbie for New TV Show of the Year
Winner: Fallout (Amazon)
Runner Up: Masters of the Air (AppleTV+)
In another very competitive year for new TV series, this prize really could have gone to a good four or five different contenders. But ultimately, there can be only one winner. In 2024, the big prize goes to Amazon's brilliant adaptation of Fallout. Irreverent, satirical, and wildly creative. Fallout manages to capture the unique atom-punk style and idiosyncrasies of its post-apocalyptic source material far better than one might have expected, resulting in arguably the finest game-to-TV transition to date.
Runner up goes to Masters of the Air, Apple's epic World War II series based on the novel of the same name by Donald L. Miller. This show follows the lives of the airmen, depicting their bravery, struggles, and the devastating consequences of aerial warfare. Sumptuously produced and with a glittering all-star cast, this high-calibre drama is television of the utmost quality.
3. The Debbie for Film of the Year
Winner: Saturday Night
Runner Up: Dune: Part Two
If I'm being honest, 2024 was not exactly a glowing year in film. But a particular highlight was Saturday Night, the latest film from Jason Reitman, director of Juno, Up in the Air, and the latest Ghostbusters films. This is essentially a fly on the wall dramatisation of the production behind legendary comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live, taking place 90 minutes before the taping of the first ever episode. Frenetic and energetically paced, with sharp dialogue. It's more stream-of-consciousness than any kind of deeper narrative, but the production is superb and very effectively captures this moment in history.
2. The Debbie for New TV Show of the Year
Winner: Fallout (Amazon)
Runner Up: Masters of the Air (AppleTV+)
In another very competitive year for new TV series, this prize really could have gone to a good four or five different contenders. But ultimately, there can be only one winner. In 2024, the big prize goes to Amazon's brilliant adaptation of Fallout. Irreverent, satirical, and wildly creative. Fallout manages to capture the unique atom-punk style and idiosyncrasies of its post-apocalyptic source material far better than one might have expected, resulting in arguably the finest game-to-TV transition to date.
Runner up goes to Masters of the Air, Apple's epic World War II series based on the novel of the same name by Donald L. Miller. This show follows the lives of the airmen, depicting their bravery, struggles, and the devastating consequences of aerial warfare. Sumptuously produced and with a glittering all-star cast, this high-calibre drama is television of the utmost quality.
3. The Debbie for Film of the Year
Winner: Saturday Night
Runner Up: Dune: Part Two
If I'm being honest, 2024 was not exactly a glowing year in film. But a particular highlight was Saturday Night, the latest film from Jason Reitman, director of Juno, Up in the Air, and the latest Ghostbusters films. This is essentially a fly on the wall dramatisation of the production behind legendary comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live, taking place 90 minutes before the taping of the first ever episode. Frenetic and energetically paced, with sharp dialogue. It's more stream-of-consciousness than any kind of deeper narrative, but the production is superb and very effectively captures this moment in history.
Coming in second this year is the sequel to Denis Villeneuve's excellent Dune remake. Epic sci-fi at its finest, brought to life with depth and incredible visuals. Part Two leans more into the character relationships and sets up their arcs as we move into the conclusion of this trilogy. Really, the only reason this isn't top is because it's an incomplete story, more focused on setting up the next film. It is superb filmmaking, however, a must watch for fans of the source material, or sci-fi in general.
4. The Debbie for Variety Show Host of the Year
Winner: Jon Stewart
Say what you will about 2024, but this was the year that gave us Jon Stewart back on our TV screens. The legendary comedian/TV show host ended his original run on The Daily Show almost a decade ago. During that time he has delved into various creative endeavours, from production to film directing, but none has really landed with the expected impact. His brief stint on Apple showed promise, until he pissed off the wrong investors and got canned. But now he is back where he belongs, part-time at least, and it's refreshing to see his brand of no-holds-barred anti-bullshit once more. Long may it continue.
5. The Debbie for Rising Star of the Year
Winner: Leo Woodall
You may recognise him from the second season of The White Lotus, Leo Woodall is on the verge of big things. The British actor may have began his career in humble fashion, guest appearances on the likes of Holby City, but these next two years could see him become one of the biggest rising stars in the industry. 2025 will see him take a starring role in the new Bridget Jones film, as well as the lead in the newest Ridley Scott TV series, Prime Target. Add to that some critic-pleasingly prestigious (read: awards-bait) projects such as James Vanderbilt's upcoming Nuremberg, and it really does seem like Woodall is on the precipice. If you didn't know his name until now, you probably will soon.
6. The Debbie for Web-Show of the Year
Winner: Gaming Historian
The Gaming Historian is not a new content producer. Norman Caruso's ongoing YouTube series has been documenting the history of gaming's greatest icons, consoles, and the major players of the industry, for years. But recent years have increasingly seen transition from YouTube-friendly short-form content into genuinely substantive documentaries. This year's output has included a forty-minute episode on the history of the first videogame cartridge ever created, and an hour-and-a-half film on the development of classic title The Oregon Trail. In a world where content is increasingly ephemeral, borrowed instead of owned, this type of work is absolutely valuable, and the quality of that work is hugely impressive.
Music, Art & Theatre
7. The Debbie for Theatrical Production of the Year
Winner: Stranger Things: The First Shadow (Phoenix Theatre)
Runner Up: The Hills of California (Harold Pinter Theatre)
Amid the overwhelming availability of high quality theatre in London, my choice for the year's best production may raise a few eyebrows. But those who have seen it will know that it is a worthy winner indeed. Stranger Things: The First Shadow is a prequel to the hit Netflix series, but this stage production stands on its own as more than just a treat for longtime fans. Brought to life by the multi-award winning production team of Stephen Daldry and Jack Thorne, First Shadow has serious stage chops behind it. Thrilling for fans old and new, with innovative stagecraft and live visual effects that have to be seen to be believed, the work they have produced is sublime theatre of the highest quality.
Amid the overwhelming availability of high quality theatre in London, my choice for the year's best production may raise a few eyebrows. But those who have seen it will know that it is a worthy winner indeed. Stranger Things: The First Shadow is a prequel to the hit Netflix series, but this stage production stands on its own as more than just a treat for longtime fans. Brought to life by the multi-award winning production team of Stephen Daldry and Jack Thorne, First Shadow has serious stage chops behind it. Thrilling for fans old and new, with innovative stagecraft and live visual effects that have to be seen to be believed, the work they have produced is sublime theatre of the highest quality.
Despite many worthy contenders for second place, this year's next pick goes to Sam Mendes' latest, The Hills of California. Penned by highly acclaimed scribe Jez Butterworth, The Hills of California is a compelling family drama that oscillates between the 1950s and 1970s in Blackpool, England. The narrative centers on the Webb sisters, whose mother, Veronica, portrayed by Laura Donnelly, is resolute in molding them into a musical act akin to the Andrews Sisters. The play delves into themes of ambition, familial bonds, and the repercussions of a domineering matriarch, with an unforgettable stinger that won't soon be forgotten.
8. The Debbie for Album of the Year
Winner: Only God Was Above Us - Vampire Weekend
Runners Up: Gangbusters Melody Club - Caravan Palace, Mahashmashana - Father John Misty
It would be easy for a commercially successful and widely known band like Vampire Weekend to just turn out another indie rock album, net a few chart hits and call it a day. But part of the band's appeal has always been their willingness to experiment, to blend radio-friendly musicianship with more avant garde compositions and make something with their own unmistakable mark of identity. Only God Was Above Us marks a culmination of their career to date, thematically hearkening back to their New York roots in a way that blends nostalgia and social commentary with more innovative genre mashups that draw on everything from the baroque stylings of Classical to the chamber pop of Pravda, and even more electronic drum and bass influences. The result is an album that manages to defy easy classification, while still providing an array of memorable tunes.
8. The Debbie for Album of the Year
Winner: Only God Was Above Us - Vampire Weekend
Runners Up: Gangbusters Melody Club - Caravan Palace, Mahashmashana - Father John Misty
It would be easy for a commercially successful and widely known band like Vampire Weekend to just turn out another indie rock album, net a few chart hits and call it a day. But part of the band's appeal has always been their willingness to experiment, to blend radio-friendly musicianship with more avant garde compositions and make something with their own unmistakable mark of identity. Only God Was Above Us marks a culmination of their career to date, thematically hearkening back to their New York roots in a way that blends nostalgia and social commentary with more innovative genre mashups that draw on everything from the baroque stylings of Classical to the chamber pop of Pravda, and even more electronic drum and bass influences. The result is an album that manages to defy easy classification, while still providing an array of memorable tunes.
First runner up place goes to electro-swing giants Caravan Palace, whose latest album, Gangbusters Melody Club. Since their emergence in the late 2000s, the Parisian group has become the great mainstream success story of the genre, combining their jazz and swing influences with a modern club-infused style that manages to feel both fresh and retro at the same time. If their other recent albums had been trending into more pop-focused areas, this latest work comes back to jazz in a big way, and the result is a silky smooth production that runs the gamut from MAD's big band swing, to the infectiously upbeat Raccoons. I defy anyone to listen to Mirrors without dancing a little.
And in third place, a return to form for Father John Misty. Another artist who's not afraid to mix things up a bit, his last album saw a detour into big-band style swing. New album Mahashmashana marks a return to his indie rock roots, best typified by title track Mahashmashana, as well as the deliciously gritty rock number She Cleans Up. But there's evolution here too, and the highlight of the album is undoubtedly the 8 minute odyssey that blends all of Father John's various influences, rock, disco, jazz, I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All.
9. The Debbie for Debut Album of the Year
Winner: The Mess We Seem to Make - Crawlers
Runner Up: The Future is Our Way Out - Brigitte Calls Me Baby
The prize for best debut album is always a tricky one, not least because of artists' increasingly unorthodox models for content delivery. Nowadays artists often have several EPs and singles out before anything that can be considered a true LP, sometimes even years earlier. This is the case with Crawlers, a band that has been kicking around in this blog's previews for a while now, but who finally released a full debut LP in 2024, The Mess We Seem to Make. It did not disappoint, receiving critical acclaim for its vibrancy and modern grunge influences. Lead single Come Over Again is still a great track, even though it actually released some three years ago, Messiah another winning number. This band has a lot of promise.
A number of close contenders for runner up, but ultimately I went for The Future is Our Way Out, the debut album from Chicago-based pop-rock band Brigitte Calls Me Baby. A highly polished debut that seamlessly blends a myriad of influences, sometimes to a fault. This debut drips with solid gold nostalgia, from the mid-century rock-infused bop of Impressively Average, to more Roy Orbison-flavoured crooning with Eddie My Love. It's all delicious, but it relies heavily on that nostalgia. It will be interesting to see how this band moves forward and finds its own distinct identity.
And in third place, a return to form for Father John Misty. Another artist who's not afraid to mix things up a bit, his last album saw a detour into big-band style swing. New album Mahashmashana marks a return to his indie rock roots, best typified by title track Mahashmashana, as well as the deliciously gritty rock number She Cleans Up. But there's evolution here too, and the highlight of the album is undoubtedly the 8 minute odyssey that blends all of Father John's various influences, rock, disco, jazz, I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All.
9. The Debbie for Debut Album of the Year
Winner: The Mess We Seem to Make - Crawlers
Runner Up: The Future is Our Way Out - Brigitte Calls Me Baby
The prize for best debut album is always a tricky one, not least because of artists' increasingly unorthodox models for content delivery. Nowadays artists often have several EPs and singles out before anything that can be considered a true LP, sometimes even years earlier. This is the case with Crawlers, a band that has been kicking around in this blog's previews for a while now, but who finally released a full debut LP in 2024, The Mess We Seem to Make. It did not disappoint, receiving critical acclaim for its vibrancy and modern grunge influences. Lead single Come Over Again is still a great track, even though it actually released some three years ago, Messiah another winning number. This band has a lot of promise.
A number of close contenders for runner up, but ultimately I went for The Future is Our Way Out, the debut album from Chicago-based pop-rock band Brigitte Calls Me Baby. A highly polished debut that seamlessly blends a myriad of influences, sometimes to a fault. This debut drips with solid gold nostalgia, from the mid-century rock-infused bop of Impressively Average, to more Roy Orbison-flavoured crooning with Eddie My Love. It's all delicious, but it relies heavily on that nostalgia. It will be interesting to see how this band moves forward and finds its own distinct identity.
10. The Debbie for Song of the Year
Winner: Happy - Linn Koch Emery
Runners Up: I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All - Father John Misty, Raccoons - Caravan Palace
This is always a ridiculous category to pick. So many great songs this year, and other than in exceptional cases how do you pick just one above the rest? Never mind that this decision may change from one moment to the next depending on mood. At some point you just need to make a call, and this year that call sees the Debbie awarded to exciting Swedish singer-songwriter Linn Koch-Emery and her mesmerising Happy. A compelling piece of power pop, with grungy hooks, ethereal vocals and yearning lyrics. It's an excellent track from an artist with huge potential.
Next up is the 8-minute piece de resistance, I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All from Father John Misty's latest album. This song is just plain badass. Part funk-rock, part disco, densely instrumental with brass-band backing, and lyrics that go hard. Father John at his snarling best.
Finally, third place, because i'm too indecisive to just pick two things, goes to Raccoons from Caravan Palace's latest album. In an album full of memorable tracks, Raccoons ended up getting the most listening time from me this year. Just an infectiously catchy, euphoric bop of a track. A party song if ever there was one.
11. The Debbie for Live Concert of the Year
Winner: Snow Patrol
I'll admit, I might be a bit biased towards concerts which also accompany a kickass food festival with such pristine, feel-good vibes. But circumstances aside, this was one heck of a show. Snow Patrol are seasoned performers with an underrated discography over the past thirty years, and they know how to play to a crowd. Gary Lightbody is effortlessly charismatic on stage, and he still has the pipes and gravitas for the big hits. It's also hard not to admire a musician who is game for belting out his power ballads while wind and rain buffets against him in dramatic fashion. Quite the visual, top marks for commitment.
12. The Debbie for Exhibition of the Year
Winner: Kolonial - Landesmuseum Zurich
If you're wondering why the Swiss cultural museum is running an exhibition on colonialism, you're not the only one. After all, Switzerland is not exactly known for its colonial empire. This groundbreaking exhibition explores some of the less commonly understood ways through which people all over the world contributed to the crimes and injustices of the era, primarily through financing, mercenary work and political lobbying, and in particular the role that Switzerland as a nation played in this. It's a fresh and essential perspective of the global mechanics behind some of the worst excesses in post-industrial history, handled with extreme deftness and sensitivity. A remarkable exhibition, expertly curated.
Winner: Kolonial - Landesmuseum Zurich
If you're wondering why the Swiss cultural museum is running an exhibition on colonialism, you're not the only one. After all, Switzerland is not exactly known for its colonial empire. This groundbreaking exhibition explores some of the less commonly understood ways through which people all over the world contributed to the crimes and injustices of the era, primarily through financing, mercenary work and political lobbying, and in particular the role that Switzerland as a nation played in this. It's a fresh and essential perspective of the global mechanics behind some of the worst excesses in post-industrial history, handled with extreme deftness and sensitivity. A remarkable exhibition, expertly curated.
13. The Debbie for Book of the Year
Winner: James - Percival Everett
One of the year's most hyped books, and it did not disappoint. James has quite the concept behind it. A re-telling of the classic Mark Twain novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of the slave Jim. Whatever preconceptions you might have about what this book will be, I expect it will defy expectations.
What follows is an electrifying, action-filled turn-pager that expands on its subject matter through a 21st Century mindset. Subversively spotlighting the depravity of contemporary institutions in a way that is both insightful and hugely entertaining. Through the protagonist's journey, Percival Everett deftly examines the complexities of societal expectations and personal authenticity, presenting a narrative that is both thought-provoking and deeply moving. It's about as accurate to history as a Tarantino film, sure, but that doesn't make it any less immersive or memorable.
Business & Technology
14. The Debbie for Scientific/Technological Breakthrough of the Year
Winner: Casgevy, the first CRISPR Therapy
CRISPR/Cas9, a technology that allows the treating of disease through direct gene editing, is an absolutely revolutionary technology that will change the world. It's long been discussed and developed, and in 2024, we saw the first FDA approved therapy utilising the technology, Casgevy. This therapy has been approved for the treatment of sickle cell disease and certain variants of beta-thalassemia, two devastating blood disorders. This one-time treatment involves collecting a patient's hematopoietic stem cells, editing them using CRISPR/Cas9 technology to increase fetal hemoglobin production, and reinfusing them after myeloablative conditioning. Clinical trials have shown promising results, and this is just the beginning.
15. The Debbie for Videogame Platform of the Year
Winner: Moonlight
It is long past time to update this award. The landscape of gaming has changed, it is archaic to suggest that games now solely require physical hardware, a console or PC. Increasingly, one might use a cloud-based gaming service, or a subscription service, or an app, as their primary platform. This year's tip of the hat goes to Moonlight, a free and open-source app that allows users to stream games from their PC to various devices, including smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and other computers.
If you're like me, and you've dabbled in Steam Remote Play, you've no doubt been left disappointed by its lack of stability, its choppiness, or the fact that it just flat out refuses to work with certain games sometimes. Built on NVIDIA's GameStream technology, Moonlight mirrors the performance and visual fidelity of games running on a PC, enabling users to play demanding titles on less powerful devices with minimal latency. As someone with a beast desktop computer the size of a building, Moonlight is fast becoming my go-to method to play games on the go, and compared to alternatives, like Steam Remote Play, the difference is night and day.
16. The Debbie for Videogame of the Year
Winner: Frostpunk 2 (PC, MacOS, Playstation, Xbox)
Runners Up: Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth (PC, Playstation), Neva (PC, MacOS, Playstation, Switch, Xbox)
2024 was always going to struggle in the shadow of 2023, perhaps the most remarkable year for gaming releases in a generation. Indeed, 2024 ended up being somewhat quiet, even by regular standards. Nevertheless, there were still plenty of memorable titles worthy of claiming these awards. Taking the big prize, we have Frostpunk 2, the sequel to 11 Bit Studio's 2018 survival city-builder. Set in a compelling post-apocalyptic Britain that has descended into a new ice age, Frostpunk 2 maintains the unique Victorian sci-fi aesthetic and themes of the original, while expanding the gameplay into new areas, bringing in greater RPG-style decision making and faction management. The result is one of the best narrative city-builders yet made, and a wonderful expansion into this fascinating universe.
For runner up, we have a title on which I am torn. Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth is the second chapter in Square-Enix's remake of the legendary 1997 RPG, and for the most part it is sublime. This is the first title in many years that truly manages to capture the magic of those classic Square RPGs. The characters, their relationships, the vibe, it's all 100% on point. It also expands massively on its predecessor by adding a massive and beautiful open world to explore, full of mini-games, side quests and activities. Unfortunately, the phrase a mile wide and an inch deep comes to mind often. Many of these activities often feel little more than time-sinks. To be clear, an open world can elevate a game, but a lacklustre open world is often worse than no open world at all. Fortunately there is still more than enough magic here to make this one of the titles of the year, but it falls just narrowly short of "true classic" status.
And in third place we have Neva, the second title from Gris developers Nomada Studio. Those who played Gris will find Neva immediately familiar, from the side-scrolling puzzle-platforming to the painterly art style. But Neva expands on the formula with more ambitious storytelling, more involved gameplay and combat. It's everything we loved about Gris, but better. Tighter, more beautiful, more polished. An excellent title from one of the most exciting developers in the industry.
17. The Debbie for Company of the Year
Winner: Manilife
This award is always a choice between a great product, or a company with a praise-worthy ethos. Fortunately in this case, it's both. Bluntly, Argentinian peanut butter producer Manilife are the undisputed global kings of peanut butter. Forget your Skippy or your Jif. Once you try the Manilife deep roast flavours, you'll wonder how you ever abided lesser nut butters. But it's not just delicious, it's also a company that makes a point of its ethical and sustainable processes. This includes its farming practices, its compensation of workers, and its ingredients (no palm oil here). It had long been the bane of my existence that palm-oil free peanut butters mostly end up a sloppy mush, but not so with Manilife, a peanut butter which miraculously manages to keep that velvety smooth, consistent texture that we love so much.
Sports
18. The Debbie for Footballer of the Year
Winner: Vinícius Júnior - Real Madrid
Were I trying to pick a best footballer for the 2023/24 season, or the 2024/25 season so far, my pick might be different. But when it comes to a player who has excelled consistently over the entire calendar year, there really is one clear stand out. Vinícius Júnior is the brightest of Real Madrid's many stars, a combination of electrifying pace, exceptional skill and quickness of thought. Vinícius Júnior is a devastating player on his day and a big part of what makes Madrid the dominant side in world football at the moment.
19. The Debbie for Young Footballer of the Year
Winner: Cole Palmer - Chelsea
Unironically a strong contender for the best footballer of any age. Since the start of last season, no footballer has achieved a greater goals & assists tally than Cole Palmer. That he did this while playing for a decidedly inconsistent Chelsea side makes the feat all the more impressive. Cole Palmer's £40million signing from the Manchester City youth team, with barely a first team appearance to his name, was originally the target of mockery, but in hindsight Chelsea have absolutely robbed City here. A player who surely needs to become the centre of both this Chelsea team, and the England national side.
20. The Debbie for Football Manager of the Year
Winner: Xabi Alonso - Bayer Leverkusen
A non-contest this year, Xabi Alonso's feat of guiding unfancied Bayer Leverkusen to not only pip Bayern Munich to a league title that is generally considered a foregone conclusion, but to do so undefeated for the entire season, is a truly remarkable accomplishment. Regardless of whether he duplicates this success again, Alonso has clearly established himself as one of the brightest prospects in football management, and it's a career we will watch with great interest.
21. The Debbie for Football Club of the Year
Winner: Real Madrid
At a time when most of the big clubs in football are either on the decline (Man City, Barcelona), or on the rise (Chelsea, Liverpool), there's only really one club at the moment that has managed to stay around the pinnacle of the sport on a consistent basis, and that's Real Madrid. Domestic champions, champions of Europe. Wealthiest club in the world, highest turnover. By any metric, Real Madrid currently stands as the apex football club. But these things never last forever, who will be the next challenger to chase Madrid's crown?
Current Events
22. The Debbie for Politician of the Year
Winner: Javier Milei
Here's one that will ruffle some feathers. I can't say I agree much with Javier Milei or his politics, but you simply can't argue with the results. Argentina has undergone what many are referring to as an economic "miracle". Inflation is down, poverty down, unemployment down. It's easily the big success story in political achievement for the year. Much has been said about Milei, describing him as the Trump of Argentina, but this has always struck me as a not very sharp comparison. Milei may be a conservative, but he is no Trumpist, he is no Putinist, he's not an authoritarian, rather he is a proper old school economic liberal, and he deserves his due.
23. The Debbie for Scandal of the Year
Winner: Mark Robinson, the porn-addicted "black Nazi"
As far as political scandals go, this one is pretty hard to top. Mark Robinson, the Republican candidate for Governor of North Carolina had to mess up pretty bad in order to lose a lean-red state that Trump carried by three points in a Republican-favourable year, and boy did he. Robinson was already a controversial figure: a pro-slavery transphobe, homophobe and self-described "black Nazi". Incredibly, though, that wasn't what lost him the election (not entirely anyway). What really pushed him over the edge was the reveal of graphic, bigoted comments he had made on the online pornographic forum "Nude Africa". These comments really need to be seen to be believed and, I can't stress this enough, don't look for them, it's not worth the hit to your sanity! Suffice it to say, it was bad. Bad even by the standard of the cartoonishly batshit crazy standard of American politics.
24. The Debbie for Cause of the Year
Winner: The Political Independence of Europe
If there is one cause that I wish to champion over the next 12 months, it is the importance of Europe stepping up and standing on its own feet. These past several years have shown us that we can no longer rely on America, either from a security, a moral, or an economic perspective. Europe is big enough and developed enough to take that important role on the world stage. I include in this discussion non-EU states such as the UK that nevertheless remain an integral part of the European community. If Ukraine is to remain free, if Putin's advance into Europe is to be stopped in its tracks, then Europe needs to step up and show that it can lead.
25. The Debbie for Person of the Year
Winner: Yulia Navalnaya
Russian economist Yulia Navalnaya has gained significant attention this year following the death of her husband, Alexei Navalny, a prominent dissident, in February. After his passing in prison, Navalnaya vowed to carry on his work, accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of being responsible for his death. She has since engaged with world leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, amid Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. Often referred to as the "first lady" of the Russian opposition, Navalnaya stands as an inspirational figure in the fight against tyranny. A woman of unparalleled bravery who remains defiant even as her life is endangered by the threat of assassination and torture perpetrated by her opponents.
Social & Lifestyle
26. The Debbie for Restaurant of the Year
Winner: Kochi
New York is on something of a roll when it comes to dining out, and for 2024, there is no place I would rather eat right now than Kochi in Hell's Kitchen. Pitched as a Korean BBQ skewer tasting menu, this undersells just how good the food is here. Chef Sungchul Shim, with experience from esteemed establishments like Per Se and Neta, presents dishes that artfully blend traditional Korean royal court cuisine with contemporary techniques, offering a great variety of different dishes: vegetable, fish, meat, dessert. All absolutely incredible, and presented with real visual flair. A truly top level dining experience is an expression of creativity as much a meal, and Kochi does this as well as any place in the world right now. It can not be recommended highly enough.
27. The Debbie for New Restaurant of the Year
Winner: K'Far
Sticking with a New York theme, we have the new restaurant of the Hoxton in Williamsburg. K'Far is an Israeli place, named for the town of K'Far Saba in Israel. Styled as an all-day culinary village, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, that has garnered acclaim for its vibrant atmosphere and diverse menu offerings. The establishment seamlessly transitions from a morning coffee and pastry spot to a lively dinner venue. Amid an array of tasty dishes, the hummus stands out in particular (with a number of variants - the beef hummus being the pick of the bunch) as some of the best I have ever tried.
28. The Debbie for Club/Bar of the Year
Winner: The Anchor Inn
Picture the most stunningly idyllic seaside pub, and your mind's image probably comes close to The Anchor Inn in Dorset. A classic old school English pub, situated directly on the beach, with a view that can't be beat. The interior delicately balances comfort and tradition, smartly renovated, with communal dining spaces and intimate nooks. The bar offers local beers and a surprisingly deep selection of liquors, while the kitchen serves up coastal pub classics with locally sourced ingredients. But the real star is the beachfront terrace, boasting panoramic coastal views and a dedicated outdoor bar. It really is about as splendid a place as you will find.
29. The Debbie for Destination of the Year
Winner: Dorset
Sometimes the finest R&R spots are right on your doorstep. So it proved to be in 2024, with the sunny south coast of England taking the prize. Dorset is that most rare of things. Beautiful coastal scenery ensconced in gently rolling Cotswolds-style hills. Remote enough from the rest of the country to allow for a refreshing detachment, but with options for dining and socialising. Whether your preference is for quaint old sea-side hotels, or cosy pubs on the beach, I can't wait to go back.
30. The Debbie for Wine of the Year
Winner: Cinuzzi Chianti Classico 2021
Offering a well-balanced profile of Sangiovese grapes. The Cinuzzi Chianti Classico delivers bright red fruit flavors like cherry and raspberry, complemented by subtle earthy notes of leather and spice. The 2021 vintage showcases refreshing acidity and fine, polished tannins, making it a versatile choice for pairing with a wide range of dishes, from pasta and pizza to roasted meats. Its approachable yet refined character ensures it stands out as a quintessential Chianti Classico.
31. The Debbie for Tipple of the Year
Winner: Cotswolds Distillery, The Dan
The best kept secret in the west country; Cotswolds Distillery has made quite a name for itself in English gin, but the real long-term goal has always been to become a whisky producer of renown. In recent years, this has been achieved and thensome, with the Cotswolds whisky perhaps the finest in the south of the United Kingdom. The pick of 2024 is their ultra limited edition The Dan. With only 162 bottles produced, The Dan is aged in an American Oak cask seasoned with Pedro Ximenez sherry, with notes of candied pecans and vanilla.
Well there you have it, another year in the books. Here's to 2025 being a year of peace, good health, and further progress. See you there!
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