The National Theatre's adaptation of Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend condenses the four wildly-successful novels into 2 three-hour plays at The Olivier.

The creator of Jack Reacher - Lee Child- has written a short book about The Hero. It's the first of two publications in the new Times Literary Supplement imprint - the other reproduces Virginia Woolf's reviews from the TLS.

Troy: myth and reality is the latest big exhibition at London's British Museum. trying to work out where legends end history begins in these classical tales

Tim Minchin co-wrote and stars in a new roadtrip-based TV comedy series Upright which has just begun on Sky TV. In it he has to transport an old piano across Australia, accompanied by a sassy grumpy young female companion. Is it funny? Is it worth watching?

Tom Sutcliffe's guests are Deborah Moggach, Tom Shakespeare and Briony Hanson. The producer is Oliver Jones.

Podcast extra recommendations:

Tom Sh: Independence Square by AD Miller

Deborah: Netherlandish Proverbs explained video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tboRw6CPXjI

Briony: Hanna Gadsby's Douglas (and Nanette)

Tom S: The End of the F***ing World on All 4 and Les Indes Galantes https://youtu.be/Q4jy2wrjESQ and Jo Jo Rabbit film