There are always good reasons to be an Anglophile, but these are good right now reasons. Listen up!

The Hour

Do you like the BBC? Do you like interesting characters? Do you like the 1950s? Do you like excellent costuming? Do you miss Mad Men? Then The Hour will probably fill that cigarette shaped hole in your heart.

A Cruel Bird Came to the Nest and Looked In by Magnus Mills

I admit it. I haven’t read this book. It’s not available to us North Americans yet. But Magnus (can I call you Magnus?) is pretty much a genius at writing strange novels where things are commonplace and odd, where people and plots are both almost boring and totally insane. He rides that complicated wave. He’s delightful.

Florence Welch and Florence & the Machine

Everything about Florence and her machine is ga-ga-gorgeous. The tantalizing music, lush videos and that hair, hair, hair red and majestic and her gowns and not-gowns and all she wears. Please set your Google to stalk her. Truth.

Downton Abbey

Do not let this terribly designed and Photoshopped promotional photo deter you. It is a grossly inaccurate representation of the sheer excellence of this program. It is the opposite of Downton Abbey, which is wonderfully designed in every way, from script to set decor. I’ll just say it once more. This poster is, like, so crappy compared to the show, like, really.

So there you have it. Now, if we can just forget about that bore Pippa Middleton, I think we’re in for a right treat. England, get on that.