Blood, Sweat and Tears

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare · Xbox360 (tested), PS3, PC · £39.99

I can honestly say that I have played a lot of games in my 25 years as an avid gamer and I have played some really special games in that time. This is one of them.

Call of Duty 4 raises the bar so high in terms of gameplay, graphics, sound and story I think it will be a long time before I play anything that comes close to a game so perfect. Having just finished the single player campaign not 24 hours ago I’m already playing it through for a second time.

Believe me when I say that there are so many stand out moments it would be wrong for me to spoil it for you. What I can say is that I ducked, shouted, jumped, laughed and cried (well almost, mainly because I didn’t want the game to end) - the first time a game has really moved me.

Then on to multiplayer, and again top notch, the maps are varied and encourage working together as a team. So do me a favour, stop what you are doing, get your wallet out and BUY THIS GAME! I promise you won’t be disappointed. See you online, soldier.

Graphics - 10
Sound - 10
Gameplay - 10
Overall Score - 10

Official website: www.charlieoscardelta.com

The Unexpected Guest by Agatha Christie

A stranger lost in the fog… an isolated house… a brutal murder… a houseful of suspects. They’re all familiar ingredients in a murder mystery, but few crime writers can weave them into a compelling tale with the deftness of Agatha Christie, and it was a sheer delight to witness the Agatha Christie Theatre Company performing this famous play at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre on the 9th November.

An all-star cast, including stage and screen legend Susan Penhaligon, EastEnders star Dean Gaffney and BBC presenter Richard Blackwood, breathed life into the characters in a subtle, complex tale of deceit.

As is typical with Agatha Christie’s work, the play was extraordinarily well paced, an uncomfortable atmosphere of tension gradually building as the characters’ motivations became clear. A gradual drip-feed of facts turned the archetypal “whodunnit?” scenario into something far richer and more rewarding.

Even in terms of stage design, the play came up trumps - a relatively sparse room contrasted starkly with the bold African frescoes above, like the events of the past overshadowing the present to terrible effect. Themes of cruelty, loyalty and seething resentment made for uncomfortable viewing, while a succession of twists and red herrings kept everyone guessing until the final shattering exposition.

An outstanding cast delivering sterling performances, a taut script, and engaging stage direction - these are the hallmarks of a truly great night at the theatre, and all were present at this outstanding production.

To find out more about this show, click here to visit the Blackpool Grand Theatre website.