Bucks &amp; Oxon


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-game-is-afoot-in-oxford">The game is afoot in Oxford </h2>



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Young Sherlock - Official Trailer | Prime Video" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rXMrTALO2ME?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p>Guy Ritchie’s favourite filming location? <em>The Gentlemen </em>and<em> Lock Stock </em>director clearly has a soft spot for Oxfordshire. He staged a <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/latest-news/local-news-oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-tom-hardy-pub/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">takeover of The Falkland Arms</a> in Great Tew last winter to film <em>Mobland</em> (Tom Hardy was ordering the pints), and our county capital has a star turn in his new<em> Young Sherlock</em> Prime Video series. A boyish Sherlock pickpockets and problem-solves his way around Oxford’s colleges and cobbled streets, and the cast have more than a few Oxfordshire connections too. </p>



<p>Sherlock is played by Hero Fiennes Tiffin and his uncle Joseph Fiennes also stars – you can visit their family seat when <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/latest-news/local-news-oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-tom-hardy-pub/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Broughton Castle </a>near Banbury reopens for the season on<strong> 1 Apr</strong>. Then there’s Sherlock’s big brother Mycroft, played by Max Irons, son of <em>Brideshead Revisited&#8217;</em>s Jeremy Irons and <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/the-dragon-school-oxford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dragon School </a>alumnus. The big names just can’t stay away from those dreaming spires.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-local-literary-lights">Local literary lights</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/03/Womens-Prize-2026-Oxford-authors.jpg" alt="Women's Prize longlist 2026 Oxford authors" class="wp-image-202887" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/03/Womens-Prize-2026-Oxford-authors.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/03/Womens-Prize-2026-Oxford-authors-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/03/Womens-Prize-2026-Oxford-authors-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/03/Womens-Prize-2026-Oxford-authors-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Speaking of which, the <a href="https://womensprize.com/prizes/womens-prize-for-fiction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Women’s Prize for Fiction </a>longlist was announced last week and there are three Oxford-linked authors in the sixteen-strong running. Judged by a panel including the former Aussie Prime Minister Julia Gillard, writer and poet Salma El-Wardany and DJ Annie Macmanus, Oxford-born Rozie Kelly’s debut<a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/kingfisher/rozie-kelly/9781916812352" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"><em> Kingfisher</em> </a>was chosen as a contender. The novel follows a creative writing academic who becomes infatuated with his colleague, which sounds pretty on brand for Oxford. </p>



<p>Also picked was the first solo novel by University of Oxford alumna Marcia Hutchinson, <em><a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-mercy-step/marcia-hutchinson/9781913175740" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">The Mercy Step</a></em>, which explores a young girl’s quiet rebellion as she grows up in 1960s Bradford. And finally, the judges selected <em><a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-best-of-everything/kit-de-waal/9781035404834" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Best of Everything</a> </em>by University of Oxford alumna Kit de Waal, the author’s first novel for seven years. It centres on a working-class Caribbean woman’s experience of grief, love and family life, and has already won praise from the likes of Booker Prize winner Bernadine Evaristo. The shortlist will be announced on<strong> 22 Apr</strong>, but for now, there’s some stellar local book club inspo. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-go-west">Go west</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1453" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/03/Westbury-Arts-Centre.jpg" alt="Westbury Arts Centre" class="wp-image-202890" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/03/Westbury-Arts-Centre.jpg 2000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/03/Westbury-Arts-Centre-800x581.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/03/Westbury-Arts-Centre-1000x727.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/03/Westbury-Arts-Centre-400x291.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/03/Westbury-Arts-Centre-1536x1116.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Westbury Arts Centre</figcaption></figure>



<p>There’s something about the arrival of spring that gets our arty juices flowing and there’s a <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/buckinghamshire/milton-keynes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milton Keynes</a> venue determined to unleash your talents, or at the very least provide a moment of Sunday mindfulness before a busy week begins. Head to <a href="https://www.westburyartscentre.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Westbury Arts Centre </a>on<strong> 22 Mar </strong>for a relaxed <a href="https://www.westburyartscentre.org.uk/creativetasterdaymarch2026" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">creative taster day </a>during which you can try your hand at ceramics, watercolour painting, life drawing and more, all led by encouraging pro tutors who won’t judge you for wonky pots or sketchy drawings. Getting into a <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7983950/#ejn15014-sec-0019" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flow state</a> is a proven way to boost your mood and these no-pressure workshops in Westbury’s Grade II listed 17th century manor house will do just that. </p>



<p>There’s also seasonal flower arranging and spring wreath making sessions in The Barn for the green fingered among you. Sessions start from just £8, so put down your phone and pick up a paintbrush or pair of secateurs: you might just discover your artistic mojo. If nothing else, you’ll feel grounded before the school holidays begin (eek). </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-sad-goodbye-to-a-much-loved-local-chef">A sad goodbye to a much-loved local chef</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/07/stoke-park-chris-wheeler.jpg" alt="Chris Wheeler" class="wp-image-72090" style="aspect-ratio:1.5;width:640px;height:auto" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/07/stoke-park-chris-wheeler.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/07/stoke-park-chris-wheeler-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/07/stoke-park-chris-wheeler-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/07/stoke-park-chris-wheeler-720x480.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Chris Wheeler at Stoke Park</figcaption></figure>



<p>Finally, we were deeply saddened to learn of the recent passing of the extraordinary, award-winning chef <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/interview-chris-wheeler-at-the-crown-inn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chris Wheeler</a>. Chris’ genius and hard graft was renowned in the culinary world: he originally fancied becoming a zookeeper but celebrated French chef Jean Christophe Novelli spotted his talent when he was just a teen, and convinced him to join his brigade. Novelli’s hunch was bang on. Chris subsequently racked up a clutch of Michelin-stars and was executive chef at Stoke Park for over 20 years, earning Humphry&#8217;s restaurant a coveted triple AA rosette. </p>



<p>He went on to become the co-owner and head chef of The Crown Inn at Burnham Beeches, and then executive chef at The Hurlingham Club, where he rustled up British dishes, always with an inventive ‘Wheeler’ twist. As well as being an incredible talent and cooking for everyone from Daniel Craig to practically an entire cabinet of Prime Ministers, Chris had a brilliant sense of humour. Case in point, he once ran the London Marathon dressed as a chef and flipped pancakes throughout the (six hour plus) race. His long-time friend and former boss Novelli paid tribute to Chris last week: “I was always so proud to see him enjoy the success he deserved and I will miss him forever.” RIP Chris, we&#8217;re sending a big dollop of Muddy love to your family and friends.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-local-love">MORE LOCAL LOVE:</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/travel/uk/travel-guides/insider-guide-best-things-to-do-oxford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hidden Oxford: the insider guide</a></li>



<li><a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/stately-homes-buckinghamshire-oxfordshire-reopening/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">12 stunning statelys reopening near you for spring</a></li>



<li><a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/march-events-whats-on-buckinghamshire-oxfordshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">March on! 60+ things to do locally this month</a></li>
</ul>


Superflash! Guy Ritchie filming in Oxford and big Women’s book prize news

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