Forget summer soundtracks – with the weather on the turn and the sun disappearing for the next eight months, it’s all about the autumn box-set.
And what better way to ease yourself into winter than with the excellent US drama Empire, which is returning later this month with its second season?
If you’ve never seen it before, fear not: Season 1 is out on DVD on Monday 7 September, and it’s about to blow your mind.
When music mogul Lucious Lyon discovers he has an incurable neurodegenerative disease, the race is on to find a successor to his huge music empire. But with three warring sons – plus an ex-wife returning from prison hellbent on getting her hands on half the business – how will Lucious (played by the Oscar-nominated Terrence Howard) work out who should take over his empire?
Now, we need to point out the many, many fit men in this drama series. We wouldn’t be doing our job right if we didn’t. First up: Trai Byers, who plays Lucious’ son Andre. You might have seen him as Alec Martin in 90210, or in the Oscar-winning film Selma.
Then there’s Bryshere Y Gray, who plays second brother Hakeem Lyon and is a bit of a musical mastermind himself.
Oh, and not forgetting Jussie Smollett – Smollett by name, smouldering by nature. Or something. Anyway, he’s fit – who takes on the role of the third brother, Jamal Lyon.
If all that eye-candy wasn’t enough, there’s a treat for your ears too, in the form of the soundtrack written and produced by the legendary Timbaland.
What are you waiting for? Get Empire Season 1 on DVD from Monday 7 September.