The book upon which the BBC series Good Omens was directly based was originally published 30 years ago today. To celebrate, its co-author Neil Gaiman (the late Sir Terry Pratchett was the other one) and the actors David Tennant and Michael Sheen got together to create a special dramatic presentation.

It’s called Good Omens: Lockdown.

It’s the 30th anniversary of Good Omens’ publication, so Neil Gaiman, David Tennant, Michael Sheen, and the other folx involved with last year’s miniseries have offered up a brand new scene. As a (literal) treat.

Of course we’re all still on lockdown, so the scene doesn’t feature the actors on screen. Still, the voices are enough to paint the picture, and the sumptuous visuals from the angel’s Soho bookshop decorate the story as Aziraphale gives Crowley a ring in search of a modicum of companionship.

Crowley is bored out of his mind, but not quite evil enough to want to make people more miserable than they already are – and Aziraphale is cooped up in the bookshop baking things. He can’t actually eat all of it, so he gives some to some would-be robbers – after giving them a stern talking to.

Crowley offers to come hole up with the angel and keep him company, but Aziraphale insists that they maintain the lockdown parameters because rules, you see. Despite his naughty streak, the angel is still a big rules-follower.

Aziraphale and Crowley are charming to the last, and a bit of whimsey now and then is just the tonic we need to help us through these trying times.

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