BLACK POWER: A BRITISH STORY OF RESISTANCE + FOOTBALL'S DARKEST SECRET

This article was originally published in The Courier on 20th March 2021. 

NEXT WEEK'S TV

Black Power: A British Story of Resistance – Thursday, BBC Two, 9pm

This stirring 90-minute documentary traces the dramatic rise and fall of the British Black Power movement in the 1960s and 1970s. 

Inspired by the civil rights struggle in America, and in particular the uncompromising rhetoric of Malcolm X and Black Panther leader Stokely Carmichael, these young black and Asian radicals fought back against the brutal institutional racism they endured on a daily basis. 

The film features compelling testaments from some of the still-defiant members of this hugely important yet often overlooked movement. 

A vital piece of social history, it also reaches out to the Black Lives Matter movement and considers the lessons that can be learned from their pioneering forebears in the self-empowering revolt against racial discrimination.

Football’s Darkest Secret – Monday to Wednesday, BBC One, 9pm

This landmark series examines the shockingly vast amount of cases of historic child abuse which took place in British youth football from the mid-1970s until the mid-1990s. In doing so, it exposes the culture of silence that surrounded these heinous crimes. 

Preview copies weren’t available at the time of writing, but this is quite clearly an essential report.

For decades, coaches and scouts connected to top football clubs abused their positions of power to prey on vulnerable young boys. Many of the victims were shamed into silence until, in 2016, former player Andy Woodward chose to speak out publicly. This encouraged more than 800 other victims to follow suit. 300 suspects have since been identified.

24 Hours in Police Custody: Bedfordshire’s Most Wanted – Tuesday, Channel 4, 9pm

The umpteenth series of this bleakly compelling observational crime-doc begins with 23-year-old Barry, who is being held on suspicion of multiple burglaries and numerous driving offences. Barry reckons he’s been in custody more than a thousand times. Due to a lack of fresh evidence against him, the police have no choice but to release this smirking recidivist. He clearly thinks he’s untouchable. 

But within a few weeks, the police receive calls from two terrified teenage girls who accuse Barry of sexual assault. And then the tense, queasy interviews, for which this series is renowned, begin. Barry, his bravado visibly disintegrating, insists the sex was consensual. Barry is a liar. It’s a timely episode, for obvious reasons.

The Detectives: Fighting Organised Crime – Tuesday, BBC Two, 9pm

Filmed over two years, this disturbing five-part series follows Greater Manchester Police officers as they struggle to cope with the ever-growing problem of organised crime groups.

 “It’s the biggest threat to the UK in terms of security,” says one of the detectives tasked with infiltrating this violent criminal underworld. Drug-trafficking, people-trafficking, extortion, fraud, kidnap and murder, these groups will do anything to make enormous sums of money and consolidate their power. Despite the detectives’ best efforts, the entire situation feels hopeless. 

Warning: like 24 Hours in Police Custody, this is strong stuff. It’s not gratuitous, but we do encounter a victim with severe injuries, and the descriptions of violent acts may prove upsetting for some viewers.

Strangers Making Babies – Tuesday, Channel 4, 9:15pm

Co-parenting is the term used to describe people who decide to have children outside of a conventional romantic relationship. In this sensitive new series, we meet single people who, for various reasons, feel that time is running out. So now they’re ready to enter into mutually beneficial platonic arrangements. 

As cold as that may sound, Strangers Making Babies is a touching dating show. It’s overseen by trustworthy experts; I have no reason to doubt their extensive vetting and matching process. There is nothing in this show to suggest that anyone is being exploited or coerced. 

Emotional complications inevitably ensue, but not to a traumatic extent. The overall tone is encouraging and sympathetic. Good luck to ‘em all.

This Is MY House – Wednesday, BBC One, 9pm

A sort of reverse polarity version of Through the Keyhole, this daft new series asks celebrities to correctly identify a luxury house-owner from a group of suspects. Three of them are actors, and the only one who knows the truth is the owner themselves. 

The fundamental flaw in this format – which was co-devised by media powerhouse Richard Bacon – is that the actors are visibly acting throughout. You can instantly tell who the ordinary member of the public is, but the celebs have to pretend to ignore that for the sake of the game. 

Okay, I’m willing to be proved wrong, as my preview copy cut off before their identity was revealed - presumably to prevent this nail-biting spoiler from leaking into the public domain prior to transmission - but I suspect I’ve got it bang to rights.

First Dates Hotel – Wednesday, Channel 4, 9pm

Time now to return to that glamorous five-star hotel in sun-kissed rural Italy, where Fred and co play host to another nervous gaggle of amour-chasers. 

First up is Thalia, a young woman whose confidence has been shattered by her ex. Thalia’s date is Jack, a cancer survivor. We also meet Tony, a dapper septuagenarian widower from Essex. Tony has, shall we say, robust political opinions. His date, Lesley, does not. So you can imagine how that goes. 

As always, it’s all rather lovely. The First Dates franchise is basically a benign endeavour, it doesn’t mock or judge its participants. We’re nosy by nature, but I do believe we want the best for people. Naïve of me, perhaps.

LAST WEEK'S TV

Billie: In Search of Billie Holiday – Saturday 13th March, BBC Two

In the early 1970s, American journalist Linda Lipnack Kuehl set out to write the definitive biography of the late jazz great Billie Holliday. Her stated aim: “to go beyond the romantic myth of tortured artist and hopeless junkie.” 

Her research involved numerous lengthy interviews with Holiday’s friends, lovers and colleagues. But the book was never completed, as Kuehl died in 1978 at the age of 38. The police deemed it suicide, but her family believe she may have been murdered. 

This documentary, while undeniably interesting when it focused on Kuehl’s interviews with Holiday’s confidantes, failed in its attempts to tie the lives of these women together. What was the director trying to say exactly? A confused endeavour.

Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency – Tuesday 16th March, BBC One

Last year, Roman Kemp’s best friend, Joe Lyons, took his own life. Kemp had no idea that Lyons was struggling with mental health issues. There were no signs as far as he could see. 

In this commendably honest, delicate and responsible programme, the TV presenter and radio DJ went in search of answers: why do so many young men feel unable to talk about their problems? 

Teenage suicide rates in Britain are on the rise. The pandemic has exacerbated feelings of isolation, depression and anxiety. People feel hopeless. But Kemp’s message was clear: it is so important to open up about your feelings. Talking provides a cathartic release. You will not be judged, you are loved. Help is out there.

 

 

 

CAROLINE FLACK: HER LIFE AND DEATH + CROCK OF GOLD: A FEW ROUNDS WITH SHANE MacGOWAN

This article was originally published in The Courier on 13th March 2021.

NEXT WEEK’S TV

Caroline Flack: Her Life and Death – Wednesday, Channel 4, 9pm

In December 2019, TV presenter Caroline Flack was arrested for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend. Two months later she took her own life. In this touching documentary, Flack’s tragic story is told by those who knew her best. 

Her family reveal that even as a child she was prone to mood swings. She found heartbreak impossible to deal with. She suffered breakdowns and self-harmed. Like so many people do, she hid her depression. This is all discussed in a gentle, loving way. 

It’s a sensitive eulogy to an emotionally fragile person and a damning indictment of our callous modern age. Flack was hounded by the press and abused on social media. I hope those ghouls are utterly ashamed of themselves.

DNA Family Secrets – Tuesday, BBC Two, 9pm

The final episode of this poignant genealogy series follows host Stacey Dooley as she assists more folk in search of ancestry answers. Mixed-race brothers Peter and David, who were adopted, want to find out more about their biological father. They have no idea where he was from or what ethnicity he was. 

Meanwhile, Manuela is desperate to know if her sight-impaired son carries a gene that causes blindness, and Tink hopes to find out whether she has sperm donor siblings. 

Dooley is a good choice of host, she’s likeable and empathetic, but the unassuming star of the show is Professor Turi King, who explains the science and gently guides the contributors through the entire process. She radiates kindness.

Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan – Tuesday, BBC Four, 10pm

This messy documentary is a thoroughly depressing portrait of a chronic alcoholic who was once a great talent. 

Director Julien Temple tries to inject his usual punk-mythological energy into proceedings, but at one point he presumably realised that there’s nothing funny or romantic about this saga: a recurring shot of a cadaverous MacGowan today, barely capable of lifting a glass of wine to his lips, punctuates the narrative. 

The man himself is essentially the narrator, his drowsy, booze-pickled slur and rattlesnake cackle a recurring motif. He struggles to articulate his thoughts on politics and religion with Gerry Adams. There are pointless cameos from those utter buffoons Johnny Depp and Bobby Gillespie. You’ll probably feel sad, awkward and exhausted by the end.

Taskmaster – Thursday, Channel 4, 9pm

The latest series of this genial comedy gameshow kicks off with a typically silly question: What’s the most impressive thing you can do under a table with one hand while staring and waving at the camera? 

You know the drill by now. Host Greg Davies – a naturally funny man – asks celebrities to conquer some mildly physical tasks. This week’s contestants are Lee Mack, Jamali Madix, Sarah Kendall, Charlotte Ritchie and Mike Wozniak. 

Note to the producers: we know there’s no studio audience, you don’t have to dub on ghostly smatterings of laughter and applause every few minutes. It’s distracting and impossible to ignore once noticed. And yes, I would like you, dear reader, to notice it too, just so I don’t feel alone.

Rob Brydon’s Now That’s What I Call Comic Relief – Thursday, BBC Four, 10pm

It’s been a criminally long time since we’ve seen libidinous soul man Theophilus P. Wildebeest on our screens, so thank God almighty for this cheery clip show in which Lenny Henry’s skin-tight alter-ego is just one of the many musical highlights. 

Rob Brydon, no stranger to a charitable singsong himself, guides us through memorable Comic Relief performances from the likes of Elton John, George Michael, Tom Jones and Paul McCartney. We’re also reminded of the time when Portuguese crooner Tony Ferrino (Steve Coogan) performed a romantic duet with Bjork (Bjork). 

And you will, of course, be treated to those incessant karaoke contributions from Peter Kay and his buoyant army of ‘80s light entertainment survivors.

Comic Relief 2021 – Friday, BBC One and BBC Two, 7pm

And here’s the really big shoe (copyright Ed Sullivan; there’s a reference for the swinging UK teenagers) itself. The Comic Relief telethon isn’t what it was in its late 1980s/early 1990s heyday, that exciting comedians-taking-over-the-airwaves anarchy is long gone. For nearly 30 years it’s been indistinguishable from cosy old Children in Need. 

Sir Lenworth is the last remaining link to that original epoch, and here he’s joined by guest hosts Alesha Dixon (a safe pair of hands who isn’t a comedian), Davina McCall (a vaguely tolerable presence who isn’t a comedian), David Tennant (a fine actor who isn’t a comedian) and Paddy McGuinness (a stagnant puddle of bin juice who has ‘comedian’ listed on his CV).

LAST WEEK’S TV

The Wall – Saturday 6th March, BBC One

Like all good people of taste and discernment, I’m obsessed with The Wall. The bizarre novelty of barely interested uber-geezer Danny Dyer hosting a gameshow is still funny. 

Last week he welcomed Jack and Thomas, a bright pair of twins who are The Wall’s youngest contestants thus far. Dyer, to his credit, didn’t patronise Jack, a wheelchair-user, nor did he milk the fact that he and Thomas were there to win money for their dear old mum. That’s not the Dyer way. No frills. Let’s bank some readies. 

I’m also fascinated by his love/hate relationship with the Wall itself. He definitely prostrates himself before it in the empty dead of night, stark naked and daubed in woad.

RETURN TO DUNBLANE WITH LORRAINE KELLY + THE GREAT CELEBRITY BAKE OFF FOR STAND UP TO CANCER

This article was originally published in The Courier on 6th March 2021.

NEXT WEEK'S TV

Return to Dunblane with Lorraine Kelly – Thursday, STV, 9pm

25 years ago, 16 children and a teacher were shot dead at Dunblane Primary School. This terribly moving programme captures the sheer scale of that tragedy. 

Kelly reported on the case at the time, but this, wisely, isn’t her story. She’s merely an empathetic conduit. It’s a tribute to the woman and children who were killed that day, and to all of those whose lives they touched. 

It also reminds us that the traumatised people of Dunblane, backed by huge public support, succeeded in their campaign for an almost total ban on private handguns. Through their unimaginable grief and pain, they changed this country for the better. 

In a commendable display of respect for all concerned, the killer is never shown or named.

Jimmy McGovern’s Moving On – Monday to Friday, BBC One, 1:45pm, 2:15pm and 3pm

That title always conjures an image of the firebrand dramatist trudging along a lonely country road like Bill Bixby at the end of The Incredible Hulk. He doesn’t actually write these standalone daytime dramas; rather he curates them as a vehicle for emerging writers. 

The latest batch involves a man meeting his supposedly dead father; a woman struggling to come to terms with the fact that her recently deceased dad had a secret second family; a retiree gaining a new lease of life when his daughter books him some fitness sessions; a gifted teenager whose education is jeopardised when she’s made homeless; and a hearing-impaired woman who faces opposition from her husband when she vows to learn sign language. 

The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer – Tuesday, Channel 4, 8pm

This charitable endeavour stars Daisy Ridley of Star Wars fame and singer Alexandra Burke, plus comedians Tom Allen and Rob Beckett. Mercifully, that faux-surrealist, overgrown student nuisance Noel Fielding is on paternity leave, so your sole host is the charming and legitimately funny Matt Lucas. 

In episode one, the celebs are tasked with baking some millionaire shortbread, a fruity tart (there will inevitably be tired jokes about that), and their own pet hate cakes. 

It’s followed at 9:15pm by the first episode of The Celebrity Circle for Stand Up to Cancer, a reality show which apparently involves Denise van Outen, Nadia Sawalha and loads of people I’ve never heard of. Look, it’s all for a good cause. 

The Repair Shop – Wednesday, BBC One, 8pm

In the final episode of the current series, TV’s nicest man Jay Blades and his genial squad of artisans get to grips with another parade of fascinating artefacts in need of some TLC. 

Highlights this week include an antique arcade machine and the remarkable saga of a rusty 100-year-old watch that was stolen ten years ago, before being recently found under a bush by a dog. Meanwhile, Dom – looking as ever like a hipster Andy Serkis - restores a bespoke wrought-iron gate for a grateful widow. 

As always, it’s less about the repairs themselves and more about the touching human stories behind the various items on display. An artfully upholstered piece of generous, cockle-warming television.

Heathrow: Britain’s Busiest Airport – Wednesday, STV, 8pm

The latest series of this hardy perennial was filmed in November 2020, during the second national lockdown. Only one of Heathrow’s runways is operational and two of its four terminals are closed. With demand for flights having fallen by over 60% worldwide, Britain’s busiest airport is down to an average of 88 departures a day. 

In episode one, we visit this half-empty citadel and note that it is, of course, observing all official safety precautions: masks, social distancing, constant sanitising and, when necessary, medical testing for passengers. And everyone is travelling for essential reasons only. 

The main source of drama is a curious story involving a missing passenger, the details of which gradually reveal an unexpected political dimension.

DNA Journey – Wednesday, STV, 9pm

I know there’s nothing more boring or annoying than people pleading ignorance when it comes to well-known celebrities – it always comes across as performative, above-it-all smugness – but in all honesty I don't really know who Freddie Flintoff and Jamie Redknapp are. They’re sport people, that much I do know. And, like most sport people, they’re nice enough but incredibly dull. 

Unfortunately, these great bantering mates dominate episode one of TV’s latest shameless Who Do You Think You Are? rip-off. It’s an interminable chore, like being forced to look at the ancestry.com profile of someone you’ve never met before, during which even the lads themselves struggle to feign interest in the details of their respective family histories.

The Dog House – Thursday, Channel 4, 8pm

Last summer, in a sunlit corner of the English countryside, a television production company installed some fixed-rig cameras and extra support staff in a home for dogs who have either been given away or abandoned. Their aim: to capture the magic of humans meeting their new dog pals for the first time. The results are like First Dates for poochaholics. 

But it’s not just an excuse to go “aww” for an hour. The series examines that mutually beneficial psychological bond between humans and their animals, plus the importance of carefully matching the right dog with the right family. 

This week, a little boy with anxiety issues makes friends with a similarly anxious Newfoundland. They do wonders for each other.