VICKY PATTISON: ALCOHOL, DAD AND ME + TWO DOORS DOWN + THE NEWSREADER

This article was originally published in The Courier on 30th July 2022.

NEXT WEEK’S TV

Vicky Pattison: Alcohol, Dad and Me – Tuesday, Channel 4, 10pm

Vicky Pattison first rose to fame via Geordie Shore, where she gained a reputation as someone who likes a drink, sometimes to excess. 

Pattison doesn’t think she’s an alcoholic, but she concedes that her relationship with alcohol is problematic. “I have abused it in the past, and there’s the potential that I could end up being like my dad.” 

Pattison’s father, John, is a full blown alcoholic. He appears alongside his daughter in this frank documentary. Vicky’s goal: find ways of helping John to stop drinking for good. 

There are no easy solutions, alcoholism is a complex illness, but the programme still succeeds as a sensitive study of anxiety, shame and addiction. Vicky and John’s candour is commendable.

Inside the Factory: XL – Monday, BBC Two, 9pm

The perpetually astounded Gregg Wallace launches this supersized ITF spin-off with a visit to a vast factory where engineers build five-carriage electric trains which weigh in at 187 tonnes. Each train takes up to 1,000 hours to complete. 

As usual, Wallace is in hard-hatted, hi-vis heaven, like a beatific child given access to the world’s biggest trainset. 

Meanwhile, Cherry Healey travels to the foothills of Ben Nevis, where the hydro-powered Lochaber Smelter – the UK’s last remaining factory of its kind - produces molten tonnes of aluminium on an epic scale. 

Finally, historian Ruth Goodman pays an illuminating visit to the world’s oldest surviving electric railway line, which operates along the Brighton seafront.

Two Doors Down – Monday, BBC Two, 10pm

Cathy and Colin have just got back from a luxurious holiday in Italy. Naturally, they can’t wait to boast about it all to their neighbours. Enter a classy couple they befriended by the pool (the wife is played by special guest star Julie Graham). 

Snooty Cathy regards them as the sort of high status people they should by rights be fraternising with, but she’s absolutely mortified when they get on famously with Christine and co. That wasn’t part of the plan. 

The joy of Two Doors Down is the way in which it combines excruciatingly well-observed social satire with obvious affection for (most of) its characters and a high turnover of actual jokes. An exceptional sitcom.

Worst House on the Street – Tuesday, Channel 4, 8pm

Always buy the worst house on the best street. That, according to this new lifestyle series, “is an adage known to savvy buyers everywhere.” Watch your profits soar! 

Our hosts are property development siblings Scarlette and Stuart Douglas, who’ve been in the business for almost fifteen years. Each week they help families to transform run-down houses into dream homes on an affordable budget. You know, the usual standard-issue format. 

First up are a newly married couple who have never owned a property before, let alone managed a renovation. Scarlette and Stuart are a likeable duo. They’re easy-going pros with expertise to spare. Imagine Location, Location, Location fronted by people who aren’t utterly objectionable.

Night Coppers – Tuesday, Channel 4, 9pm

The stars of our latest bleak encounter with Brighton’s busy night patrol include tattooed PC Robbie, an aspiring cage fighter. We follow Robbie throughout his shift, the ‘highlight’ of which is his remonstration with an aggressive bloke outside a pub. All in a night’s work. 

In another part of town we touch base with PC Emily, a rookie cop who once worked as a British Airways flight attendant. Emily has to carry out a strip-search on a less than helpful suspect. As the night wears on, PCs Zoe and Vic launch an urgent search for a vulnerable woman. 

As with all shows of its ilk, Night Coppers makes for an uncomfortable voyeuristic experience. What purpose do they ultimately serve?

The Supervet: Noel Fitzpatrick – Thursday, Channel 4, 8pm

This week, Professor Noel and his specialist veterinary team come to the rescue of Milo, a Dalmatian who has been diagnosed with a developmental condition affecting his spinal cord. 

Poor Milo is in constant pain. Noel, with his usual comforting bedside manner, presents to Milo’s owners the option of a delicate surgical procedure that should relieve the pressure on his spine. 

Noel also operates on Moon, a puppy suffering from a severe elbow ailment, and Ollie, a Shih Tzu in dire physical straits. If you’ve never seen this show before, I appreciate that my synopses must make it sound harrowing. Rest assured, it’s not in the business of bringing us down. There are almost always happy endings.

First Dates – Thursday, Channel 4, 10pm

Essex lad Luca is tired of being regarded as an unreliable ‘player’. All he wants to do is meet a nice girl, someone his dad might approve of. Luca’s date is TV presenter Hayley, whose professional onscreen confidence belies the anxiety most of us feel when meeting potential romantic partners for the first time. 

We’re also introduced to Sandie, a retired prison officer who’s lived a very full life indeed. Her many achievements include modelling the first police-issue trousers for women. Sandie’s date is veteran tennis coach Chris. 

And then there’s nonconformist boarding school matron Sarah, who’s quite taken with Charlie: a maths teacher who describes himself as a cross between Richard Ayoade and Bill Nighy.

LAST WEEK’S TV

Joe Lycett: Summer Exhibitionist – Saturday 23rd July, BBC Two

The world’s largest open submission art contest, the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition celebrates its 253^rd anniversary this year. An egalitarian endeavour, it’s a vibrant celebration of diverse creativity at which all are welcome. But that doesn’t mean your submitted artworks will be automatically accepted by the judging panel, as comedian Joe Lycett explained during this breezy documentary. 

He encountered various shortlisted artists from all walks of life, my favourite being the funny, self-aware woman whose latest entry was based on 20 years of rejection by the Royal Academy. That’s the spirit. 

Lycett is very good at this sort of thing, he’s totally at ease with members of the public. A generous host, he never mocks or sneers.

The Newsreader – Sunday 24th July, BBC Two

This promising Australian series was ABC’s most watched drama of 2021. Its appeal is obvious. 

The year: 1986. The setting: behind the scenes of a flagship daily TV news programme. The protagonist is an idealistic and highly capable anchor who’s tired of living in the shadow of her egotistical male co-host (a stentorian national institution). She finally gets a chance to shine after forming a bond with an ambitious young producer. Backstage skulduggery ensues. 

Witty and engaging, The Newsreader is the likeable antithesis of Aaron Sorkin’s similarly themed yet typically pompous The Newsroom. It doesn’t pretend to be anything other than a fairly sophisticated soap with a wry sense of humour and a sincere moral compass.

TWO DOORS DOWN + MOUNTAIN VETS + THE GREAT

This article was originally published in The Courier on 23rd July 2022.

NEXT WEEK’S TV

Two Doors Down – Tuesday, BBC Two, 10pm

Your latest epistle begins with Alan and Michelle arriving at Eric and Beth’s house with a family-sized box of donuts (that’s twelve donuts, apparently; far too many for two people to consume). “A cuppa tea and a donut,” beams Alan, “ye cannae beat it.” 

Dissent ensues when Christine gets involved, as she always must: a low-key agent of chaos attired in dressing gown and slippers. 

We also meet Ash and Iqbal, new neighbours who’ve just arrived from London. They’ve no idea what they’re getting into (not that they’re faultless; Ash is rather snooty and patronising). 

Upon revealing that they work for the NHS, they’re forced to endure a barrage of tactless questions and a smattering of applause.

24 Hours in A&E – Monday, Channel 4, 9pm

As we return to St George’s in London, nurse Emma is called upon to assist a 71-year-old man who’s been brought in after suffering a stroke. While treating him with the utmost care, she tells us about her journey from working in a drycleaners to saving lives whenever possible. 

Meanwhile, 88-year-old Mary is rushed to A&E after falling at home and injuring her head. Mary has led a fascinating life. She shares her stories of a rebellious youth in Bermuda, before returning to the UK to pursue a career in journalism. The odds were stacked against her, but she prevailed. 

Other patients include a nonagenarian widow with an unshakeable commitment to providing for his family. 

Myanmar: The Forgotten Revolution – Monday, Channel 4, 11:05pm

Right now, in the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar, a civil war is raging. 20,000 people have been reported dead. 

At least three major war crimes have been committed by the current Myanmar government, who seized power during a military coup. And yet we never hear about this on the news. Why? 

The latest Dispatches report lays the situation bare in unflinching detail. It questions the entire point of institutions such as the UN, which have failed to help these people in their dire time of need. 

It also follows young armed guerrillas who were once peaceful protesters. They’ve been left with no choice, they have to counter violence with violence. It’s their only hope of liberation.

Mountain Vets – Tuesday, BBC Two, 8pm 

Founded in 1836, the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is the world’s second oldest animal welfare charity. Its brilliant staff face difficult challenges on a daily basis.

 In the latest episode of this touching series, we’re introduced to young vet Allana, who has always wanted to work at the USPCA. She’s living her dream. 

Allana is dealing with a three-legged Lurcher with a heart murmur. Her colleague, Gillian, has a most unusual patient on her hands: a Lionhead goldfish that’s no longer able to swim.

Meanwhile, in a picturesque town located 30 miles away, we visit a much smaller yet no less dedicated veterinary practice. Every week, they treat over 250 pets and livestock.

From – Tuesday, Sky Showcase, 9pm

This new science-fiction/horror series stars Harold Perrineau from Lost as the sheriff of a hellish small town in the remote depths of middle America. Once you arrive in town, you can never leave. Imagine Royston Vasey but without the laughs. 

The series launches with a double-bill in which a family regret taking a detour during a cross-country road trip. Without wishing to give too much away, these unwitting new arrivals gradually discover that they’ve basically entered the Twilight Zone. The town is surrounded by dark, forbidding forests, where terrifying creatures dwell. 

God only knows where it’s all heading, you know what these high-concept shows are like, but the basic conceit is fairly promising. 

The Great – Wednesday, Channel 4, 10pm

Billed as “an occasionally true story”, this period drama plays fast and loose with the facts surrounding Catherine the Great’s rise to power in late 18^th century Russia. 

If you’re willing to accept The Great for what it is – a rather campy satirical comedy-drama with scant interest in historical accuracy – then you may have fun with it. 

Elle Fanning stars as Catherine, an all-powerful Empress who sought to bring enlightenment to her beloved homeland. As season two begins, we find her struggling to come to terms with the fact that perhaps Russia doesn’t want to be ‘free’ after all. 

The cast also includes Gillian Anderson as Catherine’s mother, and Nicholas Hoult as the bitterly dethroned Peter III. 

Commonwealth Games: Opening Ceremony – Thursday, BBC One, 7pm

Steven Knight, who created Peaky Blinders, is one of the key creative directors behind this athletics extravaganza. Naturally, he’s remained tight-lipped about what the ceremony will actually involve, but you can absolutely guarantee that it won’t be a bland affair. 

Something we do know for sure is this: seeing as the event is being held in Birmingham, the ceremony will proudly showcase West Midlands talent and diversity. We’ll also enjoy the traditional Parade of Nations and the grand finale of the Queen’s Baton Relay. 

Those reliable pros Clare Balding, Andrew Cotter and Hazel Irvine are your commentators for the evening. BBC One’s coverage of the games commences at 9:15am on Friday.

MARYLAND + BRITAIN'S TOURETTE'S MYSTERY: SCARLETT MOFFATT INVESTIGATES + THE OUTLAWS

This article was originally published in The Courier on 16th July 2022.

NEXT WEEK’S TV

Maryland – Wednesday, BBC Two, 10:05pm

I urge you to watch this. Originally performed at London’s Royal Court in 2021, Lucy Kirkwood’s 30-minute play confronts the heinous everyday issue of violence against women. 

Mary and Mary (Zawe Ashton and Hayley Squires) meet for the first time at a police station in the dead of night. They’ve both been assaulted by men. We follow them over the course of a humiliating investigative process loosely overseen by an excruciatingly jocular and insensitive policeman (Daniel Mays).

A savage indictment of standard police procedure in cases such as these, Maryland is driven by fury and compassion. It does not flinch from the appalling injustice of a society in which women are forced to live in fear.

Long Lost Family Special: The Unknown Soldiers – Monday, STV, 9pm

Four years ago in Belgium, the remains of nine British soldiers were discovered in a trench on what was once a World War One battlefield. 

In this typically sensitive edition of ITV’s stalwart DNA search, hosts Nicky Campbell and Davina McCall team up with an official MOD unit colloquially known as the War Detectives. Their mission: to identify those long-lost fallen soldiers and formally lay them to rest. 

Campbell and McCall meet up with some of their descendants. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the War Detectives, the time has now come for them to pay their final respects. As you would expect, the dénouement is very poignant. It’s a reunion of sorts, a moment of closure.

Super Surgeons: A Chance at Life – Monday, Channel 4, 10pm

Filmed over the space of a year at London’s esteemed Royal Marsden Hospital, this illuminating three-part series follows surgeons and patients as they grapple with reaching a difficult mutual decision: to operate or not? 

The Royal Marsden provides specialist cancer treatment. Some patients can be saved. Others, alas, cannot. 

The series begins with Jade, who has a cancerous tumour in her throat. The quite clearly brilliant surgeon, Professor Paleri, uses a surgical robot in an attempt to improve Jade’s chances of survival. Paleri has never attempted this procedure before. If he makes a mistake, Jade might never be able to speak or swallow again. 

Britain’s Tourette’s Mystery: Scarlett Moffatt Investigates – Tuesday, Channel 4, 10pm

Yes, I know: why is that woman from Gogglebox presenting a documentary about Tourette’s? Well, Moffatt is a nice, bright, empathetic person. If we must have celebs fronting serious documentaries, we may as well encourage the likes of Moffatt. She does a pretty good job here. 

In the last 18 months, there has been a marked increase in physical and verbal tics among children and teenagers; a mental health crisis magnified by lockdown. Some of these young people have formed support networks via social media, but that has presented its own set of problems. 

It’s a thoughtful, nuanced, inquisitive programme. Moffatt asks gently direct questions and actually listens. “I’ve got a newfound respect for Louis Theroux,” she smiles at one point.

Unvaccinated – Wednesday, BBC Two, 9pm

Medical experts are warning that we’re about to enter a fifth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Approximately five million adults in the UK still haven’t received a single dose of the vaccine. Why? 

In this documentary, Professor Hannah Fry brings seven unvaccinated people together under one roof. She wants to understand their reasons for refusing the vaccine. At the end of the experiment, the main point of which is to highlight the severe dangers of misinformation, some of Fry’s participants are forced to question their fears and beliefs. 

I haven’t seen the programme, it wasn’t available in time for my deadline, but Fry is always worth listening to.  

The Supervet: Noel Fitzpatrick – Thursday, Channel 4, 8pm

Let joy be unconfined, animal lovers, Professor F is back. A leading veterinary surgeon, his latest series kicks off (albeit gently) with a typical cavalcade of mildly perilous yet ultimately uplifting cases. 

This week’s patients include a large garrulous dog who may well require some hip replacement surgery, an adorably boisterous kitten with a suspected tibia injury, and a police dog afflicted with some painful stomach and spine issues. 

It’s easy to take shows such as this for granted. After all, they don’t amount to much in the grand scheme of things. But they’re put together with a certain amount of unassuming artistry. Without ever resorting to outright cynicism or chicanery, they sculpt heart-warming narratives you cannot resist.

First Dates – Thursday, Channel 4, 10pm

Another year, another series of this occasionally quite sweet and ultimately harmless dating show. You know the drill by now. Suave maître d’ Fred Sirieix and his affable factotums welcome another bunch of hopeful love seekers into their surveillance restaurant.

Your first daters this week include a self-proclaimed ‘typical Essex lad’ who subscribes to an extreme beauty regime. Spoiler: his body is entirely hairless like an Action Man. This smooth operator’s date likes what she sees, he ticks various boxes, but will she be able to accept his unorthodox line of work? 

We also meet an eccentric art gallery owner who moonlights as a gas fitter. Life’s rich pageant in all its glory.

LAST WEEK’S TV

My Life as a Rolling Stone – Saturday 11th July, BBC Two

It was Keith and Ronnie’s turn last week. A sympatico double bill. 

Ronnie’s episode was enjoyable. As always, he came across as a nice, talented chap who is understandably liked by everyone. But the Keith episode was borderline fascinating at times.

The overarching theme was outwardly expressed by Mick and Tom Waits, the latter being a friend who understands the dangers of succumbing to a contrived dissolute persona. 

Keith is an introverted music geek, a sensitive soul who invented ‘Rock Wildman Keith Richards’ as a way of avoiding reality. Drink and drugs helped to support that fantasy, until they didn’t. Keith didn’t exactly deny that. 

The main takeaway point was this, however: Keef is an incredibly gifted musician and songwriter.

The Outlaws – Sunday 12th July, BBC One

Farwell, then, Stephen Merchant’s The Outlaws. A splendid piece of entertainment. 

It was a heartfelt comedy thriller knowingly influenced by Scorsese, Breaking Bad, Billy Wilder and, of course, Merchant’s own warm, daft, parochial comic sensibilities. I’ll miss those characters. 

And I really can’t stress this enough (although I’m about to): the gulf in quality between Merchant’s solo output and that of his erstwhile collaborator is staggering. The heart and soul of The Office? That clearly all came from Merchant. 

The other chap was great as David Brent, an outstanding comic performance, but everything he’s done on his own has been facile, lazy and embarrassing. 

I look forward to seeing what Merchant does next.

TWO DOORS DOWN + AIDS: THE UNHEARD TAPES + MY LIFE AS A ROLLING STONE

This article was originally published in The Courier on 9th July 2022.

NEXT WEEK’S TV

Two Doors Down – Tuesday, BBC Two, 10pm

A deserved hit, this sitcom about a group of suburban Glasgow neighbours is back for a fifth series. 

Episode one introduces us to Alan’s taciturn brother, who is about to get married. Hapless Alan is the best man, which triggers a running gag among his perplexed neighbours: “Did somebody drop out?” 

Two Doors Down isn’t plot-driven, it’s all about the dialogue and characterisation. Nothing much happens, but there’s a lot going on. You wouldn’t necessarily want to spend time with some of these people in real life, but observing them from afar is delightful. That’s basically a sitcom maxim, I know, but the point still stands.

The writers and their faultless cast are so fully au fait with this claustrophobic little world they’ve created, everything flows with a naturally awkward rhythm. It’s great.

Filthy Business – Monday, BBC Three, 8pm

During the various lockdowns, best mates Cam and Oli decided to start up their own waste management business. It hasn’t been easy. 

Due to a recent unexpected downturn in their fortunes, they have to make £7,000 in a month just to keep the whole thing afloat. Fortunately, a sputtering glut of jobs come their way throughout this documentary, but that doesn’t mean they’re entirely home and dry. 

Cam and Oli are nice lads who know what they’re doing. They work hard at the reeking coalface of an unglamorous and often precarious profession. 

This is a fairly typical BBC Three documentary, in that it’s a slight yet watchable affair. It’s also a rather sweet little portrait of friendship.

AIDS: The Unheard Tapes – Monday, BBC Two, 9pm

The third and final episode of this excellent series begins in 1992, when the emergence of a supposed ‘miracle cure’ gave hope to millions of AIDS patients and their loved ones. 

Crushing disappointment ensued when trials proved that the drug in question, AZT, could prolong the lives of some patients, but it couldn’t stop people from dying. This led to an angry backlash against the medical community. Several direct action protest groups sprang up. Many within the gay community lost count of the amount of funerals they attended. 

As always, contributions from present-day survivors, experts and campaigners are woven together with seamlessly lip-synced interviews recorded with AIDS patients throughout the 1980s and 1990s. An important historical document.

24 Hours in A&E – Monday, Channel 4, 9pm

The 27^th (!) series of this hardy perennial returns to St George’s in London. Not only is it one of Europe’s largest hospitals, it’s also renowned as a staff training centre. 

The latest episode follows a junior doctor who for the first time in his career carries out a fine-needle aspiration. His patient is a teenager with a collapsed lung. We also meet Mery, a young pregnant woman who is rushed to A&E after falling down a flight of stairs at home. Mery has already suffered a miscarriage, it’s been a long struggle to become pregnant again. 

This particular episode wasn’t available for preview, but 24 Hours in A&E is a show you can rely on. It’s quietly exceptional.

Ackley Bridge – Monday to Friday, Channel 4, 10pm, 10:15pm and 11:05pm

C4’s comedy-drama about a multicultural academy school in Yorkshire has established itself as a more authentic version of Waterloo Road. It’s adept at tackling various issues in a thoughtful and sometimes funny way. 

As series five begins, budding influencer Marina is flunking all her subjects. She’s insecure and a little bit lost, hence why she’s more concerned with being voted the most attractive girl in school. 

Meanwhile, a newly arrived English teacher attempts to educate her students about systems of oppression, but her idealism is mostly met with indifference. Marina’s ‘Hot or Not?’ poll grabs their attention instead. 

All ten episodes – some of which are directed by Top Boy’s Ashley Walters - are stripped throughout the week.

Night Coppers – Tuesday, Channel 4, 9pm

I haven’t seen Night Coppers, folks, but if you were grimly compelled by Martin Freeman in The Responder recently, then you might ‘enjoy’ this new observational documentary series about the fuzz on patrol after dark. 

Based in Brighton, it’s a frontline exercise steeped in violent antisocial behaviour. Episode one follows a pair of rookie coppers as they investigate a suspected arson. They also have an awkward encounter with an ex-police guvnor. 

We then spend time with female officers investigating a possible street assault that has left a man with life-threatening injuries. Another cop discovers someone horizontal in a bush. All in a night’s work. 

I’m as guilty as anyone when it comes to being diverted by rubbernecking shows such as this.

Super Telescope: Mission to the Edge of the Universe – Thursday, BBC Two, 8pm

The most technically advanced telescope ever built, the James Webb is 100 times more powerful than Hubble. 

It’s primary mission: to examine distant stars and galaxies which may provide us with a greater understanding of what happened around 200 million years after the Big Bang. The actual origins of life as we know it. 

A hugely ambitious and almost unfathomably intricate project, it’s the subject of this illuminating Horizon documentary. 

We hear from some of the NASA engineers who have been working on the James Webb since its conception in the late 1980s. Their efforts may result in the deepest ever images of our universe. They might even detect signs of life on distant planets. Prepare to be awed.

LAST WEEK’S TV

My Life as a Rolling Stone – Saturday 2nd July , BBC Two

The Stones celebrate their 60^th anniversary this year, so here’s a series in which Mick, Keith and Ronnie reflect upon seven decades (well, six for Ronnie) spent inside a totemic rock ‘n’ roll band. Episode four is devoted to the great Charlie Watts, who passed away last year. 

Naturally, it began with Mick. At the start of his lengthy interview, one of rock’s greatest frontmen declared that he wanted to cut through all the myths and clichés. Unfortunately, that was undermined by unnecessary contributions from famous fans and a narrator who regurgitated all the myths and clichés. 

Mick was reliably twinkly, self-aware and eloquent. I wish the programme had focused more on what he had to say for himself.

Freedom: 50 Years of Pride – Saturday 2nd July, Channel 4

The centrepiece of Channel 4’s season devoted to UK Pride’s 50^th anniversary, this comprehensive documentary celebrated a hugely significant activist movement. 

It correctly observed that attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community have improved since 1972. Society has, broadly speaking, progressed. A hard-fought battle, but it’s not over yet. 

Director Stephen Daldry’s film didn’t shy away from the various schisms which have broken out in the movement over the years, but it was at heart a celebration of bravery, defiance and solidarity, a message exemplified by newly shot footage of an intimate concert at London’s legendary gay entertainment venue, the Vauxhall Tavern. 

A particularly moving moment: several generations of Pride activists watching Holly Johnson sing The Power of Love.

STORYVILLE: ON THE MORNING YOU WAKE (TO THE END OF THE WORLD) + THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF APRIL ASHLEY + PICTURES FROM IRAQ

This article was originally published in The Courier on 2nd July 2022.

NEXT WEEK’S TV

Storyville: On the Morning You Wake (to the End of the World) – Tuesday, BBC Four, 10pm

On 13th January 2018, the people of Hawaii awoke to a terrifying emergency alert: “Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill.” 

It turned out to be a false alarm, but for 38 minutes those poor people endured a waking nightmare. They were about to be annihilated in a nuclear attack. 

This haunting documentary, which is adapted from a Virtual Reality experience, unfolds in more or less real time. It captures a sense of mounting panic, as parents send tearful messages to loved ones while hiding their children in storm drains. 

Sensitively entwined with memories of Hiroshima, it’s an impassioned, clear-eyed plea for nuclear disarmament.

Queen of Trucks – Monday, BBC Three, 8pm

Shannan runs an HGV driver training firm in the West Midlands. “Our ambition is to shake up the trucking scene,” she declares during this upbeat documentary. 

Shannon is trying to gain her own HGV licence, which she feels will make her look more credible to the young learners who flock to her business. Dad Trevor, a veteran instructor, is showing her the ropes. 

A few years ago, Shannon’s mum passed away. Trevor had to step down as boss in order to become a full-time dad to his daughters. He’s immensely proud of what Shannon has achieved. 

The programme doesn’t add up to anything particularly special, but that’s fine. It’s a nice little glimpse into the lives of others.

24 Hours in Police Custody: The Murder of Rikki Neave – Monday and Tuesday, Channel 4, 9pm

In 1994, six-year-old Rikki Neave from Peterborough went to school one foggy November morning and never came back. His murder remained unsolved for 28 years. This special two-part edition of Channel 4’s venerable true crime series foregrounds the police unit who reopened the case. 

Rikki lived on a disadvantaged council estate. His aggressive mother wasn’t popular with the neighbours. The finger of blame instantly pointed towards her. 

I’m loath to go into any more detail, not least because it’s all too bleak for a column such as this. However, in typical 24 Hours in Police Custody style, this isn’t a prurient or exploitative endeavour. It reports the terribly sad facts without recourse to sensationalism.

The Extraordinary Life of April Ashley – Monday, Channel 4, 10pm

April Ashley, who died last year at the age of 86, was one of Britain’s most prominent transgender women. This documentary celebrates her trailblazing achievements. Preview copies weren't available at the time of writing, but it sounds absolutely fascinating. 

Ashley’s highly eventful life took her from the slums of wartime Liverpool to the star-studded heights of Knightsbridge society. She was a globetrotting model, dancer and restaurateur who was one of the first people in Britain to have gender reassignment surgery. She was eventually awarded an MBE for her services to transgender equality. A remarkable woman.

The programme is showing as part of Channel 4’s current season marking 50 years of Pride in the UK.

Pictures from Iraq – Tuesday, BBC Scotland, 10pm

Esteemed Scottish author, journalist and war photographer David Pratt has been covering the conflicts in Iraq for over three decades. In this illuminating documentary, he returns to Iraq – a country he loves – to give his personal perspective on the ongoing situation. 

He examines the violent tribal divisions which have caused so much suffering over the years, while interviewing people such as a benign Iraqi general who describes the brutal ways in which ISIS continues to operate. Pratt also visits a training camp for female members of The Kurdish Freedom Party. 

Iraq is still politically unstable, but Pratt succeeds in making the point that it’s a beautiful country full of generous, resilient people. There is some hope amidst the darkness.

Ghislaine Maxwell: The Making of a Monster – Tuesday to Thursday, Channel 4, 10pm

This three-part series follows hot on the heels of BBC Two’s horribly riveting House of Maxwell (which is still available on iPlayer). It inevitably goes over some of the same ground, but it provides a more acute character study of Ghislaine Maxwell. 

Filtered through the memories of some of those who knew her well, a portrait emerges of a spoiled, entitled heiress with a total lack of empathy: a power-hungry, insecure narcissist who revelled in cruel power plays. But even those associates who didn’t particularly like her were shocked when she was exposed as a serial sex offender who trafficked underage girls. 

Ultimately, the series is a stark indictment of wealthy elites who believe themselves to be above the law.

George Clarke’s Remarkable Renovations – Wednesday, Channel 4, 9pm

Britain is full of abandoned buildings, which is a shameful state of affairs for reasons I needn’t elaborate upon. A recent relaxation in planning laws has apparently made it easier to convert these derelict spaces into private homes for wealthy people. So that’s nice. 

As this standard-issue lifestyle series returns, Channel 4’s softly-spoken Renovator in Chief and top Bernie Winters lookalike George Clarke visits a Sussex market town, where he meets a couple attempting to restore some ancient conjoined buildings which were once comprised of a slaughterhouse, a butchers, a pub and a blacksmiths. 

They want to build a spacious new home for themselves and their three teenaged daughters while respecting the integrity of the buildings.

LAST WEEK’S TV

The Outlaws – Sunday 26th June, BBC One

Series two of Stephen Merchant’s endearing comedy thriller has become cheerfully indebted to Breaking Bad. The overarching storyline now involves our mismatched gang of community service workers attempting to build a drug-dealing empire. 

Rani (the excellent Rhianne Barreto) is ostensibly the show’s own Walter White, albeit one who hopefully won’t follow his catastrophic trajectory. Meanwhile, Greg (Merchant) is its unlikely equivalent of Saul Goodman – a lawyer who can always be relied upon to swoop in and save his clients (and their collective criminal enterprise). 

Which isn’t to suggest that it’s derivative, just that it’s having fun with established tropes in a knowing way. Also, it’s a humane and rather nuanced show which never punches down at its dysfunctional characters.

Hungry for It – Tuesday 28th June, BBC Three

Hosted by the ubiquitous Stacey Dooley, this shamelessly formulaic cookery contest contains all the usual – yes – ingredients. The contestants are rookie cooks all looking to establish themselves within the food industry. 

When they’re not competing in the kitchen, they’re living together in a house for no other reason than to potentially cause some friction between them. The last one standing will be given the opportunity to work in some of the world’s finest restaurants. Meanwhile, they’re overseen by a pair of soundbite-spouting mentors. 

Whenever I watch programmes like this, I’m always reminded of Alan Partridge desperately trying to pitch a hackneyed project to the BBC: “People like them, let’s make some more of them.”