JIMMY AKINGBOLA: HANDLE WITH CARE | CHARLES: OUR NEW KING | DOCTOR WHO

A version of this article was originally published in The Courier on 29th October 2022.

NEXT WEEK’S TV

Jimmy Akingbola: Handle with Care – Tuesday, STV, 9pm

When he was just two-years-old, Jimmy Akingbola was uprooted from his Nigerian family and fostered by a white British family who warmly embraced him. In this frank, thoughtful, poignant programme, the acclaimed actor/presenter reflects upon his upbringing. 

He meets up with his beloved foster mother and siblings, as well as two other well-known Black British adoptees, the actor Lennie James and the athlete Kris Akabussi. Their shared insight is compelling. 

Akingbola’s essay doesn’t shy away from the hideous racism and abuse that people of colour are forced to endure, but his message remains hopeful. This, ultimately, is a story of acceptance, love and survival. It's a rather beautiful piece of television.

Scotland’s Biggest Families – Monday, BBC One, 8pm

The Hanns from Dundee are comprised of mum Emma, dad Roy and their 13 children: officially Scotland’s biggest family. Eight of the kids are still living at home. 

This charming new series, which was filmed over a year, welcomes us into their world. 

In my notes I wrote ‘delightful chaos’, and I daresay Emma and Roy would agree with that assessment. 

They were raised as Mormons, but left the church six years ago. Their candour is commendable, it’s an interesting story. 

The Hanns are a lovely family packed with sharp, funny characters. Meanwhile, in Lossiemouth, the equally agreeable Sullivans are getting ready for the arrival of their twelfth child. Prepare to be amazed by their epic shopping trips.

Italia ’90: When Football Changed Forever – Monday, Channel 4, 9pm

I don’t know very much about football, it’s just not for me, but I’m almost always partial to a good documentary about the beautiful game’s behind-the-scenes drama. This new series is a case in point. 

It begins on the eve of the most-watched World Cup in history. The England squad and their fans have arrived in Sardinia. The coming weeks will define the future of the game back home. This is basically Year Zero for top-flight British football as it’s known and loved (?) today. 

The programme explains why that was the case by delving back into the ‘80s, a dark period in the game when hooliganism was rife. Something had to change.

Made in the ‘80s: The Decade That Changed Our World – Monday, Channel 4, 10pm

The ‘80s turmoil continues in episode two of this authoritative series. 

Thatcher’s Britain was scarred with division and unrest, hence why so many people felt a burning desire to rebel against the oppressive status quo. This all took place, as we know, against the tragic backdrop of the AIDS pandemic. 

As its title suggests, the point of this series is to illustrate how so many British pioneers from the entwined worlds of art, entertainment and political activism helped to shape the future of Britain. 

Naturally, the birth of Channel 4, which celebrates its 40^th anniversary this year, is a significant part of the story. Provocative and progressive by design, it was once a thorn in the side of the establishment.

Nazi Hunters: The Real Walk-In – Monday, STV, 10:45pm

A companion piece to The Walk-In, that absolutely pummelling factual drama starring Stephen Graham, this powerful report from ITV’s estimable Exposure strand delves even deeper into the remarkable story of Matthew Collins. 

A former fascist, Collins eventually renounced his hate-fuelled past. He became an undercover journalist intent on exposing the vile activities of British far-right organisations. 

The programme reveals how Collins and his similarly brave colleague Robbie Mullen – who acted as a mole within the neo-Nazi terrorist group National Action - were instrumental in stopping a plot to murder Labour MP Rosie Cooper. 

Nearly twenty people have been imprisoned as a result of their investigation.

Charles: Our New King – Wednesday, STV, 9pm

What kind of monarch will King Charles III be? This balanced profile provides some persuasive clues. 

It’s common knowledge that Charles has deeply-held opinions, and he’s not afraid to express them. In that sense he’s the antithesis of his late mother, who never once rocked the boat throughout her long diplomatic reign. That wasn't her style.

A portrait emerges of a man who can be egotistical and short-tempered, but also very charming, engaged, genuine and sensitive. A complex human being, no less. 

You may be left with the impression, as I was, that for all his immense power and privilege, Charles would’ve preferred a much quieter life. In particular, the chapter on his troubled time at boarding school is rather sad.

How to Survive a Dictatorship with Munya Chawawa – Thursday, Channel 4, 10pm

Comedian Munya Chawawa’s initial plan for this programme involved a return to his Zimbabwean roots, where he could investigate the legacy of notorious tyrant Robert Mugabe. 

But then, at the very last minute, Chawawa and his crew discovered that their filming visas had been cancelled with no explanation whatsoever. 

Undaunted, they travel to South Africa instead, where Chawawa meets up with some of Mugabe’s friends, family-members, henchmen and victims. He wants, if possible, to gain a deeper understanding of the man behind the monster. 

Preview copies weren’t available, but Chawawa is a smart guy who will almost certainly provide some interesting insight into the horrific life and times of one of history’s most brutal dictators.

LAST WEEK’S TV

How the BBC Began – Saturday 22nd October, BBC Two

I was thoroughly engaged and delighted by episode one of this fascinating two-part documentary about the BBC’s first 50 years. 

Playful yet heartfelt and impressively researched, it’s a 180-minute essay that’s been compiled with care over the last eight years. A real labour of love. 

The BBC spends so much time flagellating itself, I reckon it deserves to bask in its achievements during this centenary year. 

The series isn’t self-indulgent, it mocks and critiques whenever it sees fit, but it’s ultimately a celebration of some of those great creative pioneers who built a cultural institution. 

The BBC isn’t perfect, nothing is. We’ll miss it when it’s gone.

Doctor Who – Sunday 23rd October, BBC One

Jodie Whittaker’s final episode was a frenetic wannabe epic mired in outgoing showrunner Chris Chibnall’s terrible expositional dialogue and his desperate insistence on throwing loads of ‘cool stuff’ at the screen in the hope that some of it sticks. 

Dollops of it did, to be fair. Sacha Dhawan’s Master was tremendous fun, and at least it was never boring (while at the same time making no sense). 

As a lifelong fan, I enjoyed the cameos from various previous Doctors and companions, but this was supposed to be Whittaker’s glorious last hurrah. Chibnall inexplicably side-lined her. She always deserved so much better. 

The ‘surprise’ return of David Tennant overshadowed her departure, it grabbed all the headlines, and that ain’t right.

As I'm sure you're aware, Doctor Who will receive a major reboot next year under the auspices of returning showrunner Russell T. Davies, the man who revived the series so successfully back in 2005.

Tennant will star in three specials, before handing over to our new Doctor Ncuti Gatwa. The future of the show looks bright. I just wish that Whittaker had been blessed with a writer of Davies' talent during her tenure. It's such a damn shame.

THE LOVE BOX IN YOUR LIVING ROOM | JIMMY CARR DESTROYS ART | KIDS' TV: THE SURPRISING STORY

This article was originally published in The Courier on 22nd October 2022. 

NEXT WEEK’S TV

The Love Box in Your Living Room – Thursday, BBC Two, 9pm

Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse’s contribution to the BBC’s centenary is this very funny spoof documentary about the corporation’s history. 

All entirely fabricated, yet partially grounded in reality, it’s presented in the signature style of documentarian Adam Curtis; as we’ve come to expect, the duo's attention to detail is almost entirely flawless. 

Fans of Smashie & Nicey: End of an Era and their fiftieth anniversary ‘tribute’ to BBC Two, Story of the 2s, will know that spoof documentaries are an ideal format for Enfield and Whitehouse. They can pack loads of silly gags into an hour, while also delivering some pointed satire. 

Love Box gleefully mocks the BBC while attacking those who seek to destroy it. There are a couple of gags towards the end that cause some mild tension, but for the most part it's delightful.

Made in the ‘80s: The Decade That Shaped Our World – Monday, Channel 4, 9pm

Deeley Boppers! The Rubik’s Cube! Black Lace! Weren’t the ‘80s great? Such a laugh. Good times. 

That heavy-handed sarcasm will give you an idea of where this new series is coming from. Preview copies weren’t available, but it sounds like a sombre documentary antidote to lazy, trite nostalgia. 

It begins with Britain anxiously awaiting the very real threat of nuclear Armageddon. We’re reminded of the various ad men and artists who reflected that terrifying epoch in their confrontational work. 

It also recounts the story of several brave women who stood up against the American military industrial complex, and an unsung spy who apparently saved us all from oblivion. Fingers crossed, it could be fascinating. 

Jimmy Carr Destroys Art – Tuesday, Channel 4, 9:15pm

Seeing as its only reason for existing is to generate headlines, you’ve probably read about this programme in which Carr, following a no doubt nuanced studio debate about censorship, will literally destroy an artwork created by an awful person. 

The artists under review include Hitler, Picasso and Rolf Harris. 

Yes, I know. Pure Brass Eye. 

I understand why Channel 4, which turned 40 this year, are doing this. It’s a desperate attempt to remind viewers of its provocative origins. One in the eye for the right-wing politicians who argue that it provides no alternative to its competitors, hence why it should be sold off. 

I don’t want that to happen, obviously, but I daresay this isn’t the ideal form of protest. 

Kids’ TV: The Surprising Story – Wednesday, BBC One, 9pm

The BBC’s centenary celebrations continue with this insightful essay from former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq. 

Children’s programmes have always been one of the most important facets of the BBC’s output. They’ve shaped our lives and attitudes. They’ve encouraged diversity and understanding. 

Huq interviews luminaries such as Johnny Ball, Floella Benjamin, Cerrie Burnell, Sarah Greene and Phil Redmond. This is no mere exercise in cosy nostalgia, it’s a considered study of how certain pioneering programme-makers and gifted presenters have made a hugely positive impact on British culture. 

As Redmond, the architect of Grange Hill, says: “Kids’ TV can be pure entertainment, or actually help people navigate society. You’re not alone… everything you’ve been through, somebody else has been through.”

Grand Designs – Wednesday, Channel 4, 9pm

This week, hard-hatted Kevin McCloud revisits Vicky and Ed, who – full disclosure, I’m quoting from the press release here – “in 2015 broke free from the shackles of their hectic London lives to try to build a new life in the Somerset countryside.” 

Pretty much yer standard Grand Designs set-up, and you can absolutely guarantee that McCloud has no memories of Vicky and Ed. These people are just a blur to him. 

Vicky and Ed, like most foolhardy Grand Designs contributors, have invested all their money in a massively ambitious building project. Why bother? Just, if you possibly can, find a decent dwelling and enjoy life. Get a cat. Order some cushions online. No one needs this ridiculous hassle.

Inside Russia: Putin’s War At Home – Thursday, STV, 10.45pm

Another edition of ITV’s award-winning Exposure strand – they broke the Jimmy Savile scandal back in 2012 – this documentary, which was filmed in secrecy, gives voice to defiant Russians who have refused to remain silent in the wake of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. 

By standing up against their authoritarian ruler, these brave people are risking their lives so that we can gain a greater understanding of the situation. 

One of the key contributors is Vasiliy, a Russian journalist and filmmaker. “All the laws are really vague in Russia,” he says. “To me operating in this kind of environment is very difficult. You start getting a little bit paranoid. It's uncomfortable in an emotional way.” 

Young, Black and Right-Wing – Thursday, Channel 4, 11:05pm

Broadcaster Zeze Millz, who hosts this documentary, is a somewhat controversial figure. A woman of colour, her views are often categorised as right-wing: antithetical to the innate needs and values of her community. 

She regards herself as someone who cannot be easily placed on the political spectrum. Her argument, broadly speaking, is that Black people who have a socially conservative outlook shouldn’t be blithely disregarded as a homogenous sector of society incapable of nuanced debate. That's immensely patronising and reductive.

Millz’s report wasn’t available for preview, so I’m not qualified to comment on what it specifically entails, but it does sound interesting. As always, I bring these programmes to your attention for that very reason.

LAST WEEK’S TV

Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel – Sunday 16th October, BBC Two

This was rather fascinating. Hans Zimmer is one of the most prolific and respected composers of music for Hollywood films and ‘high-end’ television. His work has burrowed its way into our heads over the years. 

Throughout this documentary, Zimmer – an affable, intelligent, sensitive and slightly eccentric character – didn’t seem particularly bothered by the notion of being a fairly anonymous contributor to works of art beloved by millions. He’s secure in the knowledge that his music is an integral part of various significant films and TV shows. His legacy is assured. 

The programme also reminded us that Oscar-winning Zimmer wrote the theme tune for ‘80s daytime quiz show Going for Gold. One helluva career.

Our Jubilee – Sunday 16th October, STV

Screened by ITV as part of Black History Month, this ruminative documentary recounted the stories of various Black British citizens who lived through the late Queen’s reign. 

It was, of course, filmed before she passed away, but that worked in the programme’s poignant favour. The interviewees spoke of her – and what she meant to them - in the present tense, while reflecting upon the last seven decades. Several nuanced thoughts and feelings ensued. 

ITV is often, quite rightly, pilloried for its questionable output, but worthwhile programmes such as this tend to go unnoticed. And that’s probably because ITV stick ‘em out late at night on Sundays. This should’ve been shown at 9pm after Corrie.

THE HUNT FOR THE WORLD'S END KILLERS | ROB BURROW: LIVING WITH MND | FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE

This article was originally published in The Courier on 15th October 2022.

NEXT WEEK’S TV

The Hunt for the World’s End Killers – Monday and Tuesday, BBC One, 9pm

45 years ago, the bodies of two young women, Christine Eadie and Helen Scott, were discovered six miles apart in East Lothian. They’d been brutally murdered. Close friends since childhood, they were last seen alive in the World’s End pub on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. A major investigation ensued. 

Sensitively handled and impressively researched, this absorbing two-part documentary recounts an utterly tragic saga with far more depth and context than one usually finds in programmes of this nature. 

Bolstered by insightful contributions from various journalists, authors and retired police officers, it’s a rigorous piece of social history which, among many other things, covers some landmark developments in the support for female victims of sexual violence. An exemplary essay.

Rob Burrow: Living with MND – Tuesday, BBC Two, 7pm

Rugby League legend Rob Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019. This intimate documentary follows Rob, wife Lindsey and their kids as they deal with the everyday reality of living with a degenerative condition. 

It’s a frank, tender portrait of a loving family doing everything within their power to get by.

The Burrows are abundantly nice, kind and decent people. Their love for each other is quietly inspiring. 

Life is awfully cruel, but if you’re lucky enough to have a devoted support network, well, that must never be taken for granted. It helps us to cope with all the other difficult things we’re sometimes forced to deal with. We endure. We have to.

Unapologetic – Wednesday, Channel 4, 11:05pm

I haven’t seen this topical talk show, but it sounds quite interesting. Hence why I’m flagging it up. 

Your hosts are Yinka Bokinni and Zeze Millz. Their M.O. is this: discussing nuanced subjects – in a light-hearted way - that public figures tend to avoid for fear of being ‘cancelled’. 

That’s an absolute minefield, obviously. I’m no fan of culture war mendacity, but bear in mind that Bokinni and Millz are people of colour. This isn’t yet another forum for middle-aged white celebrities to drone tediously on about how “you can’t say anything anymore.” 

Does that mean it’s any good? I’ve no idea. But you may be intrigued by some of the socio-political issues under discussion.

Aldi’s Next Big Thing – Thursday, Channel 4, 8pm

Anita Rani and award-winning grocer Chris Bavin host this new series in which small-scale British food and drink producers get the rare opportunity to pitch their products to Britain's fourth biggest supermarket chain, Aldi. The ultimate prize is a life-changing contract with those towering Gods of retail. 

So yes, it’s very much your standard competitive TV hootenanny. Dragon’s Den on a manageable budget. But that’s fine, it means no actual harm. 

Episode one throws a glaring spotlight upon two budding entrepreneurs who reckon that our tiny insect friends are the future of nutrition, plus some obsessive pie and sauce makers. 

This will never be mistaken for essential television, but it serves as a distraction.

Unreported World – Friday, Channel 4, 7:30pm

This week, investigative journalist Sahar Zand delves behind the scenes of Japan’s increasingly controversial Sumo wrestling industry. 

Sumo is a centuries-old tradition, an important and respected facet of Japanese culture, but in recent years it’s been criticised for failing to take care of the wrestlers who partake in it. 

Zand spends time with a 12-year-old boy, Kyuta, who hopes to become a grand champion. To achieve that goal, he’ll have to earn a place in the ‘Sumo stable’, an institution that’s shrouded in secrecy. 

Zand meets former wrestlers who describe life in the ‘stable’ as nothing more than servitude. Concerns are mounting for the physical and psychological health of these men.

Friday Night Live – Friday, Channel 4, 9pm

The Channel 4 alternative comedy showcase Saturday/Friday Night Live was a formative experience for myself and millions of other ‘80s comedy-crazed kids. 

We already loved The Young Ones and The Comic Strip Presents, Rik Mayall et al were our heroes, but this anarchic variety extravaganza also introduced us to the brilliant likes of Jo Brand, Julian Clary, Ben Elton, Harry Enfield, Fry & Laurie and Paul Merton. 

This one-off revival, hosted by Elton of course, won’t pack such a punch, it’s an exercise in nostalgia, but I suppose it’ll be quite nice to revisit the format. 

The bill includes the aforementioned Brand, Clary and Enfield, plus some young, current circuit comics.

Am I Being Unreasonable? – Friday, BBC One, 9:30pm

We’ve reached the penultimate episode of this delightfully dry and eccentric comedy thriller about a village-dwelling wife and mother (co-writer Daisy May Cooper) whose already complicated life becomes even stranger when she befriends a woman (co-writer Selin Hizli) with a mysterious past. 

Am I Being Unreasonable? is one of those addictive shows that takes you completely by surprise. A gut-punching sleeper hit. Thanks to the excellent This Country, we already knew that Cooper was a talented writer/performer, but this is a more striking piece of work as far as I’m concerned. 

And I hope it’s a one-series deal, as next week’s finale is perfect. A sequel might dilute its impact.

LAST WEEK’S TV

Our Dementia Choir Sings Again with Vicky McClure – Monday 10th October, BBC One

Four years ago, the actor Vicky McClure formed a choir of people living with dementia. Like so many of us, she’s lost a loved one to that illness. The therapeutic power of music proved to be very effective. 

In this poignant sequel to her original programme, McClure reconvened with various members of the choir. Inevitably, some of them aren’t in great shape. 

Hats off to McClure, her choir and their family members/carers for refusing to hold back on the fundamental point of this endeavour: people with dementia require so much more support from a system that’s skewed against them. 

An uplifting show tempered with deep-seated despair, this is public service broadcasting at somewhere near its best. The series concludes on Monday 17th October.

Rise of the Nazis: The Downfall – Monday 10th October, BBC Two

The final series of this estimable documentary project began in December 1944. Hitler’s regime is in freefall, they’ve clearly lost the war. Hitler, of course, refuses to accept reality. 

As always, the purpose of this series is to examine the psychology, not only of Hitler and his chief enablers, but also that of the German footsoldiers and everyday citizens. It’s a grimly fascinating study of what happens when fascism prevails over a nation. 

As strange as this may sound, it offers some hope: fascist dictatorships will always fail because they are, by their very nature, chaotic cults founded on the monomaniacal obsessions of ‘charismatic’ yet utterly insane bigots. 

This episode, and the previous six, are available on iPlayer. Highly recommended.  

AM I BEING UNREASONABLE? | THIS ENGLAND | BEING JEWISH IN SCOTLAND

This article was originally published in The Courier on 8th October 2022. 

THIS WEEK’S TV

Am I Being Unreasonable? – Friday, BBC One, 9:30pm

In the latest episode of this addictive comedy thriller from Daisy May Cooper and Selin Hizli, we finally find out more about the mysterious Jen. 

It unfurls in the form of a sucker-punching flashback told from Jen’s perspective. Everything we’ve witnessed so far is (sort of) wrong. A very special guest-star, Jessica Hynes, turns up to thicken the plot. 

I can’t elaborate, as that would ruin Cooper and Hizli’s carefully constructed twist-strewn narrative, so all I’ll say is this: Am I Being Unreasonable? is a rare treat. Clever, funny, odd, heartfelt and utterly unpredictable, it’s one of the best things I’ve seen on TV this year. 

And I’ve seen quite a few things on TV this year.

David Wilson’s Crime Files: Cold Cases – Tuesday, BBC Scotland, 10pm

Criminologist David Wilson begins his latest series with the sad saga of Jean Milne, a wealthy Broughty Ferry spinster who was once found murdered in her mansion. This all took place back in 1912. The case remains unsolved. 

Wilson meets with Professor Niamh Nic Daéid from Dundee University. Daéid and her colleagues were commissioned to re-examine the case through a modern lens. They pore over the historical details while revealing the various ways in which forensic science has progressed since the early 20^th century. 

Wilson also talks to the leading member of a team devoted to some new forms of DNA analysis that could revolutionize cold case investigations.

The Elon Musk Show – Wednesday, BBC Two, 9pm

Despite its title, this isn’t a wildly misjudged light entertainment extravaganza hosted by the controversial billionaire. Let’s hope he makes that one day, though, as it does sound like the sort of stupid thing he’d produce on a midnight whim. 

What we’re presented with instead is a three-part account of his inexorable rise and eventual domination of the cosmos, featuring contributions from friends, family members, employees and enemies of the world’s richest man. Preview copies weren’t available, but I think it’s safe to assume that this will be absolutely fascinating. 

Musk is a deeply strange person who wields extraordinary power. A nerd who sought revenge and won. He probably won’t be satisfied until Earth is renamed in his honour.

This England – Wednesday, Sky Atlantic, 9pm

Please note that certain scenes this week may prove distressing to some viewers. If you’ve been following Michael Winterbottom’s bleakly riveting factual drama about the Johnson government’s mishandling of the pandemic, then you’ll know what I’m alluding to. 

Do not watch if you’re likely to become upset, I can’t stress that enough. 

And therein lies the difficulty of This England. It’s an important piece of work, it accurately lays bare the catastrophic incompetence of our glorious leaders, but many of us are still grieving for loved ones lost during the pandemic. 

However, I’m not for a moment suggesting that it shouldn’t have been made. I admire its anger and compassion. It can’t pull any punches, otherwise what’s the point?

I Hate You – Thursday, Channel 4, 10pm

A new sitcom from Robert Popper of Friday Night Dinner renown, I Hate You revolves around two (sort of) fondly bickering twentysomething flatmates. 

If you have kids and enjoyed watching Friday Night Dinner with them, do bear in mind that Popper’s latest isn’t aimed at the same audience. And that’s fine, obviously. Popper is a versatile and often inspired comic writer who enjoys trying different things. 

Unfortunately, I Hate You isn’t funny. It’s shallow, stilted and annoying. 

Our mildly dysfunctional protagonists are played by newcomers Tanya Reynolds and Melissa Saint. They’re very good, they have a natural rapport, but middle-class London coffee kids fretting over wacky dates and suchlike? We’ve seen it all before.

Being Jewish in Scotland – Thursday, BBC Scotland, 10:30pm

This intimate documentary features revealing contributions from a diverse range of Jewish people living in Scotland today. 

Scotland was once home to around 20 dedicated synagogues. Only six remain. But the Jewish community is in vibrant health. 

We encounter engaging characters such as the senior religious leader Rabbi Moshi Rubin, plus Mark and his mother Doreen, who run the only kosher deli in the country. The message is inclusive and uplifting. 

One of the interviewees, Kathy, is a holocaust survivor who settled in Scotland over 40 years ago. “I fell in love with Scotland… I felt that the Scots suffered over the centuries just like the Jews suffered over the centuries… and I felt that I may just fit in.”

Unreported World – Friday, Channel 4, 7:30pm

Viewer discretion is once again advised as the latest series of this venerable global current affairs programme begins. It follows private detectives and armed bounty hunters trying to rescue teenagers from Houston's sex trafficking underworld. 

Reporter Yousra Elbagir uncovers some utterly heart-breaking stories. As always when previewing programmes of this highly sensitive nature, I won’t go into any potentially upsetting detail. My synopsis hopefully provides all the basic information and trigger warnings you require. 

Unreported World, which has been running continuously for 22 years in a pre-watershed slot, presents itself with the utmost integrity and sensitivity. It’s a vital piece of television journalism.

LAST WEEK’S TV

Sorry, I Didn’t Know – Sunday 2nd October, STV

Jimmy Akingbola hosts this genial panel show in which various comics of colour shoot the breeze about Black British history. 

There’s really no competitive aspect as such, the relaxed banter supports the educational aspect and vice versa. Its point is worn lightly yet sincerely. 

Where else will you find a big weekend ITV quiz show in which one of the answers involves an unsung Caribbean historical figure with “utopian political ideals”? A show in which we naturally pinball around a series of questions about Marcus Rashford, MF Doom, Mount Kilimanjaro and cult 1970s funk musicians? 

It’s an assured piece of entertainment. Actual fun ensues.

Unbreakable – Thursday 6th October, BBC One

Blandness personified, this formulaic faux-romantic rubbish involves six celebrities and their partners as they attempt to prove just how much they love each other via various safely harnessed tasks. 

If it starred Richard, Judy and The Krankies, that would be quite something. A potential classic. Inevitably, it does not star any of those people. 

Now, as anyone who’s ever followed this column will know, I’m not opposed to daft light entertainment. Far from it, I embrace television in all its myriad forms. God knows we need some silly respite from everything we have to deal with in the real world. 

But this is just a waste of our time.

THE WALK‐IN | THIS ENGLAND | BLANKETY BLANK

This article was originally published in The Courier on 1st October 2022.

NEXT WEEK’S TV

The Walk‐In ‐ Monday, STV, 9pm

This intensely powerful factual drama confronts the horrifying resurgence of fascism in western society. 

Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered by a racist in 2016. One of the journalists who investigated that appalling tragedy was a former Neo‐Nazi turned anti-fascist campaigner. A brave man, he’s played by the great Stephen Graham. 

The Walk‐In is written by Jeff Pope, a television heavyweight rightly renowned for his outstanding catalogue of assiduously researched dramas steeped in sensitive subject matter. 

This, I assure you, is a searing piece of work. Fuelled by compassion, it seeks to understand the deep‐seated causes of bigotry and radicalisation. TV dramas such as this can make a difference. They matter.

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

The 29^th series of this hardy perennial returns to St George’s Hospital in south-west London, which is home to one of Britain’s busiest A&E departments. 

The first patient we encounter is Graham, who’s been involved in a high-speed motorcycle accident. Graham’s doctors fear that he may have suffered significant damage to his back and neck, so he’s sent off for an urgent CT scan. His worried wife, Kate, talks movingly of their relationship and the various unforeseen problems they’ve faced. 

And that’s the very essence of 24 Hours in A&E: unlike so many programme of its ilk, it never fails to remind us that these people are three-dimensional human beings with stories to tell.

Paxman: Putting Up with Parkinson’s ‐ Tuesday, STV, 9pm

Jeremy Paxman is a notoriously short‐tempered man. He doesn’t suffer anything gladly. Eighteen months ago he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. And this is his response. 

He’s on typically frank form during a programme in which he converses with leading neurological researchers and some other people who have Parkinson’s, while challenging myths about his condition. 

He also attends an English National Ballet therapy dance class and learns how to play bowls. 

Paxman often comes across as a rather blunt and dislikeable person, but that’s his act I suppose. It’s all showbiz. In this context, however, speaking honestly as himself, his no-nonsense approach is tempered with some sensitive insight. 

It should, one hopes, provide a bit of comfort. 

This England ‐ Tuesday and Wednesday, Sky Atlantic, 9pm

An excoriating six‐part drama from that estimable writer/director Michael Winterbottom, This England traces the absolute chaos of Boris Johnson’s first year in office as Prime Minister. 

Preoccupied with getting Brexit done, whatever that actually means, Johnson’s government were utterly unprepared for COVID. That’s understandable, but This England gets its point across in no uncertain terms: for all his Churchillian bluster, Johnson was fatally ill‐equipped to take charge of a national crisis. 

Kenneth Branagh as Johnson pulls off a difficult feat: playing a man who deliberately presents himself as a caricature. He comes across as an irresponsible fool floundering with the consequences of a pyrrhic victory, while sinister Dominic Cummings pulls the strings.

Doc Martin ‐ Wednesday, STV, 9pm

As the final series of this comfort blanket continues, Louisa is understandably perturbed when her estranged father (that fine actor Kenneth Cranham) turns up out of the blue. 

Meanwhile, Doc Martin is still struggling with his blood phobia, so he seeks some counsel with Ruth (that other fine actor, Dame Eileen Atkins). 

The third storyline ‐ there are always three, that’s how these shows operate ‐ involves a squatter who refuses to be budged from a vintage caravan. 

I have no truck with kneejerk cynics who sneer at the likes of Doc Martin. There’s nothing wrong with basking in good‐natured entertainment. You mustn’t always avoid the middle of the road, as Bob Dylan probably once sang.

Taskmaster ‐ Thursday, Channel 4, 11:05pm

Self-effacing sidekick ‘Little’ Alex Horne ‐ the brains behind the entire Taskmaster enterprise, but don’t tell faux-domineering host Greg Davies that ‐ is in his element this week. 

He oversees several tasks involving admin, ducks and flour. As always, his pedantic efficiency while dealing with such nonsense provides much of the humour. I appreciate that I’ve just described the appeal of Taskmaster in the driest possible terms, but Horne would presumably see the funny side of that. 

The whole point of the show is that none of it matters, but it wouldn’t work at all were it not treated with at least some degree of dedicated seriousness. And from thence the comedy arises. You’re welcome.

Jon Richardson: Take My Mother‐in‐Law ‐ Thursday, Channel 4, 12:15am

You’ve got to hand it to the professionally grumpy comedian Jon Richardson, the man has an unerring knack for coming up with vehicles for himself. His pitch meetings presumably involve him reading from a list of things he pretends to find vaguely annoying. 

His latest one, as you’ve presumably surmised, involves his mother‐in‐law. She’s about to retire, so Richardson has to pretend he’s intent on finding her a home in Spain ‐ otherwise she might move in with him and his wife! 

Yes, the premise is knowingly contrived, it’s a post‐modern take on mother‐in‐law gags. But it’s really just an excuse for yet another harmless/pointless TV road trip.

LAST WEEK’S TV

Blankety Blank ‐ Saturday 24th September, BBC One

We all know that Blankety Blank is nothing without Wogan or Dawson, both of whom elevated a daft quiz to knowingly dry‐witted heights, but Bradley Walsh does a decent job of keeping the flame alive. 

He’s an affable character who fundamentally ‘gets it’. A silly format, so let’s poke some fun at it. 

No, he can’t match Wogan’s subtly whimsical approach, nor Dawson’s hilarious decision to treat the whole thing as if it’s something he’s doing under major duress, but Walsh is a likeable pro. He knows how to keep things moving with a quip or two. 

That’s a talent, and I can’t deny the simple pleasures of watching a seasoned comic carrying out their duties proficiently.

Martin Compston’s Scottish Fling ‐ Friday 30th September, BBC Two

The latest leg of Compston’s amiable tour of our great nation took him, and co‐host Phil McHugh, to the Highlands. 

It’s an area of Scotland I have a particular affinity with, as I spent much of my childhood in Invergordon. So it was rather lovely seeing the ‘gordon (as no one calls it) represented on your actual primetime BBC television. 

Last week’s episode involved go‐karting, delectable vegan cuisine and an inspirational strongman story suffused with a positive mental health message. 

If you fancy a bit of respite, something to unwind with, then I thoroughly recommend catching up with this show on iPlayer. It’s a gentle pleasure, a spirit‐lifter.