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 40th 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.
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