GET ON UP: THE TRIUMPH OF BLACK AMERICA | SUCCESSION | CELEBRITY HUNTED

This article was originally published in The Courier on 25th March 2023.  

NEXT WEEK’S TV

Get On Up: The Triumph of Black America – Thursday, BBC Two, 9pm

The British actor David Harewood has lived and worked in America for just over a decade. He’s witnessed first-hand the vast influence of African American culture on popular culture all around the world. 

In this insightful and uplifting two-part series, he pays tribute to several game-changing African American artists. 

It begins in the 1960s, the decade of his birth, when Sidney Poitier and Motown crossed over into the mainstream. Pioneers, they challenged racist stereotypes with their talent, dignity, elegance and tacitly political defiance. They made a difference. 

Harewood also delves into the uncompromising artistry of 1970s Blaxploitation cinema and speaks to actor Jon Amos, who played the adult Kunta Kinte in that landmark TV miniseries Roots.

Succession – Monday, Sky Atlantic, 9pm

So here it is, the fourth and final series of Succession. This scabrous saga is almost over. We’ll miss these compellingly awful people when they’re gone. 

I don’t have access to preview copies, as they are at present buried in a secret lead-lined desert vault owned by Logan Roy, so all I can tell you is this: media conglomerate Waystar Royco is still on the verge of being bought up by a rival tech billionaire. Naturally, this triggers all-out war among the grasping ranks of the Roy dynasty. 

Succession is a bleakly amusing and all too convincing study of the filthy rich villains who corrode our planet. It is, like all great satire, fuelled by anger and despair.  

Bear Grylls Meets President Zelenskyy – Tuesday, Channel 4, 8pm

Grylls may seem like an odd choice of host for a documentary about Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but he was actually invited to participate by the Ukrainian President himself. And he does a pretty good job. 

Mercifully, he doesn’t treat his three tense days in Ukraine like one of his usual action man survival missions. This is a sombre and respectful journey into the heart of a country living under the constant threat of missile attacks. 

Prior to his thoughtful encounter with the commander in chief, Grylls talks to several ordinary Ukrainian citizens who explain what life is like for them on a daily basis. Despite the enormous hardships they’ve been forced to endure, they – and their elected leader – remain defiant.

This World: Murder in Mayfair – Tuesday, BBC Two, 9pm

In 2008, Norwegian student Martine Vik Magnussen was murdered at her home near Mayfair in central London. The prime suspect is the son of one of Yemen’s richest men. He fled the UK before the police had a chance to question him. 

In this sensitive documentary, Yemeni-British BBC journalist Nawal Al-Maghafi tracks him down. Their telephone conversations are grim. What happened that night? And why hasn’t he made any attempt to contact the police? 

During the course of her investigation, Al-Maghafi also meets with Martine’s father, who has spent the last fourteen years campaigning for justice for his daughter. The BBC has, quite rightly, fallen under fire of late, but this is an exceptional piece of journalism.

Celebrity Hunted – Tuesday, Channel 4, 9pm

If you’ve seen Hunted before, then you know the frantic drill. But just in case: ten ersatz prison escapees – celebs in this iteration, as it’s all in aid of Stand Up to Cancer – go on the run while being tracked by an expert squad reading from a terribly laboured ‘quip-filled’ script. The fun side of state surveillance. 

Our fugitives have no money, phones or access to the internet. The ersatz authorities have just fourteen days to catch them. 

It’s a mildly entertaining exercise in which the comedians James Acaster and Ed Gamble effortlessly steal the show. They won’t split your sides, I’m sure, but you may find yourselves amused by their refusal to take the whole thing seriously. 

The Dog Academy – Thursday, Channel 4, 8pm

Fact: every television programme ever made would be instantly improved with dogs as its primary focus: I, Dog; Doctor Dog; Tales of the Unexpected Dog; Only Dogs and Dogs; Dog. I really could go on. 

So no wonder The Dog Academy is such a pleasing distraction. Various canine behavioural experts get to grips with their four-legged patient’s ailments while chatting to their vaguely troubled bipedal housemates. 

It’s basically a gentle session of relationship counselling, in which the ups and downs of human cohabitation are shown to have a direct impact on the animals we live with. Now, we already know that, but there’s no harm in providing a reminder. 

A good-natured show. And the pooches are delightful, obviously.

Taskmaster – Thursday, Channel 4, 9pm

The fifteenth series of this enjoyable breeze of concentrated silliness plays host to comedians Frankie Boyle, Jenny Éclair, Ivo Graham, Mae Martin and Kiell Smith-Bynoe. 

In episode one, they have to choreograph a silent disco wedding dance with chief Taskmaster Greg Davies’ co-conspirator Alex Horne. Will you be able to guess what songs they’re listening to on headphones? Well no, of course you won’t, but that’s all part of the fruitless fun. 

They’re also tasked with unwinding a ball of string against the clock, hooking as many rubber rings as possible while haphazardly steering a barge along a narrow canal and, in the final round, throwing bricks, balls and other alliterative items into large clay pots.

LAST WEEK’S TV

Challenge Anneka – Saturday 18th March, Channel 5 

A Saturday night staple in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Challenge Anneka lifted the nation’s spirits with its charitable against-the-clock endeavours. 

And now it’s back, with not one iota of the original format altered. Rice is even reunited with trusty Dave the cameraman. If it ain’t broke etc. 

In episode one, Rice was tasked with refurbishing a canine rescue farm. Reader, she succeeded. 

Rice is a natural broadcaster, an engaging pro, and if you can ignore the fact that television personalities shouldn’t have to support ailing charities and small businesses, then this revival will work its entirely well-meaning magic.

The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer – Sunday 19th March, Channel 4

Channel 4’s annual Stand Up to Cancer campaign continued with this spin-off from one of its most popular ‘brands’. 

Round one involved Matt Lucas welcoming various celebs to the tent. Chief among them, of course, being David Schwimmer. Fellow contestant Jesy Nelson was under no illusions: “I know I won’t win it, I’m just here to see Ross from Friends!” 

I’ll never truly understand the appeal of this abundantly harmless series. It is, like Thursdays, New Order and the actor Martin Jarvis, something that’s objectively tolerable and inoffensive. Something that’s just there. But I’m not the target audience, it’s not for me. 

Now, The Great British Crisp Off, that’s a show I could get behind.

LOUIS THEROUX INTERVIEWS... BEAR GRYLLS | IMAGINE... DOUGLAS STUART: LOVE, HOPE AND GRIT | OTI MABUSE: MY SOUTH AFRICA

This article was originally published in The Courier on 12th November 2022.

NEXT WEEK’S TV

Louis Theroux Interviews… Bear Grylls – Tuesday, BBC Two, 9pm

The adventurer and broadcaster Bear Grylls often comes across as an inadvertently comical figure; a gung-ho action man with zero self-awareness. 

That, of course, is why Louis Theroux wanted to interview him. Grylls can’t really be like that? Well, he is and he isn’t. 

While perfectly pleasant and evidently sincere, he doesn’t appear to have much of a sense of humour about himself. That’s probably because, as the programme suggests, he’s an insecure person who feels compelled to live up to a self-made alpha male image. 

Grylls, to his credit, is candid about his lonely boarding school childhood, and one gets the impression that he’s never fully come to terms with that experience. It’s all rather sad.

Hong Kong’s Fight for Freedom – Monday, BBC Two, 9:30pm

The latest two-part report from BBC Two’s deservedly acclaimed This World strand focuses on some of the Hong Kong protestors who took a stand against their government and China’s authoritarian regime in 2019. 

Their identities are protected, that goes without saying, but to even speak about this at all is testament to their bravery. 

Hundreds of thousands of justifiably angry Hong Kong citizens took to the streets when their long-held autonomy from mainland China was threatened by a newly introduced extradition bill triggered by a murder that took place in Taiwan. That bill is a human rights violation, with far-reaching implications for the people of Hong Kong. 

This World, as always, excavates the details with journalistic rigour.

1966: Who Stole the World Cup? – Monday, Channel 4, 10pm

When England hosted the World Cup in 1966, their eventual triumph was somewhat undermined by the theft of the Jules Rimet trophy. 

As we all know, it was eventually discovered in a bush by a dog called Pickles. This irreverent documentary digs deeper into one of the most farcical sagas in football history. It almost makes you feel proud of good old-fashioned British incompetence. 

Narrated by actor Alan Ford of fictional cockney gangster fame, it plays out like an Ealing comedy crime caper. If this notorious incident had occurred at the start of the decade, you can absolutely guarantee that Peter Sellers would’ve starred in a film adaptation. 

The programme features contributions from some of those involved in the investigation.

Imagine… Douglas Stuart: Love, Hope and Grit – Monday, BBC One, 10:40pm

Scottish-American author Douglas Stuart won the 2020 Booker Prize for his visceral debut novel Shuggie Bain, which tells the semi-autobiographical story of a queer boy and his alcoholic single mother in working class Glasgow. A TV adaptation is on its way. 

Stuart’s latest novel Young Mungo is also a bestseller. 

In this revealing profile, the New York-based Stuart returns to Glasgow in the company of Alan Yentob to reflect upon his tough upbringing. 

He comes across as a pleasant and perceptive man whose pride in where he came from is plain for all to see. His reminiscences are accompanied by contributions from famous fans such as Alan Cumming, Lulu and Stuart Murdoch from Belle and Sebastian.

Grand Designs: House of the Year 2022 – Wednesday, Channel 4, 9pm

In which the perpetually arch Kevin McCloud returns for another mosey around homes nominated for this year’s Royal Institute of British Architects House of the Year award.

McCloud doesn’t do all the heavy-lifting, though, he’s supported by a team of experts. In episode one, they visit five architectural wonders competing for a place on the shortlist. 

Our budding nominees include: an eccentric pink beach house built to withstand fierce weather; a meticulously renovated 1960s household; a highly ambitious DIY eco-home; a boldly reimagined redbrick structure; and a new-build that required major renovation on its vast basement. 

Yes, folks, this will provide tremendous comfort to all of us currently struggling through the cost of living crisis. Approach with caution.

Oti Mabuse: My South Africa – Thursday, BBC One, 9pm

The former Strictly star Oti Mabuse is beloved by all good people. 

In this touching documentary, she reflects upon the legacy of the South African townships where her ancestors were born and raised. 

Celebrity travelogues are ten a penny, but this is so much richer than your standard ‘journey’. Mabuse’s perspective on the socio-political changes in South Africa during her lifetime naturally carries more weight than the ruminations of well-meaning UK celebs who occasionally make programmes on this subject. 

She confronts the struggles of those who suffered under Apartheid while highlighting various hopes for the future. 

A commendably nuanced and thoughtful essay presented by someone with first-hand cultural experience, it’s sad and inspirational in roughly equal measure.

The Horne Section TV Show – Thursday, Channel 4, 10pm

Little Alex Horne is sick and tired of living in the gargantuan shadow of Greg Davies. 

It was Horne who came up with Taskmaster in the first place, he’s the brains behind it all, but his role is that of the hapless sidekick. Davies bullies him both onscreen and off. It’s just not fair, he needs to escape for the sake of his sanity. 

Not really. This is, after all, a self-mocking meta sitcom in which Horne and Davies play fictionalised versions of themselves. 

It follows Horne and his band, The Horne Section, as they attempt to branch out on their own. It’s all fairly charming and totally harmless, but it never raises more than a smile.

LAST WEEK’S TV

The Secret Genius of Modern Life – Thursday 10th November, BBC Two

I recommend this fun new series (a nerd’s paradise) in which Hannah Fry delves deeply into everyday tech developments we more or less take for granted. 

She began with the bankcard, a genuinely life-changing invention. 

You may have noticed that, ever since dear old BBC Four ceased hosting new content, programmes such as this (which would’ve once been a natural fit on Four), have been cropping up with increasing frequency on BBC Two. That’s a good thing. 

Two is, slowly but surely, recovering its former identity as the home of ‘niche’ documentaries, comedies and dramas which would look out of place on BBC One. And I find that quite heartening. 

I know, I know, forever the hopeless optimist.

The English – Thursday 10th November, BBC Two

Written and directed by that esoteric auteur Hugo Blick (Marion and Geoff; The Shadow Line), this revisionist Western miniseries stars Emily Blunt as an aristocratic Englishwoman seeking revenge for the murder of her son, and Chaske Spencer as a Native American and former cavalry scout. 

When they meet on the plains of Wyoming, a deep bond develops between them. 

Blick’s brutal meditation on racism and misogyny is aesthetically indebted to the likes of Altman, Peckinpah and Leone, but it’s no mere homage. 

As with all of Blick’s work, it’s unusual and arresting; a sombre piece tinged with lyrical black comedy. It’s a Brit having fun with various Western tropes, while treating his subject matter with the utmost seriousness. It intrigues.

 

ONCE WERE BROTHERS: ROBBIE ROBERTSON AND THE BAND + INSIDE NO. 9 + BEAR & NICOLA ADAMS' WILD ADVENTURE

A version of this article was originally published in The Courier on 29th May 2021.

NEXT WEEK’S TV

Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band – Friday, BBC Four, 9pm

Note that subtitle: this documentary tells the often fraught story of The Band through Robertson’s elder statesman, rose-tinted gaze. The only other surviving Band-member, Garth Hudson, oddly doesn’t appear at all. 

Nevertheless, it’s still an engaging, well-made film (Martin Scorsese serves as an executive producer) in which the prodigiously talented Robertson – who comes across as a nice guy – waxes effusively about the funky magic he created alongside his comrades, Bob Dylan prominent among them. 

Packed with colourful detail and warm contributions from famous fans such as Bruce Springsteen, it may not be the definitive account of the four-fifths Canadian Gods of Americana, but it’s still a worthy addition to the canon of Scorsese-affiliated music docs.

Between the Covers – Monday, BBC Two, 7:30pm

The latest – tired pun alert – chapter of this comfy little book club throws the floor open to Hugh Dennis, Giovanna Fletcher, Zoe Lyons and the great Don Warrington. Host Sara Cox canvases their opinions on the late John le Carre’s final novel, The Agent Running in the Field, as well as Another Life, the debut novel from Jodie Chapman. 

We discover that Warrington likes “very heavy books”, Lyons is a fan of dystopian fiction, Dennis just likes being transported beyond the parameters of his life, and the ever-smiling Fletcher abhors violent and disturbing fiction, preferring instead to lose herself in stories about relationships. 

Warrington’s polite refusal to say positive things about every book placed before him is delightful.

Inside No. 9 – Monday, BBC Two, 9:30pm

Pemberton and Shearsmith’s latest confection is set in a static caravan which is being used as an on-location green room for a true-crime TV drama written by the actual Jeff Pope.

Shearsmith plays an earnest bit-part actor who spends a disturbing afternoon with the strange family who live in the caravan. The parents are played by Pemberton and Pauline McLynn. Their sheltered daughter is played by Donna Preston, while Adrian Dunbar occasionally pops in as an amusingly passive-aggressive version of himself.

This isn’t one of the strongest episodes; in fact it’s really quite uncomfortable. Granted, I like the way it attempts to address the issue of our unquenchable thirst for dramas based on real-life horror. The fact that Shearsmith once starred in one, written by Pope no less, adds a layer of self-awareness. 

However, its problematic and borderline offensive handling of mental illness undermines whatever point the creators were trying to make. They’re intelligent men, they should know better.

Bake-Off: The Professionals – Tuesday, Channel 4, 8pm

As this crust-crimping saga continues, the remaining five teams consolidate their quest to be crowned Britain’s best pastry chefs. 

The first challenge this week is the making of a miniature cube-shaped dessert, which must be perfectly sculpted in every way. They’re also tasked with creating a glistening array of mushroom-shaped desserts (but without any actual mushrooms in them, obviously). 

The dramatic climax revolves around the painstaking creation of an imaginative heroes and villains-themed macaroon showpiece. It’s a broad conceptual remit: one of the teams opts for Mother Nature vs pollution, while another goes for James Bond vs a generic arch-villain. 

It is, as always, an extravagant smorgasbord of camp, frothy fun.

The Anti-Vax Conspiracy – Tuesday, Channel 4, 9pm

Preview copies of this documentary weren’t available at the time of writing, but it sounds interesting. And thoroughly depressing. 

The global anti-vax movement insists that Covid is a myth conjured up by governments to inject us with dangerous vaccines. The programme aims to expose who’s behind this crazy conspiracy theory, and what their agenda is. 

It inveigles its way into the paranoid mind-set of anti-vaxxers such as Piers Corbyn, who believes the vaccine rollout is equivalent to experiments carried out in Nazi concentration camps. 

At its centre, however, lurks disgraced doctor Andrew Wakefield, whose bogus theories linking vaccines and autism sparked the entire movement. He has since gained fame and fortune in America. What a world.

Building Britain’s Biggest Nuclear Power Station – Wednesday, BBC Two, 9pm 

On a stretch of the Somerset coast, a controversial project is unfolding: the construction of the UK’s first nuclear power station in three decades. Hinkley Point C, which is the size of a small town, is expected to cost more than £22 billion. 

Filmed over two years, this stats-heavy series is like one of those documentaries about the day-to-day running of luxury hotels, only with two of the world’s most powerful nuclear reactors in the basement. 

We follow ordinary people as they facilitate a potentially devastating source of energy, which makes for uncomfortable viewing. Yet it’s also grimly amusing at times: episode one begins with the site chaplain saying a prayer while the staff stand around awkwardly.

Bear and Nicola Adams’ Wild Adventure – Friday, STV, 9:30pm

The latest celebrity special from adventurer Bear Grylls - an inherently silly yet harmless man – has a bit more depth than his usual folderol. 

While yomping across the windy wilds of Dartmoor with Olympic boxing gold medalist Nicola Adams, he occasionally stops to interview her. We gain some actual insight into her life and motivations. A truly lovely and inspiring person, she talks movingly about her traumatic childhood and the pressures of coming out as gay. 

Meanwhile, however, it’s gung-ho business as usual. They abseil down steep cliffs, crawl along a taut rope angled at 45 degrees, and boil an egg using hand sanitiser. 

Grylls’ overenthusiastic and weirdly emphasised “smashed it!” presentation style never fails to amuse.

LAST WEEK’S TV

What Are We Feeding Our Kids? – Thursday 27th May, BBC One

In the UK today, 21% of children are living with obesi\ty by the time they leave primary school. That’s the highest rate it’s ever been. But it’s a major global problem, as Dr Chris van Tulleken discovered in this probing documentary. 

The root cause is the prevalence of cheap and convenient ultra-processed food. His visit to the Amazon Basin revealed that a floating supermarket delivering unhealthy pre-packaged food recently caused a shocking spike in child obesity. Our supermarkets are full of this stuff too. 

Is it addictive? And if so, why? To find out, van Tulleken embarked upon a draining Morgan Spurlock-esque self-experiment in which he stuffed himself with ‘hyper-palatable’ fatty foods. A valuable expose.

21 Day Body Turnaround with Michael Mosley – Thursday 27th May, Channel 4

For many of us, staying fit and healthy during the pandemic hasn’t been easy. In this instructive and occasionally quite alarming new series, former doctor Michael Mosley examines the lifestyles, diets and exercise levels of five volunteers. 

His aim, as the programme’s title suggests, is to improve their health in just 21 days. Because at this rate, he warns, they’re taking years off their life expectancy. 

Mosley has earned a reputation as TV’s friendly face of matters medicinal, but he’s in slightly sterner mode here. And with good reason – although we’re living longer, a large percentage of us will struggle with health problems in the last two decades of our lives. But it doesn’t have to be that way.