What to Watch in 2023: NOLLY | SUCCESSION | DOCTOR WHO and more...

This article was originally published in The Courier on 7th January 2023. 

Nolly – ITVX, February

Written by the redoubtable Russell T. Davies, this factual drama covers a particularly tumultuous period in the life of soap doyen Noele Gordon (Helena Bonham Carter). 

Nolly, as she was affectionately known to her friends, became a TV superstar thanks to her show-stealing turn as Meg Richardson in Crossroads. In 1981, while still riding high after 17 years at the top, Gordon was unceremoniously sacked without any warning or explanation. She was utterly devastated. 

Gordon was a fabulous showbiz trouper of the old school, they really don’t make ‘em like that anymore. Her story encapsulates the fickle, cutthroat vagaries of fame. 

The cast also includes Mark Gatiss as Gordon’s dear showbiz chum, Larry Grayson. What’s not to love?

Without Sin – ITVX, available now

ITV’s rebranded streaming service, ITVX, hasn’t scrimped on Major New Drama output since it launched last month. 

The obvious highlights so far are David Tennant in Litvinenko, plus Damian Lewis and Guy Pearce in A Spy Among Friends, both of which can be watched for free in their entirety. The same goes for Without Sin, which ‘dropped’ just after Christmas. 

A stark psychological thriller, it stars Vicky McClure as the grieving mother of a murdered teenager. In an attempt to rebuild her shattered life, she decides to visit her daughter’s killer in prison. 

The killer is played by Johnny Harris, an actor with whom McClure shared several harrowing scenes in the TV spin-off from This Is England.

Welcome to Chippendales – Disney+, January

A canny entrepreneur, Somen "Steve" Banerjee dreamed up that male striptease phenomenon the Chippendales in 1979. He was later found guilty of being an accessory to murder. 

This drama, which received mostly positive reviews when it premiered in America recently, delves into his murky saga. If you’re not familiar with the details, then I suggest you go in blind. Do not Google Banerjee, as Welcome to Chippendales thrives upon its multitudinous truth-is-stranger-than-fiction twists. 

I can’t vouch for the whole series as I’ve only seen two episodes, but if you’re anything like me – a sucker for weird stories about extreme showbiz hubris, crime and corruption - then I daresay you’ll be intrigued from the get-go. 

Masters of the Air – Apple TV+, early 2023

The final part of a trilogy that began with Band of Brothers followed by The Pacific, this Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg-produced miniseries focuses on the Eighth Air Force of the United States Army during World War II. 

The hallmarks of its esteemed predecessors were historical accuracy, sympathetic portrayals of the key characters, and an unflinching approach to the horrors of war. There’s no reason to suspect that Masters of the Air won’t continue in that tradition. 

As always, it boasts a large ensemble cast. Watch out for Austin Butler, who recently shone with his performance as Elvis in Baz Luhrmann’s magisterial biopic, and our next TARDIS coordinator, Ncuti Gatwa (more of whom below).

The Idol – Sky Atlantic, early 2023

A drama devised by the musician and actor Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, this sounds – in theory at least – like a frank deconstruction of the modern pop biz. 

Lily-Rose Depp stars as an aspiring pop idol. The sudden pressures placed upon her trigger a nervous breakdown. Enter a self-help guru/cult leader played by Tesfaye, who promises to put her career back on track. What could possibly go wrong? 

That synopsis suggests a scathing showbiz satire on the way vulnerable young people are exploited by opportunistic charlatans, so let’s hope it makes its point with acute anger and sensitivity. 

The Idol, sadly, marks the final screen appearance of Anne Heche, who left us long before her time was due.

Succession – Sky Atlantic, Spring

Glory be, it’s back. One of the most outstanding TV dramas of recent years, HBO’s Succession joins the likes of Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and Mad Men in that rarefied category of ‘American Dramas That Really Are As Good As Everyone Says They Are’. 

If you haven’t seen this scabrous show before, the basic gist is this: Brian Cox plays the monstrous multimillionaire patriarch of a deeply dysfunctional family. They’re all awful yet utterly compelling and pathetically comical. 

Created by Jesse Armstrong of Peep Show and The Thick of It renown, it’s an aghast meditation on the terrifyingly all-powerful likes of Murdoch, Trump and Musk. 

Newcomers are advised to gorge on every episode before season four begins.

Doctor Who – BBC One, Autumn

We’ll have to wait a while until we get to see new Doctor Ncuti Gatwa in action, but the anticipation is palpable. 

The next series heralds the return of writer/producer Russell T. Davies – that man again - who revived Doctor Who so successfully back in 2005. 

It’s been a lean few years for the show, its popularity declined under the hapless stewardship of previous head writer Chris Chibnall, but if anyone can reverse this beleaguered institution’s fortunes, it’s RTD. 

The comeback kicks off with three specials starring the beloved pairing of former Doctor David Tennant and his companion Catherine Tate. 

Gatwa – a striking actor who oozes charisma – will take over at Christmas, although a recent teaser trailer suggests we’ll see him before then. Optimism reigns supreme.

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.

IMAGINE... MIRIAM MARGOLYES: UP FOR GRABS + INSIDE NO. 9 + DOCTOR WHO

A version of this article was originally published in The Courier on 23rd April 2022.

NEXT WEEK’S TV

Imagine… Miriam Margolyes: Up for Grabs – Monday, BBC One, 11:40pm

The latest episode of this long-running arts strand focuses on an eccentric National Treasure ™. In the tolerable company of Alan Yentob, Miriam Margolyes reflects upon her fascinating life and career. 

The opening scene is quite telling. Margolyes has an effusive review framed in her hallway. She rolls her eyes and shrugs while pointing out that it’s from the Daily Mail. The irony isn’t lost on her. She’s gay, left-wing and progressive. Which makes it all the more remarkable that she’s so warmly embraced by just about everybody. Such is the force of her charmingly smutty, witty personality. 

Eloquent and self-deprecating, Margolyes is a good egg. The programme also reminds us of her impressive acting range.

Long Lost Family Special: Shipped to Australia – Monday, STV, 9pm

This is terribly sad and angering. After World War Two and right up until the early 1970s, thousands of British children were shipped off to Australia with the promise of a better life. Many of them ended up in horrific institutions mired in physical and sexual abuse. Long Lost Family mainstays Nicky Campbell and Davina McCall highlight a scandal that should be common knowledge. 

The episode revolves around a lovely man who lost all contact with his brothers when he was sent to Tasmania. For decades his British relatives assumed that he was living the dream. He’d forgotten all about them. Nothing could be further from the truth. 

When he finally reunites with his family in England, well, you can imagine.

Inside No. 9 – Wednesday, BBC Two, 10pm

Our latest setting is a Welsh village primary school. A newly hired teacher (Reece Shearsmith) has big shoes to fill, as the pupils and staff (Steve Pemberton plays the headmaster) are still in thrall to his much-loved predecessor. But he tries his best to inspire the kids with his heartfelt lessons about environmental issues. 

This being Inside No. 9, things take a cruel and unusual turn. Inappropriate comments and vegetable-based misunderstandings ensue (trust me, that makes sense in context). 

It isn’t one of the strongest episodes, but the denouement, while not entirely surprising, is quite good fun. And I will never tire of Pemberton and Shearsmith’s unabashed fondness for Carry On style humour. They have no shame.

Luxury Food for Less – Thursday, Channel 4, 8pm

Plump up a cushion and get out your notebooks as lifestyle experts – nice work if you can get it – Michelle Ackerley and Sophie Morgan explain to we mere mortals how it’s apparently quite possible to stock your larder with great food while on a budget. Yep, it’s one of those programmes. 

They meet with various supermarket insiders and the culinary boffins responsible for some of Britain’s most popular healthy ready meals. 

I haven’t seen the show, but it sounds well-meaning. I’m recommending it only because I can practically guarantee that it will contain at least one or two nuggets of useful information. Which, if you’re anything like me, you’ll immediately forget while devouring a packet of crisps.

Julia Bradbury: Breast Cancer and Me – Thursday, STV, 9pm

The popular television personality Julia Bradbury was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021. During this candid, tender and sensitive programme, she talks us through her arduous emotional and physical ordeal. We also spend time with her sister and their octogenarian mother. 

Bradbury doesn’t want anyone to feel sorry for her. She’s fully aware that her story is of no more importance than anyone else’s. She’s also aware that her celebrity status can be exploited as a force for good: one hopes that other breast cancer patients will gain some succour from her honest and open account. 

There is anguish. There is hope. Hats off to all concerned for this valuable and admirably unsentimental essay.

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

Channel 4’s stalwart investigative journalism series visits St Louis this week. It’s a city in the harrowing grip of a drug addiction crisis. Fentanyl is a powerful opioid that, according to research, has claimed more African American lives in recent years than Covid. 

When Krishnan Guru-Murthy meets with local residents, he discovers that many of those addicted to Fentanyl exist, barely, within the ignored margins of society. Some of them are homeless. Some of them are sex workers. He also interviews a local pastor who explains how drug use has become a source of self-medication for these tragically neglected people. 

Same as it ever was, but it’s a vitally important point that’s always worth repeating.

Here We Go – Friday, BBC One, 8:30pm

Here’s a new pre-watershed family sitcom for which I can only provide some faint yet vaguely hopeful praise. It’s amusing, likeable, and I can’t fault its cast of excellent comic actors. 

Jim Howick (Horrible Histories; Ghosts) plays the unemployed patriarch of an extended middle-class family. He’s a textbook harmless ‘dad joke’ buffoon. His wife is played by Katherine Parkinson. Alison Steadman and Tom Basden (who also wrote the series) crop up as his in-laws. 

The whole thing is filmed from the perspective of the teenage son, who’s working on a documentary for his Media Studies course. 

Your obvious reference points are Peep Show and Outnumbered. I’ll reserve judgement on this one, but it does show some promise.

LAST WEEK’S TV

Doctor Who – Sunday 17th April, BBC One

Jodie Whittaker’s penultimate adventure - the 13^th Doctor will regenerate in one final special later this year – reintroduced the Sea Devils, a classic series foe who last appeared on screen in 1984. They barely made an impression.

Set in early 19^th century China, this slapdash yarn also involved a real-life historical figure, the pirate Madame Ching.

A potentially great Doctor Who supporting character, but inevitably that potential was squandered by the entirely incompetent outgoing showrunner Chris Chibnall in an episode flooded with all the frustrating hallmarks of his era: perfunctory plotting, characterisation and dialogue. Does he ever bother with a second draft? 

Despite the shoddy writing and direction, it did at least boast some arresting visuals; the TARDIS resting on the seabed provided a rare moment of magic in an era conspicuously bereft of the stuff. Mild credit where it’s due.

As always, Whittaker transcended Chibnall’s shortcomings with her natural charm and energy. But she deserved so much better. Such a waste.

The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe – Sunday 17th April to Wednesday 20th April, STV

Twenty years ago, John Darwin from Hartlepool faked his own death in order to claim his life insurance. He then proceeded to live next door to his wife, Anne, while keeping a supposedly low profile. In 2007, the Darwins were exposed, charged and imprisoned. 

We’re all familiar with the surface details of this bizarre saga, but writer Chris Lang’s engrossing dramatization dug into the complex emotional core. 

Darwin came across as an irresponsible narcissist, a truly awful, selfish bully who gaslit Anne (the story was primarily told from her guilt-ridden, sympathetic perspective) while sparing no thought for the feelings of his children: they genuinely thought their dad was dead. A harrowing ordeal for Anne and those boys. They were John Darwin’s victims. 

Lang and his cast – outstandingly led by Eddie Marsan and Monica Dolan – got the nuanced tragicomic tone just right.

TALENT + TWO DOORS DOWN + DOCTOR WHO

This article was originally published in The Courier on 4th December 2021.

NEXT WEEK’S TV

Talent – Tuesday, BBC Scotland, 10pm

This charming documentary peers behind the scenes of a Scottish talent agency run by one Sonia Scott Mackay. A documentarian’s dream, Sonia is colourful, tenacious and utterly dedicated to her eclectic roster of clients. 

The programme focuses on four of them: a paramedic and mother of four who has recently broken into acting; an all-rounder (he’s in a Steps tribute act among other things) who’s had a tough time of late; a charismatic chap with a chance of appearing as an extra in a major Hollywood film; and a young actor/model who has experienced prejudice due to her disabilities. 

They’re all lovely people. And while their stories are sometimes poignant, the overall tone is celebratory.

Two Doors Down – Monday, BBC Two, 10pm

Series five of this deservedly popular BBC Scotland sitcom only runs to a mere three episodes. But it’s always a pleasure spending time with these discomfited suburban neighbours. 

In episode one they gather for champagne and curry. While Christine (Elaine C. Smith) struggles with an upset stomach, Ian reveals that he was recently beaten up by some thugs; but that’s nothing compared to the consternation that ensues when his partner Gordon refrains from drinking alcohol. 

As always, writers Simon Carlyle and Gregor Sharp bless their exceptional cast with sharply observed material. Two Doors Down has earned its place on the sofa alongside great single-setting sitcoms such as The Royle Family and Friday Night Dinner.

The Cult of Conspiracy: QAnon – Tuesday, Channel 4, 9pm

The American far-right movement QAnon revolves around one of the most bizarre conspiracy theories of recent years. The details are too sordid to divulge in a family newspaper, but suffice to say these people are members of a deluded cult who believe that sinister forces were conspiring against Donald Trump during his time in office. As if he needed any help in torpedoing his presidency. 

This documentary from journalist Ben Zand spends time with some of QAnon’s most devout believers, in an attempt to understand them on a human level. What led them down this convoluted path of outlandish lies? Louis Theroux will presumably be narked that Zand arrived at this grimly fascinating subject before him.

Nadiya’s Fast Flavours – Thursday, BBC Two, 8:30pm

Nadiya Hussein’s latest culinary odyssey is all about experimenting with flavour in a relatively simple way. 

A sprightly wizard at play in her spacious pastel-coloured kitchen, this week she bakes a loaf of banana bread with salted caramel sauce and a sprinkling of thyme; sculpts some sky-scraping Bombay burgers; serves a platter of sweet and spicy chicken bites; and unveils her very own apple and dumpling pie. “The ultimate put your feet up pie,” she enthuses. Which is a rather pleasing arrangement of words, isn’t it? 

‘Perfect lifestyle’ programmes such as this can often be quite vexing, but Hussein keeps annoyance at bay with her natural sunny charm. She’s a nicely unpretentious host.

And Just Like That… – Thursday, Sky Showcase, 9pm

All we really know about this sequel to Sex and the City is that Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon are reprising their roles. Kim Cattrall has declined to take part, for reasons she’s discreetly kept to herself. And they’re none of our business, frankly. 

She’ll be missed, but if these ten half-hour episodes somehow manages to recapture everything that was good about the show before it became a parody of itself, then the whole thing will be worth it. 

Revivals rarely work, but exceptions aren't unheard of. And surely it can’t be worse than the widely reviled Sex and the City 2? That’s not humanly possible. The series begins with a double-bill.

Grayson’s Art Club: An Exhibition for Britain – Friday, Channel 4, 8pm

Grayson Perry and his wife Philippa are an always welcome presence on our screens, they’re a united force for good. In this one-off instalment of their egalitarian series, the Perrys curate an exhibition displaying artworks created during lockdown. 

Earlier this year, they received more than 17,000 submissions from members of the public, as well as pieces created by professional artists and various celebrities (their guests include Boy George and Johnny Vegas). 

The exhibition opens in Bristol on 4^th December, hence why the programme is still being edited as I write these words on 28^th November, but I can pretty much guarantee that it will be worth your time. Grayson’s Art Club is a quietly life-affirming project.

Vienna Blood – Friday, BBC Two, 9pm

Set in early 1900s Vienna, this pulp melodrama unfolds at times like a fever dream. That’s a compliment of sorts. Matthew Beard stars as Dr Max Liebermann, a Sigmund Freud acolyte who assists the police with their inquiries. 

Series two begins with the death of an elderly Hungarian countess, who has seemingly drowned in her bath. The police assume that she took her own life. Naturally, there’s more to the case than that. The deceased was one of Liebermann’s patients, but he can’t betray her trust. At least not at first. 

Vienna Blood is written by Stephen Thompson, whose credits include Doctor Who and Sherlock, which might give you some idea of the slightly heightened tone.

LAST WEEK’S TV

Freddie Mercury: The Final Act – Saturday 27th November, BBC Two

Freddie Mercury has been the subject of numerous documentaries since his untimely death from AIDS in 1991, but this excellent 90-minute endeavour wasn’t just about His Majesty. 

A sensitive chronicle of Freddie’s tragic final years, the film also examined the widespread panic and ‘gay plague’ hysteria surrounding HIV. Like Sky’s recent series Positive, it served as a blunt reminder of the vile homophobia that was once served up every day during public discourse on this issue. 

A case in point: some appalling archive footage of MP David Blunkett describing Freddie’s lifestyle as “bizarre… and quite unacceptable.” This, remember, was only 30 years ago. No wonder Roger Taylor couldn’t hide his anger. 

Doctor Who – Sunday 28th November, BBC One

Fair play to divisive showrunner Chris Chibnall, this truncated serial is clearly the best thing he’s written for Doctor Who. Many flaws and all, it’s been quite enjoyable in a superficial way. 

So even if Sunday’s finale collapses in on itself (a very real possibility), the journey was diverting for the most part. The penultimate episode even featured a comic scene with jokes which actually landed.

And Jodie Whittaker, who’s been sadly ill-served during her tenure, has to her credit usually managed to rise above the material she’s been lumbered with. 

She’s been particularly good and ‘properly’ Doctorish during this almost valedictory run. It’s as if Chibnall has finally worked out how to write for her. Better late than never I suppose.

 

 

 

POSITIVE + PADDY & CHRISTINE McGUINNESS: OUR FAMILY AND AUTISM + DOCTOR WHO

This article was originally published in The Courier on 27th November 2021.

NEXT WEEK’S TV

Positive – Wednesday, Sky Showcase, 9pm

Fittingly, the first episode of this thoroughly researched three-part series goes out on World AIDS Day. It’s an insightful study of Britain’s response to HIV over the last 40 years, told via moving personal testimonies. 

The story begins in 1981, when virtually nothing was known about this new disease. It captures a growing sense of widespread fear and confusion, as Britain’s gay community come to terms with the sheer tragic scale of the situation. Meanwhile, a broiling climate of moral panic is stoked up by homophobic tabloid reports. 

Younger viewers will doubtless be shocked by the blatant ignorance and prejudice endemic within British society at that time. The warmth and dignity of the contributors provides a welcome counterbalance.

Winter Walks – Monday to Thursday, BBC Four, 7:30pm

A sleeper hit during last year’s locked-down winter, this meditative series returns for another gentle bout of celebrity rambling. 

It’s an intimate affair in which the presenters film their solo jaunts using a 360-degree camera. They occasionally bump into people along the way, but for the most part they’re alone while thinking out loud (that’s the idea anyway; they’ve obviously considered what they’re going to say beforehand). It’s an appealing celebration of the sights and sounds of rural England; tranquillity incarnate. 

This year’s walkers are farmer and author Amanda Owen, hip priest Kate Bottley, BBC radio presenter Nihal Arthanayake and the inescapable Alastair Campbell, about whom I’ll say nothing; let’s not spoil the mood.

The Hunt for Bible John – Monday, BBC Scotland, 9pm

The final part of this fascinating series traces the contours of a police investigation which, as we know, ultimately went nowhere. There is no neat ending to this awful saga, no closure or justice for the victims and their loved ones. Bible John vanished into the ether. 

The police had practically nothing to go on beyond a vague description of the killer’s appearance. They were stumbling blindly in the dark, so much so they even enlisted the services of a flamboyant Dutch ‘clairvoyant’. A widely publicised Photofit not only led to hundreds of false leads, it stirred an already febrile atmosphere of fear and paranoia. 

The programme also exposes some appalling attitudes towards women, attitudes we recognise today as victim-blaming.

Stath Lets Flats – Tuesday, Channel 4, 10pm

The current series of this endearingly daft farce ends with the Greek wedding of Stath’s dad; the family patriarch and business tycoon. 

If you haven’t seen Stath Lets Flats before, then please allow me to nudge you towards every episode – there are eighteen in total – on streaming service All 4. It’s a charming, silly thing which pivots around Stath (series creator Jamie Demetriou), a hapless man-child who struggles with the basic requirements of his job as an estate agent. 

Demetriou’s sibling Nastasia, who you may recognise from What We Do in the Shadows, plays Stath’s sister. They’re naturally funny comic actors. It’s up there with Derry Girls as the best British sitcom of the last few years.

Meet You at the Hippos – Tuesday, BBC Scotland, 10pm

In this one-off documentary, actor Mark Bonnar visits Scotland’s five post-war new towns: Cumbernauld, East Kilbride, Glenrothes, Irvine and Livingston. Why? Well, back in the 1970s his artist father Stan was involved in a commendable civic mission to add some colour to those utopian visions of the future. He created the stone hippos in Glenrothes, where I grew up. Thank you, Stan, they’re delightful. 

Father and son throw themselves into this idiosyncratic paean to the joys of public art. Despite the irreverent post-modern tone – it’s partly a pastiche of earnest art documentaries – the programme succeeds as a fundamentally heartfelt piece of socio-political history. Artists like Stan make the world a more interesting and magical place.

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

Our book club attendees this week are a quartet of comedians: Alan Davies, Sarah Kendall, Suzi Ruffell and Love Island narrator Iain Stirling. 

Apart from Davies, none of them are voracious readers. But that’s partly why this show works in its modest little way. There is something quite heartening about people enthusing over things they’d never normally bother with. And the whole point, of course, is to encourage viewers to investigate these books for themselves. 

Titles under review include Ascension, a spy thriller written by Oliver Harris, and Tan Twan Eng’s 2012 novel The Garden of Evening Mists, which is told from the perspective of a woman who was interred in a Japanese POW camp during WWII.

Paddy & Christine McGuinness: Our Family and Autism – Wednesday, BBC One, 9pm

The comedian and gameshow host Paddy McGuinness has three young children, all of whom have been diagnosed with autism. In this sensitive yet unsentimental programme, McGuinness and his wife Christine talk candidly about their situation. 

“Every family’s experience is different,” says McGuinness, “we can only speak for ours.” But in doing so, they will hopefully provide some succour to other parents with children on the autism spectrum. Their goal is to challenge preconceptions while gaining a greater understanding of neurodiversity. They also give voice to some kids with autism; no one talks over them or pontificates on their behalf. 

This, by some considerable margin, is the most valuable piece of television McGuinness has ever made.

LAST WEEK’S TV

Doctor Who – Sunday 21st November, BBC One

I wouldn’t blame anyone who abandoned this series after the incoherent slog of episode three, but last week’s claustrophobic Weeping Angels chapter was a significant improvement: Doctor Who in spooky folk horror mode. 

I’m assuming that Maxine Alderton, who co-wrote the episode with befuddling showrunner Chris Chibnall, was responsible for the haunted village-under-siege elements of the episode, i.e. the good bits. 

However, for all his obvious faults, I will grant Chibnall this: he does have a knack for conjuring up striking concepts and visuals. They never have any emotional heft, they’re just ‘cool ideas’, but on a purely superficial level the Doctor being transformed into a Weeping Angel was an effective cliffhanger. He’s a flashy journeyman.  

 

MIRIAM & ALAN: LOST IN SCOTLAND + WORZEL GUMMIDGE + DOCTOR WHO

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

NEXT WEEK’S TV

Miriam & Alan: Lost in Scotland – Tuesday, Channel 4, 9:15pm

This new series involves Miriam Margolyes - whose father was Glaswegian - and Alan Cumming driving around Scotland in a campervan. Sounds like fun? Well yes, for the most part it is, but episode one features a saddening sequence in which Cumming revisits his childhood home in rural Tayside. 

His father was an abusive tyrant; watching his otherwise sunny demeanour fade as the awful memories come flooding back feels like a private moment we perhaps shouldn’t be intruding upon. But I understand why Cumming felt the need to share it. Their encounter with old pal Bill Paterson in the beautiful village of Fordyce is also rather bittersweet. 

There are some amusing moments too, though, I assure you.

Dispatches: Did Brexit Work for Business? – Monday, Channel 4, 8:30pm

The latest epistle from Channel 4’s long-running current affairs strand examines Brexit’s impact so far on the fortunes of British businesses. Reporter Harry Wallop strikes an irritatingly arch tone, as if it’s all a big joke, but if you can ignore that – good luck - the programme makes a sobering stats-heavy point. 

It’s based on an exclusive survey and some independent analysis (which factored in the effects of the pandemic). 635 small and medium-sized businesses were polled. Nearly half of them declared that they’re now doing significantly less overseas trade than before. Some of them have stopped trading with the EU entirely. 

They’re wandering through a bureaucratic minefield, an import/export shambles. Who would’ve thought?

The Outlaws – Monday, BBC One, 11:20pm

Worlds continue to collide in the fourth episode of Stephen Merchant’s good-natured comedy drama. This week, the community service gang’s accidentally appropriated drug loot needs to be discreetly laundered, and hapless lawyer Greg (Merchant) is the very man for the job. 

This leads to an amusing scene in which he has to pretend he’s familiar with the Twilight saga (it all makes sense in context). 

The Outlaws is occasionally quite contrived, but it’s also sweet, funny and sincere. The characters are engaging, the storyline is solid, and I admire the assured way in which it balances comedy and drama without any whiplash shifts in tone. Ricky Gervais could learn a lot from his erstwhile comedy partner. But he won't.

DIY SOS: The Big Build Children in Need Special – Tuesday, BBC One, 9pm

A Hull-based charity funded by Children in Need, the St Michael’s Youth Project provides social opportunities for thousands of local kids. An admirable endeavour. Its latest expansion plan involves a countryside campsite and adventure playground; so who better than the DIY SOS team to bring that dream to fruition? 

Regular host Nick Knowles was too busy with other work commitments to take part in this very special episode, but emergency guest presenter Rhod Gilbert is an amiable temp. 

A particularly compassionate and politically-pointed episode, it conveys an important message about poverty. No one should be starving in Britain today; a shameful state of affairs. It is, would you believe, a quietly forthright plea for change.

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

An informal weekly book club, Between the Covers is a pleasant distraction. Hosted by the ever-so-likeable Sara Cox – an entirely natural broadcaster who, one suspects, is just as they appear to be on screen – it polls the opinions of various fiction-steeped celebs. 

This week’s line-up: comic actor John Thomson, cheerfully sentient toffee apple and Saturday Kitchen booze expert Olly Smith, plus two excellent comedians, Fern Brady and Lou Sanders. 

Books under review include new releases The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald and The Coward by Jared McGinnis. Brady also recommends one of her favourites, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson, while Smith waxes lyrical about the novelisation of Ghostbusters.

Children in Need 2021 – Friday, BBC One, 7pm

Highlights of this year’s telethon include: a special teddy bear-based instalment of The Repair Shop; BBC News and sport journalists playing a round or two of I Can See Your Voice; Team GB and Paralympics GB competing in a school sports day; and CBBC presenters Sam and Mark taking on Danny Dyer's wonderfully ludicrous gameshow, The Wall. 

Dyer will hopefully pause proceedings to blearily demand some viewer donations: “Give the kiddies some readies, you muppets!” 

Your hosts for the evening are Ade Adepitan, Mel Giedroyc, Graham Norton, Chris Ramsey and Alex Scott. A charitable celeb-based edition of University Challenge unfolds on BBC Two at 10pm, and the benign ghost of Terry Wogan haunts proceedings throughout.

Griff’s Great New Zealand Adventure – Friday, STV, 8pm

The very definition of avuncular, Griff Rhys Jones is one of the imperial doyens of celebrity travelogues. Yes, it’s an overstocked market, but Griff is particularly good at This Sort of Thing. He’s funny, charming and inquisitive. 

In episode one of his latest odyssey, he surfs down some sand dunes, checks into New Zealand’s oldest hotel, bakes a haphazard kiwi pavlova, and marvels at some striking contemporary art dotted throughout a verdant private farm populated by giraffes. 

He also learns about some traditional Maori customs and, err, sings God Save the Queen with a sensational indigenous choir. That’s a slightly awkward moment, but clearly well-intentioned. It’s a culturally sensitive and respectful programme; a nice vicarious vacation.

LAST WEEK’S TV

Worzel Gummidge – Saturday 6th November, BBC One

What a magical piece of television this is. Writer/director/star Mackenzie Crook’s fresh adaptation of the Worzel Gummidge saga has, since 2019, become a yearly treat: a bucolic, summery balm during our deep winter depression. 

The latest episode featured Crook’s old Detectorists cohort Toby Jones in multiple roles, if only to prove that you literally can’t have enough of Toby Jones. That other indispensable character actor, Paul Kaye, also burned brightly (sorry) as an affable if somewhat petulant Guy Fawkes effigy. 

This is bona fide family entertainment: it’s warm, witty, slightly unsettling in its whimsically folk horrific way, and entirely bereft of cynicism. Crook's Gummidge is an ugly/beautiful triumph. Look out for two more episodes over Christmas. 

Doctor Who – Sunday 7th November, BBC One

Episode two of Chris Chibnall’s (more or less) final lap was a pleasingly straightforward affair. Time has gone haywire, hence why the Sontarans are involved in the Crimean War, but Chibnall didn’t get too bogged down in whatever his overarching plan is. 

He delivered a traditional adventure yarn in which Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor was actually allowed to show some gumption and moral fibre for once; Chibnall, inexplicably, usually writes the 13^th Doctor as a bemused passenger in her own show. 

I have little faith in his ability to tie this serial together in a satisfying way, but that hopefully doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Russell T. Davies will be back soon enough. So far, so fun.