PAINTING BIRDS WITH JIM & NANCY MOIR | DEBORAH JAMES: BOWELBABE IN HER OWN WORDS | THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF A KOSHER MARRIAGE

This article was originally published in The Courier on 15th April 2023.

NEXT WEEK’S TV

Painting Birds with Jim & Nancy Moir – Thursday, Sky Showcase, 8pm

Jim Moir, aka Vic Reeves, has combined his lifelong passion for drawing and painting with a love of birdwatching. 

In this tranquil new series, Jim and his wife Nancy travel around the more scenic parts of Britain in search of feathered treasure. It’s an absorbing celebration of creativity and the natural world. 

Jim is no dilettante, he’s a talented artist; each episode involves him painting a delicate portrait of the birds he spies along the way. His sweet relationship with Nancy is central to the show’s appeal, they’re easy-going company. 

Fans of Great Canal Journeys with Prunella Scales and Timothy West – as well as Gone Fishing with Jim’s erstwhile comedy partner Bob Mortimer – will find much to enjoy here.

Deborah James: Bowelbabe in Her Own Words – Monday, BBC Two, 9pm

Deborah James was diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer at the age of 35. Via podcasts, blogs and a hugely popular social media presence, she shared her story to raise awareness and reach out to people in a similar situation. 

This moving documentary, which was filmed during the last few months of her life in 2022, follows Deborah as she arranges her “death admin”. It’s an understandably difficult watch at times, especially towards the end, but Deborah’s frankness is to her eternal credit. 

She was funny, charming, articulate and always truthful about just how awful it is to live with cancer. Her Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK has so far raised more than £7 million. She made a difference.

First Dates – Monday, Channel 4, 10pm

The latest series of this romantic old warhorse commences with a father of three who can’t find someone to accommodate his somewhat complicated family commitments. 

We also spend time with an avid gamer who’d quite like to meet a fellow ‘geek’, a former holiday rep and fulltime dog lover, and an acting student who requires a similarly creative partner in her life. 

I haven’t seen this particular episode, preview copies weren’t available, but I’ll always flag up First Dates whenever space allows. 

If you’ve somehow never seen it before, well, it’s not what you might expect from a shamelessly contrived show in which we eavesdrop upon first daters in a restaurant. Voyeuristic, yes, but never cruel. A cute endeavour.

Manhunt: The Raoul Moat Story – Wednesday, STV, 9pm

Thirteen years ago, Raoul Moat from Tyneside embarked upon a killing spree. One of the biggest manhunts in British police history ensued. 

This grimly compelling documentary features interviews with police officers, journalists and, most importantly, family members of one of Moat’s victims, Christopher Brown. 

There’s no denying that programmes of this nature prey upon our discomfiting fascination with terrible crimes and the circumstances surrounding them, but this one is more tasteful than most. It does at least pay tribute to the people who lost their lives during those eight days of high alert. 

The Hunt for Raoul Moat, a three-part ITV drama based on the case, begins on Sunday 16th April. I’ll review that in next week’s column.

The Highs and Lows of a Kosher Marriage – Wednesday, BBC One, 10:40pm

This epistle from the Love, Faith and Me strand focuses on Saul and Shoshi, a happily married young couple who observe the strict laws of their Orthodox Jewish faith. They avoid all physical contact for twelve days of every month, when Shoshi has her period. The marital bed is separated to avoid temptation. 

The couple, who first met as teenagers, ruminate candidly about their devout faith and their struggle to conceive. 

They also gently disagree at times. Shoshi asserts that she already has a loving family with Saul, she’s content with what they have together, but he thinks there’s no such thing as a family without children. 

Like every episode of this series, it’s illuminating and non-judgemental.

Taskmaster – Thursday, Channel 4, 10:30pm

In this week’s crackerjack tumult of entertaining silliness, Kiell Smith-Bynoe is forced to play Bingo without any shoes on, Mae Martin treats us to an unorthodox drum solo, and the entire team of our professionally mirth-making contestants - Smith-Bynoe, Martin, Frankie Boyle, Jenny Éclair and Ivo Graham – are tasked with devising an ingenious egg-carrying boat race. 

Taskmaster is basically Heinz Wolff’s Great Egg Race – there’s a reference for the teenagers – with a more knowing cadence, and that’s precisely why it works. An endless streak of inventiveness and a whole load of nonsense unified in tandem for our entertainment. 

And your kids, if you have kids or find yourselves kid adjacent, will enjoy it too. Actual family fun.

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

The latest episode of this current affairs stalwart involves investigative reporter Guillermo Galdos following Brazilian federal police officers as they crack down on illegal Amazonian gold mining. 

Brazil officially exports a hundred tonnes of gold each year, but evidence suggests that almost half of the country’s gold trade comes from illegal sources. This has raised serious concerns for tech companies using gold in their products. 

Galdos discovers that the police have spent the last two years building a case against gold traders suspected of selling their ill-gotten gains to tech giants such as Apple. He also travels deep into the Amazon rainforests to witness first-hand the huge amount of damage wrought by the illegal gold mining trade.

THE PIANO | SCOTLAND'S GREATEST ESCAPE | HAPPY VALLEY

This article was originally published in The Courier on 11th August 2023.

NEXT WEEK’S TV

The Piano – Wednesday, Channel 4, 9pm

Imagine, if you can, a far more benign version of Britain’s Got Talent. That's basically what we're dealing with here, a series in which Claudia Winkelman travels around Britain to showcase the prowess of those non-professional musicians who gravitate towards free-to-use pianos in public places. 

Her odyssey begins at London’s St Pancras train station. Unbeknownst to the players, they’re being observed by the classical pianist Lang Lang and ‘00s hitmaker Mika. Each week they choose a favourite, who will eventually join them on stage for a very special concert at the Royal Festival Hall. 

The Piano is unabashedly sentimental at times, but its heart is in the right place. No one is belittled, and you may find yourself wowed by some of the talent on display.

The Agency: Unfiltered – Monday, BBC Scotland, 10pm

Amy and Kirsten are the owners of Scotland’s largest influencer agency. They represent over 20 successful clients. In this new series, we take a peek into their social media-savvy world.

Now, you could argue that the entire concept of influencing is utterly cynical, hollow and depressing. You could also argue that these kids are making an honest living in the belly of the capitalist beast. They’ve spied an opportunity and ran with it. Good luck to ‘em. Amy, Kirsten and their clients come across as nice, unpretentious people. 

This show will never be mistaken for a probing critique of the Zeitgeist. It’s rather stilted and contrived, but it means no harm whatsoever in the grand scheme of things.

First Dates Valentine’s – Tuesday, Channel 4, 10pm

Fred Sirieix and his colleagues presumably regard Valentine’s Day as a sacred occasion. Their very own Prosecco-fuelled Rapture. 

In this year’s love-happy special, our affable matchmakers play host to a ‘clubbing queen’ who’s grown tired of over-keen men, a Swedish baker who initially bonds with her date over a shared love of singing and ballet, and a woman who hasn’t dated since her arranged marriage dissolved a decade ago. 

We also meet Erin, a special effects make-up artist with cerebral palsy. Whenever she mentions her condition to potential online daters, they tend to disappear. Erin experiences her first ever blind date tonight.

Untold: Cheat Detectives: The Loyalty Test – Tuesday, Channel 4, 11:05pm

Preview copies weren’t available, but this documentary sounds like the troubling Yin to First Dates’ fluffy Yang. 

It delves into a murky online phenomenon driven by influencers doggedly devoted to exposing infidelity. But are their motives sincere? Do they really care about the relationships they’re investigating, or are they exploiting people for lucrative hits and views? 

Reporter Daisy Maskell questions the ethics of this growing trend. Her interviewees include a popular TikToker who is generating content based on a hashtag that’s been viewed over one billion times. 

Maskell also speaks to one of the TikToker’s clients, as they put their boyfriend through the test.

Scotland’s Greatest Escape – Wednesday, BBC Scotland, 10pm

Scotland is a beautiful, scenic country. You’ve probably noticed. So no wonder BBC Scotland knocks out travelogues at such a rapid rate of knots. It’s all on their doorstep. 

In this good-natured series, hosts JJ Chalmers and Grado spend time with viewers who took part in a poll to find Scotland’s best holiday destinations. A panel of experts take notes from afar. 

This week’s escapers are lifelong pals Karen and Karen, who sample the charms of some luxurious lodges in the Angus countryside. 

They also enjoy a bespoke overnight cruise around the west coast of Scotland, before winding up in an Ayrshire castle. Falconry and archery ensue. Not at the same time, obviously, that would be disastrous.

Prue and Danny’s Death Road Trip – Thursday, Channel 4, 9pm

The nation’s favourite cake-maker Prue Leith supports assisted dying. Her son, the Conservative MP Danny Kruger, is against it. In this programme, they take a trip around the USA and Canada. As you may be aware, assisted dying is legal in Canada. 

Leith first became aware of this debate when her brother endured a very slow and painful death. She believes that people should be allowed to leave this mortal coil with dignity. Kruger maintains that any potential change to UK legislation could lead to the abuse of vulnerable people. 

They meet a woman whose parents died peacefully together at a time of their choosing, and a doctor who insists that Canadian legislation has gone too far.

The National Comedy Awards For Stand Up to Cancer 2023 – Friday, Channel 4, 9pm

Your deserving nominations this year include Am I Being Unreasonable?, Derry Girls, Ghosts, Would I Lie to You? and Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing. Ricky Gervais’ egregious After Life has presumably been included due to some sort of unfortunate admin error. 

This awards ceremony was a must-see TV event in the ‘90s and early ‘00s, an unpredictable live event featuring famous comedians in various states of inebriation. Julian Clary’s infamous remark about Norman Lamont? Spike Milligan’s impudent message to Prince Charles? It all happened here. 

The Comedy Awards are a slicker affair these days, so don’t expect any wild detours along those lines, but at least it’s all held in aid of a good cause.

LAST WEEK’S TV 

Happy Valley – Sunday 5th February, BBC One

That sound you heard at around 10:50pm last Sunday was approximately eight million people yelping “Don’t go in!” when Catherine discovered the whereabouts of Tommy Lee Royce.

Their mesmerising final confrontation was faultlessly written and performed. Writer Sally Wainwright even managed to include a few notes of dry black comedy amidst the rage and recrimination. 

She also toyed with the ambiguity of whether Royce genuinely cared about his son, Ryan. Were his tears a sign of some genuine emotional attachment, or were they shed in self-pity? Wainwright and actor James Norton always ensured that Royce was never a mere pantomime villain. 

An exceptional drama, Happy Valley has taken its rightful place in TV’s marbled Pantheon.

MARTIN COMPSTON'S SCOTTISH FLING | DOC MARTIN | RIDLEY

This article was originally published in The Courier on 3rd September 2022.

NEXT WEEK’S TV

Martin Compston’s Scottish Fling – Thursday, BBC Scotland, 10pm and Friday, BBC Two, 9:30pm

The Line of Duty actor positively swells with national pride during this perfectly pleasant scenic travelogue. He reacquaints himself with Scotland in the company of his pal, the TV presenter Phil MacHugh. They’re an affable duo. 

The series begins on the West Coast, where Compston is from. In Dunoon they shoot the cheerfully innuendo-laden breeze (and play crazy golf) with RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner Lawrence Chaney. 

Later on, they climb a hill with Zahrah Mahmood, who’s made a name for herself on Instagram as The Hillwalking Hijabi. Their view from the summit is stunning. “You know how a lot of people say the great outdoors are their church?” she smiles, “I feel like this is my mosque.”

Inside Central Station – Monday, BBC One, 8pm

The latest series of this observational doc about Glasgow’s Central Station heralds some major changes for staff and passengers alike. 

We follow engineers as they deal with one of the biggest renovations the Argyll line has ever seen. This project necessitates the temporary closure of Glasgow Central’s low level station, which serves over five million passengers every year. 

Despite all of this stress and upheaval, everyone appears to take it in their stride. There’s no point complaining about minor inconveniences, especially when they’ll ultimately lead to improvements. Wise words, I know. 

Inside Central Station is a genial show, a modest little masterclass in how to compile a workplace documentary. It’s full of low-key character and charm.

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

The 28^th series of 24 Hours in A&E was filmed at St George’s Hospital in London during the lockdown autumn of 2020. It begins with Sara, who’s been rushed to A&E after collapsing at work. The doctors are concerned that she may have a bleed on the brain. 

Meanwhile, teenager Flynn hits a car while riding his bike, and Jane – who visits A&E with a severe headache – reflects upon her childhood spent in Zambia and Lancashire. 

As always, it’s a reliably tender compendium of human interest stories. The formula never changes, because it doesn’t need to. Our innate empathy connects us with these people. It could be you, me, or any of our loved ones in those hospital beds.

First Dates Hotel – Tuesday, Channel 4, 9pm

Another year, another spin-off series in which maître d’ Fred Sirieix and his matchmaking squad usher yet another group of hopefuls into their exotic luxury love shack. 

Ex-military paramedic Gareth has pretty much given up on the hope of ever meeting anyone. Gareth, having applied to appear on First Dates, obviously wasn’t expecting the producers to match him up with a theoretically perfect partner. 

The twist in this particular story – First Dates doesn’t half love its twists – is that Gareth and his date, Carys, once chatted with each other on a dating app. But they never took things any further than that. 

We also meet a retired taxidermist embarking upon her first date in 39 years.

Doc Martin – Wednesday, STV, 9pm

Martin Clunes has been playing TV’s most beloved Cornwall-based grumpy medic on and off for eighteen years. And now it’s time for him to say farewell to the character. 

The final series begins with our hero in self-imposed retirement, a decision he’s clearly starting to regret. Your special guest star is Fay Ripley, who plays a woman struggling with a stressful divorce. 

Doc Martin lasted so long for several very good and straightforward reasons: well-written scripts, lovely scenery and likeable characters brought to life by a solid cast, a cast spearheaded by Clunes exuding his uniquely lugubrious charisma. 

A warm, droll comedy drama with popular appeal, it achieved everything it ever set out to do.

Katie Price: Trauma and Me – Thursday, Channel 4, 9pm

Last year, Katie Price experienced PTSD following a car accident. In this documentary, she talks about her ongoing mental health struggles. 

The programme wasn’t available in time for my deadline, but I’m flagging it up because Price is a very candid and thoughtful person. The documentaries she’s fronted in recent years have always been worthwhile. This one features contributions from Price’s parents, who express understandable concern about their daughter’s wellbeing. 

Price, as always, interviews and listens to people who are experiencing similar problems. They discuss the various triggers that can cause them to spiral, while highlighting the ways in which we can help ourselves and each other. 

I predict with some confidence that it will all be handled sensitively.

LAST WEEK’S TV

Ridley – Sunday 28th August, STV

I’m still not entirely convinced that this new crime drama starring Adrian Dunbar isn’t a masterfully deadpan post-modern parody of every cliché in the Sad Cop Bingo playbook. 

He plays former DI Alex Ridley, who recently lost his wife and daughter in an arson attack. Naturally, Ridley lives alone in a big expensive house on the banks of a picturesque lake while listening to mournful jazz records. 

His replacement on the force, a former protégé, entices the great Ridley out of retirement to help her solve some mystifying cases. Perhaps that will give him a new lease of life? 

I mean, really. Come on. Dunbar, a fine actor, deserves better than this. So do we. 

The Capture – Sunday 28th August and Monday 29th August, BBC One

It’s been three years since series one of this superior conspiracy thriller – its return was presumably delayed by the pandemic – hence why series two began with a very lengthy recap. That wasn’t necessary, as it revolves around a new case for counter terrorism agent Rachel Carey (Holliday Grainger). 

Newcomers to the show would have experienced no problems following the action; the opening scene clearly established that the villains of the piece are capable of corrupting CCTV footage using sophisticated deepfake technology. The framed victim in this case is an up-and-coming government minister with ties to China. 

The Capture is a slick, smart confection that actually has something to say about real-world concerns surrounding data protection and surveillance.

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

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

NEXT WEEK’S TV

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Two Doors Down – Monday, BBC Two, 10pm

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Night Coppers – Tuesday, Channel 4, 9pm

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

First Dates – Thursday, Channel 4, 10pm

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

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

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

LAST WEEK’S TV

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

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

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

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

The Newsreader – Sunday 24th July, BBC Two

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

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

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

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

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

NEXT WEEK’S TV

Maryland – Wednesday, BBC Two, 10:05pm

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Unvaccinated – Wednesday, BBC Two, 9pm

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

First Dates – Thursday, Channel 4, 10pm

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

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

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

LAST WEEK’S TV

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Outlaws – Sunday 12th July, BBC One

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

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

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

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

I look forward to seeing what Merchant does next.

IT'S A SIN + SILENCED: THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF DISABLED BRITAIN + BACK

A version of this article was first published in The Courier on 16th January 2021.

NEXT WEEK’S TV

It’s a Sin – Friday, Channel 4, 9pm

The great Russell T. Davies returns with this '80s-set drama about a group of friends dealing with the AIDS epidemic. It begins optimistically, with four young gay men and one straight woman embracing their newfound lives. Freedom at last. But we know what’s just around the corner. 

In typical Davies style, It's a Sin explodes with energy, wit and a sharp eye for detail. His dialogue sings, his characters are textured. No ciphers here. He handles human tragedy with compassion, but never sinks into cheap sentiment. And he absolutely does not judge with the benefit of hindsight. It’s frank, stark: it pulls no punches. It’s also funny. He can’t help being funny. 

Ever since Queer as Folk over 20 years ago, he’s been telling vital stories about the LGBT community. This is an essential addition to his life’s work.

Mark Kermode’s Secrets of Cinema – Monday, BBC Four, 9pm

Everybody’s talkin’ ‘bout pop movies! Well, Kermode is anyway, as his enlightening series of essays continues. This genre combines his twin passions, so no wonder it’s one of his favourites. 

He begins with Bessie Smith in 1929 and ends with Beyoncé in 2020, taking in along the way various notable biopics, pop star vehicles, jukebox musicals and rockumentaries. 

Kermode fans won’t be surprised by some of his choices – famously, he once described the surprisingly gritty Slade in Flame as “the Citizen Kane of British pop movies” – but that doesn’t matter. It’s a pleasure listening to him wax lyrical about cult classics such as Jimmy Cliff’s trailblazing reggae drama, The Harder They Come, and The Monkees’ psychedelic masterpiece, Head.

Long Lost Family – Monday, STV, 9pm

If you’ve seen this show before, you’ll know how sensitive it is. The latest series begins with an Irish couple desperate to find out what happened to their first-born child. Phyllis and Kevin fell in love as teenagers. 

When she became pregnant, they knew it would cause a scandal within their strict Catholic community. They tried to run away, but were eventually forced to give their baby up for adoption. Ever since they’ve wanted him to know that he was loved.

Meanwhile, we meet a Scottish man who was, for complicated reasons, given away by his mother at an early age. He was taken in informally by a family, leaving no paper trail. Prepare to shed a tear or two.

Silenced: The Hidden Story of Disabled Britain – Tuesday, BBC Two, 9pm

In 2009, CBeebies presenter Cerrie Bernell attracted criticism from ‘concerned’ parents who claimed that her right arm, which ends just below the elbow, was frightening their children. 

Most people were appalled by such a blatant display of prejudice in our supposedly enlightened age, but as Bernell illustrates in this thoughtful documentary, these attitudes have been ingrained within society for an aeon and beyond. 

Her history lesson exposes a litany of blinkered assumptions, many of them made by well-meaning progressives who intensified the notion that people with disabilities can’t function within able-bodied society. They must be pitied, othered. For their own good. 

An often shocking saga, but Bernell provides some hope. We can challenge fear and bigotry by talking, listening and learning.

First Dates – Tuesday, Channel 4, 10pm

Lovers of the world unite, French Fred is back. I was suspicious of this amorous warhorse when it first appeared in 2013. A contrived, voyeuristic blind dating show? That’s bound to be quite nasty and embarrassing. But it’s not. 

Granted, the first episode of this latest series features a pair of young Tories who are objectively awful, but for the most part it’s a generous show that doesn’t beg us to sneer at people (sneering at Tories doesn’t count, they deserve it; fight the power, First Dates). 

Bittersweet service resumes with a charismatic former roadie, a charming Lithuanian woman and two men who have already slept with each other. Not all at the same time, of course! Sigh. Anyway, enjoy.

Back – Thursday, Channel 4, 10pm

Series one of this Mitchell and Webb sitcom was broadcast way back in the halcyon Before Times of 2017. Like their previous sitcom, the (journalese warning) cult smash Peep Show, it was enjoyed by the relatively small number of dedicated viewers who bothered to tune in. I was a member of that happy band, so I welcome its belated return. 

A farcical black comedy, it stars Mitchell as Stephen, a – what else? – stuffy neurotic whose life in rural Gloucestershire is sent into freefall when Andrew (Webb), a suspiciously benign stranger, turns up claiming to be his long-lost foster brother. The family welcome Andrew with open arms, but Stephen regards him as a scheming sociopath intent on stealing his soul. 

Created by Simon Blackwell (Peep Show; The Thick of It), it's notable for containing lots of actual jokes. Glory be.

LAST WEEK’S TV

Paul Sinha’s TV Showdown – Saturday 9th January, STV

This new TV quiz is quite good fun. The questions are incredibly easy, but it’s an amiable Saturday night time-passer. 

Dry-witted Chaser Paul Sinha is an obsessive pop culture trivia hound, a man after my own heart, so he’s the perfect choice of host. Team captains Rob Beckett (a professional comedian) and Faye Ripley (a Cold Feet actor) are merely there to make up the numbers.

Episode one’s undoubted highlight was Sinha deliberately mispronouncing John Fashanu’s surname a la Chris Morris in The Day Today, a niche comedy reference that pleased me to bits. The show inevitably leans towards TV that happened five minutes ago – no one was asked to identify Talfryn Thomas – but Sinha just about makes it work.

Happy Birthday Mr Bean – Sunday 10th January, STV

On New Year’s Day 1990, Rowan Atkinson unleashed his latest comic persona: the semi-silent Mr Bean, a selfish, spiteful yet weirdly endearing agent of chaos. Bean went on to become a global phenomenon, delighting millions with the universal language of slapstick. 

This was a cut above most comedy retrospectives in that it focused on the people who were actually responsible for creating the work in question. There were no celebrity talking heads gushing pointlessly over their favourite scenes. Instead, writers Richard Curtis, Robin Driscoll and the rubber-faced funnyman ™ himself delivered some insight into their creative process. 

Atkinson is renowned for his perfectionism, but wishes he wasn’t. “It’s more of a disease,” he lamented. “It’s very draining.”