BOOK REVIEW: Box of Delights: The Story of BBC Children's Television – 1967-1997

This article was orginally published in The Big Issue in February 2026.

Box of Delights: The Story of BBC Children's Television – 1967-1997, Richard Marson, out now, Ten Acre Books, £29.99

During his downtime while recording episodes of Play School, Johnny Ball would sometimes cheerfully drop-kick Humpty through the round window.

That's just one of the many vivid details contained within Richard Marson's Box of Delights: The Story of BBC Children's Television – 1967-1997, which serves as both a celebration of and elegy for a lost epoch of creativity pioneered by a colourful gang of mavericks, eccentrics and ideologically dedicated professionals.

A former editor-in-chief of Blue Peter, Marson has authored several excellent books about the 'golden age' of British TV, but this may be his magnum opus. It isn't a nostalgic list-based reference tome – not that there's anything wrong with those – it's a meticulously-researched, narrative-led piece of history examining the politics and culture of the BBC at a time when the in-house Children's Department was more or less left to its own ingenious devices.

Marson emphasises the important fact that so many of the brilliant producers who thrived during that era were women. He provides detailed character studies of all the key players while also finding room for information on seemingly every single programme the department produced during its heyday.

The epic narrative is anchored by all the behind-the-scenes drama of cornerstones such as Blue Peter, Grange Hill, Jackanory, Newsround, Record Breakers and those Saturday morning live behemoths, the latter of which basically invented a brand new form of TV presentation.

Marson's mission is ably abetted by an often delightfully indiscreet cadre of interviewees, including Johnny Ball, Zoe Ball, Russell T. Davies, Sarah Greene, Chris Packham, Andi Peters, Phil Redmond, Michaela Strachan and Anthea Turner. Their frankness is one of the book's key assets; at this stage in their lives and careers they clearly have nothing to lose by telling the unfiltered truth as they see it.

There's no point denying the gossipy allure of a book in which a certain beloved children's TV presenter – not one of those mentioned above - is accused of being an insufferable egomaniac. And some of the more hair-raising anecdotes were, as Marson and his interviewees are quick to acknowledge, very much the product of 'different times'. To examine the past truthfully, outdated attitudes must occasionally rear their ugly heads.

But this is, fundamentally, an affectionate tribute to the vast array of gifted people who devoted their professional lives to making high-quality television steeped in those core Reithian values: inform, educate, entertain.

We will, for various maddening executive-led reasons, never see their likes again.

BOOK REVIEW: A Mind Of My Own by Kathy Burke

This article was originally published in The Big Issue in January 2026.

A Mind Of My Own by Kathy Burke is out now (Gallery UK, £22)

Kathy Burke’s mother, Bridget, died of cancer when Burke was only two years old. Her late father, Pat, was an alcoholic prone to violent rages. As Burke half-jokingly declares in the foreword to her frank, funny and wise autobiography, A Mind of My Own, Pat is the only ghostwriter you’ll find in these pages.

This is no misery memoir by any stretch of the imagination, Burke is far too self-aware for that sort of nonsense, but she does capture the stark reality and tedium of growing up with an alcoholic parent in the house. She and her two older brothers would long for the peace that would descend when he was asleep, away on days-long benders, or those occasional periods of sobriety.

Burke also writes about her own problems with heavy drinking in the 80s and discreetly alludes to a dark period in the early '90s – “the bad, sad days” – when she was involved in a difficult romantic relationship.

Otherwise, this is an upbeat and enoyable account of a talented working-class woman who only ever wanted to act, write, direct and entertain.

Burke comes across just as you’d expect, a thoroughly decent, kind and non-judgemental person who reserves her ire for those who deserve it, eg she didn’t enjoy working with a pre-Trainspotting Danny Boyle (“He reminded me of a supercilious priest from my childhood.”), and once called Helena Bonham-Carter a “stupid cunt” in a letter to Time Out after HBC complained in all sincerity that it’s harder for attractive posh actors to evade typecasting than it is for “non-pretty, working-class” actors. She has no time at all for patronising luvvies.

Seriously, be more like Kathy Burke.

SHETLAND + THE FRINGE, FAME AND ME + GOOD GRIEF WITH REVEREND RICHARD COLES

This article was originally published in The Courier on 6th August 2022.

NEXT WEEK’S TV

Shetland – Wednesday, BBC One, 9pm

The latest series of this ruggedly atmospheric crime drama will be the last to star Douglas Henshall as D.I. Jimmy Perez, as the actor has decided to move on to pastures new. It’s not the end for Shetland, however; Henshall’s replacement will be announced in due course. My money’s on Paul Chuckle. 

Perez’s final batch of cases begins with a troubled young author of graphic novels who goes missing on the day of his book launch. Has he disappeared of his own volition, or are more sinister forces at play? Meanwhile, Perez makes a hesitant attempt to rekindle his stagnant love life. 

It’s a typically diverting piece of twist-strewn Celtic noir, packaged in a crate of prime red herring.

The Fringe, Fame and Me – Monday, BBC Scotland, 10pm

The Edinburgh Fringe celebrates its 75^th anniversary this year. As we all know, it’s been responsible for propelling hitherto unknown comedians, actors, directors and writers into the stratosphere or thereabouts. This documentary convenes with some of those eternally grateful artistes. 

Chief among them are Bill Bailey, Frankie Boyle, Eddie Izzard, Miriam Margolyes, Michael Palin and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, all of whom talk frankly about the giddy highs and terrible lows of performing at the Fringe when you’re a complete unknown. 

They’re the lucky ones, their self-evident talent won out, but spare a thought for all of those who tried and failed. Nothing is guaranteed in the mercurial world of showbiz. It’s a strange old gamble riddled with anxiety.

Good Grief with Reverend Richard Coles – Monday, Channel 4, 10pm

Coles' husband, David, passed away three years ago. They’d been in love and inseparable for 12 years. Coles is still struggling to process his loss. 

In this ruminative and ultimately positive documentary, he challenges the commonly held perception that grief unfolds through a series of linear stages. Nothing could be further from the truth, we all deal with bereavement in different ways. 

Coles doesn’t offer any pat answers, but he does provide some hopefully useful guidance by trying out various forms of psychophysical therapy. He surfs, boxes, skydives, attends a laughter yoga class and embarks upon a luxury ‘grief cruise’. 

These things aren’t for everyone, but Coles' point is this: embrace whatever works for you. Networks of support exist.

Cryptocurrency: Has the Bubble Burst? – Tuesday, Channel 4, 10pm

Well, has it? In an effort to find out, Ade Adepitan seeks counsel with people who have immersed themselves in the murky crypto world. 

Full disclosure: I have no idea how cryptocurrency works. I barely know what it is. Adepitan is no expert either, hence why he’s ideally qualified to host a documentary in which he tries to make sense of it all from a layperson’s perspective. 

His interviewees include a multimillionaire who believes cryptocurrency is the gold-plated future, a former city trader who regards it as a dangerous pyramid scheme, and a lawyer who highlights the risks of being scammed in this market. 

I think I’ll just stick with my bog-standard high street bank account.

Changing Rooms – Wednesday, Channel 4, 8pm

Series two of this lifestyle behemoth’s revival begins in sleepy Tunbridge Wells, where Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen and co are given free rein to dramatically transform the ‘non-functioning’ living rooms of two neighbouring couples. 

Lozza’s specialist guests this week are sustainable designer Micaela Sharp and retro queen Whinnie Williams. A riot of colour and chic design ensues. 

Changing Rooms Mark II works because it barely alters the format of the original iteration. It’s perhaps easy to forget that during its heyday, home makeover shows weren’t a ubiquitous presence in our TV schedules. It felt quite fresh and innovative. 

Obviously there’s no way of recapturing that novelty, but the spectacle of LLB doing his flamboyant thing is still quite entertaining.

George Clarke’s Old House, New Home – Thursday, Channel 4, 8pm

The ubiquitous Clarke returns – has he ever been away? – with a new vehicle in which he helps people to renovate ancient dwellings. As you’d expect, at the end of each episode they’re living the absolute dream in a space that was once occupied by laughing cavaliers and scrofulous land barons. The circle of life. 

In episode one, Clarke meets a couple who’ve splashed out on an 18^th century barn. He also spends time with a couple who just couldn’t resist purchasing a nine-bedroom Victorian pile of bricks. A fantabulous folly! 

Clarke is utterly harmless, a blandly benign presence. And that’s the fundamental problem: this contraption would be more entertaining if wryly sceptical Kevin McCloud was in charge.

Football Dreams: The Academy – Thursday, Channel 4, 9pm

This new series follows a group of eight to eighteen-year-olds as they compete for potential glory at a prestigious South East London football academy. 

Talented tyros full of raw potential, some of them might end up playing in the Premier League. Most of them, alas, will not. 

It’s a difficult watch at times. The coaching staff are great, they’re fully aware of how sensitive they have to be when dealing with children, but there’s just no getting away from the fact that some of these hope-filled trainees won’t be invited back to the academy. 

And that’s an awful lot to deal with for a kid with his heart set on one prize, and one prize only.

TWO DOORS DOWN + MOUNTAIN VETS + THE GREAT

This article was originally published in The Courier on 23rd July 2022.

NEXT WEEK’S TV

Two Doors Down – Tuesday, BBC Two, 10pm

Your latest epistle begins with Alan and Michelle arriving at Eric and Beth’s house with a family-sized box of donuts (that’s twelve donuts, apparently; far too many for two people to consume). “A cuppa tea and a donut,” beams Alan, “ye cannae beat it.” 

Dissent ensues when Christine gets involved, as she always must: a low-key agent of chaos attired in dressing gown and slippers. 

We also meet Ash and Iqbal, new neighbours who’ve just arrived from London. They’ve no idea what they’re getting into (not that they’re faultless; Ash is rather snooty and patronising). 

Upon revealing that they work for the NHS, they’re forced to endure a barrage of tactless questions and a smattering of applause.

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

As we return to St George’s in London, nurse Emma is called upon to assist a 71-year-old man who’s been brought in after suffering a stroke. While treating him with the utmost care, she tells us about her journey from working in a drycleaners to saving lives whenever possible. 

Meanwhile, 88-year-old Mary is rushed to A&E after falling at home and injuring her head. Mary has led a fascinating life. She shares her stories of a rebellious youth in Bermuda, before returning to the UK to pursue a career in journalism. The odds were stacked against her, but she prevailed. 

Other patients include a nonagenarian widow with an unshakeable commitment to providing for his family. 

Myanmar: The Forgotten Revolution – Monday, Channel 4, 11:05pm

Right now, in the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar, a civil war is raging. 20,000 people have been reported dead. 

At least three major war crimes have been committed by the current Myanmar government, who seized power during a military coup. And yet we never hear about this on the news. Why? 

The latest Dispatches report lays the situation bare in unflinching detail. It questions the entire point of institutions such as the UN, which have failed to help these people in their dire time of need. 

It also follows young armed guerrillas who were once peaceful protesters. They’ve been left with no choice, they have to counter violence with violence. It’s their only hope of liberation.

Mountain Vets – Tuesday, BBC Two, 8pm 

Founded in 1836, the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is the world’s second oldest animal welfare charity. Its brilliant staff face difficult challenges on a daily basis.

 In the latest episode of this touching series, we’re introduced to young vet Allana, who has always wanted to work at the USPCA. She’s living her dream. 

Allana is dealing with a three-legged Lurcher with a heart murmur. Her colleague, Gillian, has a most unusual patient on her hands: a Lionhead goldfish that’s no longer able to swim.

Meanwhile, in a picturesque town located 30 miles away, we visit a much smaller yet no less dedicated veterinary practice. Every week, they treat over 250 pets and livestock.

From – Tuesday, Sky Showcase, 9pm

This new science-fiction/horror series stars Harold Perrineau from Lost as the sheriff of a hellish small town in the remote depths of middle America. Once you arrive in town, you can never leave. Imagine Royston Vasey but without the laughs. 

The series launches with a double-bill in which a family regret taking a detour during a cross-country road trip. Without wishing to give too much away, these unwitting new arrivals gradually discover that they’ve basically entered the Twilight Zone. The town is surrounded by dark, forbidding forests, where terrifying creatures dwell. 

God only knows where it’s all heading, you know what these high-concept shows are like, but the basic conceit is fairly promising. 

The Great – Wednesday, Channel 4, 10pm

Billed as “an occasionally true story”, this period drama plays fast and loose with the facts surrounding Catherine the Great’s rise to power in late 18^th century Russia. 

If you’re willing to accept The Great for what it is – a rather campy satirical comedy-drama with scant interest in historical accuracy – then you may have fun with it. 

Elle Fanning stars as Catherine, an all-powerful Empress who sought to bring enlightenment to her beloved homeland. As season two begins, we find her struggling to come to terms with the fact that perhaps Russia doesn’t want to be ‘free’ after all. 

The cast also includes Gillian Anderson as Catherine’s mother, and Nicholas Hoult as the bitterly dethroned Peter III. 

Commonwealth Games: Opening Ceremony – Thursday, BBC One, 7pm

Steven Knight, who created Peaky Blinders, is one of the key creative directors behind this athletics extravaganza. Naturally, he’s remained tight-lipped about what the ceremony will actually involve, but you can absolutely guarantee that it won’t be a bland affair. 

Something we do know for sure is this: seeing as the event is being held in Birmingham, the ceremony will proudly showcase West Midlands talent and diversity. We’ll also enjoy the traditional Parade of Nations and the grand finale of the Queen’s Baton Relay. 

Those reliable pros Clare Balding, Andrew Cotter and Hazel Irvine are your commentators for the evening. BBC One’s coverage of the games commences at 9:15am on Friday.

ROCK TILL WE DROP + THE MYSTERY OF ANTHRAX ISLAND + STORYVILLE: WRITING WITH FIRE

This article was originally published in The Courier on 26th February 2022.

NEXT WEEK’S TV

Rock Till We Drop – Tuesday, BBC Two, 9pm

Former pop star Martin Kemp joins forces with rapper Lady Leshurr in this rather beguiling search for talented musicians aged 64 and over. 

They’re aiming to assemble a band capable of storming a 15-minute slot at the Isle of Wight Festival, but that’s not really the point. It’s all about giving older people the opportunity to prove something to themselves and others: an autumnal confidence boost. 

Projects of this nature always run the risk of patronising the participants, but Rock Till We Drop is, thankfully, not that sort of show. No one is mocked or made to look foolish. 

Kemp and Leshurr discover some genuine talents along the way. These nice, interesting people deserve their moment in the spotlight.

Marcus Wareing’s Tales from the Kitchen Garden – Monday to Friday, BBC Two, 6:30pm

Here we go again, folks, another aspirational series in which a celebrity starts a new life in the countryside. 

This one follows the Michelin-starred chef Marcus Wareing as he follows his dream of setting up a smallholding. That inherently amusing word is constantly invoked throughout the series, so much so that it almost starts to resemble a running gag. But at no point does Wareing observe that it sounds like the name of a Carry On character, one presumably played by Charles Hawtrey. Weird. 

An entirely bland and inoffensive man, Wareing makes Titchmarsh look like Keith Floyd at his most bacchanalian. But he means no harm in the grand scheme of things. He’s a mere smallholder.

Rise of the Nazis: Dictators at War – Monday, BBC Two, 9pm

The final chapter of this grimly compelling and authoritative essay begins in 1943 with the German Army retreating across the Western Front in the wake of its crushing defeat at Stalingrad. Hitler becomes increasingly remote, paranoid and desperate as the German public start to lose faith in his supposed infallibility. 

A prominent dissenter is the extraordinarily brave 21-year-old student Sophie Scholl, who risks her life by joining an underground resistance movement devoted to exposing Nazi lies about the war effort. The group’s ultimate goal is to encourage people to rise up and overthrow their despotic rulers before it’s too late. 

Meanwhile, senior German army officer Claus von Stauffenberg hatches a plan to assassinate der Fuhrer. 

Emergency – Monday to Thursday, Channel 4, 9pm

Stripped over four consecutive nights, this urgent frontline documentary gains access to London’s Major Trauma System, which was set up in the wake of the 2005 terrorist attacks. An interconnected NHS network of hospitals, air ambulances and paramedics, it provides a vital lifeline for major trauma patients. 

Yes, we’ve all seen programmes like this before, but they provide a valuable public service. It doesn’t matter that Emergency cleaves to all the familiar trappings of this genre (e.g. the bombastic narrator who sounds like he’s standing, legs wide apart, on a windswept hospital helipad), because its fundamentally sensitive message rings out loud and clear. 

Nothing can undermine the affecting human drama of these stories. A noble endeavour.

The Mystery of Anthrax Island – Tuesday, BBC Scotland, 10pm

Gruinard Island is a tiny uninhabited mass situated just a few miles off the coast of Wester Ross. During WWII it was used by British scientists as a testing ground for the deadly effects of anthrax. The unfortunate guinea pigs were sheep. It was henceforth classed as a contaminated danger zone. 

However, as this documentary reveals, it became a political cause celebre in the early 1980s when a mysterious group of protesters claimed to have visited the island and unearthed mounds of lethal soil. They deposited this soil outside the perimeter fence at the secretive MoD base Porton Down and near the Blackpool location of the Conservative Party Conference. 

Preview copies weren’t available, but this sounds absolutely fascinating.

Storyville: Writing with Fire – Wednesday, BBC Four, 10pm

According to India’s oppressive caste system, Dalit people are considered to be so impure they don’t even qualify as members of that hierarchy. Dalit women are constantly subjected to horrific acts of violence, while the male-dominated authorities turn a blind eye. 

This deeply angering yet cautiously hopeful film – which has been nominated for the 2022 Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary – follows a brave and brilliant group of female Dalit journalists as they take their pioneering newspaper into the digital age. 

Writing with Fire is both an unflinching indictment of human rights violations and an inspiring celebration of our vital universal need for journalistic integrity. Truth must always speak to power. It’s an important piece of work.

Would I Lie to You? – Friday, BBC iPlayer

The latest edition of this genial panel show welcomes comedian Jo Brand, Inbetweeners star Joe Thomas, Olympic gold-winning hockey player and Question of Sport captain Sam Quek, and the endearingly eccentric maths teacher and broadcaster Bobby Seagull. 

Things we’re asked to believe this week include: Quek waking up the morning after her Olympic triumph with a cheeseburger down her bra; Seagull taking a book with him whenever he visits a nightclub; and team captain Lee Mack looking after a beehive with predictably disastrous results. 

Seagull and Thomas are very good at sounding like they might be lying, even if they aren’t. A useful weapon in this arena. Viewers in Scotland can access the episode on iPlayer from around 9:30pm on Friday night.

LAST WEEK’S TV

Paul Sinha’s TV Showdown – Saturday 19th February, STV

Sinha is a very sharp and likeable man, he’s the perfect host for a nerdy TV quiz show, but alas this format is flawed. There’s too much meandering banter and not enough quizzing. Say what you like about Noel Edmonds by all means, but at least Telly Addicts got down to business. 

And that’s the other major drawback: the contestants are celebrities. ‘Ordinary people’ will always be more au fait with television than the busy pros who appear on it. So what you end up with is an irreverent yet committed quizmaster posing occasionally quite tricky questions to a baffled panel who dance around the answers in the hope of getting laughs. It’s all rather pointless. 

Louis Theroux’s Forbidden America – Sunday 20th February, BBC Two

I’m a big fan of Louis Theroux, he’s facilitated some of the most memorable television documentaries of the last 25 years, but he slipped into repetitive self-parody with his latest report from The Troubled Fringes of American Society. 

A belated sequel of sorts to his 2000 documentary about gangsta rap, it found him looking concerned as he met various rappers from disadvantaged backgrounds who were engaged in futile and often violent feuds: victims of a culture based on macho posturing. 

While I appreciate the point he was (presumably) making – nothing has changed for the marginalised youth of America – the programme itself was Theroux on autopilot. A well-meaning yet insubstantial exercise, it sighed sadly, frowned then ended.

WALKING WITH... JIM MOIR + DAVID BADDIEL: SOCIAL MEDIA, ANGER AND US + YOU DON'T KNOW ME

This article was originally published in The Courier on 11th December 2021.

NEXT WEEK’S TV

Walking with... Jim Moir – Friday, BBC Two, 7:30pm

The latest episode of this immersive hike-fest stars the artist occasionally known as Vic Reeves (a pseudonym he tends to reserve for his collaborations with Bob Mortimer). Armed with a 360-degree camera, Moir guides us along the Strait of Dover on the Kent coast. 

Gentle highlights include encounters with some bee farmers and a man digging for lugworms. He also travels on a miniature steam train, and quite rightly marvels at the area’s exquisite combination of natural beauty and brutalist architecture. 

Moir is reliably eccentric and charming throughout. “Looking at things is the best thing ever,” he enthuses. “They should probably teach looking as a lesson at school… because people don’t look as much as they should.”

David Baddiel: Social Media, Anger and Us – Monday, BBC Two, 9pm

Or: ‘Social Media, Anger and My Media Chums’. In this well-meaning yet muddled documentary, comedian and self-confessed Twitter addict David Baddiel declares that social media is “fuelling a divisive culture of outrage, hatred and anger.” 

It’s true that social media often bring out the worst in people. Online abuse is a serious problem. The likes of Facebook and Twitter are notoriously lax and inconsistent when it comes to regulating offensive comments. But Baddiel’s essay, which inevitably includes a windy discussion about ‘cancel culture’, fails to tackle these issues in any great depth. 

He concludes by stating the obvious point that people should be nicer to each other. Well, yes. And? A peculiar programme.

Jamie: Together at Christmas – Monday, Channel 4, 8pm

Welcome one and all to Jamie Oliver’s funny farmstead kitchen, as he once again insists upon cooking some “epic dishes” for your mouth-watering pleasure. 

“This is about saying ‘I love you’ through food,” he gushes, with all the professionally sentimental earnestness he can muster. I don’t actually mind Jamie, he’s an embarrassing yet mostly harmless fool. Maybe I’m getting soft in my old age. 

During the latest chapter of his never-ending story, he pretends to host a lavish Christmas dinner for family and friends. The menu includes beef bourguignon, garlic bread stuffed with parsley, and a frozen dessert conjured with assistance from one of his children. 

Oh, and the pandemic is all over apparently. That’s the cheering takeaway message.

Strictly The Real Full Monty – Monday and Tuesday, STV, 9pm

An annual fixture on ITV, The Real Full Monty aims to raise awareness of breast cancer and testicular cancer. It encourages viewers to check for lumps; an important message conveyed through the cheeky prism of celebrities performing a choreographed striptease routine. That may sound crass, but it’s an effective piece of socially responsible light entertainment. 

This year, as that clumsy title indicates, the contestants are coupled up with dancing partners. Among those sharing their wares are athlete Colin Jackson, Duncan James from Blue, EastEnders actor Laila ‘Big Mo’ Morse, and Martin Roberts from Homes Under the Hammer. They all have personal reasons for participating. Emotional scenes ensue. 

Once again, your friendly host and mentor is Ashley Banjo.

The Dog House at Christmas – Thursday, Channel 4, 8pm

There’s an even higher cuteness quotient than usual in this festive edition of The Dog House. After all, are there any here among us who don’t enjoy seeing dogs wearing Christmas jumpers? 

December is a particularly busy time of year at Wood Green Animal Shelters, but the staff, as always, are on hand to match prospective owners with dogs in need of rehoming. 

This week’s centrepiece involves a human mother of two who is going through a divorce after 22 years of marriage. She hopes that adding a dog to the family might restore some happiness to their home. Enter Michael, a young lurcher cross-terrier who was found wandering stray. We also meet Clarence the one-eyed dachshund.

One Night in Alton Towers – Thursday, Channel 4, 9pm

The basic gist of this new series: comedians Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe roam around some of Britain’s most notable attractions after dark. 

I haven’t seen episode one – preview copies were held up in pre-Christmas traffic – but the press blurb suggests they’re being monitored by fixed-rig cameras and a remotely-stationed production team who won’t interfere unless someone looks to be in actual danger. 

So that could be enjoyable, although probably not quite as funny as the time Alan Partridge found himself locked in a warehouse for an entire weekend. The image of him mummified in bubble wrap haunts me still. 

Brooker and Widdicombe’s first guest is fellow comedian Roisin Conaty.

I Literally Just Told You – Thursday, Channel 4, 10pm

This new gameshow pivots around a simple yet novel and vaguely post-modern concept: most of the questions are written as the show unfolds. 

They’re based on things that have been said and seen throughout, so the contestants have to keep their wits about them. Everything is a potential answer. It’s a fun format, the whole thing works a treat. 

Host Jimmy Carr wisely jettisons his aloof and caustic stage persona, so much so that he actually comes across as quite warm. The contestants are sometimes ribbed gently, but never unkindly. 

You can tell he’s enjoying being in charge of a show that one of his heroes, the great Bob Monkhouse, would surely have approved of.

LAST WEEK’S TV

Superman & Lois – Saturday 4th December, BBC One

Yet another retelling of the Superman legend, this one finds Clark Kent happily married to Lois Lane. They have two teenage sons, one of whom has social anxiety disorder. 

It’s essentially a domestic drama in which Superman has to save the world while dealing with his problems at home. And it sort of works. The tone is affectionate and rather charmingly earnest, albeit leavened with flashes of dry humour. 

Scheduling it in an early Saturday evening slot, just like 1990s hit Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, is a nice idea in theory, but it doesn't make much sense as the show won’t appeal to young kids. There’s not enough superhero action, and children don’t tend to be interested in conversations about mortgage loans.

You Don’t Know Me – Sunday 5th December and Monday 6th December, BBC One

This four-part thriller is a stark, riveting, thought-provoking piece. It began as most courtroom dramas end: with the accused on trial and about to receive their sentence. 

Hero (an impressive turn from Samuel Adewunmi) is a young black man who insists that he didn’t murder a local drug dealer. Having decided to defend himself, he confronts the jury/viewers with the uncomfortable truth of his story. 

A contrived dramatic device, sure, but the dialogue and performances are authentic. 

Based on a book by criminal defence lawyer Imran Mahmood, it subverts expectations, embraces moral grey areas and forces us to care about its characters and their nightmarish predicament. One of 2021’s best TV dramas.

 

THE HUNT FOR BIBLE JOHN + LINDISFARNE'S GEORDIE GENIUS: THE ALAN HULL STORY + SCOTLAND'S BEST DOG

This article was originally published in The Courier on 20th November 2021.

NEXT WEEK’S TV

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

The notorious serial killer known as Bible John murdered at least three women in late '60s Glasgow. To this day his identity remains a mystery. 

It’s a horrifying case, but this two-part series doesn’t wallow in the grisly details. On the contrary, it’s a sensitive and responsible piece of work; a serious endeavour that places the murders in vivid sociohistorical context. 

It unfolds in a dismal post-war environment blighted by extreme poverty and violence, where working-class kids lived for the freedom of dancing at the weekend. Busy dancehalls such as the Barrowlands were where Bible John found his victims. 

The series also provides fascinating insight into the working methods of '60s crime reporters and the terminology they used. 

The Princes and the Press – Monday, BBC Two, 9pm

Princes William and Harry have, to say the least, weathered a difficult relationship with the media. Whatever your opinion of the Royal family, I think most reasonable people agree – on an instinctively empathetic level – that they’ve been treated unfairly at times.

In this two-part series, the BBC’s Media Editor Amol Rajan apparently highlights some of the illegal activities used by certain portions of the press during their ongoing race to present exclusives. I haven’t seen the programme, it wasn’t available at the time of writing, but I’m flagging it up because it sounds quite interesting. Apologies if it isn't.

Along for the Ride with David O’Doherty – Monday, Channel 4, 10pm

The whimsical Irish comedian David O’Doherty is a keen cyclist. This new – if you will – vehicle follows him as he enjoys a series of scenic bicycle rides with various celebrity chums. 

His first guest is comedian Richard Ayoade, a naturally funny man with, as it turns out, surprisingly sturdy thighs. He and O’Doherty cycle through an area of rural Sussex while shooting the gentle breeze. Occasionally they park their bikes to visit tearooms or toast marshmallows around the fire. You get the pretty picture. 

It’s blatantly indebted to the likes of Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee and Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, but that’s fine. It’s a genial time-passer.

The Outlaws ‐ Monday, BBC One, 10:35pm

In the penultimate episode of this enjoyable comedy-drama, troubled influencer Lady Gabby (Eleanor Tomlinson) takes lawyer Greg (writer/director Stephen Merchant) to meet her formidable aristocratic father, who’s played by very special guest star Richard E. Grant on reliably frost-veined form. 

Meanwhile, we learn a little bit more about endearingly desperate and officious community service supervisor Diana (Jessica Gunning, an excellent yet underrated comic actor). 

It’s a pleasure spending time with these characters, all of whom are fundamentally lost and looking for acceptance. Merchant clearly likes them, he’s not in the business of belittling his creations. 

You can currently watch all six episodes on iPlayer. And it’ll be back next year for another series. See, sometimes good things can happen.

Dolly: The Sheep That Changed the World – Tuesday, BBC Scotland, 10pm

In 1997, scientists in Scotland created the first ever clone of an adult animal. This major breakthrough made headline news around the world and sparked an often incendiary debate.

Told via contributions from the pioneering lab-dwellers themselves, this documentary traces their process while investigating the aftermath. The genetically-engineered birth of Dolly proved controversial; critics rang alarm bells about its potentially terrifying repercussions. 

Needless to say, the boffins weren’t mad scientists hell-bent on creating a master race. Their work was geared towards helping people with genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis and Parkinson’s. 

My only criticism of this otherwise revealing programme is its chortling treatment of animal rights activists, which comes across as cheap and unnecessary. 

Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs – Wednesday, Channel 4, 8pm

One gets the impression that O’Grady – officially TV’s kindest human – would gladly host this long-running series exclusively for the rest of his professional life. No wonder, it’s a dream gig. 

During this week’s visit to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, O’Grady meets a Shih Tzu puppy called Daisy who is in urgent need of delicate liver surgery. The other stars of the show are Marley and Maisy, an unusually timid pair of tiny Chihuahuas who are going through the gradual process of being socialised, and the lovably large and boisterous Lizzie; in many ways the ultimate dog. 

As always, there’s no need to worry: nothing bad ever happens in O’Grady’s canine wonderland. Happy tail-wagging endings abound.

Lindisfarne’s Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story – Friday, BBC Four, 9pm

We’ve all heard of 1970s folk-rockers Lindisfarne, but what do we know of the man who shaped their earthy, lyrical sound? Alan Hull died in 1995 at the tragically young age of 50. This illuminating documentary gives him his due. 

Hull comes across as quick-witted, charismatic and exceptionally talented; a working-class poet with dedicated socialist principles. Fellow Geordie Sting describes him as “our Bob Dylan”, which is apt enough, but he strikes me as more of a Tyneside Ray Davies. 

The programme doesn’t shy away from the fact that he was a mercurial heavy-drinker, but he was clearly an endearing character. I guarantee that this labour of love will encourage you to dig deeper into his work.

LAST WEEK’S TV

The Lakes with Simon Reeve – Sunday 14th November, BBC Two

Reeve’s latest series takes place in and around The Lake District, England’s largest national park. As a presenter, this seasoned traveller is defined by his concern for people and their surroundings. He’s a wise and considerate soul. 

In episode one he highlighted various environmental and social issues, the underlying theme being the sustainability of life for those people who live and work there all year 'round; his dig at wealthy visitors and second homeowners wasn’t belaboured, it fed naturally into his overall point about preserving traditional ways of life while welcoming progress to a certain practical extent. 

Reeve knows how to get his compassionate political points across within the confines of an ostensibly cosy BBC travelogue. A neat trick.

Scotland’s Best Dog – Thursday 18th November, BBC Scotland

Proud owner of the greatest title in television history, this delightful new series is simplicity incarnate. It’s a low-stakes competition in which dogs are encouraged to complete a series of benign challenges. They aren’t placed under any pressure at all, nor are their adoring human cohabiters. 

The series, which is filmed in a Perthshire park, is basically the anti-Crufts. It has nothing to do with pedigree, grooming or deportment; there’s no show dog elitism here, folks. These are pooches for the many, not for the few. 

It also contains some handy advice on how to maintain their health and happiness. What’s not to like? It’s a splendid piece of relatively cheap and irresistibly cheerful family entertainment.