‘The A Word’ review: Episode 5 stirred plenty of strong emotions

Peter Bowker’s compelling family drama continues to have us engrossed, this week revealing seismic fault lines in one relationship and a secret hidden in plain sight. Joe’s familiar morning routine was interrupted again this week, as his brewery van pickup was queried by a local bobby. Returned home in a police car, with bizarrely few … >

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‘Marcella’ review: Episode 3 moves from intriguing to compelling

I don’t know if it’s just coincidence or whether a memo has gone round TV execs, but hot on the heels of Tom Hiddleston’s celebrated derrière in The Night Manager, Nicholas Pinnock’s bare bottom steals a few seconds of our attention partway through this week’s third episode of Marcella. With his lover Grace still missing, … >

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‘The A Word’ review: Episode 4 is both funny and frank

If you have not yet warmed to Alison, the fierce mother brought to life by Morven Christie (Grantchester), we defy you not to feel some empathy for her in this week’s The A Word ep. Settled on keeping Joe in mainstream education, his parents discover they will have to ‘play the game’ to secure the … >

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‘Marcella’ Episode 2 review: Anna Friel drama is still taking its time

The second instalment of ITV’s Marcella from the creator of Scandinavian hit The Bridge begins with Anna Friel’s character in an upmarket doctor’s consulting room, and if we hadn’t already worked it out from her ‘blackout’ last week it’s soon made very clear that she has a problem. Her doctor (Richard Cordery) drops plenty of intriguing hints … >

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‘Home Fires’ Season 2 Episode 2 review

As June wears on, we learn that both Peter Barden and his accountant Helen were killed in the car crash. The war casts a pall on Helen’s burial, as an air raid sends everyone to the shelter in the Bardens’ basement. Everyone except Frances, who can’t bear to go into the shelter and Sarah, who … >

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