About three seconds. That’s how long it takes from Dara O Briain’s first appearance on stage to his having the audience in his total command. He crams more belly laughs into every ten minutes than other acts might manage in a full sixty minute set, which is even more impressive when you realise he’s on … >
Coming off the back of a tepid opening season for spin-off Fear the Walking Dead, the original show’s Season 6 opener was an invigorating blast of large-scale spectacle and genuine substance. The most intriguing addition to this premiere was the stylistic tic of a parallel structure that flipped between present day scenes in colour and … >
BBC One’s River had a lot going for it before it aired, given that it boasted Hollywood star Stellan Skarsgard in its lead role. However, was this just stunt casting? Another example of film stars quietly commuting to television for more character-based work between big superhero movies? Or does the new six-part crime drama offer … >
Perhaps it’s just a sign of cuts at ITV, but Lewis Season 9’s opening story, ‘One For Sorrow’, has a lower than average body-count. If you only caught the first quarter hour of Episode 1 last week, then you’ve seen all the corpses you’re going to see: the body in the well and the dead … >
Primary teachers of the world – look away now! In this episode of Doctor Who, there are Vikings and (gasp!) they are not completely historically accurate! Inside a peasant’s hut, there is the anachronism of a leather-bound book, while, in a costuming decision bound to inflame the great Viking headgear controversy, warriors wear helmets that, … >
In the last ever episode of New Tricks, the UCOS team find themselves under fire for the mishandling of the Henway case. Threatened with closure, they attempt to win through by investigating the murder of a political activist fifteen years ago. UCOS’s attention is drawn to the case when the victim’s personal journal resurfaces along … >
The episode opens with Mr. Barrow enjoying his turn as butler while the Carsons are on their honeymoon. In typical Barrow fashion, he manages to irritate everyone at every turn, including Lord Grantham. “I don’t care for a lack of generosity,” he reminds Barrow. We’re starting to feel that the hints that Barrow is going … >
In its third and fourth instalments, the third season of Orphan Black puts a great deal of its focus on Mark. Developing this character is important, as we already know and feel like we at least slightly understand him, and to some degree it’s going to be an uphill battle getting to know the other male clones as they … >
David O’Doherty arrives, as presumably he always has done, seemingly somewhat surprised to see us. The keyboard is at hand, although not used constantly throughout the hour, as he gets distracted by one thought process colliding into another. He warns us, in an entirely casual and low rent way, that he’s getting too big for … >
There’s a very good sketch in the series Big Train in which adoring fans won’t let Ralph McTell escape the shadow of his most famous song. The audience aren’t interested in the new, original stuff, only happy when he’s revisiting old hits. It’s a risk that Frisky & Mannish are acutely aware of – they … >