From the rise of Girl Power to a cry for Help during the pandemic, here are the top choices for this week’s TV from critic Paul Whitelaw.
Help – Thursday, Channel 4, 9pm
Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham star in this devastating drama about a Liverpool care home struggling to cope during the first few months of the pandemic. Written by Jack Thorne (This is England; The Virtues) it’s a compassionate paean to the beleaguered fortitude of care home workers and an unflinching indictment of, in Thorne’s choice words, “the indifference and incompetence of our government.” It tells the story of a kindly carer (Comer) who befriends a middle-aged man (Graham) with early-onset Alzheimer’s. The entire cast do an outstanding job, while Thorne makes the vital point that care homes were effectively abandoned during the pandemic, leaving staff to look after their vulnerable residents without adequate funding or resources.
Alma’s Not Normal – Monday, BBC Two, 10pm
A semi-autobiographical sitcom written by and starring comedian Sophie Willan, Alma’s Not Normal is a frank study of mental illness, alienation and addiction. But, you know, with a light-hearted slant. Alma is a single, unemployed working-class woman in her thirties who dreams of becoming an actor. So far that prize has eluded her. Alma’s mother (the excellent Siobhan Finneran) is a heroin addict and occasional arsonist; this is not a conventional family, but they get by in their way. Alma is a likeable underdog, and Willan deserves plaudits for her willingness to explore difficult issues in a refreshingly matter-of-fact manner. And despite the sombre subject matter, there’s an underlying sweetness to it all.
Spice Girls: How Girl Power Changed Britain – Tuesday, Channel 4, 9pm
Ah, the 1990s. What a time to be alive. This new series promises to tell the story of how a manufactured UK girl group became a global phenomenon. Preview copies weren’t available at the time of writing, but I’m recommending it anyway as it could potentially be an interesting piece of social history shot through the prism of popular culture. Apologies if it isn’t. We’re promised some rare archive footage and new interviews, presumably with the Spice Girls themselves. Naturally, it begins with their formation in 1994 and goes on to ask whether their ‘girl power’ stance was more than a mere marketing gimmick: did it actually have some lasting influence on contemporary feminism? Hopefully we’ll find out.
Undisputed: The Life and Times of Ken Buchanan – Tuesday, BBC Scotland, 10pm
The former undisputed lightweight world champion Ken Buchanan is widely regarded as one of the greatest British boxers. Feted for his unremitting left-handed jab, the Edinburgh-born pugilist was a single-minded hurricane of energy, skill and willpower. This vivid profile pays tribute to him. Now 76, Buchanan recently developed dementia, but he has no trouble remembering the details of his early life and career – an amazing journey that took him to sweltering Puerto Rico, Franco-era Spain, Madison Square Garden and out on the dancefloor with Princess Anne. But like so many top athletes, he struggled to cope with life in retirement. Yet despite the problems he’s faced, the champ remains sanguine. His legacy is assured.
The Man Putin Couldn’t Kill – Wednesday, Channel 4, 10pm
In August of last year, Russia’s charismatic opposition leader Alexei Navalny was rushed to hospital after being poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent. He survived the attack and continues to campaign against his all-powerful political rival Vladmir Putin. A risky endeavour. This documentary – which was still being edited at the time of writing – sounds absolutely fascinating, as it purports to uncover a particularly murky case of international espionage. Not only that, it apparently features one of Navalny’s would-be assassins confessing to his victim. The programme also addresses the issue of why Navalny poses such a threat to Putin. Just what does his ongoing struggle mean for the future of Russia and the world at large?
All Creatures Great and Small – Thursday, Channel 5, 9pm
The surprise sleeper hit of 2020, this adaptation of the memoirs of Yorkshire vet James Herriot was a source of comfort during lockdown: unchallenging escapism incarnate. Which isn’t a back-handed compliment; just like the much-loved BBC adaptation starring Christopher Timothy, the all-new All Creatures Great and Small is an irresistibly charming confection that fulfils its brief with élan. It’s well-written, adroitly performed and looks lovely. Series two begins with James returning to Yorkshire after a brief sojourn back home in Glasgow. Will he be able to rekindle his romance with Helen? Fans of the books and original TV series already know the answer, but that doesn’t impede our enjoyment. Its continuing success is assured.
The Cleaner – Friday, BBC One, 9:30pm
The second episode of this enjoyable sitcom about a hapless crime scene cleaner is effectively a two-hander between Greg Davies, who writes and stars, and special guest David Mitchell. He plays a highly-strung author whose grandmother has died in a bizarre fireside accident. And that’s really all there is plot-wise: it’s primarily an excuse for Davies and Mitchell to do their respective things to reliably amusing effect. It doesn’t build upon the premise established in last week’s opener, although it would appear that Helena Bonham Carter returns in later episodes. The Cleaner isn’t typical Friday night on BBC One sitcom fare, being spiritually more suited to BBC Two, but that’s part of its mildly subversive appeal.
