Decent 4-part BBC whodunnit which bounced you along from theory to theory as the episodes unfolded so that the fact landscape at the end of a show was very different to how it was at the start. I enjoyed the
Taskmaster (Season 18)
I was really taken by this season, involving Andy Zaltzman, Babatunde Aléshé, Emma Sidi, Jack Dee, and Rosie Jones. Zaltzman naturally is one of my comedy heroes and I’m delighted that he found a vehicle to be exposed to the
Loudermilk (Seasons 1-3)
I doggedly stuck with this because I think I just want to see Ron Livingston in something good again – not convinced this was it though. The annoyingly-named Sam Loudermilk leads an AA-style group filled with characterful misfits and fuckups.
The Diplomat (Seasons 1 & 2)
Compelling but a bit trashy story about an American ambassador to the UK whose husband was previously an ambassador but now is without post, and how they interact with the political intrigue of the many machinations going on around them.
MasterChef: The Professionals (Season 17)
A real game of two halves this season – the format whittles down 2 cohorts before bringing them together for a further winnowing, and I’ve never seen such an outrageously talented group in one half, and then a more “survival
Viz Top Tips
What the hell was this? It could only have come from the 90s – comedy legends Vic Reeves & Bob Mortimer, presenting Viz Magazine’s “Top Tips”. Comics performing other peoples’ material, whilst trying to imbue it with their own essence/schtick,
Time Bandits – Season 1
I know the original Time Bandits was a kids’ film. I know I’m not a kid. Nostalgically, this show doesn’t hold a candle to Gilliam’s original. Objectively, it was a pile of crap – I’m a pretty laid back bloke,
Taskmaster – Season 17
A very close second to last season’s brilliance – this saw the lateral-stylings of Jon Robins, the carefree madness of Joanne McNally, the timid & good-natured earnestness of a Dracula-costumed Nick Mohamed, the borderline incomprehensible logical leaps of Sophie Willan,
MasterChef 2024
The bespectacled ogre and his scrotum-faced keeper drag another batch of hopefuls through the repetitive competitive kitchen-based challenge, this year spicing things up by bringing back a busload of near-misses from last season. Was that for variety, or because there
Deadloch
Every now & again a show comes up out of nowhere and takes you places you never expected – and this crime/comedy centred around a serial killer in a Tasmanian lesbian haven town absolutely kept us guessing. Gloriously rough, and