Monday's TV tips
In November 2008, the story of the death of a 17-month-old toddler horrified the nation.
Then known only as Baby P, he had been subjected to a prolonged period of abuse and neglect. But perhaps the most shocking part of the story involved the authorities whose job it was to protect Baby P, later named as Peter Connelly.
It was revealed that he and his family were visited more than 60 times by various agencies, and yet his suffering continued.
This documentary examines the story in detail, and speaks to some of those connected with the case, including Ed Balls, Dr Kim Holt and Sharon Shoesmith.
“This documentary has been two years in the making and tells the most comprehensive story to date of what happened to Baby P,” says Charlotte Moore, controller of BBC One.
“Now those at the centre of the national scandal are finally prepared to speak openly about the clues that were missed, clues that may have helped save this child’s life.”
Doctor in the House is a new six-part series on TV3. Funded by the BAI, this new series focuses on the connections between everyday life - habits and behaviours - and how they directly relate to potential health problems – big and small, but all vital to quality of life.
In this episode we meet the Broekhoven family. 50 year old ex alcoholic Brigid and her 20 year old daughter Lizzy live in Dublin’s Blackrock. Lately Brigid’s been gaining weight and Lizzy suffers from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, so feel they’re in need of a major lifestyle change.
In come the doctors to stalk, screen and assess them –and they make a dramatic discovery during Brigid’s CT scan. The scan confirms that Brigid has a possible cancerous growth on her kidney, which needs to be dealt with urgently.
So while Brigid is told that she will be heading for surgery, Lizzy is told that with her strong family history of bowel cancer and diabetes, she needs to improve her eating habits, reduce her shockingly high cholesterol and to increase her fitness.
Gentle, slow-paced and intriguing – Grantchester is certainly a breath of fresh air when it comes to crime drama.
There’s no wobbly camera work, bombastic music or bad language to be heard. Instead, it’s good, clean entertaining – but with a little edge.
James Norton proves he can portray someone on both sides of the law too, having recently shocked viewers with his performance as a rapist and killer in Happy Valley – gentle and kind Sidney Chambers couldn’t be less like him if he tried.
This week, the vicar risks life and limb to save local woman Marion from a fire at her home, but tragedy is waiting just around the corner – her husband Dominic is later found stabbed to death.
With Geordie distracted by the poor health of his baby son, Sidney tries to work with his deputy, Atkins, who isn’t interested in his theories – a fact that prompts Sidney to make a potentially disastrous decision.
You can hardly turn the TV on during primetime without seeing a crime thriller of some description popping up on the screen, whether they’re new or repeats.
The reason why they’re so popular is easy to gauge – they’re gripping, have viewers on the edge of their seats and usually keep us guessing to the very end. But which entry into the genre did we enjoy the most during the past 12 months?
Bradley Walsh will reveal that when he announces the winners of the Crime Thriller Awards, which includes nominations for, among others, The Bletchley Circle, Fargo, The Bridge, Line of Duty and Happy Valley.
Many of their stars are up for gongs too, and there’s a look at the best crime fiction around, with Robert Harris, Greg Iles, Louise Penny and Paul Mendelson among the nominees.
It would be a crime to miss it.
This time around, John McClane is on the trail of a computer hacker suspected of sabotaging the FBI network. But things become increasingly complicated when our wise-cracking hero stumbles on a far bigger crime.
A devious mastermind has a plan to launch a technological attack on the US, and only the cop and his new computer-hacking sidekick can put a spanner in the works.
This is surprisingly good. The set-pieces – especially that amazing finale – are of the finest order and despite getting on a bit, Willis (and a couple of doubles, no doubt), can still hold his own when it comes to the stunts.
Bruce Willis, Timothy Olyphant, Justin Long, Maggie Q
The Fear is back for a third season. Storming across Ireland with their hidden camera visiting Dublin, Galway, Cork, Laois and Kerry the show will feature plenty more pranks and generally spreading of The Fear…
This season will see the return of some familiar favourites including Irinka The Russian Streetwalker who has lost her pussy(cat), The Nun and Jimmy the most annoying man in Ireland. This series will see the introduction of an assortment of new characters Naomi the poshest English woman in Ireland and Sergeant Major who questions what the Irish public are made of; while Fred Cooke gatecrashes a wedding proposal at Electric Picnic.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
