August 2016

Casualty. Charlie’s party doesn’t quite go according to plan

August 31, 2016 - 19:48
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Casualty

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Beeb’s long-running medical saga Casualty they turned it into a ludicrous game of disaster dominoes. A film length special that was as absurdly melodramatic as it was unintentionally hilarious.

Not since the Keystone Cops has anyone seen such a preposterous production line of travesties. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, it did. And then it got worse again. And again. And again. It was exhausting.

Stranger Things: You want weird? Here it is... in the walls, mostly

August 31, 2016 - 17:13
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Stranger Things

By Anna May

Stranger Things gets it right from the very beginning. This series doesn’t just tell the story of three young boys who set out to find their missing friend. No, it tells the vivid story of a whole town in 80s Indiana in such a way you’ll be happy to believe it was filmed when the story was set. Even the incidental music has an 80s twang to it.

Class of '92: Out Of Their League: the Ant and Dec of football...sort of

August 31, 2016 - 12:28
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Class of '92

By Andy Lloyd

Television sports documentaries do not get much better than this. I loved the first series last year and thoroughly enjoyed the opening episode of series two.

It focuses on the goings on at semi-professional football side Salford City FC, who are owned by five famous ex-footballers from Manchester United dubbed the 'Class of '92'. I found it interesting, funny and also surprisingly moving to watch at times. I enjoyed it that much that already I hope that the BBC decide to a third series next year.

What to watch and review on Wednesday. Tonight's TV tips

August 31, 2016 - 09:32
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The Great British Bake Off: Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins

The Great British Bake Off (BBC1, 8pm) After the excitement of Cake Week, fasten your seatbelts for the white knuckle ride of Biscuit Week. Judges Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry preside while Mel provides the alleged laughs with hilariously childish innuendoes. Cracks, soggy bottoms and purple rings. Be still my aching sides. But where is Sue? She's gone AWOL leaving her co host to make the gormless gags alone.

Victoria: Is Sunday night drama back with a royal seal?

August 29, 2016 - 15:13
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Victoria

By Andy Simon

Period dramas; always a bit of a tricky area, as there is so much to get right, and God help you, if you get any of it wrong.

There are enough dedicated historians out there, that will rip you to pieces if you make a mess of historical facts to say nothing of what the TV & Drama critics will do when they get hold of you.

However: I suspect this new ITV Drama; Victoria,will have no problem worrying about such things.

It's bloody brilliant! This is what we want on a Sunday!

What to watch and review on Monday. Tonight’s TV tips

August 29, 2016 - 13:35
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The Great British Menu

Great British Menu (BBC2, 7.30pm) First of a 45 part series (yes, 45) as gastro trio Oliver Peyton, Prue Leith and Matthew Fort launch their national search for the very best banquet dishes to serve to heroes honoured by the Queen. Episode one heads to Scotland in pursuit of the perfect starter.

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Are You Being Served: Grace Brothers is back in business

August 29, 2016 - 00:41
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Are You Being Served?

By Martin Gray

Reviving a much-loved series is a tricky business. With Agony Again, the clue was in the title. The Liver Birds confused viewers by insisting Lucien was Beryl's brother rather than Carol's. But on the evidence of this (so-far) one-off Are You Being Served episode, the BBC may be on to something.

The X Factor. Never mind the talent, it’s all about the sob stories and those golden oldie judges

August 28, 2016 - 21:06
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Christian Burrows on The X Factor

Some bloke from Bolton steps into the newly recommissioned audition room and starts singing in a fake American accent about country roads taking him home to West Virginia.

“This is what I want to do for the rest of my life,” he explains. What, pretend to be John Denver? How strange.

Yes, The X Factor is upon us again and we’re being assailed by the usual selection of delusional dorks with dead-end jobs doing woeful impressions of Rhianna, Beyoncé and Ed Sheeran. If these idiots all make the grade there’ll be no one left to stack the supermarket shelves.

Welcome back, Bake Off!

August 28, 2016 - 09:35
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Great British Bakers Rav, Tom, Kate, Lee, Val, Candice, Benjamina, Michael, Selasi, Jane, Andrew and Louise.

By razorkitty

It’s back, baby! A butcher, a banker, a teacher, a vicar.. and, er, eight others, stood quaking in the Bake Off tent, dreading the inevitability of Paul Hollywood’s ill-disguised disdain greeting their attempts at baking something fiendishly difficult.

The new series kicked off with Cake Week. In the pre-bake, warm-up section, we got to meet some of the contestants. All declared themselves to be nervous, and most said they had occasions when they’d found baking stressful. “I once shouted at a pie,” admitted one. We’ve all done it, love.

Go For It? I've already gone

August 27, 2016 - 22:31
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Go For It! Stephen Mulhern

By Andy Simon

Saturday night light entertainment during the late Summer and early Autumn can be "Questionable" at best. For example; I am unfortunately old enough to remember those terrible Summertime Specials" the BBC did back in the late 70's.

God, they were awful. And such damaging TV, even after all these years, leaves its scars.

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