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Line of Duty recap: series three, episode one – tight, taut and twisted
8 hours ago
Jed Mercurio ups the ante in the police corruption drama – and after this bravura opening episode, anything could happen
Spoiler alert: this blog is for people watching series three of Line of Duty. (It may also contain spoilers from earlier series.) Don’t read on unless you have watched episode one.
Welcome back, everyone. Well, that was a rollercoaster ride. I have to hand it to Jed Mercurio – every time I think it’ll be impossible to top the tension of the previous series of this police corruption drama, he ups the ante.
Related: Line of Duty: a handy catchup guide
Related: 'The easiest way to kill someone? Be a cop' – Line of Duty, the police show for our times
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- Sarah Hughes
Deutschland 83 box set review: a serious thriller driven by jeopardy and wry humour
12 hours ago
A young East German border guard is deployed to the west as a spy in a near-apocalyptic account of Nato’s war games, underpinned by pop nostalgia and strategic storytelling
A young man with a cadet’s haircut in blue jeans, box-fresh trainers and a Puma T-shirt runs for his life through a shopping arcade in Bonn. This is Martin Rauch, an East German border guard dispatched to the west to spy on them. Rashly attempting to bolt from his Stasi handlers (one of them his aunt), he ducks into a supermarket. Inside, all thoughts of escape leave him as he gazes in awe at endless rows of colourfully packaged western groceries and eugenically perfect fruit and veg. Over the tannoy comes the decadent capitalist pop song Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by the Eurythmics: “Some of them want to use you, some of them want to be used by you. »
- Andrew Collins
Blue Eyes – the terrifying TV show that tracks the rise of the far-right in Europe
14 hours ago
It’s as claustrophobic as Homeland and as tightly wound as The Wire – but in today’s climate, with the refugee crisis and the rise in nationalist extremism, this new Swedish series feels like a nightmarish documentary
When Alex Haridi started writing a script in 2010 about a far-right party in Sweden polling in double digits, people thought he was penning a sci-fi. In reality, the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats at the time had only 5% of the vote. Never did people envisage a future in the traditionally liberal nation where the popularity of the far-right would rise to 20% – but that’s precisely what’s happened.
Blå Ögon – Blue Eyes – came out in Sweden in 2014, and, says Haridi, it was almost too real “People thought it was based on what they had read in the papers the day before.” And it had them hooked: in a country with a population of less than 10 million, »
- Aisha Gani
What's the state of TV? A step-by-step breakdown of what you need to know
16 hours ago
Deloitte’s annual Digital Democracy Survey was released and with it came the usual predictions of what it means for the future – but there were some surprises
Well, it turns out that everything we’ve been assuming about the ascendency of streaming video and binge-watching television shows is right on the money. More people are willing to watch multiple episodes and shut themselves in their houses and order Chipotle from Seamless than ever before, with 70% of viewers admitting to binge-watching.
This statistic was revealed in the 10th annual Digital Democracy Survey by the media gurus at consultancy firm Deloitte, who looked at how and where people are watching television. (Not where as in which room, but where as in which device.) Their findings pointed out a lot of things we could ascertain through common sense, but the speed at which people are flocking away from linear television toward an all-on-demand-all-the-time »
- Brian Moylan
Jeremy Kyle to stand in for Piers Morgan on ITV's Good Morning Britain
20 hours ago
Controversial talkshow host to co-present with Kate Garraway over Easter, as breakfast show also announces Mark Austin is to be guest anchor
Jeremy Kyle is to stand in for Piers Morgan on ITV’s Good Morning Britain over the Easter holidays.
With Gmb’s Morgan and co-host Susanna Reid both on holiday over the Easter break, the controversial talkshow host will step in to co-present with Kate Garraway.
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- Press Association
Employable Me review: moving telly that destigmatises disability – and made me laugh
23 hours ago
This warm documentary follows a jobseeker with Tourette’s and another with autism – although at times reductive, it encourages a more enlightened approach to recruitment. Plus: Masterchef is back, with some slimy salmon
I’m afraid I did laugh. It’s impossible not to. Paul, who’s 52 and unemployed, is looking at job adverts in the paper with his wife, Carol. “Yeah, looks good,” he says about one position, but then immediately shouts: “Looks Boring.”
What about this one, for a library assistant? “Silence!”
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- Sam Wollaston
Ken Howard, actor and SAG-aftra president, dies aged 71
23 March 2016 5:47 PM, PDT
Versatile character actor starred in 1970s drama The White Shadow
Howard was the first president of SAG-aftra after groups merged
Actor Ken Howard, the strapping, versatile character actor who starred in the 1970s drama The White Shadow and served as president of SAG-aftra, has died at age 71.
The union announced Howard’s death on Wednesday. No cause of death was given.
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- Associated Press in Los Angeles
John Cleese: Fawlty Towers-based show producers 'staggered by vitriol'
23 March 2016 4:51 PM, PDT
Australian theatre company responds to Cleese accusation it ripped off his television series with a dinner theatre show called Faulty Towers
The Australian theatre company accused by John Cleese of ripping off his television series Fawlty Towers has said it is “staggered by [his] vitriol towards us and our tribute show”.
Cleese tweeted on Wednesday that Interactive Theatre International had not sought permission to use the characters, situations and names associated with the show for its Faulty Towers dining experience.
Related: John Cleese may sue Australian theatre company over Fawlty Towers rip-off
Related: Q&A: John Cleese
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- Elle Hunt
The forgotten genius: why Anne wins the battle of the Brontës
23 March 2016 10:54 AM, PDT
For the BBC’s Being the Brontës, I got behind the bullied youngest sister – a feminist and social firebrand whose ideas were way over Charlotte’s head and years before their time
We know about Emily Brontë (who gave us Wuthering Heights, Cathy, Heathcliff, Laurence Olivier in leather britches striding across Hollywood moors – for which, absolutely, many thanks – and Kate Bush) and Charlotte Brontë (Jane Eyre, the red room, mad wife in the attic, blinded Byronic hero who nevertheless sees through the heroine’s plain exterior to love the passionate heart within). But who, really, has heard of Anne Brontë? We are more likely to know about their drunken brother Branwell, who never got his act together, than we are about the third sister. Why is she the underdog, the unknown Brontë, when any reading of their collected works will show her talent burning as brightly and as fiercely as those of her famous sisters? »
- Lucy Mangan
The People v Oj Simpson episode eight – bring on the Dancing Itos
23 March 2016 10:15 AM, PDT
Judge Ito is shown losing control of his courtroom, while Robert Kardashian finds himself in a moral crisis as he comes to realise that his friend is guilty
Spoiler alert: This blog is published after The People v Oj Simpson airs on FX in the Us on Tuesdays. Do not read on unless you have watched episode eight
Finally, we get the Dancing Itos. It took eight episodes for The People v Oj Simpson to reference one of the most enduring, peculiar elements of the hysteria around the Trial of the Century – a recurring sketch on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno that poked fun at Judge Lance Ito, the Simpson trial’s overwhelmed administrator. The Dancing Itos represent not only the nation’s rapidly increasing tendency to mock the court proceedings, but also a certain level of contempt for Ito himself. In this week’s episode, Judge Ito is »
- Dave Schilling
Lenny Henry renews call for BBC to ringfence funds to boost diversity
23 March 2016 7:21 AM, PDT
Actor and writer also voices concern that black, Asian and minority ethnic talent is ‘ghettoised’
Sir Lenny Henry has renewed his calls for the BBC to include a ringfenced fund in its royal charter to increase black, Asian and minority ethnic representation in the television industry.
Speaking at an event on diversity in programming at Goldsmiths University, the actor and writer voiced concerns that Bame talent is “ghettoised” with emerging talent pigeonholed into making programmes about ethnic-specific issues.
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- Dawn Foster
Bartlet for president! The new West Wing podcast is a tonic to Trumpmania
23 March 2016 6:08 AM, PDT
The West Wing Weekly, which revisits every episode of the show, is the perfect antidote to real-life presidential-race madness. Co-host Joshua Malina talks Aaron Sorkin, Donald Trump and the podcast’s very special guests
As his Twitter bio drily notes, Joshua Malina “ruined The West Wing”. He joined Aaron Sorkin’s deluxe presidential drama in season four, just as Rob Lowe was bailing out – and some hardcore fans held Malina’s character, Will Bailey, directly responsible for the departure of beloved speechwriter Sam Seaborn. So it might seem strange that Malina is launching The West Wing Weekly, a new podcast that will rewatch and recap every single episode of the award-winning show (not to mention that he’s also busy appearing in Scandal, another moreish TV hit set in the White House).
The West Wing Weekly won’t be the first podcast to reassess a classic TV show episode by »
- Graeme Virtue
Line of Duty: a handy catchup guide
23 March 2016 5:07 AM, PDT
Jed Mercurio’s police-corruption drama returns this week. Before the interrogation games begin, get up to speed with our refresher of the good guys, the double-crossers and the most bent cop in the force
Jed Mercurio’s addictive police-corruption drama returns for a third series on 24 March. It has been two years since we spent any time with the AC12 gang, so here’s a quick reminder what went down last time around.
Related: 'The easiest way to kill someone? Be a cop' – Line of Duty, the police show for our times
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- Sarah Hughes
BBC4 barking up the right tree as ‘slow TV’ leaves BBC2 in the shade
23 March 2016 3:58 AM, PDT
The story of a 400-year-old oak tree got the Rts judges’ pulses racing as BBC4 picked up three prizes to its venerable stablemate’s one
Channel 4 might have won most prizes at the Royal Television Society awards – including a double for Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney comedy Catastrophe – but the bragging rights went to BBC4.
The channel, under threat in the latest round of BBC cuts, picked up a hat-trick of gongs including two for its season of “slow TV” programmes, one for Handmade and another for Oak Tree: Nature’s Greatest Survivor, a year-long study of a single 400-year-old oak tree.
Related: Gently does it: from canal trips to birdsong, BBC4 to introduce 'slow TV'
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- Monkey
The A Word review: a drama about autism that punches the parental heart
23 March 2016 12:20 AM, PDT
This BBC 6-parter feels slightly underpowered so far, but it will be worth tuning in next week to see how it unfolds. Plus, The Battle for Christianity: tensions over liberalism within the church
The A Word (BBC1) is about autism, but at first the word in question is “accretion”. How many odd – but harmless! So, so harmless – behaviours do you notice in your child, how many times do you bend the family round them, how many birthday invitations that do not come do you ignore, how many gentle hints do you absorb from friends that all might not be as it should be before you start to admit that something, somewhere may be wrong with your son?
Alison (Morven Christie) and Paul (Lee Ingleby) live an ostensibly enviable life in the Lake District. They are the parents of adored five-year-old Joe (Max Vento), who prefers to have his headphones on »
- Lucy Mangan
Sherlock Holmes to be immortalised in Japanese manga series
22 March 2016 11:30 PM, PDT
The detective’s latest reboot is based on the BBC series starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the pipe-puffing protagonist and Martin Freeman as his sidekick Watson
Sherlock Holmes has had many incarnations since he was first brought to life by the pen of Arthur Conan Doyle in 1887. This summer, that most British of detectives, who has appeared as everything from a vampire hunter to a crime-fighting teenager, is being immortalised in Japanese manga.
Out in June, Sherlock: A Study in Pink adapts the BBC series, which started in 2010, transforming Benedict Cumberbatch’s Holmes and Martin Freeman’s Dr John Watson into classic manga images. Publisher Titan Comics said the release would be the first time the manga series, illustrated by manga illustrator Jay, would be printed in English. It launched in Japan four years ago, and according to io9 its popularity has meant there have been a plethora of fan translations since. »
- Alison Flood
Wednesday’s best TV: MasterChef; Panorama; Employable Me
22 March 2016 11:10 PM, PDT
John and Gregg return for the latest series of the cooking competition, the terrorism threat in Europe is examined, and unemployed people with brain conditions reveal the challenges they face
Telly’s comfort-food staple returns with John Torode and Gregg Wallace scaring amateur chefs. Five hopefuls cook their “calling card”, then choose between pigeon and lemon as their key ingredient. The contestants range from Julie, who says she just throws things together, to Chris, who’s daring enough to make Indian sushi. As one is sent home, the others must cook for the final three from last year. There’s at least one panicker as they scramble for success. Continues tomorrow. Hannah Verdier
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- Hannah Verdier, Jack Seale, Mark Gibbings-Jones, Jonathan Wright, Julia Raeside, Hannah J Davies, David Stubbs and Paul Howlett
Malcolm Turnbull's ‘continuity and change’ slogan straight out of Veep
22 March 2016 5:10 PM, PDT
Writer of Us political satire points out similarity with ‘continuity with change’ slogan used by president in TV comedy, chosen as ‘the most meaningless election slogan we could think of’
The writer of Veep has labelled the slogan used by the Australian prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, “hollow and oxymoronic” after the government used almost the exact same “meaningless” phrase from season four of the political satire.
Turnbull and senior government ministers have been pushing the three-word slogan “continuity and change” in an attempt to distance his government from that of Tony Abbott.
“Continuity with Change” — but close enough! @VeepHBO @Aiannucci @simonblackwell @OfficialJLD https://t.co/xqHeG6WXPS
In S4 of Veep we came up with the most meaningless election slogan we could think of. Now adopted by Australian Pm. https://t.co/64YmQvImj5
I am dumbstruck. @VeepHBO https://t.co/emEjFmWDgE
.@TurnbullMalcolm I admire your methodology, Prime Minister. If you »
- Elle Hunt
David Coulthard defends Top Gear over Cenotaph stunt
22 March 2016 4:39 PM, PDT
Former Formula 1 racer says it is likely American drivers of car did not realise actions could be seen as disrespectful
David Coulthard has defended Top Gear over criticism of its recent Cenotaph stunt, saying that it was performed by “two Americans who wouldn’t be as sensitive” to the monument’s significance. Host Matt LeBlanc was seen driving around Westminster as shooting took place for the new series of the BBC2 show, which is due to air in May. With him in the car was professional rally driver Ken Block, a native of California.
Former F1 driver Coulthard recently revealed himself to have been offered a presenting job on Top Gear, but said he turned it down to present Channel 4’s grand prix coverage.
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- Press Association
The A Word: a father and his autistic daughter give their verdict
22 March 2016 4:38 PM, PDT
What does the drama get right and wrong about autism? As the dad of an ‘autie’, Simon Hattenstone wonders where the laughs are – while his daughter Maya finds a birthday party meltdown all too familiar
You can’t move for autists on TV these days. If it’s not The Autistic Gardener letting rip with his floral fireworks, it’s aspiring thesps in Young, Autistic and Stagestruck or detective Saga Norén deadpanning her way through another murder mystery in The Bridge. As Guardian television critic Sam Wollaston wrote recently: autism is the new baking. Auties invariably make good telly because they are brilliant at sums or art or music. And when they’re not being Rainman clever, they are chucking tantrums or ticking away like crazy, or being spectacularly uninhibited.
Related: BBC drama The A Word starring Christopher Eccleston to tackle autism
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- Simon Hattenstone and Maya Hattenstone
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