Hello,
Welcome to Worth Watching. Hope you’re having a good week.
With the Easter Bank Holiday just around the corner, I thought I’d send you a quick list of some shows that I reckon are worth catching up on at the moment.
I’m tweaking this newsletter whilst on a plane, heading off on a break. Part of this holiday is forcing myself to switch off, the other part is thinking about catching up on all of the shows I’ve been meaning to watch but haven’t got around to watching yet.
Here’s some recommendations. As ever, if you love a television show please let me know. I always love hearing what you’re currently catching up on.
Blue Lights (BBC One, 9pm on Mondays and all episodes now on iPlayer) - I know. Another police procedural?! In this economy?!! But what makes this new drama (from the makers of The Salisbury Poisonings) so compelling is how it focuses on the perspectives of rookie officers who are thrown into cases for the first time. Matched with more experienced officers, there’s a juxtaposition in seeing experienced officers turning up at crime scenes, barely flinching, as the trainees lose their actual minds with fear and anxiety.
The series is also set Northern Ireland, providing a fascinating political and societal backdrop for the series. It is a portrayal of crime and justice framed in a way that I haven’t seen before. This series is one of the TV highlights of the year so far. Properly riveting television.
Late Night Lycett (Channel 4, 10pm on Fridays) - Joe Lycett wanted to reprise some of the unpredictable live television that Channel 4 used to thrive on during Friday nights in the 90’s. Just one episode down, he’s already achieved it.
Filmed live in Birmingham, what made it work was how he took the celebrities out of their comfort zone: Joanna Lumley ate a Greggs pasty for the first time; there was a live external feed of Claire Sweeney serving customers in a cornershop for some reason; and Alan Carr was forced to read an autocue without knowing what was on it (the outcome was hilarious).
The surrealness was not just confined to the guests. A dog called Biscuits manned one of the cameras, and Katherine Ryan was supposed to be interviewed in the last 15 minutes of the show, but the boat she was sitting in prior to the interview became unmoored so they resorted to yelling her questions from the middle of a canal.
Watching a live TV show like this also highlights how far the genre has come. Gone is the laddish behaviour of the 90’s television shows of old. In its place is something that feels inclusive and welcome to all.
Succession (Sky Atlantic and NOW, every Sunday from 2am) - Of course, if you’ve watched every episode of Succession so far you are watching it every Monday without fail — I don’t need to encourage you. Although it might be sad news for fans, the decision to end it with this fourth season was a good one, as it has suddenly given the plot a real shot of momentum. The legacy of this show is all about how it’s going to end. After all, that is the name of the show.
We Need to Talk about Cosby (all episodes on BBC iPlayer) - A compelling four-part documentary looking at the downfall of the disgraced comedian Bill Cosby, from people who previously looked up to him. A four-part documentary might feel excessive, but every minute features well considered and thought provoking observations.
Race Across The World (BBC One, Wednesdays, 9pm) - It is Race Across Canada rather than Race Across The World, but that doesn’t take away from what is, at its heart, a great show. The participants in this endurance race are so well cast. You see fractured relationships strengthen and confidence continue to grow.
I have mentioned this show before, but I’m giving a special shout-out because the third episode on Wednesday is the best of the lot so far. And it’s unexpectedly tense, as one of the teams faces leaving the competition altogether.
Secrets of the Chippendales Murders (BBC iPlayer, all episodes) - You might have heard of Welcome to Chippendales, the Disney+ series looking into the true and quite unbelievable story about male erotic dance club that ended up being embroiled in murder and conspiracy. Whilst the TV series based on the events was interesting, I also found that it fell into the trap of having simply too long a running time (it was one of those things that could have been a film!).
BBC iPlayer has a documentary telling the true story of what really happened, featuring many of the people closest to it. And it’s another short four-part series. Perfect.
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I’m off in South America for Easter. Speak to you when I’m back.
Scotty / @scottygb