Worth Watching: "Don't Hug Me I'm Scared," "Inside Man" and"Karen Pirie"
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Hello,
Welcome to this Worth Watching newsletter. Hope you’re doing well.
It has been a great week for TV. Here’s four shows worth watching this weekend.
A *VERY* CHANNEL 4 SHOW
Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared (Channel 4 - all episodes) - Don’t let the look of this show fool you … this show is not for children.
Although it looks like a children’s TV series, this surreal comedy created by Becky Sloan, Baker Terry and Joe Pelling transports you to a far darker world.
For one thing, there’s an incredible amount of graphic violence in this series (so much gore made out of felt!) Yet, what makes it so remarkable is how it so thoughtfully explores so many different aspects of the human experience, from the mundanity of adult work to the sense of loss following death.
A NONSENSE REALITY SHOW
Make Me Prime Minister (Channel 4 - new episodes weekly) - I know, this is The Apprentice but with wannabe politicians, but hear me out. In this series members of the public compete to be Channel 4’s ‘Alternative Prime Minister’, with Alistair Campbell and Baronness Sayeeda Warsi throwing them into situations Prime Ministers usually face whilst in office.
I think the masterstroke of this series has been incorporating real journalists, such as Channel 4 News’ Krishnan Guru-Murphy and The Guardian’s Pippa Crear, to grill the contestants as if they are already Prime Minister during some of the challenges. Another appeal is that the contestants, all of which have different political opinions, are not in this just to launch media careers (unlike The Apprentice!)
And heck, if it gets people inspired to get into politics at a time when you couldn't be more depressed from it, I don't mind this show existing to be quite honest.
And also … does this series make you have any sympathy for the actual politicians are shown to be under an awful lot of pressure? Nope. Not in the slightest! Delightful.
A GREAT EXCUSE TO WATCH STANLEY TUCCI
Inside Man (BBC iPlayer, first two episodes this week) - Stanley Tucci! David Tennant! Lydia West! Need I say more?
Part of the appeal of watching this new Steven Moffat drama is trying to work out how very different sets of characters end up becoming intertwined in each other's lives. The other appeal is how it deals with topic of morality; that we all have the potential to do really bad things to each other in the right circumstances.
Personally, I’m not entirely sure whether some of the twists and turns of the plot work. Plus, it can feel a bit too Sherlock-y for my liking. But it’s a romp and it is a great way to pass four hours.
Fun fact: I was at a BFI event the other week and Stanley Tucci was there and during the Q&A he was asked what he would eat on death row. He responded: “Oysters and a martini.”
THE BEST ITV CRIME DRAMA IN AGES
Karen Pirie (ITV Hub - all episodes, with new ones on television each week) - This is a fantastic adaptation of the Val McDermid crime novel, written for the television by Emer Kenny. It is about a detective brought into solve a murder from twenty years ago after a true crime podcast pushes it into public conversation again.
And what makes it stand out from the other million ITV crime dramas out there is that it feels distinctive in its acting, direction and humour. I love how it flashes back to the ‘90s to help you solve the puzzle along with Karen Pirie herself.
AND SOME RACE ACROSS THE WORLD NEWS
The third series of Race Across The World has been announced and it is moving to BBC One. The eight part series consists of five teams of two people racing from one part of the world to another, without being able to use a plane. This series will feature teams racing between Vancouver to St John's Newfoundland, a distance of about 16000km,
No date has been announced for its return but I would expect it to be Autumn this year rather than Spring next year.
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Thanks so much and have a great weekend.
Scotty / @scottygb