If you can remember, with any clarity, what happened to you in 1988, you will wallow happily in the lovingly recreated, nostalgic adventure that is One Day (Netflix).
A hit book by David Nicholls, then a film in 2011, you would scarcely think there’s any reason to make a TV series, only this “couple” who aren’t really together, have such a novel relationship that it makes a compelling love story.
Emma (Ambika Wood) and Dexter (Leo Woodall) should never have become a near item. She’s northern and sardonic, while he’s southern and indifferent. Oh, and he’s rich, and she’s poorer.
People say things to him like, “Come to the Dordogne for 10 days, it’s going to be fab…” or “Are you coming to France with the Marlborough lot?”, while Emma will probably go Interrailing with her only friend, or just work through the summer.
So it needed copious amounts of champagne to help them bridge the social and brain cell divide on graduation night, before finding themselves in her bedroom an hour later, she batting away his persistent advances with her degree scroll, showing a first in English. Dex was simply doing what he’d done for the past four years: making himself widely known.
If you went to uni in the Eighties, Emma’s room was a treasure trove of analogue period detail. Putting on a cassette tape seemed like an important moment. And all the while, you’re thinking how did we cope without mobiles -- and Snapchat! People used to find a pen and paper, and scribble something down. Fancy that. Not a password in sight.
Special mention for Tim McInnerney (Captain Darling), who plays Dexter’s patrician dad. What a star turn he is.
For sheer bonkers TV, you couldn’t do better than Halo (Paramount), the video game-to-drama series, which returned for another season because someone forgot to cancel the contracts.
We’re facing destruction (again), not least because a fog hasn’t lifted for decades, so everyone is living inside except for poor people who are besieged by monsters. It’s like The Six Million Dollar Man, but with better suits, and weapons. The hero of the hour is John-117, played by Pablo Schrieber, who walks and talks like the future of the galaxy rests on his shoulders. Surely, just make John-118, and repeat!
He needs to cheer up, too. Try some video gaming to relax.
Towards the end of the episode, one of the lead characters visits an “AI psychotherapist”. What a great idea. No wonder the world is in such a good state in this series. First-class nonsense.
Which is just what Billy Connolly has made his business for years. One of our greatest ever comedians, he is now living in the Florida sun, and laughing a lot, which appears to have given him the gift of life again.
The ravages of any advanced Parkinson’s seem to have been kept at bay -- and that’s just since this series began on UKTV.
Billy Connolly Does…. (Gold, Wed) showed off the comedian at his best, alive to the complete daftness of life.
His subject was, “What makes someone Scottish…?” one that he has constantly answered during this well-lived life and career -- “Scotland’s a brilliant place, and there’s no bugger there!!”
He also sang a rendition of the poignant ditty, “Kiltie, kiltie… cauld bum”. If you didn’t laugh during this first episode of the third series, have someone take your pulse immediately.
We’re slowly saying goodbye to Curb Your Enthusiasm (Sky Comedy, Mon) which is bowing out after this, the 12th season.
This can be a divisive series, written and acted by Larry David, some saying it’s just plain miserable. They may have a point. But it’s also so painfully miserable it tips into comedy.
In the first episode, he picks up a fee to attend a birthday party in Atlanta. Good work if you can get it!
My favourite scene, which Victor Meldrew would have applauded, was when Larry jumped into his car and asked, sorry bellowed at a defenceless Siri for directions. He needs to learn it’s not clever to use swears.
For once, I felt sorry for Siri.
Finally, The Hairy Bikers (Tues, BBC2) made a welcome return after Dave Myers’s cancer treatment.
They cruised up to the Isle of Bute to sample the sumptuous variety of cuisine on offer, before making their own Balmoral Chicken, a dish stuffed with haggis, and accompanied by truffle mash. A low calorie special!
They then fished in the loch a la Mortimer & Whitehouse, and it inspired them.
What is it about casting a line into the water and middle-aged men? Understandably, Dave began to think about his difficult plight. “Live for today, because tomorrow you might get hit by a bus!”
Myers, who’s had 30 rounds of chemo, with more to come, reflected: “I’m one of the luckiest people on the planet and by God, I realise that now”.
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STEPHENSON'S ROCKET
Watched Celebrity Mastermind (BBC One, Fridays) lately? It’s neither “celebrity” nor “mastermind”.
I would think Random Dunces would be more accurate.
In a recent episode, chaired by Clive Myrie, an “online content creator” (I’m on Instagram, too) with a celebrity profile to rival your postman, scored zero for his specialist subject.
This must be very rare since you choose something you’re familiar with, unless you’re doubly stupid. I can recall when “celebrity” meant someone who was famous, not who might be one day.
Former host Magnus Magnusson would be spinning.
