This article was originally published in The Courier on 22 June 2019.
NEXT WEEK’S TV
THE UNWANTED: THE
SECRET WINDRUSH FILES
Monday,
BBC Two, 9pm
Historian
David Olusoga traces “70 years of political panic, bad faith and racial
prejudice in the corridors of power” in this damning documentary. As every
schoolchild knows, the Windrush Generation is the term used for the black
migrants who arrived in Britain between 1948 and 1972. Following the
introduction of Theresa May’s “hostile environment policy” in 2014, the surviving
members faced deportation when they were instructed to prove they lived here
legally. A national scandal ensued. Assisted by personal testimonies and access
to shocking internal documents, Olusoga reveals how successive British
governments have attempted to stop immigration from the Caribbean, despite
those migrants being citizens of the British Empire with every right to live
and work in the UK.
A YEAR TO SAVE MY
LIFE: GEORGE McGAVIN AND MELANOMA
Monday,
BBC Four, 9pm
Last
year, scientist and broadcaster George McGavin was diagnosed with the deadliest
form of skin cancer. Remarkably, when he received this frightening diagnosis, a
new drug had just been licenced by the NHS, one that could potentially save the
lives of people afflicted by malignant melanomas. In this moving documentary,
the avuncular McGavin provides, with typical scientific inquisitiveness, a
study of these pioneering medical developments: “I want to know everything
about it and I want to know now.” The good news, as he observes, is that we’ve
now reached a stage where people with terminal cancer can survive for decades.
He undergoes a painless regime of targeted drug therapy which should give hope
to people affected by this illness.
DRAG SOS
Tuesday,
Channel 4, 10pm
In
this tender new series, five drag queens embark upon a mission to encourage
people, whether straight, gay, male or female, to embrace their inner drag. Wit,
warmth and wisdom – the vital three W’s - abound as they oversee a week of
rehearsals for a lip-synching dance routine to be performed in front of
friends, family and a home crowd. A camp explosion of all-inclusive fun, yes,
but at heart this is a sincere, responsible experiment. They meet a gay man who
puts his dad forward in the hope of solidifying their bond, a young woman with
anxiety, and a stressed mum whose children have behavioural issues. The uplifting
results will restore your faith in human nature.
WHO SHOULD GET TO STAY
IN THE UK?
Thursday,
BBC Two, 9pm
This
series concludes with more sensitive case studies of people struggling to
navigate Britain’s increasingly complex and controversial immigration system. It
focuses on couples who could potentially be torn apart by a Home Office ruling.
Doaa from Egypt has a British husband. She faces deportation as a result of her
innocently applying for the wrong type of visa online. Nigerian Onyi is forced
to answer an exhausting series of trivial personal questions to prove she loves
her husband. It’s like a sinister, Orwellian Mr and Mrs. We also meet an exasperated immigration lawyer who
admits that he can’t keep up with the ever-changing laws. Anyone who thinks our
immigration policies are too lax needs to pay attention.
LAST WEEK’S TV
PUNJAB UNITED: OUR
LIVES
Monday
17th, BBC One
Gravesend,
Kent is home to one of the UK’s largest Sikh communities. The lower league
football team Punjab United is one of its most recent success stories. This
slight yet fairly charming documentary followed the team as they went about
their grassroots business. It didn’t amount to much, but I’m glad that BBC One
still has room in its schedules for minor diversions such as this.
HEY TRACEY!
Monday
17th, ITV2
In
the unlikely event of civilisation surviving into the next century, I hope
remnants of this nano-celeb-based quiz will be shown in schools as a grave
warning from history. We must never let Joe Swash happen again. The premise? A
bunch of idiots receive pay cheques for doing nothing of any consequence.
Imagine a rolled up copy of Heat being smacked on a human face forever.
ACKLEY BRIDGE
Tuesday
18th, Channel 4
Series
three of this award-winning multicultural school comedy-drama – the modern-day
equivalent of Grange Hill, albeit
aimed at an older audience – has lost none of its frank humour and sharp social
commentary. Despite the plaudits it’s received, Ackley Bridge has never really caught on with the wider public.
Hats off to Channel 4 for standing by what is, at most, a cult hit.
No comments:
Post a Comment