This article was originally published in The Courier on 11th May 2019.
NEXT WEEK’S TV
YEARS AND YEARS
Tuesday,
BBC One, 9pm
TV
titan Russell T. Davies is the brains behind this ambitious new drama following
an extended Manchester family over the space of 15 years. It begins in the
present day before scrolling forward to 2024. Trump has won a second term, the
US and China are at loggerheads, Britain has finally left the EU and a growing influx
of Ukrainian refugees are in desperate need of housing. Meanwhile, a
‘straight-talking’ politician (Emma Thompson) continues her terrifying rise to
the top. RTD’s pessimistic message is encapsulated by Russell Tovey’s
character: “The human race is getting more stupid right in front of our eyes.” That
stupidity, he warns, is leading us towards catastrophe. Urgent and unsettling,
this is not to be missed.
THE VIRTUES
Wednesday,
Channel 4, 9pm
Fresh
from having his throat slit in Line of
Duty, Stephen Graham returns to our screens in the company of writer/director
Shane Meadows, who gave him his big break in This is England. It’s a difficult show to preview as its tense,
queasy intrigue derives from a gradual drip-feed of information about Graham’s
character, Joseph. All I’ll say is this: it begins with Joseph saying goodbye
to his son, who’s about to begin life anew in Australia with his mum and
stepdad. Joseph then self-destructs before deciding to confront his tragic past.
In typical Meadows style it’s a humane, unflinching piece of social-realism,
and Graham’s portrayal of a broken man is incredible.
MUM
Wednesday,
BBC Two, 10pm
The
end, alas, is nigh for this rightfully beloved comedy drama. The third and
final series takes the bold step of leaving Cathy’s suburban house for the
first time. The new setting is a swanky holiday home rented by her brother and
his tragically snobbish partner. Unlike before, this last hurrah takes place
over the space of a week. Apart from that, it’s quietly desperate business as
usual as lovely, patience of a saint Cathy (Lesley Manville) and the world’s
nicest man, Michael (Peter Mullen), tentatively begin their romantic
relationship. Unfortunately, Cathy can’t admit this to her son, who regards
Michael as an unfit replacement for his late father. As the theme song says,
we’ll miss it when it’s gone.
DAVID HAREWOOD:
PSYCHOSIS AND ME
Thursday,
BBC Two, 9pm
30
years ago, actor David Harewood had a mental breakdown and ended up being
sectioned. He now has an extracurricular career as a mental health spokesperson.
In this candid documentary, he reflects upon that period of his life in an
attempt to work out what happened. By talking openly about his ordeal, during
which he experienced grandiose delusions, auditory hallucinations and blackouts,
Harewood succeeds in challenging the stigma and lack of understanding which
still surrounds this subject. He meets young people dealing with psychosis and
talks to an expert who informs him that the condition doesn’t suddenly emerge
from nowhere, it springs from a combination of stress, anxiety, trauma and
vulnerability. It’s a fascinating and valuable document.
