IT'S perhaps just as well I'm only just back from holiday, because, any sooner and I'd have had to have my say on Elton John: Me, Myself and I (ITV 1, 9.40pm last night).
A programme which promises 'unique levels of intimacy' with the Watford chairman and sometime singer is the sort of programme which belongs locked behind a pin number on some sort of digital channel that is place around channel 800.
Back any sooner, and I've had to have my say over Sockgate - the fact that Blue Peter chose a name for its cat which wasn't the winning entry. The cat is now called Socks, rather than something producers felt could have had a double meaning. So the BBC picked a different name to save the cat, and those around it, embarrassment everytime its name was called in the future? If only pop stars and impressionable teenaged-parents were as thoughtful when picking names for their kids.
But as it is, I'm back today, which times in quite nicely with Stuart: A Life Backwards (BBC 2 9pm) .
Tom Hardy (The Virgin Queen, Black Hawk Down) stars as Stuart Shorter alongside Benedict Cumberbatch (Hawking, Starter For Ten) in the adaptation of Alexander Masters's critically acclaimed memoir. It's a story told backwards – a biopic of an unknown man which mixes both humour and terrible tragedy.
When Stuart Shorter – a homeless alcoholic with a violent past – meets writer and charity worker Alexander Masters, they strike up an unlikely friendship. As Alexander learns more about Stuart's complicated life and traumatic childhood, he marvels at Stuart's resilient personality and dry sense of humour. Having agreed to Alexander's suggestion that he write his biography, Stuart gradually recounts his life story in reverse.
Through post-office heists, attempts at suicide and spells inside numerous institutions, Alexander begins to understand how Stuart's life spiralled so badly out of control.
In short, it's bloody good drama, and a sign that autumn is here.
Which, with tedious linkages, brings us to that other sign that autumn is here: a football manager has been sacked. And Chelsea's first outing without Jose Mourinho in charge is, in all likelihood, going to be the main game on Match of the Day 2 (BBC 2, 10.30pm). It would have been the main game anyway, it's against Manchester United. But with Villa v Everton (which, I guarantee, will be well down the pecking order, giving further credence to the rumour that there's an anti-toffee bias going on at MOTD) and several other games, it's pretty much appointment to view telly. Shame it's bunked Heroes back to 11.50pm though, I could have done with an early night!
- Post to:
del.icio.us
Digg
Newsvine
Nowpublic
Reddit
« Previous | Home | Next »