The only magazine I buy regularly is the Radio Times, because nothing else lists what's on TV in such detail. I flick it through it every Tuesday, spotting lots of programmes I reckon I really mustn't miss. And then I miss them, because it's all too easy to forget they were on up to ten days later. So this week I thought I'd post my list of highlights for the forthcoming week as an extra reminder. (And, if I remember to watch, I'll pop back here and give each programme a one sentence review afterwards.)
Election Replay 1979 (Monday 9am-midnight, BBC Parliament): Normally I'd never watch BBC Parliament, but on Bank Holiday Monday they're screening one of the longest horror movies of recent times. It's exactly 25 years since the 1979 General Election, and the BBC are rescreening their entire election night results programme, all 15 hours of it. I'm looking forward to seeing all the old 70s graphics and watching Robert McKenzie playing with his swingometer again, even if I have to watch Margaret Thatcher's victory from behind the sofa. Details here, including 20 minutes of online highlights. (Review tomorrow)
London: the Greatest City (Monday 4:05pm, C4): Expect a very different level of computer graphics here, with a two hour reconstruction of the capital's history from the Roman invasion to the modern City. Could be good, or could just be a lot of actors wandering around trying to look ancient. (A glossy history of London in eight bite-sized chunks, overdoing plague, fire and gin whilst totally ignoring most of what made the city great)
That Was The Week We Watched (Tuesday 10pm, BBC2): I missed this series about old telly over Christmas week because I was off being sociable, but BW rated it highly so I'm looking forward to the repeats. Journey back into the Radio Times of 10th-16th November 1973 - Black Beauty, the first ever Last of the Summer Wine, and Princess Anne's (first) wedding. (Ahh, and Mr Benn, power cuts, Pan's People, Hilda Ogden, Yoffi on Fingerbobs and the Wombles. Marvellous)
In Search of Genius (Wednesday 9pm, BBC2): I've always rated Tony Buzan, ever since I was little and got one of his books on mind-mapping out of the library. But hmmm, here he is in his own reality show trying to boost the intelligence of six Berkshire school underachievers. And his own book sales, I suspect. (Well, surprise surprise, the kids got a lot better after six months of concentrated adult intervention, but there still wasn't a new genius amongst them by the end)
Dispatches: Keep Them Out (Thursday 9pm, C4): I'm sure the residents of Lee-on-the-Solent thought Channel 4 were making a documentary about the opening of a new centre for asylum seekers. I suspect they've made a documentary exposing the campaigners as ignorant bigots instead. (Blimey, exceptionally ignorant bigots of the scariest kind)
Yes Minister (Thursday 10pm, BBC2): Out of the vaults comes the very first episode of this classic Westminster comedy. Still outvotes most current sitcoms by a large majority. (Still topical even 24 years later)
London (Friday 9pm, BBC2): You wait years for a programme about the history of London, and then two come along in the same week. This is the real thing, based on Peter Ackroyd's marvellous London - the Biography. Tonight 'Fire', from Boudicca to the Blitz (via 1666, of course). No doubt this'll be a lavish masterpiece. See you at the Baftas next year. (Capital addict walks the streets, chased by a speeded-up camera, with an eye for the unusually historic. It'll sell brilliantly on DVD at Christmas)
Monkey Dust night (Saturday 9pm, BBC3): The entire second series of this (very) dark cartoon sketch show. Must stick a 3-hour video in and record the lot - it'll save buying the DVD when they release it later.
