Latest reviews

Seconds Out

Seconds Out (1981)

Seconds Out

Sitcom set in the world of boxing starring Robert Lindsay as an amateur but promising middleweight who fails to take his career seriously, preferring to fool around in the ring, to the frustration of his manager and trainer

Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman

Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman (2025)

Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman

A humble rural sword instructor becomes a legendary swordsman, only to be hounded by his now-famous disciples. This anime fantasy explores mentorship, unexpected fame, and the chaos that follows when students surpass their master

B.L. Stryker

B.L. Stryker (1989)

B.L. Stryker

Following his meteoric rise as a Hollywood leading man, Burt Reynolds returned to television in B.L. Stryker, a laid-back detective series that blends sun-soaked Florida charm with nostalgic echoes of classic mystery movie formats

Playdays

Playdays (1988)

Playdays

1980s/90s pre-school series that was devised as an upgrade of Play School - shifting away from the traditional presenter-to-camera format and instead putting children in more active, participatory roles

Tottering Towers

Tottering Towers (1971)

Tottering Towers

Nestled somewhere between madcap invention and vintage charm, this British children's comedy about a quirky aristocrat living in a crumbling mansion, features eccentric characters, a talking suit of armour and a ghost

King of the Castle

King of the Castle (1977)

King of the Castle

A nightmare journey into the subconscious anxieties of teenager Roland Wright, whose problems find expression in the dreamscape of his mind when a broken lift plunges to the basement of 'the Castle', a bizarrely twisted reflection of the real world

Misfits

Misfits (2009)

Misfits

Blending gritty realism with dark comedy, Misfits follows a group of young offenders who gain bizarre superpowers. It's a sharp, unpredictable series that redefines the superhero genre with raw energy and biting wit

Lucifer

Lucifer (2016)

Lucifer

Lucifer Morningstar has decided he's had enough of being the dutiful servant in Hell and decides to spend some time on Earth to better understand humanity. He settles in Los Angeles - the City of Angels

Strangers

Strangers (1978)

Strangers

A gritty yet unconventional police drama, Strangers reintroduced viewers to the eccentric world of Detective George Bulman—an oddball sleuth whose quirks, intellect, and unorthodox methods made him a cult television figure

Byker Grove

Byker Grove (1989)

Byker Grove

British teen drama set in a Newcastle youth club, following the lives, struggles, and friendships of local kids. Known for its gritty realism, it launched the careers of several UK stars

The XYY Man

The XYY Man (1976)

The XYY Man

The XYY Man follows William "Spider" Scott, a reformed cat burglar with a rare extra Y chromosome—making him unusually tall and giving him a compulsive urge to steal. Crime and espionage collide in this tense 1970s thriller

The Borrowers

The Borrowers (1992)

The Borrowers

The 1992 BBC television adaptation of Mary Norton’s beloved children’s books remains a triumph of family storytelling and visual ingenuity, told with warmth, imagination and remarkable attention to detail

and Humanity

"...and Humanity" (1958)

and Humanity

In 1958, Edith Cavell’s courageous story was brought to television for the first time, driven by actress Flora Robson’s passion to portray the heroic nurse whose wartime sacrifice had long inspired audiences and artists alike

Scum

Scum (1991)

Scum

Scum, a brutal depiction of life in a British borstal, was shelved by the BBC in 1977 due to its graphic violence and political implications, remaining unaired until 1991 amid mounting controversy and debate

A Question of Sport

A Question of Sport (1970)

A Question of Sport

A cornerstone of British television for over 50 years, blending sports trivia with humour and star power, from iconic captains to unforgettable moments, QoS became a beloved national institution before its quiet decline

The New Forest Rustlers

The New Forest Rustlers (1966)

The New Forest Rustlers

1960s children's adventure series by Stephen Mogridge, adapted from his own books, which captures the spirit of mid-century British children’s fiction, where ponies gallop, crooks lurk, and the grown-ups never quite believe the kids

Outnumbered

Outnumbered (2007)

Outnumbered

A witty, semi-improvised sitcom that captures the chaos, charm, and everyday absurdity of modern family life, following two overwhelmed parents and their hilariously unpredictable children in suburban West London

Within These Walls

Within These Walls (1974)

Within These Walls

Set within the stark confines of a women's prison, the series broke new ground with its predominantly female cast, offering a compelling portrait of institutional life, where duty, dignity, and personal conflict simmer beneath a veneer of order

The Signalman

The Signalman (1976)

The Signalman

A chilling gem of 1970s British television, The Signalman stands as the finest of the Ghost Story for Christmas series — an atmospheric, psychologically rich adaptation of Dickens that still haunts viewers nearly fifty years on

The Newcomers

The Newcomers (1965)

The Newcomers

Aired between 1965 and 1969, The Newcomers was the BBC's ambitious response to Coronation Street—a socially conscious soap exploring modernisation, class tension, and family upheaval in a fictional East Anglian town facing cultural change

Grimm

Grimm (2011)

Grimm

Grimm blends police procedural with dark fantasy, weaving folklore and mythology into a modern-day detective drama. Set in Portland, it follows Nick Burkhardt, a homicide cop turned supernatural guardian, navigating a hidden world of monsters and mystery

Ballykissangel

Ballykissangel (1996)

Ballykissangel

Ballykissangel follows Father Peter Clifford, a young English priest adjusting to life in a quirky Irish village, where faith, tradition, and romance collide amid pub banter, church duties, and a community full of secrets

The Monocled Mutineer

The Monocled Mutineer (1986)

The Monocled Mutineer

Controversial BBC drama that explores the murky legacy of WWI deserter Percy Toplis, blending gripping storytelling with political provocation — and igniting a fierce national debate in the process

Nirvana in Fire

Nirvana in Fire (2015)

Nirvana in Fire

A sweeping tale of loyalty, sacrifice, and political intrigue, Nirvana in Fire is a masterfully crafted historical drama that has captivated audiences with its emotional depth and intelligent storytelling

Johnny Jarvis

Johnny Jarvis (1983)

Johnny Jarvis

A stark and emotionally resonant drama, Johnny Jarvis captures the struggles of working-class youth in Thatcher-era Britain, charting friendship, disillusionment, and survival in a world offering few second chances

The Mary Whitehouse Experience

The Mary Whitehouse Experience (1990)

The Mary Whitehouse Experience

A ground-breaking blend of satire, surrealism, and 90s edge, The Mary Whitehouse Experience redefined British sketch comedy and launched four major comedy careers in a riot of wit and irreverence

Stepping Stones

Stepping Stones (1977)

Stepping Stones

A gentle preschool series that invited children to explore early learning through calm storytelling, familiar faces, and a warm lunchtime ritual of discovery

Whitstable Pearl

Whitstable Pearl (2021)

Whitstable Pearl

Local restaurant owner and ex-police officer Pearl Nolan sets up a local detective agency. She is soon embroiled in her first case when she discovers the body of a close friend. But will she let the new DCI investigate without interfering?

Pebble Mill at One

Pebble Mill at One (1972)

Pebble Mill at One

Broadcast from the heart of the Midlands, Pebble Mill at One was the comforting hum of British life. It carved out space for informal, magazine-style broadcasting that influenced everything from This Morning to The One Show

Parkin's Patch

Parkin's Patch (1969)

Parkin's Patch

Yorkshire Television's police series was an understated, honest portrayal of a rural constable at a time when police procedurals were often less about chase scenes, and more about community. This 26-episode gem deserves a second look