Lennon Naked, BBC Four

JOHN AND YOKO ON THEARTSDESK Amusing review of Lennon Naked, in which Christopher Eccleston plays Beatle, but not as we know him

Christopher Eccleston plays John Lennon, but not as we know him

Films about rock stars usually fail, because it's impossible to recreate whatever larger-than-life qualities made them unique and famous in the first place. You frequently end up with a slightly embarrassing party-piece impersonation that captures some of the mannerisms but misses the essence of the character.

Television 2010: Looking Ahead

Fresh angles from BBC3 and C4, same old from the others

After every bubble comes a bust, and if I had shares in the reality television boom that came to define TV in the Noughties, I’d be on the phone to my broker right now. 2010 won’t be the first Big Brother-free year since the last century, because first we have some celebrities debasing themselves in January, and a last bunch of wannabes having their three months of Heat magazine cover stories over the summer, but the world-dominating Endemol juggernaut has had the good grace to bow out after that.

Nowhere Boy

Aaron Johnson triumphs as the teenaged John Lennon

It’s been a very good year for Beatlemania, with all the albums re-repackaged and the group going virtual in Rock Band. The BBC lobbed in their own Beatles season-ette, and one of the more striking images from their riot of documentary footage was of John Lennon escorting his Aunt Mimi up the steps onto the plane taking them to America, with her handbag and Sunday-best hat.

Film Festival Fever

Fantastic Foxes in Leicester Square, spies in Cambridge, bicycles at the Barbican: the pick of the autumn film festivals

Does Britain have too many film festivals? Not so very long ago, there were only two of these games around: the London Film Festival - which unveiled its full line-up this morning and begins on 14 October - and Edinburgh. Now, though, there are hundreds.
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