Philharmonia, Channel 4 review - death on the podium

★★★ PHILHARMONIA, CHANNEL 4 Music, mayhem and madness as Parisian orchestra gets a new conductor

Music, mayhem and madness as Parisian orchestra gets a new conductor

Great idea to use a symphony orchestra as the basis for a TV drama, because all of human life is there. Not to mention death, since this entertaining, though melodramatic, new French import (Channel 4) began with the dramatic collapse on the podium of veteran conductor George Delvaux just as he was launching into the finale of the New World symphony. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A Very British Hotel Chain: Inside Best Western, Channel 4 review - requiem for the hospitality industry?

A VERY BRITISH HOTEL CHAIN: INSIDE BEST WESTERN, CHANNEL 4 Requiem for the hospitality industry?

Bizarre reality doc is entertaining for all the wrong reasons

Do TV companies get some sort of financial incentive to use the phrase “A Very British…” in their programme titles? This now-meaningless descriptor has been applied to airlines, brothels, political coups, the Renaissance, Margaret Thatcher, sex scandals, Brexit and lord knows what else. When you can’t think of an original title, you know what to do.

Grayson's Art Club, Channel 4 review - too many clichés and platitudes?

Worthy but atypically conventional effort to lift the nation's spirits

The national treasure that is Grayson Perry, CBE, RA, is hosting a six-episode national art club on Channel 4 for professional artists, amateur artists and the public. Since Perry came to national attention when he won the Turner Prize he has been happily ubiquitous. He may well be the country’s most effective proponent of the visual arts, as well as its most famous transvestite.

The Steph Show, Channel 4 review - magazine show debuts from host's front room

★★★★ THE STEPH SHOW, CHANNEL 4 Magazine show debuts from host's front room

Steph McGovern to the rescue

As we are learning each day during lockdown, necessity is the mother of invention. In Channel 4's case, it is learning how the wonders of modern technology can save a situation: to wit, The Steph Show was meant to come live daily from a shiny new studio in Leeds Docks, but yesterday debuted from host Steph McGovern's front room in North Yorkshire. 

Batwoman, E4 review - can Bruce Wayne's female cousin fill his bat-costume?

★★★ BATWOMAN, E4 Can Bruce Wayne's female cousin fill his bat-costume?

Ruby Rose plays Batwoman, Gotham City's newest saviour

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been saturating the globe with its multi-format superheroes, leaving its DC rival looking clumsy and disorganised by comparison. However, DC’s “Arrowverse” – a roster of TV shows including Arrow, The Flash and Supergirl – is part of its fight-back effort, and now joining its ranks is this new take on the Batwoman character (E4).

Putin: A Russian Spy Story, Channel 4 review - inside the mind of a man without a face

PUTIN: A RUSSIAN SPY STORY, CHANNEL 4 The anatomy of power behind the man in the Kremlin, and where he came from

The anatomy of power behind the man in the Kremlin, and where he came from

Director Nick Green’s new three-parter follows on the heels of his A Dangerous Dynasty: House of Assad and comparisons are sure to be made between his two subjects.

Feel Good, Channel 4 and Netflix review - a fresh, bingeable comedy that digs deep but feels mild

★★★ FEEL GOOD A fresh, bingeable comedy that digs deep but feels mild

Mae Martin’s dramedy about addiction is honest and enjoyable — but is it that funny?

“I am not intense.” That declaration arrives early in Feel Good, the new Channel 4 and Netflix romantic comedy fronted by comedian Mae Martin, who plays a fictionalised version of herself. Over Mae’s shoulder, we see a literal trash fire. She’s lit up the evidence of a past drug addiction. It smoulders in the background while she smoulders in the front.

Five Guys a Week, Channel 4 review - lemming-like contestants make spectacles of themselves

★★★ FIVE GUYS A WEEK, CHANNEL 4 Cattle market dating show is classic Channel 4

Cattle market dating show is classic Channel 4

Channel 4 loves to walk the line between the compulsive and the repulsive, and this new dating show, complete with fake-salacious title, is a peerless specimen. The set-up is simple – one woman asks five guys who are “looking for love” to move in with her for a week, during which she chucks them out one by one and ends up with a winner.

The Windsors, Series 3, Channel 4 review - perfect timing for return of the bogus royals

★★★★ THE WINDSORS, SERIES 3, CHANNEL 4 Perfect timing for return of the bogus royals

Harry Enfield's Prince Charles tries to show leadership to his farcical band of ninnies

The rage and bitterness surrounding the Brexit brouhaha have made it immune to comedy and satire, but perhaps change is in the wind. Channel 4’s bogus royal family is back after a two-year gap, charged (as an introductory voice-over explained) by Her Majesty’s government with cheering up the divided nation.

How To Stay out of Jail, Channel 4 review – a bold rehabilitation programme from Durham police

★★★★ HOW TO STAY OUT OF JAIL, CHANNEL 4 A bold rehabilitation programme from Durham police

Touching and insightful film about offenders trying to seize a second chance

With prison overcrowding reaching chronic proportions, police in County Durham have developed the Checkpoint programme to try to keep offenders out of jail with rehabilitation in the community. It’s like Felons Anonymous – candidates have to sign a contract confessing their crimes and stipulating that they won’t reoffend. They get one chance, and if they break the pledge they’ll end up behind bars.