Working with Weinstein, Channel 4 review - portrait of a predator

★★★★ WORKING WITH WEINSTEIN, CHANNEL 4 Portrait of a predator

Forensic dissection of Harvey Weinstein's reign of terror in the craven corners of the UK film business

While this well-crafted documentary chose to open with footage of the stars and glitz of the American awards ceremonies, the focus of Working with Weinstein (Channel 4) was almost entirely on Harvey Weinstein’s involvement over more than 30 years in British cinema.

Derry Girls, Channel 4 review – bring on series two!

★★★★ DERRY GIRLS, CHANNEL 4 Final episode cements this as one of the funniest new shows on television

Final episode cements place as one of the funniest new shows on television

When first announced, Derry Girls seemed a strange prospect. Derry during The Troubles wasn’t an obvious choice for a sitcom; neither was writer Lisa McGee, whose only previous comedy outing London Irish was slammed for negative stereotyping.

Kiri, Channel 4 review - transracial adoption drama muddies the waters

★★★★ KIRI, CHANNEL 4 - No easy answers in Jack Thorne's latest four-parter, starring Sarah Lancashire

No easy answers in Jack Thorne's latest four-parter, starring Sarah Lancashire

“I’m black – I need to find out how black people live.” So reasoned Kiri, sitting in the back seat of the car driven by her social services case worker. She was on the way from her prospective adopters, a white middle-class couple who already had a teenage son, to pay a first unsupervised visit to her Nigerian-born grandparents. Kiri (Felicia Mukasa, pictured below) was mature beyond her years, open-minded and well-spoken, while her case worker Miriam (Sarah Lancashire) brimmed with mumsy good cheer and sensible advice.

Trump: An American Dream/Angry, White and American, Channel 4 review - a timely look at Trump and the causes of Trump

★★★★ TRUMP: AN AMERICAN DREAM / ANGRY, WHITE AND AMERICAN, CHANNEL 4 A sober reflection on the US president and the people who put him in the White House

A sober reflection on the US president and the people who put him in the White House

There are, as I’m sure many of you are aware, four key stages of political change. Denial, anger, acceptance and, finally, documentary film-making.

George Michael: Freedom, Channel 4 review - just a supersized commercial?

★★ GEORGE MICHAEL: FREEDOM, C4 Official documentary fails to deliver

Much-anticipated official documentary fails to deliver

You might expect a posthumous 90-minute documentary – and that’s before you insert the ad breaks – about one of the biggest stars in British pop music over the last 30 years to shed some light on how said artist became so huge, but also how his career slowed to a crawl and his life came to such a depressing end. Freedom gives you some of the former but absolutely none of the latter.

The Great British Bake Off, Channel 4 review – a cake with adverts is still a cake

★★★ GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF Despite the nation's furious concern, Channel 4 haven't burnt the pudding

Despite a nation's furious concern, Channel 4 haven't burnt the pudding

By the outrage it prompted, you’d be forgiven for thinking that The Great British Bake Off’s move to Channel 4 was a national disaster. If only the public felt so indignant about the sale of the Post Office, or the creeping privatisation of a beleaguered NHS… but hey-ho, cakes it is, then. 

Wasting Away, Channel 4 review - we can't fix people while the NHS is broken

★★★★ WASTING AWAY, CHANNEL 4 Mark Austin's powerful study of his daughter's anorexia pulled no punches

A powerful study of mental health that pulled no punches

Journalist Mark Austin is no stranger to conflict, having reported from war-torn landscapes including Rwanda, Iraq and even the ITN newsdesk. However, when the battle lines were drawn closer to home and involved an enemy he couldn’t see, the veteran journalist found himself in unfamiliar territory and without any kind of roadmap. 

The State, Channel 4 review - dishonest portrait of British jihadis

★★ THE STATE, CHANNEL 4 Peter Kosminsky's drama about British recruits to IS means well but doesn't ring true

Peter Kosminsky's drama about British recruits to IS means well but doesn't ring true

It’s a burning question of western civilisation: what persuades young people brought up among us to walk out on their lives and join the cult of murderous fanatics who call themselves Islamic State? If any dramatist could attempt a coherent answer it’s Peter Kosminsky, who for more than three decades has been telling minutely researched stories – in documentary, drama and a fusion of both – about the big moments of modern British social and political history.