Tag Archives: popular culture

Marvellous Mackenzie Crook’s magic realism, that you can’t help but adore – Small Prophets – a review

Posted on February 15, 2026 by SCARFMAN

Original, funny, and yet also extremely moving in places, Mackenzie Crook’s new sitcom, Small Prophets, is a modern-day masterpiece. ‘The rise of magic realism in TV reflects society’s increased frustration with reality’, a definition listed in a 2022 article by … Continue reading →

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those people by Louise Candlish – a review. Neighbours from hell!

Posted on March 8, 2021 by SCARFMAN

New neighbours from hell might not be the most original of ideas for a whodunit, but in those people, author Louise Candlish has skilfully produced a right page turner that will leave you fully satisfied. The premise might not be … Continue reading →

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A magical love triangle – Here We Are by Graham Swift – A review

Posted on February 16, 2021 by SCARFMAN

Here We Are, by the critically acclaimed author Graham Swift, is a typically understated delightful read that you cannot help but be enchanted by. We first discover our three love triangle protagonists during the summer of 1959, in the holiday … Continue reading →

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A likeable, touching mid-life crisis! Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler. A book review.

Posted on November 29, 2020 by SCARFMAN

Male, forty-three going on forty-four, OCD sufferer, who likes to put the bins out for the neighbours and who hates radio phone-in shows.  No, this is not my profile from the Plenty of Fish dating website, but it could be. … Continue reading →

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CLEANING UP : Episode one review.

Posted on January 12, 2019 by SCARFMAN

Bearing in mind just how much ITV1 had trailed the new Sheridan Smith drama Cleaning Up, over the festive period, expectations were therefore pretty high as episode one aired. A bit like my attitude towards the much over hyped Christmas … Continue reading →

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Made in Great Britain – Series 1: 1. Steel

Posted on November 3, 2018 by SCARFMAN

”You have to know the past to understand the present”.  This is a famous quote by Dr. Carl Sagan.  It is used here because it beautifully encapsulates the approach taken in this impressive new BBC2 historical documentary series entitled, Made … Continue reading →

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The Big Audition- episode one review.

Posted on October 12, 2018 by SCARFMAN

Think Pineapple Dance Studios(that Louis Spence docusoap from 2010) meets The X Factor, and that pretty much sums up ITV1’s new reality TV show called The Big Audition. By this I mean that it was funny in parts, engaging in … Continue reading →

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Defending The Guilty

Posted on September 25, 2018 by SCARFMAN

Brand new sitcoms these days tend to be very hit or miss.  This week we saw the pilot episode of one based around the judiciary on BBC2 entitled, Defending The Guilty. My initial impression of it was that I really … Continue reading →

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PRINCESS MARGARET: THE REBEL ROYAL, episode one.

Posted on September 16, 2018 by SCARFMAN

When the BBC was formed in 1922, its now well-known guiding principles were to inform, educate and entertain the British public.  Today, it still strives to achieve these three Reithian commandments against a competitive backdrop of niche broadcasting.  A brilliant … Continue reading →

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WANDERLUST

Posted on September 8, 2018 by SCARFMAN

You don’t have to be Einstein, to work out what the new BBC1 prime time drama Wanderlust was going to be about.  To coin a catchphrase from lovable old Roy Walker, ”say what you see”.  Yes, Wanderlust was about sex.  In … Continue reading →

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