Sunday Independent (Ireland)

CATCH-UP TV - IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...

- EMILY HOURICAN

Russell Brand: End The Drugs War RTE Player, until October 22 It’s a long way from Big Brother’s Big Mouth, but somehow, comedian Russell Brand has managed to move from slapstick to serious without changing any of the things fans love about him — the hair, the tight jeans, the Albion-style vocabulary and posturing. As a social campaigner, Brand has zeroed in on housing reform, Ukip (describing Nigel Farage as “a pound shop Enoch Powell”), and now drugs. End The Drugs War is Brand preaching what he knows. As an addict for years, he can clearly relate to the experience­s of many of his interviewe­es, and his conviction that addiction needs to be treated with compassion and abstinence rather than jail and homelessne­ss, rings true, as does his certainty that addicts are capable of better. His belief in decriminal­isation for all drugs may sound naive, but most compelling is the level of engagement, and determinat­ion that change is possible. The Level UTV Player, until November 6, episode 1 UTV’s new crime drama series is a welcome antidote to Nordic Noir. Instead of bleak, grey and rainy, this is set in a bright and sunny South Coast of England. From the start, loyalties are divided, as DS Nancy Devlin, a rising star, is summoned to a midnight meeting with a dodgy businessma­n and drug smuggler whose daughter is Nancy’s childhood best friend. Out of the blocks, this is fast-paced and entertaini­ng. Philip Glenister is the businessma­n, while Karla Crome plays Nancy. Pat Kenny Tonight TV3 Player, until Oct 30 Pat’s back and in case you missed him and Colette Fitzpatric­k tackling the top stories, news and fiscal matters of the day, here is a chance to see it all again. Not including Colette’s name in the show’s title has clearly been a mistake for TV3 bosses, as this seems to be what most commentato­rs are zeroing in on, but beyond that, the show is solid.

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