Paul has axe to grind
BBC1, 9pm
THERE are no more sightings of Jack Whitehall’s naked bottom in the final instalment of this Evelyn Waugh adaptation. Which is arguably a shame as the 1920s-set comedy slightly runs out of steam.
Valiantly taking the fall for the murky deeds of his beautiful yet self-centred fiancee Margot (Eva Longoria), Paul (Whitehall) finds himself in deep trouble with the law.
Just as he’s ordering a slap-up feast for his “bachelor luncheon” (the period equivalent of a stag do, apparently), our hapless hero is arrested and thrown into clink with a sevenyear sentence.
“Bit different from the Ritz, eh?” sneers a prison warden. “We don’t like your sort here... you’re in for a rough time.”
While being detained at Her Majesty’s Pleasure, Paul meets many less-than-savoury characters, including old faces Holbeck (Stephen Graham) and Grimes (Douglas Hodge), who’s in for bigamy.
Trollied actor Jason Watkins, fresh from playing Line of Duty’s murdered forensics expert, puts in a neat turn as prison governor Wilfred Lucas-Dockery.
“While you’re in here I don’t want you to feel like your personality is being stamped out – what are your passions?” enquires the governor. To which Paul deadpans, “freedom and long-distance running”.
The only thing keeping him going is the dream of being reunited with his true love Margot. But will she have waited for him?
Although perfectly cast here as the posh fool, it would be interesting to see if Jack Whitehall is capable of playing against type for his next acting gig.