IAN HYLAND on last night’s telly
Back In Time For… The Corner Shop, BBC2 ★★★★
In these uncertain times, the nostalgia which was served up by BBC2 last night proved to be just what I needed.
Sara Cox’s latest historical experiment arrived at the 1980s and 1990s and I was in my element – as was whoever curated the playlist. It kicked off with Joy Division, then dipped into the likes of Blondie, The Human League, OMD, Bros, Eddy Grant, The Stone Roses and the Spice Girls, before rounding off with a couple of classics from Blur.
And, by the way, don’t think I didn’t clock that they’d sneaked in It Must Be Love by Madness at the tail end of that Charles and Di wedding footage.
I was so lost in music I almost didn’t notice what was happening on screen as the Ardern family from Sheffield continued their highly watchable stewardship of the humble corner shop down the ages.
When I did focus on the actual show, I spotted so many familiar brands it seemed like a storyboarding session for one of Peter Kay’s stand-up routines.
Rola Cola, Spam, Ice Magic, 5-4-3-2-1 bars, Stork SB…
Really, the only thing missing was garlic bread.
Meanwhile, the problem page of mum Jo’s Just Seventeen magazine seemed like a storylining conference for EastEnders.
The highlight, though, was Sara showing up with her home hairdressing kit to give the 16-year-old Olivia a mousse-over.
So if anyone is looking for something to amuse the kids during the lockdown, just grab a hairbrush, some VO5 Rework Foam and a couple of dayglo scrunchies and you’re good to go.
‘‘ I was in my element, as was whoever had curated the playist