The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Review
CLIMBING BLIND
BBC Four, 9.00pm
“You don’t do these things because they’re easy. You do them because they’re hard. You don’t get that sense of satisfaction unless there’s a chance of failure.” This awardwinning documentary tells the inspirational story of Team GB paraclimber Jesse Dufton and his bid to become the first blind person to lead an ascent of the Old Man of Hoy – a dizzying sea stack in Orkney with sheer cliff faces and a drop of 450ft.
Dufton, who hails from Loughborough, was born with 20 per cent vision. Aged four, he was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic disease that breaks down the retina’s cells. By 20, he could no longer read. Now his vision is reduced to detecting light.
As a lifelong climber, however, Dufton continues to defy the odds. He trains for international events and leads “trad” rock climbs with his sight guide and fiancée Molly Thompson. “I’m not disabled,” he insists.
“I’m blind and able.”
With film-maker Alastair Lee and Molly by his side, can Dufton conquer his greatest challenge yet? Not just a gripping adventure but a sweet love story too. Even the resident puffins look impressed.
Michael Hogan
am The Sweeney (S) pm Quincy ME (S)
Kojak (S)
The Return of Sherlock Holmes (AD) (S)
Minder Arthur has a female admirer (AD) (S) The Professionals (AD) Banks of England A celebration of the life of former England goalkeeper Gordon
Banks (AD) (S)
Euro 96 Relived Netherlands v England. A chance to see the Group A encounter at Wembley Stadium, as England produced one of their finest-ever performances (S)
Sudden Death (1995) Action thriller starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. Includes FYI Daily (AD) (S)
(1987) Sci-fi thriller starring Peter Weller. Includes FYI Daily
See Films of the week, p20 (S)