BOX SETS AND ON DEMAND

turned on its head part way through, which bodes well for the next five instalments. But do please KEEP IT DOWN, ladies; you are frightening the horses in the Outer Hebrides.

There was more family drama to be had, albeit in grander style, in Succession (Sky Atlantic, Thursday, 9pm). Succession starred oor ain Brian Cox as Logan Roy, a Dundee-born, now New York-based media mogul. Logan is meant to be turning over the business to his first born, but changes his mind at the last minute. It is a monstrous act, but par for the course in this crowd. One episode in and everything about the series bellows money. Written by Jesse Armstrong (Peep Show) and produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay (Anchorman), Cox is superb as daddy dearest. As to any resemblance between Logan and actual persons living or dead … best keep it to yourself. Wicked fun.

Last question, promise. Who does Mark Kermode think he is? Coming into our living rooms with his Mark Kermode’s Secrets of Cinema (BBC4, Tuesday, 9pm), a five-part series that could have gone to some poor, starving, blonde, Glaswegian TV critic who takes in film reviewing and washing on the side? How dare he, with chief writer Kim Newman, take film fans on a lucid, funny, fascinating, trip through the various genres, using perfectly chosen clips to show how each works?

This week it was coming-of-age films, with the Quiffed One ranging from The 400 Blows to Gregory’s Girl to Kes and Moonlight, all without missing a beat.

While 30 minutes rather than an hour would have done the trick, Kermode without the Mayo is a moreish treat, the kind of film show that makes you want to immediately watch your favourites again and seek out the recommended new stuff. All in, a five-star treat.