The Herald - The Herald Magazine
BOX SETS AND ON DEMAND
On Demand, Jerk (BBC3, from Sun, 10am)
Available as a four-episode boxset, this promising sitcom follows the life of acclaimed stand-up Tim Renkow, who plays a heightened version of himself, an American art school dropout who needs a visa to stay in the UK. Tim has cerebral palsy, which means he feels as if people are judging him all the time, and it isn’t often that they get it right because despite appearing to be vulnerable, there’s a sharp mind that takes no prisoners. What’s more, he enjoys making people feel uncomfortable and knows he can get away with saying things that others can’t. Although such behaviour sounds like a lot of fun, it does have its drawbacks and it stops him concentrating on the important things in life, such as landing a job, finding love and gaining a visa.
Inside Britain’s Black Market: Who’s Selling Fake Stuff? (BBC3, from Mon, 10am)
Livvy Haydock is back with another documentary, this time focusing on the black market for fake designer goods. She spends six months investigating the influx of the stuff into the UK, from clothes and bags to – shockingly enough – pills. She meets a young importer who is ready to sell to buyers across the country and spends time in the back alley sweatshops of the UK where some items are made. But the most shocking moment comes as she delves into the murky world of fake Xanax pills. The real medication can
only be acquired legally by prescription in the UK, leading to a thriving underground market.
Isn’t it Romantic (Netflix, from Thu)
Rebel Wilson heads the cast of this promising movie. She plays Natalie, a New York architect whose career is rather slow to develop – she’s more likely to be asked to deliver coffee and bagels to her bosses than to design the next skyscraper. Just when it seems that things can’t get any worse, a mugger knocks her unconscious and she awakes to find herself trapped in a romantic comedy. That might sound appealing to some, but Natalie is a cynic when it comes to love and hates anything involving Cupid’s arrows.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Netflix, from Fri)
Chiwetel Ejiofor is one of the most interesting and gifted actors of his generation and it seems he’s an extraordinary filmmaker too. This feature-length directorial debut is based on the true-life story of William Kamkwamba. It begins in 2001 in Malawi, where William’s family are struggling to make ends meet, but parents Trywell and Agnes are determined to ensure their offspring are educated, despite the cost. Eventually, as their financial predicament becomes unbearable, William is forced to leave school but becomes determined to help his family and their community. Ejiofor co-stars as Trywell, but it’s Maxwell Simba who steals the show as young William.