TV review Poisonings drama touches a chord in days of lockdown

documentary-maker boasts about the astonishing access they have managed to secure, how you will never have seen anything like it, roll up, roll up, etc. In the case of Samira Ahmed, however, the bragging rights seemed justified. It is rare indeed to find a western presenter given such freedom to roam. The last one, indeed the only one, I can recall was Monty Don for his Paradise Gardens.

You could see why the Iranian regime might give the green light to a series about gardens, hardly political after all, but history and culture … that could veer into contentious territory. Not on the evidence of the first episode.

In general, Ahmed stuck strictly to the past. Here were tales of ancient kings and battles, palaces filled with magnificent objects, the tide of history coming and going. It ought to have been gripping but it was like trekking through a very large museum with a speed-walking guide who insists on telling you absolutely everything about each exhibit. After half an hour I was desperate for a break.

Remember 1986, when Aussie soap Neighbours hopped on to

British screens like a ‘roo on acid? How glamorous it seemed: the houses, the sunshine, Kylie and her perm, the sunshine, Bouncer the dog (played by Bouncer the dog), the sunshine.

The arrival of The Heights (BBC1, Monday) showed a few things have changed with Aussie soaps, but not a lot. Set around a Perth tower block, The Heights was more down to earth than Neighbours. Otherwise, all the soap staples were there: a pub, a prodigal son returning home, stroppy teens and, a classic this one, an abandoned baby.

By the end of episode one

(of 30) there was not much to recommend The Heights save for its uniquely Aussie temperament. At a wake for Bill, the recently departed pub landlord, his grandson told mourners: “Bill wasn’t perfect. In fact he was a pain in the a***.” Admirable candour, and not something you ever heard Harold Bishop say. Now, Madge …

Telly welcomed the round ball game back with

I only noticed because I had a FaceTime chat with someone of the male persuasion who, I twigged after a while, was clearly not listening to a word I was saying.

Elsewhere, racing fans had to content themselves with

No crowds, everyone in masks, and viewers urged to take part in the fun from home by wearing hats. I fashioned one out of that morning’s Herald. Times are hard.

Dark Waters (Cert 12)

Amazon Prime Video/BT TV Store/iTunes/Sky Store/TalkTalk TV Store and other download and streaming services, available from July 6 on DVD £19.99) Mild-mannered defence lawyer Robert Bilott (Mark Ruffalo) works at Taft Stettinius & Hollister, which represents some of America’s most powerful chemicals companies. He receives a visit from farmer Wilbur Tennant (Bill Camp), who lives in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

Wilbur is a neighbour of Rob’s grandmother and has been persuaded to deliver a cardboard box of videotapes to the Taft office, detailing the decimation of his cow herd on land adjoining a DuPont chemical plant.

Despite his heavy workload, Rob drives to Parkersburg to visit Wilbur, his wife Sarah (Denise Sal Vera) and their children.

The lawyer is horrified to learn the family has lost almost 200 animals. With the blessing of his boss (Tim Robbins), Rob unearths evidence the man-made PFOA chemical used in the production of Teflon might have leaked into the Parkersburg water supply.

Inspired by a New York Times magazine article, Dark Waters is a slowburning thriller about a dogged fight for justice lasting more than 20 years.

Emma (Cert U)

Amazon Prime Video/BT TV Store/iTunes/Sky Store/TalkTalk TV Store and other download and streaming services, available from June 22 on DVD £19.99/Blu-ray £24.99)

Emma Woodhouse (Anya Taylor-Joy) reassures her worrywart widower father (Bill Nighy) she has no intention of contriving her own love match.

However, Emma cannot resist interfering in matters of the heart and she defies the warnings of neighbour Mr Knightley (Johnny Flynn) to mould the romantic prospects of naive new acquaintance Harriet Smith (Mia Goth).

The easily influenced young woman is smitten with farmer Robert Martin (Connor Swindells) but Emma persuades Harriet to shun his lowly advances in favour of buffoonish vicar Mr Elton (Josh O’Connor).

A staunchly faithful treatment of Jane Austen’s 1815 novel.

True History Of The Kelly Gang (Cert 18)

Amazon Prime Video/BT TV Store/iTunes/Sky Store/TalkTalk TV Store and other download and streaming services, from July 6 on DVD £15.99/ Blu-ray £17.99)

Young Ned Kelly (Orlando Schwerdt) is the apple of the eye of his manipulative and resourceful mother, Ellen (Essie Davis), who loses her weak-willed husband Red (Ben Corbett) at the hands of scheming lawman Sergeant O’Neil (Charlie Hunnam).

The boy is forced to grow up before his time as man of the house and Ned learns to fend with tutelage from guntoting, gnarly bush ranger Harry Power (Russell Crowe).

As Ned comes of age (now played by George MacKay), he declares war on Constable Fitzpatrick (Nicholas Hoult) by forming a gang with his younger brother Dan (Earl Cave) and a couple of friends. Battle lines are drawn between the outlaws and Fitzpatrick’s heavily armed officers, ending in a night-time shoot-out.

This is a grim and muscular interpretation of Peter Carey’s Booker Prizewinning novel based loosely on the exploits of outlaw

Ned Kelly and his gang in the late 19th century.

What’s the story?

Tennis.

You do realise Wimbledon is cancelled this year?

Sadly, yes. Amazon Prime Video has secured exclusive rights to Schroders Battle of the Brits, a six-day tennis tournament that begins on Tuesday. The behindclosed-doors event is being co-organised by seven-time Grand Slam doubles winner Jamie Murray with the aim of bringing much-missed live sport to fans, while raising upwards of £100,000 for NHS Charities Together.

Blimey. Who’s playing?

Jamie and Andy Murray, alongside other top-ranked male players, including Dan Evans, Kyle Edmund, Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski. The competition, livestreamed from the Lawn Tennis Association’s headquarters in Roehampton, will see singles and doubles titles up for grabs. It is an idea borne out of a WhatsApp group Jamie started with his younger brother Andy, British No 1 Evans and reigning Australian Open doubles champion Salisbury during lockdown.

How will it work?

In this era of social distancing due to the coronavirus, there will be no live crowd, players will have to retrieve their own tennis balls and traditional post-match handshakes are likely to be replaced with racket bumps.

I’ll fetch the Pimm’s.

Don’t forget the strawberries and cream. The action starts on Amazon Prime Video, Tuesday, at 1pm.

SUSAN SWARBRICK

Emma with Anya Taylor-Joy