Twisting by the Poole
IT’S always nice to see an old favourite return to a popular TV show. So it’s with great delight that we welcome back Ben Miller’s character, DI Richard Poole, to DEATH IN PARADISE (BBC One, 9pm). And yes, I know what you’re going to say. This makes no sense whatsoever, right? Death In Paradise goes out on Thursdays, not Fridays. Has the world gone stark raving mad?
Not only that, but didn’t he come to a sticky end? DI Richard Poole, I mean, not Ben Miller.Yes, indeed. Series three, episode one, dreadful business, let’s not dwell on it.
So what’s going on here? Well, to clear up the first bit, this rare Friday episode is simply the conclusion to the two-part special that began last night. So although the world has indeed gone off-the scale bonkers, this isn’t further evidence of it.
And to clear up the second puzzle? That’s a bit trickier. How and why does DI Poole make his re appearance? Where does he make it? What does it amount to? What’s he wearing? Sorry, I’m afraid I’m sworn to secrecy.
Actually, no, to hell with it: he’s wearing a suit. Take that, BBC.
And I’m also prepared to reveal that the scene does makes sense, or as much sense as anything in Death In Paradise ever does.
As for Ben himself, he must have loved coming back to film it, not least because he gets more lines than he got in the entire eight episodes of Bridgerton.
Elsewhere tonight, THE GADGET SHOW (C5, 7pm) begins a new series by comparing Apple’s iPhone 12 with its iPhone
X.The latter, we’re reminded, is three years old, so I’m guessing by now it can form its own sentences and ride a tricycle.
After that, SUSAN CALMAN’S GRAND DAY OUT (C5, 8pm) is taking place on the beautiful Welsh coast. It’s quite a busy episode because Susan plans to a climb into a coracle, jump off a cliff and sample the local laverbread, and she’s not allowed to do all three of these things at once.
As if that’s not enough Channel 5 for one evening, there’s also the second part of GREATEST HITS OFTHE 70s (10pm), a programme that’s tremendous fun if you like hearing how some all-time chart favourites from the decade came to be, and probably crushingly dull if you don’t.
Songs featured on tonight’s programme include Boney M’s Rivers Of Babylon, 10cc’s I’m Not In Love – the painstaking creation of which is recalled by former band member Kevin Godley – plus the John Travolta/Olivia Newton-John hit You’re The One That I Want.
The latter, of course, was a highlight of the movie Grease, and yet some of those involved in that film had apparently wanted it to be left out.
Mind you, it only went on to sell 15 million copies, so they may have had a point.