Bill gets his acts together
THINK The X Factor for actors and you’ve got the gist of BRING THE DRAMA (BBC2, 9pm), a new reality series in which aspiring actors get the chance to have a crack at the profession. Hosted by Bill Bailey, who makes a few supportive wisecracks but stays largely in the background, the show invites a diverse group of eight amateurs to join the process, including a young deaf man and a woman of 67.
Until now the contestants worked as digital marketers and police officers and cabbies, occasionally appearing in amateur dramatics and never dreaming they’d make a career of it. But now they’re given their big chance, and their excitement and nerves are palpable, which gives the programme real emotional heft.
The eight are put through their paces each week by casting director Kelly Valentine Hendry, who’s cast actors in Bridgerton and Fleabag.What’s fun for viewers is that each week the contestants are asked to re-enact a scene from a great British drama, including Peaky Blinders, Downton Abbey, Silent Witness and Casualty.
They start off tonight with a classic EastEnders scene in which Phil Mitchell begs Sonia Fowler to save his son Ben after he’s been shot. It’s tense stuff and great to see who rises to the occasion.
Kelly names the best actor each week, but otherwise it’s a gentle show that does not thrive on bitchiness. No one is expelled – instead, at the very end, Kelly decides which three best actors deserve a chance to show off their skills to agents and directors.
Although what makes a good actor is so subjective you may not always agree with Kelly’s verdicts (and I didn’t), it’s fascinating to see which of these amateurs flourish in front of the camera.
Looking for a juicy thriller now you’ve binged on Fool Me Once on Netflix? Tune into TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE (C5, 9pm), after which you can devour the remaining three episodes on My5 or wait till tomorrow night for episode two.
Former EastEnder Kara Tointon shows off her leading lady credentials as Rachel, a salt-of-theearth single mum trying to do her best for her young son Liam, by slaving away as a cleaner. Enter
Elliot (Allen Leech) as her rich new employer and potential love interest – and quite alluring he is too – Allen’s looking way more buff than when he slid behind the wheel as Downton Abbey’s chauffeur Tom Branson. Someone’s been down the gym!
As Rachel cleans Elliot’s cobwebs (not a euphemism), she understandably starts falling for the charming millionaire.Alas, we soon discover that despite his good-on-paper credentials, Elliot’s got some questionable behaviours.
Is there a future for this handsome couple or should Kara drop her Swiffer and head for the hills? Watch and see.