FUKUSHIMA 50 Cert 12 ★★★
On digital from tomorrow
NEXT Thursday is the 10th anniversary of the meltdown at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant. With so many still living with the consequences, this Japanese disaster movie keeps a respectful distance from its real-life subjects.
Based on a book by Ryusho Kadota, the film refuses to apportion blame or delve into the characters’ personal lives. Apart from Ken Watanabe’s quick-thinking site superintendent Masao Yoshida (who died in 2013), the writers have changed the names of the 50 frontline workers.
Although hard going at times, the exhaustively detailed recreation is a powerful testament to their bravery.
Lee, 40, is a disabled comedian best known for winning Britain’s Got Talent as Lost Voice Guy in 2018
What was your first TV memory?
I’m not sure if it was my first, but one of the earliest memories etched into my brain is watching PJ getting paint in his eyes during a game of paintball on Byker Grove. It was a horrific experience for a child to watch and definitely put me off paintballing for life.
Who was your first TV crush?
Probably Gillian Anderson in The X Files. The combination of her red hair, beautiful looks and the geekiness of her character Dana Scully was definitely my type of woman… and still is!
What was your first TV appearance?
I was in the audience of the old ITV Saturday morning TV show Gimme 5 if that counts! But my first proper TV appearance was probably in a piece for The One Show, from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in about 2016.
What is your favourite current show?
I’m late to the party but I absolutely love watching Derry Girls. It’s just so well written, with a great cast, and some of the subtle humour in it is great. And I love all the 80s references in it as well.
Which TV show would you take to a desert island?
The League Of Gentlemen, without a doubt. It’s so delightfully dark that sometimes I wonder if it was written specifically for me. I love that they were making jokes out of stuff that was a bit weird and left-field. As a teenager, they opened my eyes to a whole new world.
What TV show would you like to put out of its misery?
I’ve never really got The Big Bang Theory. Obviously, it’s a successful show so it must be doing something right, but it’s just never appealed to me. Thankfully, it’s ended now, but please don’t ever bring it back!
Guiltiest TV pleasure?
I love A Place In The Sun. I think everyone enjoys a bit of house porn from time to time. My favourite game while watching is trying to decide whether the people really do actually want to emigrate or whether they just wanted an excuse for a free trip abroad. You can usually tell by how much interest they take in the properties.
What are you up to at the moment?
The paperback version of my book is coming out. I answer all the stupid questions I get asked. I’m sick of being asked, “Have you ever tried to talk?” As if I had just been lazy all of my life and only putting it on to jump the queues at Disneyworld.
● I’m Only In It For The Parking by Lee Ridley (Corgi, £9.99) is published in paperback on Thursday. For tour dates see lostvoiceguy.com
GARRY BUSHELL