Hooked on Ruth family’s riddles
WE found out what goes on in tots’ brains in Babies: Their Wonderful World.
BBC2 brought together more than 200 little ones for an ambitious study – and the experiments were fascinating.
But one in particular seemed irresponsible.
In a test that frankly could have been sponsored by Apple, we saw techy toddlers who used smart touchscreens do better at tasks like building tower blocks and drawing a straight line.
Surely this shouldn’t mean we all rush out and buy our babies the latest ipad?
Oh good, my child is better at tapping and swiping, but he hasn’t blinked for three hours. Some balance would have been nice. CHRISTMAS family get-togethers could well be a little awkward for actress Ruth Wilson this year. First we had a masterclass in 60s grieving, which saw the couple’s poor son Nigel apologise for shedding a solitary tear, then get an awkward hug from his mum before being told to Keep Calm and Carry On.
Nigel, by the way, would become Ruth’s dad in real life – a thought that came to me as she played his mother. Yes, it’s all a bit odd if you think about it too much.
Later the doorbell went. It was Gladys Wilson. There was an awkward standoff as we waited for the real Mrs Wilson to please stand up.
Turns out Alec never actually divorced Gladys. Never trust the paperwork of a secret agent.
Alison did what any right-minded person would do in this situation – she rifled through his stuff.
Then she tracked down Alec’s handler who asked: “Does it even matter now?” Er, yes, thank you very much, if Gladys is demanding a body for the funeral.
Back in 1940 we discovered that Alison met Alec while working at MI6. As they flirted over champagne, Keeley Hawes lurked ominously.
First she popped up in the ladies’ loos. Later at funeral No1 she hovered, giving disapproving looks. She must be fairly important, it’s Keeley Hawes, after all. Did Bodyguard teach us nothing?
At funeral No2, both wives and their sons stood around Alec’s grave in what looked like a scene from Emmerdale.
Or at least, it would have been if the women had launched at each other over the coffin.
Then there was another clanger I really wasn’t expecting. A mysterious man paid his respects to Alison, before calling her Dorothy. “WHO’S DOROTHY?” pleaded Alison, clearly massively over this by now.
But did anyone else spot something rather interesting in the closing credits?
Yes, eagle- eyed viewers might have noticed that Hawes plays someone called – yes, Dorothy. The plot thickens. WITHIN minutes of the
Big return of Vic & Bob’s
there was Night Out on BBC4
pickled a song about eating
potatoes.vic onions and boiled
his head and Bob had a banana on
a corn on the was speed-eating
and part bad cob. Part genius
audition, Britain’s Got Talent
sense nothing made any
that’s whatsoever. But
why we love it.
IT seems to have chameleon (don’t ask) so if my six-yearfallen to Phillip old son doesn’t like it I’ll be writing in. Tureet, Sc Schofield to accummo guide us dipsum ing
Elsewhere Corrie’s Simon Gregson thro through sum quipit our Christmas ea commy nos nim
and his family ranked board games, shopp shopping at, quis alit every aliquamet, verosti
year. Chris Kamara and some young drivers doluptat, And it’s working ncincilit for me. veros digna
road-tested ride-ons while Sally Phillips In corem How To dolore
Spend faccumsandio It Well At te mincidunt and her kids tried computer consoles. Christma Christmas on ITV on conumsa Tuesday, ndionsequi lobor acilit he Phil rated and slated a pooping rated hi-t hi-tech toy pets, erciduipit lorper sum praesenim alit including
quis acilisit ipit unicorn, and there was a shocking a cat with mind-reading powers ver aut landiamet augiat. Sum in ute insight into the hundreds of pounds you and an irr irritating talking parrot. would need to spend to get a whole
set On P Phil’s hil’ advice I later smugly of collectables such LOL dolls. snapped u up the winner, a robot A merry expensive Christmas.