REMEMBERING AMY

TOP Reclaiming Amy – PREVIEWS

PICK Friday, BBC Two, 9pm

Amy Winehouse passed away in 2011. She was 27. In this intimate documentary, her family and closest friends address some of the lurid myths which engulfed her. It’s essentially a firm yet gentle riposte to the Oscarwinning documentary, Amy, which, according to her parents Mitch and Janis, presented a misleading account of the family narrative. It’s not a selfserving or angry programme. The participants want to help people understand the

complex nature of addiction and mental illness. A portrait emerges of a vulnerable young woman who was supported by her loved ones, but in the end there

was nothing they could do to block her path towards

self-destruction.

Taken: Hunting the Sex Traffickers – Monday, Channel 4, 9pm

Filmed over three years, this new series boasts unprecedented access to a

covert police unit dedicated to the surveillance and capture of human trafficking

gangs. We also meet some of the women who have been

brutally exploited by these organised criminals. Preview copies weren’t available, but it sounds like quite a powerful series; although given the subject matter, it won’t be an easy watch. Episode one focuses on the unit’s mission to bring down the head of one particular

gang, who have made a vast fortune from trafficking South American women and forcing them to work as prostitutes in the UK. The officers use every tool at their disposal to get their man and

rescue his victims.

Uprising – Tuesday to Thursday, BBC One, 9pm

A vital jolt of television. Over three consecutive nights, filmmaker Steve Mcqueen presents an uncompromising account of racial conflict in early 1980s Britain. A documentary companion piece to his exceptional Small Axe anthology, Uprising is fuelled by anger and compassion. There is no narration; Mcqueen allows this story to unfold via the words of people who have experienced racism throughout their lives. Far-right groups, incessant police harassment, ethnic minorities scapegoated for all the ills of society: Mcqueen’s point is clear. This isn’t old news – history repeats itself. Racism and xenophobia are still rife within our society.

Secrets of the Museum – Tuesday, BBC Two, 8pm

Time now once again to revisit the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, where nimble-fingered artisans toil behind the scenes of an absolute treasure trove. The undoubted highlight this week is the restoration of a

shiny red suit once worn by Jim Lea from Slade during their imperial Glam phase. Face facts, Hockney, this is

what we want. A sacred pop artefact, Lea’s suit requires some careful stitching and tender loving care. The great man himself, who rarely makes public appearances, eventually turns up to wax lyrical in typically humble

fashion. Lea’s mother, who is now aged 95, is apparently more impressed with his V&A exhibit than she ever was with his raucous chart

success.

TRAGEDY: Amy Winehouse, pictured with mum Janis.