The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Lenny Henry’s Caribbean Britain –
Wed, BBC Two, 9.30pm
In the concluding episode of Len’s tender cultural odyssey, he examines the ways in which second and thirdgeneration British-born Caribbean kids integrated their identity into their art. As a young comedian in the 1970s, he made awkward jokes at his own expense. Kids of colour no longer have to do that, and Len explains why in an episode devoted to the progress we’ve made over the last 40 years. Comedy, music and drama have enriched our multicultural society. And Len himself, although he’s too modest to say this outright, played a huge role in bringing the black experience to the masses. For people of a certain generation (i.e. my generation) he will always be a cherished comedy hero.
Sarah Beeny’s Little House Big Plans – Thursday, C4, 8pm
This week, industrious property developer Sarah Beeny meets more folk who are brave/foolhardy enough to buy and ambitiously convert small living spaces. First up, a couple from Poole who got their first taste of the property market when they purchased a poky semi that was built in the 1930s. Their bold plan: expand the space by creating an open-plan kitchen diner. Unfortunately, by the time Beeny rocks up they’ve already spent their budget. The whole thing is being precariously funded on a week-to-week paycheque basis. We also spend time with a couple who are in the process of transforming their Victorian terrace into a modern, spacious home complete with indoor garden.
The Undeclared War – Thursday, Channel 4, 9pm
The latest political thriller from writer/director Peter Kosminsky is set in 2024. The UK is still in the grip of Covid while struggling through one of its worst ever economic slumps. The new PM (Adrian Lester) is even more unpopular than Boris Johnson. Meanwhile, a team of computer analysts led by Simon Pegg deal with an increase in cyber-attacks. Potentially interesting subject matter, but it’s terribly dry, devoted to people frowning at screens while chatting about codes and viruses; watch out for an inadvertently funny moment just before the second ad break, when Kosminsky ramps up some dramatic music in lieu of any actual drama occurring. Suffice to say, it’s not his finest work.