The Herald - The Herald Magazine
BOX SETS AND ON DEMAND
they are, which I admire these guys [the producers] for, is a new form of wildlife filmmaking.”
While environmental issues aren’t the focus of Dynasties, Sir David suggests the demise of our world and what we can do about it is “always there these days. Whether it’s population or whether it’s the climate or whether it’s the acidity of the sea, there is always that facet of the crystal that you can take.
“And we do have a problem as to, do we actually, every time the image comes up, say: ‘But remember they’re in danger’.
“How often do you say this without it becoming a real turn-off? It would be irresponsible to ignore it but equally we have a responsibility of making programmes which look at all the rest of the aspects.”
Sir David joined the BBC in 1952 and within two years created his acclaimed Zoo Quest series, filming wild animals in their natural habitat for the first time. He has continued to present natural history series, including The Trials of Life, Life of Mammals and Frozen Planet, over the decades since, with his fans spanning generations.
In fact, the BBC confirmed the first three episodes of Planet Earth II attracted more viewers aged 16-34 than The X Factor on ITV.
Sir David reveals we can expect several moments like this in Dynasties, including one in the first episode when we see the king of a chimp troop being beaten up.
“What they have said in the description of the programme is that we will show what happens. We are not going to tart this up, we are not going to distort it in any way,” he says.
“If it’s a triumph, fine, if it’s a tragedy, that too we will show.
Dynasties, BBC1, Sunday, 8.30pm
Robbing Your Relatives (C5, 9pm)
Families are supposed to protect and love one another but family fraud is on the increase, with millions of pounds being stolen from victims by their own flesh and blood. This first programme in a two-parter features several such cases, including the mother who plundered more than £500,000 from her son’s insurance payout after he narrowly survived a fatal car crash. Plus, the daughter who stole her mother’s life savings, leaving her to die penniless, and the disabled single mother who faced financial ruin after her son took more than £1,000 from her when he was only 10 years old.
The First (C4, 9pm)
Sean Penn and Natascha McElhone star in the US drama about a team of astronauts and scientists caught up in the race to become the first to reach Mars on a colonisation mission. A difficult decision puts Kayla and Tom at odds with each other, while a problem arises with the Mars ascent vehicle that may jeopardise the safety of the crew. Aiko hosts a dinner party to celebrate Sadie and Ollie’s wedding anniversary. Co-starring LisaGay Hamilton, Anna Jacoby-Heron and Melissa George.
Children in Need 2018 (BBC1, 7.30pm)
You know that Christmas isn’t too far away when the clocks go back and Children in Need comes around again. The first part of the telethon ends at 10pm, before which Tess Daly and Ade Adepitan kick off the evening’s entertaining with a huge performance from a hit West End musical and a song from the Children’s Choir, featuring singers from across the country in a live link-up. Graham Norton and Mel Giedroyc then take over, presenting more fun, fundraising and surprise guests, as well as a report about the Rickshaw Challenge team as it crosses the finish line in Salford and a Strictly Come Dancing special. The programme returns at 10.40pm with Marvin and Rochelle Humes joined by new co-host Rob Beckett for almost three further hours of non-stop entertainment.
Unreported World (C4, 7.30pm)
Marcel Theroux is granted rare access to North Korea, witnessing the first Mass Games to be held in five years, in which 100,000 citizens sing for the fatherland in celebration of the country’s 70th anniversary. He tours Pyongyang’s metro system, visits a trade fair and a collective farm, and gets an officially sanctioned haircut. However, as he observes a changing country with an emerging soft capitalism, Theroux is constantly reminded of the things his official minder Mr Ri isn’t showing them, such as the numerous political prisoners and the one in five children stunted by a lack of food.
100 Years of the RAF (C5, 8pm)
On April 1, 1918, the Royal Air Force was born. It is now the oldest independent air force in the world, and at the time of its formation, the largest. In the decades since, the courage and perseverance of its personnel, coupled with its innovations, have helped secure freedom and safety for many, both at home and abroad. In this fascinating documentary, Martyn Lewis narrates the RAF’s history, revealing how it still strives to live up to its mission statement to provide an agile, adaptable and capable air force that, person for person, is second to none, and that makes a decisive air power contribution in support of the UK defence mission. Stories of bravery and sacrifice are revealed, alongside previously unseen historical footage of both world wars.
Alone at Home (C4, 8pm)
Alison and husband Andrew have three children. Their youngest two, 12-year-old Lola and 10-year-old Travis, often argue, leaving Alison “at her wit’s end”. However, Lola wants to prove that she is more capable than her parents believe is the case. Their eldest child, 15-year-old Charlie, has Down’s syndrome, although Alison feels people underestimate him and hopes four days “home alone” under arm’s-length supervision will see him become more independent and confident. However, the biggest revelation of the separation actually comes from Alison.
this new series is more of a companion piece with the focus firmly on the drug cartels of Mexico during the 1980s. Michael Pena heads the cast as Kiki Camarena, an undercover DEA agent who has recently moved his wife and son from California to Guadalajara before a new assignment. The job turns out to be more challenging than he could ever have imagined. Kiki becomes embroiled in the world of Felix Gallardo (Diego Luna), the man behind the rise of the Guadalajara Cartel who builds an empire by unifying an army of traffickers. As Kiki learns more about Gallardo’s operation, a tragic chain of events begins to unfold.
It’s 20 years since a group of university friends decided to swap their band’s name from Starfish to Coldplay and they haven’t looked back since. Hit after hit has come their way, winning them fans around the globe who, at live concerts, probably know the words to the likes of Fix You, Trouble and Yellow better than even lead singer Chris Martin. To mark the anniversary, Coldplay are releasing a documentary that looks back at the band’s history, from those early days, when they rehearsed in a cramped bedroom, to their current standing as one of the world’s biggest acts. To tie in with the film, Amazon Music is also making three exclusive live tracks – Stayin’ Alive, Us Against the World and Don’t Panic – available to stream.