Tuesday
The Long Song BBC ONE, 9.00PM
One of the best in the BBC’s line-up of pre-Christmas treats, this gripping adaptation (shown nightly this week) of Andrea Levy’s prize-winning 2010 novel is set on Jamaica’s inaptly named Amity sugar plantation during the last days of slavery. Tamara Lawrance is terrific as July, an independently minded girl, who was born to Kitty (Sharon Duncan-Brewster), a lowly field slave, but is snatched from her mother at a young age when the spoilt mistress of the house Caroline Mortimer (Hayley Atwell) takes a fancy to training her up as a ladies’ maid. As a result, a dysfunctional relationship of mutual dependency is born. Right from the teasing opening lines, Levy gives wit to her portrayal of a corrupt system coming to a violent end. In this first episode, the Christmas slave rebellion of 1831 provides the background for one of the most dramatic moments. The novel has been adapted beautifully by Sarah Williams, who did a memorable job with Levy’s Small Island, while director Mahalia Belo makes full use of the lush Dominican Republic locations. Lenny Henry is impressive in support. Gerard O’Donovan
Grizzly Bear Cubs and Me BBC TWO, 9.00PM
Wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan’s festive specials are a Christmas institution. In this heart-warming first part of two (concluding tomorrow), Buchanan travels deep into the snowy wastes of Russia to help a bear-loving family, the Pazhetnovs, return six orphaned cubs to the wild. GO