MSN TV: BBC1's CATHERINE TATE'S NAN

Over at MSN TV today: I've reviewed the sitcom special for CATHERINE TATE'S NAN, which may lead to a full series.

Back in 2009, there was a festive special that cast bullying Nan as Ebenezer Scrooge, but this "special episode" felt like it was testing the water for a full-blown series. On the evidence of this "pilot", I'm not against the idea of unleashing Nan as a larger-than-life sitcom monster. Catherine Tate's performance remains exemplary and the laughs came fairly regularly because we're familiar with the character from The Catherine Tate Show's three-series run.

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MSN TV: BBC1's SHERLOCK, 3.1 - 'The Empty Hearse'

Over at MSN TV today: I've reviewed the third series premiere of BBC1's SHERLOCK, where the great detective came back from the dead...

How did he do it? How did he fake his death? That was the question. The answer? Well, that's another matter. It's been two years since Sherlock "died", and a moustachioed Watson is now engaged to Mary Morstran (Martin Freeman's real-life partner Amanda Abbington). However, his life is about to be turned upside down again because Sherlock must return. And return, he does.

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MSN TV: BBC1's DOCTOR WHO - 'The Day of The Doctor'

Today over at MSN TV: I've reviewed one of the most eagerly-anticipated TV events of the year -- the DOCTOR WHO 50th anniversary 3D spectacular, "The Day of The Doctor". Matt Smith is united with his predecessor David Tennant, with John Hurt and Billie Piper along for the ride...

A television show celebrating a half-centenary is rare, but doubly so for a drama that began life as a Saturday night schedule filler in 1963. In fact, it's worth remembering Doctor Who is the first show to cross this particular milestone. Hype and expectations for this anniversary special were sky-high, but no matter what your opinion is of showrunner Steven Moffat, he has the imagination, capability, and beating fan-boy heart to ensure a rousing spectacle with zip, wit and humour. And despite criticism Moffat tends to favour plot gymnastics over heartfelt emotion, I was heartened to find The Day of The Doctor built on relatable issues of regret, loss, hope, heroism, teamwork, and redemption.

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MSN TV: BBC2's AN ADVENTURE IN SPACE AND TIME

Today over at MSN TV: on the eve of Doctor Who's 50th anniversary, I've reviewed last night's true life drama AN ADVENTURE IN SPACE AND TIME, which recounted the events that led to the sci-fi drama's creation back in 1963...

For some Whovians, this Mark Gatiss-penned drama has been more eagerly awaited than 3D special The Day of The Doctor. It certainly proved an enlightening and entertaining peek into the modest origin of Doctor Who, airing just a few days before the 50th anniversary of the show's original transmission on 23 November 1963. I had my doubts sufficient entertainment could be gleaned from the creation of a BBC programme that, at the time, wasn't seen as anything special or destined for greatness. After all, it was created to fill a schedule gap between Grandstand and Jukebox Jury. Humble beginnings, indeed.

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MSN TV: ITV's DOWNTON ABBEY - series 4 finale

Today over at MSN: I've reviewed the series 4 finale of DOWNTON ABBEY (so beware of major spoilers!), where some of the year's storylines were resolved, and others nudged into the Christmas special's agenda...

Downton Abbey overcame a misguided second series with a general return to form last year, culminating in the shock death of Matthew Crawley (actor Dan Stevens decided he wanted out, forcing an eleventh hour EastEnders-style dose of Christmas misery when he crashed his car). The real test of series four was seeing if the show could overcome the loss of Stevens - whose character was the dapper heir to the Crawley family fortune and one-half of the show's key romantic coupling. The answer is a resounding yes, although the potential suitors for widowed Mary haven't left much of an impression, making Lady Mary look a little marginalised, despite the fact she was on equal footing with her father in terms of managing the family estate. As finales go, I expected better - particularly as it was an extended episode, and Julian Fellowes tends to write better with doubled screen-time. Downton was as cosy as one expects for a Sunday evening on ITV, but I'm beginning to find it rather frustrating how this show fumbles good ideas. Or rushes them for no good reason.

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MSN TV: Sky Living's DRACULA

Today over at MSN: my original DRACULA review has been re-purposed, in time for the show's UK debut on Sky Living for Halloween.

Dracula's a tricky property to adapt well because the story and characters are so established, it's hard to do something radical without straying from what people love about the original. I'm not entirely sold on this idea of Dracula as an American inventor plotting to bankrupt energy magnates affiliated with a secret society that entombed him for centuries. But it is a different angle. It gives Dracula a job and position in society, and the show possibly benefits from operating on the level of a cut-throat business drama when the fangs are hidden.

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MSN TV: The Worst TV Phone Calls

Over at MSN TV today: I've written a light-hearted feature, inspired by the BBC's new comedy-drama The Wrong Mans, outlining some of television's worst phone calls. Some are genuine scenes from actual TV shows (Breaking Bad, Doctor Who), while others are imaginary scenarios featuring TV personalities (Gordon Ramsay, Chris Tarrant). I hope you enjoy it!

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MSN TV: BBC Three's ORPHAN BLACK

Today over at MSN TV: I've reviewed the first two episodes of BBC America's sci-fi clone drama ORPHAN BLACK, which has started its run on BBC Three.

Remember the Sarah Michelle Gellar drama, Ringer, in which she played the roles of twins who swap lives? No? That's hardly surprising, as it was a textbook guide on how to take a interesting concept and then ruin it over 22 excruciating episodes. I therefore wasn't expecting to enjoy Orphan Black, perhaps due to residual feelings of disappointment from how Sarah had let me down so badly. However, this pilot episode did a terrific job laying out the concept of an unusual identity switch and hooking audiences into its story and mystery, as it opens with streetwise Sarah Manning (Tatiana Maslany) witnessing her doppelgänger jump to her death in front of a speeding train.

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MSN TV: ITV's STEPPING OUT

Over at MSN TV today: I've reviewed the premiere of ITV's new five-week dancing competition STEPPING OUT, where six celebrities perform a variety of dances with their real-life partners. Hosted by Davina McCall with judges Mel B, Wayne Sleep & Jason Gardiner.

As if to fill the Strictly Come Dancing-shaped gap before its return later this month, new ITV series Stepping Out's been pushed on to the dance floor for a brief five-week run. It feels like ITV is hedging its bet by testing audience reception first in order to save money in case it's an embarrassing flop. It's interesting comparing Stepping Out and Strictly Come Dancing; clearly the creators think the BBC show has flaws and/or areas for improvement, hence this vehicle.

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MSN TV: BBC1's BIG SCHOOL

Over at MSN today: I've reviewed the premiere of BBC1's new sitcom BIG SCHOOL, starring and co-written by David Walliams, joined by Catherine Tate, Philip Glenister and Frances de la Tour.

The great thing about a sitcom in a school is that everyone has first-hand experience of that setting; in later life, one can start seeing things from the teacher's perspective. However, audiences are so attuned to this environment it's hard to do much that feels fresh and different. There are so many clichés in education-set programmes that they're hard to avoid, mostly because they're oddly alluring. Big School, BBC1's new Friday night sitcom, fell into a number of traps in terms of lazily-written characters: the obstinate headmistress, the nerdy science teacher (a virgin, at that), the "games teacher" with an eye for the ladies. All your favourite stereotypes are present, although that in itself lent a feeling of comic strip-style nostalgia.

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MSN TV: AMC's BREAKING BAD, 5.9 - 'Blood Money'

Over at MSN today: I've reviewed the incredible mid-season premiere of BREAKING BAD's fifth season, "Blood Money", which is streaming on Netflix UK and Blinkbox soon after its US transmission on AMC.

One of the great television injustices has been Breaking Bad's treatment by UK broadcasters, with Fox (formerly FX) and 5USA doing a poor job publicising it when the series aired here years ago. It's quite simply one of the best TV shows of the past decade, and arguably one of the all-time greats. More accessible than The Wire and more riveting than The Sopranos, Breaking Bad has at least achieved cult status on British shores (thanks to the online community's adoration), and I'm overjoyed Netflix and Blinkbox secured deals to stream the last episodes so close to US transmission. What's more, it has blasted its way back on to AMC, its US cable network home, with record ratings of nearly 6m viewers.

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MSN TV: Channel 4's SOUTHCLIFFE

Over at MSN today: I've reviewed the premiere of Channel 4's four-part drama SOUTHCLIFFE about an English market town struggling in the aftermath of a spree killing...

Screenwriter Tony Grisoni was behind Channel 4's award-winning Red Riding trilogy, and Southcliffe brings the same beauteous bleakness back to our TV screens -- this time courtesy of US director Sean Durkin (Martha Marcy May Marlene). His tale of a lonely fantasist with a gun obsession who snaps thanks to a combination of stress (nursing his bedridden mother) and humiliation (his fantasy of being ex-SAS is exposed by a friend's army vet uncle), has clearly taken a few cues from real-life tragedies.

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MSN TV: Sky Atlantic's RAY DONOVAN

Over at MSN TV today: I've reviewed the UK premiere of Showtime's RAY DONOVAN on Sky Atlantic, starring Liev Schreiber as the head of a Boston family living in sunny Los Angeles, who works as a 'fixer' to the city's rich and famous. (This is an abridged version of my original review, when the show debuted on Showtime three weeks ago.)

Liev Schreiber is the latest big-screen actor to jump on the TV bandwagon; at the moment, there's still a feeling it's the best medium for character-based, ambitious storytelling. He plays the eponymous Ray Donovan, a so-called fixer for Tinseltown's moneyed clientele. I love a good pilot and Ray Donovan's passes muster, although it's a perhaps too familiar in its broader strokes.

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MSN TV: BBC1's LUTHER - series 3

Over at MSN TV today: I've reviewed the return of BBC1's scary crime drama LUTHER for a third series, starring Idris Elba and Warren Brown.

The first series of Luther contained flashes of genius, but the second is where things really coalesced for writer Neil Cross's deliciously demented and frightening crime drama. After an interminable wait (due to the increasing profile of Idris Elba and writer Neil Cross), the popular BBC series is finally back for another four episodes. To a large extent it's business as usual, but in the gritty world of Luther that's small mercy. There are numerous reasons for Luther's success, not least the excellent performance of Elba as the shambling detective on the side of angels, but mixing with demons.

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MSN TV: ITV's YOUR FACE SOUNDS FAMILIAR - Week One

Over at MSN TV today: I've reviewed ITV's new entertainment reality show YOUR FACE SOUNDS FAMILIAR, where six celebrities impersonate famous pop acts.

Britain's Got Talent and Saturday Night Takeaway have finished for the year, and X Factor is still a few weeks away, so ITV have bought the format to a Spanish show that essentially just adds an element of random choice to a Stars in their Eyes celebrity special. Wouldn't it make more sense to just revive Stars in Their Eyes and tinker with the format?

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MSN feature: if TV comedies were haircuts, what style would they be?

Over at MSN today: there's something a little different, as they've cut me loose in the 'features' section. So, partly to promote BBC Four's salon-based sitcom Quick Cuts, I asked the question on everyone's lips: 'if TV comedies were haircuts, what style would they be?'

MSN TV: BBC1's THE WHITE QUEEN

Over at MSN TV today: I've reviewed the first episode of the BBC's new ten-part period drama THE WHITE QUEEN, based on the novels by Philipa Gregory...

It's Sunday night so the BBC have another period drama based on a best-selling novel to charm the exact same audience fond of these things. It's a shame Auntie isn't more experimental with the literary works they choose to adapt; but the unspoken edict is to comfort the masses and The White Queen will effortlessly achieve that aim.

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MSN TV: Channel 4's THE RETURNED

Over at MSN TV today: I've reviewed Channel 4's premiere of excellent French supernatural drama THE RETURNED (aka LES REVENANTS), which concerns a small-town experiencing the inexplicable resurrection of townsfolk...

It's remarkable to have a French-language drama on primetime UK television, but things have been headed that way for awhile so I'm glad Channel 4 took the plunge. Some of the best modern horror's been coming out of France (À l'intérieur, Martyrs) and highbrow audiences have already been enjoying Euro crime thrillers like Spiral and The Killing, so it makes perfect sense to bring subtitled drama to the masses. The fact The Returned concerns "zombies" is maybe enough to draw wider interest, so I'm hopeful this premiere's mood and intelligence counteracted any superficial disappointment over the lack of Walking Dead-style action and gore.

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MSN TV: MAD DOGS (series 3)

Over at MSN TV today: I have reviewed the MAD DOGS series 3 premiere, starring John Simm, Phillip Glenister, Marc Warren, and Max Beesley.

Mad Dogs has somehow made it to a third series, and a concluding fourth series had already been filmed. In many ways its longevity boggles my mind, because it worked perfectly well as a four-part miniseries back in 2011, and I saw little need for the story to even continue. For the most part, I thought series 2 was a mess that was only marginally rescued by the late addition of genre legend David Warner as ex pat gangster Mackenzie.

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MSN TV: ITV's THE AMERICANS

Over at MSN TV today: I've reviewed the UK premiere of FX's 1980s espionage thriller THE AMERICANS, which is ITV's first US acquisition in five years.