TV Viewing Summary W/E 11/01/98
Well, this was going to be the week when Eastenders reclaimed the New Year crown from its northern counterparts. One of those ‘special’ weeks with five episodes, mainly focusing on the trial of Cindy Beale. It didn’t really do the trick though, only attracting an average audience of 11.74 million compared to Coronation Street‘s 16.79 million.
As for the trial itself? Well, bit of a labour this one. I always think that soap opera trials are rather dull, (apart from the moment when someone actually gets sent down). This particular travesty of justice however was brightened by some pretty good performances from both main parties concerned. Ian Beale has certainly come a long way since the early days of catering college and working on ‘the stall’, and is now shaping up to be one of the best Albert Square bad boys since Den Watts. Someone obviously coaxed Michelle Collins (Cindy) back to the show with the promise of a new improved wardrobe, and she seems comfortable and even quite attractive with her new ‘rich’ tough bitch image, (despite what would appear to be rather rapid ageing).
The theme of the week all over the Square seems to be unconventional relationships. Firstly, ‘Fill’ Mitchell has decided to go for a ‘bit of tough’ himself and looks to be falling for the charms of Annie, a rather pathetic ‘gangster moll’, ‘femme fatale’ character. Meanwhile ‘Caff’, Eastenders’ very own Deirdre Barlow, has embarked upon a romantic liaison with the local parish priest – in fact it was even consummated on Twelfth Night. Well, no doubt it’ll all end in yet more tears. Still, she should be careful, messing around with priests – one has to bear in mind who these people work for.
The Vicar Of Dibley had another good outing this week: ‘Radio Dibley’ had Geraldine broadcasting live from her living room for the benefit of the Parish. What a fantastic show this is, watched by 10.28 million viewers, and with just about the strongest sitcom cast on television at present. Still, it never ceases to amaze me how a programme like Birds Of A Feather (11.31 million) can attract a higher audience with it’s cheesy one liners, and desperately uninspiring storylines.
There was nothing of any real interest happening on the drama front this week. Another rosey depiction of life in rural Yorkshire from Heartbeat (14.95 million) and the usual antics in Holby A & E ( Casualty, 14.21 million). However, this was the week when the BBC and ITV went head to head, both showing documentaries in the theme of ‘unpleasant neighbours’ . The BBC showed Neighbours At War watched by 10.75 million, whilst ITV tried to out-do them with Neighbours From Hell (10.36 million).
Neighbours at War is not, as I had first hoped, a Post Apocalyptic story from Ramsey Street, nor is Neighbours from Hell concerned with the demonic possession of Harold Bishop. These are just those fly on the wall documentaries where you are amazed at how anti social some of our fellow citizens can be. Frightening stuff, still nothing a good Sunday night dose of Heartbeat can’t cure………
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Reviewer: Jim Sparkes
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