Mothertruckers, Thursday 10pm, Channel 4

Posted by Jane Murphy

Ever get the feeling someone came up with a catchy programme title then the rest just fell into place? Mothertruckers is a one-off documentary focusing on the growing band of female lorry drivers, who currently make up around two per cent of the industry's workforce.

Now, if you're very easily pleased or have led an extremely sheltered upbringing, you may have been content enough with the novelty value of seeing women drive trucks. (It turns out it's a lot like watching men drive trucks, except most of them swear in slightly higher voices.) But what made this programme so enjoyable were the individual personalities involved.

Emma wasn't sure if she was a ballet dancer who drives trucks or a truck driver who does a spot of ballet on the side. Her dancing career appeared to have been cut short by injury a few years ago, which is when she started trucking for a living instead. But she clearly hasn't hung up her tutu for good - and the cameras followed her as she went to her first dance audition in years.

Vikki used to be a man, but nowadays she's now more than happy being a transsexual trucker. She talked us through her nifty HGV manoeuvres as she backed up her lorry to pick up a rubble bin from a building site. "This is living proof that women can actually reverse," she insisted. (I fully expect to see this clip repeated on Harry Hill's TV Burp.)

Lead "mothertrucker" Wendy appears to be the glue that holds everyone together: she runs an intensive five-day HGV training course and had helped many of the women featured get on the road. "She lives, eats, sleeps and devours trucking," said her colleague Jill. So what's different about training women? "They listen to what you say," Wendy explained. "If you tell them to do something, 99% of them will do it."

So basically, this was Eddie Stobart: Trucks & Trailers with a feminine twist. I quite enjoyed it. How about you?

Picture: Channel 4

SEE ALSO:
Bouncers - our view on this one-off documentary >>
More must-see TV documentaries >>
Want something good to watch? See our TV guide >>

Kevin Bridges: What's the Story, Wednesday 10.45pm, BBC One

Posted by Tom Murphy

These shows where a comedian takes us into their life always seem a bit risky; after all, it's the performer on stage people pay to see. Do we really need to see the person behind that? What if they turn out to be a bit of a git?

Anyway, Scottish comic Kevin Bridges is a man whose time has very much come, with a string of TV appearances and sell-out gigs behind him. So, he's decided it's about time to “go behind the gags” to see what's made him the man – and comedian – he is.

However, a lot of the half-hour running time was taken up with clips from his stage show, which wasn't a big hardship, but probably meant that many of his fans will have heard the material before.

Gok's Teens: The Naked Truth, Tuesday 8pm, Channel 4

Posted by Jane Murphy

When I first saw the title of Gok Wan's new show, I have to admit I feared the worst. But thankfully, Gok's Teens: The Naked Truth isn't another series about "empowering" people by making them parade naked in shopping centres. It's a well-meaning, thought-provoking and, at times, eye-opening three-parter about the body image issues facing today's teenagers.

Having struggled with weight problems and eating disorders throughout his own teenage years, Gok is well placed to offer empathy and advice to young people experiencing similar problems today. And yes, some of his solutions may seem a little simplistic - but they definitely seemed to help the three teens featured in this opening show, which focused on body dysmorphia.

Paige, 15, confessed to spending an average six hours a day trawling the internet - and those sickening pro-anorexia sites in particular - for pictures of painfully skinny models. "I should have a gap between my thighs like them," she insisted. "I need to stop eating".

Gok took Paige to a specially set-up fashion shoot, so she could see how much trickery and retouching goes into creating these kinds of images. "It's just fantasy," he explained. "There's no point trying to look like something that isn't real."

Jake, 16, suffers from Klinefelter syndrome, caused by the presence of an extra X chromosome. He's 6ft 9in tall, 24 stone and had been bullied to such a degree that he was terrified to leave the house without his mum.

As well as encouraging Jake to pursue his hobbies (boxing and baking), Gok introduced him to his brother Kwoklyn, a martial arts expert who's learnt to embrace and exploit his larger size. It was heartening to see how Jake's confidence grew throughout the programme, thanks to a combination of therapy, hard work and determination.

Finally, Brianna, 14, is a recovering anorexic - who, like Paige and Jake, spoke eloquently and articulately about her body image concerns. Gok encouraged her to keep a daily journal about her feelings. "I found writing my autobiography last year really therapeutic," he explained. (Nice plug, Gok!)

Her story was then performed by a group of celebrities as part of the Body Gossip campaign - the theory being that hearing your words read out is an empowering and enlightening experience. In Brianna's case, it seemed to have the desired effect. And at least nobody asked her to parade naked round a shopping centre...

These three very different stories helped highlight the fact that teenagers today are under more pressure than ever to "fit in" and look "perfect". It's a shameful, destructive situation that really has to change - and Gok should be applauded for helping to raise awareness.

Were you impressed by Gok's Teens: The Naked Truth? Tell us here.

Picture: Channel 4

SEE ALSO:
Bouncers - our view on this one-off documentary >>
More must-see TV documentaries >>
Want something good to watch? See our TV guide >>

The Diamond Queen, Monday 9pm, BBC1

Posted by Liberty Jones

In case you didn’t know, 2012 isn’t just the year of the London Olympics – it also marks Queen Elizabeth’s diamond jubilee. To celebrate, political commentator and all-round good egg Andrew Marr spent a year and a half following HRH (albeit at a respectful distance) around the world as she carried out her numerous duties and responsibilities.

It turned out to be a particularly busy period for the sovereign, and included the state visits of the Pope and President Obama to the UK, official visits to the US and the Gulf States, a tour of Australia, the election of a coalition government and two royal weddings.

In last night’s programme – the first of three – Marr explored the life of the young Elizabeth – a little girl who had no idea she would one day be required to perfect a regal wave, feign an interest in Lady GaGa and develop a penchant for pastel frocks.

The details of her upbringing were fascinating – as was the archive footage of the young Elizabeth and her famously mischievous sister Margaret at play. I also enjoyed Princess Beatrice’s tour of the fabulously opulent Wendy house, presented to little “Lilibet” on her sixth birthday by the people of Wales.

Beatrice was just one in a long and hugely impressive list of contributors, who included Princes Harry, William, Andrew and Edward, the Princess Royal, and three British prime ministers, past and present.

Together, they painted a wonderfully vivid picture of the Queen and the enormous skill and diplomacy with which she has negotiated 60 years of state visits and royal receptions. Prince William summed it up best perhaps when he said of his grandmother: “She’s a proper professional in her trade.”

With his energy, enthusiasm and gangly good humour, Andrew Marr provided the perfect conduit for this revealing and unaffected tribute to a remarkable woman, whose personal motto is: “I have to be seen to be believed.” I’ve never been much of a royalist, but after watching this programme, I now have a newfound respect for Her Maj.

Next week, Marr reveals the inside story of Prince William's wedding to Kate Middleton. Now that's got to be worth staying in for!

Picture: BBC

SEE ALSO:
What did you make of Being Human? >>
Who should Simon recruit for X-Factor? >>
Want something good to watch? See our TV guide >>

Being Human, BBC Three, Sunday 9pm

Posted by Tom Murphy

Warning: This review contains a BIG spoiler for episode one. Don't read it if you haven't watched it yet.

With some its leading actors leaving the show, fans might have been a bit concerned about the future of Being Human. But when your show deals with eternal supernatural conflict, surely it can survive a few changes of personnel. Can't it?

After tonight's exciting return, the definitive answer is, er, “probably”. The episode had new characters hovering around the edge (including a new vampire played by Damien Molony, above), but the drama was firmly on the shoulders of regulars Annie the ghost (Lenora Crichlow) and George the werewolf (Russell Tovey).

Your shout: who should Simon recruit for the US X Factor?

Posted by Julie Richardson

After giving Cheryl Cole, Paula Abdul, Steve Jones and Nicole Scherzinger the boot from the US X Factor over the past year, Simon Cowell really should re-name the show The aXe Factor.

Unfortunately, it's highly unlikely that a re-brand is on the cards, but one thing is for sure, Si and his fellow judge LA Reid need to hunt down and capture a show host and judges to join them before the new series begins later this year.

Word on the street is that Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj are in the running to join the judging panel, while the UK's Dermot O'Leary is a rank outsider to host the show, despite showing willing – he’s probably far too British for the Americans…maybe.

But, who do you think can help save Simon Cowell's US talent show dream from going down the tubes? Cat Deeley has already proved herself a hit stateside - but could she stamp her mark on the US X Factor? And Katy Perry made an excellent judge when she helped out at the UK auditions a couple of years ago? Share your thoughts...

 

Picture: Channel 4  

SEE ALSO:
Bouncers - our view on this one-off documentary >>
More must-see TV documentaries >>
Want something good to watch? See our TV guide >>

Your shout: would you like to see Nick Cotton return to EastEnders?

Posted by Julie Richardson

 
Hardly a day goes by without one soap or another announcing a familiar face will be making a comeback to Soapland.

Earlier this week it was announced that Letitia Dean will be heading back to Albert Square this summer as Sharon Watts. And so as not be out done by a rival soap, Coronation Street retaliated with the news that Weatherfield bad egg Terry Duckworth (played by Nigel Pivaro) is returning to the cobbles to wreak havoc - again!

Meanwhile soap fans and bookies have been laying bets as to which soap characters are possibles for making a return in the future - and Nasty Nick Cotton (played by John Altman) is top of their hit list.

Nick was last seen making and explosive exit from Albert Square in 2009 having held Walford residents hostage in Ian Beale's cafe. But do you really want to see him rock up again?

While many characters have won our hearts over the years as they've come and gone from our favourite soap - isn't it a bit of a poor show that script writers and producers feel they need to dredge the archives instead of creating new characters to entertain us? Presumably not.

But then again, if you can't beat them, join them... So tell us, would you like to see Nasty Nick return to Walford or is there another soap character you'd like to make a comeback? Den Watt's poodle Roly, perhaps? Share your views…

Picture: BBC

SEE ALSO:
Is TOWIE still the only way? Have your say >>
More eye-opening documentaries >>
Want something else good to watch? See our TV guide >>

Inside Men, Thursday 9pm, BBC One

Posted by Will Parkhouse

If you're going to make a heist drama these days, you need twists and tension galore. Audiences are so wised up to this kind of thing, they've pictured every possible combination of double crosses, triple crosses, feigned betrayals and Bruce-Willis-is-actually-a-ghost-type scenarios before the opening credits have finished rolling.

Luckily, new BBC four-parter Inside Men had some good ideas up its sleeve and got off to a cracking start with 10 minutes of slowly increasing tension. This was an armed robbery bereft of glamour, with masked men dealing out blows to make you flinch and victims who actually acted as if they were scared out of their wits, rather than being forced to skip their lunch break.

Steven Mackintosh was excellent as main protagonist John, the rather meek manager of a cash-counting house – a proper bean counter – who watched the factory floor from his glass nest as huge piles of money were moved here and there. Pernickety but likeable, this was a man who took quiet satisfaction from a job well done – until £50k went missing and cracks started to show.

The gradual corruption of security guard Chris (Ashley Walters) as he came under the bad influence of his light-fingered new girlfriend Dita and forklift driver/professional chancer Marcus (Warren Brown) just about worked – and in fact, the twist, in which John was shown to have hitherto-unsuspected ambitions in the field of Stealing a Truckload of Money, was genuinely effective.

Despite featuring a pair of Luther stars, Mackintosh and Brown, in tone this initially felt more like The Shadow Line, with a muted series of unfamiliar scenes and scenarios that left you to fill in your own gaps. As the background was explained and the characters developed, it turned into a more conventional drama, but wasn't any less satisfying for it.

As it reached its conclusion, we finished on a thwarted double cross – yep, that old chestnut – with John getting knocked down after turning a gun on Chris. But it was twist we certainly didn't see coming.

Picture: BBC

SEE ALSO:
Did you rate the Beeb's Birdsong adaptation? >>
More recent dramas >>
Want something else good to watch? See our TV guide >>

Bouncers, Wednesday 10pm, Channel 4

Posted by Tom Murphy

I'm sure at some stage we've all experienced that disappointing shake of the head. Tonight's jovial documentary tried to shed some light on the life of a doorman, and highlighted that they're not all what we might have called them (under our breath) as we shuffled away from that pub or club.

The one-off film, by Danni Davis and Peter Beard, followed the work of LRS Security, the premier provider of security staff in the, ahem, lively Welsh city of Newport.

As well as the night-to-night grind, we also saw bosses Len and Richie (above) try to get a stewarding team together for a big job – Brighton's enormous Gay Pride festival.

The doorman with most to say was Joe, who enjoyed a successful career in insurance until the financial meltdown brought it to an abrupt end. Now he works the doors in the evening and in a pawn shop during the day – and often comes across the same people in both jobs.

Prisoners' Wives, Tuesday 9pm, BBC One

Posted by Jane Murphy

As you may well have surmised from its title, this stylish new BBC drama focuses on four very different women (there are always four women - see Mistresses, Desperate Housewives, Sex and the City, etc), whose significant others are currently behind bars.

Now, I don't know if my skills of critical judgement have just been weakened by three weeks of Celebrity Big Brother - but I have to admit I enjoyed episode one of Prisoners' Wives far more than I thought I was going to. And that's largely down to the individual performances of the main stars.

For the opener, the focus fell on mum-to-be Gemma, played by former Hollyoaks favourite Emma Rigby. Gemma's perfect world came crashing down around her pretty little ears when her husband was arrested for murder. Shocked and bewildered, she showed up to her first prison visit looking very much like a cautious newbie in a US high-school movie.

But by the end of the episode, she'd undergone a transformation: the new Gemma is strong, resolute and determined to stand by her man. She's also reluctantly become mates with fellow formidable prison widow Francesca (Polly Walker), who currently lives a life of luxury but - judging by the trailer for next week's episode - all that's about to change.

Francesca's the kind of person who attempts to cheer her husband up by opening her legs and "doing a Sharon Stone" in the middle of visiting time. Later, she appeared to be giving the glad-eye to her son's girlfriend's dad. (He'll turn up again - mark my words.) So she's clearly the sexy, glamorous one - but there's definitely a hint of hidden depths.

And then there's Lou (Natalie Gavin): she's a caring, devoted mum to seven-year-old Mason. Oh, and she does a spot of dope-dealing to make ends meet. Meanwhile, respectable-looking Harriet (Pippa Haywood) hasn't done anything so far except sit outside the prison in her car. I'm sure she'll have more to say and do next week, though.

Overall then, Prisoners' Wives is shaping up to be an entertaining and fairly absorbing six-part series. OK, it's more glossy than gritty - but there's still enough drama and intrigue to prick our interest. Besides, who really needs relentless small-screen realism on a cold winter evening?

What did you think of Prisoners' Wives? Tell us here.

Picture: BBC

SEE ALSO:
Whitechapel - why crime is paying for ITV1 >>
More must-see TV drama >>
Want something good to watch? See our TV guide >>