Well, it’s not the kind of show the esteemed Mr. Walt Disney would have aired on his television channel in the 1960s.
I’m talking about the highly publicized Disney+ adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s Rivals
In fact, Walt would be horrified – probably before watching all eight episodes and giggling. Why? As we know, sex sells, and there’s plenty of it here, as American streamer Disney+ attracts more and more subscribers and conjures up a British hit. This could actually be it.
Everyone is on their own here. The busiest person on set had to be the intimacy coordinator.
Only the camel appears to be spared, and it appears at the New Year’s Eve party in episode three.
It’s also a historical drama set in the 1980s, but here, as in Bridgerton, the costumes are off rather than on.
Most importantly, this comedy-drama is Jilly Cooper’s hilarious interpretation of the 1980s word “bonkbuster,” which we no longer use. Romp is much more accurate.
This series is also about nostalgia and takes us back to naughty times. Indeed, some characters would feel right at home on the set of Carry On.
Rivals begins in brilliant fashion aboard the icon of the eighties, Concorde. I half expected Joan Collins to show up with Cinzano, as elsewhere one couple was vigorously enjoying the onboard facilities.
Within seconds we knew what show we were watching, which was probably a record.
While this lavish fest may seem light years away from pure Disneyland fairy tales, that’s exactly what happens when Taggie (Bella Maclean), the young daughter of a chat show host, falls in love with the lord of the manor, Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell), in deepest Cotswolds.
The chat show guy will be well known to costume drama fans, as he once wielded a scythe to great effect in Poldark.
Actor Aidan Turner plays the Jeremy Paxman of his time, Declan O’Hara, who attacks celebrities and politicians while hiding secrets. I was almost convinced.
His TV boss is former Doctor Who David Tennant, a man-made 1980s man named Tony Baddingham, who battles the class system by trying to renew his TV channel license. No wonder it had to be so rough.
Some of the stronger performances come from women. Katherine Parkinson is in doubt as the writer tries to make sense of this crazy world in a drama where men tend to drive the story, often at their own expense.
The producers say they wanted to “modernize” the story and make it “real.” They almost achieved the former, but it’s actually a fun drama that watches the rich and privileged have fun.
Just make sure any kids or hen aunts are in bed early!
And now for something completely different, also set in Gloucestershire, but without the laughs.
This is the new, third series of Police: Night Shift 999 (Channel 5, Wednesday). I won’t pretend I’m a regular viewer, but this show was recommended to me. I was addicted.
It was hard not to look away from watching this incredibly gritty documentary and think about how dedicated our police are and how painfully difficult this job is.
First, most people would not make it to the crime scene due to the speed of the police car turning blue. I would be a wreck!
It was a gripping drama from the very beginning. They turned up on a road in Gloucestershire where a man was seen armed with a knife and a hammer.
Six armed officers walked through the front door without taking any chances. The man was later shocked with a stun gun and calm was restored.
You won’t see this storyline in Rivals.
When did the sitcom die, I hear you ask. There is strong evidence that this may have occurred when The Fabulous Graduate went out of business.
There was a great retrospective of Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out (Gold, Thursday) in this fun show with all the main cast – Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, Julia Sawalha and Jane Horrocks. The only thing missing was the late, great June Whitfield.
They couldn’t help but laugh while watching their own show, just like we did at home.
“We just had the time of our lives,” Saunders said. But when asked if the show would return, she almost shouted the idea, saying, “Absolutely not!”
OK, I’m just asking; pass Bolly.
Finally, Mr Loverman (BBC1, Monday) was a gentle drama, but there was a potentially turbulent secret lurking beneath the surface.
Starring Lenny James and Sharon D Clarke, the film focused on Barrington’s (James) inability to cope with the secret that he is gay.
Surely, when he finally reveals this, his wife will say, “Well, now tell me something I don’t know!”
Based on the original novel by Bernardine Evaristo, this is a family story that follows a challenging arc that is both unpredictable and suspenseful.
Barrington likes a drink, which should speed up his reveal – if he can stay awake long enough to tell someone!
