21 July ‘09

The Street, BBC1
“Coronation Street written as serious drama.”
Nancy Banks-Smith, The Guardian

The Street, BBC1
“Now in its third series, The Street shows no sign of flagging. After all, the story possibilities are inexhaustible – or rather they would be, had it not been axed due to severe cutbacks at its Manchester studios. It’s tragic: can’t they just sack a load of executives instead?”
Paul Whitelaw, The Scotsman

The Street, BBC1
“Jimmy McGovern and Jan McVerry’s The Street was so good last night that it almost made you forget that Liverpool simply does not produce prostitutes who look like Anna Friel.”
Andrew Billen, The Times

Moonshot: the Flight of Apollo 11, ITV1
“Apart from a few moon nuggets about the testy Aldrin-Armstrong relationship, the film didn’t break much in the way of new ground. All the usual bits of the story were duly assembled for lift-off – Kennedy’s pledge, how to go to the loo when you’re in orbit, “one small step” - but they were put together so skillfully and beautifully that this familiar tale was given a certain freshness, even urgency.”
Sean O’Grady, The Independent

Moonshot: the Flight of Apollo 11, ITV1
“Moonshot: the Flight of Apollo 11 was some compensation for all that has been lost and made my eyes prick with nostalgia not only for my boyhood but the era’s optimism.”
Andrew Billen, The Times

Baby Beauty Queens, BBC3
“Baby Beauty Queens followed the stories of three hopeful tots on their way to win the Mini Miss UK contest […] It made for painful viewing. The anguish of the children at the end of their ultimately futile bid to win the contest was bad enough to witness; the disappointment of the parents was even uglier.”
Sean O’Grady, The Independent

Baby Beauty Queens, BBC3
“Ostensibly unjudgmental but quietly devastating.”
Andrew Billen, The Times

Coronation Street, ITV1
“Tick-tocking regularly on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, it is a pacemaker that keeps the nation’s heart going.”
Nancy Banks-Smith, The Guardian