28 May '12

“It’s gloomy as hell, with a sociopath at its heart. And, of course, it’s excellent – great characters (Bergman, a grumpy bugger, is fabulous), it takes a hold of you and draws you in.”
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian

“It comes with those currently modish accessories, a Swedish soundtrack and subtitles, but if you strip those away it should be pretty obvious that this is a routine detective drama, and no substitute at all for The Bridge.”
Tom Sutcliffe, The Independent

“Sir David, and the programme, are very open about where he is from the start (that was the big disappointment with the bears – the deceit – more than the fact that they weren’t in the Arctic but in a Dutch zoo). Not just open – this is also about Kew, as well as the plants. So it’s completely different. OK, we’ll give him one last chance then.”
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian

“From the start Norton took a protective attitude to the 76-year old, pre-emptively declaring Hump’s Love Will Set You Free a pretty ballad, well-sung, but at severe risk of being forgotten by the time the next 25 acts had done their worst.”
Andrew Billen, The Times

“It began with another reassuring touch for the strand’s long-running fans – one of those uncheckably vague superlatives that traditionally underwrite the choice of topic. Nicholas Hytner, subject of last night’s profile, is, we learned, “thought by some to be the best theatre director in the world right now”. Who exactly “some” are doesn’t need to be specified, of course; the point is to reassure us that quality control isn’t asleep on the job.”
Tom Sutcliffe, The Independent

“Through this sweeping portrait of her reign, we saw how these grand queenly roles have given way to a more recognisably human figure.”
Matt Baylis, The Express