“Melancholy and a vague sense of anxiousness, yes: belly laughs over Doritos, no.” Read on for the verdict on last night’s TV.

The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister

THE SECRET DIARIES OF MISS ANNE LISTER, BBC2

“Peake’s presence in a production is not generally conducive to LOLZ. Melancholy and a vague sense of anxiousness, yes: belly laughs over Doritos, no.”
Sarah Dempster, The Guardian

“How suited Maxine Peak looked to the title role….A sad yet hopeful story. You had to wonder, though, if the BBC would dream of showing us so many gay love scenes if Anne had been a man.”
Matt Baylis, Daily Express

“Lister was formidably played by Maxine Peake…An intriguing subject, if an occasionally slight drama.”
Alex Hardy, The Times

CORONATION STREET, ITV1

“If you have a makeover, shouldn’t you emphasise your best feature? Corrie’s trademark is salting even the darkest situations with humour, and that felt lacking last night.”
Alex Hardy, The Times

STORYVILLE: NEW KINGS OF NIGERIA, BBC4

“…injected welcome moments of comedy into a sober narrative about pressing issues.”
Amol Rajan, The Independent

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