“An almost unbearably moving account.” Read on for the full verdict on last night’s TV.

Teenagers Fighting Cancer

Teenagers Fighting Cancer, C4
“Teenagers Fighting Cancer, was an almost unbearably moving account of nine months in the Queen Elizabeth’s Young Person’s Unit, Birmingham, a specialised cancer ward that treats up to 500 patients a year. The film was all the more affecting thanks to its avoidance of overt sentimentality.”
Paul Whitelaw, The Scotsman

Teenagers Fighting Cancer, C4
“No one doubts the value of optimism, but James House’s unflinching documentary put a lie to the guilt-inducing civilian myth that mere frame of mind can influence the progress of cancer.”
Andrew Billen, The Times

My Breasts Could Kill Me, Sky 1
“Understandably more personal and poignant than her usual, generally superficial documentaries, My Breasts Could Kill Me (terrible title, but it could have been worse – it was originally titled The Booby Trap) offered worthwhile lessons in how to detect and deal with breast cancer.”
Paul Whitelaw, The Scotsman

Torchwood: Children of Earth, BBC1
“High-class hokum.”
Brian Viner, The Independent

Torchwood: Children of Earth, BBC1
“The opener was well-enough written to engage the non-cognoscenti and not so full of special effects as to alienate those who cannot abide aliens. It is probably more and better than we deserve in the dog days of summer.”
Andrew Billen, The Times

Torchwood: Children of Earth, BBC1
“What’s different about Torchwood this time round is that it’s only five episodes long and it goes out every day this week. John Barrowman every night … I know a lot of people who wouldn’t say no to that. But I think that could be overdoing it, especially now he’s everything and everywhere on TV - not just an actor but a panelist, a host, a guest, pundit, punter, contestant, you name it.”
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian

Apollo Wives, BBC4
“A cracking documentary.”
Brian Viner, The Independent

What Not to Eat, BBC2
“I like posh Valentine Warner, and his food always looks lovely (apart from his slowly-turn-down-the-heat meat). But I’m not sure what the point of him is - what he gives us that the others don’t already.”
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian

The Hotel Inspector, Five
“Once they’ve [the hotel owners] crumbled, realised they know very little about running hotels and accepted all the advice of the inspector there is nothing else to see.”
Matt Baylis, Daily Express

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