TV Critics: Against the Law; Hyper Evolution; Long Lost Family

“Work like this doesn’t come along every day. Against the Law stands as a brilliant, important, must-see piece of television.”
Julia Raeside, The Guardian

“Against The Law had all the hallmarks of a programme conceived and executed by people who don’t watch nearly enough TV. It was clumsy, badly constructed, laboured and monotonous, preaching a message so earnestly that it became suffocating long before the end.”
Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail

“This was a really thought-provoking drama with a justified undercurrent of anger at the way gay men were treated.”
Virginia Blackburn, Daily Express

“The group’s friendship, Wildeblood’s love affair and the trial itself were underwritten and rushed. The only obvious explanation is that the director, Fergus O’Brien, foreshortened scenes to allow for more contributions from the elderly homosexual men whose insights and memories — funny, frank, shocking and often very moving — interrupted the narrative in the style of When Harry Met Sally and, by default, stole the show.”
Andrew Billen, The Times

“The script was strong on the factions within the gay community, and the erasure of class divisions among homosexuals. But nothing was quite as moving as the interviews.”
Jasper Rees, The Telegraph

“Like many a robot, the programme lost pace as it progressed, but having two presenters tackling the subject from opposite sides was an excellent innovation.”
Andrew Billen, The Times

Long Lost Family, ITV

“Watching other people cry for entertainment should feel slightly soiling, but Long Lost Family offers cathartic balm in a world of psychic stress.”
Ed Power, The Telegraph

“Now in its seventh season, it’s an emotional express train, running smoothly on rails to bring us jolts of heartbreak and happiness on schedule. Even though the pattern does not change, this show never becomes dull, because every family has experienced the pain of separation in its own unique way.”
Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail