'Looks historically real but not historic.' Read on for the critics' full verdict on the weekend's TV.

The Passion, BBC1
“The virtue of Nigel Stafford-Clark's Passion is that it looks historically real but not historic [... ] The downside was that episode one was a bit of a history lesson.”
Andrew Billen, The Times

The Passion, BBC1
“There are no massive surprises and I don't think anyone is going to be getting too upset about it [... ] It's actually pretty straight.”
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian

The Passion, BBC1
“If you believe that Christ is your redeemer I can't so far see anything in The Passion that would have affronted that faith. And if you don't, its account of the politics of a week that was critical in world history proved surprisingly gripping.”
Thomas Sutcliffe, The Independent

The Passion, BBC1
"The script, which manages to splice biblical phrases into ordinary dialogue without ever sounding silly, is careful to allow a rational explanation of events."
Simon Edge, Daily Express

The Passion, BBC1
"... exactly the kind of intelligent and engaging drama you'd expect from a series written by Frank Deasy (Prime Suspect) and produced by Nigel Stafford-Clark (Bleak House)."
James Walton, The Telegraph

Gavin and Stacey, BBC3
“This comedy is less mild than it looks and even funnier than I remembered.”
Andrew Billen, The Times

Gavin & Stacey, BBC3
"... there was the same winningly good-natured tone, and same clear-eyed tenderness for the characters."
James Walton, The Telegraph

Gavin and Stacey, BBC3
“Yes, the series does have funny lines and a terrific cast. But I can't help but wonder about the weird way in which Gavin and Stacey continue to be stalked by their respective families, which seems less like a slice of life than a sitcom contrivance.”
Thomas Sutcliffe, The Independent

Cortes, BBC2
“It had wooden characters, the worst script ever and embarrassing CGI.”
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian

Selling Power: the Ad Men and Number Ten, BBC4
"... great idea but one with a fatal flaw...each interviewee encapsulated the story in a snappy summation, the programme could have been over in less than a minute."
Toby Clements, The Telegraph

Topics