TV Critics: Abz on the Farm; The Saturday Night Story; Zoo

“A kind of “Idiot Not Abroad” with Karl Pilkington’s belligerent ignorance replaced by Abz’s benign naivety… Abz’s problem, and the programme’s good fortune, is that he knows little about farming and shows no aptitude for learning… It’s entertaining and as fresh as a cowpat. I only hope the RSPCA is in attendance.”
Andrew Billen, The Times

“It’s perfect, from a TV point of view if not as a first attempt as self-sufficiency. Can this really be real, or is it mockumentary? Whichever, it’s hilarious and brilliant.”
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian

“He comes off as a beguiling mix of Tom from The Good Life and Ali G… Is this a spoof? Probably not, although plenty of the grizzled country types who Abz and Vicky encountered seemed unsure.”
Ellen E Jones, The Independent

“This took Michael Grade’s excellent recent BBC Four documentary The Fight for Saturday Night and removed all its insight about weekend television schedules in favour of Amanda Holden telling us that variety is the backbone of Britain.”
Andrew Billen, The Times

“There’s no doubt about it, ITV’s two-part documentary The Saturday Night Story was cheap-o and self-congratulatory.”
Ellen E Jones, The Independent

“The show soon gave up its intellectual pretence, and became a cavalcade of pranks, catchphrases and high jinks from 50 years of family viewing.”
Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail

Zoo would have been fun (also hilarious, though not intentionally so) whenever it went out. But coming so soon after the Cecil tragedy it also takes on a poignancy.
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian