TV Critics: Curious Case of the Clark Brothers; Dying for Clear Skin; Dark Charisma of Adolf Hitler; Gadget Man; Britain's Best Bakery

“The best documentaries of this style, such as this one, avoid turning a rare medical complaint into a freak show. Instead they share the case of a medical outlier, not just to tell an extraordinary story but to raise questions about universal issues… Among the universal themes that quietly rose to the surface were those of quality of life, unconditional love, honesty in families, the power of siblings, God, science, selflessness and powerlessness.”
Alex Hardy, The Times

“The Curious Case of the Clark Brothers must rank as one of the most unremittingly distressing things I have ever seen on television… Title apart, it was a programme made with care and sensitivity. But I’m not sure what purpose was served by my watching it. If it was to open a heretofore capped well of fear and despair deep in my guts, job done.”
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian

“If you could see any hope in this story, it came from the fact the Clarks were not entirely alone. They now knew what was happening and they had made contact with the handful of other afflicted families.”
Matt Baylis, Daily Express

“Ostensibly an investigation into the impact severe acne can have on the lives of sufferers, it quickly centred on the drug Roaccutane, which is remarkably effective against acne but is considered a treatment of last resort, largely thanks to potential side effects that run from dry lips to suicidal thoughts. Presented by Radio 1 DJ Gemma Cairney, the film kept an admirable emotional distance, especially considering that director Derek Jones’s son Jesse – who killed himself after taking a course of Roaccutane – featured heavily.”
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian

“While writer and producer Laurence Rees repeated his central arguments a little too frequently, he still managed to give us something spine-chilling and fresh, avoiding the same old inquiries into this appalling moment in Western history.”
Arifa Akbar, The Independent

“The Gadget Man invites us to see gimmicks as a kind of art form, to love the beauty in their cleverness as well as their appearance and performance… I rather like the show for that: gadgets for gadgets sake, a brief respite from having to be sensible and serious and world-bettering all the time.”
Matt Baylis, Daily Express

“Those decompressing from The Great British Bake-Off might not find a replacement in Britain’s Best Bakery, which has launched an ‘epic search’ for its victor, but it will fend off withdrawal symptoms for armchair food-porn addicts”
Arifa Akbar, The Independent