“To be honest, for tea I probably would prefer really good simple fresh fish and chips to all this jellied humour. But, as television, it’s fabulous.” Read on for the verdict on last night’s TV.

 Heston’s Great British Food, C4

“It’s about memories, fantasy, history, surprises, jokes, and all the other strange things that go on inside Heston Blumenthal’s head. To be honest, for tea I probably would prefer really good simple fresh fish and chips to all this jellied humour. But, as television, it’s fabulous. “
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian

“Whatever else the English might miss about our Scottish cousins, it won’t be their cuisine. To be honest, we’d hardly miss Heston either. He has a queasy knack for taking tasty nosh and making it look revolting.”
Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail

“What would they make of the entirely edible rock pool, the cannons emitting a vinegar vapour and the mushy pea ice cream? They might have been tentative at first, but as always, Heston’s sense of fun proved irresistible.”
Ellen E Jones, The Independent

Manhunt, Sky Atlantic

“Barker punctuated these revealing interviews with extensive footage of bin Laden, portentous shots of leaves blowing in the wind, and stylised re-enactments of the analysts trying to “connect the dots” on a whiteboard – the last of which felt out of step with the serious tone of the documentary. That said, for the most part, Manhunt made for gripping viewing – even if we already knew the outcome.”
Patrick Smith, The Telegraph

“Many of the elements would have been familiar: female CIA agents chastised for their “over-emotional” attitude to work, a post 9/11 culture of blame and some unconvincing attempts to justify the use of torture. But Manhunt, unlike Homeland, was also a compelling watch in which any plot holes were the legitimate result of state secrecy.”
Ellen E Jones, The Independent

Last Tango in Halifax, BBC1

“Last Tango’s emotional plotting is like a bad soap’s, sped up madly, yet every corner it takes is credible.”
Andrew Billen, The Times

New Hidden Killers, BBC4

“It must have been a strange meeting. I’m talking about the one where some production company went to the BBC with a series called New Hidden Killers… For all its oddness, this series is hugely watchable in a macabre sort of way.”
Matt Baylis, Daily Express

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