How to Crack the Class Ceiling; The Traitors; Beyond the Yorkshire Farm; Jamie’s Easy Christmas

“A follow-up to [Amol] Rajan’s 2019 documentary How to Break into the Elite, this was a damning indictment of class prejudice and a depressing insight into how – despite endless talk of diversity, inclusion and social mobility – lamentably little has changed. The more impassioned Rajan grew about fairness, the more engaging he became. I wished he would have given full vent to his anger but he presumably had BBC impartiality in mind.”
Michael Hogan, Telegraph

“Ultimately, the programme cannot leave us with a better recommendation than the words one of its academics offers to those entering the civil service: “Get a sense of what you need to get ahead, but don’t internalise the notion that what you are assimilating to is superior.” This is tonally messy, particularly as it seems this group may have been selected to provide a few glimmers of hope and to depict a series of up-hill battles, not insurmountable mountains. But by the end, there is nothing twee any more, and it is less about cracking the “class ceiling” and more a grim reminder of those being crushed by it.”
Leila Latif, The Guardian

“While Rajan’s argument laid out the class/employment problem articulately (he is slick), it hasn’t yet delivered on its title. Perhaps a radical answer is coming next week, or perhaps it really is just a case of “if you can’t beat them, join them” and elocution coaches will continue to thrive.”
James Jackson, The Times

“Critics have bewailed the nastiness of this format — but after the unremitting niceness of all the Bake Off copycats, its cruelty is wickedly good fun.”
Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail

“This wasn’t what you’d call high-octane TV. Conflict was non-existent, jeopardy minimal. It chugged along instead to a soothing beat of hard work, warm camaraderie and whirring engines. God’s Own County looked as glorious as ever. Amanda’s garrulousness was missed but the boys stepped up to fill the breach. Not so bad, lad, not so bad.”
Michael Hogan, Telegraph

“The melting short rib, the pigs-out-of-blankets pasta etc sent taste buds into delirium, as expected, although I’m not convinced all the recipes were quite as “deliciously easy” as they looked — not compared with Super Noodles — even if they can all be done in one pan (completely coincidentally Oliver has a book out called One). But what about his claim that his hot-buttered rum recipe wasn’t too “blow your head off”? It contained half a litre of rum and a quarter-litre of apricot brandy, which suggests the Olivers have a high tolerance to alcohol. Perhaps Jamie’s Plastered Christmas could be next year’s book.”
James Jackson, The Times