The Yorkshire Vet and I'm a Celebrity: TV highlights this week

Words by Rachael Popow

If you saw the last year’s movie Elvis, it might have got you wondering what the next Oscar-nominated, blockbusting music biopic will be. Well, if any filmmakers are looking for inspiration, they could probably do worse than elevate one of the supporting characters in Elvis to the role of leading man – Little Richard.

The piano-playing pioneer has already been the subject of a 2000 made-for-TV movie, but after watching the feature-length documentary Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, few people would argue against his rollercoaster life deserving the big-screen treatment.

Born Richard Penniman in Macon, Georgia, in 1932, the future star was the third of 12 children and came from a very religious family. He began singing in church at a young age and was still in high school when he left home to join a travelling medicine show.

His first single Taxi Blues, with the B-side Every Hour, was released in 1951, but didn’t make much of an impact. Then four years later, he released Tutti Frutti, a song that changed everything – not just for him, but for the fledgling genre of rock ‘n’ roll.

With its clarion call of ‘A-wop-bop-a-loo-mop-a-lop-bam-boom!’, it was the first in a string of ground-breaking, hugely influential singles that inspired a generation of musicians, including the Beatles and the Rolling Stones (both bands would share a stage with him early in their careers).

It wasn’t just his music that proved inspiring though – there was also his incredible stage presence and the way he broke down boundaries. As Nile Rodgers says in this documentary: “He was one of those artists that carved out a path for others to walk down.”

Richard was keenly aware how much he’d opened doors for other performers. He once said of Prince: “The little moustache, the moves, the physicality – he’s a genius but he learnt it from me. I was wearing purple before he was born; I was wearing make-up before anyone else.”

Yet at this documentary discovers, although Richard, who died in 2020, may have seemed fearless as well as fabulous, he was often deeply conflicted. The internal battle between his religious beliefs and his music would see him quit rock twice, and he struggled with his sexuality. He also felt that his huge contribution to rock ‘n’ roll was often overlooked in favour of white stars.

He once told Rolling Stone: “If Elvis had been Black, he wouldn’t have been as big as he was. If I was white, do you know how huge I’d be? If I was white, I’d be able to sit on top of the White House! A lot of things they would do for Elvis and Pat Boone, they wouldn’t do for me.”

Now this documentary sets out to give Richard his due. Drawing on interviews with famous fans including Ringo Starr, Keith Richards and Nile Rodgers, contributions from friends and fans, as well as previously unaired interviews with the man himself, this documentary paints a fascinating portrait of a remarkable artist.

Malpractice (Sunday 23/04/23 ITV1, 9pm)

Words by Sarah Morgan

Is the Great British medical drama in rude health, or could it use a shot in the arm? Casualty is still going strong, although it lost its sister show Holby City a year ago. ITV1 launched its own entry in the genre, Maternal, in January, but despite having a strong cast, headed by Parminder Nagra, Lara Pulver and Lisa McGrillis, it failed to capture the nation’s imagination.

Despite the broadcaster claiming that “everyone who watched the series really loved it,” bosses had made the “very difficult decision” not to bring it back. “We really wanted to commission a second series,” claimed an ITV spokesperson. “But the audience didn’t come to the drama in the numbers we’d hoped for.”

That perhaps doesn’t bode well for Malpractice, another medical show now heading our way. However, it claims to be a thriller than a drama, so perhaps that will entice more people to tune in – or catch up with it via streaming service ITVX.

The plot is certainly hugely promising. It follows the story of Dr Lucinda Edwards, a dedicated and experienced medical professional; we meet her just as she’s facing the shift from hell – it ends with the death of Edith Owusu, a patient admitted due to an opioid overdose. Despite receiving support from her supervisor, Lucinda’s future career is called into question after Edith’s grief-stricken father, Sir Anthony Owusu, demands an investigation into her conduct.

Taking charge of the proceedings are Lucinda’s former colleague, Dr George Adjei and Dr Norma Callahan, who’s a stranger to her. While one can’t find anything wrong in what she did, the other grows increasingly suspicious of her actions leading up to the tragedy. Could she be hiding something?

As the investigation rumbles on, the pressure begins to mount, and it’s not only the doctor’s professional life that comes under stress, her marriage begins to fall apart too.

As with the BBC’s recent crime drama Better, Malpractice has been filmed in and around Leeds. Among its stars as James Purefoy and Brian Bovell, but it’s Niamh Algar who heads the cast as Lucinda.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of this project,” said the Bafta-nominated star when it was announced last summer. “I was blown away by Grace Ofori-Attah’s script. I’m a huge fan of director Phil Barantini’s work; his movie Boiling Point is an astonishing piece of work and I’m so excited to see how he approaches Malpractice. I’m absolutely over the moon that we are working together.”

Executive producer Simon heath adds: “Grace’s brilliant scripts combine a searing insight into the pressures and politics of hospital life with a gripping thriller.”

Debut writer Ofori-Attah worked as an NHS doctor for more than a decade before putting pen to paper, so there’s an extra degree of authenticity about her work. At a time when the health service and its staff are under more strain than ever, it’s certainly a topical broadcast that may open the public’s eyes to what goes on behind the scenes in the nation’s hospitals – and one that might prove there’s still life in the medical drama yet.

I’m a Celebrity South Africa ( Monday 24/04/23 ITV1, 9pm )

Words by Rachael Popow

Usually, when the line-up for a new series of I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here is revealed, there are at least a couple of names that get viewers saying ‘who?’ (Although they sometimes go on to be among the most popular contestants.)

However, that won’t be the case with I’m a Celebrity South Africa, which brings together some of the most memorable campmates from previous series.

Hosts Ant and Dec are certainly looking forward to it. Ant says: “It’s a question we always get asked…who would you bring back to the jungle? So, to get this opportunity to make a brand-new show in South Africa and put some of our previous campmates through their paces again was the dream.”

Dec added: “It’s bigger and wilder than we could have hoped for so viewers are in for a real treat!”

Although we’re promised more celebs will arrive over the course of the series, the list of famous faces in this opening episode is certainly impressive. The initial campers are champion boxer Amir Khan, who finished fifth in series 15, and Diversity dancer & DJ Jordan Banjo and TV presenter Carol Vorderman, who camped together in 2016.

Olympic athlete Fatima Whitbread took the bronze back in series 11, while Coronation Street star and model Helen Flanagan served her stint in the jungle in series 12. Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder, outspoken model Janice Dickinson and former royal butler Paul Burrell all finished second in series 10, seven and four respectively.

For the time being at least, the only previous winner is former cricketer Phil Tufnell, who was crowned king of the jungle in the second series all the way back in 2003. (That’s right, this reality show really has been going for more than 20 years.)

So, even if it has been a while since some of them were in the jungle, they should all have a good idea of what they are letting themselves in for, and they’ve all proved they can hack the basic conditions. There’s also no public vote this time, so some viewers may be wondering if we’re just going to be watching the celebs taking a nice trip down memory lane, while breezing through the tasks.

That wouldn’t make for particularly exciting viewing, so instead these all-stars will be pushed to their limits like never before in a show that is more than just a reworked version of the Australian series – it puts its own spin on the format.

Not only will the challenges be bigger, but the environment is even harsher and there will be plenty of twists thrown in too. And as the viewers don’t get to have their say, the celebs will be competing against each other to become the first ever ‘I’m A Celebrity Legend’.

So, with some very big personalities settling in tonight, will it pay for them to try to form alliances, or should we expect it to be every celebrity for him or herself?

The Yorkshire Vet (Tuesday 25/04/23, Channel 5, 8pm)

Words by Richard Jones

Skeldale Veterinary Centre in Thirsk is world famous for being the surgery where vet and author James Alfred Wight, aka James Herriot, worked and found his inspiration for his semi-autobiographical writings. And when documentary series The Yorkshire Vet first aired in 2015, it understandably made the most of its links to Herriot.

However, it has come a long way in the 15 seasons since, and the popular slice of midweek TV escapism no longer has to solely rely on the connection to get people tuning in. Having learned all he knows about the profession from the famous animal lover himself, vet Peter Wright remained at Skeldale for most of his career.

However, in 2021, he made the big decision to move on to another practice – Grace Lane Vets in Kirkbymoorside. Speaking to Express.co.uk last year, the 66-year-old explained why he made the decision. “We just don’t have the numbers in the area,” he said. “When I came to work in this James Herriot practice in 1982, we had something like 60 small dairy herds. At the end of 2020, we had one left.

“The bigger farm enterprises are getting bigger and the small family farms are disappearing. And so I had to make a decision. It wasn’t economically viable for Skeldale to continue doing purely companion animal work. I had to decide whether I should hand my stethoscope in. I came home from work to discuss it with my wife Lin. And her response was quite succinct, really. She said, ‘I don’t want you under my feet all day long!’”

Therefore, Peter started a new chapter and tonight we are back with him and his former colleague, Castleford-born Julian Norton, as they continue the Herriot tradition. Since Peter left Skeldale, Julian has opened a practice back in Thirsk, which he runs alongside his wife, Anne. He is also a partner at Sandbeck Veterinary Centre in Wetherby.

Joining the pair in upholding the Herriot ethos are a team of young vets at the Donaldson’s practice in Huddersfield, including Matt Smith, Shona Searson, David Melleney and Rohin Aojula.

And although they are based at a state-of-the-art animal hospital, Donaldson’s is a traditional mixed practice and their work involves caring for a wide range of creatures including farm animals, wildlife, popular pets, as well as some that are a bit more exotic.

In tonight’s edition, Julian operates on a French Bulldog who has injured one of his three legs. Meanwhile, Peter and Shona have some donkey work to do at the Greens’ farm to solve a problem between Sybil and Fernando.

Plus, Matt rushes to a local farm to try and save a ewe and her unborn lamb, before finding himself in the unwanted sequel to Snakes on a Plane – the vet has lost his pet snake in his car. Once again, the series will be narrated by actor Christopher Timothy, known for his role as Herriot in a certain TV drama.

The legendary vet passed away in 1995, and if he’s looking down, he would surely approve of his protege and veterinary colleagues continuing to improve the lives of all creatures great and small.

The Mysterious Mr Lagerfeld (Wednesday 26/04/23, BBC Two, 9pm)

Words by Richard Jones

Having helmed Chanel from 1983 until his death in 2019, Karl Lagerfeld was one of the fashion industry’s most decorated and celebrated designers. The son of a wealthy Hamburg businessman, Lagerfeld was initially hired as Pierre Balmain’s assistant in 1955.

Three years later, he moved to Jean Patou, and following a brief stint at Rome-based couture house Tiziano, Lagerfeld began to freelance for French fashion house Chloé in 1964. He then began a short design collaboration with Curiel, following which he started his collaboration with Fendi.

In 1982, the chairman of Chanel, Alain Wertheimer, asked Lagerfeld to design for the house and, over the next four decades, he would go on to redefine its codes with his own modern take on Coco Chanel’s most renowned designs. The designer founded his own line in 1984, before selling the brand to the Tommy Hilfiger group in 2005.

In addition to his design talents, Lagerfeld was also a photographer and filmmaker, and regularly brought Chanel’s heritage to life through film, imagery and advertising. However, as well as being one of the most flamboyant and recognisable figures in fashion, ‘Kaiser Karl’, who lived in Paris with his blue-cream tortie Birman cat Choupette, was also one of the most mysterious.

It is said not that many people ever really knew the man behind the black sunglasses (“You hide behind your sunglasses because you don’t want to be observed”, he once said). In The Mysterious Mr Lagerfeld, a new film for Arena, award-winning director Michael Waldman (Inside Monaco: Playground Of The Rich, Inside Dior) tracks down Lagerfeld’s inner circle.

The filmmaker also meets Choupette, who is rumoured to be the heir to her owner’s multi-million Euro fortune. Lagerfeld even once said he would marry the cat if it was legal. The film features extraordinary access to Lagerfeld’s bodyguard, neighbour, doctor and the niece he hadn’t seen for 50 years, as well as the people who worked closely with him – and sometimes fell from grace.

There are also chats with Choupette agent and nanny, and the male models who were the designer’s muses. Lagerfeld’s spending was legendary, if not always predictable. His generosity to those closest to him was astounding, as he bestowed gifts, cars and limitless clothes on them, and flew friends across the Atlantic to stay with him in St Tropez.

His American niece recalls how he insisted on designing her wedding dress, which arrived on its own seat on Concorde, while a local bookshop owner describes how he spent €700,000 in her shop. With his connections to Monaco, his tax affairs were complicated, left in a state that his lawyer describes as ‘not tidy’ – leaving his supposed heirs, including his faithful bodyguard and the muses, in limbo.

The fortune he left is said to be around €200million, though controversy surrounds the true amount and how much is owed to the French taxman. At the heart of Waldman’s film emerges a figure who, though relishing controversy and often being ruthless in the way he ran his fashion empires and private life, was very different from the public image.

Nevertheless, it solidifies the notion that Lagerfeld’s legacy and effect on those around him – including his beloved Choupette – was both profound and lasting.

Dalgliesh (Thursday 27/04/23, Channel 5, 9pm)

Words by Sarah Morgan

“I have lived a very happy and fulfilled life,” said Baroness James of Holland Park, OBE, aka crime writer PD James, shortly before her death in 2014 at the age of 94. That’s more than could be said of her most famous creation, police detective and poet Adam Dalgliesh. He popped up in 14 of her novels and is a widower whose wife died in childbirth; the resulting heartbreak then made him reluctant to commit to another woman.

“My English teacher was a Scottish lady called Maisie Dalgliesh,” explained James when asked in 1995 by an interviewer for The Paris Review about how she created the character. “I wanted a name that was not too unusual and yet not too common. What is interesting is that I called him Adam and years later my teacher said that her father was also called Adam Dalgliesh.

“But I don’t think he is a male version of me. Certainly he has characteristics I admire in a human being, because if you create a character who is to come back in subsequent books you have to like him and be able to live with him over the years… So I thought I would create someone who has the qualities I respect – generosity, compassion, intelligence.”

Of course, Dalgliesh is no stranger to the small screen, having been previously depicted by Roy Marsden in the 1980s and 1990s, and later by Martin Shaw when the BBC took over the rights from ITV. These days he’s played by Bertie Carvel, who perhaps fits James’s description of Dalgliesh as being ‘tall, dark and handsome’ better than his predecessors (no disrespect intended). Cerebral and private, the detective goes about his business in a methodical yet compelling manner.

Carvel made his debut as Dalgliesh in 2021 during adaptations of the novels Shroud for a Nightingale, The Black Tower and A Taste for Death, which were filmed in Northern Ireland and stuck to James’s 1960s and 1970s setting. Now he’s returning in three more – A Certain Justice and The Murder Room appear later in the run, which begins with Death of an Expert Witness. As with the previous series, each tale will be told over two parts, with the second popping on Fridays.

Death of an Expert Witness was originally published in 1977 and is the seventh novel to feature Dalgliesh. The story takes place in the Fens and follows the investigation into the murder of a senior scientist at a police laboratory.

As for James, almost a decade on from her death, she remains a giant in the world of crime-writing – and if you’re thinking of trying to follow in her footsteps, you could do worse than to follow the advice she once gave a reader during a Q&A session with the Guardian newspaper: “Increase your vocabulary, words are our raw materials. Practise writing. Read widely, particularly of the best writing. Learn to try and understand and sympathise with other people. Go through life always open to experience.

“Nothing that happens to a writer, good or ill, is ever lost.”

The Cleaner (Friday 28/04/23, BBC1, 9.30pm)

Words by Rachael Popow

The second series of The Cleaner draws to a close tonight, but don’t worry if you haven’t seen any previous episodes. Thanks to the nature of the show, which follows crime-scene cleaner Wicky as he gets rid of the gore in a variety of different locations, each episode can be seen as a stand-alone comedy.

It’s a format that appeals to the sitcom’s creator and star Greg Davies, who says: “I love the anthology nature of the show. It’s reassuringly old fashioned in many ways, like play for today from the 70s.

“What binds the series is there is the same man responding to a wide range of extreme situations and conflicted characters. I mean, it’s a bit like a one-man Scooby Doo and you can quote me on that even though it’s not particularly/remotely accurate.”

It also means that over the course of the series, he’s been able to work with some very impressive guest stars including Simon Callow and Harriet Walter.

Greg says: “Getting to work with actors that I have admired from afar is such a privilege with this show. They were all brilliant in the roles and that we have convinced/ tricked them in to sharing a screen with a fat comedian is a great joy.”

However, in this concluding episode, he’s reunited with someone that he’s worked with many times before – his former Man Down co-star and inaugural Taskmaster contestant Roisin Conaty.

It seems she was keen to collaborate with him again, saying: “I always love working with Greg, lots of laughs and gossiping between takes. It was a very different dynamic for us as my character has total control over him which was a bit different to Man Down.”

She adds that her favourite bit was “when Greg was tied to the chair and I flicked his nose. It was very funny to film, and I hope it makes the cut.”

We’ll have to wait to find out but what she can tell us is who she’s playing: “My character is part of an inept serial killer couple. She is also really into the mythology of serial killers, so she wants to make sure her killings make the grade of the well-known serial killers.

“She is very camp and heightened, it’s almost like she is playacting as a serial killer but, you know, she kills people. It was fun to play someone who was so grandiose and dominant. Also, great wig.”

It all begins when a gamekeeper is murdered in rural Wales, and Wicky is called in to clean up the mess. He knows he’ll have to try not to get in the way of the undertakers, but it soon becomes clear that they are not the only people hanging around the scene.

He may be able to keep admirably calm when faced with gore but, as the situation takes a turn for the sinister, will he keep his head?