tue 17/06/2025

tv

Liar, Series 2, ITV review - more crime-by-numbers from the Williams brothers

Adam Sweeting

The first series of Liar, one of many thrillers from the fertile keyboards of Jack and Harry Williams, was on ITV back in 2017, so you may have forgotten the somewhat labyrinthine details.

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The Windsors, Series 3, Channel 4 review - perfect timing for return of the bogus royals

Adam Sweeting

The rage and bitterness surrounding the Brexit brouhaha have made it immune to comedy and satire, but perhaps change is in the wind.

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Back in Time for the Corner Shop, BBC Two review - open all hours with the Ardern family

Adam Sweeting

Since Back in Time for Dinner in 2015, this BBC Two social history strand in which families travel into a recreated past to experience ways in which society, leisure and lifestyles have changed has proved a robust perennial.

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Flesh and Blood, ITV review - Vivien's new love affair throws a cat among the family pigeons

Adam Sweeting

“Everybody lies," says property developer Tony to his PA and secret lover Natalie. “Even your mum probably.” And of course he’s not wrong.

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Locke & Key, Netflix review - comic book adaptation struggles to find its focus

Adam Sweeting

The comic book of Locke and Key, written by Joe Hill (son of horror writer Stephen King) and illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez, was first published in 2008, and its mix of multi-generational family drama and supernatural creepiness made it a cult hit.

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Hunters, Amazon Prime review - bringing God's justice to Nazis in America

Adam Sweeting

Apparently network executives initially reacted with alarm to the premise of Hunters, Amazon’s new big-ticket series chiefly (though by no means entirely) notable for hosting Al Pacino’s first full-scale television role.

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How To Stay out of Jail, Channel 4 review – a bold rehabilitation programme from Durham police

Adam Sweeting

With prison overcrowding reaching chronic proportions, police in County Durham have developed the Checkpoint programme to try to keep offenders out of jail with rehabilitation in the community. It’s like Felons Anonymous – candidates have to sign a contract confessing their crimes and stipulating that they won’t reoffend.

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Royal History's Biggest Fibs with Lucy Worsley, BBC Four review - is this version more valid than anyone else's?

Adam Sweeting

Perhaps somebody at BBC Four has had a quiet word with Lucy Worsley, because in this first of a new three-part series she did hardly did any of her usual irritating dressing up. There had to be a bit, though.

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Confronting Holocaust Denial with David Baddiel, BBC Two review - grappling with the incomprehensible

Marina Vaizey

It’s all in the timing. Here was David Baddiel beginning a stand-up turn at a gig in Finchley. A Holocaust survivor gets to heaven, and God asks for a Holocaust joke. God says that his joke isn't funny, and the survivor replies “Well, I guess you had to be there.” Baddiel believes there is nothing that is impervious to a joke.

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The Stranger, Netflix review - strong cast grapples with labyrinthine plotting

Adam Sweeting

This eight-part mystery from Netflix is based on the titular novel by American writer Harlan Coben, who has formed a production company with Rochdale’s own Nicola Schindler, the production brains behind Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax and many more.

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