Yesterday at 8pm the BBC showed what purported to be a programme in the Natural World series on The Wild Places of Essex (I am not going to link to it in iPlayer for reasons that shall become clear.) It was a personal view by someone called Robert MacFarlane (who has just written a book) and it was, to be frank, absolute crap. It ought to have ( Read more... )

I wasn't sure what to expect from this documentary on T.E. Lawrence, broadcast yesterday on BBC2. The presenter, Rory Stewart, had the background to be able to comment with some authority on Lawrence's effect and legacy in the Middle East, but Lawrence documentaries - and books - tend either towards hagiography or a debunk. This was neither - but ( Read more... )