4 ECHO SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2015
TV HIGHLIGHTS
@LivEchoNews
ECHO 5
facebook.com/theliverpoolecho
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2015
Predators are always portrayed as the baddies
■■ Left: African wild dogs are captured on film giving chase; below, presenter Sir David Attenborough
‘W
hungry zebra, which just needs a patch of grass to munch on, while the lion risks a broken jaw every time it goes for that zebra, “because, quite rightly, the zebra kicks hell out of it”. He adds: “They are heroes; they are the hardest working animals in nature.” But don’t expect scenes of bloody violence and graphic bone crunching: “It’s not a sensational show about predators at all,” promises Alastair. “David would never touch a show like that”. That’s not to say that visually it isn’t breathtakingly sensational. Taking in the vast expanses of the ocean, the jungle and the open plain, where neither predator nor prey has anywhere to hide, The Hunt has been in the making since Frozen Planet wrapped in 2011, with a 30-strong camera crew filming over a period of 2½ years. Packed with never-before-filmed moments, the series sees a Darwin’s bark spider spraying 25m of silk web across a river, Bengal tigers stalking in the forest (a camera was rigged to an elephant to capture it), and the
crew even snared footage of blue in natural history programming. “If I whales feeding under water – “which was not involved in it – because this is something I wanted to do since is the best – I would be upset,” he Blue Planet,” says says, although Fothergill, still amazed he and Alastair ■■ An Arctic (they celebrated with playfully fox closes in gin and tonics). disagree over on its prey As a result, Sir David just how is quick to admit there’s tech-savvy the a big chunk of him that broadcaster wishes he’d been on really is. the ground, not purely “It did take working on the words, us quite a long however much he time to persuade enjoys that aspect of it. David to get a fax “I saw the first long machine,” quips cut,” he remembers, Alastair. “and when you see Sir David – that, you think, ‘Gah, who, iron-ically, dammit!’ They’ve got is the only these fantastic shots person to which you never win Baftas for thought was going to be programmes in possible.” black and white, Compared to the colour, 3-D and films being made when CGI – whips an he started out (“In the ancient Nokia Fifties, it was an amateur half hour phone out of his pocket: “I can show really”), Sir David considers The you the cutting edge of electronic Hunt to represent a “quantum leap” communication!”
Joking aside, the challenge on this series was to use technology to get to a point where viewers feel as though they are actually running with a pack of African wild dogs at 40mph, padding along in the footsteps of a leopard, or swimming alongside orcas that are attempting to separate a humpback whale calf from its mother. The pace is fast, the filming visceral. “We felt that, if people were to emotionally engage with the challenge, we had to treat it a bit more like a drama than a classic documentary,” says Alastair, explaining how every sequence was storyboarded. “But, of course, the animals don’t read the script.” Both agree that wild animals – even the deadliest of predators – are rarely dangerous to humans if they’re behaving naturally, but things can always go awry ... “If it wasn’t so dramatic and so serious, it’d be really funny,” says Sir David, tumbling into an anecdote where, halfway through filming a
sequence between a polar bear and a seal in the Arctic, the team “suddenly discovered it wasn’t the seals they were after – the polar bear was actually hunting the film crew.” “They like seals,” admits Alastair, “and we’re basically seals on legs, so you can understand that.” Have they ever felt the urge to intervene, to save one animal over another; to give the gazelle a head start, or help the cheetah clinch its prize? “There is absolutely no doubt that you see moments like that, but what can you do?” asks Alastair. “You can’t get between nature.” “It’s very, very unlikely that you’re going to do any good, and almost certainly you’ll make things worse,” adds Sir David, remembering footage of an abandoned, orphaned elephant dying of thirst. “There was nothing you could do, just watch it die,” he recalls with a sigh. “If you’d given it a bucket of water – had there been a bucket of water – what would you have done tomorrow? It’s dying and that’s what the natural world is like. And our job
in making these films is showing the [is ridiculous],” Sir David says. natural world. That doesn’t mean to “I was filming six months ago in say you don’t feel it.” Pennsylvania where there are 15 Next, Alastair has plans to focus different species of fireflies in one on the scale of the forces of nature – wood, each transmitting its own think volcanic eruptions in extreme luminous call sign. Talk to a biologist close up – while Sir David has just and he simply won’t understand how finished filming a series on the Great there could be that number. Why are Barrier Reef, and has another on there so many different ones? We bioluminescence lined don’t know! up. “I’m going to “I can’t believe I’ve been as film luminous lucky as I have,” reflects Sir earthworms in David, considering all he Normandy,” has done. he says with a “It’s the most exciting laugh. “I didn’t thing I’ve ever wanted to even know there do, and to keep on doing it were luminous when you’re damn nearly earthworms in 90 is a huge privilege, a Normandy!” huge piece of luck – and it’s Despite nine not virtue, I’ll tell you that. series of Life on It’s not because I’ve run round the BBC, 60 years of the park every day.” experience and global ■■ Alistair Fothergill So will he ever retire? says predators are expeditions, at 89, he “If Alastair asked me to do misunderstood clearly hasn’t lost any something, I’d do it – if I could of his sense of awe and surprise at the get there in the wheelchair.” natural world. “The idea that scientists know ■■ The Hunt begins on BBC One everything and understand everything tomorrow, at 9pm
ONES TO WATCH ON THE BOX THIS WEEK The X Factor (Tonight, ITV, 8pm) Caroline Flack and Olly Murs present the first of this year’s live shows. The 12 remaining acts compete for the chance to make it through to the live final later this year. Simon Cowell has the Overs, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini the Groups, Nick Grimshaw the Boys, and Rita Ora the Girls. However, the standard is high, which is sure to cause drama and disagreements among the judges, and tomorrow’s show will see the first act eliminated after a sing-off.
■■ Olly Murs and Caroline Flack
Downton Abbey (Tomorrow, ITV, 9pm) Many viewers still haven’t fully
Amelia’s intentions in befriending Isobel. Molesley and Daisy rise to the challenges of examination day, Andy’s secret is brought to light, and Mrs Patmore and Mrs Hughes teach Carson a lesson.
■■ Carson is in for a lesson from Mrs Hughes and Mrs Patmore recovered from Lord Grantham’s burst stomach ulcer, but clearly the Crawleys are in the mood for more excitement as they watch Henry compete in a motor racing event, an occasion that leaves Mary reeling. Violet hatches a plan which surprises the family and delights Miss Denker, and learns more about
The Cabin in the Woods (Tonight, Channel 5, 10.25pm) in an attempt to reinvigorate the horror genre, this slick tale of college kids in peril has Dana (Kristen Connolly) looking forward to a jaunt into the great outdoors with friend Jules (Anna Hutchison), her boyfriend Curt (Chris Hemsworth) and Marty (Fran Kranz). Curt invites along his shy buddy Holden (Jesse Williams), and the five thrill-seekers head to a remote log cabin.
■■ Heather O’Rourke as Carol Anne
In his 60-year career, Sir David Attenborough has astounded viewers with his wildlife films. As new series The Hunt hits screens, he and executive producer Alastair Fothergill talk to Ella Walker e thought we knew about polar bears, but there are three completely different hunting techniques which, not only had not been filmed, I don’t think they were known about,” buzzes Sir David Attenborough. The veteran wildlife film-maker is narrating the BBC’s new landmark documentary series, The Hunt, executively produced by his great friend and collaborator, Alastair Fothergill, who he previously worked with on Blue Planet, Planet Earth and Frozen Planet – and when Sir David and Fothergill team up, you just know it’s going to be astonishing. As the title suggests, The Hunt is about predator and prey and the strategies both employ to survive, but it’s not about the kill. “Every show you’ve seen about predators in the past, they’re always the baddies, they’re the villains, and it’s simply not true, they usually fail,” says Fothergill passionately, explaining how the stakes are much higher for a hungry lion than a
TOP FILMS OF THE WEEK
Simply Nigella (Monday, BBC2, 8.30pm) Fed up with a cereal for breakfast? Then chances are you need to spice up the most important meal of the day with a little inspiration. Try avocado toast with radishes instead. Yes, it might sound a little out there, but as Nigella Lawson proves in this new series, anything goes when it comes to making tasty and original dishes. Also on the menu this week is a Thai noodle dish
with cinnamon and prawns, and a laid-back family supper of seeded lamb ribs, served with a feta and avocado salad. River (Tuesday, BBC1, 9pm) The investigation into Stevie’s death takes a dramatic change of direction when CCTV footage reveals she was in contact with a Somalian migrant whose car was involved in her murder. For River, the revelation leads to even greater confusion, and he becomes increasingly perplexed. However, when he discovers who the person was his late colleague spoke to on the night she was killed, it seems he may have blown the case wide open.
The Mobo Awards 2015 (Wednesday, ITV2, 8pm) Special programme MOBO: Paving the Way celebrates 20 years of the awards, looking at how they have help to launch some of today’s artists. Then, Sarah-Jane Crawford hosts this year’s ceremony at the Leeds Arena as stars including Skepta, Wiley and Mark Ronson vie for the coveted awards. The evening includes live performances from Rita Ora, Krept and Konan, Ella Eyre, Lethal Bizzle, FKA twigs, Naughty Boy, Stormzy and Lianne La Havas. Kitchen Impossible with Michel Roux Jr (Thursday, Channel 4, 9pm) The chef’s attempt to get eight
■■ Kitchen think: Michel Roux Jr
disabled trainees into work makes for some of the most uplifting TV on air, and the second episode is no exception. This week, the trainees get the chance to prove their worth as Michel asks them to run a service for 30 paying customers. Sam, a 17-year-old Tourette’s sufferer, is made head chef, but an incident
involving prawns creates a dilemma for the award-winning cook. Piers Morgan’s Life Stories (Friday, ITV, 9pm) Raquel Welch, most famous for her portrayal of the bikini-clad cave girl in the 1966 film, One Million Years BC, reflects on her life and career. The Hollywood actress, who celebrated her 75th birthday this year, opens up about her tempestuous relationship with her father and looks back at her struggle to juggle her career with life as a single mother of two children and talks about her refusal to appear nude. Piers also probes Raquel about the men in her life, including Warren Beatty and Steve McQueen.
Poltergeist (Tomorrow, Channel 5, 12am) this Oscar-nominated ghost story features some iconic cinema moments. It follows a couple living in a suburban American neighbourhood experience ghostly goings-on in their home. While the spooks at first appear to be friendly, things take a turn for the worse when the ghouls kidnap their youngest daughter and take her to the “other side”.
Bell, Book and Candle (Monday, More4, 11.20am) James Stewart and Kim Novak star in this light-hearted romantic comedy. It’s the tale of Gillian (Novak), a witch living in 1950s Manhattan, who discovers that her neighbour Shep (Stewart) is engaged to her old college enemy – so, as an act of revenge, she bewitches him to love her instead. However, the spell backfires when Gillian realises she’s falling in love for real.
■■ Cary on stealing: To Catch a Thief
■■ Cabin fever: Chris Hemsworth
■■ Romance for Kim Novak
To Catch a Thief (Tuesday, Film4, 4.35pm) John Robie (Cary Grant) is a reformed jewel thief who has turned his back on crime. When a wily thief targets a series of luxury hotels, the finger of suspicion points at John. He hatches a plan to flush out the real culprit by baiting him – or her – with the most expensive jewels currently on the Riviera, which belong to Jessie Stevens. In order to get close to his target, John befriends her daughter, Frances (Grace Kelly), but his cunning plan backfires in spectacular fashion.
Thirteen Days (Wednesday, BBC1, 11.35pm) Roger Donaldson’s dramatisation of the Cuban Missile Crisis is a thrilling and emotionally charged piece of story-telling, pasted together from books, memoirs, declassified CIA documents and interviews with the men involved. The drama unfolds from the perspective of Kenneth O’Donnell (Kevin Costner), the Special Assistant to the President John F Kennedy (Bruce Greenwood) and a major figure behind the scenes at the White House. ■■ Grubs up for Stephane Audran
■■ Kevin Costner as Kenny O’Donnell
Babette’s Feast (Thursday, Film4, 11am) Martine (Birgitte Federspiel) and her sister Philippa (Bodil Kjer) live in a 19th-century ministry when Babette Hersant (Stephane Audran) turns up unannounced, bearing a letter recommending her as a housekeeper. Martine and Philippa agree to employ her and, when Babette wins a small fortune, which would allow her to return home, she spends it instead on a feast to thank her employers.
Cemetery Junction (Friday, BBC1, 11.50pm) Best friends Freddie (Christian Cooke), Bruce (Tom Hughes) and Snork (Jack Doolan) have very different outlooks on life. While Bruce enjoys being cock of his small-town walk and lovable loser Snork is happy to trail in his wake, Freddie dreams of something bigger and better. As Freddie’s ambitions broaden, the three young men are forced to re-examine their friendship.
■■ Tom Hughes as Bruce