The Derek Replacement

For the last few weeks, Wednesday has meant one thing: Derek night.
I know the show has its detractors. I can understand why. But I fell in love with it. 
Knowing Gervais is an atheist I loved that the central principle was basically let's just be nice to each other. Which ultimately is what Christ was going around saying 2000 years ago - whether you believe he's the son of God or not. 
Yes, at times I felt that it was over sentimental, but Richard Curtis has made a career out of that up to and including the manipulatively mawkish Mary & Martha. 
I just sat back and enjoyed watching Derek. It made me laugh and cry in 28 minutes. It made me hope that when I am old I have a Hannah to look after me.

It was a bit of a void to fill, but along came The Mimic (Weds 10pm C4).

Unremarkable Martin Hurdle (Terry Mynott) is stuck in a dead end job. What makes him special is his ability to do impressions. And the fact that he may have an 18 year old son about which he never knew.

Martin's impressions are woven seamlessly into the narrative. Even the 'Ronnie Corbett trapped in a letterbox' scene happened naturally - Martin and friend Jean escaping while the youths (who had never heard of the little Two Ronnie) carried on chatting to the box and offering it water.


Especially enjoyable were Martin's duo-logues - that is, him having a conversation in two voices: Morgan Freeman besting James Earl Jones in the black elderly actor voice-over work market; or arguing with himself as both Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughan.

Quietly poignant and with subtle charm plus the delicious centre that is Mynott's voice talent, I think this is going to be a hidden gem.

Following this was the delightfully daft and superbly silly Anna & Katy (Weds 10.30 pm C4)
I don't mind admitting that I adore these two. Immediately likeable (where Watson & Oliver had to work to win me over) I was giggling the entire half hour. What a complete escape from any sort of reality. A world where Martin Kemp starts an insane  lottery draw with saucy sounding numbers watched over by a leprechaun, in which Police Officers say "If you're confronted by a man with a gun, you want Jason Manford with you,", and where Apprentice rejects fail to run a car business effectively (oh -maybe not so daft that one, sorry).

I do however take issue with the fact that Yellow came as low as 36 on List Show parody 'World's Most Annoying Colours'. It should have been #1 because as everyone knows, custard is a thing of pure evil. 

Over in the land of Letherbridge there's been a sudden death. Doctors (BBC1, 1:45pm,weekdays) has been following the plight of Sam who after a road accident was rendered first paraplegic, then lost the use of his arm in a stroke, then somehow managed to tip his wheelchair over and break the other arm, thus rendering him compus mentus but helpless. Cue 'right to die' plot.
I can't help but feel that the staff writers had just come back from holiday having read Jojo Moyes Me Before You on their Kindle. Whereas that was thoughtfully and slowly explored really all we have got from Sam is 'but I once had a burst catheter bag'. 
Did one of the principle characters help Sam on his way?
The show has actually covered this story before, in its early days where Mac (Christopher Timothy) was arrested at the Christmas party accused of assisting a death. (It was the receptionist).
I imagine the mystery of how Sam actually died will  be resolved more easily than the Sudden Unexplained Snow that Letherbridge will experience in May.

Anyway, I'm off Cumberbatching. 

Laters!