“Essentially a pointless and unedifying exercise in low-grade voyeurism.” Read on for the verdict on last night’s TV.

FAMOUS, RICH AND JOBLESS, BBC1

Essentially a pointless and unedifying exercise in low-grade voyeurism.
Sarah Vine, The Times

Everyone here has to negotiate to get a job. And as soon as they’re recognised the purity of the experiment is compromised. It’s in aid of a telly programme and suddenly the probabilities change.
Tom Sutcliffe, The Independent

Anyone who saw the homeless version of this show last year will know that this type of show relies less on experience and learning and more on painting one or more of its participants as the villain of the piece.
Matt Baylis, Daily Express

 

JOBLESS, BBC1

What gave Brian Woods’ film its real poignancy was the children, dimly aware of the weight bearing down on their parents…and yet blithely confident things would get better. 
Tom Sutcliffe, The Independent

A beautifully structured, well executed documentary…It was genuinely sobering stuff, both effective and affecting – and so much more edifying than watching famous people snivelling.
Sarah Vine, The Times

 

SIDEKICK STORIES, BBC4

Blackadder’s slappable sidekick, Baldrick, undercut the whole basis of the programme by insisting: “I don’t know any actor or performer who would admit to being a sidekick.”
Nancy Banks-Smith, The Guardian

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