“Dramatising the story looked tasteless, sensationalist and cheap.” Read on for the full verdict on last night’s TV.

Manson

Manson, Five
“There is plenty of home movie footage, and personal testimony to documentary the Manson story. Dramatising the story looked tasteless, sensationalist and cheap.”
Brian Viner, The Independent

Manson, Five
“I was gripped. The awful story was told through effective re-enactments and an interview with Linda Kasabian.”
Andrew Billen, The Times

On Tour With the Queen, Channel 4
“Kwei-Armah is a jovial sort… but he’s not, alas, particularly good. There are trivial but inexcusable errors in his script… and while it’s good to see yet another round-the-world trip given a fresh face, it’s hard to avoid the conclusion that we might have been better served with a few more stamps in the passports of Billy Connolly or Michael Palin, or perhaps Lenny Henry.”
Brian Viner, The Independent

On Tour With the Queen, Channel 4
“This isn’t an actor-goes-on-a-jolly programme. As he travels, Kwame is attempting to understand the significance of the monarchy, both then and now.”
Matt Baylis, Daily Express

On Tour With the Queen, Channel 4
“Kwame is a charming host. And this is a fascinating programme – travel with a story, and a purpose, which is so much better than travel for travel’s sake.”
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian

On Tour With the Queen, Channel 4
“Although burdened with possibly the dullest title of the year, the first part of Kwame Kwei-Armah’s documentary… certainly enlightened me about Tonga.”
Andrew Billen, The Times

The Street, BBC1
“This is a fine TV drama… But the success of each episode depends a lot on the actors driving it… It was tough to sit through. So tough, the ending was more of a relief than a reward.”
Matt Baylis, Daily Express

The Street, BBC1
“This was not the best of The Street since Anthony Gannie and Jimmy McGovern’s story lacked a decent twist.”
Andrew Billen, The Times

Would I Lie to You, BBC1
“As usual, the Have I Got News For You format is blatantly copied, but host Angus Deayton has been bumped and replaced by Rob Brydon, who does his best to milk as much attention from the central chair as he can… isn’t it time for a new format which isn’t just smart-asses trading sarcastic jibes for points?”
Andrea Mullaney, The Scotsman

Topics