Dynasty: The Murdochs; Dunblane: How Britain Banned Handguns; Alexander Armstrong in India

“‘To explain the Murdochs, you have to understand the television show Succession.” So quips New York Times writer Jim Rutenberg a few minutes into this four-part documentary about Rupert Murdoch’s empire – and, specifically, his children’s battle for control of it when he dies. It’s a canny opener. Jesse Armstrong’s series about media mogul Logan Roy and his warring children, thought to be based on the Murdochs, was a gripping smash hit, and this documentary is soon excitedly matching the eldest Murdoch siblings – independent Prudence from Rupert’s first marriage, dutiful favourite Lachlan, “problem child” James and brilliant but overlooked (pesky X chromosomes!) Elisabeth – to their Succession counterparts. (Rupert’s two younger daughters from his third marriage aren’t in the running.) But don’t be fooled: despite the suspenseful strings and off-key piano motifs, this is no Emmy-award-winning drama. Rather, it is an exhausting if exhaustive rundown of all things Murdoch, with the siblings’ manoeuvrings often the least interesting part. In the documentary, as in life, they are overshadowed by their dad.”
Lucinda Everett, The Guardian 

“If you watched The Dunblane Tapes on Channel 4 last month, you may feel you lack the emotional fortitude required to sit down in front of another documentary about the primary school shooting that traumatised a nation. Nobody would blame you. The events of March 1996, which resulted in the deaths of 16 children and one teacher, remain exceptionally difficult to contemplate – especially when recounted by parents who lost their sons and daughters that day. Thirty years on, the two local MPs who visited the scene remain unable to discuss it without breaking down in tears. But if you haven’t seen it, it’s worth refreshing your memory – not least because the response to the crime goes some way to explaining why Britain is a relatively safe place today.”
Rachel Aroesti, The Guardian

“This series doesn’t linger long enough to get under India’s surface. In Jaipur, where thousands of macaques roam the city, burgling the houses and guzzling milk from kitchen fridges, he bumped into a man called Vijay who spends his days bicycling the streets, treating the monkeys to ice cream and mangoes. They recognise his call, a Tarzan–style yodel, and come running. Xander filmed a two–minute chat, just long enough to establish that Vijay’s favourite deity was the monkey god Hanuman, and had a go at imitating the ululating ‘come–and–get–it’ cry. With that, the segment was over, and he was off to meet a flamboyant entrepreneur whose leather goods factory specialises in masks, whips and handcuffs. While the appropriately named boss, Randier, explained that Indians are keen on sex, his workers sat silently on the floor, cutting and sewing industriously. There’s the makings of a good travel show here, if only it could be presented by someone who hangs around long enough to ask questions.”
Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail