Derry Girls; A House Through Time; Death in Paradise

“You couldn’t call Derry Girls nostalgic, exactly; it doesn’t make me long to be the only English boy in a 90s Irish girls’ school without any men’s loos. But the period is recreated with care, and the script is affectionate, foul-mouthed and funny.”
Tim Dowling, The Guardian

“Far from the gallows giggles a Troubles comedy might have portended, Derry Girls was messy, irreverent and given to wild mood swings – just like the teenagers whose growing pains it brought so endearingly to life.”
Ed Power, The Telegraph

“In many ways, new Channel 4 show Derry Girls is your typical coming-of-age comedy. The dynamic is similar to that of fellow Channel 4 comedy the Inbetweeners. And like the cast of The Inbetweeners before them, each of the young actors play their niche role terrifically.”
Finlay Greig, The i

“There are so many history programmes, but here, with an articulate presenter in the historian David Olusoga, was a fresh, original telling of social history through the prism of lives not found in the history books. It was an instructive hour that reminded us that we never really ‘own’ bricks and mortar, we are merely souls passing through.”
Carol Midgley, The Times

“To call it a new history of Britain, as was claimed by presenter David Olusoga, may be a stretch, but this was a fresh way of mapping vast social changes onto the ups and downs of a few lucky or unlucky individuals. Liverpool’s architectural treasures all had a story to tell, while the past was cleverly animated by computer-generated drawings.”
Jasper Rees, The Telegraph

“In his new series, the historian David Olusoga has hit upon a compelling way to trace the social and political landscape of Britain across a span of 180 years. On the strength of this opener I am fully prepared to believe that every house has not just one, but many stories to tell.”
Tim Dowling, The Guardian

“Death in Paradise doesn’t go big on subtlety or nuance: it goes more for the cheerful-caper-through-tragedy vibe and makes no apology for that. Why should it? It is this safe, comforting formula that keeps viewers watching.”
Carol Midgley, The Times

“Old-fashioned and formulaic, it’s Agatha Christie in the sun, with the poshest suspects and the most improbable murders. Even when the star is replaced, it never changes. This show is like returning to a favourite summer holiday destination. Long may it shine.”
Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail

“This is the seventh time round for the Caribbean crime caper, and its premise doesn’t get any less baffling. Does the BBC keep it on because it’s an easy way to meet its commitment to diverse casting? Actors of colour deserve better than this parade of Caribbean stereotypes.”
Jasper Rees, The Telegraph

“Let’s face it: Death in Paradise is painfully twee. And the plot, week-in week-out, follows a well-trodden format. But for all of that, the light-hearted detective drama serves its purpose. It is a welcome dose of warm escapism in the post festive season.”
Finlay Greig, The i