“It’s fabulous – comedy so dark that you can barely make out the comedy.”

The End of the F***ing World

The End of the F***ing World, Channel 4

“It’s fabulous – comedy so dark that you can barely make out the comedy. And yet it is funny, as well as being convincing.”
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian

“From the punk-rock font of the titles, to the soundtrack featuring obscure indie-pop gems, the show is confident in its identity, and zips by at some pace. American in every way but the accents, its unique indie-film vibe has it come across like a twee Natural Born Killers. A compelling, stylish take on the violent, romantic crime-thriller.”
Alex Nelson, The i

This World: Calais, the End of the Jungle, BBC2

“A sombre account of the problems going on near Calais, it was at times eerie in its distant footage of refugees trying to hijack UK-bound lorries or of the burning camp bathed in orange fire at night. Philip K Dick’s bleak visions have nothing on this.”
James Jackson, The Times

“Calais, The End Of The Jungle presented two irreconcilable views of the mess. There was no guidance, no interpretation, no voiceover. The whole programme was as chaotic as the camp itself.”
Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail

“Parts of human nature are the urge to help, even if the consequences are unhelpful, and the urge to mix up global issues with local ones. We saw both at work in this extraordinary film.”
Matt Baylis, Daily Express

“It is told mainly from the point of view of the volunteers and charity workers who worked there. And a little from the French police, and from the lorry drivers trying to avoid extra cargo … Oh, but not from any refugees or migrants. Which is odd. I guess it is a story, the volunteers’ one. But it’s not the main story.”
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian

Retreat: Meditations from a Monastery, BBC4

“As much as anything, the exquisitely filmed hour was a sensory exercise in sound. At times I closed my eyes and listened to water gurgling down a plug, doors squeaking or pigeons cooing as a monk hosed the flowers … and drifted off in divine reverie.”
James Jackson, The Times

“I’m not going to lie, I did get the giggles a bit. Really? An hour of TV without any talking? But then I began to get into the vibe. Who needs chat when there are so many other thrills? Highlights include Father Michael waking up, winding up the clock, having breakfast alone and then going to the workshop to sharpen his chisel and carve wood.”
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian

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