Tucci In Italy; Mastermind; Nine Perfect Strangers

“If you took a swig of Frascati every time Stanley Tucci gave us his food orgasm face coupled with an “Oh man! That’s so good!” you wouldn’t make it halfway through the box set of Tucci In Italy (Disney+) without slipping under the sofa. Stanley loves his Italian nosh, of that there’s no doubt. Yet while watching other people have the time of their lives is so often a total turn-off, spending time with Tucci as he sniffs out gastronomic delights like a truffle hunter, delving into hidden corners of his grandparents’ homeland, is actually a rare delight.”
Keith Watson, Telegraph

“Italians rejoice in the presence of hundreds of branches of Autogrill, a phenomenon that could exist only in a country that privileges la dolce vita beyond all things. What can I tell you? It’s a chain of motorway service stations that doesn’t think customers should be served fried rat. It serves meals you would be glad to have in any restaurant in England. In its test kitchen – test kitchen! – it is working on making a palatable vegan ragu for the masses. A customer explains how sometimes “you don’t want a full osso bucco” because you would need to pull over for a nap afterwards. Indeed. Indeed. So Tucci and his Tucciness work their magic yet again, even if it is mainly by pointing a camera at Italy, letting Italians speak for themselves and their priorities shine through. Tutta bella.”
Lucy Mangan, The Guardian

“Much as I always enjoy Mastermind (BBC2), I would robustly disagree with Clive Myrie that it is “television’s toughest quiz”. No, it isn’t. Only Connect and University Challenge have far harder questions, though I do appreciate that they are both team quizzes and in Mastermind you are alone, braving the black chair naked. Metaphorically, I mean, not literally. That would be terrible for all concerned, including the black chair.”
Carol Midgley, The Times

“Actors playing drunk always make me giggle, they so rarely get it right. But actors playing high on psychedelic drugs raises the hysteria bar to a whole other level. As performed on the returning Nine Perfect Strangers (Amazon Prime Video), it’s excruciating.”
Keith Watson, Telegraph