What to watch.
Byline: Jo ManningDesperation stakes
CELEBRITIES UNDER THE KNIFE (HTV, 9pm)
THERE's nothing better than watching a programme which barely contains it's excitement in making celebs look like idiots. And on a Monday evening, with the week stretching ahead like a tortuous journey through the Sahara, we could all do with a good laugh at desperate showbiz types willing to do anything to improve their shot at the big time.
Tonight's programme follows a young actress as she is told she'll need a nose job to make it in Hollywood. It also speaks to one woman insecurity-creator Bobbi, an acting coach who told a successful actress she calls `Helena' not to eat, save her money and have cosmetic surgery.
However, most incredible of all is watching ex-EastEnders star Carol Harrison (who played Tiffany Mitchell's mum) have Botox injections. The woman who invented the Slaters' now trademark `slapped with a wet fish' facial expression, has so much of the face-numbing concoction pumped into her visage, that she looks like she's just met her long lost mother. It's all a little sad and tasteless really, and the improvements they bring to these people's appearances are barely noticeable after a while. As my gran would say - be grateful for what you're given.
Who would believe it?
REAL CRIME: ANGEL OF DEATH - THE BEVERLEY ALLITT STORY (HTV, 10.20pm)
THE case of the seemingly nice Grantham nurse who murdered four babies and attacked nine others, is examined in another interesting Real Crime documentary. Beverley Allitt is now away from the children's wards in Rampton Secure Hospital, a mental institution, and she's likely to remain behind bars for the rest of her life.
But what has never become clear is why Allitt did what she did. Despite confessing to injecting tiny babies with fatal doses of insulin and attacking many more, she's never explained her reasons, something which is very hard for the victims of her crimes.
Chris Taylor, whose baby son, Liam, was murdered by Allitt, is also interviewed for the programme, and reveals how it's still difficult for him to get his head round what happened, 11 years on from the attack.
Immature manure
TWO PINTS OF LARGER AND A PACKET OF CRISPS (BBC2, 9pm)
THIS is one of those comedy series which really has some great moments, but then frequently lets itself down by scraping the barrels of both taste and decency.
Although sometimes originally done, it's blatant rudeness and tack-tastic jokes can all be seen on a weekly basis within the pages of blokey magazines and down the pub - so who wants to see it again on the television?
Most of the characters have very few redeeming features, and the script is a few levels lower than base, but on the upside, at least it doesn't pretend to be something it isn't and could never be.
Tonight, Gaz (played by one-time pop star Will Mellor) runs naked through the streets of Runcorn, but still must face up to the fact that he's set to become a dad.
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| Title Annotation: | Features |
|---|---|
| Publication: | South Wales Echo (Cardiff, Wales) |
| Date: | Aug 12, 2002 |
| Words: | 506 |
| Previous Article: | Time to remember: Turning back sands of time to Barry Island's great days. |
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