Educating Yorkshire- New Channel 4 Series

A documentary series set in a school in one of the most deprived, ethnically divided areas of Britain restores the faith in our education system and the future of our multicultural society.

Educating Yorkshire has been filmed at Thornhill Community Academy near Dewsbury. The 8-part series looks at every day life in the school, following new head teacher Jonny Mitchell as he seeks to improve standards and the school’s reputation.

“I’d walked into this school not long before the approach was made for schools to be involved in this and I thought the school had an awful lot to shout about – and that it was on an upward trajectory,” he explained.“I thought we could present ourselves as a really positive role model for others in education and others outside. The other main reason was our location. Dewsbury has suffered quite a lot in the last ten or 15 years with some adverse press. I thought this was an opportunity for us to show the positive side of the town as well. And the third reason is – I think the kids are brilliant – I think they deserve to experience something a little bit different.

Jonny Mitchell added that he had watched the Educating Essex series “twice” and felt it was “funny, pretty honest, quite raw on occasions” and that he had spoken to their head teacher before agreeing to the filming.

He revealed there were some “niggling concerns” about the documentary, particularly when it came to some of the more vulnerable pupils and whether it may harm his career:“You can think of all the positives that might come out of it, but you’ve always got to keep in the back of your head, “I might come out of this looking like a complete and utter wazzock.” But it was made very clear at the outset by the production company that they weren’t interested in selling us down the river for ratings.”

The series begins at 9pm on Thursday 5th September.

BBC2 drama Dancing On The Edge

BBC2 drama Dancing On The Edge written and directed by Stephen Poliakoff about a black jazz band in London in the early 1930s.

This has all the trademarks of a Poliakoff drama: immaculate, beautiful upper crust people in artistically posed scenes, long meaningful looks, and an obsession with photographs.

 Yet despite the often slow pace, the dialogues are much sharper than I expected and it also has quite a tight, intriguing and at times tense plot. 

     

This is what probably made me enjoy it more than any previous work by Poliakoff, together with its focus on an interesting and little-covered aspect of 1930s Britain, in which we see the mercurial rise and sad fall of a talented band of black musicians. 

After catching the eye of Stanley, an ambitious young music journalist, they gain bookings at the once grand now gradually decaying Imperial Hotel and even attract the attention of the Prince of Wales and his brother before tragedy and scandal destroy their budding popularity.

 The prejudice the players face is probably quite realistic for the period, and borne with great dignity by the suave and super-controlled pianist Louis.

 And of course, there is the alternating rhythm and pathos of the music played with such verve beneath the distinctive rainbow arch of The Imperial.

BBC TWO NEW SERIES:DAS AUTO :THE GERMANS,THEIR CARS AND US

Documentary examining Germany's economic power and the automobile industry at the heart of it. Across the world, the badges of Volkswagen, Audi, BMW and Mercedes inspire immediate awe.

Across the world, the badges of Volkswagen, Audi, BMW and Mercedes are seen as something to aspire to. Even in Britain, where memories of the war run deep, we can’t resist the appeal of a German motor. By contrast, the British car industry is a shadow of its former self. So what did we get wrong – and what did the Germans get so right?

 Dominic Sandbrook traces the story of the German automobile industry from post-war revival through to global success, and explores the role cars have played in changing the global perception of Britain and Germany themselves.

 He visits the vast Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg where, in the late 1940s, British officer Major Ivan Hirst decided to step up production of a car that would change Germany’s image forever – the Beetle. Major Hirst’s vision of a prosperous, peaceful Germany, pouring its energies into making cars rather than wars, soon became a reality. 

By contrast, Britain was falling behind. Dominic explores the decline and fall of the British car industry in the 1960s and 1970s, beset by strikes and walkouts. 

With the help of newly declassified government documents, as well as old car commercials, interviews and archive footage, the programme explains how Germany’s manufacturers exploited the new materialism of the 1980s and looks at how and why the Brits began to fall in love with German cars. By the end of the 20th century, even James Bond was now driving a BMW, instead of his beloved Aston Martin. 

But now the story has come full circle. As Dominic discovers, our car industry is still alive and kicking, producing millions of cars a year. The irony, though, is that we make those cars for German companies. Even the Mini, that supreme symbol of British wit and ingenuity, is owned by BMW. But, Dominic asks, does it really matter who owns the brands?

Channel 4's new historical drama The Mill

The Mill, Channel 4's new four-part historical drama, will air on 28 July at 8:00pm, the Channel has announced.

 Set during rural-industrial England during 1833, the gritty drama follows the workers and unpaid apprentices at Quarry Bank Mill in Cheshire as they slave away at their 12-hour shifts.

 But the industrial revolution is changing the landscape of the country beyond recognition and the workers are poised to take their fates into their own hands.

 

Written by Torchwood and Coronation Street's John Fay, The Mill stars Kerrie Hayes, Matthew McNulty, Aidan McArdle, Kevin McNally, Claire Rushbrook, Sacha Parkinson, Holly Lucas, Donald Sumpter and Barbara Marten.

TV SHOW OF THE WEEK-Why Don't You Speak English

There are almost one million immigrants living in the UK who don't speak very good English.This two-part series follows four first-generation immigrants as they try to learn the language for the first time.More info hire

Why Don't You Speak English | Tuesday, 9pm | Channel 4