Rebecca Nicholson is a columnist for the Observer and the Guardian
November 2024
TV review
The Day of the Jackal review – Eddie Redmayne’s remake is hold-your-breath exciting
Impressive, chilling and just a little bit silly: this update of Frederick Forsyth’s classic about a ruthless killing machine makes for highly enjoyable, trigger-happy viewing
TV review
Lucan review – stick with this wild documentary to the end and you will be astonished
Fifty years ago, Lord Lucan murdered Sandra Rivett then disappeared. This surreal series follows the victim’s son as he hunts down the fugitive peer – and ends up somewhere totally unexpected
Asia review – another David Attenborough masterclass in beautiful TV
The national treasure is back with a witty, warm televisual wonder, this time exploring the most populous and stunningly biodiverse continent. But where is the urgency about the climate crisis?
October 2024
TV review
Beyond Chelsea review – this bland attempt to make reality TV grow up needs some backstabbing
TV review
Trump: The Criminal Conspiracy Case review – outstanding but blood-chilling
TV review
Dogs of War review – this gobsmacking look at a mercenary (‘legal and illegal’) is must-see TV
TV review
Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out review – when Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley cackle, it’s sheer joy
TV review
Michael Mosley: Just One Thing review – a wonderful tribute to the man who made us change for the better
TV review
Showtrial season two review – this outrageous legal drama sucks you straight back in
‘I can’t believe they went there’: 20 years of the silly, sexy and utterly outrageous Desperate Housewives
TV review
Heartstopper season three review – the sex scenes are handled as delicately as fine china
September 2024
TV review
Grotesquerie review – horror as gorily unsubtle as you’d expect from Ryan Murphy
This tasteless, grisly, state-of-the-nation tale is certainly bold. Who knows what it’ll be like when Travis Kelce makes his long-awaited acting debut later in the series?
TV review
La Maison review – an irresistibly moreish mashup of Emily in Paris and Succession
Frequently absurd and heavy on le fromage, this French soap set in rival fashion houses owes a lot to the Roys – and turns out to be very good mindless TV indeed
TV review
A Very Royal Scandal review – Michael Sheen is excellent as Prince Andrew in THAT interview
TV review
After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun review – the Leonardo DiCaprio reveal is quite something
TV review
Ross Kemp: Mafia and Britain review – it’s astounding he gets gangsters to open up this much
August 2024
TV review
Sambre: Anatomy of a Crime review – the misogyny of the French police will make you want to scream
TV review
Dating Naked UK review – the US version blurred out the nudity. We didn’t get so lucky
‘Genuinely groundbreaking’: My So-Called Life is still utterly lovable TV, 30 years on
The big idea
The big idea: are we all beginning to have the same taste?
