SCREEN TIME

Our TV critic Pete McDonald guides you through the best on the box this month

Grandmasterly

The Queen’s Gambit, Netflix

2020 was extraordinar y in so many way and here’s another reason why – one of its most popular shows was a witty, intelligent fictional biopic documenting the struggles and successes of a teen orphan chess prodigy (Anya Taylor-Joy) who battles with drug and alcohol (and chess!) addiction in 1950s America.

It’s a show that treats its characters with compassion and care, it champions the underdog, it pushes back against the casual sexism of the time – and it has sparked an explosion of interest in that grand old game of chess across the world, especially amongst young people. Hey, perhaps there is hope for humanity after all!

A World Of Good

A Perfect Planet, BBC iPlayer

Taking four years to make and filmed across 31 different countries, A Perfect Planet is the latest epic series from

Sir David Attenborough and so lands squarely on top of my “Most Anticipated of 2021” list. Sir David promises a unique and visually stunning insight into the natural world as well as studying the dramatic impact of climate change in this five-part series that airs in the spring. Lockdown has driven home to us all the value of the great outdoors so thank goodness for Sir David and his shows – such a force for good when it comes to championing and preserving what we have just beyond our doorsteps.

Bittersweet Farewell

The Great British Bake Off, Channel 4

And so the Bake Off is over for another year! Boo! Hiss! “Baby-faced assassin” Peter Sawkins took home the crown -– it was thoroughly well deserved and my patriotic side was cheering on the victory of a fellow Scot, although this one is a good few years younger than myself! While I didn’t feel the baking standard was quite as high as previous years, and Matt Lucas tried a little too hard for laughs at times, my sweet tooth will still miss this sugary delight of a show – until next year!