Streets of Rage

Throughout her childhood years, Deirdre’s wayward daughter was always referred to as Tracy-Love as though that were her given name.

After Tracy-Love’s wilderness years she returned as the soap’s superbitch and the “love” bit seemed wholly inappropriate for such an evil trollop. So since the arrival of Kate Ford to play the role, she was merely been referred to as Tracy and usually in a disparaging tone of voice.

However, as her life crumbled beneath her on Coronation Street this week, as her little face crumpled and the tears flowed, the Tracy-Love moniker was – albeit briefly - back..

Yes, that ray of sunshine Shelley returned this week with the news that there were soon to be the sound of tiny builder’s boots clattering along the cobbles as she had managed to get herself impregnated by the construction industry’s most charmless charmer, cheerful Charlie Stubbs. Like we still care.

We’ve said our goodbyes to Shelley and tortuous and dragged out they were, so it was somewhat annoying to see her back and raining on everyone’s parade. When Tracy finally lunged at Shelley for the catfight that anyone vaguely interested in this storyline was probably baying for, most happened as noises off screen. What a waste! Has the director never seen Dynasty…or even Emmerdale?

The problem I have with this storyline is that for it to work you have feel sympathy for at least one of protagonists but as everyone involved seems to be either unfeasibly nasty, terminally stupid or in the case of Ken Barlow permanently bewildered, it’s difficult to give two hoots about it.

Meanwhile vacuous Violet agonises over the sexuality of her boring Baldwin boyfriend. Perhaps if she found herself a personality he might be a wee bit more interested.

There is nothing like a dame

Extras gets better and better and despite an episode crammed full of wickedly funny cameos and a wonderful turn from Daniel Radcliffe, the show was completely stolen by the brief appearance of Dame Diana Rigg. Truly brilliant.

No target seems too controversial for Gervais and Merchant and they are getting away with it beautifully. There are shades of Hancock in Andy Millman’s battle with life and watching him cope with his new found fame has been wonderful to watch.

Don’t It Make You Feel Good

I’ve not been a regular Neighbours viewer for what seems like an age, so long in fact that there have been times when I’ve known no one in the cast, but I had to tune in this week to see a cave-in land on Stefan Dennis’s head. I never liked him and it’s good to see him get his just desserts for that woeful pop song he put out in the eighties.

Nice to see Gail Robinson back too.

Slating Slater

The tale of little Petal in EastEnders may be worthy but it really is getting heavy weather to sit through. Not what you want to eat your Pot Noodle in front of after a hard day at work.

Far more cheering was that the somehow disturbing Squiggle was abducted by an out of control Owen who even beat his own mum up in the process. Charming bloke. Hats off again to Lee Ross for managing to salvage what seems on the face of it to be a two dimensional role and make it more than watchable.

Squiggle was returned unharmed of course but I really like the Fox family. I just hope that they don’t keep getting these over the top storylines because the characters are strong enough not to need them. I just wish Phil Daniels could get through the occasional scene at normal talking volume.

My biggest problem at the moment though is Sean Slater, a pale imitation of a soap bad boy, so unconvincing that it’s left me yearning for the days of deadwood Dennis Rickman. Sean’s evil plot to exploit the hapless Ruby is toe curling to watch. It really is hard to believe that thicko Ruby is supposed to the daughter of sharp as a tack master-criminal Johnny Allen.

Stuck in a time loop

Weren’t certain conditions laid down when BBC Three was launched? They must be fairly lax if the current schedule is deemed to be acceptable.

I’m referring to the ad infinitum repeats of Doctor Who in the seven o’clock slot, which seem to be just going round and round with no end in sight.

Nothing wrong with the show itself but surely anyone who hadn’t seen it has had ample opportunity to catch up with it by now. It’s particularly galling because it’s filling the time slot once occupied by the very much missed and completely unreplaced Liquid News.

Seriously, if this is the best the channel can come up with it would be better off letting CBBC have the extra hour and not coming on till eight o’clock.

Doing it for the kids

ITV1’s dastardly plan to all but abandon children’s programming has been somewhat scuppered by OFCOM but their intervention may have come too late. With ITV’s kids production wing disbanding and little to no commissioning of shows from independents to fill the void, it seems that whether they keep the hour of programming on weekdays or not, there’ll be little content worth bothering with.

ITV have been missing a trick with this genre for years, a notable recent example being to bury the new hip CGI version of Captain Scarlet in the schedules when, given the right timeslot and promotion, it could easily have been a breakout hit.

Some TV execs think that families don’t view together anymore but Saturday night smashes such as Strictly Come Dancing and Doctor Who have shown that they still do, given the right programming, and ITV could easily get on that bandwagon by producing some quality family drama.

They must think there’s an audience for that sort of stuff as they never tire of repeating Goodnight Mister Tom.

Losing It

Two seasons in and Lost is still going great guns and is far more rewarding if you can manage to see the episodes without having caught any spoilers.

It’s been a struggle but I managed to get through the whole of the second season without knowing what was coming next and the shocks when they came – and they certainly come in this show – were all the more rewarding for that.

As you’d expect with this, nothing is ever quite it seems and just when you think you got some answers another truck load of questions come up. It’s gripping stuff but virtually impossible to get into if your trying join it now.

Oh Sandra

If you’ve not heard of Sandra Oh as yet, you certainly will do. She is the funniest thing in Grey’s Anatomy. It is easy to see why the third season is topping the ratings in the States if the second, currently airing on Living TV, is anything to go by.

Strong characterisation, plenty of light to go with the shade in the plotlines and a deftness touch in the direction make this a joy to watch rather than the chore that Casualty can sometimes be.

This is so good they should make the DVD available on the NHS.

With a Zee

Parkinson had tears in his eyes as Liza Minnelli stayed in her chair to virtually talk through a strange ballad including sign language. I had tears in mine but only when I realised I’d missed the start of Match of the Day.

Great to see the return of The New Paul O’Grady Show but does he really have to mention the heart attack every five minutes?

Des has quit Countdown which makes me think they could give it a year off. I’d love to see Fifteen to One back.