COSBY: FALL OF AN AMERICAN ICON, BBC2, 9pm
HE’S been called “America’s dad”, “God,” and “one of the greatest American entertainers”, but has also been accused of sexual assault.
This documentary, broadcast to coincide with the start of Cosby’s trial, tells the story of his rise and the great affection there was for him in America, but alongside this story we hear testimony – and sometimes it’s very graphic and blunt – from women who claim he drugged and raped them.
No-one believed these women at the time — and it was only when another black man, a comedian, joked about Cosby’s grating self-appointment as a lecturer on black morality that people began to listen.
LORD LUCAN: MY HUSBAND, THE TRUTH, STV, 9pm
THIS documentary claims to have “the truth” about the infamous Lord Lucan, but wouldn’t we be disappointed to have it so?
The handsome, devilish Lucan, who evaded justice for murdering his children’s nanny, has fascinated us for decades. Where did he go? Did he commit suicide? Did he flee to South Africa? Is he still out there somewhere in his dapper dinner jacket? So wouldn’t it be a bit dull to have all the creases of this wild story finally ironed out?
Lady Lucan gives a detailed interview here about her notorious, vanishing husband so the “truth” here concerns his personality, not his whereabouts, but it’s no less fascinating for that.
When Lucan killed the nanny, Sandra Rivett, it was believed he mistook her for his wife. Lady Lucan offers insights into their troubled marriage, money worries, custody battles and his character – “I think he was overwrought and went mad with the pressure.”
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