SCOTLAND’S SUPERHOSPITAL, BBC1, 9pm
THE decision to close four of Glasgow’s hospitals, creating one massive “superhospital” on the site of the old Southern General has been criticised by almost everyone. Instead of acknowledging the sense in having all resources and expertise concentrated in one place, and applauding the incredible endeavour of moving four hospitals’ worth of staff, patients and equipment, people have been sniping about everything, even down to the name of the place. (Of course, the latter is a futile complaint as we all know it’ll still be called “The Southern”.)
So this two-part documentary might warm the hearts of the exhausted staff as it’s a very cheerful and sympathetic look at the operation to create this new, enormous hospital, one which will eventually serve 40% of Scotland’s population.
It starts with nipping in the bud all those complaints about the need for new buildings, with nurses telling us how the old Victorian wards were difficult to heat and often inhabited by cockroaches. We also learn why the new site is designed as it is, with requirements for space, light, colour and art, and for each patient to have their own room. There is far more to it than a cavern in which to store beds and machines.
FARGO, C4, 10pm
EVERYONE is looking for Rye Gerhardt: the cops, his terrifying family, and the out-of-town baddies.
The police have discovered Rye’s prints at the murder scene and Solverson reacts to this break-through in typically laconic manner: “You don’t say…”
He’s warned that if the Gerhardts are involved then he should back off, but he’s a good cop, determined to do the right thing, so he visits the notorious Gerhardt ranch in what is a splendidly tense scene.
Old Ma Gerhardt stands on the porch surrounded by her burly sons whilst men in Stetsons brandishing rifles are dotted all over the driveway. Every gun is pointed at Solverson, and the weedy local cop who accompanies him willingly hands over his weapon when instructed to do so, but Solverson stands firm: “Am I the only one here who’s clear on the concept of law enforcement?” he asks.
Not only have the police discovered Rye’s prints but they have a new theory too. As Hank is pinning WANTED posters to the salon window, Betsy suggests a hit and run is the only explanation for both the missing Rye and the shoe found in the tree. This prompts Peggy and Ed to take some drastic measures.
TROLLIED, SKY1, 9pm
THIS is the start of Trollied’s fifth series. It’s a sitcom set in a fictional supermarket called Valco which has the slogan “SERVES YOU RIGHT!”
I’d never watched it before – Sky One’s comedy rarely tempts me – so I was pleasantly surprised to see so many famous faces in it, including Jason Watkins whom I’d last seen in the brilliant ITV drama about
Christopher Jefferies. He’s joined by Sarah Parrish, Stephen Tompkinson and another actor, playing the store security guard, whom I recognised but just couldn’t place till it suddenly hit me: he was in Bread. That’s a blast from the past!
The episodes opens with bad news: a new supermarket is opening next door and it’s “one of them dead cheap Yugoslavian places” whose name translates as, “we’re all gonna lose our jobs.”
It annoyed me that the checkout staff are all simpletons or overweight, whilst the middle-class management are impeccably groomed and tailored, but I had to shrug off thoughts of exploitation of the workers and remind myself it’s a comedy – although there weren’t many reminders of its comic status with jokes such as, “Can you tell me where I can find eggs?”
“Chickens,” comes the reply.
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