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Reviews
Looks Familiar (1970)
An absolute treasure
Any student of film, popular music or light entertainment should see every episode of this wonderful programme. Great artists from the first half of the 20th century were celebrated often by people who had worked with them. Every so often an utter delight would come along, for example when June Whitfield, the glorious actress, demonstrated her uncanny Judy Garland impression she had used early in her career.
Dennis Norden guided his guests through the programme with a light witty touch, show but not showing off, his own encyclopaedic knowledge of the subject.
Looks Familiar - watch and learn
Pennies from Heaven (1978)
Pennies From Heaven - One of the best
This series first aired when I was completing my school career and encouraged me to watch other Dennis Potter work. I have watched re-runs and the series on DVD many times since and I am still struck by new and startling elements in it's writing. It is one of the finest pieces of television the BBC ever produced. Dennis Potter was a unique talent with an ear for how people spoke and the ability to cut through the words to get to the truth. Not all his work was to the standard of Pennies From Heaven but it was always engaging and thought-provoking. This series is in the top 25 of the BFI's poll of best television and rightly so.
If you have never seen it, watch it and if you saw it years ago, it bears re-watching. Great writing like this always offers something new and fresh.