In a perfect world Professor Brian Cox would be the worlds highest paid pin up and the Prime Minister would be Charlie Brooker. Both have incredible TV programs out right now in the form of Wonders of the Solar System from the poster boy of science Cox and series 2 of Newswipe from possibly the greatest living human on earth, Mr Charlie Brooker.
It’s not just that Wonders of the Solar System will reduce you to teary eyed pillow biting with its violins and gloriously happy rhetoric – it’s the fact there is such an obvious beauty to our local group that we cannot ignore. Prof Brian Cox is clearly overjoyed at what is out there and presents a beautifully made show with all the enthusiasm of a six year old on three bags of cola bottles.
His celebrity science status makes him perfect for the role and for all the criticisms that the intellectual elite might have of this form of “dumbed down science” documentary – it’s perfect sunday night viewing when you’ve drunk a little too much, especially when the only other choice is “Snog Marry Avoid” or ritual suicide. You can follow Cox on Twitter here – I just wish he was as fabulous on Twitter as he is on camera, but follow him all the same as he is a beautiful human being who I personally would forgive almost any crime.
Despite his immense knowledge and intellect Cox did not however write the series – that goes to a guy called Gideon Bradshaw who also directed the series and wrote the wonderful Are We Alone in the Universe. For true genius and brilliance we will all be forced to live in the eternal shadow of Charlie Brooker and his glorious masterpieces like the fabulous offering he has out now.
Episode 2 of Newswipe (series 2) is so good it I would poke my own mother in the eye to defend it. It should be put on the national curriculum and anyone in your family who hasn’t seen it deserve nothing more than a good hard whipping. Episode 2 is gloriously funny from the first second and if for some strange reason Brooker himself doesn’t whet your appetite then Adam Curtis joins in with a stroke of perfectly crafted documentary brilliance along with Doug Stanhope, who completes to an orgy of aggressively expert, left wing, dot-2-dot intellectual analysis that even the most rampant Daily Mail reader has to smirk at.
If there was Nobel Prize in common sense Brooker would have won it 12 times.
If you don’t enjoy this show you need to try again. Newswipe is being shown for the second time on iPlayer now. If you miss this then you may as well emigrate to Greenland or just shoot yourself. Much like how I felt when the series ended.
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Actually, Wonders of the Solar System did make me teary eyed.
Sentimentality for geeks.
I totally agree, is Charlie Brooker still single??? Someone get me his number please!
All those who can’t get iPlayer working in their region, I happen to know Newswipe is on YouTube, with almost all of Charlie’s other “wipes”
Can’t help with the Solar System I’m afraid
try youku.com for wonders of solar system
For people in France this documentary would also make for very interesting viewing showing once again that Milgram’s experiment continues to work:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8571929.stm#
Wonders of the Solar System is my favorite thing on TV right now.
BANG! owch!
Is newswipe just a less controversial version of Brass Eye? Everything you needed to know about the news was covered in that programme
In my opinion Doug Stanhope is best comedian out there, but to describe him as “left wing” seems a stretch – more of a libertarian misanthrope. However this is still the best program on television bar Bargain Hunt.
Loving wonders of the Solar System. It’s one of very few ‘can’t miss’ programmes on tv for me at the moment. It really is what good television should be. What is it with all the good looking guys presenting science, history or Geography programmes – they were never that cute when I was at school or I would have learnt a damn sight more! Gotta love good looking geeks – brains and looks
Charlie should be forced to make Newswipe into a regular programme, a UK version of The Daily Show if you will. Although it’d probably have to be The Every Other Daily (But Only If We Can Be Arsed) Show.
DO IT. DO IT NOW.
And yes Wonder of the Solar System is pure joy. Shouldn’t chicken out of showing a bit of maths though, Otherwise perfect.
I adore Charlie Brooker; he is so witty and intelligent. Both of his books are also great, and I would recommend them to everyone who enjoys Newswipe. Wonders of the Solar system is also amazing!
I want more screenwipe shows too. Brooker seems to have stopped making them since starting Newswipe.
For those unfortunate enough to live outside of the wonder iplayer realm why not use an online proxy to mask your ip to a uk ip address, then you can watch the wonderful programs the iplayer has to offer.
My daughter thinks Brian Cox is Alex James. Both are great beings and as for Charlie he clearly oozes sex appeal for all ages and genders.
always appreciate the recommends this blog has to offer. being from the States, it’s exceptionally refreshing to get a glimpse of the world from a different socio-perspective. so thanks for turning me on to some of the better UK programming personalities.