Sundays aren’t known for being exciting. Most of us spend it adding the final licks to an essay, a frenzied formula of proof reading and spellchecking. Others spend the day of rest in their pyjamas, marking each hour that passes with another Ibuprofen, and uttering promises that they’ll never drink again.
Even television takes the day off. Unless you’re entertained by the drudgery of an Albert Square omnibus or the teenage tomfoolery of T4 then you’ll find little comfort on the box. Yes, whether your Sundays are a stream of self loathing or self evaluation, it seems there’s no escape.
But there is an alternative: a potent natural high promising an exhilarating trip; an epic and enthralling experience; an entirely legal portal into another realm where you’ll doubt your senses - yes, it’s BBC’s Planet Earth.
The groundbreaking series travels across 62 countries collecting high definition footage of nature’s most astounding sights. From the artic agony of the emperor penguins to the spectacular sight of lions and elephants sharing a waterhole, every moment of this tour-de-force is praiseworthy. Whether it’s animal, vegetable or mineral, Planet Earth never fails to astound!
Unlike other nature programmes, there’s a genuine sense of awe in Planet Earth. The programme makers are only interested in portraying the fearful symmetry of nature and they make no attempt to apologise for it. It is uncensored so some of the footage is rather distressing; this portrait of the planet is a world away from that found on sedate screensavers.
Nature veteran David Attenborough provides the voiceovers, and thank goodness he does. If any of us mere mortals were confronted with such stupefying sights we’d soon dissolve into hysteria – ‘oh my God… did you see THAT… and THAT…. Wow… LOOK!’ Not Sir David though – his hushed and honeyed tones make him the ultimate usher for this journey into the unbelievable.
Like any high though, there are side effects. It’s addictive – you’ll soon find yourself wondering how you ever got through a weekend without a shot of the savannah or a dose of the desert. It doesn’t last forever, and after a trip across the magnificent Mongolian plains, Monday morning will seem ever more mundane.
And be warned, it may make you act strangely – it’s not uncommon to find oneself planning trips around the world or pledging to buy a high definition television. But don’t talk to Frank – listen to me; the highs outweigh the lows – there’s no excuse for missing this breathtaking beauty.
Majestic and mind-blowing, this will leave you gasping for breath and searching for superlatives. When it comes to Sunday television Planet Earth is king of the jungle. Watch it; revel in it; bow down to it.
Robert Jackman
The best Doctor is, obviously, the Third Doctor, played by Jon Pertwee (who just so happened to be the voice of Spotty in Superted, if you didn’t know). His personality was refined, his outfit included an opera jacket and he was debonair whilst being tacky enough to incorporate nonsense such as the “Whomobile” into his inventory. Clearly the man was on top of his game. What’s not to love? He doesn’t take no for an answer, as well as being the first doctor with enough balls to actually physically attack his enemies, instead of fleeing or trying to reason with words. He managed to stumble upon some great enemies, too: it was the Third Doctor that originally encountered fan-favourite The Master, as well as the Autons.
