The darker side of Winston Churchill's war.

Winston Churchill may have said something about fighting them on the beaches, but omitted to mention he was conducting a running battle on the home front. Throughout the Second World War, he was at loggerheads with his generals. Sometimes, presenter Max Hastings noted, the battle in high command was as fierce as the fighting with the Germans.

At a time of global conflict, this two-part documentary is a timely reminder that the people leading the war effort are are only human like the rest of us. Churchill was a prickly character variously described as a dangerous loner, supreme egotist and reckless adventurer.

He embraced the idea of the commander as hero. "In 1940, I'm sure he would have loved to have been leading the British on a horse, sword in hand," commented Hastings.

Even his wife Clementine hesitated to reproach him about his violent moods, although she pointed out in one letter that his "rough, sarcastic and overbearing manner" was not endearing him to those around him. This was something of an understatement as generals were sacked for failing to enter the affray with the energy and enthusiasm that Churchill demanded. Elderly chiefs of staff found the strain was terrible as he laboured well into the night.

He began the war as minister in charge of the Royal Navy where, in other circumstances, his interference in the disastrous Norway campaign would have ended his political career. Instead, Neville Chamberlain resigned and Churchill was elevated to the role of Prime Minister.

Any hope by commanders that he would leave running war to the professionals was lost. He was dismayed by what he viewed as their incompetence and reticence to engage the enemy. With Hitler gaining ground, he invented a new Cabinet position, Minister of Defence, and appointed himself to to the post to ensue there was no doubt who was in charge of the fight.

Service chiefs had to spend weekends with him, listening to his monologues about the war and watching films. One favourite was That Hamilton Woman, about Nelson's affair with Lady Hamilton. He showed it time after time, when all the military men wanted was to go to bed.

Generals who didn't meet his expectations were sacked or sidelined. Among them was John Dill, a decent, conventional and dull man whom he nicknamed Dilly-Dally. He thought Archibald Wavell, who complained that the PM was "always wanting to play with the controls", lacked the killer instinct. The reality was that Churchill himself wanted to usurp the role of commander-in-chief, and take total control.

By the end of the first part - the second is tonight (Tuesday) - he'd found a general, Montgomery, who could deliver him from defeat. Interestingly, Hastings pointed out, Churchill's own star faded as British victories increased.

Nice as it is to see Robbie Coltrane back on TV, The Planman isn't anywhere near as good as Cracker. He plays advocate Jack Lennox, who's jaded and cynical. "You've spent so long with criminals you don't know what's right and wrong," someone tells him. Neither does the ex-policeman whom he's defended on corruption charges. Telling him his plan for the perfect bank robbery is not, perhaps, a wise move on Lennox's part.

The cast is packed with familiar faces - Celia Imrie, Neil Dudgeon, Graham Crowden among them - but I found the 90 minutes hard going. The Planman isn't the man for me.