War wounds

OVER the past few weeks in Coronation Street, soap fans have seen soldier Gary Windass trying to come to terms with his experiences in Afghanistan.

Now comes a spin-off – Gary’s Army Diaries – which provides an extra insight into what happened to him and led to the irrational, sometimes violent behaviour back in civvie street.

The diaries were initially produced in three, five-minute short films for showing online. Now they’ve been edited into a one-off drama for ITV2.

The starting point is Gary (played by Mikey North) moving in with girlfriend Izzy, but reacting badly when she stumbles on his video camera. She encourages him to show her what’s on it and watches footage of him larking around in the camp with his friend Quinny.

Izzy is touched by their obvious camaraderie, but the next diary instalments aren’t quite so cheery as she finds out how her boyfriend lost his best mate.

The programme tells of Gary’s time at war with best mate, and the late, Quinny as they served together in Afghanistan, filling in the gaps on Gary’s current state of mind in scenes which viewers have already seen unfold on screen.

IF the TV schedules and book shop displays are anything to go by, Britain loves cooking. But could it be that a lot of us watch the shows, buy the recipe books and then never make any of the dishes because it all looks a bit too complicated?

Well never fear, because new series C4’s Cookery School is here to transform merely ordinary cooks into extraordinary ones.

Michelin-starred Richard Corrigan and cookery mentor Gizzi Erskine will be passing on chefs’ secrets in a quest to teach their students to create fantastic food. Know your poussin from your spatchcock? Know how to spin sugar and whip up a souffle? You certainly will after these two have finished with you.

This week, six students from around the country enrol in Cookery School, hoping to win a place in the finals. First, they’ll have to master a three-course meal of wild salmon wrapped in lardo with fennel puree, pan-fried beef with a tarragon and chervil sauce, and lemon posset with butter shortbread.

SO far in Birth of Britain, Tony Robinson has been recounting the epic and informative story of how Britain was formed, and how the earth beneath our feet has shaped the country we live in today.

However, the concluding episode might leave some viewers with a few questions, such as: why are we worrying about recessions and cutbacks, when according to the bloke from Time Team, the UK is stuffed with gold?

Maybe the streets aren’t exactly paved in it, but as Robinson goes in search of the precious metal, he discovers there’s a lot more of it hidden in the rocks around Britain than you might think.

SILENT Witness reaches the end of the road this week with another two-parter. Chief Inspector Rebecca Woods and a troop of diplomatic protection officers race to the Dutch embassy, following reports of a shooting.

The Ambassador, Pieter Van Buren, is found cradling his wounded daughter Klara, and grandson Jack is missing. It feels like a case of deja vu – 15 years earlier his son, also, Jack, disappeared and was never seen again.

Various people are found dead at the scene, and despite Harry and Nikki’s efforts to begin their forensic examination, the Dutch appoint their own pathologist.

Meanwhile, in hospital, Klara suddenly remembers whodunit and the news is set to send shockwaves around all involved.