TV Review

Published Tuesday 29 July 2008 at 10:30 by Harry Venning

The 19th-century French humorist Alphonse Allais used to amuse himself and his readers by creating idiotically unnecessary inventions, such as bullet-proof skis or the frosted-glass aquarium for shy fish. But even Allais’ fervid imagination never conceived of conjugal bedsheets with an embossed demarcation line down the middle, to prevent nocturnal trespass and territorial squabblings.

However there it was, large as life, in Dragons’ Den. And a very welcome it was too. Because everyone knows that the best bits of Dragons’ Den aren’t the eloquent entrepreneurs with a financially viable proposition and a coherent business plan, but the daft and the deluded with their treasured barmy brainwaves.

The Dragons declined this particular investment opportunity, but fought each other for a piece of Hamfatters, a Cambridge rock group. Hamfatters’ previous chart success had been largely negligible, except in Austria, where they reached the giddy heights of number three. But instead of damning them as long-haired layabouts, and sending them off with a flea in their collective ear, four out of five Dragons recognised enough potential in their perfunctory and less than impressive showcase performance to indulge in a bidding war.

This incursion into showbusiness didn’t really sit too comfortably with the programme’s format, possibly because a performer’s appearance on Dragons’ Den is worth more in exposure than any potential financial investment from the panel. However, Hamfatters’ contribution did give me the idea for a spin off - Angels’ Den, in which a panel of impresarios, promoters and South Sea Island bird guano millionaires oversee the audition pieces of various theatre companies, TIE groups, dance troupes, one-man shows etc with the promise of funding. I think it a fabulous idea, and if anyone would like to contribute towards its development please send me money via The Stage.

The BBC does conspiracy thrillers rather well, the latest of which is the climate change drama Burn Up.

Comprising two feature-length episodes, broadcast in the same week but with a night off in the middle to get your breath back, Burn Up swooped across Canada, the Middle East and dear old Blighty to explore the lengths to which the oil industry will go to protect its interests. Pretty far, if the Saudi-based opening scene is anything to go by, in which half a dozen geologists are murdered in cold blood, but a hot climate, by South African mercenaries.

Rupert Penry-Jones starred as Tom McConnell, head of UK-based oil multinational Arrow, whose dedication to the company cause is undermined by a combination of irrefutable scientific evidence, guilty conscience and lust for his renewable energy officer Holly, played by Neve Campbell.

Burn Up kept its environmental preaching to a minimum, but still managed to make its point amidst all the murders, dirty operations, clandestine meetings and suicides by fire.

It was pacy, intelligent and gripping entertainment that fully merited its three hours running time. Plus, someone had the good sense to cast Clare Skinner as McConnell’s wife. Hardly the most demanding role, but Skinner is just effortlessly brilliant in whatever part she is asked to play.

DETAILS

Dragons’ Den - BBC2, Monday July 21, 9pm

Burn Up - BBC2, Wednesday 23 and Friday July 25, 9pm