Barbara Ellen
Barbara Ellen is a columnist for the Observer. She has also written for NME, the Times, Mail on Sunday, Elle, Marie Claire, Grazia, Loaded, GQ and Mojo
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A pair of survivalist reality shows bring out the worst in their contestants. Elsewhere, misfits bond in a new school drama and Elvis moonlights as a spy
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The BBC scored the ultimate own goal and took aim at David Attenborough’s last voyage, while a megawatt cast powered a preachy climate drama. Plus, the poles-apart struggles of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Paula Yates
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The days of having ‘cool’ musical taste are over. Owning up to guilty listening pleasures is a joy in itself
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The late singer is elusive yet captivating in a two-part documentary; the zombie thriller hits another high; Kathy Burke gets older disgracefully; and Paul Whitehouse is on a serious mission
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Jesse Eisenberg stars in a voiceover-heavy drama; fine performances save an unashamed weepie; Christoph Waltz plays an eerie corporate Dalek; and toxic masculinity is exposed in a brave documentary
The week in TV: Steeltown Murders; High Desert; Ten Pound Poms; The Stones and Brian Jones and more