The week in TV: Ludwig; Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins; Apples Never Fall; Surviving October 7; Small Town, Big Riot – review

Ludwig (BBC One), Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins (Channel 4), Apples Never Fall (BBC One), Surviving October 7: We Will Dance Again (BBC Two), and Small Town, Big Riot (BBC Three).

Comedy thrillers can be a challenging genre as they often end up being a convoluted mix that doesn't quite hit the mark. They tend to lack sufficient humor and can feel as engaging as a lackluster game of holiday-themed Clue.

Tune in to BBC One for Mark Brotherwood's six-part series, Ludwig, which takes place in Cambridge and represents a fresh take on the cosy crime genre. David Mitchell plays the lead role of Ludwig, dubbed "the Elvis Presley of puzzle-makers." He embodies a character that is emotionally distant, struggles to fit into contemporary society, and navigates life in Cambridge while often sporting a practical corduroy jacket. Ludwig can definitely remind viewers of an older version of Mark Corrigan from Peep Show, and from certain viewpoints, his beard can evoke thoughts of a downcast David Blunkett.

When his sister-in-law, Lucy (played by Anna Maxwell Martin), discovers that her husband—who happens to be Ludwig's twin brother and a police detective—has gone missing, Ludwig decides to assume his brother's identity to investigate the situation. This leads him into a world of crime-solving. While the concept may seem quite ludicrous, Ludwig uses his knack for puzzles to crack a straightforward mystery in each episode. This setup mainly serves as a way to feature actors like Derek Jacobi and Felicity Kendall in playful guest roles.

As I continued watching, my appreciation for the show grew. The cast is fantastic, featuring actors like Maxwell Martin, Sophie Willan from Alma’s Not Normal, and Dipo Ola playing an unsuspecting detective. Near the end, the central mystery about Ludwig's twin really comes together. There are some truly humorous scenes, such as when Ludwig asks his police colleagues, "Are you into football?" as a way to connect with them. The series also playfully mocks the Inspector Morse series, particularly by swapping its idyllic Oxford settings with those of Cambridge.

Ludwig tends to exaggerate the master-puzzler concept (it's a bit like trying to generate enthusiasm for someone completing a sudoku puzzle), but during its most charming scenes, it's the nearest any British show has come to matching the massive popularity of the American series Only Murders in the Building.

It’s fascinating to observe how reality TV has taken a step back from featuring politicians. The latest season of Strictly Come Dancing doesn't include any political figures, and although I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! previously showcased scandal-ridden ex-health secretary Matt Hancock and former UKIP leader Nigel Farage (who is now the MP for Clacton), it seems set to skip involving any political personalities for its next series.

Channel 4's unique training program, Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins? (which once included Hancock), is back, this time without any politicians. However, journalist Rachel Johnson, Boris Johnson's sister, is part of the lineup. Credit to her, she doesn’t shy away from admitting her participation isn't for any other reason. She faces the challenges of trudging through muddy terrain in New Zealand, tackling steep drops, and being put through an “interrogation” by SAS trainers.

Johnson shares her experiences of encountering harsh insults directed at her family while shopping at Sainsbury’s. She describes herself as a "punching bag" who has had to endure a lot of the public's frustration arising from her brother's significant political decisions. Although this honesty is refreshing compared to the flashy antics of figures like Farage, it seems that the world of reality TV still has some lingering ties to political drama.

"Apples Never Fall" is the most recent thriller adapted from a bestselling novel by Liane Moriarty, known for hits like "Big Little Lies" and "Nine Perfect Strangers," and it has an intriguing premise. Annette Bening and Sam Neill portray Joy and Stan, who have reluctantly retired from their tennis academy in Florida. They find themselves surrounded by their self-centered adult children, played by actors such as Jake Lacy and Alison Brie, along with a mysterious newcomer (Georgia Flood) who has infiltrated their lives. In the opening episode of the seven-part series, Joy goes missing, and all eyes turn to the erratic and unpleasant Stan as the prime suspect.

Everything seems outdated and heavy (more like a dense dessert than a refreshing fruit), and there are so many nostalgic moments centered around Joy that you often forget she’s not there. I'm continuing to watch mainly because Bening and Neill are enjoyable to see on screen, but the tension in this TV thriller is beginning to feel worn out.

The most heart-wrenching documentary of the week was Yariv Mozer's 90-minute film, "Surviving October 7: We Will Dance Again," which aired on BBC One. This intense and detailed account chronicles the tragic events of the massacre at the Nova music festival in Israel, one of the locations targeted by Hamas on October 7 of the previous year. In this horrific incident, 364 people lost their lives, while many others were injured or taken captive.

Survivors recount the events during interviews, as if they're unfolding in real-time, using clips captured on mobile phones, CCTV footage, and body cameras worn by Hamas members (who arrive on motorbikes brandishing AK-47s). The film opens with a trance festival at dawn, just as rockets start to rain down, leaving many attendees under the influence of ecstasy or LSD. Chaos ensues, turning the celebration into a scene of carnage. People at the festival seek refuge under stages or hide in refrigerators, while the roads are strewn with bodies and charred vehicles. In the fields, they dodge bullets as they try to escape.

The movie does not delve into the larger conflict. Aerial images highlight the alarming closeness of Gaza, with a few scenes showing locations like the Be’eri kibbutz. However, the primary emphasis is on the attendees of the Nova festival. The footage of well-known victims, including Shani Louk and Hersh Goldberg-Polin, feels surreal and nightmarish. Those who survived are still grappling with deep trauma while trying to pay tribute to those who lost their lives. “I accepted death,” one young man says, his expression almost vacant. Be advised: this is a deeply moving yet very intense experience to watch. It’s something that stays on my mind long after.

The two-part documentary series "Small Town, Big Riot," aired on BBC Three, explores the unrest that occurred in Kirkby, Merseyside, in 2023, when a protest outside a hotel accommodating asylum-seekers escalated into a significant riot, resulting in arrests and convictions. Mobeen Azhar, a Bafta-winning filmmaker, shares his intentions behind the project: "I want to understand how a demonstration in a small community transformed into a large-scale riot."

His inquiry leads him beyond Kirkby into the realm of online falsehoods and far-right organizations that are inciting turmoil. The series was primarily produced before the riots that erupted this summer, beginning in Southport after the stabbing of three children and subsequently spreading throughout the UK; Azhar briefly mentions these events at the conclusion.

What arises is a fascinating examination of what seem to be unexpected protests and upheavals. Azhar approaches his topics (his films include A Black and White Killing: The Case That Shook America) with relentless dedication to thorough exploration. It's a classic style of investigative journalism that persists without fail.

Star ratings (out of five): Ludwig - ★★★★ Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins - ★★★ Apples Never Fall - ★★★ Surviving October 7: We Will Dance Again - ★★★★★ Small Town, Big Riot - ★★★★

What Else Am I Watching?

The Great British Bake Off (Channel 4)

The colorful baking competition is back, featuring a mix of successes and failures, reminding us that anything can happen until the buttercream goes wrong. Judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith will be accompanied by hosts Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond.

"Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" (available on Netflix)

Ryan Murphy's true-crime series delves into the 1990s case in the US involving two brothers who murdered their parents and claimed they were victims of abuse. Although it feels excessive, stretched out, and overdramatic, it still manages to capture your attention in an intriguing way.

Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing (BBC Two) is a charming show that follows the adventures of comedians Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse as they spend time fishing together. The series blends humor with beautiful scenery, showcasing their friendship and light-hearted banter while they explore various fishing spots. Each episode offers a delightful mix of relaxation, storytelling, and reflections on life, making it a unique and enjoyable viewing experience.

A fresh collection of light-hearted reflections by Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse takes a thoughtful look at fishing, life, growing older, mortality, and of course, a quick stop at the pub.