One Small Step

Fate singled out Neil Armstrong. A bright, modest, American Farm Boy became the first man on the moon and 'Neil Armstrong - First Man on the Moon' (BBC2) captured much of the life and times of this 'Hero for Human Kind' (yes, 'thetvreviewguy' would put it that high; Armstrong never claimed to be a 'USA Jock' - for him, it was about the mission). Interviewing family and friends, we saw that Armstrong was distinctly uncomfortable with his fame; the ice-cool fighter pilot who accidentally became the World's most famous man was incredibly ill at ease with nearly all of the hoopla associated with being the planet's most famous 'Star Man'. Space travel has stalled since the early 1970s; no manned mission to Mars, no permanent base on the Moon, no (though planned) mass space tourism. This programme was a timely reminder of the massive NASA team effort to land two men on the nearest celestial body and return them to Earth. Post landing, Armstrong was variously a lecturer, farmer, car sales ambassador but most of all, he tried to return to being that private citizen he once was before the Apollo programme. In this day of instant celebrity, it was gratifying to see the modesty and grace with which Armstrong accepted his fame and also moving...he wasn't able to lose his fame. A brilliant clip showed Neil Armstrong at a 'Star Trek' Convention. Life and 'Art' paying tribute to each other in perfect harmony. He had a wonderful life

On the Beaten Tracks

Another account for the train lovers out there among you (you know who you are) is running on BBC2; 'Locomotion: Dan Snow's History of Railways' covers ground that has been chartered many a time. If you think you've seen Michael Portillo or Jeremy Clarkson present similar programmes in recent years and for the BBC, then you'd be right. Snow brings the same enthusiasm to this series as his colleagues did to theirs. A stock set of images has developed in thes genre; a look at the large-scale engineering, iconic shots of a steam trains rolling through the countryside and photos of the railway builders and the like. Snow re-created the labour of a Navvy and it wasn't easy; they'd usually live in appalling conditions and of the many that died, some were buried in unmarked graves. The presenter touched on the evolution of transport and this would have made for a far more interesting and original exposition; Snow mentioned how 'the need for speed' became more of a driving element in the human condition as travel by horse was replaced by transport by steam-powered locomotive. So while the material lacks the shock of the new, 'Locomotion' nevertheless appeals to the Train Spotter side of 'thetvreviewguy'. Made like a comfortable sleeper service, reliable and reassuring.

Tanks for the Memories

Mark Urban is a somewhat unusual Defence Hack; cerebral, not showy, and always ready to explain things to the viewer, frequently via Jeremy Paxman on 'News Night'. Urban was at his most urbane (see?) when presenting 'Tankies - Tank Heroes of World War II' (BBC2), which followed the path of Six men of the Fifth Royal Tank Regiment from the Desert Campaign through D Day and the invasion of Germany. In a mix of interviews, re-enactment and some historical footage, Urban brought their stories to life. Much of the war-lore will be familiar ground; the camaraderie, the loss of young life, the terror and the exhilaration. Being a 'Tankie' took a particular type of grit; principally, the ability to survive close confinement for many hours at an end without being overcome by the claustrophobic surroundings. The men typically saw this as their duty, accepted death as a regrettable but necessary part of war and took on the Wehrmacht and their formidable anti-tank weapons that were used at various times to devastating effect. Urban's style is to tell a story and follow it up with keen analysis; he made the fog of war clear. As he observed himself, most of the veterans are dying at a faster and faster rate; this programme will serve as an historical document to their undoubted courage in taking on all that Rommel, the SS and the Luftwaffe could throw at them.

Met the Rains Down In Africa

David Attenborough has educated more people about nature and wildlife than probably anyone left on this planet, a planet Attenborough has documented for sixty years now. His latest series, 'Africa' (BBC1) doesn't fail to please or reach the extraordinary standards of previous ventures. Attenborough is, rather as Lonesome George was, the Master of all he surveys. He is extremely generous to his camera team, crediting their amazing work and he has long dominated Sunday nights with his brand of exceptional television. Sir David, as he is known in Britain, spoke to us as an Elephant mother stayed with her dying Calf. The pathos in the scene was astonishing, the camera work exceptional and the whole segment was very moving. We saw the beauty of the Rift Valley and how Africa, like the rest of the planet, is climate dependant - how the heat fired up the savannah during drought, and how the rain brought new life to the fore when the torrents come down. We witnessed the splendour of the flamingo, one of the oddest but extraordinary birds alive, and how they perched in acidic waters that would scald this reviewer fairly sharpish. We observed how nature seems cruel and harsh but also beautiful. 'Africa', and programmes like it, have done more for the Green Movement over the last forty years than anything else; we should cherish Attenborough for making it so.