Stephen Poliakoff (BBC2) is one of the greatest living television playwrights, as excellent in his own way as Dennis Potter was in his. His latest, 'Dancing on the Edge', concerns the ties between an English Black Jazz Band and Aristocratic and sometimes Royal London in the 1930s. But this being Poliakoff, there's more than just the juxtaposition of the two worlds, faded glories, and the 'FitzGeraldean' transitory nature of youth and beauty. There's more depth to his characters in one episode than you'd get in an entire series of 'Downton Abbey' - these are no mere cut-outs, but seem very real. His understanding of how history rhymes with the present day has always been one of the author's strong points and 'Dancing on the Edge', through superb use of music, and sheer craftsmanship of writing, acting and directing, shows 'thetvreviewguy' that Poliakoff is back to his very best. This is the closest you'll get to the vibrancy, the emotion and the journey of live theatre on-screen and so much credit has to go to the strong cast; plaudits go to Chiwetel Ejiofor as Band Leader Louis, Joanna Vanderham as the intoxicating Aristo Pamela, John Goodman as the outwardly charming but sinister millionaire Mr Masterson, wannabe svengali music journalist Stanley Mitchell played by Matthew Goode and to the two enchanting female singers in the band, Wunmi Mosaku and Angel Coulby. Well worth marking your dance card for.
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