My TV Fortnight

The most disturbing moment of my TV-watching fortnight – nay, fortnight in general – occurred last Monday during the few frames in which Après Match’s Gary Cooke, portraying a “transgender” character, slipped accidentally into his Eamon Dunphy impression.

In fact, most of the other disturbing moments came during the 20-odd minutes of RTÉ Two’s abysmal The Centre. A catalogue of horrors masquerading as a bawdy sitcom set in a West Dublin community centre, the grievance for most seemed to be the inclusion of Cooke’s Nuala Mooney character. As Cooke butched it up in a ridiculous wig, we were told that Mooney was undertaking a “six month pre-op transgenderisation journey”, which consisted of being verbally belittled in every scene.

Mooney had little chance of rebuttal – little to say – serving merely as an outdated sight gag and device to squeeze in prejudice one-liners. Understandably, Transgender Equality Network Ireland later voiced their disapproval, as did many viewers. Mooney wasn’t the only character (read: caricature) being demeaned in a shockingly mean-spirited and miserable episode. One wet herself. Another, apparently Jennifer Maguire in a burka – she’d joined “the Muslims” – got upset and ran into a door. Physical humour at its best.

For good measure, throw in fart jokes, tepid double entendres, and Katherine Lynch in Bernie Walsh sketch mode for no discernible reason. Meanwhile, a threadbare plot and inconsistent voiceover, switching from straight commentary to complicit sneering, sabotaged the “mockumentary” set-up. The actors performed as if in a panto that was unsuitable for kids, but blame the writers for a half-arsed attempt at edginess without any substance. Or laughs. Another comedy disaster for the national broadcaster.

How absurd of me to think BBC One’s coverage of Sport Relief would be the programme fulfilling the cringe quota. You’re taking the forced wackiness of Comic Relief and bringing sports personalities into the mix, really? But no, it was a classy affair mixing light comedy with moving VT appeals from stars visiting the poorest parts of the world. Yes, Gary Lineker was overeager and David Walliams on camp autopilot when it came to hosting duties. Yes, Cheryl Cole’s piece was shot a little too similarly to one of her L’Oreal ads (donate… because they’re worth it). And sure, David Beckham joining the cast of Only Fools And Horses inevitably supplied nostalgia but no real laughs.

It succeeded, however, through sheer force of goodwill, a well-gauged tone and a talented supporting cast. Whatever you think of John Bishop’s stand-up, he's the one comedian who can supply banter when seriously out of breath. Even footage of Davina McCall crying in the bath, on a bike, in Lake Windermere, everywhere, couldn’t put us off – she swam, ran and cycled 500 miles for chrissakes! The moments of surreality certainly helped. A tone-deaf Walliams dressed as a young Jason Donovan duetting with Kylie on ‘Especially For You’ before ditching her mid-number for the current Donovan posed all kinds of metaphysical questions and a bewildered Greg James, post-synchronised swimming routine, perhaps put it best: “What is life?!” Well, maybe it’s a bit better for Sport Relief.

The fortnight's highlight, W1A, is now airing on BBC Two (10pm, Wednesdays). The follow-up to wickedly funny satire Twenty Twelve finds former ‘Head Of Deliverance of the Olympic Deliverance Commission’ Ian Fletcher becoming 'Head Of Values' in Broadcasting House. While not hitting the heights of its predecessor yet (though it was more incisive, and less self-congratulatory, by episode two), W1A is essentially based on the BBC laughing at itself and somehow pulls it off. No mean feat. Put it down to properly fleshed out characters, naturalistic- yet-witty dialogue and great observations on the absurdities that abound in the media and office life in general. It also punches up, not down, as all great comedy should. RTÉ could learn a thing or two.