Richard Gadd's new drama Half Man has been hailed as a brutal and brilliant dissection of toxic masculinity, earning top marks from critics. The Guardian's Lucy Mangan described it as a show that 'needs to be shown in any place men gather,' praising its unflinching intensity.
Meanwhile, soul-pop singer Olivia Dean has embarked on a tour, receiving rave reviews for her live performances. The week's cultural highlights also include the return of MasterChef with new female presenters Grace Dent and Anna Haugh, which Jack Seale called 'warmer, funnier, sharper' than before.
Other notable entries include Zach Galifianakis's charming horticulture show, a visually sumptuous love story starring rapper Loyle Carner, and a disturbing documentary on PFAS contamination in North Yorkshire. Cornish director Mark Jenkin's ghost ship story Enys Men also earned praise for its unique cinematic quality.
Film critic Peter Bradshaw lauded the 'elegant, chilly dream of despair' in a video game adaptation set in an Escher-like subway, while documentaries on football super-fans and Highland hiking also received acclaim. A spare drama on the dark side of athletic perfection rounded out the picks.
