Disability Now – Paul Darke

February 2000 TV Review

The last millennium did not end well. The Real Bionic Man (C4, 13 December), was a pointless homily to the bioengineering industry and the delusions of the superiority of the 'normal'; micro-camera eyes, artificial limbs, thinking brains, et cetera, made it all quite sad how far scientists will go to validate themselves. Whilst Liverpool Mums (C5, 23 December) had a collection of expectant Mothers worrying about the risks of having a down's syndrome baby. It was a programme which was insulting at best.

2000 Today (BBC1, Dec.31/Jan.1) the BBC's countdown to the Millennium show was just a collection of sad old presenters grateful for having survived into the 21^st Century. The celebrations completely ignored the role of disabled people in either the past or present.

A Touch of Frost (ITV, 1 January) had a typically grump David Jason as Frost telling a bitter old wheelchair character what a cliché he was (like we did not know) for letting his son die. Wheelchair users fault as always! What Katy Did (ITV, 2 January), an up-lifting drama starring Kevin Whately made from Susan Coolidge's classic children's novel of the same title was interesting enough until the disabled Katy became 'normal'; then it was, as it is for so many who are 'normal': boring.

Horizone: Life and Death in the 21^st Century - Designer Babies (BBC2, January 6) was a virtual replica of a series done on Channel 5 last year - only Channel 5 included the voice of those it would most affect: disabled people. The BBC's version, with the same medical contributors was merely a hymn to the world of genetics. The death of the title (of disabled people) was mystifyingly absent.

Second Sight (BBC1, 9/16 January), with Clive Owens as a police officer investigating a murder would have been enjoyable hokum except for the rather ridiculous (clichéd and stereotyped) scenario of having the Owen's going blind. 'Touchy feelly' is not the word for it! Still it was nice to see the beautiful Claire Skinner having a meaty role as his deputy, but even she deserved better.

That Peter Kay Thing (C4, January 12 - continuing, Wednesday nights until the end of February), a spoof fly-on-the-wall style documentary series, has its moments, including a multiplicity of disabled characters. I would recommend it if you do not take offence to easily.

Look out for the return of From the Edge (BBC2, in February) and take a look at The Slot - after Channel 4's evening news - as in February it consists of some short films made by Channel 4's TV FOUR ALL Production courses. Courses designed for and taken by disabled people in the latter part of 1999. You can also check out Channel 4's disability resource database at www.fourall.org - get yourself on it and almost certainly be used by Channel 4 at some point in the future.

478 Words