Television
Unmissable pictures
Wendy Cope
In the old days, when I wanted to hear the news, I would switch on the radio and get on with other things at the same time. Obliged to pay attention to television, I've gradually and rather resentfully changed my habits. But there are times when one wouldn't want to miss the pictures. Last weekend every report from Berlin, what- ever the channel, moved me to tears. On Sunday night, ITN (8.45 p.m.), by concen- trating almost entirely on what was hap- pening in the streets, gave viewers the better opportunity to share the atmosphere of an extraordinary day. The BBC report (10 p.m.) was more subdued and cast its net wider. It included interviews with two earnest young East German reformers, who evidently felt that all these celebra- tions were a bit reprehensible, a regrett- able distraction from political meetings. Unlike ITN, the BBC also covered Chan- cellor Kohl's attendance at a 'service of reconciliation' in Upper Silesia. Here again the pictures — of the Chancellor fighting back tears as he made his speech — said more than the reporter's words.
Sometimes, however, pictures are posi- tively unwelcome. Sunday night's South Bank Show (ITV, 10.35 p.m.), entitled Titzrovia', was about writers and writing in the second world war. Halfway through, I gave in to the temptation to close my eyes during the poems. It isn't that radio is necessarily a better medium for poetry than television. When the poem itself appears on the screen, television can make it easier for the audience to concentrate. But too often programme-makers decide to illustrate the poems with visual images of their own choice. This time it was archive film and, as usual, it didn't work. Despite this flaw, the programme was too good to switch off. Before I throw away my notes I'll copy out a couple of quotes, including this one: 'There are far more interesting things in life than poetry — for example, lying in a hot bath reading Agatha Christie and sucking sweets.' That, according to Joan Wyndham, was said to her by Dylan Thomas. Perhaps he wasn't such a bad chap after all.
Someone once suggested that my idea of Heaven was watching Dallas while eating a black cherry yogurt. There was some jus- tice in that at the time but things have changed. Now it would have to be Capital City (ITV, 9 p.m., Tuesday) and a tin of Weightwatchers creamed rice.
The John Mortimer serial Summer's Lease (BBC 2, 9.25 p.m., Wednesday) has proved intriguing enough to get me back for a second episode. But it isn't as gripping as Mother Love (BBC 1, 9 p.m., Sunday), which comes to an end this weekend. My guess is that it will finish with a long and terrifying scene in which Diana Rigg almost succeeds in murdering her daughter-in-law, before being arrested or dying a horrible death herself. I hope she isn't going to get away with it. I hope poor George will be released from prison. I've got really involved in this ridiculous non- sense. What a waste of energy.
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