Telly thread

This. I just binged it. Much more enjoyable than I had expected and quite revealing. They both come across very well and there is clearly a lot of love for him as a bloke from some pretty impressive folk. Whilst he was a talented and driven footballer, I think what has protected him (more than, say, Maradona or Gascoigne) has been his ability to ride the wave of the commercialisation of football and be in control of his brand and his business. Back in the day he was thought of as a slightly thick flash Harry but it turns out he’s way more astute than anyone gave him credit for.

Agreed. Strangely, it was a Mrs BW suggestion and I wasn't that fussed about it, but we're both enjoying it (got two episodes to go). I thought I wouldn't warm to either of them but they do come across well. I like the cut of Gary Neville's jib too.

It's also weird how much of that era of United's history I can recollect - match results, goalscorers, etc. Guess it was pretty memorable.

Isn't it just a well edited and scripted documentary to try and increase his popularity to get him the knighthood he craves.

Seems to be working so far....

Did you watch it?

Yes of course it’s a bit powderpuff but I thought it was enjoyable watching and quite revealing. I don't know if he’s craving a knighthood. I would be less outraged if he did get one than I was with most of the people on Boris’ and Truss’ lists.

Three episodes in and the new/final series of Ghosts remains a joy.

Finally got round to watching SAS: Rogue Heroes. I generally have very little interest in war movies and shows, but this was one of the best things I've watched in ages. Particular highlights were Derby's own Jack O'Connell, and the score.

It was a brilliant fun little series.

Don’t worry they are making another one.

Chicago: Insider.

I enjoyed it .. until it ended and I started Googling names to find out what happened to the main characters in real life, and found out how much of it was totally made up! Ruined it for me. I can handle a little bit of added drama being invented to make it more lively but not half the show and some of the main people being invented.

I just watched the first episode and I'm wondering if I've found a different documentary to the one that you watched. I imagine it could be moderately interesting to someone who is aware of Beckham but not why he's so famous, but for a 50 year old English football fan who lived that whole era I can not find anything remotely new or engaging about it and I'm very surprised you can. Alex Ferguson didn't like him being famous, the tabloids were cunts, his missus was a pop star, how is any of this remotely new? The most engaged I got with it was telling his parents to fuck off when they started trying to claim that his sending off wasn't why we went out of the World Cup.

A few people over here have asked me if I’ve watched it (I haven’t) and seem surprised that I’m quite complimentary towards him, as a person and athlete. They seem to have come away from it under the impression that most people in England think he’s Satan.

Nothing anyone has told me they learned from it was remotely new.

Indeed. It’s branding… he wouldn’t have done it otherwise, and him and her are very good at it. The biopic will doubtless follow, they now making up 80% of the movies that aren’t about superheroes.

Right after they've finished filming the Jamie Vardy one.

Beckham's story simply isn't interesting enough to make any real kind of film about his life - "people were a bit mean after he got sent off at a world cup", does not make a second act conflict.

I've watched it, response he seems a bit uncharitable. I'm not quite sure, beyond a yay or nay on the affair (or if PSTIUTA), what revelations you were hoping for? I was mostly in it for the nostalgic footage and interviews and that worked.

The issue here isn't the biopics, it's the superheroes, or at least the wierdos into capes and brightly coloured y-fronts.