Beth: Channel 4's first ‘digital drama' is so snoozy that no young people will watch it
In 1964, Andy Warhol shot the Empire State Building then turned it into an art film called Empire, which is more than eight hours long. I was reminded of this last Christmas when I let my nine-year-old niece choose what to watch on TV. She went straight to the YouTube app and pressed play on a video comparing US and UK chocolate bars. It went into such a tremendous amount of detail that I was mesmerised, not by the content but by how brazenly boring it was. It went on for what felt like hours. It might still be going on now.
I wonder if this is what television natives get wrong about YouTube. In all the discussions about disappearing attention spans and 'second screen' viewing – ie scrolling on your phone while leaving a single brain cell free to drool at whatever product placement Emily in Paris has just dropped into the 'plot' – there is an assumption that online content has to be short and snappy. That might be more true of TikTok or Reels, but YouTube is a place that chews up time then swallows it. Do I know this because I have watched lengthy self-produced documentaries about complete strangers' walking holidays? Look, in the 60s, it would have been art.
This is what Beth, Channel 4's 'digital original drama', is trying to contend with. TV has long been worried about the internet coming for its audience, and it's true that you are about as likely to get a young person watching live terrestrial TV as you are to get them to pick up the phone and have a conversation with you. How can old-fashioned television begin to compete? Should it even bother trying? Channel 4 is giving it a go. It has already made Hollyoaks a 'streaming-first' soap, sticking episodes online a day before they appear on E4. Now it is trying a new approach with drama.
Beth will appear on YouTube in three 15-minute chunks from Monday 9 June, and on the actual telly as a single 45-minute episode, making it the skorts of the screen: why be one thing when you can be two? Beth is about a glamorous couple called Joe and Molly, played by Nicholas Pinnock and Abbey Lee, who are going through IVF treatment. We see the buildup to a much desired pregnancy, skip forward to the birth, then jump to a few years later, for reasons that would definitely spoil it if they were to be revealed here.
This is a family drama. There are brief fantasy sequences, of the children the couple might have, and discussions about what it means for Joe, a Black man, and Molly, a white woman, to have a child who resembles them both. It is also a low-key thriller. There are tensions between the couple, both obvious and implied. Their IVF doctor is overfamiliar and too tactile. Molly's mother is disproportionately rattled by a child's simple drawing.
To add to the genre pile-on, Beth is being billed as science fiction, but knowing this doesn't do it any favours, because without that knowledge, it looks like a straightforward, if slightly stagey, drama for almost the entire duration. If you do know that it is science fiction, you're left to constantly anticipate exactly when the science fiction will kick in. For me, that undermines the more weighty emotional scenes, because as Joe and Molly endure both hope and devastation, a nagging voice in my head is wondering if they are going to turn out to be aliens.
It's good that it doesn't patronise viewers by assuming they won't have more than five seconds of focus to spare. In fact, it's so far from giddy that it is almost sedate. Nor does it go for the endless stretch that can afflict online content, where the time restrictions of traditional TV mean nothing, and you watch a man chew a Curly Wurly for what seems like many days. But that does mean that, ultimately, Beth feels like a one-off television drama, albeit one with an eyebrow-raising pivot towards the end. I can't see what makes it so specifically digital.
If one of the existential issues facing TV is how to get young people to pay attention to it, then a meditative drama about IVF, identity and parenthood isn't necessarily going to solve the problem. But if the idea is to win back some of the older eyeballs who have been distracted by, let's say (just plucking this out of thin air) an in-depth documentary about a niche ultramarathon, then it might be on to something.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
36 minutes ago
- The Sun
Nicola Peltz hires Harvey Weinstein's ‘attack dog' PR to ‘crisis manage' her image amid Beckham family feud
NICOLA Peltz has hired Harvey Weinstein's former PR guru to help manage her image amid her ongoing feud with the Beckham family. According to reports, Nicola has enlisted the services of Hollywood's go-to crisis management specialist Matthew Hiltzik, who is described as an "attack dog". 6 6 6 6 The fearsome PR guru is "known for his aggressive manner" claims the Daily Mail, and makes it his mission to "bulldoze the press on both sides of the Atlantic into not printing any negative stories about his clients." The publication reports that Nicola has taken on the bullish publicist who has been described as "the most hardcore PR in America" and will "go to war" for the actress as the fallout with her in-laws plays out in the media. "He can be rude and agressive and that's why people hire him," a source is quoted as saying in the report. "It's a real statement that Nicola wants to bullishly lead the narrative . It's very telling just how desperate she is to come out of this looking good." Nicola is said to have taken a page out of her billionaire father Nelson Peltz's playbook, with the entrepreneur having raised her to "be a rottweiler" when it comes to business. Hiltzik famously represented film producer Weinstein, as well as Johnny Depp during his legal battle with ex wife Amber Heard. He has also been taken on by YouTuber Mr Beast, aka Jimmy Donaldson, after a series of allegations were made against the Beast Games creator. "Nicola hiring Hiltzik shows her determination to be in control of the narrative," says an insider. It comes after Nicola was labelled a "mean girl" in a series of articles, and she has also faced accusations that she is "controlling" Brooklyn. The couple certainly put on a united front i n a loved-up cover shoot with Glamour Germany this week. "You have to marry your best friend, someone you feel at home with. For me, Nicola is exactly that," Brooklyn said. Peltz-Beckham's respond to reports of family feud Nicola also dismissed claims she is a 'narcissistic monster', calling such reports "fake news" and added: "I'd love to deny it immediately, but it's not worth it.' As well as Hiltzik, Brooklyn and Nicola have also taken on Harry and Meghan's lawyer Jenny Afia. The appointment comes after the two couples hit it off at a dinner party in Montecito, California recently. And it appears as these efforts are a bid to reignite Nicola's film career after she feels her reputation has been damaged. "There is a lot at stake for Nicola," a source told the Mail. "Acting is where her heart is and there is no way she will want all of this noise going on to affect her chances of succeeding 6 6
The Sun
37 minutes ago
- The Sun
My mum's had 15 babies and now wants ANOTHER one at 58 – it's reckless & selfish… and I'm terrified it could kill her
SHE'S already given birth to a staggering 15 babies and Carole Horlock now wants to have another one at the age of 58. But her own daughter has slammed her "reckless" plan - saying: 'Mum's being selfish and she's too old.' 10 10 Megan Horlock, 31, who works in the NHS as an emergency worker, revealed she had a blazing row with mother Carole - the world's most prolific surrogate mum - as she fears having another baby for a childless couple may kill her. Carole has had 15 babies in total - two daughters, Megan and her sister Stephanie, and 13 babies for nine different couples. And she recently told The Sun she was 'broody' and was willing to defy doctor's orders to go through with another pregnancy. But in a blistering interview, Megan, who spent her childhood seeing her mum pregnant 'almost all the time', hit back: 'Broody? I think Mum is being selfish to try to become a surrogate again. It's time she retired her uterus. 'I honestly can't believe she's trying again and is talking to doctors. 'She's too old. How many more last times can there be? 'When she announced she's coming out of retirement I was shocked and dismayed. 'As an emergency medical worker I see the best - but also the worst - outcomes in every possible type of scenario. 'I worry for mum. She wants so badly to help others, but I said to her: 'The risks are too high. Don't do it. It's time you enjoyed your amazing achievements but also your well earned retirement. 'She said 'Let me have one last try'. She wants me to support her. She has spent her whole life feeling broody so I suppose it's no surprise that hasn't gone away. 'I told her 'you've been a wonderful mum as well as an amazing surrogate and I'm scared of losing you. Please don't sacrifice our family to give someone else one.' I'm the world's most prolific surrogate and want my 16th baby aged 58 - docs fear I could die this time but I'm not worried 'Mum told me she has unfinished business and she was sad when she didn't bond with the last surrogate family. It's her dream to have one more.' 'I replied: 'The price could be your life. This could kill you'. Pregnant for 30 years Earlier this month The Sun revealed Carole, who is in perimenopause, has been in touch with fertility experts in Greece and Cyprus to see if she can conceive another child using IVF. 10 Doctors have previously warned her that having another baby could kill her - but Carole claims her body has never let her down. Carole, who has the Guinness World Record for being the world's most prolific surrogate, would also become Britain's oldest surrogate if she is successful at becoming pregnant and giving birth. The oldest known surrogate in Britain is Pamela Butler who gave birth to her grandson aged 57 in 2010. Carole had her first surrogate baby - a little boy - in 1995. She went on to have twin girls in 1997 for the same couple and they continue to be close to this day. Baby four, in March 1998 was a girl for a couple who had suffered multiple miscarriages. Five was a little girl for a couple who already had a child with another surrogate. Baby six was a little girl who completed the family for the parents of baby number four. Baby seven was a boy for a woman who had tried to have a baby for 23 years. When I was growing up I remember my mum being pregnant most of the time. Megan Horlock Next was a little girl - her eighth surrogate child - for a couple whose previous surrogate had kept the baby. Baby nine caused a public outcry, as the little boy turned out to be Carole's and her husband Paul's - but she still gave him away. Triplets came next, making up babies 10, 11 and 12 who were born after IVF and via a caesarean. While baby 13 was a little boy born in April 2012, again by caesarean. Risks of birth at 58 IT is possible for a woman to give birth at 58 but natural conception is extremely rare and most women of this age need IVF, often using donor eggs due to diminished ovarian reserve. Multiple previous pregnancies, especially with multiple births and multiple caesareans, significantly increase risks such as uterine rupture, placenta previa, and haemorrhage. Using donor eggs from a younger woman can reduce the risk of chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down's syndrome. But the risks of pregnancy complications – including gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, hypertension, and preterm birth – are significantly higher due to the mother's age. There are substantial risks. Older mothers also face a higher likelihood of requiring intensive care during or after delivery. The risks increase with each successive caesarean. NHS fertility treatment is only offered to women aged under 43. Many UK specialists may be reluctant due to the high medical risks involved but age limits may be more flexible abroad. Dr Sami Almusawa is a Fertility Consultant at Megan said: 'My first memory of Mum being pregnant with a surrogate baby was when I was four. 'When I was growing up I remember my mum being pregnant most of the time. 'She was a single mum back then, working full time in a launderette, bringing me and Stephanie up single handedly whilst also being a surrogate. "She was like superwoman. For a lot of the pregnancies she worked until she was literally in labour. 'We were involved in everything. 'She'd tell us: 'The lady's tummy is broken so she's borrowing Mummy's tummy.' 'In the evenings our favourite game was eating Maltesers while watching TV and we used to balance them on her belly and try to get the baby to kick it off. 'We'd follow the couples through the pregnancy journey and when she gave birth, I got to meet them and hold their child. 'Even at such a young age it was a fantastic experience because you saw each couple grow with excitement throughout the nine months. 'Then we got to see them with their baby afterwards and sometimes even watch the surrogate children grow up." 10 Megan has stayed close to many of the kids her mother gave birth to. 'I have a WhatsApp group with some of them and we plan to meet," she says. "They were like cousins, but in reality as Mum donated her eggs for some of the pregnancies, some are my half-brothers and half-sisters biologically. 'I have always thought what Mum did was so special. 'Now, as an adult I have even more admiration for what she's done and the families that she's made.' Pain over long lost brother Meghan was seven when Carole met her now husband Paul, now 71. She said: 'He is my dad. He became a part of our surrogacy journey too. There was more love in our home than many families experience. 'I wouldn't say I missed out on anything. I think my life was more full of love because of my mum doing this. 'I have always said maybe after I have my own family I'd like to be a surrogate one day. 'But Mum has to know when to stop and enough is enough.' Megan revealed she does think of one of the babies more often than others - baby nine, a little boy who turned out to be Carole's and Paul's who they accidentally gave away. The mix-up came to light when the surrogate couple did a DNA test after the birth and discovered the child was not theirs. Megan, who has a long-term partner and lives in Braintree, Essex, said: 'Mum and Paul did a lot of soul searching as Paul does not have biological children of his own, although I think of him as my dad. But they hadn't planned to have a child and so they decided to let them keep him. 'I do think of baby nine more than the other children, because we are estranged and he is my half-brother. 'I quite often wonder what he looks like, how he acts, the things he likes, what his personality is like. I wonder what he's up to, he might be at university. I wonder if he looks like me. 'I would love to meet him and I hope that he will make contact one day and I know Mum and Paul would love to meet him too.' Difficult birth Meghan revealed her concerns for her mum stem from being her birthing partner during her last labour in 2013. She said: 'The doctors decided to induce her because of her age and the risk of pre-eclampsia, rather than there being a pre-eclampsia developing, which Mum didn't agree with. 'Her body knows what it's doing. It was very difficult to watch my mum go through the pain of being induced, a caesarean and the recovery. 'She did admit that pregnancy did take more out of her than the previous ones because of her age. 'Twelve years have passed since then and I think it's a lot later in life. 'It's going to be twice as hard as the last time and the risks to health during the labour are going to be higher. 'Having had two previous caesareans, it just increases the risk even more. It's a huge concern. 'Mum is my best friend. There is nothing she could ever do that would ever upset me enough to affect our relationship. 'As much as I have my personal views, ultimately I will support her through her decision and journey and be there for her. 'I will go with her to the hospital even though I don't agree because I know what it means to her. 'I still believe people should be able to do what they want in life and be able to live how they want.' Last night Carole said: 'My daughter's feelings are very important to me, in fact they are everything. 'But I know my body and I'll be taking the best medical advice in the world to ensure my body can do this and see a pregnancy through. "I know my body but I won't let a couple down - so tests will confirm if this can go ahead. I'm confident I can do this.'
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Naomi Campbell is the epitome of festival chic as she totes £45K Hermes bag and wears £500 shades while dancing the night away at LIDO
Naomi Campbell was the epitome of chic as she danced the night away at the LIDO Music Festival in London's Victoria Park on Friday evening. Forgoing the usual wellies the supermodel, 55, opted for a stylish black ensemble and swanky designer accessorises. Naomi wore an oversize bomber jacket and jeans while toting her essentials for the evening in a £45K Hermes handbag. Shielding her eyes behind £500 ALAIA shades she wore a baseball cap and her long brunette locks styled perfectly into loose waves. Naomi, who was joined by pal and former British Vogue editor Edward Enninful, put on a very animated display as she watched headliners Massive Attack. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The stunner sang along and grabbed snaps of the stage, which was the first to be fully battery-powered, running on 100% renewable energy from wind and solar. LIDO Festival is the newest addition to London's summer calendar and is named after Victoria Park's historic Lido Field. Other acts on the bill include Charli XCX, Jamie xx and London Grammar. Named after Victoria Park's historic Lido Field, this two-weekend festival will feature carefully curated music line-ups alongside community-driven activities during the week, all with a strong emphasis on sustainability. LIDO will showcase the most current headliners and work closely with them to curate the lineups, reflecting their musical influence. It comes after Naomi insisted she has been 'misunderstood' by the public as she posed for a striking cover shoot with Dazed magazine. The model is as well known for her diva attitude as she is for striking good looks, but claimed that as a Gemini star sign, there are 'two sides' to her, mainly through exhibiting introverted and extroverted behaviour. She mused: 'That's where Geminis are misunderstood, but we are the ultimate communicators and connectors... Naomi wore an oversize bomber jacket and jeans while toting her essentials for the evening in a £45K Hermes handbag The stunner sang along and grabbed snaps of the stage, which was the first to be fully battery-powered, running on 100% renewable energy from wind and solar 'I can't please everybody. All that I do is transparent, and I am very loyal to the people I love. I care about the people I love. I value my long relationships. 'In friendships, I don't have time for the word "frivolous". I don't associate with that word, it's not who I am. When I care, I care… but don't mistake my kindness for weakness.' Talk also turned to the lessons that she was hoping to impart on her children. The supermodel shocked the world when she announced the surprise birth of her daughter in 2021, followed by a son in 2023, both of whose names the catwalk queen has not made public. Discussing her parenting approach, she mused: 'I want to pass on the inner strength, the discipline. Pass on the things that were shared with me from my grandmother, my aunts and my mother. The most important thing for me is for my kids to be happy.' She added that she felt 'blessed' to be able to travel and see the world with her children like she had down with her own mother. Alongside the interview, Naomi posed for a striking photoshoot that saw her model an array of skimpy ensembles. She transformed into a butterfly for the cover snap, posing in a skintight mini dress and boasting large yellow wings. Naomi wore beads in her long dark hair for the shoot, while flashing her toned legs in a ruffled yellow gown. Another stunning snap saw her pose braless beneath a beaded mesh dress. Naomi confirmed last year that she welcomed both her children via surrogate after becoming a mother for the first time in 2021 aged 50 and posed with the newborn on the cover of Vogue. She previously admitted that her daughter wasn't adopted before clarifying that she hadn't been pregnant herself as she discussed how much her children mean to her. Telling The Times: 'My babies are everything to me. It's made me fear for the future.' Naomi went on to explain that she was never looking for a father for her kids and is happy being 'a single mother of a single mum'. When asked whether she used a surrogate she replied: 'I did. I hope for a better world for my children. They are 110 per cent my priority. I have to be there for them on their first day at school.' Her daughter's arrival sparked widespread speculation that she used a surrogate, a popular approach among older celebrity mothers, because she was not spotted with an obvious baby bump in the months leading up to the birth. Naomi also spoke of her concern that younger generations are not interested in having children and she insisted parenthood is always 'worth it', no matter how difficult the circumstances. She said: 'I have heard a lot of young girls saying that it is too expensive to have children and they may not want them, and I have said, "You will change your mind. You will want to be a mum"'. 'I understand economically it is tough. But my mum had nothing and she made it work. It's worth it. It is so amazing'.
