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Telegraph
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
The Gold, series 2, review: bleaker, more desperate, but the show retains its sparkle
The first series of The Gold (BBC One), a drama about the 1983 Brink's-Mat robbery, was an accomplished piece with one major flaw: a soft spot for its chief villain. Everyone likes a Robin Hood figure, but Kenneth Noye is a convicted murderer who also stabbed a police officer to death. This isn't loveable rogue territory. The second series wisely avoids doing the same thing again. It differs in two ways. When Noye (Jack Lowden) eventually appears, he is now just a nasty piece of work. And the sequel is more interested in two other characters linked to the heist: John 'Goldfinger' Palmer and Charlie Miller. They're not exactly nice guys either, but they've got more nuance in storytelling terms. Cast your mind back to the ending of series one, and one of the final shots was of Miller (Sam Spruell) sunning himself on the Costa Del Sol. He was revealed to be one of the armed robbers, and that tied in with Scotland Yard's realisation that they had only ever been on the trail of half of the Brink's-Mat gold. Now they're going after the other 50 per cent – all £13 million of it – and the drama explores various theories, which range from stashing it down a Cornish tin mine to laundering the money through a former public schoolboy based in the British Virgin Islands. 'A lot of blokes in South London become villains to be big men in South London. I became a villain to get out of South London. I became a villain so that one day I wouldn't have to be a villain any more,' says Miller, but his unsophisticated ways soon tell and he finds out that acquiring wealth and knowing what to do with it are two separate things. Meanwhile, Palmer (Tom Cullen) is sitting pretty on the Sunday Times Rich List thanks – on paper at least – to his dodgy timeshare business. Unfortunately for him, he's a magnet for trouble. With the chauffeur, private jet and champagne comes cocaine, Russian gangsters, and angry pensioners fleeced out of their life savings. There are so many threads to the story, which freely admits to being based on theories rather than facts, and writer Neil Forsyth handles them with great skill. While it may lack the narrative drive of series one, it will keep you watching through the strength of the writing and the top-notch performances from everyone involved – Bafta nominations for Cullen and Spruell would be well-deserved. If the scenes in Tortola begin to drag, they are pepped up by a great turn from Joshua McGuire as Douglas Baxter, a prissy, disgraced lawyer who brings a welcome note of comedy. There's also a great little cameo from Phil Davis as a crime boss hankering after the good old days. The hunt for the gold is again led by Hugh Bonneville as Brian Boyce, the dogged detective who personifies everything that was good and proper about old-fashioned British policing. At the beginning, he's under pressure to wrap it up – this has been the longest and most expensive investigation in the history of the Met, and its failure has become an embarrassment. But Boyce presses on, aided by trusty colleagues Brightwell and Jennings (Charlotte Spencer and Emun Elliott) and new addition Tony Lundy (Stephen Campbell Moore). It's no spoiler to say the police never did find the gold. But nobody got clean away. Where series one was full of verve, this series has a bleaker, more desperate tone. Pulling off the heist was all well and good. This follow-up is about the reality of being on the run, and it's not much fun.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The Gold season two review – this thrilling tale of stolen millions is top quality British drama
At the end of the first series of The Gold, it dawned on the officers of the Met's Flying Squad that for all of their multiple investigations into the infamous Brink's-Mat robbery of 1983, they had only ever been chasing half of the stolen bullion. Arriving two years after its highly entertaining predecessor, series two sets off with an irresistible premise: what exactly happened to the rest of it? The trouble is that the show doesn't know the answer, though it freely admits this. None of the gold has ever been recovered, but a note at the beginning explains that the series is based on both real events and theories as to where the loot went. As before, some of the characters are real and some invented. The focus, this time, is on bringing down the ones who got away. The police are hot on the heels of the charming rogue John Palmer (Tom Cullen), AKA 'Goldfinger', who talked his way out of a conviction so convincingly in series one. They're also trying to track down Charlie Miller (Sam Spruell), a fictional amalgam of various south London villains, who has come away from the robbery with a lot of gold to hide and only loose ideas of what to do with it. The first series, set in the 1980s, was a classic cops-and-robbers drama, and as a result, was more contained and more thrilling. The second series moves the action to the 1990s, and has to work harder, at least initially. It follows the money through a sprawling network of villains, some small-time, some so big-time that at one point we take a detour to the country then called Burma. (I'm sure the cast who were stuck on the Isle of Man felt no resentment whatsoever towards the actors who ended up mostly in Tenerife.) For the first couple of episodes, The Gold seems uneasy with this new sense of unharnessed scale. It starts out like an instalment of The Famous Five, or Scooby-Doo, as Miller heads for the disused tin mines of Cornwall. But it soon drags its attention back to the money trail and the investigation, still led by Det Supt Brian Boyce (Hugh Bonneville at his best). The police work has been going on for so long that he and his team are losing the support of their superiors, who are trying to shut them down. These scenes feel a little stuck, a little repetitive, lacking the excitement of the robbery and its immediate aftermath. That is, until Palmer begins to flaunt his wealth and muscle his way into the English establishment. The Gold has always had something to chew on about who belongs where, and who gets to do what. The establishment and the underworld are rarely as distinct as you might think, the series seems to say, an idea that on occasion muddies the waters of who you are supposed to be rooting for. Miller is perceived as a 'knuckle-dragger' by Douglas Baxter, a disgraced Cambridge graduate and tax whiz whom Miller tasks with cleaning the dirty money. Joshua McGuire – a standout – plays Baxter with a snivelling haughtiness as repellent as it is pathetic. In fact, this is filled with thunderingly good performances, both billed and in the form of a few surprise appearances, which should please fans of series one. Any sense of triumph, of thieves luxuriating in their ill-gotten gains, is soon swallowed up by paranoia, and by episode three, the claustrophobia experienced by those involved in Brink's-Mat is palpable. Palmer's timeshare business in Tenerife is hiding a multitude of sins, and when the Russians arrive, it's fair to say that his work-life balance tips in an unfavourable direction. Miller, meanwhile, directs his attention towards the Virgin Islands, and a network of old boys to which he does not belong. For Palmer and Miller, the bubble can only get so big before it bursts, and the series revels in slowly turning the screws on them. The Gold is still prone to giving its characters lengthy speeches, in order to explain their belief system or philosophy of life, but that quirk has become as much a part of the series as sweaty detectives shouting 'nick 'im!', or indistinct timeframes indicated by captions like 'a few years ago'. But there is an overwhelming sense that this is Good Quality British Drama, despite the inevitable sprawl that comes with a story wandering across the Canaries, the Caribbean, Asia, the Isle of Man and London. For the most part, it is focused and newly thrilling. And despite having no obvious ending to draw from in real life, The Gold manages to cobble one together, with gusto. The Gold aired on BBC One and is on iPlayer now.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The Golden Spurtle review – a cosy celebration of porridge and its champions
The word 'porridge' to me evokes something modest and satisfying: mouthfuls of reliable pleasantness in a terribly volatile world. How lovely that The Golden Spurtle – Constantine Costi's charming documentary about the world's annual porridge-making championship in the Scottish village of Carrbridge – has assumed some of the qualities of the dish. It isn't flashy (and certainly doesn't scream 'must-watch') but, like a good ol' fashioned bowl of well-cooked oats, it's got it where it counts. This film is a pleasure to watch – with endearing salt-of-the-earth subjects, a lovely ebb and flow, and a tone that feels just right: neither overly serious nor tongue in cheek. Its appeal is not dissimilar to the Australian comedy series Rosehaven: sometimes it's just nice to escape into a fresh air-filled world with refreshingly low stakes. Even if the competitors, gawd luv 'em, treat the competition very seriously. The Golden Spurtle is also lovely to look at. It's displayed in a tucked-in 4:3 aspect ratio that has a slightly antiquated feel, which suits the material. The opening shot features a grassy field overlaid with text declaring that every year Carrbridge hosts the titular tournament, though the upcoming event is a little different: it's the last to be led by its head organiser, Charlie Miller, who is hanging up his stirring spoon after many years of service. This contextualises what comes next as an end-of-empire narrative, belonging to a pantheon of stories about dynasties that changed the course of history and rattled the tectonic, erm, oatmeal bowls of existence. Early moments introduce places in and around Carrbridge – including a pub and a cemetery – before we meet competitors and people of note in the world of rolled oats. They include the Australian taco chef Toby Wilson, who packs up a portable kitchen and flies with it across the world, and is competing against the likes of Nick Barnard, the co-founder of a wholesome food company who is 'burning with desire' to triumph after having made the finals several times. I wondered whether we'd meet the equivalent of a moustache-twirling villain: someone comparable perhaps to the cocksure Billy Mitchell from the video game documentary King of Kong: Fistful of Quarters – the reigning Donkey Kong champion who stopped at nothing to protect his throne. I initially thought we might have found one in Ian Bishop, a former world champion and porridge-making legend who returns for another crack and is confident he'll win. But this 'man of mystery' turns out to be pretty likable too. I also wondered whether there'd be any wild, revolutionary figures that upended tradition and blazed a mushy new path forward – the Jimi Hendrix of porridge cooking. Sadly not, though we do learn of a competitor who one year brought with him a deep fryer, which was considered 'dangerous' and 'crazy'. Momentum builds in the lead-up to the big day, when crowds pack into Carrbridge's modest community hall, where, for some reason, a whisky-tasting event is also taking place. People involved in The Golden Spurtle tend to, quite adorably, emphasise their own importance: one of the kitchen crew assures us, with a cheeky wee gleam in her eyes, that this is 'the boiler house of the world porridge championships', where all the important action takes place. It's all very sweet and agreeable: a palate-pleasing celebration of the noble oat. The Golden Spurtle is showing at Sydney film festival on 7, 14 and 15 June and will get a general Australian release later this year. A UK release has yet to be announced.
Axios
23-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Axios
Hot homes: 4 houses for sale in Charlotte ranging from $435K to $1.49M
This week's hot homes offer a variety of architectural styles, from a three-level Victorian in Dilworth to a sleek mid-century modern retreat in south Charlotte. 1817 Rush Wind Dr. — $435,000 Why we love it: This brick bungalow offers a quick commute (less than 10 minutes) to both Uptown and Camp North End. Neighborhood: Genesis Park Realtor: Marc Bastos • Mackey Realty LLC Specs: 3 beds, 2 baths and 1,436 square feet Notable features: Brick exterior, swing front porch, tile backsplash, spacious rooms, fenced-in yard. 7123 Linda Lake Dr. — $575,000 Why we love it: Previously used as an Airbnb, this split-level home could be a great investment property. Neighborhood: Hickory Grove Realtor: Charlie Miller • 5 Points Realty Specs: 3 beds, 2 baths and 1,918 square feet Notable features: Hardwood floors, fireplace, spacious bedrooms, open floor plan, large patio, outdoor fire pit. 545 Dilworth Mews Ct. — $1,200,000 Why we love it: Between the three-level Victorian design, multiple balconies, and walkable location near bars and restaurants — what's not to love? Neighborhood: Dilworth Realtor: Elizabeth Phares • Allen Tate Center City Specs: 3 beds, 3.5 baths and 2,280 square feet Notable features: Hardwood floors, shaded porch, balconies, open shelving, fireplace, arched walkways, spacious bedrooms, patio, fenced-in yard. 2121 Valencia Ter. — $1,499,000 Why we love it: The mid-century modern layout offers a spacious feel, and the guest house adds even more room for visitors or extended family. Neighborhood: Governor's Square Realtor: Matt Stone and Josh Stone • Stone Realty Group Specs: 4 beds, 3 baths and 3,826 square feet Notable features: Wood floors, fireplace, sleek cabinetry, large walk-in closet, pool, built-in grill.
