STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning
In his heyday, Paul Finchley (Robbie Coltraine) was one half of a comedy double act with his partner Karl (Tim McInnery) who were adored throughout the land, but today rests in the side lines, dealing with his troubled addict daughter Dee (Andrea Riseborough) and emotionally distant wife Marie (Julie Walters.) But this all changes when he finds himself arrested over an historical allegation of sexual abuse by a former baby sitter of his daughter, and sinks further and further into an ever wider hole when more women come forward and the allegations mount up. As the stress of the impending trial takes over, and his private life slips further into turmoil, Paul is forced to examine himself over the years, and the actions and behaviours that may have led to his predicament.
In the immediate aftermath of the revelations about Jimmy Savile, Operation Yewtree was launched by the Metropolitan police, in an attempt to save face by investigating historical allegations about other, still living former big name stars from the 70s/80s, some of which resulted in convictions. National Treasure, however, seems to be modelling itself on cases such as that of comedian Jim Davidson, who was arrested at an airport upon return from a holiday on the basis of one allegation, which escalated into a witch-hunt where many more women came forward, only for no charges to be brought, in spite of what many could already have claimed was a trial by media. If you follow the news, it's certainly not hard to see the foundations from which this drama drew inspiration, and it certainly comes off in a believable and thought provoking way.
The first episode certainly dispenses with its fair share of celebrity cameos, from stars including Alan Carr and Frank Skinner, but it never feels tacky or gratuitous. The most important star is the main one, in the shape of Coltraine, a performer who seems to have been out the limelight for a little bit now, but who makes a revelatory return to form here. As the former icon turned pariah, he fits the skin and bones of the role down to a tee, and it's tough to think of anyone who could have been better suited. The always reliable Walters compliments him perfectly as his understanding, extremely forgiving wife. More than being a riveting courtroom thriller, it works more as a character study and examination of the past and present and how they may have shaped each other.
It works on pretty much all the levels it sets out to, and it's an inspired piece in terms of everything that tears a subject from recent headlines and does it proud. ****
