Esio Trot

We like Roald Dahl, and we liked Esio Trot, Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer's adaptation of one of the shorter books, broadcast on New Year's Day - but blimey was it over-long.

Too many shows seem to be too long - too many minutes, too many episodes, false endings and so on - and this one used all the tricks to extend the narrative, including James Corden's walking, talking narration, and the addition of the neighbour, Mr Pringle, played by Richard Cordery.

It's very possible that as a 30-minute story it wouldn't have attracted its stars, Dustin Hoffman and Judy Dench, or got picked to be shown on New Year's Day, but are we being churlish to wish they'd spent a bit less money & time on this, and commissioned some new writing to put on in a similarly high profile slot?

(For the record we'd like to say that all the acting was great, Corden didn't annoy us as much as he did some Twitterists, and the locations in particular were wonderful, especially the main reception area and staircase at Bevin Court.)

Generally speaking, the Christmas schedules were disappointing this (last) year.  Not many prime-time treats to look forward to, and just a couple of safe bet specials where audience figures were concerned, on 25th itself, of 'Midwife' and 'Downton'.  Now that January is here we are at least being offered returning dramas in the 9pm slot ('Musketeers', 'Broadchurch', 'Witless Silence'... sorry, 'Silent Witness'), but over the holiday season when some people might actually have been at home to watch?  Nada.