The Country House Revealed

Whereas this program delivers an interesting account of various British country houses, the host of the program has a few eccentricities which make viewing a bit of a challenge. Mr. Cruikshank likes to continuosly emphasize all of his on-camera narrative with numerous flashes of his open hands, like an old-style jazz or mime performer. The viewer may be convinced that he certainly has all ten digits, and by constantly splaying them at viewers he convinces us that he is a creature of dry land and not an aquatic denizen with webbed fingers. His cadence often drifts into a conspiratorial whisper forcing one to add closed captioning to the screen. His gait is reminiscent of early film depictions of vampires, stooped and wearing dark cloaks. ALl said, he does know his stuff!