The Beiderbecke Tapes

Oh dear. After "Affair" I was hoping for more from "Tapes". When you get a winning formula don't tinker with it.

"The Beiderbecke Affair" delivered school teachers Trevor Chaplin (James Bolam) and Jill Swinburne (Barbara Flynn) and an ensemble of slightly offbeat characters telling a story of corruption in high places. Everything was right – the acting, the delivery, the music..

Now the offbeat nature is a bit more exaggerated. Previously 6 one hour episodes allowed the viewer to soak up the show without being bombarded. Now 2 90 minute episodes is guilty of forcing the issue. Of the characters from "Affair" we are left with only the teachers and they were never in the top rank first time around. And Chaplin & Swinburne are now automatically deemed to be cool so a bit of mystique disappears.

This is still worth watching. Good stuff, witty and charming but you get the feeling that it was rushed to screen!