fri 27/12/2024
Home > new music > When Harvey Met Bob, BBC Two

When Harvey Met Bob, BBC Two | reviews, news & interviews

When Harvey Met Bob, BBC Two

When Harvey Met Bob, BBC Two

The story of Live Aid entertainingly dramatised

by Sunday, 26 December 2010
Share
An Eighties 'Odd Couple': Domhnall Gleeson and Ian Hart as Geldof and Goldsmith

At one point in Joe Dunlop’s Boy's Own adventure-style dramatisation of the events leading up to Live Aid, concert promoter Harvey Goldsmith asked Bob Geldof: “Why are you doing it, that’s the question?” I’ve interviewed Geldof on a number of occasions and there’s no doubting either the sincerity or enduring nature of his commitment to Band Aid. I’m not sure, however, that I or anyone else, and certainly not this film, has ever quite got to the bottom of Goldsmith's question. Why Geldof? Why Ethiopia? And why couldn't he let go?

At one point in Joe Dunlop’s Boy's Own adventure-style dramatisation of the events leading up to Live Aid, concert promoter Harvey Goldsmith asked Bob Geldof: “Why are you doing it, that’s the question?” I’ve interviewed Geldof on a number of occasions and there’s no doubting either the sincerity or enduring nature of his commitment to Band Aid. I’m not sure, however, that I or anyone else, and certainly not this film, has ever quite got to the bottom of Goldsmith's question. Why Geldof? Why Ethiopia? And why couldn't he let go?

Domhnall Gleeson captured the surly eloquence, the awkward visionary streak, the maddening obstinacy shot through with naked self-doubt

Buy

Explore topics

Share this article

Share

Comments

Submitted by Paul (not verified) on Thu, 30/12/2010 - 17:07
This was a dire and contrived fairytale version of what happened in 1985. It also rewrites history by excluding important facts and key figures like Midge Ure (Ultravox) the co-organizer of Band Aid and Live Aid. Stilted acting, mediocre direction and under researched facts is what to expect from this potboiler!!!!

Submitted by Dave Booker (not verified) on Fri, 31/12/2010 - 02:31
What a load of crap. No Midge Ure and re-wrote the famous f""k the address quote as f""k the post office! Why for gods sake re-write history! Many people mis- remembered that quote but not quite as badly as this lot. Nice to see they cast someone that looked nothing even close to a likeness of Paul McCartney. Who commissioned this tripe? Please sack them asap.

Submitted by Linda (not verified) on Wed, 05/01/2011 - 21:50
I have to say I loved it, I used to be an aid worker in Africa and it made me remember why.

Add comment

The future of Arts Journalism

 

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

newsletter

Get a weekly digest of our critical highlights in your inbox each Thursday!

Simply enter your email address in the box below

View previous newsletters