Inside John Lewis, BBC Two | reviews, news & interviews
Inside John Lewis, BBC Two
Inside John Lewis, BBC Two
Trouble in store, or the ultimate product placement?
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Inside John Lewis: Middle England's favourite department store meets the credit crunch
There must have been gnashing of teeth and the rending of heavily discounted garments in the marketing departments of Marks & Spencer, House of Fraser et al, when they realised that their commercial rival had been granted a three-hour advertisement on the BBC, but then there has always been something about John Lewis that seems to elevate it above the ruck and maul of the high street. What that something was – and whether or not it was purely mythical – was the subject of Liz Allen’s ultimately interesting documentary foray behind the façade of Middle England’s favourite department store. En route, you have to say, John Lewis got the most almighty plug at the licence fee-payers’ expense. It gave a whole new meaning to the store’s famous slogan, “Never knowingly undersold”.
There must have been gnashing of teeth and the rending of heavily discounted garments in the marketing departments of Marks & Spencer, House of Fraser et al, when they realised that their commercial rival had been granted a three-hour advertisement on the BBC, but then there has always been something about John Lewis that seems to elevate it above the ruck and maul of the high street. What that something was – and whether or not it was purely mythical – was the subject of Liz Allen’s ultimately interesting documentary foray behind the façade of Middle England’s favourite department store. En route, you have to say, John Lewis got the most almighty plug at the licence fee-payers’ expense. It gave a whole new meaning to the store’s famous slogan, “Never knowingly undersold”.
more TV
Baby Reindeer, Netflix review - a misery memoir disturbingly presented
Richard Gadd's double traumas are a difficult watch but ultimately inspiring
Anthracite, Netflix review - murderous mysteries in the French Alps
Who can unravel the ghastly secrets of the town of Lévionna?
Ripley, Netflix review - Highsmith's horribly fascinating sociopath adrift in a sea of noir
Its black and white cinematography is striking, but eventually wearying
Scoop, Netflix review - revisiting a Right Royal nightmare
Gripping dramatisation of Newsnight's fateful Prince Andrew interview
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs the World Season 2, BBC Three review - fun, friendship and big talents
Worthy and lovable winners (no spoilers) as the best stay the course
This Town, BBC One review - lurid melodrama in Eighties Brummieland
Steven Knight revisits his Midlands roots, with implausible consequences
Passenger, ITV review - who are they trying to kid?
Andrew Buchan's screenwriting debut leads us nowhere
3 Body Problem, Netflix review - life, the universe and everything (and a bit more)
Mind-blowing adaptation of Liu Cixin's novel from the makers of 'Game of Thrones'
Manhunt, Apple TV+ review - all the President's men
Tobias Menzies and Anthony Boyle go head to head in historical crime drama
The Gentlemen, Netflix review - Guy Ritchie's further adventures in Geezerworld
Riotous assembly of toffs, gangsters, travellers, rogues and misfits
Oscars 2024: politics aplenty but few surprises as 'Oppenheimer' dominates
Christopher Nolan biopic wins big in a ceremony defined by a pink-clad Ryan Gosling and Donald Trump seeing red
Prisoner, BBC Four review - jailhouse rocked by drugs, violence and racism
Sofie Gråbøl joins a powerful cast in bruising Danish drama
Add comment