Getting a handle on the financial crisis

THERE was only one TV show being talked about on Tuesday morning of this week and that was the first of two episodes of a new factual series Freefall – The Night the Banks Failed on RTÉ.
The programme tracked the global financial crisis from the day one of America’s biggest banks, Lehman Brothers, collapsed to the signing of the Irish Government’s Bank Guarantee Scheme.
It tracked and explained in simple terms what had occurred to cause the meltdown as well as the historical significance of decisions taken in the 80s and their ramifications, not only for our own country, but other countries around the world that had signed up to the global type of economics.
It looked at the decisions taken, the reasons behind them and, through a series of cleverly deployed interview clips with the major players, gave the Irish viewer an insight into the workings of the global financial market.
Among the interviewees from both at home and abroad was Minister of Finance, Brian Lenihan, the man whose signature sealed the fate of the banks in Ireland just over two years ago.
In the interview, he outlined his decisions and the thought process he undertook before guaranteeing the banks in 2008. He also explored his fears about what might have happened had they not taken a step that at the time, no other sovereign nation had taken.
The programme itself was well made and edited. It was simple in its approach and managed to weave the many and varied elements of the stories together in a seamless way.
The video-links, interviews and narration all tied together in a very entertaining, informative and not overly complicated programme. It did not answer all the questions but as the first of two episodes it did a marvellous job of educating a viewership that may very well find elements of this particular part of how the country is run confusing.
It can be very hard to find out exactly what all the global economic jargon can mean and even more frustrating to try and understand what it means for us as taxpayers. This programme went towards demystifying the whole process and the role that the Lehman Brothers, and even Margaret Thatcher, had in bringing about this current economic crisis.
Despite all the explanations, thought-processes, think tanks and history lessons, however, one thing is for certain – greed and shady dealings still had a crucial role in landing us in the mire and it is going to take a lot more than a guarantee to see us out of it.
Right, I don’t like soaps. This has been well covered over the years yet I found myself glued to Eastenders on Monday night.
What is it about that programme that can suck even the most discerning of viewer in? It has to have something to do with tiredness but if I were to be completely honest, the fact that Barbara Windsor is about to exit is also a big factor. This is something I have to see.
Watching her last night I realised for, perhaps the first time, just how important her character is. She, like California Raisin lookalike Dot Cotton, has a very important part to play in the dynamic of the show.
She and Dot are an older generation. They epitomise certain elements of society and either of their departures will have an enormous impact on the show and the storylines. They are pillars of the show and one can’t help but wonder if Barbara Windsor’s departure won’t have a detrimental effect on what is a very successful programme.
The age balance for one will be tipped in youths favour and although that might be seen as a positive thing by a younger generation, it may very well bring about a Hollyoaks effect and that has to be avoided.
How Peggy goes is, of course, what we’re all wondering.
A fire has been hinted as the reason, but how it starts and if Phil has anything to do with it is unknown.
Phil, of course, has been through the mill lately and well let’s just say that if the actor’s acting abilities are not rewarded over and over again this year there is no justice. So rarely can you turn on the soaps and actually watch some decent acting that when it does happen, you find yourself transfixed.
A new era dawns on Albert Square and while, after this week, it is unlikely I’ll ever watch again, it has been one of the best things on the box in the corner in the past few weeks.
For all fans of cookery shows it may well be worth checking out the new season of Catherine’s Roman Holiday.
Heston’s Marvellous Feasts it is not but if it’s a travel – cookery show combo you are after you can’t go far wrong. Catherine Fulvio had a very successful run with her first season, showing us how to get some Mediterranean lifestyle into our cooking. She showed us quick, easy and healthy traditional Italian dishes with a modern look and did it all with a smile.
This time around she is back on the Italian highways and byways in search of true Italian family food. In this series she gains access to real Italian homes and discover what real cooking is like for the people who live in the city that inspired our modern way of consuming food.
Tune in on Friday nights from 8.30pm on RTÉ One.

One to watch
For an inspiring story, look no further than Blind Man Walking on www.rte.ie/player. This documentary follows the life of a young man named Mark Pollack who suddenly lost his sight at the age of 22.
After a long bout of depression and anxiety at the sudden loss of his sight, Mark slowly rebuilt his life and on the tenth anniversary of his sudden blindness he took on the challenge of being the first blind man to race to the South Pole.
This programme looks at the determination of one man and the extensive support network that helps him to try and realise his dreams.