The King’s Speech (2010) channel 4, 9pm

Directed by Tom Hooper and an Oscar winning screenplay by David Seidler this is a story about a man that stammers and how he was ‘cured’ by the unorthodox Australian speech therapist, Lionel Logue, played by Geoffrey Rush. I won’t be given too much away if I tell you that the chronic stammerer in question played by Colin Firth goes on to become King George VI. His father’s death and his brother’s marriage to Wallis Simpson puts him on the throne. Churchill, (Timothy Spall) of course, is dragged into the film probably because some American film goers may know who Churchill is, but would presumably know little about some tinpot King. Firth does much to humanise the future king and he’s ably supported by Helena Bonham Carter as the future Queen Elizabeth. It’s essentially an odd couple arrangement. At a time when 200 staff where needed to produce dinner and put a man’s shirt on for him Lionel’s disregard for social rules and conventions are what powers the film. He’s no gentleman’s gentleman. Any film set in England past or present, of course, is never complete without the appearance of Derek Jacobi. He appears here as the Archbishop of Canterbury. The King’s coronation is a trial run to when King George VI has to save the western world by giving a speech on public radio. If this had went wrong the German’s were ready to invade and we could all be Spraken Ze Deutchen. Hip, hip, hooray for good old Bertie.