6 Reasons Why Masterchef is Good for You

So it's that time of year again. Masterchef: The Professionals is running riot on BBC Two. Although I can hardly allude to Masterchef being annual - it is ALWAYS on, which is great for someone like me, an obsessive-complusive watcher and avid admirer of Michel Roux.

Here are 6 really good reasons as to why Masterchef is good for you.

1. Laughter
We all know that laughter is healthy. It adds on years to our lives if we laugh often enough. And what better way to get some laughs than watch a bunch of professional chefs suck at the thing their supposed to be good at? Yes you may think I'm being rude, callous and harsh even, but there is nothing funnier than a chef believing he's the next Michel Roux and then messing up his souffle. Add into the mix a few of Monica's expressions and you've got yourself a laughter concoction.

2. Michel Roux Jr
Michel Roux is good for the soul. I know I'm slightly biased in my opinion of him (j'adorrrreeee), but his little quips, God-like cooking skills and cheeky little smile will turn anyone's frown upside down.

3. Cooking
I'm a firm believer in the benfits of an understanding of good food (I guess you could call me a 'foodie'). Having a good knowledge of ingredients and processes can only enable you to put good things into your body, and enjoy doing it. What better way to learn about the processes of a kitchen, flavour combinations and the French classics than watching a hearty episode of Masterchef? And you can always laugh if they get it wrong...

4. Drama
One of the things I love about Masterchef is the drama. It's like watcing a crime series - constantly on edge, wondering who's going to get killed next. Okay, a possible exaggeration, but being gripped is definitely good for the heart (I think). And jumping up and down during the elimination is a clear calorie-burner.

5. Critics
Daydreaming is good for you right? Floating off into another world of joy and sunshine can turn a gross day into a fabulous one. My favourite daydream? Being a critic! Their jobs sound FANTASTIC. Their actual skills are eating food and having opinions. I already have those skills! Pick me!

6. Relieves any boredom
Masterchef the Professionals is on 4 days a week. That's 3 and a half hours of watching time. Bored after work one evening and don't fancy doing sociable things? Watch Masterchef! It's like comfort eating without actually eating anything. And if you are cool with lots of things to do all evening, its a great hangover cure and has definite omnibus potential.

So there we have it. The ultimate programme with added health benefits. Do something amazing for yourself this week.... watch Masterchef.

Musings on... The Escape Artist (contains spoilers)

I'm always on the lookout for BBC dramas, and I've usually been very impressed with them (The Fall springs to mind). This one had all the right components on the tin... stunning lead actor (David Tennant - I'm quite a big fan, he was definitely the best Doctor), mystery and suspense, a baddie, blood and guts, and a serious amount of tension. It was written by the guy who wrote Spooks, and as a MASSIVE fan I dutifully tuned in. 

This week was the second episode of the three part drama, and the third airs next Tuesday at 9pm. It follows Will Burton, a hot shot defence lawyer who's never lost a case. Tennant manages to portray a man quietly confident in his ability, but without arrogance - he walks around with just an air of humility. He goes home to his massive London flat with glass everywhere, to his gorgeous wife (Ashley Jensen), who should win wife of the year the amount of time Will has to work - and to his beautiful son. They have an idyllic cottage that they go to on weekends. Basically the perfect life. 

In dramas, all good things come to an end.  In court, Will defends a creepy bird man, Liam Foyle (Toby Kebbell), who was charged with sadistically murdering a young woman. Just FYI, he's a bird man because he has loads of birds in his house, in case you were wondering...Will gets him off, because "everyone deserves a defence". But, our hero does have a moral compass, shown when he refuses to shake Foyles hand on leaving court. 

** Spoiler **

Let's cut to the chase. Creepy Foyle turns up at the cottage while Kate (Will's wife) is alone and in the bath. She's murdered in a brutal way, while the son hides in a box. Will arrives too late and weeps while sat in her blood. Bad times. 

All this happens in the space of about 45 minutes. As a result, I felt so emotionally assaulted I nearly cried. At the time, I felt it was too quick - I wasn't ready for the ensuing trauma. But on watching the second episode, I realised why what felt like the drama 'punch line' of the series was in the first episode. The real strength lies in the aftermath. Will is suddenly and dramatically bereaved, with Tennant's portrayal instantly changing. He's now a desperately sad man, frantically seeking justice for his wife in the only way he knows how - by actually being really good at law and stuff. Except now he's on the prosecution's side, an interesting insight that I feel embellishes Will's new topsy-turvy character. 

Despite the thrills (of which there are many- heart rate was well above average), there are some strange choices made in the script. Like Will's Chambers taking on his wife's case (which surely wouldn't be allowed?) and the worst guy being assigned the job. I imagine if you're a barrister and were watching the court scenes, you'd be laughing at the ineptitude of the lawyers/judges/evidence etc (according to some lawyer writing for the Telegraph). But thankfully, I am not a lawyer, and I don't care about the court scenes. Being ignorant suits me.

What I do care about, however, are the times the drama errs on the side of sensationalism, going for cheap 'horror' shots. Specifically the time in episode two when Will is watching his wedding video. The scene cuts instantly to the forensic photographs of Kate's slit throat and a pool of blood. We get that murder is tragic and sad, as the point was laboriously made in the first episode (and it also being a fact of life) - we don't need it hammering home in such aggressive ways. Also WHAT is with the 'oh yeah and she was pregnant when she was murdered' thing? It's like they're saying a woman being murdered isn't tragic enough on its own. That definitely pushed the wrong kind of buttons for me - but it is possible I am being too sensitive. 

Despite all those things, I will definitely be tuning into the last episode. It's extremely difficult to turn off, the punches are quick and often. The cast are truly carrying the show. Tennant is fab at always, with Toby Keddall (who I've never seen before) almost outshining him. The character is wonderfully terrifying in a subtle kind of way, and Keddall portrays it brilliantly. I must also mention Sophie Okonedo, who is right up there with her portrayal of Will's bitchy but vulnerable intellectual rival. It's almost worth just watching it for these three actors. 

So there's my extremely long (sorry) list of thoughts about The Escape Artist. If you like David Tennant, and aren't clued up on being a barrister, then I duly recommend this to you!