T Is For Television

by Mark Aldridge & Andy Murray

This tome was meant to be released earlier in the year, but the publishers kept delaying it's publication date, which is a real shame as it is the perfect prequal to RTD's own "Writer's Tale". But that's a minor niggle.

"T Is For Television" does what it says on the tin and charts RTDs' induction and steady rise to the top of the TV tree. If you are an RTD fan (if not, why the hell are you here?!) you probably know the chronology of Russell's shows, but it's fascinating finding out how a great deal of "being in the right place at the right time" has contributed to Russell's success.

It's a very linear story, which is to the writers credit as it could've branched out into a bit of a mess as RTD's popularity grew, but as much as this is probably as definative a history of RTD to date as you're going to get, you come away from this volume knowing very little more about the man
himself. You are given hints about RTDs' past (such as the crystal meth overdose from QAF) but there are no stories of what made this man the man he is. And when he does let slip a little of his philosophy - "You live and then you die. May as well have a laugh." - it's hardly an insight into someone who moves people so strongly. However, I think the writers would've had an uphill struggle on their hands if they wanted to "peek behind the veil" of RTD...

If you like insights into careers in television (perhaps looking for a blueprint) then this book is well worth a read. So if you've got "The Writer's Tale", get this and complete the story.