At last the ITV has struck back with a daring new late night drama series Jackpot 247, which tells the story, in real time, of an interactive gaming show.
And we should commend them, where other channels would put on lazy all night filler television aimed at draining the viewers pockets, the ITV have broken barriers with this gem of neo-realism. The tension of Jackpot 247 is in the spin of a roulette wheel, then they announce the list of winners;with crazed names that no sane mind would really use. But we all know for every winner displayed there are far more losers and that is where the human tragedy is subtly played out, away from our gaze in the darkened despair living rooms. Some people may be put off by the constant repetition, but this is all carefully calculated to heighten the, almost Hitchcockian, suspense. The show is held together by the regular hosts, we are never told if these are careers that have started to wane or just never got going. Whatever, the actors deliver great naturalistic performances, that ooze desperation, thwarted ambition and gallows humour. I fail to see how BAFTA can ignore a show so bold as Jackpot 247.
OK, it is a tiny tad long at three hours, but how else can this, almost Shakespearean, tale of human despair be played out other than on an epic canvas. In its way this is Game of Thrones with iPads and the ITV should think about promoting Jackpot 247 to prime time and save all that money they spend on DavidTennant.
This is a bold, deeply sad television drama that will keep you hooked.
Over
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