When I was a child Shirley Bassey was a big draw as she had her own Saturday night show on BBC television. She was one of the few black performers to have their own prime time show.
This drama tells a condensed version of Shirley's life at breakneck speed. Growing up as a mixed race child in poverty in Cardiff, her natural father was jailed and the family seem to move from one squat to another.
However Shirley had a big voice which brought her attention to a showbiz manager who booked her to various theatres and also got a recording deal but by 16 years of age she had already become pregnant.
However despite finding fame their are setbacks. Her first husband (who was also gay) cannot get her film or theatre roles such as Nancy in Oliver because of her colour.
The drama is very much meat and potatoes. Ruth Negga looks fabulous as Shirley Bassey, Charlie Creed-Miles fares well as her manager but it just felt too straightforward, clichéd and humourless.
This drama tells a condensed version of Shirley's life at breakneck speed. Growing up as a mixed race child in poverty in Cardiff, her natural father was jailed and the family seem to move from one squat to another.
However Shirley had a big voice which brought her attention to a showbiz manager who booked her to various theatres and also got a recording deal but by 16 years of age she had already become pregnant.
However despite finding fame their are setbacks. Her first husband (who was also gay) cannot get her film or theatre roles such as Nancy in Oliver because of her colour.
The drama is very much meat and potatoes. Ruth Negga looks fabulous as Shirley Bassey, Charlie Creed-Miles fares well as her manager but it just felt too straightforward, clichéd and humourless.