“I see… well I see something”

Last night was perhaps the best line-up of programmes we’ve ever had on BBC4 (stuff about old telly notwithstanding).

Not only was there an excellent documentary on prime numbers (slightly marred by the way Marcus du Sautoy seems determined to play the rabbit to the autocue’s headlights) and a welcome repeat for that old BBC documentary on Fermat’s Last Theorem, but best of all, there was a re-screening of the excellent Breaking the Code. Not only that, but it was the full version too, complete with Turing’s spiel on the Entscheidungsproblem that usually seems to get cut whenever this gripping drama is repeated. Jacobi is on top form throughout as Turing, but the supporting cast are all fantastic too, particularly Richard Johnson who turns in a pleasingly eccentric (but not stupid) performance as Turing’s wartime boss and quasi-mentor, Dillwyn Knox.