Swanny in a Spin

AS A man who helped England win a cricketing Ashes series in Australia for the first time in more than 20 years, spinner Graeme Swann has got plenty of good will in the bank from me.

And he doesn’t lose too much of it here with his first foray into the DVD market. Swann is a born show-off so has no difficulty in taking centre stage providing the links between dozens of cricketing clips. They are gathered together in loose fashion, whether looking at cricketing superstitions, bizarre moments or inept run outs.

Sadly many are very familiar and have been seen dozens of times before – we could have done with more from the last Ashes tour – and the gathered talking heads of comedians and cricket writers don’t add a great deal to the party either. Even Swann takes the mickey out of the cheesy script he’s asked to deliver although he’s having too good a time to be too worried about it. Howzzat? Not bad but a little predictable.

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In The Night Garden: Out For A Walk (U)

UFF-UFF blows away Makka Pakka’s ball, Mr and Mrs Pontipine momentarily lose their children and Igglepiggle and Upsy Daisy are followed onto the Ninky Nonk in five episodes of the BAFTA award-winning children’s series. The DVD includes Upsy Daisy’s Funny Bed, The Ball, Wave To The Wottingers, The Pontipines In Upsy Daisy’s Bed and Igglepiggle’s Noisy Noises. Will be a favourite in many young child’s stocking on Christmas Day.

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Hell for Leather 3 (15)

AS IF Senna and TT: Closer to the Edge weren't enough for petrolheads this Christmas, former Superbike world champion Carl Fogarty and old rival James Whitham offer up an entertaining third option. The two affable northerners take on a series of challenges at events well out of their comfort zone.

There's motocross, flat-tracking (a bit like speedway) and even some airplane action as the two competitors battle each other and, with greater difficulty, the passage of time. Fogarty's face – and language – as Whitham terrifies him with his pilot antics is totally understandable as his mate appears to be a nutcase. The pair even turn their hand to pit crewing on the legendary TT road circuit on the Isle of Man.

We also get copious footage of pileups from American motocross events and while often spectacular, it does get a bit monotonous. The hill climbing events seem to be certain to end in disaster before each competitor even sets off but they make for some spectacular airborne crashes. It's impossible not to enjoy the truly death-defying crashes as the pair choose their top 10 ever while some good stories from the pair's live in conversation show suggest we could have had even more to enjoy.

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