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“I’m Brian Cox. Now, you probably know me for my day job as an arch-media mogul of all time, my evil twin from the hit TV show, Logan Roy. ” The actor said as an introduction to his documentary, Brian Cox: How the other half lives (Channel 5). In fact, I’d bet most people who watch Channel 5 recognize Cox from the 50 years of work he did before he took on the role in Succession, which is a brilliant show but gets a fraction of the ratings for something like All Creatures Great and Small.
Cox is Channel 5’s biggest signing, and a commanding force. There’s a directness to him that means you’re never quite sure what he’s going to say or do in this program (the first of two installments) that looks at both sides of the wealth divide. He appeared in a local village in Dundee shouting at the director, angry and moved to hear stories of people unable to support their families despite working. “There’s something that feels sad about what we’re doing,” he said, emphasizing the discomfort that comes with watching documentaries like this.
In contrast, when you think Cox might have expressed strong opinions, he was reserved. She met billionaire John Caudwell, who sold his 4u Phones empire and now lives in Britain’s most expensive home. Caudwell bought the town of Mayfair from the brother of the Sultan of Brunei for £90 million and had hoped to spend £10 million on renovations, but “the quality of everything was so bad” that he ended up spending £60 million. Cox asked him a few questions about his views on wealth, but didn’t push him on anything.
Cox takes us back to his childhood in Dundee, where his father ran a grocery store but died with only £10 in the bank. The film was at its strongest here – the memory of his eight-year-old return home to be told of his father’s death literally stopped Cox in his tracks as he entered the building. But I would have liked the program to shed more light on how he lives now and whether his wealth leaves him with feelings of guilt, like the East End City salesman who received a £395,000 bonus and can’t bear to tell. his father, because his father earned £20,000 a year.
Cox said he doesn’t see himself as rich, only “free”. But that is a matter of opinion.
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