THOSE calling for the BBC’s digital channels to be axed as a money-saving measure obviously don’t watch them.
Yet again, BBC4 excels itself this week with a terrific 90-minute documentary.
Factory: Manchester From Joy Division To Happy Mondays tells the story of the record company that helped change the face of a city.
To be screened at 9pm this Friday, the film is dedicated to Tony Wilson, who died last month.
There’s a TV feature in today’s MEN – you can read the online version here.
The documentary, narrated by John Simm, includes interviews with many of the main figures involved in the story.
That includes former Happy Mondays star Paul Ryder, who recalls his heroin addiction.

It’s as good an anti-drugs message as any I’ve seen:
“As soon as you wake up in the morning it’s like,
‘OK, I need to get some drugs.
‘OK, I’ve got the drugs.
‘OK, right, I’ve had ‘em. I need to get some more.
‘OK, I’ve got some more. I’ve had them.
‘Right, what do I do?
‘I need to get some more.’
“And then it’s time to fall asleep
“And then you wake up in the morning, it’s like,
‘I need to get some heroin.
‘OK, I need to get some money first to get some heroin.
‘OK, I’ve got me heroin.
‘OK, I’ve done it.
‘What do I do now?
‘I’ll go and get some more.
“And that’s what it does.
“You’re just left doing that in a circle for however many years you’re going to do it for.”
You can read more about the Factory film at the BBC4 site here.
It includes extra interview footage with Tony Wilson here.
Factory For The Record