How to become a despot: the Middle Eastern guide by Nick Green

Great reviews (see below), 2 million viewers and happy commissioners this week earned by the first episode of Nick Green’s BBC2  3-part series A Dangerous Dynasty: House of Assad. The documentary builds and unfolds like a factual Godfather, but even Vito Corleone didn’t insist on his henchmen stabbing puppies to death at his feet, or hench-women to bite the heads off live snakes, as Hafez al Assad did. Already a gripping documentary to be proud of, and two hours still to come.

Reviews: (click on any one for the full online review)

The Times