Just watched the first of three episode of the Spice Trail on BBC2 (Weds evenings). The story explored the history of pepper and cinnamon. Kate Humble fronted the programme in her most manic incarnation yet taking the viewer on a whirlwind tour of India and Sri Lanka where pepper and cinnamon have been grown and harvested for European use since the middle ages.
Local people were called upon to help tell the story of these fascinating ingredients which they did with dignity despite hysterical interruptions by Humble. They were the stars of the show. So too were the camera crew who filmed beautiful footage of the workers as they went about climbing bamboo poles to harvest the pepper vines or skilfully peel the bark from the branches of the cinnamon tree.
It was a pity the BBC chose Kate Humble to front this fascinating programme. Humble seemed – well – too large, ungainly and hyperactive for such a gentle, interesting programme. She could learn a lot from watching the mild mannered, sensitive people she interviewed. At times her responses seemed totally inappropriate. When one man demonstrated the intricate techniques of separating the pepper corns from the vine with his feet he was immediately interrupted by an over excited Kate barging in wanting to have a go. Inevitably she did rather badly. Where was the director? A great programme in need of a different type of presenter.