Blind Ambition (2021 documentary)

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Blind Ambition is a 2021 BBC2 documentary about blind creative people, presented by Jamie MacDonald and Jamie O'Leary. [1] [2] [3]

Jamie MacDonald is a blind standup comedian, [4] and at the time of making this documentary Jamie O'Leary had deteriorating vision and the prospect of an operation which might result in him losing his sight. [1] O'Leary has been a television producer for over 20 years, and produced I'm Spazticus for Channel 4 in the run-up to the 2012 Summer Paralympics, with a second series in 2013.

During the programme the two presenters meet a variety of blind creative people including a woodturner, a rapper, and a photographer. [5]

The BBC described it as a "blind-leading-the-nearly-blind mission to uncover and collaborate with the best blind creative talent". [1] The Guardian 's reviewer described it as "part travelogue, part documentary, part art project ... a bit of a shambles, at times, but a charming one". [5]

MacDonald and O'Leary were shortlisted for the Grierson Award for Best Documentary Presenters. [6]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "BBC Two - Blind Ambition". BBC. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  2. Singh, Anita (1 August 2021). "Blind Ambition, review: nothing bleak about this gloriously funny blind date". The Telegraph. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  3. Maxwell, Dominic (2 August 2021). "Blind Ambition review — after sight, life goes on, with a bit of banter". The Times. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  4. MacDonald, Jamie (3 August 2021). "Comic Jamie MacDonald on being creative and blind: 'It's triumph with – not over – adversity'". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  5. 1 2 Nicholson, Rebecca (1 August 2021). "Blind Ambition review – a candid, charming take on sight and artistry". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  6. "The Grierson Trust - Shortlist 2022". griersontrust.org. Archived from the original on 31 July 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2022.