No fairy tale

AM I the only person who has never read a fairy tale? When I saw the title of tonight's programme, The Real Sleeping Beauty, I first had to ask what happened in the fake one.

The only fairy tale I know well is Snow White, and that's because I saw it one Christmas at Darlington Civic Theatre. And it's doubtful Sooty, Sweep, and the Chuckle Brothers were particularly faithful to the Grimm Brothers' original.

So I looked the Sleeping Beauty storyline up on Wikipedia. It sounded good, although, to be honest, I did see the ending coming. And didn't anyone think of a thimble?

But, it turns out, tonight's show isn't about a wicked princess, a needle, and a handsome prince. It's about a car crash, a 20-year coma, and severe disability. Not really what you'd call a fairy tale.

Sarah, from Kansas, was a 19-year-old cheerleader when she was hit by two cars after a night out. She spent more than 20 years in a coma, we are told, but has suddenly regained her speech.

Her diction isn't clear - you wouldn't want her reading the news - but it's still miraculous. The show's talking, understandably, is left to her best friend, Lori, and her father. Both are contenders for World's Nicest Person.

Lori, who was with Sarah on the night of the accident, visited Sarah regularly throughout her coma. She spoke to her, showed her pictures, and even took her to watch her old cheerleading team.

In a scene tonight, Lori asks Sarah who her best friend is. Sarah, of course, replies that Lori is her best friend. Well she couldn't say any different on camera, could she?

Lori: "Who's your best friend?"

Sarah: "Well, that young nurse has been very kind."

Lori: "Right, is there anyone else? Someone you've known longer, perhaps?"

Sarah: "The Indian doctor is very helpful."

Director: "CUT. Let's get her a script."

Lori may be the World's Nicest Person, but she still has that strange habit of calling other people's parents "Mum and Dad". Which must be disheartening - and confusing - for her real parents.

Lori's real mum: "Where are you going dear?"

Lori: "I'm going to visit Mom."

Lori's real mum: "Pardon dear?"

Lori: "I'm going to visit Mom. You know. My other Mom."

Lori's real Mum: "Oh. Okay."

Lori's real parents should get their own back, and start calling other people's children "son" and "daughter". See how she likes the boot on the other foot.

Of course, the problem with an hour-long show about a 20-year coma is there isn't much to say. Comas don't have much of a narrative.

While I marvelled - I really did - at the courage of all involved, I didn't learn anything about Sarah in the show's final 55 minutes. The producers must have realised this too, because half-way through they find another, unrelated Sleeping Beauty. They'll have to argue among themselves about which is the Real one.

Shahna, from West Sussex, was injured in a car crash, and spent 23 days in a coma. Ten years later, she is almost fully recovered.

The main problem, she says, is she has lost her intelligence. She wanted to become a journalist, and now she can't. Don't give up on your dream, love. You don't need to be that bright.

Next up on the review pile was Hindenburg, on Channel Four. I had to look that up on the internet, too. Honestly Shahna: give this journalism lark a try.

The Hindenburg Disaster - as you'll probably know - involved an airship setting fire, killing 36 people. It was the world's largest aircraft, and named after Paul von Hindenburg (1847-1934), the President of Germany (1925-1934). Wikipedia is good, isn't it?

Tonight is a drama-documentary, told from the perspectives of passengers and the creator, Hugo Eckener. It is entertaining, insightful, and illuminating. I love watching telly. You can learn so much.