Blind Ambition (2021 documentary) explained

Blind Ambition is a 2021 BBC Two 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. 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.

The BBC described it as a "blind-leading-the-nearly-blind mission to uncover and collaborate with the best blind creative talent". The Guardian 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]

Notes and References

1. Web site: BBC Two - Blind Ambition . BBC . 29 November 2021.
2. News: Singh . Anita . Blind Ambition, review: nothing bleak about this gloriously funny blind date . 29 November 2021 . The Telegraph . 1 August 2021.
3. News: Maxwell . Dominic . Blind Ambition review — after sight, life goes on, with a bit of banter . 29 November 2021 . The Times . 2 August 2021 . en.
4. News: MacDonald . Jamie . Comic Jamie MacDonald on being creative and blind: 'It's triumph with – not over – adversity' . 29 November 2021 . The Guardian . 3 August 2021 . en.
5. News: Nicholson . Rebecca . Blind Ambition review – a candid, charming take on sight and artistry . 29 November 2021 . The Guardian . 1 August 2021 . en.
6. Web site: The Grierson Trust - Shortlist 2022 . griersontrust.org . 31 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220731072950/https://griersontrust.org/grierson-awards/the-grierson-awards/shortlist/ . 31 July 2022.