90’s triggering found footage? Check. Baggy clothes and thrusting hips? Check. Robbie Williams?! Check.

Check, indeed, as this is the new doc form the BBC on the rise and predictable fall of the boyband era – and the toll on the humans involved.

Warning – this shows contains footage of men wearing extreme boyband outfits and ‘fashion’ items, which you cannot unsee. Those. Red. Shorts. On. Barlow.

Episode one goes big on East 17 and Take That before we get into F!VE, 911, Damage and all the rest.

Spoiler alert – not many of these guys made money, but the people managing them seem to have done alright.

Yes, it’s all been done before. But where this shines is two-fold.

One, the found and rediscovered footage shot on shaky low quality VHS and MiniDV camcorders is pure gold.

Two, this links nicely to the origins of each group. Not all of them where strangers thrown together, some were organic and most could – wait for it – actually sing.

Robbie’s candid interviews about his role in the band and conflict with Gary really get things going and the three part series really gathers pace from there.

It’s easy to forget how the world has moved on, mostly for the better. But this is a throwback to ladism, sex appeal, drugs, drink and two hours’ sleep being a good kip.

I can see where the modern slavery act may have taken some inspiration.

Great interviews with key folk who were big back then make for a more than decent documentary worth a watch.

Verdict:
Story: 8/10
Characters: 7/10
Overall: 7/10
Should you watch it?: Yes.
BBC iPlayer

*all images and video credit BBC