You wish it spent as much time on his music, especially the last 25 years which seem to barely rate a mention. But there is still a wealth of archive material and audio commentary from Clapton that will make this essential viewing for fans.

The early sequences are the best as we learn of Clapton's blissful childhood and early discovery of his love for the blues.

But the revelation that his sister was actually his mother was a key moment in transforming him into an introverted loner who was permanently angry with the world.

Music was his salvation and there is fantastic footage of his years with John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers and Cream.

We see him playing with Aretha Franklin and hanging out with best friend George Harrison and with Jimi Hendrix.

Clapton's infatuation with Harrison's wife Pattie signalled the start of a period when life seemed barely worth living.

The fact that Clapton survived and eventually found happiness provides an upbeat ending to this story of his often tortured, tormented life.