On Demand
Hijack (Apple TV+, from Wed)
It’s more than 20 years since 24’s groundbreaking real-time format kept viewers hooked to the stress-inducing activities of Kiefer Sutherland’s counterterrorism expert Jack Bauer. Clearly the creators of Hijack (George Kay and Jim Field Smith, whose previous collaborations include recent ITV hit Litvinenko) think enough time has elapsed to avoid them being accused of jumping on the bandwagon for their new hi-octane drama series. The action mostly takes place aboard a flight from Dubai to London. Among the passengers is Sam (Idris Elba), who finds his skills as a business negotiator useful when the plane is taken over by armed men. Meanwhile, on the ground, a team of counterterrorism experts, led by Zahra Gahfoor (Archie Panjabi), tries to find out what the villains want.
Run Rabbit Run (Netflix, from Wed)
Fresh from her success in smash-hit TV drama Succession, Sarah Snook is back on the box in a role initially intended for Elisabeth Moss; it would have reunited her with The Handmaid’s Tale director Daina Reid, but Moss was forced to withdraw for scheduling reasons. Instead, Snook takes centre stage in the Australian psychological chiller as Sarah, who becomes increasingly concerned about her daughter Mia (Lily LaTorre) after a mysterious white rabbit appears in their home during the youngster’s seventh birthday party. That might sound more amusing than horrifying, but its arrival appears to signal a personality change in the child, who claims to be the reincarnation of her mother’s long-lost sister.
Eldorado: Everything the Nazis Hate (Netflix, from Wed)
Fascinating docu-drama examining the all-too-brief heyday of the world’s first openly queer community. If you’re a fan of Christopher Isherwood’s book Goodbye to Berlin and Cabaret, the musical and film based on it, then you should find it particularly enthralling. Gays, lesbians and trans people danced alongside the likes of Marlene Dietrich and Charlie Chaplin, but the Eldorado nightclub was eventually closed in 1932 by the Nazis, with several of its clientele suffering persecution, or worse. “A hundred years ago, many LGBT people in Germany experienced their sexual and emotional freedom for the first time, shortly followed by the most extreme form of their oppression,” says executive producer Felix Kriegsheim. “This film attempts to bring these major movements back to our memories.”
The Witcher (Netflix, from Thu)
What does the future hold for ex-Superman actor Henry Cavill? The makers of his next movie, espionage thriller Argylle, hope that will be the first in a franchise, but before that hits Apple TV+, there’s a chance to see his final appearances as Geralt of Rivia in the third season of the video game adaptation. The fun begins as Geralt tries to keep Ciri safe from the monarchs, mages and beasts on her trail by going into hiding. Yennefer, who is taking charge of Ciri’s magical training, leads them to a protected fortress, but rather than finding a sanctuary in which they can uncover more about the youngster’s untapped powers, they become embroiled in a terrifying battle. The first batch of episodes are being made available now, with the second coming on July 27.
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan (Prime, from Fri)
The good news is that John Krasinksi is back as the novelist’s most famous character; the bad is that this six-part fourth series will also be the action thriller’s last. Thankfully, he looks set to bow out with a bang – the show’s makers claim that Ryan, now the CIA’s acting deputy director, will face his most dangerous mission yet, which involves a foe operating both in the US and further afield. The trouble begins after our hero begins investigating rumours of internal corruption, during which he and his trusted associates uncover evidence of an alliance between a drug cartel and a terrorist organisation. Michael Pena joins the cast; his character, Ding Chavez, is set to take centre stage in a planned spin-off.
Saturday, 24/6/2023
ITV Racing Live: Royal Ascot (ITV1, 1.30pm)
Ed Chamberlin brings the curtain down on the week’s racing in style as he presents the fifth day of the festival in Berkshire. In memory of Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, the feature Group One race, the 4.20 Platinum Jubilee Stakes, has been renamed the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, and Australian raider Artorius, Richard Gibson’s Wellington and progressive mare Highfield Princess among the favourites for the crown. There are also races at 2.30, 3.05, 3.40, 5.00, 5.35 and 6.10, with coverage continuing on ITV4.
Glastonbury 2023 (BBC2, 5pm)
The coverage begins on BBC2 with a reminder of just how diverse Glastonbury festival really is. There are short films following two of this year’s performers – contemporary classical composer Max Richter and 1980s icon Rick Astley. There’s also music from Raye and Jacob Collier, before the coverage switches to BBC1 at 9pm for Lewis Capaldi and Lizzo. Then it’s back to BBC2 for the headlining set from Guns N Roses. The highlights tomorrow include Blondie, the aforementioned Rick Astley and, of course, Elton John who is ending what has billed as his final British tour in style with a headlining set on the Pyramid Stage. Clara Amfo, Lauren Laverne, Jack Saunders and Jo Whiley are on presenting duties.
The Hit List (BBC1, 5.40pm)
It’s a good week for anyone who enjoys a music quiz – on Monday, Ken Bruce’s much-loved radio fixture PopMaster makes its TV debut on More4. In the meantime though, there’s a celebrity edition of this gameshow which finds out if DJs are good at answering the questions as well as asking them. The teams are DJ Chris Moyles and actor James Buckley, Radio 1 DJs Rickie Haywood-Williams and Charlie Hedges, and sports star Sam Quek and presenter Martel Maxwell, while Marvin and Rochelle Humes are the presenters putting them to the test.
Casualty (BBC1, 8.10pm)
Faith is under pressure this week as she attempts to hide her pills, only to be interrupted by Luka and his friend Johnny. So, when Johnny later has a fit, Faith assumes he must have found and taken the tablets, and rushing him to the ED. She’s quick to come clean about what she thinks happened, but has she jumped to the wrong conclusion – and could that have consequences for his treatment? Elsewhere, Rida turns detective to get to the bottom of a mystery, Jacob is having doubts about his relationship, and Sah receives some important news.
Ancient Egypt by Train with Alice Roberts (C4, 9pm)
All aboard for the last leg of Professor Alice Roberts’ journey around Egypt. Her final rail trip takes her to upper Egypt and the city of Aswan, which played a key role in the creation of the country’s ancient monuments – its quarries supplied the granite that built them. The railway journey proves to be pretty impressive in its own right, as Alice discovers that the towns along the line from Luxor to Aswan each have their very own ancient temple, which she describes as being ‘strung out, like pearls on a string’. However, once she alights, it’s time for Alice to swap the train for a boat as she sees the extraordinary Philae Temple that was rebuilt in the 1970s due to flooding caused by the Aswan dam.
The Year Britain Burned: Summer ’22 (C5, 9pm)
Last year, Britain sweltered during its hottest ever summer. While some people initially decided to celebrate the blazing sunshine by heading to the beach, as the temperatures shot up, so did the problems. Infrastructure struggled to cope, devastating wildfires broke out in grasslands, farmland and gardens, and an official drought was declared. Here, meteorologist Clare Nasir, journalists and broadcasters Simon Calder and Vanessa Feltz and farmer and television presenter Adam Henson share their memories of the scorching summer.
Sunday, 25/6/2023
Spy in the Ocean (BBC1, 7pm)
The final episode examines the trials and tribulations faced by the creatures who make our oceans their home. Among the incredible incidents captured by the ‘spies’ is the sight of a humpback whale mother saving her calf from drowning during an epic chase. Also featured are the extraordinary spawning of grunion fish, a sea lion’s efforts to catch an ultra-fast tuna and a peacock mantis shrimp on the wrong end of the strongest punch in nature. Meanwhile, on dry land, male elephant seals can be seen fighting off their rivals.
Princess Anne: The Plot to Kidnap a Royal (C4, 8pm)
On March 20, 1974, an audacious attempt to kidnap the then-Queen’s only daughter was made. Princess Anne was just 23 years of age when Ian Ball launched his scheme, boxing in the royal’s limousine with his Ford Escort as it travelled along Pall Mall. Ball was armed and shot several people, including the limo’s driver and a bodyguard, before confronting the Princess, who dealt with his demand to leave her car in a typically forthright manner. Also on hand to help was ex-heavyweight boxer Ron Russell, who received a George Medal for his bravery. Now, almost 50 years on, this documentary examines the event as well as the motivations of Ball, who continues to be detained under the Mental Health Act.
Elton John at Glastonbury 2023 (BBC One, 9pm)
It’s the end of an era tonight, as one of the world’s most extravagant, popular and influential musicians performs for the final time on UK soil. Elton John has promised festival goers and fans that his first-ever Glastonbury performance will include some surprise guests and a ‘much different’ setlist to the rest of his Goodbye Yellow Brick Road farewell tour. Earlier in the day, The Chicks, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Rick Astley, Blondie and Yusuf/Cat Stevens will also be performing on the Pyramid Stage.
Before We Die (C4, 9pm)
Despite only mediocre reviews, the first run of this crime thriller, a remake of a Swedish series, proved to be a huge hit for the broadcaster in the summer of 2021. According to Caroline Hollick, Channel 4’s head of drama, it gained 12 million views via the broadcaster’s on demand service, so it isn’t a surprise to see it back for a second season (which is being shown each day until Thursday), although this time, it veers away from its Nordic noir origins to feature a brand-new story, albeit one that picks up from where the first series left off. Lesley Sharp returns as DI Hannah Laing of the South Western Police’s Organised Crime Unit, who’s about to lock horns with her nemesis, crime family matriarch Dubravka (Kazia Pelka). Luckily her friend Billy (Vincent Regan) is still around to lend a hand.
The Clinic (ITV, 10.20pm)
Last summer, it was announced by its bosses that the controversial Gender and Identity Development Service (Gids) run by the Tavistock and Portman NHS foundation trust would close, more than three decades after the Tavistock Centre was set up to help children and young people struggling with their gender identity. In an eye-opening documentary, former health secretary Sajid Javid, as well as insiders, patients, clinicians and campaigners, offer their views on this course of action while also exploring the current debate surrounding gender identity in Britain.
Walter Presents: Spiral of Lies (Channel 4, 12midnight)
To coincide with the launch of the full series online last Friday, Channel 4 is broadcasting the first episode of the enthralling French crime thriller. Happily married lawyer Audrey Barreyre (Camille Lou) is the only woman to ever get away from a violent criminal nicknamed ‘The Itsas Killer’ who was on the rampage 16 years earlier and remains undetected. She is forced back into her memories of the past by a new crime – the murder of a 17-year-old girl on the Basque coast. But as Audrey sets out to help the bereaved family, she puts her own life at risk again.
Monday, 26/6/2023
Tennis: Eastbourne (BBC Two, 1pm)
Gigi Salmon introduces the first day of the Rothesay International Tennis Tournament in Eastbourne, where the players will be fine-tuning their grass-court games ahead of Wimbledon. A star-studded field will be taking part, including two-time former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, who will be defending the title she won in 2022. Twice a Wimbledon winner, but loser of the 2011 Eastbourne final against Marion Bartoli, Kvitova secured the Eastbourne trophy for the first time with a dominant straight-sets victory in the final against defending champion Jelena Ostapenko.
Ben Elton: The Great Railway Disaster (C4, 8pm)
It’s more than 30 years since Ben Elton appeared on TV performing stand-up about the demise of British Rail. Now he’s returning to the subject as he makes the argument that privatisation is a failed experiment, pointing to cancelled and delayed trains, rising ticket prices, and creaking infrastructure as proof. His investigation takes him to Manchester to visit the Ordsall Chord – an £85 million feat of engineering which currently only runs one train in each direction per hour – and also sees him visit Huddersfield to take a ride on what’s been dubbed Britain’s worst railway line.
Rose Ayling-Ellis: Signs for Change (BBC1, 9pm)
Rose Ayling-Ellis is used to breaking down boundaries. She was the first-ever deaf person to play a regular character on EastEnders and, in 2021, became the first deaf contestant – and eventually, winner – on Strictly Come Dancing. While her success may be celebrated as a sign that TV and society are becoming more inclusive, it seems that Ayling-Ellis would be among the first to point out that there’s still a long way to go. Filmed over a period of time which sees her performing Shakespeare’s As You Like It, the documentary finds Rose challenging the perception of deafness and learning more about how much attitudes have changed – and what barriers still remain. She also asks whether the hearing world puts too much emphasis on technological ‘fixes’ for deafness, and not enough on the importance of sign language.
Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace (ITV, 9pm)
Showing over the next three nights, the latest series of Born Without Trace finds Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell coming to the aid of five ‘foundlings’ – people who were left as babies. Drawing on DNA technology, as well as detective work, the Long Lost Family team try to help them learn who are they are and where they came from. The first episode focuses on the story of a man who was discovered in a London phone box more than 50 years ago, and uncovers a remarkable history on the other side of the world. Other people featured over the next two editions include a woman who wants to know why she was left in the back of an Aston Martin in the 1950s, and a detective who needs help investigating his own roots.
Parole (BBC2, 9pm)
The fascinating documentary series returns to our screens for another edition exploring the high-stakes world of parole hearings. Viewers are introduced to 35-year-old Ben, who three years ago went on a drink and drugs binge that culminated in a failed bank robbery. He’s been released and re-offended many times before, but his mum Denise is hoping that the court will give him another chance – and that this time, he’s ready to change for good. Meanwhile, 30-year-old Jai has been in and out of prison since the age of 15, but has he now matured enough to put his troubled past behind him?
We Hunt Together (BBC1, regions vary)
This series previously aired on Alibi, but now it’s coming to BBC1. For those who missed out, it stars Hermione Corfield as Freddy who is charming, clever and quite possibly a psychopath. In contrast, Baba (Dipo Ola) seems compassionate, but he also has a traumatic past as a child soldier, and a chance encounter with Freddy reawakens his predisposition for violence. Eve Myles and Babou Ceesay co-star as DS Lola Franks and DI Jackson Mendy, the mismatched cops who get drawn into a game of cat-and-mouse with the deadly duo.
Tuesday, 27/6/2023
NHS at 75 Live: Fit for the Future? (BBC2, 7pm)
The NHS is struggling to cope with record demand and social care services are stretched to the limit. As medicine advances, needs change and society develops, the Health Service continually has to move forward. In a Newsnight special marking its 75th anniversary, Kirsty Wark asks the big questions about the future of UK healthcare. Broadcasting live from Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge, Kirsty will be joined by TV doctor Xand van Tullekan and people working at the heart of the health service, to ask is the NHS on life support or if it’s fit for the future?
Your Home Made Perfect (BBC2, 8pm)
Angela Scanlon meets IT project manager Lee and actor Darren in Southampton. When they bought their first house together, an extended 1960s property, they had big plans to change the rabbit warren of a layout and make better use of the huge garage. However, the couple can’t agree on a way forward and hope two leading architects can help. Step forward Damion Burrows, who devises a scheme to open up the home, giving it a better connection to the garden. Meanwhile, while Laura Clarke draws inspiration from the house’s original 1960s features. Which of the ideas will Lee and Darren go for?
Jay Blades’ East End Through Time (C5, 9pm)
The Repair Shop presenter concludes the series by delving into the history of the East End during the 20th century. He hears from Dr Laura Schwartz how Emmeline Pankhurst’s daughter, Sylvia Pankhurst, set up a federation of suffragettes in East London which didn’t just campaign for the vote, it was also revolutionary in creating jobs for women during the First World War. Then, in Canning Town, the host sees beautiful photos showing how the area had become a melting pot even before the Empire Windrush landed, and local historian Kate Thompson paints the picture of how Bethnal Green and other parts of East London coped with the blitz during the Second World War. After meeting former Krays firm member Chris Lambrianou at the notorious Blind Beggar pub, Jay goes to Canary Wharf and hears about the development and what it meant for locals on the Isle of Dogs.
Africa Rising with Afua Hirsch (BBC2, 9pm)
For the final episode, the writer and broadcaster heads to South Africa, beginning in the Johannesburg township of Soweto. She meets dance star Bontle Modiselle, an actor, musician and dancer with millions of global TikTok followers, who puts Afua through her paces in her first amapiano dance class. She then heads to Soweto Ink, where she will decide if she wants to get a new tattoo, and pays a visit to a theatrical workshop founded by artist Lebonhang Motaung, who first gained fame on social media with her series of ‘braided paintings’. Finally, on the south east coastal city of Durban, the presenter meets professional surfer S’Nenhlanhla Makhubu, and finds out how a new generation of board designers are shaking up surf culture.
Sounds Like the 80s (More 4, 9pm)
Ken Bruce follows the second episode of his new PopMaster TV series by celebrating the 1980s, bringing together icons from the British music scene to select their favourite tracks from the decade to create their ultimate mixtape of the era. There are song selections from a variety of famous faces synonymous with the 80s, including Midge Ure, Jazzie B, Toyah Willcox, Pete Waterman and Michaela Strachan, and we’ll hear the stories behind the tracks that defined a generation, told by those who lived it.
Dr Death (C4, 11.05pm)
The eight-part adaptation of the hit true-crime podcast continues. Dr Henderson (Alex Baldwin) and Dr Kirby (Christian Slater) discover a history of Duntsch’s (Joshua Jackson) medical misadventures and bring their fight to the Texas Medical Board, in an attempt to strip the young neurosurgeon of his licence. Meanwhile, Duntsch’s his early years begin to reveal the man he is today, and we see Duntsch obsessively struggle to make the football team at Colorado State before moving home and pursuing a career in medicine.
Wednesday, 28/6/2023
The Repair Shop: NHS Special (BBC1, 8pm)
At just six years of age, The Repair Shop is a whippersnapper in comparison to the NHS, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary. To help mark the milestone, the experts are renovating four items that could be described as symbolic to the organisation. Dominic Chinea’s metal-working expertise comes in handy when he tackles a Thomas the Tank Engine-style trolley, which has been delivering food to young patients on a children’s ward in Surrey for more than 30 years. Bookbinder Chris Shaw conserves the diary kept by those caring for poet Michael Rosen as he battled Covid, and Suzie Fletcher and Brenton West team up to breathe new life into a 1960s doctor’s bag. Finally, a nurse hopes the desk he studied at can be revived by Will Kirk so he can pass it onto his daughter.
The Trouble with Kanye (BBC2, 9pm)
Mobeen Azhar is one of the most-respected investigative journalists around, and rightly so. He won a Bafta for producing the BBC series Muslims Like Us and a Royal Television Award for presenting Hometown: A Killing, just two projects on a CV packed with acclaimed work. Now he’s back with a new documentary exploring the life and career of Kanye West, aka Ye. It’s been filmed against the backdrop of the launch of the rapper, music producer, fashion designer and pop culture icon’s 2024 US Presidential election campaign, a period in which West has courted controversy. Azhar wants to know what makes him tick, while also exploring his rise to fame and success, as well as the impact his notoriety may have on his legacy.
The Great British Sewing Bee (BBC1, 9pm)
It’s Children’s Week, that stage in the competition when the remaining contestants get all in a flap over tiny, fiddly items. Hopefully there won’t be too many tears and tantrums as they make a dragon dressing gown from thick towelling, complete with a google-eyed hood and spines, before transforming hand-me-down jackets by personalising them. Finally, in the made-to-measure, the group must create a party outfit for their five-year-old mini-model. But who will impress judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young the most?
Inside HMP Long Lartin: Evil Behind Bars (Channel 5, 9pm)
Exploring life inside the maximum-security prison in Evesham, Worcestershire, which holds some of Britain’s most brutal criminals, including the Suffolk Strangler, serial killer Steve Wright, who murdered five women, and Colin Ireland, known as the ‘gay slayer’, who killed five homosexual men. Staff reveal what it’s like to work around such high-profile criminals, while former inmates share their stories of dealing and taking illegal drugs, as well as brewing up home-made alcoholic drink called hooch.
The Change (C4, 10pm)
The latest double-bill of Bridget Christie’s offbeat but rather wonderful comedy begins as the annual town meeting takes place, during which the Eel sisters stun the crowd by announcing that this year’s Eel Festival will shun tradition by being led by queen for the first time – we wonder who they have in mind for the role… Linda, however, is more interested in trying to scupper a housing development proposal that would threaten the Forest of Dean’s future. Later, we discover how Siobhan is feeling about her sister’s decision to leave home. It’s safe to say she’s not impressed.
Staged (BBC1, regions vary)
The final episodes of the third series of this wonderful, semi-improvised comedy drama are being shown back to back. After last week’s antics, when Simon considered giving up writing altogether to become a dentist, it seems things are now back on track, with everyone pulling together in an attempt to turn a failure into a roaring success via an intriguing new plan. Unfortunately, a betrayal is also set to take place that could ruin everything. Michael Sheen, David Tennant and Simon Evans star.
Thursday, 29/6/2023
A Wright Family Holiday (BBC One, 8pm)
Mark and Josh’s sibling rivalry comes to the fore as the Wrights visit Scotland. In the Cairngorms National Park, Josh picks an activity that he knows is Mark’s biggest fear – bungee jumping. Next for the trio, it’s a ride through the Scottish countryside on off-road scooters. But for the brothers, the jaunt quickly turns into an intense race. The Wrights then spend the night in an idyllic cabin on the shores of the beautiful Loch Lomond and they end their time in Scotland with a relaxing fishing trip.
Puzzling (C5, 8pm)
If last week’s opener is anything to go by, Lucy Worsley has the makings of a great game show host. Here, the broadcaster and historian challenges six more super smart strangers to accrue the most points through their powers of puzzling deduction. Every area of the players’ mind will be tested across five rounds – In Other Words (language), Pressure Points (calculation), Rule Breakers (lateral thinking), Picture This (visual intelligence) and Memory Bank (memory). Then, in a dramatic plot twist, the winning team of three turn on each other as they look to secure a place in the series’ grand final.
Britain’s Best Beach Huts (C4, 8pm)
Not content with appearing on The Repair Shop and Channel 5’s East End Through Time, TV’s hardest-working man, Jay Blades, also co-hosts this new series with interior-design expert Laura Jackson. As the title suggests, they are scouring promenades, dunes, clifftops and sands in search of best examples of a British seaside staple – the beach hut. In the first episodes, they are looking at huts that have put a twist on the traditional design. For Jay, that begins in Norfolk, where he meets a fellow craftsman who’s created a multi-coloured patchwork hut made entirely of driftwood, before heading to Herne Bay, where wedding bells are in the air. Meanwhile, Laura’s transported back to the 1940s in Hampshire, and finds out how one beach hut owner is making dreams come true in Essex.
Secrets of the Bay City Rollers (ITV, 9pm)
Famous for wearing too-short tartan-trimmed trousers, the Bay City Rollers sold over 300 million albums worldwide, and attracted fans of all ages during the 1970s, with a phenomenon known as Rollermania sweeping across the globe. However, behind the scenes, there was a dark side. This documentary, presented by Nicky Campbell, shows how an endless stream of young groupies who used to follow the Scottish group around led to exploitation. The Rollers were managed by the controversial Tam Paton. In 1982, he was convicted of gross indecency with two teenage boys, and in 2003, was accused of a string of sex abuse crimes. Police decided there was not enough evidence for a prosecution, and Paton died in 2009, but Campbell is hoping this investigation will shine a fresh light on the facts.
Who Do You Think You Are? (BBC1, 9pm)
Identical twins, doctors and broadcasters Chris and Xand van Tulleken grew up in London, surrounded by old paintings and documents commemorating a host of characters from their Dutch ancestry. Nevertheless, the Trust Me I’m a Doctor stars know very little about their family history, apart from rumours of a connection to Dutch nobility. Their journey into their family tree tonight begins at Chatham Docks where they learn more about Jan Tulleken – a sea captain with links to the British Navy. The siblings then travel to the Netherlands to continue their research. And, after uncovering a troubling story that took place in a former Dutch colony, Chris and Xand also learn more about their Indonesian heritage.
Inside the Iranian Uprising (BBC2, 9pm)
People have been protesting across Iran for months now, defying a deadly crackdown by security forces. The demonstrations are seen as the most serious challenge to the Iranian authorities in decades, but what is behind the protests? In September 2022, a 22-year-old Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini, died in police custody after being arrested and then accused of not wearing her hijab properly. The authorities claimed she had had a fatal heart attack, but rumours soon spread she had been beaten while detained. For This World, Iranian film director Majed Neisi tells the inside story of the case and the unrest that followed.
Friday, 30/6/2023
Five Star Kitchen: Britain’s Next Great Chef (C4, 8pm)
The battle to win the keys to the Palm Court restaurant continues, as the five remaining chefs are tasked with reinventing the Langham’s iconic afternoon tea, while staying true to their restaurant concept. From a Mad Hatter’s tea party and edible soil, to deer heart and delicate entremets, it’s fair to say that the chefs push the boundaries. The pressure intensifies further when they are invited to host a chef’s table for Michel Roux Jr and some VIP guests. Who will dazzle with their tableside cooking skills, and who will crumble and be sent home?
Riches (ITV, 9pm)
At first glance, some viewers may wonder if this new series is ITV1’s answer to Succession – it follows the power struggles that ensue when a self-made businessman suffers a stroke, leaving his family to battle it out for control of his empire. However, writer Abby Ajayi has cited the glamour of classic US soaps like Dynasty and Dallas as an inspiration. The first episode introduces us to Stephen Richards (Hugh Quarshie), one of the UK’s most successful Black entrepreneurs, who built his multi-million-pound cosmetics company, Flair & Glory, through hard work and ruthlessness. Along with his second wife and their adult children, he’s now enjoying the rewards of his graft – but then a devastating change in circumstance brings Nina (Deborah Ayorinde) and Simon Richards (Emmanuel Imani), his estranged children from his first marriage, back to the UK.
Not Going Out (BBC1, 9pm)
It seems being caught up in a never-ending stream of misunderstandings isn’t good for your health. This week, Lee is in hospital for what should be routine surgery on his gallbladder, but due to his raised blood pressure he’s going to have to wait on the ward for a while before going into theatre. His in-laws pop by for a visit, but unfortunately that’s more likely to send his stress levels soaring – and when Anna and Toby turn up to ask an unfortunate question, it looks like it’s going to be a while before he’s ready for the operation.
Queen of Oz (BBC1, 9.30pm)
Moving to Australia hasn’t been the smoothest transition for Georgie (Catherine Tate), but it’s about to get even bumpier when Prince Frederick, her golden-child brother and the heir to the British throne, unexpectedly makes the trip Down Under. The prospect of a royal reunion throws Georgie’s staff into a panic, but it has an even bigger effect on her, as she runs off in a fury. Freddie and the staff form a search party, but it seems the runaway princess is hiding in the last place anyone would think to look.
The Last Leg (C4, 10pm)
The satirical comedy show is back for a 28th series – not bad for a show that was initially only intended as a companion to Channel 4’s coverage of the London 2012 Paralympics. So, Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker should definitely know the ropes by now, but The Last Leg is still capable of throwing up a few surprises, not least because of the guest stars. And tonight, the regulars are joined by actress and broadcaster Miriam Margolyes, who is never shy of voicing her opinions.
Keeping up with Krystal Versace (BBC Three, from 10.05pm)
Cameras follow Drag Race UK series three winner Krystal Versace as she prepares for her solo show. Krystal and her drag family will share the iconic London Palladium stage for the very first time, but will the pressure to pull it all off before opening night cause a rift in the family? We’ll see Krystal at a costume meeting and her first choreography rehearsal, before the queens discuss their group number, and question if they will be able to overcome their nerves or crumble at the last minute.
