Best on the Box
Stuff’s James Croot picks out this week’s TV highlights.
Eddie the Eagle, 7pm, Saturday, Three
Taron Egerton and Hugh Jackman star in this 2016 dramatisation of the story of Eddie Edwards, the notoriously tenacious British underdog ski jumper who charmed the world at the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Bear’s Mission with Rob Brydon, 7.30pm, Sunday, Choice
In this 2017 ITV documentary, the Chief Scout takes the Would I Lie to You? host on an adventure in the mountains of Snowdonia. Situated in North Wales, it is described as being some of the UK’S harshest wilderness.
Dara and Ed’s Road to Mandalay, 7.30pm, Monday, Choice
Three-part BBC series which sees Irish comedians O’briain and Byrne embarking on an expedition from the bright lights of modernday Malaysia to the jungles of Myanmar.
The Country Doctor, 8.30pm, Monday, Rialto
Medically trained French filmmaker Thomas Lilti’s 2016 tale is a slight, but sweet character study whose handheld footage and terrific performances add greatly to its charm. There’s something of a James Herriot-feel to Dr Jeanpierre Werner’s (Francois Cluzet) rounds and the locals he encounters, while his struggle to accept he’s not irreplaceable will strike a chord with many of the film’s target audience.
Paddington 24/7, 7.30pm, Thursday, Prime
This eight-part documentary series goes behind the scenes at one of Britain’s busiest train stations. This first episode looks out a big day for staff on the Western Network as 20,000 football fans who have travelled from Italy and Spain head from Paddington to Cardiff for the 2017 Champions League final.
The Free Man, 8.30pm, Thursday, Rialto
Toa Fraser’s 2017 extreme sports documentary looks at, first, our own Olympic freestyle skier and X-games gold medallist Jossi Wells, and second at an investigation into what makes high-wire thrillseekers The Flying Frenchies tick. That the two intersect is down to Wells seeking new adventures and exploring the opportunities life has to offer after his own near-death experience.