PICKS OF THE DAY
Music: Freddie Mercury: The Final Act, BBC4, 9pm
Documentary exploring the last years of the Queen frontman Freddie Mercury’s unconventional life, as well as following the preparations for the concert staged in his memory at Wembley Stadium on April 20, 1992. Regarded as one of the most talented performers in the history of rock music, Mercury (left) captivated fans with his flamboyant stage persona. The film features insightful interviews with Mercury’s bandmates Brian May and Roger Taylor, sister Kashmira Bulsara and friends Anita Dobson and David Wig. Viewers also hear from those who performed at the gig, including Roger Daltrey, Joe Elliott, Lisa Stansfield and Paul Young.
Art: Grayson’s Art Club, C4, 8pm
Artist Grayson Perry (left) and his wife Philippa are joined by comedian Joe Lycett for an edition themed on “the future”. Grayson chats to some of the talented amateur artists around the country who have submitted their artwork, and chooses his favourite pieces for a major national exhibition. Also this evening, artist Conrad Shawcross reveals how his mysterious mechanical sculptures draw inspiration from the past to give wondrous visions of possible futures.
Film: The Imitation Game, BBC1, 10.40pm
Wartime thriller based on the 1983 biography Alan Turing: The Enigma, starring Keira Knightley, Matthew Beard, Matthew Goode, Benedict Cumberbatch and Allen Leech (all above). During the Second World War, scientist and mathematician Alan Turing, played by Cumberbatch, arrives at Bletchley Park, Britain’s codebreaking HQ, and sets about recruiting a team to crack the Germans’ “unbreakable” Enigma Code.
Gardening: Gardeners’ World, BBC2, 8pm
In tonight’s episode of the long-running series, horticulturist Monty Don (right) continues his revamp of the dry garden, repots succulents and plants up a window box ideal for a shady spot. Elsewhere, garden designer Adam Frost goes back to basics and gives advice for viewers who are creating a garden from scratch, and gardening expert Frances Tophill takes a trip to a picturesque garden in North London which has growing produce sustainably at its core.
Travel: Holidaying With Jane McDonald: The Caribbean, C5, 10pm
In the final episode, Jane McDonald (above) visits Antigua, which she visited during her cruise ship years, and decides to track down island celebrities she has always wanted to meet and fulfil a dream of chartering a yacht. She begins her trip by swimming with stingrays, before stopping off at the world-famous English Harbour – home to multimillion-pound yachts.