WHAT’S HOT TO WATCH TODAY
I WOULDN’T want to make a habit of it, but it’s good to take an occasional look at UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE (8.30pm, BBC2) hosted by Jeremy Paxman. Mostly I do it when I want to be made to feel stupendously dim. (Sample question: “If X is the square root of the 43rd moon of Neptune, which form of triplecelled molecular bacteria went on to became Prime Minister of Italy?”) But maybe I’ve been missing a trick, because it seems it may also be the place to spot the TV talent of the future.
Before tonight’s round we have episode two of MONKMAN & SEAGULL’S GENIUS GUIDE TO BRITAIN (8pm, BBC2), where shamelessly geeky ex-contestants Eric Monkman and Bobby Seagull are touring the country together in a Mini, whiling away the journey by exchanging boffiny observations – as opposed to just switching on Forever FM and singing along to Spandau Ballet – and stopping at various landmarks to gather more bits of random information with which to refuel their humungous brains.
This week they’re in Wales, where their trip includes a poodle along the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and a journey up Mount Snowdon, albeit via a route that looks like cheating.
FROM geniuses to numpties, tonight’s CORONATION STREET (7.30pm & 8.30pm, ITV) finds Steve McDonald letting slip to his dad that Liz had a onenight stand with Johnny Connor. This gives jealous Jim another of his dastardly ideas. Elsewhere, Steve also manages to get the wrong end of the stick when Tracy offers him a “free pass” ahead of their wedding. Will he twig in time that she means a pass for their hotel’s spa?