ESCAPE TO FREEDOM THE HOT LIST
THE BEST OF TV AND STREAMING THIS WEEK
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD Amazon Prime from Friday
■ BARRY Jenkins, the acclaimed film-maker behind the Oscarwinning Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk, brings Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel to the small screen in this 10-part series. It tells the story of escaped slaves trying to make their way from the southern states to the free states of the north in early 19th century USA using a network of safe houses. The series centres on Cora Randall (Thuso Mbedu) as she travels north but sinister slave catcher Ridgeway (Joel Edgerton) is in pursuit.
WHEN IN ROME DOMINA, SKY ATLANTIC Friday, May 14, 9pm
■ IT’S power, corruption and togas as we head back in time to the Roman Empire for this eight-part series that examines the rise to power of Livia Drusilla (Kasia Smutniak) who we see transform from naïve girl to scheming politician. In the first episode, Julius Caesar has just been assassinated and young Livia has entered a political marriage with Tiberius Claudius Nero which then forces the couple to leave Rome. In exile, Livia plots her return to Roman society. Isabella Rossellini and Game of Thrones’ Liam Cunningham co-star.
PIONEER OF SOUND
DELIA DERBYSHIRE: THE MYTHS AND THE LEGENDARY TAPES BBC Four, Sunday, May 16, 9pm
■ THIS intriguing Arena portrait is part-documentary, part-drama, exploring the life and work of Delia Derbyshire, the electronic sound pioneer behind the Doctor Who theme tune, suggesting that she indeed lived outside of time and space. Her story is told through an archive of her lost recordings found in her attic after her death and also through the school books, paintings and keepsakes found in her childhood bedroom. A fascinating look at an enigmatic genius and a great companion piece to the recent documentary film, Sisters With Transistors, about electronic music’s female trailblazers, which is available to stream now.
THE WRONG MAN MONSTER Netflix
■ A gripping courtroom drama with plenty of twists along the way that examines the ‘wrong man’ scenario so loved by Alfred Hitchcock. The community is in shock when Steve Harmon (Kelvin Harrison Jr), a smart, popular 17-year-old film student from Harlem, is charged with murder and being a gang member who took part in a robbery. A complex legal battle ensues in which Steve’s attorney, Katherine O’Brien (Jennifer Ehle), admits that Steve being young and black puts him at a disadvantage when trying to prove his innocence to the jury. Powerful stuff with supporting turns from John David Washington, Jeffrey Wright and Tim Blake Nelson.
DARK SECRET
THE PACT BBC One, Monday, May 17, 9pm THIS tense new British crime drama revolves around four co-workers, Anna, Nancy, Louie and Cat who are bound together by a dark secret which changes their lives when their boss is found dead. The four of them agree to a pact of silence about what has happened but Anna’s police officer husband is investigating the shocking death and another worker becomes suspicious of the four women. Continues on Tuesday, May 18, and on Mondays and Tuesdays thereafter. The whole series is available on BBC iPlayer from May 17.