MUST-SEE SHOWS
DAVID BOWIE: FINDING FAME
Tonight, BBC2, 9pm IT’S three years since Bowie passed away, but the public’s fascination with him lives on. In 2013, documentary-maker Francis Whateley produced Five Years, which looked at five key periods in Bowie’s career. It was followed in 2017 by The Last Five Years, which explored his creative surge in the lead-up to his death. Whateley concludes the trilogy by turning the clock back to the 1960s, starting when he changed his name to Bowie. The film also examines his early hits and features interviews with those who knew Bowie, including his ex-girlfriends, mime artist Lindsay Kemp and Woody Woodmansey, the last remaining Spider from Mars.
THE BRITISH ACADEMY FILM AWARDS 2019
Tomorrow, BBC1, 9pm THE 2019 film awards season has thrown up a few surprises here and there. Nobody expected the Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody to do so well, or for Black Panther to snatch the coveted Best Ensemble Cast trophy at the recent SAG Awards. While Black Panther isn’t in the running in any of the Bafta categories, Bohemian Rhapsody is up for Best British Film and Rami Malek has been nominated as Best Actor. Best Actress looks like a two-horse race
involving Glenn Close for The Wife and Olivia Colman for The Favourite.
MASTERCHEF
Monday, BBC1, 9pm NEW series. John Torode and Gregg Wallace host the cookery competition, as a new batch of contestants are put through gruelling culinary challenges to test not just their skills, but also their knowledge of food and ability to cope in a professional kitchen. The first seven hopefuls get to work using ingredients including brown shrimp, mussels, mackerel, beef mince, and pork tenderloin.
THE GREAT BRITISH SEWING BEE
Tuesday, BBC2, 9pm SOME viewers may have feared that this sewing contest was done for – especially as the last series aired in 2016. But we needn’t have worried. The Great British Sewing Bee is returning for a new series. Presenter Claudia Winkleman has been replaced by comedian Joe Lycett. In the opening episode, he meets 10 of Britain’s best amateur stitchers, who are vying to impress judges Patrick Grant and Esmee Young.
CLEANING UP
Wednesday, ITV, 9pm IN the final episode of the series, Sam’s world falls apart when her
landlady returns with some devastating news, and she is forced to face the disastrous consequences of her actions. Coming clean to Dave could solve Sam’s problems, but she risks losing her family.
Meanwhile, Jess is left heartbroken when her business plan falls through. With no job and no home, Sam moves in with Jess and together they decide to concoct a brilliant but dangerous idea to try and get their lives back on track.
FIRST DATES: VALENTINE’S SPECIAL
Thursday, Channel 4, 10pm THE restaurant of love throws opens its doors at the most romantic time of the year, as maitre d’ Fred Sirieix and his staff hope to help more singletons find their perfect match. Hopefuls include Hannah, a graduate from Watford, who has a particularly long list of requirements for her dream man. Others include a mother and son from south-east London and make-up artist Demi, who turns out to be best friends with waitress Laura, which unnerves date Danny
when he finds out.
GRANTCHESTER
Friday, ITV, 9pm REELING from his family tragedy, Will seeks distraction in Geordie’s world where a curious case unfolds concerning the murder of a Teddy Boy at a dance hall. The boy’s pockets reveal a library card from Esme’s school, and even more disturbing, a picture of Esme herself. Geordie heads to the school and grills his daughter. She pleads ignorance, but Will knows something is up when he spots her hiding a love letter. Away from the vicarage, Mrs Chapman feels lost, while Cathy is shaken by another encounter at work. Robson Green and Tom Brittney star. Last in the series.