TV PICKS OF THE WEEK
ATHLETICS: EUROPEAN INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS 2021
Today, BBC2, 5.15pm
Gabby Logan presents coverage of the evening session on day two of the biennial event, held this year at Arena Torun in Poland.
British record-holding pole-vaulter Holly Bradshaw will be hoping to go one better than her silver medal in 2019 and emulate her 2013 triumph this evening. Medals are also decided in the women’s long jump, 1500m and 400m, and the men’s 400m and 60m.
Another Team GB medal hope is Birmingham middle-distance runner Elliot Giles.
A SERVICE OF CELEBRATION FOR COMMONWEALTH DAY
Tomorrow, BBC1, 5pm
The annual Commonwealth Day service will not go ahead due to the pandemic.
Instead, the Queen will share her message in this programme in which the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Countess of Wessex will also talk about the importance of our Commonwealth links. Presented by Anita Rani, the celebration will also include music and readings by the Choir of Westminster Abbey, Nitin Sawhney, Lianne La Havas, Alexis Ffrench.
HARRY HILL’S LONELY ISLAND Monday, BBC2, 10.40pm
Last year, the big-collared funnyman brightened up our lockdown experience fronting his own World of TV series, in which he poked fun at various programmes and genres. Now he’s back in a quartet of short and silent black and white comedy shows. Hill has written and directed each of them; he also pops up in leading roles. They are all set in a different historical period.
THE CELEBRITY CIRCLE FOR STAND UP TO CANCER Tuesday, C4, 9.15pm
Not only is The Circle oddly addictive, it’s also the perfect reality format for social distancing. No wonder Channel 4 has brought it back for a celebrity special. The series sees Denise van Outen, Duncan James, Lady Leshurr,
Saffron Barker, Baga Chipz, Kaye Adams and Nadia Sawalha, Rickie Haywood-Williams and Melvin Odoom, and Sam Thompson and Pete Wicks moving into an apartment block, where they will compete to become popular via a social media app – but not all them are being themselves.
DNA JOURNEY Wednesday, ITV, 9pm
Last year, Ant and Dec used DNA and genealogy to explore their roots, and now other celebrity pairings are getting a chance to do the same.
First up are old A League of Their Own mates Freddie Flintoff and
Jamie Redknapp. As a proud Lancastrian, Freddie’s biggest fear is that he may discover a DNA link to Yorkshire, so what sort of surprise awaits him at Wakefield Mining Museum?
Meanwhile, Jamie’s journey takes him to the East End, where he’s about to presented with the key to a mystery that has remained unsolved for generations.
RETURN TO DUNBLANE WITH LORRAINE KELLY Thursday, ITV, 9pm
It remains the most lethal mass shooting on British soil. On March 13, 1996, gunman Thomas Hamilton
shot 16 children and their teacher dead in the gym hall of Dunblane Primary School, before killing himself. Saturday marks the 25th anniversary of the massacre.
In this deeply moving and personal programme, Lorraine
Kelly speaks to survivors and families and highlights the enduring spirit and resilience of the Dunblane community.
LATER- WITH JOOLS HOLLAND Friday, BBC2, 10pm
Singer Laura Mvula will be choosing and discussing her favourite performances from the Later... archive, while performing and making their TV debut is South London post-punk four-piece Dry Cleaning.
Finally, the show also welcomes back Paul Weller for a special performance of a track from his forthcoming LP, Fat Pop (Volume 1).