WEEKEND TV CHOICE

SATURDAY

Queen: A Rock History (C5, 9.20pm) Channel 5 often devotes part of its Saturday night schedule to royal documentaries, but this week it’s turning to rock royalty instead. And bands don’t get much more regal than Queen.

November marked the 30th anniversary of frontman Freddie Mercury’s death, bringing with it tributes and documentaries, but it seems viewers just can’t get enough of the band’s story. Even their movie biopic Bohemian Rhapsody was an Oscar-winning success – and it brought their music to a new generation.

But just why do we continue to be rocked by Queen? Obviously, the music is a big part of it, not to mention Mercury’s incredible voice and impressive stage presence (for proof, look no further than their legendary, career-defining performance at Live Aid).

However, the new two-part documentary Queen: A Rock

History aims to dig a little deeper into how these four nice boys from the English suburbs came together in the first place, and how they managed to create such an impressive legacy.

Narrated by Simon Callow, it hears from people who were close to the band, as well as biographers and famous fans, and uncovers some of the stories behind their songs.

It also explores some of the ups and downs of their career, including the bad management deals that saw them living on just £60 a week, and reminds us how unlikely their rise to fame really was. After all, their hit Bohemian Rhapsody has become so ubiquitous, it’s easy now to forget that it’s also deeply strange – and according to this documentary, the lyrics may have been based on the band members themselves.

Before we learn whether Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor or John Deacon saw a little silhouetto of a man though, the opening episode explores their early attempts to break into charts through the evolution of Mercury’s on-stage persona. It also reveals some of the musical influences behind their chart debut, Seven Seas of Rhye, and why we have David Bowie to thank for their first appearance on Top of the Pops.

There’s also a look at how Killer Queen arguably set the template for Queen’s future success, and how

Tonight’s documentary delves into how Queen came together