PICK OF THE DAY
The Misadventures Of Romesh Ranganathan: From My Sofa BBC2, 9pm
There’s virtually a whole genre now of shows born out of the necessity of lockdown, but though the constraints of social-distancing filming can be tiresome, Romesh Ranganathan has adapted to the challenge with irreverent relish.
Stuck at home with his noisy children and plagued by the busy doorbell, he still finds time to catch up through video calls with the friends he’s made around the world on his television travels. In this episode he’s reacquainted with the people of Albania, where his bleak expectations were confounded by surprising hospitality.
He also compares notes with those in the Canadian Arctic, and while catching up with mates in Mongolia, Ranganathan (far right) shares with us previously unseen footage of his near-death experience during a high-speed car rally.
DRAMA The Luminaries BBC1, 9pm
As the final episode of the series based on Eleanor Catton’s Man Booker Prize-winning novel begins, Anna is in serious trouble. On trial for murder, her cause looks lost – even her lawyer refuses to mount a defence. The only person who can save her is Emery, and he’s missing. But Anna’s arch-enemy Lydia may inadvertently bring the lovers back together, enabling them to fight for justice.
SPORT MOTD Live: FA Cup Semi-Final BBC1, 5.30pm
Two years ago, Manchester United lost to Olivier Giroud’s (above) Chelsea in the final. Can the Red Devils take revenge when they meet again at Wembley today (kick-off 6pm)? In Live Premier League (BT Sport 1, 1.30pm & SS ME, 3.30pm), Bournemouth host Southampton (k.o. 2pm) and Leicester City travel to Spurs (k.o. 4pm). Highlights are in
MOTD 2 (BBC1, 10.30pm).
POLITICS Trump In Tweets BBC2, 10pm
No other world leader has used social media – in particular Twitter – as controversially, regularly or with as much impact as US President Donald Trump (below). Here, The Vivienne, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, narrates this view of how Trump’s tweets have drummed up publicity for the causes he embraces and poured scorn on both the people and issues he hates.
SPORT Live Formula 1 Sky Sports F1, 2.05pm
The Hungarian Grand Prix is the third race of this unusual season. Lewis Hamilton has triumphed at the Hungaroring for the past two years – can the British driver make it a hat-trick of consecutive victories today? Highlights are on Channel 4 at 7.30pm.
DRAMA The Merchant Of Venice: Royal Shakespeare Company BBC4, 9pm
Acclaimed director Polly Findlay took charge of this 2015 production which, despite a lack of bigname stars, is still a powerful depiction of the Bard’s tragedy. Israeli actor Makram J. Khoury plays Shylock, a moneylender who demands a pound of flesh in lieu of an unpaid debt.