TV & Radio
Highlights and listings
King Lear
Anthony Hopkins leads a dazzling cast in this modern day film version of Shakespeare’s great tragedy, which is a BBC and Amazon co-production. Hopkins, reprising a part he has played on stage many times, is the ageing king who divides his kingdom among his daughters, Goneril (Emma Thompson), Regan (Emily Watson) and Cordelia (Florence Pugh) – according to their affection for him.
When Cordelia refuses to flatter him, he banishes her in a petulant outburst before discovering, to his and the nation’s enormous cost, that Goneril and Regan are only interested in the power they have acquired.
Adapted and directed by Richard Eyre, this unmissable exploration of greed, love, power and mortality, also stars Jim Broadbent, John Macmillan and Andrew Scott, with Karl Johnson as The Fool.
Monday, BBC2, 9:30pm
Ed Sheeran At The Biggest Weekend
With no Glastonbury this year, the Beeb has expanded its Big Weekend festival into The Biggest Weekend, a multi-city musical celebration with a starry line-up playing across the weekend in Belfast, Perth (Scone Palace), Swansea and Coventry. Ed Sheeran kicks off an evening of gigs, with a performance from Swansea on BBC1, before the action switches to BBC2 for the likes of Emeli Sandé, Sam Smith and Noel Gallagher, from 7:45pm. Tomorrow’s line up includes Taylor Swift on BBC1 at 7:30pm and Florence and the Machine and Liam Gallagher on BBC2 from 9pm.
Today, BBC1, 6:45pm
Britain’s Got Talent
It’s live semi final time on BGT so Declan Donnolly will be on solo presenting duties from Monday as eight acts take their turn each evening to try and make the final.
Monday to Friday, STV, 7:30pm
How Wars Began
Tucked away on BBC Parliament is a rerun of a six-part series first shown in 1977 of historian AJP Taylor exploring the origins of some of the most important modern wars.
One of the first to popularise history through television, Taylor delivered each episode straight to camera with no notes, no autocue and only a clock for guidance.
The series looks at the history of modern warfare beginning with the French Revolution. Taylor saw it as the first truly modern war, the first time the established ideologies of the monarchy and conservatism were challenged by presenting nationalism and liberalism as alternatives.
The series also looks at The Crimean War, the war of national liberation in Italy, the Prusso-austrian War, the Franco-prussian War, the First and Second World Wars and the Cold War. Each episode is followed by a contemporary take on Taylor’s style of television history from journalist and broadcaster Steve Richards, who will be giving six talks in the style of How Wars Begin, focusing on turning points in contemporary politics.
Tomorrow, BBC Parliament, 8pm
French Open: Rolandgarros 2018 Live
In Andy Murray’s absence, Kyle Edmund is Britain’s best hope in the French Open, which begins tomorrow. ITV4 has extensive daily coverage and contributions from experts including Martina Navratilova, Marion Bartoli, and Jim Courier.
Tomorrow, ITV4, 9:30am
Antiques Roadshow Coronation Special
Fiona Bruce and the experts are aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia for a special edition of the show to mark the 65th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation. ■
Monday, BBC1, 8:30pm