TV & Radio
Highlights and listings
COSTUME DRAMA Vanity Fair
There’s a big budget for this take on Thackeray’s novel set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic wars and following the fortunes of poor but ambitious Becky Sharp, who is determined to improve her lot in life.
Co-produced with Amazon, Olivia Cooke, star of Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One and the TV series Bates Motel, plays Sharp, while a huge cast of characters offer delicious parts for lots of well-known names including Johnny Flynn as hapless, loyal Dobbin, Martin Clunes as scheming Sir Pitt Crawley, Frances de la Tour as vain Miss Matilda Crawley, Suranne Jones as snobbish Miss Pinkerton and Michael Palin as Thackeray himself. Look out too for Simon Russell Beale, Claire Skinner and Tom Bateman in a seven-part must-watch drama adapted by Gwyneth Hughes.
Tomorrow and Monday, STV, 9pm
DRAMA Wanderlust
This six-part Bbc/netflix co-production stars Toni Collette and Steven Mackintosh as a couple who, finding themselves in a sexual rut, start to explore the idea of relationships with other people.
For therapist Joy (Collette) it could be the best way to save their marriage, but complications arise when other people walk into their lives. Also starring Fresh Meat’s Zawe Ashton and and Line of Duty’s Royce Pierreson.
Tuesday, BBC1, 9pm
ENTERTAINMENT The X Factor
The Saturday night behemoth returns with a new line-up to try and reinvigorate the show, which has seen its ratings and importance slip in the last year or two. So out go Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger and in come Robbie Williams, his wife American actress Ayda Williams and One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson, who will judge the wannabe talent along with Simon Cowell.
The series sees the return of the arena auditions, where the hopefuls will have to perform not only for the judges but live in front of members of the public.
Today, STV, 8pm
DRAMA Press
Charlotte Riley plays a deputy news editor on a struggling London broadsheet and Ben Chaplin is the editor of a successful tabloid in a new six-part newspaper-set drama. In the first episode, the two clash as each paper investigates the death of a young woman following a hit and run, while a new reporter is sent on their first ‘death knock’.
Thursday, BBC1, 9pm
PANEL SHOW The Imitation Game
Alexander Armstrong hosts a show which sees two teams of impressionists, led by captains Rory Bremner and Debra Stephenson, go head-to-head as they re-enact iconic movie scenes, re-voice news footage, sing surprising cover versions and put unlikely words in the mouths of celebrities.
Guest panellists include established names such Jon Culshaw, Alistair Mcgowan and Jan Ravens along with up-and coming talent such as Luke Kempner, Anil Desai and Jess Robinson.
Tomorrow, STV, 10:05pm
DOCUMENTARY Reported Missing
A sobering three-part series following what happens after someone is reported missing to the police. In the first episode a 12-yearold boy from Darlington with learning difficulties has stormed off after a row with his mum and seemingly disappeared, while in County Durham a 13-year-old girl is missing having left behind a suicide note. ■
Monday, BBC1, 9pm