TV & Radio
Highlights and listings
TRAVEL Michael Palin In North Korea
After two years of planning and high-level negotiations, Michael Palin was granted unprecedented access to North Korea for his latest travel documentary. The two-parter – something of a coup for Channel 5 – sees ever affable and curious Palin travel more than 1,300 miles from south to north, discovering everyday life for the population in the capital Pyongyang to exploring the snowy peaks of Mount Paektu. Palin visits sites and locations rarely, if ever, explored in his journey across the country, while spending time with citizens from all walks of life and witnessing the country’s extraordinary annual May Day celebrations.
Thursday, Channel 5, 9pm
THRILLER
Killing Eve
Everything about this spy drama suggests it is going to be a huge hit. Already wildly received in America, it stars Grey’s Anatomy’s Sandra Oh as Eve Polastri, a low level MI5 security officer who yearns for a more exciting life. When a Russian politician is murdered, Eve is tasked with protecting the only witness and soon finds herself on a collision course with violent assassin Villanelle, played by rising British star Jodie Comer.
So begins the cat and mouse of hunter and hunted, as writer Phoebe Waller-bridge (star and creator of Fleabag) plays with spy thriller conventions by putting two strong women at the heart of the action, but making Eve anything but a female 007. Also starring Fiona Shaw as intelligence boss Carolyn Martens.
Binge watchers can take comfort from the fact the box set is released on iplayer after the first episode airs.
Today, BBC1, 9:15pm
SCIENCE Monkman & Seagull’s Genius Guide to Britain
The former University Challenge contestants and real-life best friends Eric Monkman and Bobby Seagull take a road trip in search of hidden gems of British scientific and technological ingenuity.
The four part series begins in England with the pair visiting Blackpool Pleasure Beach to experience Sir Hiram Maxim’s 1904 Captive Flying Machines, a lawnmower museum in Southport and Emley Tower near Huddersfield, one of the tallest freestanding structures in the UK, where they put their mathematical prowess to the test and measure its height using only a piece of string and a protractor.
Monday, BBC2, 8pm
COMEDY
Bad Move
The sitcom about the travails of an urban couple who move to the countryside returns with Nicky and Steve (Kerry Godliman and Jack Dee, who is also a co-writer with Pete Sinclair) struggling to make their house habitable.
Wednesday, STV, 8pm
COMEDY
Defending The Guilty
Will Sharpe plays idealistic pupil barrister Will Packham in a promising six-part comedy from the makers of Cold Feet and Friday Night Dinner.
Mistakenly believing his role is to serve justice, Will is given a sharp reality check by his cynical, worldlywise pupilmaster Caroline, played by Katherine Parkinson. Not only does Will have to navigate his way through a criminal justice system seemingly designed to be as opaque and confusing as possible, he must also deal with his fellow pupils, each of them after the same single job at the end of their training and more than happy to stab each other in the back to get it. Can he succeed and hold on to his principles? Or will the system claim another victim?
Also starring Hidden’s Gwyneth Keyworth as Danielle and Prasanna Puwanarajah (Doctor Foster )as Ashley. ■
Wednesday, BBC2, 10pm