The Week’s guide to what’s worth watching
Programmes
Billie: In Search of Billie Holiday Neverbefore-heard interviews with some of the singer’s closest confidants form the backbone of this documentary. They were recorded in the 1970s by Linda Lipnack Kuehl, a journalist working on an exhaustive biography, and it’s her story, too. Sat 13 Mar, BBC2 21:45 (95mins).
Grace New crime drama set in Brighton, based on Peter James’s novel Dead Simple. John Simm stars as Detective Peter Grace, investigating the disappearance of a property developer on his stag night. Sun 14 Mar, ITV1 20:00 (120mins).
Stephen Merchant: Hello Ladies The writer and comedian considers the etiquette of romance from his own particular six-foot-seven vantage point. Sun 14 Mar, BBC2 22:15 (80mins).
Dark Secrets of a Trillion Dollar Island:
Garenne Storyville looks at the historic child abuse scandal that rocked Jersey in 2007, splitting the island community between those who wanted justice for its victims, and those who were worried about scaring away investors – and the campaigners who confronted it. Mon 15 Mar, BBC4 22:00 (90mins).
2020: The Story of Us This feature-length documentary by Oscar-winning director Kevin Macdonald tells the story of coronavirus in Britain through various people affected by it, personally and professionally. Tue 16 Mar, ITV1 21:00 (85mins).
Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane
MacGowan Julien Temple’s starry-eyed profile of The Pogues’ hard-living frontman uses archive footage interwoven with interviews (with Nick Cave, Johnny Depp and a recalcitrant MacGowan himself) to take the viewer on a picaresque journey from Tipperary to punk-era London and beyond. Tue 16 Mar, BBC4 22:00 (125mins).
Films
Peterloo (2018) Mike Leigh’s epic historical drama retells the dramatic events in St Peter’s Field, Manchester, in 1819, when cavalry soldiers attacked peacefully protesting workers, killing 18 and wounding hundreds. Maxine Peake stars. Sat 13 Mar, C4 22:00 (175mins).
Singin’ in the Rain (1952) Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds sing and dance their way through this classic romantic musical about three Hollywood stars trying to make the transition from silent movies to “talkies”. Sun 14 Mar, BBC2 14:35 (100mins).
And When Did You Last See Your Father?
(2007) Tender adaptation of Blake Morrison’s acclaimed memoir about his complicated relationship with his father, a country GP. Colin Firth and Jim Broadbent star. Mon 15 Mar, Film4 01:30 (115mins).