TOP OF THE BOX

Fool Britannia: Series 1 (BBC Entertainment, Channel 120, Sunday, 19:30)

Dom Joly started his career as a journalist, but he evolved into a sly comedian, who plays practical jokes. He creates odd characters for himself and sets up situations in which ordinary people are confronted by his cringingly compulsive comedy. He says he is just making fun of the pompous Brits on TV, but his unsuspecting victims may not agree with his style of raucous comedy.

Here Comes the Boom (M-Net, Channel 101, Today, 20:05)

This amiable comedy stars Kevin James, pictured, as a teacher who helps raise money for his school’s music programme, which is about to be shut down. How he will do this is simple: by becoming a mixed-martial arts fighter. With great supporting actors, including Henry Winkler and Salma Hayek, the film is uplifting and entertaining. The Expendables (M-Net Movies Action, Channel 106, Saturday, 19:00) This 2010 action drama races along, fuelled by pure machismo. Sylvester Stallone directed the film and assembled a team of tough guys to star, including Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger. They are mercenaries, who start with an attack on a gang of Somali pirates. For the next 103 minutes, there are explosions, shoot-outs and action sequences.

Man Caves (Home, Channel 194, Thursday, 19:00)

The old adage says “A man’s home is his castle,” but with a wife and kids, he seldom gets to enjoy the house. In this home-renovation show, host Tony Siragusa and contractor Jason Cameron arrive at a house where the male resident would like one particular room transformed into a male-themed hobby room. Flying Rhinos (BBC Knowledge, Channel 184, Today, 18:00) This tough but honest film tackles the issue of rhino poaching, and shows just how vicious and rapacious the poachers are. It’s not easy to watch, but it is an issue that is on South

Africa’s mind. Pretty Bird (Drama and Romance,

Channel 107, Saturday, 22:30) This independent film is eccentric and odd. An out-of-work engineer (Paul Giamatti) teams up with an optimistic dreamer (Billy Crudup), who believes he has created a rocket-powered belt. Other people join the project but their squabbling leads to a messy finale.