TV PICKS OF THE WEEK
BRIAN COX: HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVE Thursday, Channel 5, 9pm
Actor Brian Cox concludes his exploration of our complicated relationship with wealth by taking a closer look at the American dream, asking if it’s true that anyone can make it big if they just work hard enough. To learn more, he meets people from both sides of the wealth gap, including a member of a media dynasty and homeless people on the streets of Harlem.
THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW Friday, BBC1, regions vary
Daniel Craig drops by to talk about Glass Onion, the eagerly awaited sequel to 2019’s comedy-mystery Knives Out. Emma Thompson is also publicising a movie – the big-screen version of Matilda the Musical, in which she plays the terrifying Miss Trunchbull.
Plus, Ian McKellen and John Bishop discuss teaming up for a touring panto, while Mastermind host Clive Myrie joins in the fun. Music comes from Charlie Puth.
THE SECRET GENIUS OF MODERN LIFE Saturday, BBC2, 6.25pm
Professor Hannah Fry continues her entertaining series delving into the inner working of the modern day tech we take for granted.
This week she looks at digital assistants like Siri and Alexa, and the artificial intelligence behind them. Hannah speaks to Alexa’s chief scientist, reveals how tech invented to hunt U-boats led to smart speakers’ targeted hearing, and discovers wi-fi’s debt to a Hollywood star from the 1940s.
I’M A CELEBRITY GET ME OUT OF HERE! FINAL Sunday, ITV1, 9pm
In years to come, this year’s edition of the survival challenge will perhaps be most remembered for the involvement of Matt Hancock. When the MP and former health secretary arrived in the jungle a few days in, it didn’t sit well with many viewers and most of the campmates and he was duly nominated for all the trials.
Tonight sees the final of the 2022 series as Ant and Dec reveal who the public have chosen to be the new King or Queen of the Jungle.
THE PACT Monday, BBC1, regions vary
It’s the gripping drama’s final episode. Megan and Jamie are forced to reveal what happened at the wedding as Beth and Joe edge closer to uncovering the facts themselves. Meanwhile, the police consider Will to be their prime suspect, despite Christine’s best efforts to clear his name. The pressure of trying to keep everything under control begins to tell on her too, and it isn’t long before
she’s compelled to reveal the truth to the children while grappling with Kayla’s connection to the family.
MOTD LIVE: FIFA WORLD CUP 2022
Tuesday, BBC1, 6pm All being well, Wales and England will have won their first two games, have six points in the bag apiece, and tonight’s match will merely be to decide who secures top spot in Group B. However, we all know things are rarely that simple at major tournaments and chances are that either or both of the sides will need a result tonight at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan to progress to the last 16. The last time the two teams met was in a friendly in 2020, when goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Conor Coady and Danny Ings secured a 3-0 win for Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions at Wembley Stadium. However, with Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey were unavailable for the Welsh that night, and if they play this evening, their experience could be vital for Rob Page’s men.
A ROYAL GRAND DESIGN Wednesday, ITV1, 9pm
A few weeks ago, the now King Charles III appeared in an episode of The Repair Shop, taking presenter Jay Blades on a guided tour of the workshops run at Dumfries House, an estate near Cumnock in Ayrshire, by The Prince’s Foundation, which teaches courses in traditional skills. Now we’re heading back to the property for a documentary 15 years in the making. It charts the then Prince of Wales’ decision to spearhead a campaign to buy and restore the property, which was in a terrible state. The programme reveals how he hoped that bringing it back to its former glory would help give those living in the local area, one of the UK’s most deprived regions, a new sense of hope and pride in their community.