PICK OF DIGITAL & ON DEMAND TV
JUDY GARLAND NIGHT, FROM 8PM, BBC4
BARRY NORMAN gets an evening devoted to Judy Garland under way with a brisk and informative profile of the great actress at 8pm. That’s followed by an episode of Talking Pictures focusing on the Hollywood musical, and featuring interviews with Garland, among other big stars of the genre’s golden age. Take in all the archive footage Norman uses and, at 9pm, compare it with Renee Zellweger’s sensational performance in the 2019 biopic Judy, for which she won an Oscar, a Bafta and a Golden Globe. The film focuses on the end of Judy’s career as she performs in London in 1968, but doesn’t dwell too heavily on the sadder aspects of her life, presenting a weary woman with talent and humour intact. Finally, see the real Judy at the height of her powers in A Star Is Born (10.50pm), that gutwrenching tale of showbiz at its most feral. Garland (pictured) gives it her all as the star in the ascendant, and James Mason was never better than as her feckless husband, making the ultimate
sacrifice for her sake.
CLASSIC CRIME
Prime Suspect, ITV Hub OVER 30 years since its debut in 1991, Prime Suspect remains Lynda La Plante’s masterpiece. Helen Mirren (pictured) plays Jane Tennison, a DCI on the trail of perverts and psychos. All the while, she must contend with the casual sexism of a police force that refuses to take the idea of a lady cop
— not to mention
crimes against women — seriously. Mirren is wonderful, but don’t miss Tom Bell as a hacked off sergeant determined to do her down, and Stuart Wilson as Tennison’s tortured analyst boyfriend. Prime Suspect went on a couple of seasons too long, but this is still the series every whodunit wants to be, and is available in its entirety on ITV’s streaming service.
UNSCRIPTED LAUGHS
Backstage With Katherine Ryan, Prime Video STAND-UP comedians have a very direct way of talking to each other, and their frank and frequently funny backstage exchanges are the compelling core of Katherine Ryan’s new show, which was filmed at the Roundhouse in London. Performers Sue Perkins, Joel Dommett, Rob Beckett, Sarah Millican, Nick Mohammed, Geoff Norcott and Jimmy Carr are just some of those filmed having appealingly politically incorrect exchanges in the green room.