THE HOT LIST
BEST OF TV AND STREAMING
FEELING THE HEAT BOILING POINT Netflix
■ STEPHEN Graham dons the chef’s whites for this real-time, ‘one-shot’ film about the pressures and tensions in a restaurant over the course of one night. Graham plays Andy Jones, head chef of a top eatery and we follow him and his team during the busiest evening service of the year as the orders pour in, dishes get prepared and tempers fray. Not the most relaxing of viewing but an insight into the stresses and strains of life in the kitchen.
CRICKETING GENIUS SHANE Amazon Prime
■ WITH the shock death of legendary cricketer Shane Warne earlier this month still sinking in after his funeral on Sunday, now is a good time to remember his extraordinary impact on the game with this revealing documentary released just a few months before he passed away. From his famous arrival in Ashes cricket via the ‘ball of the century’ to remove Mike Gatting at Old Trafford on June 4, 1993, through his brilliant Test and one-day career to his coaching stints in the IPL, what comes over is Warne’s incredible talent, unrelenting competitiveness and fine cricketing brain. Drawing on interviews with Warne as well as friends and players, the film also examines his personal ups and downs, including his reputation for living a rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle.
DRUG TRADE COUNTY LINES BBC Three, Friday, March 25, 10pm
■ THE grim reality of the organised network of criminal gangs who control the drug trade is brought out of the shadows in Henry Blake’s hard-hitting film. Conrad Khan is superb as disaffected, frustrated 14-year-old Tyler who is seduced into drug-running after his mum Toni (Ashley Madekwe) loses her job and he feels he has to bring some money into the home they share. Before he knows what he’s getting into, Tyler is mixing with dangerous criminals in a world where life is cheap and making the deal is all that counts. Before that at 9.05pm on BBC Three, documentary Drugsland: Going Country looks at how violent drug gangs have spread their networks into rural towns and villages.
DARK THRILLER DEEP WATER Amazon Prime
■ THIS dark psychological thriller is based on the Patricia Highsmith novel of the same name, so you can expect the same sort of arch observations on human nature that she gaves us in her novels about Tom Ripley – most famously brought to the screen in The Talented Mr Ripley. Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas star as Vic and Melinda Van Allen, a wealthy New Orleans couple whose relationship is at breaking point because of jealousy, resentment and mistrust. But as the mind games escalate, things turn deadly as Melinda’s lovers start to go missing. Directed by Adrian Lynne (Fatal Attraction and Indecent Proposal) who knows a thing or two about this sort of subject matter.
REGENCY ROMP BRIDGERTON Netflix, from Friday, March 25
The raunchy Regency drama returns for a second series of high society shenanigans. We rejoin the wealthy, powerful Bridgerton family and follow their fortunes among wellto-do circles in London as Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) looks for real love amid the lust, gossip and scandal that pervades. The surprising popularity of the first series of Bridgerton was down to its winning combination of period detail, unashamed sexual liberalism and the sly commentary of Julie Andrews’ salacious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown.