Saturday television & radio
6.20pm & 7.05pm, BBC One
The charismatic Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education) stars in his first full series as the Time Lord alongside Millie Gibson as his companion Ruby, following their wellreceived debut in 2023’s Christmas special. In the far future, Ruby learns the Doctor’s secrets when they encounter a baby farm being run by babies that is also haunted by a mysterious Bogeyman. And in the second part of a double bill from revitalising showrunner Russell T Davies, the duo meet the Beatles during a trip back to the 60s, but discover that the evil Maestro (Drag Race’s Jinkx Monsoon) is hatching a plot to change history.
Eurovision Song Contest 2024
8pm, BBC One
Prepare to feel disappointed if you’re a fan of UK entry Ollie Alexander and his song “Dizzy”, because the form book shows that the UK (with the exception of Sam Ryder in 2022) have fared dismally at Eurovision since the millennium (Switzerland and Croatia are currently joint bookmakers’ favourites). Live coverage of the 68th annual song competition comes from the Malmö Arena, Sweden - 50 years since the nation’s most famous musical exports lifted the trophy with Waterloo. It is hosted by Hollywood actress Malin Åkerman and Eurovision veteran Petra
Mede, with BBC commentary as always from Graham Norton.
Our Dream Farm with Matt Baker
8pm, Channel 4
Jeremey Clarkson certainly wouldn’t have made it this far in the ongoing contest to see who can win the tenancy of a National Trust farm in Northumberland – but then, Clarkson could probably afford to buy the place outright. Anyway, the final four are tasked with creating a rotational grazing system to manage livestock in a sustainable way. And after a busy night in the lambing shed, judges Sally and Giles observe the wannabe tenants’ livestock handling skills.
An Invitation to Murder
8pm, Channel 5
Channel 5 is catering for Eurovision-phobes by repeating this Agatha Christie-style US whodunnit set in 1934 and starring Mischa Barton, Chris Browning and Bianca A Santos. Six strangers are invited to the remote island mansion of billionaire
Lewis Findley, and as the weekend progresses, clues about why they have been invited begin to unfold, along with a sinister mystery.
Spy/Master
9pm, BBC Four
This tense Romanian espionage drama, set in the late 70s, makes a good companion piece to the ongoing documentary series
Secrets and Spies: A Nuclear Game (see Wednesday’s TV choices).
Victor Godeanu (Alec Secăreanu), the Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceauescu’s head of security and a defecting KGB spy, is now holed up in a West German safe house with CIA agent Frank Jackson (Parker Sawyers), awaiting his escape to America. But Victor is becoming increasingly anxious.
Match of the Day
10pm, BBC Two
For football fans wondering where the highlights have got to while Eurovision continues on BBC
One, they’re over here. Fulham vs Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur vs Burnley are featured. Gerard Gilbert
The Karate Kid
12.30pm, Channel 4
(John G Avildsen, 1984)
The other great sporting underdog movie from the director of Rocky, this rousing, touching, well-drawn film had a generation of boys balancing on one leg to practise the crane kick. Ralph Macchio plays a weedy teen who is bullied at his new school until he is taught life lessons, wisdom and karate by Mr Miyagi (Pat Morita).
The Book of Eli
9pm, Film4
(Albert & Allen Hughes, 2010) Denzel Washington stars as the inscrutable, scripture-quoting hero Eli, who roams a lawless postapocalyptic landscape meting out his own brand of justice with swords, shotguns and karate kicks, while Gary Oldman hams it up a treat as his warlord antagonist. Mila Kunis and Ray Stevenson also feature in the cast.
Copshop
9pm, Channel 4
(Joe Carnahan, 2021)
Various Mob hitmen, fixers and corrupt cops congregate in the same remote (but high-tech and well-staffed) police station for a violent showdown, while rookie cop Alexis Louder makes a valiant stand. Solid B-movie thrills with a few 70s stylings and nods to siege movie classic Assault on Precinct
13. Gerard Butler stars.
Laurence Phelan