TV CHOICE
THE BEST OF THE REST ON TONIGHT
NEW Summer Of Rockets BBC2, 9pm
Stephen Poliakoff’s drama takes us back to England in 1958, a country riddled with racism and underpinned by nuclear war paranoia. Our touchstones in this uneasy milieu are Jewish emigré Samuel and MP’s wife Kathleen, played by Toby Stephens and Keeley Hawes, who give this mesmeric story an off-kilter, slowburn ignition. Slow your pulse rates and prepare for take-off.
The Virtues C4, 9pm
If Stephen Graham doesn’t get a Bafta for his portrayal of the wounded Joseph in this searing drama then something is seriously wrong with the system. No comment on that. Joseph’s now back in Ireland for an emotional reunion with the sister he hasn’t seen since childhood.
Mum BBC2, 10pm
If you haven’t binged your way through the whole of this glorious closing series, we salute your restraint – we are not made of such strong stuff. Lesley Manville and Peter Mullan are pitch-perfect as hesitant lovers Cathy and Michael, their flowering relationship tonight getting Cathy’s son Jason (you’ll want to shake him) hot under his doltish collar.
NEW Judge Romesh
Dave, 10pm & 10.30pm It must be all of three days since Romesh (has he gone mononymous, dropping the Ranganathan?) launched a new show. But relax, the bubble hasn’t burst – he’s back with another run of this daytime judge shows parody.