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BOX SETS AND ON DEMAND
The Pentaverate (Netflix, from Thu)
It’s been a quiet few years for Mike Myers, but he’s making up for lost time by tackling multiple roles in this new comedy series, which he also created and co-wrote. While some believe that the Austin Powers trilogy is his finest film work, others cite the lower-key but charming So I Married An Axe Murderer as the pinnacle of his career to date. Those who fall into the latter category will therefore be thrilled to learn that The Pentaverate is a spin-off from the 1993 movie. It reveals that since the Black Plague in 1347, five men have been trying to influence world events for the greater good. Canadian journalist Ken Scarborough is inadvertently caught up in an effort to reveal the truth – and may hold the key to saving humanity. Lydia West, Jennifer Saunders, Richard McCabe and Ken Jeong are among the supporting cast.
Tehran
(Apple TV+, from Fri)
The first run of this taut espionage thriller went down a treat with viewers and critics alike, eventually winning Best Drama Series at the 2021 Emmy Awards. Now it’s back for an eagerly awaited second season, which will see multi-Oscarnominee Glenn Close join the ensemble cast. She’s no stranger to the small screen, of course, having previously appeared in the hugely acclaimed series Damages and The Shield. A huge fan of Tehran, it seems she jumped at the chance to play Marjan Montazeri, a British woman living in the city; the character was specifically created for her. Once again the storyline will follow the fortunes of Mossad agent Tamar Rabinyan (Liv Sultan), whose undercover mission places herself and those around her in danger.
The Wilds
(Amazon Prime, from Fri)
For the uninitiated, the first series of this US drama was kind of a cross between Lost, Lord of the Flies and
the reality show Survivor. It followed the fortunes of a group of teenage girls stranded on a desert island after a plane crash, little realising that what was happening to them was all part of an elaborate social experiment. The run received positive reviews from critics and viewers alike, and now the show is back for a second season – and it looks as if its makers have upped the ante by adding a second island populated by, you guessed it, teenage boys. Their activities, struggles and the tension between them (imagine all that pent up testosterone!) will be contrasted with those of their female counterparts.
Soho Theatre Live (Amazon Prime, from Fri)
The venue is famous for being one of London’s most vibrant venues for new theatre, comedy and cabaret. Thankfully, if you’re a fan of stand-up, you don’t need to journey all the way to the capital to sample its events because you can get them in your own home via Prime. The first two series went down a treat with viewers, so it’s no surprise to see a third run heading our way. It will comprise of 10 critically acclaimed comedy performances filmed at the theatre by a range of both established names and rising stars. Alfie Brown, Anuvab Pal, Felicity Ward, Luisa Omeilan, Mark Watson, Michael Odewale, Natalie Palamides, Olga Koch, Spencer Jones and Suzi Ruffell are the participants exercising their funny bones.
Toby Stephens as Oscar Wilde, who is in Reading Gaol and being held in solitary confinement due to his sexuality. So, he is forced to have a conversation with himself, sometimes offering himself comfort, other times acting as his own interrogator, but always trying to come to terms with his humiliating fall from celebrity and acclaim, simply because he loved another man.
Muhammad Ali (BBC2, 10pm)
The conclusion of the documentary about the boxer and activist reveals how he retired from fighting in 1981 at the age of 39 after losing to Trevor Berbick in the fight billed as the ‘Drama in Bahama’. During the late 1970s, the public meat platter that wouldn’t come as standard in most buffets. If all the reminiscing and archive footage leaves you keen to hear more from Queen themselves, the programme is followed by the concert film Queen: Live at the Odeon, which was recorded on Christmas Eve at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1975, and features one of the first live renditions of Bohemian Rhapsody.
observed changes in Ali’s speed and speech. However, he wasn’t actually diagnosed with degenerative brain disease Parkinson’s until 1984. From then on, he continued to travel the world spreading his Islamic faith, becoming a symbol of peace and hope in his later years before his death in 2016.
lifts, often hidden right under passengers’ noses. They begin at the disused Jubilee line areas of Charing Cross station which closed in 1999. Still in excellent condition and used for occasional operational purposes, the area is famous as a film location, with scenes in Skyfall and Paddington and TV series Spooks being shot there.
Secret Spenders: Beat the Price Rises (C4, 8pm)
With the UK hit by rocketing energy bills, food prices and inflation, we could all do with a money makeover. Tonight, Anita Rani is back with a full run of the series which aims to help cash-strapped families battle the cost of living
by secretly filming their out-of-control spending habits. In London, Rai is desperate to know why they can’t pay their debts, until she discovers that her husband MK is spending a small fortune on designer gear. Meanwhile, in Milton Keynes, Daryl needs help to confront his spendaholic partner Natalie to stop her splashing the cash on beauty treatments and eating out. As well as following these two couples, the show also features topical consumer advice, as well as tips and hacks on practical ways to cut costs
Paul Merson: A Walk Through My Life (BBC2, 8pm)
In October last year, former Arsenal and