PICK OF THE WEEK TV CHOICE

SATURDAY

Pet Shop Boys at the BBC (BBC2, 7.35pm)

An evening of programmes dedicated to Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe kicks off with clips of their performances at the BBC. It’s followed by Reel Stories in which the pop duo talk to Dermot O’Leary about pivotal events in their long, chart-topping career while watching clips of them in action on the big screen of a London cinema. Anyone who saw Tennant’s appearance on Radio 4 series This Cultural Life, in which he chatted about the moments and people who’d influenced him the most, will know they’re in for a treat - he’s an entertaining raconteur. Following a break for the first edition of a new series of Later... with Jools Holland, the night concludes with another chance to watch Pet Shop Boys: Live in Hyde Park, which was recorded in 2019.

Britain’s Got Talent (STV, 8pm)

We’re already seven weeks into the series and we’ve witnessed some extraordinary acts so far. Will there be more on the way as the auditions continue in London and Manchester? Of course there will. Expect a mix of hilarious haplessness and consummate skill from the participants hoping to impress judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Bruno Tonioli and Alesha Dixon. Whether any of them receive the golden buzzer is anybody’s guess, but what we do know is that Ant and Dec will be on hand to either congratulate or commiserate with the performers as they leave the stage.

Afterglow (BBC4, 9pm)

This Norwegian comedy drama, created by Kjetil Indregard and Atle Knudsen, is a story of love and life and all of the glorious and silly things we do before we die. Ester Sand (Possession’s Nina Ellen

Odegaard), the one person who her lovedones think will live forever, finds out she has cervical cancer on her 40th birthday. But after the initial shock, it is Ester who comforts the people in her life, and she has no intention of leaving the world just yet. Torbjorn Harr, Sara Khorami and Hermann Sabado also star.

The Fab Five: The King’s Grandchildren (C5, 9.20pm)

From their previous marriages, King Charles and Queen Camilla have 10 grandchildren between them. But while hers from the children she had with Andrew Parker-Bowles largely remain out of the spotlight, his via Princes William and Harry are constantly monitored by the press. As Harry now lives in the US, Archie and Lilibet are rarely seen, but William’s three offspring - George, Charlotte and Louis - are familiar figures who often steal the limelight at official events. Here, viewers learn more about their lives and the role the monarch plays in bringing the youngsters in his blended family together.

Later... with Jools Holland (BBC2, 9.50pm)

The last time we saw him on TV, Holland was sketching his rather impressive back garden in Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir over on Sky Arts. But now he’s on more familiar ground - the 62nd series of his much-loved and admired music show is about to begin. Once again the pianist is setting up shop at the iconic Alexandra Palace in north London, where he’ll be joined in the first episode by Hozier, Arlo Parks, Lisa O’Neil, Thee Sacred Souls and Venbee. Music photographer Jill Furmansky also drops by to discuss an exhibition of her work at Manchester Central Library.

SUNDAY

Great Manchester Run (BBC1, 11am) Legendary Olympian Mo Farah is set to join the Manchester crowds one last time ahead of his retirement this September. The Team GB icon has been one of the nation’s greatest sports personalities for more than two decades, winning four Olympic goals medals, six world titles and countless records, but he is set to hang up his running shoes later this year. Before he does, he will be running his second Great Manchester Run in the 20th anniversary edition of Europe’s biggest 10k. Jake Robertson of New Zealand won the men’s race in 2022, with Kenya’s Hellen Obiri finishing first in the women’s version.

Live Challenge Cup Rugby League (BBC2, 2.35pm)

Castleford Tigers face Hull FC in British rugby league’s most prestigious knockout competition for the fifth time in nine seasons, with this afternoon’s tie followed by the quarter-final draw. The Airlie Birds have won the previous four Challenge Cup encounters between the sides and narrowly held off a stunning Tigers fightback to beat them 32-30 on the opening weekend of the current Super League campaign. Can recently-appointed Castleford head coach Andy Last mastermind a victory against the club where he played and coached?

Countdown to RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023 (BBC1, 6pm)

Officially the annual extravaganza doesn’t begin until Tuesday, but luckily for us, the BBC has early access so is sending some of its reporters to the site for a mooch around. Sophie Raworth and Joe Swift reveal what we can expect from the 2023 event which is adopting several themes: inclusivity and promoting gardening for all, minimum effort for maximum reward, how to garden in an ever changing climate, and uncovering the value of gardening for our health and wellbeing. Of course, this is only the start of the Beeb’s coverage of the event. Across the week, there’ll be a

chance to see what’s going on during special shows on both BBC One and Two. And if you miss any of it - there’s a highlights programme next Sunday.

Antiques Roadshow (BBC1, 8pm)

Angela Rippon paved the way for dancing newsreaders back in the 1970s, so it’s no longer unusual to see them high-kicking their way through a routine or two. Nevertheless, we rather like the idea of watching Fiona Bruce tripping the light fantastic with Strictly judge Anton Du Beke when the pair meet up in the grounds of Belmont House in Kent. Don’t worry, there’s the usual batch of valuations to look forward to as well, including a piece of

HMS Bounty, a pair of bronze owls containing something unexpected, and a silver honey pot.

Malpractice (STV, 9pm)

This medical drama really should have come with a health warning - not only will your nails be bitten down to the quick, your heart rate is bound to rise throughout each episode, and you may be left with a headache while trying to figure out what is going on. But don’t worry, this is the final episode, so you should soon be able to take a deep breath and put it all behind you. Well, that’s what we’re hoping anyway. Lucinda continues her desperate search for the truth, placing herself in danger in the process. Meanwhile, George and Norma are left wondering if she can be trusted. Niamh Algar has been superb in the lead role, and we can expect more stunning moments throughout the episode. Jordan Kouame and Helen Behan co-star.

Depp v Heard (C4, 9pm)

Last year, between April and June, Hollywood star Johnny Depp and his ex-wife, fellow actor Amber Heard, faced each other in a courtroom in Fairfax County, Virginia. He was suing her for defamation; she countersued. The legal battle was live-streamed and generated a massive response on social media. This new four-part documentary, being broadcast on consecutive nights, asks if those responses may have impacted on the case, and whether it’s possible to have a truly fair trial when the world is watching and everyone has the chance to post their own observations online.

MONDAY

Great Coastal Railway Journeys (BBC2, 6.30pm)

Michael Portillo is once again letting the train take the strain as he returns for a new series of adventures around the British Isles. He begins in the self-governing Isle of Man, which he discovers is a paradise for anyone with a passion for rail travel. He takes the Manx Electric Railway to the capital of Douglas, where the former politician learns more about the island’s parliament the Tynwald, which predates Westminster. He then swaps to the Isle of Man Steam Railway to travel along the east coast to Castletown.

Maryland (STV, 9pm)

As one of Britain’s most popular and successful actresses, Suranne Jones must get her pick of the TV scripts. However, she’s also coming up with her own projects - she co-created her new three-part drama Maryland, which is showing across consecutive evenings this week, with writer Anne-Marie O’Connor. It’s the story of Becca (Jones) and Rosaline (Eve Best), two very different sisters whose lives have taken them in opposite directions. They are brought back together by the news that their mother’s body has been found on the Isle of Man. The siblings are confused about what their mum was doing there, but when they land on the island, it becomes clear she was leading a secret second life. Look out for Stockard Channing, who to some people will always be Rizzo from Grease, among the supporting cast.

Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland (BBC2, 9pm)

Last month marked the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Now, this major five-part documentary series offers a voice to the people who lived though The Troubles, hearing from those on all sides of the conflict, starting in the late 1960s and leading up to 1998. The first episode looks at how a time of relative peace in Northern Ireland gave way to widespread community conflict. Contributors include Billy, who describes how his experience of growing up in poverty and seeing few opportunities for young Catholic nationalists contributed to him becoming involved in violent street disorder. The episode also hears from James, who as a working-class Protestant teenager worried that the protests could lead to a united Ireland, and a young British soldier who admits he arrived in Northern Ireland with little understanding of the unfolding situation.

Steeltown Murders (BBC1, 9pm)

The drama exploring the almost 30-year hunt for the killer behind the deaths of three young women in the Port Talbot area continues, as it shows how the unsolved case hung over the community. As a result, when a swabbing operation begins, Paul realises he is just not trying to catch a criminal - the DNA evidence could also potentially clear the names of some individuals who have had to live with rumours and allegations linking them to the murders. Can the police and the people of Port Talbot finally get the justice they have been seeking?

No Room for Error (ITV4, 9pm)

Airing a week before this year’s event, this documentary series shown over four consecutive nights, goes behind-thescenes of the Isle of Man TT Races. On-track rivalries and otherwise unseen battles of the heart are all played out, with the riders constantly weighing up risk and reward against a backdrop of family life and, perhaps, ultimate loss. Legendary riders such as John McGuinness, Peter Hickman and Michael Dunlop feature, along with many of their main rivals such as Dean Harrison, Lee Johnston and James Hillier. They all give an unfiltered look into the life of a TT racer.

My Name Is Reeva (C4, 11.05pm)

Paralympian Oscar Pistorius was seen as a hero around the world until Valentine’s Day, 2013, when he fatally shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Much of the subsequent press coverage concentrated on Pistorius’s fall from grace, but now this three-part documentary puts the emphasis back on Reeva. It follows her parents, Barry and June Steenkamp, as they prepare to confront their daughter’s killer, but it begins as they look back on her early life and reflect on how the parole process has brought them fresh grief.

TUESDAY

Waterloo Road (BBC1, 8pm)

Kelly Jo’s ready for a big day at school. However, when her mum Debs fails to show up to support her, she has to rely on Nicky for comfort and later confides in her. Nicky is then left with a moral dilemma, which sets the cat among the pigeons for the Rafferty family. Meanwhile, Amy finds herself developing a crush on a colleague, and after Neil dishes out some unsolicited advice, she decides to make a bold move. But is she being rash and has she got the wrong end of the stick? Finally, Kim’s day gets off to a bumpy start as her and Lindon’s conversation is overheard. Then, a brutal meeting with the school’s dissatisfied governors leaves her seeking solace in an old friend.

The Greatest Auction (C4, 8pm)

AJ Odudu hosts as more millionaires, private collectors and serious dealers compete to buy extraordinary items. In tonight’s edition, a bidding war breaks out over two vintage Hermes handbags. Plus, a print by famous street artist Invader goes