THIS WEEK’S TOP TV PICKS
HEALTH Freddie Flintoff: Living With Bulimia Monday, BBC1, 9pm
He was one of the most gifted cricketers of his generation, and is now a muchloved TV host on the BBC’s Top Gear and Sky’s A League Of Their Own. However, throughout his 20 years in the limelight, Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff (pictured, above) has been hiding a secret: he’s been living with bulimia, an eating disorder that is characterised by bingeing food and purging. In this powerful documentary, he goes on a personal journey, meeting specialists and young men with eating disorders from across the UK. Then, at the end of the programme, he asks himself – do I need professional treatment once and for all?
DRAMA Life Tuesday, BBC1, 9pm
A star-studded ed new drama from Mike Bartlett, tt, loosely connected to his series Doctor Foster. Within the four flats of a single Manchester house are riveting veting tales of lives at a crossroads. For Gail (Alison Steadman, pictured, above) and Henry (Peter Davison), their long marriage is in crisis. David (Adrian Lester) and Kelly (Rachael Stirling) face a different turning point in their relationship. Belle (Victoria Hamilton) – known as Anna in Doctor Foster, but who has now changed her name – finds herself having to take on far more in the way of family responsibility than she had bargained for, while for pregnant Hannah (Melissa Johns), birth is going to be very different from what she had expected.
DOCUMENTARY The Savoy Wednesday, ITV, 9pm
It has hosted rock stars and royalty, Oscar ar winners and world le leaders during its 130 years beside the River Thames. And d now, legendary ary hotel The Savoy voy is opening its revolving doors to TV viewers, as cameras capture the most dramatic period of its colourful history, from the busy winter season to its devastating coronavirus shutdown in the spring. In this week’s first episode, the reception staff greet David ‘The Hoff’ Hasselhoff (pictured, above) as he walks through the hotel on his way to his performance at the Savoy Theatre, and there are tensions over at The Savoy Grill when owner Gordon Ramsay drops by to do a menu-tasting.
COMEDY Have I Got News For You Friday, BBC1, 9pm (N Ire, 9.30pm)
The previous s series of HIGNFY, shown at th the height o of lockdown, was th the most r remarkable y yet. The show w was filmed remotely, with ith guest hosts hosts, team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton (pictured, above), and panellists participating from their own homes. Without an audience to laugh at the jokes, not all viewers were impressed. The show returns for its 60th series this week in its 30th year, with Homeland actor Damian Lewis guest-hosting, and blind comedian Chris McCausland and deputy political editor of The Spectator Katy Balls helping to supply the answers. Best of all, it has been announced that there will be a (reduced) live audience in attendance.
ENTERTAINMENT The Graham Norton Show Friday, BBC1, 10.45pm
Subject to any ny new lockdown wn restrictions, th things could be getting back to normal for N Norton (p (pictured, right) as he returns for a 2 28th series of his popular chat show. Two of his guests – country and western music icon Dolly Parton and Emmy-winning star of The Night Of, Riz Ahmed – will be joining him via video call, while three others will be popping into the studio itself. They are actor Rupert Everett, comedian and actress Lolly Adefope and standup Sara Pascoe, who will all hopefully be on the sofa to discuss their latest projects. Music comes courtesy of Irish singer-songwriter Roísín Murphy, who will be performing her single Murphy’s Law.