FIVE THINGS FOR YOUR WEEK...
Dangerous Liaisons, Lionsgate+, from Sunday
Before anyone suggests that, following the Oscarnominated 1988 movie, the film Valmont, which was released a year later, and various other takes, the world doesn’t really need another version on Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’s epistolary novel Les Liaisons dangereuses, this TV series promises to be a little bit different. It’s a prequel to the original tale, revealing how the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont met and became passionate young lovers in Paris on the eve of the French revolution. Alice Englert stars as Camille, who is taken under the wing of the then-Marquise (played by the wonderful Lesley Manville), while Nicholas Denton portrays Valmont. As he vows to regain the title recently taken from him, she uses everything at her disposal to gain power in a world dominated by men.
Queens for the Night, ITV & STV, 8.30pm, Saturday
As anyone who has watched any of the various iterations of RuPaul’s Drag Race will know, drag is its own art form – and there’s a lot more to it than simply dressing up. If you’re still not sure just what it involves, then Queens for the Night, hosted by Lorraine Kelly, could prove to be the perfect introduction as a group of celebrities unleash their inner divas for one-night only. The famous faces taking the plunge are Coronation Street favourite Simon Gregson, fitness icon Mr Motivator, Love Island star Chris Hughes, Union J’s George Shelley, EastEnders legend Adam Woodyatt and England rugby star Joe Marler. They will be given mentors along with a makeover as they master the skills they need to put on a cabaretstyle show for judges Melanie C, Rob Beckett, Courtney Act and Layton Williams.
Celebrity Mastermind, BBC1, 5.30pm, Saturday
The celebrities have to nominate a specialist subject on Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel, but there’s a good chance they won’t have to answer questions on it, depending on which way the wheel spins. However, the famous faces taking part in the new series of Celebrity Mastermind have no chance at a reprieve.
The Masked Singer: I’m a Celebrity Special, ITV & STV, 7.30pm, Sunday
I’m a Celebrity is returning to the jungle, and ITV obviously thinks that’s something worth celebrating as it’s marking the occasion with a special episode of one of its other biggest hits. The four stars who have signed up for this one-off won’t have to take part in any trials, but they will have to don a junglethemed costume.
Countryfile Ramble for BBC Children in Need 2022, BBC One, 6pm, Sunday
Presenters Matt Baker, John Craven, Anita Rani, Charlotte Smith and Margherita Taylor lead rambles with some incredible young people who have been supported by a BBC Children in Needfunded project. Matt is in Northern Ireland with Saul, aged 12, who has a rare form of dwarfism and an unquenchable thirst for adventure, and Anita is in Wales on a testing ramble up the highest peak of the Cambrian Mountains.