TV & Radio
Highlights and listings
DRAMA
Diana And I
This one-off drama takes the week following the death of Princess Diana in 1997 and uses it to tell four separate stories about how the events affected four ordinary people.
Jack (Nico Mirallegro) is a shy 19-year-old, the only child of an adored mother who dies the same night as Princess Diana; Yasmin (Kiran Sonia Sawar) is unhappily married to Hassan (Asif Khan), a struggling businessman who can’t admit his failure; Michael (Laurie Davidson) is a junior reporter on his honeymoon in Paris with his new wife Sophie (Charlotte Hope) when news of Diana’s death breaks; and Mary (Tamsin Greig) is a struggling Glaswegian florist who hatches a plan to drive to London, with the help of her adoring friend Gordon (John Gordon Sinclair), and sell flowers before the funeral.
Monday, BBC2, 9pm
DRAMA
Doctor Foster
One of the biggest hits of 2015 returns for a much-anticipated second season as Suranne Jones reprises her role as the eponymous doctor, whose life fell apart when she discovered her seemingly perfect husband Simon, played by Bertie Carvel, was having an affair with a much younger woman, Kate (Jodie Comer).
The action in the new five-parter begins two years later as Gemma seems to have settled into a new life, only to find that Simon and Kate are back in the village and he is looking to settle the divorce.
Tuesday, BBC1, 9pm
ENTERTAINMENT
Cannonball
There’s something of Total Wipeout about this 10-part show presented by former-cricketer Andrew‘ freddie’ Flintoff. Based at a water park in Malta, the format, which has already been a hit in Australia and the Netherlands, sees 24 members of the public take part in various tasks to see who can overcome inflatable obstacles and water-based challenges. Pool side commentary comes from a team including singer Frankie Bridge and presenter Radzi Chinyanganya. Silly, but fun.
Today, STV, 7pm
MUSIC
The X Factor
The entertainment behemoth returns with judges Sharon Osbourne, Nicole Scherzinger, Louis Walsh and Simon Cowell searching for another singing star. The last season was noticeable for its change of tone, set by Cowell, who was a lot more pleasant to even the most hopeless auditionees. Dermot O’leary hosts.
Today and tomorrow, STV, 8pm
COMEDY
Back
David Mitchell and longtime comedy partner Robert Webb return in this six-part series about the travails of Stephen (Mitchell), who has just taken over the running of the family pub after the death of his charismatic father. Stephen has high hopes of making it a success (unlike most of his life), until Andrew (Robert Webb) strolls into his life. Andrew was fostered for a few months by Stephen’s parents when he was a 15-year-old and is back to reconnect with the closest thing he’s ever had to a family. As he charms all around him, Stephen is convinced Andrew is a glib, dangerous sociopath who’s about to steal his family, his business and his life.
Wednesday, Channel 4, 10pm
CRIME
Safe House
The hit drama about an ex-police officer who runs a safe house returns, but not with Christopher Eccleston, despite the fact ITV announced it had commissioned a new season starring the former Doctor Who actor. No real explanation is forthcoming, but the rewritten and recast show moves from the Lake District to Wales, with Stephen Moyer in the lead role. ■
Thursday, STV, 9pm