PICK OF THE DAY Leonardo

Drama, 9pm & 10.10pm

Or, What Poldark Did Next… The BBC’s period drama was a smash hit and turned its star Aidan Turner (far right, with Freddie Highmore and Matilda De Angelis) into a sought-after commodity.

Having already played artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti in 2009’s Desperate Romantics, he perhaps felt on safe ground when he decided to portray Leonardo da Vinci in his first post-Poldark series, which was initially made available via Amazon Prime in 2021.

The writers have played fast and loose with the facts – if you’re looking for historical accuracy, this isn’t the show to watch. But if an enthralling character study that’s easy on the eye is what floats your boat, then you’ve come to the right place.

The story begins as Leonardo fights against a poisoning charge, forcing him to look back at a key event in his life. Later, he pays a heavy price for success after receiving two new commissions. ★★★★★