Home//What's on TV/25-Mar-23/In This Issue
What's on TV|25-Mar-23HOT TV THIS WEEK!NEWGreat ExpectationsSunday, 9pm, BBC1 DramaOlivia Colman takes on the iconic role of wealthy jilted bride Miss Havisham in this new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic novel. Fionn Whitehead plays adult Pip in this famous tale of the orphan who meets escaped convict Magwitch (Johnny Harris). Shalom Brune-Franklin also stars as Estella, Miss Havisham’s adopted daughter.P13GraceSunday, 8pm, ITV1 DramaRoy Grace and his team are called to a deadly road-traffic collision involving an articulated lorry, a car and a blue pick-up truck. Something unexpected is found on the victim, suggesting there could by foul play at work, sparking an unsettling chain of events that leads Roy and colleague Glenn on a tense, desperate game of cat and mouse through Brighton…P8NEWProject IconSunday, 9pm, BBC3 RealityJordan North hosts this TV talent contest that sees…4 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23Farewell…Best known for…Lee was a child actor in the early 1980s, playing Harvey Moon’s son Stanley (right) in the hit ITV sitcom Shine on Harvey Moon. He starred in the landmark 1987 gay drama The Two of Us, and played Bevis Loveday in Grange Hill.Other achievements…He also appeared in The Gentle Touch and London’s Burning, plus movies Wish You Were Here! and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.Legacy…Lee died on 17 February, aged 54. Paying tribute on social media, his agent wrote: ‘Lee was a great actor who has left a legacy of brave and groundbreaking work achieved at a particularly young age.’…1 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23Coming soon…★ Cult comedy Inside No. 9 is returning to BBC2 for an eighth series of five strange tales with surprising twists, starring Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith. One story is a spoof of the 1970s classic TV sitcom On the Buses and will feature veteran comedy star Robin Askwith (above, centre).★ Guy Ritchie’s action comedy Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre on Prime Video will feature Jason Statham (right) as superspy Orson Fortune, who recruits a film star (Josh Hartnett) on a mission to stop the sale of a deadly new weapons system.★ Nicole Kidman (left) and Zoe Saldana headline the upcoming Paramount+ spy series Lioness. Based on a real-life CIA programme, it follows US Marine Cruz (Laysla De Oliveira), who is recruited to help bring down a terrorist organisation.★ David…1 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23You liked…Now try…BRIEF ENCOUNTERSon ITV1If you enjoyed…This 2016 comedy drama set in the 80s and based on a true story of four women in Sheffield, played by Sharon Rooney, Dame Penelope Wilton, Sophie Rundle and Angela Griffin, who became saleswomen for Ann Summers sex toys, sometimes to the disgust of their loved ones.MEN UPon BBC1You’ll want to check out…This upcoming one-off drama set in the 1990s and based on the true story of a group of impotent men from South Wales who were placed on the world’s first clinical trial of the pill that went on to become Viagra. Phaldut Sharma, Iwan Rheon, Mark Lewis Jones and Steffan Rhodri star as the test subjects.…1 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23Mean streets!NEWBLUE LIGHTSMonday, 9pm, BBC1 Drama (box set, BBC iPlayer)Grace Ellis has given up her career as a social worker to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland, but her new beat throws her into danger!This six-part BBC1 crime drama follows Grace and fellow recruits Tommy (Nathan Braniff) and Annie (Katherine Devlin) into a world of intense pressure.‘Grace is courageous and resolute,’ says Sian Brooke, who plays her. ‘She’s in her 40s, a single mum, and she’s leaving everything behind to change career.’In this week’s first episode, Grace and her partner, Stevie (Martin McCann), are called to a disturbance involving Angela Mackle (Valene Kane), who’s concerned her teenage son, Gordy, is being exploited.Caring‘It turns dangerous and Grace ignores protocol to help,’ explains Sian. ‘She’s compassionate and comes in with a fresh…1 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23Blame and guilt!CASUALTYSaturday, 9.25pm, BBC1 DramaEmotions are running high in Holby ED. It’s the day of nurse Robyn Miller’s funeral and senior nurse manager Jacob Masters has organised agency cover so Robyn’s friends and colleagues can say goodbye.Robyn (Amanda Henderson) died after a road-traffic accident left her fighting for her life.Not even super-surgeon Sacha Levy (Holby City’s Bob Barrett) could save the beloved nurse. Last week, after Robyn passed away in theatre, many of Jacob’s staff quit, including David Hide and Marty Kirkby!This week, ostracised Jacob (Charles Venn) plans to go to the funeral but changes his mind when it’s clear he isn’t welcome. Instead, Jacob throws himself into work and attempts to bury his feelings.But as the shift continues, Jacob’s guilt festers as he treats grieving father Clark (In the Long…1 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23Keanu proposes!Monday MUST-SEE EPISODE!Since Keanu reappeared in Walford, it’s been clear he and Sharon are still into each other but other people keep getting in the way.Sharon’s been hurt to learn he’s got history with Sam, plus she’s been put out by his recent dates with Chelsea. There’s also Keanu’s mum Karen, who the fact that she doesn’t want her son in a relationship with the former Mitchell!But Keanu can’t deny his feelings and decides to take one last shot to win over Sharon…Family plans‘Keanu is pursuing Sharon because all he wants is to create more than an amicable relationship with her. As they have Albie together, he understands they will always be co-parenting but Keanu wants to create a family with Sharon, so at the start of the week, he…1 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23He raped meAaron may well think Amy consented to having sex with him but his flatmate was utterly comatose when he took their drunken snog to the next level.Unable to tell anyone, Amy has carried the secret around, hating that her best mate Summer, who’s Aaron’s girlfriend doesn’t know.But this week, Summer reads a text message Aaron’s sent Amy and demands to know what’s been going on. Sticking and Amy slept together, but she’s got it all wrong.In a dark place, Amy finally tells her horrified parents about the rape and follows their advice to report the crime. With Aaron facing arrest, Amy has another awful conversation with Summer…‘When Amy does turn around and tell Summer that she didn’t consent to this, she believes her,’ reveals Harriet Bibby, who plays Summer.Will Aaron…1 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23Soap gossip★ Debra on tourDebra Stephenson, AKA Frankie Baldwin in Corrie, is going on tour. Her comedy show, The Many Voices of Debra Stephenson, begins in Bognor Regis at the end of April. Debra will showcase impressions of celebrities including Billie Eilish and Kate Bush.★ Shanu’s on the rise!A new BBC3 drama led by a bunch of rising acting talent will star Shanu Hazzan, best known as EastEnders’ Fraser Shelton, who raped Tiffany Butcher. Set in the early 2000s, Grime Kids is about a group of youths setting out to make their mark in music.★ Neighbours news…With the Neighbours revival due to start filming this spring, it’s been announced that Annie Jones (Jane), Georgie Stone (Mackenzie), Tim Kano (Leo) and Rebekah Elmaloglou (Terese) will return! It will air on Amazon Freevee…1 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23Hot to trot?CELEBRITY HUNTEDTuesday, 9pm, C4 Factual (box set, All 4+)Katya Jones will have to quickstep like never before as one of 10 celebrity fugitives escaping the glare of the spotlight and going on the run, with a crack team of Hunters in hot pursuit, in a new series of Celebrity Hunted.‘It’s a chance for me to show my versatility,’ says Strictly Come Dancing pro Katya, who teams up with Olympic snowboarder Aimee Fuller for the show in support of C4’s Stand Up to Cancer.‘Lots of my friends are going through it [battling cancer] with their family or close friends, so it’s a good reason to do something worthwhile… and put yourself through hell at the same time!’Also hoping to remain under the radar for 14 days are comic James Acaster and…1 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23Dancing queens!DNA JOURNEYTuesday, 9pm, ITV1 FactualLast year, former Strictly star Oti Mabuse revisited her childhood home in South Africa for a BBC special to find out about her family. Now, she is returning with her sister, Strictly judge Motsi, to delve further into their history.They’re keen to find out whether performance genes run in the family. However, the search is hampered by the lack of records for the black South African population.‘We don’t know any further back than our great-grandparents,’ says Dancing on Ice judge Oti. Consequently, she says, there’s a sense of something being missing.‘There’s always this pride of knowing where you come from,’ she says. ‘We don’t have that.’Oti hopes that going on the DNA journey will fill that void.‘It will give us more purpose but a lot of…1 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23NEXT WEEK’S ISSUERAIN DOGSNew darkly comic drama about a peculiar love storyPILGRIMAGEMore celebrities embark on a spiritual journeyCORONATION STREETAmy can’t cope when mum Tracy takes action* For a more detailed reading of your stars, ring your sign’s Starline. Starlines are updated every Thursday. Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge and last about three minutes. You must have the bill payer’s permission. Users must be 18+. SP: Spoke 0333 202 3390COMPILED BY: SEAN MARLAND. PHOTOS: BBC, GETTY, ITV…1 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23Going live!LIVE!LATE NIGHT LYCETTFriday, 10pm, C4 EntertainmentQ How does it feel to have your own Friday-night show?A I’m really chuffed. I love the idea of doing a risky live show from Birmingham. When I started doing standup, my aspirations were just to get enough gigs to survive. I still pinch myself and think, ‘Oh my God, this is my job!’Q What can viewers expect from the show?A Birmingham will feature heavily. We’re doing it by the canal and it’s going to be rough around the edges. There will be a hodgepodge of guests mixing with Birmingham locals. The guests will get stuck in with the anarchy and chaos. We’ll also have outside broadcasts that may be hosted by people with no experience of live TV… That’s all I can say!Q Will…2 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23Affair of the heartGRACESunday, 8pm, ITV1 DramaAfter discovering his wife, Ari, has been cheating on him, DS Glenn Branson is battling to save his marriage.The detective is hoping to move back home after staying with friend and colleague Det Supt Roy Grace, although it’s not clear whether he’ll be welcome.While Ari isn’t sure she and Glenn have a future, Roy is relieved to see his old friend back at work, and after a deadly road collision, the pair stumble upon a sinister case.‘This is probably my favourite case of the series,’ says Richie Campbell, who plays Glenn. ‘It starts off as a regular road accident but they find a bag with drugs in it. Soon things start spiralling out of control and it’s a race against time. Plus there’s lots of action for…1 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23Burning questions!BEYOND PARADISEFriday, 8pm, BBC1 DramaWhen a fire breaks out in the hay barn of farmer Lucas Fairly (Simon Harrison), and the word ‘pig’ is found daubed on his tractor, DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) and DS Esther Williams (Zahra Ahmadi) assume they’re searching for an arsonist with a grudge against him.But after two more blazes, one in a timber barn and one in the brick wine cellar of Archie Hughes (Jamie Bamber) – both featuring the ‘pig’ graffiti – Humphrey fears the case may be more complex.And when Humphrey learns Archie recently upped the insurance on his wine cellar, Archie’s brought in for questioning – where he makes a shocking revelation…Love rivals‘This episode is great because Archie is a suspect!’ explains Jamie. ‘There’s some paranoia involved for Archie, which adds…1 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23All that JAZZ!NEWBIG NIGHT OF MUSICALSSaturday, 7.50pm, BBC1 EntertainmentGet set to enjoy spectacular performances as some of the UK’s best-loved musical-theatre shows come together for one evening only in Big Night of Musicals.For the second year running, the event sees the casts of shows including Les Misérables, Wicked and Shrek take to the stage of the Manchester Arena for a musical extravaganza.Raising the roof‘To walk out on stage in your home city in front of 12,000 people, knowing you’ve got one hell of a show, was exciting,’ says host Jason Manford, who’s starred in musicals such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Producers in London’s West End.‘Emotional songs from Les Mis and Wicked always get a standing ovation, but I also loved songs like I’m a Believer from Shrek, Dancing Queen…2 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23Look who’s back…RICKY GROVESCelebrity Mastermind, Saturday, 5.35pm, BBC1FACT FILEOn the Square Ricky’s best known for playing Garry Hobbs (pictured) in EastEnders from 2000 to 2009.Taking a dive Ricky took part in the 2014 series of ITV diving show Splash! plus C4’s Celebrity Coach Trip in 2010.Guest roles He’s also appeared in ITV drama London’s Burning and The Bill spin-off Burnside.Ricky will have a chance to show his intellectual side in Celebrity Mastermind, where he’s up against comedian Harriet Kemsley, Made in Chelsea’s Verity Bowditch, and author and playwright Bonnie Greer, and there are some fascinating specialist subjects, including sloths, Gone with the Wind actor Hattie McDaniel, and Sir David Attenborough! However, Ricky hopes his in-depth musical knowledge of the James Bond theme tunes will see him through his specialist round.JESSICA HYNESThe Great…2 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23Bright sparks!NEWThe PowerAvailable Friday 31 March Genre: Sci-fi Season: 1 Eps: 9 (first three eps from 31 Mar, then weekly)What would happen to the world, and particularly men, if teenage girls suddenly developed the ability to electrocute people at will?That’s the intriguing premise of sci-fi series The Power. The dystopian tale, which globe-trots between destinations including the US, UK, Nigeria and Moldova, stars Toni Collette as Margot Cleary-Lopez, the mayor of Seattle, John Leguizamo as her husband Rob, and Auli’i Cravalho as their newly empowered daughter, Jos.‘My character is witnessing a huge power change across the world, especially a gender dynamic shift,’ explains John, famous for films including Carlito’s Way. ‘His daughter has changed the dynamic in the house, his son is having a difficult time, and his wife is on…4 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23What a week for…Lola’s resultsEASTENDERSThe mum, who has terminal cancer, is asked to go to the hospital to talk about her test results.p20Daisy’s ordealCORONATION STREETHer big day is a horror story when her stalker Justin pounces and throws acid at her…p18Samson exiled!EMMERDALEHe’s thrown out of home when the Dingles learn that he’s been blackmailing Noah…p19Eric sentencedHOLLYOAKSTony’s incel brother is in court for his sentencing, leaving his victims Diane and Maxine scared.p21Karen’s moveDOCTORSShe and Rob learn their house has sold over the asking price but their joy is cut short…p21Felicity’s doubtsHOME AND AWAYTane pushes on with wedding plans but reels when she says she doesn’t want to marry him!p21…1 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23Get out of my house!Wednesday MUST-SEE EPISODE!Amelia Spencer’s been thrilled that her baby daddy, Samson Dingle, has had a change of heart about seeing Esther and has been babysitting so she can work at Pampamanda.But Samson doesn’t care about the baby. His interest is in Amelia’s boyfriend Noah’s trust fund and he’s been draining it, telling his Dingle cousin he’ll stay away from the girls for the right price. However, that number has kept on rising.This week, Samson continues to fool Amelia and scores more brownie points when he calls an ambulance for Esther, who has a dangerously high temperature.‘Amelia really does want Samson to be involved,’ says Jack Downham, who plays Noah. ‘She’s not seeing past this facade Samson is putting up.’When Samson later calls in to ‘check on Esther’, he’s really there…1 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23FUN!£500 CrosswordSolve the clues and rearrange the letters in the shaded squares to spell out the name of an American actor (4,7). To enter, see below right. The winner gets £500. Usual rules apply (below).ACROSS1 Paul -----, British comic and TV Chaser (5)6 Sitcom with Ralf Little, Two Pints of -----and a Packet of Crisps (5)7 -----Hird, Edie in Last of the Summer Wine (5)9 1970s William Conrad US drama series (6)11 See picture clue: Anthony ----, star of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (4)12 ------of Three, comedy with Frank Skinner, Jenny Eclair and Henry Normal (6)15 Classic John Cleese sitcom, ------Towers (6)17 Rising Damp star (7,8)19 Michael ------, played Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films (6)21 Jacqui ------, Sky Sports football commentator (6)24 Series with Yvette Fielding, ----Haunted (4)25 Jacqueline…4 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23YOUR STARSARIES (21 March-20 April)Mercury is in your sign, so it’ll be easier to be direct in your communication. Focus on getting difficult tasks done.STARLINE: 0905 817 0426*TAURUS (21 April-21 May)Venus in your sign helps you to attract more abundance in the areas of money and love. Remember your worth.STARLINE: 0905 817 0427*GEMINI (22 May-21 June)With Mars leaving your sign, you may feel calmer. Make the most of this serene vibe by carving out some me time.STARLINE: 0905 817 0428*CANCER (22 June-22 July)You may feel all fired up with Mars in your sign. Assert yourself and put your energy into achieving your goals.STARLINE: 0905 817 0429*LEO (23 July-22 August)Spring is in the air, indicating a time of increased energy, optimism and opportunity. Go for what you want!STARLINE: 0905 817 0430*VIRGO (23…2 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23What’s Hot! What’s Not!Wonderful Wild IslesBBC1’s new Sunday-night nature show Wild Isles, fronted by Sir David Attenborough, drew an audience of 5.7m on 12 March for its opening episode. It was up against the final of ITV1’s Dancing on Ice, which pulled in 4.2m.Stacey slumpsThe last instalment of BBC1’s Sort Your Life Out with Stacey Solomon on 8 March tailed off a little, with just 1.8m watching – down on the 2m viewers who tuned in for the first episode of the series. It was beaten by the opener of the new season of ITV1’s The Bay (3.2m).…1 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23Family at war!NEWSUCCESSIONMonday, 9pm, Sky Atlantic DramaMedia tycoon Logan Roy is preparing for battle as Emmy-winning US drama Succession comes to a gripping climax in the fourth and final series.Kendall, Shiv and Roman Roy tried to seize control of their father’s multibillion-dollar firm at the end of the last series, but he was one step ahead of them and cut them out of the family business.To add insult to injury, it was Shiv’s husband, Tom (Matthew Macfadyen), who betrayed their plans to Logan!Now, the siblings must put their differences behind them and unite if they want to find a way back to the table, but will any of them win over their father?‘Logan is finding a successor to his company,’ says Brian Cox, who plays Logan. ‘The kids don’t step up to…1 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23Tricky situation!THE BAYWednesday, 9pm, ITV1 DramaAfter the break-up of his marriage, DI Tony Manning (Daniel Ryan) seems to be enjoying life a little more.‘Tony’s been through a lot of suffering,’ admits Daniel. ‘Now, with all his shenanigans away from the police station, you see a bit of lightness and fun from him.’But Tony’s in an awkward position when he has to ask Jenn to keep a secret from their colleagues to protect his privacy.‘Tony’s always telling them to keep their home and work lives separate,’ says Daniel. ‘And it’s a co*cktail that doesn’t mix well!’…1 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23Mini crosswordWIN £100!ACROSS1 ---Lee, director of 2012’s Life of Pi (3)3 Molly Ringwald romcom from 1987, The ----Up Artist (4)6 ---------Jobert, played DS Florence Cassell in Death in Paradise (9)7 Ray Donovan star, ----Schreiber (4)9 ----Diner, Summer Bay eatery (4)11 TV quiz show hosted by Jeremy Paxman, University --------- (9)13 Milly ----, starred as Walford’s Kirsty ‘Dotty’ Cotton (4)14 ---Clarke, original Neighbours character played by Paul Keane (3)DOWN1 --------Huston, US movie actor (8)2 ---Fring, Breaking Bad drug lord (3)3 Philip ----, played Tony Angelino in Only Fools and Horses (4)4 Red Hot -----Peppers, American rock band formed in 1982 (5)5 Taylor Swift’s second album, released in 2008 (8)8 The Cardigans hit, -----/Rewind (5)10 Carry on ----, comedy film from 1964 starring Amanda Barrie (4)12 2003 film with Heath Ledger and Orlando…1 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23A date with DickensNEWGREAT EXPECTATIONSSunday, 9pm, BBC1 DramaA gripping new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novel Great Expectations follows spirited orphan Pip as he unexpectedly rises through the ranks of 19th-century society.The six-part BBC1 series, penned by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, begins in London in 1839, where Pip (Fionn Whitehead) is in a desperate situation. To uncover what’s led him there, the action flashes back seven years to when the younger Pip (Tom Sweet) is growing up in Kent and dreaming of a better life than the one he shares with formidable older sister Sara (Hayley Squires) and kindly blacksmith brother-in-law Joe (Owen McDonnell).‘Pip has aspirations and strives to get out of there,’ says Dunkirk’s Fionn. ‘He’s lost his parents and is wrapped up in grief but he has a lust for life…2 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23NEWTO WATCHRabbit HoleAvailable: Monday 27 March Genre: Thriller Season: 1 Eps: 8 (first two eps from 27 March, then weekly)In this political thriller, Kiefer Sutherland stars as private espionage operative John Weir, who helps wealthy clients manipulate people and situations to influence financial markets. However, a job goes wrong and he gets framed for murder…The Big Door PrizeAvailable: Wednesday 29 March Genre: Comedy Season: 1 Eps: 10 (first three eps from 29 Mar, then weekly)When a mysterious machine appears in a small town and promises to reveal each resident’s true potential, it changes the lives of everyone, including school teacher Dusty (Chris O’Dowd, pictured).UnstableAvailable: Thursday 30 March Genre: Comedy Season: 1 Eps: 8Rob Lowe (right) stars as biotech genius Ellis Dragon and his real-life son John Owen Lowe plays his onscreen…1 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23Wedding HORROR!Monday MUST-SEE EPISODE!Daisy has been preparing for her wedding day for months now. She’s hustled to get everything just right and now it’s finally time to marry Daniel!But there’s a fly in Daisy’s ointment: her stalker Justin, who’s been scaring Daisy since he appeared uninvited in her life, and he’s about to bring true horror to her door…Waking up on the big day, Daisy tries to squash her doubts about her safety, even though she knows Justin is out on bail – having been charged with assaulting her – and has been branded as ‘dangerous’ by his own sister.‘With everything that’s been going on, it’s quite a brave thing for them to still be doing this wedding as planned,’ says Charlotte Jordan, who plays the barmaid. ‘I think they both…1 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23Whodunnit?Everyone’s been telling Naomi Walters not to get involved with Alex Moore, Dawn’s unscrupulous ex, but he’s done such a good job in playing a decent guy that even her vicar dad Charles has now been taken in. But devious Alex is about to show his evil true colours.This week, as Dawn and Billy head to court in the hope of getting full custody of Clemmie and Lucas, Naomi, Manpreet and Charles all urge Alex to attend the hearing and fight for his kids.‘Charles understands what it is to be a parent but not be part of a child’s life,’ says Kevin Mathurin, who plays him.But Alex has no interest in parenting, nor in Naomi. He’s actually in another relationship with a woman called Clare and plans to rob the…1 min
What's on TV|25-Mar-23The birds and the beesWILD ISLESSunday, 7pm, BBC1 FactualFinding and impressing a mate isn’t always easy, as Sir David Attenborough discovers in this week’s episode of Wild Isles, which looks at the wildlife in our grasslands.For the male hen harrier, courtship means performing an incredible aerial display, then bringing his favoured female a gift of a freshly caught meal.When adders mate, they stay locked together for up to an hour, while the male brown hare must successfully perform three challenges before a female will even consider him as her partner!‘The first test is boxing,’ explains Sir David. ‘He must match her strength. If he can hold his own, he’ll move to the next stage, which is stamina – hares are Britain’s fastest mammal and can reach speeds of 45mph. Then, his final test is…1 min
