by On British TV next week, cancer campaigner Deborah James’ achievements are highlighted in a powerful new documentary, while on Saturday nights she gets an injection of razzmatazz thanks to the return of Britain’s Got Talent.
Also ITV1 brings a certain amount of controversy to the schedules with its three-part dramatization of the crimes of Raoul Moat.
Saturday 15th April/Sunday 16th April – 8pm/7.45pm: Britain’s Got Talent | ITV1
Usually, all BGT talks before the broadcast would be more eccentric hopefuls. But this year all eyes are on the jury, thanks to the departure of David Walliams (who recently apologized for the “disrespectful comments” made about the participants in 2020) and the arrival of Bruno Tonioli.
To know more: What happened to the BGT winners?
We’ve already received press reports of a Simon Cowell prank that backfired when the Syco boss feigned injury from a crossbow arrow fired by the former strict judge. But now we can assess Bruno’s impact for ourselves thanks to a double schedule of episodes on Saturday and Sunday. This is the tidy weekend, so…
Saturday, April 15, 21:25: Lyra | C4
When investigative journalist Lyra McKee was shot and killed by dissident Irish Republicans at the age of 29, tributes were paid around the world, with US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi even saying held a press conference and minute’s silence in his memory.
To know more: Lyra McKee killed in suspected ‘New IRA’ terrorist shooting.
Now, the reporter’s close friend, documentary filmmaker Alison Millar, has used salvaged voice recordings and dictaphones to help tell McKee’s story in her own words, as family members speak of their grief and the quest for justice. it followed his death.
Hilary Rodham Clinton, who serves as executive producer on the project, said: “With the Good Friday Agreement under threat, the film couldn’t be more timely and is an important watch for anyone concerned about peace in Northern Ireland.”
Sunday 16 April – Tuesday 18 April, 21:00: The hunt for Raoul Moat | ITV1
In lesser hands, this could have been a crappy, exploitative business, but screenwriter Kevin Sampson has done a great job of shedding light on the human tragedies behind Britain’s biggest real-life manhunt.
To know more: The Hunt for Raoul Moat: Paul ‘Gazza’ Gascoigne’s Bizarre Involvement in the Case
Lee Ingleby takes center stage in the three-parter (broadcast over three nights) as Neil Adamson, the senior Northumbrian police officer who leads the race against time to apprehend Raoul Moat (Matt Stokoe), the ‘man recently released from prison who has now embarked on a horrendous killing spree armed with a shotgun…
Sunday 16 April, 9pm: Fear of the dark | Channel 4
We’ve heard of celebrities forgoing the limelight but not the light entirely. Yet that is the challenge facing the stars who enter a pitch-black bunker in Scared of the Dark to see how they fare for eight days in complete darkness.
Even before an episode aired, this experimental game show was garnering attention, thanks to the actions of one of its participants: Chris Eubank. How long the former boxer will last remains to be seen, but he’ll share his living space with the likes of Paul Gascoigne, Nicola Adams and Scarlett Moffatt, and compete for items that will make their lives easier. Danny Dyer hosts.
Monday, April 17, 9pm: Deborah James: Bowelbabe in her own words | BBC2
Filmed during the final months of her life, Dame Deborah James speaks candidly about the reality of living with bowel cancer, her tireless campaigning and the effect her disease has had on those closest to her.
As such, it’s a poignant watch, especially in light of the fact that we already know the end of it, with James having passed away at his parents’ home in Woking in June 2022.
To know more: The stars we lost in 2022
But what hasn’t yet been seen by the public are unedited cellphone clips, footage of which is offered here, along with James’ roundup of TikTok and Instagram videos.
Wednesday April 19, 9pm: Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir | Arts of Heaven
Ornithology and Comedy: An Unlikely Combination? It may seem like an odd mix, but then comedian Jim Moir has never been one to conform to expectations.
To know more: Jim Moir has given up on his Vic Reeves alter ego
And his latest series proves both charming and entertaining, with Jim seen in the company of his wife Nancy venturing into the countryside with the aim of creating an original work of bird art while in the company of twitchers, conservation experts and artists. A feature-length documentary, A Brush with Art, which also features Jim, follows and delves into the connection between comedy and art.
Friday April 21st: Dead Ringers Episodes 1-6 | Amazon Prime videos
David Cronenberg’s 1988 thriller is reworked and genre-flipped for a new generation with Rachel Weisz as the dual lead of Elliot and Beverly Mantle, twin gynecologists who will be seen performing ethically questionable procedures on infertile women.
All six episodes of the psychosexual thriller will release simultaneously, a move that will no doubt get viewers involved in the brothers’ mission to push the boundaries of medical ethics, whatever it takes. Expect dark humor and subversive body horror.
Watch: Rachel Weisz on playing twins in Dead Ringers
