The best TV this weekend: A new Doctor Who arrives and it’s Bambie Thug's big Eurovision night
DOCTOR WHO DOUBLE BILL
Friday
BBC iPlayer, from midnight; BBC1, Saturday, from 6.20pm
Let’s be honest about something: VPNs are a fact of life. Loads of people use them every day to get around geo-blocking, so there’s no point in pretending they don’t.
The BBC’s new Doctor Who co-production deal with Disney, which has added millions to the budget, means episodes of Ncuti Gatwa’s first full season gets a simultaneous global launch on the iPlayer in the UK and Disney+ in the US at midnight, followed by the usual Saturday screening on BBC1.
This opening double bill sees the Doctor and companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) first landing on a planet of space babies, and later zipping back to the 1960s to meet The Beatles.
SUGAR
Apple TV+
If you’ve been following this series, you’ll know that last week’s episode had one of the biggest WTF? twists in television history. In this penultimate episode, Sugar (Colin Farrell), fearing for the safety of his friends, attends a clandestine gathering where he learns a dangerous secret, and the truth about Olivia.
NERVES OF STEEL
RTÉ1, 8.30pm
Filmed over two years in Emerald Park in Ashbourne, Co Meath, this behind-the-scenes documentary follows the trials and tribulations of building Europe’s longest intertwining rollercoasters.
THE TWELVE: CINDERELLA MURDER
More4, 9pm
The engrossing Belgian courtroom drama, which has already spawned a less effective Australian version starring Sam Neill, returns for a second season. This time, a woman and her father are on trial in Antwerp for the murder of his partner.
THE YOUNG OFFENDERS
BBC1, 9.30pm
The much-loved comedy is back after a gap of four years, but Jock (Chris Walley) is largely absent from the opening episodes. He’s stuck in a prison in Colombia, the result of him and friend Conor (Alex Murphy) unwittingly getting involved in a farcical drug-smuggling operation. It’s a riotously funny return.
SUITS
BBC1, 11.20pm
Such is the British obsession with Meghan Markle, the glossy legal drama that brought her stardom receives its first ever showing on the BBC — four years after the series ended. Will Piers Morgan be watching?
Saturday
EUROVISION SONG CONTEST
RTÉ1/BBC1, 8pm
Even those of us who couldn’t be bothered watching the Eurovision in any year have to feel a little sorry for Bambie Thug. They’re the first Irish act to make it to the final since 2018, and it happens to be in a year when a large number of viewers are likely to tune out in protest against Israel being allowed to take part.
As usual, Marty Whelan is our man in the commentary box in Malmö, while Graham Norton does the honours for the BBC. At the time of writing, the odds on Ireland winning are 12/1, with Croatia the favourite at 11/8.
BETTANY HUGHES’ TREASURES OF THE WORLD
Channel 4, 7pm
Think Egypt’s pyramids are ancient? They’re practically a new build compared to the 7,000-year-old palace in southeast Turkey the historian visits. It actually predates writing.
SPY/MASTER
BBC4, 9pm & 9.45pm
The middle double bill of the excellent espionage drama. Now that Victor (Alec Secareanu) has made his desire to defect known and is holed up in an CIA safe house, the Russians, East Germans and Romanians are all out to get him. Back home, his family fear the wrath of Ceaucescu.
HANCOCK
BBC4, 10.40pm
A real gem from the drama vaults: the 1991 Screen One film charting the final eight years in the life of Tony Hancock. Alfred Molina is superb as the troubled comedy star, and there’s terrific support from Frances Barber and Mel Martin as his two wives, Freddie and Cicely.
Sunday
STARDUST
RTÉ1, 9.30pm
Showing on consecutive nights, this major three-part documentary by Maire Kearney, who made Whistleblower: The Maurice McCabe Story, focuses on the Stardust nightclub fire and the 43-year search for justice undertaken by the families of those killed.
This first episode delves into the days and weeks before the fire. Monday’s looks at the aftermath and the official response, and Tuesday’s brings the story up to date with the emotional verdict.
THE BAFTA TELEVISION AWARDS
BBC1, 7pm
It’s a bit crazy that the final season of The Crown has somehow ended up with four nominations at the TV Baftas but there’s plenty of good Irish talent nominated, including Cork’s Eanna Hardwick who is up for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Sixth Commandment.
HUDSON & REX
Alibi, 7pm & 8pm
Judging by the global popularity of this Canadian series, partnering a detective with a dog is always a winning recipe. This is the sixth season.
THE RESPONDER
BBC1, 9pm
There’s a little respite from the intensity as Chris (Martin Freeman) helps a confused man (Kevin Eldon) in pyjamas who wants to know where the sun has gone.
ROB AND RYLAN’S GRAND TOUR
BBC2, 9pm
Television commissioners fondness for throwing together a couple of celebrities and letting them loose on a gimmicky jaunt continues as Rob Rinder and Rylan Clark follow in the footsteps of Lord Byron, beginning in Venice.
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