The Sarah Jane Adventures (Monday 5pm, BBC1)
The season finale of what has been a quite brilliant series. They say children’s TV is dead, but this gem provides a glimmer of hope for the future. Some old enemies are causing problems for the legendary heroine and her gang of teen sidekicks, but the biggest problem comes from an old friend (no, not that one). And watch for the air punch moment at the end with a brilliant cameo appearance. Don’t be away for long, Sarah.
Coronation Street (Monday 7.30pm, ITV1)
If there’s one thing that Coronation Street does better than any soap, it’s a good bitch-fight, and there’s a cracker. Carla Connor, ignoring her feelings for brother-in-law Liam has been getting back on the romantic horse, but is shocked tonight when a stranger walks into Underworld and opens a can of whupp ass on her. Ah, clearly the scorned wife of her current squeeze, Tony. Oops! Guest starring Susie Amy (oh well, never mind).
Monarchy: the Royal Family at Work (Monday 8.30pm, BBC1)
Considering that this little fly-on-the-wall documentary has caused so much kerfuffle this year and nearly brought the BBC to its knees, it had better be good. And at first glance it seems that this five-part series could actually deliver the goods. Whether the quality of the documentary will be allowed to crawl out from under the dark cloud of controversy and shine on its own merit remains to be seen, but Monarchy is going to be well worth a look, one way or another.
Boy A (Monday 9pm, C4)
A quite harrowing and moving piece of drama about Jack, a young man released from prison following a murder he committed at the age of 10. Now free at 24, he struggles to forge a new life for himself with a new identity in an unfamiliar world. Stunning really, with Andrew Garfield a revelation as Jack, and Peter Mullan providing his usual quality turn as the lad’s probation officer.
Spooks (Tuesday 9pm, BBC1)
As always, we here at TV Today towers will be settling down to our weekly dose of espionage madness from our friends at MI5. After last week’s ridiculously tense episode, we’re back down to earth tonight as Ros and Adam are undercover at a TV broadcast that is hijacked by a pressure group. Will our heroes be able to keep everybody safe and preserve the peace deal between the US and Iran?
Dawn French’s More Boys Who Do: Comedy (Tuesday 9pm, BBC4)
I’ve avoided this up until now as the concept of Dawn French interviewing comedians about what it is to be funny is a bit dull. But tonight, Rob Brydon offers his insights into his craft and talks at length about his childhood and days as a struggling performer. He’s a fascinating subject as, in all his TV work, he’s always doing something interesting, and this is no exception. It’s not blisteringly good TV, but it is entertaining.
Jericho (Wednesday 8pm, ITV4)
With a handful of episodes commissioned that will probably tie off the series, it’s probably worth taking a look at this most interesting of American dramas. While Heroes pulled in all the gushing praise in the genre stakes, Jericho quietly got on with telling good, solid stories about the population of a post-apocalyptic town. It can be quite grim, but it’s absolutely brilliant.
Heroes (Wednesday 9pm, BBC2)
The final three episodes and Heroes kicks into high gear in the run up to what looks set to be a cracking finale. Disparate plot strands are still as disparate as they ever were, but the connections are getting taughter, with Hiro catching up with big bad Sylar. Strap yourself in for a bumpy, exciting ride towards the explosive conclusion in a couple of weeks.
Lead Balloon (Thursday 9.30pm, BBC2)
Thankfully, the difficult second series hasn’t been much of a problem for Jack Dee with Lead Balloon. Rick Spleen is still as loathsomely lovable as ever, squirming his way in and out of excruciating social situations. Tonight he has to persuade home help Magda to take the rap for the comic’s own speeding misdemeanour and hence get three points slapped on her licence. Spleen isn’t quite in the league f comedy greats like Basil Fawlty or Captain Mainwaring (far from it, actually), but he passes half an hour in entertaining manner – just resist the urge to turn over at those torturous moments that come so frequently.
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (Thursday 10.05pm, More4)
Okay, I know this is only four episodes from the end and there’s nothing after that – it’s still brilliant (and back on form after a dip in recent weeks). If the stories had focussed on character in this manner from the word go, Studio 60 might still be around, but the damage was done with too much navel-gazing about the process of making television. But with pregnant Jordan rushed into surgery and Tom’s brother taken hostage, the emotional heart of the show is beating loud and clear. Finally.
30 Rock (Thursday 10.50pm, Five)
Thursday night is definitely comedy night, and 30 Rock is top of the pile. Why then is it shown in such a late slot? The show deserves much better (it actually deserves an audience, which it ain’t going to get here). There’s too much going on to pick a plot to follow as everything comes thick and fast, but rest assured, you won’t regret tuning in to the behind the scenes hi-jinx on another comedy sketch show.
Like you say, just when we all thought children's drama at the BBC was dead (except for the odd Xmas special), Sarah Jane has proved there is hope. Lets hope the money they'll surely make from DVD sales will convince the BBC (or even other British TV companies) to make more quality kids drama.
My only gripe is that they didn't have a weekend repeat - I missed the Nun/Gorgon stroy completely thanks to fuzzy head on a Monday morning making me forget the video setup.
Sue, there was a weekend repeat -- on the CBBC Channel. And damned fine it was, too.
Not to worry, the DVDs will be out in 2008...
One you missed out that was on BBC4 last night: Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives, in which Mark Everett ("E" of the band Eels) tried to find out about his physicist father, Hugh Everett III, who invented the concept of multiple universes, but was emotionally distant and virtually silent for the 19 years E shared a house with him. Really brilliant stuff, and it's bound to be repeated over the course of the week.