Children in Need (Friday from 7pm, BBC1)
It’s the time of year when that little bear with the eye patch (I’m still to be convinced that Pudsey isn’t on some benefits scam) asks us to dig deep for charity in the BBC’s annual telethon. Terry Wogan is on hand as ever, joined this year by Tess Daly and Alesha Dixon. There’s the usual round of entertainment, and this year Terry gets to visit the regulars of Lark Rise to Candleford, the EastEnders cast pay tribute to Motown and there’ll be a sneak peak at the Doctor Who Christmas special.
Coronation Street (Friday 7.30pm, ITV1)
Another day in Weatherfield, another murderer revealed. Poor Maria Connor’s life starts to collapse around her as she now knows the truth that her new fiancé Tony had her first husband, Liam, offed. Only on the cobbles, eh? You’ve got to feel for the poor girl, although Tony had “MURDERER” written all over him like Blackpool Illuminations. Still, it’s all good fun, innit?
Don Carlo from the Royal Opera House (Friday 8pm, BBC4)
You’ve got to love the BBC, and BBC4 in particular. Tonight the channel presents a lengthy presentation of the Royal Opera House’s accomplished production of Don Carlo. There’s so little support for the arts on television so we must cherish channels like BBC4 while we still have them for putting out material like this. It’s powerful stuff, with the titular prince suffering the indignity of having his other half married off to his father as part of the package in a peace treaty (and breathe). It might be three hours and 40 minutes, but it’s mesmerising and there’ll be no requests for dosh from yellow teddy bears.
Cranford (Saturday 8pm, BBC4)
With a seasonal helping of Christmas Cranford imminent, why not relax with a repeat run for the first delightful series of the drama based on Elizabeth Gaskell’s novels. Marvellous!
The Thick of It (Saturday 10.20pm, BBC2, BBC HD)
A superb episode of Armando Iannucci’s effortless political satire, as Nicola Murray and her opposition counterpart, Peter Mannion, appear on Richard Bacon’s radio show. And the results are, as you’d expect, not pretty. But it’s the encounter behind the scenes between Malcolm Tucker and Mannion’s own wizard of spin, Stewart Pearson, where the real thrust of this episode lies. It’s like the meeting of two powerful Jedi. Or something.
Garrow’s Law (Sunday 9pm, BBC1)
Final episode of what has been a fairly enjoyable period drama series about the trials of 18th century barrister William Garrow. It can be a bit earnest in places, and occasionally Andrew Buchan loses his grip on the character, but those are minor grumbles. Tonight Garrow defends the honour of a prostitute and takes on the Attorney General. Stirring stuff.
Mark Lawson Talks to Jane Horrocks (Sunday 9pm, BBC4)
Mark Lawson sits the delightful Jane Horrocks down for a natter about her career ahead of BBC4’s Gracie! on Monday evening, in which she takes the title role as the legendary entertainer.
The Osbourne Family Adrenaline Junkie (Sunday 10pm, ITV1)
I can’t look…
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