Miranda BBC2, Monday 8.30pm
One of the best things about Miranda Hart’s sitcom is her old schoolfriend Tilly, played by the inestimable Sally Phillips. This week, she tries to fix up her old mate mate “Kongers” with a blind date, “Dreamboat Charlie” (Adrain Scarborough). When that doesn’t work, she has to suffer the indignity of her mother setting her up. At a Pride and Prejudice-themed party…
Mouth to Mouth: Rakim BBC3, Monday 9pm
Mouth to Mouth: Faith BBC3, Monday 9.30pm
This superb series of comedy monologues concludes with the characters who started out as the butt of the joke and the mysterious name on the mobile respectively, but have gradually grown into the centre of Karl Minns’ intricately plotted love hexagon. The understated nature of this comedy is so different to BBC3’s normal output that it seems to have gone under most people’s radar: thankfully, the previous episodes with Meeshell, Tyler, Luke and Devine are still available on iPlayer for another 7 days. Thanks to the overlapping nature of each storyline, you can almost start watching with any episode — but do catch all six.
Bennett on Bennett BBC4, Monday 10pm
This series of ten-minute monologues by Alan Bennett, on the subject of his own life, started yesterday, and continues throughout the week until Thursday. Each is followed by an episode of the classic Talking Heads series (which are not available on iPlayer).
Robson Green’s Wild Swimming Adventure ITV1, Tuesday 9pm
I’ll have to admit, seeing Robson Green stripped down to either trunks or a wetsuit doesn’t do much for me. But in terms of emotion, this tale of his attempt to swim from Northumberland to Holy Island is the sort of documentary that’s as much about the emotional journey as it is the physical and geographical — and there are few actors who can take you with them in such a gripping way.
Paradox BBC1, Tuesday 9pm
“Dear the past. We have foreseen a future where BBC1 drama commissions a drama containing the sort of time-changing premise that US shows such as FlashForward and Lost have done successfully. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to stop such a show being commissioned. And if you can’t do that, muck about with the scripts so much that they become so silly that nobody wastes their time watching it. Lots of love, the future.”
Russell Brand: Skinned Channel 4, Tuesday 10pm
After a certain pre-recorded Radio 2 programme generated a record amount of complaints after being eviscerated by the Daily Mail, Russell Brand jumped before he could be pushed and has been fairly quiet on British television screens since. This hour-long programme could spell the start of his rehabilitation, mixing elements of his live stand-up routine with some behind-the-scenes footage and, more importantly, a revealing interview with Frank Skinner.
Spooks BBC1, Wednesday 9pm
Of all of last year’s series of Spooks, which focussed on a threat from the Russians, it was the episode set on a bank trading floor that I was least looking forward to — and ended up must enjoying. Here’s hoping that tonight’s, which sees the team fighting to retrieve over a billion pounds from a dodgy bank, pulls off the same trick.
Gavin & Stacey BBC1, Thursday 9pm
Oh. Smithy. What’s occurring? He’s got a text from Nessa after they ended up in bed together (again) at the end of the previous episode, and it’s freaking him out. And that threatens the big lads’ get-together that Gavin is organising in Barry for all of his Essex mates. As with previous series, James Corden and Ruth Jones give the most interesting storyline to their own characters, but it’s all part of a tremendous whole that will be a real wrench when it leaves our screens for good on New Year’s Day.
Wonderland: Alzheimer’s the Musical BBC1, Thursday 9.50pm
Hilda has lost the ability to recognise even those closest to her, including Ted, her loving husband of fifty years. But one thing she can still remember is the tune to Doris Day’s Que Sera, Sera. This documentary follows the Bristol branch of Singing for the Brain, which enables people with Alzheimer’s and their spouses to reconnect, however briefly, through the medium of song.
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