Here we go again. Big Brother. It’s series 17 (count ‘em!) and there’s a long summer ahead. Are you looking forward to it? Or are you filled with a sense of dread?
Watch the fame hungry wannabes file into Channel 5’s house of horror (or should that be two houses of horror?) and prepare for the usual stories of love, war and desperation. That’s entertainment.
By Henrietta Knight
In 2003 Lance Corporal Thomas Keys was one of six badly equipped military policemen brutally murdered by Iraqi insurgents.
Jimmy McGovern’s hauntingly powerful BBC1 drama Reg tells the story of the father’s fight for justice for his son.
Reg Keys was thwarted in his efforts to meet Tony Blair, who made himself unavailable to the grieving family while appearing on television and cracking jokes to a joint session of the US congress. Two years later Reg stood for election in Sedgefield against the Prime Minister.
Big Brother Live Launch (Channel 5, 9pm) Here it is. Series 17 of TV’s original reality show. Host Emma Willis introduces another gaggle of fame-hungry wannabes as we prepare for the long Summer of Bruv. Does this old telly warhorse still float your boat? Or is it past its sell-by date? You decide.
When you're reviewing a programme here are a few tips to point you in the right direction.
1. Try to write at least 200 words. Anything less than that is really just a comment.
2. Write a couple of sentences to explain what the programme is about. An overview.
3. Did you like or dislike the show? Explain your reasons why.
4. If it's a comedy did you think it was funny or not? Say why.
5. If it's a drama, was the acting any good? Was the script any good?
6. What did you think of the plot?
7. Would you watch it again?
Reg (BBC1, 9pm) Written by the excellent Jimmy McGovern and starring the great Tim Roth and Anna Maxwell Martin, this film length drama chronicles the true story of a furious father whose son was killed in Iraq. Grieving Reg Keys accused Tony Blair of taking us to war “on a lie” and stood in the General Election against him. Reg remains a huge thorn in the former Prime Minister’s side.
Week two of the new unimproved Top Gear and Chris Evans’ dreadful Jeremy Clarkson impression isn’t getting any better.
He’s still desperately trying to be funny. And still failing. But you can tell when he thinks he’s being hilarious because he opens his mouth wide and yells.
At the start of another mediocre show Matt LeBlanc wheeled his co-star into the studio on a hospital trolley. It wasn’t clear what the actual joke was supposed to be. But this was one of those tumbleweed moments when canned laughter really comes into its own.
A turbulent first week on Love Island as fragile relationships were frantically forged shortly before spectacularly falling apart at the seams.
After quickly copping off with Scott, Miss not-so-Great Britain Zara was promptly dumped the moment he set eyes on nubile newbie Kady.
Distraught over the end of a profound relationship that lasted a whole one day, the heartbroken beauty queen sobbed: “I don’t see what she has that I haven’t got?” A personality?
SATURDAY
Can’t Touch This (BBC1, 5.40pm) The penultimate episode of the series time forgot. A totally pointless version of Total Wipeout? Or a fun packed romp that many, many millions of people made the mistake of not watching?
By FiFig
I had planned to remote control my way past the above programme last night but with one look I was hooked and moved both at the same time.
It was about Chris, a 55 year old man diagnosed with vascular dementia and early onset Alzheimer's at the age of 50. Chris lives with his wife Jayne of 21 years and some of their grown up children.
Harry pops the question in The Windsors
The Windsors (Channel 4, 10pm) Last episode of an alleged satirical comedy sending up the royal family. I hated it. OTT unfunny acting, unrecognisable characters and a juvenile script. But what did you think?
By Isobel Eden
Henning Wehn, the self-proclaimed German Comedy Ambassador to Great Britain, is one of my favourite comedians, so I was excited to see that he now has his own comedy series - An Immigrant's Guide to Britain.
By Henrietta Knight
What makes Billions so compelling is the clash of the Titans between the ruthless hedge funder who walks on water and the righteous district attorney who is determined to bring him down.
We never quite seem to find out what it is that Bobby “Axe” Axelrod has done that is so heinously wrong but DA Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti) seems to think that the New York super trader is the devil incarnate. These dueling alpha males are swimming in testosterone.
