Sunday 24/09/17

The Child in Time (BBC1, 9pm)

Rachael Popow

It's still unknown whether Sherlock will return to tackle another case, but we do know that Benedict Cumberbatch hasn't given up on British TV. He's back this week in the one-off drama The Child in Time.

Given that Cumberbatch is now in demand in Hollywood - he was Oscar-nominated for his role as Alan Turing in The Imitation Game and joined the Marvel Universe thanks to Doctor Strange - it would have to be a special project that tempted him back to TV, and The Child in Time is certainly that.

The drama has a powerful premise, which draws on possibly every parents' worst nightmare, namely taking your eyes off your child for a minute, only to discover they have disappeared. It's not a new concept for a TV drama, as anyone who watched the first series of The Missing will know, but The Child in Time is more than just a thriller.

But perhaps that should be expected, as it's based on an acclaimed novel by Atonement author Ian McEwan.

Cumberbatch says: "I read the novel years ago and it stayed with me - profound, beautiful and very moving. Only Ian McEwan could write about loss with such telling honesty."

It seems the admiration is mutual. McEwan says: "I have fond memories of Benedict playing a brilliant and key part in the movie adaptation of Atonement. Now, it's a great honour to have this actor of such immense resource, experience and subtlety in the lead role of The Child in Time."

If the author's own seal of approval wasn't enough of an incentive for Cumberbatch to get involved, The Child in Time has been adapted for TV by Stephen Butchard, the writer behind Five Daughters, and directed by Julian Farino, who made Marvellous, the touching drama starring Toby Jones that more than lived up to its name. And then there's the fact Cumberbatch not only signed up to star in it, but also produced it through his company, SunnyMarch TV.

The actor plays Stephen Lewis, a successful children's author whose four-year-old daughter Kate disappeared while they were in the supermarket. The devastating loss takes a huge toll on Stephen and his wife Julie (Kelly Macdonald) and sets them on divergent paths.

Three years after Kate's disappearance, Julie has moved to the coast in search of a simpler way of life, while Stephen continues his daily search for their missing child. He finds some support in his regular dinners with his friends Charles (Stephen Campbell Moore) and Thelma (Saskia Reeves), but when they announce they are moving to the country, it seems Stephen may have lost his one remaining lifeline.

Concerned for his wellbeing, Thelma suggests he reaches out to Julie again, but will she be receptive? And are Thelma and Charles battling demons of their own?

Through the couples' stories, the film explores how grief can explode a marriage and the loss of childhood. But if that sounds unbearably grim, A Child in Time also looks at acceptance, the nature of love and the eventual emergency of hope.

Monday 25/09/17

Rellik (BBC One, 9pm)

Sarah Morgan

Richard Dormer does a nice line in troubled lawmen.

In Sky Atlantic's bleak, snow-swept drama Fortitude he plays Dan Anderssen, police chief at a remote Arctic outpost who defied death by undergoing a genetic change that also altered his personality and turned him into a killer.

Now, in Rellik, he's tackling the role of Gabriel Markham, a dedicated Metropolitan Police detective left scarred - mentally and physically - by an acid attack. His self-destructive streak has led him to drink, drugs and womanising, and he's now struggling to balance his family relationships with his work as he obsessively tracks down a serial killer.

"I think he's a man in turmoil," reveals Dormer. "Without giving too much away, he has something in his past that he has allowed to define him. He is very troubled and running from something.

"At home things seem to be absolutely fine on the surface but there is something rotten, something not quite right."

Gabriel is also having an affair with his colleague, DI Elaine Shepard, played by Jodi Balfour.

"Elaine is comparatively new to the force, she's been there about three months," says Dormer. "Gabriel is the sort of man who rather than thinking with his brain, thinks with something else. They have quite an intense, physical, weird attraction to one another."

All dramas need to have a 'hook' these days, a reason to tune in and to make it stand out from all the many other shows on the box. Rellik's is that the story is told in reverse.

"Just when you think you've got a hang on it, it's like the ground comes out from under your feet and you find yourself going backwards. It's absolutely crazy," laughs the actor.

"Myself and Jodi found it very difficult because a lot of the time when you are filming you don't shoot consecutively. You're jumping backwards and forwards but largely you have a journey. Whereas with this we were constantly going 'Where have I been? Where am I going?' and trying to remember everything that was about to happen rather than what happened.

"It's so weird, it scrambled my head. So, it was very difficult. It was exhausting and mentally tough to keep an eye on the ball."

He also had to suffer hours in the make-up chair as Gabriel's scarring was applied to his face and body.

"It really did affect my performance. For one thing, it was incredibly uncomfortable and it was very hard to get used to. Because of the weather, we were going into the summer, it became horrible because the sweat would trap inside this thing. I was constantly overheating because part of my body wasn't allowed to sweat.

"So, it was tough, it was very tough. Also, because my eye was squashed down that was quite painful at times because my eyelashes would rub against my inner eye."

Hopefully viewers appreciate Dormer's dedication to his craft, because Rellik is turning out to be one of the most gripping tales of the year so far.

Tuesday 26/09/17

Later Live... with Jools Holland (BBC2, 10pm)

Richard Jones

Last week, Jools Holland took his iconic music show to the Royal Albert Hall for a 'magical musical mystery tour' as he celebrated 25 years, 50 series and over 360 episodes promoting the music of major stars, legends, artists of the moment and brand-new talent.

But there's no rest for the wicked, as they say, and the former Squeeze pianist is already getting back down to business, launching the 51st series with another amazing array of musical talent.

Tonight's headliners are Liam Gallagher and his band.

Liam, of course, was the former lead singer of Oasis, alongside guitarist and songwriter brother Noel, during the Manchester band's massively successful period in the 1990s and 2000s.

Since their break-up in 2009, he has dabbled in various solo projects including the group Beady Eye.

Back in June, Liam made a live comeback of sorts, performing an highly-anticipated solo set on the Other Stage at the Glastonbury festival.

As well as Oasis classics Rock 'n' Roll Star and What's The Story (Morning Glory), he and his band also belted out new material from his forthcoming debut solo album As You Were, kicking off with lead single Wall of Glass, and continuing with I Get By, You Better Run and Universal Gleam.

Liam and the lads will be giving fans another taste of that new album, which is due for release on October 6, this evening.

Liam is also known for his outspoken views on all manner of subjects, including his turbulent relationship with his brother, so the chats with Jools in-between the songs could well be just as entertaining as the music itself.

Also on tonight's bill is Benjamin Clementine. The North London artist, poet and musician shot to fame in 2015 when his debut album At Least for Now earned him the prestigious Mercury Prize.

He will be promoting tracks from his new LP, I Tell A Fly, in which he explores new musical territory with the use of whirling, interwoven instruments.

Next up is soulful singer Jorja Smith from Walsall.

She is best known for her guest appearances on Canadian rapper Drake's songs Jorja Interlude and Get It Together, but she will be performing her new solo track On My Mind in which she has collaborated with Birmingham producer Preditah.

Also on stage are reformed Brooklyn rockers LCD Soundsystem.

The band, who are fronted by James Murphy, are in the studio to deliver tunes from their fourth album American Dream, their first record for seven years.

Finally, New Zealand singer-songwriter Nadia Reid sings a tune from Preservation, which is the follow-up to her acclaimed 2015 debut LP, Listen to Formation, Look for the Signs.

Also joining Jools in studio is American songwriting legend Jimmy Webb, whose tracks have been recorded by a whole range of artists.

He will be discussing his new memoir, The Cake and the Rain, in which he lets readers into his life from 1955 to 1970, and describes working with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Glen Campbell, Carly Simon, R.E.M, Art Garfunkel and Donna Summer.

Now there's a list that could even make Jools envious.

Wednesday 27/09/17

Bad Move (ITV, 8pm)

Rachael Popow

From Escape to the Country to Relocation, Relocation, Relocation, there have been plenty of property programmes featuring people who want to escape the rat race and find their own rural retreat.

However, some more cynical viewers may have wondered whether a follow-up programme would show that the house hunters were now blissfully happy with their decision and fully immersed in the local community, or if they've found that moving from a bustling city to the middle of nowhere was more of a culture shock than they initially expected.

If it's the latter, then at least ITV has got the ideal sitcom for them in the form of Bad Move, which started last week. Starring Jack Dee, who also co-wrote the series with Pete Sinclair, it follows husband-and-wife Steve (Dee) and Nicky (Kerry Godliman). The couple, who are both on their second marriages, have been seduced by relocation programmes and glossy lifestyle magazines into thinking they want to live the simple life, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Unfortunately, as anyone who saw the first episode will know, it doesn't take them long to realise that the reality didn't quite live up to their expectations. They may now have beautiful surroundings, but their home is also situated in what the locals refer to as 'the Dip', an area devoid of internet signals. And as Steve is a website designer, that's a major drawback.

Sadly, thanks to the estate agents, builders and architects, the couple can't afford to simply sell up and move back to Leeds, especially as that would mean admitting the friends who told them they were making a mistake were right.

So, it looks like the couple will just have to put a brave face on it, although even that might be a bit of a stretch. After all, a lot of people would be wrongfooted by a sitcom where the famously deadpan Dee played someone happy with his lot. His previous sitcom Lead Balloon, centred on a misanthropic stand-up comedian and it looks like Simon isn't going to be much of a sunny optimist either.

Dee says: "Bad Move is a comedy about the grass always being greener on the other side of the fence - until you jump over the fence and realise it's an algae-covered stagnant pond of sludge."

This week, Steve and Nicky have even more reason to be despondent as they discover that while the internet can't reach them, the floodwaters can, and their kitchen is now under water.

Nicky's dad Ken (Philip Jackson) arrives with a pump and a disapproving expression, but Steve is starting to think the flood could actually be the answer to their problems...

However, Nicky takes a more practical approach to tackling their financial situation, as she decides to earn some cash as a dog walker. But when local rock star Grizzo (Seann Walsh) turns up with some alarming news, it looks like her new job is already at risk.

Thursday 28/09/17

Russia with Simon Reeve (BBC Two, 9pm)

Sarah Morgan

Everybody has a dream.

Whether it's to win a fortune on the National Lottery or simply to get together with the love of your life, we all have them.

Simon Reeve, the BBC's most affable explorer since Michael Palin seemingly hung up his hiking boots and knapsack, has several.

"The honest one is a bit worthy and boring maybe," he grimaces. "I did a series a while back about unrecognised countries, those that aren't members of the United Nations, they don't send entrants to the Eurovision Song Contest, etc.

"There are a lot of those around the world, where people live who feel they're not represented. It extends from the Cornish to ethnic groups in the Caucasus. I'm fascinated by those, and I've always wanted to do a series about them."

Unfortunately, nobody has commissioned that yet, but he has lots of other ideas.

During an interview in 2013, he said: "There are a lot of places I'd love to visit. I've been to 110 or 120 countries, but there are a lot of big places I haven't been to, like West Africa and Russia, Japan, New Zealand.

"But Russia... I think it's a fascinating country that we need to know more about. I'd love to cross it; the Trans-Siberian railway would be a dream to do."

Well, Simon is a very lucky boy indeed because while some people never achieve their goals, his has taken only four years to come to fruition. But then again, he admits he's a fortunate chap.

"I don't come from some posh, travel-y background; I didn't get on a place until I started working. I think people forget just how recent this phenomenon is where we all get on the move. So I've had all these experiences as an adult and I'm certainly not blase about it. It's an enormous privilege to be able to do this."

Over the next three weeks we'll see Reeve traverse the world's largest country, stopping off in its great cities - Moscow and St Petersburg - along the way, while meeting some of the extraordinary people who call Russia home. And it all ties in rather nicely will the 100th anniversary of the infamous Revolution, which takes place in November.

The first leg of his journey takes the intrepid presenter to the far east of the nation, from the snow-covered mountains of Kamchatka to Yakutia, the coldest inhabited region in the world.

While there he meets some of the indigenous people who make a living as reindeer herders in temperatures that fall as low as -30C, and learns that global warming is threatening their traditional way of life.

In the great eastern port of Vladivostok, Reeve discovers the growing influence that China is having on the region; scarily, the film crew realise they are being followed, are stopped several times by the police and are later detained without explanation.

Thankfully, after being allowed to move on, Reeve meets a conservationist battling to protect the Boreal Forest's amur tiger, then rounds off this leg of his trip by investigating an environmental disaster in the making in Siberia.

Friday 29/19/17

Britain by Bike with Larry & George Lamb (Channel 5, 8pm)

Richard Jones

Going on a jolly with your parent seems to be the done thing for TV personalities these days.

Russell Howard and his mum Ninette went on a US road trip for Comedy Central last year, while Jack Whitehall: Travels With My Father, in which the comic embarked on a vacation with his dad Michael, was released on Netflix just last week.

Now the former presenter of Big Brother's Little Brother and The Bank Job George Lamb is the latest star to take his parent along for a bonding holiday.

George was in the headlines earlier this month when he attempted to spend five days in solitary confinement as part of a Channel 5 experiment In Solitary, but failed to last 24 hours before he pushed the panic button.

Luckily for him, he has someone to interact with in this new four-part series.

George's dad, of course, is former New Tricks, EastEnders and Gavin & Stacey actor Larry, who showed a bit more staying power than his son when he appeared in the 16th series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! last year.

The duo are taking to two wheels to explore Britain's glorious National Parks from the saddle.

Along the way, they have a whole list of challenges to complete and experiences to enjoy together as they meet fascinating characters and get involved with the local culture.

They begin in the challenging terrain of the Yorkshire Dales, where they meet sheepdog trainer Shaun and his wife Jackie, who breeds border collies, and are shown how to train one of the dogs, who is ready to be sold at auction.

Larry and George then wind their way to Malham Cove, a limestone cliff that is considered the jewel in the Yorkshire Dales' crown.

George attempts to conquer his fear of heights by climbing the cliff face, while Larry watches with a huge smile on his face.

Then it's onto Skipton, where they try their hand at making some of the North Yorkshire town's world-famous pork pies.

One thing Larry has never done with George is go fly-fishing, and it is apparent that he is no natural when he manages to hook his pants and then throw one fish he catches back in the river.

The duo go their separate ways next, with George retracing a secition of the 2014 Tour de France route.

Larry, meanwhile, opts for the more sedate activity of a history lesson on the navvies who built the magnificent Ribblehead Viaduct, an engineering masterpiece that connects the Settle to Carlisle railway.

Larry then introduces George to his fellow actor and Yorkshireman Duncan Preston, who is taking a break from filming Emmerdale to meet them in a classic 17th-century Dales pub in Appletreewick.

The lads are shown its replica medieval cruck barn, the first to be built in almost 500 years.

Finally they place their bets, as they round off the trip with a raucous evening of ferret racing.

But who will be triumphant - old stayer Larry or young upstart George?

ends