TV Picks: 20th-26th April

TV Picks: 20th-26th April

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Monday, 20th April 2020
Gangs of London (credit: Sky)

This week’s TV Picks promise some cracking event television, with both highly anticipated premieres and finales, and a huge national celebration.

University Challenge

BBC Two

Monday, 8.30pm


Imperial vs Corpus Christi - Cambridge (credit: BBC)

The grand finale of the 49th edition of University Challenge promises a clash of the titans between Cambridge’s Corpus Christi College and Imperial College London.

Ian Wang and Brandon Blackwell, now widely regarded as two of the best ever contestants in University Challenge history, will spearhead the respective teams in the hope of being crowned ultimate quiz champions.

 

Kate and Koji

ITV

Wednesday, 8.00pm


Kate and Koji (credit: ITV)

The unlikely duo of prickly café owner Kate (Brenda Blethyn) and the asylum-seeking African doctor Koji (Jimmy Akingbola) undergo legal and friendship troubles in the series finale of the studio sitcom.

Kate is being sued by Councillor Bone while Koji is being investigated for working illegally, and his comments about her grandson jeopardise their friendship at a time when they need each other the most.

All episodes are available for catch up on ITV Hub.

 

The Big Night In

BBC One

Thursday, 7.00pm


Clockwise from top left: Matt Baker, Lenny Henry, Zoe Ball, Paddy McGuinness & Davina McCall (credit: BBC)

BBC Children in Need, Comic Relief and BBC One join forces in aid of nationwide pandemic relief for The Big Night In

As well as celebrating some of the extraordinary acts of kindness and resilience these trying times have seen, the night promises plenty of surprises, big prizes and music performances live from artists’ living rooms.

Matt Baker, Zoe Ball, Lenny Henry, Davina McCall and Paddy McGuinness will be hosting the proceedings.

After a 10 year absence, David Walliams and Matt Lucas will bring back Little Britain, and Catherine Tate will reprise her role as Lauren, with teacher David Tennant struggling to bovver her with his homeschooling.

There will also be a Vicar of Dibley one-off special, and Peter Kay is recreating his Amarillo video for key workers.

 

Gangs of London

Sky Atlantic

Thursday, 9.00pm

Joe Cole of Peaky Blinders swaps his Shelby colours for those of the Wallace family in this gang feud saga set in modern, multicultural London.

As Sean Wallace, he assumes the reins of the most powerful crime family in London after patriarch Finn Wallace (Colm Meaney) is killed by an unknown assassin.

With billions of pounds at stake, Sean will attempt to consolidate his power and avenge his father’s death while fending off the international gangs vying to fill the power vacuum.

 

After Life - series two

Netflix

Friday

Ricky Gervais’ black dramedy returns for a second series.

Tony (Gervais) is still mourning the loss of his wife, but the series one finale spelled a potentially brighter outlook and future for him, as he began to enjoy his job and move on by asking out nurse Emma (Ashley Jensen).

A realisation of the pain in his fellow Tambury locals’ lives, such as his boss and brother-in-law Matt’s (Tom Basden) divorce, also awakened Tony’s sympathy and could mark the beginning of a redemption for the widower.

 

Normal People

BBC Three 

Sunday

Sally Rooney adapts her tangled teenage love tale, Normal People, for the small screen.

The story follows the lives of Marianne (Daisy Edgar Jones) and Connell (Paul Mescal) whose paths seem destined to interweave despite the obstacles of class, status and their own insecurities.

The two fall in and out of love with each other from the beginning of their secret romance at school and throughout their time at Trinity College in Dublin, all the while negotiating the complex social worlds of both.

Academy Award nominee Lenny Abrahamson (Room) has directed the first six episodes.

The series will land as a boxset on BBC Three.

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This week’s TV Picks promise some cracking event television, with both highly anticipated premieres and finales, and a huge national celebration.