The Luminaries 

BBC One 

Monday 22^nd June, 9pm

The BBC drama is based on the novel of the same name by Eleanor Catton and has been adapted into a six-part series by Catton.

Taking viewers to the time of the gold rush in New Zealand in the 1860’s, the series differs from the book but still offers a mix of magic, mystery, murder, love and revenge.

The series focuses on Anna Weatherell (Eve Hewson), an adventurous young woman who has moved from England to start a new life in New Zealand.

When she meets Emery Staines (Himesh Patel), the pair begin to fall in love and awaken a strange type of magic neither of them understands, which pulls them together and tears them apart.

The cast also includes Eva Green who plays the cut-throat brothel madam Lydia Wells, Ewen Leslie who plays Crosbie Wells and Marton Csokas who plays Francis Carver.

 

Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads

BBC One 

Tuesday 23^rd June, 9pm 

Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads has been remade, with ten of the original monologues and two new monologues to be showcased called The Shrine and An Ordinary Woman.

When the series originally aired in 1988 and 1998, the stellar cast was made up of Patricia Routledge, Maggie Smith, Stephanie Cole, Julie Walters, Thora Hird, Eileen Atkins, David Haig, Penelope Wilton and Bennett himself.

The new remake includes Jodie Comer playing an aspiring actress in Her Big Chance, Tasmin Greig in Nights in the Garden of Spain, Imelda Staunton in A Lady of Letters, Martin Freeman in A Chip in the Sugar and Sarah Lancashire in An Ordinary Woman.

The cast also includes Lesley Manville, Monica Dolan, Lucian Msamati, Maxine Peake, Rochenda Sandall, Kristin Scott Thomas and Harriet Walter.

 

Athlete A

Netflix 

Wednesday 24^th June

In 2016 a scandal rocked the world of gymnastics and beyond when it was uncovered that USA team doctor Larry Nassar had been sexually assaulting those under his care for two decades.

Athlete A explores the reports and investigations that led to Nassar being exposed and saw many women bravely come forward and speak out about what he did.

The Indianapolis Star revealed that US gymnastics had been protecting and covering up for coaches who had been accused of abuse, allowing the depraved behaviour to continue for decades.

Co-directed by Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk, the documentary ensured that the survivors were given a voice and could fully tell their story.

 

The School That Tried to End Racism

Channel 4

Thursday 25^th June, 9pm 

The discussion of race is an important topic that is explored in the documentary The School That Tried to End Racism, which sees 24 children in Year Eight discuss the impact of race, privilege and unconscious bias.

The students at Glenthorne secondary learn about how to openly talk about inequality in the three-week project, involving a programme of activities, games and exercises to explore racial heritage and ethnicity.

The project helps the students gain the tools to be able to talk to each other about racism and inequality and improve their friendships as a result.

 

Jamie’s Quick and Easy Food

Channel 4

Friday 26^th June, 8pm 

Here to solve all your cooking dilemmas, Jamie Oliver returns for another series of Jamie’s Quick and Easy Food to offer up new and fun recipe ideas to try out.

With uncomplicated step-by-step guides that will make tasty meals with few ingredients, this is the cooking show designed to get people excited to start cooking.

Recipes include a flavourful lamb curry, a quick rosé pesto prawn pasta, a delicious harissa squash salad and sweet simple flapjacks.

 

Glastonbury coverage

BBC channels

Thursday 25th June - Sunday 28th June

The live festival may have been cancelled, but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate Glastonbury from your home this year.

BBC will be broadcasting some classic Glastonbury performances across BBC Two, BBC Four and a new pop up channel on BBC iPlayer.

Glastonbury was set to celebrate it’s 50^th anniversary this year with performances from Taylor Swift, Sir Paul McCartney, Kendrick Lamar, Dua Lipa and more.

Viewers will be able to relive past stand out performances from stars such as Beyoncé, Adele, Stormzy, Coldplay, Lady Gaga and David Bowie.

From the 25^th to the 28^th June, presenters Clara Amfo, Edith Bowman, Jo Whiley, Lauren Laverne and Mark Radcliffe will host the musical specials.

The highlight of the coverage will be 90 minutes specials on BBC Two on the 26^th, 27^th and 28^th June.