Monday’s best TV
http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/mar/23/trevor-mcdonald-meets-mafia-raised-by-wolves Version 0 of 1. Portillo’s State Secrets6.30pm, BBC2 Michael Portillo has always been a rather more likable TV presenter than he was politician. Some might regard that as damning with the faintest of praise. Even so, this short series – in which the 90s Tory nearly man digs through the national archives – looks intriguing. Tonight, Portillo unearths the secret files of Britain’s last hangman, examines private letters sent to Sherlock Holmes and explores the hidden history of Dr Crippen. Expect further gentle revelations throughout the week. Phil Harrison Trevor McDonald Meets The Mafia9pm, ITV Now there’s a title. And, hey, why not: if anyone can get the mob to open up by asking them questions in a mannered, slightly querulous voice, it’s our Trevor. That said, they don’t exactly hold back, these guys: from the men who did the whacking such as John Alite, to gangsters-turned-FBI supergrasses such as Michael “Mikey Scars” DiLeonardo. As Scars says, while cautiously cruising through Little Italy, “The Cosa Nostra never forgets …” Concludes next Monday. Ali Catterall Tom Felton Meets The Superfans9pm, BBC3 Having been on the celebrity side of the comic convention circuit for a decade, Tom Felton (Harry Potter’s Draco Malfoy) attempts to explore the world of fandom from the other side, meeting with a number of Potterheads to see how deeply the franchise has embedded itself in their lives. After meeting with fellow actors and Potter creator JK Rowling, Felton even takes the ultimate step of visiting the basement of a fanatical Potter fan. Has he learned nothing from Alan Partridge’s infamous encounter with Jed Maxwell? Mark Jones Masterspy Of Moscow: George Blake – Storyville9pm, BBC4 Excellent Storyville documentary searching for the myth and man of British spook George Blake, who could have been remembered as a hero but is now synonymous, in his homeland at least, with treachery. Blake served with the Dutch resistance and MI6 during the second world war, but his loyalties turned during his internment by communists during the Korean war. He was sentenced to 42 years upon discovery as a double agent in 1961 but escaped after five – and has lived ever since in a grateful Russia. Andrew Mueller House Of Fools10pm, BBC2 The penultimate visit to Vic and Bob’s House of Fools finds the hapless pair struggling for a plot. Luckily, Beef arrives with a truth-telling turban he’s brought back from Durban, and when Bosh – thanks to his wearing of said turban – accidentally gets Julie’s bistro closed down after being overly honest with the health inspector, a plot gets under way. All the while, a potential secondary plot involving a visit from Michelle Obama is bubbling away in the background, just in case. Yes, it’s all a bit postmodern this week. Ben Arnold Raised By Wolves10pm, Channel 4 The Caitlin and Caz Moran-written sitcom inspired by their council estate upbringing continues. A girls-only shopping trip to secure new knickers deposits young Wyatt into Grampy’s unorthodox daycare regime of dodgy wheeler-dealing and Sheryl Crow singalongs. That allows mum Della (the brilliant Rebekah Staton) to steer her four daffy daughters through the capitalist temptations of the town centre with her customary brusqueness. But is there a reason she’s being even more wrathful than usual? Graeme Virtue Girls10pm, Sky Atlantic Lena Dunham’s tortured tale of twentysomething self-obsession celebrates its season finale with the usual drama and cringe-comedy. Heavily pregnant Caroline and Laird are determined to have their baby at home, so it’s just as well resident birth experts Hannah, Jessa and Adam are on hand to try to convince them it’s a bad idea. Elsewhere, Shoshanna gets a rare streak of luck on the job front with a unique offer, while Desi, a man who’s had it coming all series, receives a well-earned dressing down from Ray. Hannah Verdier Today’s best live sport Cycling Tour Of Catalunya – coverage of the first stage of the road race. 2.30pm, British Eurosport 1 Scottish Football Dundee v Aberdeen – Premiership action from Dens Park, as the visitors seek to gain ground on leaders Celtic. 7.30pm, BT Sport 1 Netball Superleague Team Bath v Manchester Thunder – coverage from the University of Bath. 7.30pm, Sky Sports 1 World Cup Cricket The first semi-final from Eden Park in Auckland. 12.30am, Sky Sports World Cup (formerly Sky Sports 2) |