WTW – what to watch this week

The Bafta TV Awards

BBC One, Sunday 6 June

Hosted in the BBC’s Television Centre in West London, Richard Ayoade hosts the annual awards ceremony celebrating the best of British and international television talent. The Crown, I Hate Suzie, Gangs of London and Save Me Too are all in the running for Best Drama Series. Other nominees feature some of the industry’s big names, including Ant & Dec and Graham Norton and newcomers Josh O’Connor and Daisy Edgar-Jones.

Time

BBC One, Sunday 6 June at 9pm

Sean Bean (The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones) and Stephen Graham (Line of Duty and This is England) have joined forces for Jimmy McGovern’s new drama. The series looks into the UK prison system and the people inside it. With a gritty 40-second trailer promising some turbulent scenes from Bean, critics anticipate this as a story of penance and punishment. 

Our Cilla: The One and Only

Channel 5, Sunday 6 June at 9pm

This is the story of the British singer and TV star, Cilla Black. She rose from working-class roots in Liverpool to become one of the country’s most successful and best-loved singers, presenters and all-around entertainers. Now, in never-before-seen footage and exclusive interviews, the programme delves into what made the singer the woman she was. 

Tragic Jungle

Netflix, Wednesday 9 June

To escape an arranged marriage, a woman flees into the depths of the Mayan jungle. Soon, she discovers the untamed and rabid nature of the jungle may cause her greater problems than the forced martial union she fought to desert. Directed by Yulene Olaizola, the independent film raked in awards at the Viennale and Venice Film Festival last year. 

Reflections of Alan Turing

The National Archives, Wednesday 9 June at 7:30pm

Everyone knows the story of pioneering computer scientist and code-breaker Alan Turing. At least, we thought we did. Until now, our knowledge of Turing has been obscured by decades of misinterpretation and misunderstanding. Join Dermot Turing, Alan Turing’s nephew, in discussing his life, suicide and pardon as he uncovers a new legacy. You can register for this free event here. 

The Statue Wars: One Summer in Bristol

BBC Two, Thursday 10 June at 9pm

On Sunday 7 June 2020, Black Lives Matter protestors tore down the statue of the slave trader Edward Colston and threw it in the harbour. Caught in the middle of the events was Marvin Rees, Bristol’s Mayor and the first directly elected mayor of Black African heritage of a major European city. Born and bred in Bristol and a descendant of enslaved people, this programme examines how he held a city together in the face of rising tensions that threatened to instigate violent confrontation.

Great Paintings of the World with Andrew Marr

Channel 5, Friday 11 June at 9pm

Andrew Marr returns for a second series to examine more famous works of art, beginning with Claude Monet’s Water Lilies series. His journey takes him to Paris to discover the extraordinary story behind the flower paintings, revealing a tale of personal tragedy, a violent war, and a man tormented by an unrelenting obsession.

Lupin (Part Two)

Netflix, Friday 11 June

The gentleman burglar isn’t finished just yet… Lupin (Part One) was released in January this year and was embraced by audiences and critics alike. Now, Part Two hopes to gain the same response. In this new series, Assane Diop (Omar Sy) seeks revenge for his father, who was framed for a crime he did not commit by wealthy Hubert Pellegrini (Hervé Pierre), two decades ago. Claiming the spot as France’s most-watched show and climbing to second place in the UK, its arrival is highly anticipated. 

Balanchine and Robbins

The Royal Opera House, Friday 11 June 

The rich history of American ballet is brought to life and celebrated in classic works by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, two of the great choreographers of the 20th century. The ballet will be plotless, but its intimacy creates a powerful sense of community that promises to resonate with audiences as the performance is available to stream as lockdown slowly eases. You can find information on how to stream the ballet here.