This week's best telly includes a week of live Britain's Got Talent semi-finals, a Sex Pistols biopic, an adaptation of John Wyndham’s The Midwich Cuckoos, plus more Big Boys and the series finale of Gentleman Jack.
Here are 5 TV shows you can't miss this week...
1. Gentleman Jack
Sunday 29th May at 9pm on BBC One
As the second series of Gentleman Jack comes to an end, Anne and Ann’s marriage is in serious danger when Captain Sutherland arrives from Scotland determined to destroy Anne Lister’s reputation.
Anne Lister and Ann Walker’s trip to London is blighted by tension as Anne refuses to introduce Ann to her society friends, and simmering resentments on both sides of the relationship boil over when Miss Walker takes Anne to task over her financial borrowing.
Back in Halifax, in the run-up to the Northgate ceremony, Anne is privately dismayed to realise she cannot count on the support of her family and receives terrible news about a friend.
The ongoing mission to divide the Walker estate puts the couple under even more strain when Captain Sutherland arrives from Scotland determined to destroy Anne Lister’s reputation. Is the marriage strong enough to survive constant attack?
8/8
2. Britain's Got Talent
Monday 30th May to Friday 3rd June at 8pm on ITV
We've finally reached the stage of Britain's Got Talent where each night, eight acts will perform live in front of the judges, studio audience and viewers at home, hoping to be one of the two acts who will be voted through to next weekend's grand final.
This week of live semi-finals will welcome back the acts who impressed the judges as well as the golden buzzer performers; singer Loren Allred, comedian Axel Blake, dancers Born to Perform, magician Keiichi Iwasaki and singer/songwriter and musician Flintz & T4ylor.
The first finalist is chosen via public vote and the second finalist will be chosen by the judges. Then next weekend, one act will triumph as Britain’s Got Talent 2022 Champion and win the life-changing £250,000 prize plus that coveted role in The Royal Variety Performance.
9-13/14
3. Pistol
Tuesday 31st May on Disney+
Danny Boyle's latest project is Pistol, a six-part Sex Pistols biopic for FX, available in the UK on Disney+, about a rock 'n' roll revolution with the Sex Pistols and founding member and guitarist, Steve Jones at the centre of it.
Pistol is based on Steve Jones’ 2017 memoir Lonely Boy: Tales from a Sex Pistol, and tells the story of a band of spotty, noisy, working-class kids with "no future," who shook the boring, corrupt "establishment" to its core, threatened to bring down the government, and changed music and culture forever.
Hilarious, emotional and at times heartbreaking, Pistol guides us through a kaleidoscopic telling of three of the most epic, chaotic and mucus-spattered years in the history of music.
It stars Toby Wallace as Steve Jones, Anson Boon as John Lydon, Christian Lees as Glen Matlock, Louis Partridge as Sid Vicious, Jacob Slater as Paul Cook, Sydney Chandler as Chrissie Hynde, Talulah Riley as Vivienne Westwood, Maisie Williams as punk icon Jordan, Emma Appleton as Nancy Spungen and Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Malcolm McLaren.
1-6/6 All episodes available at launch
4. The Midwich Cuckoos
Thursday 2nd June at 9pm on Sky Max
Sky's latest original drama, The Midwich Cuckoos, is a dark and disturbing adaptation of John Wyndham’s classic science fiction novel, by David Farr and starring Keeley Hawes and Max Beesley.
The Midwich Cuckoos is set in Midwich, a small English commuter town that is liberal, aspirational and populated by nuclear families and affluent high streets. A place where nothing much happens and for a very good reason.
That is until the twilight hours of a summer’s day when a sleepy corner of Midwich is plunged into panic. People pass out on their feet without warning, without reason. Anyone who tries to enter meets the same fate. And nobody can understand why.
When the mysterious blackout is lifted, life for those affected returns to apparent normality except every woman of child-bearing age inside the zone has suddenly and inexplicably fallen pregnant.
As news spreads and tensions simmer, it is up to gifted psychotherapist Dr Susannah Zellaby to help support those affected through the emotional wilderness. Susannah’s own daughter, Cassie, has fallen pregnant and harbours deep concerns about who, or what is behind this phenomenon.
And local officer DCI Paul Kirby is tasked with maintaining order but unbeknownst to them all, a terrifying force is building in the comfortable streets of Midwich. These children, potential parasites, flourish under the very love and care that their families give them. Who are these children? And what do they want?
1/7 Continues weekly. All episodes available at launch
5. Big Boys
Thursday 2nd June at 10pm and 10.35pm on Channel 4
If you gave Jack Rooke's brilliant Channel 4 comedy Big Boys a chance last week, then you're unlikely not to have gone straight onto All4 and watched the entire series in one long sitting. But, in case you have more self-restraint than I do, the series continues with another double-bill this week as Jack and Danny face up to their sexual shortcomings.
In the first of this week's two episodes, it's Christmas, and the first years are encouraged to create work for Jules's Sexual Health Awareness Week Showcase.
Then in episode four, Jack tries to become more like his famously adored dad, Corinne attempts to loosen up and Danny conducts an experiment with the help of campus dealer Ash. And down the local pub, the results cause some very messy outcomes for all involved.
Read my interview with Dylan Llewellyn here.
3-4/6 Continues weekly. All episodes are available now
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