Tonight’s TV tips
Tune in to TV3 at 7.30pm for the Uefa Champions League semi-final, second-leg match between reigning champions Bayern Munich and Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Bayern Munich welcome Real Madrid to the Allianz Arena for this semi-final second-leg contest, in which both teams will compete for a place in the showpiece match to be held at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon.
Bayern are the reigning champions of this competition having beaten Borussia Dortmund in last year’s final, and they are attempting to become the first team to retain the trophy since AC Milan managed to do so in 1990.
Playing the second leg at home of any knockout tie is often seen as an advantage, but the Bundesliga outfit’s home form in this competition has been somewhat mixed, with victories over CSKA Moscow and Viktoria Plzen in the group stage coming before a 3-2 loss to Manchester City, a 1-1 draw with Arsenal, and 3-1 win over Manchester United that had seen them trail 1-0.
Pep Guardiola’s men have already been crowned champions of their domestic league, but suffered a dip in form after that which has been cause for concern.
All the talk lately has been about award-winning smash Educating Yorkshire. However, cast your minds a little further back, to a time before “Shaved all my eyebrows off” became THE TV catchphrase of 2013, and Educating Essex headteacher Stephen Drew also made quite an impact on camera.
He’s back in this new four-part series, attempting to help 11 boys whose behaviour is threatening their future – they’re going to a residential summer school like no other, and their parents are tagging along for good measure.
Mr Drew might have dealt with challenging youngsters for 15 years, but here is where his expertise is going to really be tested.
In the first instalment, there’s an altercation before the pupils have even made it to their class – two of the boys are playing truant and insult Mr Drew when he goes to find them.
Talk about bad day at the office.
Nev Wilshire had never watched BBC Three when a film crew came to his Swansea call centre to make a documentary. He thought it would be a bit of publicity for his business and little more, but had no idea the 900 hours of footage they shot would turn him into an overnight star.
Instead of the expected 400,000 viewers, The Call Centre started attracting millions of fans, so little wonder this second series was rushed into production.
In the latest offering, the jovial boss invites staff to submit ideas to improve the company.
Meanwhile, Deon, the Quality and Compliance department worker, goes on a date with the new sales agent, and Griff sets his sights on a change of direction in his career at the call centre.
Given his track record as one of the more rebellious members of staff, we doubt Griff is about to try and take over the business just yet.
Classic light entertainment fans have a lot to thank the strand Comedy Playhouse for.
In the 1960s and 1970s it helped launch such programmes as Steptoe and Son, Last of the Summer Wine and Are You Being Served?, and there’s a good chance Hugh Dennis’s latest project may also go to a series, not least because it’s from the pen of Red Dwarf veteran Doug Naylor.
He plays Bill Onion, a TV weatherman who prophetically tells his viewers that a storm is coming in.
Within minutes, Onion has been fired by the BBC, it’s raining cats and dogs and his flash convertible car has the top down... and he’s been clamped.
Naturally our protagonist is desperate to get back on the box, and he hopes his friend Jez, who’s in touch with a Channel 4 VIP will help his plight.
Good support comes from Neil Morrissey, Helen George and the ever reliable Tracy-Ann Oberman.
Born in the midst of a battle with psychotic Romulan Nero, reckless Iowa youth James Kirk is given a purpose in life when he joins Starfleet.
Despite incurring the wrath of half Vulcan Spock, his quick thinking fast tracks him to Captain of the Starship Enterprise, and he gets the chance to avenge the death of his father when he crosses paths with Nero once more.
This is a beautifully crafted masterpiece, from the heartbreaking pre-credits scene to the fabulous ending. Chris Pine is great as Kirk, and Zachary Quinto the perfect choice as Spock.
Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Eric Bana, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg
95%
A group of master criminals are brought together by a Mr Big for a bank heist, but when one of their number turns out to be a psychopath who starts murdering hostages, they have to make a break for it. Holed up in a warehouse, they must decide whether or not they have been set up and, if so, which of the robbers isn’t all he seems.
The movie that made a household name of writer and director Quentin Tarantino is every bit as good today as it was on its release 22 years ago.
Vicious, violent and thoroughly cool, it’s one of the most important films of the modern era; ushering in a whole new school of movie-making. That aside, it also boasts a cast of true mega-stars and the dialogue has an eerily authentic ring.
Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Steve Buscemi
92%
Former Nascar driver Jensen Ames is framed for murdering his wife and child. The petrol head is sent to Terminal Island Prison, a facility that broadcasts the highly profitable Death Race – a high-octane event where convicts battle to the death in customised cars.
When one of the popular drivers is killed in a suitably violent race, the crooked prison warden convinces Ames to take his place with the promise he’ll be released if he wins.
Jason Statham proves once again that he’s a bona fide action hero with another solid performance, while Natalie Martinez adds a touch of glamour as his foxy, albeit unnecessary navigator.
One minor grumble is the fact it’s so teen-friendly instead of the blood bath it should have been, especially as it’s based on 1975 classic Death Race 2000.
Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Ian McShane, Tyrese Gibson, Natalie Martinez
43%
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