Thursday’s TV tips
Lily is a 14-year-old girl haunted by the memory of the mother whose death she accidentally caused when she was a toddler.
With the help of her family’s black housekeeper, who has herself been the victim of racist violence after she tried to register to vote, Lily flees the home of her abusive father and goes in search of more information about her mum.
Along the way, the duo find solace with three sisters, who run a bee-keeping business, and have a thing or two to teach the teen about life.
Adapted from Sue Monk Kid’s acclaimed novel, The Secret Life Of Bees is an affecting and well-crafted rites of passage story set in racially divided ’60s South Carolina. As chick flicks trumpeting female empowerment go, this is a hugely enjoyable and heartfelt diversion.
Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo, Paul Bettany
The stars of the music world are primped and preened, they’ve donned their suits and their little black dresses, and they’re mentally planning their acceptance speeches.
But as the glittering array of UK and international stars come together, which of them has done enough this year to walk away with an award praising them for their efforts?
The Beeb is certainly putting a lot of effort in to its inaugural awards bash with BBC One, Radio 1 and Radio 2 uniting for a live simultaneous broadcast in a huge celebration of the best in pop music from across the BBC over the last 12 months.
The main event is being hosted by the always watchable Fearne Cotton and Chris Evans from Earls Court, but plenty of the broadcaster’s other music gurus will also be getting a look in on the action, with Jo Whiley, Nick Grimshaw and Greg James among those drumming up excitement in the run-up to the big event.
We can also expect appearances from the likes of Coldplay, Clean Bandit, Paloma Faith and Calvin Harris in what promises to be a very star-studded and glitzy affair.
Given the multi-billion dollar success of the Transformer movies, it seems the world can’t get enough of vehicles and household items that morph from one thing into another.
It’s highly unlikely that in Transformers Five, director Michael Bay will include a 70s Bedford fire truck that turns into a mobile shop, but that’s perhaps his loss.
In this week’s show, George Clarke meets Adam, the Cumbrian farmer who is doing just that. And he’s not the only person transforming everyday objects.
In Wales, Will Hardie chats to Joelle, a teacher who’s turning a dilapidated pony trailer into a holiday retreat on a budget of just £1000.
And stretching the movie metaphor to breaking point, there’s a cliffhanger in the form of a tiny Italian house perched on top of a cliff.
Plus, George and Will, er, will be revealing their wilderness cabin in all its glory.
Belfast’s Jamie Dornan should become an international superstar when the long awaited 50 Shades of Grey movie hits cinemas next February.
It seems that monotone colour palette has also been the dramatic tonal guide for this compelling crime drama.
In the latest offering, Spector (Dornan) is under surveillance, so Gibson (Gillian Anderson) wants to ensure that a solid arrest strategy is put in place so no evidence is lost and they have the best chance at saving Rose Stagg (Valene Kane).
However, Gibson has to act quickly as her plans fall apart, and the investigation makes her a witness to the disturbing brutality of Spector’s crimes.
For some it’s reminiscent of Prime Suspect; perhaps no surprise as Allan Cubbitt worked on series two of that Helen Mirren drama, and was the brains behind this series.
He also wrote and directed this episode, which features terrific turns from Anderson and Dornan.
Outlawed English nobleman Robin of Locksley recruits a group of bandits to fight for justice and to protect the downtrodden.
Along the way he makes an enemy of the villainous yet charismatic Sheriff of Nottingham, but finds the time to rescue the fair Maid Marian.
If you can get over the fact that Kevin Costner makes little effort to disguise his American accent while playing an English folklore legend, then you’ll enjoy this merry romp.
But even Costner, then at the height of his fame, isn’t a match for the wonderful Alan Rickman, who delivers an unforgettable performance as the deliciously nasty Sheriff.
Kevin Costner, Alan Rickman, Morgan Freeman, Christian Slater, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
After the success of Maia Dunphy’s What Women Want, the series is back for another entertaining look at the issues, concerns and lifestyles of Irish women.
In series two, Maia explores Food, Shopping, Fame and Attraction with her trademark mix of interviews, opinion, facts, stats and humour.
Our perception of what is attractive has become very skewed, with worrying consequences. Do people ever really look like their social media photographs? Was the no make up selfie phenomenon just one big scam? What makes a perfect beauty queen? Do beautiful people really have an easier life? And what happens to women who can’t, or refuse to confirm to our increasingly narrowing ideals of what makes us attractive?
Father Christmas may only provide cheer in December, but Keith Lemon seems to be providing good will for the rest of the year as well. (Except if you watch his movie, which was easily one of the worst things committed to celluloid in some time).
Okay, much of Celebrity Juice is post-watershed and the sort of fun that leaves some reaching for the off button, but there’s no denying the moustachioed TV regular has a rare gift when it comes to making millions go: Ho, ho, ho.
The question is: how will Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid get on when she braves Lemon’s unique quiz?
That remains to be seen, but the likes of Paddy McGuinness, rapper Professor Green and TV personality Joey Essex should be in their element as the chaos commences.
That’s if the ever engaging Joey can find his way to the studio of course.
Bill Hayward has spent the past eight years in prison, and is now out on parole.
He heads home to his family in East London, only to find that his wife has abandoned their two sons – one 16, the other 11 – and that they are now fending for themselves. Bill sticks around to make sure social services don’t put them into care, and slowly starts building a relationship with both boys.
But matters begin to turn sour when one of them starts working for a local drug dealer.
This is the directorial debut of former child star Dexter Fletcher, who popped up in such projects as The Elephant Man, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and Press Gang.
He’s a natural behind the camera if this and his next effort, Sunshine on Leith, are anything to go by.
Charlie Creed-Miles, Will Poulter, Sammy Williams, Andy Serkis
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