Saturday’s TV tips
If you’re one of those people wondering ’Steven who?’, then don’t worry, you’re not alone.
Unless you’re a household name, plonking your moniker in any TV show title is a little presumptuous, but in this case the American science author is a rather nice chap whose pieces to camera are effortless. Plus, the cheap and cheerful animations help give this a layperson’s guide to the subject matter.
In the first of a new series, he explores the impact on the modern world of innovations in six technologies.
Episode one traces the journey from dirty to clean in assorted spheres of daily life, whether it’s the spotless environment of a microchip factory or the railway engineer whose radical idea to install sewers involved raising a city’s buildings.
Among the subjects praised in this film are a doctor who covertly experimented with a lethal chemical to treat the water supply, and a shopkeeper who revolutionised home cleanliness.
Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone), a successful bisexual mystery writer may also be a ruthless murderer.
Everyone close to Catherine dies, and troubled policeman Nick Curran (Michael Douglas) must find out why.
In the process, Nick becomes sexually involved with both Catherine and police psychiatrist Beth Gardner (Jeanne Tripplehorn), while the bodies begin piling up and Catherine turns the cat-and-mouse game around on Nick.
Sharon Stone, Michael Douglas.
The leaders of a secret government agency plan to eliminate several agents as part of a cover-up when they face having their dark secrets exposed.
One of the assassins targeted is able to evade his fate and go on the run – but his escape is threatened by his dependence on drugs to boost his physical and mental capabilities.
Cleverly taking place at the same time as the third movie, it boasts a terrific cast, and strangely the lack of Matt Damon doesn’t detract too much from the franchise as most people are alluding to him even if he isn’t on screen.
However, despite a steady build up, by the time the third act kicks in, it feels a bit generic. And the fact Moby’s Extreme Ways, even with this reboot, is used over the closing titles is now wearing very thin.
Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz and Edward Norton
The Gallic drama is nearing its season finale, and this week the noose tightens around the criminal activities of Karen’s girl gang following the brutal attack on Kimberley. However, as the law enforcers start to close in, they strike again.
Meanwhile, we discover whether Josephine’s audacity has paid off in her defence of Gilou. And the Ziani case runs hits a major stumbling block when it confronts the workings of covert international ’diplomacy’.
As ever with procedural drama, there’s a lot of hanging around in offices, speculating on what’s going on. However, when the occasional action scenes kick in, such as the apprehension of a criminal in an alley, it’s stunningly effective.
Fans should be perched on the edge of their seats by the time the closing credits roll.
And stay tuned for that series finale, which can be seen at 9.45pm.
With Caroline Proust, Philippe Duclos and Audrey Fleurot.
Simon Rattle is the British conductor who conquered the world. Whether working with opera or oratorio, his passion for whatever medium he’s working with is infectious.
And as we see in the first few minutes of this film, he can be so absorbed with his job, you’d think he was channelling the spirit of Animal from The Muppets.
One fan claims his genius is “his sympathy with all the players in front of him”.
Now you can make up your own mind with this documentary following the principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic over 12 months as he gets ready for a series of concerts, oratorios and operas with five assorted orchestras.
Aside from using archive material to explore Simon’s career, he discusses his life and work, comparing his job to Werner Herzog’s classic movie Fitzcarraldo, pushing a ship over a mountain.
Plus, there are soundbites from Anne-Sophie Mutter, Nicholas Kenyon and Peter Sellars.
Whilst helping his latest client woo the woman of his dreams, dating doctor Alex “Hitch” Hitchen claims that with his services he can match anyone with their soulmate in just three dates.
But when a jaded tabloid journalist sets out to expose him as a scam artist, Alex finds himself smitten and the two find themselves falling in love.
Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kevin James
There was something in the air tonight, with Laura Jackson and Mark Wright, on Fernandos.
Yes, those super troopers are back to see which of the 30 dancing queens have hooked up with which of the four single blokes to enjoy a break on that sun-kissed island.
Here the duo catch up with host Paddy McGuinness, and naturally they’re keen to find out what really happened on the dates.
There’s also advice and commiserations for those unfortunate fellas who failed to get a date.
Reporting from the luxury Casa Fernando, Laura and Mark deliver their round-up of Take Me Out news.
Will any holiday flings lead to the contestants giving each other a ring ring? Will they be dreaming of saying those magic words I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, or have they met their Waterloo?
There’s only one way to find out. To paraphrase McGuinness, let the viewer see the spin-off show.
Many big names lined up to take part in this tribute to the eponymous tunesmiths.
Paul McCartney, Elton John, Ian McKellen, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Whoopi Goldberg, Dionne Warwick and Twiggy are among those waxing lyrical about The Dave Clark Five, the London band who went down a storm across the Pond in the 1960s.
With 15 consecutive US hit singles and more than 100 million records sold, little wonder they left an indelible mark on the minds of many, including Freddie Mercury and Tom Hanks. The latter’s moving speech at The DC5’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2008 explained what five lads from North London and the Tottenham Sound meant to his generation.
Those rocked by the assassination of JFK in 1963 found their spirits lifted with the arrival of the DC5, and suddenly thousands of fans were feeling Glad All Over.
Catch it if you can.
Veterinarian Patrick Daly (Aiden Gillen) and his pharmacist wife, Louise (Eva Birthistle), are distraught after their daughter is mauled to death by a dangerous dog.
Consumed by grief and desperate to escape painful memories of the past, the couple head to the sleepy Irish village of Wake Wood where Patrick takes over the local practice and Louise works in the village chemist store.
As they gain the trust of the villagers, they learn of an ancient tradition to bring back the recently deceased for three days so that loved ones can say a proper farewell.
However, the ritual dates back hundreds of years and if Patrick and Louise deviate from the rules, they must pay a horrifying price...
This low-budget Hammer horror is certainly worth a look, particularly for fans of such classics as The Wicker Man and Don’t Look Now - both of which seem to have influenced this satisfying yarn heavily.
Aidan Gillen, Eva Birthistle, Timothy Spall, Ella Connolly, Amelia Crowley, Brian Gleeson.
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