There's Bambie Thug’s Eurovision Song Contest debut, an exclusive interview with Salman Rusdie, Olly Alexander’s Road to Eurovision 2024, the final part of Spacey Unmasked and Champions League action . . .
Pick of the Day
Marty Whelan commentates on the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, from the Malmo Arena, featuring Irish entry Bambie Thug.
The bould Marty is celebrating his 25th anniversary of capturing the key moments at the Eurovision, so it would be great if he could celebrate in style with an Irish win.
But let’s get through the semi-final first, eh?
If the bookies are correct (and they usually are), Bambie Thug should make it through. One of the key elements of Eurovision success these days is performance and Bambie is sure to put on a memorable show.
After that, well, it’s all about hoping enough countries want to see Bambie again on Saturday.
New or Returning Shows
Salman Rusdie: Through a Glass Darky, 9.00pm, BBC Two
In an exclusive interview with Alan Yentob, Salman Rushdie speaks in detail about the 2022 knife attack on stage in New York.
As a result, he lost his right eye and came close to losing his ability to write.
Featuring a combination of archive footage, AI-generated material and a moving account of events from his wife Rachel Eliza Griffiths.
Then at 10pm on BBC Four there’s The Satanic Verses: 30 Years On.
in 1988, the publication of The Satanic Verses - the controversial book by Salman Rushdie - sparked a culture war in Britain.
This 2019 documentary follows broadcaster and journalist Mobeen Azhar as he returns to Yorkshire, where the protest first began, to examine the lasting effect the book on his community, and to meet people often ignored by the mainstream media whose lives were for ever affected by the book.
Olly Alexander’s Road to Eurovision 2024, 10.50pm, BBC One
Documentary following singer Olly Alexander as he prepares to represent the United Kingdom at the long-running celebration of music across the continent and beyond, the Eurovision Song Contest.
Cameras follow the Years and Years singer on the promotional circuit as he releases his song Dizzy, juggles press attention, performs at European parties in Madrid and London and prepares for the event itself.
Unbelievable Moments Caught on Camera, 8.00pm, Virgin Media One
Return of the series featuring eyewitness filming, and those behind the stories share their memories of these once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
This season 7 opener includes footage includes a plane stalling in mid-air while skydivers are clinging to the outside, and the dramatic moment a British skier fights for her life in an avalanche.
Roger Allam narrates.
King's High Street, 9.00pm, Virgin Media One
Since the 17th century, St James's street in London has been the go-to destination for luxury retailing and shopping destination for the Kings and Queens of Britain.
This documentary meets the characters who run the stores, as well as some of the customers who go to buy their premium products.
It goes behind the scenes at Albert Amort, where the Queen Mother purchased her 18th century porcelain.
Then there’s the restaurant staff who serve the British royal family and aristocracy, a chat with Emma Willis, shirt fitter to King Charles (above), and there's a visit to Bentley and Skinner, where the royal jewels were crafted.
Don’t Miss
Aldi’s Next Big Thing, 8.00pm, Channel 4
Would you eat something called 'dung’?
Well, it could be coming to an Aldi near you after an eclectic group pitch for the Healthy and Wholesome category.
Products include a protein ball with the divisive name of Dung, a healthy spin on ginger beer that promises to pack a fiery punch, and a mushroom obsessive who's left the city behind to set up a farm in the Welsh mountains.
There’s also a young entrepreneur who pitches her innovative low sugar spread of granola butter.
All six producers pitch to Managing Director of Buying Julie Ashfield, accompanied by Anita Rani and Chris Bavin, but just two will be chosen to develop their products further.
PQ 17: An Arctic Convoy Disaster, 9.00pm, BBC Four
Between 1941 and 1945, merchant ships escorted by vessels from the US, Canadian and British navies delivered four million tons of essential goods to the Soviet Union.
In this documentary, Jeremy Clarkson (above) retraces the journey of the convoy of 35 ships codenamed PQ17 from Iceland to the Russian port of Arkhangelsk in June and July 1942.
It reveals how the Anglo-American mission became one of the biggest naval disasters of the 20th century and eatures testimony from men who served on the vessels.
New to Stream
Super Rich in Korea, Netflix
This show makes the Eurovision look almost Beckettian in comparison
Follow the remarkable real-life stories of multibillionaires living in ultimate luxury in this unscripted series from - as the title suggests - South Korea.
There’s a Singaporean chaebol billionaire, an heir to an Italian luxury brand, a Pakistani noble family member, the Kim Kardashian of the Arab world and a Paris Hilton-esque shopaholic.
They all have the means to live anywhere in the world, but they love Korea and choose to call it home.
What do they do in Korea? What do they wear and eat? This reality series peeks into the extravagant lives of the extremely wealthy in South Korea.
Ending Today
Spacey Unmasked, 9.00pm, Channel 4
Here’s the second and final part of Channel 4’s look at Kevin Spacey (below).
In 2023, Kevin Spacey was acquitted of sexual offences against four men in a UK trial.
This documentary investigates Spacey's conduct and talks to multiple men, unconnected to that case, about their experiences with Kevin Spacey, almost all of whom have never spoken before.
Sport
It’s Paris Saint-Germain v Borussia Dortmund (KO 8pm) in the semi-final second-leg tie at Parc des Princes.
The tie ids still in the balance as the German club travels to Paris with a slender 1-0 advantage from last week’s first leg.
The teams also met here in the group stage, with PSG recording a 2-0 win thanks to a Kylian Mbappe penalty and a goal by former Dortmund loanee Achraf Hakimi.
But that result is irrelevant now as a place in the Champions League Final awaits the winner.
Joanne Cantwell presents, with analysis from Dietmar Hamann, and commentary by Des Curran.
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