British Telly

The Penguin ends on a particularly grisly note. Plus: how did immigration take over UK politics? Here’s what to watch this evening

9pm, Sky Atlantic

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cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/19771403

The original Taskmaster is already a miracle of construction, its success balanced on a razor’s edge. It relies on the perfect, unforced chemistry between its hosts (Greg Davies and Alex Horne – the latter also the show’s creator), an array of tasks that allow for blinding success, abject failure, deep misinterpretation and moments of genius as participants compete for prizes they have themselves brought in (the low stakes are a vital part of its workings), and the procuring of five celebrities – usually comedians – per series who can take it seriously enough to be funny but lightly enough not to bog the whole absurd confection down.

In this they have succeeded magnificently for 18 series (and seven specials). Messing with perfection is rarely to be welcomed, and especially not when it involves the introduction of children. And so it is with astonishment as great as my joy and relief to report that the spinoff Junior Taskmaster, in which the competitors are all aged between about nine and 12 (please don’t make me use the word “tweenagers”) is a triumph.

Comedian and actor Rose Matafeo takes the Davies role as main presenter with writer, comedian and former doctor Mike Wozniak as her sidekick, and their chemistry matches the original pair’s. She brings ebullience and warmth, he brings a deadpan approach and the air of bafflement that an Edwardian father might carry at a child’s birthday party. They both bring support to the children without coddling, an unerring ability to judge just how much ribbing the youngsters can take, and when to let them manage the banter among themselves. It’s like a non-fiction version of Outnumbered.

Mark Rylance returns in Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light. Plus: an essential documentary about what happened after the 7/7 bombings. Here’s what to watch this evening

Sunday, 9pm, BBC One

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The comedian overshares his mother’s wildest anecdotes. Plus: the return of indie legends Pixies. Here’s what to watch this evening

10pm, Sky Arts

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Rose Matafeo and Mike Wozniak put a bunch of canny kids to the test. Plus, Greg Davies cleans up for the last time. Here’s what to watch this evening

8pm, Channel 4The remarkable rise of Taskmaster over the past decade proves that sometimes we just need daft, pointless telly. It’s a genius move, then, to add kids into the mix. Rose Matafeo is in charge of events and, with the help of her assistant, Mike Wozniak, sets challenges for a cohort of very spirited youngsters. It would be a mistake to underestimate these smart cookies – but that doesn’t mean they don’t also provide some hilariously stupid moments, just like the adults. Good fun for fans of any age. Hollie Richardson

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Lashana Lynch also stars in Sky Atlantic’s adaptation of The Day of the Jackal. Plus: the final episode of David Olusoga’s fascinating history series. Here’s what to watch this evening

9pm, Sky Atlantic

Eddie Redmayne (above) is a master of disguise and an exceptional assassin in this adaptation of Frederick Forsyth’s thriller novel. He plays the titular lone wolf Jackal, who, after a high-profile hit, meets his match in Lashana Lynch’s tenacious British intelligence officer, Bianca. A tense cat-and-mouse chase across Europe ensues, with the hunter quickly becoming the hunted. There are five episodes of this glossy, big-budget production to get stuck into this week. Hollie Richardson

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cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/19603586

Neil Berriman, originally from Petersfield, Hampshire is at the centre of a brand-new BBC documentary, as he works to uncover the mystery behind his real family.

The Brit thought nothing of the news that he was being adopted when he was aged 10, despite his adopted mother giving him a brown envelope that contained 'the answers to some questions'.

Shortly after she passed away due to cancer, when he was 40, Berriman opened it up and discovered a document about his adoption and a newspaper article from 1994, revealing that his mother was Sandra Rivett, who died at the hands of Lord Lucan on 7 November 1974.

After finding out this news in 2007, Berriman had become distraught and broke down as he had found out that his real mother had been brutally murdered.

He then became obsessed with tracking Lord Lucan down.

...

An inquest in June 1975 determined that Lord Lucan murdered Sandra, but he has never been found and therefore had never been brought to justice.

However, in an upcoming documentary set to air on BBC Two on Wednesday (6 October), Berriman is convinced that he has found Lucan, who would be 90 years old today, despite being declared dead 25 years after the crime, in 1999.

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In the documentary series simply titled Lucan, the Brit states: "I believe that man in Australia is Lord Lucan and he murdered my mother."

The three-part series sees Berriman tracking down a pensioner that he thinks is the man responsible for his mother's death, who currently lives under a different name in a Brisbane suburb.

"Even now, at nearly 90 years old he’s an arrogant, powerful, horrible old man who’s ripped off people over Australia, upset a lot of people, and he’s full of lies and deceit," Berriman claimed.

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Berriman even came face-to-face with the man that he believes is Lord Lucan, who is called Chris by his carer though, he is known by a Buddhist name.

Australian police believe it is not him, he claims it is not him, though another buddhist the pair met claimed than an aristocratic Englishman told him he murdered two women named Sandra and Veronica, the latter being the name of Lucan's wife.

See also:

• The History Podcast, The Lucan Obsession - BBC Radio 4

The son of Sandra Rivett believes he has found her murderer. Plus: the new series of cosy crime drama Shetland. Here’s what to watch this evening

9pm, BBC TwoWhen he was 11, Neil Berriman discovered his birth mother was Sandra Rivett – the nanny murdered in Lord Lucan’s home in 1974. Lucan vanished that night and was legally declared dead in 1999. But Berriman, now a builder, believes he has found him – and this riveting three-part documentary follows his journey as he attempts to solve the mystery. Hollie Richardson

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It’s Harris versus Trump in the battle for America. Plus: a deep dive into the possible identity of bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto. Here’s what to watch this evening

• How the US elections will unfold overnight for British viewers: hour by hour
• US election day 2024 – live updates

10pm, Sky News

Deep breaths: it’s time for the result of a US presidential election that, despite one candidate being criminally convicted, has been too close to call throughout Kamala Harris and Donald Trump’s campaigning. As the results come in overnight, The News Agents podcast’s Lewis Goodall will join the Sky News team to help make sense of it. BBC News will also provide live coverage with Clive Myrie in Washington. Hollie Richardson

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If you didn't watch it just now, do.

If you're outside the UK, either use a VPN or wait a few days, I'm sure it'll get uploaded to dailymotion or even youtube.

Or at least give this a read:

https://metro.co.uk/2024/11/02/king-williams-estates-raking-millions-public-services-21916391/

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/nov/02/king-and-prince-william-estates-millions-charities-public-services-nhs-leasing-land

In general I'm really liking Jamali style, though I do think that at times he makes the people he's interviewing feel a little too comfortable. I understand that they need to be, so that they open up (and don't turn on him), but also there's a level of comfort and chumminess that Nazis and the likes don't deserve, and I feel like he crossed that line a couple of times (not accusing him of supporting or agreeing with them or anything, to be clear, but I'd much rather he didn't have to do that).

Either way, they're definitely worth watching.

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