Sunday, December 22, 2024

TV tonight: Outlander’s Richard Rankin is the new Rebus

Must read

Rebus

9.25pm, BBC One

Richard Rankin – whom you might recognise from period romp Outlander – is a younger but equally gruff DS John Rebus, in this new imagining of the Ian Rankin novels (who also executive produces). Rebus is drawn into a violent criminal gang conflict when his brother, who served in the army, makes a desperate move with them. On top of that, the detective is dealing with an affair that he needs to end. Hollie Richardson

Doctor Who

6.50pm, BBC One

Ncuti Gatwa continues to thrill as the newest Time Lord, in an episode written by former showrunner Steven Moffat. The Doctor and his companion Ruby (Millie Gibson) find themselves trapped because of a landmine – can they save the planet while not being able to move? HR

Ncuti Gatwa as the Time Lord Photograph: James Pardon/Bad Wolf/BBC Studios

Spy/Master

9pm, BBC Four

A nerve-racking concluding double bill for the Romanian cold war thriller, starting with Victor’s daughter Ileana being interrogated by Ceaușescu’s men – could Victor use intel about an imminent bomb attack in Bonn to get a message to her? In the finale, he and Frank make a last-ditch effort to escape to the US. HR

An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th

9pm, Sky Documentaries

With its homegrown, anti-government perpetrator, the Oklahoma City bombing of 1995, which killed 168 people, now feels like a precursor to the kind of dangerous radicalism routinely seen on the fringes of US politics. This documentary examines the investigation and ponders the lasting implications of the attack. Phil Harrison

Later … With Jools Holland

9.50pm, BBC Two

Jools gold: the laid-back jam sesh returns for an impressive 64th run with a line-up including indie silverbacks Elbow and Bristol’s buzzsaw brigade Idles. All that blokey energy will be balanced out by US country powerhouse Lainey Wilson and the new synth-pop project from actor Samantha Morton. Graeme Virtue

Mbappé

10.35pm, BBC One

“He takes your breath away when you watch.” Gary Lineker joins the likes of Thierry Henry and Bernardo Silva to tell the remarkable story of French footballer Kylian Mbappé – from the eager Parisian boy who asked the barber to shave his hair at the back to get Zidane’s bald patch to being the best player of his generation. HR

Film choice

A Woman of Paris, 1pm, Sky Arts

A Woman of Paris on Sky Arts
Photograph: Criterion

For his 1923 foray into pure drama, Charlie Chaplin felt obliged to announce in the opening titles: “I do not appear in this picture.” But this is far from a lesser work. Chaplin as writer-director brings moral nuance and a lack of sentimentality to a story set amid Paris’s idle rich. Edna Purviance plays Marie, whose plans to elope to the capital with poor artist Jean (Carl Miller) fall through. But she goes anyway and finds a comfortable life as the mistress of “gentleman of leisure” Pierre (a carefree Adolphe Menjou) – until she bumps into Jean again and old feelings revive. Simon Wardell

Live sport

Cycling: Giro d’Italia, 12.30pm, Eurosport 1 Stage 14 is a time trial from Castiglione delle Stiviere to Desenzano del Garda.

Challenge Cup Rugby League: Hull KR v Wigan, 1.15pm, BBC One The first semi-final at Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster.

Premiership Rugby Union: Saracens v Sale, 2.30pm, TNT Sports 1 At StoneX Stadium.

Women’s Super League Football, 2.40pm, BBC Two One match on the season’s last day.

League One Football: Bolton v Oxford, 5.15pm, Sky Sports Main Event The play-off final at Wembley. The League Two play-off final – Crawley v Crewe – is on Sunday at noon.

Latest article