Friday’s best TV: Mastermind; Lethal Weapon

Hitchcock and Seinfeld feature in the bumper final of this year’s brainbox showdown. Plus: the classic cop-buddy franchise gets a TV reboot, 30 years on

Mastermind
7.30pm, BBC2

An hour-long final episode of this year’s series, which will see six contestants interrogated by John Humphrys on subjects as varied as the history of Leningrad, the life and works of Billy Wilder, the buildings of Inigo Jones, the films of Alfred Hitchcock, the short films of Laurel & Hardy and Seinfeld. On the latter, at least one question about the sitcom’s inadvertent and wretchedly ironic bankrolling of the regrettable career of Steve Bannon seems likely. Andrew Mueller

The Brokenwood Mysteries
8pm, Drama

This amiable if linear detective series – think a New Zealand Midsomer Murders – continues with Detective Mike Shepherd probing the surprisingly vicious world of semi-professional wine-making. A competition judge has been found face down in a vat of fermenting merlot and a shoal of red herrings have gathered at his feet. A touch workmanlike but a perfectly drinkable vintage as long as you aren’t looking for anything too challenging. Phil Harrison

Not Going Out
9pm, BBC1

Despite their household spend on Fruit Shoots and Skylanders nearing the combined GDP of Scandinavia, Lucy remains open to the idea of a Baby Number Four. Lee isn’t quite as enthusiastic, so sitting down and having a frank, open discussion is the most reasonable option. Instead (and inevitably) psychological warfare breaks out, with Toby and Anna as reluctant referees. After all, is another offspring really worth all those weeks without wine? Mark Gibbings-Jones

The Secrets of Your Food
9pm, BBC2

Episode two of the foodie science magazine hosted by telly doc Michael Mosley and botanist James Wong is all about how our tongues and brains process taste. Exploring how Iberico ham gets its savoury (or ”umami”) flavour, why salt is integral to how we eat, how strawberries defy our understanding of sweetness and more, the pair make chemistry accessible – and get some decent jollies to Peru, Spain and France out of it, too. Hannah J Davies

Lethal Weapon
9pm, ITV

Thirty years after Mel Gibson and Danny Glover set the mismatched cop-buddy franchise rolling, here’s the TV series update starring Clayne Crawford as the whooping, bats-in-the-attic Martin Riggs (chief character accessory: a frequently toyed-with loaded revolver, for potential suicide purposes), and Damon Wayans as his long-suffering family man partner Roger Murtaugh (chief character accessory: a cooking apron). And actually, it’s not half bad. Ali Catterall

The Team
9pm, More4

While it occasionally drifts into generic Euro conspiracy-noir territory, there’s much to admire about this Walter Presents crime drama. It’s stylish, tightly scripted and has star power thanks to the gaunt presence of Lars Mikkelsen. Tonight, the cross-border cops’ investigation, which began with the murders of three women, gets even more complex thanks to an uncooperative journalist, information being “lost” by the Belgian police and pimp Theo Janke going missing. Jonathan Wright

Tracey Ullman’s Show
9.30pm, BBC1

Although as mixed as you’d expect from a sketch show, Tracey Ullman’s return to UK screens for her second series has been better than cynics might have expected. Her character acting makes up for some occasionally off-beam sketches. Tonight, we see her star in the world’s worst show 30 Years In A Morgue, her Camilla Parker-Bowles does a spot of babysitting while her uncanny Judi Dench is bored at an awards ceremony. David Stubbs

Film choice

Florence Foster Jenkins (Stephen Frears, 2016)12noon, 8pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
In 1940s New York, Florence Foster Jenkins won a certain affectionate notoriety as “the worst goddam singer in the world”, a socialite-turned-diva who nevertheless attracted a following. Meryl Streep is marvellous as Jenkins, undaunted by the physical frailty left by syphilis; Hugh Grant matches her as her partner, St Clair Bayfield. Frears is note-perfect in a poignantly funny biopic.

Live sport

ODI Cricket: West Indies v England 1pm, Sky Sports 2 Coverage of the opening contest in the three-match series.

Live Athletics: European Indoor Championships 3pm, BBC2 Day one coverage from Belgrade. GB’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson is in action in the pentathlon.

Premiership Rugby Union: Leicester Tigers v Exeter Chiefs 7pm, BT Sport 1 Welford Road hosts this top-flight clash between the sides.

Contributors

Andrew Mueller, Phil Harrison, Mark Gibbings-Jones, Hannah J Davies, Ali Catterall, Jonathan Wright, David Stubbs

The GuardianTramp

Related Content

Article image
Friday’s best TV: The Last Leg; Lethal Weapon
Return of the cheerful, topical comedy hosted by Adam Hills; Riggs and Murtaugh investigate the death of a pop star’s bodyguard. Plus: Graham Norton welcomes Tom Cruise back to the sofa

John Robinson, Graeme Virtue, Mark Gibbings-Jones, Jonathan Wright, Jack Seale, Ali Catterall and Paul Howlett

26, Jan, 2018 @6:00 AM

Article image
Friday’s best TV: Versailles, Lethal Weapon, Hospital People
There’s more regal rumpy pumpy in the palace, plus Riggs faces ghosts of Christmas past and Tom Binns’s multi-role medical comedy continues

Ben Arnold, Ali Catterall, Mark Gibbings-Jones, Paul Howlett, John Robinson, Jack Seale, Jonathan Wright, Hannah Verdier

28, Apr, 2017 @5:10 AM

Article image
Friday’s best TV: Mastermind; Only Connect; Scott Walker Prom
Friday night quiz night is back, while Jarvis Cocker leads performers through highlights from the unconventional musician’s solo albums. And, after eight long and nondescript weeks, it’s the Big Brother live final

Phil Harrison, Graeme Virtue, Ali Catterall, Mark Gibbings-Jones, Hannah Verdier, John Robinson, Jonathan Wright, Paul Howlett

28, Jul, 2017 @5:00 AM

Article image
Friday’s best TV: The Nutcracker, Coastal Path
Magical storytelling to keep the kids entertained in this annual festive offering. Plus: fossil-hunting, glorious views and a swanherd in Devon and Dorset

Hannah Verdier, Jonathan Wright, Jack Seale, Graeme Virtue, David Stubbs, Andrew Mueller and Paul Howlett

16, Dec, 2016 @6:10 AM

Article image
Friday’s best TV: Unreported World; The Level
Bombing in Yemen has disrupted the food supply and raises questions about Britain’s role in supplying arms to the Saudis. Plus a tense new cop drama with Philip Glenister

Jonathan Wright, Jack Seale, John Robinson, Ali Catterall, Ben Arnold, Graeme Virtue, David Stubbs and Paul Howlett

30, Sep, 2016 @5:20 AM

Article image
Friday’s best TV: Will & Grace; Rome Unpacked
The veteran sitcom’s comeback episode will delight hardcore fans (if nobody else); plus an adventure in one of the world’s truly great cities

Jack Seale, David Stubbs, Hannah Verdier, Phil Harrison, Graeme Virtue, Ben Arnold, Andrew Mueller

05, Jan, 2018 @5:59 AM

Article image
Friday’s best TV: Gogglesprogs; Versailles; The Last Leg
The junior TV critics cast an eye over this year’s election campaign. Plus: snatch more laughs from the fallout with Adam Hills and co; and Louis XIV reconsiders all that lovemaking

Ali Catterall, Mark Gibbings-Jones, Phil Harrison, Paul Howlett, John Robinson, Jack Seale, Jonathan Wright

09, Jun, 2017 @5:20 AM

Article image
Friday’s best TV: People’s History of Pop; Gogglebox
The Libertines, Amy Winehouse and Travis feature in the final part of Sara Cox’s splendid series. And will SS-GB come under the Goggleboxers’ scrutiny again? We can only hope so

Ali Catterall, Mark Gibbings-Jones, John Robinson, Ben Arnold, Graeme Virtue, Jonathan Wright

10, Mar, 2017 @6:10 AM

Article image
Friday’s best TV: Mastermind, Amazing Spaces: Shed of the Year
John Humphrys grills self-professed experts about the World Cup, REM and Borgen; and the grand finale of shed loveliness

Andrew Mueller, Ali Catterall, Phil Harrison, Micha Frazer-CarrollHannah J Davies, Jack Seale, David Stubbs and Paul MacInnes

19, Aug, 2016 @5:20 AM

Article image
Friday’s best TV: The Story of UB40; Walliams & Friend
The 1970s reggae-pop darlings rake over the ashes of their career; and Harry Enfield, perhaps inevitably, steals the show from David Walliams

David Stubbs, Andrew Mueller, Phil Harrison, Ben Arnold, Graeme Virtue, Ali Catterall

02, Dec, 2016 @6:30 AM