What's on TV 28-Jan-23

NEW Nolly From Thu 2 Feb, ITVX Drama Helena Bonham Carter stars as TV icon Noele Gordon, known as Nolly to her friends, in this three-part biopic – available as a box set on ITVX. It shows what happened when the actor, who played motel owner Meg Mortimer in ITV soap Crossroads for 17 years, was unceremoniously sacked from the series without warning or explanation in 1981. The cast also includes Mark Gatiss as Larry Grayson, a showbiz pal of the star, and former Silent Witness actor Richard Lintern as Noele’s colleague Ronald Allen, who played suave motel manager David Hunter. P11 Waterloo Road Tuesday, 8pm, BBC1 Drama As grumbly history teacher Neil Guthrie (Neil Fitzmaurice) bonds with refugee Norullah, the Year 9 kids are busy digging up the truth about his personal life and suspect that…

WATERLOO ROAD Tuesday, 8pm, BBC1 Drama Q How does Neil Guthrie form a bond with grieving widower Donte Charles? A Donte tragically lost his wife, Chlo, at the start of the series and has since got a job as caretaker at Waterloo Road. In a conversation between Donte, Neil and deputy head Joe Casey [James Baxter], Joe suggests Neil and Donte have lots in common because Neil also lost his wife a year ago. Donte then gravitates towards Neil. But Neil’s situation isn’t quite what it seems… Q Why is Year 9 student Tonya Walters suspicious of Neil? A Neil believes in just teaching and not being a social worker, which means he can come across as aloof, so Tonya sees Neil as this dark figure who must have a secret. When Tonya bumps into…

Best known for… The author published 31 novels in her lifetime, but was most famous for The Life and Loves of a She-Devil, which was turned into a BBC drama in 1986 starring Julie T Wallace and Dennis Waterman. It was also adapted into a 1990 film, She-Devil, with Roseanne Barr and Meryl Streep. Other achievements… She wrote the 1980 TV version of Pride and Prejudice and her novel The Cloning of Joanna May was adapted for the small screen in 1992. She also wrote the first episode of Upstairs, Downstairs. Family life… Fay died on 4 January, aged 91. She was married three times and is survived by three of her four sons, as well as several grandkids and great-grandchildren.…

VERA Sunday, 8pm, ITV1 Drama DCI Vera Stanhope (Brenda Blethyn) and DS Aiden Healy (Kenny Doughty) are called to a remote lighthouse when the boat of local council worker, amateur sailor and family man Frank Channing is found washed up on the shore. ‘Frank’s body has been lashed to the boat and there are distinctive marks on his head that provide clues as to what happened,’ reveals Brenda. With the investigation under way, Vera bids farewell to pathologist Malcolm (Paul Kaye), who’s moving abroad to pursue new career opportunities. Vera, who’s often clashed with him, shows her softer side when she brings him a bacon butty as a parting gift. ‘Despite winding each other up, there was professional respect between Malcolm and Vera,’ says Brenda. ‘It’s been lovely working with Paul. He’s one of the most…

SILENT WITNESS Monday & Tuesday, 9pm, BBC1 Drama As Silent Witness comes to an end this week, the team investigates a murder at the seaside. In a crime-ridden coastal community, a mum-of-two is found murdered in the home she used to share with local police officer Mike Laing. It turns out the chief superintendent is Mike’s mother, his new partner is also a cop and a suspect, and Mike has close links to the investigating officer! So how impartial can the investigation be? Meanwhile, Jack (David Caves) has divided loyalties when his crime-scene findings differ dramatically from those of his mentor, Bill, who’s about to retire. ‘It’s set in a place called Southbay Island,’ says Emilia Fox, who plays Jack’s colleague and partner Nikki Alexander. ‘But we actually shot it on the Isle of Sheppey,…

★ Radio 1 and I’m a Celebrity… star Jordan North hosts the latest BBC3 reality series Go Hard or Go Home. Filmed on an exotic island, the 10-parter sees eight stuck-in-a-rut millennials get cut off from life as they know it and put through some extreme physical challenges to improve their health and well-being. ★ Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over USA is the latest iteration of the star’s factual series on W. This time, Stacey stays with a nine-year-old gun fanatic in Oklahoma, transgender parents and a couple with a 37-year age gap. ★ Andrea Bocelli: The Journey follows the famous Italian tenor on a 200-mile pilgrimage across Italy. The Sky Arts series will also feature musical guests, including Katherine Jenkins, plus a special appearance from Pope Francis. ★ Grey’s Anatomy star Kevin McKidd…