What to watch this weekend: 29th April – 1st May

Friday 29th April

Flowers, 10pm, C4

It’s possibly an unwise decision to show all six episodes of this over five nights – but it does have Olivia Colman as its main draw. It’s a bit strange; a black comedy about a dysfunctional family (the Flowers) trying not to fall apart. Put it this way; it opens with dad Maurice (Julian Barratt) trying to hang himself (that kind of funny…) He’s wed to Deborah (Colman, who is extremely entertaining / unhinged throughout) and they live in an old, crumbling house with their grown up (barking) kids and Maurice’s elderly mother. It also has BAFTA-winning Georgina Campbell as the lesbian love interest of Deborah’s oddball daughter

The Secret, 9pm, ITV

James Nesbitt in a pair of swimming trunks, his pjamers and also singing (songs about Jesus); it’s all here. He is Colin the Bible-bothering (married) dentist, who starts a fling with nice teacher Hazel. Only this is Ireland and all hell breaks loose when someone spots them together. The church “makes its displeasure known” while there’s all sorts of talk of “wives keeping husbands happy” as part of their “duty”. It’s pretty good though – and then the loved up pair become murderers, oh my.

Boomers, 9.30pm, BBC 1

Who knew Russ Abbott, Stephanie Beacham, Paula Wilcox and co could be so amusing? This hugely entertaining sitcom bows out with a guest appearance from the legendary June Whitfield, who’s getting hitched to her toyboy. The three couples gather at a very grand hotel for the celebrations, and of course total mayhem ensues…

Heartbeat, 9pm, TLC

Who didn’t love Angel in Home & Away? Here she is (or rather, lovely Australian actress Melissa George) pulling on the scrubs to play a heart transplant surgeon with a complex love life. She sighs, talks to herself and pouts a lot, but we like her – even more as she did all the press for this with her five-month-old baby Solal in tow, respec’.

Special Correspondents, Netflix

Some might argue Ricky Gervais is always being David Brent. He’s written and directs this remake of the 2009 French comedy, also finding time to star as the hapless technician sidekick of a struggling radio journo (hello, Eric Bana). Vera Famiga and Kelly Macdonald are also in this. Ricky says: “It’s not a big broad loud obvious comedy… it’s satirical, dramatic and a bit romantic…”

Saturday 30th April

Coastal Walks With My Dog, 8pm, C4

This is basically celebs (Angela Griffin, Cerys Matthews, Phil Spencer, Bill Bailey and Debra Stephenson) being filmed taking their dogs for a walk. Whatever next? But there’s seaside, and pretty scenery.

Britains Got Talent, 8pm, ITV

Onwards and upwards as more hopefuls take to the stage in the hope of getting the Golden Buzzer – and ultimately a chance to show off in front of the queen.

The Rack Pack, 9.30PM, BBC2

If snooker’s your thing, tune into this comedy drama portraying the great rivalry between Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins and Steve Davis, with a touch of 80s nostalgia.

The Sweeney, 9pm, C4

Famous geezer Ray Winstone stars as a hardened detective in the Flying Squad of London’s Met police. Incidentally, the Top Gear team helped with the car chase scene in this – with Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May credited as stunt performers!

Liar Lair, 7.20pm, ITV

Attorney Fletcher Reede is a big fat liar who can’t stop telling porkies, until the day he misses his favourite young son Max’s birthday party. A fed up Max wishes his dad could tell the truth for one whole day – which results in lots of comedy mayhem.

Sunday 1st May

Elysium, 9pm, Channel 5

It’s 2145 and the world is divided into two classes; the super rich – living it up on a swanky man-made space station called Elysium, and the paupers – scrabbling about on an over-populated, ruined Earth. Jodie Foster is the don’t-mess-with-me Secretary Delacourt; a government big cheese desperate to preserve the luxurious lifestyle of the citizens of Elysium (ie keeping the riff-raff out), while Matt Damon is Max – one of the poor folk who agrees to take on a task that is très risky but could make both worlds equal.

Mr Popper's Pengins, 3PM, E4

Yes, it’s Jim Carrey again (see Liar, Liar) – this time playing businessman Mr Popper, whose life changes after he ends up taking six penguins under his wing. Instead of taking them to say, a zoo or a pet shop, he decides to transform his apartment into a winter wonderland – which of course delights the kids and unlike his father before him, finally he has a marvellous way of bonding with his own brood. Heart-warming and fun; this is perfect for a Sunday arvo.