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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Graeme Virtue, Mike Bradley, Gwilym Mumford, Phil Harrison and Paul Howlett

Friday’s best TV: The Crystal Maze; Stan Lee’s Lucky Man

This week’s contestants on The Crystal Maze
Giving Ayoade a run for his money ... this week’s contestants on The Crystal Maze. Photograph: Jon Hall/Channel 4

The Crystal Maze

8pm, Channel 4
Another civilian edition of the running-and-riddles reboot that, according to heavily ironised host Richard Ayoade, “given the change in viewing habits, doesn’t have such bad ratings if you think about it”. Donning the Kwik Fit overalls this week are a squad of rowdy female students who delight in giving their lanky guide some serious backchat, calling him “Richey-boy” and making fun of his weird pointy cane. While radiating exasperation like a teacher on a chaotic school trip, Ayoade is clearly tickled by their infectious enthusiasm. Graeme Virtue

Dicte: Crime Reporter

9pm, More4
Dicte is still struggling to understand Bo’s actions. When at last she decides to forgive him, his conscience won’t allow him to accept it. Elsewhere, her interest is piqued by an incident that occurs on Rose’s first shift as an intern on a psychiatric ward involving the death of a schizophrenic woman. Could it be murder? Mike Bradley

Stan Lee’s Lucky Man

9pm, Sky1
After his unhappy time in Hong Kong, Harry returns to London to clear his name. To do that, he needs to find Samuel Blake, the hitman he believes framed him for murder – but can he still rely on his lucky bracelet, now that Blake has seemingly corrupted it? Irredeemably daft, despite some game performances. Gwilym Mumford

Soundtracks: Songs that Defined History

9pm, Sky Arts
Music is a universal art form, capable of tapping into emotional states that words struggle to define. This series explores its capacity to resonate with historical events, looking this week at the aftermath of 9/11, when many New Yorkers found solace in songs such as Billy Joel’s New York State of Mind. Phil Harrison

Wynonna Earp

10pm, Spike
Supernatural western mayhem returns to our screens with the arrival of a third season of the bloodsoaked drama set in the forsaken town of Purgatory. Wynonna comes face to face with the revenant who originally cursed ancestor Wyatt and his line, while a busload of beautiful vampires enters the Ghost River Triangle. MB

BBC Proms 2018

11pm, BBC Four
A recording of Monday’s Prom 13, in which Anna Meredith presents a tribute to the female pioneers of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. It begins with music by Delia Derbyshire, best known as creator of the Doctor Who theme, and ends with the premiere of Daphne Oram’s Still Point for orchestra and turntables. MB

Film choice

Kate Beckinsale in Love & Friendship
‘Who is the greatest schemer of all?’ Kate Beckinsale in Love & Friendship. Photograph: Bernard Walsh/AP

Love & Friendship (Whit Stillman, 2016), 9pm, BBC Two
Whit Stillman’s zesty adaptation of the Jane Austen novella Lady Susan stars Kate Beckinsale as the widowed heroine, now penniless and scheming to bag a fortune by pairing her daughter Frederica (Morfydd Clark) with rich dolt Sir James (Tom Bennett). It’s magnificently cynical and hilarious. Paul Howlett

Live sport

Cycling: Tour de France 11am, ITV4. Some will be hoping for miracles on stage 19, a mountainous trip from Lourdes to Laruns.
Showjumping: The Royal International Horse Show 2pm, Sky Sports Action. Coverage of day four.
T20 cricket: Yorkshire Vikings v Birmingham Bears 6pm, Sky Sports Main Event. A north division encounter.

• This article was amended on 27 July 2018 because an earlier version said Delia Derbyshire was the composer of the Doctor Who theme. Derbyshire created the theme.

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