Bake Off: The Professionals
No botched baked alaskas here: pro Bake Off returns with 12 super-skilled duos aiming for pastry perfection. As ever, it’s more stern-faced than its sibling, with judges Cherish Finden and Benoit Blin proving less charitable than Prue and Paul. But ex-Bake Off-er Liam Charles and urbane-yet-cheeky comic Tom Allen do a nice job of undercutting the tension.
Tuesday 30 April, 8pm, Channel 4
The Adulterer
Another week, another very bingeable subtitled drama from Walter Presents. This one is set in the Dutch legal system as a defence lawyer and the wife of a prosecutor begin a steamy, and deeply iffy, affair. You can watch the lot on All 4 straight after the first one airs.
Sunday 28 April, 11pm, Channel 4
Knock Down the House
Last year’s midterm elections were a huge moment for women in US politics, with a record number elected to the House of Representatives. This spirited film follows four female Democrats who sought to topple incumbents, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
From Wednesday 1 May, Netflix
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile
Zac Efron is both a surprising and fitting choice to play Ted Bundy, the handsome, all-American family man who doubled as one of history’s most notorious serial killers. His committed and at times deeply sinister performance elevates this restrained account of Bundy’s horrific crimes.
Friday 3 May, 1.30pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
Ellie Undercover: Secrets of the Multi-Level Millionaires
A millennial Cook Report of sorts, Ellie Flynn’s occasional, muck-raking documentary series returns with a special. This time, her focus is on the influencer industry, and the companies targeting vulnerable young people with promises of online fortune. Is this shadowy industry being overlooked by regulators?
From Saturday 27 April, BBC Three
Tuca & Bertie
Inevitably, given the shared creators, this animated comedy – featuring voice work from Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong – will be compared to BoJack Horseman. Yet, this bawdy and slyly feminist tale of two thirtysomething bird women’s friendship has more than a little Broad City to it, too.
From Friday 3 May, Netflix
The Beautiful Brain
Audible’s latest subscription-only podcast recalls the sad story of former West Brom star Jeff Astle, who died as a result of degenerative brain condition CTE, brought on by repeatedly heading footballs. This series looks at the impact of CTE, with devastating commentary from Astle’s family.
Podcast
Our Dementia Choir With Vicky McClure
McClure swaps her Line of Duty case files for sheet music as she assembles a choir made up of people with dementia. It’s an affecting two-parter that aims to show the power of music therapy on those with the brain disease, as well as serving as a tribute to the actor’s late grandmother.
Thursday 2 May, 8pm, BBC One
Barry Lyndon
William Thackeray’s story of an 18th-century Irish lad making his way in the world by duelling, gambling and seduction gets a superbly cool and controlled treatment from the master Stanley Kubrick. It’s full of exquisite images, exact in period detail, with Ryan O’Neal’s bland good looks a perfect vehicle for the hero’s empty and ultimately indulgent ambitions.
Sunday 28 April, 9pm, BBC Four
Dead to Me
An almost Anchorman reunion, this Will Ferrell and Adam McKay-exec-produced dark comedy stars Veronica Corningstone herself, Christina Applegate, as Jen, a widow who forms a friendship with anarchic free spirit Judy (Mad Men and ER’s Linda Cardellini). Trouble inevitably follows, as do visits from the FBI, when Judy’s dark past is revealed.
From Friday 3 May, Netflix
