The Crown
With Olivia Colman as the now “settled monarch”, this third series of The Crown follows the 13 years from 1964 to the Silver Jubilee – and there is much ground to cover. Helena Bonham Carter is on excellent form as Princess Margaret, while Colman gives the Queen some much-needed emotionality amid continuing power-grabbing crises.
From Sunday 17 November, Netflix
Making Beyoncé
From Destiny’s Child to Queen B, Beyoncé Knowles has been a fixture of pop stardom ever since her golden-voiced debut in the early 1990s. This three-part pod from the makers of Serial talks to key figures, such as her father and childhood friends, about her rapid rise to fame and now massive fortune.
Podcast
Rick and Morty
Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland’s chaotic animation about a deranged genius scientist and his shy grandson’s missions around the universe returns for its much-anticipated fourth series. Expect the usual dose of nihilism, crude gags and intergalactic violence.
Wednesday 20 November, 10pm, E4
Boom, Bust & Bankers
Built in 1985 as a shining new testament to Margaret Thatcher’s mass market deregulation, London’s Broadgate complex now houses 28 international banks and has weathered multiple recessions as well as the looming uncertainty of Brexit. This documentary takes an in-depth look at the staff who keep Broadgate running, as well as the changing face of our economy.
Tuesday 19 November, 9pm, Channel 4
Reggie in China
Reggie Yates is in one of China’s fastest growing cities, Shenzhen, for the start of his new series travelling around the country. Home to hundreds of startup-founding expats, he explores the city’s tech novelties – including an instant translation earpiece and a sci-fi flying motorcycle.
Sunday 17 November, 9pm, BBC Two
The War of the Worlds
HG Wells’s dystopian tale of 19th-century Martian invasion gets an ornate visual update in this BBC adaptation, starring a stoic Rafe Spall as journalist George and bright-eyed Eleanor Tomlinson as his lover Amy. Packed with cinematic special effects, this unfolding sinister drama is sure to be a crowdpleaser for the darkening nights to come.
Sunday 17 November, 9pm, BBC One
Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings
A must-see for Dolly fans, this anthology series pairs Parton’s classic country tearjerkers with episodic stories inspired by her music. Expect everything from gun-slinging westerns to wartime romances, family dramas and revenge comedies, with Parton on hand as our trusty, guitar-toting narrator.
From Friday 22 November, Netflix
Vienna Blood
Freudian psychology and Sherlock Holmes-style murder mystery combine in this involved take on Frank Tallis’s Liebermann novels. The titular Liebermann is a trainee doctor roped into helping stern detective Oskar Rheinhardt solve the city’s more cerebral murders. With a 90-minute opening episode, it’s a long, wordy ride through the unconscious.
Monday 18 November, BBC Two, 9pm
I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!
Ready the insects as Ant and Dec return to the Aussie jungle for another year of public-voted celebrity trauma. Caitlyn Jenner, Ian Wright, Nadine Coyle and Jacqueline Jossa are now confirmed among the lineup; expect all present in the jungle to be facing their fears and dining on some questionable meal choices.
45 Years
There is no escaping the past in Andrew Haigh’s riveting domestic drama. Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay are bleakly brilliant as Kate and Geoff Mercer, living in rural Norfolk and planning a big 45th-anniversary party; but a letter from Switzerland raises the ghost of Geoff’s long-lost love in a searchingly intelligent, sad and truthful tale.
Wednesday 20 November, 1.55am, Channel 4
