Tonight - your chance to catch up on one of the biggest stories in town. It seems like it's dragged on forever. There's been consternation in the press, outrage among the chattering classes and scores of loyal fans have followed each twist and turn avidly, while millions of others looked on, wondering what the fuss was all about. That's right, some bloke's taken over a football club in Manchester, and loads of other people got in a big tizzy about it. If you're the type to want to know more, there's a Tonight Special (ITV1, 8pm) on the man who bought United.
Elsewhere? It's the end of some reality show on Channel 4, apparently. Always fun, but if you're not able to watch it, or simply can't bear to, we'll be writing up the highlights this evening right here on the blog. Culture Vulture: watching Big Brother so you don't have to. Personally, I'm betting on Anthony to win. But then, I'm always wrong, so don't go putting any money on it.
Meanwhile, there are more picks to be had from this week's Guide and today's Guardian ...
The Man Who Bought United: A Tonight Special 8pm, ITV1 Malcolm Glazer, Manchester United's new owner, is by all accounts not a man who worries about being disliked. Just as well considering that fans have been burning effigies of him. On the eve of the footy season, Mark Jordan asks whether Glazer deserves such venom. Those contributing range from a former tenant ("They wanted to charge me extra for my cat") to Mark Hyman, the journo who uncovered Glazer's feuding with his sisters over their mother's will. At least United fans can console themselves with the idea that Glazer doesn't tolerate losing.
Jonathan Wright
Big Brother: The Live Final 8.30pm/10pm, C4 The stooges were picked off one by one while we pretended to hate every minute. We all talked about what a load of old dumbed-down dross we'd been "forced" to watch. And yet we didn't just watch it. We spent hours in the pub and the cafe and the restaurant, talking about it. As what has undeniably been the best British Big Brother to date comes to a close, the final few bite their nails as the entirely uninterested public vote in their millions for a winner. Give it up. You watched it. You will watch it next year. They've got you.
Julia Raeside
Kenneth Tynan: In Praise Of Hardcore 11pm, BBC2 Rob Brydon busts out from his Keith Barrett persona to create a brilliantly vivid performance as dandified theatrical critic Kenneth Tynan. The drama focuses on the 1960s when Tynan railed against censorship, became the first man to say "fuck" on British TV and created the hugely successful erotic revue Oh! Calcutta!
Jonathan Wright
Coast 9pm, BBC2 The rocky, rugged scenery of the west of Scotland and the Western Isles makes for one of the most grandly impressive entries in the series so far. The now familiar breakneck travelogue encompasses shipbuilding on the Clyde, whale-watching and a bizarre attempt to introduce rocket-delivered mail.
Jonathan Wright
Ooooh, 8.30, C4 - or right here from 8.30 on Culture Vulture - I simply can't wait, can you?
(Don't all rush at once now, will you ...?)
