Music
ROBBIE: LIVE AT KNEBWORTH
Saturday, Channel 4, 9pm
For many of us an evening of Robbie Williams equates to a “Millennium” or two in purgatory, but for his many fans this complete live gig from the vast open-air arena at Knebworth House, “the stately home of rock” should be a hearty slice of paradise.
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Literature
IN SEARCH OF THE BRONTES
Sunday, BBC One, 7pm
This thoughtful, sensitive reconstruction of the life of the poor tragedy-stricken parson’s family who produced some of our greatest novels, is convincing, beautifully acted, captivating, inspiring and often desperately sad.
Biography
MARRIED TO MAGGIE: DENIS THATCHER’S STORY
Sunday, Channel 4, 8pm
No preview tapes, but as Carol Thatcher did the first, last and only television interview with her father Denis shortly before his death, it is not to be missed. He does not rein in his views apparently.
Real life
WHAT ARE YOU STARING AT?
Wednesday, BBC Two, 9pm
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Not for the squeamish, this gripping report follows the work of Dr Iain Hutchison who rebuilds badly disfigured faces, despite criticism from disability campaigners. A former model with half her jaw missing shows us what life is like as a freak show.
Arts
GAUGUIN: THE FULL STORY
Saturday, BBC Two, 9.30pm
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF LUCHINO VISCONTI Mon/Tues, BBC Two, 11.20pm
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Two excellent transfers from BBC Four: Waldemar Januszczak retraces the life of the great painter; Arena celebrates cinema’s intensely flamboyant genius.
Reality
THAT’LL TEACH ‘EM
Tuesday, Channel 4, 9pm
In the mould of the brilliant 1900, Frontier and Edwardian Country House series, this reality experiment forces 30 GCSE students to spend a month doing O Levels in a rigorous Fifties boarding school. Will they survive the spam and spotted dick?
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Crime
WATCHING THE DETECTIVES
Wednesday, BBC One, 10.55pm
This new fly-on-the-wall is the antidote to all police dramas, following Barnsley detectives as they pursue a vicious stabbing and grisly dismemberment to arrest and trial. It is their methodical, systematic doggedness that is most impressive.
Still good . . .
THE NAKED PILGRIM: THE ROAD TO SANTIAGO Tuesday, Five, 7.30pm
The series climaxes as lapsed Catholic Brian Sewell reaches Santiago de Compostela and finds his lack of faith rocked by the intensity of the experience.