CRITICS’ CHOICE
Divided we stand
My Family, Partition And Me — India 1947 (BBC1, 9pm)
Anita Rani made a strong impression with her Who Do You Think You Are? film in 2015, revealing the horrors endured by members of her Sikh family during Partition. You might reasonably assume, then, that this two-part contribution to the BBC’s anniversary season sees her finding out more about the same story; and so she does, but only in the second part and only as one of a group of Britons undertaking similar quests in the subcontinent.
Rani’s main role in the opener is to provide context as travellers representing three other communities investigate their relatives’ experiences 70 years ago: a woman whose Hindu father (who also appears) fled Muslim killers in Bengal as a child with his parents and siblings; the son and grandson of a Muslim doctor in Punjab who narrowly escaped Hindu ethnic cleansing; and the granddaughter of a British councillor in Calcutta who was involved in efforts to end the bloodshed.
John Dugdale
Women’s Rugby World Cup (ITV4, 1.30pm/6.30pm)
Ireland are the hosts, and begin with a Pool C fixture against Australia, kick off 7pm. Earlier, England get the tournament under way (at 2pm, also in Dublin) with what should be an easy win over Pool A minnows Spain; besides being the reigning champions, the Red Roses still have 15 of the 2014 winning squad on their roster (including star player Emily Scarratt) and are ranked No 1 in the world. (JD)
In Search Of Arcadia (BBC4, 9pm)
The historian Janina Ramirez and the angler John Bailey mess about on the river to explore the physical and artistic landscape on a stretch of the Thames between Chiswick and Hampton Court. It is a pleasantly languid excursion to a 17th- and 18th-century era when poets, writers, artists and gardeners escaped the grime of London and devised classically inspired grand houses and grounds. (MJ)
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The South Bank Show (Sky Arts, 8pm)
Melvyn Bragg meets Benjamin Clementine, whose debut album, At Least for Now, won the 2015 Mercury prize. Often compared to Nina Simone because he combines piano playing with intense singing, the self-taught musician and lyricist talks about growing up in north London, the years in Paris that turned him from homeless busker to rising star with a record deal, and what he is now up to in New York. (JD)
Citizen Jane — Battle For The City (BBC4, 10pm)
While essentially a profile, Matt Tyrnauer’s excellent documentary covers a lot of ground — all of it urban, and much of it battle. The central figure is the late Jane Jacobs, a writer who became a campaigner against misguided mid-20th-century renewal projects in New York. A story built from politics, activism, architecture and broad social issues — plus impressive clips and contributors. (MJ)
FILM CHOICE
The Game (1997)
Sony Movie Channel, 9pm
The thriller David Fincher made between Seven and Fight Club is not one of his better-remembered movies, but if you look beyond the silliness of its plot — the story of a super-rich San Francisco banker (Michael Douglas) whose wayward brother (Sean Penn) introduces him to a risky form of recreation — you will see that the ominous mood and frantic action scenes are concocted with the director’s usual verve.
The League Of Gentlemen’s Apocalypse (2005)
Film 4, 1.50am
Detailed knowledge of the Royston Vasey-based television comedy is not essential for viewers of this spin-off, which severs itself from the show’s world by bringing some of the regular characters into our reality, where they meet the actors who play them: Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith. This nifty concept is supported by lots of funny jokes. Dir: Steve Bendelack
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Previews by Edward Porter
Radio pick of the day
A Long Walk With … (Radio 2, 10pm)
Janice Long hosts this new series in which she takes music stars back to the places that shaped them, starting with Holly Johnson (a London resident for 25 years) in his birthplace of Liverpool. Lots of nostalgia and Beatles music, as well as Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Next week: Alison Moyet, in her childhood home of Basildon. The BBC has not said how many other walks there will be.
Paul Donovan
Sports choice
U-19s Cricket England v India (SSME, 2pm)
WTA Tennis (BT Sport 2, 4pm)
Athletics (BBC2, 6pm; Eurosport 1, 6.30pm)
Football Colchester United v Aston Villa (SSME, 7.30pm)
ATP Tennis (SSME, 10pm)
You say
To be sure of recording a whole match at Wimbledon, record both BBC1 and BBC2. On replaying, you need just switch when the BBC switches. Just make sure there is plenty of room on your hard disc.
Avril Fox
Fewer Wimbledon whingers, please. Ms Barker and Messrs Becker and McEnroe have umpteen grand slams between them and do a wonderful job. Long may they continue.
Glyn Edmunds
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