Freddie Mercury: A Life in Ten Pictures (BBC2, 9pm)
IS this the real life? Is this just fantasy? The Queen frontman’s far-too-short life was packed full of incident that must have sometimes felt like a dream.
He was just 45 when he passed away almost 30 years ago, and some of the landmarks of his existence are charted in a fascinating documentary. It uses 10 photographs – some famous, others less so – taken at key moments, from his earliest days as a baby to the last picture taken shortly before his death in November 1991.
Mercury’s rise to fame is charted in between, while those who knew him best, and in some cases were present when the shots were taken, offer their insightful and often moving opinions on a much-missed star.
Handel’s Messiah from English National Opera (BBC2, 6pm)
A PERFORMANCE by English National Opera of Handel’s oratorio staged at the London Coliseum, and filmed specifically for a TV audience.
Featuring some of Handel’s best-known music – including the Hallelujah chorus – Messiah tells the story of the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Composed in 1741, and premiered at Easter 1742, the piece speaks to the day’s celebration of hope and new beginnings. This production features a cast of eight socially distanced soloists, including mezzo-soprano Christine Rice and countertenor Iestyn Davies, who are conducted by Handel expert Laurence Cummings.
Casualty (BBC1 8.20pm)
OLLIE nearly chokes to death while on a walk in the woods with Grace. She decides to perform a makeshift surgical procedure using what she has to hand to save his life – an action that could have devastating consequences for both him and her relationship with her mother, Connie. Rash discovers that his dad has been lying about his relationship, and Jade finds her suspicions about Tina proved wrong.
It’s Clarkson on TV (STV, 9.35pm)
FOLLOWING the success of his Christmas Day review of 2020’s best, worst and weirdest offerings on the box, TV enthusiast and aficionado Jeremy Clarkson returns with another look at some hidden gems.
According to some people, telly is going through a golden age. But while some may be better than ever, other bits of it are atrocious and ridiculous.
And you can be sure that the outspoken Grand Tour and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? host is going to say exactly what he thinks – and take the mickey when he see appropriate.
So, from high-budget drama on Netflix, the BBC and ITV, to early morning drama on breakfast TV, the worst documentaries to the best of reality shows, royal interviews to Eurovision, Clarkson lampoons it all.
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