TV Picks of the Week: Blackout, Episodes, T in the Park

Published on 01/07/2012 00:00

Blackout

BBC1, Monday, 9pm

Wife to husband: “There are times when you’ve had a drink that you’ve got such a look – it’s like you’re not even there.” Him: “It’s called having fun. You used to join in.” Her: “No, it’s called alcoholic blackout.” Christopher Eccleston and Dervla Kirwan star in this three-part drama about a councillor who misses his daughter’s ballet recital to conclude a dodgy deal in a shifty part of town, then wakes up on the sofa in a bloodstained shirt. With him was David Hayman, just the type for such an assignation. “How did we end up the blokes who meet down a dark alley late at night? How did we become the bastards?” wondered Eccleston. Ewen Bremner plays a political fixer and Andrew Scott’s first appearance after that Bafta triumph as Moriarty in Sherlock is as a detective who smells corruption.

BEST COMEDY

Episodes

BBC2, Friday, 11.50pm

It’s the final episode of Episodes, and Nigel Planer is great as lugubrious American attorney Samford Shamiro, presumably adept at defending philanderers, as he is forced to inform Matt LeBlanc after that ill-advised fling with a stalker: “Can I take off my lawyer hat for a minute? I’m talking to you as a friend: you’re going to need a much better lawyer.”

BEST MUSIC

T in the Park

BBC3, Friday, Saturday various times

No Glastonbury this year so the Scottish festival should attract even more sofa-based rock fans keen to avoid either sunstroke or trench foot. Friday: Snow Patrol, New Order, Tinie Tempah and Florence + the Machine. Saturday: the Stone Roses and a strong Scottish contingent including Calvin Harris, Simple Minds, Emeli Sandé and Amy MacDonald.