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TV reviews and highlights

What you should be watching on TV this week

Time Out's critics steer you through the TV listings guide with reviews of the week's best shows – as well as a few to avoid – from big dramas and reality shows to cult comedies and documentaries. National talking point or hidden gem – we've got it covered.

Today

  • Evidently... John Cooper Clarke

    10-11pm, BBC4

    Steve Coogan. Stewart Lee. Jarvis Cocker. Alex Turner. David Chase. If you can judge an artist by his famous fans, it’d be fair to say John Cooper Clarke is a bit of a genius. It was the inclusion of ‘Evidently Chickentown’ in one of the final episodes of Chase’s ‘The Sopranos’ that brought the Salford bard to a new generation, the poem every bit as funny, sinister and violent as the show itself. John Ross’s excellent profile, launching BBC4’s Punk Britannia season, follows Clarke’s career from its beginnings, egged on by teacher Mr Malone and Bernard Manning, to punk elder statesman and (whisper it) national treasure. A fair bit happened in between, of course, including the attentions of major labels and Martin Hannett, plus a lost decade spent with Nico in Brixton, all retold by Clarke, contemporaries and fans with accompanying performances to the fore. As so often with this channel, it’s a triumph of archival research: quite what the kids of the early ’80s must have made of seeing this wiry wit on Mike Read’s ‘Pop Quiz’ remains a mystery. A fascinating life, a great talent, and a top-notch documentary to match. Gabriel Tate

  • How to Be England Manager

    10-11pm, BBC3

    Don’t have a speech impediment. Don’t make peculiar remarks about disabled people. Don’t go near an umbrella, even if it’s chucking down. Don’t imply that it’s set up for Wrighty. Don’t be foreign. Don’t shag anyone at the FA. Don’t bear even a passing resemblance to a root vegetable. In short, be Alf Ramsey. And then, if you’re lucky, the people – and more pertinently, the press – of England, might just give you a fair hearing. This briskly assembled documentary helmed by Tim Lovejoy (but let’s try really hard not to hold that against it) takes a light-hearted look at this most demanding of roles with input from Graham Taylor, John Barnes and genius-in-retrospect Sven Göran-Eriksson. No preview material was available, but let’s watch this and resolve to cut dear old Roy some slack. Phil Harrison

  • The Apprentice

    9-10pm, BBC1

    Disappointingly, no preview DVD was available of tonight’s penultimate episode. It’s been a slightly underwhelming series, to be honest – no pantomime villain, no vicious backstabbing and no memorable catchphrases, unless you count the hapless Azhar and his oft-emphasised fondness for ‘strategy’. There’s still time, though, for something spectacular and, with stress levels rising, this instalment should be entertaining. Tonight, Lord Sugar’s looking for a new luxury product and we’re promised a battle between fancy male grooming products and pretentious sweets. The teams will then be set up in temporary retail outlets from which they’ll be able to bother the general public with their nonsense. If you’ve come this far with this year’s shower, it’s too late to stop now. Phil Harrison

  • Benda Bilili!

    11.45pm-1.25am Thur, Film4

    FILM This inspirational rags-to-riches rockumentary follows Staff Benda Bilili, a ragtag gang of Kinshasa street children and middle-aged wheelchair users who have, over the past decade, coalesced into one of central Africa’s most highly regarded musical outfits. It’s a remarkable tale told in stark, straightforward terms, following the central players as they fight to keep the band together n the face of considerable personal tragedy, record their first LP in the grounds of Kinshasa Zoo, and leave the Democratic Republic of Congo to head to Europe in search of fame and fortune – or at least enough money to buy a mattress each. The result is artful and utterly compelling: as an uplifting, understated and wholly engaging insight into a world entirely unlike our own, ‘Benda Bilili!’ is wonderful. Tom Huddleston

  • Little Fish

    2.35am-4.20, Thur, C4

    FILM The Hearts are hanging in there… but only just. Tracy (Cate Blanchett) is trying to get a loan to buy a Sydney video store. Neither the banks nor her mum Janelle (Noni Hazlehurst) have much faith in her future; they’re clearly worried she might succumb to the heroin addiction she put behind her five years ago. That’s when her brother Ray (Henderson) lost his legs in an accident for which Janelle holds both Lionel (Hugo Weaving) and Jonny (Dustin Nguyen) responsible. So there’d be tension enough between the Hearts without the subtle but sinister shadow cast over their lives by a local Mr Big (Sam Neill)… A sober, sensitive film about degrees of dependency, grief, guilt, recrimination and recuperation.Geoff Andrew

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Comments

By Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe (from BUFF Presents) - Apr 19 2012

There will be 4 films showing on Saturday (repeated on Sunday at the same time). The 4th film is 'The Holiday' (by award-winning director Ida Akesson) which is showing at 11.20pm

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By nowshow - Apr 10 2012

Thank you, Adrian, for your information about Downton Abbey, as below. It is very fortunate that I subscribe to VM "XL" package, therefore, I intend tuning in for this.

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By Paul H - Apr 2 2012

Channel 4 at its offensive best..the Undateables,good to see that freak shows are still acceptable TV-as if these people haven't got enough to deal with! Along with other so called documentaries such as Big Body Squad et al from the channel that thinks it is pushing the boundaries of journalism when those boundaries are of taste, decency and respect except in relation to immigration, race and sexuality (where it tows the liberal media line like a scared little child!).

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By Adrian zak - Mar 25 2012

In response to the post from "noshow", series 1 of Downton Abbey is available on Virgin Media's Classic British Drama collection via its On Demand service, along with gems such as Edge of Darkness, Pride & Prejudice, Wallander, Holding On and Boys from the Blackstuff. I do work for VM but just in case this helps

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By noshow - Feb 1 2012

I am disappointed now that Downton Abbey has become hugely popular in the states, (where they take things to extremes, by even holding special house parties every Sunday for the weekly episode on PBS channel), It is no longer available on British TV, not even included in ITV Player on demand service. I wanted to watch it, just to see what all the fuss is about. Presumably, us Brits have to spend lots of money on expensive box set DVDs instead?

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By Bernard - Jan 31 2012

ToTim Arthur

Tim ,excellent that tv is back in magazine
...is it possible we have a modicom of radio listings

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By Mark - Jan 28 2012

Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy - well, what can I say? It was probably the worst thing I've watched for many years. Just terrible. I think it's the first time I've felt genuinely embarrassed on Noel Fielding's behalf. I almost feel sorry for the guy, because he's obviously lost on his own, and being weird and random simply isn't enough to make people laugh. Total disaster!

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By Paul - Jan 25 2012

Thanks for bringing the TV guide back, and listening to your readers, hope you may bring a fuller one back at some point, we will be renewing our subscription soon.

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By Tim Arthur, Editor-in-Chief - Jan 25 2012

Hello everyone. Thanks you very much for all your feedback over the last few weeks. Sorry I haven't been in touch sooner. We have been working very hard on coming up with a solution and this appears in this week's magazine.The grids have returned and we've kept our editorial. We have had to re-jig it all a bit to make it fit the pages but hopefully this will go some way towards addressing your concerns. I'm genuinely sorry that you have felt let down by us on this matter.

Yours,

Tim Arthur
Editor-in-Chief

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By Threestars - Jan 25 2012

Well done, TO for bringing back our printed TV listings!

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By nostar - Jan 24 2012

whilst the online TV listings is well designed, like many other subscribers i still find it far more convenient being able to pick up the magazine to check what is on TV quickly and easily than have to start up my computer. please reconsider, or i will reconsider my subscription.

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By Beatrix Roudet - Jan 22 2012

I will add my voice to the rest of the disgruntled readers missing TV printed listings. Although the online listings are quite user friendly, they do not fulfill the same function as when they were included in the magazine. This is quite obvious and I do not understand why the TO team could not understand this. Please do re-instate them sooner than later!

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By Monica Bird - Jan 20 2012

I stopped buying your magazine because you don't include the TV listings any longer.

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By Statto - Jan 18 2012

Once again no listings in this weeks magazine. I know they're online, but if you're working on a computer all day last thing you want is to have to use a computer to see what's on TV that evening.

I'll give them end of the month and if they've not returned then I'll cancel my subscription.

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By gizmoclunky - Jan 18 2012

I saw Gypsy Blood last night at a screening. It's AMAZING......like nothing else I've seen really. Horrible and beautiful. Funny and tragic. Def worth watching.

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By Alec Tasker - Jan 16 2012

Congratulations. You've saved me £3.25 a week. Time Out without the TV listings and with all the "Details of show times, films, gigs etc were not available at time of going to press" in it, is not worth anyone's time.

This feels like constructive dismissal - sales of the magazine will die off, so you have an excuse to stop publishing it. Then you can charge people to come on here.

And if you think that this will work, you're mad.

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By Laura Pantz - Jan 16 2012

I don't have broadband and need the TV listings!
Please bring the printed listings back or I will have no choice but to cancel my subscription....

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By LondonGirl1001 - Jan 15 2012

Time Out why have you stopped yout TV listings. They were great. If it is not comimg back, I will stop my subscription. Why was this descision made!! And no I'm not interested in reading it online, if that is the excuse . I want to sit on the tube with Time Out in my hand and look at all the listings with the full TV guide, not the pathetic new "highlights" section. Why have you changed this ??!!!

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By TVcookie - Jan 14 2012

The new online TV listings are great! Being able to hold my curser over any programme, & get full info is very handy, etc. Although I am dissapointed that Sky Arts 1 is not included in the listings. As you are primarily an arts & entertainment guide, it is surprising! This channel used to appear in your printed version.

I think I may have identified a technical issue, as I have found that by clicking on "Show My Channels" and then by entering my Favourite channels, this renders my browser completely & permanently useless! By permanently showing an error message, of "Please delete your cookies", this can only be overcome by changing to a browser that has not previously been used. I have now changed to a further browser, where I have resisted the urge to set my Favourites, which means now having full access to the TO TV listings, but having to scroll through "All Channels".

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By Robin - Jan 14 2012

BRING BACK THE FULL TV LISTINGS !!!!!!

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By Nico - Jan 13 2012

Hey T.O , pls bring back our lovely paper tv guide. Not cool too force ur subscriber to go online every day to check out listings. Plus you make money out of online advertising on this section. Very cheeky indeed .

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By John - Jan 13 2012

Quite simply BRING BACK THE TV listings please. It is not convenient to check them on my iphone and why I subscribe. It's bad enough the mag has lost a third of its pages without the tv listings going too!

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By Crislet - Jan 12 2012

No reply to my email, so I go public:

What happened to your Time In Tv guide?

I want to take the time to go through your listings on paper and not on the internet, where I already spend enough of my time.

Please let me know if you intend to keep the TV section as it appears on your last two issues.
In that case I will cancel my subscription immediately.

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By Ann - Jan 12 2012

As an annual direct debit subscriber, for many years and my new annual subscription was recently paid, I am feeling upset, that not only have the TV listings disappeared from the weekly mag. but are not even available on this site! I was fobbed of by TO's web team, a week ago they stated that they were having technical difficulties with several browsers, such as Internet Explorer, and now they no longer answer my questions. Is anyone else getting error message of "Please delete your cookies"? What is the solution?

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By Claude - Jan 11 2012

What's this about -- saving trees?! First TO stops listing all the Art in town, now the TV listings go - and with no explanation. (Don't remember one for the Art listings chop either.) So where, I wonder, does TO recommend we go to find (almost) everything that's on? This is new-age, new-media customer service for you! Still catering to Hollyweird though, no surprise.

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By cookiebutterfly - Jan 11 2012

where are the full listings? Help! They are not even here!

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By Paul - Jan 11 2012

Please bring back the tv listings!!! , Ive been buying time out since it started, great magazine

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By Dave - Jan 11 2012

Oh no! Please bring back the full listing in the magazine, really miss it.

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By Darren Gale - Jan 11 2012

This is the first time I have felt compelled to contact you since starting buying Time Out in the late seventies.
As much as I still enjoy Time Out, without the TV listings I won't carry on as a subscriber, the online listing isn't convenient, having the mag laying around is still the easiest way to see whats on the box. I don't see how chopping this from the mag makes much sense, I would imagine you are more likely to lose customers than gain any. I recall the effort you went to to get the full listings initally, whats changed?
As a subscriber and buyer of the mag for over 30 years it will be sad to say goodbye, but if the listings for TV don't return in the next couple of weeks I will stop my subscription. Please reconsider if you really believe it is the readers magazine.

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By Tim H - Jan 9 2012

Really annoyed that the proper TV listings have disappeared without obvious warning. Please bring them back TO!

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By Rubbishbro2 - Jan 8 2012

Wholeheartedly agree with the comments re. removal of the full TV listings. They provide a quick and easy reference for those of us who are not hooked up to eleectronic devices 24/7. So our subscription could also go by the wayside if this is a permanent change.

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By Ian - Jan 8 2012

Ditto. If the TV listings are missing again from the next issue, I'll be cancelling my sub. What a pity. Anyone have suggestions for the next best TV listings mag?

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By Rob - Jan 7 2012

It's really terrible that the weekly listings no longer appear in the magazine. I would like to urge TO editors to reinstate these instead of very abbreviated highlights.There are many times I note shows of interest in the actual listings themselves and not the highlights. Having to go online to access these is very inconvenient.

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By Sharon - Jan 7 2012

So what gives with no TV listings??? No announcements or explanations from Timeout! Will be ending my subscription too if things aren't back to normal next week...

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By Ann - Jan 7 2012

I am very comforted by the outrage that many readers of your weekly printed magazine are feeling right now, by the sudden loss of your printed daily TV listings, even though not fully comprehensive, like your new online listings. Because, like me, they are admitting that they bought this magazine, mainly for the printed TV listings! You will lose many devoted readers now, unless you reinstate the printed version, then people will be able to enjoy the best of both worlds. So, please, Time Out, do the right thing!

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By Chloe - Jan 7 2012

I also am very upset about the loss of the TV listings. Like Martin - it is one of the things that justified my subscription. Yes I had everything to hand when I went out but what about the nights you stay in! If it isn't back soon... that is my subscription gone as well.

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By Naomi - Jan 5 2012

This is unbelevably annoying! Time Out does the best reviews & I'm happy to consider their recommendations but not to have all choice taken away. We are grown-ups, you know! If the full listings aren't restored I will certainly cancel.

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By Martin - Jan 5 2012

I do hope this is just a blip for the first January issue and that Time Out is not going to continue only having their full TV listings online. One of the reasons I justify subscribing to the magazine is that it saves me buying a seperate tv guide. I can look at online listings anywhere and really don't need another one from Time Out. Please don't do this to your readers Time Out. If you do, I suspect you'll have fewer of them!

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By paul - Jan 4 2012

Where's the full TV listings gone? I know TimeOut is all about getting you out the house but the full listings were one of the reasons i subscribed, seriously reconsidering now!

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By Steamdreamer - Dec 30 2011

Love the new online listing format (though the magazine continues to be great too!).

Keep those informed and witty interviews, reviews and recommendations coming, please.

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