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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Hollie Richardson, Danielle De Wolfe, Phil Harrison, Ali Catterall and Simon Wardell

TV tonight: excitement mounts in a superb NI cop show

Mo McIntyre (Michael Shea) and Anto (Gerard Jordan) in Blue Lights.
Armed and dangerous … Mo McIntyre (Michael Shea) and Anto (Gerard Jordan) in Blue Lights. Photograph: Steffan Hill/BBC/Gallagher Films/Two Cities Television

Blue Lights

9pm, BBC One

This standout episode of the Northern Irish police drama from the writers behind The Salisbury Poisonings seals its spot as one of the best shows of the year so far, with Gerry (Richard Dormer) proving to be a fan favourite. As Mo’s (Michael Shea) side deal goes ahead, what will the repercussions of Operation Farset mean for the unknowing rookie cops and their mentors – especially as their personal crises (Affairs! Coroners’ inquiries! Stroppy teenagers!) come to the fore. Hollie Richardson

Mastermind

8pm, BBC Two

Clive Myrie brings telly’s most venerable quiz to an electric climax as one of the six finalists will be crowned Mastermind champion – providing palm perspiration at no extra cost. Specialist subjects include Bletchley Park’s second world war history, Princess Margaret and the sitcom Extras. Danielle De Wolfe

Sarah Beeny’s New Life in the Country

8pm, Channel 4

The Beenys turn their attention to the guest bedroom this week, and there’s talk of a secret Narnia wardrobe that leads to a room in the eaves. Will it be ready to impress a guest any time soon? Also, it’s time to build a peaceful retreat in the garden, inspired by Taunton’s Willow Cathedral. HR

I’m a Celebrity South Africa

9pm, ITV1

The contestants on I’m a Celebrity South Africa.
The contestants on I’m a Celebrity South Africa. Photograph: ITV/Rex/Shutterstock

What constitutes bush tucker in South Africa? We’re about to find out as Ant and Dec’s seemingly eternal celebrity hazing ritual moves to the veld for an all-star version with a few new twists (most notably, it is prerecorded and there is no public vote). Among the returning celebrities are Fatima Whitbread, Paul Burrell and Shaun Ryder. Phil Harrison

Succession

9pm, Sky Atlantic

It took just 48 hours after Logan’s death for the cracks in the Roy siblings’ camaraderie to appear. With the GoJo sale edging nearer (erm, does anyone fully understand what’s going on with this?), Kendall is very much of the view that Logan underlined his name rather than crossed it out. So how will his surreptitious PR stunt fare? HR

Barry

9.40pm, Sky Comedy

Bill Hader’s hitman finds himself on a hitlist of his own this week, while seeking witness protection from the Feds. Elsewhere, Gene (Henry Winkler) makes a break-in, and the “clearly unhinged” Sally (Sarah Goldberg) lets rip during an acting workshop in a scene to rival the student’s dressing down in Tár, before a darkly hilarious, explosive climax. Ali Catterall

Film choice

Gilda (Catrinel Marlon) wearing a red dress and smoking in The Whistlers.
Femme fatale … Gilda (Catrinel Marlon) in The Whistlers. Photograph: PR Handout

The Whistlers (Corneliu Porumboiu, 2019), 1.15am, Film4
In Corneliu Porumboiu’s fluid Romanian thriller, morose, corrupt Bucharest cop Cristi (Vlad Ivanov) finds himself in an unusual, and increasingly dangerous, situation. He is taken by gangsters to the Canaries to learn a secret local language based on bird-like whistles, but struggles to keep both sides of his life in balance. It’s a pleasingly offbeat narrative setup in an otherwise murky tale, as shifting loyalties around him – and an attraction to his criminal paymaster’s girlfriend Gilda (Catrinel Marlon in femme fatale mode) – make his survival uncertain. Simon Wardell

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