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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Hollie Richardson, Jack Seale and Ellen E Jones

TV tonight: the ups and downs of marriage in The A Word spin-off

Ralp and Katie.
Ralph & Katie. Photograph: BBC/ITV Studios

Ralph & Katie

9pm, BBC One

This gentle comedy-drama is a spin-off from Peter Bowker’s popular The A Word (which ended in 2020), with Bowker continuing as lead writer. The series follows newlyweds Ralph (Leon Harrop) and Katie (Sarah Gordy), who both have Down’s syndrome, as they navigate the ups and downs of marriage. Tonight’s double bill starts with the couple inviting their freshly heartbroken friend Emma to stay with them – but it soon causes problems at home. Hollie Richardson

Portrait Artist of the Year 2022

8pm, Sky Arts

Another phalanx of determined amateurs gather for the ninth series of a talent contest that has more nourishing interactions and finer artistic merit than most. Later on, winning the £10,000 prize will involve painting singer Rebecca Ferguson and Jonathan Van-Tam; tonight it’s Elizabeth Day, Khadijah Mellah and Nick Grimshaw. Jack Seale

Sexsomnia: Case Closed?

9pm, BBC Three

Just days before attending court for a rape trial, Jade receives a shock phone call claiming she has a rare disorder in which a person engages in sexual activity during their sleep. This documentary, filmed over three years, tracks the case as she battles for justice. HR

Head On: Rugby, Dementia and Me

9pm, BBC Two

Steve Thompson holding a human brain at the Imperial College London brain bank.
Steve Thompson holding a human brain at the Imperial College London brain bank. Photograph: Gemma Duncan/BBC/Raw Factual Ltd

“The game that gave me so much is starting to take everything from me.” At 42 years old, former England rugby hooker Steve Thompson was diagnosed with early-onset dementia. In this documentary, he shows how this has affected his life – such as when he forgets his young daughter’s name while playing with her – and examines the link between rugby, head injuries and dementia. HR

This England

9pm, Sky Atlantic

It’s hard to enjoy this drama, but it is undoubtedly gripping as a documentation of the pandemic from all perspectives – even if it makes you fizz with anger throughout. As UK fatalities start to be reported, Boris Johnson is putting off a national lockdown despite being told the terrifying predicted numbers. HR

How to With John Wilson

10.05pm, BBC Two

This week’s collage of modern life starts with the restaurant etiquette around splitting the bill, before left-turning into wealth inequality. The covertly filmed NYC diners are a particular delight: “Some people might only want to order organic food,” observes Wilson, over footage of a small child picking his nose and eating it. Ellen E Jones

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