Julia Raeside, Andrew Mueller, Ali Catterall, Phelim O'Neill and Hannah Verdier 

TV highlights 13/07/2012

Let It Shine | BBC Proms 2012 | New Tricks | Mark Knopfler: A Life In Songs | Awake | The Angelos Epithemiou Show
  
  

Susan Gritton, BBC Proms 2012
Soloist Susan Gritton, BBC Proms 2012. Photograph: Donald Cooper/Rex Features Photograph: Donald Cooper / Rex Features

Let It Shine
6pm, Disney

In this teen update of Cyrano de Bergerac, our young hero Cyrus DeBarge is told by his religious father that "rap is the devil's music" when he freestyles in church. So he enters a songwriting competition to win the love of pop star Roxie. No real cause and effect. Then a mix-up happens with the song being attributed to his friend and the friend doesn't deny it. So you can imagine how that affects their otherwise perfectly nice friendship. They've only got until the end of the movie to make up, win the girl AND the contest, and climax in a horrific, Auto-Tuned finale of toothy doom. Bleee. Julia Raeside

BBC Proms 2012
8.30pm, BBC2

The first night of the 118th Proms begins with an all-English programme overseen by an all-English roster of conductors: Roger Norrington, Mark Elder, Edward Gardner and Martyn Brabbins passing the baton as if participating in a genteel Olympic relay. Following the fanfare of a new work by Mark-Anthony Turnage, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus play selections from Delius, Tippett and Elgar. Soloists include Bryn Terfel, Susan Gritton, Sara Connolly and Robert Murray. Andrew Mueller

New Tricks
9pm, BBC1

It's Friday night, it's 9pm and thus, from the fertile earth of BBC1 primetime springs this ravishing, verdant … repeat of New Tricks. Of course it's summer and we know all the good stuff starts again in September, but come on. Quite a lot of us stay in on a Friday night, and for what? Dennis Waterman and co peering intently at ring-binders? This week's guest stars are Paul McGann (excellent) and Marcooos from Eldorado. Still, they might try investigating what happened to primetime telly during the summer months while they're at it. JNR

Mark Knopfler: A Life In Songs
9.55pm, BBC4

Few bands have been so damned by association because of how certain sections of its fan base voted than Dire Straits. (The headband didn't help either.) Yet despite that, there has remained the feeling that un-starry, goofy-grinned frontman Mark Knopfler, particularly in his solo work, is generally a force for good. This documentary examines his career, taking in his early pub rock days, the MTV years, and his solo world tour. Ali Catterall

Awake
10pm, Sky Atlantic

We're into the end game now; this penultimate episode doesn't have time to hang around. For a change, the therapists in both of Michael's realities are in agreement that his guilt and paranoia have fooled his mind into thinking that Hawkins was behind his family's death. Inevitably, when these two agree on him being wrong, Michael knows he must be right. Moving his wife and son to safety, he goes about getting the proof he needs. Michael's never had to choose which world he'd want to live in. By the end of this episode it looks like that choice may be made for him. Phelim O'Neill

The Angelos Epithemiou Show
10.35pm, Channel 4

Dan Renton Skinner's carrier-bag-toting alter ego stars in this new variety show. Epithemiou's trademark social awkwardness and tendency to lose interest in what his guests are talking about make him the perfect host, while sidekick Gupta adds to the chaos. This week, Embarrassing Bodies presenter Dr Christian Jessen joins him for a chat, and baby-faced pop star Conor Maynard competes for the chance to perform his single Vegas Girl. Love is in the air, too, as Gabby Logan pops up as the object of Epithemiou's desires. Hannah Verdier

 

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