PICK OF THE WEEK

The Residence, Netflix, Thu 20 Mar

Though it doesn’t look like we’ll be getting our bustles jostled with a new season of Bridgerton this year (sob) Shonda Rhimes has been busy working on more telly gold in the form of The Residence. Dubbed a screwball, crime comedy caper, it sees Uzo Aduba’s eccentric detective, Cordelia Cupp, investigate a murder at the White House. With a cracking supporting cast – Randall Park, Giancarlo Esposito, Susan Kelechi Watson, Edwina Findley, and um, Kylie Minogue – and said to have drawn inspiration from the Audrey Hepburn and Carey Grant classic, Charade, this is an absolute hoot!

Leaving Neverland 2: Surviving Neverland, Channel 4, Tue 18 Mar

Dan Reed rocked the world in 2019 with his jaw-dropping doc about Wade Johnson and James Safechuck, who allege they were abused as children by Michael Jackson. This follow up delves deep into their decade-long legal battle – death threats from fans and all – in getting Jackson’s estate to admit to covering up the abuse, (something which it still strongly denies). Gripping, interesting, a must if true crime style docs are your telly vibe.

Gangs of London, Sky Atlantic & NOW, Thu 20 Mar

Cushions handy gang as the goriest show on TV returns this week and, true to form, the body count is piling up from the offing! With Joe Cole’s Sean Wallace behind bars, Sopé Dìrísù’s Elliott Finch trying the gangster role on for size, and Orli Shuka’s Luan out for blood, you can expect this season to be as explosive as ever. Throw a mysterious new character into the mix (played by Black Doves Andrew Koji) and you’ll be surprised by how much of the violence you’ll overlook to find out what is going on and how everyone connects. An edge of your seat, binge by the weekend kinda watch.

O’Dessa, Disney+, Thu 20 Mar

OK so a rock opera isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea BUT Stranger Things‘ Sadie Sink leads O’Dessa and she is a force to be reckoned with. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, Sink plays a farm girl embarking on an epic quest to retrieve a cherished family heirloom. A quest which leads her to a dangerous city where her love, and guitar strings, are put to the test. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Geremy Jasper (Patti Cake$), with Kelvin Harrison Jr., Murray Bartlett and Regina Hall also starring in this surprisingly compulsive film. Rock on!

Last One Laughing, Prime Video, Thu 20 Mar

Keeping things light this week we have Joe Lycett, Daisy May Cooper, Lou Sanders, Bob Mortimer, Rob Beckett, Judi Love, Sara Pascoe and Richard Ayoade. They are all taking part in this competition come social experiment, where they must try every which way to make each other laugh, with the winner being crowned the Last One Laughing. Hosted by Jimmy Carr and Roisin Conaty, though we know we’ll be laughing looong before anyone else, our money is on Mortimer to win.

Happy Face, Paramount+, Fri 21 Mar

Dennis Quaid cuts a seriously creepy figure as serial killer Happy Face in this gripping crime drama based on true events. Gulp. Annaleigh Ashford plays his daughter, unwittingly drawn back into her father’s life after year’s of no contact, when he promises to divulge deets on another murder, but only if she will visit him in prison in person. David Harewood, James Wolk and Damon Gupton also star in this deliciously dark watch.

This City Is Ours, BBC, Sun 23 Mar

This crime drama from writer Stephen Butchard is already being touted as “epic” and with Sean Bean cast in the lead role we’re inclined to agree! This City Is Ours tells the story of Michael (Bean), an organised criminal and gang leader who wants to change his way of life after finding love (aww). But, it seems switching from gang man to family man is by no means an easy feat. Joining Bean is James Nelson-Joyce, Hannah Onslow, Jack McMullen, Julie Graham and Saoirse-Monica Jackson. Sounds tip top to us.