TV Times tops picks for tonight
What’s on telly tonight? Here the TV Times team of expert reviewers highlight three of the best shows on telly tonight for Wednesday 22nd November
Peaky Blinders, 9.00pm, BBC2
After an orgy of bullets and blood in last week’s explosive opener, this week’s offering takes a step back to reset the story while bringing us some moments of expertly wrought tension. Amid fallout from the Mafia’s opening salvo, the Peaky Blinders have returned to their humble roots in a coal-blackened Birmingham and recruited Romani gypsy Aberama Gold to their cause. Yet it’s his boxer son – played by Jack Rowan (Born to Kill) – who really interests Tommy Shelby. Game of Thrones star Aidan Gillen makes a fine debut as the gypsy kingpin, but once again Adrien Brody steals the show when Tommy meets his new nemesis in a nerve-jangling final scene. Rating: *****
The Secret Life of the Zoo, 8.00pm, C4
There are no end of relationship problems at Chester Zoo this week. From familial clashes to romantic woes, the animals all have a lot to deal with as they try to work out who’s top dog. There are tensions in the big cat enclosure as Sumatran tiger Kirana and her daughter Kasarna begin to clash over mealtimes, while dominant West African mandrill JC finds his position challenged by his sons, Ludo and Jareth. Keepers look to the relationship between red pandas Jung and Nima to try to work out what is causing Jung to lose weight, and young Humboldt penguins Frazzle and Munch must avoid being picked on during the annual moult. Rating: ***
Mary Berry’s Country House Secrets, 8.00pm, BBC1
Mary Berry visits some of the UK’s most beautiful stately homes in this four-part series exploring the cultural history and culinary heritage of each magnificent property. This week Mary is invited to beautiful Highclere Castle, the real-life Downton Abbey, by the eighth Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, where she learns about the lavish weekend parties that the Hampshire estate would host for the great and the good in the Victorian era. Inspired by the menus of old – which involved up to 20 dishes – Mary helps prepare a succulent cannon of lamb and gooseberry fool for a modern-day banquet. "I feel just like Lady Mary," she says, raising her glass! Rating: ****
More previews tomorrow.
