Seeing the Mary Rose, Henry VIII’s infamous ship, at Portsmouth Harbour was one of the biggest disappointments of my life so far. Granted, I was only 8-years-old at the time, but I just couldn’t understand why we had queued for so long to see a few big planks of wood being constantly showered with water. Thankfully, now that I am older I understand its significance, and The Mary Rose Reborn (BBC World, Sun 14:30 or 20:30) explains the story of the ship and celebrates its unveiling in a new museum.
The Coen brothers' hit True Grit premieres on Danish screens this week (TV Zulu, Sat 20:50). Metacritic awarded it 80/100 and Kenneth Turan wrote in the New York Times that the Coens had “restored the original’s bleak, elegiac conclusion and as writer-directors have come up with a version that shares events with the first film but is much closer in tone to the book”. In a different kind of western, Stuttgart take on Bayern Munich in the German cup final (TV3+, Sat 19:55).
As if the terrible reviews for the offensive Sex and the City 2 (K4, Mon 21:00) hadn’t damaged the original series enough, The Carrie Diaries starts this week (K4, Thu 20:00), telling the unlikely story of how a young Carrie Bradshaw ended up living in New York, dishing out terrible advice to her three stereotypical friends. Speaking of role models, also starting this week is new reality series The Face (K4, Wed 20:00). Very similar to the Next Top Model franchise, this competitive modeling show has Naomi Campbell as a judge. The producers must be desperately hoping she will throw a diva strop on camera.
There is a chance to watch Fresh Meat from scratch (BBC Ent, Mon 22:35), and relive the awkward moments, dirty digs and terrible food from your student days. A few of the characters are bang on, and I am convinced that Jack Whitehall isn’t acting at all for his gillet-wearing role as posh boy JP.
As is traditional now, Paul McCartney is wheeled out for BBC Electric Proms (BBC Ent, Sat 23:40), to do his usual routine, no doubt ending with ‘Hey Jude’. Though it is rousing, one has to wonder who will replace McCartney at civic events in the future.
Read this week's full selection of English-language TV listings in our InOut section.
