This week's TV and radio: Paxman explores the British Empire and more

Submitted by mattelton

Tue, 2011-04-12 09:29

This week's
TV & radio
22 –28 February

Pick of the week

Empire

Monday 27 February, 9pm BBC One

Television schedules being what they are, we reviewed the book that accompanies this new Jeremy Paxman-presented series back in our January issue. The presenter's character shines through in both mediums, as he travels from India to Egypt to explore not just how Britain created an empire, but how that Empire created a 'Britishness'.

Who Do You Think You Are?

Thursday 23 February, 9pm Yesterday & Tuesday 28 February, 11.20pm BBC One

There's a moment in this week's classic episode, featuring Olympic rower Matthew Pinsent and a particularly lengthy scroll, that ranks among the most iconic of the series' whole run. If you haven't already seen it, it's definitely one to catch. On Tuesday, meanwhile, the American series makes another of its intermittent appearances in UK schedules, with a chance to follow the genealogical journey of country troudabour Tim McGraw.

Melvyn Bragg on Class and Culture

Friday 24 February, 9pm BBC Two

Another venerable broadcaster, Baron Bragg, returns to our screens this week with a new series exploring British social class through a diverse set of lenses - literature, politics, art and music. This instalment focuses on the tumultuous years between the two World Wars.

Call the Midwife

Catch up online via BBC iPlayer until Sunday, 26 February

To say that this adaptation of Jennifer Worth's 1950s-set memoirs have proved successful is something of an understatement: an estimated 9.6 million people tuned into watch Sunday's final instalment. If you've missed out on the combined charms of Sister Evangelina, Sister Monica Joan and - a name that never gets old - Camilla Fortescue-Cholmondeley-Browne, then there's chance to watch the whole series again online until 9pm this Sunday.

WDYTYA: Forum