21 hours ago
10
Pick of the week
The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show is top-tier nostalgia: it’s likely that the parents of this one-off revival’s target audience will be more excited about it than the kids of 2026. So there’s a fine balance to be located and the question of exactly who this is aimed at is never quite resolved. Still, the anarchic energy of the gang should transcend generational barriers. There’s simmering beef between Miss Piggy and guest Sabrina Carpenter, cameos from Seth Rogen and Maya Rudolph, self-aware musical spoofs, snark from Statler and Waldorf and much more besides. If anything, the special tries to squeeze too much in, which is perhaps a hint that a new series might be the next logical and welcome step? Phil Harrison
Disney+, from Wednesday 4 February
The Investigation of Lucy Letby
Given the horror of the crimes for which she was convicted and the questions around the safety of that sentence, it’s unlikely that we’ll be short of documentaries about the Lucy Letby case in the coming years. This film includes previously unseen footage of her arrest and questioning, but doesn’t add a great deal to anyone’s understanding of the charges against her. There’s also a brisk summary of the uncertainties surrounding the case, including the lack of motive, the procedural issues at the hospital in question and the troubling question: if Lucy Letby didn’t kill seven babies, why did they die? PH
Netflix, from Wednesday 4 February
Mo Gilligan: In the Movement
Popular London comic Mo Gilligan has decamped to the United States – and has been rewarded with his first Netflix standup special. As ever, it’s solid if gentle observational comedy from Gilligan, honed during years of nicely judged red carpet and award ceremony banter. Over the course of the set, he makes the most of his new outsider status to ponder the experience of being a Brit in America, talks about the effect of fame on his family and explores the many manifestations of “the ick” (gentlemen: never ever put on your T-shirt before your boxers). PH
Netflix, from Tuesday 3 February
Is It Cake? Valentines
In possibly the pinkest TV special ever made, the Is It Cake? gang convene for a typically hysterical Valentine’s Day celebration. As ever, the irrepressible Mikey Day presides over the whole absurd confection. The items rendered (or not?) in flour, eggs and icing (by a selection of real-life couples) include gigantic red lips, candles, chocolate boxes, romantic novels, bottles of wine and, inevitably, many cakey-breaky hearts. Like the treat at the show’s centre, it’s entirely without nutritional value but as part of a balanced diet extremely hard to resist.
Netflix, from Wednesday 4 February
Queen of Chess
This gripping documentary lands like a real-life version of The Queen’s Gambit, exploring the story of Judit Polgár, a Hungarian girl who dreamed of conquering the world of elite chess. The sexism she faced is remarkable – according to one interviewee, women lack both the logical reasoning and emotional restraint to excel. Polgár’s journey towards proving him wrong began when she broke into the world top 100 at the age of 12 and culminated in a 15-year battle against Garry Kasparov, which contained both game-playing innovation and huge controversy.
Netflix, from Friday 6 February
Arctic Circle
This Finnish show distinguishes itself from comparable crime dramas via its taste for the bizarre. The fourth season is a case in point: nothing as mundane as a serial killer here – instead, a mysterious series of deaths at a retirement home is eventually linked to an astronomical event that occurred two millennia previously. Once again, police chief Nina Kautsalo is charged with unravelling a baffling situation which expands to include space exploration, international terrorism, the revival of a religious sect and a visiting astrophysicist sticking his nose in.
Channel 4, from Friday 6 February
Finding Harmony:A King’s Vision
It’s hard to imagine his late mother giving even a moment’s consideration to being the subject of an intimate documentary on Prime Video. But Charles III has decided to do things differently. However, don’t expect anything remotely “warts and all” – this is a carefully choreographed affair, mainly exploring the king’s lifelong commitment to promoting respect for nature and sustainability via the King’s Foundation. Narrated by Kate Winslet, it positions Charles as a maverick, holding firm to an environmental vision in the face of pressure from vested interests.
Prime Video, from Friday 6 February
