TV highlights: All Creatures actor Samuel West and Bradford-born Adrian Edmondson join up for Birding with Sam & Ade on Channel 5

McCartney: The Hunt for the Lost Bass (Saturday 11/04/26, BBC2, 8.45pm)

Words Rachael Popow

When a teenage Paul McCartney bought a Höfner violin bass guitar in Hamburg for £30 in 1961, he couldn’t have known that, to borrow a line from the movie A Hard Day’s Night, it would go on to loom large in his legend.

He was obviously impressed with its sound – he bought a second one two years later – but the instrument’s distinctive look would also become part of the Beatles’ iconography. He played it on some of the Beatles’ earliest hits, including Love Me Do and She Loves You, and he can be seen with it in the documentary series Get Back, which charts the 1969 sessions for what would become the Let It Be album. Sometime after that, it vanished, but it seems neither fans nor its owner could forget it.

Speaking in the film, McCartney: The Hunt for the Lost Bass, Paul says: “I think anything that’s nicked, you want it back, especially if it has sentimental value. It just went off into the universe and it left us thinking, where did it go? There must be an answer.”

After watching Paul’s headlining set at Glastonbury in 2022, journalist Scott Jones became curious about the fate of the bass, and contacted Höfner, only to find the ex-Beatle was already in talks with them about trying to track it down.

So, Scott and his researcher wife Naomi joined forces with Nick Wass, who was heading Höfner’s search project, to solve one of rock and roll’s great mysteries – with a little help from fellow fans.

This documentary tells the story of what happened next, drawing on interviews with Paul, his brother Michael McCartney, artist and musician Klaus Voormann (who first befriended the Beatles back in their Hamburg days) and musical collaborators such as Elvis Costello.

It also hears from roadies, fans, and the journalists and experts involved in what became known as The Lost Bass Project. In the process, they tell a story about something bigger than just a beloved instrument, as they touch on the collective power of fandom, love, loss and what music means to us.

If the documentary leaves you in the mood for more McCartney, you’re in luck, as it kicks of an entire evening dedicated to one of the world’s most successful songwriters.

It continues with Paul McCartney at the BBC, which features clips from across his post-Beatles’ career on programmes ranging from Top of the Pops to the Electric Prom. Hits such as Band on the Run, Jet, Coming Up and Live and Let Die are interspersed with backstage footage and interviews, as well as encounters with celebrity fans.

Then at 11.45pm, we’re treated to an array of covers in Sings Beatles, including Sandie Shaw’s take on Day Tripper, Shirley Bassey’s version of Something, and Oasis’s reinvention of I Am the Walrus.

However, while tonight may be a reminder of some of Paul’s past classics, he’s not stopped producing music. Not only is the 83-year-old legend still touring, he’s also recently released a new single, Days We Left Behind, with a new album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, due in May.

Your Song (Sunday 12/04/26, Channel 4, 9pm)

Words by Rachael Popow

The Channel 4 series The Piano gave amateur pianists the chance to showcase their talents, and now the team behind the show are giving singers are getting a similar opportunity in Your Song.

Now, you might be thinking that would-be vocalists already have plenty of chances to appear on television. After all, we’ve not been exactly short of singing contests over the last 25 years.

However, Your Song is different as the participants aren’t looking to become pop idols. Instead, presenter Alison Hammond will be taking a pop-up stage and live house band into the heart of some of the UK’s most vibrant cities, and inviting members of the public to perform the one song that they feel tells their story.

It’s a chance for them to truly express themselves in front of a crowd – and mentors Paloma Faith and Sam Ryder, who will listen to the performances and offer feedback. The best performers will then get a chance to take to the stage again in the grand final at London’s Hackney Empire.

Unlike some other singing shows we could mention, Paloma and Sam’s role is to be supportive and encouraging. Perhaps it’s because she recently competed on Celebrity Traitors, where she was ‘murdered’ by her friend Alan Carr, but Paloma believes we need that kind of positivity on our screens.

She says: “There’s a culture of cruelty that’s popular. There’s a culture of judgment that’s popular… and we need to remember that we’re all human beings and we’re all connected. I feel like that’s what this show stands for.”

Paloma has certainly been touched by the performers’ stories, saying: “Every week, you go to a different city and I say, I won’t be crying, and then I bawl my eyes out. But I do feel like Mina’s story [from the Birmingham episode] has probably been the most moving for me personally, because it’s about giving, it’s about the fact that she’s singing for all the women that who’ve been silenced [in Iran], and I feel like it’s bigger than where she comes from, and it’s bigger than where I come from, and it’s bigger than anything on a global scale.”

Paloma also believes that she and Sam are the perfect people to help the singers find their voice. She explains: “Neither of us are nepos, basically! He was a joiner, I was barmaid. And we have more in common with the people on Your Song than we do with our peers in the music industry.

“So it feels like a really appropriate kind of coming home feeling, and I’d say it’s definitely been a career highlight for me, making this show.”

In the opening episode, Alison, Sam and Paloma are in Liverpool, where the singers include a kidney transplant recipient, a lift engineer who normally only sings in the shower, and a teenager who belts out a number for the foster mum he can’t find the words to thank.

Miriam Margolyes Made Me Me (Monday 13/04/26, BBC Two, 9pm)

Words by Sarah Morgan

Expect no punches to be pulled when Miriam Margolyes returns to our TV screens.

She is, of course, well known for her forthright views, and for not suffering fools gladly. Instead, she prefers straight-talking, and if that upsets some people, then so be it. It’s an approach the actress and media personality has adopted throughout her life and now, at the age of 84, it’s unlikely she’s going to change.

Not that we would want her to. It’s her brutal honesty that’s endeared her to the public, particularly since she appeared in the first series of The Real Marigold Hotel, in which she and various other celebrities attempted to find out whether the basic premise of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel book and film – which sees British pensioners move to India to save money – would work.

While making the spin-off series The Real Marigold On Tour, she met director Simon Draper for the first time. The pair hit it off, and he went on to film her Big Fat Adventure, Dead Good Adventure and Big American Adventure series.

Later, despite his Bafta-winning success with Rob & Rylan’s Ground Tour, Simon began to find work hard to come by – the life of a freelancer in any medium can be difficult and sporadic at the best of times. So he decided to create his own project centred on his friend Miriam.

It was initially designed to be a podcast. “I just instinctively tried to keep busy by doing something that I’ve trained in,” Simon told the Deadline website. “It was taking something that I felt comfortable doing, trying to document things, with the hope that I might be able to make a podcast with Miriam.”

“I didn’t know what the **** was going on,” Miriam added while the pair discussed the early stages of the project. “I would open the door, or take my knickers off, and Simon would be there filming. I was a willing participant, but very unaware, really, of what was happening.”

Both admit they thought the project would be her public swansong, but during the two years of filming – with everything captured on Simon’s iPhone – her popularity soared and she began receiving a wide range of offers that took her to Australia and back, as well as to Buckingham Palace for a chinwag with the Queen.

What struck those who saw the footage is that Miriam was absolutely, unapologetically herself whoever she spoke to, whether it was royalty or an ailing old friend.

“I’m just very good at being who I am,” she reflects. “I don’t find it difficult to be Miriam. I answer questions honestly and thoughtfully.”

As for Simon, he was advised to make a documentary rather than a podcast using the footage by an old editor friend. The result is a touching insight not only into Miriam, but into her relationship with Simon.

“Mim’s a woman with strong opinions and a weak bladder, and I feel lucky to have been able to capture all the chaos and sparkle of the bravest, most honest person I know,” he claims. “I’m chuffed to call her my friend.”

Birding with Sam & Ade (Tuesday 14/04/2026, 5, 8pm)

Richard Jones

Two male friends sharing moving and funny conversations about life and ageing while enjoying a pastime in the great outdoors. Sound familiar?

Samuel West and Adrian Edmondson are clearly hoping this new three-part series will raise the profile of birdwatching in the same way that Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse have increased the popularity of fishing.

All Creatures Great and Small and Slow Horses star West has been a keen birdwatcher for over 20 years and has seen over 400 British species.

For his next few trips, he’s invited his old mate Edmondson, a complete birding novice, along, in the hope of introducing him to some of the country’s most beautiful birds and habitats.

“Watching birds is a simple pleasure,” says 59-year-old West, who is the son of two other much-loved TV travelogue presenters Timothy West and Prunella Scales.

“At heart, it’s an invitation to connect with the natural world. All you need is a desire to look, listen and enjoy.

“A pair of binoculars helps; a friend to share it with makes it even better (especially when they’re as much fun as Adrian Edmondson).”

Despite living in the countryside for more than 20 years, Edmondson is frustrated not to know more about the birds around him and now wants to learn more.

“I don’t know how I got to be this old without knowing more about birds,” he says.

“It feels like a huge hole in my education.”

In a far cry from his days as punk in comedy The Young Ones, 69-year-old Edmonson will have to be on his best behaviour as he joins his mate to quietly look for rare birds.

But, just as Mortimer and Whitehouse’s much-loved and heartwarming series isn’t all about the fish, Birding… isn’t just about the feathered creatures.

Adrian’s love of cooking and a pint means that picnics, pubs and the odd stay in a nice cottage are just as essential as spotting a few avian species.

The show begins as Sam introduces Ade to birding on the wild coast of West Cornwall, where autumn storms can bring rare transatlantic visitors.

At Hayle Estuary, Ade gets to grips with egrets, wigeon and curlews, before heading to the rugged Kenidjack Valley in search of lost American birds.

However, it’s a tiny firecrest and a friendly robin that steal the show.

Back at the estuary, car-based birding brings some close views of waders, and over a picnic, Ade reveals that after losing a long-running battle with his weight, he’s now taking a weight-loss drug.

A tip-off leads to a magical first kingfisher sighting and the pair end the day with a celebratory pint in The Gurnard’s Head inn.

Day two sees Adrian join his first ‘twitch’, chasing a Siberian yellow-browed warbler around a sewage works, before Sam introduces him to a true Cornish icon – the chough.

Over the next couple of weeks, Sam and Ade will head to North Norfolk on a wild goose chase, and travel to the Somerset Levels to stake out the elusive bittern.

But best of all, we’ll get to see the two companions larking about and enjoying the beauty of the natural world.

Watch out Bob and Paul, there’s another pair of old pals who are looking to rule the roost.

Grayson Perry Has Seen the Future (Wednesday 15/04/26, Channel 4, 9pm)

Words by Sarah Morgan

The art world is often regarded as stuffy and elitist by naysayers. Clearly they have never seen Grayson Perry or watched one of his Channel 4 documentaries.

He’s a man who stands out from the crowd, but he’s also hugely open and inclusive. He even understands why some people feel a little nervous about dipping their toe into the subject.

“It’s easy to feel insecure around art and its appreciation,” says Perry in his book Playing to the Gallery. “But if there’s one message that I want you take away it’s that anybody can enjoy art and anybody can have a life in the arts… For even I, an Essex transvestite potter, have been let in by the art-world mafia.”

Since winning the Turner Prize in 2003, he has probably done more to promote art and make it accessible than anybody else, certainly in the UK, if not around the globe.

Perry began making documentaries for Channel 4 in 2005 when he fronted Why Men Wear Frocks, in which he discussed his own experiences of cross-dressing. It was a hit and led to more programmes, including All in the Best Possible Taste, Who Are You? and All Man.

However, it was during lockdown that he really came into his own. Grayson’s Art Club, a weekly series in which he extolled the joys of creativity, alongside his wife, psychotherapist Phillipa Perry, drew impressive ratings.

Suddenly people who previously had no interest in art, and probably hadn’t picked up a pencil or paintbrush since their school days, found themselves with time on their hands, which they helped to fill by making something.

He’s popped up on our screens regularly since then, most notably as a contestant in the 2025 series of The Masked Singer. He performed under the guise of Kingfisher and was eliminated in the sixth episode.

Now Perry is back to tackle a far more serious subject. He’s taking a trip to Silicon Valley in California to find out how the industries based there may shape our future – for good or ill.

Obviously artificial intelligence is bound to feature – you can’t seem to switch on the TV these days without a story about AI hitting you between the eyes. Many of us are afraid of this technology, particularly those who work in creative roles; the concern is that eventually, it will replace artists and writers completely.

Those who have embraced AI, however, claim it will provide vital assistance in a number of professions. Hopefully Perry can explain the topic during his trip – he’s being joined by an increasingly friendly chatbot throughout who, if he gets stuck, should be able to help viewers understand any overly technical aspects of his sojourn under the sun.

Interviews with young start-up founders also feature, and Perry has plenty to ask them about what their dreams for the future entail before addressing how tech impacts on what it is to be human.

After that, he returns to the drawing board – literally – to create an artwork inspired by his discoveries. No doubt it will prove to be just as enlightening, if not more so, than any of the platitudes Perry hears en route.

Big Mood (Thursday 16/04/2026, Channel 4, 10pm & 10.30pm)

Words by Richard Jones

A lot can happen in a year, particularly in the lives of best friends Maggie (Nicola Coughlan) and Eddie (Lydia West).

While the former is recovering from lithium poisoning and trying to stay ‘stable’, the latter has embarked on a healing journey of her own and formed an intense friendship with a spiritual influencer from California.

But as Camilla Whitehill’s ode to female friendship returns for a second run tonight, the duo’s lives are about to be thrown into disarray yet again.

Following their major falling-out, after Maggie failed to accompany Eddie to an abortion, the pair haven’t spoken for a year.

So when they reunite as bridesmaids at a mutual friend’s wedding, the atmosphere is frosty to say the least.

Maggie is dead set on showing everyone how ‘stable’ she is, but when she is given a junior bridesmaid status by scary maid of honour Flopsy (played by Ruby Wax and Ed Bye’s daughter Marina Bye), it comes as a blow.

Meanwhile, Eddie has returned to London from LA intent on ending her relationship with Maggie for good.

But before she can cut ties with her best friend, the pair reluctantly team up to save the wedding from a very unwelcome guest.

Maggie pretends to have one of her ‘episodes’ – the exact opposite of what she wanted to do.

Then, throw into the mix an infuriatingly positive spiritual healer from California named Whitney (This City Is Ours’ Hannah Onslow), and the best friends are about to clash yet again.

Big Mood was a huge hit for Channel 4 when it first aired in 2024, and became the broadcaster’s most-streamed new comedy launch since Derry Girls.

It was named Best TV Comedy Drama at the comedy.co.uk Awards, while Coughlan also won Best Comedy Performance at the TV Choice Awards and received her first Bafta nod.

When it was announced that the show would be returning, its creator Whitehill told Stylist: “We made another series of Big Mood specifically for me to have something to watch, but I’m generously letting it be shown to a wider audience because Channel 4 told me that’s ‘how it works’.

“So if you don’t like it, please bear in mind you weren’t really the target audience, because you’re not me.

“That all having been said, I’m really proud of what we’ve made and am so grateful for all the creative geniuses that came on board and made it happen.

“I really hope the girlies (and small amount of men) who liked the first series enjoy Eggie’s journey in series two!”

In tonight’s second episode, which guest-stars Rupert Everett, Maggie and Eddie discover that their favourite drag act, Barbie & Skipper, are performing for one night only – and tickets are like gay gold dust.

Thus begins an odyssey across Queer London to try and get tickets, involving wigs, theatrical icons, lies and a whole lot of drama.

Along the way, Maggie is desperate to remind Eddie how much fun they used to have, but Whitney is determined to keep Eddie focused on getting a job.

Knowing she needs to move quick, Maggie forms an uneasy alliance with Will (Robert Gilbert) to dig up dirt on their common enemy.

Is there space in Eddie’s new life for Maggie and her special brand of chaos, or are the best friends destined to be apart?

Beyond Paradise (Friday 17/04/26, BBC1, 8pm)

Words by Rachael Popow

What makes Beyond Paradise stand out from all the others on TV? Well, there aren’t many other shows where the prime suspect is a mythical sea creature.

Humphrey (Kris Marshall) and the team investigate when a seaweed farm is sabotaged, and are left baffled when an eyewitness swears he saw a mermaid in the water that night.

To be fair, the cops are struggling to understand how a human could have carried out the damage and then escaped unseen amongst glowing bioluminescent waters, but Esther (Zahra Ahmadi) is sure there must be a more rational explanation. Hopefully, Humphrey can help her find it, but he’s distracted by the house renovations and the pressure from the Hub.

Meanwhile, Martha (Sally Bretton) gets a chance to let her hair down, and Margo (Felicity Montagu) worries that Kelby’s (Dylan Llewellyn) online girlfriend sounds a little too good to be true.

Hopefully, it doesn’t turn out that she’s a mythical creature too, but as actor Dylan points out, at least the cop can rely on his colleagues. He says: “Maybe Kelby will find someone this season – I think that would be amazing for him.

“[But] his chemistry and camaraderie with the team are still strong; we still have those funny moments while cracking cases I do think we’re seeing the team bond on a deeper, more emotional level as well. By this point, the station feels like a family away from home, especially for Kelby and Margo, who often look out for each other in different ways.”

Of course, Kelby is also called on to do the occasional bit of detective work, and Dylan believes his character is a better sleuth that he is credit for.

He says: “Kelby is always trying to better himself and aim higher. People can underestimate him because he’s a bit naïve at times, but he constantly proves himself to be a crucial piece of the puzzle when it comes to solving cases. He’s the kind of person who will do everything in his power to crack it and help however he can. He’s got real commitment and drive, similar to a dog with a bone.”

In fact, it seems the actor, whose credits include Derry Girls and Big Boys, wishes he could be a little more like his character sometimes, especially when it comes to a certain globe-trotting reality show that Dylan and his mum took part in last year.

Dylan laughs: “Kelby would absolutely thrive on Race Across the World, he’d probably do better than me, for sure! It was a real challenge for my mum and me, but we loved it. Kelby’s got a strong personality and a real drive, so he’d completely embrace it.

“There might be moments when he’s properly out of his element and thinking, ‘What am I doing here?’ But one of the best things about Kelby is that he’s a sponge, he soaks up his surroundings. He’s great with people, and I think that’s why the community loves him in Shipton Abbott.”