Summer of Rockets, BBC2, 9pm
STEPHEN Poliakoff has created some of the most acclaimed dramas of the past few decades, from Stronger Than the Sun in the 1970s to controversial Close My Eyes in the 1990s. He has won many awards, and there’s a good chance a Bafta or two might be in the offing for his latest venture. Fresh from her turn in The Durrells, Keeley Hawes is back on the box with Toby Stephens. Their new offering is a Cold War drama set in 1958, and centres on Samuel, a Russian-born Jewish inventor of hearing aids. Before long, MI5 approach him to spy on his friends.
The Virtues, C4, 9pm
SHANE Meadows has become one of the most renowned filmmakers in the UK, so little wonder Channel 4 have been plugging this series like there’s no tomorrow. Co-written with Jack Thorne, it’s a powerful four-part drama tackling repressed memory, revenge and the hope of redemption. This week, Joseph arrives in Ballybraigh after a long journey and has an emotional reunion with an important person from his childhood.
Mum, BBC2, 10pm
SITCOMS can be like wildfires. They burn brightly for a couple of series, then fizzle out. Others, like Mum, smoulder away but last a lot longer. Thanks to sublime turns from Lesley Manville as Cathy and Peter Mullan as Michael, the friend who’s carried a torch for her since her husband died, Stefan Golaszewski’s saga has been one of the best comedies of the decade and this third run is proving every bit as unmissable as the last.
Judge Romesh, Dave, 10pm
HE might not have any legal qualifications, but that won’t stop funnyman Romesh Ranganatahan presiding over court cases brought to him by the British public. In series one, no case was too big, too small, or too weird. Expect more of the same in series two, which launches this week. Among the disputes is an extra who is costing his friend acting work. Plus, rappers Harvey and Romeo will be arguing over copyrights and lyrics. The ever reliable Jessica Knappett joins in the laughs for this run.
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