TV Guide 2023-05-06

It's Eurovision Song Contest week, and we've a special section for it.

There's also Birdbrain of Britain (Radio 4, Sun), seeking the best ornithological expert around. It's the final of Race Across Canada (BBC1, Wed) and I'm a Celebrity South Africa (VM1 and ITV, Fri).

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Schedules are accurate at the time of publication; check against EPG for late changes.

Eurovision Song Contest

Saturday and Sunday

Celebrating Eurovision (Radio 2, 1am Sat) Scott Mills and Rylan try to find out which one knows the most about the Eurovision Song Contest. Michelle Visage basks in the glow of their knowledge. Concludes at 12 midnight Saturday-into-Sunday.
Music Life (World Service, 10.06pm Sat) Sam Ryder talks to Mr. Lordi, Poli Genova, and others.

Monday

Eurovision Welcomes the World (BBC1, 6.30) Rylan and Sunetra Sarker with highlights from this year's red carpet welcome (which, for sponsorship reasons, is turquoise); also highlights from a concert outside St George's Hall.
Celebrating Eurovision (Radio 2, 7pm) Fuller coverage of that concert.
Eurovision Calling: Jason and Chelcee's Ultimate Guide (BBC1, 9pm) Jason Manford (Unbeatable) and Chelcee Grimes (singer-songwriter) explain how the Eurovision Song Contest became the world's largest cultural event. Bar none. Even bigger than you, Oscar.

Tuesday

Good Evening Europe! (World Service, 9.32am and 8.06pm) Stories from the Eurovision Song Contest. CAUTION: hosted by Måns Zelmerlöw.
The One Show (BBC1, 7pm) Live from Liverpool, with Alex Jones and 1997 host Ronan Keating. All week at this time.
Semi-final 1 (BBC1, RTÉ1, BBC Radio 2, RTÉ Radio 1, and various streaming options 8pm) Featuring interval acts from Rebecca Ferguson, Alyosha, and a medley from Rita Ora. Scott Mills and Rylan on BBC1, Paddy O'Connell on BBC Radio 2, Marty Whelan on RTÉ1 tv, with Niall Docherty and Zbyziek Zalinsky having all the fun on RTÉ Radio 1.

Thursday

Semi-final 2 (BBC1, RTÉ1, BBC Radio 2, and various streaming options 8pm) Viewers in .gb get to televote tonight. The interval act's "Music Unites Generations" with Mariya from ESC 2014 and Zlata from JESC 2022, and "Be who you wanna be" with a troupe of eclectic dancers - whatever that means!

Friday

Bargain Hunt Eurovision Special (BBC1, 12.15) Natasha Raskin Sharp hosts as Cheryl Baker, Surie, Carrie Grant, and Andy Abraham try and turn a profit on their memorabilia.
Blue Peter Eurovision Party (CBBC, 5pm) Mwaksy, Joel, and Abby welcome Ukrainian children to the studio, catch up with Freya Skye, go behind the scenes in Liverpool, and fly some kites in a gesture of solidarity.
The One Show (BBC1, 7pm) Tonight's preview is with Alex Jones and Rylan.
...And the Winner Isn't (BBC1, 7.30) Fleur East and contributors look at hugely successful songs that didn't win. "Volare" "Congratulations" "Calm after the storm" "Snap", and many others. Repeated BBC3 at 11.10.
The Big Eurovision Party (BBC3, 8.30) A concert performance from Amsterdam. Repeat from 1 January.
The A-Z of Eurovision (BBC3, 10.10) Rylan's compilation of contest lore. Repeat from 2020.
Sam Ryder Road to Eurovision (BBC3, 12.10am) Published on BBC Interactive last year.
Meet Mae Muller (BBC3, 12.40am) A five-minute short introducing the BBC's song. From 9 March.
Celebrating Eurovision (BBC Radio 2, 1am) Dermot O'Leary celebrates RTÉ's many victories from 1980 to 1996, and tries not to mention the last quarter-century too much.

And I hope you have a happy and successful Saturday.

Saturday 6 May

Swashbuckle (Cbeebies, 10.35) Ship Parts Song. Fighting Talk is replaced by some hat-measuring gubbins from the deep south.
Ireland's Smartest (RTÉ1, 3.05) Repeat from last Sunday.
The Chase Celebrity Special (ITV, 4.50) Cheryl Baker, Laura Tobin, Jason Bell, Mark Steel, repeated.
House of Games (BBC2, 6.20) Double Points Friday is on a Saturday this week.
In for a Penny (ITV, 6.30) This week, Stephen Mulhern takes advice from everyone he meets, and goes to Hull. Repeated 12.30 Sunday on ITV2.
In With a Shout (ITV, 7pm) This week, Trupia-Melluish family from Milton Keynes play the Murrays from Newcastle.
Pointless Celebrities (BBC1, 7pm) A special live edition, where the contestants try to name obscure local dignitaries they saw earlier today.
Got Talent (VM1 and ITV, 8pm) Repeated 1pm Sunday on ITV2.
The 1% Club (ITV, 9.20) Repeated 10.35 Monday night.
Der' Dramor 'Da Fi (S4C, 10.20pm) Repeat.
Round the Islands Quiz (Radio 4, 11pm) Repeat from last Monday.

Sunday 7 May

Just a Minute (Radio 4, 12.04) Repeat from last Monday.
The Masked Singer Us (ITV, 12.20) Shown on ITV2 earlier in the year.
Bird Brain of Britain (Radio 4, 4.30) Expert and animal birdlovers take a quiz. Russell Davies hosts, with Fyfe Dangerfield, Kate Humble, Lucy Lapwing, and Kitty McFarlane.
Race Across Canada (BBC2, 5pm) Repeat from Wednesday.

Primetime

Family Fortunes (ITV, 7pm) McKenzies of Wirral play Fredericks of London.
Y Talwrn (Radio Cymru, 7pm).
Ireland's Smartest (RTÉ1, 7.30).
The Chase Celebrity Special (ITV, 8pm) David James, Lucrezia Millarini, Myles Stephenson, Joe Sugg.
The Great Celebrity Bake Off (C4, 8pm) Ellie Goulding, Mawaan Rizman, Sophie Morgan, Tracy-Ann Oberman.
Taskmaster (E4 Extra, 9pm) Repeat from Channel 4 on Thursday.

Weekday Daytimes

Bargain Hunt (BBC1, 12.15).
!mpossible (BBC2, 1pm; Mon 12.45, Tu 1.45 (Wales 2.45)); Eggheads (BBC2, 1.45; Mon 1.30, Tue 2.30 (Wales 3.30)); Sewing Bee (BBC2, 4pm; Wales 5pm Tue) Repeats.
Dickinson's Real Deal (ITV, 2pm; not Mon) Repeats.
Countdown (C4, 2.10) Les Dennis finally gets to do his talks - last time he was in the studio, they got him to host. Repeated about 6am two-and-a-half working days later.
Tenable (ITV, 3pm; Mon 4pm) Repeats from series 5.
The Bidding Room (BBC1, 3.45) Repeats.
Tipping Point (ITV, 4pm; Mon 5pm) New episodes.
Unbeatable (BBC1, 4.30) New episodes.
The Chase (ITV, 5pm; Mon 6.30) New episodes.
Pointless (BBC1, 5.15) Back into repeats.
House of Games (BBC2, 6pm) Repeats, with Sean Fletcher, Louise Minchin, Chris Washington, Kimberly Wyatt.
Eggheads (C5, 6pm and 6.30) Repeats.
Masterchef Down Under (W, 6pm) The 2021 series.
Battlebots (ITV4, 7pm; Mon 6.55) Series 3, apparently.

Monday 8 May - Europe Day (observed)

Holiday for GB and Northern Ireland

The Write Stuff (Radio 4 Extra, 9am, 2pm, 7pm).
Bake Off Morning (Food Network, from 8am) Six classic episodes. To 2pm.
Great Chocolate Showdown Day (ITVBe, 12 noon) All eight episodes from series 3. To 8pm.
Round the Islands Quiz (Radio 4, 3pm) South of England against Scotland
Just a Minute (Radio 4, 6.30) Paul Merton, Shaparak Khorsandi, Daliso Chaponda, Heidi Regan.
Masterchef (BBC1, 8pm) Fifth and final round of heats starts here.
University Challenge (BBC2, 8.30) Southampton play Newnham Cambridge in the last of the group phase matches.
I'm a Celebrity South Africa (VM1 and ITV, 9pm) Defeat means goodbye.
Have I Got a Bit More News for You (BBC1, 10.30; NI 11.30, Wales 11.35) Extended repeat from last Friday.

Tuesday 9 May

The Motion Show (Radio 4 Extra, 9am, 2pm, 7pm).
The Greatest Auction (C4, 8pm) AJ Odudu hosts as millionaires compete to buy extraordinary items.
I'm a Celebrity South Africa (VM1 and ITV, 9pm).
Hell's Kitchen Us (ITV2, 9pm) 21st annual blind taste test.

Wednesday 10 May

It's Not What You Know (Radio 4 Extra, 9am, 2pm, 7pm).
Masterchef (BBC1, 8pm) Grace Dent is mean.
Glow Up (BBC3, 8pm) The best thing to come out of Rotherham since...
Wales' Home of the Year (BBC2, 8.30) South west.
Race Across Canada (BBC1, 9pm) You are at: Liverpool, B0T 1K0. Destination: A1A 1B3. Be nice to the theatre-kid posse at the Dairy Queen in the Churchill Mall, for they have elephantine memories and will make snide remarks about you a quarter of a century later. The Reunion follows at 10.40 (Wales 11.15, NI 11.40 because nobody elbows Stephen Nolan out the way.)
I'm a Celebrity South Africa (VM1 and ITV, 9pm).
Hell's Kitchen Us (ITV2, 9pm) What in hell's kitchen?

Thursday 11 May

Booked (Radio 4 Extra, 9am, 2pm, 7pm) Great news for all viewers, Future Food Stars takes a week off.
Taskmaster (C4, 9pm) "Schrödinger's Egg".
I'm a Celebrity South Africa (VM1 and ITV, 9pm).

Friday 12 May

The Good, the Bad, and the Unexpected (Radio Scotland, 1.30).
The News Quiz (Radio 4, 6.30).
The Big Interiors Battle (C4, 8pm) Community space week.
Masterchef (BBC1, 8.30) The weekly final with three past finalists.
Have I Got News for You (BBC1, 9pm) Diane Morgan hosts, with Desiree Burch but Matt Chorley.
I'm a Celebrity South Africa (VM1 and ITV, 9pm) Last in the "present" series.
Queens for the Night (ITV, 11.20; not UTV, HTV Wales) Repeat.

Sign language interpretation

Interior Design Masters (BBC2, 2.20am Sat) Episode 5.
I'm a Celebrity South Africa (ITV, 3am, Saturday and nightly from Tuesday) As seen earlier that evening.
Masterchef (BBC2, 3.20am Sat, 1.55am Wed) Episodes from 21 and 26 April.
Celebrity Bake Off (E4, 11.40am Sat) From last Sunday.
Takeaway Titans (RTÉ2, 11.55pm Tue).
Taskmaster (C4, 1.05am Wed) From last Thursday.
Take a Hike (BBC2, 8.30am Wed).
Future Food Stars (BBC2, 12.50am Thu) From last Thursday.
Family Fortunes (ITV, 5.05am Fri) From Sunday.

Challenge

Saturday

7am The Chase 9am Wheel of Fortune 11am Family Fortunes 1pm Famous Family Fortunes 2.30 Strike it Lucky 4pm Tenable 5pm The Chase 11pm Bullseye 4am The Chase

Sunday

7am Scrapheap Challenge 10am The Chase 12 noon Dickinson's Real Deal 2pm Play Your Cards Right 3pm Blankety Blank 5pm Tenable 6pm The Chase

Monday - Friday

7am The Chase 10am Dickinson's Real Deal 11am Dale's Supermarket Sweep 12 noon Wheel of Fortune 1pm Bruce's Price is Right 2pm Who Wants to be a Millionaire 3pm Strike it Lucky 4pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5pm Bullseye 6pm Tenable 7pm Pointless 8pm The Chase 10pm Who Wants to be a Millionaire 11pm Bullseye 12 midnight The Chase 4am Who Wants to be a Millionaire 5am Tenable

Photo credit: EBU/Corinne Cumming