Tonight's television schedule offers a profound look into the world of a musical icon, alongside family-friendly entertainment and high-stakes competition. The standout is a deeply personal documentary exploring the life and work of Nick Cave on Sky Arts.
Nick Cave's Profound Artistic Journey
At 9pm on Sky Arts, the documentary Nick Cave's Veiled World provides a timely and intimate portrait of the artist. As viewers become familiar with his recent foray into television as Bunny Munro, this film takes a comprehensive journey through his career and personal life. The programme features insights from a range of notable figures, including author Irvine Welsh, fashion designer Bella Freud, and Cave's long-time collaborator Mick Harvey.
Together, they examine Cave's unique brand of transgressive and redemptive artistry. A particularly powerful segment addresses the tragic death of Cave's son, Arthur, and the subsequent creation of his acclaimed album, Ghosteen. As observer Sean O'Hagan poignantly notes, the work represents how "He found a place where Arthur exists." This exploration promises to be both fascinating and hugely moving for audiences.
Family Fun and Saturday Night Glamour
Earlier in the evening, BBC One serves up lighter fare. At 5.35pm, Alan Carr's Picture Slam returns with another episode of the frenetic family gameshow. Three duos compete, rapidly identifying images on screen for a chance to win up to £10,000. While it may not be the most highbrow vehicle for the reigning Celebrity Traitors champion, Carr's signature banter with excited contestants provides reliable entertainment.
This is followed at 6.20pm by the charming Aardman animation Robin Robin. Originally screened on Netflix, this inventive tale follows a bird named Robin who was raised by a family of mice. Her inherent clumsiness continually jeopardises their sneaky missions, leading to the question of whether she can learn some delicacy before disaster strikes. The short film features voice work from Gillian Anderson and Adeel Akhtar.
The glitter continues at 6.50pm on BBC One with Strictly Come Dancing. It's musicals week, and the five remaining couples will perform West End-inspired routines in a bid to secure a place in the semi-final. The show has also announced another inaugural high-stakes challenge, following the success of last week's instant dance task, ensuring the pressure remains intense.
Further Evening Viewing Highlights
Elsewhere, Sandi Toksvig continues her Great Riviera Rail Trip on Channel 4 at 8.05pm. Her journey takes her to Cannes to learn about the quirky Palm Dog film award for canines, to Grasse to discover perfume-making, and to the Antibes peninsula to explore F. Scott Fitzgerald's role in mythologising the French Riviera.
BBC One's drama Wild Cherry continues at 9.05pm, where tragedy now engulfs the wealthy teens after their betrayals and blackmail. As police investigations circle and a wake descends into rancour, Juliet (Eve Best) faces a crisis that threatens to expose her entire life as a wife and mother as a lie.
Live sport today includes Premier League football, with Aston Villa facing Arsenal at 11.30am on TNT Sports 1 and Leeds versus Liverpool at 5pm on Sky Sports Main Event. ITV1 broadcasts Championship football with Derby against Leicester from Pride Park at noon. Snooker's UK Championship semi-final starts at 1pm on BBC One, and BBC Two has FA Cup action with Sutton United versus Shrewsbury Town at 5pm.
