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TV tonight the return of a beautiful hit Australian crime drama

TV tonight the return of a beautiful hit Australian crime drama
The prequel to the popular Mystery Road kicks off. Plus: a twisted and unmissable David Cronenberg film. Here’s what to watch tonight
TV tonight: the return of a beautiful hit Australian crime drama
Mystery Road: Origin.

The prequel to the popular Mystery Road kicks off. Plus: a twisted and unmissable David Cronenberg film. Here’s what to watch tonight

Mystery Road: Origin9pm, BBC Four

Set in 1999, this prequel to the popular Mystery Road series follows Jay Swan (Mark Coles Smith) as a twentysomething Indigenous police officer forging his career in Western Australia. The beautifully shot, slow-burning drama picks up with Jay returning to the small town he grew up in, where he attempts to build a relationship with his estranged father and meets the woman who will change his life forever. Hollie Richardson

Celebrity Catchphrase6pm, ITV1

Against the odds, this silly family game show continues to endure as a TV institution. Stephen Mulhern hosts this celebrity version with Dianne Buswell, Ria Hebden and Neil Morrissey saying what they see with £50k for a charity of their choice at stake. Phil Harrison

The Masked Singer7pm, ITV1

Chris Kamara (AKA Ghost) was the first celebrity to “take it off!” in the opening episode – so who will reveal themselves this week? The remaining six contestants still to take to the stage include Jacket Potato, Rubbish and Piece of Cake. HR

That’s My Jam8pm, BBC One

Mo Gilligan’s divisive primetime challenge show continues with Becky Hill and Jason Derulo taking on hip-hop megastars Salt-N-Pepa (Cheryl James and Sandra Denton). The teams will try to beat each other in a series of wacky tasks that put their singing abilities and overall star quality to the test. HR

Ant and Dec’s Limitless Win8.30pm, ITV

The twosome’s game show with a neverending money ladder is back. This week, Jimmy Carr and Katherine Ryan complete the game they started on the Christmas Day celebrity special, with their winnings going to charity. Then it’s time for non-celeb folk – best pals Helen and Kelly – to take on the ladder. As Dec says: “Ha’way the lasses!”. HR

The John Bishop Show9.30pm, ITV1

The likable scouse chatterbox returns with more primetime chatshow action. The chatshow is a crowded field – Bishop’s USP is his facility for comedy; the show often has a feel of the variety show about it but it’s good-natured, enjoyable stuff. PH

Film choices

Crimes of the Future (David Cronenberg, 2022), 10.10pm, Sky Cinema Premiere

Crimes of the Future.

David Cronenberg returns to the body horror that made his name, and it’s every bit as twisted as you’d hope. In a dilapidated near future, Saul Tenser – Cronenberg regular Viggo Mortensen – makes performance art from the mysterious new organs his body keeps producing. In perversely erotic shows, they are surgically removed by his partner Caprice (Léa Seydoux). Lurking around are Kristen Stewart’s sly organ registry official and Scott Speedman’s plastic-eating radical. It’s a netherworld of accelerated evolution, where extreme body modification has become the hot new thing. Disturbing and graphic, but thoughtful – just the way Cronenberg likes it. Simon Wardell

Bohemian Rhapsody (Bryan Singer, Dexter Fletcher 2018), 9pm, Channel 4“Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?” The biopic of Queen singer Freddie Mercury stays reasonably true to the facts, which contain enough drama not to need embellishing. Bookended by the band’s triumphant Live Aid concert in 1985, it follows Mercury as he joins the group and makes them all stars – while coming to terms with his sexuality and, ultimately, the hollowness of fame. Rami Malek won an Oscar for his sympathetic, tortured Freddie, and the film wisely keeps the focus on him rather than his beige bandmates. SW

Live sport

FA Cup Football Sheffield Wednesday v Newcastle 5.40pm BBC One. Followed by Liverpool v Wolves on ITV 4 at 7.45pm from Anfield.

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  • Television
  • TV tonight
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