Strike- The Cuckoo's Calling
Oh, how could they ever have doubted her? Yet those who questioned whether JK Rowling deserved her reputation were put in their place when the Harry Potter
creator put out a series of thrillers under a nom de plume. The adventures of gumshoe Cormoran Strike, as written by one ‘Robert Galbraith’, won both rave reviews and a place on the bestseller list. And then the secret of the author’s identity was revealed. Now the books are brought to the screen in the three-part series Strike - The Cuckoo’s Calling (Sunday, BBC1, 9.10pm), starring Tom Burke (The Musketeers, War & Peace) as the irredeemably rumpled Strike. Traumatised by a tortured past and having lost his leg serving in Afghanistan, the former soldier-turneddetective is the embodiment of the noir hero who makes his way down the city’s mean streets. By his side to bring some muchneeded common sense is the innocent but invaluable assistant Robin (Holliday Grainger). Their first case appears to be a tragic suicide, after model Lula Landry plunges from the balcony of her luxury flat to her death.
But her stepbrother suspects foul play and Strike is on the case – and you feel sure he’s onto something when Martin Shaw turns up as an aggressively unpleasant uncle to Lula, who warns the sleuth to keep away. The opener isn’t riveting but will hold your attention enough to warrant tuning into the second part on Monday night.
A landmark documentary in which Prince William and Prince Harry remember the week that their mother Diana died, 20 years ago.
VICTORIA (Sunday, ITV, 9pm)
Jenna Coleman is back as Queen Victoria, struggling with the duties of marriage, motherhood and monarchy, as series two begins.
THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF (Tuesday, Channel 4, 8pm)
It’s goodbye Mary as Prue Leith joins Paul Hollywood in Channel 4’s version of the show. Presented by Sandi Toksvig and Noel fielding.
But her stepbrother suspects foul play and Strike is on the case – and you feel sure he’s onto something when Martin Shaw turns up as an aggressively unpleasant uncle to Lula, who warns the sleuth to keep away. The opener isn’t riveting but will hold your attention enough to warrant tuning into the second part on Monday night.
NOT TO BE MISSED...
DIANA, 7 DAYS (Sunday, BBC1, 7.30pm)A landmark documentary in which Prince William and Prince Harry remember the week that their mother Diana died, 20 years ago.
VICTORIA (Sunday, ITV, 9pm)
Jenna Coleman is back as Queen Victoria, struggling with the duties of marriage, motherhood and monarchy, as series two begins.
THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF (Tuesday, Channel 4, 8pm)
It’s goodbye Mary as Prue Leith joins Paul Hollywood in Channel 4’s version of the show. Presented by Sandi Toksvig and Noel fielding.