A Casualty first, a deeply personal documentary about ableism, a new drama set in the world of elite tennis and more!
This week's best telly includes a special standalone episode of Casualty celebrating 75 years of the NHS, the return of BBC One drama World on Fire, Sky Max series Rob & Romesh Vs and US drama The Bear on Disney+, plus Rosie Jones' personal Channel 4 documentary and new Prime Video drama Fifteen-Love.
Here are 7 TV shows you can't miss this week...
1. Casualty
Saturday 15th July at 8.25pm on BBC One
This week, Casualty marks the 75th anniversary of the NHS with a special standalone episode highlighting the extraordinary teamwork and collaboration that goes on across the medical services every day to save lives. In a break from its traditional format and for the first time in the show's history, the episode will feature commentary from real-life medical professionals.
The episode focuses on the story of Amartya, a motorbike rider who has been involved in a devastating collision with life-threatening injuries, and showcases the extraordinary efforts made across the length and breadth of the emergency medical services to save him; from ambulance call handlers, to nurses, paramedics, doctors, HEMS teams, surgeons, and beyond.
Alongside action from Casualty’s well-known characters in the ED, viewers will see commentary from real-life medical professionals talking about the teamwork, collaboration and investment that is involved every single day to care for each individual patient.
2. World On Fire
Sunday 16th July at 9pm on BBC One
Created by Peter Bowker, the first series of World on Fire followed three young people in the eye of the storm as World War II explodes around them. And after almost four years away from our screens, the series is finally back.
In series two, RAF pilots are sent to destroy German bombers prowling the skies above Manchester, with rescue operations underway on the streets below. The true reality of war has arrived in Britain and it will tell the story of World War Two through the eyes of ordinary people, following intrepid young heroes fighting for freedom.
The new series promises to take viewers from the war-torn streets of Britain deep into Nazi Germany, the resistance within occupied France, and the brutal sands of the North African desert – where troops struggle to adapt to a very different kind of combat.
1/6 Continues weekly. All episodes available at launch
3. The Sixth Commandment
Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th July at 9pm on BBC One
Written by Sarah Phelps, BBC One's new four-part drama The Sixth Commandment, explores the death of Peter Farquhar in the village of Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire, and the extraordinary events that unfolded over the following years and has been made in full cooperation with Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin’s families.
It tells the story of how the meeting of an inspirational teacher, Peter Farquhar and a charismatic student, Ben Field, set the stage for one of the most complex and confounding criminal cases in recent memory.
It focuses on how suspicions around Field’s relationship with Ann Moore-Martin, Peter’s deeply religious neighbour, unlocked a series of chilling revelations and explores the way in which both Peter and Ann were manipulated by Field, capturing the extreme gaslighting, the gripping police investigation and the high-profile trial, while poignantly highlighting the devastating effect of isolation and loneliness, as Field closed in on them.
It also celebrates both Peter and Ann’s lives as cherished mentors, much-loved relatives and adored friends.
Timothy Spall stars as Peter Farquhar alongside Anne Reid as Ann Moore-Martin, Éanna Hardwicke as Ben Field and Annabel Scholey as Ann’s niece, Ann-Marie Blake, alongside Sheila Hancock as Liz Zettl and Ben Bailey Smith as Simon Blake.
1-2/4 Continues weekly
4. The Bear
Wednesday 19th July on Disney+
We've had to wait a while in the UK for the second season of The Bear, but the good news is that unlike what the US has had to do, we won't have to wait weekly, as all 10 episodes will be available.
The second season of The Bear sees Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, return as Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto, Sydney Adamu and Richard "Richie" Jerimovich who work together to transform their grimy sandwich joint into a next-level spot.
As they strip the restaurant down to its bones, the crew undertakes transformational journeys of their own, each forced to confront the past and reckon with who they want to be in the future.
Of course, it turns out the only thing harder than running a restaurant is opening a new one, and the team must juggle the insane bureaucracy of permits and contractors with the beauty and creative agony of menu planning.
The transition brings a newfound focus on hospitality as well. As the entire staff is forced to come together in new ways, pushing the boundaries of their abilities and relationships, they also learn what it means to be in service, both to diners and each other.
1-10/10 All episodes available at launch
5. Rob & Romesh Vs
Wednesday 19th July at 9pm on Sky Max
Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan are back with a fifth series of their brilliant Sky show Rob & Romesh Vs in which they travel around the world taking on challenges.
First up, Rob and Romesh head to Las Vegas to see if they can crack the world of Magic having been invited by none other than Penn & Teller to join Vegas' longest-running residency show.
But with just three days to pull their act together and time ticking ahead of their performance alongside Penn & Teller, Rob and Romesh head to Magic school and the Vegas strip to prepare for their big show.
1/
6. Rosie Jones: Am I A R*****?
Thursday 20th July at 10pm on Channel 4
This week, Rosie Jones, who has cerebral palsy, fronts a new Channel 4 documentary in which she tries to understand how prevalent disability trolling is in the UK, and why it's often left completely unchecked.
In recent weeks, the documentary has come under scrutiny and criticism due to the inclusion of an ableist slur in its title. Amongst those upset at the use of the R-word are Shelby Lynch, Kate Stanforth and Lucy Dawson whose concern about the effects the word will have on disabled people, saw their contributions being pulled from the documentary, as opposed to the title changed, which is the outcome they would have preferred.
In her explanation, posted on social media and reiterated at the start of the documentary, Rosie Jones said "The title of the film has a very shocking word in it. The R-word. And I get it. A lot of people will find this word very shocking and upsetting. But, in my opinion, society doesn’t take this word and other ableist forms of language as seriously as any form of abuse from any other minorities."
"So, I said to Channel 4 'Let's do it, let's tackle the problem head on and use that word in the title and then hopefully, people will think twice about using the word and other ableist slurs ever again’." She also speaks further to this in my interview with Rosie which will be posted on Monday.
Defending the title further, Channel 4 said "The use of the R-word in the documentary is within the context of the subject matter being explored and specific to the abuse Rosie receives on social media. The film makes very clear it is an unacceptable and offensive ableist term and its inclusion was carefully considered in conversations with the editorial team, Rosie and a disability consultant."
Whilst Channel 4 have asterisked the second letter of the R-word, you'll have noticed that here and on social media, I've decided to include only the first letter because I still wanted to be able to recommend what I consider to be - title aside - a powerful, important and vital documentary in which Rosie Jones sets herself the challenge of confronting a troll directly, as well as exploring the role social media has to play in the rise of this abuse.
Rosie wants everyone in the UK to be made aware of ableism and to stand up to it when they see it. The film is a call to arms for all of us to play our part in ending the suffering of those who are abused simply because of their disability.
Read my interview with Rosie Jones on Monday.
1/1
7. Fifteen-Love
Friday 21st July on Prime Video
Prime Video's new drama Fifteen-Love. written by Hania Elkington, is set in the world of elite tennis and explores the story of Justine Pearce, played by Ella Lily Hyland, a dynamic young sports prodigy, who had a meteoric rise in the world of Grand Slam tennis.
Aidan Turner plays Glenn Lapthorn, who was Justine’s maverick coach, with whom she shared an intense rapport. Together, they reached the semifinals of the French Open.
However, tragedy struck on the court, and Justine's dream of sporting glory was cut brutally short by a devastating injury, which resulted in a shattered wrist and the end of her professional career.
Five years on, now aged 22, Justine is a physiotherapist at her old tennis academy, Longwood, alongside her former physio. It seems like she is finally healed, both physically and psychologically, from her humiliating downfall on the global stage.
But when Justine makes an explosive allegation against her former coach, everyone at Longwood is forced to reconsider everything they thought they knew about Justine and Glenn’s past success.
Justine and Glenn’s battle over the truth of their past reaches new heights as they both seek glory at the Grand Slam grass-court event of the year, and the stately world of professional tennis is rocked by lies, deceit, and a desperate bid for control.
1-6/6 All episodes available at launch
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