Weekend TV Highlights: Sport Relief, The Voice, Britain's Got Talent, Peter Gabriel, Titanic, Homeland

Boxing Clever: TV For The Weekend

Yes, it's sunny - record temperatures, in fact . When you do, here's the best of what's on the box this weekend - as you can see, there is LOTS of good stuff...

Friday

Sport Relief - 7pm, BBC1, 10pm, BBC2

Christine Bleakley, Miranda Hart, David Walliams are among the 'personalities' joining forces with sports stars Freddie Flintoff, Tim Henman, Frank Lampard and co for this marathon charity effort. Highlights promised include Miranda taking on Tiny Tim at tennis, and Flintoff attempting ANOTHER world record. Kate Moss joining the Ab Fab girls has got to be worth a look.

Classic Albums - 9pm, BBC4

Did you know that Peter Gabriel originally asked Dolly Parton to partner him on Don't Give Up, his chart-storming duet with Kate Bush? Or that, with Sledgehammer, Gabriel knocked his former bandmates off the top of the US chart? These are among the factoids to emerge from this absorbing documentary, which explores how one of the most psychedelic stars of the seventies managed to channel his creativity into stomping pop that drew a transatlantic following - helped in no small measure by one era-defining video.

Saturday

The Voice - 7pm, BBC1

After conquering the crowds in the US, this new twist on talent shows is making its UK debut. Judges Will.i.am, Tom Jones, Jessie J and Danny O'Donoghue get to swivel in their chairs with a resounding Yes! when they hear a voice they like. But... here's the thing... they haven't had any previous sightings of the singer, so, in an antidote to X Factor, it really is all about the talent, aka the Voice.

Harry Hill's TV Burp - 7.30pm, ITV1

You don't know what you've got until it's gone. The big-collared one is bidding farewell to his desk, where he has sat for ten years, pointing out all that's awfully absurd and absurdly wonderful on the box. There are reports of the show continuing without Mr Hill, but those who rely on his dragged-up, eagle-eye over it all, it won't be the same. This, and Dame Edna's retirement in one week is really too much to take.

Britain's Got Talent - 8pm, ITV1

Just in case one talent show on Saturday night primetime telly wasn't enough, here's another - the return of the show that brought us Paul Potts, Diversity and Susan Boyle. It all went a bit off-track last year, with Messrs McIntyre and Hasselhoff failing to channel the magic of the people. This year sees Mr Simon Cowell safely installed back on the panel, with a newly-recruited David Walliams and Strictly turncoat Alesha Dixon to join him and Amanda Holden. BGT hit its apotheosis two years ago with Susan Boyle, an exceptional TV moment it can't ever hope to beat, only match if it's lucky. Is the right person waiting in the wings? Simon says so, but then he would, wouldn't he?

Sunday

Dancing on Ice Final - 7pm, ITV1

After 12 episodes of wear and tear on the ice, finalists Matthew Wolfenden, Jorgie Porter and Chico battle it out for the trophy. There have been warmer relations this year with Louis Spence replacing the fractious Jason Gardiner, but just as much bloodshed on the ice. Worth watching just for the amateurs' stab at the legendary Bolero, with Torvill and Dean keeping a bemused eye. If we're lucky, it could be French-and-Saunders-spoof-worthy.

Titanic - 9pm, ITV1

It's finally arrived - the much-discussed take by Britain's official scripter Julian Fellowes on the great sinking of 1912. Fellowes has been at pains to express that his writing is a much wider, fairer one than that offered by James Cameron's record-breaking film, but with only four episodes, he doesn't have much more time than that three-hour affair. And with 86 lead characters listed and a muti-viewpoint narrative, he's set himself a huge challenge. Is this just going to be Downton-on-Sea? Worth watching, just to see if he manages to avoid posh=bad, poor=rich of heart cliches.

Homeland - 9pm, Channel 4

Two powerful set pieces in this week's episode of the CIA thriller, with an Afghanistan veteran Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) who is obviously deceptive - we just don't know yet to what extent - and the loose cannon of a special agent Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes), determined to nab him. Carrie engineers a lie detector test for Brody, a forum for secrets that makes her as vulnerable as him. And Brody prepares to speak at the funeral of his lost comrade, an occasion which raises demons he strives to overcome in some of the most emotionally powerful drama concerning military veterans I've ever seen.

Stars giving their all...

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