The Shows Must Go On: Bridgerton, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey and more

Last Days Of Ptolemy Grey

(Apple TV+, March 11)

Samuel L. Jackson steals the honours as he invariably does in this miniseries makeover of the Walter Mosley novel of the same name. When a lonely 93-year-old temporarily recovers from his dementia, he uses the time to investigate the death of his nephew. The excellent Dominique Fishback, who earned a BAFTA nod for her role in Judas And The Black Messiah, co-stars.

Bridgerton

(Netflix, March 25)

Regency London is as scandal-riven as ever as we’re reacquainted with the eight sibling members of the Bridgerton family. Having previously focused on the romantic travails of Daphne, we now get to vicariously watch as her big bro, Anthony, goes looking for love again after being spurned by his opera singing mistress, Siena. Nicola Coughlan, who stole the show the last time out as Penelope Featherington, AKA Lady Whistledown, is joined by fellow Derry Girls cast member Calam Lynch who plays new rake in town Theo Sharpe.

Reacher

(Prime Video UK, available now)

Following the pintsized travesty of Tom Cruise playing him in the film adaptation, fans finally get the man mountain Jack Reacher they deserve in this latest TV version, which stars former Aquaman Alan Ritchson as Lee Child’s maverick ex-military police investigator. Based on the first Reacher bestseller, Killing Floor, and show-run by Sopranos man, Nick Santora, this is kickass hokum of the highest quality.

The Cuphead Show!

(Netflix, available now)

Fans of old school animation – we’re talking Tom & Jerry, Looney Tunes, Top Cat etc. etc. – will love this gag a minute series about Cuphead, his easily led brother Mugman and the other residents of the Inkwell Isles where their somewhat trippy adventures happen. Expect the pub bore to be quoting whole chunks of it by the end of the month. Also keep your eyes peeled for Disney+’s The Proud Family: Louder And Prouder, which has a touch of The Cleveland Show about it.

Football’s Coming Out

(Channel 4 YouTube, available now)

You have to go all the way down to Thetford Town in the Eastern Counties League Premier Division to find a semi-professional player, Matt Morton, who’s come out publicly. He joins the likes of Patrick Bamford, Joleon Lescott and Ian Holloway in exploring why none of the 526 players in England’s top flight have felt able to join him. The urgent need for change is highlighted by Amal Fashanu whose former Norwich City star uncle, Justin Fashanu, took his own life shortly after a ‘£1m Football Star: I AM GAY’ story ran in The Sun.