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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Hollie Richardson, Hannah Verdier, Kayleigh Dray, Graeme Virtue and Simon Wardell

TV tonight: catch the biggest West End shows of the year from your sofa

Big Night of Musicals 2024 by the National Lottery on BBC One.
Big Night of Musicals 2024 by the National Lottery on BBC One. Photograph: TBI Media/BBC

Big Night of Musicals 2024 By the National Lottery

7.50pm, BBC One

Operation Mincemeat is the show that everyone wants tickets for this year – so enjoy a preview from your sofa instead, as part of Jason Manford’s annual show tunes spectacular. Playing host at Manchester’s AO Arena, he also welcomes Beverley Knight, Nicole Scherzinger and Alfie Boe to belt out hits from Hadestown, Les Misérables, Sunset Boulevard and more. Hollie Richardson

Gladiators

5.50pm, BBC One

Civil servant Mark was inspired by meeting OG Gladiator Hawk when he was a kid – but how will he get on against a trio of new athletes in Powerball? Dentist Sharon has always been called “too aggressive” in sports – she’ll have no problem bashing her opponent with that pugil stick, then. HR

The Masked Singer

7pm, ITV1

With Dippy Egg, Maypole and Eiffel Tower in attendance, this series has remained as ridiculous as Rita Ora’s guesses. Bubble Tea was the latest to be unveiled as Julia Sawalha, but who’ll be instructed to “Take it off! Take it off!” this week? Talent offers no protection from elimination as all eight remaining contestants must take to the stage. Hannah Verdier

Señorita 89

9pm, BBC Four

The world of Mexican beauty pageants is about to get even more perilous. Isabel may be Miss Mexico for now, but people all over the country are heralding Jocelyn as the true queen. Finally free from prison (and under the protection of La Madrina, a narco boss), will she forcibly wrench the crown from Isabel’s fingers? Kayleigh Dray

Show Tunes at the BBC

9.20pm, BBC Two

Anyone who felt they were only just getting warmed up with Jason Manford’s musicals bonanza can continue belting out hits with Elaine Page. She’ll be digging into the archives for performances from Funny Girl, West Side Story, The Lion King and, of course, Cats. HR

Big Zuu’s 12 Dishes in 12 Hours

10.20pm, ITV1

London Zuu: after making trips to Italy, Cyprus and the Netherlands, the irrepressible street food maven returns to the capital. He’s joined by former Man United and France footballer Patrice Evra, who gets a tour of gourmet hotspots, including west African fine dining. Graeme Virtue

Film choice

Calendar Girls, 4.15pm, Channel 5

Calendar Girls on Channel 5.
Calendar Girls on Channel 5. Photograph: Maximum Film/Alamy

The true story of WI members and their wildly successful semi-nude calendar ticks all the boxes for a quality British comedy. There’s the clash of propriety and bawdiness, as a group of middle-aged women in a North Yorkshire village strip off for charity. There are meaty roles for the top cast, with Julie Walters and Helen Mirren fabulous as best mates Annie and Chris who lead the project. And there’s a big dollop of heart-tugging, as Annie grieves the death of her husband from leukaemia and thinks up a way to raise funds for the local hospital that cared for him. Simon Wardell

Live sport

Tennis: Australian Open, 8.30am, Eurosport 1 Coverage of the women’s singles final at Melbourne Park. The men’s final is on Sun at 8.30am.

FA Cup Football: Ipswich v Maidstone United, 12.15pm, BBC One A fourth-round tie at Portman Road.

Premiership Rugby Union:Saracens v Exeter Chiefs, 5.15pm, TNT Sports 1 From StoneX Stadium. Bristol Bears v Bath Rugby precedes it at 2.30pm.

Africa Cup of Nations, 7.50pm, BBC Three The last-16 match between the runners-up in Groups A and C. The tie between the winner of Group C and a third-placed team is on Mon at 7.50pm.

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