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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Graeme Virtue, Ellen E Jones, Danielle De Wolfe, Phil Harrison, Hannah Verdier, Sammy Gecsoyler and Simon Wardell

TV tonight: inside the secretive world of sumo wrestling

Young hopefuls at a sumo school
Young hopefuls sign up for life in Japan’s sumo stables, the subject of an Unreported World film. Photograph: ITN

Unreported World

7.30pm, Channel 4

With its centuries-old Shinto roots and undiminished popularity, sumo remains one of Japan’s cultural touchstones. But with such great physical and mental stresses, what is the cost of becoming a champion? Sahar Zand attempts to penetrate the secretive culture of sumo stables, where hopefuls essentially sign up for life and submit to punishingly strict rules. She also shadows shy but likable rising star Kyuta Kumagai, a 12-year-old already training six days a week. Graeme Virtue

The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice

8pm, Channel 4

This is the sweet Bake Off spirit reduced to its syrupy essence and drizzled all over your Friday evening. Just what’s required after the rigours of pastry week. Host Jo Brand is joined by Maisie Adam, Joe Wilkinson and Judi Love. Ellen E Jones

DNA Journey

9pm, ITV

In the final revelatory episode of this four-part series, Gavin and Stacey star Larry Lamb joins on-screen wife Alison Steadman in delving into their genealogy. Steadman learns of her father’s previously unknown adoption, while Lamb traces his Jewish roots and finds a link to a Canadian movie star. Danielle De Wolfe

Volker Bruch as Gereon Rath in Babylon Berlin
Caught up in the case … Volker Bruch as Gereon Rath in Babylon Berlin. Photograph: Frédéric Batier/X Filme Creative Pool/SKY/Degeto

Babylon Berlin

9pm, Sky Atlantic

This darkly lavish interwar drama continues to spook and entrance with the horrors just round the corner feeding into the paranoia of detective Gereon Rath’s world. Rath (Volker Bruch) is closing in on his target – but he must tread carefully as Hitler’s minions await. Phil Harrison

Jimmy Carr’s I Literally Just Told You

10pm, Channel 4

Four more determined contestants need to listen to every word Jimmy Carr says for the quiz that relies on their short-term memory recall. But the real stars are the team who write the questions as the show happens. Hannah Verdier

The Graham Norton Show

10.40pm, BBC One

Paul Mescal, garnering acclaim for his portrayal of single fatherhood in Aftersun, joins Black Panther: Wakanda Forever stars Michaela Coel and Winston Duke on Norton’s sofa. Emma Corrin, Richard Ayoade and Loyle Carner are also in the studio. Sammy Gescoyler

Film choices

Daniel Radcliffe with Evan Rachel Wood in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
Daniel Radcliffe with Evan Rachel Wood in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. Photograph: Aaron Epstein/The Roku Channel

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (Eric Appel, 2022), The Roku Channel
If you’re looking for an emotionally raw biopic telling the true story of the US parody songsmith, you’ve come to the wrong place. Eric Appel’s mock-heroic comedy is a proudly ridiculous rewriting of Yankovic’s history, from his “coming out” as an accordion player and writing Eat It – the original song that Michael Jackson stole for Beat It – to becoming a power couple with a manipulative Madonna (Evan Rachel Wood). Daniel Radcliffe is a left-field choice to play Al but nails the deadpan humour and naive joy as his witty lyrical rewrites of pop hits bring fame but also heartache. Simon Wardell

Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me (Alek Kekishian, 2022), Apple TV+
“How do I learn how to breathe my own breath again?” We’ve all been there, right? But ludicrous psychobabble aside, this documentary is a raw insight into the pitfalls of getting too much, too soon. Gomez rocketed to fame as a child, courtesy of the kids’ TV show Barney & Friends, and has subsequently branched out into music. However, in 2014, she was diagnosed with lupus and then, in 2020, with bipolar. The main problem? “My whole life, since I was a kid, I’ve been working.” This film tracks her recovery. PH

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