A Charming and Unlikely Job Swap: Judi Dench and Jay Blades

Dame Judi and Jay: The Odd Couple

9pm, Channel 4

“I don’t think we’ve got anything in common, to tell you the truth,” admits The Repair Shop’s Jay Blades about Oscar winner Judi Dench. Yet, their differences unexpectedly sparked a new friendship when they met on Blades’s show last year. This endearing documentary captures their unique bond as they explore each other’s worlds. Dench tries her hand at a bustling market stall, while Blades, who is dyslexic, braves reading Shakespeare on stage. It’s incredibly touching and sure to bring a smile to your face.

Faye

7pm, Sky Documentaries

Faye Dunaway, renowned for her formidable presence, gets a captivating portrait in this documentary. Beginning with that iconic Oscars-morning-after shot, the film delves into Dunaway’s childhood before examining the performances that cemented her legacy and almost destroyed it. It provides an insightful look into one of Hollywood’s greatest talents.

Britten’s War Requiem

8pm, BBC Four

The London Symphony Orchestra, under its new conductor Antonio Pappano, takes on a significant challenge with its first Prom: Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem. Originally commissioned for the consecration of the new Coventry Cathedral in 1962, Britten’s complex masterpiece requires a balance of technical skill and raw emotion that not all previous performers have managed to achieve.

Orlando Bloom: To the Edge

8pm, U&Dave

For anyone looking to watch a famous white man’s midlife crisis unfold, Orlando Bloom’s new documentary series might just be the answer. The series follows Bloom as he undertakes life-threatening daredevil stunts, starting with wingsuit jumping—a modified skydive that makes participants look like flying squirrels.

Team GB Homecoming By the National Lottery

8.30pm, BBC One

With Team GB returning home with 65 medals, including 14 golds, the BBC has organized a night of celebration. The event will feature performances from Jess Glynne, Clean Bandit (who have four No. 1 hits), and Pete Tong. Emma Willis and Vernon Kay will also chat with some of Team GB’s heroes. It may not be much, but it’s better than nothing.

The Other Mrs Jordan

10.15pm, ITV1

Mary Turner Thomson takes center stage in this documentary series, recounting her sham marriage to William Allen Jordan—a bigamist and fraudster. Her story is filled with what seem like obvious red flags, but Thomson’s intelligence and articulacy make it difficult to judge her and the other victims too harshly.

Film choice

Strangers on a Train, 12.20pm, BBC Two

Alfred Hitchcock’s 1951 thriller, adapted from Patricia Highsmith’s first novel, showcases the director’s strengths. The suspense is relentless as Farley Granger’s tennis pro Guy gets entangled in a “perfect murder” plot with the conspiratorial Bruno, played by a gleefully louche Robert Walker. Recurring motifs and cameos from Hitchcock himself add layers of intrigue to this classic.

The Mask, 4.30pm, BBC One

Jim Carrey followed up his success in Ace Ventura with another hit in The Mask. Directed by Chuck Russell, the 1994 comedy has Carrey’s character Stanley, a boring bank clerk, transform into a superhuman trickster after donning a mysterious mask. With a nod to Loki and a significant Looney Tunes influence, the film is packed with cartoonish pratfalls and a high gag rate as Stanley pursues Cameron Diaz’s mob girlfriend.

Live sport

Premier League Football: Brentford vs. Crystal Palace at 1pm on Sky Sports Main Event. Chelsea vs. Man City at 4pm.

Women’s Cricket: The Hundred, 2pm on BBC Two, featuring the final at Lord’s followed by the men’s final at 5.30pm.

Source: Channel 4, Sky Documentaries, BBC Four, U&Dave, BBC One, ITV1, BBC Two