Madonna! Giant fluffy animals! Hypnosis! It’s the weekend’s big TV stuff

Our TV expert Boyd Hilton's pick of what to watch on TV this weekend

madonnaross

by Boyd Hilton |
Published on

The Jonathan Ross Show Madonna Special (ITV, Saturday, 9.20pm)

Here it is: filmed the day after Madge’s fall at the Brits, a full and frank interview with Jonathan Ross in which the great lady addresses the unfortunate incident head-on. He not only plays footage of the accident (which she can’t bear to watch) but gets her to talk us through it every, um, step of the way, and even answers the ludicrous conspiracy theorists who think the whole thing was a publicity stunt. Fear not, Madonna also addresses other key issues in her life, like her current Matador-themed look, flashing her bottom at awards ceremonies and how her revealing outfits sometimes embarrass her kids, especially Lourdes, who she calls Lola: “If Lola is around she will definitely give me the once over and say ‘Oh mum, no you are not leaving the house like that!’ She did take a picture of my butt sticking out [at the Grammys] and sent it back to me saying ‘mum, really?!’ and I said it was a wardrobe malfunction.” Yep, Madonna is as honest, funny and charismatic as ever. Don’t miss her with Wossy.

International Mentalist alert
International Mentalist alert

You’re Back In The Room (ITV, Saturday, 8.20pm)

Preceding the Ross/Madonna special is a barmy new game show. Not as barmy as the new game show on Sky1 tomorrow (see below), but pretty damn barmy nonetheless. The premise is that a team of five members of the public take on apparently simple tasks to win money - but they’ve all been hypnotised. Not by host Philip Schofield. But by “International mentalist” Keith Barry. Not sure what a how a national mentalist would do in comparison, but Keith does manage to convince fully clothed people that they’re naked and such. It’s bold, rather disconcerting stuff, and a little uncomfortable to watch. But at least it’s a bit different. Just like…

Not real animals

Wild Things (Sky1, Sunday, 7pm)

This has got to be the most ludicrous game show concept since BBC1’s Don’t Scare The Hare, way back in the mists of 2011. In a wood somewhere, members of the public too weird to get on to ITV’s hypno-game show You’re Back In The Room dress up in huge fluffy animal costumes out of which they can’t see anything, and proceed to take part in a series of challenges in the hope of winning £10,000. Each of them handily has a partner to help guide them through the confusion and presumably to deal with the stress afterwards but it’s basically grown adults dressed as giant ducks and rabbits falling over a lot. What’s not to love? Oh, and it's hosted by the fine combo of Springwatch's Kate Humble and comedian Jason Byrne.

And don’t forget… It’s the last in the current series of Dragons’ Den (BBC2, Sunday, 9pm) and the last ever appearance on the show from the ever-grumpy Duncan Bannatyne, who’s actually in even grumpier form than usual. He also gets a VT of his best bits, which is hilarious.

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