Pick of the Day: School Swap: UK to USA
8pm, Channel 4
Following the recent success of Go Back to Where You Come From, Channel 4 presents yet another captivating social experiment. You may remember The Great British School Swap from 2019, where students from diverse backgrounds were placed in a single classroom to foster understanding. This time, two groups of teenagers embark on a life-changing journey as they swap schools and immerse themselves in contrasting environments: multicultural south London and the small town of Mena, Arkansas, situated in America’s Bible Belt. As the American students navigate the vibrant diversity of their new London school, they are confronted with eye-opening realities. Meanwhile, the British students delve into Mena’s complex and troubling past, grappling with questions about their safety and the implications of their surroundings.
ITV Racing: Cheltenham Festival Live
12.45pm, ITV1
For true National Hunt enthusiasts, the four-day Cheltenham Festival reigns supreme, far surpassing the Grand National in prestige. The highlight of the festival culminates in the renowned Gold Cup on Friday, but today’s spotlight is on the exhilarating Champion Hurdle, scheduled for 4pm. Ed Chamberlin leads the expert coverage, with insightful commentary provided by Richard Hoiles, promising an afternoon filled with thrilling horse racing action.
Waterloo Road
9pm, BBC One
Dame Stella (Lindsey Coulson) is committed to being a role model for her staff and students, making it all the more uncomfortable when she finds herself pulled over by police for a breathalyzer test after a night of indulgence with a bottle of red wine. Meanwhile, Amy (Katherine Pearce) witnesses Jared’s troubling controlling behavior towards Libby and, driven by a desire for justice, bends the rules to intervene. However, as her actions spiral out of control, she fears that her past experiences with her ex-boyfriend Fred—who exercised coercive control—might be clouding her professional judgment.
The Bay
9pm, ITV1
The gripping narrative of the Lancashire coastline draws to a dramatic close as family liaison officer Jenn (Marsha Thomason) and her team uncover that someone close to the victim, Hannah, has been concealing critical information from both the investigators and viewers alike. As they piece together the puzzle of Hannah’s life and trace her final movements on the fateful night of her death, a posthumous message from Hannah surfaces, leading them directly to the identity of her killer.
The Au Pair
9pm, Channel 5
This engaging and suspenseful Anglo-French thriller continues to unfold as Zoe (Sally Bretton) feels increasingly alienated from her own family. As her doubts about her own judgment begin to mount, she throws herself into crafting a heartfelt gift for her stepdaughter Amber’s upcoming birthday. In a twist of fate, Amber starts to probe into the true intentions of their au pair, Sandrine, setting her on a perilous quest toward uncovering the unsettling truth.
Eternal Spring: The Heist of China’s Airwaves — Storyville
10pm, BBC Four
On the surface, Falun Gong may appear to be a benign spiritual movement, emphasizing meditation and moral principles rooted in Buddhism. However, in 1999, the ruling Communist Party in China, alarmed by its surging popularity, declared the group illegal, leading to widespread persecution of its followers. In a bold act of defiance, practitioners devised an audacious plan in 2002 to reclaim their narrative by hijacking the airwaves in Changchun, broadcasting a promotional video to counter the government’s oppressive measures. The state’s brutal response is vividly illustrated through striking animations created by exiled comic book artist Daxiong, featured in this compelling installment of the Storyville documentary series.
