What To Watch: Bridgerton, Doctor Who, HYBPA?, Gruen and Top Gear

Bridgerton

Thursday, streaming on Netflix

This is it, people: the love story we’ve all been waiting for. The one involving, arguably, the Ton’s favourite resident (or at least, mine): Ms Penelope Featherington.

Fans of the books will know what’s afoot. And unless you’re woefully clueless, you’ll have probably figured it out too: Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) is about to hook up with her long-term bestie, cad-about-town Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton).

But it’s one thing reading it, and another entirely to see it play out. Will Newton and Coughlan have enough spark to light that longed-for fuse for fans?

Will they leave Polin fans satisfied, so to speak?

If you’ve watched those raunchy promos, you’ll know that this season sees the return of Colin, fresh from his sojourn abroad and looking, ahem, “sturdy” as his two older brothers gleefully point out.

Meanwhile, Penelope is feeling isolated after falling out with her other bestie Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie), who discovered her secret identity as town gossip, Lady Whistledown, last season.

It will be interesting to see how this new season is received, especially now that fans have also seen Bridgerton’s fabulous spin-off, Queen Charlotte.

Will it alter the way they view the story?

Regardless, you can bet that millions will be tuning in to see how it all unfolds as the first of this two-part season (four episodes) hits screens this week.

Doctor Who

Streaming now on Disney Plus

Last time we left The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) he was enticing his newest companion, Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson), to join him for some time-travelling adventures aboard the Tardis. Who can blame her for wanting to jump in headfirst? This sees them popping up everywhere from Regency-era England to war-torn future worlds — fans are in for a treat. Strap in, this will be a wild ride.

Have You Been Paying Attention?

Monday, 8.40pm, Ten

Well, have you? Because Tom Gleisner wants to know. He’s back with his “rambunctious regulars” Ed Kavalee and Sam Pang, and together they’re putting our news and pop culture knowledge to the test as we sit alongside a roster of comedians behind the buzzers. This show can always be relied upon for a good Monday night chortle, and stands as a great alternative to some of the heavier offerings in that time slot.

Gruen

Wednesday, 8.30pm, ABC

This show has been on air since 2008 and has 16 seasons under its belt — it’s enormously popular, regularly topping the ratings in its time slot. Which is a tad strange, when you consider it’s essentially a program about the most irritating aspect of commercial television: ads. Still, it’s well-crafted, and continues to offer some genuinely enlightening commentary about an industry few of us know much about. Still worth a look.

Top Gear

Friday, streaming on Paramount Plus

The UK version may have been forced to pull in at the pits due to Freddie Flintoff’s injuries, but the Top Gear juggernaut rolls on, this time with Aussie hosts Jonathan LaPaglia, Beau Ryan and YouTube car enthusiast Blair Joscelyne at the helm. They have great chemistry and are obviously having stacks of fun gallivanting around the world, leaping behind the wheels of some seriously impressive automobiles. A rollicking good ride.