The First Georgians: The German Kings Who Made Britain
You may not have noticed, but Britain’s been invaded and taken over by the Germans. Admittedly the conquest did take place three centuries ago and the effects have been entirely benevolent. The First Georgians: The German Kings Who Made Britain (Thursday, BBC Four at 9pm) is the story of the Georgians, the Hanoverian kings who ruled Britain for 122 years thanks to the arcane quirks of the impassionedly anti-papist Act of Settlement, and it’s a subject Lucy Worsley tears into with gleeful aplomb. Elegant, erudite and always entertaining, the historian is on a mission to celebrate an era in which Britain soared to new cultural heights, before the industrial and imperial dominance that was to follow in the 19th century. As the arts flourished, in painting, architecture and the birth of the novel, so too did liberty – witness a fierce outpouring of satire. As for the kings, this isn’t just about the madness of George III and the wayward decadence of his son: whatever the first two Georges lacked in charisma and outward glamour, is compensated for in the complexities of their private lives and family feuds. Worsley shimmers through their tales with a constant sense of mischief and humour, and you’d guess her one regret is she couldn’t travel back in time and witness the events in person. She’s been given special access to the Royal Collection, and many wondrous objects you’ll see are on view in The First Georgians exhibition at Buckingham Palace.
NOT TO BE MISSED
Prey, ITV, Monday, 9pm A powerhouse central performance by John Simm, as a policeman on the run after being falsely accused of murder, redeems a heavy-handed script in this three-part thriller.
Don Giovanni From The Royal Opera House, BBC Four, Sunday, 7pm
Polish baritone Mariusz Kwiecień stars as the antihero who faces a final reckoning in Mozart’s great tragicomedy.
Vera, ITV, Sunday, 8pm
Brenda Blethyn’s dependable detective is back and her first case is a killing all too close to home.