Moth, Toastie and Conkers battle it with their microphones. Plus, the story of Sarah Ferguson’s former dresser who was found guilty of murder. Here’s what to watch this evening
From sparks flying during The OC’s Spider-Man snog to love stories so powerful they make you weep, Guardian writers pick the television couples whose tales never fail to make hearts pound
As TV romances go, it’s not the most original. Nerdy teen boy finally gets the queen bee he’s loved since they still had baby teeth – and off we pop on a four-season cycle of dramatic breakups and grand-gesture-fuelled reunions. Yet through all of the faintly ridiculous plotlines, their romance is anchored by that most elusive of on-screen tricks: actual, palpable chemistry. There is the sarcastic sparring, the physical spark (who could ever forget that Spiderman snog?) but also a feeling of deep care and genuine friendship – one that helps both characters grow into promising mini-grownups by the end. Watching the pair navigate insecurities, battle identity crises and generally make some spectacularly poor choices, lets us all feel better about the emotional dumpster fires of our own adolescence. And the fact that they keep on choosing each other speaks to that part of our teen selves that longed to find someone who might jump on to a coffee cart and declare their love for us – or at least wait around all summer while we campaigned to save sea otters. Lucinda Everett
The morally questionable drama and meltdowns of the 00’s pop-culture phenomenon gets an exposé, while Gordon Ramsay serves up a feast of swearing
There’s now a secondary industry around huge, morally questionable shows from the gold-rush era of post-millennial reality TV. After last year’s Netflix expose of fat-shaming behemoth The Biggest Loser comes this series exploring the chequered story of America’s Next Top Model. It’s a depressing insight into the values of the times, tracing the trajectory of a show which began as a source of Black and LGBTQ+ empowerment but lost its ethical bearings. Many former contestants contribute (the story of Shandi Sullivan is particularly grotesque) as does creator Tyra Banks, who seems alternately sheepish and weirdly accusatory. “You guys were demanding it,” she claims. “So we kept pushing.”
Netflix, from Monday 16 February
Rafe Spall’s detective continues his inquiries in Sky’s moody crime thriller. Plus: could you spell ‘testicular torsion’? Here’s what to watch this evening
9pm, Sky Atlantic After Nessa’s body was found in the landfill, local farmer Solomon (Jonathan Pryce) left us with a confession cliffhanger – but what part did he really play in the little girl’s death? While detective Bull (Rafe Spall) questions him, Jackie (Kelly Reilly) grieves her niece and attempts to reconnect with her sister after years of guilt. The village needs to evacuate for the killer storm that’s coming – but it will take more than a natural disaster to ruin Jackie’s perfectly bedhead-tousled mop of hair. Hollie Richardson