What’s on TV tonight: Thank You, Goodnight: the Bon Jovi Story, Morten and more

Friday 26 April

Thank You, Goodnight: the Bon Jovi Story
Disney+
Forty years after forming, the members of Bon Jovi look back over a long career in this authorised four-part documentary. That the band had a more successful career than their peers in 1980s stadium rock is largely thanks to the formidable drive and ceaseless professionalism of their frontman, although the presence of at least half-a-dozen of pop-rock’s most indelible anthems doesn’t hurt either. 

Yet the slick persona of Jon Bon Jovi makes him inherently less intriguing for the same reason, even if he cuts a more vulnerable figure these days. Their journey from bar-band chancers to globe-conquering behemoths is intercut with coverage of Jon’s present struggle to regain full range after surgery on his vocal cords. Despite running to an indulgent five hours, there is still much to enjoy for casual fans and, to its credit, dissenting voices are embraced (including sideman Richie Sambora). The archive footage of hair-metal silliness is also glorious, while Jon’s late-life bond with fellow New Jersey icon Bruce Springsteen proves genuinely touching. And his greatest regret? That Livin’ on a Prayer key change. GT

Morten
Channel 4 online
The latest obscure but entertaining European import in the Walter Presents strand is this Dutch political thriller, following centrist minister Morten Mathijsen (Peter Paul Muller), whose smooth path to prime minister is hampered by a pressing in-tray of problems: his drug-dealing daughter; a mysterious blackmailer; parliamentary rivals; and, above all, a gifted new intern with her own murky agenda.

Unreported World
Channel 4, 7.30pm
The total breakdown of society and takeover by organised crime in Haiti would in its own right be a fine subject for Unreported World, but here reporter Guillermo Galdos finds a new angle. He examines the fallout of the crisis from the borders of the Dominican Republic, to where thousands of Haitian women are fleeing in order to give birth in relative safety in the face of deportation and border patrols.

Beyond Paradise
BBC One, 8pm
Concluding a series that has managed to counterbalance the knowingly daft mysteries with a surprising amount of emotional depth, Humphrey (Kris Marshall) and Martha (Sally Bretton) are finally getting married, only for the grandiosity of the day and – naturally – some opportunistic criminals to threaten their happy ending.

Have I Got News For You
BBC One, 9pm
Money-expert Martin Lewis makes his debut as host of the political panel show this week, wrangling team captains Paul Merton, Ian Hislop and, among the guest panellists, comedian Ignacio Lopez. 

Michael Portillo’s Long Weekends
Channel 5, 9pm
Essentially Great Railway Journeys minus the railways, tonight’s instalment sends the former Conservative minister to Prague, where he ticks off plenty of familiar sights (castle, bridge, cathedral) while also venturing a little off the beaten track to explore secret nuclear bunkers and try his hand at glassblowing. 

Avoidance
BBC One, 9.30pm; Wales, 10.40pm
Romesh Ranganathan’s sitcom continues to juggle wry comedy with genuine pathos as Jonathan (Ranganathan), faced with the prospect of a fresh start with Megan (Aisling Bea), cannot help but be drawn back to old flame Claire (Jessica Knappett), especially when they are forced to put on a united front for the latter’s oblivious parents. 

Land of Bad (2024) ★★★
Amazon Prime Video  
In the mood for a bit of all-guns-blazing macho action? This bombastic flick from William Eubank (House of the Rising Sun) follows a US Air Force contingent who are ambushed by enemy pilots in the Philippines. A stellar cast includes action stalwarts Liam Hemsworth (who plays newbie Sergeant JJ “Playboy” Kinney, tasked with saving the day) and Russell Crowe. Think Apocalypse Now by way of Jason Bourne.

21 Jump Street (2012) ★★★★
ITV2, 9pm  
Notionally, this is a remake of the 1980s TV show, starring Johnny Depp, in which police officers go undercover as teenagers. It’s actually a chance for co-writers Michael Bacall and Jonah Hill to hilariously send-up the PC hypocrisies of Generation Z. Hill and Channing Tatum make for a wonderfully silly partnership as officers Schmidt and Jenko, while Dave Franco and rapper Ice Cube have great fun in support.

Magic Mike (2012) ★★★★
BBC Three, 9.30pm  
Steven Soderbergh made a surprise decision to swap car chases and machismo for tackling the world of male strippers in Florida, and exceeded every expectation: it’s one of his most enjoyable films, filled with heart, humour and great performances. Channing Tatum, in a story based on his own life, is truly revelatory – while Soderbergh works similar wonders with Matthew McConaughey as a seedy choreographer.

Sudden Impact (1983) ★★★
Channel 5, 10.30pm  
The fourth instalment in the Dirty Harry series, and the only one directed by Clint Eastwood himself, is far from the best. It does, however, provide one of the most famous lines: “Go ahead, make my day.” And Eastwood is good value as always. This time, Harry is sent to a sleepy town where a woman (Sondra Locke) is taking revenge against the men who raped her and her sister, brutally killing the perpetrators one by one.

Film of the Week: The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) ★★★★
BBC One, 11.35pm
Three ordinarily tough-guy actors (Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce and Terence Stamp) star as two drag queens and a transgender woman who travel in a rickety bus nicknamed “Priscilla” to get to a cabaret gig in the middle of the Australian Outback in Stephan Elliott’s rollicking black comedy. Their journey brings them face to face with everyone from friendly Aboriginals, for whom they perform as part of a traditional corroboree, to alarmed homophobes living in the rural counties. Celebrating its 30th birthday this week, the film – which introduced LGBT rights to a new, global audience – is still as hilarious and camp as it was upon release, and has become a cult hit. It won an Oscar (for Best Costume Design) and was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival. Fun fact: Brits Rupert Everett and Colin Firth were on the producers’ hit list, while Pearce’s Neighbours co-star Jason Donovan was originally considered for the role of Adam and would go on to play the part in the West End musical adaptation. Fans can also check out the immersive London experience, Priscilla the Party, which recreates scenes from the film. Riotous dancing is advised.

Television previewers

Stephen Kelly (SK), Veronica Lee (VL), Gerard O’Donovan (GO), Poppie Platt (PP) and Gabriel Tate (GT)