What to watch on TV this week

Gentleman Jack, BBC One

The 19th century landowner and industrialist Anne Lister was incredibly progressive for her time. As well as owning a large property, she was openly gay and dressed in men's clothes. She detailed her experiences in 27 volumes of diaries, all written in code.

Now, the BAFTA winning writer of Happy Valley and Last Tango in Halifax brings Lister's story to the small screen. The series details her marriage to the heiress Ann Walker, and the scandal it caused for Lister's family.

Starring Doctor Foster's Suranne Jones and Peaky Blinders' Sophie Rundle, Gentleman Jack is an elegant period piece with some hilarious fourth-wall breaking. A 19th century Fleabag? Yes, please!

Years and Years, BBC One

We're living in anxious times, and sometimes it's easier to ignore the world blowing up outside. With Trump and Brexit and the Refugee Crisis, there's plenty to feel nervous about.

Russel T Davies captures this mood in politics with his new dystopian drama Years and Years. Following the middle-class Lyons family over 15 years, starting from 2019, the series examines how much worse it could get.

As well as wars abroad and dark developments in technology, a new populist politician is gaining traction in Britain - the upfront and sweary Vivienne Rook (Emma Thompson).

The Virtues, Channel 4

Shane Meadows is one of the most harrowing and fascinating British voices in both film and TV, gaining worldwide recognition for his 2006 film This is England and its subsequent series.

Now, Meadows is back with a brand new story inspired by true events. Soaked in beer and blood, Joseph (Stephen Graham) is a recovering alcoholic. He's divorced, and his ex-wife and son are off to Australia - leaving him on his own. He takes this opportunity to revisit his traumatised past.

As with any Shane Meadows drama, expect gruelling scenes and darkly tormented characters.

Chernobyl, Sky Atlantic

Chernobyl has the perfect topic for a disaster movie, but goes further than that - delving into the authoritarian politics of Soviet-controlled Ukraine.

In episode 2, Stellan Skarsgård is introduced as a new and ignorant politician taking charge of the 'minor' Chernobyl crisis. Adhering to the Soviet system, Legasov (Jared Harris) has to convince everyone about the enormity of the issue.

As well as Skarsgård, Emily Watson joins the cast as a Minsk-based scientist who suspects the Chernobyl situation is far worse than reported.

Read our five-star review of episode one

Game of Thrones season 8, Sky Atlantic

[SPOILERS]

The Last War is upon us - the one that'll decide the future face of Westeros. Now the Night King has been destroyed, Jon (Kit Harrington) and Daenarys (Emilia Clarke) ride to King's Landing to finish the war against Queen Cersei (Lena Headey).

If audiences were disappointed at the lack of significant deaths at the Battle for Winterfell, our heroes have weaker chances here. Let's not forget, this is the penultimate episode - the usual time when some real twists are turned.

Best take a breath before riding into this one.

Urban Myths: Madonna and Basquiat, Sky Arts

Urban Myths delights in the rumours we want to be true. In previous installations, Sky Arts has provided tales involving Donald Trump and Andy Warhol, Freddie Mercury and Princess Margaret, and Hans Christian Anderson with Charles Dickens.

Now, they're looking into the myth of a secret love affair between Madonna (Sophie Kennedy Clark) and the graffiti artist Jean-Michel Basquiat (Calvin Demba). But this is before Madonna was a big star, and after Basquiat was a known artist.

Taking place across one night, this Urban Myth tracks Madonna's eventual confidence to pursue singer stardom.