TV Weekly: A night in the company of Kenny Everett

Telly picks for the coming week…

Kenny Everett died 30 years ago on April 4th. Last night BBC Four marked the sad anniversary with happier times – a Kenny introduced Top of the Pops (which is repeated later tonight). The theme continues tonight with television highlights from his career with a ‘Best of’ selection from his Beeb sketch show series, an appearance on Blankety Blank and Parkinson then a 1973 special where he takes viewers behind the scenes of Top of the Pops.

Kenny was born Maurice James Christopher Cole on December 25, 1944, in Seaforth, Lancashire. From a choirboy to a much-loved telly comedian, radio DJ and presenter ‘Cuddly Ken’ was known for his flamboyant style, boundary-pushing humour, and innovative broadcasting techniques. He became one of the most beloved and eccentric figures in British entertainment during the 1970s and 1980s.

Tonight relive some of those classic moments from his five series on the BBC and other highlights. Radio is celebrated by Boom Radio with a current catch-up of a documentary they first aired to mark his 80th birthday in December 2024, hosted by Nicky Horne.

Later this year Channel 5 will also look back at Kenny Everett in a documentary special.

BBC Four, Saturday, April 5th from 9.35 pm

Kenny characters: DIY ‘expert’ Reg Prescot, superstar actress and model Cupid Stunt and punk Sid Snott

King Charles and Queen Camilla’s love story is five decades in the making. As they celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary, this documentary explores their extraordinary journey: more than 50 years marked by obstacles, scandals, and unwavering devotion.

From their first meeting in 1970, the then Prince Charles and Camilla Shand shared an undeniable bond, drawn together by a shared sense of humour and love of country life. Though they dated briefly in 1972, senior royals, including Charles’s uncle Lord Louis Mountbatten, deemed Camilla an unsuitable match for the future king. While the prince was away on naval duty, Camilla accepted a proposal from her former boyfriend, cavalry officer Andrew Parker Bowles – seemingly ending their romance.

Under mounting pressure to find a bride, Charles married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. Their union captivated the world, but a significant age gap and a lack of shared interests soon strained their relationship. Meanwhile, Camilla remained Charles’ confidante, casting a long shadow over the marriage.

As the royal couple’s relationship unravelled, Camilla was vilified as “the other woman” and her eventual affair with Prince Charles became a national scandal. Diana’s tragic death in 1997 deepened public hostility towards her, making any future with Charles seem impossible.

Against all the odds – and despite years of controversy – the couple gradually re-emerged into public life. In 2005, they finally married in Windsor, marking the culmination of their long and tumultuous love story. Over two decades, Camilla has transformed from a divisive figure into a respected Queen and consort, offering unwavering support to Charles as he ascended the throne. While the King navigates his reign amid personal health challenges and the evolving role of the monarchy, Camilla remains firmly by his side, his steadfast companion.

With expert insights and rare archival footage, this film chronicles their resilience and the acceptance they have won from the British public. It is the story of a couple who defied expectations, weathered storms and emerged as a lasting symbol of love and loyalty in a changing world.

5, Saturday, April 5th at at 9.15 pm

Consultant Ear Nose & Throat Surgeon Rohit Gohil and Consultant Opthalmic Surgeon Rob Peden are two of NHS Lothian’s leading specialists when it comes to complex cases involving the eye.

Their next patient, 55-year-old pharmacy assistant Theresa, requires a rare procedure to correct both of her eyes which are bulging so far out of their sockets, she’s at risk of losing her sight. She’s suffering from an extreme complication of an overactive thyroid caused by the Auto Immune disorder, Grave’s Disease, which affects less than 2% of women in the UK. The disease causes the tissue that normally cushions the eye socket to thicken and expand and, with bony walls on all sides of the eye socket, the only place for her eyes to go is forward.

To release the pressure in Theresa’s eyes, Rohit and Rob will remove bone and tissue from both eye sockets, creating space for the eyes to sit further back in a more natural position. First, Rohit will work endoscopically, removing Theresa’s sinus tissue to access the inner and lower walls where he’ll carefully remove bone. After Rohit has released the thickened fatty orbital tissue into the space he’s created, Rob will drill out bone from the outside of Theresa’s eye socket, just millimetres from Theresa’s eyeball.

The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh is home to one of the UK’s leading centres for the treatment of Advanced Ovarian Cancer, whose foremost expert, Consultant Gynae-Oncologist Nidal Ghaoui, has developed a way to double the overall survival rate of his patients.

His next patient, retired civil servant Wendy, will not only be relying on Nidal’s expertise in gynae-oncology, but also the skills of Professor Stephen Wigmore, a specialist of the upper abdomen and Chinnappa Reddy, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon and specialist of the bowel. By combining these three surgeons’ expertise, the team can be much more confident in their ability to find and remove any visible signs of the cancer which, when detected at such an advanced stage, can be found in hundreds, sometimes thousands of sites, all over the abdomen.

The popular medical documentary series is in Scotland for the first time, offering a compelling insight into the innovative surgeries taking place in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

BBC Scotland Monday, April 7th at 9 pm and BBC Two, Wednesday, April 9th at 9 pm

Recent years have seen a huge increase in the numbers of people with an autism diagnosis, and research in the field is moving fast. Currently over 200,000 people in the UK are waiting for an assessment. NHS GP Dr Claire Taylor updates her knowledge so she can better support her patients and help answer the question so often asked: Are You Autistic?

Dr Claire meets scientists whose work is transforming understanding of autism, as well as autistic people whose lived experiences provide insight into the question. They explain what traits they noticed in themselves, and how understanding them has changed their lives.

Autistic scientist Dr Hannah Belcher’s work challenges the stereotype that autistic people are mostly boys and men obsessed with maths. Meanwhile, difficulties with social communication and interaction are key autistic traits. Dr Claire gains a greater understanding in a gallery filled with cartoon drawings. Autistic creatives Sean and Alex have different interpretations of the ‘funny’ cartoons from Dr Claire’s; she explores why.

Many autistic people mask their traits, and Claire finds out how exhausting this can be. Autistic sociologist Dr Damian Milton’s work questions the belief that autistic people lack feelings or empathy. Dr Punit Shah explains why repetitive patterns of behaviour are significant. Meanwhile, at the Birkbeck Babylab, groundbreaking research has found that differences in sensory perception are seen far earlier than social differences. Now work is focused on how modifying environments can help.

Differences in sensory sensitivities are further highlighted when Dr Claire scores poorly on a cognitive test, leading her to realise that being autistic might have some advantages. Many people still remain undiagnosed. Vanessa was treated for various eating disorders over a period of 30 years, before eventually being diagnosed with autism. Now she better understands how sensory issues impact her. As a result, she’s transformed her relationship with food, and explains to Claire how her life has changed for the better.

5, Tuesday, April 8th at 7 pm