Staying in at all this week? Here are the picks of TV and on-demand to keep you entertained without breaking the bank.
JUMP TO: TUESDAY / WEDNESDAY / THURSDAY / FRIDAY / SATURDAY / SUNDAY
Monday
FILM: Behind The Candelabra Blinkbox
FILM: White House Down Blinkbox
Today’s 99p film picks are Stephen Soderbergh’s HBO special with Michael Douglas and Matt Damon fantastic as Liberace and his partner, and the second White House under siege film of last summer with Jamie Foxx and Channing Tatum. You can only rent them at this price today but you have 30 days to watch. For more on Blinkbox and to get this week’s code, see our Clever Site guide.
TV: Are You Addicted To Your Doctor?, 8pm, Channel4
Dispatches examines whether charging for the NHS could deter people wasting the service.
TV: Shop Secrets, 8.30pm, Channel 4
It’s all stuff we’ve seen before, but there are some interesting insights into how shops and businesses trick you into buying stuff you don’t want.
TV/ON-DEMAND:Modern Family, 8.30pm, Sky One / NOW TV
Still as funny as ever. Even if you don’t subscribe to Sky or Virgin, you can also watch Modern Family, past episodes and other shows via Sky’s Now TV online service (see below for details).
TV/ON-DEMAND: Game Of Thrones, 9pm, Sky Atlantic/NOW TV
By all accounts tonight’s episode is going to be pretty traumatic. You don’t need to have Sky to watch it. Instead you can watch each episode live or on catch up with their on-demand service NOW TV (it’s their iPlayer). The first 30 days are free, then it’s £4.99 a month (for people who sign up before the end of May), so you could watch the whole thing for a tenner. Click here to get your free trial, or read our full article about the Cheapest Ways to Watch Game Of Thrones for more details.
Tuesday
TV: The Big Allotment Challenge, 8pm, BBC Two
We had baking, then sewing. What next… Ferne Britton presenting an allotment competition? Oh.
TV: New Worlds, 9pm, Channel 4
The sequel to English Civil War drama The Devil’s Whore continues.
Wednesday
TV: Monkey Planet , 9pm, BBC One
What’s your favourite TV/Movie Monkey? Marcel in Friends was great but the one in the Pirates movies was hilarious. This BBC programme is more serious.
TV/ON-DEMAND: Mad Men, 10pm, Sky Atlantic/Now TV
Don’s back! The last series ended with Don’s unravelling. This is the final series, though it’s split into two parts of seven episodes and the second batch will be this time next year. If you don’t have Sky you can watch the whole of the first part for under a fiver. To do this you need to sign up for a free 30 day trial for Sky’s NOW TV Entertainment package (it’s their iPlayer) and then sign up for a further month at just £4.99. We think this is a great deal, as it also includes box sets of previous series and other Sky shows such as Game Of Thrones and Modern Family.
To watch you can either connect a laptop to your TV, watch on a tablet or computer, or buy a heavily subsidised NOW TV box for £9.99 (this also lets you watch iPlayer and 4OD on your TV). Make sure that your broadband contract has a decent data limit, as going over can cost. Click here to get your free trial.
Thursday
TV: The Big Bang Theory, 8pm, E4
It might not be as good as it once was, but it’s still full of big laughs.
TV: Protecting Our Parents, 9pm, BBC Two
The first of a series which speaks to the elderly and their families about getting old. A clip shown on Breakfast looked quite moving.
Film: Iron Man, 9pm, Film4
The first and the best of the movies featuring Robert Downey Jr as playboy millionaire/superhero.
Friday
TV: Doctor Who, all weekend, Horror
If you’re a fan of the revamped series, the Horror channel is showing a story from each of the original seven Doctors over the Easter weekend.
TV: Have I Got News For You , 9pm, BBC One
Some critics have been saying it’s time to finish, but I think it’s still well worth watching.
TV: The Trip To Italy, 10pm, BBC Two
Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon return as themselves in this semi improvised comedy that follows them as they travel and write restaurant reviews. This time they go to Italy. The best reason to stay in on a Friday night in years (well you can always watch it on catch up).
Saturday
FILM: The Stone Roses: Made Of Stone, 10.50pm, Channel4
Shane Meadows directs this documentary about the return of 90s Manchester icons The Stone Roses.
Sunday
Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman star in this TV remake of the Coen Brother’s 90s classic. It’s meant to be very good.