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The Rev Ruth Hulse in A Vicar’s Life.
The Rev Ruth Hulse in A Vicar’s Life. Photograph: Alexis Smith/BBC
The Rev Ruth Hulse in A Vicar’s Life. Photograph: Alexis Smith/BBC

Friday’s best TV: Room 101, A Vicar’s Life, Phil Collins: Going Back to Detroit

This article is more than 6 years old

Scarlett Moffatt, Pearl Mackie and Charlie Brooker reveal their pet hates; plus, a warm-hearted look at the lives of country vicars

Room 101
8.30pm, BBC One

Frank Skinner returns to his den of disgruntlement for a new run of Orwellian humbuggery. Tonight’s panel comprises Goggleboxer Scarlett Moffatt, Tardis tenant Pearl Mackie and Britain’s grouch laureate Charlie Brooker. Life experiences being lined up on the conveyor belt of calamity tonight include foot-based faux pas Crocs, the awkwardness accompanying a haircut and the little cylinder of sadness accompanying every visit to a hotel since time immemorial: the UHT milk carton. Mark Gibbings-Jones

A Vicar’s Life
8.30pm, BBC Two

In the face of dwindling faith and ageing congregations, what is today’s role for that stock character, the English country vicar? That’s the poser for this warm-hearted documentary series that follows an assortment of vicars, including mother-of-two Ruth Hulse of Holy Trinity Church in the rural diocese of Hereford, and quietly eccentric Matthew Stafford in Shropshire, who refers to the bread-and-butter ceremonies of his ministry as “hatch, match and dispatch”. Ali Catterall

Rome Unpacked
9pm, BBC Two

The greatest cities always live up to their cliches with gusto. On that score, this travelogue by the art historian Andrew Graham-Dixon and the chef Giorgio Locatelli can probably be more or less forgiven for conforming to every expectation the viewer might have of it. The pair ride around the Italian capital on mopeds, marvel at venerable ruins and emit enraptured exclamations about the food. It was almost certainly a lot more fun to make than it is to watch. Andrew Mueller

Lethal Weapon
9pm, ITV

The bromantic action comedy returns, digging to the bottom of its quarter-inch of emotional depth by resolving the season one cliffhanger: unhinged Riggs (Clayne Crawford) is on a suicide mission to kill the Mexican drug lord who killed his wife, pursued by uptight Murtaugh (Damon Wayans). If irresponsible man-children irk you, avoid this even more than the rest of the series; if not, there are the usual cracking scenes where one turns up with a big gun to save the other. Jack Seale

Phil Collins: Going Back to Detroit
9pm, Sky Arts

While ardent fans will probably favour Phil Collins’s classic pop hits over his retro covers, there’s something touching about his abiding love for Motown-era soul and pop. Here, Collins delves deep into Detroit’s singular pop culture, notably its golden era in the 60s and 70s. Best of all, he gets to record an album of his faves with the Funk Brothers, the house band who backed up the likes of Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. Sophie Harris

Spitfire Women
9pm, PBS America

The story of Dunkirk dominated at the cinema last year, but what of women’s contributions to the British war effort? This documentary tells of the 168 female pilots who regularly risked their lives to deliver RAF aircraft to the frontlines, without radios or navigation equipment. The last remaining survivors discuss the difficulties they faced both in the air and on land, aided by inspiring dramatic reconstructions and remarkable archive footage. Ellen E Jones

Will & Grace
10pm, Channel 5

This week on the recently reanimated Will & Grace – now with added Trump gags – Jack finds himself doggedly determined to reinvigorate his seemingly lost youthful allure, and will go to great lengths to ensure its return. Meanwhile, Will is single and ready to mingle, back on the dating scene following his divorce from Vince, and Karen asks Grace for a rise. Which of course would be absolutely fine, if she ever did any actual work. Ben Arnold

Film choice

Get Out (Jordan Peele, 2017) 12.20pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema Premiere

“Don’t go to a white girl’s parents’ house!” a friend warns the engaging, young and black Chris (Daniel Kaluuya), but off he goes with girlfriend Rose (Allison Williams) to the family’s rural mansion. He is greeted by her apparently liberal dad (Bradley Whitford) and weird hypnotherapist mum (Catherine Keener) but, as a large family gathering unfolds, cringing social embarrassments give way to a nervily funny, creeping sense of menace, then dread. It’s one smart and original comedy-horror. Paul Howlett

Red Eye (Wes Craven, 2005) 9pm, More4

Fasten your seatbelt, you’re in for a bumpy ride. Wes Craven switches from horror to mainstream thriller in this tale of a plane passenger (Rachel McAdams) terrorised by a hitman (Cillian Murphy, channelling the charming menace that serves him so well as Peaky Blinders’ Tommy Shelby), who threatens to have her father (Brian Cox) murdered unless she helps with his assassination plot. Daft but taut and suspenseful viewing. PH

Live sport

Big Bash Cricket: Melbourne Renegades v Melbourne Stars 8.30am, BT Sport 2. Another round-robin fixture from the Australian T20 competition.

Darts: BDO World Championship 12.05pm, Channel 4. Rob Walker presents the seventh day from Frimley Green.

Championship Football: Sheffield United v Sheffield Wednesday 7pm, Sky Sports Main Event. Steel City derby with United looking to arrest a recent slump.

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