Television: six shows to watch this week

The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story

Monday, BBC Two, 9pm

In 1995, the world was gripped by a real-life courtroom drama – the trial of OJ Simpson for the murders of his wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The trial played out on television screens, revealing a cast of colourful characters, and was more gripping than any reality TV show. So, how can a TV series based on the trial hope to challenge the original? The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story is a 10-part series that brings you even deeper into the workings of the defence and prosecuting team as they battled for the hearts and minds of the jury – and the viewing public. The series stars Cuba Gooding Jr as Simpson, with John Travolta and David Schwimmer as defence attorneys Robert Shapiro and Robert Kardashian, Sarah Paulson as prosecuting attorney Marcia Clark and Courtney B Vance as the defence team’s leader, Johnnie Cochran.

The Not So Secret Life of the Manic Depressive: 10 Years On

Monday, BBC One, 11.15pm

A decade ago, TV presenter Stephen Fry came out as suffering from bipolar in his landmark documentary The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive. The programme sparked massive debate about mental health issues and how we deal with them as a society. Has much changed since then? Fry looks to find out in The Not So Secret Life of the Manic Depressive: 10 Years On. He meets people with bipolar disorder and finds there's still a lot of work to do to challenge the stigma of mental illness and to improve treatment. Amongst them are Alika, whose manic episode on the London Underground went viral on YouTube, and Rachel who ended up in a wheelchair as a result of an incident where she thought she could fly. Fry talks frankly about his own condition, which led to him attempting suicide in 2012. Strong stuff, but he leaves us on a note of optimism.

It’s Not Rocket Science

Tuesday, UTV Ireland, 8pm

Actor Ben Miller heads up a daredevil scientific team in a new factual series, It’s Not Rocket Science. It sets out to explore the appliance of science in everyday life and to showcase new gadgets, technology and innovation. Yes, but never mind that. Miller’s team of comedian Romesh Ranganathan and presenter Rachel Riley will also risk their lives taking part in death-defying experiments, including passing through a wall of fire at 450 degrees, using Joey Essex’s brain to power a car, and trying to impress a classroom with new technology.

Vinyl

Monday, Sky Atlantic, 9pm

Long hair, loud shirts, bell-bottomed jeans, drugs and sexist attitudes – no, it's not Ron Burgundy, it's the highly-anticipated new series Vinyl, set in the record industry in the 1970s just before the explosion of punk, disco and hip-hop. Created by Martin Scorsese, Terence Winter and rock legend Mick Jagger, Vinyl tells the story of record executive Richie Finestra (Bobby Cannavale), whose label American Century is struggling to stay relevant. In this two-hour premiere episode, Finestra and his A&R team take on a young proto-punk band in the hopes of scoring a hit and saving the label.

Alan Partridge’s Mid Morning Matters

Tuesday, Sky Atlantic, 10pm

Only a select few radio personalities deserve the title “broadcasting legend”, and it’s safe to say Alan Partridge is not one of them. His career may be nosediving, but Alan is keeping his chin up – and his hopes high – in the second series of Alan Partridge’s Mid Morning Matters. Once again, Alan brings all the local news, banter and traffic updates to the tens of listeners to North Norfolk Digital, helped by Sidekick Simon, who he has rehired after a falling-out in the first series. Expect cutting-edge debate on a range of hot topics, including Jimmy Savile, foxhunting and the scourge of fizzy drinks.

Limitless

Wednesday, Sky 1, 9pm & 10pm

Based on the film of the same name starring Bradley Cooper, Limitless is a new series that tells the story of Brian Finch, a struggling musician whose life changes after an ex-bandmate gives him a pill containing a mind-boosting drug called NZT. The drug gives him superhuman brainpower, allowing him to recall everything he has ever seen, heard or read.

Naturally, Brian is hooked, and goes back to his friend to get another dose, only to find him dead, and that he is the prime suspect in an FBI murder investigation. One agent, however, believes in his innocence and recruits him to use his enhanced mental abilities to help the agency solve crimes.