What to watch on TV on Sunday 9 June, from Soccer Aid to a D-Day tribute at the Royal Albert Hall
SOME of the world’s best former pro footballers take to the pitch to compete against – and alongside – the biggest names from TV and showbiz in the annual Soccer Aid extravaganza.
And it’s all for a good cause as money raised will go to charity UNICEF.
But it’s not always a friendly, so expect an entertaining but fierce battle as the stars come out at Stamford Bridge.
Here are TV Mag’s six telly picks for Sunday 9 June 2024…
Soccer Aid For UNICEF 2024 (6pm ITV1)
Before Euro 24, the biggest football event of the week takes place tonight at Stamford Bridge.
Yes, it’s Soccer Aid, the hugely entertaining – and surprisingly competitive – football friendly, which raises funds for children’s charity UNICEF.
Hosted by Dermot O’Leary and Alex Scott, it’s shaping up to be another star-studded contest, with the England squad – managed by Harry Redknapp, Frank Lampard and Robbie Williams – boasting the likes of Sir Mo Farah, Danny Dyer, Jill Scott and Stuart Broad making his debut.
The Soccer Aid World XI squad, coached by Mauricio Pochettino, includes Usain Bolt, Eden Hazard, Martin Compston, Roman Kemp and Patrice Evra.
And to whet your appetite, before the main event, Soccer Aid: The Warm Up (3pm ITV1) takes us inside both sides’ training camps, to find out how they prepared for the game.
The World’s Most Luxurious Retirement Homes (8pm C5)
Meet the rich retirees from around the globe who are living out their work-free lives in style.
Resident Larry shows camera crews around the Palace in Miami, which boasts a swimming pool, private theatre and even a hyperbaric oxygen chamber – all for a cool $200k a year.
Meanwhile, the luxurious Danny House in Sussex also has plenty to offer, and there’s even some romance in the air…
Love Island: Aftersun (10pm ITV2)
In addition to the not-for-publication opinions expressed nightly on your Love Island WhatsApp group chats, Maya Jama will again be live from London every Sunday evening to pick apart the weekly events unfolding in that Mallorcan villa with an array of famous fans.
Sam Thompson and Indiyah Polack also return as co-hosts, and Love Island alumni Amy Hart and Chris Taylor, as well as Jordan Stephens, join the panel.
Let the gossip begin!
D-Day 80 At The Royal Albert Hall (4pm ITV1)
Davina McCall brings the national commemorations for D-Day’s 80th anniversary to a memorable close, as she hosts this special star-studded concert from London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Alongside musical performances from the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, Katherine Jenkins, Emeli Sandé, Lulu and the cast of West End musical Operation Mincemeat, there will be moving moments, including the stories of those who sacrificed so much told through the archives.
On Thin Ice: Putin v Greenpeace (9pm BBC2)
“It was like finding yourself in the middle of a James Bond movie,” says one of the protesters who was onboard Greenpeace’s ship, the Arctic Sunrise, in September 2013.
The 30-strong group from around the globe had formed a plan to peacefully scale a Russian oil rig in the Arctic to halt drilling for oil – until the Russians brought it to a dramatic halt and started firing shots, before arresting and charging them with piracy.
Featuring footage captured at sea, alongside interviews with the protestors, Russian politicians and others close to the events, it makes for truly captivating viewing.
Maternity: Broken Trust (10.15pm ITV1)
This hard-hitting documentary begins with parents opening up about the tragic loss of their babies, who died in the care of Nottingham University Hospitals Trust between 2012 and 2023.
The film then follows the group’s tireless campaigning for the largest review of its kind, led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden.
Among them are Jack and Sarah Hawkins, who led the fight for justice for their late baby daughter Harriet.
Heartbreaking but powerful viewing.