6 days ago
New doc on TV tonight explores the boom and bust of lingerie queen Michelle Mone
It was the ultimate rags to riches tale - but now Michelle Mone is fighting serious allegations. A new BBC documentary investigates
A millionaire lingerie entrepreneur and a Baroness in the House of Lords, Michelle Mone had everything going for her but is now embroiled in a shocking PPE scandal. This two-part documentary, The Rise And Fall Of Michelle Mone, on BBC2 at 9pm tonight (May 28), tells the extraordinary story of Baroness Mone of Mayfair, charting her rise and fall. It began as the ultimate rags to riches tale, as Michelle rose from the poverty-stricken East End of Glasgow to the upper echelons of the British establishment and one of Britain's most successful businesswomen.
But she is now trying to clear her name of allegations about her role in a lucrative Government contract to supply Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during the pandemic, that made millions from the taxpayer. Former colleagues, advisors and journalists wade in to give their view, having witnessed the boom and bust up-close. This first episode focuses on her early life, her breakthrough into business after leaving school at 15 without any qualifications, and how she established herself as a celebrity entrepreneur.
She worked in a fruit shop, as a model and as a boxing ring girl before creating the lingerie company MJM and the push-up bra Ultimo. In the cleavage-obsessed age of the iconic 'Hello Boys' Wonderbra advert in the 1990s, Michelle managed to get her new bra into department stores like Selfridges and the business also got a push up. We get the inside track on her whirlwind success and the pressures that arose in the company and also in her home life. The cracks were already starting to show, but is she a villain or a victim?
*The Rise And Fall Of Michelle Mone is on BBC2 tonight (Wednesday 28 May) at 9pm
There's plenty more on TV tonight - here's the best of the rest..
BRITAIN'S MOST EXPENSIVE HOUSES, CHANNEL 4, 9pm
Super prime property, eye-watering price tags, jaw-dropping interiors - this is a peek at how the uber-rich live. As this series continues, real estate agent Mark Coulter is selling a £3.5 million Baronial-style castle in West Lothian, near Edinburgh. The 19th-century castle, set in 15 acres of countryside, has recently been transformed with no expense spared, and has its own panic room, cinema and equestrian centre.
Keen to promote this showpiece, Mark invites property journalist Kirsty McLuckie to stay, hoping that a glowing review will attract buyers. 'I hope I don't break anything,' says Kirsty. Fine & Country's managing director Nicky Stevenson is visiting Jersey's most exclusive properties with top broker Margaret Thompson. They need to find a buyer for £21 million Cardington House - a mega mansion by the beach. And on the Cornish coast, agent Ian Lillicrap has listed St Dellan's, a five-bed cottage with 11 acres and stunning coastal views - a snip at £3 million.
RACE ACROSS THE WORLD, BBC1, 9pm
It's getting tense. Four teams have travelled almost 10,000km to the fifth checkpoint, McLeod Ganj in India, but there's no time to rest in the Buddhist hill town. They have to get to Sasan Gir, 1,900 kilometres south, in the western state of Gujarat, one of the most unique villages in India. Sasan Gir provides a gateway to Gir National Park. Rich with diverse flora and fauna, the forest is the last remaining habitat for the mighty Asiatic lion. The endangered lions, now fewer than 600, roam freely in the wild and sometimes even venture into the local neighbourhoods.
To get there, the teams must navigate four of India's western states, including the largest, Rajasthan. Travelling east offers a popular tourist route through the famed 'blue, pink and white cities' of Jodhpur, Jaipur and Udaipur. Or they could veer west for a chance to explore the Great Indian Desert, a vast area of 200,000 square kilometres - but transport options are limited. And after Sioned and Fin made a big mistake last week, sending them into last place, they will have a lot of catching up to do.
EMMERDALE, ITV1, 7.30pm
Just as Aaron and John are about to wed, Aaron backs out, claiming that he doesn't trust John. But phew, it's another dream. Snapping back to reality in the hospital car park, John watches Aaron drive away from him. Through his phone app, Lewis speaks to a trapped Mackenzie and Ross confesses to orchestrating the robbery. Billy thinks Dawn and the kids should move out of Home Farm to get away from Joe. Jacob tries to comfort Sarah about her diagnosis.
EASTENDERS, BBC1, 7.30pm
After a car veered off the road and into a lake, the survivors scramble bankside to try to save those trapped in the vehicle. As news of events reaches Walford, Vicki takes matters into her own hands and heads to No.1 to reveal a bombshell. Avani asks Barney if he wants to go back to her house, but is angry when he gets the wrong end of the stick and storms off. Ravi spots the run-in and gives Barney some advice.
CORONATION STREET, ITV1, 8pm
Lisa tells Kit that Bernie has provided Brody with an alibi. A fuming Kit collars Bernie and points out he now has two options - either tell Lisa that he was mistaken or charge her with perverting the course of justice. Fiona tells Ronnie she's got a job for him which involves selling on a stolen car. George confides in Todd how no matter how hard he tries, everything he does seems to annoy Eileen these days. Maria tells Lou she's fired.
