2014-01-06



Below are my picks of the week's most notable shows, returning/premiering on UK screens...

MONDAY 6th
Wanted Down Under (BBC1, 9.15am) Series 8 of the show where families are enticed to emigrate to Australia. Presented by Nicki Chapman. (1/20)
Father Brown (BBC1, 2.15pm) Series 2 of the gentle 1950s crime drama based on GK Chesterton's novels. Starring Mark Williams. (1/10)
Britain's Best Bakery (ITV, 4pm) Series 2 of the culinary challenge. Judges are Mich Turner & Peter Sidwell. (1/30)
A Great Welsh Adventure with Griff Rhys Jones (ITV, 8pm) Travelogue covering Wales. (1/8)
PICK OF THE DAY The 7.39 (BBC1, 9pm) Two-part romantic drama about a married man with two teenage children who meets a woman on a train. Starring David Morrissey, Sheridan Smith, Sean Maguire & Olivia Colman. (1/2)
The Bletchley Circle (ITV, 9pm) Series 2 of the WWII drama about code breakers. (1/4)
Benefits Street (Channel 4, 9pm) New series looking at the challenges some people facing, living on benefits. (1/5)
Revenge (E4, 9pm) Season 3 of the US drama about a woman intent on avenging her father's death at the hands of a wealthy family. Starring Emily VanCamp, Madeleine Stowe & Gabriel Mann.(1/22)
PQ 17: An Arctic Convoy Disaster (BBC2, 9.30pm) Documentary about a convoy of 35 ships codenamed PQ17 travelling from Iceland to Russia between June and July 1942. Presened by Jeremy Clarkson.
Secrets of Living Dolls (Channel 4, 10pm) Documentary about "female masking", where men transform into their ideal fantasy woman using special rubber suits.
I Shot 2013 (ITV, 10.35pm) Retrospective of 2013 told via photos and videos captured by member of the public.

TUESDAY 7th
River Monsters (ITV, 7.30pm) Series 5 of the wildlife show looking at amazing aquatic creatures. (1/7)
Stargazing: Live (BBC2, 8pm) Series 4 of the live astronomy and science series. Hosted by Dara O'Briain and Professor Brian Cox. (1/3)
Weight Loss Ward (ITV, 8pm) Series 2 of the documentary series about the obesity unit at Sunderland Royal Hospital. (1/3)
Location, Location, Location (Channel 4, 8pm) New series of the property series. Hosted by Phil Spencer & Kirstie Allsopp.
Gibraltar: Britain in the Sun (Channel 5, 8pm) Series 2 of the documentary about life in the British Overseas Territory. (1/6)
The Lying Game: Crimes that Fooled Britain (ITV, 9pm) Documentary about notorious crimes where the culprits attempted to fool the world to the cameras. Narrated by Lesley Sharp.
PICK OF THE DAY The Taste (Channel 4, 9pm) New culinary contest. Judges are Nigella Lawson, Anthony Bourdain & Ludo Lefebvre. (1/10)
Autopsy: The Last Hours of Michael Jackson (Channel 5, 10pm) Documentary series about celebrities who died suddenly, beginning with a look at Michael Jackson's final moments. (1/3)
Secrets of the Body Clock with Terry Wogan (BBC1, 10.35pm) Documentary about the human body's biological timepiece.

WEDNESDAY 7th
Big Body Squad (Channel 5, 8pm) Series 3 of the documentary show about people who are morbidly obese and need help. (1/3)
Ashley Banjo's Big Town Dance (Sky1, 8pm) New series where the street dancer teaches the people of Stockton-on-Tees to dance. (1/6)
24 Hours in A&E (Channel 4, 9pm) Series 5 of the documentary about the A&E department of King's College Hospital in south London. (1/8)
PICK OF THE DAY The Tomorrow People (E4, 9pm) Season 1 of the US sci-fi drama, about a group of people with psychic powers.
The Hidden World of Britain's Immigrants (BBC2, 9.30pm) Documentary about the UK's estimated 600,000 illegal immigrants.
This is Jinsy (Sky Atlantic, 10pm) Series 2 of the surreal comedy about a strange island community. Guest stars Stephen Fry. (1 & 2/8)
Hens Behaving Badly (Channel 5, 10.30pm) Series 2 of the show following a number of hen nights. (1/3)

THURSDAY 8th
Supersize v Superskinny (Channel 4, 8pm) Series 7 of the show where extreme eater swap diets. (1/8)
The Undateables (Channel 4, 9pm) Series 3 of the show where unconventional people go on first dates. (1/4)
The Treasures of Ancient Egypt (BBC4, 9pm) New series looking at Egypt's history through 30 masterpieces. (1/3)
Castle (Alibi, 9pm) Season 6 of the US crime drama. Starring Nathan Fillion & Stana Katic. (1/23)
Tough Young Teachers (BBC3, 9pm) New series where six graduate teachers start work at three of London's toughest schools. (1/6)
PICK OF THE DAY Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe (BBC2, 10pm) Series 2 of the satirical comedy news analysis show. (1/6)
Botched Up Bodies (Channel 5, 10pm) Series 3 of the show about plastic surgery disasters. (1/3)
What Happens in Sunny Beach (Channel 4, 10pm) Documentary about young Brits going on wild holidays to a Bulgarian holiday resort. (1/3)

FRIDAY 9th
PICK OF THE DAY Jamie & Jimmy's Friday Night Feast (Channel 4, 8pm) New series where Jamie Oliver & Jimmy Doherty create dishes from a cafe on Southend Pier with the help of celebrity guests. Guest stars Usain Bolt. (1/6)
Italy Unpacked (BBC2, 9pm) Series 2 of the culinary show where Andrew Graham-Dixon & Giorgio Locatelli travel around Italy sampling food. (1/3)
Born to be Wild: The Golden Age of American Rock (BBC4, 9pm) New series looking at the evolution of American rock music. (1/3)
Weight of the Nation (Sky Atlantic, 9pm) Documentary series looking a the issue of obesity in America. (1/4)
Criminal Minds (Sky Living, 9pm) Season 9 of the US crime drama. (1/22)
Live at the Electric (BBC3, 11.45pm) Series 3 of the comedy entertainment show. Hosted by Russell Kane. (1/8)

SATURDAY 10th
Dynamo: Magician Impossible (BBC1, 5.30pm) Series 1 of the popular street magic show gets a terrestrial airing. (1/4)
PICK OF THE DAY The Voice UK (BBC1, 7pm) Series 3 of the singing contest. Hosted by Emma Willis & Marvin Humes. Judges are Will.i.am, Kylie Minogue, Tom Jones & Ricky Wilson.
Hostages (Channel 4, 9pm) New US drama about a surgeon tasked with operating on the President of the USA, whose family are taken hostage. Starring Toni Collette, Tate Donovan, Rhys Coiro & Sandrine Holt. (1/15)

SUNDAY 11th
It'll Be Alright On The Night: Best of the Worst (ITV, 9pm) Selection of classic cockups and gaffes.
Grey's Anatomy (Sky Living, 10pm) Seaso 10 of the US medical drama (1/22)
PICK OF THE DAY Shameless USA (Channel 4, 11.05pm) Season 3 of the US remake of the UK hit. Starring William H Macy. (1/12)

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