Monday 4 March 2013

TV Picks: 4-10 March 2013 (Anna & Katy, Broadchurch, The Crash, Parks & Recreation, Russell Brand's Give It Up Gig for Comic Relief, Shetland, etc.)

Monday 4 March 2013

Below are my picks of the most notable TV shows airing in the UK this week, from new premieres to returning favourites...

MONDAY 4th
Beat the Pack (BBC1, 3pm) New general knowledge quiz involving an element of bluff and persuasion. Hosted by Jake Humphrey. (1/20)
Ade in Britain (ITV1, 4pm) Series 2 of the show where Adrian Edmondson travels around the UK meeting traditional food producers. (1/30)
The Great British Winter (BBC2, 6.30pm) New series where ecologist Ellie Harrison investigates the UK's winter landscapes. (1/5)
Bang Goes The Theory (BBC1, 7.30pm) Series 7 of the science show. Hosted by Liz Bonnin, Jem Stansfield & Maggie Philbin. (1/8)
PICK OF THE DAY Broadchurch (ITV1, 9pm) New thriller about a seaside community dealing with the mysterious death of a child. Starring David Tennant, Olivia Colman, Andrew Buchan, Jodie Whittaker, Pauline Quirke, Vicky McClure, Arthur Darvill & Will Mellor. (1/8)
The Flying Scotsman: A Rail Romance (BBC2, 9pm) Documentary on the iconic steam locomotive.


TUESDAY 5th
PICK OF THE DAY The Crash (BBC3, 9pm) New drama about a group of friends involved in a car crash. Starring Sacha Parkinson, Georgia Henshaw, Lewis Rainer, Lily Loveless & Martin Walsh. (1/2)
16 Kids & Counting (Channel 4, 9pm) New documentary series following the lives of seven large families. (1/4)
Bluestone 42 (BBC3, 10pm) New comedy series about a squad of bomb disposal experts working in Afghanistan. Starring Oliver Chris, Stephen Wright, Kelly Adams, Tony Gardner, Katie Lyons, Scott Hoatson, Jamie Quinn & Gary Carr. (1/8)
The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret (Fox, 10.30pm) Season 2 of the Anglo-American sitcom about a hapless US office worker tasked with launching an energy drink in London. Starring David Cross, Will Arnett & Sharon Horgan. (1/6)
The Matt Lucas Awards (BBC1, 10.35pm) Series 2 of the show where celebrity guests bestow fictional awards on people. Guests are Ardal O'Hanlon, Robert Webb & Adil Ray. (1/8)


WEDNESDAY 6th
This World: America's Poor Kids (BBC2, 9pm) Documentary about the record levels of child poverty in the US.
Michael Grade & The World's Oldest Joke (BBC4, 9pm) Documentary about the history of the joke. Featuring Ken Dodd, Tim Vine & Barry Cryer.
Parks & Recreation (BBC4, 10pm) Season 1 of the US sitcom about a group of small town council workers. (1 & 2/6)
Russell Brand's Give It Up Gig for Comic Relief (BBC3, 10pm) Charity music and comedy gig compered by Russell Brand. Featuring Emeli Sande, Jake Bugg, Jessie J, Nicole Scherzinger, Noel Gallagher, Paloma Faith, Rizzle Kicks, Jimmy Carr, Jason Manford, Eddie Izzard, Noel Fielding, Simon Amstell and many more.
PICK OF THE DAY Anna & Katy (Channel 4, 10.35pm) New sketch show from Anna Crilly and Katy Wix, featuring a spoof of The Great British Bake Off and The Apprentice. Guest-starring Lee Mack. (1/6)


THURSDAY 7th
PICK OF THE DAY Comic Relief's Big Chat with Graham Norton (BBC3, 7pm) Endurance challenge for charity where the comedian and chat show host interviews a cornucopia of celebs for 25 hours straight. Featuring Sarah Millican, Louis Smith, Heston Blumenthal, Warwick Davis, Russell Tovey, Jimmy Carr, Example, Paloma Faith, Terry Wogan, Frank Skinner, Nick Grimshaw, and many more.
How to Get to Heaven with the Hutteries (BBC2, 9pm) Documentary about the Hutterites, a family of Christians who believe living separately from the world will ensure them a place in Heaven
What Destroyed the Hindenburg? (Channel 4, 9pm) Documentary about the famous airship disaster of 1937.
The Incredible Mr Goodwin (Watch, 9pm) New series showcasing the skills of daredevil and escapologist Jonathan Goodwin. (1/5)
Heritage! The Battle for Britain's Past (BBC4, 9pm) New documentary series looking at the efforts to protect the UK's heritage over the years. (1/3)
Gogglebox (Channel 4, 10pm) New reality show where six families are recorded watching and commenting on various television shows. Narrated by Caroline Aherne.

FRIDAY 8th
Mark Lawson Talks To (BBC4, 8pm) Series where journalist Mark Lawson interviews various celebrities, beginning with singer-songwriter Mark Knopfler. (1/5)
PICK OF THE DAY In Vogue: The Editor's Eye (Sky Atlantic, 9pm) Documentary going behind-the-scenes of Vogue magazine in the US, to celebrate the publication's 120th anniversary.
The Ballad of Mott the Hoople (BBC4, 10pm) Documentary on Hereford rock band Mott the Hoople, who had a big hit with "All The Young Dudes" written by David Bowie.

SATURDAY 9th
PICK OF THE DAY The Queen's Hidden Cousins (Channel 4, 7pm) Documentary about the Queen Mother's nieces Nerissa and Katherine Bowes-Lyon, who were both born with learning difficulties 80 years ago and spent most of their lives in an institution.
Shipping Wars (History, 10pm) New documentary series following a transportation firm. (1/9)

SUNDAY 10th
Crufts 2013 (Channel 4, 5.30pm) Highlights of the final day of the world-famous dog show. Hosted by Clare Balding.
Secrets of the Stonehenge Skeletons (Channel 4, 8pm) Documentary about the discovery of bodies beneath Stonehenge, which may change perceptions of what it was designed for.
Moonshiners (Discovery Channel, 9pm) Series 2 of the documentary about illegal whiskey brewers. (1/14)
Toughest Place to Be (BBC2, 9pm) Series 4 of the show looking at British people doing jobs in challenging locations. (1/3)
PICK OF THE DAY Shetland (BBC1, 9pm) Drama about a detective in the Shetands involved in a rare murder investigation. Starring Douglas Henshall, Sandra Voe, Erin Armstrong, Steven Robertson, Alison O'Donnell & Lewis Howden. Concludes tomorrow. (1/2)