Monday 13 May 2013

TV Picks: 13-19 May 2013 (Case Histories, The Dales, Eurovision Song Contest, The Fall, Frankie, Ice Age Giants, etc.)

Monday 13 May 2013

Below are my weekly picks of the most notable TV shows premiering/returning to UK screens...

MONDAY 13th
May the Best House Win (ITV, 2pm) New series where proud homeowners show off their houses to three judgemental strangers, in the hope of winning £1,000 at the end of the week. Narrated by Guy Porritt. (1/30)
Auction Hero (BBC2, 8pm) New series where antiques dealer Andrew Lamberty uses his skills to help various charities. (1/3)
The Dales (ITV, 8pm) Series 3 of the travelogue taking a look at the people and culture of the Yorkshire Dales. Hosted by Adrian Edmondson. (1/12)
Only Connect (BBC4, 8.30pm) Series 7 of the tough quiz show. Hosted by Victoria Coren Mitchell. (1/13)
PICK OF THE DAY The Fall (BBC2, 9pm) New crime drama about a London detective sent to Belfast to catch a serial killer who strangles women. Starring Gillian Anderson, Jamie Dornan, Laura Donnelly, Bronagh Waugh & Ben Peel. (1/5)
Skint (Channel 4, 9pm) Documentary following the lives of Lincolnshire's unemployed. (1/3)


TUESDAY 14th
Eurovision Song Contest 2013: Semi-Final 1 (BBC3, 8pm) Coverage of the build-up to the Eurovision Song Contest. Hosted by Scott Mills & Ana Matronic. Continues Thursday & Friday. (1/3)
PICK OF THE DAY Frankie (BBC1, 9pm) New drama about a district nurse whose work takes over her private life. Starring Eve Myles, Dean Lennox Kelly, Derek Riddell, Julia Ford & Carla Henry. (1/6)

WEDNESDAY 15th
PICK OF THE DAY Playing Burton (Sky Arts 2, 9.35pm) Biopic of Hollywood legend Richard Burton, starring Josh Richards.

THURSDAY 16th
The Tube: An Underground History (BBC2, 9pm) Documentary on the world's first underground rail network in London, to celebrate its 150th anniversary.
PICK OF THE DAY Cutting Edge: The Murder Workers (Channel 4, 9pm) Documentary looking at members of the Victim Support's Homicide Service, who help people bereaved by murder or manslaughter.

FRIDAY 17th
Pappano's Essential Ring Cycle (BBC4, 7.30pm) Celebration of Wagner's birth with a guide to his four-part Ring Cycle.
PICK OF THE DAY Natural World (BBC2, 9pm) Wildlife special looking at why hundreds of leopards are being stoned to death in India.
Rock n' Roll Britannia (BBC4, 9pm) Documentary on the birth of British rock n' roll mujsic.

SATURDAY 18th
PICK OF THE DAY Eurovision Song Contest 2013 (BBC1, 8pm) Live coverage of the 58th annual singing competition's finale, where the UK is being represented by Bonnie Tyler.

SUNDAY 19th
Chelsea Flower Show (BBC1, 5pm) New series looking at the Royal Horticultural Society's centennial exhibition. (1/15)
Ashley Banjo's Dancing Darts Players (Sky1, 6.30pm) Follow-up to Ashley Banjo's Secret Street Crew in January 2013, showing how the winners did indeed join his Diversity dance troupe on-stage.
Ice Age Giants (BBC2, 8pm) New series where Professor Alice Roberts investigates creatures that dominated the Earth around 40,000 years ago. (1/3)
The British Soap Awards 2013 (ITV, 8pm) Annual awards ceremony.
PICK OF THE DAY Case Histories (BBC1, 8.30pm) Series 2 of the crime drama. Starring Jason Isaacs, Amanda Abbington, Zawe Ashton, Millie Innes, Victoria Wood, James Cosmo & Gary Lewis. (1/3)
Australia with Simon Reeve (BBC2, 9pm) Travel series looking at the people and wildlife of the enormous country Down Under. (1/3)