Monday 10 December 2012

TV Picks: 10-16 December 2012 (British Comedy Awards, Jack Irish, Little Crackers, Poison Tree, Sports Personality of the Year, etc.)

Monday 10 December 2012

Below are my picks of the most notable new TV shows, all premiering this week in the UK until the 16 December. A few festive specials as the holidays approach, too...

MONDAY 10th
Let's Do Christmas With Gino & Mel (ITV1, 12.30pm) Brand new series where Gino D'Acampo and Melanie Sykes give viewers advice and recipes for a stress-free Christmas. (1/10)
Storage Hoarders (ITV1, 2pm) Brand new series where Aggie MacKenzie helps hoarders turn their belongings into money. (1/20)
North Pole Airport (Channel 5, 7pm) Documentary series about the temporary ice base Barneo in the Arctic. (1/3)
PICK OF THE DAY The Poison Tree (ITV1, 9pm) Psychological thriller based on Erin Kelly's novel, about a woman haunted by a tragic event that happened 12 years ago. Starring MyAnna Buring, Opehlia Lovibond, Matthew Goode, Hebe Johnson, Patrick Baladi, Ralph Brown & Lex Shrapnel. (1/2)
Little Crackers (Sky1, 9pm) Series 3 of the autobiographical Christmas-themed short movies, opening with a tale from Joanna Lumley.(1/12)
The Golden Age Of Steam Railways (BBC4, 9pm) Documentary on the visionaries who helped restored abandoned railways after WWII. (1/2)


TUESDAY 11th
PICK OF THE DAY Inside Guinness World Records (ITV1, 8pm) Documentary about the Guinness World Record adjudicators, who travel the world uncovering amazing feats.
Is Our Weather Getting Worse? (Channel 4, 8pm) Documentary examining the belief the UK's weather has been getting worse over the past few hundred years.
This World: Cuba With Simon Reeve (BBC2, 9pm) Documentary about the effects of liberalisation on Cuba.
On The Run (ITV1, 9pm) Factual special where Nicky Campbell and Mark Williams-Thomas investigate how criminals evade the police.

WEDNESDAY 12th
Weight Loss Ward (ITV1, 8pm) Documentary about the staff of Sunderland's Royal Hospital and its obesity unit. (1/2)
Miniature Britain (BBC1, 8pm) Wildlife documentary where biologist George McGavin travels around the UK with a revolutionary new microscope that's 7,000 times more powerful than the human eye.
PICK OF THE DAY The British Comedy Awards 2012 (Channel 4, 9pm) Live annual ceremony celebrating the best in British comedy. Presented by Jonathan Ross.

THURSDAY 13th
Pensioners Behind Bars (ITV1, 9pm) Documentary about the rise in people over-60 who are behind bars.
Britain's Hidden Housing Crisis (BBC1, 9pm) Documentary about the UK's housing crisis, focusing on the impact of being evicted.
Blue Bloods (Sky Atlantic, 9pm) Season 3 of the US cop drama. Starring Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg & Michael Madsen. (1/22)
PICK OF THE DAY Timeshift: Wrestling's Golden Age - Grapples, Grunts & Grannies (BBC4, 9pm) Documentary about the era where British wrestling attracted 20 million viewers in the '60s and '70s.
The 15 Stone Babies (Channel 4, 10pm) Documentary on the "adult baby" fetish some men have.

FRIDAY 14th
Nigel Slater's 12 Tastes Of Christmas (BBC1, 7.30pm) Brand new series where the food writer creates a selection of festive dishes. (1/2)
A Night Of Heroes: The Military Awards (ITV1, 9pm) Annual awards ceremony for military heroes. Presented by Philip Schofield & Holly Willoughby. Featuring Ricky Gervais, David Jason, James Nesbitt, Myleene Klass, Frank Lampard & Jeremy Clarkson.
PICK OF THE DAY Jack Irish: Bad Debts (FX, 9pm) Australian crime drama about a former criminal lawyer called Jack Irish who's become a private investigator. Starring Guy Pearce.
James Bond 50th Anniversary Gala (BBC4, 9pm) To celebrate the world-famous secret agent's 50th anniversary, the Philharmonic Orchestra perform music from the franchise's back catalogue. Presented by Honor Blackman.

SATURDAY 15th
PICK OF THE DAY Take Me Out Celebrity Christmas Special (ITV1, 7.40pm) Festive celebrity special of the dating gameshow, featuring Joe Swash, Leigh Francis & Matt Johnson. Presented by Paddy McGuinness.
Ten Years Of Girls Aloud (ITV1, 9pm) Retrospective on the popular UK girl group, who won Popstars: The Rivals in 2002 and went on to become one of the world's biggest groups.
Clive Dunn: A Tribute (BBC2, 9.20pm) Tribute to the Dad's Army actor, who recently passed away.
Jools Holland: My Life In Music (BBC2, 10pm) The musician/presenter recounts his life and career.

SUNDAY 16th
Our Diamond Queen (Sky1, 6.30pm) Documentary looking back at 2012's Diamond Jubilee year.
Happy Birthday E.T (ITV1, 7pm) Retrospective documentary on Steven Spielberg's classic movie E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial, featuring actors Henry Thomas & Dee Wallace.
Sports Personality Of The Year 2012 (BBC1, 7.30pm) Annual awards ceremony, presented by Gary Lineker, Sue Barker & Clare Balding. Live from the ExCel in London.
A Very English Winter: The Unthanks (BBC4, 8pm) Follow-up documentary about the folk-singing Unthank sisters.
PICK OF THE DAY The Making Of A Lady (ITV1, 8pm) Period drama based on the Frances Hodgson Burnett novel The Making Of A Marchioness, about an impoverished woman who married her employer's wealthy nephew for money. Starring Lydia Wilson, Linus Roache, James D'Arcy, Hasina Haque, Joanna Lumley, Maggie Fox & Sarah Ridgeway.
River Cottage: Three Go Mad At Christmas (Channel 4, 8pm) Festive special of the culinary show, where Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is joined by Kathy Burke, Mark Heap & Stephen Mangan.