Monday 6 May 2013

TV Picks: 6-12 May 2013 (The Apprentice, British Academy Television Awards, Hannibal, Justified, A Life of Crime, Suspicions of Mr Whicher, etc.)

Monday 6 May 2013

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

MAY DAY BANK HOLIDAY
PICK OF THE DAY Motor Morphers (Channel 5, 8pm) New series where two teams transform old vehicles into machines able to achieve certain tasks. Hosted by Jason Bradbury. (1/4)

TUESDAY 7th
Caroline Quentin's National Parks (ITV, 8pm) New documentary series exploring the UK's national parks. Presented by Carolien Quentin. (1/3)
The Apprentice (BBC1, 9pm) Series 9 of the reality business gameshow, with more entrepreneurs aiming to become Lord Alan Sugar's apprentice. Continues tomorrow, before moving to Wednesdays. (1/12)
Who Wants to be a Millionaire? The People Play (ITV, 9pm) New series returning to the original format of ordinary people playing to become millionaires. Presented by Chris Tarrant. (1/3)
Mary Queen of Shops (Channel 4, 9pm) Series where Marty Portas catches up with various business who have used her 28-point plan to rejuvenate. (1/3)
The Apprentice: You're Fired! (BBC2, 10pm) Sister series post-mortem of the week's events on The Apprentice. Hosted by Dara O'Briain, with guests Jo Fairley, Katherine Ryan & Matt Edmondson. (1/11)
PICK OF THE DAY Hannibal (Sky Living, 10pm) Season 1 of the US crime drama about a FBI profiler unaware his psychologist, Hannibal Lecter, is the world's most prolific serial killer. Starring Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen & Laurence Fishburne (1/13)


WEDNESDAY 8th
Bankers: Fixing the System (BBC2, 9pm) New series here politicians and bank regulators discuss the fallout of the banking crisis and how to fix the ongoing situation. (1/3)
Great Artists in their Own Words (BBC4, 9pm) Documentary series looking through BBC archives on famous artists; many of whom appear in footage discussing their careers. (1/3)
PICK OF THE DAY Justified (5USA, 10pm) Season 4 of the US crime drama about a Deputy US Marshall trying to keep the peace in a rural backwater. Starring Timothy Olyphant. (1/13)


THURSDAY 9th
The True Story: Star Trek (Channel 5, 8pm) Documentary on the enduring appeal of 1960s sci-fi classic Star Trek, created by Gene Roddenberry.
Bradford: Ciy of Dreams (BBC2, 8pm) Documentary series about life in modern Bradford. (1/2)
Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs (ITV, 8.30pm) Series 2 of the show looking at the world of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in London. (1/8)
Britain's Biggest Hoarders (BBC1, 9pm) New series about hoarders whose lives have been affected by their habit. (1/3)
PICK OF THE DAY Murder on the Homefront (ITV, 9pm) Crime drama set during the Blitz. Starring Patrick Kennedy, Tamzin Merchant, Emerald Fennell, James Fleet, David Sturzaker, Iain McKee & Ryan Gage. (1/2)
Sex on Wheels (Channel 4, 10pm) Documentary on the intimate lives of disabled people.

FRIDAY 10th
Pride & Prejudice: Having a Ball (BBC2, 9pm) Special celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Jane Austen classic by recreating the book's Netherfield Ball centrepiece in loving detail.
PICK OF THE DAY A Life of Crime (ITV, 9pm) New cop drama about the career of a police woman over three decades, starting in 1985. Starring Hayley Atwell, Richard Coyle, Con O'Neill, Amanda Drew & Eloise Smyth. (1/3)

SATURDAY 11th
PICK OF THE DAY The Star Trek Story (BBC2, 8.05pm) Documentary on the birth and impact of sci-fi drama Star Trek, which began airing in 1966.
How to Win Eurovision (BBC3, 9.50pm) Documentary trying to ascertain how an act can win the long-running Eurovision Song Contest. Hosted by Greg James & Russell Kane.

SUNDAY 12th
George Clarke's Amazing Spaces (Channel 4, 5.45pm) New series looking architecture. (1/6)
British Academy Television Awards (BBC1, 8pm) Annual awards ceremony honouring the best of UK TV. Presented by Graham Norton.
Emeli Sande Live in London (BBC3, 8pm) Coverage of the singer's live performance at the Royal Albert Hall.
PICK OF THE DAY The Suspicions of Mr Whicher (ITV, 8pm) One-off drama about a 19th-century detective. Starring Paddy Considine, Olivia Colman, Shaun Dingwall, Mark Bazeley, William Beck & Tim Pigott-Smith.