Monday 9 December 2013

TV Picks: 9-15 December 2013 (British Comedy Awards, Derren Brown: The Great Art Robbery, Lucan, Royal Variety Performance, etc.)

Monday 9 December 2013

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

MONDAY 9th
Great British Garden Revival (BBC2, 7pm) New series where 14 of the UK's best gardeners try to turn the nation green-fingered. (1/10)
PICK OF THE DAY The Royal Variety Performance 2013 (ITV, 7.30pm) Annual variety show performed in front of Prince Charles, hosted by John Bishop. Featuring Torvill & Dean, Dame Edna Everage, Chas & Dave, Rizzle Kicks, Olly Murs, Gary Barlow, Jessie J, Harry Hill's X Factor musical, Britain's Got Talent winners Attraction, and much more.

TUESDAY 10th
PICK OF THE DAY Heston's Great British Food (Channel 4, 9pm) New series celebrating British iconic dishes. (1/3)

WEDNESDAY 11th
Superscrimpers Christmas Cracker (Channel 4, 8pm) Festive edition of the frugal documentary.
Sports Personality of the Year at 60 (BBC1, 9pm) A retrospective on the annual award ceremony, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Presented by Gary Lineker.
PICK OF THE DAY Lucan (ITV, 9pm) Drama based on the real-life mystery of Lord Lucan, who mysteriously vanished in 1974 amidst rumours he murdererd his nanny. Starring Rory Kinnear, Catherine McCormack, Christopher Eccleston & Michael Gambon. (1/2)
Jon Richardson: Funny Magnet (Channel 4, 10.45pm) Standup comedy recorded live at the Apollo Theatre in London.


THURSDAY 12th
Christmas Supermarket Secrets (BBC1, 9pm) Festive special of the show looking at how supermarkets source their food. Presented by Gregg Wallace.
There's Something About Susan (ITV, 9pm) Profile of Susan Boyle, runner-up of Britain's Got Talent in 2009 who has become a worldwide singing sensation.
PICK OF THE DAY The British Comedy Awards 2013 (Channel 4, 9pm) Annual awards ceremony honouring the best in UK comedy. Hosted by Jonathan Ross.
Mummy's Little Murderer (Channel 5, 9pm) Documentary about a 20-year-old who killed his girlfriend and persuaded his parents to cover up the crime.
The Big Christmas Reunion (ITV2, 9pm) Documentary follow-up to The Big Reunion, where the reformed groups create a Christmas single.

FRIDAY 13th
Boyzone at 20: No Matter What (ITV, 9pm) Music special celebrating two decades of the popular Irish boy band. Hosted by Dannii Minogue.
PICK OF THE DAY Derren Brown: The Great Art Robbery (Channel 4, 9pm) New magic and illusion special, where the famous mentalist attempts to steal a painting using a team of OAPs.


SATURDAY 14th
Nothing. Walk the dog? Don't own one? Okay - borrow a dog, then walk it?

SUNDAY 15th
Ski Sunday (BBC2, 5.55pm) New series of World Cup ski highlights from Val d'Isere in France. Presented by Graham Bell, Ed Leigh & Amy Williams.
PICK OF THE DAY Sports Personality of the Year 2013 (BBC1, 7.15pm) Annual award ceremony. Hosted by Gary Linekar, Gabby Logan & Claire Balding.
The Great British Sewing Bee (BBC2, 7.40pm) Festive edition of the show, where judges Patrick Grant and May Martin reunite with series 1's semi-finalist and winner to create some Christmas items.