Below are my picks of the week's most notable shows, returning or premiering on UK screens this week...
MONDAY 19th
The Battle to Beat Polio (BBC2, 9pm) Documentary where BBC economics editor Stephanie Flanders investigates the treatments her father would have endured as a polio sufferer.★ It'll Be Alright on the Night (ITV, 9pm) New selection of gaffes, bloopers and outtakes from the world of television. Presented by Griff Rhys Jones.
TUESDAY 20th
★ Penny Dreadful (Sky Atlantic, 9pm) Season 1 of the psychological thriller about a psychic and vampire hunter living in Victorian London, collaborating on an Ancient Egyptian mystery with the help of an American marksman and Dr Frankenstein. Starring Timothy Dalton, Eva Green, Josh Hartnett, Harry Treadaway, Billie Piper & Rory Kinnear. (1/8)
WEDNESDAY 21st
★ The Ones to Watch (Sky1, 7pm) New series where chef Gizzi Erskine, actor Idris Elba, singer Paloma Faith and fashion photographer Rankin search for new, undiscovered talent. (1/4)Del Boys & Dealers (BBC1, 9pm) New documentary series following real-life wheeler-dealers who scour auctions, car-boot sales and junk shops, hoping to find a life-changing item. (1/4)
England's Worst Ever Football Team (BBC3, 9pm) Football review show that puts together the worst possible England squad.
Jack Taylor (Channel 5, 10pm) Series 2 of the drama about an ex-garda detective turned private investigator. Starring Iain Glen, Killian Scott, Nora-Jane Noone, Aine Ni Mhuiri & Kathleen Raynor. (1/3)
The Quite Remarkable David Coleman (BBC1, 10.35pm) Documentary on the late sports commentator and presenter, who died last December at the age of 87.
THURSDAY 22nd
★ From There to Here (BBC1, 9pm) New drama about a man caught up in the 1996 IRA bombing of Manchester. Starring Philip Glenister, Bernard Hill, Steven Mackintosh, Saskia Reeves, Liz White, Morven Christie, Daniel Rigby & Ben Ryan Davies. (1/3)Horizon: The £10 Million Challenge (BBC2, 9pm) To celebrate the science show's 50th anniversary, the public are challenged to tackle some scientific challenged with a £10m prize.
How the Wild West Was Won with Ray Mears (BBC4, 9pm) The survivalist explored how the American wilderness shapes the Wild West. (1/3)
FRIDAY 23rd
★ Mr Sloane (Sky Atlantic, 9pm) 1960s drama about a suicidal man whose life begins to change. Starring Nick Frost, Olivia Colman, Peter Serafinowicz & Ophelia Lovibond. (1/6)The Fast Show (BBC2, 10pm) Revival of the 1990s sketch show, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of BBC2. Starring Paul Whitehouse, Charlie Higson, John Thomson, Simon Day, Arabella Weir, Caroline Aherne, Rhys Thomas & Lucy Montgomery. (1/2)
SATURDAY 24th
The Mysterious Mr Webster (BBC2, 7pm) Documentary looking at Jacobean dramatist John Webster.Radio 1's Big Weekend (BBC3, 7pm) Coverage of BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend music gig, coming from Glasgow. Featuring Lily Allen, Ed Sheeran, One Direction, Pharrell, Calvin Harris, Coldplay, Rita Ora, Tinie Tempah, Kings of Leon, and more.
★ 50 Years of BBC2 Comedy (BBC2, 9pm) Retrospective on the 50-year-old channel's contributions to comedy. Narrated by Joanna Lumley.
SUNDAY 25th
Tropic of Cancer (BBC2, 7pm) Travel series where Simon Reeve follows a path around the globe's northern tropic. (1/6)The British Soap Awards 2014 (ITV, 8.15pm) Annual awards ceremony focusing on the soaps.
England's Top (Dave, 9pm) A look back at key moments for the England national football team. Narrated by Jason Manford. (1/3)
★ Harry & Paul's Story of the 2's (BBC2, 9pm) Irreverent look back at the programming of BBC2, featuring parodies by Harry Enfield & Paul Whitehouse.
For a look at what the rest of the year's going to bring,
why not read and bookmark my TV Calendar?
