Below are my picks of the most notable new shows, returning or premiering on UK screens over the next 7 days...
MONDAY 20th
★ Big Dreams, Small Spaces (BBC2, 7pm) New series where Monty Don helps amateur horticulturists with modest-sized gardens. (1/5)Sarah Beeny's How to Sell Your Home (Channel 4, 8.30pm) New series offering practical advise to people selling properties in the modern age.
TUESDAY 21st
The Great British Sewing Bee (BBC2, 8pm) Charity special of the sewing contest, raising money for Children in Need. Celebrities participating are Dawn Harper, Dave Myers, Edith Bowman & Wendi Peters. (1/3)You Can't Get the Staff (Channel 4, 9pm) Documentary series looking at privileged Brits looking to fill positions in their stately hones, with salaries ranging from £90-a-week to £100,000-a-year. (1/5)
★ American Horror Story: Freak Show (Fox, 10pm) Season 4 of the U.S horror anthology. (1/10)
WEDNESDAY 22nd
Surprise Surprise (ITV, 8pm) Series 3 of the revived show, springing surprises on worthy members of the British public. Hosted by Holly Willoughby. (1/8)Gunpowder 5/11: The Great Terror Plot (BBC2, 9pm) Documentary about the famous plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament, hatched in 1605.
★ Grayson Perry: Who Are You? (Channel 4, 10pm) New series where the Turner Prize-winning artist spends time with people facing a crisis of identity of a crossroads in their life. (1/3)
THURSDAY 23rd
George Clarke's Amazing Spaces (Channel 4, 8pm) Series 4 of the show looking at imaginative, creative small builds. (1/9)Scorpion (ITV2, 8pm) New U.S action thriller series about a gang of genius misfits who help the U.S government stop dangerous threats.
The Big Bang Theory (E4, 8.30pm) Season 8 of the U.S comedy about a group of geeky friends. (1/24)
★ Life Story (BBC1, 9pm) New wildlife series documenting the journey of life for many animals. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough. (1/6)
Drifters (E4, 9.30pm) Series 2 of the comedy about three graduates living in Leeds. Starring Jessica Knappett, Lydia Rose Bewley, Lauren O'Rourke & Bobby Hirston. (1/6)
Russell Howard's Good News (BBC2, 10pm) Series 9 of the topical stand-up and entertainment show, now transferred from BBC3 to BBC2. (1/9)
FRIDAY 24th
★ Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D (Channel 4, 8pm) Season 2 of the U.S comic-book drama taking place in the live-action Marvel universe. (1/22)Alex Polizzi's Secret Italy (Channel 5, 9pm) New series where hotelier Alex Polizzi travels to Italy, the country of her roots, to explore the nation's hidden treasures. (1/4)
The Feeling Nuts Comedy Night (Channel 4, 11.05pm) Stand-up comedy special raising money for the fight against testicular cancer. Featuring Rizzle Kicks, Terry Mynott, Angelos Epithemiou, Cardinal Burns, Daisy Lowe, Harry Enfield, Paul Whitehouse, Jack Whitehall, and a sketch revival for Men Behaving Badly 16 years after the sitcom ended.
SATURDAY 25th
Restoring England's Heritage (BBC2, 7pm) Documentary investigating the heritage at risk in the north-west. ★ Hawaii Five-0 (Sky1, 9pm) Season 5 of the cop drama. (1/22)
SUNDAY 26th
★ Speed with Guy Martin (Channel 4, 8pm) Series 2 of the show where the motorbike racer competes in four high-speed challenges. (1/4)Afghanistan: The Lion's Last Roar? (BBC2, 9pm) Ahead of the British armed forces leaving Helmand after eight years, a documentary examining the successes and failures.
Tutankhamun: The Truth Uncovered (BBC1, 9pm) Documentary hoping to spread light on the mystery of the famous pharaoh's death at the age of 19.
For a look at what the rest of the year's going to bring,
why not read and bookmark my TV Calendar?
