Below are my picks of the most notable new shows, returning or premiering on UK screens over the next 7 days...
MONDAY 24th
★ Muslim Drag Queens (Channel 4, 10pm) Documentary on the UK's secret gay Asian community. Narrated by Sir Ian McKellen.TUESDAY 25th
Educating Cardiff (Channel 4, 9pm) Documentary following the staff and pupils of Willow High School, which has bounced back from being amongst the worst schools in Cardiff.Secrets of China (BBC3, 9pm) New documentary series about growing up in secretive, proud Chinese society. Presented by Billie JD Porter. (1/3)
★ Goodness Gracious Me: India Special (BBC2, 10pm) Special episode of the hit sitcom. Starring Sanjeev Bhaskar, Anil Gupta, Nina Wadia, Kulvinder Ghir & Meera Syal.
Fried (BBC3, 10.30pm) New comedy about the staff of a Croydon fast-food restaurant. Starring Matthew Cottle, Mandeep Dhillon, Lorna Gayle, William Melling & Katy Wix. (1/6)
WEDNESDAY 26th
Posh Pawn (Channel 4, 8pm) Series 4 of the show going behind-the-scenes of London's Prestige Pawnbrokers.★The Strain (Watch, 9pm) Season 2 of the U.S vampire contagion thriller. Starring Corey Stoll, David Bradley, Kevin Durand & Mia Maestro. (1/13)
From Dusk till Dawn: The Series (Netflix) Season 2 of the U.S vampire action-adventure, based on the 1996 film.
THURSDAY 27th
Stephen Fry in Central America (ITV, 9pm) New travelogue where the comedian, author and presented travels around Central America. (1/4)The Other Prince William (Channel 4, 9pm) Historical documentary about the romance between Prince William of Gloucester and model Zsuzsi Starkloff, before his death in a plane crash in 1972. Narrated by Paul McGann.
★ Celebrity Big Brother (Channel 5, 9pm) Series 16 of the celebrity reality show. Rumoured celebs are Bobby Davro, Natasha Hamilton, Karen Danczuk & Janice Dickinson.
FRIDAY 28th
Resistance (More4, 9pm) French drama series about the Nazi occupation of France and the resistance to defeat it. (1/6)★ Narcos (Netflix) Season 1 of the U.S dramatisation of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar's life. Starring Wagner Moura, Pedro Pascal, Manolo Cardona, Boyd Holbrook, Ana de la Reguera, Stephanie Sigman & Joanna Christie. (1/10)
SATURDAY 29th
★ The X Factor (ITV, 8pm) Series 12 of the singing talent search. Judges are Simon Cowell, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Nick Grimshaw & Rita Ora. Hosted by Caroline Flack & Olly Murs. Continues tomorrow.Sue Perkins' Big Night Out (BBC2, 9.10pm) Entertainment special featuring the best of the Edinburgh festivals. Guests are Phill Jupitus, Nina Conti, Katherine Ryan & Adam Hills.
Through the Keyhole (ITV, 9.30pm) Series 3 of the game show where Keith Lemon snoops through celebrity homes. Guests are Gino D'Acampo, Sue Cleaver & Johnny Vegas. (1/7)
SUNDAY 30th
★ The Trials of Jimmy Rose (ITV, 9pm) New drama series about an armed robber released from prison, trying to reconnect to his wife and children. Starring Ray Winstone, Amanda Redman, Paul Jesson, Marion Bailey, Montanna Thompson & Charlotte Randle. (1/3)Special Forces: Ultimate Hell Week (BBC2, 9pm) New series where contestants go through six elite military training regimes. Hosted by Andrew Flintoff. (1/6)
For a look at what the rest of the year's going to bring,
why not read and bookmark my TV Calendar?
