It's my weekly look at the UK's best new TV shows, for the week beginning 20th August 2012. A week that includes plentiful comedy as part of Channel 4's "Funny Fortnight" season...
MONDAY 20th
Don't Blow the Inheritance (ITV1, 5pm) Brand new quiz show where two generations of the same family answer questions to earn money towards an Inheritance Prize Fund. Hosted by Tim Vine.Cutting Edge: Ian Brady – Endgames of the Psychopath (Channel 4, 9pm) Documentary about the infamous child murderer.
Our War (BBC3, 9pm) Series 2 of the documentary from the frontline of Afghanistan, compiled from videos shot by young soldiers. (1/3)
PICK OF THE DAY Toast of London (Channel 4, 10pm) Brand new sitcom about a beloved actor who accepts a part in a controversial West End play, which drastically changes how the public react to him. Starring Matt Berry, Robert Bathurst, Geoff McGivern & Tracy-Ann Oberman. Written by Father Ted co-creator Arthur Matthews.
TUESDAY 21st
The Queen Mother In Law (Channel 4, 9pm) Documentary about the Queen's mother-in-law, Princess Alice, a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria.PICK OF THE DAY Them From that Thing (Channel 4, 10pm) Sketch show from a group of recognisable faces, such as Blake Harrison, Kayvan Novak, Morgana Robinson, Denis Lawson, Kevin Eldon, Sean Gilder, Bill Patterson, Dan Renton Skinner, Ewan Bremner, Sean Pertwee, Jane Asher, Sally Phillips, Neil Maskell & Simon Callow. Concludes tomorrow. (1/2)
WEDNESDAY 22nd
Mount Pleasant (Sky Living, 9pm) Series 2 of the comedy drama. Starring Sally Lindsay & Daniel Ryan. (1/10)Jet! When Britain Ruled The Skies (BBC4, 9pm) Documentary about the UK's great Jet Age.
PICK OF THE DAY The Revolution Will Be Televised (BBC3, 10pm) Comedy satire taking aim at modern politics. Starring Heydon Prowse & Jolyon Rubinstein. (1/6)
THURSDAY 23rd
Waterloo Road (BBC1, 8pm) Return of the school drama, which has now transferred its production to Scotland. (1/10)The Oklahoma City Bomber Tapes (Channel 4, 8pm) Documentary about the most destructive terrorist attack on US soil until 9/11, when US sergeant Timothy McVeigh blew up a government building in Oklahoma City back in 1995.
Whatever Happened to Harry Hill? (Channel 4, 9pm) Spoof documentary "reunion special" of the surreal 1999 TV show that launched Harry Hill to stardom. Starring Harry Hill, Al Murray & Burt Kwouk.
PICK OF THE DAY Vic & Bob's Lucky Sexy Winners (Channel 4, 10pm) Brand new madcap comedy gameshow from Vic Reeves & Bob Mortimer.
Just Around the Corner (Channel 4, 10.35pm) Sitcom about a possible future where there are no banks and the UK's coastline has been irreparably changed by a rise in sea levels. Starring James Fleet, Jennie Jacques, James Bolam, Jamie Davis, Sanjeev Bhaskar & Daisy Beaumont. Written by Drop The Dead Donkey creators Andy Hamilton & Guy Jenkin.
FRIDAY 24th
PICK OF THE DAY Parade's End (BBC2, 9pm) Brand new drama about an Edwardian man married to a cruel socialite. Starring Benedict Cumberbath. Adapted from the Ford Madox Ford novels by Tom Stoppard. (1/5)8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (Channel 4, 9pm) Second special where the 8 Out Of 10 Cats panel show joins forces with the Countdown team.
Reading Festival 2012 (BBC3, 9pm) Coverage of the popular music festival.
Idris Elba's How Clubbing Changed the World (Channel 4, 10pm) Documentary about the rise in popularity of clubbing since the birth of rave 25-years ago. Presented by DJ and actor Idris Elba.
House Party (Channel 4, 12am) Live six-hour house party emcee'd by top DJs Grandmaster Flash, Horse Meat Disco, Annie Mac, Soul II Soul, A-Track & Eric Morillo. Contains no adverts or commentary to interrupt the all-night party.
SATURDAY 25th
Nothing.SUNDAY 26th
Inspector George Gently (BBC1, 8.30pm) Series 5 of the detective drama. Starring Martin Shaw, Lee Ingleby, Eamonn Walker & Lenora Crichlow.PICK OF THE DAY A Touch of Cloth (Sky1, 9pm) Spoof crime drama about a maverick detective and his incompetent partner. Starring John Hannah, Suranne Jones, Daisy Beaumont, Julian Rhind-Tutt & Raquel Cassidy. Concludes tomorrow. (1/2)
Bad Sugar (Channel 4, 10pm) Spoof melodrama about a squabbling British mining dynasty. Starring Sharon Horgan, Julia Davis, Reece Shearsmith, Olivia Colman & Peter Serafinowicz.
