Below are my weekly picks of the best UK shows premiering between 29 October and 4 November...
MONDAY 29th
PICK OF THE DAY Top Gear: 50 Years of Bond Cars (BBC2, 9pm) Special edition of the motoring show where Richard Hammond takes a look at the iconic cars from the James Bond franchise.How the Devil Got His Horns: A Diabolical Tale (BBC4, 9pm) Documentary investigating the myths and legends surrounding Satan. Presented by art historian Alastair Sooke.
Don't Sit In the Front Row (Sky Atlantic, 9pm) Brand new comedy panel show where the panellists grill the front row of the studio audience. Hosted by Jack Dee, with Frank Skinner, Josh Widdicombe & Roisin Conaty. (1/8)
Brand X with Russell Brand (Sky Atlantic, 9.30pm) Season 2 of the topical comedy show from the comedian. (1/7)
TUESDAY 30th
Autumnwatch (BBC2, 8pm) Return of the seasonal wildlife series, hosted by Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan & Martin Hughes-Games. (1/4)The Pride of Britain Awards 2012 (ITV1, 8pm) Annual awards ceremony honouring some of the country's most courageous people. Hosted by Carol Vorderman with attendees including Prince Charles, Stephen Fry, David Beckham, David Cameron, David Walliams & Amanda Holden.
PICK OF THE DAY Last Resort (Sky1, 8pm) Season 1 of the US thriller about a crew of submariners who refuse orders to nuke Pakistan and consequently take refuge on a tropical island, where they declare themselves an independent nuclear-capable state. Starring Andre Braugher, Scott Speedman, Robert Patrick, Autumn Reeser & Daisy Betts.
Horror Europa with Mark Gatiss (BBC4, 9pm) Follow-up documentary to 2010's A History of Horror, with the League of Gentlemen writer-actor turning his discerning eye to the European masters of horror. Featuring Dario Argento & Guillermo del Toro.
Operation Iceberg (BBC2, 9pm) Brand new science documentary special where a team of scientists investigate a region of icerbergs. Presented by Chris Packham. Concludes tomorrow. (1/2)
American Horror Story (FX, 10pm) Season 2 of the horror-drama, this time with a story set in a mental asylum during the 1960s. (1/13)
Britain's Hidden Hungry (BBC1, 10.35pm) Documentary where filmmaker David Modell spent six months at a Coventry foodbank, catering for people who literally cannot afford to eat.
HALLOWEEN
PICK OF THE DAY Come Dine With Me (Channel 4, 8pm) Spooky celebrity special of the culinary gameshow, with diners Robert Englund (aka Freddy Kruger), glamour model Nicola McLean, psychic Sally Morgan & cage-fighting wastrel Alex Reid.How Safe Are Britain's Roads? (BBC2, 9pm) Brand new series investigating the rise of accidents on the UK's roads. Presented by Justin Rowlatt & Anita Rani. (1/2)
THURSDAY 1st
PICK OF THE DAY Young Apprentice (BBC1, 8pm) Series 3 of the spin-off to The Apprentice, focusing on teenage entrepreneurs. Featuring Lord Alan Sugar, Nick Hewer & Karren Brady. (1/8)James Bond: The True Story (Channel 5, 8pm) Documentary on the creation of James Bond by author Ian Fleming.
The Human Mannequin (Channel 4, 9pm) Documentary about teenager Louise Wedderburn, who has a rare genetic condition that is slowly turning all her muscles into bone, yet is keen to pursue her dream of becoming a model.
The Year the Town Hall Shrank (BBC4, 9pm) Documentary series about the impact of austerity budget cuts on Stoke-on-Trent's community. (1/3)
FRIDAY 2nd
Jonathan & Charlotte (ITV1, 9pm) Documentary about the Britain's Got Talent opera singing runners-up and their life after the show.PICK OF THE DAY The Mentalist (Channel 5, 9pm) Season 5 of the US detective drama about a consultant with a highly evolved awareness of human behaviour and psychology. Starring Simon Baker, Robin Tunney, Owain Yeoman, Amanda Righetti & Tim Kang. (1/24)
SATURDAY 3rd
Dambusters Declassified (BBC2, 7.15pm) Documentary about the famous WWII mission to destroy a vital German dam. Presented by Martin Shaw.PICK OF THE DAY The Late Great Eric Sykes (BBC2, 8.45pm) Profile of the popular comedian, whose career in TV/film/radio spanned more than 50 years. Featuring Eddie Izzard, Russ Abbot, Michael Palin, Bruce Forsyth & Mike Newell.
MOBO Awards 2012 (BBC3, 10pm) Annual awards ceremony celebrating music of black origin. Hosted by Adam Deacon & Miquita Oliver. Featuring Emeli Sande, Trey Songz, JLS, Labrinth, Conor Maynard, Angel & Wiley.
SUNDAY 4th
PICK OF THE DAY Space Dive (BBC2, 10pm) Documentary about the recent feat by 43-year-old daredevil Felix Baumgartner, who skydived from a height of 24 miles—breaking Joe Kittinger's record of 19 miles set in 1960.
