Monday 2 September 2013

TV Picks: 2-8 September 2013 (Bad Education, Gadget Man, House of Lies, The Newsroom, QI, Strictly Come Dancing, Whitechapel, etc.)

Monday 2 September 2013

Below are my picks of the week's most notable TV shows returning/premiering on UK screens...

MONDAY 2nd
Jamie's Money Saving Meals (Channel 4, 8pm) New series where the chef creates meals on a budget. (1/6)
Gadget Man (Channel 4, 8.30pm) Series 2 of the gadget and technology show, with Richard Ayoade replacing Stephen Fry. (1/6)
PICK OF THE DAY The Newsroom (Sky Atlantic, 9pm) Season 2 of the US drama about a cable news show. Starring Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer, John Gallagher Jr, Alison Pill, Dev Patel, Marcia Gay Harden & Olivia Munn. (1/9)
Robert Peston Goes Shopping (BBC2, 9pm) New series where the BBC's business editor looks at the history of the British post-war retail trade. (1/3)
Doc Martin (ITV, 9pm) Series 6 of the comedy-drama about a grumpy doctor living in an idyllic Cornish village. Starring Martin Clunes, Caroline Catz, Eileen Atkins, Ian McNeice, Joe Absolom, John Marquez & Jessica Ransom. (1/8)
The Lost Hero of 9/11 (Channel 4, 9pm) Documentary about former US Marine Jason Thomas, who rescued two people buried under the destroyed World Trade Center.
The Insider (BBC3, 9pm) New series where managers forego the usual interview process and spend time with candidates while undercover. (1/4)
House of Lies (Sky Atlantic, 10pm) Season 2 of the US comedy-drama about a group of corporate management consultants. Starring Don Cheadle, Kristen Bell, Ben Schwartz, Josh Lawson & Dawn Olivieri. (1/12)


TUESDAY 3rd
Aussie Animal Island (ITV, 7.30pm) New wildlife series, beginning with a look at Tasmanian devils. (1/6)
Ade in Adland (ITV, 8pm) New series where Adrian Edmondson investigates UK commercial since they started broadcasting in 1955. (1/2)
Trauma: Level One (ITV, 9pm) Documentary going behind-the-scenes of a specialist trauma unit at University Hospital Southampton. (1/2)
Siege in the Sahara (Channel 4, 10pm) Documentary about British hostages held by gunmen connected to al-Qaeda in an Algerian gas plant.
PICK OF THE DAY Bad Education (BBC3, 10pm) Series 2 of the school comedy about a dysfunctional teacher. Starring Jack Whitehall, Mathew Horne, Sarah Solemani, Michelle Gomez & Ethan Lawrence. (1/7)
The Woman Who Woke Up Chinese (BBC1, 10.35pm) Documentary about a 38-year-old woman who was rushed to hospital with a migraine and awoke with a Chinese accent.


WEDNESDAY 4th
Big Star's Little Star (ITV, 8pm) New entertainment series where the children of famous parents reveal embarrassing or funny stories about them. Hosted by Stephen Mulhern. (1/6)
Harrow: A Very British School (Sky1, 8pm) New documentary series about the staff and pupils of an all-boy's school. (1/8)
PICK OF THE DAY Whitechapel (ITV, 9pm) Series 4 of the dark crime drama. Starring Rupert Penry-Jones, Phil Davis & Steve Pemberton. (1/6)
Grand Designs (Channel 4, 9pm) Series 13 of the luxury property development series.
Paul McCartney: Live Kisses (Sky Arts 1, 9pm) Live recording of the singer-songwriter's 2012 album Kisses on the Bottom.


THURSDAY 5th
Waterloo Road (BBC1, 8pm) Series 9 of the school drama. Starring Laurie Brett, Georgie Glen, Caitlin Gillespie, James Young, Joe Slater & Brogan Ellis. (1/30)
PICK OF THE DAY Pat & Cabbage (ITV, 8.30pm) New sitcom about two friends (a divorcee and a widow) who find a new perspective on life together. Starring Barbara Flynn, Cherie Lunghi, Peter Davison, Diane Morgan & Rosie Cavaliero. (1/6)
Mum & Dad Are Splitting Up (BBC2, 9pm) Documentary following five people whose parents are separating or divorcing.
The Guilty (ITV, 9pm) New drama about the discovery of a four-year-old boy's body, five years after he went missing. Starring Darren Boyd, Tamsin Greig & Katherine Kelly. (1/3)
Educating Yorkshire (Channel 4, 9pm) Documentary series about a school in West Yorkshire. (1/8)
The Big Reunion: On Tour (ITV2, 9pm) Follow-up to The Big Reunion series, showing how the various reunited pop acts got on with their nationwide tour. (1/3)
Bouncers (Channel 4, 10pm) New series looking at the role of door staff at various bars and clubs. (1/6)

FRIDAY 6th
Secrets of the Pickpockets Abroad (Channel 4, 9pm) Documentary about criminals targeting Brits visiting Spain.
PICK OF THE DAY QI (BBC2, 10pm) Series 11 (or Series K) of the comedy panel show focusing on obscure knowledge. Hosted by Stephen Fry with Alan Davies. Guests are David Mitchell, Sara Pascoe & Jack Whitehall. (1/18)

SATURDAY 7th
PICK OF THE DAY Strictly Come Dancing: Live Launch (BBC1, 6.50pm) Series 11 of the celebrity dancing competition, revealing this year's line-up. The actual series begins 27 September. Hosted by Bruce Forsyth & Tess Daly.

SUNDAY 8th
PICK OF THE DAY The Rise of Hitler (Channel 4, 8pm) Documentary charting the German dictator's rise to power. (1/2)
Requiem for Detroit (BBC4, 9pm) Documentary about the US city that officially declared itself bankrupt recently.