Monday, 7 April 2014

TV Picks: 7-13 April 2014 (Britain's Got Talent, The Call Centre, Community, Game of Thrones, The Guess List, Weekend Escapes with Warwick Davies, etc.)


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

MONDAY 7th
Escape to the Continent (BBC2, 6.30pm) New series about British people planning to move to Europe. Hosted by Nicki Chapman. (1/20)
Great British Menu (BBC2, 7.30pm) Series 9 of the cooking competition with chefs hoping to win the chance to cook at a banquiet in St Paul's Cathedral. Judges are Prue Leith, Oliver Peyton, Matthew Fort & Celia Sandys. (1/45)
Treasure Hunters (BBC1, 9pm) New series where Dallas Campbell and Ellie Harrison search the world for gems, precious metals, and other treasures. (1/2)
Undeniable (ITV, 9pm) New psychological drama about a woman confronting the man she believes killed her mother 23 years ago. Starring Claire Goose, Peter Firth, Christine Bottomley, Pippa Haywood, Robert Pugh, Felix Scott & Tracy Brabin. (1/2)
Shops & Robbers: Britain's War on Shoplifters (Channel 5, 9pm) Documentary about thieves who cost the UK economy half a billion pounds a year.
Banged Up and Left to Fail? (BBC3, 9pm) Documentary about the impact of prison sentences on young offenders.
Game of Thrones (Sky Atlantic, 9pm) Season 4 premiere of the fantasy drama. Starring Charles Dance, Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Lena Headey, Jack Gleason, Aidan Gillen, Natalie Dormer, Sophie Turner, Gwendoline Christie, Jermone Flynn, Maisie Williams, and others. (1/10)
Burn Notice (Fox, 9pm) Seventh and final season of the US spy drama.
Thronecast (Sky Atlantic, 10pm) Talk show companion to Game of Thrones. Hosted by Jamie East & Rachel Parris.
Made in Chelsea (E4, 10pm) Return of the manufactured reality show about a group of friends living in Chelsea.


TUESDAY 8th
The Battle for Britain's Breakfast (BBC2, 9pm) Documentary about the rise of British TV breakfast shows, beginning in 1983 with the BBC's Breakfast Time.
The Call Centre (BBC3, 9pm) Series 2 of the fly-on-the-wall documentary series set in a large Welsh call centre. (1/6)
Gardens in Time (BBC4, 9pm) Documentary on the horticultural designs of Christopher Lloyd. (1/4)


WEDNESDAY 9th
Under Offer: Estate Agents on the Job (BBC2, 8pm) New documentary series about the UK's property market. (1/6)
Ian Hislop's Olden Days (BBC2, 9pm) New documentary series exploring the nation's obsession with the past. (1/3)
The £60,000 Puppy: Cloning Man's Best Friend (Channel 4, 10pm) Documentary where dog owners try to convince South Korean scientists that they deserve to have their pet cloned.
Marine "A": A Criminal or Casualty of War? (BBC1, 10.35pm) Documentary about the Royal Marine Sergeant convicted for shooting an injured Afghan insurgent.

THURSDAY 10th
Digby Jones: The New Troubleshooter (BBC2, 8pm) New series where the ex-minister for trade helps struggling firms. (1/3)
Don't Cap My Benefits (BBC1, 9pm) Documentary about the impact of the government's benefits changes to Brent, London.
The Unseen Fred West Confessions (Channel 5, 9pm) Reconstruction of taped interviews with notorious serial killer Fred West.
Porn: What's the Harm? (BBC3, 9pm) Documentary looking at the effects of pornography on children and teenagers today. Presented by Jameela Jamil.
Tom Daley Goes Global (ITV2, 9pm) New series where the Olympic diver travels the world with his friend Sophie. (1/6)
Community (Sony Entertainment Television, 10pm) Season 5 of the US sitcom. (1/13)

FRIDAY 11th
Weekend Escapes with Warwick Davies (ITV, 8pm) New series where the dwarf actor takes his family on various mini breaks around the UK. (1/6)
The Cube: Celebrity Edition (ITV, 9pm) Special episode of the gameshow featuring Joey Essex & Kym Marsh. (7/8)

SATURDAY 12th
Amazing Greys (ITV, 8pm) New gameshow where young contestants compete against older people. Hosted by Angela Rippon & Paddy McGuinness. (1/6)
Britain's Got Talent (ITV, 7.15pm) Series 8 of the variety competition. Hosted by Ant n' Dec with judges Simon Cowell, David Walliams, Amanda Holden & Alesha Dixon. (1/13)
The Guess List (BBC1, 9.30pm) New game show involving the public and celebrities answering everyday questions. Hosted by Rob Brydon. Guests are James Corden, Jennifer Saunders, Simon Callow, Emilia Fox & Louis Smith. (1/6)


SUNDAY 13th
The Olivier Awards (ITV, 10.15pm) Coverage of today's ceremony honouring the best of British theatre. Hosted by Gemma Arterton & Stephen Mangan.

= Pick of the Day