Monday 14 January 2013

TV Picks: 14-20 January 2013 (8 Out of 10 Cats, American Idol, Call the Midwife, Girls, Paddy's TV Show, Utopia, Yes Prime Minister, etc.)

Monday 14 January 2013

This is the week where ITV1 drop a digit, having realized nobody's ever referred to them as "ITV1" in conversation. The UK version of FX also retitles itself to Fox, which just moves the global confusion elsewhere (I'll be calling it Fox UK). More importantly, it's another seven days of brand new shows hitting UK airwaves, so below is my list of the notable upcoming content...

MONDAY 14th
Winterwatch (BBC2, 8.30pm) Return of the wildlife series from Aigas Field Centre in the Highlands of Scotland. Presented by Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan & Martin Hughes-Games. Continues every night until Thursday. (1/4)
Young, Mormon & Single (BBC3, 9pm) Documentary on single Mormons who head to Duck Beach in North Carolina ever year to find a partner.
Lost Kingdoms of South America (BBC4, 9pm) Documentary on the history and culture of South America's ancient civilisations. Presented by Dr Jago Cooper. (1/4)
Why the Industrial Revolution Happened Here (BBC2, 9.30pm) Documentary exploring the circumstances that led to Britain becoming the world's first industrialised nation, which led to the country growing a dominant global Empire. Presented by Jeremy Black.
PICK OF THE DAY Girls (Sky Atlantic, 10pm) Season 2 of the US comedy-drama about a group of women coping with modern life in Manhattan. Starring Lena Dunham, Allison Williams, Zosia Mamet, Jemima Kirke & Adam Driver. (1/10)
My Mad Fat Diary (E4, 10pm) Sitcom based on a 16-year-old's diary entries. Starring Sharon Rooney, Claire Rushbrook, Bamshad Abedi-Amin, Ciara Baxendale & Eliot-Otis Brown Walters. (1/6)
The 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards (5USA, 10pm) Coverage of 2013's ceremony from the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
How to Make it in America (Sky Atlantic, 10.35pm) Series 2 of the comedy-drama about two hustlers trying to break into the New York fashion scene. Starring Bryan Greenberg, Victor Rasuk, Luis Guzman & Lake Bell. (1/8)


TUESDAY 15th
Locomotion: Dan Snow's History of the Railways (BBC2, 9pm) Brand new series investigating the birth and legacy of Britain's railways, which was the first such network in the world. (1/3)
Yes, Prime Minister (GOLD, 9pm) Remake of the classic '80s political comedy. Starring David Haig, Henry Goodman, Chris Larkin & Zoe Telford. (1/6)
The Sarah Millican's Television Programme (BBC2, 10pm) Series 2 of the comedy chat show. Hosted by Sarah Millican, with guests Craig Revel Horwood & Melanie C. (1/6)
PICK OF THE DAY Utopia (Channel 4, 10pm) Brand new conspiracy thriller about a group of internet forum members who find a manuscript containing accurate predictions and dark secrets, which brings them to the attention of a mysterious group called The Network. Starring Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Alexandra Roach, Wilson Adeel Akhtar, Paul Higgings & Stephen Rea. (1/6)
Harry & Paul's Magnificent Sporting Moments (BBC1, 10.35pm) Mock celebration of sporting stars who got their breakthrough online.


WEDNESDAY 16th
PICK OF THE DAY Funny Business (BBC2, 9pm) Documentary about how many comedians make huge sums of money from corporate gigs and dinner speeches. Narrated by Eddie Mair. (1/3)
Beauty & The Beast (Watch, 9pm) Season 1 of the US drama, based on the fairy tale, about a homicide detective who receives help from a genetically-mutated doctor. Starring Kristin Kreuk & Jay Ryan. (1/22)
True Stories: Saving Face (Channel 4, 10pm) Documentary on the terrible statistic that 100 people in Pakistan, mostly women, are disfigured with acid every year.


THURSDAY 17th
PICK OF THE DAY American Idol (5*, 8pm) Season 12 of the US singing contest, with judges Maria Carey, Nicki Minaj, Karl Urban & Randy Jackson. (1/36)
Inside Death Row with Trevor McDonald (ITV, 9pm) Documentary about the inmates of the Indiana State Prison, focusing on 12 men condemned to be killed. (1/2)
Junior Doctors: Your Life in Their Hands (BBC3, 9pm) Series 3 of the documentary about trainee doctors, this time from a Liverpool hospital. (1/6)
Married in Britain (BBC2, 9.30pm) Documentary about immigrants who get married in the UK.
Way to Go (BBC3, 10pm) Dark comedy about a man who decides to help his terminally ill neighbour end his life, which leads to his two friends setting up an assisted suicide business. Starring Blake Harrison, Marc Wootton, Ben Heathcote, Sinead Matthews, Melanie Jessop & Tom Georgeson. (1/6)


FRIDAY 18th
8 Out of 10 Cats (Channel 4, 9pm) Series 15 of the comedy panel show. Presented by Jimmy Carr with team captains Sean Lock & Jon Richardson. (1/11)
PICK OF THE DAY Paddy's TV Show (Channel 4, 10pm) Brand new series where the comedian searches the TV archives for funny clips based on a weekly theme. (1/8)

SATURDAY 19th
Nothing. Read a book?

SUNDAY 20th
Orbit: Earth's Extraordinary Story (BBC2, 5.30pm) Documentary on our planet's orbit. Presented by Kate Humble & Dr Helen Czerski. (1/3)
PICK OF THE DAY Call the Midwife (BBC1, 8pm) Series 2 of the medical drama set in London's East End during the 1950s. Starring Jessica Raine, Miranda Hart, Pam Ferris, Judy Parfitt & Jenny Agutter. (1/8)