Monday 1 September 2014

TV Picks: 1-7 September 2014 - 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown • Chasing Shadows • Dallas • Dynamo: Magician Impossible • Houdini • Our Zoo, etc.

Monday 1 September 2014

Below are my picks of the most notable new shows, returning or premiering on UK screens over the next 7 days...

MONDAY 1st
Jamie's Comfort Food (Channel 4, 8pm) New culinary series where chef Jamie Oliver puts twists on the nation's favourite dishes. (1/6)
Only Connect (BBC2, 8.30pm) Series 10 of the tough quiz show, transferring from BBC4. Hosted by Victoria Coren. (1/27)
Alex Polizzi: The Fixer (BBC2, 9pm) Series 3 of the show where the hotelier helps more struggling firms. (1/6)
The Human Tissue Squad (BBC3, 9pm) New documentary series looking at a tissue donation team working in Liverpool. (1/2)
21Up: New Generation (BBC1, 10.35pm) Documentary catching up with people's lives every seven years, which began in 2000. (1/2)

TUESDAY 2nd
100k House: Tricks of the Trade (BBC2, 8pm) New series that helps homeowners with ambitious projects. (1/6)
Harry at 30 (ITV, 8pm) Documentary on the Prince, ahead of this 30th birthday.
Gems TV (9pm) Documentary about a jewellery shopping channel that broadcasts 24/7 across Europe and the US.
Educating Joey Essex: Space Cadet (ITV2, 9pm) Special where renowned reality TV star and grade-A idiot Joey Essex travels to the USA and learns about space travel.

WEDNESDAY 3rd
Our Zoo (BBC1, 9pm) New drama based on a true story, about a family who sacrificed many things in order to create Chester Zoo in the 1930s. Starring Lee Ingleby, Liz White, Ralf Little, Stephen Campbell Moore & Sophia Myles. (1/6)
Grand Designs (Channel 4, 9pm) Series 14 of the show about amazing, large-scale building projects. (1/10)
The Gypsy Matchmaker (Channel 4, 10pm) Documentary about the 250,000 Roma gypsies living in the UK who marry under the age of 16.
Wentworth (Channel 5, 10pm) Series 2 of the Australian prison drama. (1/12)

THURSDAY 4th
Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs (ITV, 8.30pm) Series 3 of the show about the work of the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. (1/11)
Chasing Shadows (ITV, 9pm) New crime drama about a missing person's unit specialising in serial killers. Starring Reece Shearsmith, Alex Kingston, Noel Clarke & Don Warrington. (1/4)
Educating the East End (Channel 4, 9pm) Fly-on-the-wall documentary set in a London school. (1/8)
Dynamo: Magician Impossible (Watch, 9pm) Fourth and final series of the magic and illusion show. (1/4)
Dallas (Channel 5, 10pm) Season 3 of the U.S drama revival. (1/15)
So You Think You Can Drive? (BBC1, 10.35pm) Documentary about terrible drivers. Hosted by Dominic Littlewood & Cherry Healey.


FRIDAY 5th
Gino's Italian Escape (ITV, 8pm) Series 2 of the show where chef Gino D'Acampo tours Italy looking at incredible dishes. (1/6)
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (Channel 4, 9pm) Series 4 of the gameshow mash-up. (1/3)

SATURDAY 6th
Richard Attenborough: A Life in Film (BBC2, 4pm) Tribute to the celebrated actor and filmmaker, who recently died.
Pointless Celebrities (BBC1, 4.50pm) Celebrity version of the popular quiz show. (1/10)
Peter Kay: Live & Back on Nights! (Channel 4, 9pm) Documentary series going behind-the-scenes of the stand-up comedian's 2010/11 tour. (1/2)

SUNDAY 7th
Countdown to the Invictus Games: Meet the Warriors (BBC2, 8.15pm) Documentary looking at the launch of the Invictus Games, where wounded servicemen compete at London's Olympic Park.
Houdini (Channel 4, 9pm) Biopic of the famous illusionist and escaplogist Harry Houdini. Starring Adrien Brody, Kristen Connolly, Evan Jones, Szofi Berki, Caroline Boulton & Faye Bradbrook. (1/2)


For a look at what the rest of the year's going to bring,