Lorna Cooper, TV Editor |  |
Set The Video
Our pick of the week's TV
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Monday September 28: FlashForward - Five
, 9pm
The next Lost? If any show is going to take the title, it must surely be this much-anticipated new drama from the same makers.
Joseph Fiennes stars as FBI agent Mark Benford, who is in pursuit of a criminal when he blacks out at the wheel of his car and crashes.
When he awakes, it is to a scene of utter devastation. As the FBI, and others around the globe, try to piece together exactly what has happened, ruling out a terrorist attack or a natural phenomenon, Mark points out that what he experienced wasn't exactly a blackout, but a glimpse into his future. Let's see if this show lives up to the hype.
Tuesday September 29: How To Look Good Naked - Channel 4, 8pm
Despair in front of the mirror no longer, gorgeous girls - it's time to fall in love with your bodies. Stylist superstar Gok Wan returns for a brand new series in a bid to encourage the nation's women to embrace their bodies. In this opening episode Gok transforms mum Margaret (aged 62) and daughter Maria (aged 39). Can Gok build their confidence and persuade them to bear all?
Tuesday September 29: CSI Miami - Five, 9pm
In tonight's episode, Alexx Wood comes back when a murderer puts Ryan's and Calleigh's lives at risk. Watch out for a great scene in which Eric Delko puts together a knocked-up fingerprint kit. As usual, David Caruso finds great backdrops to pose against. Give the man his due though, he does it very well.
Tuesday September 29: To Catch a Paedophile - ITV1, 10.35pm
I hate watching these types of shows - too disturbing. However, I force myself to do so because they are always compelling. The final instalment in which child protection expert Mark Williams-Thomas follows officers in the Metropolitan Police's Paedophile Unit. We see at first hand the tricks these devious and depraved individuals use to entice children for sex.
Wednesday September 30: UEFA Champions League - ITV1, 7.30pm
Manchester United take on German champions Wolfsburg at Old Trafford. Steve Rider presents with Andy Townsend and Teddy Sheringham. Commentary is by Peter Drury and Jim Beglin.
Wednesday September 30: Mobo Awards 2009 - BBC Three, 9pm
I remember the days when this award ceremony was on terrestrial TV. Oh well. For the first time, the Mobo Awards are being held in Glasgow. Performances on the night include Chipmunk featuring Flawless, JLS, Diversity and Jermaine Jackson. There is also a tribute to Michael Jackson. This year, nominees include: Alesha Dixon, JLS, Eminem and Beyoncé. Your host is Reggie Yates.
Thursday October 1: EastEnders
- BBC1, 7.30pm
It's not often that I highlight the soaps but this episode of EastEnders boasts a cameo from Boris Johnson. London's Mayor is gonna be in the Old Vic. You know you can't miss it…
Thursday October 1: The Jaycee Lee Story
- Channel 4, 9pm
We all gasped in collective disbelief at the news that a girl kidnapped as an 11-year-old had been found living in captivity 18 years later. If that wasn't shocking enough, it soon emerged that Phillip Garrido, the beast accused of the abduction, had repeatedly raped her and fathered her two children.
This Cutting Edge film features interviews with some of those closest to Jaycee, including family members. The team also speak to the investigators involved in the case to piece together one of the most incredible missing persons stories in history.
Friday October 2: Derren Brown: How To Beat A Casino - Channel 4, 9pm
In this fourth and final episode in the series, Derren is once again playing with the odds as he puts £5,000 of a viewer's savings at stake on the spin of a roulette wheel. If he's successful, one viewer out there could be £175,000 better off as a result. However, the audience member will not know if it is his or her money until Derren phones them up at the end of the show.
Friday October 2: Peep Show - Channel 4, 10pm
Peep Show's perpetual unfortunates Mark (David Mitchell) and Jeremy (Robert Webb) are the dictionary definition of the phrase 'lovable losers'. They always seem to snatch misery from the jaws of happiness. Mark is divorced and still living with Jeremy in their poxy London flat. And, if you thought that was bad, one of them is the father of Sophie's unborn baby. The possibility of impending fatherhood hasn't dampened Jeremy's libido, and he has set his sights on wooing the lovely Elena. Bittersweet, biting comedy.
Friday October 2: Friday Night With Streisand and Ross - BBC1, 10pm
What's it all about? Well, in a nutshell, Barbra Streisand. The entire programme is dedicated to her and her illustrious career. According to her spokesperson, it's the first time she's done a studio interview since Des O'Connor in the 1980s. What she'll make of Wossy's style of interviewing is anybody's guess. She'll be discussing her work and performing songs from her new album Love is the Answer.
Saturday October 3: Merlin - BBC1, 6.15pm
Someone has poisoned Camelot's water supply. As a terrible sickness spreads through Camelot, Uther (Anthony Head) demands to know the cause. Gauis (Richard Wilson) is forced to admit that it is a magical plague and Uther orders Arthur (Bradley James) to find the culprit. Colin Morgan stars as Merlin and watch out for beautiful witch, Nimueh played by Michelle Ryan, ex EastEnder and ex Bionic Woman.
Saturday October 3
: Strictly Come Dancing - BBC1, 7pm
Strictly Come Dancing's 14 celebs battle it out for the first time this series. They'll be dancing either a quickstep or the paso doble. By the end of the show, another star's Strictly journey will be over. Your hosts, as ever, are Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly.
Saturday October 3: X Factor - ITV1, 8pm
Here we go again. Who will be this year's Leona Lewis (X Factor winner with career still flourishing) and who will be this year's Leon Jackson (X Factor winner dropped by the record label)? This weekend, the contestants head to the judges' homes: Simon is in Los Angeles, Cheryl is in Marrakech, Louis is in Italy and Dannii is in Dubai. Your host is Dermot O'Leary.
★ The group will be whittled down to 12 on the Sunday show, October 4 at 8pm
Sunday October 4: Emma - BBC1, 9pm
I love Jane Austen; Pride and Prejudice is one of my favourite novels ever. But even I'm weary at the thought of yet another Austen adaptation. Can't we have someone else for a change? Anyway, this four-part adaptation is about rich, spirited Emma Woodhouse who delights in matchmaking those around her. Against the advice of family friend Mr Knightley, Emma persuades sweet Harriet Smith that she is too good for her suitor, farmer Robert Martin. Starring Romola Garai, Jonny Lee Miller, Michael Gambon and Tamsin Greig.
Sunday October 4: House - Sky1, 9pm
Doctor Gregory House (the totally amazing Hugh Laurie) is a brilliant diagnostician respected for his unconventional thinking and flawless instincts. He thrives on the challenge of solving medical puzzles in order to save lives. But he's not a people person…
By the end of season five, House had: lost his father, struggled with the suicide of bright fellow Kutner (Kal Penn), seen his addiction to pain medication spiral out of control and hallucinated conversations with best friend Wilson's (Robert Sean Leonard) dead girlfriend Amber (Anne Dudek). The final straw was an imagined sexual encounter with love interest and sparring partner Dr Lisa Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein). House hung up his stethoscope and headed to a psychiatric hospital. The doctor is now the patient.
Broken is a two-hour episode but Sky1 is showing it in two parts - bummer. However, look out for the wonderful Andre Braugher as Dr Darryl Nolan, House's attending physician. Actor Lin-Manuel Miranda is heartrending as manic depressive roommate Alvie and The Bourne Identity's Franka Potente is note-perfect as Lydia, the woman House finds comfort with. This is Hugh Laurie's acting tour de force and although it's a little schmaltzy in places, it kicks off the new season in powerful style.
The views in this column are those of the author alone and not of MSN or Microsoft
Please note that listings are correct at time of publish, but are subject to change
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