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WHAT TO WATCH 11-17 July

  • 2 days ago
  • 7 min read

Diane Morgan as a robot? Yes please!



This week's best telly includes Diane Morgan's new BBC comedy Ann Droid, Will Ferrell's new Netflix comedy The Hawk and Heartstopper's final outing.


New dramas The Dark and Lucky launch on ITV1, Netflix and Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer lead Prime Video's new action comedy Ride or Die.


Elsewhere, The Great British Sewing Bee and The Piano all return and The Chase Around the World is the latest The Chase spin-off to air on ITV1.


Here are 9 TV shows you can't miss this week...


1


 BRAND NEW DRAMA

THE DARK


Sunday 12th and Monday 13th July at 9pm on ITVX

Stream on ITVX



Launching this week on ITV1 is The Dark, a chilling new six-part serial killer drama starring Laura Donnelly and Mark Rowley, adapted from GR Halliday’s debut novel, From the Shadows by Matt Hartley.


When the body of a young man is found eerily staged in the idyllic Scottish wilderness, detective Monica Kennedy fears this is just the beginning of a terrifying campaign that will strike the heart of a rural community. As paranoia rises, suspicions and secrets are forced into the light, and the locals start to realise that there is a serial killer hidden amongst them.


With her experience of dealing with the darkest of humanity, Monica Kennedy quickly becomes entangled in a heightened game of cat and mouse with a cunning killer. Only she can stop this monster before he claims any more victims. But when her own history creeps up on her, she begins to lose trust in her own judgement. Will her own actions be the biggest risk to herself and her family?


The series also stars Stella Gonet, Tamsin Jordan, Tunji Kasim, Emun Elliott and Helen Baxendale.


2


 RETURNING COMPETITION SHOW

THE PIANO


Sunday 12th July at 9pm on Channel 4

Stream on Channel 4



The Piano returns to Channel 4 this week for its fourth series, with Claudia Winkleman back alongside Mika, as the nation's favourite instrument takes centre stage once more.


Another round of amateur pianists will perform on public pianos in major UK train stations across the UK, sharing their musical stories with passers-by, and in a first for The Piano, the duo will be accompanied by a chart-topping, star-studded line-up of five different seasoned musicians.


Names include Tiffany Poon, Jools Holland OBE, Hiromi, Alice Sara Ott and Jamie Cullum, with Jon Batiste making a return to help mentor the cohort of home-grown pianists.


This series will reach the crescendo that is the final concert at Birmingham Symphony Hall, widely considered one of the finest concert halls in the world.


3


 RETURNING COMPETITION SHOW

THE GREAT BRITISH SEWING BEE


Tuesday 14th July at 8pm on BBC One

Stream on BBC iPlayer



The Great British Sewing Bee returns to BBC One this week for its twelfth series, with new host Sophie Willan taking the helm as 12 of the country’s best home sewers create exquisite and imaginative garments, under the keen eyes of judges Esme Young and Patrick Grant, competing to be crowned winner of the Sewing Bee crown.


In the opening week, judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young set three challenges on the theme of the British summer. First up, the Pattern Challenge sees them crafting summer shorts with a patch pocket. And in the 90-minute Transformation Challenge, barbecue aprons become bags.


Finally, in a Sewing Bee first, the Made-to-Measure challenge sees the sewers tasked with creating garments to fit themselves. They become their own models as they make outfits for their ideal summer’s day, and once complete, the catwalk is all theirs.


One sewer will impress and earn Garment of the Week, but for another, it’s the end of the road as they leave the sewing room for good.


4


 BRAND NEW DRAMA

LUCKY


Wednesday 15th July on Apple TV



Launching this week on Apple TV is Lucky, a new seven-part drama based on Marissa Stapley's bestselling novel of the same name, and starring Anya Yaylor-Joy in the title role.


Lucky follows what happens when a multi-million-dollar heist goes sideways, and con artist Lucky is forced to go on the run. Pursued by both the FBI and a ruthless crime boss, Lucky must fight for her life and a way out.


The series also stars Annette Bening, Timothy Olyphant, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Drew Starkey, Clifton Collins Jr. and William Fichtner.


5


 BRAND NEW ACTION-COMEDY

RIDE OR DIE


Wednesday 15th July on Prime Video



Launching this week on Prime Video is Ride or Die, a new eight-part action comedy starring Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer as best friends Debbie Claybourne and Judith Burton.


They both thought they knew everything about each other, except that Judith turns out to be an international assassin. And when a mysterious figure emerges from her past and a hit goes horribly wrong, both of their worlds are turned upside down as they’re forced to go on the run together.


It’s a race against time and a road trip across Europe, with law enforcement, highly trained assassins, and some very dangerous criminals at their heels.


The series also stars Bill Nighy, Ed Skrein, Sylvia Hoeks, Calam Lynch, Savannah Steyn and Jamie Parker.


6


 BRAND NEW COMEDY

THE HAWK


Thursday 16th July on Netflix



Launching this week on Netflix is The Hawk, a new 10-part comedy starring Will Ferrell as 2004's number one golfer Lonnie "The Hawk" Hawkins.


Struggling on the back nine of his career to recapture his magic, Lonnie's body says retire, but his heart says he's not done yet. His ex-wife and his son Lance, golf's new golden boy, know he's through. But with one more major to win to complete golf's Grand Slam, Lonnie refuses to believe he's anything other than one stroke away from the greatest comeback in golf history.


The series also stars Molly Shannon, Jimmy Tatro, Fortune Feimster, Luke Wilson, Chris Parnell, Katelyn Tarver and David Hornsby.


7


 BRAND NEW COMPETITION SHOW

THE CHASE AROUND THE WORLD


Thursday 16th July at 9pm on ITV1

Stream on ITVX



Launching this week on ITV1 is The Chase Around the World, a new quiz adventure latest spin-off of ITV's hit quiz show format The Chase, in which Bradley and The Chasers escape the studio and challenge contestants to the smartest road trip in the world, where the more you know… the further you go.


Six pairs are setting off on an epic chase around some of the world’s most incredible cities, in a bid to win the £100,000 prize and first up it's the eternal city of Rome.


Chasers The Beast and The Governess, have set a series of quiz questions, puzzles and cryptic clues that the teams must solve in order to navigate their way across the city and find Bradley at the finish line.


Their route could take them to some of Rome’s iconic landmarks, such as the Colosseum, the Trevi fountain and the Spanish Steps. The teams must answer questions correctly to complete the course, but they better be correct, as wrong answers have serious consequences, costing them time and taking them off-course.

Competition is fierce as the team that finishes last in each city will face a head-to-head showdown with the Chasers themselves. In Rome, the Beast and The Governess await. And the final pair will need to beat them to stay in the competition. Lose, and it’s the first flight home.


Contestants are mother and daughter duo Nicola and Maddie, sisters Kati and Amy, newly engaged couple Dilan and Emily, father and son duo David and Steven, friends Matt and Cery and former The Family Chase contestants, father and daughter, Ashwin and Nikita.


8


 FEATURE-LENGTH FINALE

HEARTSTOPPER FOREVER


Friday 17th July on Netflix



Heartstopper returns to Netflix this week for its final outing, in a feature-length special titled Heartstopper Forever, and it's a new school year for the Truham-Higgs gang. As Nick and Charlie's relationship deepens, their thoughts turn to life after the last bell rings.


In this final film, Nick and Charlie are inseparable, but with Nick preparing to leave for university and Charlie finding new independence at school, the reality of a long-distance relationship begins to weigh on them.


Doubts take hold, and their relationship faces its biggest challenge yet. Meanwhile, their friends are also navigating the ups and downs of love and friendship, confronting the bittersweet challenges of growing up and moving on. Can first loves really last forever?


Joining all the series regulars will be Sir Derek Jacobi in a cameo role, and Anna Maxwell-Martin, who takes on the role of Nick's mother Sarah Nelson, previously played by Olivia Colman.


9


 BRAND NEW COMEDY

ANN DROID


Friday 17th July at 9.30pm on BBC One

Stream on BBC iPlayer



Launching this week on BBC One is Ann Droid, a new six-part comedy written by Diane Morgan and Sarah Kendall, about an unlikely friendship between a widow and her robot.


In Ann Droid, Sue Johnston plays grieving widow Linda, whilst Diane Morgan plays her outdated care robot who gets things very wrong and causes chaos while also teaching Sue how to love life again.


It’s 2029. Sue’s husband David passed away 18 months ago, and her only son, Michael, played by Paul Ready, is moving out to try to fix his marriage again. But the good news is he’s got Sue a surprise to help her live independently, a care provider with a difference.


A second-hand AnnDroid Z58/100 Basic Eldercare Robot, created to keep the ageing population company and monitor their health, taking the pressure off the ever-stretched NHS.


It’s Sue’s worst nightmare. An overly attentive, socially inept pain in the arse. But she soon works out she can use the droid to her benefit in settling scores and doing the things her son never gets around to.


What develops is a buddy comedy between an older woman and her robot who isn’t quite as advanced socially as she is technically.



 
 
 

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