This week's best telly includes the return of hit dramas The Larkins and Gangs of London, the launch of new dramas Somewhere Boy and The House Across the Street, plus Judi Love's eye-opening documentary, Ben Elton's Friday Night Live revival and Zeze Millz and Yinka Bokinni return with a second series of Unapologetic.
Here are 7 TV shows you can't miss this week...
1. The Larkins
Sunday 16th October at 8pm on ITV
After a successful first series and Christmas special, The Larkins is back for a second series and it's the summer of 1959, Bradley Walsh and Joanna Scanlan are back as Pop and Ma, and their many children, including Baby Oscar, are preparing for another riotous school holidays.
Only Mariette is missing, zigzagging across Europe on her honeymoon with Charley and Primrose is leaving school and planning a career as a journalist. With Ma’s help, she lands a job at The Mid Kent Times. She’s also looking for love which comes in the handsome shape of Rev Candy who arrives in the parish much to the chagrin of gnarled old Vicar who is determined to exploit his new housemate.
The other newcomers are Pinkie Jerebohm and her waspish husband, played by Morgana Robinson and Julian Rhind-Tutt as well as their two dreadful children. They are determined to buy the crumbling mansion Bluff Court from Pop Larkin but then regret paying such a high price. When Pop won’t give them a refund the Jerebohms vow revenge. First by taking up shooting, increasingly loudly and then, with the help of Alec Norman, by entrapping Pop.
1/6 Continues weekly
2. Somewhere Boy
Sunday 16th to Wednesday 19th October at 10pm on Channel 4
From the makers of The End of the F***ing World, Channel 4's new drama Somewhere Boy has been written by Pete Jackson and tells the story of Danny, played by newcomer Lewis Gribben, whose mum was killed in a car crash when he was a baby.
Overwhelmed with grief, his dad Steve, played by Rory Keenan, bought a house in the middle of nowhere and locked Danny in, telling him the world outside was full of monsters waiting to take him away. Just like they took his mum.
Steve thought he’d done the right thing, bringing Danny up safe and warm, away from murderers and wars and drugs and arsehole governments and burgers and evil. For eighteen years they just stayed in, listening to Benny Goodman records and watching old movies with no sad endings. And that’s how Danny grew up. It was all he knew. And he was happy.
But when Danny turns eighteen his whole world, everything he’s ever known explodes in an instant and he has to come to terms with a new world he never knew existed. Danny is taken to live with his well-meaning but stressed-out aunt Sue, played by Lisa McGrillis, and cousin Aaron, played by Samuel Bottomley and finds the real monster, the one that killed his mum.
1-8/8 Continues nightly with two episodes. All episodes available at launch
3. The House Across The Street
Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th October at 9pm on Channel 5
Channel 5's latest drama stars Shirley Henderson as Claudia, a lonely single mother, overlooked by her community and unable to get through to her son, who longs for connection. Her opportunity comes when a young local child, Emily Winter, goes missing.
Claudia becomes embroiled in the case, leading search efforts, and fixating on uncovering the truth herself. She finds herself connected to more than one suspect: her ex-husband Leon, aggressive neighbour Dave and his overly-earnest wife Joanne, and secretive teacher George who has recently moved to the area, played by Craig Parkinson.
Her fascination quickly turns to obsession, not only with Emily but also with Emily’s family at the heart of the case: her handsome and grief-stricken father, Owen; her cold mother Sabine; and her twelve-year-old brother, Dean. As Claudia’s compulsive investigation gets out of hand, she uncovers an even darker truth hiding in the house across the street.
1-2/4 Continues weekly
4. Judi Love: Black, Female and Invisible
Monday 17th October at 11.05pm on Channel 4
Comedian and presenter Judi Love discovers she has managed to defy the odds stacked against most Black women living in the UK today. Damning figures point to profound inequalities in health, education, work, and other key aspects of life.
On an eye-opening and emotional journey, Judi discovers the real stories behind the statistics - as well as the inspirational women, determined to change things for the next generation with innovative and practical solutions.
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5. Unapologetic
Wednesday 19th October at 11.05pm on Channel 4
Yinka Bokinni and Zeze Millz are back with a second series of Unapologetic, the talk show that explores the topics many are scared to discuss publicly for fear of being 'cancelled'.
In this series, they'll be joined by panellists who are driving these discussions in the social media space, and guests with real-life experience of the issues under debate. Following John Boyega's statement in GQ that he 'only dates Black', polarising debates erupted across social media. Dating preferences have always been contentious. But when race is brought in, it explodes to a whole new level.
Zeze and Yinka will ask if it's racist to have a racial dating preference, or is it no different to only dating blondes or brunettes? And they talk to a man who was fetishised by White women who only date Black.
Also, has there ever been a better time to be an illicit lover? With the rise of Carrie Johnson, Queen Consort Camilla, and Will Smith's recent love triangle, has the role of the lover changed? Do we judge mistresses differently to male lovers?
Other debates include the perils of 'clout chasing', the reckless pursuit of online followers, and whether it's a copout to blame your star sign for your behaviour.
1/ Continues weekly
6. Gangs of London
Thursday 20th October at _pm on Sky Atlantic
The second series of Gangs of London takes place one year after the death of Sean Wallace and the violent reckonings of series one and the map and soul of London has been redrawn.
The surviving Wallaces are scattered, the Dumanis broken and estranged, and Elliot is now being forced to work for the Investors.
As the Investors look down on a city sliding into chaos they decide enough is enough and bring in reinforcements to restore control. Old favourites and new players fight back against the new order, forcing sworn enemies to work together and family members to betray each other. Who will win the battle for London’s soul?
1/8 Continues weekly
7. Friday Night Live
Friday 21st October at 9pm on Channel 4
34 years since it last aired, Friday Night Live is returning for one night only to mark Channel 4’s 40th anniversary as Ben Elton returns as ringmaster, reuniting the game-changing architects of anarchy who broke through in the 80s, blending their ground-breaking comedy exploits with today's trailblazers currently storming the circuit.
The original legendary show ran from 1985 to 1988 and launched a plethora of world-class comedy talent, and on Friday night, host Ben Elton will be joined by friends from the original series such as Harry Enfield, Julian Clary and Jo Brand.
They'll also be joined by new friends from today's circuit including Rosie Jones, Mawaan Rizwan, Jordan Gray, Ronni Ancona and Sam Campbell, who will be giving us a mixture of topical sketches and incredible stand-up, plus there'll be live music courtesy of Self Esteem.
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