A bumper week of new telly!
This week's best telly sees not one, not two, but FIVE of television's most popular shows return, including this year's Strictly launch show, the longest-ever series of Married at First Sight UK, the SIXTEENTH series of Taskmaster, the final series of Sex Education and the return of once-axed Australian soap Neighbours.
If you fancy trying something new, Mawaan Rizwan's surreal comedy Juice bursts onto BBC Three and demands your attention, Apple TV+ launch their new "almost romantic comedy" Still Up and the postponed launch episode of Celebrity Race Across the World finally airs.
And if you've been anywhere near social media in the last 24 hours, you'd have seen that Channel 4 are airing a Dispatches special investigation into Russell Brand's treatment of women.
Here are 9 TV shows you can't miss this week...
1. Strictly Come Dancing
Saturday 16th September at 6.35pm on BBC One
Strictly Come Dancing is back for its 21st series as hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman and judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse welcome 15 brand new celebrities to the Strictly ballroom, bringing glitter, glamour and glorious dancing back into homes across the nation.
In this year's launch show, we'll find out who each of the 15 celebrities have been partnered with as well as three epic routines from the Strictly professionals, including what promises to be an unmissable group number with all four judges, as well as a group number with this year's celebs!
Also, current Strictly champions Hamza and Jowita will be making a triumphant return to the famous ballroom and Jessie Ware will perform one of her biggest hits.
1/13 Continues weekly
2. Russell Brand: In Plain Sight: Dispatches
Saturday 16th September at 9pm on Channel 4
A 90-minute special Dispatches investigation into Russell Brand's treatment of women.
1/1
3. Neighbours
Monday 18th to Thursday 21st September on Amazon Freevee
In July 2022, after 37 years on our screens, millions came together to watch the finale of Australia’s longest-running drama, Neighbours. The 90-minute finale saw a number of returning favourites, including Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan who returned as lovebirds Charlene and Scott.
However, just over three months later, it was confirmed by Amazon Freevee that the series will be returning to television, with a new series that will follow the events of the finale and serves as a continuation of the long-running daily drama series about the lives, loves, and challenges of the residents on Ramsay Street in Erinsborough, Australia, a fictional suburb of Melbourne.
The new series will star Alan Fletcher, Annie Jones, Candice Leask, Emerald Chan, Georgie Stone, Jackie Woodburne, Lloyd Will, Lucinda Armstrong Hall, Lucinda Cowden, Marley Williams, Naomi Rukavina, Rebekah Elmaloglou, Riley Bryant, Ryan Moloney, Sara West, Shiv Palekar, Stefan Dennis, Tim Kano, and Xavier Molyneux as series regulars.
Whilst April Rose Pengilly, Guy Pearce, Ian Smith, Jodi Gordon, Melissa Bell, and Mischa Barton will feature as guest stars.
1-4/ Continues nightly
4. Married at First Sight UK
Monday 18th to Thursday 21st September at 9pm on E4
There's an abundance of reality television on our screens this autumn, and one of those shows we're bound to become obsessed with is the new series of Married At First Sight UK and this time it promises to be the most exciting, daring, drama-packed relationship format on television with a bumper 36 episodes! Making it the longest series to date.
As ever, the couples will be making a lifelong commitment to one another at a glamorous ceremony, overseen by a wedding celebrant, that includes guests, bridal gowns, dancing, speeches and cake.
After the ceremony and celebrations are over, true love is well and truly put to the test, as they embark on a luxurious honeymoon, before moving in with each other AND their fellow couples.
Relationships will be put under the microscope, by fellow brides and grooms at weekly dinner parties – as well as by the experts, at recurring commitment ceremonies, where couples choose whether they want to stay in or leave the process.
All this and more will build to a dramatic series finale: glossy, high-stakes vow renewals, in which each couple must decide if they will recommit to their partner or go their separate ways, for good.
In the opening episode, the new brides and grooms will come together at the Stag and Hen parties to celebrate their last night of freedom, But what will they all make of each other? And as the first weddings of the series commence, one bride's protective sister grills the groom, while another faces a shock at the end of the altar that threatens to put her off her brand-new husband for good!
Married at First Sight UK would not be complete without its trusted relationship experts and thankfully, Melanie Schilling, Paul C. Brunson and Charlene Douglas are all back to match the couples and guide them through the process.
1-4/36 Continues nightly
5. Juice
Monday 18th September at 10pm & 10.30pm on BBC Three
Written and created by Mawaan Rizwan, BBC Three's superb new surreal comedy Juice follows Jamma on his quest for attention as he navigates chaotic family dynamics and literally stumbles through love.
Mum Farida, played by Mawaan's real-life mother Shahnaz Rizwan, always makes everything about her, whilst Dad Saif, played by Jeff Mirza, ignores him and brother Isaac, played by Mawaan's real-life brother Nabhaan Rizwan, steals the limelight at work, the one place Jamma feels like he’s doing well.
And when he finally does get the validation from boyfriend Guy, played by Russell Tovey, he can’t handle it and when Jamma’s emotions peak the world physically transforms around him.
1-2/6 Continues weekly. All episodes available from 6am
6. Celebrity Race Across The World
Wednesday 20th September at 9pm on BBC One
With three hit series of Race Across The World on the BBC, it was only a matter of time before a celebrity series emerged and this week four celebrities and a family member will be racing to a finish line that’s thousands of miles away, without the use of air travel or any trappings of modern-day life.
Taking part are broadcaster Alex Beresford and his dad, Noel, singer Mel Blatt and her mum, Helene, McFly drummer Harry Judd and his mum, Emma and British Racing Driver and pundit Billy Monger and his sister, Bonny.
Starting in Marrakech, Morocco, the most north-western country in Africa, and ending in Tromsø, Norway, known as the Arctic capital, the epic journey will span 24 countries and over 10,000 km.
The route will see the pairs race through every landscape and culture that this part of the world has to offer: from the great North African city of Marrakech, through the seaside ports and beaches of the Mediterranean, to unrivalled historic and cosmopolitan cities, the mighty Alps, unexplored Central Europe, the fairy-tale Baltic States, and snowy Scandinavia.
Stripped of all mod-cons and all luxuries, the celebs and their partners will have to rely on their skills, cunning, ingenuity, and hard work in order to succeed. Without the use of credit cards, smartphones or access to the internet and with just the cash equivalent of completing the route to their final destination by air, they will have to earn extra money along the way as well as call upon the kindness of strangers to help them progress.
PLEASE NOTE: This episode was originally due to air last week, but in light of the earthquake in Morocco, the BBC decided to postpone the first episode which was filmed in Marrakesh.
1/6 Continues weekly
7. Sex Education
Thursday 21st September on Netflix
All good things must come to an end, and this week that's true for Sex Education which returns to Netflix for its fourth and final series, promising love, laughter, tears, friendship, new relationships... (and old).
Following the closure of Moordale Secondary, Otis and Eric now face a new frontier, their first day at Cavendish Sixth Form College. Otis is nervous about setting up his new clinic, whilst Eric is praying they won’t be losers again. But Cavendish is a culture shock for all the Moordale students - they thought they were progressive but this new college is another level.
There’s daily yoga in the communal garden, a strong sustainability vibe and a group of kids who are popular for being… kind?! Viv is totally thrown by the college’s student-led, non-competitive approach, while Jackson is still struggling to get over Cal.
Aimee tries something new by taking an Art A-Level and Adam grapples with whether mainstream education is for him. Over in the US, Maeve is living her dream at the prestigious Wallace University, being taught by cult author Thomas Molloy.
Otis is pining after her, whilst adjusting to not being an only child at home, or the only therapist on campus…
1-8/8 All episodes available at launch
8. Taskmaster
Thursday 21st September at 9pm on Channel 4
This week sees Taskmaster make another triumphant return to Channel 4 with Taskmaster Greg Davies once again perched on his gilded throne, ready to pass merciless judgement on five brand-new comics hoping to win his favour by completing fiendish tasks.
Hoping to win Greg's glittering golden noggin this series are Julian Clary, Lucy Beaumont, Sam Campbell, Sue Perkins and Susan Wokoma. And as always, Little Alex Horne is there to assist Greg in any and every way possible.
In the opening episode, Greg slaps Alex because of peas. Lucy Beaumont marvels at a canned blindfold. And everyone tries to put a big duck in a lake.
1/10 Continues weekly
9. Still Up
Friday 22nd September on Apple TV+
Described as an "almost romantic comedy", Apple TV+'s newest series Still Up stars Antonia Thomas and Craig Roberts as best friends Lisa and Danny.
Bonded by insomnia, they stay connected to each other late into the night and find their way through a world of wonderfully weird surprises as their relationship deepens. The only secret they've kept from one another are their true feelings for each other.
Still Up also stars Blake Harrison, Lois Chimimba, Luke Fetherston and Rich Fulcher.
1-3/8 Continues weekly