This week's best telly includes back-to-back entertainment with the return of TV juggernauts Strictly Come Dancing and The Great British Bake Off, as well as Taskmaster, The Last Leg and the highly-anticipated revival of Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Plus Martin Clunes returns in the second series of hit ITV drama Manhunt.
Here are 7 TV shows you can't miss this week...
1. Strictly Come Dancing
Saturday 18th September at 7.45pm on BBC One
In this year's Strictly Come Dancing launch show, hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will be welcoming our celebrity contestants onto the Strictly dancefloor for the very first time as they make their dancing debut and we discover which professional dancer they will be paired with.
The celebrities waltzing onto our screens this year are Adam Peaty, AJ Odudu, Dan Walker, Greg Wise, John Whaite, Judi Love, Katie McGlynn, Nina Wadia, Rhys Stephenson, Robert Webb, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Sara Davies, Tilly Ramsey, Tom Fletcher and Ugo Monye.
Once the pairings have been announced the celebrities and professionals will perform an eye-catching group routine, launching the new series in style and reigning champion Bill Bailey returns to the Strictly ballroom and there's a spectacular music performance from Anne Marie.
And there'll be two incredible routines from the Strictly professionals, one of which will introduce you to our four brand new dancers - Cameron Lombard, Jowita Przystal, Kai Widdrington, Nikita Kuzmin - who join returning professionals; Aljaž Škorjanec, Amy Dowden, Dianne Buswell, Giovanni Pernice, Gorka Marquez, Graziano Di Prima, Johannes Radebe, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Luba Mushtuk, Nadiya Bychkova, Nancy Xu, Neil Jones, and Oti Mabuse.
Returning to the judging panel this year are Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas, and they'll be joined by Anton Du Beke, who'll be swapping his dance shoes for scoring paddles as he joins the judging panel for the entire series.
1/14 Continues weekly
2. Manhunt II: The Night Stalker
Monday 20th - Thursday 23rd September at 9pm on ITV
Martin Clunes returns as former London Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Inspector, Colin Sutton in a sequel to the critically acclaimed drama Manhunt, which averaged 9 million viewers on ITV and was the highest-rated new drama on any channel in 2019.
The first series saw DCI Sutton tenaciously pursue serial killer Levi Bellfield and as Manhunt returns, it tells the real-life story of the police pursuit of the 'Night Stalker', a notorious serial burglar and rapist active in South-East London, who first offended in 1992 and continued his reign of terror in 2009 before DCI Sutton solved the case and took him off the streets.
His attacks are unique and bear similar hallmarks, light bulbs taken out to ensure darkness and entire panes of glass removed from windows. Dressed entirely in black and masked by a balaclava, he targets elderly victims and subjects them to terrifying ordeals, whilst also robbing them. His 17-year reign of terror left thousands of elderly people in South East London living in fear.
Detective Chief Superintendent Hamish Campbell is tasked by the newly appointed Metropolitan Police Commissioner, to carry out a review as to why a lengthy and expensive enquiry, Operation Minstead, has failed to catch the Night Stalker, causing fear and panic in the public.
DCS Campbell calls on Detective Chief Inspector Colin Sutton to take a look at the case to see if there are any avenues of investigation that have been missed over the years. There is a worry from Colin’s old team, voiced by DS Clive Grace, that Colin is being given a poisoned chalice with this unsolvable case.
1-4/4 Continues nightly
3. The Great British Bake Off
Tuesday 21st September at 8pm on Channel 4
The Great British Bake Off is back as 12 new bakers make their way into a brand-new bubble in the nation's most famous tent as Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas lead the latest batch of bakers through 30 brand-new challenges set by judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.
The series kicks off with Cake Week. In the bakers' first opportunity to impress the judges, they're challenged to produce 12 perfect mini rolls in the signature. Under the gingham cloth lie the ingredients for the first technical - a nostalgic teatime classic.
And finally, in a showstopper that gives the bakers a chance to express their technical creativity, they must create cakes designed to defy the laws of physics.
Twelve bakers in the bubble. Three challenges. Who will be crowned star baker and who will be going home?
1/10
4. Never Mind the Buzzcocks
Tuesday 21st September at 9pm on Sky Max
Seven years since Never Mind the Buzzcocks was last on television, Sky Max are reviving the iconic BBC Two pop culture panel show with new host Greg Davies, new team captain Daisy May Cooper and returning team captain and Buzzcocks veteran, Noel Fielding. Plus comedian Jamali Maddix will appear throughout the series as a regular guest.
Joining them will be a roster of top stars from the world of music and comedy as they test their wits against classic rounds returning for the new series along with some new surprises.
In the first episode of the series, Daisy May Cooper welcomes singer Anne-Marie and Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall to her team as they go head-to-head against Noel Fielding, series regular Jamali Maddix and comedian Nish Kumar.
In true Buzzcocks style, the episode covers an eclectic mix of music-related mayhem, from discussing Liam Gallagher’s and Steve Tyler’s strange claims to identifying members of Bucks Fizz and N-Trance.
1/8 Continues weekly
5. RuPaul Drag Race UK
Thursday 23rd September at 7pm on BBC Three
After a Covid-forced delay that saw series two pushed back to January, the series is back just six months after Lawrence Chaney was crowned the series two winner as over the course of 10 weeks, 12 fabulous drag queens will compete to be crowned The UK’s Next Drag Race Superstar.
In this opening episode, Judge Supremo, RuPaul welcomes a brand new set of queens into the werkroom for the first time, sets them their first cheeky challenge, and asks them to take to the runway to serve not one, but two looks. There is an air of excitement in the studio as everyone wants to impress Ru… and no one wants to be asked to lip-sync for their lives.
And Matt Lucas joins Michelle Visage and Graham Norton on the judging panel to help RuPaul determine who will be the first queen to sashay away…
1/10 Continues weekly
6. Taskmaster
Thursday 23rd September at 9pm on Channel 4
Taskmaster Greg Davies and his loyal sidekick, Alex Horne are back for the 12th series of Taskmaster as five brave souls compete in a series of seemingly pointless tasks to win Greg's regal golden head.
In this series, Alan Davies, Desiree Burch, Guz Khan, Morgana Robinson and Victoria Coren Mitchell will each be testing their ingenuity, dexterity and calmness under extreme pressure.
Whoever does best at slathering stuff on space hoppers, hurling household appliances and digging through doggy bags will become the 12th Taskmaster champion and, more importantly, the apple of the Taskmaster's eye.
In the opening episode, Greg and Alex welcome the five fresh competitors desperate to lay their sticky mitts on Greg's coveted golden head-trophy with tasks featuring creepers, catapults and one (fake) cactus.
1/10 Continues weekly
7. The Last Leg
Friday 24th September at 10pm on Channel 4
Fresh from their recent sojourn covering the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe are back live in the studio for the 23rd series of The Last Leg.
Offering their unmatched satirical insight into current world events, Adam, Alex and Josh will once again be joined by guests from the worlds of comedy, entertainment and politics to help them dissect the biggest news stories of the week.
As ever, the hashtag #isitok paves the way for the gang to round up, examine and explain the leading and most entertaining news stories via their acerbic wit, enlightening discussions and unique sketches.
1/ Continues weekly