This week’s best telly includes the 23rd National Television Awards along with a host of shows that will be hoping to make next year’s shortlist.
Here are the 7 shows you have to watch this week...
1. First Dates Hotel
Monday 22nd January at 10pm on Channel 4
I’m a huge fan of First Dates, and have been since the very first series and the second series of First Dates Hotel has breathed new life into the solid dating format as British singletons search for a slice of amore in the Italian sun.
This week, with his shades, six-pack and stylish man-bag, 36-year-old Darill is the epitome of 'daddy cool’ and after spending a few days enjoying the poolside views his big day arrives: a date with 26-year-old single mum Millie. They seem well matched but there are certain things you shouldn't say on a date.
Meanwhile, 44-year-old school science technician and former Jehovah's Witness Esther and 43-year-old electrician Lawrence bond over parenting, his life as a widower, and her eight years of being single, and exchange a couple of thoughtful gifts. And retired psychic Marie is keen to make friends with everyone at the hotel, but her ideal man is someone no one could have predicted
3/10
2. The National Television Awards
Tuesday 23rd January at 7:30pm on ITV
Tuesday night sees one of the biggest nights in the TV calendar take place, The National Television Awards which in its 23rd year, is once again hosted by Dermot O’Leary and will be broadcast live on ITV from The O2 in London.
This year the awards are paying tribute to the late Sir Bruce Forsyth by naming a major prize after him. Those nominated for the inaugural Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award are Ant &Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, The Graham Norton Show, Celebrity Juice and All Round to Mrs Brown’s. This year also sees the introduction of a brand new category, Crime Drama, which recognises a year when primetime mysteries became our favourite TV genre and pits Line of Duty against Broadchurch, Little Boy Blue and Sherlock. Elsewhere Doctor Foster, Liar, Call The Midwife, Casualty and Game of Thrones battle it out for the Drama award.
It's also a clash of the acting titans for Drama Performance, with Tom Hardy up against David Tennant, Sheridan Smith, Jenna Coleman and Suranne Jones.
The Great British Bake Off debuted on a new channel and is up against I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, MasterChef and Love Island for Best Challenge Show. And if Ant & Dec win the TV Presenter award, their winning streak would now stand at 17-years. But this year they face stiff competition from Phillip Schofield, Holly Willoughby and Bradley Walsh.
Coronation Street’s Lucy Fallon joins co-star Barbara Knox, as well as the ever-popular Danny Miller (Emmerdale) and Lacey Turner (EastEnders) in being up for Serial Drama Performance. And who will walk away with the honour of being the nation’s favourite TV Judge? This year it’s between David Walliams, Simon Cowell, will.i.am and Paul Hollywood.
1/1
3. Inside No.9
Tuesday 23rd January at 10pm on BBC Two
Four series in, Inside No.9 is at the top of its game and this week’s episode, To Have And To Hold is another blinder of an episode.
Adrian, played by Steve Pemberton, spends his time photographing other couples’ weddings, but his own marriage to Harriet, played by the superb Nicola Walker, is far from happy.
Can they renew their vows, spice up their love life and make a fresh start, or have they just run out of love, trust and time?
4/6
4. Stacey Dooley Investigates: Second Chance Sex Offenders
Wednesday 24th January from 10am on BBC Three
Since appearing on Blood, Sweat & T-Shirts on BBC Three in 2008, Stacey Dooley has gone on to become one of the country’s best documentary makers and in the first episode of a brand new series of Stacey Dooley Investigates, she travels to Florida where sex offenders are punished forever.
Even after serving their sentences, paedophiles and other sex offenders face legal restrictions for life, but there is a battle raging in Florida about these laws. Do they truly protect children, or just make the public feel better? And the crucial question Stacey explores during her trip: do they ever deserve a second chance?
She spends time with convicted sex offenders living in a homeless camp in Miami and an isolated community in the middle of nowhere. She also meets with Senator Lauren Book, and her father, lawyer and lobbyist Ron Book, who have campaigned for more than 20 pieces of sex offender legislation, including the 2,500ft residency restrictions in Miami.
1/3
5. Kiri
Wednesday 24th January at 9pm on Channel 4
This week’s penultimate episode of Jack Thorne's powerful and compelling four-part drama Kiri continues as Alice and Jim are shocked to hear from DI Mercer that the police case against Nate might not be straightforward after all and everything may not be as it seemed.
With Alice left reeling, she goes on the offensive, with Miriam in particular in the firing line. Meanwhile Tobi is furious with the police for the way they've treated his family, as DI Mercer has more bad news for him.
3/4
6. Derry Girls
Thursday 25th January at 10pm on Channel 4
Derry Girls, the best new comedy of 2018 (so far) continues to deliver and this week as Derry welcomes the 'Children of Chernobyl’, teenagers affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. They have been sent from their contaminated homeland for a few weeks of fresh air to, as Sister Michael puts it 'give their wee lungs a clear out'.
The Quinns are hosts to one of these ‘children’, Katya and Erin couldn't be more excited as she can't wait to share her wisdom and benevolence with this 'poor Ukranian girl'. Katya, however, turns out to be sophisticated, confident, sexy and a lot less grateful to be in Derry than Erin had expected, unless you factor in one of the gang.
Meanwhile the rest of the family has other preoccupations - a new development in Granda Joe's love life leaves his daughters deeply unimpressed.
4/6
7. The Last Leg
Friday 26th January at 10pm on Channel 4
Consistently one of the strongest shows on television, The Last Leg returns this week for an incredible 13th series in less than six years just one month after the last 13-part series ended.
The live, joyous, topical comedy extravaganza hosted by Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe returns for a brand new 10-part series which will examine the biggest and most entertaining news stories and round up the main talking points of the week.
In each show, they are joined by a live audience and guests from the worlds of comedy, entertainment and politics to help dissect the week's events. This week’s guests are yet to be announced but guests for the last series included Joanna Lumley, Russell Brand, Armando Iannucci, Sandi Toksvig and Danny Dyer!
1/10