This week's best telly includes a fond farewell to Jodie Whittaker as The Doctor, a new drama starring former Doctor Who actor Peter Capaldi, the return of The Wheel, The Pact, The Handmaid's Tale, Don't Hate The Playaz and Murder, They Hope.
Plus Zeze Millz fronts a documentary about what it means to be young, Black and right-wing in Britain today and Mo Gilligan's Black British Takeover from 2021 airs on Channel 4 for the first time.
Here are 9 TV shows you can't miss this week...
1. Michael McIntyre's The Wheel
Saturday 22nd October at 5.40pm on BBC One
It's back! Michael McIntyre returns with a brand new series of his hit Saturday night gameshow that's packed with huge stars, big laughs, and a colossal spinning wheel!
Three contestants hope to answer their way to a fortune, guided by seven celebrities. But can they help them to win life-changing cash? That all depends on the spin of The Wheel.
Celebrities on The Wheel this week to kick off the new series are Anton Du Beke on musicals, Josie Gibson on West Country, Iain Stirling on Love Island, Kadeena Cox on athletics, Nigel Ng on Asian food, Tony Blackburn on rock & roll, and Emma Barnett on women.
1/12 Continues weekly
2. Doctor Who: The Power of The Doctor
Sunday 23rd October at 7.30pm on BBC One
The time has come for Jodie Whittaker’s last adventure as the Thirteenth Doctor and her final farewell is a feature-length centenary special that promises to be an action-adventure in space and time for all the family as The Doctor faces multiple threats…and a battle to the death.
The Power of the Doctor sees the Thirteenth Doctor fight for her very existence, against her deadliest enemies: the Daleks, the Cybermen and her arch-nemesis, the Master. Who is attacking a speeding bullet train on the edges of a distant galaxy and why are seismologists going missing from 21st-century Earth?
Who is defacing some of history’s most iconic paintings and why is a Dalek trying to make contact with the Doctor? And just what hold does the mesmeric Rasputin have over Tsar Nicholas in 1916 Russia?
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3. The Handmaid's Tale
Sunday 23rd October at 9pm on Channel 4
Dystopian drama The Handmaid's Tale returns for its fifth season as June faces consequences for killing Commander Waterford while struggling to redefine her identity and purpose.
As a widowed Serena attempts to raise her profile in Toronto, Gilead's influence creeps into Canada and scared, she makes an unexpected decision.
Elsewhere, Commander Lawrence works with Nick and Aunt Lydia as he tries to reform Gilead and rise in power. Together, June, Luke and Moira fight Gilead from a distance as they continue their mission to save and reunite with Hannah.
1/10 Continues weekly
4. The Pact
Monday 24th October at 9pm on BBC One
Hit BBC drama The Pact returns for a second series, promising another thrilling, emotional story packed with intrigue and surprise twists. This brand new story follows new characters using the device of a secret pact as a compelling new group struggle with morality, loyalty and faith as their lives spiral out of control.
The new series centres on social worker Christine Rees, played by Rakie Ayola, and her adult children, Megan, Will and Jamie, whose lives are changed forever when they are contacted by a young man claiming to be a fifth, previously unknown, Rees sibling.
There is much debate over whether to engage with or meet this stranger, and loyalties are tested even before a decision is made. But ultimately, the siblings meet the man who claims to share their DNA, a strange loner from out of town called Connor, played by Jordan Wilks, and the spitting image of their recently deceased brother Liam.
As Christine realises her hold over her precious, dysfunctional family is under threat, she seeks to keep Connor at bay, denying his claims. But it’s clear to Connor that Christine is keeping a dark secret, and he’s determined to uncover the truth.
Meanwhile, Connor begins to ingratiate himself into the lives of his so-called siblings, winning their trust and testing their relationship with an increasingly desperate Christine. But is Connor telling the truth? And if he’s lying, if he is, as Christine claims, an imposter, why is he lying?
1/6 Continues weekly
5. Murder, They Hope
Monday 24th to Wednesday 26th October at 9pm on Gold
Following three successful feature-length specials and a series, Gold's murder mystery Murder, They Hope is back for a second series with Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson back as hapless, inept private investigators Terry and Gemma who continue to stumble their way into bizarre and murderous situations.
The first series saw the couple successfully capture coach-driving serial killer Will Watkins, played by Lee Mack and looking forward to their upcoming wedding. Having fully bought into what she believes to be their newfound fame after the capture, Gemma believes the only way to stand out from the pack is to do what everyone else is doing and start a true crime podcast. But Willy Watkins isn’t finished with them yet, and Terry has a secret past life that is going to become very public indeed.
In this series, a wonderful new roster of suspects joins Tery and Gemma who must try and survive going undercover on a couple’s counselling weekend, get through their own wedding, and endure Terry’s ultimate revelation and the solo adventure it forces Gemma on.
And as prepare for their wedding, Sarah Hadland is back as Gemma's narcissistic sister Monica whilst Sherrie Hewson joins the cast as mother Patricia.
The series also stars Hugh Dennis, Vicki Pepperdine, Danielle Vitalis, Tamzin Outhwaite, Sally Phillips, Ramon Tikaram, Dan Skinner, Ellen Thomas, Philip Jackson, Youssef Kerkour, Isy Suttie, Claire Skinner, Joe Tracini, Andrew Ellis, Cole Anderson-James and Sandi Toksvig. With Jason Manford and Shobna Gulati both returning.
1-3/3 Continues nightly
6. Don't Hate The Playaz
Wednesday 26th October at 10pm on ITV2
Don't Hate the Playaz is back for a fourth series as once again, two teams battle it out for TV’s top money-can’t-buy prize, bragging rights! With Jordan Stephens back as host, alongside team captains Maya Jama and Lady Leshurr, with DJ Shortee Blitz on hand to drop the tracks.
This series, the show will feature a host of iconic and up-and-coming guests including hip-hop stars Jay1, Kojey Radical, Krept and Konan, So Solid’s Harvey and Megaman, Bellah and Ms Banks, comedian Munya Chawawa, rap icon Big Narstie, Britain’s Got Talent winner Axel Blake, lifestyle influencer Nella Rose, The Masked Dancer judge Oti Mabuse, Love Island stars Dami Hope and Indiyah Polack and many more!
Panellists will go head-to-head in brand new rounds as well as favourite Don’t Hate the Playaz games as they each try to show off their hip-hop knowledge and push their music skills to the max.
1/8 Continues weekly
7. Young, Black and Right-Wing
Thursday 27th October at 11.05pm on Channel 4
Presenter Zeze Millz is on a journey to explore what it means to be young, Black and right-wing in Britain today. Outspoken in her own views, Zeze has come under fire for views some see as conservative. Now, she's in search of answers.
Why can it be hard to express these views? What drives a Black person to reject systemic racism? Has the left lost touch with Black communities? How much of a barrier to success is racism, really? And ultimately, where on the political spectrum does Zeze lie?
The Black British community is often portrayed as a pretty homogenous group, with very similar opinions: left-leaning and liberal, anti-Tory, fed up with the police and, more than anything, incredibly 'woke'. But for many Black people, this is far from the truth. In fact, there's a whole world of Black Brits who hold polar-opposite views: they're young, they're Black and they're right-wing. But the Black right is not a homogenous group either.
Across the Black right-wing spectrum, there's a range of eclectic groups who vary dramatically in their politics. There are political values that unite these groups, like tradition, personal responsibility and the monarchy. But there are also significant differences in their politics. Some are social conservatives, who believe casual sex is ruining Britain; while others are entrepreneurs, passionate about business, economic growth, making money and low taxation.
In the past, Zeze has voted for both Labour and the Conservatives. Now, she's on a mission across Britain, meeting the various right-wing groups and uncovering their radical, sometimes controversial, views - and working out where on the political spectrum she is. She wants to understand the views of these right-wing groups and individuals to discover where she might have common ground, and where she might clash.
Zeze meets a strong-minded community of social media stars, right-wing influencers, those with strongly held Christian views, and those from within the Conservative party. Delving into a number of complex issues, this film examines young Black politics in Britain.
1/1
8. The Devil's Hour
Friday 28th October on Prime Video
Prime Video's new psychological thriller, The Devil's Hour, follows the story of Lucy Chambers, played by Jessica Raine, who is woken every night by terrifying visions at exactly 3:33am, the devil’s hour.
Her eight-year-old son, Isaac, is withdrawn and emotionless. Her mother, Sylvia, speaks to empty chairs. Her house is haunted by the echoes of a life that isn’t her own, and nothing has made sense for a long time.
When Lucy's name is inexplicably connected to a string of brutal murders in the area, the answers that have evaded her all these years will finally come into focus. Peter Capaldi plays a reclusive nomad, driven by a murderous obsession who becomes the prime target of a police manhunt led by compassionate detective Ravi Dhillon, played by Nikesh Patel.
1-6/6 All episodes available at launch
9. Mo Gilligan + Friends: The Black British Takeover
Friday 28th October at 11.05pm on Channel 4
Filmed at the O2 Arena in December last year, this hour-long film features sets from some of the best of the British comedy circuit, including Eddie Kadi, Ola Labib, Slim, Thanyia Moore, Babatúndé Aléshé and Mo Gilligan, plus music from The Compozers.
The show also includes intimate backstage access and raw up-close conversation with the cast as they discuss the significance of the history-making event.
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