This week's must-see telly includes the return of Bake Off: The Professionals as well as the arrival of two brand new comedies from the creators of The Inbetweeners and The US Office.
Here are 7 shows you can’t miss this week...
1. Britain's Greatest Comedy Character
Sunday 24th May at 8pm on Gold
Last year, Sally Phillips chaired a jury of comedy experts who crowned Stan Laurel 'Britain's Greatest Comedian' and now she's back with some new and returning faces to decide on Britain's Greatest Comedy Character.
Those in the running include David Brent, Fleabag, Alan Partridge, Hyacinth Bucket and of course, Del Boy. But who will come out on top? A public vote helped shortlist over the course of three hours, the panel will whittle them all down in an attempt to agree on who is the country’s greatest.
Overseen by Sally Phillips, returning to cast their expert verdict are David Quantick, Nina Wadia and John Thomson who will be joined by Shappi Khorsandi, Peter Egan, Lucy Beaumont, Grace Dent, Emily Atack and Marcus Brigstocke.
1/1
2. Bake Off: The Professionals
Tuesday 25th May at 8pm on Channel 4
There's no shortage of challenge shows on television at the moment, whether it's sewing, crafting or flower arranging, but this week sees the return of Bake Off... sort of. With the usual series put on hold, filling the gap is a new series of Bake Off: The Professionals.
Liam Charles and Tom Allen are back to host the toughest Bake Off on TV as six new teams from top hotels, restaurants and small businesses compete to be crowned best patisserie team in Britain. They'll be judged by world-class patisserie experts, Benoit Blin and Cherish Finden.
In the first episode, the teams must produce two different types of miniature classics, strawberry tarts and fruit salad and for their showpiece they have five hours to reinvent the pineapple upside-down cake and transform it into an incredible fine-dining experience complete with towering edible showpiece sculptures.
1/10
3. The A Word
Tuesday 25th May at 9pm on BBC One
The A Word is one of the most beautiful dramas in recent years and whilst all episodes have been available on iPlayer since launch, it's also the perfect drama to save for once a week during lockdown.
This week as the series continues, Alison tries to bring the family together when she organises a sponsored walk for Joe.
Elsewhere, Paul gets a surprise from Sarah and Maurice feels rejected by Ralph.
4/6
4. We Hunt Together
Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th May at 10pm on Alibi
New British dramas are in short supply at the moment, but fear not because this week Alibi channel launch We Hunt Together, a new six-part drama by Gaby Hull about a pair of conflicted coppers track down a deadly duo.
Eve Myles and Babou Ceesay play DS Lola Franks and DI Jackson Mendy, who get thrown together to work on a high-profile murder case which has the potential to push them both to breaking point. Their differing opinions cause conflict as Jackson's history of working in police anti-corruption infuriates Lola who has an inability to deal with her own demons.
Hermione Corfield plays Freddy, who's magnetic, highly intelligent, disarmingly charming and possibly a psychopath. She meets Baba, played by Dipo Ola, who's a vulnerable, compassionate yet damaged former child soldier and their chance encounter turns his world upside down as the pair’s lust for each other takes over and creates a truly deadly duo.
1-2/6
5. The First Team
Thursday 28th May at 9.30pm on BBC Two
From the creators of The Inbetweeners, Iain Morris and Damon Beesley, comes The First Team, a comedy which follows three young footballers and their adventures with terrifying team hard-man Petey, mercurial Italian manager Cesare and eccentric chairman Mark Crane.
New signing Mattie Sullivan, played by Jake Short, arrives at the club, but a meeting with eccentric chairman Mark Crane, played by Will Arnett, leads him to wonder if he’s been signed by mistake. As if that wasn’t bad enough, club hard-man Petey Brooks, played by Theo Barklem-Biggs, takes a dislike to him and legendary Italian manager Cesare is nowhere to be found.
Mattie strikes up a friendship with fellow team member Benji Achebe, played by Shaquille Ali-Yebuah, who fancies himself as a ladies man despite the fact that he still lives at home with his mum. And they both agree to help out the shy number 16 Jack Turner, played by Jack McMullen, in an attempt to solve an embarrassing problem.
1/6
6. Space Force
Friday 29th May on Netflix
Nine years since he starred in The US Office, Steve Carell has reunited with showrunner Greg Daniels for his return to television comedy in Netflix's latest original comedy Space Force which has been inspired by President Trump's call for a Space Force in the summer of 2018.
Carell plays four-star general Mark R. Naird, a decorated pilot with dreams of running the Air Force but has to settle for leading the newly formed sixth branch of the US Armed Forces, Space Force.
Skeptical but dedicated, Mark uproots his family and moves to a remote base in Colorado where he and a colourful team of scientists and “Spacemen” are tasked by the White House with getting American boots on the moon (again) in a hurry and achieving total space dominance.
Also stars Lisa Kudrow, John Malkovich, Jimmy O. Yang, Noah Emmerich, Alex Sparrow, Don Lake, Diana Silvers, Tawny Newsome and Ben Schwartz.
1-10/10
7. Big Zuu's Big Eats
Friday 29th May at 10pm on Dave
Big Zuu's Big Eats continues this week as Grime MC and passionate cook Big Zuu is once again joined in his food truck by childhood friends Tubsey and Hyder to cook ultimate meals for touring comedians and this week, he's cooking for Guz Khan who's on tour in Royal Leamington Spa.
Guz is a man that loves his meat, with a self-confessed diet of 99% chicken, but he is trying to change his ways and undertake a predominantly plant based diet, so challenges Zuu to deliver on both fronts. The Coventry comedian also craves spice and always carries his own chilli sauce whilst touring. The brief is set and Zuu is ready to bring all the flavours!
With Halal meat almost impossible to get hold of in Leamington, the boys take a trip to Guz’s hometown Coventry to pick up the goods for Zuu’s ‘Man Like Mixed Grill’. For Guz’s starter, Zuu wants to show off a dish close to his heart, Okra Soup and Fufu, a West African dish that Zuu’s mum makes for him and he is confident that it has all the spices Guz desires so he will forget all about meat.
Read my interview with Big Zuu here.
3/10