MUST-SEE SHOWS
THE VOICE Tonight, ITV, 8.30pm
IT MIGHT not seem that long since the last run of The Voice UK finished, but that’s because the live shows had to be delayed due to the pandemic - it began airing in January 2020, but the final didn’t take place until November.
So, it really is time for a new series to begin, and there’s even a new coach joining the line-up. Award-winning star Anne-Marie is taking the spinning chair vacated by Meghan Trainor and joining veterans Sir Tom Jones, will.i.am and Olly Murs.
While the panel may have changed, the concept remains the same, as in the opening episode the blind auditions get under way. However, this time
the coaches will be able to use ‘The Block’ to stop a singer joining a rival team.
THE GREAT NEW YEAR BAKE OFF
Tomorrow, Channel 4, 7.40pm
NOEL FIELDING, Matt Lucas, Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood reunite to get the New Year’s celebrations started in the famous white tent. Joining them are former contestants Helena and Henry
from 2019, Nancy from 2014, and 2018 winner Rahul, all hoping to impress the judges with their skills and creativity and take home the coveted Festive Star Baker title.
TRACES
Monday, BBC1, 9pm
THIS crime drama is the brainchild of bestselling author Val McDermid of Wire in the Blood fame, but the scripts have been written by actor-writer Amelia Bullmore.
Molly Windsor heads the cast as Emma Hedges, who’s returning to her home city of Dundee to take up a new post in a forensics lab. She’s asked to do an online course first, which demonstrates details of the job via a supposedly fictional
murder case. However, the case turns out to be real, and focuses on the death of Emma’s own mother.
WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE: A VERY MAJOR SCANDAL
Tuesday, ITV, 8pm
BACK in 2001, quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? was at the centre of a coughing scandal. Ex-Army Major Charles Ingram, along with his wife Diana and accomplice Tecwen Whittock were all accused of cheating and were eventually convicted of procuring the execution of a valuable security by deception and given suspended prison sentences.
In this documentary, Jeremy Clarkson and Chris Tarrant look back at the case which was
turned into a drama series called Quiz this year.
THE TRUTH ABOUT BOOSTING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
Wednesday, BBC1, 9pm
THE coronavirus pandemic has pushed our immune system centre-stage. It’s never been more important to us – but how much do we all really know about how to keep it strong? In this programme, Dr Ronx Ikharia, an emergency medicine doctor, delves into the latest science to find out what we can all do to make our immune system as healthy as possible.
THE BIG FAT QUIZ OF EVERYTHING
Thursday, C4, 9pm
WE’VE had the Big Fat Quiz of the Year, which might have been
trickier to set than in previous years as so much of 2020 was dominated by one subject. However, the researchers have much more scope with this special, which finds Jimmy Carr testing celebrity contestants Rob Beckett, Roisin Conaty, Nish Kumar, Katherine Ryan, Oti Mabuse and Rob Brydon.
NOT GOING OUT Friday, BBC1, 9.30pm
WHAT do you mean Lee Mack isn’t on TV on Friday nights enough these days? Isn’t two helpings of the funnyman enough for you?
Not only does he pop up as a team captain on Would I Lie to You?, he’s also back for a new series of the sitcom he created and co-writes.
The 11th series will be the last to feature Bobby Ball, who passed away in October, as Lee’s feckless father Frank. The run begins as Lee and Lucy do their good deed for the day by taking care of a parcel for a neighbour, but immediately regret doing so when they discover it contains something rather embarrassing. Hugh Dennis also stars.