TV PICKS OF THE WEEK
THE HIT LIST Tonight, BBC1, 7.10pm
Husband-and-wife presenting team Marvin and Rochelle Humes return for the this fifth series of their addictive pop quiz. The format sees pairs of contestants trying to identify songs and artists from across the decades and genres in the hope of winning up to £10,000.
In this opening episode, friends Jillian and Rory from Belfast, father-and-son duo Jim and Teddy from Essex, and siblings Nath and Savannah from the West Midlands are the contestants battling it out, but only one pairing can make it all the way to the Final Chart Rundown.
BETTER THINGS Tomorrow, BBC2, 10.15pm
At long last, Pamela Adlon’s muchloved and admired sitcom is heading back to our screens for its fifth season. Unfortunately, this will be its final run – here’s hoping central character Sam and her daughters live happily ever after.
It begins as Sam promises to co-sign for Max’s new studio apartment, until finding out her low credit score means she’s unable to do so. Later, she’s distracted by the results of her and Marion’s genealogy and the statue at the top of the stairs meets a sorry end.
LONG LOST FAMILY SPECIAL: THE UNKNOWN SOLDIERS Monday, ITV, 9pm
In a special edition, Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell join forces with the ‘War Detectives’ from the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre, who are
taking on the job of identifying missing First World Soldiers.
The experts are tackling their most ambitious case to date, which began after roadworkers uncovered the bodies of nine soldiers in Beselare, Belgium – the site of the 1917 Battle of Passchendaele. One of the men still has his ID bracelet and ring, but now, the detectives need to identify the other eight.
DARCEY BUSSELL’S ROYAL ROAD TRIP Tuesday, More4, 9pm
The Royal Ballet star follows in the footsteps of the Queen as she sets out
on a regal adventure across the magnificent landscapes of Britain.
She begins in the Scottish Highlands. The one event the Queen never misses on her summer holidays at Balmoral is the Highland Games, and here Darcey tosses the caber and discovers what it’s like to have Her Majesty as a neighbour.
MARYLAND Wednesday, BBC2, 10.05pm
In 2021, Lucy Kirkwood’s play Maryland opened at the Royal Court in London – and made an instant impact. Now it’s heading to the small screen in a 25-minute adaptation starring Hayley Squires and Zawe
Ashton. They play two women called Mary who meet by chance at a police station after being sexually assaulted. Supporting them is a cast of furies who rail against the injustices the duo are about to face.
THE SUPERVET: NOEL FITZPATRICK
Thursday, Channel 4, 8pm
It’s not been an easy year for Noel Fitzpatrick, with the vet having to deal with two huge personal blows.
His beloved dog Keira passed away in September, and then less than five months later, his ‘Mammy’ Rita died.
In between all that trauma, the 54-year-old’s career continues to go from strength to strength. In November, he released his first children’s book, Vetman and his Bionic Animal Clan, before Noel announced the dates for his forthcoming tour in the autumn.
Tonight, The Supervet returns for
a new run, beginning as Alan and Jane bring in their one-year-old shepherd doodle called Raven.
JOSH WIDDICOMBE: BIT MUCH... Friday, Channel 4, 11.05pm
If you were under the impression that comedian, Josh Widdicombe, doesn’t have much to worry about these days, think again.
“I realise that this show is me complaining a lot,” the exasperated observationalist says. Using grumbles, jokes and schoolboy charm, he tackles the ‘hot topics’ of advent calendars, pesto and the closing time of his local park, at this London Palladium recording.