MUST-SEE SHOWS
THE X FACTOR – JUDGES’ HOUSES Tonight, ITV, 8.20pm DERMOT O’Leary presents as the contest enters the judges’ houses stage, which sees the 24 remaining singers jetting off for a taste of glamour.
The boys accompany Louis Walsh to Istanbul, the girls follow Sharon Osbourne to San Francisco, Simon Cowell takes the groups to his villa near Cannes, and Nicole Scherzinger takes the overs to South Africa. Each group will receive mentoring from some of the judges’ closest confidants, as former judge Cheryl returns to mentor Simon’s ensembles, and Jack and Kelly Osbourne help Sharon with the girls. Nicole will be assisted by Stormzy, while Louis’ lads will be mentored by Mika. ROBOT WARS Tomorrow, BBC2, 8pm EVERYONE knows the maxim “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” – and while Robot Wars competitors’ beloved machines are frequently broken and almost always need fixing, the format itself seemed pretty stable. So it came as a surprise to learn that the old favourite has been extensively tinkered with for this new run, which sees co-hosts Dara O Briain and Angela Scanlon return with a host of surprises. PIERS MORGAN’S LIFE STORIES Monday, ITV, 9pm LOVE him or loathe him, you can’t argue that Piers Morgan is well connected and usually manages to get some juicy information out of his highprofile guests. His chat show Life Stories returns tonight and his first guest is a cracker, dropping plenty of bombshells to the journalist and broadcaster.
Actress Kim Cattrall is best known for her role as Samantha Jones in Sex and the City for which she won a Golden Globe. When Morgan asks about her decision to turn down a role in spin-off movie Sex and the City 3, she has a few choice words to say about her co-stars. THE 18-30 STONE HOLIDAY Tuesday, ITV, 9pm A BRAND new show following the fortunes of eight overweight Brits abroad, sampling life at the “world’s only plus-size friendly hotel,” The Resort in the Bahamas.
While we would hope that any getaway destination would be equally welcoming to its clientele regardless of their dimensions, The Resort really does go above and beyond, featuring steel-reinforced beds and super-sized sun loungers.
The tourists here are able to confront their own issues regarding their weight and well-being in luxurious surroundings, before returning home to adopt a healthier lifestyle. MAN DOWN Wednesday, Channel 4, 10pm GREG Davies’ hilarious
sitcom is back for a new run, and life is about to change for the hapless character he plays, former teacher Dan.
Having given up his job, he needs a new career, and has decided he wants a more earthy profession, not that anybody really understands what he means by that. He needs it quickly too – with a baby on the way, there’s an awful lot of expense to consider. As matters get desperate, Dan turns to his oldest friends for assistance – but would you really trust uptight financial advisor Brian and bonkers ‘entrepreneur’ Jo with your future? FERAL FAMILIES Thursday, Channel 4, 9pm DOCUMENTARY following children whose parents are rebelling against orthodoxy by raising them with no rules, claiming it will make them healthier and happier and they will grow into more rounded adults.
Jenna’s 13-year-old son Archie juggles fire and plays with knives, but seven years after being taken out of school he still struggles to read and write, while Vicky and Mike have recently taken seven-year-old Jessica out of mainstream education and she appears to be thriving. TRACEY BREAKS THE NEWS Friday, BBC1, 9.30pm NEW series. Following the highly successful election special aired last June, Tracey Ullman returns with a comedy show that allows her to react to the events of the moment.
Needless to say, this also offers a welcome opportunity for the award-winning actress, impressionist and comedian to showcase her incarnations of top politicians including Angela Merkel, Nicola Sturgeon and Theresa May. And for the first time, Tracey takes on an impression of Jeremy Corbyn.