MUST-SEE SHOWS
THE X FACTOR LIVE Tonight, ITV, 8.20pm
THE excitement of the auditions, and the seat-gripping tension of the six-chair challenge have passed, along with the judges’ houses stage.
Now, the competition gets serious as the potential finalists perform in their first live broadcast. As ever, judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Nicole Scherzinger and Sharon Osbourne – and millions of viewers at home – will be assessing their every move.
LOUIS THEROUX: TALKING TO ANOREXIA Tomorrow, BBC2, 9pm
IT affects one in every 250 women at some point in their lives, and now anorexia, the pathological fear of eating and gaining weight, is the most deadly mental illness in the UK.
In recent years, the number of people being admitted to hospital because of the condition has risen dramatically. For his latest investigative documentary, Theroux heads to two of London’s biggest adult eating-disorder treatment facilities – St Ann’s Hospital and Vincent Square Clinic.
He meets women of all ages and at various stages of their illness, accompanying them through an enforced daily routine of scheduled eating, weigh-ins and group therapy.
A VERY ROYAL WEDDING Monday, ITV, 9pm
A LOT of pundits are claiming to hear wedding bells for Prince Harry, but the royal romance we should definitely be celebrating is that between the Queen and Prince Philip, who reach their 70th anniversary next month.
To mark the occasion, Alexander Armstrong presents a feature-length documentary looking back at their big day.
OUR GIRL - NEPAL TOUR Tuesday, BBC1, 9pm
THOSE who wondered if Michelle Keegan had the dramatic weight to carry a series like this soon realised she was more than capable of fronting a war drama.
Little wonder she was invited back for this second run, which concludes here.
Trapped in the middle of
Afghanistan without helicopter support, the team faces a dangerous drive back to Kabul. Elvis takes charge of the journey home, but instead of returning to Nepal, 2-section find themselves supporting another attempt to capture Omar.
MAN DOWN Wednesday, Channel 4, 10pm
GREAT sitcoms are few and far between these days. Thankfully, series four of Greg Davies’s sublime series continues to ease those mid-week blues.
As Dan ponders impending fatherhood, he leans on uptight financial adviser Brian (Mike Wozniak) and lovably barking serial ‘entrepreneur” Jo (Roisin Conaty) for support.
In this episode, Dan reluctantly re-enters the teaching profession, while Jo embraces ‘freeganism’. Thanks to a terrific script by Davies and Ed Gamble, this should brighten the dullest autumn night.
FIRST DATES: CELEBRITY SPECIAL FOR SU2C Thursday, Channel 4, 9pm
THE restaurant opens its doors for a special episode in aid of Stand Up to Cancer, with maitre d’ Fred and his team welcoming celebrity singletons who are all embarking on blind dates with unsuspecting members of the public. Singer and TV personality Sinitta arrives in search of a music-loving gentleman with old-school manners, and ex-newsreader Jan Leeming – who has been married five times – worries that potential suitors may be scared off by her dating history.
BEAR’S MISSION WITH ROB BRYDON Friday, ITV, Regions Vary
IF YOU saw Bear Grylls’ recent show with unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, then chances are you realised that even a formidable sportsman like Joshua can soon meet their match while forced to eat maggots, a rotten sheep’s leg, or hang beneath a helicopter.
So if he had a hard time, how will comedian Rob Brydon fare?