THIS WEEK’S TOP TV PICKS
SITCOM The Young Offenders Friday, BBC1, 9.30pm
Alex Murphy (below) and Chris Walley make ea a welcome return urn as lovable Irish rogues Conor and Jock in the third series of Peter Foott’s muchadmired sitcom. It’s a comedy with h a heart of gold, and if you haven’t seen the first two runs, they’re available on BBC iPlayer – there’s just enough time to fit them in before the new episodes air. The fun begins with the duo getting up to more mischief – clearly matriarch Mairead’s efforts to keep them on the straight and narrow aren’t working. Conor and Jock hope that joining forces with Billy Murphy, who has just pulled off an audacious robbery, will prove lucrative – until baby Star gets involved, leading to some valuable lessons being learned.
ENTERTAINMENT It Pays To Behave Friday, Channel 4, 8pm
You can run but you can’t hide from Rylan Clark- Clark Neal (right) these days. Despite him being almost everywhere on TV, we’re not tired of seeing him yet. He’s back ck on the box, just ust a few weeks after the end of his previous series, You Are What You Wear. This new programme has more in common with his hit revival of Supermarket Sweep in that it’s a game show. However, the contestants don’t know they’re about to get the opportunity to win a cash prize – instead, they think they’re taking part in a documentary. So expect shock on the faces of Clare and Matt when, rather than being asked their opinions on parenting, they’re put through their paces in a series of challenges in their own home.
TRAVEL Miriam Margolyes: Almost Australian Friday, BBC2, 9pm
S Seven years ago, Miriam Margolyes (r (right) b became an Australian citizen, having set up house in th the country of h her partner H Heather. She e remarked: ‘Life feels brighter here – this pulsing nation, with so many wondrous, complex people.’ Now the star of Call The Midwife is determined to find out all she can about her vast new homeland, and she particularly wants to learn what it means to be an Australian in 2020. Margolyes gets behind the wheel of her camper van to set off on an eye-opening 6,000-mile road trip, meeting those who believe they live in the ‘lucky country’ where dreams can come true, but also discovering the darker side of Australia’s legacy.
DOCUMENTARY Madeleine McCann: The Hunt For The Prime Suspect Thursday, ITV, 9pm
It It’s 13 years s since the th three-yearo old from Leicester (right) was ta taken from h her bed while on holiday in P Portugal. Just st when it seemed her parents Gerry and Kate might never discover the truth about their daughter, German police revealed they had a prime suspect in Madeleine’s disappearance – convicted sex offender Christian Brueckner, who had been living nearby at the time. In an eye-opening programme, Julie Etchingham takes another look at the longlasting case and asks why, despite the involvement of police forces from at least three different countries, it has taken so long to link Brueckner with the kidnapping.
DRAMA In The Long Run Thursday, Sky One, 10pm
Brace yourself for perms, big shoulder pads ds and a synth-pop soundtrack: yes, we’re back to the 1980s as the th comedy based on Idris Elba’s childhood c in East London returns for a third th season. On the estate, Walter (Elba, above) is nervously getting ready for the arrival of his Mama, who comes complete with enough luggage to fill the van that picks her up – as well as enough emotional baggage to keep the whole family on their toes. Meanwhile, Walter’s pal Bagpipes (consummate scene-stealer Bill Bailey) has a disturbingly close encounter with the Grim Reaper after an unfortunate combination of home brew and angling. It’s a welcome return for the satisfying sitcom, with the whole six-part series available to view online.