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Question Time (BBC1, 10.45pm)

“The strange thing, for me, was saying goodbye to the laughter, the joy, the intense relationship we had within this very short period of time, every year, for four years,” he continues of his co-star’s departure.

“It was intense. We were together most of the day, every day, more so than you spend with your partner, or your parents, or your family.

“And I enjoyed every minute, I never wanted it to stop. But, you know, nothing good ever lasts and he had to leave.”

Luckily Brittney’s character promises to be an exciting addition to the show. Will is described as caring and a man of the people, who puts his all into a quest for social justice.

“But he also has a troubled past and, as the series goes on, more about his story, and perhaps why be became a vicar, will be revealed.

“Will is very opinionated, and thinks God is above the law, so that really puts Geordie on the back foot. But we’ve developed this relationship where he’s the son I never had and I’m the father figure he never had. And that’s really nice to play.”

New themes will be explored this series too – the civil rights movement, racism, homophobia, domestic violence and sexual assault. What was it like to tackle such storylines?

“It’s really important,” notes Robson. “But I don’t see it as, ‘Right, we’re going to talk about racism in this episode’. It’s how racism affects the relationships. To me, that’s how good drama should be played out.

“With the new movement, and more reporting of sexual assault, especially in the workplace, and at home, that’s coming to the forefront. And quite right.”

Grantchester, STV, Friday, 9pm

Each episode begins with a pre-credits sequence showing the events leading up to a murder on St Marie, while introducing us to the latest batch of guest characters. Eventually the British detective (in this case, DI Jack Mooney (played by Ardal O’Hanlon), unravels the mystery in a dramatic denouement that revisits the murder in flashback, and afterwards, the team will all toast a job well done. The eighth series begins tonight as four passengers board the bus to Honore, only for one of them to be killed by a knife to the chest. Therefore when everyone else claims to have remained in their seats and seen nothing, Jack and his team are completely baffled. Meanwhile, Florence is being unusually secretive about her new boyfriend.

Flirty Dancing (Channel 4, 10pm)

Before internet dating, many people tried to find love by catching the eye of a stranger on the dancefloor. And in this new series Ashley Banjo is finding out if fancy footwork can still bring people together. If that conjures up memories of meat-market nightclubs, don’t worry, he won’t be sending the singletons out to awkwardly shuffle around on a sticky floor. Instead two complete strangers will each be taught one half of a routine. They’ll learn their moves separately, before coming together to perform it for the first time on set. Based on their performance alone, they must decide if there are enough sparks to make it worth seeing each other again.

The political debate returns with Fiona Bruce making her hosting debut. The TV veteran should have no problem keeping order in the studio – tonight’s show comes from London – as the audience questions the panel on issues of the day.

FRIDAY QI (BBC2, 10pm)

It may have one of the most irritating theme tunes in TV history, but QI continues to be a crowd-pleaser in every other sense. Now in its 16th year, the programme shows no signs of growing old, it’s even survived a change of host; some viewers bemoaned the fact that original presenter Stephen Fry would be leaving and that it just wouldn’t be the same with Sandi Toksvig in charge. But, if anything, it’s even better; Fry occasionally seemed rather jaded towards the end, but Toksvig has given the show renewed energy. Following a short break, QI is back on our screens - we’re being treated to the remaining episodes of the ‘P’ series. This week, Jimmy Carr, Lee Mack, Alice Levine and, of course, Alan Davies, consider Pain and Punishment.

On Drums: Stewart Copeland! (BBC4, 9pm)

Stewart Copeland, formerly of the Police, hosts this programme, which explores the drums as the founding instrument of popular modern music. Along the way, Stewart plays with some of the most inspiring drummers of the past 50 years, including John Densmore of the Doors, Prince’s musical director Sheila E, New Order’s Stephen Morris and the Foo Fighters’ Taylor Hawkins. He also goes dancing in New Orleans, builds his own bass drum pedal and checks out hot new bands on Santa Monica beach.

The Victorian House of Arts and Crafts (BBC2, 9pm)

A late-1800s Victorian arts and crafts commune in the Welsh hills is brought back to life as a group of 21st-century crafters moves in to experience the highs and lows of living and working together. Anita Rani is joined by renowned potter Keith Brymer Jones and arts and crafts expert Patch Rogers as six crafters are faced with the challenge of breathing life back into the Victorian parlour.

The Graham Norton Show (BBC1, 10.35pm)

The host is joined by X-Men star James McAvoy and Sarah Paulson, of Ocean’s 8 and American Horror Story fame, who are both appearing in the new superhero thriller Glass. Plus, iconic Withnail and I actor Richard E Grant discusses comedy drama Can You Ever Forgive Me? and Steve Coogan and John C Reilly reflect on playing legendary double act Laurel and Hardy in Stan and Ollie. Westlife perform their latest single, plus audience members recount an anecdote from the red chair.

Sex Education (Netflix, from Fri)

Gillian Anderson may be the most famous cast member but it’s Asa Butterfield who steals the show as Otis Milburn, a socially awkward teenager who lives with his mother Jean (Anderson). Otis has had no experience with girls, even though Jean is a sex therapist and his home is full of manuals and videos, while rather frank conversations – to which he can’t contribute – go on around him. However, Otis is about to hit on an idea that will change his life and make him the most popular person in school: he can use the specialist knowledge he’s overheard to gain status. To do so, he joins forces with Maeve, the class bad girl, and they embark on an unusual journey of discovery.

Friends From College (Netflix, from Fri)

Being grown-up isn’t always easy, as the friends depicted in this likeable comedy drama realised during its first run. Although they’re now approaching their forties, all of them are struggling to say farewell to their youth, with their interwoven relationships often causing problems. It’s been a year since Ethan and Sam’s affair became common knowledge to the rest of the gang, including Ethan’s wife Lisa. Nobody has heard from her since, while Ethan has spent the time alone writing a novel and Sam has tried to patch things up with her husband Jon. The friends will be thrown together again soon, however, because Max is about to get married, but will they be able to get over what has gone on before?

Friends From College (Netflix, from Fri)