TV guide: 7 shows you have to watch this week

Photo credit: PBS
Photo credit: PBS

From Digital Spy

Week of Monday, September 18 to Sunday, September 24

Whether you plan to have a lazy evening in front of the telly or want to catch up after a cheeky night out, Digital Spy has your TV viewing schedule covered every week.

Here are all the shows that you absolutely have to watch over the next seven days:

1. Strictly Come Dancing - Saturday at 6.25pm on BBC One

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

After the weird launch show that doesn't really do anything other than partnering up the celebs, Strictly starts properly next weekend. And for the first time in years, it's not on a Friday, but rather a bumper Saturday edition. No elimination quite yet, as their scores will be carried over for the following weekend. So you'll get at least one more week of Ruth Langsford action.

2. The Child in Time - Sunday at 9pm on BBC One

Who fancies a one-off 90-minute drama starring Benedict Cumberbatch? Based on Ian McEwan's novel of the same name, it follows the life of children's author Stephen Lewis, whose four-year-old daughter Kate disappears at a supermarket. He and wife Julie end up separating over the tragedy, and the story picks up three years later as the couple attempt to carry on with their lives.

3. Liar - Monday at 9pm on ITV

We weren't sure which new crime drama to choose between this and BBC One's Rellik (written by the same team no less), but so far, it's definitely Liar that's gripped us the most. 'The next Broadchurch' continues the mystery surrounding the alleged rape of Laura (Joanne Froggatt) by Andrew (Ioan Gruffudd), and we're still not at all sure which one of them (if either of them) is telling the truth.

4. W1A - Monday at 10pm on BBC Two

The third series of the award-winning comedy set in the BBC is back, and this time the Renewal group, under Head of Values Ian Fletcher, has to identify what the company actually does best, while also facing a Channel 4 documentary alleging the BBC rejected an ex-Premier League footballer as a potential pundit on Match of the Day. Hilariously awkward as ever.

5. First Dates - Monday at 10pm on Channel 4

Photo credit: Channel 4
Photo credit: Channel 4

Directly following The Undateables at 9pm, the nation's favourite dating series is back for a 483rd series. The formula continues to create brilliant TV, and this time we see a young couple with very different views on Brexit, and heartbroken Doreen, whose husband left her after 46 years together.

6. The Detectives - Murder on the Street - Wednesday at 9pm on BBC Two

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

We honestly can't enough of these enthralling fly-on-the-wall crime documentaries, and here's another one. This four-part series follows a group of murder detectives in Manchester over the course of a year. In the first episode, they look into a burnt body at a homeless camp, while also investigating the case of woman attacked with a petrol bomb in her own home. Grisly, but fascinating.

7. All Star Driving School - Monday at 7.30pm on E4

Photo credit: E4
Photo credit: E4

Sadly no Maureen Rees in sight, but here's a celebrity edition of the classic series in which people attempt to finally pass their driving exam. And by celebrities we mean someone off The Vamps, one of the Tattoo Fixers and Cici the waitress from First Dates.


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