What to watch on TV this week: 23 April – 2 May

Ready for another jam-packed week of telly treats? Fans of David Tennant can catch the Scotsman in not one but two new shows as The Assembly and Genius Game hit our screens. Plus, don’t miss epic new series The Honesty Box and Joe Lycett’s United States Of Birmingham, while returning favourites include Race Across The World and Taskmaster. Happy viewing!

With all this plus our usual sport and movie picks of the week, there’s something for all tastes across the service. And don’t forget, with Virgin TV Go, you can take your telly on the move with you. There’s so much good stuff on this week that we’ve compiled a list of the best TV shows to watch. Bookmark this page to keep up to date with the latest changes.

Pick of the day: Race Across The World
9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

Five pairs of fearless adventurers are about to embark on the trip of a lifetime as they race a whopping 14,000km across the world’s largest continent, Asia. Beginning at the Great Wall Of China, the duos will have to navigate crowds, congestion and cultural barriers through China, India and Nepal all while travelling with the lowest budget in the show’s history. Eek. Tune in each week to find out who will emerge victorious and nab the £20,000 prize pot.

What else to watch:

• Worst House On The Street – 8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• The Secret Genius Of Modern Life – 8pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• The Feud – 9pm, Channel 5 HD (CH 105)

• Just Act Normal – 9pm + 9.35pm, BBC Three HD (CH 107/113)

• I, Jack Wright – 9pm, U&Alibi HD (CH 114)

Pick of the day: Trump Revolution: 100 Days That Changed The World
9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

One hundred days have passed since Donald’s Trump second presidency began in January earlier this year. Now this eye-opening documentary examines the impact of Trump’s actions since his inauguration, from unprecedented political decisions to economic policies that have resulted in stock market chaos. Leading voices, insiders and commentators share their expert opinions on Trump’s strategy and the future of his presidency.

What else to watch:

• Interior Design Masters With Alan Carr – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Bad Dog Academy – 8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Ambulance – 9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Gangs Of London – 9pm, Sky Showcase HD (CH 109)

• Love My Face – 10pm + 11.05pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

Pick of the day: The Fast Show
9pm, U&GOLD HD (CH 124)

In need of big laughs for your Friday night viewing? Then look no further than one of the biggest sketch shows in British comedy history. With the first series airing from Easter Monday, you can catch the likes of Charlie Higson, Paul Whitehouse, John Thomson, Caroline Aherne, Arabella Weir and Mark Williams in classic episodes that are packed with memorable characters, iconic catchphrases and plenty of side-splitting comedy capers.

What else to watch:

• Beyond Paradise – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• What’s The Big Deal: Britain’s Best Buys – 8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Celebrity Big Brother: Live Final – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Hacks – 9pm, Sky Max HD (CH 110)

• Austin – 9.30pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

Pick of the day: The Assembly
10.05pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

We know what you’re thinking… every time a celebrity makes headlines with a “revealing” interview, the chances are that you’ve have heard it all before. However, in this groundbreaking series, A-listers take part in extraordinary interviews led by an exceptional group of autistic, neurodivergent and learning disabled young people. First up, Danny Dyer sits in the hot seat with fascinating and hilarious results, while David Tennant follows on Sunday evening.

What else to watch:

• 99 To Beat – 6pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Our Dream Farm With Matt Baker – 6.05pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Britain’s Got Talent: Live Semi-Final – 7pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Doctor Who – 7.20pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Secrets Of The Royal Traditions – 8pm, Channel 5 HD (CH 105)

Pick of the day: Katie Piper: Locked Up In Louisiana
9pm, U&W HD (CH 125)

Katie Piper might have enjoyed the finest of life’s luxuries in her lifestyle series Weekend Escapes, but she’s embarking on a very different mission in this eye-opening documentary. Here the TV presenter travels to the United States to spend a month in Orleans Parish Prison, where she meets with women who have been accused of shocking crimes and investigates the stories behind what drove many of them to violence.

What else to watch:

• Grace – 8pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Louis Theroux: The Settlers – 9pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• The Piano – 9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Brett Goldstein: The Second Best Night Of Your Life – 9pm, Sky Comedy (CH 112)

• The Assembly – 10pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

Pick of the day: The Honesty Box
9pm, E4 HD (CH 106)

What do we want? More dating shows! When do we want them? Now! Vicky Pattison and Lucinda Light team up in this radical dating experiment which tests if honesty really is the best policy when it comes to finding true love. The name of the game is simple: a cast of hopeful singletons take a trip to the romantic paradise of Truetopia, where they’re challenged to remain honest with their partners for a chance to win £100,000.

What else to watch:

• Chess Masters: The End Game – 8pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• Hunting The Whiskey Bandits – 9pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• The Essex Millionaire Murders – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• P Diddy: The Rise And Fall – 9pm, BBC Three HD (CH 107/113)

• The Dark Money Game – 9pm, Sky Documentaries HD (CH 181)

Pick of the day: Joe Lycett’s United States Of Birmingham
9pm, Sky Max HD (CH 111)

After a knockout performance in the side-splitting Last One Laughing UK, comedian Joe Lycett is taking on an all-new challenge in his weird and wonderful series. The proud Brummie is travelling around North America to visit a whopping 18 places that share the same name as his hometown, meeting the locals to discover new Birminghams and form official “Friendship Agreements” with his friends from across the pond. Catch last week’s episode in Sky Max on demand now.

What else to watch:

• Stacey & Joe – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Inside Longleat – 8pm, Channel 5 HD (CH 105)

• Who Do You Think You Are? – 9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• The Essex Millionaire Murders – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Barristers: Fighting For Justice – 10pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

Pick of the day: Genius Game
9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

While David Tennant is no stranger to the screen, Genius Game marks the first time that the actor has ventured into game show host territory as so many others have done before him. In Genius Game, 11 of the UK’s best and brightest minds are brought together to take on a series of challenges designed to put all their smarts to the test. However, with a little help from The Creator (aka Tennant), the contestants are also encouraged to manipulate their opponents to snag a cash prize. Intriguing…

What else to watch:

• The Drowning Of Paula Leeson – 8pm, Channel 5 HD (CH 105)

• Race Across The World – 9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Groomed: A National Scandal – 9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Just Act Normal – 9pm + 9.45pm, BBC Three HD (CH 107/113)

• I, Jack Wright – 9pm, U&Alibi HD (CH 114)

Pick of the day: Taskmaster
9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

Fatiha El-Ghorri, Jason Mantzoukas, Mathew Baynton, Rosie Ramsey and Stevie Martin are the latest quintet to take on an abundance of hilarious challenges with the hopes of securing the best prize on television – a golden statue of Taskmaster host Greg Davies’ head. Join the fun and watch as the contestants humiliate and degrade themselves for our entertainment and, crucially, a potential 25 sweet points. Expect cheese phones, mannequins in wetsuits and some powerful poses.

What else to watch:

• Interior Design Masters With Alan Carr – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Bad Dog Academy – 8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Signora Volpe – 8pm, U&Drama HD (CH 116)

• VE Day 80: We Were There – 9pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

• Genius Game – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

Pick of the day: Martin Clunes’ Islands Of The Atlantic
9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

He’s explored the islands of Australia, America and the Pacific. Now, the Doc Martin star is heading on a jaw-dropping adventure across São Tomé and Príncipe (aka the “African Galapagos”), Madeira, the Azores, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, to discover the unique cultures and habitats that exist in the Atlantic as well as the untold stories of the humans and animals that call these islands home. Sign us up.

What else to watch:

• Storms From Space – 8pm, Channel 5 HD (CH 105)

• Millionaire Hoarders – 8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Gogglebox – 9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Hacks – 9pm, Sky Max HD (CH 110)

• Austin – 9.30pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

Football – Nottingham Forest v Manchester City
Sunday 27 April, 3.30pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

Expectation is everything. Nottingham Forest and Manchester City sit just two places and two points apart in the Premier League, and they’ve both reached the same round of the FA Cup – the semi-final stage, in which they meet at Wembley on Sunday. And yet we know whose fans are happier. Forest are generally agreed to have had a great season, while the consensus is City’s has been disappointing.

Coach Nuno Espírito Santo has done wonders with a Forest side who many expected to be fighting relegation but look more likely to finish in a Champions League place. He’s established a style that relies on a solid defence, built on the excellent centre-back partnership of Murillo and Nikola Milenković, but also employs fast-paced ball-carriers like Callum Hudson-Odoi, Morgan Gibbs-White and Anthony Elanga, making them both effective and thrilling to watch.

Can they take the game to Pep Guardiola’s possession-hungry aristocrats and progress to their first FA Cup final since 1991? Forest won their recent league meeting at the City Ground 1-0 with a late goal from Hudson-Odoi, so they’ll step onto the hallowed turf with confidence. The winners face Aston Villa or Crystal Palace, who play on Saturday 26 April at 4.45pm on BBC One HD (CH 101).

Between The Temples

Available from Saturday 26 April in Sky Cinema on demand. Cert 15

Ben (Jason Schwartzman, Moonrise Kingdom) is a cantor at his local temple but he’s finding it harder and harder to connect with his work, under pressure from his rabbi, congregation and family. Adrift and depressed, he’s searching for purpose when his former music teacher Carla (Carol Kane, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) re-enters his life as an adult bat mitzvah student. A warm and witty comedy that explores the complexities of belief, the power of music and the unlikely places we find connections.

What else to watch:

Looking for more movies this week? We can help with that.

• Looking for something to watch on Sky Cinema? Our monthly round-up has the best on the service this month

• Looking for something on Netflix? Try our monthly guide to new releases here

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