What to watch on TV this week: 12 – 21 November

Ready for another jam-packed week of telly treats? Get ready to be glued to your screens with hotly anticipated new drama series Summerwater, Wild Cherry and Cooper & Fry, while returning favourites include star-studded extravaganza BBC Children In Need 2025, Aimee Lou Wood and David Morrissey’s Daddy Issues and new I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! 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 TV with you on the move.

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: Richard Burton: Wild Genius
9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

This week marks 100 years since film icon Richard Burton’s birth. To celebrate such a remarkable occasion, this new documentary chronicles the extraordinary life of the global superstar, from his humble beginnings as a miner’s son in Wales to becoming one of the greatest actors of his generation. Can’t get enough of Burton? Then don’t miss the critically acclaimed biopic Mr Burton starring Toby Jones, on Monday 10 November on BBC One HD (CH 101) and in Apps > BBC iPlayer.

What else to watch:

• Shetland – 9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

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

• Married At First Sight UK: The Finale – 9pm, E4 HD (CH 106)

• The Hunting Party – 9pm, U&Alibi HD (CH 114)

• A League Of Their Own – 9pm, Sky Showcase HD (CH 109) + Sky Max HD (CH 111)

Pick of the day: Allegiance
9pm, U&Alibi HD (CH 114)

This police procedural that broke records when it first aired in Canada comes to UK shores. Trailblazing officer Sabrina Sohal (Supinder Wraich, Sort Of) has her life turned upside down when her politician father is wrongfully arrested for treason. What ensues is a deeply personal journey for Sohal as she challenges both the flawed justice system and community that she serves, in order to free her father and fight for the rights of those who are unable to fight for themselves.

What else to watch:

• Celebrity Race Across The World – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• DIY SOS: Children In Need Special – 9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Taskmaster: The Final – 9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Play For Today: Never Too Late – 9pm, 5 HD (CH 105)

• The Iris Affair – 9pm, Sky Showcase HD (CH 109)

Pick of the day: BBC Children In Need 2025
7pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

Famous faces are joining forces with Pudsey Bear for a night to remember in aid of BBC Children In Need. Newbie presenters Paddy McGuinness and Big Zuu will be donning their Pudsey ears along with Mel Giedroyc, Rochelle Humes, Vernon Kay and Lenny Rush to help raise crucial funds for the thousands of projects and communities that support children and young people across the UK. Expect a jam-packed evening of hilarious comedy sketches, toe-tapping music performances and brilliant surprises in one of the most wholesome events in the TV calendar.

What else to watch:

• King Tut: The Discovery With Dan Snow – 8pm, 5 HD (CH 105)

• Empire With David Olusoga – 9pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

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

• The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – 9pm, Sky Showcase HD (CH 109) + Sky Max HD (CH 111)

• Big Brother: Live Final – 9pm, ITV2 HD (CH 115)

Pick of the day: Wild Cherry
9pm + 9.55pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

BAFTA-award winning writer Nicôle Lecky (Mood) is behind this coming-of-age drama about a shocking scandal that rocks a seemingly perfect town. When two mothers discover that their teenage daughters have been accused by their exclusive private school of filming a provocative video, the consequences for the families go far beyond just falling out of favour in their community. Eve Best (House Of The Dragon), Carmen Ejogo (True Detective), Imogen Faires (Marcella) and newcomer Amelia May star.

What else to watch:

• Alan Carr’s Picture Slam – 5.45pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Strictly Come Dancing – 6.30pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Hitler’s DNA: Blueprint Of A Dictator – 9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Charles: The Comeback King – 9pm, 5 HD (CH 105)

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

At a loch-side Scottish holiday cabin park, simmering tensions between holidaymakers eventually erupt in devastating fashion. Based on Sarah Moss’s acclaimed novel, Summerwater weaves together the lives of several families as they navigate private conflicts in their cabins, and flashes back to dramatic events that may have consequences in the present. The tense and compulsive six-part drama stars Dougray Scott (Crime), Shirley Henderson (Dept Q), Daniel Rigby (I, Jack Wright), Shauna Macdonald (Shetland) and Jamie Sives (Guilt).

What else to watch:

• Kingdom – 6.25pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Bullseye – 8pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Game Of Wool: Britain’s Best Knitter – 8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• King Of Lies: Football’s Greatest Con – 8pm, Sky Documentaries HD (CH 188)

• I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

Pick of the day: I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

It’s time! Ant and Dec are Down Under again to welcome 10 new celebrities, who are swapping creature comforts for creepy crawlies in the 25th series of this iconic reality show. Gulp. Now that Jack Osbourne, Kelly Brook, Ruby Wax, Martin Kemp, Alex Scott, Aitch, Angryginge, Shona McGarty, Eddie Kadi and Lisa Riley are settled into their new home, we can’t wait to see who will survive life in the unforgiving Australian jungle – from the comfort of our sofas. Rather them than us! 

What else to watch:

• Inside The World’s Most Luxurious Cruises – 8pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

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

• The Forsytes – 9pm, 5 HD (CH 105)

• Men Of The Manosphere – 10pm, BBC Three HD (CH 107/113)

• I Love LA – 10.25pm, Sky Comedy HD (CH 112)

Pick of the day: Cooper & Fry
8pm, 5 HD (CH 105)

Snuggle up with this cosy detective series starring Robert James-Collier (Ackley Bridge) and Mandip Gill (Doctor Who) as the titular detectives. The screen adaptation of Stephen Booth’s novels set in the heart of the Peak District follows the escapades of this unlikely duo as they investigate a string of unusual deaths that are shrouded in secrecy, mystery and folklore. Will they be able to put their differences aside in their search for the truth? Tune in to find out.

What else to watch:

• The Martin Lewis Money Show: Live – 8pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

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

• Never Mind The Buzzcocks – 9pm, Sky Max HD (CH 111)

• Original Gangsters With Sean Bean – 9pm, Sky HISTORY HD (CH 131)

Pick of the day: Thoughts & Prayers
9pm, Sky Documentaries HD (CH 188)

Barely a month goes by without a new report of a school shooting in the US, each just as horrifying as the last. And yet the authorities seem unable or unwilling to do anything to prevent such incidents, offering platitudes in place of action. This eye-opening documentary looks at how children are taught to deal with shootings from a shockingly early age, examining the multi-billion-dollar active-shooter preparedness industry and tracing the effects of its training rituals on both students and teachers.

What else to watch:

• Sara Cox: Every Step Of The Way For Children In Need – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• Shetland – 9pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• A League Of Their Own – 9pm, Sky Showcase HD (CH 109) + Sky Max HD (CH 111)

• BBC New Comedy Awards 2025: The Final – 10.40pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

Pick of the day: Art Detectives
8pm, U&Drama HD (CH 116)

If you like your detective dramas to be a little more on the aesthetic side than the classic police procedural, U&Drama’s Art Detectives should be on your TV radar. It focuses on art-loving DI Mick Palmer (Stephen Moyer, The Forsytes) and his partner DC Shazia Malik (Nina Singh, Virdee) as they investigate cases in the high-end world of art and antiquities. In this episode, the detective duo are tasked with solving the death of a famed critic and connoisseur who was seemingly murdered in plain sight during a wine-tasting event. Intriguing… 

What else to watch:

• Celebrity Race Across The World – 8pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

• I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

• Cancer Detectives: Finding The Cures – 9pm, Channel 4 HD (CH 104)

• Play For Today: Big Winners – 9pm, 5 HD (CH 105)

• Allegiance – 9pm, U&Alibi HD (CH 114)

Pick of the day: Daddy Issues
9.35pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)

David Morrissey (The Woman In Cabin 10) and Aimee Lou Wood (Film Club) are back with their adorably messy father-daughter dynamic in acclaimed comedy drama Daddy Issues. As the second series begins, Gemma (Wood) is coming to terms with parenthood while Malcolm (Morrissey) is just thrilled to be a grandad. However, a surprise visitor forces Malcolm to confront his past and Gemma to face her future, while they navigate tricky living arrangements, dating disasters and everything in between.

What else to watch:

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

• Christmas Cruising With Susan Calaman – 8pm, 5 HD (CH 105)

• I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! – 9pm, ITV1 HD (CH 103)

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

• The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – 9pm, Sky Showcase HD (CH 109) + Sky Max HD (CH 111)

Football: FIFA World Cup, UEFA Qualifying Group C – Greece v Scotland
Saturday 15 November, 7.15pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)

The Scotland men’s team is an enigma to many fans – and possibly to coach Steve Clarke too. Packed with top-level talent and experience, including John McGinn, Scott McTominay, Lewis Ferguson, Ryan Christie and captain Andrew Robertson, they’re in a great position to reach their first World Cup since 1998. And yet despite the solid results, performances in this group have been frustrating.

They went behind at home to Greece and needed late goals to claim the points, winning with just 31% possession. Then, what should have been a stroll against Belarus (100th in the FIFA rankings) ended with them hanging on for a 2-1 win after another poor showing at Hampden Park, as they conceded 22 shots while taking just six. The good news is that they did bank those points and as they head to Athens, automatic qualification is still on the table.

A victory against Greece on Saturday would ensure that they go into the final home match with their fate in their own hands. Denmark are the visitors on Tuesday: it won’t be easy, but they’ve certainly got a fighting chance (and a play-off place as a back-up). You can watch both games live on BBC Two this week, with Wales and Northern Ireland’s final qualifiers also live on the BBC. England have wrapped up their group already.

What else to watch:

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

• All the best live sport you can watch on TV this week

• Got a Sky Sports subscription? Check out our monthly guide

• If you’ve got TNT Sports, your monthly guide is here

Mickey 17
Available from Friday 14 November in Sky Cinema on demand. Cert 15

Four Oscar wins for the brilliant black comedy Parasite announced South Korean writer/director Bong Joon-ho as a major international force in cinema, and he followed up his huge hit with another of his trademark genre-bending films in Mickey 17. This comic sci-fi thriller stars Robert Pattinson (The Batman) as a man who joins a space colony to be an “expendable” worker, who’s replaced by a clone every time he dies. But when a new clone is created while Mickey number 17 is still alive, a bizarre conflict begins. An unusual but hugely entertaining movie from a film-maker unlike any other.

What else to watch:

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

• Our monthly Sky Cinema guide featuring the best movies this month

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

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