SATURDAY
Doctor Who
BBC1, 6.30pm
David Tennant and Catherine Tate return after more than a decade away… and it’s just what the Doctor ordered. With Russell T Davies also back running the show and a bigger budget than ever, this is the series at its swaggering, populist best – with an added movie sensibility. Why has the Time Lord’s path crossed with Donna’s once more, and who’s chasing Beep the Meep? A fine way for the show to mark its 60th birthday. Allons-y!
SUNDAY
Junior Eurovision Song Contest
BBC2, 3pm
Meet STAND UNIQU3 – the first group to represent the United Kingdom at Junior Eurovision, broadcast live this afternoon for the second time. The trio is made up of Hayla from Liverpool, who’s 12 and loves football, 13-year-old Maisie from Essex who, when she’s not singing, can’t get enough chips, and Yazmin, a 12-year-old Geordie often found snuggling with her pet Chihuahua. Can they score big with the catchy Back To Life?
MONDAY
The Couple Next Door
Channel 4, 9pm
There’s an uneasy feeling of dread throughout the first episode of this stylish thriller, even if it’s not quite clear exactly why. This is a tale of two couples – and since the show is based on the Walter Presents Dutch hit The Swingers, there’s a clue as to where things might be heading. Meanwhile, Not Going Out star Hugh Dennis plays creepy Alan, who spies on his neighbours through a telescope…
TUESDAY
The Great British Bake Off
Channel 4, 8pm
For a show that follows a set format, year in year out, this culinary contest gets surprisingly nail-biting as the contestants are whittled down – and tonight, just three remain to battle it out in the final. They’ve all whisked up incredible feats to make it this far, but there’ll be no mercy as judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood choose who’ll be lifting the coveted cake stand… Hosts Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond keep things light.
WEDNESDAY
The Incident Room
Channel 5, 8pm
This new series follows murder investigations minute-by-minute as they happened, with the detectives who led them. Tonight’s opening episode centres on the murder of mum Julie Hogg in Stockton-on-Tees in 1989. At first police struggled to find evidence to bring killer Billy Dunlop to justice – but he was back on their radar when the remains of Tina Bell, who was last seen with him, were discovered.
THURSDAY
Inside The Tower Of London
Channel 5, 8pm
It’s July 2023 and change is afoot at the Tower. After 14 years of distinguished and loyal service, including four as Chief Yeoman Warder, Pete McGowran has announced his retirement. As he hands over the Tower keys to his successor Yeoman Gaoler Rob Fuller, he reflects on his memories of working at the iconic London landmark, such as when he gave Queen Elizabeth II a private tour of the Chapel.
FRIDAY
The Graham Norton Show
BBC1, 10.40pm
Since the end of the US actors’ strike a fast-flowing tap of stardom has switched back on – as far as the bookers for this show are concerned. And what a deluge of talent they’ve set up tonight! Julia Roberts makes her debut appearance on the sofa, plugging Netflix movie Leave The World Behind, reliable old hand Tom Hanks drops in, and Cher’s singing her new single DJ Play A Christmas Song.