Square Eyes 8-11 January

MI High (Monday 5pm, BBC1)

This new launch for CBBC is worth a look, as it comes from Kudos, the indie behind big BBC hits such as Life on Mars and Spooks. In fact, it could be Spooks Babies, being the adventures of a group of school kids who end up being recruited to assist MI9 in battling threats to the nation. Could be good fun, but is the tongue in or out of the cheek?

ER (Monday 10pm, C4)

An old favourite returns and, it seems, back in the prime of health. The perceived wisdom is that ER has been living on borrowed time for the last few seasons, but there’s evidence of that here as the fall out from last year’s tense cliffhanger is cleaned up. Abby’s in labour, Jerry’s been shot and just where is Luka? This is how to do US drama…

Judge John Deed (Tuesday 9pm, BBC1)

Isn’t Martin Shaw about 80 now? Well, he’s back as John Deed, the greatest high court judge of all time. No stone goes unturned in his pursuit of justice, no sexy QC un-seduced. As Deadringers so neatly pointed out, nobody seems to have told the good judge he’s not supposed to solve the cases himself. Still, it’s a good laugh, but isn’t it about time His Honour got a new trailer though? The current one looks like an ad for Relocation Relocation.

Shameless (Tuesday 10pm, C4)

Somehow, I’ve remained immune to the charms of this perennial C4 hit. I just don’t think it’s as clever as it thinks it is, and now that Maxine Peake has gone, the reasons for watching are diminishing series by series. Still, one of those reasons is still around in the always-impressive David Threlfall as Frank Gallagher, a true TV great. The show might not be my pint of lager, but it’s easy to see quality never the less.

Relocation Relocation (Wednesday, 8pm, C4)

Phil and Kirstie, back to doing what they do best – helping affluently stupid couples attain their sickening two-house lifestyles. Kirstie is something of a heroine, and having her back from maternity leave is like reuniting Bodie and Doyle.

Bill Oddie Back in the USA (Thursday 8.30pm, BBC2)

He’s practically an industry in itself now, and in this fizzy little travelogue, the former Goodie revisits the streets of New York, where he performed as part of the Footlights Review team in 1964. Of course, it’s a wildlife doco too, so the trusty binoculars are never far away.

Mock the Week (10pm, Thursday BBC2)

Gentle satire in the company of Dara O’Briain that could be titled Have I Got Whose Line is it Anyway… Alongside regulars Frankie Boyle and Hugh Dennis, darling of the comedy world David Mitchell (sans Webb) shows off his impeccable timing. Good stuff, and another showcase of why O’Briain should be taking over Room 101 at the end of this run.