Place of Execution (Monday 9pm, ITV1)
This excellent, mature drama comes to an end as documentary journalist Catherine Heathcote (Juliet Stevenson) gets closer to the truth about what really happened to young Alison in 1963. As you’d expect from a drama based on a Val McDermid story, there are twists and turns galore before the final ten minutes, and the shocks keep coming right to the very end. ITV should be justifiably proud of putting out this superb piece that ticks all the right boxes - acting, directing, script - and let’s hope we get more of the same in the not too distant future.
Eli Stone (Monday 9pm, Sci-Fi)
An unusual US drama from Sci-Fi that stars Jonny Lee Miller as ruthless lawyer Eli Stone, who is suddenly forced to reconsider how he lives his life after a series of visions and hallucinations - including, um… George Michael - no, really. The visions, it seems, are brought about by an inoperable brain aneurysm, and Eli changes his approach to work and life… Erm… I’m not quite sure what to make of this - Shark meets Ally McBeal with not entirely satisfying results, but it’s early days. Can the format support the usual case of the week storylining without descending into schmaltz and silliness? Time will tell - and so will George…
Sunshine (Tuesday 9pm, BBC1)
Craig Cash and Phil Mealey script this bittersweet comedy drama about “Bing” Crosby, a lovable loser with a destructive streak of gambling addiction that keeps him never too far away from the bookie’s counter. It has that essential northern grit to it that you’d expect from the writers of Early Doors and The Royle Family, and Steve Coogan is great as Bing, giving the character a more paired down reality than grotesques like Alan Partridge and Tommy Saxondale. Cash and Mealey pop in as comedy bin men, but the real honours here go to the exceptional Bernard Hill as Bing’s dad. A highly promising start.
Jamie’s Ministry of Food (Tuesday 9pm, C4)
Oh, Jamie… Sorry, but Ministry of Food is really hard to swallow (if you’ll pardon the pun). I wish Mr O would stop seeing himself as some sort of social crusader who can get the country cooking and eating decent, nutritious food - it doesn’t work when you head off and trouser a load of dosh for being the face of Sainsbury’s. Come Christmas, you’ll be up there, persuading the very families you are trying to help, spend loads of money that they don’t have on unnecessary Xmas fare. It makes your puckish benefactor so much harder to swallow. That being said, there are some genuinely emotional moments to be had from this show, but they don’t come from Mr Oliver. Sorry Jamie, I do love you, but this is one step too far.
Heroes (Wednesday 9pm, BBC2)
Heroes definitely has a spring in its step if the first episodes were anything to go by, and things should carry on nicely here. Sylar, becoming ever more powerful, is turning into a wonderful villain who proves far more interesting than most of the so-called Heroes. There’s still too much serious posturing from the likes of Peter Petrelli and the snooze some Mohinder (just SHUT UP, okay?) but the darker edge to this third volume could reap rewards yet. The jury is still out, though…
Sanctuary (Wednesday 9pm, ITV4)
If Heroes isn’t quite your thing, but you’re perhaps more disposed to the long-running success of Stargate SG-1, then give Sanctuary a go. Amanda Tapping, veteran contributor to the Stargate franchise, stars (and produces) as Dr Helen Magnus, head of a team that investigates the hidden monsters that exist alongside humanity. Sanctuary is wildly derivative, but also has its own sense of style and fun, and gives Tapping some mercifully new material to play with. The show started as “webisodes” on the internet before being picked up by Sci-Fi in the States, and has some interesting use of CGI running alongside. Worth checking out.
Blackadder: The Whole Rotten Saga (Thursday 9pm, G.O.L.D.)
Celebrate the 25th anniversary of Blackadder with this mammoth documentary that mixes clips with cast interviews, although Rowan Atkinson is notable by his absence. Oh well, it’s good to see some favourite scenes again, but perhaps one to dip in and out of if you’re in a channel hopping kind of mood.
Beautiful People (Thursday 9.30pm, BBC2)
I like Beautiful People, it has a really nice nostalgic sheen to it that, while not laugh out loud funny, is certainly watchable in a quirky way. Simon and best buddy Kylie are in raptures at the prospect of headlining the school’s production of Joseph, and hysteria ensues as they prepare to audition. The best thing about Beautiful People is the divine Olivia Colman, who shows her range here beyond being a foil for Mitchell and Webb.
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