SATURDAY
The Jonathan Ross Show (ITV1, 10.20pm)
This week, as king of chat Wossy wraps up another hugely successful series, we can expect good humour from comedian and actor David Mitchell, who’ll be plugging his new memoir Back Story.
Bradley Cooper, star of The Hangover movies, will be promoting his new film, Silver Linings, and no doubt be discussing what it means to be one of the sexiest men on Earth, while Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry promote new album Music from Another Dimension! which is released next month. Singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé provides the music for the evening after a fabulous year of appearances at the Olympics and becoming one of Scotland’s most recognisable stars.
SUNDAY
Surprise, Surprise (ITV1, 7pm)
Holly Willoughby will be giving well-deserving members of the public the biggest surprise of their lives as Cilla Black’s classic show returns, minus the flame-haired diva herself.
We have been promised a number of tear-jerking surprises and dramatic family reunions as Holly and guests help make some dreams of a lifetime come true.
In the opener, a soldier faces his biggest fear, and a friend gives his best mate the gift of life.
The Saturdays surprise a devoted fan and a couple are reunited with something very special after more than four decades, plus guest appearances by Gareth Malone’s acclaimed vocalists the Military Wives, and British racing champion Jenson Button.
MONDAY
Jamie’s 15 Minute Meals (Channel 4, 5pm)
If you caught Jamie Oliver’s 30 Minute Meals, you’ll have a good idea of what it’s about as the frantic foodie shows how, in the time it takes to heat up a ready-meal, a delicious feast can be cooked from scratch. He’s cooking the meals in real time and has been careful to reduce calorie content as much as possible.
He says: “We all want food that’s healthy, gorgeous and super quick, so I’m going to show you a whole new way to cook – amazing meals that you can do in just fifteen minutes, time-saving tricks and multi-tasking to the max
TUESDAY
Rolf’s Animal Clinic (Five, 8pm)
Rolf Harris is back with a six-part series that sees him come face-to-face with more furry friends at the University of Liverpool’s Leahurst campus, home to one of the UK’s top veterinary colleges.
The first patient is Millie, a family’s pet horse, who is brought in with a life-threatening case of colic and needs emergency surgery.
WEDNESDAY
Brazil With Michael Palin (BBC One, 9pm) ****
The comedian-turned-actor-turned-globetrotter may has more stamps in his passport than most people, but there’s one place he’s never been to, and it happens be the fifth-biggest country on the planet – Brazil.
Now he’s about to put that right by journeying there for a new, four-part series.
THURSDAY
Hatfields & McCoys (Five, 9pm)
Epic fact-based Western with Kevin Costner as the intriguingly named Devil Anse Hatfield looks well worth investigating. Also involved is director Kevin Reynolds, who called the shots on Costner’s biggest cinema hits.
FRIDAY
Piers Morgan’s Life Stories: Burt Reynolds (ITV1, 9pm)
The former tabloid editor tries to shed some light on the hirsute hunk whose million-dollar grin and trademark ‘tache once left women the world over weak at the knees.
Burt bounced to fame in the 1970s, and his role in disturbing thriller Deliverance is still a standout success – but more often he’s been played the comedy card, and is as well-known for his love life as his acting career.
Will Piers be able to probe beneath his affable exterior and tease out something new?