PICKS OF THE MONTH: MARCH 2024

What to watch this month. Scheduling of the programmes below subject to change.

COMIC RELIEF: RED NOSE DAY

BBC ONE

Red Nose Day is back on Friday 15 March 2024. It’s that time of year when incredible cake-bakers, joke-makers, telly-watchers, t shirt-wearers, Red Nose-buyers and laugh-til-you-cryers, do something to fight poverty through humour and fun, for communities here in the UK and around the world.

THIS TOWN

BBC ONE

Tells the story of a band’s formation against a backdrop of violence, capturing how creative genius can emerge from a time of madness.The six-part series stars Levi Brown (Loss and Return), Jordan Bolger (The Woman King, The Book of Boba Fett), Ben Rose (Line of Duty, The Innocents) and Eve Austin (You, Our Ladies) as its four young leads.

THE BRIT AWARDS

ITV1

Clara Amfo, Maya Jama and Roman Kemp are coming together to host this year’s ceremony, which takes place Saturday 2nd March at The O2 arena, London, broadcast exclusively on ITV1, STV, ITVX and STV Player.

CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER

ITV1

Hosted by AJ Odudu and Will Best, Celebrity Big Brother: Live Launch will reveal the new cast of famous faces who are entering the iconic Big Brother house, as they embark on the ultimate social experiment and become isolated from the outside world.

THE OSCARS

ITV1

On the grand night itself, Sunday 10th March, at 10.30pm viewers can join Jonathan Ross live on ITV1 and ITVX for The Oscars as he hosts the ultimate Oscars party with a special show bringing all of Hollywood’s action to UK viewers (all ITV1 content will be available on STV and STV Player), where he’ll be joined by a panel of movie-loving stars and special guests.

Preceding The Oscars, viewers will be able to get swept up in all of the Hollywood glamour with the official stream of the Oscars red carpet live show on ITVX exclusively for the UK from 9.30pm, with Ross King broadcasting directly from the event at the Dolby® Theatre in LA.

PASSENGER

ITV1

Written by debut screenwriter Andrew Buchan, who is best known for his acting roles on Broadchurch, The Honourable Woman and Better, Passenger explores a close-knit community who are unwilling to face their fears of change, of outsiders and of the unknown.

Set in the fictional small Northern town of Chadder Vale, Former Met Police Detective Riya Ajunwa (Wunmi Mosaku) investigates a series of strange and inexplicable crimes that have the townsfolk spinning on an axis.

RED EYE

ITV1

Red Eye, told over an adrenaline-filled six parts, is set between an all-night plane flight from London to Beijing and the corridors of power within Whitehall. Starring Jing Lusi and Richard Armitage with Lesley Sharp, the series is British screenwriter Peter A. Dowling’s (Black and Blue, Flightplan) television debut.

McDONALD AND DODDS

ITV1

Comprising three feature length films (3 x120), the guest cast for the first story includes Toby Stephens (Lost In Space), singer/songwriter Pixie Lott (The Voice Kids), Lydia Leonard (Gentleman Jack), Daniel Lapaine (Catastrophe), Dipo Ola (Landscapers), John Gordon Sinclair (Gregory’s Girl) and Ace Bhatti (Line of Duty).

THE RISE AND FALL OF BORIS JOHNSON

CHANNEL 4

Through a combination of rare archive footage and with access to those with intimate knowledge of Johnson over the years, the four hour-long episodes will hear from both his friends and enemies to reveal his true persona. The films will give greater insight into his actions, his ambition and the real events that have shaped modern British politics. 

JOSH MUST WIN

E4

This mammoth new show sees a gorgeous, confident, larger-than-life cast compete in a popularity contest, which they believe is called “The Favourite” hosted by presenter Nick Grimshaw. However, amongst the players there is an underdog no one is expecting. His name is Josh. But who is Josh and why is he so important? 

MEL GIEDROYC: UNFORGIVABLE

DAVE

Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable is the show where the nation’s favourite comedians and celebrities peel back their friendly showbiz veneer and compete to show you the very best of their bad sides. To convince Mel that they’re the most Unforgivable guest of all, the panel must reveal their dirtiest lies, most outrageous sins and all the secrets they’ve kept buried… until now.

THE MARLOW MURDER CLUB

DRAMA

Retired archaeologist Judith Potts (Samantha Bond) lives alone in a faded mansion in the peaceful town of Marlow, filling her time setting crosswords for the local paper. During one of her regular evening swims in the river, Judith hears a gunshot coming from her neighbours’ garden, and believes a brutal murder has taken place.

THE COMPLETELY MADE-UP ADVENTURES OF DICK TURPIN

APPLE TV+

Noel Fielding) sets out on a journey of wildly absurd escapades when he’s made the reluctant leader of a band of outlaws — and tasked with outwitting corrupt lawman and self-appointed thief-taker Jonathan Wilde (Hugh Bonneville).