PICKS OF THE MONTH: APRIL 2026, WHAT TO WATCH THIS MONTH

The new and returning programming airing this April revealed.

 I'M A CELEBRITY SOUTH AFRICA

Campmates have already proved that they can survive the Australian jungle, but this is I’m a Celebrity… on a whole new level - it’s where legends are made. The trials are tougher than ever, and with that the stakes too - with relentless twists and turns, the campmates will never know what’s coming next. They will be faced with challenges at every turn, quickly learning that with big decisions come even bigger consequences…

 AMANDALAND

The hit BBC comedy Amandaland, starring Lucy Punch, Joanna Lumley and Philippa Dunne, is officially returning to iPlayer and BBC One after a standout debut. Since launching, Amandaland has averaged 6.4 million viewers to date, making it the BBC’s second biggest comedy launch in recent years (excluding specials), behind Ludwig (9.5 million) and on par with The Outlaws (6.4 millions), according to the latest data.

 TWENTY TWENTY SIX

Hugh Bonneville will reprise his role as Ian Fletcher and joining him in the cast are Nick Blood (Day of The Jackal, Slow Horses), Chelsey Crisp (Fresh off The Boat, Ten Percent), Paulo Costanzo (Designated Survivor, Royal Pains), Stephen Kunken (Billions, The Handmaid’s Tale), Jimena Larraguivel (Patience and RSC), Alexis Michalik (A Love Story) and Belinda Stewart-Wilson (The Inbetweeners, Stay Close).

This year’s tournament will be the biggest ever. Hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico with 48 countries taking part and 16 venues thousands of miles apart across the whole of North America; what could possibly go wrong? Ian Fletcher is about to find out, as he joins the Twenty Twenty Six Oversight Team in Miami as its Director of Integrity.

 RACE ACROSS THE WORLD

On a limited budget and away from the luxuries of modern technology and conveniences, those selected will experience life in some of the world’s most beautiful and remote locations.  Navigating their way across thousands of miles, they will travel through spectacular scenery and dynamic cities, visit ancient wonders, learn local customs, and take part in time-honoured traditions. 

But the physical journey is only half of the story as they take on the challenge of travelling across the world, perhaps the greatest thing they’ll discover is about themselves and one another.   

 HALF MAN

Niall and Ruben are brothers. Not related in blood but the closest you can get. One, fierce and loyal. The other, meek and mild-mannered. Inseparable youth. Brought into each other’s lives through death and circumstance, all they have is each other… But when Ruben turns up at Niall’s wedding three decades later, everything seems different. He is on edge. Shifty. Not acting like himself.

And soon, an explosion of violence takes place which catapults us back through their lives, from the eighties to the present day. Capturing 30 years in the lives of these broken men, Half Man explores brotherhood, violence, and the intense fragility of male relationships. After all, when things fall apart… it is sometimes the closest relationships which break the hardest.

GRACE

ITV’s popular detective drama is back for a sixth series. John Simm will reprise his role as Detective Superintendent Roy Grace for four standalone films set in the familiar surroundings of Brighton. Starring alongside John will be Richie Campbell (Top Boy, Stephen), who plays DS Glenn Branson, Zoë Tapper (Liar) as Cleo Morey, Laura Elphinstone (Chernobyl) as DS Bella Moy, and Brad Morrison (Outlander) as DC Nick Nicholl.

 BEYOND PARADISE

Fact and folklore blur as they investigate the death of a novelist who predicted their demise, a magical night of Dark Morris that soon turns sour, a stolen treasure map that suddenly reappears, and the alleged sighting of a vengeful mermaid lurking out at sea. DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) and Martha (Sally Bretton) launch into married life as they search for a new home, whilst Humphrey wrestles with an impossible decision that may change the lives of everyone at the station forever.

 MASTERCHEF

Grace Dent and Anna Haugh are the new judges for the forthcoming 22nd amateur series on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Award-winning restaurant critic and journalist, Grace Dent, and Chef Patron of Myrtle Restaurant and TV presenter,

Anna Haugh, are both experienced MasterChef judges across various series.

Grace has been a regular guest critic on MasterChef for over a decade, and was a contestant herself competing on MasterChef: Battle of the Critics 2023. She is also a judge in the next series of Celebrity MasterChef.

 BLANKETY BLANK

Blankety Blank will once again be hosted by the incomparable Bradley Walsh, who will guide a panel of celebrities and contestants over multiple rounds, as they compete to win a range of…unique prizes!

The upcoming series will be hosted once again by one of the nation’s most beloved presenters, Bradley Walsh. In each episode Bradley will be joined by six big name celebrities who will be helping four contestants try to win some of telly’s most ‘unique’ prizes.

 THE HUNT: PREDATOR VS PREY

Deep in a vast unforgiving forest, contestants are dropped into the ultimate real-world game of hide and seek - where losing means walking away with nothing and winning could mean pocketing up to £100,000. Surviving the game isn’t about being the fastest. It’s about being the smartest.

Each episode is built around a tense, dog-eat-dog hunt, where each player becomes either a Predator or Prey. The Prey hold the cash, desperately trying to protect their winnings while completing challenges to win more money. The Predators must hunt them down and steal their cash. If they succeed their roles are reversed and the entire game flips, with Predators suddenly become Prey.

 SECRET GARDEN

Over five episodes - set in five very different gardens across the UK - David reveals the lives of the often charming, occasionally daring, always secretive animals that inhabit the hidden world right on our doorsteps. Theirs is no cosy existence - even in these beautiful and seemingly genteel surroundings the rules of the wild still operate.

From pine martens in the Western Highlands to dormice in South Wales, swallows in the Lake District to otters in Oxfordshire and blue tits in Bristol, the series reveals not just a rich and surprising diversity of life but also how each species finds its own way to live alongside us.

 VIRGIN ISLAND

The groundbreaking and heartwarming series follows 12 adult virgins, as they travel to a luxury Mediterranean retreat to embark on a unique course in intimacy, to see if it can help them overcome the fears that are holding them back. This warm, authentic and thought-provoking series explores these issues as some of the world’s leading sexologists take the twelve courageous virgins on a unique, hands-on programme, to help them take their first steps towards sex and intimacy. 

 BERGERAC

Series two will see Jim Bergerac (Molony) starting to put his life back together, while his mother-in-law Charlie Hungerford (Wanamaker) has a new man in her life. Jim’s even tentatively dating, with Kim’s (Sweetlove) encouragement, although it’s a big step for him. But then he meets Nicola (Beeput), a visitor to Jersey, and they connect. Could this be the start of something for Jim?

However, before the relationship even has time to blossom, Jim is pulled back into his next big case. When the groom at a wedding reception on the island is found murdered in his hotel room, the wedding party comes under intense suspicion and scrutiny. Jim will have to decipher the victim’s cryptic last words from his speech if he is ever going to bring the killer to justice. And when Jim starts to unravel old secrets, more skeletons come to light, making this his most intricate case yet.

 HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU

Ian Hislop, Paul Merton and a who's who of hosts welcome a gaggle of guest panellists to find the funny in the week's big stories.

Transmission details will be announced in due course.